Browsing: captain

Chamari Athapaththu (PTI Photo) Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Sri Lankan woman cricketer to reach 4,000 ODI runs during her 46-run innings against Bangladesh in the Women’s World Cup 2025.The match took place at DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai where Athapaththu chose to bat first after winning the toss. She opened the innings but was dismissed by Rabeya Khan after scoring 46 runs off 43 balls.Despite not reaching a half-century, the 35-year-old reached the significant 4,000-run mark in ODIs. The next highest run-scorer from Sri Lanka is Shashikala Siriwardene with 2,029 runs, demonstrating Athapaththu’s dominance in women’s cricket.

Women’s World Cup prediction: Greenstone Lobo explains which team has best chance to win

Athapaththu needed just one run before the Bangladesh match to achieve this milestone. She now joins an elite group as the fourth Asian and 20th female batter overall to score 4,000 runs in Women’s ODIs.”HISTORY MADE! A massive congratulations to our trailblazer, Chamari Athapaththu, on becoming the first Sri Lankan and only the fourth Asian batter to cross the 4000 run mark in ODIs! She also now holds the record for the most ODI caps for Sri Lanka!”The match against Bangladesh is crucial for Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign. They must win to stay in contention for the semi-finals.Three teams have already secured their semi-final spots – Australia, South Africa, and England. Five teams are competing for the remaining position: India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.A defeat against Bangladesh would eliminate Sri Lanka from the tournament.

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Cummins was ruled out of Australia’s limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress in his back.

He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.

He said he would be “aggressive” and “take risks” in his recovery in order to play in the Ashes.

Bailey said he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but that it was “getting tight” for him to be fit for the first Test.

Should Cummins not be fit in time for the opener in Perth, former captain Steve Smith will skipper the side.

All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out of Australia’s squad for their one-day international series against India as a precaution because of soreness in his side.

Bailey described it as a “minor” injury and said Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be “in a good place to be ready to bowl”.

“We put so much time and energy into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder,” Bailey said.

“He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively.”

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File pic – Afghanistan cricket team (AFP Photo) NEW DELHI: Afghanistan have withdrawn from a tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka next month following the killing of three local cricketers in an attack, the countryâ€s cricket board confirmed on Friday. According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana in eastern Paktika province, near the Pakistan border, to participate in a friendly match.The ACB stated that “after returning home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering” in what it described as “a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.”

Pakistan-Afghanistan Clashes: Heavy Fighting Along Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Border, Taliban Posts Damaged

The board identified the three players as “Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon,” and added that five other people were also killed in the attack. No further details about the incident were provided.The ACB said it “considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” while extending its “deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families.”It added that the decision to withdraw from next monthâ€s tri-series was made “as a gesture of respect to the victims.”Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan took to social media and wrote: “I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan. A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage.””It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure. These unjust and unlawful actions represent a grave violation of human rights and must not go unnoticed.“In light of the precious innocent souls lost, I welcome the ACBâ€s decision of withdrawing from upcoming fixtures against Pakistan. I stand with our people at this difficult time, our national dignity must come before all else,” he wrote. Afghan international cricketer Fazalhaq Farooqi expressed his grief on social media, writing: “The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime.”Another international player, Mohammad Nabi, commented: “This incident is not only a tragedy for Paktika but for the entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole.”

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Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir (X-BCCI) Rohit Sharma is set to return to action for the first time since stepping down as Indiaâ€s ODI captain, as the team gears up for the upcoming three-match series against Australia. The veteran opener, who guided India to the Champions Trophy title earlier this year, was replaced by Shubman Gill earlier this month after the BCCI announced the change while unveiling the 15-member squad for the series beginning October 19.Click here to watch the video Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed during a press conference that he had personally informed Rohit about the selectors†decision to end his stint as ODI skipper and appoint Gill in his place. On Thursday, Rohit was spotted in a serious discussion with head coach Gautam Gambhir during an intense training session in Perth. The session also saw him batting alongside Virat Kohli in the nets, a moment captured and shared on X by Star Sports. The two stalwarts batted for nearly half an hour side by side, marking a nostalgic sight for fans. Indiaâ€s squad travelled to Perth in two groups over Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the white-ball tour, which features three ODIs and five T20Is starting on October 29. Both Kohli and Rohit had earlier retired from Test cricket and ended their T20I careers after leading India to the World Cup title in Barbados last year. With both players in the twilight of their careers, this tour could potentially mark their final appearance in Australia. Their future participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup remains uncertain, hinging on their fitness and form in the coming years. New captain Shubman Gill, however, has expressed full faith in the experienced duo, acknowledging their immense value to the side. The team is scheduled for additional training sessions on Friday and Saturday as preparations continue in full swing.

