Cricket

The 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Indian cricket team. Despite facing adversity at every turn, the team emerged victorious in a series that will forever be etched in the annals of cricket history.The series began with a humiliating defeat in Adelaide, where India was bowled out for a paltry 36 runs. However, the team refused to be disheartened and fought back valiantly. In the second Test in Melbourne, India defied all odds to draw the match, setting the stage for a thrilling finale in Sydney.The third Test in Sydney was a battle of attrition, with both teams refusing to give an inch. Ravichandran Ashwin played a pivotal role in the draw, batting for over four hours with an aching back alongside Hanuma Vihari.As the series reached its climax in Brisbane, Australia captain Tim Paine resorted to sledging in an attempt to unsettle Ashwin. Paine's tactics failed, as Ashwin remained unfazed and India went on to win the series 2-1.Paine has since defended his sledging, claiming that he was simply trying to unsettle Ashwin, who had been "annoying" him by getting his wicket frequently. However, Ashwin has hit back, saying that Paine's sledging was aimed at him personally and that he pulled out of the Brisbane Test due to a genuine back injury.The 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be remembered for its thrilling matches, intense rivalry, and the remarkable resilience of the Indian cricket team. It is a series that will inspire generations of cricketers to come.

Matthew Hayden Predicts Australian Victory in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but Cautions of Indian ThreatFormer Australian batsman Matthew Hayden has predicted a home victory for Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against India. However, he emphasized that the visiting Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, will pose a formidable challenge.India has emerged victorious in their last two Test tours of Australia, and they will aim to defend the BGT title in a five-match series starting with the first Test in Perth on November 24.Hayden believes that Australia's home advantage has diminished due to the widespread use of drop-in pitches by Cricket Australia. Of the five venues hosting the BGT, three will feature drop-in pitches: Perth, Adelaide, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)."I feel like there's less home advantage given the nature of the drop-in wickets than what had been previously there," Hayden said. "There are three drop-in venues -- Perth, Adelaide, and the MCG."Adelaide will host the day-night second Test from December 6, while the MCG will stage the fourth Test, beginning on Boxing Day (December 26). The fifth Test in Sydney will commence on January 3, 2025."So you've got your two home venues in Brisbane and Sydney; those just happen to be the third and fifth Test match, which is a very different combination to any series that's been played there," Hayden added. "I feel like at the moment there is probably not that much home advantage in the Australian summer anymore due to the wicket conditions."Before the start of the series, India will participate in a three-day warm-up match against India A, who will be touring Australia concurrently.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been recalled to the national team for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, following a brief hiatus due to inconsistent form. The decision to reinstate Azam, who was dropped for the final two Tests of the home series against England, has sparked optimism among experts who believe a single impactful performance could reignite his brilliance.Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), expressed confidence in Azam's ability to rediscover his form and establish himself as a true legend. "Babar has the potential to achieve even greater heights in Test cricket," Raja said. "He excels in white-ball cricket, averaging over 50 in both T20Is and ODIs. Now, he must demonstrate his temperament and prove to the world that he is a modern-day Viv Richards."Raja's comparison to Richards, the legendary West Indian batsman known for his aggressive and match-winning performances, highlights the high expectations placed on Azam. The upcoming tour of Australia, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is, will provide Azam with an opportunity to showcase his talent on a global stage.Alongside Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have also been recalled to the squad after being rested for the Test series. The white-ball teams will be led by newly-appointed skipper Mohammad Rizwan, with the exception of the T20I series in Zimbabwe, where Salman Agha will take the reins.Raja expressed his hope that Azam will rediscover his form during the upcoming series, which hold significant importance for Pakistan's cricketing future. "I am confident that Babar will bounce back stronger after his break," Raja said. "He has the talent and determination to lead Pakistan to success."

