A total of 541 players are confirmed for the fourth season of SA20, but there are no Indians in the final list. The auction will be held on September 9 in Johannesburg, and the tournament will start on December 26, 2025. This year, over 800 players registered the highest ever for the league. Around 13 Indians, including Piyush Chawla and Siddharth Kaul, had signed up. Even Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently retired from the IPL, had shown interest in playing in a foreign T20 league, but his name is missing from the final pool.

Out of the 541 players, 300 are from South Africa and 241 are from other countries. The list features big names like Shakib Al Hasan from Bangladesh, who could become the first Bangladeshi to play in SA20, and England’s James Anderson. Other English stars such as Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, Adam Rossington, Jordan Cox, and Daniel Worrall are also included.

🚨 SA2025 Auction Overseas List

- 241 overseas players have registered.

Includes players like Gurbaz, Shakib, Fizz, Roy, Cox, Hales, TKC, Moeen, Anderson and Theekshana.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/5NIewJL7rq

— T20 Franchise Rosters (Men) (@t20tracker) September 1, 2025

Strong South African Line-up

Top South African players like Aiden Markram, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, and Test World Champions Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Tony de Zorzi, and Dane Paterson will also be part of the auction.

ALSO READ: Wasim Akram vs Jasprit Bumrah – Pakistan legend finally settles the big debate

Auction Details

There are still 84 spots open across the six teams with a total budget of R131 million (about US$7.37 million). Out of these, 25 spots are for overseas players. Each team must have 19 players, including at least 9 South Africans, up to 7 overseas players, 2 South African players under 23, and 1 wildcard pick.

Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara shared the names of the four toughest bowlers he faced in his career after announcing his retirement from international cricket.

In a post-retirement interview with Indian media, the 37-year-old named two South African pacers, one from England, and one from Australia. He said Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel from South Africa, James Anderson from England, and Pat Cummins from Australia were the most difficult bowlers for him.

Pujara’s record against South Africa in Tests was not strong. He scored at an average of 30.41 in 17 matches with only one century. His numbers were worse in South Africa, where he averaged just 28.15 in 19 innings.

Also Read -Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly – Statistical Comparison After 103 Test Matches

Pujara’s Struggles Against Top Bowlers

The numbers show how much Pujara struggled against them. Against Dale Steyn, he averaged only 30, while his average fell further to 18 against Morne Morkel. Together, the South African duo dismissed him six times.

Against James Anderson, Pujara averaged just 21.80 in Tests and was out to the English pacer 12 times. Pat Cummins also troubled him, dismissing him eight times while Pujara averaged 22.50 against him.

Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on Sunday. He played 103 Tests and five ODIs after making his debut in 2010. He scored 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties. At home, he averaged 52.58 with 3,839 runs. His last Test was the WTC final against Australia at The Oval in June 2023.

He is also one of only three Indian players, alongside ML Jaisimha and Ravi Shastri, to bat on all five days of a Test match. Interestingly, Pujara did not include Jasprit Bumrah among the toughest bowlers, as he faced him only once in IPL 2024 and scored four runs off five balls.

Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara picked the four toughest bowlers he faced during his career, via TOI. pic.twitter.com/uR9LB6mk9J

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) August 25, 2025

Pujara’s Five Best Knocks

Pujara also picked his five favourite Test innings. His first choice was 145* in Sri Lanka in 2015, a comeback innings that helped India win the series 2-1. His second was 123 against Australia in Adelaide in the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India went on to win the series 2-1.

His next two picks were double centuries against England and Australia at home in the 2012/13 season, both in winning causes. His final choice was the fighting 92 against Australia in Bengaluru in 2017, which helped India level the series 1-1.

Pujara ended his career with 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries, in 103 matches.

Test cricket is undoubtedly amongst the toughest formats as it tests a player's temperament and his/her's ability to sustain pressure for five days. It tests a player's ability to adjust to different conditions. Test cricket is mentally as well as physically challenging for batters as well as bowlers. Test cricket has witnessed some of the finest performances from some high-class performers. In this piece, we discuss three bowlers who have bowled the most maiden overs in their test career.

