Selectors felt it wasn't correct to have two captains in white-ball format: Sourav Ganguly

BBL 2021-22: On a bowlers day out, Adelaide Strikers script comprehensive win over Melbourne Renegades

Adelaide Strikers rode on some exceptional bowling to clinch a 49-run win against Melbourne Renegades on Thursday in Adelaide. Chasing a target of 149 in 20 overs, the Renegades were bundled out for 100 in the 19th over. They had a decent start to the chase after Sam Harper and Mackenzie Harvey had put in 39 for the first wicket before the latter was run out for 19 off 12. Harvey’s dismissal certainly broke the shackles and Melbourne Renegades began to lose wickets at regular intervals only to be left tottering at 85/7 and eventually get bowled out. The Melbourne side witnessed a middle-order collapse as the Strikers’ bowlers didn’t really let them get back on track. Wes Agar returned with figures of 3/17 in three overs while Rashid Khan and Daniel Worrall had a couple of wickets apiece to their names. George Garton and Peter Siddle also scalped one wicket each during the course. Earlier, the Adelaide Strikers managed to score 149 in 10 overs before being all out after Kane Richardson bagged a four-wicket haul while Topley picked a three-for for the side. Wells top-scored for Strikers with a 30-ball 37. The player of the match Agar lauded the side for the bowling efforts and admitted that the bowling unit had the confidence of defending the total. “We are bowling well at the moment, and we were pretty good with our change ups, especially against Harper. It's a matter of putting the pressure on and we do have a good bowling line up that is capable of doing that. We knew we could defend the total, we had the confidence, it was just a matter of getting that energy level up. The main thing is to keep things simple, I think I bowl well when I don't complicate things,” he said after the match. Strikers will now play Perth Scorchers on Saturday in Perth while the Renegades will lock horns with Brisbane Heat in Queensland on Monday.

Canterbury Kings vs Central Stags | Preview, Prediction

Central Stags are confident going into their third game after winning two of their first two. On the other hand, Canterbury will be looking to correct the mistakes that cost them the first match. The Kings will play on their home turf in Christchurch, but they are not in the driver's seat, owing to the opposition's current form. In Canterbury's first match, which they lost by 27 runs to Wellington, there was no such standout individual performance. Ed Nuttall took three wickets for them, which was a good sign. The focus is on the Central Stags, who have won their last two games with relative ease. Their batters are also in good form, as evidenced by their ability to chase well in the first match and put up a solid total and defend it in the second. If there's one thing they need to work on, it's their bowling. Their bowling has some flaws when compared to their batting. Tom Bruce and Josh Clarkson have fifties in their previous encounter against the Wellington Firebirds. Dane Cleaver has a hundred to his name in the first match against the Otago Volts. The Stags' batters are in good form, and when their team is under pressure to score, one or more of them rises to the occasion. Their bowling is also up to the mark, with Doug Bracewell and Seth Rance, an experienced duo, performing admirably. The Kings, on the other hand, are desperate to execute their plans this time around in order to make a strong comeback from their loss to the Volts. To make a match out of it, they must be alert and bring their "A" game. Canterbury must find the right eleven and apply pressure to the Stags' weak spots. There are not many weak links in the Stags line up but as mentioned above that is the only concern for them. Match Details Canterbury Kings vs Central Stags - 5th Match Date and Time: December 10, 2021, 11:10 AM IST Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch Broadcast: Fancode Pitch Report The Hagley Oval pitch generally assists the batters but with some nice covering of grass expected the new ball bowlers will have some help initially. The score batting first is expected to be around 165-180. As rain is expected to come, chasing could be easy. Weather Conditions According to forecasts there will be slight drizzle and will remain cloudy throughout the match. Probable XI Canterbury Kings Chad Bowes, Ken McClure, Jack Boyle, Cole McConchie (c), Cam Fletcher (wk), Leo Carter, Matthew Hay, Matt Henry, Will Williams, William ORourke, Ed Nuttall Central Stags Greg Hay, Bayley Wiggins, Dane Cleaver (wk), Tom Bruce ©, Christian Leopard, Josh Clarkson, Doug Bracewell, Ben Wheeler, Jayden Lennox, Blair Tickner, Seth Rance CE Fantasy XI Dane Cleaver (wk), Leo Carter, Seth Rance, Ed Nuttall, Tom Bruce, Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Jack Boyle, Ben Wheeler Captain: Josh Clarkson Vice-Captain: Doug Bracewell

Rahul Dravid will make the players work really hard: Rohit Sharma

Former India captain Rahul Dravid was handed over the position of the team’s head coach after Ravi Shastri’s tenure was over. Dravid had a good start to his stint with the Indian team as they defeated New Zealand in both T20Is and Tests at home. Rohit Sharma who was earlier given the T20I captaincy has now been appointed as the ODI skipper of the side as well. The right-hander’s first assignment as the ODI captain would be against South Africa away from home. Talking about Dravid, Sharma lauded the head coach and revealed the plans that the former skipper has for the side. “Rahul bhai has been a brilliant cricketer without a doubt. He has said this a number of times earlier that he has to work really hard to achieve all that he has so that is going to reflect on this team. The side will have to work hard and there is nothing which is given on a platter to anyone. He will make you work hard. Obviously when you do that and enjoy it, you will feel good about it,” Sharma said on the show ‘Backstage with Boria. “Guys who are coming in or going out even, they will have clarity. That is something he will be able to create and ever since we had our first meeting, he mentioned that I’m here to help you all. I’m no longer a cricketer now and I know the difference between a cricketer and a coach. My job will be very easy to support the players and make sure whatever they need, they have it. He has gone personally to each one of us and spoken to them,” he added. The Men in Blue completed a 3-0 clean sweep win against the Blackcaps in the T20Is and then followed it with a 1-0 win in the two-match Test series against them.

Virat Kohli’s tweet announcing birth of his daughter becomes ‘most liked tweet in 2021’

Twitter India has revealed that India’s Test captain Virat Kohli’s tweet announcing the birth of his daughter has become the ‘most liked tweet in 2021’. "We are thrilled to share with you that we have been blessed with a baby girl this afternoon. We thank you all for your love, prayers and good wishes. Anushka and the baby are both healthy and we are feeling beyond blessed to start this new chapter of our lives. We hope that you can respect our privacy at this time. Love, Virat," he had tweeted back then. On the other side, Australia pacer Pat Cummins’ tweet pledging to make a donation of AUD 50,000 towards India's fight against Covid-19 became the most retweeted tweet of the year in the nation. “The generosity of the Tweet received gratitude from people all over the country, making this the most Retweeted Tweet in India in 2021. This Tweet was also the most Quote Tweeted this year,” Twitter said in a statement. January 01, 2021 to November 15, 2021 is the period that has been considered to rank the tweets.