During the emergency meeting, called by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), after their side rolled over for 27 runs during the third pink-ball Test against Australia in Jamaica, in the presence of Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Desmond Haynes, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and current head coach, Darren Sammy, the future roadmap to success was discussed.

Since the end of the Test series, West Indies lost their five-match T20I series at home against Australia by 0-5 margin before losing the T20I series against Pakistan. However, they won the ODI series against the Mohammed Rizwan-led side by a margin of 2-1. Lara questioned whether the players still have the same motivation to play for the national side, apart from all the franchise T20 leagues.

See Also: Is Mohammed Rizwan's captaincy is the reason for Pakistan's downfall?

“It's been that case for years, where we are not on the same level-playing field as other playing countries. Back in the days when skill was the prominent factor, we excelled; we were the best team in the world. But the game has evolved, and technology and analytics, and we now have to see a new way of finding ourselves back to being very competitive.” The former West Indies captain expressed.

Brian Lara questions West Indies players’ motivation between franchise leagues and national side

It’s not a new issue among the modern-day West Indies players, who, on many occasions, have prioritized the T20 leagues around the world over the chance to represent their national side. That’s where they missed several key figures and suffered as a team.

“What motivates youngsters today? It might not be just representing the West Indies 365 days of the year. It might be playing in an IPL, a BBL, or something else. We have to find out those interests and see where West Indies cricket can still benefit from the youngsters. It's a long road; it's not going to happen tomorrow.” Brian Lara addressed.

“West Indies cricket is still very important in the minds of all youngsters, male and female, and when looking at cricket as a career. I think you have to understand that in different eras and decades, there are different motivational factors. In the '50s and early part of the '60s, we were thinking about independence; we can govern ourselves.” The Trinidad-born shed light.

Since Joe Root surpassed Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid in the ladder of the most Test runs of all-time to be in the back seat of Sachin Tendulkar, the talk of the town is only on the prediction of when and how he could break the record. But will they decide to pull him off the race and decide not to chase the record?

The discussion happened on the Star Sports studio as they reflected on the recent incident of Wiaan Mulder denying the chance to break Brian Lara’s 400-run record against Zimbabwe at the Queens Park Oval in Bulawayo. Will Joe take the same route and make the decision? The former Indian wicket-keeper, Parthiv Patel, certainly doesn’t think so.

See Also: [WATCH] Joe Root reflects on Sachin Tendulkar's greatness during ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

‘Not, he should not do it at all!! I mean, you are scoring runs, and the record belongs to you. I wasn’t convinced by what Mulder did. When Matthew Hayden broke the record for the first time, it was also against Zimbabwe in Perth. He didn’t deny that. So when you are in a situation like that, then why not? And Joe Root is quite near.’ Parthiv Patel expressed on Star Sports.

Watch: Parthiv Patel reflects on whether Joe Root will choose not to chase Sachin Tendulkar’s Test record

Patel made a valid point that Root stands at a position of being possibly the only person to break the record. With the amount of Tests played around the globe and the loss of attention to the oldest format of the game, it’s unlikely for anyone to get to the mark.

Should #JoeRoot pull a #WiaanMulder move and choose not to chase down #SachinTendulkar’s iconic record for most runs in Tests? 👀

🗣 #ParthivPatel shares his thoughts! #ENGvIND 👉 4th TEST, DAY 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/xkvCs073fI pic.twitter.com/TNWaUUgZRl

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 26, 2025

‘A few years ago, people used to say that the record is there; you know, records are made to be broken. But realistically, if there is anyone who can break the record, then it’s Joe Root. If he can’t break it, then I don’t think anyone can. You know, you don’t play that amount of Test matches. So, if someone can break the record of 15921 runs, then it’s not Root.’ Patel addressed.

Currently, Root has 13409 runs in 286 innings at an average of 51.17 and a strike rate of 57.40, having scored 38 centuries and 66 half-centuries at the best score of 262. He is around 2500 runs behind Tendulkar’s 15921 runs in 329 innings.

The West Indies' catastrophic downfall in the Sabina Park Test has raised alarm bells within the Caribbean cricketing fraternity. A team that was once feared by many for its aggressive style of play has now completely lost its competitive edge. During day three of the Sabina Test, the West Indies were dismissed for a shocking 27, marking their lowest-ever score in Test cricket. 

