australia – Artifex.News

IPL 2026 | Never felt I was under more pressure due to price tag: Green

admin — Sat, 09 May 2026 12:07:00 +0000

Kolkata Knight Riders player Cameron Green in action during the Indian Premier League 2026 Twenty20 cricket match against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on May 08, 2026.
| Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

As the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) most expensive overseas recruit ever at ₹25.2 crore, Australia’s Cameron Green had many more eyeballs fixed on his exploits for Kolkata Knight Riders this season.

A patchy start to the tournament, coupled with KKR’s streak of losses, meant Green was in the firing line, but the all-rounder from Perth — an imposing presence at 6’6” — has got better as the competition has progressed.

The 26-year-old has contributed 232 runs and four wickets in 10 matches for the three-time champion. While he would have certainly liked to make more of an impact, he hasn’t felt any additional pressure because of his price tag.

A night of sheer dominance @KKRiders chase down the with 34 deliveries to spare and make it 4⃣ wins on the trot

Scorecard https://t.co/NaWLphmJKY #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvKKR pic.twitter.com/e3cpW0J2Xq

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2026

“The support staff never put any pressure on me. They have been awesome to me since day one. I was never made to feel that there was any extra pressure compared to anyone else,” Green said after Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals on Friday (May 8, 2026).

“There’s always pressure on the international guys. You have to be performing at all times because the guys on the bench are also ready to go. But, no, I’ll probably have the support staff to thank for that.”

KKR’s hopes of reaching the playoffs appeared derailed when it went winless in its first six matches. Now, a run of four victories on the trot has given Ajinkya Rahane and Co. a fresh lease of life. Asked for his view on the resurgence, Green argued that the belief was always intact.

“I didn’t think the belief was ever gone. We’ve had a really good culture this whole tournament,” he opined.

Published – May 09, 2026 05:37 pm IST

Source link

Two-day Tests are nearly as ridiculous as two-Test series

admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:39:00 +0000

How many agencies does it take to destroy Test cricket? If the current Ashes series is indication, it would involve the local administrators, the International Cricket Council, and the players themselves. Not since the 19th century have two Tests in a series ended within two days. The track for the first Test in Perth was adjudged “very good” by the ICC while Melbourne’s was declared “unsatisfactory.”

Home wins have, in the points system of the World Test Championship — points as a percentage of the total available — become so important that wickets are prepared unabashedly for home bowlers. Still, Australia took a 3-0 lead within 11 days without their best attack of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon all playing together.

England won in Melbourne, but something important was missed. The wicket improved as the match progressed; however, neither team had the batters with the defence to take the match into the fourth or fifth day. The exception, England’s Joe Root, slightly off balance followed the ball and edged in the first innings, while in the second the DRS left it to the ‘umpire’s call’ for leg before.

That England made the highest total of the match to win suggested it wasn’t the 10mm grass on the wicket that was solely responsible for the result. Melbourne had more grass on it for the 2021-22 Ashes Test (11mm), as well as the New Zealand Test of 2019-20 (12mm). Those matches took three and four days respectively.

The 90,000-plus fans in the stadium seemed less inclined to blame the pitch, cheering wildly when opener Ben Duckett played forward defence in the midst of a sword-fight of an innings as England approached a win. At least some of them might have craved a defensive shot with the same keenness with which others screamed for a six.

Not an easy task

The pitch could not have been easy; but Test cricket was never meant to be easy. It is a test as much of technique and temperament as of spirit and the passion to stick it out. In a sense, the batters were playing for Test cricket itself besides their respective teams. Two-day Tests are nearly as ridiculous as two-Test series, although teams often prefer the latter thanks to the points system.

Flaws in the WTC system — and the Ashes has highlighted them — have been pointed out before. ‘Context’, that magic word, cannot be the excuse for teams not playing every other or indeed the same number of matches. Two fundamental changes suggest themselves.

One, split the 12 Test-playing teams into two divisions with the odd-ranked teams in one and the even-ranked in the other. This will eliminate the need for promotions and demotions or one strong group carrying the weak group. The god of telecasts will be propitiated too. If the two-Test series goes, it might be worth considering a three-year cycle rather than the current two.

Compromises with franchise cricket will have to be made. Recently South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi took his cricket board to court for denying a No Objection Certificate to play a T20 league abroad. He won the case, to give other boards something to think about.

The CEO of Cricket Australia who was suggesting recently that only Australia, India and England should play Test cricket is now talking about balancing “commercial imperatives and performance” after the Melbourne Test. Losing ten million dollars over a two-day Test can do that to an administrator.