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Oct 15, 2025, 09:55 AM ET

NEW DELHI — Rory McIlroy has expressed a desire to be the European Ryder Cup captain one day — but not until “the mid-2030s.”

McIlroy is playing his first tournament in India this week as he returns to competitive action after helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup by beating the United States in New York last month.

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman has played in the last eight Ryder Cups and, as the world No. 2 and current Masters champion, figures he’ll be in the team for a few more — not least in Ireland in 2027.

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But he said Wednesday that sometime in the future he wants to lead the team as the captain rather than as its star player.

“Absolutely, I would love to be a captain one day, and I feel very fortunate that I’ve had a front-row seat playing under some of the best captains in history in the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said, name-checking Paul McGinley — the winning 2014 skipper — and Luke Donald, who led Europe in the last two matches.

“But,” he added, “I’d say not until the mid-2030s, hopefully, if I can keep playing well.”

McIlroy was on the end of a barrage of abuse from American spectators at Bethpage Black and occasionally gave it back to them in a febrile atmosphere that ended up being the subplot of the week.

He thinks that’s a shame, especially since Europe went on to become the first team to win an away Ryder Cup since 2012.

“Just over the last two weeks, being able to watch the highlights and just see, especially those first two days, in the foursomes and the four-balls how good [the] European team were,” McIlroy said. “The Americans would hit it close; we hit it closer. The Americans hole a putt, and we hole a putt on top, [and] it happened every single time.

“The unfortunate thing is people aren’t remembering that and they are remembering the week for the wrong reason. I would like to shift the narrative and focus on how good the European team were and how proud I was to be part of that team to win an away Ryder Cup.”

McIlroy also said he has been keen to play in India for some time as he seeks to make his schedule “more international.” In November, he’ll play in Abu Dhabi and at the European tour’s season-closing tournament in Dubai, and then at the Australian Open in December.

“I think over the last few years, I’ve enjoyed it even more — I’ve enjoyed the travel,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed getting to play in front of people that I’ve never played in front of before.”

As a self-confessed cricket “sicko,” McIlroy said he was disappointed he wouldn’t be able to squeeze in attending a match in India’s favorite sport during his trip.

“I’d love to come back and do that,” he said.

Cummins’ injury concerns heading into this winter’s Ashes could be a case of a career about to come full circle – but not in the way Australia’s captain will have wanted.

He made his Test debut as an 18-year-old in 2011 against South Africa, becoming the second-youngest player to take a five-wicket haul in an innings at that time, despite sustaining a heel injury during the match.

But his explosive debut proved to be something of a false dawn. Cummins had to wait six years to make his second Test appearance as a young body failed to withstand the load of fast bowling, suffering repeated stress fractures to his lower back.

Fast-forward 14 years, to the upcoming winter of 2025, and back problems have once again resurfaced, albeit this time as “lumbar bone stress” rather than a fracture. He has not bowled a ball since July.

If back injuries have plagued Cummins’ Test career, periods of fitness have been filled with ebullient excellence as a thoroughbred quick.

The 32-year-old, who was made Test captain in the wake of Tim Paine’s resignation shortly before the 2021-22 Ashes, has taken 309 Test wickets at an average of 22.10.

He is even more formidable in Australia, taking 177 wickets at 19.92, while he has also taken 91 wickets against England in just 19 matches.

In the most recent Ashes series in 2023, Cummins played in all five Tests, one of only two bowlers to do so along with Stuart Broad, taking 18 wickets.

A talismanic leader, Cummins enjoyed a glorious 2023 as captain, taking six wickets in Australia’s triumphant World Test Championship final and starring in their 50-over World Cup final victory in Ahmedabad – both against India.

He is the only captain in Test history to win the World Test Championship, World Cup and an Ashes series.

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That it took until Sunday’s three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women’s 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow (OK, Australia gold) over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.

Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss “drove us to rethink our standards,” Healy said this week.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.

Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What is certain is this century was far harder to see coming.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

“If you’ve been watching me in the nets, it’s been a frustrating experience because I feel like I’ve had no rhythm whatsoever,” said Healy.

“But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the contest.”

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Alyssa Healy’s brilliant 142 helped Australia complete a record women’s one-day international chase as they beat India by three wickets in the World Cup.

On a featherbed pitch in Visakhapatnam, India posted a commanding 330 from 48.5 overs – the highest total Australia had ever conceded in an ODI.

The platform for India had been laid by a 155-run opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, who accelerated quickly once they got themselves in.