In a bid to arrest this rapid decline in form, Cricket West Indies (CWI) have chaired an urgent meeting and have called upon the Windies legends to address this pressing matter. The governing body has invited three former players - Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, and Viv Richards, who will be a part of the emergency meeting, followed by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Desmond Haynes, and Ian Bradshaw, who will carefully dissect the team's dismal performance in the day/night Test match.

See also: [WATCH] Mitchell Starc sledges back Jayden Seales during WI vs AUS 3rd Test in Jamaica

West Indies cricket in shock as national team sinks to a new low

In a series where the ball dominated the bat for the most part, the Windies batters were all at sea against the likes of Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins. Across three tests, the Men in Marron struggled to survive even a couple of sessions with the bat. But there is clearly no place to hide when the team only manages 27 runs before getting bundled out. Boland's record-breaking hat-trick got the Windies down on their knees, reeling at 26-9. Much to their relief, Alzarri was able to muster a single in the next over to take West Indies above New Zealand's lowest Test score record of 26 all-out against England. 

West Indies' 27/10 is the second-lowest total achieved by any team in test cricket. On the back of a brutal 0-3 whitewash at home, the West Indies have also gone past their previous worst test total of 47 against England. In a recent statement, the president of CWI, Dr Kishore Shallow, expressed his disappointment following his side's shocking defeat in Kingston and acknowledged that the fans and the players will have "sleepless nights". 

"Like every West Indian cricket fan, I felt the pain of our recent Test defeat to Australia. There will be some sleepless nights ahead for many of us, including the players, who I know feel this loss just as heavily. But while disappointment is natural, we must not allow this moment to define our journey. We are in a rebuilding phase, steadily investing in the next generation, and reigniting the spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world." 

Shallow insists that the Test team is currently undergoing a rebuilding phase and looks forward to drawing inspiration from the legendary Lara Richards and Lloyd, who helped redefine the legacy of West Indies cricket during its prime years. 

The former West Indies captain, Brian Lara, has made a shocking revelation on how breaking the world record twice in his career took a lot out of him and gave him several stress periods. During his recent interaction on ‘The Overlap cricket,’ the southpaw spoke on the night when Matthew Hayden broke his record of 375

‘I wasn’t annoyed. I was asleep in Jamaica. And my agent called me, and he was in London. He said you need to have a number for you to call. I said why because I think he did a lot on that day. So, he might have gone to sleep at 1:00 something, and then he scored a couple of hundreds on that day.’ Lara talked on the show.

See Also: WATCH: Relive when fans argued with Virat Kohli for not clicking photos

Hayden smashed 380 runs at the WACA against Zimbabwe in 2003, which came nine years after Lara built the record of the highest individual Test score of 375 against England at St John's. Before that, the previous highest score by an individual batter was unbeaten 365 runs by Garry Sobers in 1958 against Pakistan at the Sabina Park.

Watch: Brian Lara reveals how breaking records put stress on him

Lara looked back at the night when he called Hayden and congratulated him on the record. ‘So, he had a number to call the Perth dressing room. But I said Why? He said that someone broke your record. I called the dressing room, and it was very noisy. I went to Matthew and congratulated him. But funny enough, I felt that for those 10 years, I had a lot of stress because of those two records.’

"The records caused me stress" 😰

Brian Lara on the pressure of being cricket’s record-breaker 📚 pic.twitter.com/CbLnqT596S

— Stick to Cricket (@StickToCricket) July 15, 2025

‘And one of my main things was actually to be a good captain and not to have strangled myself with the double world record. I wasn’t perturbed and didn’t worry much about it, but here came England 10 years later.’ The 56-year-old added during the same session.

However, Hayden’s 380 didn’t last long. Just six months later in 2004, at the same ground, St John’s Park, Lara became the first and the only batter as of now to celebrate 400 runs individually. That 400* is still the highest score by a batter in the longest format, coincidentally, along with the ground, it also came against England. The only difference was the opposition captains.

South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has revealed that West Indies legend Brian Lara urged him to chase down the world record for the highest individual Test score, after Mulder came tantalisingly close during the recent match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Mulder stunned the cricketing world by finishing unbeaten on 367 at lunch on day two of the one-off Test, before making the surprise call to declare South Africa’s innings at 626/5 just 33 runs short of Lara’s iconic 400 not out against England in 2004. Mulder was the stand-in captain for the match, with both Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj unavailable.

The decision to declare early helped South Africa dominate the game and wrap up victory inside three days. However, the move sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits, with many wondering if Mulder had passed up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

ALSO SEE: Can Dhruv Jurel bat If Rishabh Pant doesn't keep wickets in ENG vs IND 3rd Test 2025?

