Cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara's absence from India's Test squad for their upcoming tour of Australia has sparked discussions about the team's batting dynamics. Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson believes that India's younger batters, such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, can fill the void left by Pujara and continue to pose a significant threat to the Australian bowling attack.Pujara played a pivotal role in India's historic Test series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. His ability to bat for extended periods and absorb pressure was crucial to India's success. However, Watson believes that Jaiswal, despite his contrasting batting style, can have a similar impact on the Australian bowlers."Jaiswal hasn't given the opposition a chance to get him out," Watson said. "If he and other aggressive batters can put pressure on the Aussie bowlers, they can still have the same effect as Pujara."Watson also highlighted Rishabh Pant as another Indian batter who could pose a serious threat to Australia. Pant has a remarkable record in Australia, having scored 624 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 72.13."Pant has great memories from his last tour," Watson said. "He's come through his challenges and is now an even better player. I think he's going to have a big series."In addition to the batting, Watson identified Jasprit Bumrah as a key player for India. Bumrah has 32 wickets at 21.25 from seven Tests in Australia and is considered one of the best fast bowlers in the world."Bumrah is so good in all conditions," Watson said. "He's going to be very effective in Australia. If he has a big series, he can really provide Australia some big challenges."Overall, Watson believes that India's batting lineup, despite the absence of Pujara, has the potential to trouble the Australian bowlers and continue their success in Australia.

India's quest for an unprecedented third consecutive Test series triumph in Australia begins on November 22 with the first Test in Perth. After their historic victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21, Rohit Sharma's team faces a formidable challenge in a five-Test series, the first since 1991-92.India's bowling attack, boasting the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Ravichandran Ashwin, is expected to play a pivotal role. Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson believes India has the firepower to conquer Australia once again."India's pace attack will be where they predominantly win that series," Watson said. "They've got the firepower to be able to do it, but to be able to do it five Test matches in a row in Australia, they'll have to rotate them as well."Watson acknowledged that India's spin duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja may not be as effective in Australia as they are in other parts of the world. However, he emphasized that their skill and experience will still pose a significant threat to the Australian batters.India's batting lineup, featuring Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and rising stars Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, is expected to provide a stern test for the hosts. Watson believes India's attacking approach could put pressure on the Australian bowlers."With the calibre of batters that India have got and the skill they've got, there's no reason why they can't combine that, putting pressure on the bowlers, score quickly but also not make mistakes," he said.Watson warned that Australia will need to be at their best to overcome India's formidable team. "The last time that they met in Australia, India played very, very well. They will have their confidence from that last tour," he said."But just knowing the firepower that India do have with the bat and the ball and how they continue to come together, Australia are going to have to be at their very, very best to be able to win that series."After the Perth opener, India will face Australia in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

The Indian cricket team is set to embark on a crucial tour of Australia, with the first Test match scheduled to commence on November 22 in Perth. To prepare for the highly anticipated series, the team is expected to depart for Australia at least two weeks prior to the opening fixture.During their stay in Australia, the Indian team will engage in one or two intra-squad matches against their 'A' team counterparts. These matches will serve as a valuable tune-up for the Test series, providing the players with an opportunity to acclimatize to the Australian conditions and test their skills against a competitive opposition.The Indian senior team's home Test series against New Zealand will conclude on November 5 in Mumbai. Following the series, the Test squad is expected to depart from Mumbai within a few days. Similar to their previous tour of South Africa, the BCCI is considering organizing a four-day game between India and India A. This match is expected to provide Rohit Sharma's men with a high-quality match simulation.The India A team is also scheduled to play a couple of A Tests during their tour of Australia. The squad, comprising the country's bench strength, is expected to leave India by October 25.In recent years, the BCCI has observed a decline in the quality of practice matches. During Mahendra Singh Dhoni's tenure as Test captain, many of these tour games were granted unofficial status to allow all 15 members of the squad to bat and bowl.However, the senior team reintroduced the concept of intra-squad games during the 2021 World Test Championship final in England. These matches are played in proper whites and officiated by umpires, providing a more realistic match experience.During the 2023-24 series in South Africa, both India A and India were present in the country simultaneously. In between the two 'A' Tests, the second-string team faced off against the main team before the latter's opening game at the Centurion."Normally, home countries nowadays don't want to provide their best domestic talent for practice. It always helps in quality match practice if a bunch of India hopefuls are pitted against the stars. These are players knocking on the doors and eager to perform," said a BCCI insider.In preparation for the second Test in Adelaide, which will be played under lights with a pink ball, the Indian senior team will participate in a two-day day/night pink ball game at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on November 30 and December 1 against Prime Minister's XI.During the Test series, two separate Indian teams will be competing in different countries simultaneously. While the Test team gears up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a World Test Championship final at stake, the Suryakumar Yadav-led T20 team will play four matches in South Africa between November 8-15.The India 'A' team for Australia will be selected after the first round of Ranji Trophy games (from October 11-14). The senior national selection committee will also pick an India U-25 squad next week for the Emerging Asia Cup, which will be held in Muscat this year.

