Author: Priya Menon

Australia head coach Shelley Nitschke believes Sophie Molineux’s impact during the recent T20I series against West Indies extended far beyond her on-field contributions with bat or ball. With the T20 World Cup approaching, the Caribbean tour was regarded as a key opportunity for the new captain to gain leadership experience. Although Australia completed a 3-0 sweep in the series, Molineux’s individual involvement was restricted. She did not bowl and featured only briefly with the bat, managing a short cameo during the final match. The all-rounder, who has taken over captaincy duties in all formats from Alyssa Healy, has been carefully…

Cricket Ireland has reinforced its long-term vision for the women’s game by confirming the centrally contracted players for the 2026–27 campaign. As the global landscape of women’s cricket continues to evolve, the governing body has opted for continuity, retaining a settled core while maintaining a structured approach to player progression within the Ireland women’s national setup. A total of 23 players have received central contracts this year, allocated across multiple categories to ensure a balanced mix of senior experience, emerging prospects, and academic considerations. Eight cricketers have been awarded full-time deals, highlighting their key role in the national framework. Meanwhile,…

After guiding India to last year’s ODI World Cup title, captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes her team can build on that achievement by aiming for victory in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, set to take place in England later this year. India ended their long wait for a Women’s World Cup crown by defeating South Africa in the final in Navi Mumbai, and the defending ODI champions are now focused on securing their first title in the T20 format. “We’ll try our best (to win the T20 World Cup),” Harmanpreet said on the sidelines of a ceremony where a…

Rwanda Women secured a composed six-wicket victory over Nigeria Women in the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20 at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, with disciplined bowling followed by a controlled chase shaping the outcome. The Nigeria Women vs Rwanda Women encounter unfolded as a steady contest marked by early breakthroughs and a measured pursuit of a modest target. After choosing to bat first, Nigeria suffered an early setback when captain Lucky Piety was trapped lbw for a duck on just the third ball of the innings, giving Belise Murekatete the opening breakthrough at 1/5 in 0.3 overs. Omosigho Eguakun attempted…

The latest ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings, released on Tuesday, reflect major movements across batting, bowling and all-rounder charts following Australia’s clean sweep of West Indies in the Caribbean and New Zealand’s emphatic 4-1 T20I series victory over South Africa. New Zealand, captained by Amelia Kerr, hosted South Africa — led by Laura Wolvaardt — for a white-ball tour running from March 15 to April 4, featuring the recently completed T20I leg and ODIs beginning March 29. Meanwhile, West Indies, under Hayley Matthews, took on Australia between March 20 and April 2, with their ODI matches starting on March 27.…

South Africa Women Under-19s delivered a disciplined and tactically controlled performance to defeat Zimbabwe Women Under-19s by 28 runs in the 7th match of the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20I tournament in Lagos. The SAW U19 vs ZWU19 contest saw the South Africans produce a balanced display with both bat and ball after choosing to set a target. Their innings developed in stages, beginning with positive intent before a period of consolidation in the middle overs and a late push that helped them post a competitive total. The opening partnership started confidently, though the first wicket fell at 1-55 in 4.6…

Anushka Sharma has earned her maiden T20I call-up ahead of the upcoming series against South Africa. In an exclusive interaction, her coach Arun Singh reflects on her journey, dedication, and progress on the path to the national team. He also points to the areas she still needs to refine while keeping the long-term World Cup ambition in perspective. The 22-year-old all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh secured her first India Women’s selection after being included in the 15-player squad for the five-match T20I series against South Africa, announced on March 24. With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon,…

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has taken a key step toward reshaping the domestic T20 landscape by identifying NZ20 as its preferred pathway for the future, effectively moving away from the current Super Smash format. The governing body has also stressed the need for a stronger emphasis on the women’s game within the proposed model. In an official statement, NZC confirmed that the NZ20 competition is set to proceed, with plans indicating a potential launch as early as January 2027 for the men’s tournament and later in 2027 for the women’s event. The new structure is intended to replace the existing…

Amelia Kerr struck her second T20I century with a blistering 55-ball 105 and also claimed two wickets as New Zealand secured a comprehensive 92-run victory over South Africa in the fifth T20I. The result sealed a 4-1 series triumph for the hosts at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday. Asked to bat first, New Zealand suffered an early setback when Isabella Gaze was dismissed in the second over. However, Kerr and Georgia Plimmer steadied the innings with a 45-run partnership for the second wicket. South Africa briefly fought back when Tumi Sekhukhune removed Plimmer and Sophie Devine in consecutive…

Ireland Women are gearing up for one of their busiest seasons yet, combining crucial ICC Women’s T20 World Cup fixtures with an intensive ICC Women’s Championship (ICCWC) programme over the next 12 months. The team will return to the international spotlight with a blend of home assignments and challenging overseas tours, all leading up to the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026. Home Tri-Series to Launch Summer Campaign Ireland’s preparations begin with a home T20I tri-series at Clontarf Cricket Club, where they will face…