Lara urged me to break his record, says Mulder

At the time, Mulder said he was at peace with his call. “You never know what is destined for me, but Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” he remarked after the match. “He got 400 against England for someone of that stature, to keep that record is pretty special.” Now, Mulder has revealed that he recently spoke to Lara, who had an entirely different take on the matter.

“Now that things have settled a little bit, I've chatted a little bit to Brian Lara,” Mulder told SuperSport. “He said to me I'm creating my own legacy and I should have gone for it. He said records are there to be broken and he wishes if I'm ever in that position again, I actually go and score more than what he had.” Despite Lara’s encouragement, Mulder still stands by his original call, saying, “That was an interesting point of view from his side, but I still believe I did the right thing, and respecting the game is the most important part for me.”

The Round of 16 clash between Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur at Wimbledon 2025 was nothing short of a spectacle, drawing a host of celebrities from film and sports to the prestigious Centre Court. The match saw a surprising start as Djokovic dropped the opening set 1-6, sending shockwaves through the crowd. However, the Serbian maestro quickly found his rhythm and staged a brilliant comeback. Displaying his trademark composure and skill, Djokovic clinched the next three sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a tightly contested battle that lasted over three hours.

This hard-fought victory marked Djokovic's 101st career win at Wimbledon, underscoring his legendary status at the All England Club. More importantly, the win propelled him into the quarterfinals, putting him just three matches away from a historic 25th Grand Slam title. With each passing round, Djokovic continues to etch his name deeper into tennis history, and the packed stadium of fans and stars alike were witness to yet another chapter of his remarkable journey. The match served as a reminder of Djokovic’s ability to absorb pressure and turn games around even when faced with early setbacks.

Virat Kohli 

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, made a high-profile appearance at Wimbledon 2025 on Monday to watch Novak Djokovic’s Round of 16 match against Alex de Minaur. From the Centre Court stands, Kohli witnessed Djokovic bounce back from a set down to win in four sets. After the match, Kohli took to Instagram, calling it "business as usual for the gladiator." Djokovic reshared the story with gratitude, writing, "Thank you for supporting," acknowledging Kohli’s appreciation.

Following the match, Kohli expressed his support for Djokovic to lift the Wimbledon title and shared his wish for a Djokovic-Alcaraz final. He also hailed the Serbian as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Djokovic, in turn, praised Kohli and revealed that the two have exchanged messages in the past. The tennis star mentioned his interest in improving his cricket skills before possibly visiting India, showing mutual admiration between two global sporting icons.

10-years since his last #Wimbledon outing, #ViratKohli shares his thoughts on coming back to enjoy the action on Centre Court! 🎾#Wimbledon2025 👉 Watch all the action LIVE on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/dEUFVamMlH

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 8, 2025

Joe Root

During the same Wimbledon fixture, England cricket star Joe Root was spotted at Centre Court, where he had a memorable meeting with tennis legend Roger Federer. Root, who is currently involved in the ongoing five-match Test series against India, attended the prestigious Grand Slam event alongside his wife, Carrie. The couple was seated in the Royal Box, enjoying the high-stakes tennis action.

Root and Carrie were seen posing for photos in the Royal Box ahead of the men’s Singles fourth-round clash between Alex De Minaur and Novak Djokovic. A viral photo captured the moment Root warmly greeted eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer with a handshake, sparking excitement among fans. The cricketer’s presence added to the star-studded atmosphere, highlighting the crossover between elite athletes across different sports.

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: Brendon McCullum reveals pitch preferences ahead of 3rd Test at Lord’s

Rishabh Pant

India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant turned heads with his stylish appearance at Wimbledon 2025, arriving in a sleek black striped suit and tie. His visit came just a day after playing a key role in India’s historic Test win at Edgbaston. Pant, currently the vice-captain in the ongoing five-match series against England, made the most of his break between matches.

Pant enjoyed the world-class tennis action from Centre Court, taking in the atmosphere of the All England Club. Wimbledon’s official Instagram page even gave him a warm welcome, posting, “Welcome to #Wimbledon, @rishabpant.” With his stellar form on the cricket field and his charm off it, Pant continues to capture the spotlight both on and off the pitch.

James Anderson

Legendary English pacer James Anderson graced Wimbledon 2025 with a dapper appearance, joining Joe Root in the prestigious Royal Box. The recently retired fast bowler looked sharp in a suit as he attended the high-profile tennis event at Centre Court, drawing plenty of attention from fans and media alike.

