Author: A Sports

ADELAIDE: Australia’s legendary pacer Glenn McGrath reaction went viral after ace off-spinner Nathan Lyon surpassed his Test wicket tally during the third Ashes Test against England here on Thursday.

Lyon claimed his 564th Test wicket, moving past McGrath and sitting behind only Shane Warne among Australian bowlers.

The landmark came in memorable fashion as the 38-year-old struck twice in his very first over after returning to the Test side, removing Ollie Pope before clean-bowling Ben Duckett to reach the milestone.

The achievement came on day two of Lyon’s 141st Test and underlined his enduring value to Australia’s red-ball setup.

After Lyon surpassed his record, McGrath mimicked slamming his chair on the floor.

 

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Nonetheless, McGrath praised Lyon and shared his thoughts on the achievement.

“What a bowler. Nathan Lyon deserves to get that.”

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“You wondered what impact Nathan Lyon was going to have in this game. First over, and that was a gem of a ball,” he added.

Speaking after the day’s play, Lyon talked about his ideals and expressed pride in the achievement.

“I grew up idolising Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and these guys in my childhood were my heroes,” he said.

“And to think of being able to overtake Glenn … it’s pretty humbling to be honest with you, and it’s something that I’ll look back on at the end of my career, or even tonight,” Nathan Lyon added.

The 38-year-old thanked teammates for standing by his side, noting that he would take time to reflect on what he described as an ‘extremely special’ moment in his long career.

“I’ll sit back and try and have a moment because it is an extremely special moment for myself. “But I haven’t been able to do that without the guys at the other end, my teammates.”

“I’ve been around this group long enough to understand my role inside, and it’s an amazing group to be a part of,” he explained.

“I’ll continue to enjoy that while I can, it’s a pretty special group, and just extremely grateful for that opportunity, I guess. “Same emotions as usual, nervous, but that’s me,” the veteran spinner concluded.

READ: Lyon ‘humbled’ after moving past childhood hero McGrath

ADELAIDE: Australia’s ace spinner Nathan Lyon opened up after surpassing his childhood hero Glenn McGrath during the third Ashes Test against England here on Thursday.

Lyon claimed his 564th Test wicket, moving past McGrath and sitting behind only Shane Warne among Australian bowlers.

The landmark came in memorable fashion as the 38-year-old struck twice in his very first over after returning to the Test side, removing Ollie Pope before clean-bowling Ben Duckett to reach the milestone.

The achievement came on day two of Lyon’s 141st Test and underlined his enduring value to Australia’s red-ball setup.

Speaking after the day’s play, Lyon talked about his ideals and expressed pride in the achievement.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“I grew up idolising Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and these guys in my childhood were my heroes,” he said.

“And to think of being able to overtake Glenn … it’s pretty humbling to be honest with you, and it’s something that I’ll look back on at the end of my career, or even tonight,” Nathan Lyon added.

The 38-year-old thanked teammates for standing by his side, noting that he would take time to reflect on what he described as an ‘extremely special’ moment in his long career.

“I’ll sit back and try and have a moment because it is an extremely special moment for myself. “But I haven’t been able to do that without the guys at the other end, my teammates.”

“I’ve been around this group long enough to understand my role inside, and it’s an amazing group to be a part of,” he explained.

“I’ll continue to enjoy that while I can, it’s a pretty special group, and just extremely grateful for that opportunity, I guess. “Same emotions as usual, nervous, but that’s me,” the veteran spinner concluded.

READ: Pakistan squad for ICC U19 World Cup announced

MELBOURNE: Veteran Peter Siddle’s three-wicket haul and Marcus Stoinis’ gutsy knock propelled Melbourne Stars to an eight-wicket victory over Hobart Hurricanes in the fifth match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.

Set 159, Melbourne Stars hit the winning runs on the last ball of the 15th over with eight wickets in hand.

Thomas Rogers and Joe Clarke stitched 46 in 5.3 overs to provide the home side a strong start.

Rogers hit six fours in his 30 from 18 before getting caught on Rishad Hossain’s bowling.

