Browsing: test

Test Twenty is a recently launched cricket format that combines Twenty20 cricket with Test cricket. It was formally released on October 16, 2025, and is designed for players between the ages of 13 and 19. The first season will begin in January 2026 in India.

Both teams bat twice, just like in a Test match, and the format consists of 80 overs in a single day split into four innings of 20 overs each. The matches will be played in whites with a red ball. Six teams, including three from India and three each from Dubai, London, and the USA, will compete in the first Test Twenty season. Eight Indian and eight international cricket players will make up each team’s 16 players. The first edition will be a boys-only tournament, with a girls†version planned from the second season onward.

The concept was developed by Gaurav Bahirvani, Executive Chairman of The One One Six Network. The advisory board includes cricket legends Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, AB de Villiers, and Harbhajan Singh. As of now, Test Twenty is not approved by the ICC. The International Cricket Council officially recognizes only Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

Rules of Test Twenty: Cricketâ€s Newest Format

Test Twenty is an 80-over format designed to combine the traditions of Test cricket with the excitement of T20Is. Each team plays two innings of 20 overs each, and the match is finished in a single day. Since the score from the first inning is carried over, the final score is the sum of the individual scores. Like traditional tests, there are four possible outcomes: win, lose, tie, or draw. If both teams end with equal totals, a Super Over decides the winner. However, if a batting team finishes its innings with five or more wickets remaining, it may choose a draw.

In this format, each team gets one power play, lasting four overs, which the captain can call at any time; if unused, it automatically activates between overs 7 and 10 of the second innings. A follow-on can be enforced if the second team trails by 75 runs or more after their first innings. If a team is bowled out before completing 10 overs in its first innings, the opposing team receives three additional overs. Only five bowlers may be used per side, and each can bowl a maximum of eight overs across both innings.

In this format, T20 rules apply for wides and no-balls, but if a bowler concedes three or more in one over, a three-run penalty is added. A five-run penalty and loss of a timeout will be imposed in case of slow overrates. In case of a tie, the game goes into a Super Session (a one-over eliminator). If the result remains level, the team with more boundaries is declared the winner.

When will the inaugural Test Twenty begin?

The inaugural Test Twenty season will begin in January 2026. It will include six global franchises, three based in Indian cities and three international teams from Dubai, London, and the United States. Each team will have 16 players, made up of eight Indian and eight international players.

Player registration for cricketers aged 13 to 19 opened on October 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM IST on www.testwenty.com/register. The first season will be hosted in India and will feature only a boys†tournament, while a girls†edition will be introduced from the second season.

FAQs

Q. What is the Test Twenty format?
A. Test Twenty is cricketâ€s new fourth format that combines features of Test and T20 cricket. Each match has a total of 80 overs, and both teams bat twice for 20 overs each.

Q. How long does a Test Twenty match last?
A. It is completed in one day, with 80 overs played in total.

Q. How is Test Twenty different from regular T20 cricket?
A. Regular T20 has one inning of 20 overs per team, while Test Twenty has two innings of 20 overs each per side, making it a four-inning match.

Q. When will the Test Twenty format start?
A. The format is set to launch in January 2026.

Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.

Source link

Test Twenty is cricket’s new format, which was officially introduced on October 17, 2025, as the fourth format of the game after Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. It is created to attract young fans aged 13–19 and mixes the structure of Test cricket with T20 matches. The format has 80 overs in total, with two innings of 20 overs per team, and scores are continued like in Test matches. Matches can end in a win, loss, tie, or draw.

The first edition of the Test Twenty Championship will begin in January 2026, hosted in India for the first two seasons. Entry for teenagers aged 13–19 will be free with a valid ID.

The initiative was launched by Matthew Hayden, Harbhajan Singh, Sir Clive Lloyd, AB de Villiers, and organizer Gaurav Bahirvani. Lloyd praised the format, saying it can help revive interest in Test-style cricket, especially in regions like the West Indies, where traditional Test cricket has declined. The long-term plan is to make Test Twenty a touring league, expanding to non-traditional cricket nations in future editions.

