Cricket

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, remains steadfast in his belief that Australia will emerge victorious in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against India. In an interview with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Ponting reiterated his earlier prediction of a 3-1 series win for Australia, citing the absence of veteran Indian pacer Mohammad Shami as a significant factor.Shami's side strain injury has cast doubt on his availability for the series, and Ponting believes that his absence will make it challenging for India to take 20 wickets in a Test match in Australia. "Shami just leaves such a big hole in that bowling group," Ponting told the ICC website. "Taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge."Compounding India's concerns is their recent 0-3 whitewash at home by New Zealand. However, Ponting acknowledges that the visitors have the potential to win one of the five Tests. "I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches," he predicted.Despite India's struggles, Ponting believes that Australia is the more settled and experienced team, making them difficult to beat at home. "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," he said.Ponting also identified Steve Smith and Rishabh Pant as potential leading run-scorers in the series. "Leading run scorer, I'm going to go (with) Steve Smith or Rishabh Pant," he said.Pant has been in impressive form, scoring 261 runs in six innings against New Zealand, while Smith has moved back down to his preferred position at No. 4 in the batting order. "I think Smith, the fact that he's moved back down from opener to No. 4 probably makes it feel like he's got more of a point to prove," Ponting said.The first Test of the BGT series begins in Perth on November 22, and Ponting's predictions will be put to the test as Australia and India battle for supremacy in one of the most intense rivalries in cricket.

Indian cricket stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have come under intense scrutiny following India's humiliating Test series defeat against New Zealand. Both batters failed to deliver, contributing to India's clean sweep loss at home. As India prepares to face Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, questions linger about the duo's future.Former Australian cricketer David Warner, however, believes that age is irrelevant for Sharma and Kohli. He emphasized that their performance will be crucial for India's success in the series. "Age is just a number," Warner said. "But those two hold the key to how India are going to go."Sharma and Kohli's struggles have been evident throughout the home Test season. In the third and final Test against New Zealand, Sharma was dismissed for 11 runs, while Kohli managed only one run. Their poor form has raised concerns ahead of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Sharma's home season has been particularly disappointing. In 10 innings, he has scored only 133 runs at an average of 13.30. Kohli, too, has struggled, averaging 29.40 in Tests this year.Despite their recent struggles, Warner believes that Sharma and Kohli remain formidable opponents. "Their attitude, if it's on, they are two guys who are hard to stop," he said. "It's going to be a big summer for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."India's hopes of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time hinge on a strong performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A massive win in the series would secure their place at Lord's next year.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that the upcoming Test series against Australia could be a watershed moment for senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Following India's humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand at home, questions have been raised about the future of these star players.In an interview with India Today, Gavaskar emphasized that there are numerous talented young players eager for opportunities, and the Australia series could be the last chance for some senior players to prove their worth. "I think it could be a tour which could decide a lot of futures," Gavaskar said. "They are at an age and stage in their careers where there will be a second ring of players looking to get an opportunity."According to a report by PTI, the BCCI is evaluating the shocking defeat against New Zealand and considering a structured phaseout policy for senior players before the start of the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The five-match Test series against Australia could be the final one for at least two of the four senior players: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin.An informal discussion is expected between BCCI officials, the chairman of selectors, the head coach, and the captain to determine the future of the aging team. "Stocks will be taken certainly," a senior BCCI source told PTI. "But with the Australia series round the corner and the squad already announced, there won't be any tinkering."However, if India fails to qualify for the WTC final in England, it is likely that all four senior players will not be part of the team for the subsequent five-Test series in the UK. "In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together," the source added.The upcoming Test series against Australia will be a crucial test for the Indian team and its senior players. The results could have a significant impact on the future of Indian cricket and the transition to a new generation of players.

