Varun Aaron's Retirement

Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron has announced his retirement from all forms of representative cricket. Aaron represented India in 9 Tests and 9 ODIs, taking a total of 29 international wickets.

International games

India's women's cricket team achieved a convincing victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the ODI series with a professional performance. Ireland’s Gaby Lewis(captain) and Leah Paul, set a respectable total. However, India’s openers, including Smriti Mandhana, and a strong partnership between Priya Rawal and Richa Hasabnis easily chased down the target. Although Ireland's Orla Maguire impressed with three wickets, their bowlers struggled overall.

Friday History

The Bannerman Record

The first Test match ever played was not considered the first Test match at the time—at least not initially. Many matches were played between England and Australia in the late 19th century; however, "Test status," as we know it today, was not yet an established concept. In the 1890s, a group of cricket writers in Australia and England eventually agreed on which of these matches would be classified as “Tests.” The final list consisted of 39 matches played between 1877 and 1894. By this retrospective classification, the 1877 match between England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was declared the first “Test,” nearly 20 years after it took place.

It was this match that also saw a record that has stood the test of time. I am not referring to the first ball ever bowled in test cricket, delivered by the 5’6 Alfred Shaw who trundled in to bowl his slower than medium medium pace, nor am I discussing the first runs ever scored, again off of the 5’6 trundler. The London-born Sydney-raised Charles Bannerman, who incidentally was the batsman to score the first-ever test runs, set an even more astounding record that day. 

The first day of action saw Bannerman bat through the whole of it, witnessing his batting partners falling one after another on the other end. He seemed to be the only one who could score runs as he rightfully farmed the strike to face the bulk of the deliveries en route to his and the format’s (as later recognized) maiden test century. He would end the day on 126* red, scoring the bulk of the runs as Australia was precariously positioned at 166/6. 

The second day saw Bannerman continue where he left off before having his finger split open by a bouncer delivered by Yorkshireman George Ulyett. Thus, Bannerman was forced to retire hurt on 165* unbeaten. Australia would end the innings with a respectable total of 245, of which Bannerman contributed over half. In fact, and to be more precise, Bannerman contributed 67.34% of all the runs Australia scored in the first innings. 

This is the highest percentage of runs a single batsman has contributed to the team’s total, a record which still stands 148 years later. This record was nothing noteworthy at the time, however, as the years went on it remained unbroken. The likes of Slater, Laxman, and Greenidge have all come close, however, Bannerman’s knock still puts him atop the table. It is a rather niche record although, once noted, it has colloquially been referred to after the one who first set it, thus giving us the Bannerman Record. 

Domestic cricket + T20 leagues

Big Bash League (BBL): Tim David's explosive unbeaten 68 propelled the Hobart Hurricanes to a fifth consecutive victory, solidifying their status as genuine title contenders.

Durbar Rajshahi set a target of 178 runs in 20 overs, thanks to the impressive lower-order contributions from Yasir Ali and Ryan Burl, who scored 41 and 48 runs, respectively. The Khulna Tigers struggled to mount a counterattack and lost wickets at regular intervals. Afif Hossain was the standout performer for Khulna, scoring a top of 33 runs. Ultimately, they were bowled out for 150 runs in 19.3 overs.

PSL 2025: What we know so far

Pakistan Super League 2025

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to celebrate its 10th edition, known as HBL PSL 10, from April 10 to May 25, 2025. This season will feature six teams competing in a double round-robin format, culminating in playoffs. A total of 34 matches are scheduled across four cities in Pakistan.

Draft and Player Retentions

The PSL 2025 Player Draft is scheduled for January 13, 2025, at Huzoori Bagh in Lahore, commencing at 12:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST). 

Ahead of the draft, teams have announced their retained players:

• Islamabad United: Retained players include Shadab Khan (Captain), Naseem Shah, Imad Wasim (Mentor), Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha (Brand Ambassador), Haider Ali, and Rumman Raees.
   

• Karachi Kings: Retained players include Shan Masood (Captain), James Vince (Vice-Captain), Hasan Ali, Arafat Minhas, Irfan Khan Niazi, Zahid Mahmood, and Tim Seifert.
   

• Lahore Qalandars: Retained players include Shaheen Afridi (Captain), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Abdullah Shafique, Zaman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Sikandar Raza, and David Wiese.
   

• Multan Sultans: Retained players include Mohammad Rizwan (Captain), David Willey (Vice-Captain), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usama Mir, Faisal Akram, and Chris Jordan.
   

• Peshawar Zalmi: Retained players include Babar Azam (Captain), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Ali Raza.
   

• Quetta Gladiators: Retained players include Rilee Rossouw (Captain), Saud Shakeel (Vice-Captain), Mohammad Amir (Mentor), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Abrar Ahmed, Khawaja Nafay, Akeal Hosein, and Usman Tariq.
   

Season Schedule and Expansion Plans

The 2025 season's schedule overlaps with the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to adjustments accommodating the ICC Champions Trophy. This overlap creates challenges and opportunities, impacting player availability and viewership dynamics.

Notably, this season marks the final iteration featuring six teams. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced plans to expand the league to eight teams starting in 2026, aiming to enhance the tournament's competitiveness and reach.

On this day

2005

Bangladesh achieved their first Test victory, in their 35th Test, more than four years after their debut. And as in the rest of their successes of the time, left-arm spinners played a big role in the win, over Zimbabwe by 226 runs in Chittagong. Habibul Bashar scored 94, and Mohammad Rafique made 69 and took five wickets to give Bangladesh a first-innings lead of 176. Bashar scored another half-century in the second innings and then Enamul Haque Jr took 6 for 45 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 154. Bangladesh's next Test win came four years later, against a depleted West Indies side that was missing its key players because of a strike.

Coming tomorrow

What else is happening

• South Africa's Call for Afghanistan Boycott: South Africa's Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has called for a boycott of Afghanistan in the upcoming Champions Trophy cricket tournament in Pakistan, citing the Taliban government's harsh stance on women's rights.

• Potential BBL Investments: Kiran Kumar Grandhi, chairman of GMR Group, visited Sydney, sparking speculation about potential investments in the Big Bash League (BBL). Cricket Australia is reportedly considering allowing foreign investments to boost the league's financial standing.

Question for you

Who do you think will win SA20 season three?

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