Cricket

Tours to Australia have consistently been a crucible for Indian cricketers, forging new heroes who rise to the challenge of world-class opposition, unforgiving pitches, and relentless scrutiny. Here are some of the most notable players who have emerged from the fire of Australian tours:Sachin Tendulkar & Javagal Srinath (1991-92):Despite India's 4-0 thrashing, this tour marked the arrival of two legends. Sachin Tendulkar, an 18-year-old prodigy, announced his presence with an unbeaten 148 in Sydney and a brave 114 in Perth. Javagal Srinath, with his pace and bounce, showed the promise that would make him India's pace spearhead.VVS Laxman (1999-2000):Amidst a disappointing series, VVS Laxman crafted one of his finest knocks. His scintillating 167 at the SCG showcased his elegance and dominance against a formidable Australian attack. It was a counter-attacking masterpiece that earned him respect from fans and foes alike.Irfan Pathan (2003-04):At just 19, Irfan Pathan made his debut in Adelaide, dismissing legends like Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist with his reverse swing and precision. Despite modest returns, he hinted at his immense potential.Virender Sehwag (2003-04):Known for his audacious strokeplay, Sehwag lit up the MCG with a swashbuckling 195. Though he missed a double ton, his knock left an indelible mark, cementing his reputation as a fearless opener.Ishant Sharma (2007-08):At 19, Ishant Sharma produced a memorable spell at the WACA, tormenting Ricky Ponting with pace, bounce, and accuracy. His fiery spell not only helped India win the Test but also changed his career trajectory.Cheteshwar Pujara (2018-19 and 2020-21):Pujara was the cornerstone of India's historic first series win in Australia. His marathon knocks, including three centuries, blunted Australia's attack and helped India achieve a landmark 2-1 victory. In the 2020-21 tour, he again played a key role with three half-centuries.Virat Kohli (2011-12 and 2013-14):In 2011-12, a young Virat Kohli stood tall amidst India's 4-0 whitewash, scoring his maiden Test hundred in Adelaide. By the 2013-14 series, he had evolved into a leader and batting maestro, leading India with intent and scoring 692 runs at 86.50.Rishabh Pant (2018-19 and 2020-21):Pant impressed on his first tour to Australia with 350 runs, including a brilliant 159* at the SCG. In 2020-21, he became a phenomenon. His heroic 97 in Sydney saved a Test, while his unbeaten 89 in Brisbane helped India pull off an incredible heist.Mohammed Siraj & Shubman Gill (2020-21):Siraj, shouldering the pace attack amid injuries, took 13 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in Brisbane. Shubman Gill, making his Test debut, scored 259 runs at 51.80. Their contributions were crucial in India's 2-1 triumph.These players have not only showcased their talent but also inspired future generations of Indian cricketers to conquer the challenges of Australian tours.

Umpire Tony DeNobrega Suffers Horrific Facial Injuries in Perth Cricket MatchA seasoned umpire in Australia, Tony DeNobrega, has endured a harrowing on-field experience that left him hospitalized with severe facial injuries. The incident occurred during a third-grade match at Charles Veryard Reserve in North Perth over the weekend.As DeNobrega officiated the game, a batter's powerful drive struck him flush in the face. The impact caused significant swelling around his lips, right cheek, and eye. Graphic images of the aftermath, shared on social media, revealed the extent of the injury.DeNobrega was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he remains under observation. The West Australian Suburban Turf Cricket Umpires Association (WASTCUA) provided an update on his condition, stating that he has not sustained any fractures but may require surgery."A straight drive out of the screws hit Tony flush in the side of the face," WASTCUA posted on Facebook. "Spending the night in hospital, Tony was fortunate enough not to have had any broken bones, however, the doctors are keeping him in under observation as surgery is not out of the question."The umpires association expressed their well wishes to DeNobrega, describing the incident as "terrible" and hoping for his speedy recovery.The incident highlights the inherent risks associated with umpiring in cricket, a sport where the ball can travel at high speeds. Umpires play a crucial role in ensuring fair play and maintaining the integrity of the game, but they also face the potential for serious injuries.DeNobrega's experience serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures and protective gear for umpires. Cricket authorities and associations must prioritize the well-being of umpires and implement measures to minimize the risks they face on the field.

