Top New Zealand, India players open up on significance of Test cricket

WI vs SA | 2nd Test, Day 3: South Africa in command despite a batting collapse

West Indies were handed a target of 324 runs by South Africa at the end of the third day at St Lucia after the visitors were bundled out for 174 in the second innings. The Proteas were in a steady position in the second Test after they had bowled out West Indies for 149 and took a lead of 149 runs in the first innings. But the hosts’ bowling line up made a strong comeback in the game as the fast bowlers ripped apart the South African batting. Kemar Roach scalped a couple of early wickets in the innings providing his side with some positive start. Adien Markram first departed for 4 after getting caught by Jason Holder off Roach and then the captain Dean Elgar was sent packing by the pacer. South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were left tottering at 73/7 when Van der Dussen was joined by Kagiso Rabada in the middle. The two steadied the ship for the side and stitched a stand of 70 runs for the 8th wicket. Van der Dussen went on to score a half-century and remained unbeaten at 75 while Rabada chipped in with a 48-ball 40 which included five boundaries and a maximum. For West Indies, Roach returned with a four-for while Mayers scalped three in the innings. Jayden Seales, Holder and Brathwaite picked up a wicket each. The home side was 15/0 when the stumps were called and now need 309 more runs to level the series. West Indies are trailing the two-match series 0-1.

WTC final | Day 3: Kyle Jamieson, openers wear down India as bowlers fail to replicate Kiwis' template

A magnificent half-century from Devon Conway after a five-wicket haul on the back of superb seam and swing bowling by Kyle Jamieson put New Zealand on top at the end of the third day’s play in the World Test Championship final against India. However, Conway’s wicket, on a swinging leg stump half volley off Ishant Sharma, would have provided India with some sort of relief after the Blackcaps were on a roll to take the game completely away from India. Indian pace attack lacked a bowler who could genuinely swing the ball and an improved overhead condition also did not help them as much as it did the New Zealand pace attack on the previous day and in the morning session of the third day. Ishant Sharma found the most amount of swing in the air but Mohammed Shami was the best bowler on display from the Indian side. He was too unlucky to not have at least one wicket in his column after beating and finding outside edges of both Tom Latham and Devon Conway’s bat. In absence of swing in the air, Shami used all his hustles with the pace and seam movement to trouble both Blackcaps opener but they found a way to give their side a much-needed boost at the top of the order. Virat Kohli switched to Ravichandran Ashwin after seeing pacers not extracting any wicket and his move paid dividend albeit not immediately. Ashwin of now is a wily bowler even in overseas conditions and he lured Latham into driving at one that was not there at a suitable length and Kohli’s jubilation after taking the catch was more of a vindication than a celebration of a New Zealand’s wicket. India missed bowlers such as Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who could pitch the ball up and extract some swing in the air and New Zealand batsmen used all their experience of playing in similar conditions back home by playing the ball very late to combat all the seam movements they got. Earlier, India suffered a massive batting collapse in the morning session courtesy of outstanding seam and swing bowling by Jamieson, who opened his account on the third day with the big wicket of Virat Kohli. The Indian skipper was relying on Jamieson’s height to take the ball above the stumps and was leaving deliveries on the length which prompted the bowler to adjust his length to a bit fuller. Jamieson also seamed one back and found Kohli in front of the crease to give India a massive jolt straightaway. Rishabh Pant, who walked out to the crease with a great sense of expectations and hype paid the price of being himself and backing his flamboyance rather than discipline to get through the tough phase. Pant’s departure put all the onus of taking India to a safe position on Ajinkya Rahane’s shoulders, who was looking very settled at the crease till Kane Williamson brought on Neil Wagner and asked him questions against short-pitched bowling. After pulling the left-armer unconvincingly once, Williamson positioned fielders to set a trap and Rahane obliged in the manner that left both his fans and commentators in dismay. Jamieson’s control over line and length and India’s mixture of loose shots and lapse in concentrations brought New Zealand back in the game in the first session and the opening pair of Conway and Latham, along with skipper Williamson only strengthened the position by the end of the day’s play.