Two overs later, Joe Clarke was also sent back for run-a-ball 20, leaving Stars two down for 58 in 7.3 overs.

This was the only silver lining for Hobart Hurricanes, who then faced a boundary-laced storm from Campbell Kellaway and skipper Marcus Stoinis.

The duo forged a 101* run partnership from 51 balls, which kept Hurricanes bowlers at bay.

Eventually, Stars reached the target without any major hiccup as Kellaway remained unbeaten on 41 from 27 balls with the help of five fours.

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On the contrary, Stoinis’ innings was laced with seven fours and two maximums. The skipper made 62 from 31 deliveries.

For Hobart Hurricanes, Rishad Hossain managed to take two wickets.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, Hobart Hurricanes ‘ power-packed batting lineup was curtailed to 158-9 in their 20 overs.

The visitors were jolted with two early blows as opener Mitchell Owen (8) and Rehan Ahmed (1) were back in the pavilion in the space of two balls.

Consequently, Hurricanes were reduced to 10-2 in 1.1 overs with Ben McDermott and Nikhil Chaudhary at the crease.

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The duo tried to stabilize the innings with a brief partnership of 26 runs, but Marcus Stoinis hit them back with Chaudhary’s wicket in the fifth over, who could only add seven to the total.

For Hurricanes, two of their senior batters Tim David and McDermott were at the crease, which helped their cause with an 83-run partnership, although not in quick time.

The duo brought the scoring to 119 in 15.3 overs with McDermott remaining the core aggressor, while David’s sluggish 31 from 31 was ended by Siddle.

Yet, they reached a respectable total of 158, thanks to Ben McDermott’s 69 from 52 with the help of two sixes and five fours.

For Melbourne Stars, Peter Siddle starred with the ball, scalping three in his four, while Haris Rauf and Marcus Stoinis picked up two each.

READ: Pakistan squad for ICC U19 World Cup announced

Pakistan cricket team will tour the West Indies for a two-match Test series in July-August 2026, Cricket West Indies (CWI) vice-president Azim Bassarath confirmed on Wednesday.

Bassarath, who is also the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), made the announcement during the board’s executive luncheon at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain.

He revealed that the series will run from July 15 to August 7, 2026, and will form part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

According to Bassarath, Pakistan will play a four-day warm-up match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) before the start of the Test series.

The first Test will be staged at the Queen’s Park Oval, while the second Test will be played at the BLCA.

“We will also host the Pakistan tour of the Caribbean from July 15 to August 7, 2026, comprising the four-day warm-up match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the first Test match at the Queen’s Park Oval and the second Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy,” Bassarath said during his address.

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He also confirmed that the BLCA has now achieved full international accreditation, enabling it to host matches across all formats of the game.

The upcoming red-ball tour aligns with Pakistan’s Future Tour Programme (FTP), although the detailed match schedule is yet to be released.

Pakistan and the West Indies have shared a competitive recent Test history.

The two sides last met in a Test series in January this year, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Pakistan had also toured the Caribbean for a Test series in 2021, with that contest also finishing level.

Earlier this year, Pakistan visited the West Indies for limited-overs cricket, featuring in three ODIs and three T20Is.

READ: Pakistan squad for ICC U19 World Cup announced

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Thursday, revealed the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC U19 World Cup 2026, as well as the upcoming tri-series in Zimbabwe.

Farhan Yousaf will continue to captain the Pakistan U19 team in the upcoming events.

The tri-series, featuring Afghanistan, Pakistan and hosts Zimbabwe, will be played from 25 December to 6 January.

It will serve as preparation for the ICC U19 World Cup 2026, which will take place in Namibia and Zimbabwe from 15 January to 6 February.

Both tournaments will be contested in the 50-over format.

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Pakistan U19 are currently competing in the ACC U19 Asia Cup in Dubai and will face Bangladesh in the semi-final on Friday, 19 December.

The final of the eight-team tournament is scheduled for Sunday, 21 December in Dubai.

The only change to the 15-member squad from the Asia Cup is the inclusion of right-arm fast bowler Umar Zaib, who replaces left-arm spinner Mohammad Huzaifa for the tri-series and the ICC U19 World Cup.

