Cricket

India's dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to continue, according to former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. India has not lost the trophy since 2014-15, and Gavaskar predicts a 3-1 victory for India in the upcoming five-Test series against Australia.India's tour Down Under begins with the first Test in Perth on November 22. Rohit Sharma's team will aim to retain the trophy and complete a hat-trick of Test series wins on Australian soil.Gavaskar believes Australia's opening batting combination will be a concern, with the retirement of David Warner. He also cautions India about the importance of a confident start, as they have historically been slow starters outside the subcontinent.India's preparation for the series has been limited, with no proper practice matches scheduled on the tour. However, they will play an intra-squad warm-up game at the WACA in Perth from November 15-18 and a two-day pink-ball warm-up match against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra before the day-night second Test in Adelaide.Before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India will play five Tests at home, beginning with the two-match series against Bangladesh and three Tests against New Zealand.

India's quest for a historic third consecutive Test series triumph in Australia will hinge on the ability of their aging batting lineup to withstand the formidable pace attack of the hosts, according to former Australia coach John Buchanan.Buchanan, who guided Australia to unprecedented success in the early 2000s, believes that both India and Australia possess experienced players, but that will not diminish the intensity of the competition. He highlighted Australia's potent bowling lineup, led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, as a major challenge for India's batters."India's top order, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and possibly Shreyas Iyer, must perform exceptionally well to establish substantial totals," Buchanan said. "Then, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj will come into their own."Buchanan downplayed the psychological impact of India's previous series wins in Australia, as key players from those victories, such as Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, are unlikely to feature in the upcoming tour."The previous series that India won were important, but those games have passed, and the current players are at a stage of their careers where they all want to perform," he said. "Both sides have aging players, with Rohit Sharma at 37, Kohli at 35, and Ravichandran Ashwin at 37. Australia also has only a few players under 30."Buchanan emphasized the importance of India batting for extended periods to tire out Australia's bowling attack. He cited Pujara's marathon innings in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 series as examples of how India can succeed in Australia."Australia plays well at home because they understand their conditions," Buchanan said. "But if India can bat for long periods, it will test the physical capacities of the Australian bowling attack and potentially give them a key to winning the series."Buchanan also acknowledged the challenges that traveling teams face in preparing for tours due to the lack of extended match practice. He believes that India's two-day pink-ball match against the Prime Minister's XI will be insufficient preparation for the day-night Test in Adelaide."Australia is favorite going into the series," Buchanan said. "It's very difficult to tour other countries these days, and traveling teams no longer have that preparation in a country to adjust to the conditions."

The Ashes: A Century-Old Rivalry Between England and AustraliaThe Ashes, a fiercely contested cricket series between England and Australia, has captivated fans worldwide for over a century. The rivalry, marked by intense competition and iconic moments, has become a cultural phenomenon.The origin of the term "Ashes" dates back to 1882, when England suffered its first home defeat against Australia at The Oval in London. In a mock obituary published in Sporting Times, journalist Reginald Shirley Brooks declared the death of English cricket and suggested that its "ashes" be taken to Australia.A few weeks later, England embarked on a tour of Australia. After a friendly match near Melbourne on Christmas Eve 1882, English captain Ivo Bligh received a small terracotta urn as a symbol of the "Ashes" he had vowed to reclaim.The Ashes series has witnessed numerous memorable moments. In the 1932/33 "Bodyline" series, England employed a controversial tactic of bowling fast deliveries at Australian batters' bodies. The aggressive approach, led by Harold Larwood, sparked outrage and led to a bitter rivalry.In 1981, Ian Botham's all-round brilliance inspired England to victory, earning the series the moniker "Botham's Ashes." Shane Warne's "ball of the century" in 1993 remains one of the most iconic moments in Ashes history.Arguably the greatest Ashes series was played in 2005. England, led by Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, defeated a star-studded Australian team. The series was marked by Steve Harmison's bouncer that left Ricky Ponting bloodied.The last Ashes series, held in England in 2023, ended in a 2-2 draw. Australia has held the Ashes since 2018, but England will aim to reclaim the urn when they tour Australia in 2025-26.The Ashes series transcends cricket. It is a cultural event that captures the attention of fans worldwide. The fierce competition, historic significance, and iconic moments have made it one of the most captivating rivalries in sports.