BCCI AGM | Rs 10 crore help for athletes to prepare for Tokyo Olympics, discusses domestic players' payments

The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) has taken some key decisions pertaining to other sports and domestic cricket in the country in its eighth 8th Apex Council Meeting (Emergent Meeting) held on June 20. The biggest decision taken was the financial assistance to Tokyo Olympics-bound players in order to help them prepare for the marquee event. The BCCI Apex Council has pledged a monetary ‘gesture’ of Rs 10 crore to players on the ‘request’ of the Indian Olympic Association and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. “The BCCI has decided to support Indian athletes in every form and manner it can. In that spirit, based on the request received from the IOA/MYAS, the Apex Council of BCCI has decided to extend support to the Indian Olympic Association and has pledged a monetary gesture of Rs. 10 crores,” BCCI said in a statement. Another major decision was taken by the BCCI Apex Council in the matter of payments to domestic cricketers for the last two seasons which have been marred by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Apex Council has asked the office bearers of the board to form a committee to formulate a ‘compensatory mechanism’ for the players as soon as possible. “The Apex Council has decided to form a committee to look into the issue of compensation for Indian domestic cricketers for domestic season 2020 and 2021. The Apex Council has mandated the Office Bearers of BCCI to form the committee and find a suitable compensatory mechanism for domestic cricketers, at the earliest possible,” BCCI added.

PSL 2021, Eliminator 1 Preview: Old rivals Peshawar, Karachi clash in pursuit of survival

Owing to a decent performance in the do or die match against Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings eventually made a place for themselves in the playoffs and will now play Peshawar Zalmi in the eliminator 1. Karachi’s qualification meant that Lahore Qalandars were eliminated from the tournament. Well, all said and done, the Imad Qasim-led side will now be locking horns with the Zalmi team who have some world class players in the ranks. From captain Wahab Riaz to experienced all-rounder Shoaib Malik, Peshawar have a good and strong line up. While a few players had to leave the PSL mid-way for national duties, Zalmi found a new aggressive batsman in Zazai who is equipped enough to take on the bowling attack at a brisk pace. In fact, it was Zazai’s onslaught that handed Zalmi an easy win over Karachi earlier in the league stage. Karachi on the other side have Babar Azam who has been in terrific form in this competition and fast bowler Mohammad Amir who is certainly an exceptional talent. Apart from these two, opener Sharjeel Khan has the ability to go after the bowlers at any given stage. The only issue that Karachi has faced is Babar Azam’s scoring rate especially while chasing. The team management definitely needs to fix this up in this all important match. The sides have faced each other twice in this competition and have a win apiece to their name. Interestingly, both the teams won while chasing the target and by 6 wickets. The winner of this match will play the loser of the Qualifier in the Eliminator 2 while the team that suffers defeat in Eliminator 1 bows out. Match Details Match: PSZ vs KRK, Eliminator 1, Pakistan Super League 2021 Date: Monday, June 21, 2021 Time: 11:30 PM Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Pitch Report The tracks in Abu Dhabi have been pretty slow and have had something on offer to the spinners. But the scheduled timing of the match might be taken into consideration as there can be dew factor which can help the batsmen. So, if you win the toss bowl first. Team News Peshawar Zalmi: Three players, David Miller, Fabian Allen and Fidel Edwards had departed for national duties as South Africa and West Indies are slated to lock horns in a T20I series. But players like Zazai, Kamran Akmal, Malik, and skipper Wahab Riaz can play an important role in getting some fruitful results. Karachi Kings: Karachi Kings have a formidable batting line up and some good bowlers to give them stability in the big match. The only issue that needs to be tweaked is Babar Azam’s scoring rate when the side is chasing a target. He needs to accelerate after getting his eye in. Though, his form isn’t really a cause of concern as he has been among the runs in this competition. Probable XI Peshawar Zalmi: Hazratullah Zazai, Kamran Akmal (wk), Imam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Abrar Ahmed, Wahab Riaz (c), Umaid Asif, Waqar Salamkheil, Sameen Gul Karachi Kings: Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Martin Guptill, Najibullah Zadran, Chadwick Walton (wk), Imad Wasim (c), Noor Ahmad, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Ilyas, Arshad Iqbal Fantasy XI Kamran Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam (C), Shoaib Malik, Sherfane Rutherford, Imad Wasim (VC), Rovman Powell, Umaid Asif, Arshad-Iqbal, Mohammad Ilyas, Wahab Riaz