Cricket

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has emphasized that representing his country in Test cricket remains his top priority, while acknowledging the need to balance his commitments with the Indian Premier League (IPL).Cummins, who led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL 2024 final, is aware of the new IPL rules that could impact his future participation in the tournament. Under the revised regulations, overseas players who do not register for the player auction in a particular season become ineligible to participate in the following year's auction. Additionally, players who make themselves unavailable after being picked at the auction face a two-season ban."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.Despite the potential implications, Cummins remains steadfast in his commitment to Test cricket. "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," he said.Cummins acknowledged the demanding nature of the international cricket calendar and the need to prioritize his commitments. "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.Looking ahead to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, Cummins expects a fiercely contested series. "The couple of home series I've played against India there's always an element of attrition to them. The last series came down to the last session at the Gabba on the last day of the last Test match," he said."That's a good thing to keep in mind; it is a long series, and it might be tightly held until the last game, so you've got to manage your resources throughout," the Australia captain added.

Cameron Green's injury has cast a shadow over Australia's preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. The all-rounder's absence could pave the way for Cameron Bancroft's Test recall, according to former skipper Mark Taylor.Green has been ruled out of the five-match series due to a stress fracture in his lower back. The 25-year-old has a history of back injuries, having suffered four stress fractures in the past. However, he had been clear of any issues since 2019.Green's absence will force Australia to reshuffle their batting order. Taylor believes that Steve Smith will move back to his preferred number four spot, leaving the opening position vacant."I'd love to see a right-handed opening batsman get the opportunity," Taylor said. "And to me at the moment ... I would have Bancroft penciled in alongside (Usman) Khawaja."Bancroft has been in impressive form in the Sheffield Shield, topping the run-scoring charts for the past two years. He has also served a nine-month ban for his role in the 2018 ball-tampering incident.Taylor also suggested that young opener Sam Konstas could be included in the Test squad. Konstas has scored back-to-back centuries against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will begin on November 22 in Perth. Australia will be looking to retain the trophy after winning the previous edition in 2020-21.

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has begun preparations for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, starting October 18. Rohit, who recently led India to a 2-0 Test series sweep over Bangladesh, was seen hitting the nets on Friday.In a hilarious interaction, Rohit responded to a question about whether he would start his practice session with a six. "Pagal hogaya hai kya? (Are you mad or what?)" Rohit quipped, leaving fans in splits.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the Indian squad for the New Zealand series. However, reports suggest that Rohit may miss one of the first two Tests in Australia due to personal reasons.The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will commence on November 22 with the first Test at Perth. The second Test will be a day-night affair 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 traditional Boxing Day Test will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The series will conclude with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.Rohit's participation in the Australia series remains uncertain, with the BCCI yet to issue an official statement on his status.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Past Their Prime for Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Says Sanjay ManjrekarFormer Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concerns about the form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia. Manjrekar believes that both players are past their prime in Test cricket and that India will need other players to step up in their absence."Virat and Rohit, both are not in their prime, they are not at the peak of their powers to be fair," Manjrekar said on SportifyWithPRG. "Others like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubhman Gill have to rise to the occasion."Kohli and Sharma have both struggled for form in recent Test matches. Kohli managed just 99 runs in four innings in the recent two-match series against Bangladesh, while Sharma scored only 42 runs in two innings.Manjrekar also praised India's bowling attack, but expressed concerns about Australia's current form."India is sorted... As for the Australians, the aura and ability they had in the past, where every game they played, they were like champions, is not there anymore," Manjrekar said.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin on November 22 in Perth. India has won the last four series against Australia, including two victories in Australia.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins anticipates a grueling battle against India in the upcoming five-match series, as the hosts seek redemption after consecutive home series defeats. The series, commencing on November 22 in Perth, will be a test of endurance, according to Cummins."The previous home series against India have always been characterized by attrition," Cummins remarked. "The last series came down to the final session at the Gabba on the final day of the final Test."Cummins, who missed Australia's recent white-ball tour of England and Scotland, will enter the series well-rested. However, the team will be without fast bowler Cameron Green due to back surgery. Cummins expressed confidence in Green's return, emphasizing the importance of managing his workload for a long-term career."We want him bowling, Cam wants to be bowling, and he has a long career ahead of him," Cummins said. "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."Cummins' own workload management has extended his captaincy tenure beyond his initial expectations. "Maybe I can go a little bit longer than I first thought," he said. "I feel like I can manage a lot more than what I did back then, just by getting better at it and having some wonderful people around that help as well."The upcoming series holds immense significance for Australia, as they have not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in almost a decade. Cummins and his team will be determined to break the losing streak and reclaim the coveted trophy.

