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AUS vs SL: Australia made history in Test cricket by registering their highest-ever Test score in Asia on Day 2 of the first Test at Galle International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Australia posted a mammoth total of 654/6, featuring a double century from Usman Khawaja (232) and centuries from Steve Smith (141) and debutant Josh Inglis (102). This remarkable total not only dominated the day but also set a new record for their highest Test score in Asia, surpassing their previous best.

However, Josh Inglis became the first Australian batter in a decade to score a century on his Test debut.

After declaring at 654/6, Australia would have hoped to pick up one or two wickets before the close of play, but the dismissal of Angelo Matthews proved to be a bonus for them. The Aussies used four bowlers, with the first three to bowl each claiming a wicket, including Mitchell Starc, Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc made history by reaching 700 international wickets during the 1st Test against Sri Lanka. He marked the milestone by dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne early in the innings, joining an exclusive group of bowlers.

Mitchell Starc is now the fourth Australian bowler to achieve the remarkable milestone of 700 wickets.

Here are the 700-plus wicket-takers from Australia

1. 1001 wickets – Shane Warne – Retired
2. 949 wickets – Glenn McGrath – Retired
3. 718 wickets – Brett Lee – Retired
4. 700 wickets – Mitchell Starc – Active

Sri Lanka began their innings confidently with the bat, but technical flaws led to the quick dismissal of both openers. They lost another wicket when Travis Head took a brilliant catch at short leg to dismiss Angelo Mathews. At the end of day 2, Sri Lanka had reached 43/3 and still trailing by 610 runs.

Earlier, Australia delivered an outstanding batting performance on a pitch that appeared to be a batter’s paradise. Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and debutant Josh Inglis were the stars with the bat, while Travis Head gave a fiery start, putting Sri Lanka on the back foot.

Usman Khawaja powered his way to a maiden double century in Tests, pushing Australia to their highest-ever innings total in Asia – 654/6 declared.

Prabath Jayasuriya and Jeffrey Vandersay each claimed 3 wickets, while the other bowlers failed to take any wicket.

Also Read: Australia’s Stunning Performance On Day One

AUS VS SL: Australia is firmly in control with a score of 330/2 at the end of Day 1 at Galle International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Australia and Sri Lanka began their two-match Test series at Galle International Stadium on Wednesday, with Australia winning the toss and choosing to bat first. 

Australia made a strong start, with Travis Head thriving in his new role as an opener, as selectors believe his ability to handle spin makes him a better fit for the top order at Galle. Head’s rapid 57 for the first wicket, followed by a steady partnership of 92, put Sri Lanka on the back foot and placed considerable pressure on their bowling attack.

Sri Lanka focused their efforts on dismissing Travis Head, while on the other end, Usman Khawaja played his own game, reminiscent of his brilliant 141 in the opening match of the 2023 Ashes.

Sri Lanka’s persistence paid off when Prabath Jayasuriya removed Travis Head for 57 runs. Marnus Labuschagne joined Khawaja at the crease but couldn’t make his stay last, falling for 20 runs to Jeffrey Vandersay. After Labuschagne dismissal, Captain Steve Smith joined Usman Khawaja, who has stuck like a glue at one end. 

Khawaja played an elegant knock of 147* to remain unbeaten till the end, alongside he has got his captain for company, who also struck a brilliant century and reached a remarkable milestone in Test cricket.

AUS VS SL: Smith Masterclass

On the first day of Australia’s Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, Steve Smith became the fourth Australian and 15th player in history to surpass 10,000 runs in Red ball cricket. Smith was just a single run away from this historic milestone, having started his innings on 9,999 runs.

Steve Smith has now become a member of an elite group of players, including legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Joe Root, and some others, who have achieved this remarkable feat in Test cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in Test Cricket, with a total of 15,921. Among current players, only Joe Root was part of this exclusive club, with 12,972 runs. However, Steve Smith has now joined him in this elite group.

Australia took control on the opening day of the series, ending at 330/2 with Usman Khawaja (147) and Steve Smith (104) both hitting centuries. Sri Lanka managed to pick up two wickets, dismissing Travis Head for 57 and Marnus Labuschagne for 20.

