The Ashes | England hopes fade away after yet another batting collapse

BBL left frustrated by the withdrawal of Pakistan players

The Covid-19 hit Big Bash League were left mud by the Pakistan players who were forced to withdraw from the league to prepare for Pakistan Super League which begins on January 27. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja has made it abundantly clear that the national players will have to focus on local products and leagues to make Pakistan a formidable cricketing nation once again. Important players for their individual teams Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman will all be flying back before completing their quota of games, reducing the team strength further after BBL was massively affected by Covid-19 situation in the country. Brisbane Heat put out a statement stating that the club and the player Zaman, both were disappointed in the departure before completing the full quota of games. The pakistan players will be playing in two halves in the PSL with the first one beginning from 27 January. The tournament will be played in Karachi till February 7 before shifting to Lahore for the second phase of the league.

You did good, I am proud of you | Anushka Sharma pens emotional letter after hubby Kohli’s resignation

Bollywood actress and wife of outgoing India Test skipper Anushka Sharma has penned down an emotional letter in support of her husband. In the letter, the actress, who tied the knot with the then all formats skipper of India in 2017, said that she has seen immense growth within and outside of Kohli after being named the Indian skipper in 2014. “I remember the day in 2014 when you told me that you have been made the captain as MS had decided to retire from test cricket,” she said in a post on her Instagram handle. Talking about the time when Kohli got the captaincy and the discussion she had with him as a partner and how even MS Dhoni, the then outgoing Test captain was also involved in it, Anushka said, “I remember MS, you & I having a chat later that day & him joking about how quickly your beard will start turning grey. We all had a good laugh about it. Since that day, I’ve seen more than just your beard turning grey. I’ve seen growth. Immense growth. Around you & within you." "And yes, I am very proud of your growth as the captain of the Indian National Cricket team & what achievements the team had under your leadership. But I’m more proud of the growth you achieved within you," added the 33-year-old. Below is the full letter. "In 2014 we were so young & naive. Thinking that just good intentions, positive drive & motives can take you ahead in life. They definitely do but, not without challenges. A lot of these challenges that you faced were not always on the field. But then, this is life right? It tests you in places where you least expect it to but where you need it the most. And my love, I am so proud of you for not letting anything come in the way of your good intentions. You led by example & gave winning on field every ounce of your energy to the extent that after some losses I’ve sat next to you with tears in your eyes, while you wondered if there's still something more you could have done. This is who you are & this is what you expected from everyone. You've been unconventional & straightforward. Pretence is your foe & this is what makes you great in my eyes & the eyes of your admirers. Because underneath all this were your pure, unadulterated intentions always. And not everyone will be able to truly understand that. Like I’ve said, truly blessed are those who tried to get to know you beneath what meets the eye. You are not perfect & have your flaws but then again when did you ever try to conceal that? What you did was to always stand up for doing the right thing, the harder thing, always! You held on to nothing with greed, not even this position & I know that. Because when one holds on to something so tightly they limit themselves & you, my love, are limitless. Our daughter will see the learning of these 7 years in the father that you are to her. You did good ❤️ ," Anushka signed off. Earlier on January 15, Virat had decided to quit as Test captain after India lost the series 1-2 to South Africa. He had already quit the captaincy of the T20I side of the nation and was then removed unceremoniously from ODI captaincy before the team for the South Africa series was announced.

Not surprised at all: Former India cricketers react to Kohli’s resignation as India Test captain

Virat Kohli’s decision to quit the captaincy of the Indian Test side was not an easy one and there was always going to be reading between the line by former cricketers. It did happen. While some said that they saw it coming, for others it was a complete shocker. Former India captain and part of the commentary panel in the recently concluded test series between South Africa and India, Sunil Gavaskar said that he always saw that coming once India lost the series. "I'm not surprised at all. I thought that it might have come at the presentation ceremony, but that would have looked like it has come out of a sense of anger having lost the series. So, I think a little bit of gap and the decision has come, “ he said on India Today. "Looking at the fact that he had been removed as ODI captain. Yes, having lost this series, that was always possible. If you don't win, what happens? Doesn't matter if he's been individually successful, in a team sport, the captain is the one where the buck stops,” added the legend of the game. Kiran More, former India wicketkeeper and a BCCI selector, said that the way things panned out with Kohli in the last three months, shouldn’t have. “The way he has left is a bit sad. The way people have treated him, and I am not talking of the BCCI, and criticised him was not fair. Let’s not forget he is a World Cup winner (2011). He has got 70 international hundreds and is a special player. I am disappointed with the way people were talking about him and the way his captaincy was criticised. For me, he is a legend. Performance-wise, we cannot touch him,” said More in a chat with News18. Madan Lal, a World Cup-winning former cricketer and also a former member of the selection committee was not impressed with the decision that Kohli took. “What next? He’ll keep on playing for the country and keep on performing. The game is all about performance, nothing else. You have to keep on performing and keep on playing. At the end of the day, it is the performance that counts,” said Lal. “Kohli has done a very good job as a captain. I wanted to see him as Test captain for one or two years. I like his aggressive nature. People talk about Indians not being aggressive and here we have had a captain who’s aggressive, who wanted to win everything,” he added further.

India to quarantine in Mumbai before leaving for Women’s World Cup

The Indian women’s team will be in Mumbai for a seven day quarantine period starting Sunday, 16 January. The teaam will be completing the necessary Covid-19 precautions before flying out to New Zealand where they will prepare for the Women’s World Cup scheduled to be held during the months of March-April. The Indian team will be flying out on 24 January to play the hosts for a five match long ODI series and one T20I game. Veteran Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami has been public about how good this is for the preparation of the World Cup and how it puts India in a very good position.