Pakistan U19 team will play a minimum of four matches in the tri-series, with the top two teams qualifying for the final on 6 January.

Pakistan U19 squad: Farhan Yousaf (captain), Usman Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan (wk), Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas and Umar Zaib

Non-travelling reserves: Abdul Qadir, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar and Mohammad Huzaifa

Support staff: Sarfaraz Ahmed (manager/mentor), Shahid Anwar (head coach/batting coach), Rao Iftikhar (bowling coach), Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach), Abrar Ahmed (trainer), Ubaidullah (physio), Ali Hamza (analyst)

Tri-series fixtures

• 25 December – Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, Harare Sports Club
• 27 December – Afghanistan v Pakistan, Harare Sports Club
• 29 December – Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Prince Edward
• 31 December – Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, Sunrise Sports Club
• 2 January – Pakistan v Afghanistan, Sunrise Sports Club
• 4 January – Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Old Hararians Sports Club
• 6 January – Final, Old Hararians Sports Club

ICC U19 World Cup Pakistan fixtures

• 16 January – Pakistan v England, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 19 January – Pakistan v Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 22 January – Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 24 January to 1 February – Super 6 matches
• 3 February – First semi-final, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 4 February – Second semi-final, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 6 February – Final, Harare Sports Club, Harare

READ: Lionel Messi backs THIS PLAYER for FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award

Lionel Messi has voted in favour of former Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembele for the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award, it has been revealed following the release of official voting details by world football’s governing body.

FIFA published the ballots of national team captains, coaches and selected media representatives from each member association after the awards ceremony in Doha, where Dembele was crowned the 2025 FIFA Men’s Player of the Year.

The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and France forward finished ahead of Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, with Kylian Mbappe placing third.

Messi, who had previously won the award, named Mbappe as his second choice, while opting for Yamal, the teenager who had inherited his iconic Barcelona No. 10 shirt, as his third pick.

Dembele’s triumph capped a remarkable season in which he played a pivotal role in PSG’s historic campaign.

Under Luis Enrique, the French winger enjoyed the most prolific spell of his career, scoring 35 goals across all competitions, including 21 in Ligue 1 to finish as the league’s top scorer.

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His standout performances were central to PSG’s maiden UEFA Champions League title, highlighted by a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final.

The Paris club also completed a historic continental treble, becoming the first French side to win the Champions League, domestic league and main domestic cup in the same season, before going on to reach the Club World Cup final.

Dembele’s stellar year had already been recognised earlier when he won the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, edging out Yamal, who finished second, while PSG midfielder Vitinha placed third.

The award made Dembele the first French player to claim the Ballon d’Or since Karim Benzema in 2022.

Lionel Messi was among those to publicly congratulate Ousmane Dembele following his Ballon d’Or success, further underlining the respect he commands among football’s elite.

READ: England Ashes dreams on life-support as Australia rip through batting

ADELAIDE: Australia’s veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon etched his name deeper into cricketing history during the third Ashes Test against England, overtaking Glenn McGrath to become the country’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format.

Lyon claimed his 564th Test wicket on Thursday, moving past McGrath and sitting behind only Shane Warne among Australian bowlers.

The landmark came in memorable fashion as the 38-year-old struck twice in his very first over after returning to the Test side, removing Ollie Pope before clean-bowling Ben Duckett to reach the milestone.

The achievement came on day two of Lyon’s 141st Test and underlined his enduring value to Australia’s red-ball setup.

Renowned for his classical off-spin and ability to extract bounce and drift, Lyon has now climbed to sixth place on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers.

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Ahead of him on the overall charts are England’s Stuart Broad (604) and India great Anil Kumble (619), with Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan leading the list with 800 wickets.

Shane Warne (708) and James Anderson (704) complete the top three.

Lyon, affectionately known as “Garry”, has previously said he feels he is in some of the best form of his career and has no immediate plans to step away from the game.

His longevity has been aided by a singular focus on Test cricket, having not played international white-ball cricket since 2019.