The bowlers mentioned in the list have been legends of the game who went on to dominate the batters when it came to their wicket-taking abilities and their accuracy to bowl maiden overs consistently with their skilful variety and ability to adapt to different playing conditions and wickets. The bowlers mentioned in the list possessed skill sets depending on their strengths and temperament, but showcased consistency in bowling maiden overs. We discuss these bowlers in detail:

1.Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka-1794 maidens in 133 Tests)-

The 'Smiling Assassin', as he was fondly called during his playing days, was deadly with his turn, bounce and variety. Muralitharan showcased tremendous consistency with length, and his adaptability to change his length depending on a batter's strength was simply amazing. His flight was always difficult to judge. The former Sri Lankan off-spinner bowled 1794 maiden overs in 133 tests.

 The legendary off-spinner wasn't afraid to pitch the ball up even on flat batting wickets. Muralitharan made the batters work hard for runs even when the conditions favoured the batters. When Muralitharan bowled, it was difficult for a batting team to up the scoring rate due to his tight line. 

2. Shane Warne (Australia-1761 maidens in 145 Tests)-

The Late legendary spinner's sudden death due to a heart attack surprised the entire world in 2022. The late leg spinner turned the ball a long way even on batting wickets. Warne foxed the batters with his turn, googlies and flight, thus not allowing the batters to score runs easily.

Warne's accuracy and his ability to bowl in the right areas were his biggest strengths. Warne's faster ones always put the batters in two minds. He bowled 1762 maiden overs in 145 tests in his career. Warne used the popping crease cleverly, enabling him to fox the batters in the air. 

Also Read:ENG vs IND: Most 50+ scores by Indian openers in Tests in SENA countries

3. James Anderson (England-1730 maidens in 188 Tests)-

The former England pacer showcased terrific consistency and longevity as far as his playing career was concerned. The 43-year-old set high standards on the field as far as his fitness was concerned. Alongside his wicket-taking abilities in different conditions, Anderson could land the ball in the good length area consistently, making him an all-time great.

Anderson's ability to swing the ball both ways with the old ball as well as the new ball made it difficult for the batting team to score easily. His length made the batters work hard for runs as his pace and bounce were difficult to judge. He bowled 1730 maiden overs in 188 test matches.

It was a tap on the shoulder from the current England captain, Ben Stokes, and coach, Brendon McCullum, to force their most veteran player, James Anderson, to retire from international cricket. The reason was scratchy but straightforward from the management as they wanted to aim for a solid and young bowling attack for the upcoming winter’s Ashes 2025/26. The pacer, finally, said goodbye after the Lord’s Test at the start of the 2024 summer against the West Indies.

However, the 42-year-old has made an honest and shocking revelation on how he didn’t want to hang up his boots from the longest format. He finished his career with 704 red-ball wickets for England in 188 games and ended as the third leading wicket-taker in Tests behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.

See Also: Yashasvi Jaiswal achieves unique feat in ENG vs IND 4th Test at Manchester

‘I’ll be honest, retirement was not in my head. I was still bowling as well as I ever had, and my body was in good shape. I was looking forward to the Ashes. It’s difficult. I’d been told that as long as I was good enough to warrant a place in the team, and fit enough, they’d keep picking me.’ Anderson expressed during a recent interview with The Times.

James Anderson makes shocking and honest revelation international retirement

The ECB managing director, Rob Key, kept Anderson in the scheme of things post the incident. He spent time with the national side as the mentor for a couple of international trips. The Burley-born featured for Lancashire in the County Championship 2025 clashes along with the T20 Blast.

‘I wasn’t angry, though my wife was; probably still is. But then, she has always been my biggest supporter. I retired from international cricket last year, but not entirely willingly. I had a meeting with the captain, coach, and director of the England cricket team in April, and they said they wanted to move in a different direction.’ The former pacer addressed during the interaction.

‘I’ve enjoyed dipping my toe in punditry and commentary, but I still have a lot of competitiveness in me that I need to quench. Coaching seems the inevitable way forward. I do still love cricket.’ Anderson revealed that he could remain in the plans of the Ashes trip to Australia for England as a mentor or bowling coach, given that he has a bucket full of experience down under.

One of England’s greatest ever cricketers, Sir James Anderson, has signed a new deal in the franchise league. Since retiring from the longest format last year against the West Indies at Lord’s, Anderson has tried to expose himself in the shortest format of the game and has been a steady member for the Lancashire side in the ongoing T20 Blast 2025. 

Anderson will join the Manchester Originals for the Hundred 2025. The franchise selected the right-arm pacer as one of their two men’s wildcard picks ahead of the fifth season of the competition, which begins on August 05. He boasts a remarkable record across the formats in his career that spanned 25 years, with over 400 appearances and nearly 1000 wickets in international cricket.