Anderson shared a warm handshake with tennis icon Roger Federer, adding to the star-studded atmosphere of the day. Alongside fellow cricketer Root and other elite guests, the former pace spearhead enjoyed the thrilling action on court, marking a delightful crossover moment between cricket and tennis royalty.

Brain Lara

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara was spotted at Wimbledon 2025, joining several cricketing greats in the prestigious Royal Box. The former cricketer appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the tennis action on Centre Court, drawing attention from fans and cameras alike.

Images shared by Wimbledon’s official social media showed Lara warmly waving and acknowledging the crowd. His presence added to the star-studded lineup of guests, blending the worlds of cricket and tennis in a truly grand setting.

South Africa’s stand-in Test skipper for the second Zimbabwe Test, Wiaan Mulder, declared on 367 not out at lunch on the second day of the fixture, despite being so close to Brian Lara’s world record of 400*. It was already the highest individual red-ball score by a Protea batter, going past Hashim Amla’s 311, which he got against England in 2012 at the Kennington Oval.

Mulder decided against chasing Brian Lara's record and opted to declare the first innings at 626/5. At the end of the day’s play, he disclosed that the decision came after a small meeting with the head coach, Shukri Conrad, as he was happy to let the legendary West Indies southpaw keep the big score in history. Mulder finished with the fifth-highest individual Test score in the history of the game.

SEE ALSO: WATCH: Ravi Shastri recalls first time watching Shubman Gill bat in the nets

“You never know what is destined for me, but Brian Lara keeping that record (of the highest score in Tests) is exactly the way it should be. I thought we got enough from the new ball, and secondly, Brian Lara is a legend. He got 400 against England - for someone of that stature, to keep that record is pretty special.” The 27-year-old addressed Shaun Pollock. 

Watch: Wiaan Mulder declared a decision to avoid Brian Lara’s record

Given the amount of time left in the encounter, Mulder could have easily planned the record. However, more than that, it’s a great relief for the Proteas, who displayed trust in the batter to shoulder the responsibility at number three. After a couple of failures in the opening Test of the series and the WTC 2023-25 final against Australia at Lord’s, his return has impressed their coach.

“Wiaan’s innings was nothing short of extraordinary. Being the captain, then batting at No.3 where he had to absorb early pressure and face the new-ball, which he did with immense composure and control - it was unbelievable. It’s the kind of performance that anchors a team and sets the tone for the entire match. We’re incredibly proud of what he’s achieved today.” Conrad expressed at the end of the day's play.

"Let the legends keep the really big scores." ❤️

🇿🇦 Wiaan Mulder speaks to Shaun Pollock after his historic knock 👏#ZIMvSA | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/VqySlzOzHY

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 7, 2025

Zimbabwe were average in their first innings with the bat, getting bundled out for just 170, making the follow-on after the captain of the Rainbow Nations set the platform. The current WTC champions lead the series by 1-0 and could seal the deal by the end of the third day’s play.

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has subsequently made an emotional appeal to Virat Kohli, asking him to reconsider his reported decision to stop playing Test cricket. Lara, who is considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time, explained that Kohli's role could be significant for the future of the longest format. Kohli, who is ranked number four for runs scored as an active Test player, has been considering retirement after India's recent disappointments.

Lara, the record holder of the highest individual Test score (400*), came out in support of Kohli in an Instagram post on Saturday, May 10. He posted an image of his chat with the Indian sensation during the current season of IPL, writing alongside it a powerful message: "Test cricket needs Virat!! He is going to be persuaded." He IS NOT retiring from Test cricket." Lara also confidently forecast that Kohli would average more than 60 in the remaining part of his Test career.

This development comes just days after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the format on May 7. Kohli’s Test performances since 2020 have not been on par with his earlier standards. In his last 69 innings, he has scored 2028 runs at an average of 30.72, managing just three centuries. This contrasts sharply with his earlier record of 7202 runs at an average of 54.97, which included 27 centuries.

 

 

 

 

 

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Also read:  Former England Captain slams ECB for prioritising IPL over Test matches for Jacob Bethell

Calls for Kohli to Continue in Test Cricket Intensify

Kohli's recent dip in form was highlighted during a recent trip to Australia for the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he scored 190 runs in 9 innings, including a century in the first match. India lost the series 3-1, surrendering the prestigious trophy to Australia after a decade of dominance. Kohli also struggled in the home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, contributing modest scores.