India's recent loss to New Zealand at home has left a bitter taste in their mouths, and former captain and coach Ravi Shastri believes the team needs to start strong in the upcoming Test series against Australia to put that defeat behind them.Shastri pointed out that India was "caught unawares" by New Zealand, who ended India's unbeaten run at home that lasted over 12 years and 18 series. He believes that the team will be hurting after this defeat and will be eager to bounce back."The best way to bounce back from such a series is to start off another series in a good manner, so the first two Test matches become extremely crucial going ahead," Shastri said.He emphasized the importance of the coaching staff, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, in ensuring that the players are in a "good state of mind" going into the five-Test affair starting on November 22 at Optus Stadium in Perth."The most important thing will be to ensure that they start off well; they keep the players in a good state of mind. That will be the most important thing for the coach," he said.Shastri, who was India's head coach during their series wins Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21, urged India to draw confidence from those feats."It's playing on their mind, confidence-wise. You can't go to the negatives. Think about the positives," he said."Think about what you did in Australia last time around and take it ahead from there. Put what (has) happened behind you. These are different conditions and some of the tracks in Australia when you get in are probably the best to bat," Shastri said."I think it will be totally different, the conditions when they get out there," he added.

Jos Buttler, England's white-ball captain, has expressed uncertainty about the return of Ben Stokes and Joe Root to the team for the upcoming Champions Trophy. While Stokes has indicated a willingness to return if requested by new coach Brendon McCullum, Root's intentions remain unclear.Buttler acknowledged that the decision lies with McCullum, who will assume full-time responsibility for the white-ball side in January. England has a white-ball tour to India in January, which includes three ODIs, before the Champions Trophy begins in February.Buttler emphasized that the team has performed well in the absence of Stokes and Root, with young players stepping up. He also expressed hope that the pair still harbors white-ball aspirations, recognizing their exceptional talent.Root, England's all-time leading ODI run-scorer, has struggled in recent 50-over matches, averaging just 22.94 since July 2021. Stokes, on the other hand, has maintained a solid average of 43.38 in ODIs over the past five years.Buttler believes that the appointment of McCullum as overall head coach will foster greater consistency between the red-ball and white-ball teams. He praised the performance of Saqib Mahmood, who was named Player of the Series against West Indies with nine wickets in four matches.Buttler also reflected on his own return from injury, having missed four months with a calf problem. He opted not to keep wicket in the series against West Indies to gain experience captaining from the field. While he enjoyed the experience, he remains uncertain about whether he will permanently relinquish the gloves.

Australia's dominance in the shortest format continued as they completed a comprehensive 3-0 T20 series victory over Pakistan with a convincing seven-wicket win in Hobart. Marcus Stoinis' blistering unbeaten 61 off just 27 balls proved to be the catalyst for Australia's triumph.Pakistan, who had triumphed in the preceding ODI series 2-1, were outplayed in the T20 format. Their batting faltered, mustering a mere 117 in 19 overs, with Babar Azam's 41 being the highest individual score. Aaron Hardie emerged as the standout bowler for Australia, claiming 3-21.In response, Australia chased down the target with ease, reaching the victory mark in the 12th over. Skipper Josh Inglis expressed his delight at the series sweep, highlighting Stoinis' devastating performance. "When he's going like that, it's really hard to stop," Inglis said.Stoinis' innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring five sixes and five fours. He forged a crucial 55-run partnership with Inglis (27) to put Australia in control. The victory capped off a dominant series for the hosts, who had won the first two matches in Brisbane and Sydney by comfortable margins.Pakistan's batting woes were evident from the outset. They lost wickets regularly and failed to build any substantial partnerships. Shaheen Shah Afridi's solitary six was a rare bright spot in an otherwise disappointing display."There's lots of positives, the way some of the players batted and bowled, these youngsters will come good," said Salman Agha, Pakistan's skipper for the night.Australia's chase was a formality. Fraser-McGurk and Short got off to a flying start, but Short's dismissal for two opened the door for Stoinis to take center stage. He shared a match-winning partnership with Inglis, effectively ending the contest.Stoinis' half-century came off just 23 balls, underlining his status as one of the most destructive batsmen in the world. His innings featured a flurry of sixes and fours, leaving the Pakistani bowlers helpless.Australia's victory was a testament to their superior firepower and execution in the shortest format. Pakistan, despite their ODI success, were unable to match the hosts' intensity and skill in the T20 series.

