Cricket

Australia's pace bowling woes continue as Xavier Bartlett joins the injury list with a side strain sustained during the first T20I against England in Southampton. Bartlett's injury, if confirmed to end his tour, would add to the absences of Spencer Johnson (side) and Nathan Ellis (hamstring).Bartlett's impressive performance in the match, claiming the wicket of Jordan Cox and extracting swing on a cold night, was cut short by his injury. The selectors now face the prospect of bringing in Riley Meredith, who was retained for the England T20 matches after Ellis's injury, for the second T20I in Cardiff on Friday. Allrounders Aaron Hardie and Cooper Connolly are also options for the side.The selectors have yet to confirm who will replace Ellis in the one-day squad. New South Wales left-armer Ben Dwarshuis is set to join the team ahead of the ODIs, but his role is currently limited to providing cover.Bartlett's injury is a setback for the Australian team, as he had not been included in the ODI squad despite his impressive performances against West Indies earlier this year. The side injury could also impact his availability for the start of the domestic season with Queensland, with the Marsh Cup beginning later this month and the Sheffield Shield starting in early October.Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood made a strong return to action in Southampton, taking 2 for 32 from his four overs, including the crucial wicket of Liam Livingstone. Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will be part of the one-day series, while Pat Cummins is missing the entire tour to focus on strength and conditioning ahead of the home summer.

Australia's T20 series triumph over Scotland concluded with a moment of laughter, not solely due to their dominant performance but also because of an unusual trophy. After securing a 3-0 sweep in Edinburgh, the Australian players were left perplexed by a peculiar trophy resembling an "ice-cream cup" or, as some jokingly referred to it, a "kadhai."The miniature bowl, known in Scotland as a "quaich," is traditionally used for consuming whiskey or other beverages. When the presenter handed the trophy to captain Mitchell Marsh, the entire team erupted in laughter. Marsh himself couldn't conceal his amusement, holding the cup with a mixture of bewilderment and humor. Players gathered for a team photo, unsure of how to pose with the tiny, unconventional trophy, further adding to the hilarity.Despite their unfamiliarity with the quaich's historical significance, the Australians embraced the surprise with good humor, passing the cup around for a few laughs. The entire scene provided a lighthearted conclusion to what had been a commanding series victory for the visitors.Fans on social media quickly joined the fun, dubbing the trophy an "ice-cream cup" and even comparing it to a "tea cup." On the field, it was Cameron Green who stole the show. The all-rounder delivered a stellar performance with both bat and ball, claiming 3-35 and smashing an unbeaten 62 as Australia chased down Scotland's total of 149 with ease, winning with 23 balls to spare.Brandon McMullen's half-century for Scotland proved insufficient to halt Australia's charge, as Green and captain Mitch Marsh steadied the innings after a shaky start. Aaron Hardie and Tim David finished the job, sealing an effortless victory for the tourists.However, it was the unexpected "ice-cream cup" moment that stole the post-match spotlight, providing a memorable and amusing end to the series.

Mitchell Marsh's return to bowling remains uncertain as Australia prepares for their T20I series against Pakistan. Marsh has been sidelined for five months due to a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL. Despite his absence, Australia boasts a plethora of all-rounders, including Jake Fraser-McGurk, who is the only squad member who neither bowls nor keeps wicket.Marsh expressed his willingness to prioritize opportunities for Cameron Green and Aaron Hardie with the ball, suggesting that his own medium pace may not be necessary. "I'm sort of just building," Marsh said. "I don't tend to bowl myself too much, and we're lucky that we've got plenty of bowling options within our team."Australia's management is prioritizing player workloads ahead of the five-match Test series against India, which begins on November 22. Pat Cummins has been rested from the entire England tour to manage his bowling load. "A lot of our priorities will be geared around that," said coach Andrew McDonald. "We'll be very pointed around who does what in terms of [Sheffield] Shield cricket coming into the summer to make sure that they are ready for that first Test match."Marsh's availability for the T20Is against Pakistan is uncertain, as players included in the Test squad are expected to be rested. "We may have to give up a little bit in terms of that Pakistan white-ball series with certain players, to make sure that we are firmly prepared," McDonald said.Australia's recent T20 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, with back-to-back defeats against Afghanistan and India eliminating them from the Super Eight. Marsh, who retained the T20 captaincy, acknowledged the team's shortcomings. "We went there with the hope of winning it, like every other team did, and unfortunately, we didn't play our best cricket at the right time," Marsh said.McDonald identified fielding as a key area for improvement. "We've got a few things that we need to work through, but clearly the key area for us that was disappointing was our fielding," he said. "That makes it really difficult for the captain and the team to function."

Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald has sparked speculation regarding Steve Smith's batting position in Tests ahead of the upcoming five-match series against India. Smith, who has been opening the innings with Usman Khawaja since David Warner's retirement, has struggled for consistency in the role.Smith's average as an opener stands at 28.50, significantly lower than his career average of 56.97. This has raised concerns within the team, prompting discussions about a potential change in his batting order."That's the question on everyone's lips, isn't it?" McDonald told SEN. "Whilst we've got an eye to it, we haven't made any firm decisions around that one. There's plenty of speculation around that. But in the background, I'd be lying if I said the conversation wasn't happening."McDonald emphasized that Test captain Pat Cummins would play a key role in the decision-making process. "Clearly, Patty Cummins as the captain is a big part of that," he said. "We've already had some chats in Sydney initially around what we're thinking for the summer."The coach also acknowledged the potential impact on other players if Smith's batting position changes. "If we make a shift with Steve Smith, then someone else will have to go to the top," McDonald said. "We've seen Cameron Green be really successful at number four as well. So that sort of adds layers to the decision-making."The first Test between India and Australia will be played in Perth from November 22. The decision on Smith's batting position is expected to be made before the series begins.

Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, has described Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, as "Australian in thoughts and action." Smith made this observation in a video posted by Star Sports on 'X', as per IANS.Smith's comments come ahead of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will feature India and Australia facing off in a crucial five-match series in Perth, Adelaide (pink-ball game), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, respectively. India has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy the last two times it has been contested in Australia, in 2018-19 and 2020-21, respectively."I believe Virat Kohli is Australian in thoughts and action. The way he gets into a battle, the way he gets into the challenge and tries to get on top of the opposition. He's probably the most Australian of the Indian players, I'd say," Smith said.Smith further claimed that the two players share messages often and expressed enthusiasm to meet Kohli in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting from November 22."We get on quite well, share messages every now and then and look, he's a great guy and obviously a wonderful player. It's going to be nice to come up against him again this summer," said Smith.Smith's comments highlight the mutual respect between two of the greatest batsmen of their generation. Kohli is known for his aggressive and competitive approach on the field, while Smith is admired for his resilience and determination.The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's best cricket teams. With Kohli and Smith leading their respective sides, the series is sure to produce some memorable moments.

England's fast-bowling sensation Gus Atkinson has been withdrawn from the 50-over squad for the upcoming series against Australia due to workload management concerns. Atkinson's impressive debut summer, where he claimed 34 wickets in six Tests, has prompted the England management to prioritize his long-term fitness.During the Sri Lanka series, Atkinson's pace noticeably declined, and he experienced a tight quad on day three at The Oval. Despite being deemed fit enough to bowl in the fourth innings, the management has opted to rest him for the ODIs against Australia.Olly Stone has been called up to replace Atkinson in the ODI squad. England's busy schedule, which includes a three-Test tour of Pakistan and a three-Test tour of New Zealand later this year, has necessitated careful player management.England's stand-in Test captain, Ollie Pope, expressed confidence in Atkinson's recovery and emphasized the importance of player management. "He's got a couple weeks off now to refresh and move forward," Pope said. "I think the way he bowled today and just chatting to him, he actually feels like it feels better today than it did when he first felt it."The short turnaround before England's winter touring commitments and the packed schedule of six more Tests before Christmas have made player management a top priority for the ECB. Five players involved against Sri Lanka, including Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Matt Potts, and Jamie Smith, have also been included in the ODI squad.Pope expressed confidence in the team's motivation for the Pakistan tour, where Ben Stokes is expected to return as captain. "Pulling an England shirt on is the greatest honor, so I don't think there needs to be much more motivation," Pope said. "We love touring as a team and everything's a new, exciting challenge."

