Cricket

As the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, Australian cricketers have revealed their thoughts on who they find the most annoying or amusing from Team India.Steve Smith, the prolific Australian batter, singled out Ravindra Jadeja as the player who annoys him the most on the field. "He's a very good player," Smith explained. "He always finds a way to get in the battle, whether it's scoring runs, taking wickets, or making a great catch. It can be a bit annoying at times, but he's a very good player."Josh Hazlewood, Australia's pace bowler, echoed Smith's sentiments, saying, "Probably Jadeja again."Jadeja's impressive record against Australia supports these assessments. In 17 Tests, he has scored 570 runs at an average of 28.50 and taken 89 wickets.Marnus Labuschagne, another Australian batter, found someone else amusing from the Indian side. "The one I always find the most amusing is Rishabh Pant," Labuschagne said. "He's always funny, a great laugh, and plays the game in the right spirit."Pant has a fine record in Australia, scoring 624 runs in seven matches at an average of over 62.Travis Head pointed to India's high-energy batsman Virat Kohli, adding, "I think a lot of people would say Virat, just because of how good he is. He's always getting runs, and his high energy is always there. He's always into you."Kohli's Test record in Australia is prolific, scoring 1,352 runs at an average of 54.08 in 13 Tests.Nathan Lyon, Australia's spinner, humorously commented, "I get triggered by all Indian players."The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will begin on November 22, with the first Test at Perth. The series promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams fielding talented and experienced players.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with individual battles adding spice to the contest. India, currently atop the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, will face Australia, ranked second, in a five-Test series that could determine their qualification for the WTC final at Lord's next year.Australian captain Pat Cummins anticipates a captivating duel with Indian opener Shubman Gill, while Mitchell Starc has singled out Virat Kohli as his preferred Indian opponent. Starc, who was punished by Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup, relishes the challenge of facing Kohli, stating, "I've managed to get him out once or twice and he has no doubt scored a fair few runs against me. So it's always a good contest and one we both enjoy."On the Indian side, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has emerged as a formidable threat, drawing praise from Travis Head and Steven Smith. Head described Ashwin as "all over you all the time," while Smith acknowledged his exceptional skill and longevity.Marnus Labuschagne, Australia's batting mainstay, is eager to face Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, with whom he shares a history from their academy days. Labuschagne expressed admiration for Siraj's passion and love for the game.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence with the first Test in Perth on November 22, setting the stage for a series of intense individual battles that will undoubtedly shape the outcome of the contest.

India's upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, commencing on November 22, has sparked anticipation and predictions from cricket experts. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team aims to continue its winning streak in Australia, having triumphed in the last two Border-Gavaskar Trophy series on Australian soil.Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, in a recent podcast appearance, expressed optimism about India's chances, predicting a 3-2 series victory. He highlighted the team's remarkable comeback in the previous Test tour, where they overcame a humiliating 36-run collapse in the second innings to secure a 2-1 series win.Yuvraj emphasized the importance of preparation and unity within the Indian team. He praised their performance in the last two tours, noting that beating Australia in Australia is akin to winning a World Cup.Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan and Australian legend Adam Gilchrist predicted a 3-1 and 3-2 series victory for Australia, respectively. Vaughan cited the home advantage and Australia's strong team, while Gilchrist acknowledged India's recent success in Australia.Yuvraj's prediction sparked a humorous exchange with Vaughan, who suggested claiming a "moral victory" if India falls short. Yuvraj responded with a confident "We will take it."Yuvraj also recalled India's historic comeback in the previous Test tour, highlighting the team's resilience and match-winning abilities. He believes that the current generation of Indian players has the potential to repeat that success if they prepare well and remain united.The upcoming Test series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top cricket teams. India will aim to extend its dominance in Australia, while the hosts will seek to regain their home ground advantage. The outcome of the series will have significant implications for both teams' rankings and will be closely watched by cricket fans worldwide.

Australia's success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy hinges on their ability to neutralize the formidable Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, according to all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. India has emerged victorious in their last two tours of Australia, becoming the only Asian nation to conquer the Aussies in a Test series on their home turf.Maxwell, who has not featured in Australia's Test team since 2017, believes that Ashwin and Jadeja have consistently played a pivotal role in India's triumphs. "Over a long period of time, those two have always been the ones we've faced consistently, and the battles we've had with them have often dictated the outcome of the game," Maxwell said.The Ashwin-Jadeja combination has amassed an astonishing 821 wickets in 330 innings, including 50 five-wicket hauls. Maxwell emphasized that Australia must nullify their impact to improve their chances of success. "If we play well against those two, we'll generally find ourselves in a better position compared to when they've had a field day and run through us," he said.Maxwell also lauded the development of Jasprit Bumrah, who has emerged as a world-class bowler across all formats. "To see him evolve from a young, untapped talent to what he is now—the probably best bowler across all three formats—is a pretty amazing story," Maxwell remarked.