More pertinently, Aussie great Greg Chappell wrote in ESPNcricinfo, “Two Tests failed to reach day three not due to superior skill but a glaring absence of desire. Batters slashed wildly, abandoning technique for bravado, as if playing their ‘natural game’ excused capitulation. They let down predecessors who bled for this rivalry; they shortchanged fans who braved the holiday heat; they betrayed their own generation by forsaking cricket’s core tenets – playing each ball on merit, scrapping for every run, enduring bruises for the greater good. I cannot believe any player left the field thinking they had given their all over those paltry sessions.”

In a match where the highest score was 46, nearly every dismissal diminished the game. Send not to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for Test cricket.

Published – December 31, 2025 12:09 am IST

Source link

Watch: Australia blocks social media for under-16s amid safety concerns

admin — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:20:00 +0000

Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s is set to take effect on December 10. The government has called the move “world-leading,” but the law has drawn criticism from tech companies and teens alike.

Published – December 09, 2025 10:50 pm IST

Source link

Watch: Netanyahu’s warning to UK, Canada, Australia after Palestine state recognition

admin — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 07:59:00 +0000

Canada recognised a Palestinian state on Sunday (September 21, 2025) despite opposition from the U.S, with the hope it paves the way for peace based on two states living side by side. The move comes ahead of the U.N. General Assembly this week, where other nations, including Australia and France, are also expected to recognize a Palestinian state. The U.K as well as Portugal are expected to do so later on Sunday (September 21, 2025).

Published – September 22, 2025 01:29 pm IST

Source link

Australian government condemns campaigns against migration of Indians

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 15:20:00 +0000

Demonstrators hold a banner during the ‘March for Australia’ anti-immigration rally, in Sydney, Australia, on August 31, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The Australian government on Sunday (August 31, 2025) has disapproved the campaigns taking place across various cities against increasing migration of Indians, saying “brand of far-right activism grounded in racism and ethnocentrism” has no place in the country.

‘March for Australia’ rallies were held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, among others, were held against immigration, according to the right wing group’s website.

In a release, the Australian government said, the Anthony Albanese government stands against the events planned for the weekend. “All Australians, no matter their heritage, have the right to feel safe and welcome in our community,” the statement said.

Tony Burke, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, was quoted as saying, “There is no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion. Nothing could be less Australian.”

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly said, “Multiculturalism is an integral and valued part of our national identity.” “We stand with all Australians, no matter where they were born, against those who seek to divide us and who seek to intimidate migrant communities. We will not be intimidated. This brand of far-right activism grounded in racism and ethnocentrism has no place in modern Australia,” she added.

The ‘March for Australia’ website says, “Our streets have seen growing displays of anti-Australian hatred, foreign conflicts, and disintegrating trust, whilst mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together.” “This march is a stand for the people, culture, and nation that built Australia — and for our right to decide its future,” it added.

The group in a social media post on Saturday (August 30, 2025) said the rallies aimed to do “what the mainstream politicians never have the courage to do: demand an end to mass immigration”. The group’s manifesto and flyers read, “More Indians in 5 years, than Greeks and Italians in 100”, adding, “This isn’t a slight cultural change, it’s a replacement plain and simple.”

Murray Watt, Minister for Environment, told Sky News television on Sunday (August 31, 2025), “We absolutely condemn the March for Australia rally that’s going on today. It is not about increasing social harmony.” “We don’t support rallies like this which is about spreading hate and that are about dividing our community,” he said, adding that they were “organised and promoted” by neo-Nazi groups.

Published – August 31, 2025 08:50 pm IST

Source link

Watch: Did you know 40 per cent of Australia’s energy comes from solar power?

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:08:00 +0000

Watch: Did you know 40 per cent of Australia’s energy comes from solar power?

Source link

Ahead Of Champions Trophy Clash vs Australia, England Recall Star Wicketkeeper-Batter

admin — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 04:40:10 +0000

Team England in action© BCCI

England recalled wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith on Thursday for their Champions Trophy opening game against Australia in Lahore. The 24-year-old missed the preceding one-day series against India which England lost 3-0 last month, but will keep wicket and bat at number three in the match on Saturday. Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood were named as the team’s seam attack. Former World Cup winners England have never won the Champions Trophy. They are placed in Group B along with Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa.

Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh are in Group A. The top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.

England team to face Australia on Saturday: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Topics mentioned in this article

Source link

International Masters League 2025 Trophy Revealed In Mumbai

admin — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:15:16 +0000

The highly-anticipated International Masters League (IML) unveiled its magnificent trophy in the presence of the icons who will lead their respective teams in the inaugural edition. India’s cricket icon and Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar was joined by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, West Indies maestro Brian Lara, England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, Australia’s Shane Watson and South Africa’s Jonty Rhodes, who represented captain Jacques Kallis, at the Captains’ Day, which was held at the DY Patil University campus on Wednesday.