Also Read: Australia Announce Squad For ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025

IND vs ENG: England defeated India by 26 runs in the 3rd T20I at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot. England made a strong comeback to keep the series alive with a dominant bowling performance.

After winning the toss, India invite England to bat first. England faced an early dismissal of their opening batter Phil Salt, who fell for Hardik Pandya for just 5 off 7 balls. Following Phil Salt’s dismissal, Ben Duckett took control, energizing England’s innings with a flurry of boundaries. He then formed a solid partnership with captain Jos Buttler, as the duo comfortably put together a 76-run stand, expertly handling both pace and the spin.

However, the partnership came to an end when Varun Chakravarthy dismissed captain Jos Buttler for 24 off 22 balls. Axar Patel then struck shortly after, removing Ben Duckett just after his superb fifty, as Duckett scored 51 off 28 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes.

From a commanding position at 83/1, England collapsed to 127/8 in no time as Varun Chakravarthy cast a spell with his magical spin, claiming a five-wicket haul. While Liam Livingstone fought back, hitting a few boundaries off Ravi Bishnoi to spark some hope for England. But his momentum was halted by Hardik Pandya, who dismissed him for 43 off 24 deliveries with the help of 1 four and five sixes.

At the end, England posted a respectable total, with the help of a strong 24-run partnership for the 10th wicket. They finished their innings at 171/9 after 20 overs.

IND vs ENG: India Response

India’s chase never gained momentum as they faltered at 145/9. They lost their first three wickets during the powerplay. Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson scored (3 off 6) and Abhishek Sharma contributed (24 off 14 balls) along with captain Suryakumar Yadav added (14 off 7 balls) got starts but couldn’t capitalize on them. Sanju Samson, in particular, struggled once again against the pace attack.

Tilak Varma (18 off 14) was dismissed by a brilliant delivery from Adil Rashid. Hardik Pandya stood out as the lone fighter with the bat, scoring 40 off 35 balls, but did not receive support from the other end. 

India fell short by 26 runs, finishing their innings at 145/9 after 20 overs.

For the next match, India will look to recover and clinch the series, while England will aim to carry forward their momentum and equalize the series.

Also Read: BBL Final 24-25: Mitchell Owen’s Fiery Ton Powers Hobart Hurricanes To Win

BBL Final 24-25: Mitchell Owen delivered a record-breaking performance for the ages, leading the Hobart Hurricanes to their first-ever Big Bash title with a commanding victory over the Sydney Thunder on Monday.

Opening batsman Mitchell Owen made history with a remarkable knock, smashing the third-fastest century in BBL history and guiding the Hobart Hurricanes to their first-ever title in the tournament’s 14-year history.

Chasing a target of 183, young batter Mitchell Owen provided a fiery start for the Hurricanes, bringing up his fifty in just 16 balls. However, his opening partner Caleb Jewell (13 off 12) and Nikhil Chaudhary (1 off 2) couldn’t stick around long, both falling cheaply in the early stages.

Just after Mitchell Owen brought up his century in a blistering 39 balls, he joined Craig Simmons in equaling the record for the fastest BBL century, though Owen achieved this remarkable feat in a final. It was one of the greatest innings in BBL history. Additionally, Owen became the second player to score a ton in a BBL final, following Jake Weatherald’s earlier achievement.

Mitchell Owen’s stunning innings came to a close when he was dismissed by Tom Andrews. Owen finished with an explosive 108 off 42 balls, including six fours and eleven sixes.

After Owen’s departure, Ben McDermott and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade took charge of the chase. McDermott contributed 18 off 12, while Wade unleashed a rapid 32 off 17. Their efforts helped steer the Hobart Hurricanes to their first-ever BBL title, as they chased down the target in just 14.1 overs.

BBL Final: 1st Inning

Earlier, Sydney Thunder got a flying start, reaching 97 runs after 10 overs. However, the tide began to turn when captain David Warner was dismissed for 48 off 32, followed by Matt Gilkes who fell for a golden duck, shifting the momentum in favor of the Hobart Hurricanes.

Sam Billings contributed 20 runs, while Jason Sangha played a standout knock of 67 off 42 balls, bringing up a half-century in just his third game of the season for the Sydney Thunder. However, both batters were soon dismissed, making their way back to the pavilion.

Late contributions from Ollie Davies (26 off 19) and Chris Green (16 off 9) helped the Thunders to reach a competitive total of 182-7 in 20 overs.

Also Read: West Indies Make History: First Test Win In Pakistan Since 1990

West Indies make History as Pakistan Collapses for 133 while Pursuing a 254-run Target in the Second Test at Multan Cricket Stadium.

The West Indies delivered a spin bowling masterstroke to dismantle Pakistan in the second and final Test, clinching a dominant 120-run win and drawing the two-match series 1-1.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican claimed five wickets, leading the West Indies to their historic first Test victory in Pakistan since 1990 on the third day of the match.

The hosts fell victim to their own spin tactics as West Indies’ left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican took nine wickets in the match, leading his team to a historic win over Pakistan on their home turf. Thanks to Warrican’s pivotal performances with the ball in both innings, the Windies dominated the hosts after 35 years.

Jomel Warrican stole the spotlight with a brilliant 5-wicket haul for just 27 runs. At the same time, Kevin Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie made key contributions, taking three and two wickets in the second innings.

West Indies Make History

Chasing visitors’ target of 254, Pakistan finished Day 2 at 76/4, with Saud Shakeel (13*) and Kashif Ali (1*) at the crease.

Beginning the third day at 76/4, Pakistan’s chances of victory hinged on Saud Shakeel. However, Kevin Sinclair struck early, removing Shakeel for 13 and leaving Pakistan at 76/5. Moments later, Jomel Warrican dismissed Kashif Ali for just one run, reducing Pakistan to 76/6. Both Saud and Kashif went without adding a single run on the third day. 

Pakistan briefly saw a glimmer of hope as Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha started to gain momentum. However, the fight was short-lived as Jomel Warrican struck, sending Salman Ali Agha to Pavilion for 15 runs before he made a 39-run stand with white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan. 

Also Read: Pakistan And West Indies Set To Prove Their Worth In Test Series

Jomel Warrican kept his spin spell going, trapping Mohammad Rizwan for 25 runs, leaving the hosts crippling at 122/8.

Shortly after, Noman Ali (6) and Sajid Khan (7) were dismissed by Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican, leaving Pakistan all out for 133. The West Indies secured a commanding 120-run victory, ending decades of anticipation.

No Pakistani batter managed to reach fifty, with Babar Azam top-scoring in the second innings with just 31 runs. On the other hand, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite played a crucial role, contributing a vital 52 runs to set the hosts a challenging target of 254.

However, Noman Ali was a standout performer, claiming 10 wickets across the match and making history as the first-ever Pakistani spinner to take a hat-trick in men’s Test cricket. Meanwhile, Sajid Khan also contributed significantly, picking up 6 wickets in the second Test match.

IND Vs ENG: Despite England’s strategies to halt India’s progress, Tilak Varma’s exceptional knock propelled the team to win the Match. 

In a thrilling T20 clash, Tilak Varma put on a brilliant display, leading India to a challenging victory over England in the second T20I with a match-winning 72* off 55 deliveries in Chennai.

India’s middle-order batsman Tilak Varma delivered one of his finest performances, guiding India to a thrilling two-wicket victory over England in the second T20I, thus securing a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Tilak scored the third half-century of his T20 career at a crucial moment. India were struggling at 78/5 in the 10th over and later found themselves at 126/7 at one point.

However, the young left-handed batsman displayed remarkable composure and steered India out of a tight spot, successfully chasing down the 166-run target with four balls remaining.

Along with Tilak Varma’s composed knock of 72, all-rounder Washington Sundar contributed a useful 26 off 19 balls, as the rest of the batsmen struggled to make an impact. Meanwhile, spinner Ravi Bishnoi added valuable support with two fours. Their collective performances guided India to chase down England’s target successfully.

Brydon Carse was the standout bowler for England, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 29 from four overs. Meanwhile, the rest of the bowlers managed just one wicket for each.

• Jofra Archer proved to be England’s most expensive bowler, conceding 60 runs in his four overs, resulting in an economy rate of 15.

