Cricket

Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is in contention to make his Test debut as a specialist batter in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, according to chief selector George Bailey.Inglis has been in red-hot form in domestic cricket, scoring four centuries in his last seven Sheffield Shield matches. While he is Australia's incumbent keeper in ODIs and T20Is, his impressive batting performances have put him in the mix for a Test call-up."There's no doubt that the form is really fantastic at the moment... the ability to jump back into domestic cricket and dominate has been fantastic," Bailey said. "I think in different series at different times of the year, he would firmly come into the mix purely as a batter the way he's been going."However, with Australian Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey also in rich form, Inglis is unlikely to be considered for the wicketkeeping role. Instead, he is being eyed as a specialist middle-order batter."If the right opportunity opened up throughout the summer, in the spots where we think he's most capable of performing, I think he'd be firmly in that conversation as well," Bailey added.Inglis's emergence as a specialist batter comes at a time when Australia is looking to fill the vacant opening slot following David Warner's retirement. However, Bailey ruled out Inglis for the opener's role, saying that he is not being considered for that position in the short term."I've spoken to Josh on this. Not in the short term, I don't think that he's someone that we would be looking to place at the top of the order," Bailey said.Inglis is also a contender to lead Australia's T20I side in the upcoming three-match series against Pakistan. However, all-format players, including regular T20 skipper Mitchell Marsh, are sitting out of the Pakistan series to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Cricket Victoria and the St Kilda Cricket Club have paid tribute to the legendary Shane Warne by renaming a heritage-listed grandstand at the Junction Oval in Melbourne after him. The stand, which has stood since 1925, was previously named after Australian rules footballer Kevin Murray, who has supported the change. Murray's name now adorns a stand at Brunswick Street Oval in Fitzroy.The process of renaming the stand began well before Warne's untimely passing in March 2022. The MCG had already named its southern stand after Warne at his state funeral, but the process to rename the heritage-listed stand on the western side of Junction Oval took longer.Warne's father, Keith, and his daughters, Summer and Brooke, attended the unveiling ceremony, which took place before Victoria took on New South Wales in a One-Day Cup match at the Junction Oval. Australia Test captain Pat Cummins and a host of Australian players, including Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, also attended the ceremony.Cricket Victoria has also unveiled a Shane Warne exhibition in the foyer of their administration and high performance center at the northern end of the ground. The exhibition features memorabilia from Warne's illustrious career, much of it supplied by his father, and is free to visit.Keith Warne expressed his gratitude at the unveiling, saying, "Today marks a very special and proud day for the Warne family. To have a stand named after Shane here at the Junction Oval is a wonderful tribute to him. He would be honored to be chosen for such an accolade."Warne made his first-class debut for Victoria against Western Australia at the Junction Oval in February 1991. He enjoyed some of his most memorable early cricketing years playing for his beloved St Kilda, especially when matches were played at the Junction Oval."As proud as Shane would be to know a stand at the Junction Oval bears his name, he would also be thrilled to know that he will now be forever linked with St Kilda Cricket Club and the Junction Oval," Keith Warne added. "On behalf of our family, I'd like to thank Cricket Victoria and St Kilda Cricket Club for their support in honoring Shane with such a wonderful tribute, further enhancing his incredible legacy."

Nathan Lyon, Australia's premier off-spinner, has taken on the mantle of preserving the legacy of spin bowling following the tragic loss of Shane Warne. With the potential to join Warne as one of Australia's top two wicket-takers this season, Lyon feels a responsibility to keep the art of spin alive.Lyon's longevity has been instrumental in Australia's recent success, having played 100 consecutive Tests before a calf injury sidelined him in the Ashes last year. Now 36, Lyon has no plans to retire anytime soon, aiming to play until his 40th birthday and potentially the 2027 Ashes in England.While Lyon acknowledges that he has not yet considered his legacy or potential successors, he recognizes the importance of promoting spin bowling in the wake of Warne's passing. Warne's revival of the art in the 1990s inspired a generation of bowlers, and Lyon feels a duty to continue that legacy."I do see the responsibility of flying the flag for the spinners around the country," Lyon said. "Especially with the passing of Warnie, I feel like there is a big role for me to ensure that spin stays cool."Lyon's passion for spin bowling is evident in his mentorship of young spinners like Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Tanveer Sangha. He believes that Sangha, in particular, has the potential to become a superstar of the game."What he can offer for New South Wales and Australia going forward is going to be nothing but amazing," Lyon said of Sangha. "He's going to be a superstar of the game."Lyon's commitment to spin bowling extends beyond his own performances. He is determined to inspire future generations of spinners and ensure that the art remains a vital part of the game.