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate emphasizes the importance of mental resilience and a strong core of players as India prepares for a crucial two-year period. With major events like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, ICC Champions Trophy, and potentially the World Test Championship Final on the horizon, Doeschate aims to build a team that can withstand the pressure.Doeschate highlights the significance of a diverse pool of players who can fill multiple roles. He cites examples like Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Sanju Samson, who have demonstrated versatility in their batting positions. This flexibility allows India to adapt to different playing conditions and maintain a balanced team.However, Doeschate stresses that maintaining the right mindset is paramount. He encourages players to push their limits, take risks, and believe in their abilities. He emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space where players feel comfortable experimenting and expanding their game.Doeschate acknowledges Samson's recent struggles but expresses confidence in his potential. He hints that Samson will likely get another opportunity to showcase his skills in the third T20I. The coach also indicates that India will continue to explore the option of having frontline batsmen bowl a few overs to support the main bowlers.Despite focusing on long-term goals, Doeschate emphasizes the importance of winning each game. He believes that playing for one's country and putting oneself under pressure is crucial for the team's development. He also acknowledges the value of these less intense series in assessing fringe players and identifying their strengths and weaknesses.

Cameron Green, Australia's promising fast-bowling all-rounder, faces a potential setback ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Green has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back, which has sidelined him from Australia's ODI series against England.According to reports, Green met with Australian team officials to discuss his options, including surgery or rehabilitation. The surgery, which involves inserting screws and titanium wire to bind vertebrae together, would rule Green out for several months.Green's absence would be a significant blow to Australia's plans for the India series. The 23-year-old has been a key figure in the team's recent success, contributing with both bat and ball. In 28 Tests, he has an impressive batting average of 48.57 and has taken 35 wickets.If Green opts for surgery, Australia will need to find a replacement at number six in the batting order and adjust their bowling attack. Mitchell Marsh could be asked to shoulder more of the bowling workload, while Steve Smith may return to batting at number four.Other potential candidates for the opening batting spot alongside Usman Khawaja include Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw, Nic Maddinson, and Sam Konstas.Australia has three remaining Sheffield Shield matches and two 'A' team games against India 'A' before the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test begins on November 22 in Perth. The team will be hoping that Green can recover in time for the series, but his participation remains uncertain.

Former Indian cricketer and selector Jatin Paranjape has expressed confidence in Team India's ability to secure a hat-trick of Test series wins in Australia. Paranjape believes that under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India will continue their dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and defeat Australia for the third consecutive time on their home turf.The highly anticipated five-match Test series between India and Australia is set to kick off in November. India has previously won back-to-back Test series in Australia, first under Virat Kohli in 2018–19 and then under Ajinkya Rahane in 2020–21.Paranjape predicts a 3-2 or 4-1 victory for India, stating that the team will be "definitely" victorious if injuries do not occur. He also discussed the fitness of Mohammed Shami, suggesting that Akash Deep could replace him if he is unavailable.Regarding Sarfaraz Khan's exclusion from the Test XI against Bangladesh, Paranjape emphasized the intense competition for batting spots. He believes that Khan may be taken to Australia as a reserve player and that he should continue to perform well to earn his chance.For the third opener role, Paranjape considers Shubman Gill and KL Rahul as potential candidates. He also mentioned Prithvi Shaw as a dark horse, highlighting his talent but acknowledging the tough competition.Paranjape advised caution in managing Mayank Yadav's workload, suggesting that he should focus on first-class cricket for the next year or two before being considered for red-ball cricket. He emphasized the importance of bowling to improve and believes that Yadav's strength and conditioning should be prioritized.Despite Australia's recent lack of Test cricket, Paranjape expects both teams to be aggressive and competitive throughout the series. He believes that Pat Cummins' Australia will not be at a disadvantage and that the series will be "fascinating to watch."

Cameron Green's participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India is in jeopardy due to a persistent back injury. The Australian allrounder has been experiencing back soreness since the third ODI against England in the UK, and scans have revealed a potential stress fracture.Cricket Australia's medical and high-performance team is currently evaluating Green's condition and considering various recovery options, including surgery. If surgery is deemed necessary, it would rule Green out of the entire summer, including the four-Test series against India.However, if a non-surgical recovery plan is adopted, there is a possibility that Green could still play as a batter only later in the summer. The timeframe for his potential return is yet to be determined.Green's absence from the series would have a significant impact on Australia's batting order. It could pave the way for Steven Smith to move back to his preferred position at No. 4, opening up a spot for an opener to be selected from Shield cricket.Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Matt Renshaw are all in contention for the opening slot. Harris has made a strong start to the Shield season with a century for Victoria, while Bancroft and Renshaw have had less impressive performances in the first innings of their respective matches.The decision on Green's availability and the batting order for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is expected to be made in the coming days. If Green is ruled out, it would be a major blow to Australia's hopes of retaining the trophy against India.