The prospect of an India vs Pakistan World Test Championship (WTC) final remains a tantalizing possibility, but recent results have made it an increasingly unlikely scenario. Pakistan's historic defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi has further diminished their already slim chances of reaching the WTC final.Pakistan currently languishes in eighth position on the WTC points table, with just two wins in six matches and a winning percentage of 30.56. This significant decline in form, especially in red-ball cricket, has left them with a steep mountain to climb if they hope to reach the WTC final.Pakistan still have eight Tests remaining in the current WTC cycle. To have a strong chance of making the final, they would need to win all of these matches. This task will be challenging, as they face tough opponents, including England, West Indies, and South Africa, with the series against the Proteas being played away from home.Meanwhile, India and Australia remain the favorites to face each other again in the WTC final next year. Both teams are at the top of the standings with a considerable lead. India lead with six wins in nine matches and a winning percentage of 68.52, while defending champions Australia are just behind with eight wins in 12 matches and a percentage of 62.50. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year will be crucial for both teams as they aim to secure their places in the final.Bangladesh's recent victory over Pakistan has moved them up to sixth place in the points table, with two wins in five matches and a winning percentage of 40.00. This victory marks a significant improvement for Bangladesh in Test cricket.In another notable match, England defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first Test, climbing from seventh to fourth in the WTC points table. This result caused Sri Lanka to slip to the fifth position.While an India vs Pakistan final remains a tantalizing prospect, Pakistan's path to the WTC final now appears increasingly improbable given their current position and recent performances.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India promises to be a thrilling contest, with runs expected to be at a premium. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden believes that the team that can score the most runs will have a significant advantage."I sense that it is going to be runs that are going to be the point of difference," Hayden said. "So the best need to stand up in this series; runs are going to be at a premium."Hayden also noted that the fact that Australia has not defeated India in a Test series on home soil in almost 10 years will be playing on the minds of the Australian players."We have not had it in our hands for two series in Australia, which is kind of the coveted grounds," Hayden said. "So there is always, and this is why I think it is such a special series, there is always this fantastic opportunity for the number one and the number two side on the World Test Championship table to go head-to-head, especially abroad, in each other's camps, and see who really has those kind of final rights to claim not only the possibility of playing the Test Championship but also who is the very best of the best, which you judge on how you tour, not so much how you play at home."The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence with the first Test at Perth Stadium from November 22 to November 26. The second Test will be a day-night match at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18. The fourth Test will be the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The fifth and final Test will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

Australia's home advantage in Test cricket has diminished in recent years, according to former batter Matthew Hayden. Hayden believes that the nature of pitches and the rise of drop-in wickets have leveled the playing field, making runs a premium in upcoming series.Hayden highlighted that three of the five venues for the upcoming Test series against India feature drop-in wickets, including the day-night Test in Adelaide. He noted that twilight conditions can make batting particularly challenging, reducing Australia's traditional dominance.Australia has lost its last two home series against India and has seen its fortress in Brisbane breached twice in three years. Hayden believes that the upcoming series will be an "unbelievable and historic" contest between the top two Test teams in the world.Hayden declined to pick a favorite for the series, emphasizing the strength of both lineups. He stressed that runs will be crucial, with experienced batters Virat Kohli and Steven Smith likely to play key roles.Hayden also discussed the challenges that India's batters will face in Australian conditions, including the steeper bounce and larger grounds. He praised the strokeplay of young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal but cautioned that he will be tested by Australia's world-class speedsters.

