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WTC Final: Steve Smith vs Kagiso Rabada takes centre stage; who is favourite to prevail at Lord’s? | Cricket News

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Steve Smith and Kagiso Rabada As Australia and South Africa gear up for the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s, cricket fans are eagerly anticipating the battle between Australian batting star Steve Smith and South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada. Australia aims to defend their WTC mace from 2023, while South Africa seeks their first world cricket title.The head-to-head statistics between Smith and Rabada reveal an intriguing contest. In 15 innings, Smith has scored 128 runs off Rabada’s bowling, facing 262 balls. Rabada has dismissed Smith four times, with Smith maintaining an average of 48.85 and a strike rate of 32.00 against him. Smith has hit 16 fours and two sixes while playing 207 dot balls against Rabada.Both players have impressive records at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Rabada boasts the best average of 19.38 among all bowlers in the final, surpassing Australian pacers Pat Cummins (21.10), Josh Hazlewood (26.15), and Mitchell Starc (33.62). In his two Tests at the venue, Rabada has claimed 13 wickets with best figures of 5/52. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket’s TV market and the watershed moments Smith has demonstrated exceptional performance at Lord’s, accumulating 525 runs in five Tests across nine innings at an average of 58.33. His record includes two centuries and two fifties, with his most recent innings being a knock of 110 against England in the 2023 Ashes.Smith enters the final in tremendous form, having recently completed 10,000 runs and scored four centuries in his last five Tests against India and Sri Lanka. His record in ICC knockout matches is particularly notable, with 584 runs in 12 matches at an average of 58.40, including two centuries and four fifties.Rabada stands on the verge of significant milestones in Test cricket. With 327 Test wickets at an average of 22.00, including 16 five-wicket hauls, he needs just four more wickets to surpass Allan Donald’s record of 330 wickets and become South Africa’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in Tests.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?Dale Steyn holds the record for most Test wickets for South Africa with 439 wickets in 93 Tests, maintaining an average of 22.95 and claiming 26 five-wicket hauls.In international cricket across all formats, Rabada currently has 566 wickets in 241 appearances, with an average of 24.27 and 18 five-wicket hauls. He needs seven more wickets to overtake Jacques Kallis, who holds the fifth position with 572 wickets.Shaun Pollock leads South Africa’s all-time international wicket-takers list with 823 wickets in 414 matches, achieved at an average of 23.63 with 21 five-wicket hauls.Rabada’s performance in ICC knockout events includes six wickets in four matches, maintaining an average of 26.83 with best figures of 2/14 and an economy rate of 7.00.The upcoming WTC final presents an opportunity for both players to enhance their already impressive records and potentially play decisive roles in their teams’ pursuit of the championship title.

Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain for Pakistan team

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A file image of Pkistan player Salman Ali Agha | Photo Credit: AP The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to make some sweeping changes in its national team set-up, with Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain, replacing Shan Masood as the skipper of the Test side. Besides the change in captaincy, the board will also be announcing the formation of an “observatory” committee after Eid holidays, a concept meant to keep a close watch on cricket developments, including in the national team and forward recommendations to the board’s chairman. A source in the board said that former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and ex-pacer Sikander Bakht had been called to Lahore for a meeting. “The two were informed about the decision to form the observatory committee and offered positions on it,” the source said. “Some other players will also be on this committee.” He said PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after discussions with his close aides, including new white ball head coach Mike Hesson, is also considering redefining the role of the national selection committee. “Either there will be changes in the current selection committee, which would continue to work with the Pakistan team management, or a new selection set-up would be announced with prime focus on looking and finding talent from domestic and age group cricket,” the source said. Naqvi, the source added, wanted to see things move forward with the right people in the right positions and with the coach and captain given powers to select the teams. There is also a move to give more responsibility to Salman Ali Agha, who is currently the national T20 captain, and the board is contemplating replacing Shan Masood as the Test skipper when they announce the new head coach of the red ball format. Pakistan’s next Test assignment, which is their first in the ICC World Test Championship new cycle, will be a two-match home series against South Africa later this year. Pakistan is slated to play just five Tests this calendar year. Published – June 08, 2025 06:14 pm IST

Alcaraz vs Sinner, French Open Final 2025 Live Score: Carlos Alcaraz bids to defend his Roland Garros title against Jannik Sinner

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Alcaraz vs Sinner, French Open Final 2025 Live Score: A seismic shift in men’s tennis is underway as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner prepare to meet in the 2024 French Open final, marking the first Grand Slam title match between two players born in the 2000s. With the Big Three era of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer drawing to a close, Sunday’s showdown promises to be the defining clash of a new generation. Alcaraz, 22, enters the final as the defending champion at Roland Garros, eyeing his fifth Grand Slam title and a chance to become only the third man this century, after Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, to successfully defend the Coupe des Mousquetaires. Meanwhile, Sinner, 23, ranked world No. 1, seeks his third consecutive Slam title after winning the 2023 US Open and the 2024 Australian Open. He’s unbeaten in Grand Slam finals and has extended his major-winning streak to 20 matches. While Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 7-4, including a recent win in the Italian Open final, Sinner has been dominant in Paris, reaching the final without dropping a single set. His semifinal victory over Djokovic may have signalled the end of the Serbian legend’s French Open dominance, and perhaps even his career at Roland Garros. The match also carries extra emotional weight. Alcaraz has acknowledged the intensity Sinner brings, calling him the “best tennis player right now.” The Spaniard knows he must rise to another level to hold off the red-hot Italian. Meanwhile, Sinner, undistracted by the controversy surrounding his brief doping suspension earlier this year (which authorities ruled accidental), has been all business on court. Both players are unbeaten in Slam finals, but that record will change on Sunday. The winner won’t just walk away with a trophy—they will likely walk into the role of tennis’s next dominant figure. For fans, this is more than a match; it’s the start of a new era, perhaps the modern-day equivalent of Federer vs. Nadal. And as Novak Djokovic said himself: “Their rivalry is something that our sport needs.” Get ready. The future of men’s tennis begins now, and it starts on the red clay of Roland Garros.

