Cricket

Australian wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis has etched his name in the record books with a blistering century against Scotland in the second T20I of the series. Inglis's swashbuckling 103 off just 49 balls not only propelled Australia to a convincing 70-run victory but also marked several significant milestones.Inglis's century was the quickest-ever by an Australian in T20I cricket, surpassing his own previous record of 47 balls. It was also the first-ever T20I hundred by a designated Australian wicket-keeper batter.The 29-year-old's whirlwind knock was a testament to his exceptional batting prowess. He sent the ball to all parts of the Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh, hitting 10 fours and 7 sixes. His innings was a masterclass in power-hitting and timing.Inglis's century was particularly impressive considering the lack of support from his teammates. Despite his heroics, Australia's total of 196 was largely due to his individual brilliance.The three-match T20I tour of Scotland is serving as preparation for Australia's upcoming series against England. The Aussies will face England in three T20Is and five ODIs, starting from September 11.Scotland, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 stage ahead of Australia and England, have been unable to provide much resistance in this series. After chasing down a target of 155 in less than 10 overs in the first T20I, Australia cruised to a comfortable victory in the second.Inglis's record-breaking century is a timely reminder of his immense talent and will give Australia a much-needed boost ahead of their crucial series against England.

Australian Cricketers Face Hilarious Lie Detector Test, Revealing Personal SecretsAustralian cricketers Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, and Josh Hazlewood recently participated in a hilarious lie detector test on the 'Fletch and Hindy' show on the Fox Network. The test, which has gone viral on social media, featured a series of funny and personal questions that left the players in stitches.One of the most memorable moments came when Khawaja was asked if he had ever watched porn through virtual reality (VR). Despite answering "no," he received an electric shock, indicating a lie. The incident sent the room into a fit of laughter.Another question that raised eyebrows was directed at Cummins, who was asked if he had ever watched adult materials in VR goggles and lied about it. The pace-bowling all-rounder admitted to doing so, much to the amusement of his teammates.The test also revealed some interesting tidbits about Glenn Maxwell, who missed Australia's Cricket World Cup match against England due to a freak golf cart accident. Khawaja, who witnessed the incident, confirmed that Maxwell had indeed fallen off the cart, but he received an electric shock when he denied that it was a cover-up.Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh disclosed that Maxwell had traveled to Turkey to get a new set of teeth.The lie detector test provided a glimpse into the personal lives of the Australian cricketers, showcasing their sense of humor and camaraderie. The videos have garnered widespread attention on social media, highlighting the lighter side of the sport.

Australian Cricketers Undergo Lie-Detector Test in Hilarious ShowIn a unique and entertaining twist, leading Australian cricketers recently participated in a lie-detector test during a show on the Fox League YouTube channel. The audience was treated to a lively session as the players, including Test captain Pat Cummins and white-ball skipper Mitchell Marsh, answered a series of amusing questions.One of the most memorable moments came when the players were asked, "Is Bazball bull-shit?" The term "Bazball" refers to the aggressive and attacking style of play adopted by the England cricket team under coach Brendon McCullum. The Australian players' responses to this question sparked laughter and debate among the audience.Besides Cummins and Marsh, other prominent Australian cricketers who participated in the show included Josh Hazelwood, Travis Head, and Usman Khawaja. The players' willingness to engage in such a lighthearted activity demonstrated their camaraderie and sense of humor.The Australian team is currently preparing for a white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, which will commence with three T20Is against Scotland. This will be followed by a series of three T20Is and five ODIs against England.After their UK tour, the Aussies will return home to host Pakistan for a series of three T20Is and ODIs each. The highlight of their upcoming schedule, however, will be the five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy against India, which begins on November 22.