What Is Test Twenty?

Test Twenty is cricketâ€s newest format that combines parts of Test cricket and T20. It has 80 overs in a single day, divided into four innings, each team bats twice, similar to a Test match. The rules of both Test and T20 cricket apply, with some changes to make the format more exciting, short, and TV-friendly. A match may end in a draw, tie, loss, or victory.

The format focuses on players aged 13–19 and aims to discover and develop young talent globally. In this format, more advanced technologies, such as motion sensors in bats and balls and AI-powered scouting, are reported to be used to help players get better and gain a better understanding of the game.

In January 2026, India will host the inaugural Junior Test Twenty Championship (JTTC). Six franchises will take part: three in India and three international teams based in Dubai, London, and a US city. Each team will have a squad of 16 players with 8 Indian and 8 international players, and a Wildcard Pool of 204 players will allow mid-season selections.

Rules and Format of Test Twenty

Test Twenty is cricketâ€s newest format that combines features of Test cricket and T20. Each match is played in one day with 80 overs in total, divided into four innings, so each team bats twice. A match may end in a draw, tie, loss, or victory.

It follows the rules of both Test and T20 cricket, but with small adjustments to make the game faster and suitable for broadcasting. The primary goal of Test Twenty is to develop cricket talent globally by focusing on young players between the ages of 13 and 19.

The competition will include six teams, three in India and three internationally in Dubai, London, and a US city. Each team will have a 16-player squad with eight Indian and eight international players. A total of 96 players will be drafted, and an additional 204 players will make up a Wildcard Pool for mid-season picks.

FAQs

Q. What is the Test T20 format?

A. Test T20 is a new cricket format that mixes Test cricket with T20 cricket. The match has 80 overs in total, and each team bats 20 overs in two innings.

Q. What is the format of a regular T20 match?

A. In T20 cricket, each team plays one innings with a maximum of 20 overs. Each bowler can bowl up to 4 overs.

Q. What is Test Twenty?

A. Test Twenty is the worldâ€s first 80-over format. It combines Test strategy with T20 intensity, making matches faster while keeping some Test elements.

Q. What is the structure of T20?

A. T20 is a limited-overs match with two teams, each batting 20 overs (120 balls) in one innings.

Q. What will be the ball color in the new Test Twenty format?

A. Test Twenty matches will be played with the red ball, similar to traditional Test cricket.

Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.

Source link

NEW YORK — Sometimes, the problem that is out of your control presents more difficulties than the one you caused yourself.

In the case of the National Hockey League and the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, news that the arena in Milan may not be ready on time landed with a thud, just as the NHL held its Board of Governors meeting Wednesday in New York.

“We’ve had a concern for the last two years on the progress of the rink — both rinks, but mainly the main one,†said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Local organizers confirmed to the Associated Press on Wednesday that the primary test event scheduled for December at the 16,000-seat Santagiulia arena — the under-20 world championship from Dec. 8-14 — has been moved to a smaller rink, and that no new test event has been scheduled.

It seems possible at this point that the first hockey game played in the new Olympic arena will be the first game of the Olympic tournament.

“Itâ€s going to be very close to the start of the games, the timeline is very tight. But we knew that,†Milano-Cortina local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier said recently, according to the AP.

What will the NHL do if the arena isnâ€t ready on time?

“It’s the IOC’s responsibility,†said Bettman, referencing the International Olympic Committee. “We’re invited guests, but they know of our concerns and we’re expecting that they’re going to make good on all the promises to have a facility that is, from a competitive standpoint, first-class.â€

Does the NHL have a contingency plan?

“You’d better talk to the IOC,†directed Bettman. “It’s not our issue.â€

It will become the leagueâ€s issues, however, if the ice presents a safety concern. The NHL and the players†association will not be enamoured with placing the lionâ€s share of their best players at risk for an Olympic committee that can not provide a safe surface on which to play.