Mandhana was the chief aggressor, top scoring with 80 off 66 balls, while a string of cameos from India’s middle order continued the assault.

All-rounder Annabel Sutherland swung some of the momentum back Australia’s way in the second half of India’s innings as she finished with impressive figures of 5-40.

Lesser teams might have been daunted by the chase, but Australia captain Healy produced a stoic knock to put her side on course for victory.

Healy’s innings off 107 balls featured 21 fours and three sixes and was chanceless until she sliced Shree Charani, who claimed 3-41, to Sneh Rana, who grasped a diving catch with her fingernails at point.

With 66 required off 67 deliveries, Ash Gardner, who made 45, steered Australia close before Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry got the World Cup holders within striking distance.

Perry had retired earlier in her innings with cramp but came back to finish the job and whacked a six off Rana to get Australia over the line with six balls to spare.

Australia’s record-breaking ODI chase eclipsed the 302 made by Sri Lanka to beat South Africa at Potchefstroom in April 2024.

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The Florida Panthers appear to be holding out hope their captain could step on the ice this season.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on the “Saturday Headlines” segment of Hockey Night in Canadathat the defending champs have not asked for full-year long-term injured reserve for Aleksander Barkov following knee surgery at the end of September.

The 30-year-old tore his ACL and MCL during practice two weeks ago and was ruled out for seven to nine months, effectively ending his 2025-26 campaign before it even started.

Despite that, the Panthers have opted not to place Barkov on LTIR, according to Friedman, thus forgoing the full cap relief they could gain on his $10 million AAV for this season.

It appears the move was made in case the centre can make a faster-than-expected recovery, as under the new CBA rules, if Barkov were placed on full-year LTIR, he’d no longer be eligible to return at any point during the 2025-26 season, including the playoffs.

Friedman referenced the Vegas Golden Knights’ decision to place Alex Pietrangelo on full-year LTIR when making that point, while also noting Florida “could change their minds later, if they wanted to, but right now Aleksander Barkov is still eligible to play this year if he’s ready to do it and the Panthers don’t get full (cap) relief.”

The reigning King Clancy and Selke trophy winner put up 71 points (20 goals and 51 assists) through 67 regular-season appearances last season, while logging 22 points (six goals and 16 assists) in Florida’s run to a second consecutive title.

Despite the absence of their captain, the Panthers have managed to open their season with a 2-0 record.

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Things were unravelling.

Davids used to miss some away games that involved more travel – a deal which had been agreed with Kleanthous.

There were rumours he would attend parties or go shopping instead – but Landvreugd said that was not true.

“He was in Amsterdam with people working for his clothing company,” said Landvreugd, who currently manages Den Bosch.

“It took a lot of time off him. He flew over one day or two days mostly doing that and nothing else.”

Landvreugd and Schreuder, both popular figures around the club, would take charge of games Davids missed.

Fairclough explained: “The players didn’t know what was going on. They didn’t know who was manager and who was the coach, who was going to take the next training session.”

Hyde tells a story of Davids sitting on the coach ready for an away game, before discovering it was going to take five hours.

“He shut his laptop, picked it up and walked off the coach,” he said.

Davids’ camp say this was before the Chester game on 18 January 2014.

“There was another situation that happened just before the team was about to leave on the coach, which was actually the final straw,” a representative said.

The fans loved Davids but grew frustrated with him missing games – and Kleanthous asked him if he could commit fully to going to every game.

His exit was announced hours after Barnet lost 2-1 at Chester leaving them 10th in the table.

Kleanthous accepts Davids had “started to lose interest” at this stage.

“He’d become less committed in my opinion and at that point it was time to shake hands and call it a day,” said Kleanthous.

Hyde added: “It’s funny if it happens once, but two or three times and you get beaten, and it’s your livelihoods, then it’s not funny anymore.

“We’ve got a manager who doesn’t turn up. In professional football, I don’t think that’s ever happened.”

Davids left Barnet with 25 wins in 68 games as a manager, plus one goal and five red cards in 39 games as a player.

Kleanthous concluded: “I look back on those as great times and I have nothing but respect for what he did.

“He came in, asked for nothing, worked his hardest, did his best and was a little bit unlucky in the end.”

Landvreugd and Schreuder were named joint-managers after Davids’ exit, but just two months later were replaced by Martin Allen.

Davids’ only managerial job since was six months in charge of Portuguese third-tier side Olhanense in 2021. He was the Netherlands assistant manager at the 2022 World Cup.

“He still wishes Barnet all the best, continues to follow them, and keeps in touch with Tony [Kleanthous],” said his representative.

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