Australian cricketers Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, and Josh Hazlewood faced a hilarious lie detector test on the 'Fletch and Hindy' show on the Fox Network. The test involved asking the players amusing questions, with a blue light indicating a truthful answer and a red light accompanied by an electric shock for incorrect responses.Travis Head's claim of not consuming more than 35 beers after Australia's 2023 ODI World Cup victory was met with a red light, revealing his deception. Labuschagne's attempt to clarify the correct pronunciation of his name also resulted in a shock.Khawaja's denial of a better team environment without David Warner was met with a red light, suggesting otherwise. The hosts then inquired about Glenn Maxwell's alleged golf cart accident, which caused him to miss Australia's Cricket World Cup match against England.Khawaja's assertion that he witnessed Maxwell's fall from the cart was met with a shock, indicating a lie. Mitchell Marsh revealed that Maxwell had traveled to Turkey for dental work, adding to the amusement.The lie detector test provided a lighthearted glimpse into the personal lives of the Australian cricketers, revealing their camaraderie and willingness to poke fun at themselves.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell's recovery from a devastating leg injury in 2022 continues to pose challenges, affecting his ability to play cricket without discomfort. Maxwell sustained a fractured fibula, chipped tibia, and torn ankle ligaments during a celebration, forcing him to miss the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of India.Despite making the ODI World Cup squad, Maxwell's leg injury remains a concern, especially in light of Australia's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. "It's still my leg. It's what is giving me the most grief since breaking it, so it's still a work in progress," Maxwell said.Maxwell's recovery requires extensive rehabilitation and gym work to strengthen his body and prevent setbacks. He has only played two first-class matches since 2019 and hasn't featured in a Test match since 2017.However, Maxwell has received assurances from selectors that an "outside the box" lineup will be considered for the Sri Lanka series. "They've been pretty open to selecting outside the box for players who do well in those conditions," he said.Maxwell acknowledges that Shield form may not be a significant factor in player selection for the Sri Lanka tour. "It's just completely different conditions, you've got to have a really solid game plan against spin and a really good idea of how you're going to tackle them in those conditions," he explained.Whether Maxwell's body will be ready for the Sri Lanka tour remains uncertain. "It would be great if I could get my body into a position where I can play over (in Sri Lanka). But as far as Shield cricket, I'm not sure how much they'll take that into consideration," he said.Maxwell's recovery journey highlights the challenges faced by athletes returning from serious injuries. His determination to overcome these obstacles and return to the highest level of cricket is a testament to his resilience and dedication to the sport.

Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batter, has expressed his desire to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) next year after leading Washington Freedom to their first Major League Cricket (MLC) title. At 35, Smith has not played in the IPL since 2021, having gone unsold in the last two auctions.Despite being overlooked for the T20 World Cup and the upcoming tours of Scotland and England, Smith remains optimistic about his chances of making a comeback in the IPL. "I'd certainly love another opportunity at IPL. I'll be throwing my name in the ring, and we'll see how we go," Smith said.Smith's standout performance in the MLC came in the final against the San Francisco Unicorns, where he scored an 88 off 52 balls against bowlers like Australian captain Pat Cummins and Pakistan's Haris Rauf. His effort earned him the player-of-the-match award in the final.Smith's return to form in the MLC has raised questions about his omission from the Australian T20I team. However, Smith understands the team's decision to focus on younger players. "In terms of international T20s, I don't know what's going on there," Smith said. "They've obviously got some people they want to bring in, and that's fine."Despite the setbacks, Smith remains focused on improving his game. "I'll just go about my business, keep trying to improve and get better," he said.Smith also expressed interest in representing Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket will make its debut. "That's still a while away as well, so we'll wait and see. Never say never," Smith said.

