Sports
Brook’s unbeaten 184 turns the tables on New Zealand
ENGLAND TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND 2023
Harry Brook continued to make Test match batting look easy as the 24-year-old scored his fourth Test hundred in just his sixth appearance in the format on Day 1 in Basin Reserve. Brook was well on course for his maiden double ton but showers in the final session brought an early end to the day, with the 24-year-old unbeaten on 184 off just 169 balls – including 24 fours and 5 sixes. At the other end, he had Joe Root for company, who notched up his 29th Test hundred. The pair added an undefeated stand worth 294 for the fourth wicket to snatch the momentum away from the home side.
New Zealand had a dream start to their quest for series parity as Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett were sent packing by the sixth over. But from then on, England’s batting came alive via the fire-and-ice pairing of Brook and Root. New Zealand quicks went full against Brook in search of movement but all they found was the middle of the 24-year-old’s bat, who fearlessly hit through covers and over mid-off and mid-on, sometimes even when Tim Southee had fielders stationed there. Brook’s scintillating approach meant England seamlessly transitioned from being on thin ice to being in control of the proceedings as New Zealand just couldn’t find another breakthrough.
Though New Zealand were bolstered by the return of Matt Henry, the bowling attack was still found wanting against England’s expansive ways as the support cast around Henry and Tim Southee failed to put any sort of pressure from either end. Daryl Mitchell and Neil Wagner were taken to the cleaners by Brook, once even with an audacious ramp shot for a six that you seldom see used in this format. Midway through the second session, Brook reached his fourth Test hundred off just 107 deliveries.
Despite the green pitch, the conditions eased out rather quickly, paving the way for Brook to bat like only England do in this format. Root had the best seat in the house to watch Brook go about sending New Zealand bowlers on a leather hunt, but he too got adventurous in the final session.
Through the first two sessions Root kept his reverse sweep under wraps, considering it led to his dismissal in both innings in the first Test. But when Wagner bowled from round the stumps, Root went for a risky reverse ramp shot over the slip cordon and picked up a boundary to move into the 90s. Right after Root reached his century, rain came down and forced the players off the field. Twice there were hopes of getting the game going again but as soon as the covers were peeled off, another spell of rain arrived. Eventually, no more play was possible. It was the sort of breather New Zealand needed as England finished the day on 315 for 3.
Brief Scores:
England 315/3 (Harry Brook 184*, Joe Root 101*; Matt Henry 2-64) vs New Zealand
Cricbuzz
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Mr. S. K. Sangakkara, Attorney-at-Law. He was the loving husband of Kumarie, beloved father to Thusharie, Vemindra, Saranga, and Kumar, loved father-in-law to Sanjay, Nipuni, Ru, and Yehali, adored grand father to Thehan, Methvan, Nethya, Vinaya, Kaya, Seth, Kavith and Swyree.
His remains will lie at his residence in Kandy for relatives and friends to pay their last respects. We also ask that the privacy of the family be respected.
The funeral will take place on the 4th of March 2026 at 6.00 p.m. at the Mahaiyawa Cemetery, Kandy. The cortège will leave the residence at 4.30 p.m.
He will be dearly missed by his loving family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew him.
Jammu and Kashmir’s maiden triumph in India’s premier domestic championship last week is more than a sporting milestone – it is one of the most stirring stories in the country’s cricket.
The Ranji Trophy, one of the oldest first-class competitions in the sport, sits at the heart of the game in the world’s most powerful cricketing nation.
To win it is to claim a place in the country’s cricketing mainstream; for Jammu and Kashmir, it marks a breakthrough that was decades in the making.
Cricket in the disputed region dates back to the colonial era, when the Kashmir Willow – prized for its strength and resilience – helped craft bats that powered the sport across India.
For decades, the region was scarred by insurgency, political turmoil and a deep sense of alienation – tensions that culminated in 2019 when Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy and split the state into two new federally-administered territories.
Yet, even through these upheavals, passion for cricket ran deep. Success, however, proved elusive.
That changed over a remarkable fortnight.
In a season overshadowed by the ongoing high-voltage T20 World Cup, where India are defending champions, it was this unfancied northern side that quietly commanded attention.
After defeating seven-time champions Delhi to enter the knockouts, Jammu and Kashmir gathered momentum.
Former champions Madhya Pradesh fell in the quarter-finals. Bengal were subdued in the semi-finals. In the final, stood eight-time winners Karnataka, boasting four current internationals – KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair and Prasidh Krishna – and overwhelming experience.
Jammu and Kashmir were the underdogs and most expected them to falter. Instead, they produced cricket of composure, skill and steel, outplaying their decorated opponents to claim India’s premier first-class title.
The breakthrough did not come out of nowhere.
Over the past decade, the team has flirted with history, reaching the quarter-finals three times and missing last year’s semi-final by the slimmest of margins – a one-run first-innings deficit against Kerala.
The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association was formed in 1959-60. It has taken nearly 67 years – marked by political upheaval, institutional neglect and chronic underinvestment – for the region to complete the circle and reach the summit of Indian domestic cricket.
For decades, cricket’s real power centres lay elsewhere: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. Proximity to these hubs – of money, infrastructure and influence – often determined how quickly cricket flourished in a state.
Jammu and Kashmir, geographically and politically distant from these nerve centres, remained on the margins – a cricketing outpost far removed from the game’s corridors of power.
A lack of basic infrastructure, scant coaching facilities and self-serving administration stunted cricket’s growth for decades. That Jammu and Kashmir won their first Ranji match only in 1982-83 – more than 20 years after gaining state association status – underlines how halting that progress was.