Team India's Women's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign has hit a roadblock after their opening loss to New Zealand. Despite a subsequent victory against Pakistan, their semi-final qualification remains uncertain due to their poor Net Run Rate (NRR) of -1.217.Australia and New Zealand, with NRRs of +1.908 and +2.900 respectively, are the frontrunners in the group. India's loss to New Zealand has made their qualification contingent on the outcome of the match between New Zealand and Australia.If New Zealand defeats Australia, they will top the group with four wins and secure a knockout berth. India can then qualify by beating Australia, as both teams would have three wins in four matches.However, if Australia defeats New Zealand, India's chances of qualification will be severely compromised. Australia and New Zealand's superior NRRs would require India to pull off significant upsets and achieve a favorable NRR in their remaining matches.Historically, New Zealand and Australia have faced off in 51 Women's T20Is since 2006, with Australia holding a slight edge with 28 wins to New Zealand's 21.India's qualification hopes now rest on New Zealand's ability to defeat Australia. A New Zealand victory would open the door for India to advance to the next round, while an Australian win would make their path to the semi-finals extremely challenging.

Suzie Bates, the former New Zealand captain, believes that the team's recent 3-0 defeat to Australia in the lead-up to the Women's T20 World Cup will have no impact on their upcoming clash on Tuesday. Both teams have recorded emphatic victories in their opening matches, with New Zealand crushing India by 58 runs and Australia dominating Sri Lanka by six wickets.Bates acknowledges that New Zealand's loss to Australia was due to the team still finding its best combination and adjusting to different conditions. However, she emphasizes that both sides likely held back some strategies and that the upcoming match will be a true test of their abilities.New Zealand's victory over India was particularly impressive, given their recent struggles in T20I cricket. Bates attributes this success to the team's meticulous planning and the effectiveness of their spinners, led by Eden Carson. With conditions in Sharjah expected to favor spinners, New Zealand may consider fielding Leigh Kasperek and Fran Jonas.Bates expresses confidence in New Zealand's chances against Australia, despite their historical struggles against the team. She highlights the team's familiarity with the Australian players and their boosted confidence after the India win. New Zealand has also benefited from three warm-up matches against Australia, which have provided valuable insights into their opponents' strengths and weaknesses.While the team has been focused on preparation, Bates emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between work and relaxation. Several players recently attended an NBA game in Abu Dhabi, while others enjoyed time at the beach. Bates believes that these activities help the team stay refreshed and focused when it matters most.

Australia and New Zealand Clash in Sharjah for Trans-Tasman RivalrySharjah, United Arab Emirates - The highly anticipated clash between Australia and New Zealand in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 is set to take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, February 7th, at 6 pm local time.Both teams have made impressive starts to their campaigns, with Australia defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets and New Zealand stunning India by 58 runs. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the tournament favorites.Australia, the defending champions, will be led by captain Alyssa Healy, while New Zealand will be captained by Sophie Devine. Both teams boast a wealth of experience and talent, with players like Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, and Amelia Kerr expected to play key roles.The toss may not be as crucial in Sharjah as in other venues, as the evening game is expected to have less dew. However, the pitches have been low and slow, offering little assistance to batters.One player to watch in this match is Amelia Kerr, New Zealand's top all-rounder. Despite her impressive record against other opponents, she has struggled against Australia in T20Is. She will be eager to make an impact in this match, both with the bat and the ball.The match is expected to be a close and competitive affair, with both teams having a chance to secure a crucial victory. The winner will take a significant step towards qualifying for the semi-finals.