Steve Smith, Australia's premier batter, has expressed his willingness to adapt to the middle order if the national selectors deem it necessary. Despite mixed results as an opener, Smith remains flexible about his position for the upcoming summer.Smith's tenure at the opening position saw him making an unbeaten 91 in the day-night Test at the Gabba against West Indies. However, his overall performance totaled 171 runs, averaging 28.50 over eight innings. During the period, Smith faced challenges, especially against deliveries on the inside edge, with three dismissals coming as LBW.Despite the hurdles, Smith is amenable to shifting roles for the team. "I'm comfortable batting wherever," Smith told Fox Cricket. "We'll see what that looks like, I suppose, whether they want me to continue (opening the batting) or go back to three or four. We'll wait and see. I'm pretty easy batting anywhere. We'll just see what stacks up and what the brain trust wants."Smith mentioned that the rapid turnaround between innings was the only notable challenge he found while opening. "It's a little bit of a quicker turnaround when you only have ten minutes, running off the field and you have to get back out there quickly," Smith explained. "Outside of that, I don't think there's much change."Australian selector George Bailey recently hinted at keeping the team's top six unchanged for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India starting in November. Smith's flexibility with his batting position fits into the approach.Usman Khawaja, another opener for Australia, prefers to see Smith batting at No.4, appreciating his notable performance in the middle order. Smith has averaged 61.50 in 111 Test innings at No. 4, including 19 centuries. Khawaja believes the strategy would benefit the team. "When you put him up to open, I feel like you're kind of giving them a chance to get at him early."Smith acknowledges the adjustments needed when opening the batting but stays focused on contributing positively to the series ahead. "I like to stand up in the big series and do well and help the team. Hopefully, there's much of the same this summer," Smith said.Smith plans to participate in several Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales before the Test series against India. These matches will help him get accustomed to the swinging Kookaburra ball. Though his specific role with the Blues is yet to be discussed, Smith remains open to batting wherever required. "I'll bat wherever they want me to. I'm not that fussed," Smith affirmed. "They've got some good young kids there. I'm pretty easy, whatever spot they want me to bat."

Jhye Richardson, the Australian fast bowler, has returned to the run-up that brought him success in Test cricket, hoping to put his injury woes behind him. Richardson has been plagued by hamstring injuries since his Test debut in 2019, suffering four setbacks since June 2022.Despite his injury struggles, Richardson has been retained on the national contract list, and selectors see him as a potential leader of the Test attack in the future. With the current frontline quicks all over 30, Richardson's fitness is crucial for Australia's long-term plans.Richardson has made a successful return to competitive cricket in the Top End T20 series in Darwin, playing for the Perth Scorchers. He has reverted to his traditional run-up, which sees him sprinting in at speeds of close to 22.5kph from earlier in his run-up."I've played two games [in Darwin], the body has been good," Richardson said. "It's obviously a different intensity playing competitive cricket again."Richardson believes that his previous run-up, which involved reaching top speed closer to the crease, may have contributed to his hamstring injuries. He is now focused on building resilience and avoiding problem areas."I'm trying to avoid problem areas and build that resilience that I haven't had in the past couple of years," Richardson said. "I have put a lot of work into my hamstring, so everyone is comfortable with the fact I can go back to what has worked previously."Richardson's return to fitness is a significant boost for Australia, who are facing a transition in their Test team. With all three frontline quicks over 30, Richardson is the most credentialed man to one day lead the attack."I think [it is important to be fit then], but we are looking pretty far into the future there," he said. "Taking it one step at a time, getting the body right and making sure everything is right on my end, and not worrying about what is happening externally."

Australia's selectors are taking a cautious approach with promising pace bowlers Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson, prioritizing their long-term health and durability. Morris, who has faced recurring back stress fractures, is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is expected to return to action during the upcoming summer. Richardson, who has also been hampered by injuries, is fit and eager to prove his worth.National selector George Bailey emphasized the importance of setting up Morris and Richardson for success in the long run. "We wanted to set him up for success in the long term as opposed to pushing that too early then potentially risking what we think is something that could be really exciting across this summer and beyond," Bailey said about Morris.Richardson, who has not played for Australia since mid-2022, is also eager to regain his place in the national team. "He's fit and firing now, and again looking for match opportunities," Bailey said. "I think he'll get opportunities again across the summer."The durability of Australia's established pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins has limited opportunities for emerging bowlers. However, with Cummins set to miss the UK tour and Starc skipping the T20Is, Morris and Richardson could get valuable game time.Bailey acknowledged the need to manage the workloads of Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins, especially with the five-Test series against India looming later this year. "As far as the fast bowling group goes, think we've got a pretty exciting bunch there that we haven't had the opportunity to get a lot of games into across the formats predominantly because we've had a highly successful and robust senior group of fast bowlers," Bailey said.Other emerging quicks, such as Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, and Nathan Ellis, are also in contention for selection. Will Sutherland, who has also been plagued by back injuries, was not considered for the latest squads.