Cricket

India's pace attack faces a daunting task in the upcoming Test series against Australia, with the absence of Mohammed Shami casting a shadow over the team's bowling plans. While Jasprit Bumrah remains the undisputed leader of the attack, the supporting cast of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana lacks experience and consistency.During the previous tour of Australia in 2020-21, India's pace attack was a formidable force, with Bumrah, Shami, and Ishant Sharma leading the charge. However, this time around, the support cast appears undercooked, raising concerns about their ability to complement Bumrah effectively.Siraj, who emerged as India's next pace leader on the last tour, has struggled for form in recent times. His rhythm seems to be off, and he has been unable to find his consistency. The added pressure of leading the attack in Shami's absence could further affect his performance.Prasidh Krishna, another promising pacer, has the ability to generate bounce from a fuller length, but he needs to improve his control and consistency. Harshit Rana, a relatively inexperienced bowler, has been picked ahead of more experienced options like Mukesh Kumar, raising questions about the team management's decision-making.Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey believes that it takes time for pacers to mature and that patience is key. However, he acknowledges that the current crop of bowlers lacks the experience of the previous generation.With the series set to decide India's fate in the World Test Championship, the inexperienced pace attack will be under immense pressure to perform. If they can rise to the occasion and provide Bumrah with the support he needs, India has a chance of repeating their triumph from the last tour.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering appointing Jason Gillespie as the all-format head coach of the national team, according to sources. The decision hinges on the results of the ongoing white-ball tour of Australia.Gillespie, who is currently the Test team head coach, has taken charge of the white-ball side in Australia following Gary Kirsten's sudden resignation. The PCB is reportedly impressed with Gillespie's performance so far and is considering offering him the all-format role."For the moment, the Board is working on a plan to appoint Jason Gillespie as all-format head coach instead of advertising for new candidates," a PCB source told PTI. "If Pakistan performs satisfactorily in the remaining games in Australia, then in all probability, Gillispie would be asked to take over as all formats head coach."Pakistan lost the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne but has a chance to redeem itself in the remaining two ODIs and three T20Is. The team will then travel to Zimbabwe for another white-ball series.The PCB is confident that Gillespie will agree to become an all-format head coach, at least until next April. However, the board has also drawn up a shortlist of three former Pakistan players, including ex-Test spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, as potential alternatives."But, the PCB's preference is to have Gillespie to also be white-ball head coach if he agrees," the source said.Gillespie's appointment would mark a significant change in the PCB's coaching structure. In recent years, the board has appointed separate head coaches for the Test, ODI, and T20I teams. However, the PCB believes that a single head coach would provide greater consistency and stability to the national team.

In the recently concluded three-Test series against New Zealand, India's senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli endured underwhelming performances, scoring only 91 and 93 runs respectively. This has raised concerns ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, which begins on November 22 in Perth.Former India captain Kapil Dev has expressed optimism about the experienced pair, urging them to focus and enjoy their game. "They're among the best. Sometimes, it's about focusing a bit more. I'd just tell them to go out there, enjoy, and express themselves," Dev said.India's humiliating 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand marked the first time they had been clean-swept in a three-Test series on home soil. New Zealand also became the first team in 12 years to clinch a Test series in India.Despite this setback, Dev believes Indian cricket is in a good place overall. "When there's an issue, it's crucial to rectify it quickly. We're proud of our spinners, our batsmen, and our bowlers," he said.India has previously claimed consecutive series victories in Australia, under Virat Kohli in 2018-19 and Ajinkya Rahane in 2020-21. With Rohit Sharma now at the helm, India aims for a historic third straight series win on Australian soil."The rough patch has passed. Now, let's focus on the positives, and I hope they play well," Dev added.The Test series against Australia will feature five matches, with the opening Test in Perth followed by a day-night Test in Adelaide, a match at The Gabba in Brisbane, the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the final Test in Sydney.

Australian batting maestro Steve Smith is poised to reclaim his customary position at No. 4 in the batting order for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. This move has sent shivers down the spines of the Indian team, as all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has issued a stern warning about Smith's formidable presence.Maxwell described Smith as a "scary proposition" for India, citing his exceptional form in the nets. "He looks really crisp with his footwork, timing, and movement," Maxwell said. "He's unfazed by anything thrown at him."Smith's return to No. 4 is a strategic move, as he has a remarkable average of over 65 against India in Tests. He has amassed over 2,000 runs in 19 Test matches against the subcontinent giants.Maxwell praised Smith's unwavering dedication to his craft. "He's never satisfied," Maxwell said. "He's always working on his technique, and it's a scary proposition for this summer."Smith's return to form is a major boost for Australia, who are eager to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The series holds immense significance for both teams, as they are the top two contenders in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.Smith's experience and class will be crucial for Australia's success. He has scored 9,685 runs in 109 Tests and is on the cusp of reaching the 10,000-run milestone.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has predicted a 3-1 triumph for the Baggy Greens. Ponting's prediction stems from India's recent series defeat to New Zealand and the absence of key pacer Mohammed Shami due to injury.Ponting believes that Shami's absence will make it challenging for India to claim the 20 wickets required to win a Test match in Australia. "Taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge," Ponting said. "I think they'll bat well enough out here with the current group of batters that they've got."Despite acknowledging that India may sneak in a win at some point in the five-match series, Ponting remains confident in his overall prediction. "I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches," he said. "But I still think now, Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know that they're a very hard team to beat at home."Regarding the potential top-scorer in the series, Ponting identified Steve Smith and Rishabh Pant as the frontrunners. He believes that Smith's move back to No.4 in the batting order increases his chances of success, while Pant's form and ability to bat in the middle order make him a formidable contender.Among the bowlers, Ponting backed Josh Hazlewood to top the wickets chart. He cited Hazlewood's current form and consistency as the reasons for his prediction. "I think Hazlewood out of the Australian quicks, is right at the moment, is probably at the peak of his powers more than the other guys," Ponting said.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is a crucial ICC World Test Championship series that could determine the potential finalists of the WTC cycle. With Australia and India currently at the top of the table, the outcome of this series will have a significant impact on the race to the final.