The IML is set to capture the imagination of cricket fans by providing a thrilling experience of high-octane action, featuring stalwarts of the sport. India Masters and Sri Lanka Masters will play the opening fixture of the IML at the D.Y. Patil Stadium on Saturday, February 22.

Sachin Tendulkar, captain of India Masters, said, “Stepping back onto the cricket field is like returning to the place that has given me my identity as a sportsperson. Reuniting with my former teammates and peers, reliving our experiences, and sharing our cherished memories is truly special. I am as excited today as I was on the day of my debut to represent our country, and I have no doubt that every player shares the same passion to play the game we all love, once again.”

Brian Lara, captain of West Indies Masters: “I’m truly excited to be back in India, a country that has always felt like a second home to me. Its vibrant culture and the passion of its diverse fans make playing here an unforgettable experience. Taking the field once again with old friends in the International Masters League is something I deeply look forward to, and I can’t wait to reignite some of our fabled rivalries. The stage is set, the energy is electric, and I’m ready for the action!”

Kumar Sangakkara, captain of Sri Lanka Masters: “I’m delighted to be part of this incredible competition. Cricket is a huge part of my life, and having the chance to play alongside some of the greatest ambassadors of the game makes the IML even more special. I can’t wait for that opening match against India Masters-it’s going to be a fantastic contest!”

Shane Watson, captain of Australia Masters, said: “India has always been one of my favourite countries, and the love and support I’ve received here is second to none. I’m really chuffed to be playing in the International Masters League, sharing the field once again with friends and old colleagues. It’s going to be a riveting contest, and I know India will be a tough opponent-but we’ve got a strong squad, and we’re ready for the challenge!”

Eoin Morgan, captain of England Masters, said: “The International Masters League is going to be an exciting tournament, and I can’t wait to regroup with the boys and get back out there. India is a cricket-loving nation where fans truly worship the game, making it the perfect place for a tournament like this one. I’ve been training hard to ensure we deliver the goods, and fingers crossed for a great outing!”

Jonty Rhodes (Representing Jacques Kallis for South Africa Masters), said, “It’s no secret how special India is to me. Playing here has always been an incredible experience, and I’m thrilled to be back for the International Masters League. We’ve assembled a strong squad, and I’m confident we’ll have a fantastic time. This will be a truly special competition, and while we’re hoping for the best results, I am excited to be back on the field!”

The unveiling of the International Masters League trophy symbolizes the commencement of a cricketing spectacle that will celebrate the rich legacy of the sport.

It was announced during the Captains’ Day that entry for students and senior citizens to the stadium for the opening game was free. _Students would have to present a valid ID card from their current college or university, while senior citizens would have to carry a government-issued senior citizen card. Entry will be denied at the gate if a valid and authentic ID proof is not provided.

Match tickets are available on BookMyShow, the ticketing partner.

Watch the IML February 22nd onwards, live on JioHotstar along with Colors Cineplex (SD & HD) and Colors Cineplex Superhits will broadcast the IML live, 7.30 pm onwards.

Topics mentioned in this article

Source link

Eoin Morgan, Shane Watson Pick India As Favourite For Champions Trophy 2025

admin — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:50:12 +0000

Their respective teams may not have ideal buildup to the Champions Trophy 2025 but Eoin Morgan and Shane Watson are hopeful that England and Australia would do well in the event while picking India as the top favourite. England, under a new coach in Brandon McCullum, were hammered by India in both the T20I and ODI series while Australia have been besieged by injuries losing four top players — Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc — to injuries while Marcus Stoinis has announced a sudden retirement from the national team.

Australia also lost 0-2 to Sri Lanka in the ODI series preceding the Champions Trophy.

Despite this, Morgan and Watson rooted for their respective national teams while picking India as the absolute favourite and listing Pakistan as the dark horse in the eight-team tournament that started on Wednesday with a clash between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi.

Morgan, who led England to their greatest performance in One-day cricket, the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup title, listed India as the top favourite considering their recent dominant run in the 2023 ODI World Cup at home where they reached the final unbeaten and triumphed in the T20 World Cup in Caribbean and USA.

“The side that’s the frontrunner, best positioned across the squads I would say in India, out and out favourites, I can’t really pick any holes in their side. And I know that’s been the case the last couple of tournaments they’ve gone into,” said Morgan.

India and Pakistan along with Bangladesh and New Zealand are in Group A while Group B has Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan.

Morgan highlighted that India had a dominant run in the 2023 ODI World Cup till the final and also won the T20 World Cup.

