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South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has stormed back to the top of the ICC Men's ODI Bowling Rankings. After a scintillating five-wicket haul against Australia, reaffirming his status as one of the most lethal spinners in world cricket. In the opening ODI of the three-match series held at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns on August 19. Keshav Maharaj delivered a masterclass in spin bowling, claiming 5 wickets for just 33 runs in his 10-over spell. His performance dismantled Australia's middle order, turning what looked like a promising chase into a dramatic collapse. From 60/0, the hosts crumbled to 89/6 within nine overs, thanks largely to Maharaj's relentless accuracy and guile. The 35-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner removed key batters including Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, and Aaron Hardie. His spell not only earned him the Player of the Match award. But also propelled South Africa to a commanding 98-run victory, setting the tone for the series. This performance catapulted Maharaj to the №1 spot in the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings, overtaking Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana and India's Kuldeep Yadav. Maharaj now holds 687 rating points, reclaiming a position he briefly held in late 2023. Ranking Shake-Up The latest rankings reflect a significant reshuffle. Kuldeep Yadav. Who had been holding the top spot, slipped to third due to India's lack of ODI fixtures since the Champions Trophy. Theekshana now sits second with 671 points. Other notable movers include West Indies' Jayden Seales. Who surged 17 places after a six-wicket haul against Pakistan, and Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed, who climbed 18 spots to joint-43rd. Interestingly, despite not playing ODIs recently, Indian pacers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj have all gained a spot each, now ranked 13th, 14th, and 15th respectively. Ravindra Jadeja remains India's highest-ranked spinner at ninth with 616 points. Keshav Maharaj's Rise: A Testament to Consistency Maharaj's

In a significant development for Indian women's cricket, left-arm spinner Gouher Sultana has officially announced her retirement from all forms of the game. The Hyderabad-born cricketer, known for her accurate spin bowling and consistent performances, leaves behind a career that inspired many young girls to take up the sport. A Notable Career in Blue Gouher Sultana made her international debut for India in 2008 and quickly established herself as a reliable slow left-arm orthodox bowler. Across her career, she represented India in both ODIs and T20Is, playing against some of the toughest opposition sides in world cricket. Her ability to extract turn and maintain a tight line and length made her a dependable option in the middle overs. Sultana's spell of accuracy often broke partnerships and kept batters under pressure. She was also one of the few Indian women cricketers from the South Zone to gain prominence during the late 2000s, representing Hyderabad on the domestic circuit with distinction. Career Highlights One Day Internationals (ODIs): Gouher played 50 ODIs for India, claiming crucial wickets at an impressive economy rate. T20 Internationals (T20Is): She featured in 37 T20Is, contributing to India's rise in women's cricket during the format's early years. She was part of India's squads in multiple ICC tournaments, including the Women's Cricket World Cup and the T20 World Cup, where her experience proved valuable. One of her standout moments came against Sri Lanka Women in 2010, where she delivered a match-winning spell that showcased her control and temperament under pressure. Domestic Stalwart At the domestic level, Sultana was a mainstay for Hyderabad, guiding her side with both performances and mentorship. Her consistency in the Women's Senior One-Day and T20 tournaments often made her a top wicket-taker for her state. She also represented the India Red and India Blue teams in Challenger Trophy tournaments, further underlining her stature as one of the

Temba Bavuma chose to bowl on a cloudy morning, and South Africa's pacers were spot on. He struck frequently to put Australia in a position in the opening session of the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Australia entered the lunch break on Day 1 at 63/4. Steve Smith not out at 26. Kagiso Rabada spearheaded the attack with well while Marco Jansen provided good support. Jansen and Rabada, South Africa's new-ball duo, bowled three consecutive maidens while maintaining discipline with the line and lengths. Even as Rabada delivered a hat-trick of maidens to Usman Khawaja, Labuschagne got Australia moving with three pairs off Jansen. He eventually got his reward when he had the left-hander edging to first slip to dismiss him for a 20-ball duck. The batter fell to Rabada, who was beautifully taken by Aiden Markram at second slip. Ending Cameron Green's attempt at number three. They subsequently got through the first hour without suffering any further damage as Smith and Labuschagne hit a couple of boundaries to defeat an outstanding spell from Rabada (6-4-9-2). They also defeated Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder. On the first ball of the second hour, Smith looked at a loose ball from Ngidi for a boundary. The bowler also caught the edge of his bat, but the ball went to the boundary. Mulder attempted to worry Labuschagne a few times without success, while Smith also hit a drive past point off Ngidi. Thirty minutes into the second hour, Jansen came back into the attack and got Labuschagne to edge to the 'keeper, breaking a 30-run stand. This was Jansen's breakthrough. Smith and Travis Head each hit a boundary off Jansen to begin the recovery process anew. The umpire's call spared Smith after he was slapped on the pad after crossing too far to an oncoming Jansen delivery. After that, Jansen struck hard just before lunch, catching Head down the legside on the final ball before the break.

England have made just one change to their squad for the decisive fifth Test of the 2025 series against India. All‑rounder Jamie Overton has been brought back into the 15‑member side for the match starting July 31 at The Oval. This is Overton's first involvement in Test cricket since June 2022. When he played his only Test for England at Headingley scoring a magnificent 97 and taking two wickets during that lone appearance. Standing at 6′5″, the Surrey paceman provides both batting depth and seam‑bowling options, making him an ideal candidate to help balance the injury‑stretched England seam attack. Skipper Ben Stokes had flagged the urgent need for fresh legs after the front‑line bowlers grinded through a gruelling 257 overs in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and returning pace spearhead Jofra Archer have carried a heavy workload through the series to date. Woakes alone has bowled 167 overs, while Archer just returning from a four‑year break has compiled his heaviest outing ever at Old Trafford with 49.1 overs. Stokes acknowledged that after their exertions, rotation or reinforcement may be essential ahead of the turnaround to Oval. Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue already in the squad but unused at Old Trafford are the likely competition for places. Atkinson recently returned from hamstring injury with a strong outing in Surrey's Second XI. While Tongue has taken 11 wickets in the series so far but has struggled with consistency. The Oval Test Overton's inclusion is not only about workload management. As a local Surrey player, he brings familiarity with the conditions at The Oval. He rejoined Surrey permanently in 2021. After a loan spell, and has seen strong county form throughout the current season - and even featured for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025. Selectors have retained all 14 members from the squad that fielded at Old Trafford, with Overton being the single addition to the group. This inclusion r

Shubman Gill is reportedly being considered for a key leadership position in the upcoming Asia Cup. T20 competition following an outstanding spell as India's Test captain. Under Suryakumar Yadav's guidance. The Test captain is expected to take the role of vice-captain as expectations rise. Media outlets are taking notice of Gill's possible selection as vice captain. India's cricket body (BCCI) is reportedly determined to reinstate him as Suryakumar Yadav's deputy for the 2025 Asia Cup. According to RevSportz sources. Which is scheduled for September 9-28 in the United Arab Emirates. The current deputy, Axar Patel, is probably going to resign. The BCCI's increasing faith in Gill's leadership skills is reflected in this change in leadership. His leadership abilities were greatly enhanced by his dominant performance during the England tour, which included an incredible 754 runs in 10 Test innings. In addition, Shubman Gill's return to the T20I lineup signifies the conclusion of an extended absence. In July 2024, he played against Sri Lanka in the format for the final time. Given the upcoming Asia Cup, his explosive form is crucial. particularly in the 2025 Indian Premier League. When he scored 650 runs in 15 games, ranking second among the Gujarat Titans' top scorers. He is a powerful inclusion. As the Asia Cup begins, selectors are eager to strengthen India's leadership structure before the hectic T20 schedule begins. Preparation preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup. A crucial first step in preparing Gill for future all-format captaincy is the appointment of Gill as vice-captain. Beyond debate about leadership, Gill's changing role indicates a change in Team India's strategy. He is already leading the Test team,. This move may indicate that he may eventually lead all formats. The shift appears more likely when older players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire or step down. Gill's leadership at home keeps him relevant. Additionally, he was just selected