Australia's premier fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, has declared the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India to be on par with the prestigious Ashes series. The five-match Test series, the first since 1991-92, is set to commence in November.Starc, who has been a key figure in Australia's recent Test successes, believes the Border-Gavaskar Trophy holds immense significance. "Being five matches now, it's probably right on par with an Ashes series," he told Wide World of Sports.Australia has not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2014-15, with India claiming four consecutive series victories, including their historic triumphs in Australia during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours. Starc is determined to reverse this trend and has set his sights on a complete whitewash."We always want to win every game at home, and we know India is a very strong team," he said. "As we're placed at the minute, we're the top two teams on the Test ladder... so a very exciting series coming up for the fans and certainly the players. Hopefully, when we're sitting there on the 8th of January, we have that trophy back on our shores."With just 11 more caps, Starc will join an elite group of cricketers who have played 100 Test matches. The 34-year-old has no plans to retire from the longest format of the game and has made a conscious decision to reduce his involvement in limited-overs cricket to maintain his longevity and effectiveness in the red-ball arena."Every time I get to wear the baggy green cap, it feels very special," he said. "Hopefully, it's five times through the summer with five wins, and we can sing that song five times, then we move on from there."Starc is scheduled to participate in a series of limited-overs matches in England in the coming month. Upon the conclusion of the white-ball fixtures, he plans to return home and represent New South Wales in domestic competitions."The Tests will always be taking precedence for me," he said. "We've got seven Tests on the bounce with five against India and then two in Sri Lanka, so they sit top of the tree with what's coming up."Starc will lead Australia's attack, which will also feature Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. "Pat is resting for this UK tour... we love playing all three formats, but that could look different at different times over 12 months.""There is certainly no end date on (our bowling careers)," he added. "That will be an ongoing one. We'll see where (our) bodies are and the want to keep going, but at this stage, it's all guns blazing for five Tests against India."

Australia's Test batter Steven Smith has expressed the team's determination to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India, a title they have not held since 2014-15. The current generation of Australian stars, including captain Pat Cummins, have yet to secure a Test series victory over India, despite winning the World Test Championship (WTC) title last year.Australia's last Border-Gavaskar triumph came in the 2014-15 series, when they defeated India 2-0. Since then, they have suffered consecutive defeats on home soil, including a remarkable comeback by India in the 2020-21 series."We are probably the two best teams at the moment in Test cricket," Smith said. "We played the World Test Championship final last year and beat them there. They've been great out here the last couple of times they've played really good cricket. Hopefully, we can turn the tables. It's been ten years since we last won the Border Gavaskar trophy, so we need to do that this year."Smith's sentiments were echoed by his teammate Nathan Lyon, who emphasized the team's hunger to reverse their fortunes against India. "It's been ten years of unfinished business," Lyon said. "I know we're extremely hungry to turn things around, especially here at home."The five-match Test series between Australia and India will commence in November 2022 at the Perth Stadium. The series will be a crucial test for both teams, as they seek to establish their dominance in Test cricket.

Australian cricket legend Steve Smith has dismissed any thoughts of retirement, despite being overlooked for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup. The 35-year-old recently signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL), indicating his continued passion for the game.Smith's decision to join the Sixers suggests he intends to play at least four BBL matches this summer, fitting them in between the final Test against India and the tour of Sri Lanka. Despite his omission from the T20 World Cup squad, Smith remains committed to competing in all formats of cricket."I don't have any plans [to retire], I'm just enjoying playing at the moment," Smith told reporters. "I'm pretty relaxed and I'm looking forward to this summer."Smith's recent performances as an opener for Australia have been mixed. In the home summer against the West Indies and New Zealand, he averaged just 28.25 in eight innings. However, his career average of 56.97 suggests he is still a formidable batsman.The veteran batsman admitted that his teammates prefer him at number four, where he has spent most of his Test career. However, he emphasized that he is willing to bat anywhere for the team."I'm happy wherever and I'll bat anywhere for the team," Smith said. "For me it's just a position."Smith's future role in the Australian Test team remains uncertain. He is expected to play in the upcoming five-Test series against India, but it is unclear whether he will open the batting or return to his preferred position at number four.