India's recent dominance over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has intensified the rivalry between the two cricketing giants, according to senior Australian batter Usman Khawaja. India has emerged victorious in the last two Test series played in Australia, with identical 2-1 margins.Khawaja acknowledges that the rivalry has grown in significance due to India's recent successes. "For Indians, it's always been the case to beat Australia. And more recently, you know, since the rise of India and IPL and everything else that happened, it's the same way with Australia against India," he said.The rivalry has been further fueled by the fact that India has won all four of the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, including their home victories in 2016-17 and 2022-23. Khawaja believes that the rivalry has become even more intense since India's triumphs in Australia."And particularly since India's beaten Australia in Australia the last two times they've come out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It just means a little bit more,” he told Star Sports.Khawaja emphasizes the magnitude of the rivalry, stating that it is a reflection of the high regard in which both teams hold each other. "We're world number one, world number two teams really over the last two years. We were there at the last World Test Championship together. The rivalry has always been huge," he said.The upcoming five-match Test series between India and Australia, beginning on November 22 in Perth, is expected to further intensify the rivalry. Khawaja believes that the series will be a great opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills and test their mettle against each other.

Australia-India Test Series: Mitchell Marsh Highlights Rivalry and FriendshipWith the highly anticipated five-match Test series between Australia and India set to commence on November 22, Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has shed light on the unique rivalry and camaraderie between the two cricketing powerhouses.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, contested between India and Australia, has witnessed intense competition in recent years, with India emerging victorious in the last four series. India's dominance on Australian soil during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons has further fueled the rivalry.Marsh emphasized the significance of the series, stating, "Australia versus India, it's another opportunity to grow the game of cricket. Not that cricket needs growing in India, but worldwide. People tune into these big series."Despite the fierce on-field competition, Marsh highlighted the strong friendships between players from both teams. "There's great friendships in the Indian team with our team, so there's no hatred. But it's a great on-field rivalry, both teams want to win," he said.The series will kick off in Perth, followed by a day-night Test in Adelaide. The third Test will be played at The Gabba in Brisbane, while the iconic Boxing Day Test will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The series will conclude with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.India will be aiming to continue their recent dominance over Australia, while the hosts will be eager to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The series promises to be a thrilling contest, showcasing the best of cricket and the enduring rivalry between two of the world's top cricketing nations.

Travis Head's heroics propelled Australia to a thrilling victory in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, denying India their title aspirations. Head's remarkable century (137 off 120 balls) and a stunning catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma proved pivotal in Australia's triumph.Head's catch in the 10th over of India's innings was a game-changer. Rohit, who had been in blistering form, was looking dangerous when he attempted a third consecutive six off Glenn Maxwell. However, the ball took a leading edge and soared high into the air. Head, positioned at cover, sprinted back and executed a breathtaking backward dive to complete the catch.Rohit's dismissal had a profound impact on India's batting performance. Following his departure, India managed only four more fours in the next 40 overs, the lowest in a completed 50-over innings in over a decade. This highlighted the significance of Rohit's wicket in the overall context of the match.Head's batting heroics were equally impressive. Coming in at a crucial juncture, he played a patient and calculated innings, anchoring Australia's chase. His century was only the third by an Australian in a World Cup final, following Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist.In the post-match ceremony, Head acknowledged Rohit's unfortunate situation while discussing his remarkable catch. "I feel for Rohit, he was batting so well and looked set for a big one. But that's the nature of the game, sometimes you get a bit of luck going your way. I'm just glad I could contribute to the team's success," Head said.Head's performance in the World Cup final was a testament to his hard work and dedication. He had worked tirelessly on his fielding, and it paid off with the stunning catch that turned the tide of the match.