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has expressed concerns about the potential impact of India's recent 3-0 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand on their upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia.Gilchrist believes that the humiliating defeat will have a significant psychological impact on the Indian team, particularly on its senior players. "It does (have an impact), more for the Indian players and the Indian team internally. They have to be asking themselves pretty hard questions," Gilchrist told FoxSports.He added, "I do think on the back of that loss and the fact that it was a clean sweep... I think that will raise some questions internally and the pressure and the expectation and the desire from a passionate cricketing nation to see that change around, that'll ride heavily on those shoulders of all those players."The series was particularly disappointing for India's experienced players. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli managed only 91 and 93 runs respectively in the entire series, while Ravichandran Ashwin picked up only nine wickets in spin-friendly conditions.Gilchrist expressed concern about how these players will bounce back from such a disappointing performance. "There are a few ageing players there who may start to even second guess themselves a little bit. There's some high class cricketers in that Indian squad. It's going to be fascinating to see how they rebound from that challenge," he said.Meanwhile, there have been reports that the Test future of the four senior players may be at risk. A senior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity, "If India doesn't qualify for WTC final in England, one can be rest assured that all four super seniors won't be on that flight to UK for the ensuing five-Test series. In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together."

Rohit Sharma's Test Future in Doubt, India Needs to Prepare for ReplacementFormer Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has raised concerns about Rohit Sharma's future in Test cricket, suggesting that the veteran opener may retire from the format if India performs poorly in the upcoming five-Test series in Australia.Sharma, who recently announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals, has been in poor form in Tests, averaging just 26.67 in his last 10 innings. He has also acknowledged his lack of leadership during India's recent 0-3 home Test thumping by New Zealand."You have to start thinking ahead. If Rohit Sharma doesn't do well, I think he himself will retire from test cricket, for all you know," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. "He'll play ODIs only. He has already left T20I cricket. We have to keep in mind that he's also ageing."Sharma, 37, has amassed 4,270 runs in 87 Tests at an average of 42.27, but his recent performances have raised questions about his ability to continue at the highest level.Srikkanth praised Sharma for acknowledging his mistakes in a press conference after the New Zealand series. "Hats off to Rohit for accepting the fact that he played badly throughout the series and captained badly. That's a great thing," Srikkanth added. "That's the first move of a player to get back to rhythm. Accepting your fault is very important. That's a very important quality of a human being."India may be without Sharma for the first Test in Perth beginning on November 22 due to personal reasons. The team needs to win four of their five Tests in Australia to qualify for the World Test Championship final for the third time in a row next year.Srikkanth believes that India needs to start preparing for Sharma's potential retirement by identifying a suitable replacement. "We have to start thinking about who will replace Rohit Sharma," he said. "We have to start looking at the younger players and give them a chance."

Mohammed Shami's Comeback Delayed by Fresh Injury, Casting Doubt on Border-Gavaskar Series ParticipationIndia's premier fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. According to reliable sources, Shami has developed a side strain injury, further delaying his return to competitive cricket.Shami, who has been sidelined for nearly a year due to a knee injury, was not included in the Bengal squad for the next two rounds of the Ranji Trophy. The experienced pacer had previously expressed his readiness to return to action after recovering from his knee injury. However, his name was conspicuously absent when India announced a 15-man squad for the Test series against Australia."I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can't put too much stress on my body. So we decided that I would bowl properly, and I gave my 100%," Shami had said at a promotional event last month.Despite bowling at full tilt in the nets during India's recent Test series against New Zealand, Shami's side strain injury has raised concerns about his fitness for the Australia tour. India captain Rohit Sharma had previously stated that the team did not want to risk an "undercooked Shami" in Australia.Shami's last competitive appearance came in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2022. His absence from the Border-Gavaskar series would be a significant blow to India's bowling attack, which is already missing Jasprit Bumrah due to a back injury.The extent of Shami's side strain injury and the timeline for his recovery remain unclear. However, the fresh setback casts doubt on his ability to regain full fitness in time for the Australia tour, which begins in February 2023.

