England's Ollie Pope made headlines with his blistering knock of 150, the fastest at The Oval, before being dismissed for 325 on day two of the third Test against Sri Lanka. Debutant Josh Hull also left his mark by claiming his first Test wicket, while bad light and the contentious issue of players being called off the field due to darkness continued to frustrate both teams. Despite a late comeback by Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, England still holds a first-innings lead but their lower-order collapse in the final six wickets brought some fight from Sri Lanka's side.
England's stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, achieved a remarkable feat on Day 1 of the third Test against Sri Lanka at the Oval. Pope, who was leading the team in the absence of injured Ben Stokes, scored an unbeaten century and became the first player in Test cricket to score his first seven centuries against seven different teams. The 26-year-old batsman's first Test century came against South Africa in 2020, and since then, he has scored six more against New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, India, and West Indies.
In his first innings as captain against Sri Lanka, Ollie Pope returned to form with a dominating performance, scoring a run-a-ball 103 not out during England's well-placed 221-3 on the opening day of the third Test. This was his seventh Test century and a historic one as each of his first seven centuries came against different opponents. Despite a strong start, England's opener Ben Duckett was unable to make the most of his innings, giving away his wicket on 86. Duckett praised Pope's ability to ignore the noise and criticism around his leadership and batting, proving his critics wrong with a stellar performance.
After a run of low scores, England captain Ollie Pope made a stunning return to form with a dominant unbeaten 103 in the third and final test against Sri Lanka at The Oval. Along with Ben Duckett's fluent 86, their partnership led England to a strong position of 221-3, making Sri Lanka regret their decision to bowl first in overcast conditions.
The England men's selection panel has announced a 14-member squad for the upcoming three-match Rothesay Test series against Sri Lanka. Captain Ben Stokes, as well as Zak Crawley and seam bowler Dillion Pennington, have been ruled out due to injuries. Vice-captain Ollie Pope will lead the team in Stokes' absence, while Surrey's Jordan Cox earns his first call-up to the squad. Nottinghamshire seamer Olly Stone also returns to the Test squad after a three-year absence.
The Australian Top End T20 Series 2024 is in full swing with Tasmania and Adelaide Strikers gearing up for their highly anticipated match. Both teams have a good mix of young and experienced players, ensuring an exciting game of cricket. Taking place at TIO Stadium, fans can expect high-scoring action as the stadium's surface has improved vastly over the years. As the Strikers and Tigers face off, cricket enthusiasts are reminded of the past as Tasmania shares a throwback photo to their 2004-05 ING Cup victory.
On the opening day of James Anderson's farewell test at Lord's, debutant Gus Atkinson took center stage with an impressive 7-45, helping England take a 68-run lead over West Indies. The home of cricket, expecting to pay tribute to Anderson, instead witnessed the Surrey pacer dominating the tourists' batting lineup. And even though Anderson dismissed the final West Indies batsman to take England's field, the day belonged to Atkinson with a record-breaking performance in his debut test match. Adding to England's commanding position was half-centuries from Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, giving them a solid 189-3 lead by stumps. Atkinson's impressive debut puts him in the company of only five other bowlers to take a five-for on debut under Ben Stokes' captaincy.
Prime Minister Narendra D Modi met with Pope Francis at the G7 summit and gave him his signature embrace. During their encounter, Modi assured the Pope that he would do everything in his power to safeguard churches and Christians in India from any violence or persecution. In a heartfelt message, Modi emphasized his government's unwavering commitment to the security and welfare of all Indians, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Pope Francis, with his moral authority and star power, will address G7 leaders at their annual summit in Italy and push for stronger regulations on AI development and usage. His concerns about AI, beyond a viral deepfake incident, are based on values of compassion, mercy, morality and forgiveness, which he believes are crucial for guiding the development and use of this technology. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has invited Francis, knowing the potential impact of his participation to elevate and bring global attention to this shared concern.
The Catholic community in Hyderabad is in deep grief over the passing away of former Archbishop Emeritus Thumma Bala, who breathed his last at the age of 76 due to age-related illnesses. He will be laid to rest on Friday at St. Mary's Basilica in Secunderabad, after a funeral mass held at St. Mary's school ground. With a rich legacy spanning over a decade, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the Archbishop of Hyderabad in 2011 at the age of 66.