“Then the T20 World Cup where they robbed the trophy out of South Africans’ hands. And you have to still believe that winning trophies and tasting champagne brings confidence because once you’ve been there, you can believe that you can do it again. So that’s why India are the favourites.

“As far as outsiders are concerned, I will never rule Pakistan out of it. Home conditions will favour them and I would say England are an outside chance as well. They’ve been in not in great form for a period of time and Brendon McCullum has just taken over and in a short space of time, it’s hard to achieve anything.

“They have their first match with Australia on Saturday who are a side without a number of stars like Cummins and Marcus Stoinis was recently retired as well.

“So I’d imagine whoever among those two sides wins, will be there. I think England could go on a bit of a ride, but I’m excited,” said Morgan.

For Watson, the abiding memory of the Champions Trophy was playing in the 2002 edition when they lost to hosts Sri Lanka in the semifinals.

“When it comes to the favourites in this edition, it has to be India. You know, they’ve been bolstered by the presence of Hardik Pandya coming in as a fast-bowling all-rounder. Unfortunately, they don’t have (Jasprit) Bumrah, but it’s just about the identical squad to what they had at the last One-day World Cup where they dominated until the final,” said Watson.

He said he was very confident about the chances of the Australian team.

“I’m very confident about the Aussies, their battings is very, very strong. Their bowling, there’s going to be a few question marks around that. But they certainly know how to be able to turn up in big tournaments. So, don’t be surprised if Australia aren’t there and thereabouts,” the former Aussie all-rounder added.

The Champions Trophy started in Karachi on Wednesday with Pakistan taking on New Zealand. India will open their campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

Topics mentioned in this article

Source link

Champions Trophy 2025: Star-Studded Panel Of Commentators For All 9 Language Feeds

admin — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:02:23 +0000

JioStar Network will be the home of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, delivering a ground-breaking presentation of the prestigious tournament starting February 19. With the world’s top eight teams set to clash in high-stakes encounters, the broadcaster will offer an unparalleled viewing experience across both linear television and digital platforms. On TV, in addition to the English feed, the network will provide coverage in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada across Star Sports and Sports18 channels.

For the first time ever on digital, an ICC tournament will be streamed live across 16 feeds, including nine languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Haryanvi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. In addition to the language options, the live streaming on JioHotstar will be complemented by four multi-cam feeds.

A star-studded line-up of cricket legends from seven different countries will bring their expert insights and electrifying commentary to viewers, elevating the excitement of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Nasser Hussain, Matthew Hayden, Ian Bishop, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Simon Doull, Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Aaron Finch will join forces for JioStar’s English coverage, offering incisive match analysis and edge-of-the-seat commentary to match the high-octane action on the field.

The Hindi coverage of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will feature a stellar roster of cricketing icons, including Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Wahab Riaz, Waqar Younis, Sanjay Manjrekar, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Mohammad Kaif, Piyush Chawla, Sanjay Bangar, Aakash Chopra, and Deep Dasgupta.

Additionally, the regional languages presentation will showcase a line-up of renowned names from the Indian cricket scene, such as Hanuma Vihari, Abhinav Mukund, MSK Prasad, R Sridhar, Murali Vijay, S Badrinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi, Kedar Jadhav, and many more, bringing unparalleled depth and expertise to the broadcast.

Enhancing the coverage, the Indian Sign Language feed and Audio Descriptive Commentary will return on JioHotstar, ensuring an inclusive experience for audiences.

This ground-breaking initiative by the JioStar network won a National Award in the Category of Institutions Engaged in Empowering Persons with Disabilities 2024. The hugely successful vertical feed (MaxView) will be available in Hindi and English, providing fans with an easier and more intuitive mobile viewing experience, allowing them to consume content on the go.

Speaking about the presentation for the tournament that returns after eight years, Siddharth Sharma, Head of Content – JioStar, Sports said, “The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be presented to fans with an unprecedented degree of viewing options and experiences. With the combined might of the widest linear television sports network in the country and biggest digital sports platform, the thrills of this format will not only go deeper and wider, but also be more immersive, innovative, and inclusive. We have created a touchpoint of engagement or innovation for every viewer, no matter what their preference, which makes our presentation of the tournament a never-seen-before experience.”

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 kicks off on February 19, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in an exciting opener. Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, will begin their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20 at 2:30 PM IST.

Their group stage fixtures also include the highly-anticipated clash with Pakistan on February 23 and a match against New Zealand on March 2. The tournament will culminate with the final on March 9. All matches will be broadcast on the JioStar Network and streamed live on JioHotstar.

Topics mentioned in this article

Source link