Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the 2nd ODI with a Groin Strain
It is learned that Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has suffered from a groin strain sustained in the 1st ODI and is set to miss the 2nd ODI against Australia
According to ESPNCricinfo, the ace Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasarangais set to remain unavailable for the 2nd ODI against Australia on 16th June at Pallekele. It is learned that Hasaranga has suffered from a groin strain sustained in the 1st ODI. In his last two overs in the second half of the game, he was also seen limping during his delivery stride. The medical staff is yet to announce the period of his absence, but he will at least miss the second fixture.
Although the team could not secure a victory in the 1st ODI. But, the 24-year-old was one of the finest performers with the contribution of 39 runs from 19 balls and four wickets later in hand.
Earlier this year, Hasaranga missed the Zimbabwe series due to a hamstring tear. On the other hand, the covid infection ruled him out of the series against Australia and India. With 11 out of 15 wickets taken by the spinners, the replacement of Hasaranga will likely be a spinner.
The Lions are trailing in the series by 0-1
The current Lions squad for this series includes the likes of Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Praveen Jayawickrama. The team management can also opt to include Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Then they may complete Hasaranga's quota of overs by dividing it between Chamika Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva.
In the 1st ODI, the Sri Lankan batting unit did well to post a score of 300 on the board. Keeper batter Kusal Mendis scored 86. In the bowling unit, Dunith Wellalage was impressive in his debut international game. He scalped two important wickets and gave away 49 runs from 7 overs.
The Dasun Shanaka-led side will look to make a comeback in the series and improve their position in the World Cup Super League points table. They are sitting at the ninth spot with only six victories in 18 matches
5 wickets in 15 balls! Mitchell Starc creates record for the fastest five-wicket haul in test cricket
Aussie left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc took five wickets in just 15 balls to create the record for the fastest five-wicket haul in test cricket history. Starc created this record on his 100th test match during the WI vs AUS third test.
On his 100th test, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc created a record which would be very hard to break in future. During the second innings of the pink-ball test between West Indies and Australia in Kingston, Starc registered his 16th five-wicket haul in test cricket in just 15 balls.
In doing that, he broke the record for the fastest five-wicket haul (from the start of bowling innings) in test cricket history, breaking Ernie Toshack, Stuart Broad and Scott Boland's previous record of 19 balls.
Starc's record-breaking five-wicket haul in 15 balls
Here is how Mitchell Starc broke the record for the fastest five-wicket haul in test cricket history.
1st wicket: 1st ball - John Campbell
Starc after removing John Campbell on the first ball. Image | Associated Press
Starc dismissed John Campbell with a beautiful outswinger in the first ball of the second inning. The ball moved a bit, and it was enough to produce an edge to substitute wicket-keeper Josh Inglish.
2nd wicket: 5th ball - Kevlon Anderson
In the fifth ball of the first over, Kevlon Anderson left a delivery from Starc, who was able to make the ball come in sharply. The ball hit the pad, and the umpire was not hesitant to rule him out, as Kevlon Anderson did not offer any shot. Although he took the DRS, only to be proven wrong by the review.
3rd wicket: 6th ball - Brandon King
It was a typical Mitchell Starc dismissal. Brandon King was bamboozled by a big inswinging delivery from Starc.
King went for a big drive through the long off region, but the ball came back sharply to go through his bat and pad and took an inside edge before hitting the stumps.
Starc had three wickets in his and Australia's first over.
Starc celebrates after taking his 400th test wicket. Image | Associated Press vis ESPN Cricinfo
Although West Indies batters were able to play out Starc's second over, the left-arm pacer struck in the first ball of his third over.
Another big inswinging delivery at 142.4 kmph, and Mikyle Louis did not have any answer to that. Louis lounged into a big defence, but the ball came back in sharply and went on to hit the front of his back pad, in front of the middle.
The right-handed batter did not even wait for the umpire's decision and started walking back.
That was Starc's 400th test wicket. He is only the second left-arm pacer ever to take 400 test wickets. Only Wasim Akram is ahead of him at the moment with 419 test wickets.
5th wicket: 15th ball - Shai Hope
Starc left the field on a standing ovation by the Aussie teammates during the tea break. Image | X
Two balls later, Starc got Shai Hope out with the same formula.