“If we have concerns, we’ll express them,†Bettman said on Wednesday in New York. “We are constrained in what we can and can’t do, request and demand, and if it reaches a certain point we’ll have to deal with it. But I’m not speculating, and we’ve been constantly assured by the IOC and the IIHF that it will be ok.

“Obviously the Players’ Association will share our concerns if there are any that are necessary.â€

The U-20 tournament has been moved to the Rho Fiera hockey arena, which was built inside a giant convention centre on Milanâ€s outskirts. That venue will host secondary matches during the games. When complete, the Santagiulia venue will be Italyâ€s largest indoor arena.

• 
• Real Kyper and Bourne

  Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne talk all things hockey with some of the biggest names in the game. Watch live every weekday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ — or listen live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN — from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

  Full episode

The governors talked about the NHLâ€s international schedule, as part of a meeting that Bettman termed “nuts and bolts,†covering issues like hockey operations, an officiating update, a safety and security update and the topic of facilities standards.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said plans for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey are on schedule.

“We’ve had constructive conversations with the IIHF recently. We would hope that, if anything, we will be done by the end of the month, hopefully,†he said.

Daly said the NHL held workshops in Toronto and Zurich in recent weeks, and garnered much interest from potential host cities.

“We’re expecting 18 bids in in North America, 10 bids in in Europe, and we expect to be in a position to evaluate those bids at the end of this year, beginning of next year, and make decisions in February,†hew said.

Between the Olympics, a pending World Cup and the annual Global Series, the governors are in constant discussion over where the NHL should bring its game to next.

The fact that the gameâ€s best player and the NHLâ€s best European player — Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — have not played a game outside North America in their NHL career seems like something that should be remedied.

“It’s sort of at some point inevitable that that’ll happen,†said Edmonton Oilers President Jeff Jackson. “But nothing’s planned at this point.â€

Asked about that, Bettman had “Nothing Iâ€m prepared to announce.â€

“We’re focused on what we can be doing more outside of North America to continue to grow the game on a worldwide basis,†he said. “That’s becoming an increasing focus and priority for us, because we believe we’re the most international — certainly in our player composition — of the four major sports in North America.â€

No news is good news on the expansion and salary cap fronts.

Bettman claimed expansion was not even discussed on Wednesday, despite stated interest from two groups in Atlanta and bubbling interest for a return to Phoenix.

“There is, and continues to be, interest from lots of places. But none of it has reached the level that we need to focus on at this point,†he said.

Will that door open in time for the next meetings in December?

“It’s not a door that we open. If somebody knocks on the door, we’ll peek around to see who’s knocking and then decide what to do with it,†he said.

On the salary cap, Bettman would not stray from previously announced numbers of an increase to $104 million for next season, and $113.5 million in 2027-28.

“Thereâ€s no change. It is what weâ€ve already agreed to.â€

Source link

OTTAWA — Good teams survive the loss of their most important player.

The injury appears to have occurred on Monday when Predators captain Roman Josi slammed Tkachuk with a cross-check from behind, causing him to go awkwardly into the boards.

Tkachuk was irate, possibly a telling sign that he knew it was a significant injury right away. He continued playing but didnâ€t in the last nine minutes of the game.

According to Senators head coach Travis Green, Tkachuk will be out “a significant amount of time,†or, more specifically, a minimum of four weeks.

There is still no clarity as to whether Tkachuk broke his hand or wrist on the play, and whether he will need surgery. If surgery is required, recovery could be even longer.  Zach Hyman broke his wrist and dislocated it in May and wonâ€t return until November.

“At the end of the day, you canâ€t replace a player like that,†said Drake Batherson, who will make his own return from injury Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).

You can fill the Canadian Tire Centre with all the clichés about what makes a great captain, and theyâ€d all fit Tkachuk.

The Senators will miss his goal production. Tkachuk has led or been second in goals for the Senators each of the last four seasons, including leading the team last season with 29 goals in just 72 games.

Then thereâ€s the fighting, sheer toughness and the not-fun-to-play-against component he brings to every game.

And theyâ€ll miss his passionate commitment to win: Leadership.