India's Test captain Rohit Sharma is expected to miss the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth due to personal reasons. Speculation suggests that Sharma's absence stems from the impending birth of his second child.Former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has advocated for Sharma to return as a player only if he misses the first Test and rejoins the squad later in the series. Gavaskar believes that vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah should lead the team throughout the series.However, former Australian captain Aaron Finch disagrees with Gavaskar's stance. Finch believes that Sharma should retain his captaincy even if he misses the first or second Test due to family commitments. He emphasized the importance of supporting players during such significant life events.In the previous tour of Australia, then-captain Virat Kohli took paternity leave after the first Test in Adelaide. Ajinkya Rahane led the team to a remarkable turnaround, winning the series 2-1.India's goal in this series is to win four Tests to secure a direct berth in the World Test Championship final at Lord's in June 2025. The team's performance in Australia will be crucial in determining their chances of reaching the final.

Pakistan faces an uphill battle to keep the ODI series against Australia alive when they clash at the Adelaide Oval on Friday. Despite a valiant effort in the first game, Pakistan fell short of an improbable victory and will need to regroup and find a way to overcome their poor record against the Aussies.Pakistan's bowlers, led by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, impressed with their fiery pace and short-pitched tactics at the MCG. However, they will need to adjust their approach on the smaller Adelaide Oval, where boundaries are easier to come by. A disciplined line and length will be crucial against Australia's explosive batting lineup.Australia, on the other hand, will be looking to wrap up the series and give their Test stars a final hit-out before the upcoming series against India. Skipper Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne will all be eager to make a statement before the red-ball battle.While Australia's batting was not entirely convincing in the first game, they will be confident of putting up a strong total on a ground that favors batsmen. Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will be vying for a spot in the XI, with Short having the edge after his recent performances against England.Pakistan's batting, on the other hand, struggled in the challenging conditions at the MCG. Babar Azam was the lone bright spot, showcasing his class with an elegant 37. He will be key to Pakistan's hopes of posting a competitive total.Josh Hazlewood is expected to return to the Australian lineup, replacing Sean Abbott. Pakistan may also consider playing a frontline spinner in Adelaide, given Naseem Shah's cramps in the first game.Despite its reputation as a batting paradise, the Adelaide Oval has been tough to bat on in recent times. However, the surface is usually flatter for white-ball cricket, and the short square boundaries will encourage aggressive batting.Pakistan will need to defy history and overcome their poor record against Australia to keep the series alive. They will need to find a way to contain Australia's explosive batting lineup while also posting a competitive total of their own.

Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull believes Australia has devised a cunning plan to neutralize Jasprit Bumrah's threat during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series. Doull, in a recent discussion on JioCinema, highlighted Bumrah as Australia's "biggest threat" and suggested that the hosts are attempting to "cook" him with their scheduling strategy.According to Doull, Australia's decision to start the series in the scorching heat of Perth, followed by a pink-ball Test in Adelaide, is a deliberate attempt to exhaust Bumrah. This strategy could force India to rest their star pacer in the middle of the series."Australia has been clever with their scheduling," Doull said. "They know that while batters will be crucial, their biggest threat is Jasprit Bumrah. So they've chosen the three hardest and fastest surfaces, plus the Pink-Ball Test. They're trying to cook Bumrah. They'll cook him in the heat of Perth, where he'll have to bowl a lot of overs. Then he's going to have to bowl a lot of overs in that second pink-ball Test match in Adelaide. And then you've got to go to Brisbane where generally, first up, the seamers are quite good as well."Doull believes Australia's plan is to tire out Bumrah in the first two or three Tests, forcing India to rely on other bowlers. "They're going to cook Bumrah in the first two, three Test matches, make sure he bowls a lot of overs. And then they're going to have to make a change. They're going to have to go to someone else. So I think the scheduling from Australia's point of view has been quite smart because very rarely do they start a series in Perth."Meanwhile, legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has suggested that if Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah should lead the team for the entire tour. Gavaskar believes that Bumrah's leadership would provide stability and reduce pressure on the deputy captain."It is important for the captain to play the first Test match," Gavaskar said. "I have been reading that Rohit Sharma might not play the first two Tests of the Australia series. I feel that, in that case, the selection committee should appoint Jasprit Bumrah the captain of the side for the entire Australia tour, and tell Rohit Sharma that you will participate as a player in this series. For the first Test match, Rohit Sharma has to be there."

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed concerns about the Indian cricket team's recent performances against New Zealand, attributing their struggles to a demanding schedule. Clarke believes that the team's mental fatigue is evident in their shot selection, bowling choices, and captain Rohit Sharma's admission of not being at his best.Despite these observations, Clarke remains optimistic about India's prospects in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. He believes that key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, once well-rested, will lead the team to a strong performance.Meanwhile, former Australian captain Aaron Finch has disagreed with Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar's views on India's captaincy. Gavaskar had suggested that in Rohit Sharma's absence, the team's vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah, should captain India for the entire series to maintain continuity.Finch, however, believes that Rohit Sharma should remain the captain even if he misses the first Test or two due to personal reasons. He emphasized the importance of family moments and the need for Rohit to take the necessary time off.The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar series, consisting of five Test matches between India and Australia, is scheduled to commence on November 22. The series is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams boasting talented players and a rich history of rivalry.