Hope did not know which way the ball was going and had his weight on the back foot. He was late before the inswinger hit his front pad.
Hope went for the DRS, only to know that the ball was crushing the middle of leg stump.
After the 15th ball, Starc's bowling figure showed 2.3-2-2-5.
Fastest five-wicket hauls (from the start of bowling innings) in test cricket
Joe Root scored his 37th Test Century on the second day of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s. He is now the batsman with the most test centuries for England.
The Nation England has produced some extraordinary Batsmen in Cricket. They have impressed Cricket fans from all over the world with their achievements and glory. The test is considered the Best Format in Cricket. England has & had some players who are the best among many in the world of Test Cricket. Sir Jack Hobbs is considered the Best Test Batsman for England in Tests. He has scored 5410 runs in just 102 innings with 15 centuries and 28 half-centuries.
In recent times of greats, Joe Root has proven himself one of the greatest if not the greatest for England in Test Format as he has every right due to his achievements. Now, Let's give a look at the list of the Top 5 Batsmen with the most test centuries for England.
Top 5 Batsmen with the Most Test Centuries for England:
1. Joe Root | 37 Centuries
England batter Joe Root has written his name in the history books for England in Test Format by bringing up his 37th Test hundred on the second day of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s. It was also his third consecutive Test century at the venue. Moreover, he also overtook Graham Gooch as the highest run-scorer at Lord's in international cricket.
Root made his debut in 2012 against team India and since then he has played 156* test matches. He has scored 13,219 runs with an average of 50.84.
2. Alastair Cook | 33 Centuries
Image - ICC
Alastair Cook was one of the greats in Test Cricket of his generation. He made his debut against India in 2006 for the national team in Test Cricket. Cook played 161 Test matches in which he batted 291 innings. He scored 12,472 runs with an average of 45.35. His highest score was 294 and he made 33 centuries and 57 half-centuries for his team. Cook played his last Test Match against India in 2018.
Kevin Pietersen has proved himself across every format for England. He made his Test debut in 2005 against the Australian side at Lords. Pietersen played 104 test matches, in which he scored 8181 runs with an average of 47.29. He played his last test match against Australia in 2014. Kevin Pietersen is third on the list with 23 Centuries.
The judgment of cricket history is that the greatest batsmen the game has known are - WG Grace, Jack Hobbs, Walter Hammond, and Don Bradman. Others may come close indeed to those four but do not quite take place with them. Hammond made his test debut against South Africa in 1927. He played 85 test matches and scored 7249 runs with an average of 58.45. He is 4th on the list with 22 test centuries. The Great Walter Hammond played his last Test match against New Zealand in 1947.
Colin Cowdrey mostly known as Michael Cowdrey played Cricket for 21 years, One of the most durable batsmen in the history of Test Cricket. Cowdrey made his test debut in 1954 against the Aussies and played 114 matches, scoring 7624 runs with an average of 44.06. He is 5th on the list with the same no as Wally Hammond, 22 centuries. Michael Cowdrey played his last test match in 1975 against the Australian side.
Top 10 Players with the Most Centuries in Test Cricket for England:
Rohit Sharma's 637 international sixes stand tall by a massive margin. Explore the active batters who can break Rohit's six-hitting record with firing abilities. Can anyone actually surpass it? Let's find out.
Rohit Sharma, widely known as the "Hitman," has redefined power-hitting in international cricket. He has been a key opener for the Indian cricket team and always managed to give them a solid start.
Rohit's six-hitting show is incredibly exciting to watch, as he completely dominantes every bowler from the opponent. He has smashed a staggering 637 sixes in his international cricket, and the numbers are yet to increase.
The breakdown of his 637 sixes goes like: 88 sixes in Tests, 344 sixes in ODIs, and 205 sixes in T20Is. Following his retirement from Test cricket and T20Is, the only way the numbers could increase is ODIs.
As the game of cricket continues to evolve and new talents emerge, it raises a question: who can break Rohit’s six-hitting record? Join us as we explore the list of batters.
Chris Gayle hitting a flat six for West Indies. Image | X
There's a number of retired cricket legends who follow down the list of most international sixes after Rohit Sharma. Their careers concluded with a high count of sixes, that were celebrated throughout.