Itâ€s a massive loss, but the Senators have experience to lean on from last season when Tkachuk went down after the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Senators went 5-4-1 from late February to early April, good enough to propel themselves into the playoffs. During that stretch, Tim Stutzle had multiple different linemates, including David Perron, Batherson and even longtime AHLer Angus Crookshank. The Senators, always a stout defensive team, became even more suffocating, with two shutouts while allowing 2.73 goals per game, significantly lower than their season average of 2.93. Defensive, low-event hockey kept the Senators in games.

Ottawa will need to replicate that and more this time around. Luckily for the Senators, the schedule for the next four weeks is light, with only four of their 15 games against teams that made the playoffs last year. There are winnable games that should allow the Senators to pick up points without Tkachuk.Â

Tkachuk’s injury will shift the onus for offensive production onto Stutzle. Who will be his left winger?

The only natural left-winger the Senators have on their roster is Olle Lycksell, who has just one goal in his 46-game career. Not ideal.

Perron and Ridly Greig are the next two left wingers on the depth chart, with Claude Giroux and Fabian Zetterlund as other possibilities. The Senators donâ€t just need someone to step up and fill that spot to Stutzleâ€s left, they also need players on every line to step up their play.

But Green loves his options, and Tkachuk’s injury gives him opportunities to juggle. There are lots of moving parts, and thereâ€s no question Green will have a blender out to try new combinations, as he should.

The next month will be a real litmus test for Zetterlund and Dylan Cozens, neither of whom has yet to match expectations since coming to the Senators before the trade deadline last season.

In Zetterlund’s case, he has been playing on the right side of Stutzle and Tkachuk but is comfortable as a right-shot left winger. He has had great analytics with Stutzle and Tkachuk on the top line, but is still looking for his first point through three games this season after signing a three-year, $12.75-million contract in the off-season. Zetterlund has two goals and five points in 29 games with the Senators, including playoffs. Sometimes stats speak for themselves, but Zetterlund was once a 20-goal scorer with the Sharks, and the Senators are counting on him to do it again.

Similar to Zetterlund, there is a ton of pressure on Cozens to step up without Tkachuk. That was the case even before the injury. So far, heâ€s been fine and produced on the power play, but not at five-on-five. For Ottawa to become a great team, a lot rides on whether Cozens is the 30-goal scorer from three seasons ago or the player who hasnâ€t reached over 20 in any other year. Like with Zetterlund, if Cozens doesnâ€t score much with Tkachuk out, the Senators will be starved for offence.

Maybe Cozens is better as a finishing winger on Stutzleâ€s right side. Shane Pinto, who plays the more important matchups while producing more than Cozens, could slide into the second-line centre role.

• 
• 32 Thoughts: The Podcast

  Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.

  Latest episode

Another option in the top six for the Senators is Batherson, who has been a consistent scorer, with three consecutive 60-point seasons.

Interestingly, Batherson hasnâ€t played much with Stutzle over the years, but he did unite with the German in the majority of games when Tkachuk was out last season. When the two were on the ice together last season, the Senators had a 57 per cent expected goals share at five-on-five. It could be time to reunite Ottawaâ€s two most dynamic players with Tkachuk out. Batherson might have the pace and skill to match Stutzle, if he’s fully up to speed after missing the end of the pre-season.

But the obvious solution to filling the hole on Stutzle’s wing could be hiding in plain sight. Giroux could return to the top line, where heâ€s played with Stutzle the past three seasons alongside Tkachuk. The elder statesman has looked as effective this season as last, by analytics and the eye test. The problem with moving Giroux is that this season the third line of Giroux-Pinto-Greig has been the Senators’ best unit. Theyâ€ve contributed three of Ottawaâ€s five five-on-five goals with an expected goals share of 63 per cent. It would be risky to break that group up.

