The Hundred fixtures announced

Women's Ashes | Day 1 Report - Australia dominate Day 1 as England rue dropped chances

England toiled throughout Day 1 of the one-off women’s Test match at Manuka Oval as Australia raked up 327 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Two extremely crucial partnerships in the batting order set Australia for a big total as England failed to capitalise on the momentum despite picking up wickets in a bunch. The visitors rued dropped chances early on in the innings, chances that could have sealed the game in the early hours of play. After picking up quick wickets of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney in the first five overs, England dropped Meg Lanning on 14 and Racheal Haynes on 44. The duo added 169 runs together seeing off 50 overs and more importantly a threatening stage of play. However, both were denied individual centuries as English pacers struck back with the old ball by correcting their lengths and getting them further up the pitch, sending the ball to the corridor of uncertainty. Two set batsmen were edged back behind the stumps and England once again looked to pull the game back. Once again it was not to be as Tahlia McGrath scored her first half century in Test cricket, alongside Ashleigh Gardner who scored 56 runs off 74 balls. England were in desperate need of breaking the partnership that had lasted 134 balls and the new ball brought them some fortune. Gardner was troubled consistently by the ball that jagged back into her and ended up getting caught plumb in front of the stumps after surviving a DRS decision. The final ball of the day saw McGrath needlessly throwing her bat to an avoidable delivery and becoming the seventh batter of the day to get out. At the end of day’s play, Australia were 327/7 in 97 overs. Click here for the full scorecard.

PSL 2022 | Karachi Kings vs Multan Sultans | Match 1 Preview, Predictions, Fantasy XI

Karachi Kings will start their campaign under new leadership this time around. Captained by Babar Azam, Karachi will aim to begin the tournament on a positive note.

BBL Final | Battered Sydney Sixers looking for one last chance to play Steve Smith

Sydney Sixers are set to launch one last bid for Steve Smith to play in the finals of the Big Bash League, reported the Australian Associated Press. The Sydney-based franchise who are set to play the finals against a strong Perth Scorchers squad have several players out either through injury or due to Covid-19. Things have been so bad for the team that they were forced to play assistant coach Jay Lenton in the first XI because they were not able to field an able-bodied team. Their last game against Adelaide Strikers saw another fresh set of injuries in Jordan Silk, Steve O’Keefe and captain Moises Henriques, who were forced to hobble off the pitch due to their respective injuries. The whole drama of Steve Smith started off after Cricket Australia blocked his signing due to objections raised by the rival state associations based on a technicality. Cricket Australia in a release stated that since Smith was not a part of the local replacement pool due to his commitments with the national team, he could not be allowed to play in this year’s Big Bash League. Sixers take on Perth in Melbourne in the finals of the BBL on Friday 28 January.

West Indies announce squad for ODI series against India

West Indies have recalled veteran Kemar Roach in the ODI set up for the series against India, set to be played in February. Roach, 33, was a tearaway fast bowler in his prime, but now relies more on his length and the surprise ability to skid on the one-off delivery. He last played for Windies when India toured the Caribbean shores in 2019. "Kemar Roach is one of our leading fast bowlers and we believe we need bowlers upfront to get early wicket, and Kemar, with an economy rate of five, is certainly good enough to play,” selector Desmond Haynes was quoted as per Cricbuzz. Haynes stated that the selection for the squad is aimed at providing competition in the team ahead of the 2023 World Cup in India. "We want to have competition for places. We want to reach a stage where we have a lot of players fighting for positions. We want to broaden the pool of players we have to choose from. The team we have selected is a very good side and we are looking at this tour as part of the preparations for the World Cup in India in 2023.” Barring Roach, Nkrumah Bonner and Brandon King have also been called back into the team. Full Squad Kieron Pollard (C), Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren, Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr.