Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah won the ICC's award for men’s cricketer of the year on Tuesday for his stellar performances in both the red-ball and white-ball format during 2024. The 31-year-old right-arm paceman became the fifth Indian cricketer to win the award, after Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Ravichandran Ashwin and Virat Kohli. “When I was a youngster, I saw many of my childhood heroes winning this great award, so (I’m) very happy,” Bumrah said.
The rainy weather conditions have given Australia a selection problem for the opening test against Sri Lanka starting Wednesday, although one thing seems certain: Travis Head will open the batting. Stand-in captain Steve Smith has hinted at a range of strategies under consideration depending on the weather, but highlighted that Head — who is typically a dependable presence in the middle order — has previously thrived as an opener in Asian conditions. “Travis will go to the top,” Smith said at a news conference.
All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt says England are "blocking the outside noise" after criticism for their Women's Ashes performances.