Regardless of how Ottawa tries to make up for Tkachukâ€s absence with scoring by committee, the Senators are in a win-now mode. A regression to missing the playoffs would be a “disappointment,†owner Michael Andlauer has said previously. It’s still only Week 2 but if the Senators free-fall down the standings without Tkachuk, they wonâ€t get the reward of a high first-round draft pick this season due to the punishment for the botched Evgenii Dadonov trade (they were docked their first-round pick). The Senators have zero incentive to tank.

The Panthers could serve as inspiration for the Senators during this next stretch. They’re playing without their captain (Aleksander Barkov) and their Tkachuk (older brother Matthew) and thumped the Senators 6-2 last weekend. Theyâ€re fine. Ottawa is no Florida, but to even come close, the Senators will need to emulate the Panthers. Next man up.Â

Source link

Ravichandran Ashwin of India celebrates with Virat Kohli (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images) Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has advocated for the establishment of standard Test centres for home matches in India, supporting earlier calls made by Virat Kohli in 2019. Speaking on his YouTube channel “Ash ki Baat,” the 39-year-old off-spinner emphasized the importance of considering player familiarity and pitch conditions, alongside crowd attendance, when selecting Test match venues across the country.Ashwin highlighted that playing conditions vary significantly across different regions in India, which can impact the quality of Test matches. He specifically pointed out the challenges with pitches in certain parts of the country, particularly noting the lack of bounce in eastern regions.The 106-Test veteran stressed that the selection of Test venues should prioritize locations with superior pitch conditions, where the Indian team has experience playing. This familiarity, according to Ashwin, constitutes a legitimate home advantage.”Test centres is not about crowds alone. It is also about familiarity of conditions. If we are playing a Test in Guwahati or Ranchi, I am not against these venues as a possibility. But the problem in India is every surface has a different identity. There is literally no bounce in the Eastern part of the country. It becomes a very ordinary Test match pitch then.”Ashwin expressed concern about hosting matches in venues where even Indian players lack first-class cricket experience. He referenced the recent Test match in Guwahati against South Africa to illustrate his point about unfamiliar venues.”Make sure whichever Test centre you decide has the best pitches. Some venues are better than others only because the pitches are better and the team is used to conditions. That is home advantage. Otherwise the only point is you are playing within that Indian map as home, but is not home.”The discussion aligns with ViratKohli’s previous recommendation from 2019, where he proposed limiting Test matches to five permanent centres in India. Ashwin acknowledged the historical reasons for multiple Test centres but questioned their current relevance.”Eden Gardens, Guwahati – playing against South Africa there, should there be standard Test centres? Virat said years ago they must be fixed. I personally think it’s about time, why did we make Test centres? So more cricketers could emerge, and their associations would get more funding. But Guwahati as a Test match is not a home game for either team, and I don’t think anyone in the Indian team has played a first-class game in Guwahati.”Kohli’s original proposal from 2019 suggested maintaining venue rotation for limited-overs formats while establishing fixed Test centres. His vision aimed to provide visiting teams with clearer expectations regarding playing conditions and crowd atmosphere.”We’ve been discussing this for a long time now, and in my opinion we should have five Test centres, period. I mean, I agree [with] state associations and rotation and giving games and all that, that is fine for T20 and one-day cricket, but Test cricket, teams coming to India should know, ‘we’re going to play at these five centres, these are the pitches we’re going to expect, these are the kind of people that will come to watch, crowds’.”The debate around standardizing Test venues in India continues to highlight the balance between maintaining traditional rotation policies and establishing consistent playing conditions for the longest format of the game.