The West Indies power-hitter, Chris Gayle, with 553 international sixes, is the closest someone could ever get to Rohit's numbers.
Here's a list of retired cricketers with high six counts that no longer impose a threat to Rohit's record:
Player
Span
Matches
Innings
Runs
6s
Chris Gayle
1999-2021
483
551
19593
553
Shahid Afridi
1996-2018
524
508
11196
476
Brendon McCullum
2002-2016
432
474
14676
398
Martin Guptill
2009-2022
367
402
13463
383
Active players with potential to break Rohit's record
Rohit Sharma celebrating a century for India. Image | Pinterest
Beyond the above list of retired batters, there's a group of active players whose evolving numbers suggest they possess the firepower and skill to climb o top and challenge Rohit's six-hitting record.
England's explosive wicket-keeper batter, Jos Buttler, is a rising name in the list of most international sixes, having smashed 369 sixes in 384 matches. He is a true gem who can hit massive sixes under pressure and turn the game around.
Buttler's quality, especially in limited overs, makes him the strongest contender to challenge Rohit's record in the upcoming years.
Other active players on the run: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell
Virat Kohli: Although not known to be big of a six hitter, Kohli has hit an impressive 306 sixes. With his ODIs career still ongoing, he will surely climb a significant amount and get closer.
Glenn Maxwell: After his ODI retirement, Maxwell is currently on the run with 299 sixes. The numbers will take a leap as he continues to do well in T20Is for Australia.
6 cricketers who announced their retirements since last month
The cricket world bid farewell to six prominent players as they drew curtains on stellar international careers in just one month. From unparalleled Kohli to power-hitter Maxwell, here are 6 crickters who announced their retirements since last month.
The cricket world, known for its constant evolution, has seen a drastic shift in a month. Over the past month, six notable players have chosen to conclude their careers on the global stage.
From legendary batsmen to powerful all-rounders, these departures mark a significant moment in the history of cricket. These aren't just names; they are players who have shaped matches and won the hearts of millions.
Explore the list of 6 cricketers who announced their retirements since last month.
1. Rohit Sharma (Test retirement) | May 7, 2025
Rohit Sharma celebrating his first century as an opener in tests in 2019. Image | Daily Excelsior
On May 7, 2025, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of his remarkable journey as a batsman, as well as India's captain in tests. His test career lasted for 12 years since his debut in 2013.
Sharma transformed himself into a brilliant test opener in the latter half of his career. One of his defining moments in Test cricket arrived in 2019 against South Africa, where he hammered a majestic 212 runs as an opener, showcasing his ability to wear down opposition attacks.
He is the fifth-most successful Test captain for India, leading to 12 Test victories.
Rohit Sharma's stats in tests:
Span
Innings
Runs
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
2013-2024
116
4302
40.6
57.1
212
18
12
2. Virat Kohli (Test retirement) | May 12, 2025
Virat Kohli celebrating his century against WI in 2023. Image | Instagram
Following Rohit's retirement, India lost the era's most dominant force in test cricket. The announcement of Virat Kohli's test retirement on May 12, 2025, resonated globally, leaving everyone shocked and upset.
Kohli approached the test format with a fierce competitive spirit and hunger for runs. His dedication and skill set in this format saw him notch 7 double centuries in his test career. He also became the most successful test captain of India during the 8 years (Dec 2014-Jan 2022) of his captaincy tenure, leading to 40 wins.
This decision of Kohli to step away from tests also brought the interests of Indian fans in tests in question. This retirement indeed marked the end of an era.
Virat Kohli's stats in tests:
Span
Innings
Runs
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
2011-2025
210
9230
46.85
55.57
254*
3
30
3. Angelo Mathews (Test retirement) | May 23, 2025
Angelo Mathews in tests. Image | Mint
Sri Lanka's enduring test pillar, Angelo Mathews, concluded his test career on May 23, 2025. He left behind a legacy of resilience and crucial performances as an all-rounder.
Mathews possessed the ability to adapt his game and accelerate when required. His unbeaten 200 runs against Zimbabwe in 2020 stand out as one of his vital contributions. He also took a total of 33 wickets in tests.