IND Vs ENG: England Inning

England encountered an early blow as Arshdeep Singh removed their opening batsman, Phil Salt, for a mere four runs. Soon after, Ben Duckett followed him back to the pavilion, managing just 3 runs, after falling victim to Washington Sundar’s clever bowling.

Captain Jos Buttler played a few solid strokes to get England back on track before being dismissed by Axar Patel. He scored 45 off 30 balls, while Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone both contributed 13 runs each.

Jamie Smith made a rapid 22, and England’s middle-order batter Brydon Carse provided a late boost with 31 off 17 balls. Carse’s all-round performance was notable, as he also impressed with the ball. Eventually, these combined contributions resulted in a competitive total, with England finishing at 165/9 after 20 overs.

Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy each claimed two wickets, while the remaining bowlers took one wicket apiece. Ravi Bishnoi, however, went wicketless.

Also Read: Pakistan’s All-Spin Attack In The Hunt For A Series Sweep

Spin to Win: The second and final match of the two-match series between Pakistan and the West Indies is set to take place on January 25th at Multan Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan has considered a daring approach for the second Test against the West Indies, opting for three specialist spinners, supplemented by part-time bowlers, and leaving out any pace bowlers. Although all-rounder Kashif Ali is capable of delivering right-arm medium-fast bowling.

This decision comes after their spin-heavy success in Multan, where the trio of spinners claimed all 20 wickets in the series opener. This would be a significant tactical move, especially on a pitch that favors spinners, or if Pakistan feels the West Indies’ batters struggle against spin bowling. Pakistan are going to rely on the ability of their spinners to break through, rather than depending on pace.

Pakistan has dropped out the sole fast bowler (Khurram Shahzad) that played the first Test, opting for a spin-heavy attack and boosting their batting lineup. They brought in debutant all-rounder Kashif Ali to strengthen both their batting and bowling resources.

The West Indies will be without fast bowler Jayden Seales due to injury, who took three wickets in the opening match, Kemar Roach will replaced him.

Pakistan secured a commanding 127-run victory in just three days during the opening Test, with spinners Sajid Khan claiming nine wickets, Nauman Ali taking six, and Abrar Ahmed picking up five. This marked their third consecutive victory at home.

West Indies’ spinner Jomel Warrican also claimed a career-best 7-32, as spinners took 34 out of the 40 wickets in the match.

Also Read: Pakistan Likely Squad For The ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Spin to Win: About Pitch

The pitch in Multan will be offer plenty of turn, providing an ideal surface for spinners to dominate in the second Test.

Playing XI

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Abrar Ahmed.

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Alick Athanaze, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Kevin Sinclair, Kavem Hodge, Mikyle Louis, Tevin Imlach (WK), and Gudakesh Motie.

• The visitors are aiming to recover in the second match and level the series, while Pakistan is looking for a whitewash to seal the series.

Pakistan Squad: Pakistan has officially announced their 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which includes three players who were part of the team that won the title in 2017.

After clinching the last ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2017, hosted by England and Wales, Pakistan will look to capture a second title under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, with Salman Ali Agha named as his vice-captain.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has selected the squad for the upcoming home tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, along with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to take place in February and March. 

Saim Ayub, Pakistan’s young left-handed batsman, has been left out of the squad after suffering an ankle injury during the tour of South Africa. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation in London. His absence could potentially upset the balance of Pakistan’s squad considering his recent performances.

The squad includes three players from the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy-winning team, including Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman.

Also Read: India Announced Squad For ICC Champions Trophy 2025

All-rounder Khushdil Shah has rejoined the team following his recent strong performances in domestic fixtures and the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025.

In addition to him, Saim Ayub, who is injured, along with the out-of-form Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Sufiyan Muqeem, have also been excluded from the Champions Trophy squad. They are replaced by Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Saud Shakeel, and Faheem Ashraf.

Fakhar Zaman’s return was expected, especially after being dropped from the series against Australia and South Africa due to fitness and and Tweet issues, that he was posted in favor of Babar Azam when he was dropped out from the team.

Meanwhile, Tayyab Tahir, Kamran Ghulam, and Usman Khan (wk) will be part of the squad.  

Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will spearhead Pakistan’s pace attack, which will also include Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah.

Spinner Abrar Ahmed will head the spin department, with all-rounders Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha providing support. Additionally, Faheem Ashraf’s experience offers the team a valuable fast-bowling all-rounder option.

Pakistan Squad

1) Mohammad Rizwan (c)	2) Babar Azam	3) Fakhar Zaman
4) Salman Ali Agha (vc)	5) Saud Shakeel	6) Khushdil Shah
7) Tayyab Tahir	8) Kamran Ghulam	9) Usman Khan (wk)
10) Abrar Ahmed	11) Haris Rauf	12) Naseem Shah
13) Faheem Ashraf	14) Mohammad Hasnain	15) Shaheen Shah Afridi

Also Read: Australia Announce Squad For ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025

AU-W vs EN-W: Australia Women Clinch Victory in Second T20I, England Fall Short for 6 Runs (DLS Method) as Rain Disrupts the Match in Canberra.

Hoping to secure their first win in the multi-format series, England entered the match with high hopes and confidence, opting to bowl first. England got early breakthrough as Maia Bouchier ran out Australia’s opening batter, Georgia Voll, for just 5 runs.

Beth Mooney’s composed batting ensured Australia maintained control. They scored 54 runs during the powerplay, as she struck 44 runs off 31 balls, including 7 boundaries. Meanwhile, left-handed batter Phoebe Litchfield contributed 17 runs from 15 deliveries.

The total was further enhanced by Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath, who scored 48 from 35 balls, and the explosive 35 off 17 from Grace Harris, including 2 fours and 3 sixes. They forged an unbeaten partnership of 71 off 35 balls, enabling Australia to reach a total of 185 in their 20 overs.

In their pursuit of 185, England suffered an early blow when Maia Bouchier was dismissed for 13 runs. Danni Wyatt-Hodge delivered a strong performance, blasting half-century 52 off 40 balls, which included 8 boundaries.

The match was halted due to rain, and upon resumption, England lost two quick wickets, which disrupted their rhythm. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight took a while to find their footing but eventually built some momentum, adding 40-plus runs before rain interrupted play once again.

Captain Heather Knight, who remained unbeaten on 43 off 16 balls, was on track to chase down the target, but unfortunately, the rain brought the match to a halt. England were 168/4 in 19.1 overs.

In the end, Australia was crowned winners by 6 runs, as per the DLS method.

Also Read: Abhishek’s Quickfire Innings Powers India To T20 Victory

AUS-W vs ENG-W: The second T20I of the three-match series is set to begin today at Manuka Oval in Canberra on 23rd January.

Australia, after securing a commanding 57-run win in the opening T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground, now aims to gain an unbeatable lead in the second match of the series with a victory in Canberra on Thursday.

Beth Mooney led with the bat, scoring 75, while Georgia Wareham (3-25) and Alana King (2-14) shone with the ball as the standout performers in the opening match.

Having triumphed with a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series, Australia is now focused on clinching the T20I series against England Women.

Australia Women have claimed victory in all four encounters, including three ODIs and one T20I, having a 4-0 lead in the eight-match series. Meanwhile, England Women have found it difficult to turn promising situations into conclusive wins.

Although England can no longer claim victory in the multi-format series, there is still hope for the visitors. They have the chance to level the series if they manage to win the remaining two T20Is and the Test match. Now, England Women must seize this final opportunity to level the Ashes series, like they did in the 2023 edition.

AUS-W vs ENG-W: Live Streaming

The second T20I between Australia and England will be available for live streaming on the Disney+ Hotstar app and Star Sports Network, the official broadcasters for the Women’s Ashes 2025 series. Additionally, Willow TV will also provide live streaming of the match.

AUS-W vs ENG-W: Playing XI

AUSTRALIA WOMEN

Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney (WK), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (C), Georgia Wareham,  Annabel Sutherland, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt, and Grace Harris

ENGLAND WOMEN

Heather Knight (C), Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amy Jones (WK), Freya Kemp, Charlotte Dean, Lauren Bell, Sarah Glenn, and Sophie Ecclestone.

Also Read: Australia Dominates England With 57-Run Victory in 1st T20I