Source link

It was only the fourth time since 1961 that India had to bat again in a Test after enforcing the follow-on (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: India were left with just 58 runs to seal a 2-0 series sweep as they reached 63-1 on Day 4 of the second Test against West Indies. KL Rahul was unbeaten on 25, while Sai Sudharsan held firm on 30 from 47 balls, hitting five boundaries. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had scored a brilliant 175 in the first innings, was dismissed for eight as India chased 121 for victory. Although there was an option to extend play by 30 minutes, it wasnâ€t needed.West Indies made India toil in their second innings, with Shai Hope scoring his first Test century in eight years to help the visitors reach 390 in 118.5 overs. John Campbell also notched his maiden Test hundred, and a 79-run stand for the last wicket ensured India had to bat on Day 5.West Indies had scored 248 in their first innings in reply to Indiaâ€s massive 518-5 declared, giving away a 270-run lead. In the morning session, Campbell, whose previous best was 68 against New Zealand in 2020, batted brilliantly alongside Hope. The pair added 177 runs, reducing Indiaâ€s lead to just 18 at lunch. Campbell fell lbw to Ravindra Jadeja before the break, and Mohammed Siraj then removed Hope for 103, sparking a collapse. Kuldeep Yadav ran through the lower order, dismissing Tevin Imlach, Roston Chase, and Khary Pierre in quick succession to finish with eight wickets.West Indies reached 361-9 at tea after a 30-minute extension, with Justin Greaves (50) and Jaydon Seales (32) frustrating the tiring Indian bowlers before Jasprit Bumrah (3-44) wrapped up the innings. It was only the fourth time since 1961 that India had to bat again in a Test after enforcing the follow-on.

When was the last time a Test in India went into Day 5?

Such extended contests are rare in India, a country where home conditions usually favour the hosts. The last Test in India to go the full five days was the opening match of the three-Test series against New Zealand in Bengaluru in 2024. Rain had washed out Day 1, and India were bowled out for just 46. New Zealand responded with 402, thanks to Rachin Ravindraâ€s brilliant 134 off 157 balls, and went on to win by eight wickets. Ravindra was named Player of the Match for his exceptional performance.

Source link

India vs West Indies (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) NEW DELHI: The Indian bowling unit demonstrated resilience on a challenging sub-continental pitch, positioning India close to achieving a 2-0 series sweep against West Indies on day four of the second Test. India needs 58 more runs on the final day, having reached 63 for 1 at stumps while chasing 121.The Indian bowlers collectively bowled for 118.5 overs in the second innings. Jasprit Bumrah took 3/44, Kuldeep Yadav claimed 3/104, Ravindra Jadeja picked 1/102, Mohammed Siraj grabbed 2/43, and Washington Sundar secured 1/80.West Indies were bowled out for 390, setting India a target of 121 runs to chase in the remaining 18 overs of day four.KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan remained unbeaten on 25 and 30 respectively, playing cautiously after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal for 8 runs.Siraj’s crucial breakthrough with the second new ball, followed by Kuldeep Yadav’s effective spell against the lower-middle order, helped India gain momentum in the post-lunch session.John Campbell scored 115 runs from 199 balls while Shai Hope made 103 from 214 deliveries. Their 177-run partnership for the third wicket showcased West Indies’ fighting spirit.Jayden Seales contributed 32 runs and Justin Greaves remained unbeaten on 50, putting together a 79-run stand for the final wicket to extend the match to day five.The West Indies team managed to score two centuries, forcing India to bat again in the match.All Indian bowlers contributed effectively with timely wickets throughout the innings.The Indian bowling attack persevered through long spells across both innings despite conditions that weren’t favourable for either spin or pace bowling.The Feroz Shah Kotla pitch remained unresponsive even on day four.While the low bounce of deliveries contributed to West Indies batsmen’s dismissals, their shot selection was largely responsible for their downfall.The match proceedings became so repetitive that broadcast coverage shifted focus to discussing the upcoming ODI series against Australia.John Campbell achieved his first Test century in 25 matches with a six off Ravindra Jadeja over cow corner.The flat pitch made it comfortable for batsmen to handle spin bowling until Campbell’s unfortunate dismissal through an ambitious reverse sweep, confirmed leg-before by DRS.Campbell’s wicket didn’t immediately impact the West Indies’ momentum as captain Roston Chase scored 40 runs and partnered with Hope for a 51-run fourth-wicket stand.The match seemed to be heading towards a challenging fourth-innings target for India.However, after the 80th over, Bumrah and Siraj used the new ball effectively, troubling Hope with short-pitched deliveries despite the unresponsive nature of the pitch.

Source link

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.

