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The heated lead-up to a high-profile Test series between two bigwigs of world cricket, a political triumph of a cricketing great and an international cricketer's connection with a rape case: cricket has been brimming with news recently.
We bring you a brief round-up of the game's trending tales over the last one day, clubbing them together for you to read over your evening cup of coffee.
Here are some of the highlights from the cricketing world and its extended circles ahead of the last weekend of July 2018:
#5 Adil Rashid calls Michael Vaughan's comments stupid
Adil Rashid has been turning heads with his turn and guile - and was recently inducted in the England squad for the first Test against India. Not everyone was happy, especially former England captain Michael Vaughan, who called his inclusion 'ridiculous'.
Rashid has a white-ball only contract at Yorkshire.
The leg-spinner, in return, called Vaughan's statements 'stupid', saying that his opinion 'doesn't matter'.
"He can say a lot and he thinks people might listen, but I don't think they do. There has been a lot of hoo-ha. I don't see what the big deal is, with people talking about me being retired. I didn't say anything about retirement, which some pundits have said," Rashid told BBC.
"It was not an easy decision, but when your country wants you and asks if you are available, you cannot just say no," he added.
Replying to Rashid's response, Vaughan said: "Being called stupid for wanting a player to be professional and play a red-ball game to prepare for the number one Test team in the world is an official career highlight".
"The cricket world has officially gone nuts," Vaughan was quoted as saying.
#4 Sachin Tendulkar meets his guru
Over a 24-year-long international career, Sachin Tendulkar won India several accolades and accomplished major milestones, but the journey began long before his debut in 1989.
On the occasion of Guru Purnima, an auspicious day dedicated to teachers and mentors, Tendulkar went back to the man who made him, piece by piece, the great cricketer that he eventually became.
Along with Atul Ranade, Sachin's long-time friend and teammate, Sachin visited Ramakanth Achrekar, his first coach's house, to thank him and take his blessings.
Now in his late 80s, Achrekar had a massive hand to play in building Sachin as a cricketer during his formative years, whilst practising at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
#3 Imran Khan, Mr Prime Minister
World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan is all set to be Pakistan's Prime Minister, with his party, the Tehreek-e-Insaf, winning the general elections in the country. From claiming the World Cup trophy for Pakistan in 1992 to becoming the PM of his country 26 years later, the story of Imran Khan, one of the greatest all-rounders the world has ever seen, has been a stirring one.
Several cricketers, some his ex-teammates, congratulated the 65-year-old for his ascendancy to power, taking to social media to send their wishes:
#2 Ashwin's injury scare for India
Out of contention from the limited-overs side, Ravichandran Ashwin re-joined the Indian team for the Test series against England, playing the practice game against Essex ahead of the first Test.
However, a hand injury, sustained during a net session, ruffled feathers, even as he decided to not take the field during the second day of the three-day game.
As a precautionary measure, Ashwin decided to skip the day to rest his right hand, with the physio checking the extent of the injury and claiming it to be a minor one.
He is likely to be fully fit and in contention for a spot in the playing XI, along with other spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
#1 The Gunathilaka plot thickens
The Danushka Gunathilaka saga, making headlines in Sri Lanka, complicated further for the opener when he was suspended by his country's cricket board for six-months for breaching the 'Player Code of Conduct and Contractual Obligation'.
The decision by SLC seems to be in relation with the recent incident involving his friend, Sandeep Jude Selliah, who was arrested by the police for the alleged rape of a Norwegian woman.
Gunathilaka, who was dropped from the ODI side for the five-match series against South Africa, had allegedly broken the team curfew in the hotel during the incident and was questioned by the police.
"He has said he was asleep and was not aware of what had taken place between his friend and the Norwegian woman," a policeman had told AFP.
Gunathilaka's worries continue to grow - one wonders what the repercussions of the latest twist will be on the 27-year-old's career.
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