Piling on the pressure along with Lara's request for Kohli to continue playing, retired CSK and India batsman Ambati Rayudu issued an emotional appeal on X (Twitter). "Virat Kohli, please don't retire. The Indian team needs you more than ever. You have so much more in the tank. Test cricket will not be the same without you."

India's next Test series gets underway June 20 in England, which launches the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.

The Most Costly Cricket Bats Ever Sold

Cricket is among the world's most popular games. Many cricket bats over the years have become expensive as they were played in historic matches. Some of these bats have been auctioned at very high prices.Here are some of the most expensive cricket bats to be sold.

1. Sir Donald Bradman's 1934 Ashes Bat : Rs 1.9 Crore
Sir Donald Bradman, one of the greatest cricketers, used this bat during the 1934 Ashes series. With this bat, he scored two triple centuries and a record 451-run partnership with Bill Ponsford. The bat was sold at an auction in 2021 for about Rs 1.9 crore (around $250,000).

2. MS Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup Final Bat : Rs 1.5 Crore
MS Dhoni, captain of the Indian cricket team, played this bat in order to hit the winning six during the final of the 2011 World Cup against Sri Lanka. The incident is etched in Indian cricket history forever. The bat was auctioned for Rs 1.5 crore ($200,000) later, ranking among the world's most pricey cricket bats.

3. Gary Sobers' 1968 Six-Sixes Bat :Rs 36.89 Lakh
Sir Garfield Sobers became the first-ever cricketer to score six sixes off an over in a first-class match in 1968. The bat that he used for this record is sold at an auction in 2000 for approximately Rs 36.89 lakh ($45,000).

ALSO READ:Dale Steyn Criticize Today's Bowlers For Their Inconsistency

4. Brian Lara's 1994 Record-Breaking Bat : Rs 80 Lakh
Brian Lara set a world record by scoring 375 runs in a Test match against England in 1994. The bat he used for this innings was sold for Rs 80 lakh ($100,000).

5. Virat Kohli’s 2018 Test Century Bat : Rs 75 Lakh
Virat Kohli used this bat to score 1322 runs in the 2018 Test series against England. The bat was auctioned for about Rs 75 lakh ($95,000).

The International Masters League (IML) has announced the schedule and squads for its first season, starting on February 22. The tournament will started with an exciting match between India and Sri Lanka in Navi Mumbai.  

IML 2025 has  six teams -India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, and England made up of retired cricket legends. The matches will be played in three cities. The first five games in Navi Mumbai, followed six matches in Rajkot and the tournament will move to Raipur for the semifinals and the grand finale.

IML 2025 Schedule: Full Fixtures, Stages, and Venues

Navi Mumbai Stage

February 22: India Masters vs Sri Lanka Masters – 7:30 PM

February 24: West Indies Masters vs Australia Masters – 7:30 PM

February 25: India Masters vs England Masters – 7:30 PM

February 26: South Africa Masters vs Sri Lanka Masters – 7:30 PM

February 27: West Indies Masters vs England Masters – 7:30 PM

Rajkot Stage

February 28: Sri Lanka Masters vs Australia Masters – 7:30 PM

March 1: India Masters vs South Africa Masters – 7:30 PM

March 3: South Africa Masters vs England Masters – 7:30 PM

March 5: India Masters vs Australia Masters – 7:30 PM

March 6: West Indies Masters vs England Masters – 7:30 PM

March 7: Australia Masters vs South Africa Masters – 7:30 PM

Raipur Stage

March 8: India Masters vs West Indies Masters – 7:30 PM

March 10: Sri Lanka Masters vs England Masters – 7:30 PM

March 11: West Indies Masters vs South Africa Masters – 7:30 PM

March 12: England Masters vs Australia Masters – 7:30 PM

Semi-Finals & Final

March 13: Semi-Final 1 – 7:30 PM (Raipur)

March 14: Semi-Final 2 – 7:30 PM (Raipur)

March 16: Final – 7:30 PM (Raipur)

ALSO READ: If Cricket Was a Game of Chess, These 5 Players Would Be Grandmasters

International Masters League 2025: Full Team Squads

India Masters Squad

Australia Masters Squad

West Indies Masters Squad

England Masters Squad

South Africa Masters Squad

Sri Lanka Masters Squad

International Masters League 2025: Where to Watch

TV Telecast:

• Colors Cineplex SD/HD
• Colors Cineplex Superhits

Live Streaming:

• Disney+ Hotstar (India)