Tag: Steve Smith

  • Australia’s Steve Smith becomes fastest cricketer to score 8,000 Test runs

    Australia’s Steve Smith becomes fastest cricketer to score 8,000 Test runs

    Australian batter Steve Smith has become the fastest cricketer to reach 8,000 runs in Test cricket. Smith made the record in 151 innings. He made the record in the ongoing third Test between Pakistan and Australia

    Smith eclipsed Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara, who reached the mark in his 152nd innings.

    Among other Australians to pass 8,000 Test runs, Smith soared past Matthew Hayden (164 innings), Ricky Ponting (165), Michael Clarke (172), Allan Border (184) and Steve Waugh (194).

    Smith is the 33rd batsman in the world and seventh from Australia to score 8,000-plus runs.

    Smith made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lords in 2010.

  • Australia prioritises Pakistan tour over IPL, players to miss a few matches

    Australia prioritises Pakistan tour over IPL, players to miss a few matches

    The Australian team will prioritise their national duty and several prominent players from Australia will miss out the first few matches of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 action due to the series against Pakistan.

    Read More – Australia announces full-strength squad for Pakistan tour

    Australian skipper Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, David Warner and others are all included in the auction. Cricket Australia (CA) laid down a strong ruling that their players were not allowed to abandon international duty for the IPL.

    Earlier, George Bailey, Australia’s chairman of selectors had said that IPL is a good enough “development opportunity” but CA would not release players when Australia was playing.

    “We do see the IPL as a really good development opportunity when it fits, but there’s obviously a huge amount of cricket with a series (in Sri Lanka) planned for immediately-post the IPL as well.”

    He later reiterated and passed a clear ruling on the matter.

    “So, it will be about working with the individuals to ensure they’re getting the preparation they need, but we certainly won’t be releasing players to the IPL while Australia are playing.”

    The Test leg of Australia’s tour of Pakistan, featuring three matches, is scheduled to end on March 25. Australia will then play a three-match ODI series in Rawalpindi, which will also host the only T20I on April 5. In an e-mail to the franchises on Wednesday, the IPL said Cricket Australia had permitted players who were part of both the Test and white-ball leg in Pakistan, to travel from April 6.

    This is a clear statement to IPL and to world cricket that Australia has refused to surrender to BCCI’s foothold in the cricketing world.

    The series is set to kickoff with the first Test match to be played on March 4 in Rawalpindi.

  • Australia announces full-strength squad for Pakistan tour

    Australia announces full-strength squad for Pakistan tour

    Cricket Australia (CA) has named a full-strength squad for their first tour to Pakistan in 24 years, with Ashton Agar the only addition from the extended group of players that won the Ashes.

    The CA announced the team after it’s Executive Board’s endorsement for the tour following a schedule change agreed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) due to logistical challenges.

    Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis, and Mitchell Swepson have all been named in an 18-man squad for the historic three-Test tour of Pakistan.

    According to Australian website Cricket.com.au, while squads for the limited-overs matches that will follow the Tests are yet to be named, the fact that no Test players have pulled out is a vote of confidence for the tour.

    Thorough security assessments were conducted by the security experts hired by the Australian board before the tour was given the go-ahead.

    The report stated that Jhye Richardson is the only player of note to miss the trip as Australia manages the body of the 25-year-old fast bowler, who has struggled with injuries over his career.

    “This squad covers all scenarios, including the conditions given that it has been such a long time since Australia was last in Pakistan,” selection chief George Bailey said.

    “With several subcontinent tours and a one-day World Cup in India on the near horizon, this is a great first test challenge for the group after the successful home Ashes series.”

    “It’s also a very historic tour given the length of time since an Australian side last toured Pakistan.”

    Australia Test squad:

    Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

  • Yuvraj Singh’s response to Shoaib Akhtar’s tweet will crack you up

    Yuvraj Singh’s response to Shoaib Akhtar’s tweet will crack you up

    Former Indian cricketing star Yuvraj Singh’s hilarious response to former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s tweet, wherein he had criticised England’s Jofra Archer, has gone viral over the internet.

    As per the details, Akhtar recently slammed Archer when the latter’s bouncer left Australian batsman Steve Smith rolling on the ground.

    He was seen sharing a laugh with English wicketkeeper Jos Buttler after Smith suffered a nasty blow to his head on day four of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s on Sunday.

    Being a paceman himself, Akhtar criticised Archer over his reaction and tweeted:

    However, Akhtar’s reaction was met with a hilarious tweet by Yuvraj Singh, who wrote, “Yes you did! But your actual words were, hope you are alright mate cause there are a few more coming”.

    This isn’t the first time that the cricketing legends have passed wacky comments on each other’s tweets.

    In 2017, Akhtar had shared an inspirational quote by WWE icon and film star, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson:

    Reacting to the tweet, Singh had tweeted in Punjab:

    “Sounds good, but where are you headed for [some] welding job?”