See Also: [WATCH] Know why Michael Vaughan lauds Ben Stokes for England's 3rd Test victory against India at Lord's

The 42-year-old has put in his sweat in the domestic T20 event for Lancashire, having claimed 14 wickets in the first eight games of the tournament. In doing so, he has taken the tough task of bowling with the new ball inside the powerplay, besides putting in the hard yards with the old ball at the death overs.

James Anderson signs a new deal in the Hundred 2025 for the Manchester Originals

Each team selects two men’s and two women’s players’ the wildcard draft to strengthen their squad. The process gives an incredible chance for the players, who were previously unselected for the Hundred, to put themselves in contention for the outstanding form they had in the first three months of the domestic competition in England.

From the James Anderson end....

Sir James Anderson joins Manchester Originals for The Hundred 2025! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/pm0sOYLIu0

— The Hundred (@thehundred) July 15, 2025

Anderson’s recent 20-over contest came just a couple of days ago when he faced Durham at Old Trafford and ended with figures of 1/22. In 19 T20Is for the national side, the Burnley-born picked up 18 wickets at an average of 30.66 and an economy rate of nearly eight, thanks to the best figures of 3/23 in an innings.

In the shortest format of the game, Anderson featured in 52 T20 innings and has enjoyed 55 scalps at an average of 28.05 and an economy rate of over eight. The veteran will be part of the franchise, which has already signed Noor Ahmed, Heinrich Klassen, and Rachin Ravindra as their overseas campaigners. Josh Tongue, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Tom Hartley will also be part of the squad for the season.

Durham lost their last match by 7 Wickets against Nottinghamshire. Their bowling unit failed to defend the target of 157 runs. James Neesham was the standout performer for Durham, scoring 29 runs and also picked up a wicket.

On the other hand, Lancashire lost their last match by 19 runs against Yorkshire. They currently hold the second position on the points table with 28 points.

LAN vs DUR Match Details

Date: July 13th, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

LAN vs DUR Weather Report

Clear weather and a nice evening are expected for the game.

Also Read: GSL T20 2025: HUR vs RAN Prediction– Match 5, Who will win today?

Top Batters LAN vs DUR

• Keaton Jennings (LAN) - 342 runs in this tournament

• Graham Clark (DUR) - 308 runs in this tournament

• Alex Lees (DUR) - 293 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowler LAN vs DUR

• James Anderson (LAN) - 13 wickets in this tournament 

• Jimmy Neesham (DUR) - 18 wickets in this tournament

• Ben Raine (DUR) - 16 wickets in this tournament

LAN vs DUR Recent Performance

LAN vs DUR Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If DUR bats first

• First Innings score prediction- DUR is expected to score 155-170 runs

• Result prediction- LAN will win the match by 6 Wickets.

Scenario 2- If LAN bats first

• First Innings score prediction- LAN is expected to score 190-205 runs.

• Result prediction- LAN will win the match by 25-30 Runs

LAN vs DUR Predicted Playing XI

Lancashire (LAN) Playing XI 

Phil Salt, Ashton Turner, Keaton Jennings, Jos Buttler, Michael Jones, Luke Wells, Tom Hartley, Blatherwick, Luke Wood, James Anderson, Chris Green.

Durham (DUR) Playing XI

Alex Lees (captain), Graham Clark, Ben McKinney, Colin Ackermann, Oliver Robinson (wk), Will Rhodes, James Neesham, Kasey Aldridge, Matthew Potts, Nathan Sowter, Callum Parkinson

LAN vs DUR Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

Lancashire To win

We predict that Lancashire will be winning this English T20 Blast match. The likes of Keaton Jennings,  Phil salt and Jos Buttler will be key players to watch out for.

It was another record-breaking match between England and India on July, 2014. In this Test match in Nottingham, James Anderson and Joe Root together stitched a historic tenth-wicket partnership in cricket history. Root's unbeaten 154 and Anderson's 81-run saved the match for the home team. 

India was on top of the game at Trent Bridge on a batting-friendly track. Experts labelled the surface as 'dreadful.' Unlike multiple bowling brilliance, the game saw some memorable and unusual batting knocks. Along with Murali Vijay (146) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (82), India's lower order delivered with the bat to put the team on the mountain of runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (58) and Mohammed Shami (51*) got half centuries each, and the visiting side halted on 457.

