One of the popular destinations for visitors to Pune, especially those from overseas, is the golf course located on the Mumbai-Pune Highway. Appropriately, and rather eponymously, named Oxford Golf Course, Ben Stokes was known to have a deep liking for it. He was smitten by the serene surroundings and the lush green expanses amidst the concrete jungle that engulfs this part of the world. Perhaps he found the greenery there reminiscent of the ambience back home in England. "He cherished the...

In a shocking decision, Meg Lanning announced her retirement from international cricket at the age of 31. Lanning led Australia in 182 international matches in her career spanning 241 matches and 13 years. Currently captaining Melbourne Stars in the WBBL, Lanning announced her retirement effective immediately calling it "the right time" to step away. "The decision to step away from international cricket was a difficult one to make, but I feel now is the right time for me. I've been incredibly...

It's an unusual place to be. The penultimate week of a World Cup is usually about teams looking to peak if not qualify for the semifinals. But in New Zealand and Sri Lanka, we have two sides coming in with seven consecutive defeats between them. So even if you factor out New Zealand needing a win to stay in contention for the last remaining semifinal spot, or Sri Lanka needing a win to stay in contention for Champions Trophy qualification, a win...

"WOW". The exclamation escaped Pat Cummins' mouth the moment it did yours as you bumped into the Australian captain outside the press conference room. It was instantaneous. It was simultaneous. You weren't the only two though. "Wow". It's what thousands around the Wankhede Stadium had exclaimed in unison, repeatedly and on cue, for nearly an hour. It wasn't just them though. "Wow". It's what millions around the cricket world had yelled out at their television screens, lamenting for sure about not being...

Australia's barely believable win against Afghanistan has confirmed their semifinal clash against South Africa. India were the first side to confirm their semifinal berth but they await their opponent. Here's what's at stake for each team going forward. Points table (as on Nov 7) TEAMPLAYEDWONLOSTPOINTSNET RRIndia (Q)880162.456South Africa (Q)862121.376Australia (Q)862120.861New Zealand84480.398Pakistan84480.036Afghanistan8448-0.338Bangladesh (E)8264-1.142Sri Lanka (E)8264-1.16Netherlands7254-1.398England (E)7162-1.504 Remaining fixtures England vs Netherlands, Pune, Nov 8 New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Bengaluru, Nov 9 South Africa vs Afghanistan, Ahmedabad, Nov 10 Australia vs Bangladesh, Pune, Nov 11 England vs Pakistan, Kolkata, Nov 11 India vs...

How much about their performance against India at the Eden Gardens on Sunday can South Africa have shrugged off in Kolkata? The West Bengal capital is 1,617 kilometres from Ahmedabad, where Temba Bavuma's team play Afghanistan on Friday in their last league match of the men's World Cup. In India you need to go further than that to escape your demons. You could travel 2,933 kilometres from east to west in this country. Or 3,214 kilometres from north to south. The three-hour direct...

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) finds itself in the eye of a storm after the Auditor General of the island government submitted a scathing report on poor governance, corruption and misuse of funds by the cricket body's officials. The voluminous report, specifically on the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia, has cited many instances of overuse and excess payment of the SLC funds. Based on the report submitted in September, country's Sports Minister summarily dismissed the SLC board on Monday (November 6),...