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The England U19s had a thrilling seven-wicket victory at Visit Worcestershire New Road to round off their Youth ODI series against India. The tourists won the series 3-2, but England earned the victory in the last match. After a superb bowling performance held India's strong batting lineup to 210 for nine. All six bowlers took wickets thanks to a great team effort, although Ralphie Albert (two for 24) and Alex French (two for 37) stood out. The only player to surpass 40 was RS Ambrish (66 not out from 81 balls). After that, England easily reached 211 for three with 113 balls remaining. Following Ben Dawkins's (66, 53) third consecutive sixty score, Ben Mayes (82 not out, 76 balls) and Thomas Rew (49 not out, 37) saw their team home at a canter. Following India's decision to bat, French and Matt Firbank each scored in their opening over as England's redesigned seam attack got off to a fantastic start. Before French took the crucial wicket of Vihaan Malhotra, Ayush Mhatre's fruitless series came to an end with a reckless flick to mid-on off Firbank. Malhotra. Who scored a brilliant century in the previous match, nicked a fantastic delivery to wicketkeeper Rew. This time, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, who scored 322 runs off 162 balls in the series' opening four games, lacked fluency. Prior to slicing Sebastian Morgan to deep third on 33 from 42. He was well-contained despite hitting Firbank for consecutive sixes. Alex Green, a seamer for Leicestershire, kept up the pressure and was rewarded. When Dawkins caught Rahul Kumar well on the long-leg rope. Albert quickly defeated the dangerous Harvansh Pangalia (24, 37) lbw, sweeping, as England started to spin. England U19s Ambrish was left to make sure the innings filled its 50 overs. After Albert added the wicket of Kanishk Chouhan, who was deftly stumped by Rew after being coaxed down the wicket. He achieved this by skillfully shepherding the tail for a half-century. Joe Moores' bottom-edged pluck at Deepesh Davendra

The visitors built a huge first innings total, largely due to a century from Pavan Rathnayake, and Australia A's hitters faced a searching test to salvage their two-game series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. Sri Lanka A totally retaliated against rival captain Jason Sangha's decision to put them in by advancing to declare 486 for 6 on day two of the second four-day match, having started at 263 for 4. At the Marrara Cricket Ground on Monday, the hosts were 76 for 1 at stumps, with Jake Weatherald at 45 and Kurtis Patterson at 19. The first game was tied, leaving them with a mountain to climb to win the series. Nathan McSweeney, the former Test opener for Australia A, was bowled between bat and pad by offspinner Nishan Peiris for 12, failing to duplicate his excellent 94 from the first game. When Rathnayake returned at 43, he took full advantage of a perfect batting strip to reach 122 off 223 balls, his team's second century after Nuwanidu Fernando's 102 on the first day. Sonal Dinusha, who returned on five, joined the run-fest by reaching 88 off 191 deliveries. In 53 overs, he and Rathnayake contributed 170 for the fifth wicket. Rathnayake was tempted into a reckless clip to short midwicket by left-arm spinner Zanden Jeh, who was superbly caught low down by Oliver Peake, ending their stand. Dinusha and Sohan de Livera kept punishing the bowlers, scoring 40 runs in 14 overs when Patterson caught Dinusha at mid-on after he mishit a lofted pull. Zeh, a 22-year-old unknown who was the best of the eight bowlers deployed despite never having played state cricket at the highest level, took a third wicket as a result. As Australian officials continue to look for good left-arm spinners, the Queenslander was selected from the left-field for the opening match. De Livera finished 50 not out at the time of the declaration, being the fifth batter to reach a half-century or more. McSweeney was bowled between bat and pad after hitting two fours in his 20 balls. The home te

Veteran Australian seamer Scott Boland is quietly building confidence as Australia prepares to face England's aggressive Bazball strategy in the upcoming Ashes series, set to begin in Perth on November 21. Mix of experience, tactical awareness, and home conditions could make him a key part of Australia's success. Learning from the Past Reflecting on his 2023 stint in England, Boland admits it was a tough assignment. Despite bowling well, the wickets weren't there for him. "I'm a better bowler than I was back then," he said recently, acknowledging personal growth and readiness to face high-octane opposition in familiar conditions. Fans on Reddit agree his home form speaks volumes: "Scott Boland is literally unplayable with his ability to seam it both ways… The only challenge he has… will be Bazball in Aus" Ace Home Conditions Boland emphasized that Australia's typically bowler-friendly wickets will neutralize Bazball's emphasis on aggressive run-scoring. "If the wickets stay similar to what they've been… we're going to be in the game all the time," he said, exuding quiet confidence about the home advantage. His record on Australian pitches marked by seam, swing, and bounce sets him apart from tourists more accustomed to flat decks. Recent Form and Performance Boland's recent Tests confirm he's far from a part-timer. In the 2025 series against India, he excelled taking 4/31 in the first innings and 6/45 in the second at Sydney, claiming a ten-wicket haul and Man of the Match honors. His presence played a pivotal role in Australia securing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Reacting on Reddit, fans were effusive: "Essentially a back up to an already awesome pace attack and he comes in and takes 10/76… Unreal, such a luxury to have… like him available" Strategic Value Against Bazball Australia's other pace stalwarts Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood remain selectors' first preference. Yet, Boland offers critical variety: home-honed swing, impe