Steve Smith and Tilak Varma [Source: @cricketcomau, @BCCI/x]
Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja feasted over Sri Lankan bowlers to start off the series-opening first Test in Galle. Tilak Varma and Varun Chakravarthy made significant jumps on the ICC T20I rankings; while their captain Suryakumar Yadav received a scathing criticism from Michael Vaughan.
Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Wednesday, January 29.
Steve Smith Scales 10K, Hammers Down 35th Test Ton
Australian batting great Steve Smith notched up the 10,000th run of his Test career, and celebrated the occasion by hammering down his 35th Test century later in the evening on Day 1 of the series-opening Galle affair against Sri Lanka. The 35-year-old belted 10 boundaries and a six in his landmark knock and shared an unbeaten 195-run partnership with opening batter Usman Khawaja.
Notably, Smith became the fifth fastest cricketer in history to complete 10,000 Test runs after Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara and Ricky Ponting; and the fourth Australian player in history to breach the coveted threshold.
Usman Khawaja Snaps Run-Drought With Welcome Ton
Apart from Steve Smith, senior opener Usman Khawaja also composed a majestic century against Sri Lanka to compound Australia’s Day 1 advantage in Galle. Struggling to score runs against India at home, Khawaja unleashed 147* from just 210 balls with 10 boundaries and a six to draw his 16th Test ton.
The elegant left-hander started off the day by sharing a 92-run opening partnership with half-centurion Travis Head, before forming a 195-run unbeaten alliance with fellow centurion Steve Smith to steer Australia to 330-2 in 81.1 overs by stumps. Notably, Khawaja managed to tally just 184 runs in his preceding 10 Test innings, all against India between November and January.
Tilak Varma, Varun Chakravarthy Rise In ICC Rankings
Indian cricketers Tilak Varma and Varun Chakravarthy made significant jumps on the latest ICC T20I rankings. While Varma overtook a struggling Phil Salt to secure a career-best number two spot behind Travis Head among batters, Chakravarthy gained an unimaginable 25 rungs to climb to number five on the T20I bowling charts.
Varma played a key role in India’s emphatic 3-1 T20I series win in South Africa back in November by plundering two match-winning centuries. Moreover, the young left-hander also punched out a clinical 72* against England earlier this week in Chennai. Chakaravarthy, on the other hand, picked up his second T20I five-wicket haul in the space of just two months through the course of his latest spell against England in Rajkot.
ECB Unveils The Hundred 2025 Schedule
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) unveiled the entire schedule of the upcoming 2025 edition of The Hundred. Marking the fifth edition of the tournament, the 2025 season will kick-off on August 5 with a match between London Spirit and Oval Invincibles. Much like the preceding editions of The Hundred, matches from the Women’s The Hundred and Men’s The Hundred will be taking place on the same day at the same venue.
The grand finale will be hosted by the iconic Lord’s in London on August 31.
Michael Vaughan Slams Suryakumar For Poor Form In ENG Series
Michael Vaughan has criticized Indian T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav for his poor run of form in the ongoing five-match T20I series between India and England. Suryakumar has managed to accrue just 26 runs across three innings of the series so far at an abysmal average of 8.67.
Vaughan stated that while Suryakumar is managing to hit a few good shots in the middle, the ‘Men in Blue’ is struggling to extend his stay at the crease.