The upcoming India vs Australia Test series is highly anticipated, with former England captain Michael Vaughan predicting a 3-1 victory for the hosts. The five-match series, scheduled to commence on November 22 in Australia, is considered the pinnacle of Test cricket.India has dominated the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in recent years, retaining it for the last four series, including two victories in Australia. However, Vaughan believes the Aussies have a strong chance of reclaiming the trophy this time around.Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist also predicts a 3-2 win for his home team, while former India batting star Yuvraj Singh foresees a 3-2 victory for India.The series will feature matches in Perth, Adelaide (pink-ball Test), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. India has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 10 times, while Australia has claimed it on 5 occasions. Australia's last Test series win against India came in 2014-15, while their last series victory in India was in 2004-05.The upcoming series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top Test teams. India will be looking to continue their dominance, while Australia will be eager to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia's success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy hinges on their ability to neutralize India's formidable spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, according to all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.India has won the last two Test series in Australia, becoming the only Asian nation to achieve this feat. Maxwell believes that Ashwin and Jadeja have played a pivotal role in India's dominance, often dictating the outcome of matches."Over a long period of time, having played against guys like Ashwin and Jadeja, those two seem to have always been the ones we've faced consistently, and the battles we've had with them have often dictated the outcome of the game," Maxwell said.Maxwell, who no longer plays Test cricket for Australia, emphasized the importance of nullifying the Indian spinners. The Ashwin-Jadeja combination has taken a staggering 821 wickets in 330 innings, including 50 five-wicket hauls."If we play well against those two (Ashwin, Jadeja), we'll generally find ourselves in a better position compared to when they've had a field day and run through us," Maxwell added.Maxwell also praised India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for his remarkable transformation into an all-format bowler. He hailed Bumrah as the best in the business at the moment."And probably, more recently, Jasprit Bumrah. I was there in his first year of the IPL in 2013 at Mumbai and pretty much faced him every day in the nets," Maxwell said. "To see him evolve from a young, untapped talent to what he is now—the probably best bowler across all three formats—is a pretty amazing story."

As the highly anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 approaches, Australian spin maestro Nathan Lyon has unveiled his tactical approach to combat the formidable attacking prowess of Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant. Lyon, renowned for his guile and accuracy, acknowledges the immense challenge posed by Pant's explosive batting style."Bowling against someone like Rishabh Pant is a daunting task," Lyon admitted. "He possesses exceptional skills and leaves very little margin for error. As a bowler, you need to be at your best to contain him."Lyon's strategy revolves around forcing Pant to defend more by keeping him within the crease. "My aim is to restrict his attacking options and make him play within his crease," Lyon explained. "This will hopefully create opportunities for dismissals."Pant's recent return to red-ball cricket has been nothing short of sensational. After a near-fatal car accident, he made a remarkable comeback, scoring a century just 634 days after his return. His impressive record against Australia, with 624 runs at an average of 62.40, further underscores his match-winning capabilities.In the 2018-19 and 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy series, Pant played a pivotal role in India's victories. His heroic 89* in the fourth innings at the Gabba during India's last tour down under remains etched in the annals of cricket history.Lyon recognizes the threat posed by Pant and is determined to devise a plan that will neutralize his attacking instincts. "I'm not afraid of being hit for sixes," Lyon asserted. "But my focus is on creating chances and making Pant defend more. If I can do that, I believe we can limit his impact."As the Border Gavaskar Trophy draws near, the battle between Lyon and Pant promises to be one of the most captivating subplots. Lyon's experience and tactical acumen will be pitted against Pant's explosive batting and match-winning ability. The outcome of this contest could have a significant bearing on the outcome of the series.

India's emphatic 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai has sparked discussions about Virat Kohli's recent form. Despite India's dominance, Kohli's scores of 6 and 17 in the two innings have raised concerns.However, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali believes Kohli will regain his form in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "Kohli will start performing against Australia," Ali said. "He likes the pacy wickets there. Big players often lose focus against weaker teams but excel against tougher opponents."Ali also expressed confidence in India's ability to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "India won't let Australia win this year either," he said.Meanwhile, Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal has hailed the importance of Ravichandran Ashwin in the Indian team. "Ashwin is equally important as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma," Iqbal said. "We only talk about them when they perform well, but their contribution is immense."Ashwin's batting prowess was on display in the first Test, where he scored a crucial 58 in the second innings. His all-round performance has earned him praise from experts and fans alike.As India prepares for the New Zealand series and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli's form and Ashwin's continued brilliance will be key factors in their success.

Steve Smith's 'Brain Fade' Moment: A Controversial Incident in the 2017 Border-Gavaskar TrophyThe 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia was a highly anticipated event, marked by intense rivalry and thrilling matches. However, one incident during the second Test in Bengaluru overshadowed the sporting spectacle and sparked a major controversy.Steve Smith, the Australian captain at the time, found himself at the center of a storm after he was caught seeking guidance from the dressing room while considering a review of his dismissal. During Australia's second innings, Smith was given out leg before wicket off a delivery from Umesh Yadav. After a brief discussion with his batting partner, Peter Handscomb, Smith was seen glancing towards the dressing room for advice on whether to review the decision using the DRS (Decision Review System).This act of seeking external guidance is strictly prohibited under the rules of cricket, as players on the field are not allowed to consult with anyone outside the playing area for reviews. Indian captain Virat Kohli immediately protested, and the on-field umpires intervened, denying Smith the opportunity to review the decision.The incident sparked a heated exchange between Kohli and Smith, with Kohli accusing the Australian of abusing the DRS. Smith later admitted that his actions were a "brain fade," a momentary lapse in judgment. However, the incident cast a shadow over the match and added to the already tense atmosphere between the two teams.The controversy surrounding Smith's actions extended beyond the match itself. Kohli hinted that it might have been a recurring tactic by the Australians, although no further proof was provided. The incident raised questions about the ethics of using technology in cricket and the importance of upholding the spirit of the game.Despite the controversy, Smith remained a key figure in the series, finishing as the highest run-getter on either side with 499 runs, including three centuries. However, the 'brain fade' moment remains a defining moment in his career and a reminder of the importance of adhering to the rules and respecting the integrity of the sport.