Tayla Vlaeminck, the unlucky Australian and Melbourne Renegades fast bowler, has been ruled out of the WBBL for the third consecutive season due to a shoulder dislocation suffered during the T20 World Cup.Vlaeminck, 25, dislocated her bowling shoulder just moments into Australia's World Cup match against Pakistan, her first at a major tournament since 2018. She was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup, and the Renegades confirmed on Friday that she would play no part in the WBBL, which starts next Sunday.Vlaeminck's WBBL absence extends back to November 2021, when she played for the Hobart Hurricanes. She signed with the Renegades ahead of the 2022-23 season but has not played a single game due to a string of injuries.Vlaeminck has dislocated her left shoulder twice. The first occurred while playing for Victoria in the 2017-18 season. During the Australia A tour of England, which coincided with last year's Women's Ashes, she dislocated the same shoulder again while bowling, leading to corrective surgery.Before her Australian debut in 2018, Vlaeminck had undergone two ACL reconstructions. Stress fractures in her foot also forced her to miss the 2020 home T20 World Cup, the 2022 ODI World Cup, the Commonwealth Games later that year, and the 2023 T20 World Cup. Her foot injuries led her to train with professional dancers at the Australian Ballet as part of her rehabilitation.Vlaeminck's latest injury is a significant blow to the Renegades, who were hoping to challenge for the WBBL title this season. The team will now have to rely on other bowlers to fill the void left by Vlaeminck's absence.

Travis Head, Australia's versatile all-format player, has signed a one-year deal to return to the Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. However, his hectic international schedule will limit his availability to a maximum of three games.Head, 30, captained the Strikers to the BBL title in 2017-18 but has not played for the club since the 2022-23 season. His return is a significant boost for the Strikers, who are looking to improve on their disappointing performance last season.However, Head's availability will be limited due to his commitments to the Australian Test team. The upcoming five-match Test series against India, followed by a Test tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy, means he will only be available for three matches on January 11, 15, and 18.The BBL had hoped that Australia's Test stars would be available to give the competition a boost at the back end of this summer's tournament. However, there are concerns over player workload coming out of a gruelling Test series against India and with so little time to prepare for an overseas Test tour in spinning conditions in Sri Lanka.Head's workload has become a key consideration for Australia's selectors and coaching staff since he became an all-format player in the last 12 months. There were concerns over his decision to play in the recent Major League Cricket tournament in July, which came on the back of a busy period of playing that included the ODI World Cup, five home Tests, a T20I and Test tour of New Zealand, the IPL, and the T20 World Cup.Head is being rested from the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, partly due to the upcoming birth of his second child. But his decision to add some BBL cricket in January means his next decent break will likely have to wait until after the Champions Trophy in February and March.New Strikers coach Tim Paine is aware of Head's workload but was keen to have him play some BBL matches. "We understand Trav has a hectic international schedule," Paine said. "But we also know how much he loves getting back in the blue whenever the chance arises and we look forward to our fans being treated to more of his magic this summer."

Somerset County Cricket Club has secured the return of Australian fast bowler Riley Meredith for the 2025 season. The 28-year-old will bolster Somerset's bowling attack in the Vitality Blast, with the potential to also feature in the County Championship and One-Day Cup.Meredith made a significant impact during his first stint with Somerset in 2023. His 14 wickets in the Vitality Blast played a crucial role in the team's run to Finals Day, although he missed the knockout stages due to international commitments with Australia. He also claimed six wickets in three One-Day Cup appearances."I had a fantastic time at Somerset this year and I'm thrilled to be coming back next summer," said Meredith. "We had some great success, and I'm eager to contribute to even more victories in 2025."Somerset's director of cricket, Andy Hurry, praised Meredith's performances and character. "Riley's on-field contributions were exceptional, and he integrated seamlessly into our team," said Hurry. "His world-class pace and aggression will be invaluable to our squad once again."Meredith's return is a major boost for Somerset, who are aiming to challenge for silverware in all three domestic competitions. The Australian quick will provide a potent threat with the new ball, complementing the existing pace attack of Josh Davey, Jack Brooks, and Lewis Gregory.Somerset's 2025 campaign will begin with the Vitality Blast in May. The County Championship and One-Day Cup will follow, with the exact schedule yet to be confirmed. Meredith's availability for these competitions will depend on the structure of the season and his international commitments.