The off-spinner has also spoken openly about his desire to continue until at least the 2027 Ashes in England, with Australia set to enter a heavy Test schedule from August next year onwards.

READ: India-South Africa fourth T20I abandoned due to fog

Cricket West Indies (CWI) have announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026, set to be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Joshua Dorne will captain the side that also includes Jewel Andrew, who has already played three ODIs and five T20Is for the senior West Indies side.

Dorne was picked on the back of an excellent batting display during the Youth ODI series at home against Sri Lanka and England.

West Indies are added in Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, and Tanzania.

Following the announcement, CWI’s High Performance Manager Dwain Gill shared his views on the squad and shared key aspects of the players.

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“In assembling this group, we have aligned their development with the style of play we expect at the senior level, ensured exposure to high-quality match opportunities, and placed a strong focus on leadership, tactical awareness and individual support within their territories,” Dwain Gill, CWI’s High Performance Manager, said.

“The result is a balanced and competitive squad, well-positioned to perform at the Under-19 World Cup and contribute meaningfully to the long-term future of West Indies cricket,” he added.

“The result is a balanced and competitive squad, well positioned to perform at the Under-19 World Cup and contribute meaningfully to the long-term future of West Indies cricket.”

For the unversed, the junior-level 16th edition of the event will be held from 15 January to 6 February 2026. The tournament will continue with its familiar format: 16 teams, four groups, 41 matches, and a Super Six stage leading into semi-finals and a final.

The sides will begin arriving on 8 January for warm-ups scheduled from 9–14 January.

READ: India-South Africa fourth T20I abandoned due to fog

LUCKNOW:  The fourth T20I between India and South Africa has been called off due to excessive fog here on Wednesday.

The play was called off due to excessive fog, with conditions not conducive to play.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city remained in the 400s, a level considered hazardous. Due to this, umpires remained concerned about visibility and six inspections took place before play was finally called off.

With this, India will head into the final fixture already 2-1 up in the series, whereas South Africa will be hoping to draw level.

The final and fifth T20I will be played in Ahmedabad on 19 December, which will also conclude South Africa’s all-format tour of India.

For the unversed, India won the T20I series opener by 101 runs, followed by a dominant comeback win for South Africa in the second match.

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In the second T20I, the Proteas showcased their batting prowess and posted 213-4 in their 20 overs.

In reply, India were bowled out for 162-4 in 19.1 overs, thanks to a clinical bowling effort.

The Men in Blue bounced back with a seven-wicket victory after skittling South Africa for 117 in 20 overs.

The home side reached the target in 15.5 overs, losing only three wickets in the process, courtesy of Abhishek Sharma’s 35 from 18, which was laced with three sixes and three fours.

Earlier, India clinched the ODI series 2-1 while South Africa started the tour with a 2-0 sweep in the Test series.

EREAD: Snicko Operator admits mistake in Carey’s controversial not out

MADRID: World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday announced the end of his long-standing association with coach Juan Carlos Ferror.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz, who has worked with Juan since childhood, announced the split via a social media post ahead of the 2026 season.

Under his coaching, Alcaraz remained highly successful, becoming a major champion after winning six Grand Slam titles.

Carlos thanked his coach for helping him succeed at the highest level and expressed gratitude for supporting him throughout.

“Thank you for turning childhood dreams into reality. We began this journey when I was barely a child, and throughout all this time, you’ve been with me on this incredible adventure, both on and off the court. I have enjoyed every step of it with you,” Alcaraz wrote in his Instagram post.

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“We have reached the top, and I feel that if our paths in tennis were to diverge, it had to be from that very place, the one we always worked towards and aspired to reach,” he said

He also expressed best wishes for Juan Carlos Ferror’s future endeavours in changing times.

“Now, times of change are approaching for both of us, new adventures and new projects. But I’m certain we will both face them in the right way, giving our best, as we’ve always done. Always moving forward. I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart in everything that comes next,” he wished.

However, no reason was given for the end of a long relation.

Notably, the news comes after a month of Alcaraz’s celebration with Ferrroro and his team at the ATP finals.

READ: FIFA announces major increase in 2026 World Cup prize money