Australia drew first blood in the 2023 Ashes as Pat Cummins led his side to a heart-pounding victory over England at Edgbaston.
The first Test of the series swung backwards and forwards for the full five days, before the tourists finally secured a two-wicket win at 7.20pm on day five – 80 minutes after the scheduled close.
Captain Cummins played the decisive hand, hitting an unbeaten 44 in a ninth-wicket stand of 55 with Nathan Lyon. Watching Australia chase down 281 was a gut-wrenching result for an England team that had been responsible for making a result possible in the first place.
A frustratingly placid pitch and two rain-shortened days meant a draw should have been the likeliest outcome, but their rapid rate of scoring – 5.03 an over in the first innings and 4.11 in the second – moved the game forward at pace. Ben Stokes’ audacious declaration to set up the game had a similar effect.
Stokes looked to have set up an England triumph when he defied his long-standing knee injury to remove player-of-the-match Usman Khawaja for 65, but in the end they could not finish the job and will head to Lord’s down 1-0 with four to play.
Selection gamble leaves England in a spin
When England persuaded Moeen Ali to come out of retirement after almost two years as a white-ball specialist, they knew it was a roll of the dice. In the end the gamble cost them during a tense finale as the all-rounder was unable to play a full role due to a painful open blister on his right index finger. He was able to contribute just seven overs at a time when he should have been a key weapon, with Joe Root’s part-time off-breaks accounting for 15. Moeen did manage to dismiss Travis Head, but he was also the team’s most expensive bowler and was a bystander at the business end. Will England double down in the second Test or send for back-up?
Half-chances add to England’s missed opportunities
Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow faced criticism for his glovework earlier in the match, with four possible chances getting past him. But England saw another couple of fiendishly difficult openings go begging off Australia’s match-winning duo. Root got a hand to a low return catch while Cummins was still in single figures, but could only parry it, while Stokes came desperately close to a sensational take in the deep as Lyon hit out. He leapt into the air and plucked the ball out of the sky, but could not keep it under control as he came crashing to the ground. Had either of those fiendishly hard chances stuck, England would surely have been celebrating at the close.
Australia’s best ever Ashes chasesBig numberView from the dressing roomWhat comes next
While the dust settles on a thrilling week, things are only beginning to get going in the women’s Ashes. Attention moves quickly from West Midlands to East Midlands, with the one-off Test between Heather Knight’s England and Alyssa Healy’s Australia starting in Nottingham on Thursday. For the men’s squads there is time for a few days off before renewing hostilities at Lord’s next Wednesday.
Birthday boy Sunil Narine becomes IPL's MVP for a record third time after KKR's triumph
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Sunil Narine was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Indian Premier League 2024, marking a historic third time he has won the prestigious award. The former West Indies cricketer played a pivotal role in KKR's emphatic victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL final on Sunday, May 26, when he celebrated his 36th birthday.
Narine's stellar performance throughout the season was a key factor in KKR's success. He scored 488 runs at an average of 37.07 and an impressive strike rate of 179.85. With the ball, the 36-year-old off-spinner took 17 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 6.90. Additionally, his fielding contributions were significant, with seven catches and three run-outs.
"The feeling is overwhelming and I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift. I am enjoying my cricket at the moment -- batting, bowling and fielding. What helps is when the team is winning," Narine said after receiving the MVP award.
Narine's overall performance earned him 431.5 MVP points, putting him well ahead of second-placed Virat Kohli (315.5 points) and third-placed Travis Head (274 points). The Trinidadian previously clinched the award in 2012 and 2018. He is also the first player to win the IPL MVP three times.
The MVP award, formerly known as the Player of the Tournament, was renamed in 2013. It is awarded based on a player's performance across various metrics, including runs, wickets, boundaries, catches, run-outs, and dot balls. The calculation is as follows: 3.5 points for each wicket and six hit, 2.5 points for each boundary, catch, run-out, and stumping, and one point for each dot ball bowled.
Narine’s unprecedented third MVP win highlights his all-around abilities and consistency over the years, cementing his status as one of the IPL’s greatest players. As KKR celebrates their triumph, Narine’s remarkable season stands as a testament to his enduring skill and dedication to the game.
Buttler to miss England's third T20 with Pakistan for birth of child
Jos Buttler will miss England's third T20 against Pakistan in Cardiff on Tuesday, with his wife due to give birth.
The skipper has left the squad to be with wife Louise for the birth of their third child.
Buttler produced an inspired performance in the second T20 at Edgebaston on Saturday, with his contribution of 84 from 54 deliveries helping the hosts to a 23-run victory.
The 33-year-old's knock, which included eight fours and three sixes, marked the second-highest score by an England captain in a T20I, behind Eoin Morgan's 91 against New Zealand in 2019.
However, the hosts will have to make do without their white-ball skipper in Cardiff, while he could potentially miss the fourth T20 at The Oval on Thursday and some matches at the T20 World Cup, which begins on Sunday.
Moeen Ali will captain England in Buttler's absence, with either Phil Salt or Jonny Bairstow set to deputise as wicketkeeper.
England will begin the defence of their T20 World Cup title against Scotland in the Caribbean on June 4.
ICC extends partnership with FanCraze to launch Web3 fantasy game
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and FanCraze on Monday announced a multi-year partnership extension marking a significant milestone in the evolution of digital fan engagement with the launch of exciting new products during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The announcement also detailed the upcoming launch of ICC Crictos SuperTeam, a Web3 fantasy game featuring officially licensed ICC digital video collectibles. With SuperTeam, fans will be able to build fantasy teams using their ICC Crictos and compete in contests to win amazing rewards on a daily basis, week after week proving their cricket nous to the world.
The exciting partnership will build on the success of ICC Crictos over the past two years which has provided opportunities for new and existing fans to engage with men’s and women’s cricket. ICC Crictos transformed the way fans experience the sport, providing them with exclusive digital video collectibles that celebrate the greatest moments in cricket history, from iconic match-winning sixes to unforgettable performances by the world’s best players.
Through unique activations such as gifting special ICC Crictos to fans that attended the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 and exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, ICC Crictos have brought supporters closer to the action than ever before. Events like the ICC Quiz Night and ICC Stadium Tours have further enriched the fan experience, offering enthusiasts the chance to meet their heroes and participate in engaging activities that celebrate the spirit of cricket.
ICC Head of Digital, Finn Bradshaw, said: “We are delighted to unveil ICC Crictos SuperTeam and offer cricket fans around the world a new and innovative gameplay experience for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. We are excited to enter a new era of digital engagement, using innovative technology to deepen fan interaction and grow the sport on a global scale. Signing up will give fans the chance to be closer to the game than ever before and be a part of the biggest cricket carnival spectacle ever, from anywhere in the world.”
FanCraze Co-Founder and CEO, Anshum Bhambri, said: “The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a truly global competition and has been the home to so many iconic moments and players over the last 15+ years. As cricket fans ourselves, the launch of SuperTeam is something we’ve dreamt of since we founded the business.
“It’s a major milestone for us as we pursue our goal to build a compelling global community for cricket fans, and we can’t wait to see fans put together fantasy teams using their ICC Crictos during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. SuperTeam will revolutionize digital sports fandom and will build upon FanCraze’s userbase across 100+ countries.”
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