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Australia vs South Africa, WTC Final: A look back at Proteas’ run during 2023-25 cycle | Cricket News

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Temba Bavuma (captain) of South Africa (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images) NEW DELHI: After years of near-misses in ICC knockouts, South Africa now have their eyes on history as they prepare to face Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s from June 11. The Proteas bounced back strongly after a shaky start to the WTC 2023-25 cycle, losing three of their first four Tests. However, they turned things around with consistent performances to top the table with eight wins and 100 points.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!South Africa’s campaign kicked off at home against India, splitting the series 1-1. Dean Elgar’s 185 and a dominant pace attack gave them a crushing win in the first Test, while India hit back in Cape Town after collapsing SA’s batting lineup. Elgar retired after the series.The away tour to New Zealand was a setback. Fielding a second-string side, SA lost 0-2. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson’s heroics overshadowed performances from Bedingham and Piedt, who still managed individual highs.In the Caribbean, South Africa fought back. A drawn first Test was followed by a thrilling 40-run win in the second. Wiaan Mulder starred with both bat and ball, while Keshav Maharaj claimed the Player of the Series award with 13 wickets. Poll Will South Africa finally win their first ICC title in the WTC Final against Australia? Bangladesh proved a happy hunting ground as SA swept the series 2-0. Rabada was sensational with 14 wickets, while de Zorzi and Kyle Verreynne impressed with the bat. This marked SA’s first Test series win in Asia in a decade.Back home, South Africa dominated Sri Lanka with back-to-back wins. Marco Jansen and Dane Paterson spearheaded the bowling unit, while Bavuma led with the bat, earning Player of the Series honours. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket’s TV market and the watershed moments The final series before the WTC Final saw SA edge Pakistan 2-0. A nervy two-wicket win at Centurion was followed by a crushing 10-wicket triumph in Cape Town, featuring a career-best 259* from Ryan Rickelton.Key performers include Kagiso Rabada, who took 47 wickets in 10 matches, and David Bedingham, SA’s top scorer with 645 runs. Skipper Temba Bavuma also played a key role, scoring 609 runs in seven games.Now, with momentum on their side and a balanced squad, South Africa will aim to end decades of ICC heartbreak and finally claim their first global title at the “Ultimate Test”.

IND vs ENG Test series: Shubman Gill-led India begin training in England

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Head coach Gautam Gambhir with Test captain Shubman Gill during a press conference. | Photo Credit: ANI India hit the ground running with a high-intensity training session at Lord’s, ahead of the five-match series against England beginning June 20 at Leeds. The pace quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, alongside new captain Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja trained under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gill was made India’s 37th Test captain following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He is leading a relatively young side eyeing their first Test series win in England since 2007. The series begins at Headingley followed by Tests at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval. India A players, including some from the main squad, are already acclimatising in English conditions, currently involved in the second official Test against England Lions in Northampton. Published – June 08, 2025 12:52 pm IST

Colombian presidential candidate shot at rally

Mauricio Pochettino rules out return as Tottenham Hotspur manager amid vacancy

Danijones1 week ago04 mins

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed speculation linking him with a return to Tottenham Hotspur, calling the idea “not realistic” as the Premier League club begins its search for a new manager. Spurs parted ways with Ange Postecoglou on Friday, just over two weeks after he led them to their first major trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final. Despite that success, the club endured a dismal domestic campaign, finishing just above the Premier League’s relegation zone after 22 defeats-marking their worst season in nearly 50 years. Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham from 2014 to 2019 and guided them to the Champions League final in 2019, has long been linked with a potential return whenever the manager’s seat becomes vacant. But speaking after the U.S. national team’s 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly on Saturday, the Argentine played down the rumours. “After I left in 2019, every time I was free and the manager’s position at Tottenham was open, my name appeared,” said Pochettino. “If you’ve seen the rumours, I think there are 100 coaches on the list. Don’t worry about that.” The 53-year-old, who previously managed Espanyol, Southampton, and Paris Saint-Germain, signed a two-year deal to lead the U.S. men’s national team in September. His current focus is preparing the squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “If something happened, for sure you would see, but we can’t talk about this kind of thing because today, it’s not real. It’s not realistic,” he added. “And look at where I am, where we are. The answer is so clear, no? But we’re talking about it because it’s my club-like Newell’s or Espanyol.” Spurs have been linked with several potential candidates to replace Postecoglou, including Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, and Fulham’s Marco Silva. Whoever takes the reins will become the club’s fifth permanent manager in just six years. The U.S. will aim to bounce back when they host Switzerland in Nashville on Tuesday, hoping to avoid a fourth straight defeat under Pochettino’s leadership. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: Jun 8, 2025