He led Sri Lanka in 34 matches as a captain and won 13 among them.
Angelo Mathews' stats in tests:
Span
Innings
Runs
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
2009-2025
210
8167
44.62
48.45
200*
45
16
4. Glenn Maxwell (ODIs Retirement) | June 2, 2025
Glen Maxwell celebrating his 201* against Afghanistan in 2023 ODI World Cup. Image | Pinterest
Australia's one of the most captivating hitters and match-winners, Glenn Maxwell, announced retirement from ODIs on June 2, 2025. Known for his explosive strokeplay and ability to turn the game around, he had an amazing ODI career.
Maxwell's career has many moments to highlight, but nothing can match his astonishing 201* runs against Afghanistan in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Coming back with a back injury, this innings was a masterclass in aggressive and controlled batting.
He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, which goes down in the history of ODI cricket.
Glenn Maxwell's stats in ODIs:
Span
Innings
Runs
Wickets
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
2012-2025
136
3990
77
(in 119 innings)
33.81
126.70
201*
23
4
5. Heinrich Klaasen (International retirement) | June 2, 2025
Heinrich Klaasen celebrating his 109 off 67 balls against England in 2023 World Cup. Image| TOI
On June 2, 2025, Heinrich Klaasen announced his international retirement, which marked the end of a relatively short yet impactful career as a destructive batsman in white-ball cricket.
Since his international debut for South Africa in 2018, he has been a hard-hitter of the ball and has become one of the most feared finishers in limited-overs formats. His phenomenal 174 runs off just 83 balls against Australia in an ODI in 2023 stands as a testament to his raw hitting power and ability.
Heinrich Klaasen's international stats (2018-2025)
Format
Innings
Runs
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
T20Is
53
1000
23.25
141.84
81
5
0
ODIs
56
2141
43.69
117.05
174
11
4
Tests
8
104
13.00
45.21
35
0
0
6. Nicholas Pooran (International retirement) | June 10, 2025
Nicholas Pooran celebrating his knock of 113 runs against Sri Lanka in 2019 World Cup. Image | BBC
The West Indies batter, Nicholas Pooran, announced his international retirement on June 10, 2025, at the age of just 29. This marked one of the earliest retirements for a high-profile West Indies player.
As a left-hander wicket-keeper batsman, Pooran quickly established himself as an electrifying hitter in white-ball cricket. He brought an aggressive approach to the crease, with the potential to turn the game in his favour.
He has done exceptionally well in his short-lived international career. His 98 runs off 53 balls against Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup perfectly tell the story of his talent.
Nicholas Pooran's international stats (2016-2025):
The Most Valuable Player in IPL is the cricketer who earns the most points on the MVP Chart of a particular season. Before the 2013 season, the best player of an IPL season received the 'IPL Man of the Series' title. However, the organizers changed it to the IPL Most Valuable Player in 2013.
How do players get the IPL Most Valuable Player award?
There is a special rating system, under which the cricketers earn points for fours, sixes, wickets, catches, dot balls, and stumpings. For every four, the player gets 2.5 points, while a maximum earns him 3.5 points.
A catch or a stumping is equal to 2.5 points, and a wicket gets the player 3.5 points. The bowler earns one point for every dot ball bowled. The leader of this standing takes the IPL Most Valuable Player trophy home.
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson won the Most Valuable Player award in its inaugural edition in 2013. Watson had undone the damage to his IPL prospects that year with all-round performance for the Rajasthan Royals. With 22 sixes, 59 boundaries, 6 catches, and 13 wickets, Watson edged past the big Chris Gayle by 37 points to clinch the Most Valuable Player once again.
A packed Chennai crowd also witnessed Shane Watson's first IPL 100. Incidentally, Watson's 61-ball 101 was also the first century of the 2013 edition of the IPL
After failing to find a spot on the Australian side in 2014, Glenn Maxwell staged a fantastic show in the 7th edition of the IPL. The all-rounder Maxwell scored as many as 552 runs in the tournament, during which he also smashed 36 sixes and 48 fours, all at a strike rate of 187.75.
The Aussie fell agonizingly short of a maiden IPL century – he blasted CSK's bowlers to get to a 38-ball 95. Although Kings XI Punjab lost in a thrilling final against the Knight Riders, Glenn Maxwell would have cherished the 2014 season of the IPL for his stellar run.