Pakistan Pacer Jahandad Khan's Wardrobe Malfunction Steals the Show in T20IIn a hilarious turn of events during the third T20I between Australia and Pakistan, Pakistan pacer Jahandad Khan became the center of attention for an unexpected wardrobe malfunction. The incident occurred as Khan chased down a boundary, leaving everyone in stitches.As Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk attempted a shot into the covers off Shaheen Afridi, the ball squirted through third man off a thick outside edge. Khan sprinted to prevent the firmly struck shot from crossing the ropes, but his dacks betrayed him, slipping down at the most inopportune moment.The incident, captured on camera, has since gone viral, turning the boundary chase into an unforgettable highlight. It serves as a reminder that even in the high-stakes world of professional sports, the lighter moments often steal the show.Khan's wardrobe malfunction has become a talking point among cricket fans, with many praising his ability to laugh at himself and take the incident in stride. The incident has also sparked a discussion about the importance of proper attire in sports, particularly for athletes who engage in strenuous activities.While the wardrobe malfunction may have been an embarrassing moment for Khan, it has also endeared him to fans who appreciate his sense of humor and ability to find the lighter side of even the most awkward situations. The incident has also provided a much-needed moment of levity in a sport that can often be intense and competitive.

Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon believes that rival players often serve as the "best coaches", acknowledging that his Indian counterpart Ravichandran Ashwin has "taught" him a great deal through their faceoffs since 2011-12.Having made their Test debuts in the same year, Lyon and Ashwin will face each other for the eighth time in the longest format during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy five-Test series beginning in Perth on November 22."Ash (Ashwin) is an incredible bowler. I’ve gone head-to-head with him for basically my whole career, so I’ve learned a lot from Ash," Lyon told Fox Cricket."He’s an incredibly smart bowler, and he’s able to learn and adapt very quickly, and I think the best bowlers in the world are able to do that. He used his skills to benefit himself and his team.""So, you’ve got to give credit where credit’s due, he was the best bowler (in 2020/21), as he usually is. So, hats off to Ash."It will be Ashwin's fifth Test tour of Australia, where he has claimed 39 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 42.15.Lyon further admitted to having studied Ashwin's bowling closely, especially before Australia toured India in the last few years."He’s taught me a lot,” Lyon said. “I’m a big believer in the players that you play against are your best coaches that you eventually come across.""I’ve watched a lot of his footage heading over to India, the way he goes about it here in Australia, see if I can pick up anything."The way I look at cricket is that I’ve never met anyone who has conquered the game, never played against or with anyone who’s conquered the game.""There’s so much to learn in this great game, and there’s so much for me to learn from Ash. He’s a world-class bowler. He’s taken over 500 Test match wickets, and he should be extremely proud of that."Ashwin (21.76) outshines Lyon (30.81) in terms of having the best Test bowling average in Asia. However, the Australian has better bowling figures outside Asia — Lyon: 30.09, Ashwin: 33.14.Asked if they could face again post this tour, Lyon reckoned, “Spin bowling is a craft that the older you get, the better you get with age.”"There’s definitely no limit for me, and I don’t think there should be a limit for us as well. He’s absolutely world-class, and there’s a series in a couple of years’ time. So, who knows?"Asked about the secret of his success on non-spinning tracks, Lyon quipped: "I know Jadeja reads all of this stuff, so I can’t really share all my secrets."""My big thing is spinning up the back of the ball and getting bounce, but it’s a hard craft to be able to do that in Australia. Your size for error is extremely small,” he said.They may not have won a Test series against India in nearly a decade, but Lyon feels their World Test Championship final triumph last year would give them the edge."India’s got the wood over us in the past few series, but if you’re looking at the World Test Championship (final) in England, we were able to beat them there, and I know that should give us a bit of confidence heading into (this summer)," Lyon said."We understand that we’re coming up against a world-class side, but we can take a lot of confidence out of where we are at as an Australian cricket team.""I feel like we’re on the journey to becoming a great team. We’re not there yet. There’s a bit of work to do, but we have the opportunity to do something pretty special this summer."India are reeling from an unprecedented 0-3 home defeat against New Zealand, a result Lyon believes will make the second-ranked team even more determined.“I think they’re extremely dangerous. They’re a class outfit, and they know their best preparation and how to come out here and perform. It’s going to be a cracking Test series.”"It’s been a long ten years since Australia’s held the trophy. There’s only a few of us that would probably be in the squad that’s actually held the trophy, so it’s time to bring it home," he concluded.