In 1983, during a match in Srinagar city against Clive Lloyd’s touring West Indies, Indian players were booed and jeered – a spectacle that prompted authorities to sideline the state from hosting major fixtures.
The hostility reflected a deepening political alienation in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir region, where resentment against Delhi over autonomy and governance was already simmering. Though a full-blown insurgency against Indian rule would erupt only in 1989, the faultlines were visible.
In 1986, Allan Border’s Australians played what would prove to be the last international match in Kashmir. Four decades on, top-level cricket has yet to return.
Cricket in Jammu and Kashmir began to turn a corner over the past 15 years as militancy ebbed and political volatility eased. With greater stability came long-missing attention to development and structure.
Three clear inflection points underpin the team’s rise.
The first came between 2011 and 2013, when former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi took charge as coach. He transformed a side burdened by diffidence into one that believed it belonged – urging players long overawed by reputation to compete as equals on the national stage.
Pervez Rasool, the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to play for India, was among the chief beneficiaries of Bedi’s confidence-building approach – a debt he has acknowledged in recent years.
The second inflection point came in 2018-19, when the state association brought in former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan as player-cum-mentor. During his two seasons with the side, Pathan said his central message was simple: shed regional faultlines and play as one team.
That phase unearthed notable talent, including batsman Abdul Samad and the explosive fast bowler Umran Malik – only the second cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to represent India.
The third inflection point came about five years ago, when the state association was replaced by an Apex Council to oversee the game. It was headed by Mithun Manhas, a former Delhi stalwart born in Jammu who had also played a season for J&K – blending administrative authority with local roots and top-tier experience.
Manhas, now the head of the Indian cricket board, professionalised the set-up, appointing his former Delhi teammate Ajay Sharma as coach and tightening structures around the team.
Top-tier infrastructure followed, along with modern coaching methods – scientific fitness, nutrition planning and structured mental conditioning – bringing the set-up in line with national standards.
Paras Dogra, a seasoned and prolific domestic batsman, was drafted in as captain to anchor the rebuild. Selectors then cast the net wide, scouting both established and emerging talent.
At 41, Dogra proved a natural leader – delivering his own best while elevating those around him, a journey that culminated in this year’s coveted title.
Several batsmen and bowlers stood out, but the spearhead was fast bowler Aquib Nabi, who finished the season with 60 wickets. He had claimed 44 the previous year, earning an IPL contract with the Delhi Daredevils.
Many observers believe he is ready for the highest level – the national team. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was among those who publicly endorsed him, saying Nabi has the tools to play Test cricket for India.
Whether, and how soon, that leap to the international stage comes remains uncertain.
What is beyond doubt is the significance of Jammu and Kashmir’s surge as a cricketing force – a rise that, in its improbable sweep, recalls Afghanistan’s ascent in the global game.
For India, it matters in at least two profound ways.
First, it underscores how deeply and widely cricket’s footprint now runs across the country – a key reason India stands as the pre-eminent force in the global game.
Second, this triumph offers the beleaguered federally-administered territory and its people something long yearned for: a meaningful stake in the national mainstream through shared pride and sporting excellence.
[BBC]
Zimbabwe have become the first team at the T20 World Cup to be affected by the closure of air spaces in West Asia, and will remain in India for the foreseeable future after their final match against South Africa on Sunday.
West Indies have also been forced to delay their departure from India*, due to “security threats posed by military action in the Gulf region”, CWI announced on Monday.
“CWI is working closely with the ICC, relevant governmental authorities and airline partners to secure the earliest possible safe travel arrangements for the squad and support staff,” the board said in a release. “The safety and wellbeing of our players, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority.
“The team is currently accommodated in India and remains safe and well. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as confirmed travel arrangements are finalised.”
Tournament organisers have been exploring alternative routes to get teams home as they finish their campaigns at the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. ESPNcricinfo understands that the Zimbabwe contingent was due to return home in batches, with some leaving as early as 4.30am on Monday morning and the rest to follow later in the day. They were booked on Emirates flights, which would take them from Delhi to Dubai and then on to Harare.
While it is understood that other airlines and routes are being considered, Zimbabwe are booked to stay at their Delhi hotel until March 4.
“No, not that I’ve heard of,” Zimbabwe’s coach Justin Sammons said when asked if there was clarity over the team’s travel plans. “When we started the game there wasn’t anything. And now we’ve just been focused on the game, so I’ve not heard anything since.”
Pakistan, who played their final Super Eight game on Saturday and were knocked out of the tournament, have returned to Lahore from Colombo via a Sri Lankan airlines flight.
On Saturday morning, the USA and Israel exchanged missile strikes with Iran, leading to the closure of airspace over several countries in West Asia, disrupting air travel to the region and also internationally, with several airlines having to cancel flights or change routes.
The ICC, in a statement on Saturday, said it had been monitoring the evolving situation and had “activated comprehensive contingency plans to safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders” at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
“While the crisis in the Middle East has no direct bearing on the conduct of the tournament, the ICC acknowledges that a significant number of personnel – including players, team management, match officials, broadcast teams, and event staff – rely on Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai (DXB), as key transit points for onward travel to their home countries upon concluding their commitments at the event,” the ICC said in a statement.
“The ICC Travel and Logistics team is actively working with major international carriers to identify and secure alternative routing options, including connections through European, South Asian and South-East Asian hubs. The ICC security consultants are liaising with relevant authorities and will provide real-time advisories as the situation develops. A dedicated ICC Travel Support Desk has also been activated.”
[Cricinfo]
Six US soldiers killed in Iranian strike on Kuwait base
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Attorney At Law S K Sangakkara pasess away
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Trump says Iran war projected to last 4 to 5 weeks, could go ‘far longer’
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