England's reply came from the bats of Root and Anderson. After the departures of Sam Robson and Gary Ballance, England's middle order was mainly dependent on Joe Root. The batter stood tall until the fall of the 10th wicket. When these two cricketers combined their batting parts, it resulted in the biggest tenth-wicket stand in Test history. The two together created a 198-run partnership at the Trent Bridge.

Read More: WATCH: Lord's crowd errupts as Jofra Archer gets his maiden wicket after comeback in ENG vs IND 2025

A neck-to-neck battle on a dreadful Trent Bridge surface 

To avoid any kind of unwanted situation, India batted with extra caution. Though some early wickets troubled them for a while. All-rounder Stuart Binny's 78-run innings with calculated stroke-making and Bhuvneshwar's unbeaten 63 held the match in balance and ended in a draw.

After the match, India captain MS Dhoni said, "We needed a partnership this morning, and we got it. It was a good test match for us; we managed to put pressure on them, and we held up well when we were under pressure. We haven't had a seam all-round, but Stuart Binny can be someone who can really contribute for us in the future."

After England’s two back-to-back poor bowling performances during the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, talks have started on whether their premier pacer, Jofra Archer, should play the third fixture of the series at Lord’s. The right-arm fast bowlers haven’t played the longest format in more than four years, before recently making a red-ball appearance for Sussex a couple of weeks ago. He picked up one wicket in an 18-over spell.

England’s former legendary pacer, James Anderson, reckoned that the Barbados-born must get a chance to turn up in the first London Test of the summer. With the series leveled at 1-1, the home side needs some extra pace in the unit, with none of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue looking lethal in the two games at Leeds and Edgbaston.

SEE ALSO: Deepti Sharma Takes Major Decision To Betray The Hundred

“You could keep trying to build his overs up and play him later in the series, but it could be too late by then. I think he will play. He's played one game for Sussex; he was around the team at Edgbaston and bowled a bit. I just feel like you've got to play him. It's too crucial a game not to.” The leading wicket-taker among the pacers urged during the Tailenders podcast.

James Anderson predicts Jofra Archer’s return for the Lord’s Test

In the last fixture, thanks to captain Shubman Gill’s incredible knocks of 269 and 161, India finished with 587 in the first innings and crossed the 400-run mark in the second. Along with Archer, the home camp is also considering the potential return of Gus Atkinson on the side, alongside Jacob Bethell, after Shoaib Bashir couldn’t handle the Asian side in Birmingham. 

“Jofra is looking fit; he's looking strong and ready to go, and he'll come into calculations. It's hugely exciting. He's buzzing as well. He's been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket. We all know what he's capable of achieving in Test cricket, and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him.” England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, who requested a spicy and bouncy surface, revealed.

The 30-year-old fast bowler has picked up 42 wickets in 24 Test innings at an average of 31.04, thanks to three five-wicket hauls with the best bowling figure of 6/45 in the Headingley Test of the Ashes 2019.

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.

England’s legendary pacer James Anderson has backed the idea of playing Jofra Archer in the upcoming third Test against India at Lord’s, calling it a crucial moment in the five-match series. With the contest currently level at 1–1 following England's heavy 336-run defeat at Edgbaston, Anderson believes Archer’s inclusion could turn the tide in favor of the hosts. Despite Archer’s long absence from the format, Anderson feels the time is right to unleash the speedster.

"You could keep trying to build his overs up and play him later in the series, but it could be too late by then. I think he will play," Anderson told the ICC. "He's played one game for Sussex; he was around the team at Edgbaston and bowled a bit. I just feel like you've got to play him. It's too crucial a game not to."

Archer has not played a Test match since early 2021 but has recently resumed red-ball cricket for Sussex and was with the England squad in Birmingham. The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries for the last few years, but the team's excitement at his involvement and return to fitness has been palpable.

McCullum Optimistic but Non-Committal on Archer Return

While Anderson made a strong case, England head coach Brendon McCullum remained cautious. He confirmed Archer was fit and available but didn’t confirm his selection. “Jofra is looking fit, he's looking strong, he's looking ready to go, and he'll come into calculations. It's hugely exciting. He's buzzing as well,” McCullum said.

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: England release squad for upcoming third Test against India at Lords

McCullum added that the team was hopeful Archer could make a strong comeback. “He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket. We all know what he's capable of achieving in Test cricket, and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and also improve on what he's been able to do already in that form of the game.”

Meanwhile, England has named a 16-member squad for the Lord's Test, adding Gus Atkinson to their pace options alongside Jofra Archer. The squad includes Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, and Chris Woakes.