Kolkata's Caribbean Knight Andre Russell was power personified as far as the 2015 IPL was concerned. The broad-shouldered all-rounder set the IPL on fire with stellar performances lower down the order. Russell was the bright spot of KKR's deep batting order, as the Caribbean genius scored 326 runs through the course of the season.
Russell could brag about his 21-ball 51 against Kings XI Punjab which helped KKR steeple a target of 183. A strike rate of 192.29 stood out in Andre Russell's scintillating season. Don't forget his 14 wickets and 6 catches.
The 9th edition of the IPL pulled every available spotlight on just one man, Virat Kohli. Former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper was in mint form, as he seemed to have no difficulty in racking up immense runs. Virat Kohli came tantalizingly close to 1,000 runs in a single IPL season, finishing with 973.
En route to yet another blotched IPL final, Kohli hammered 4 centuries – which was the most by a batsman in a single IPL season – and comfortably snapped the Orange Cap. Despite a disappointing end to the season, Virat Kohli had taken the IPL by storm by his insatiable hunger for T20 runs.
The tag of 'Most Valuable Player' was attached to Ben Stokes long before he took the field in the 2017 edition of the IPL. Stokes fetched Rs. 14.5 crore and was set to ply his skills for the Rising Pune Supergiant. He didn't disappoint his selectors who invested big money in him. Stokes proved his worth and added the title of Most Valuable Player alongside his already existing tag of Most Expensive Overseas Player.
Although he was dearly missed in the final, Stokes had amassed 316 runs at 31.60 before he left on national duty. The Big Ben lit up the IPL with a stellar century against the Gujarat Lions and was also instrumental in the Pune's impenetrable death-bowling. Stokes bagged a total of 12 wickets while maintaining a miserly economy rate of 7.18.
Sunil Narine became the second cricketer after Shane Watson to become the most valuable player of IPL twice. After IPL 2012 he won the prestigious award once again in 2018. By this time he not only proved himself as an excellent bowler but also as a great hard-hitting opener.
He completely justified the roles given to him by giving an extreme start to KKR in the powerplay in most of the matches and also helped the team to reach the playoffs. In 16 matches he scored 357 runs with a strike rate of 189.89 and took 17 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65. One of his most magnificent knocks from IPL 2018 is his half-century in only 17 balls against RCB.
Once again a player from KKR became the most valuable player of IPL 2019 following Sunil Narine in 2018. Andre Russell also became the third cricketer to be in the MVP award twice in IPL history after Shane Watson and Sunil Narine. By this time, he proved himself as a batter who could win matches in dire situations.
In 2019 IPL Russell completely thrashed boundaries all around and literally played with the opponent bowlers. He aggregated 510 runs in only 14 matches with an out-of-the-ordinary strike rate of 204.81. He not only restricted himself with batting but also picked up 11 wickets for KKR while bowling in the death overs mostly.
Rajasthan Royals' all-rounder Jofra Archer claimed the IPL Most Valuable Player award in 2020. The English player topped the MVP standings with 305 points to his name.
Archer picked up 20 wickets, bowled 175 dot deliveries, smashed five fours and ten sixes as well as took five catches to beat the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rashid Khan to become the Most Valuable Player in IPL 2020. No other player could score 300 MVP points last year.
The Most Valuable Player of IPL 2021 is Harshal Patel from Royal Challengers Bangalore. With 264.5 points, the cricketer had an amazing season this year. Starting from taking crucial wickets to winning the Purple Cap, Game-changer of the season, picking the highest number of wickets in IPL, he did it all. He had a dreamy season after making a comeback to RCB from DC. Also, he took a 4 wicket haul and a 5 wicket haul this season as well.
Suryakumar Yadav | 2025
Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav has been named the Most Valuable Player for IPL 2025. The MI middle-order star finished the season with 717 runs to his name from 16 matches, registering his best season so far averaging, 65.18. He struck five half-centuries in the course of the tournament, emerging as MI’s highest run-scorer in IPL 2025. SKY is the second MI batter to win the Most Valuable Player of the season award after Sachin Tendulkar in 2010.