New Zealand's historic Test series sweep in India has not only bolstered their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) campaign but also added a historic feat to their resume. The last time India suffered a whitewash at home was in 2000, and Tom Latham's leadership ensured New Zealand capitalized on challenging conditions.Fresh off their triumph, Latham and former skipper Kane Williamson celebrated their victory in style by attending a Coldplay concert in Auckland. Williamson, who missed the entire India series due to a groin injury, shared a video of the concert on Instagram, captioning it, "What a gig! #coldplay."The series win has not only boosted New Zealand's WTC standing but also added a significant achievement to their cricketing history. Latham's leadership was instrumental in guiding the BlackCaps to their first-ever Test series clean sweep in India.As Williamson gears up for a potential comeback against England in the upcoming home series, all eyes will be on the star batter. The 34-year-old is tantalizingly close to achieving another milestone, needing just five runs to surpass 1,000 Test runs against England. He has already crossed the mark against Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, further solidifying his status as one of cricket's modern greats.Coldplay, the iconic British rock band, is currently on their global "Music of the Spheres" World Tour, attracting fans from all walks of life. Williamson and Latham aren't the only players to embrace the band’s magic. Recently, Australian captain Pat Cummins, bound to lead the team in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22, was also spotted at a Coldplay concert.

Sachin Tendulkar's Unwavering Resilience: A Tale of Courage and DeterminationFormer Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly recently shared an inspiring anecdote about the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, highlighting his extraordinary resilience and unwavering determination.During the 2003 World Cup, India, led by Ganguly, reached the final against Australia. Tendulkar, known as the "Master Blaster," emerged as the tournament's highest run-scorer with an impressive 673 runs.In a recent event, Ganguly was asked to name a living person he most admires. Without hesitation, he named Tendulkar. Ganguly then recounted an incident that showcased Tendulkar's remarkable toughness."I have seen him close and I have seen him get hit in the rib cage by Shoaib Akhtar," Ganguly revealed. "He did not make any noise, got runs, and the next morning, he had a double fracture."Ganguly's account left fans awestruck. Tendulkar's ability to endure pain and continue playing despite a serious injury is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the game."I heard a sound and I went on to ask him, 'Are you okay?' He said, 'Yeah, fine.' Next morning, he had two fractures but he scored runs for India," Ganguly added.Tendulkar's resilience extended beyond physical injuries. In 2003, he was wrongly given out leg-before-wicket (LBW) by umpire Steve Bucknor in a crucial match against Australia. Despite the setback, Tendulkar remained focused and continued to perform at the highest level.Tendulkar's unwavering determination and ability to overcome adversity have made him an inspiration to countless cricket fans around the world. His legacy as one of the greatest cricketers of all time is not only due to his exceptional batting skills but also his indomitable spirit and unwavering resilience.