Six-time T20 World Cup champions Australia faced Sri Lanka in their tournament opener in Sharjah, with Sri Lanka opting to bat first. The match marked Sri Lanka's second in less than 48 hours, having lost their opener to Pakistan.Despite the slow and dry surface, Australia surprised by selecting an extra seamer, Darcie Brown, instead of Grace Harris or Alana King. They still retained four spin options in Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Phoebe Litchfield, and Ashleigh Gardner.Sri Lanka made one change to their XI, bringing back experienced left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera in place of Sachini Nisansala. Their batting lineup, which struggled to 85 runs against Pakistan, remained unchanged.Australia's Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, and Ellyse Perry formed the top order, while Sri Lanka's Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu opened the batting.The match was played on a surface with more green grass than the previous day's strip, which could potentially favor the seamers. Sri Lanka had never defeated Australia in a T20I, making this a significant challenge for them.

Australia, the reigning champions of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, are poised to make history as they seek an unprecedented fourth consecutive title in South Africa. Led by the dynamic Alyssa Healy, the team has maintained its dominance in bilateral cricket, despite the absence of long-time skipper Meg Lanning, who retired last year.Healy has seamlessly taken over the reins, guiding Australia to impressive victories and solidifying their status as favorites to lift the trophy once again. The team's form has been impeccable, with a string of dominant performances that have showcased their depth and versatility.Australia's quest for a fourth consecutive title is a testament to their unwavering consistency and the exceptional talent within their squad. They boast a formidable batting lineup, led by Healy, Beth Mooney, and Tahlia McGrath, who have consistently delivered match-winning performances.The bowling attack is equally impressive, with the likes of Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, and Ashleigh Gardner providing a potent mix of pace, spin, and accuracy. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and outplay their opponents has been a key factor in their success.However, Australia will face stiff competition from other top teams, including England, India, and New Zealand. England, the 2017 champions, will be eager to reclaim the title, while India and New Zealand have emerged as formidable challengers in recent years.Despite the challenges, Australia remains the team to beat. Their experience, talent, and unwavering determination make them the favorites to extend their reign as world champions. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Healy and her team as they aim to etch their names in the history books once again.

Australian Cricketers Unanimously Crown Rishabh Pant as India's Top SledgerThe rivalry between India and Australia has always been intense, with heated moments and on-field aggression becoming commonplace. In a recent video released by Star Sports, Australian cricketers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne unanimously agreed that Rishabh Pant is the most prolific sledger in the current Indian cricket team.Pant, known for his aggressive and often witty sledging, has become a formidable presence on the field. In the same video, he recalled his memorable sledging battles with former Australian captain Tim Paine during the 2018 series. Pant revealed that even the then Australian Prime Minister recognized him through his sledging."I do it with love!" Pant said. "I don't like it when someone does it to me, so I sledge politely."Pant's sledging has often been a source of entertainment for fans, but it has also drawn criticism from some quarters. However, the Australian players acknowledged that Pant's sledging is usually harmless and in good spirits."He's a bit of a character," said Starc. "He's always up for a bit of banter, and he's not afraid to give it back."Meanwhile, India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has regained the top spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings after his impressive performance in the second Test against Bangladesh. Bumrah replaced his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, who had held the top spot after the first Test.In batting, Yashasvi Jaiswal has moved to a career-high third position after his scintillating knocks in the Kanpur Test. The 22-year-old is now behind only Kane Williamson and Joe Root in the rankings.Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli has also made a significant jump in the rankings, rising six places to the sixth position. Rishabh Pant remains in the top 10, dropping three spots to ninth.