Australia's Test and ODI captain, Pat Cummins, has expressed his empathy for teammate Cameron Green, who is currently sidelined with back stress fractures. Green has opted for surgery to stabilize his condition, unlike Cummins, who chose not to undergo surgery for a similar issue.Cummins acknowledged the challenges faced by the 25-year-old all-rounder, who aspires to excel in both batting and bowling. "Really sympathetic," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald. "We want him bowling, Cam wants to be bowling, and he has a long career ahead of him. So it's about trying to place Cam the cricketer in the best position he can be to have the career that he's hoping for. He's young, so I'm sure he'll be right in the long run."Cummins highlighted the inherent risks of fast bowling, acknowledging the injuries that often accompany the pursuit of speed. "Bowling and trying to bowl fast is unfortunately fraught with injuries. In some ways, the hardest thing is missing cricket and seeing games go by that you could have been part of, but also it can be a pretty lonely way back," Cummins noted.Reflecting on the rehabilitation process, Cummins said, "You don't just set the clock and suddenly, you're back. There is a bit of work to get back, rehabbing and building up as well. It's always a challenge."Understanding Green's predicament, Cummins added, "It looks like Greeny is going to have that situation, which is not uncommon for him unfortunately, so he knows what needs to be done, but that doesn't make it any easier."Cummins' words underscore the support within the Australian team for Green as he navigates this challenging period in his career, aiming to return stronger and continue contributing as a key player for the team.

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has emphasized that his primary focus remains on representing his country in the longest format of the game. While acknowledging his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Cummins has yet to make a decision regarding his involvement in the upcoming season.Cummins, who was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a record-breaking Rs 20.50 crore in the IPL 2023 auction, led the team to the final. With the mega auction for the IPL 2025 season approaching, teams will be allowed to retain a maximum of six players, including a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.Cummins is currently focused on the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. He is aware of the new IPL regulations that prohibit foreign players from registering in the following year's auction if they withdraw after the auction."I'll work out in the next little bit what this season looks like. There's a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don't know whether that would have affected me in the past, I've never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald.Cummins reiterated that Test cricket remains his top priority, followed by World Cups. He acknowledged the increasing demands of the cricket calendar and the need to prioritize his commitments."Test cricket is the absolute No.1 priority, world cups are right up there, and then I think you use them as your tent poles and work out what else makes sense around that. The calendar is never going to get any less busy, and I'm not going to get any younger, so these things have always been considerations, and moving forward will become even more so. But needless to say, playing cricket for Australia, particularly Test matches, is my number one job and priority," he added.

Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the introduction of three day-night Sheffield Shield matches this season to provide domestic players with valuable experience in pink-ball conditions. This move aligns with the increasing prevalence of day-night Tests in the Australian summer.The matches will be strategically held at Adelaide Oval, the Gabba, and Bellerive Oval, which have been the preferred venues for pink-ball Tests in recent years. However, the timing of the matches means that none of Australia's current Test team will participate in any of them.The first day-night match will feature South Australia and Western Australia at Adelaide Oval on November 23, just two weeks before the pink-ball Test between Australia and India at the same venue. However, this match will not involve any current Australian Test players due to a clash with the first Test in Perth.Queensland and Victoria will face off at the Gabba on November 24, a match that could potentially feature Michael Neser and Scott Boland, who have both played pink-ball Test cricket and could be in contention for Australia's Test team this summer.The final day-night match will be played between Tasmania and New South Wales at Bellerive Oval in Hobart starting on March 15. While Australia's ODI players are unlikely to be available due to their return from the Champions Trophy, Nathan Lyon could potentially participate depending on his recovery from the Test series against India and Sri Lanka.CA's head of national teams, Ben Oliver, emphasized the importance of providing domestic players with opportunities to enhance their skills and prepare them for the challenges of international cricket. He stated that playing first-class matches at Test venues and exposing players to day-night conditions are crucial for their development.CA previously scheduled day-night Shield rounds consistently between 2013-14 and 2017-18. However, pink-ball games have since been reserved for Australia A, Prime Minister's XI, or CA XI matches against touring teams. The reintroduction of day-night Sheffield Shield matches is seen as a positive step in preparing the next generation of Australian cricketers for the demands of international cricket.