Source link

Oct 10, 2025, 12:26 PM ET

LONDON — A professional tennis player who said a kiss caused a positive methamphetamine drug test was suspended for four years by the International Tennis Integrity Agency on Friday.

Goncalo Oliveira, who represents Venezuela, was provisionally suspended in January following a positive test in November 2024 while competing at the ATP Challenger event in Manzanillo, Mexico. Both his A and B samples contained the banned substance.

Editor’s Picks

The Portuguese-born player denied taking the drug and made his argument at a hearing with an independent tribunal, which decided Oliveira couldn’t prove the drug’s presence was unintentional.

Oliveira receives credit for time served from his provisional suspension, meaning he will be eligible to compete professionally again on Jan. 16, 2029.

Oliveira reached a career-high world doubles ranking of 77th in August 2020.

This is not the first time an athlete has said a positive drug test happened because of kissing.

French Olympic fencer Ysaora Thibus was cleared in July by the Court of Arbitration of a doping allegation after judges accepted she was contaminated with the anabolic substance Ostarine in 2024 by kissing her American partner over a period of nine days. She was later cleared by an International Fencing Federation tribunal weeks before the Paris Olympics, which let her compete there.

In 2009, Richard Gasquet escaped a lengthy doping ban when the International Tennis Federation’s tribunal panel ruled that he inadvertently took cocaine by kissing a woman in a nightclub.

Source link

Few young openers have begun their Test careers in such a thumping fashion as Indiaâ€s Yashasvi Jaiswal has done.

The young left-handed pocket dynamo has gone from strength to strength in quick time, already putting his name alongside some of the legends of world cricket at a young age, while threatening the records of past greats.

After ending the five-Test series in England on a high, with a 118 at The Oval, Jaiswal has slammed a brilliant unbeaten century on day 1 of the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi.

In good batting conditions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first.

While KL Rahul, centurion from the Ahmedabad Test, failed to convert his start into a substantial score, getting out on 38, his opening partner, Jaiswal, who himself had failed to convert his start into a substantial score in Ahmedabad, scoring 36, bedded in for the long haul in Delhi.

Jaiswal batted the entire day 1 and remained unbeaten on 173 runs, scored off 253 balls at a healthy strike rate of 68. The southpaw cut, pulled, drove, swept, lofted, and showed his full range of shots around the ground in ransacking 22 fours.

Jaiswalâ€s 173* is now the fourth-most amount of runs an India opener has scored on day 1 of a Test match. He is on the third spot as well, with his 179 against England last year in Vizag.

Jaiswal eyes century records of Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir as Indiaâ€s Test openers

Meanwhile, this was Yashasvi Jaiswalâ€s 7th Test century, to go with 12 fifties, in what is only his 26th Test match. This hundred has now put him on level with Shikhar Dhawan for centuries by Indiaâ€s openers in Test cricket, and now Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir are in his sight.

As Indiaâ€s Test openers, Rohit and Gambhir hit 9 Test centuries in 38 and 57 Tests, respectively.

Let us check the list of India openers with the most Test centuries:

1. Sunil Gavaskar – 33
2. Virender Sehwag – 22
3. Murali Vijay – 12
4. KL Rahul – 10
5. Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma – 9
6. Navjot Singh Sidhu – 8
7. Yashavi Jaiswal, Shikhar Dhawan – 7

Jaiswal is currently averaging 53, which is the highest by any batsman on the above list.

And he has done all of this while heâ€s still not turned 24 years old. Only three batsmen in Test cricketâ€s history have scored more Test centuries than Jaiswalâ€s 7 before turning 24: Don Bradman: 12 centuries; Sachin Tendulkar: 11 centuries; and Garry Sobers: 9 centuries. Jaiswal is sitting in the most elite company in Test cricket.

Meanwhile, at stumps on day 1 in Delhi, India are 318/2, with Jaiswal and Gill at the crease. Earlier, Sai Sudharsan notched up his second Test fifty but fell 13 runs short of what would have been his maiden Test hundred.

Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.

Source link