India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final have taken a hit after their series defeat against New Zealand. With just six Tests remaining, India's lead over second-placed Australia has been reduced to a mere 0.32%.India's path to the final is now fraught with challenges. They must win the third Test against New Zealand and then secure at least three victories in the five-Test series against Australia Down Under. A 3-2 result in Australia would be ideal, but if they manage only two wins, they will need other teams to slip up.Australia, meanwhile, has the most Tests remaining among the contenders. They face a tough five-match series against India, followed by two Tests in Sri Lanka. The Aussies will be eager to avenge their recent defeats to India, but they must also be wary of Sri Lanka, who have a strong home record.Sri Lanka, currently ranked third, has four Tests remaining. They face a tricky two-Test series in South Africa, followed by two home Tests against Australia. The Islanders have a good chance of qualifying if they can win three of these four matches.New Zealand, who have moved up to fourth after their wins against India, have four Tests remaining as well. They face one more Test in India, followed by three home Tests against England. The Black Caps have a good record at home against England, but they will need to perform well in India to stay in contention.South Africa, ranked fifth, has five Tests remaining. They face a tough away Test against Bangladesh, followed by four home Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Proteas will need to win at least three of these matches to have a chance of qualifying.The race to the WTC final is heating up, with several teams still in contention. India's task has become more difficult, but they remain the favorites. Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa will all be looking to capitalize on any slip-ups by the leaders.

The ICC World Test Championship standings are heating up, with India and Australia neck-and-neck at the top. India currently holds a slim lead with 62.82% of possible points, while Australia trails closely behind with 62.50%.India's remaining schedule includes a home Test against New Zealand and a five-Test series in Australia. Despite recent setbacks against New Zealand, India can still finish with a maximum of 74.56% of points. The upcoming series against Australia will be crucial for their chances of reaching a third consecutive World Test Championship final.Australia, the reigning champions, need to win at least four of their remaining seven Tests to defend their title. They have the advantage of playing two Tests in Sri Lanka next year, which could potentially allow them to draw 2-2 with India and still remain in contention for the final. However, their immediate focus will be on regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, where they have struggled against India in recent years.Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand are also in the mix for a top-two finish. Sri Lanka's victory over England has given them hope, but they face challenging series against South Africa and Australia. New Zealand's historic series win in India has put them back in contention, but they will likely need to win all four of their remaining Tests. South Africa's success in the sub-continent has boosted their chances, and they have the advantage of playing four matches at home.England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies are currently out of contention for the final, but they will be looking to finish the cycle on a positive note with strong performances in their remaining matches.

Australia's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan has been announced, with Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Spencer Johnson returning from injury. However, a new captain is yet to be confirmed, as Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, and Pat Cummins are all unavailable.Bartlett, Ellis, and Johnson were all ruled out of Australia's recent tour of the UK with various injuries. Johnson made his return to domestic cricket last Friday, while Bartlett and Ellis are expected to be fit for the three-match series against Pakistan, which begins on November 14.The 13-man squad is largely unchanged from the one that toured the UK in September, with Glenn Maxwell returning to the T20I fold after being rested for the T20I portion of that tour. Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk are expected to open the batting, as they likely will in the ODI series that precedes the T20Is against Pakistan.With the series finishing just four days before the opening Test against India in Perth, none of the Test players were made available. Marsh and Head are also missing the ODI series while on paternity leave.Australia will have a different coaching staff for the T20I series as well, with head coach Andrew McDonald, batting coach Michael Di Venuto, and bowling coach Daniel Vettori all resting ahead of the Test series. Assistant coach Andre Borovec will take charge, as he did for Australia's five-match T20I series against India in India last October. Former Australia batter Brad Hodge is also set to join the group as an assistant coach after touring with Australia's T20 World Cup squad as a coaching consultant in June. Matthew Wade, who is yet to retire from international cricket and captained Australia's T20I side in February, is reportedly set to join the squad as well in a coaching role.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, has expressed his disappointment on social media after being overlooked for the upcoming Test series against Australia. Shami has been sidelined since the ODI World Cup 2023 final due to an ankle injury and subsequent knee swelling.Despite recently declaring himself pain-free, the selectors opted to exclude him from the squad. Shami took to Instagram to share a video of his training, expressing his determination to regain match fitness and return to the red-ball format.Australia head coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged Shami's absence as a significant loss for India. However, he emphasized that his team will not underestimate the replacement pacers, citing India's victory in the Gabba Test in 2021.McDonald also hinted at the possibility of Shami joining the Indian team for the second half of the Australia tour if he proves his fitness in Bengal's upcoming Ranji Trophy matches. India has a strong record in Australia, having won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in their last two visits.Shami's injury has opened the door for other bowlers to stake their claim in the Test team. The likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jaydev Unadkat will be eager to impress and cement their places in the squad.The absence of Shami is a blow to India's bowling attack, but it also presents an opportunity for other bowlers to step up and prove their worth. The upcoming Test series against Australia promises to be a fiercely contested battle, and the outcome could hinge on the performances of the bowlers from both sides.

Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old batting prodigy, has emerged as a potential Test debutant for Australia in the upcoming home series against India. His mentor, former all-rounder Shane Watson, believes that the current circumstances present a "perfect storm" for Konstas to make his international debut.Konstas' twin centuries for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield earlier this month have propelled him into contention for a Test berth. He will feature for Australia A next week alongside Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris, as the selectors weigh their options.Watson, who has worked with Konstas for four years, highlights the player's exceptional talent and dedication. He believes that Konstas' age and the aging nature of the current Australian team make this an ideal time to inject young blood into the side."The whole situation is, in my mind, a perfect storm to be able to give him an opportunity to be able to play Test cricket," Watson said. "For me, this is an opportune time, knowing that the bowlers are aging, there's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja as a starting point who are aging."Watson draws parallels between Konstas and Cameron Green, who made his Test debut at 21 on India's last tour of Australia. He emphasizes the importance of giving young players early opportunities to learn and develop."Australian cricket always did incredibly well was see someone who is different from all the younger stars coming through and get them into the Australian set-up, as early as they can within reason, to be able to help them learn," Watson said.Konstas' batting predecessors, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, were both given their Test debuts at the age of 20. Watson himself played ODI cricket as a 20-year-old, which he believes significantly accelerated his development."There's no doubt that my one-day cricket would never have evolved to the heights that it did without me being around the Aussie team [at a younger age]," Watson said.Konstas' single-minded dedication to his craft has impressed Watson. "From the first moment that I met Sam, the thing that jumped out at me the most was his desperate desire to be the best that he possibly could be," Watson said.With the Test series against India approaching, Konstas' chances of making his debut are growing. The selectors will have a tough decision to make, but Watson believes that the young prodigy is ready for the challenge.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins has expressed his belief that the 2018-19 Test series loss to India was more painful than the 2020-21 debacle under his leadership. Cummins believes that the home team was simply outplayed in the 2018-19 series, while the 2020-21 series was more closely fought.Under Virat Kohli's captaincy, India defeated Australia 2-1 in the 2018-19 rubber with the skipper and Cheteshwar Pujara playing a pivotal role in the historic triumph against the Tim Paine-led side. During the 2020-2021 series, a hugely depleted Indian side again bagged the series 2-1, defeating the hosts at their stronghold Gabba for the first time in a Test match in 32 years."I actually thought the series before (2018-19) was worse because we got completely beaten whereas that series (in 2020-21) was quite (keenly) fought. I thought they (India) played like fantastically well to win at the Gabba," Cummins told The Grade Cricketer podcast."That (defeat) was annoying, but I felt like the series before, where we were like completely outplayed, that would hurt more for me," he said.Cummins, who will again be leading in a five-match Test series against India starting November 22 in Perth, said that if he had his way, he would welcome India with green tops to make life difficult for the visitors."I wish if I had it my way I would be looking like those bushes behind you. Unfortunately, I don’t have any sway (on the preparation of wickets), so we’ll wait and see," said Cummins in response to the host’s question on the amount of grass he would like to see on the pitches for the crucial series.David Warner has offered to come out of retirement to help the side if need be, but Cummins indicated that the team has moved on."Dave we are very interested, we’re taking it very seriously and we’ll be in touch, mate just watch that phone," said Cummins in jest before adding, "Uh, we love Davey (Warner) but he’s retired, sorry."