Pakistan's audacious short-ball strategy on the fast and bouncy MCG pitch nearly pulled off a remarkable upset in the first ODI against Australia. However, experts believe that the tactic may not be as effective at the Adelaide Oval, known for its batting-friendly conditions.Pakistan's pace attack, led by Haris Rauf, unleashed a barrage of short-pitched deliveries that rattled Australia's top order. Rauf's fiery spell, which included the dismissals of Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell, had the pro-Pakistan crowd on their feet.Despite the success of the short-ball approach, Australia's captain Pat Cummins remained composed and guided his team to a two-wicket victory. However, the tactic is unlikely to be as effective at the Adelaide Oval, which has shorter square boundaries and a reputation for being a haven for batters."Pakistan's tactics [in Melbourne] bowling pretty short," said Australia opener Matt Short. "But I think they may have to change that a little bit at this ground with the shorter square boundaries which are the complete opposite to the 'G. It's always a nice ground to bat on."Short, who is vying to replace David Warner as Australia's permanent ODI opener, is eager to return to his home ground, where he has excelled for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. "It's going to feel quite comfortable down there opening the batting, that's for sure," said Short. "It's my favourite ground in the world to play at."Despite a disappointing start to the series, Short remains confident in his ability to cement his spot in the team. "I came into this series with high aspirations to try to cement my spot in the team," said Short. "I'm going to go out there and keep trying to be positive and play aggressive cricket. It should pay off at some stage."With Travis Head on paternity leave, Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk have formed a new opening duo. While Fraser-McGurk's aggressive style may complement Short's more measured approach, Australia's coaching staff is encouraging both players to play their natural game."The coaching staff give us both the licence to be free and play our shots," said Short. "Batting with Travis Head as well, if he goes [off] then I let him go and I do my thing."

India's recent 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand at home has raised concerns about their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship Final. Despite the setback, former opener Shikhar Dhawan remains optimistic about India's prospects in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Dhawan believes that India has a strong chance of completing a hat-trick of series wins in Australia, having triumphed in the previous two tours under Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. He highlights the experience of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, who have played extensively in Australia and can guide the younger players.Dhawan also praises the confidence and motivation of the current Indian team, which includes a mix of experienced and emerging stars. He believes that the batters are well-prepared to handle the pace and bounce of Australian pitches.Regarding Rishabh Pant, Dhawan notes that the wicketkeeper-batter has returned to the field with renewed gratitude and positivity after his car accident in 2022. He commends Pant's mental strength and his ability to bring joy to fans with his fearless batting.Despite the recent loss to New Zealand, Dhawan remains confident in India's ability to bounce back and secure a historic victory in Australia. He believes that the team has the talent, experience, and determination to overcome the challenges and emerge victorious.

Former Indian cricket team spinner Anil Kumble has expressed surprise over the BCCI's decision to cancel the practice game ahead of the first Test match against Australia in Perth starting November 22. The Indian cricket team was going to play a practice match against India A, but following the Test series whitewash against New Zealand, the BCCI decided to scrap the encounter.Kumble, during a discussion on JioCinema, said that the practice match would have been ideal preparation for Rohit Sharma and Co. He added that such match practice cannot be achieved by just net sessions."I'm a bit surprised that India don't have a practice match going into the first Test because that would have been an ideal preparation. No matter how much you practice in the nets, going out in the middle and facing a few bowlers in the match is totally different," he said.Right-handed batter KL Rahul and wicketkeeper-batter Dhurv Jurel are on their way to link up with the India A squad ahead of their second four-day game against Australia A, set to begin at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from November 7.Sources told IANS that Rahul and Jurel left for Melbourne on Sunday night after the third Test ended at the Wankhede Stadium, which India lost by 25 runs to New Zealand and suffered a 3-0 series defeat.As per the sources, Rahul and Jurel will join the India 'A' squad by Tuesday and get to play in the second four-day game, with an eye to give them some game time before linking up with the main Test team to prepare for the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, starting on November 22 in Perth. It will be followed by games in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney till January 7, 2025.Rahul played three Tests in the Indian home season, with his last game coming via the hosts' series opener against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After making scores of 0 and 12 in that game, where India lost by eight wickets, he didn't feature in the remainder of the series.On the other hand, Jurel didn't get a game to play in the five Tests India played at home, though he did get to feature as a substitute wicketkeeper in the first Test at Bengaluru after Rishabh Pant hurt his knee while being on keeping duties.The first four-day game saw India A, captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, suffer a heavy seven-wicket defeat at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, Queensland, with left-handed batters B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal along with pacer Mukesh Kumar being the standout performers.