Cricket

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is set to join the team in Australia for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, according to his childhood coach Mohammed Badruddin. Shami has been out of action for over a year due to an Achilles injury but made a successful return to competitive cricket in Bengal's Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh.Shami's return is a major boost for India, who are looking to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The veteran pacer has taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests and has been a key member of India's fast-bowling attack in recent years.Former head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Shami's return will strengthen India's pace attack and give them a better chance of winning the series. "If anything, I would have wanted a little more support for Jasprit (Bumrah) in the pace-bowling attack. So the quicker Mohammed Shami gets fit and is on a flight, I think it's better for India," Shastri said.Shami is expected to join the Indian team after the second Test in Adelaide. India need to win four of the five Tests in Australia to have a big shot at sealing their place in a third straight World Test Championship final.Shami has played a pivotal role in India's success in recent years, including their first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018/19. He is a proven performer in Australian conditions and his return will be a major boost for India's chances of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has put himself in contention for a spot on the upcoming Australian tour with an impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy. Playing for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in Indore, Shami claimed four wickets, boosting his chances of joining the Indian team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Shami's last competitive appearance was in the World Cup final in November 2022. Since then, he has undergone ankle surgery and suffered a knee injury during his recovery. The Indian team management was keen to assess his fitness before considering him for the Australian tour.In response, Shami bowled four spells across 57 overs, taking 4 wickets for 54 runs. His performance has impressed the selectors, who were eager to see him in action before making a decision."Obviously, Shami was asked to play this game keeping in mind that the next round of Ranji Trophy will only start on January 23 after the Test season is over," said a BCCI source. "So, the selectors had only one match to check his fitness. He has bowled 19 overs in multiple spells and fielded for most part of the 57 overs. He bowled 90 dot balls. But he will again have to bowl and field (in the second innings). Suppose he bowls another 15 to 18 overs in the second innings, that's a very decent amount of overs bowled."The source added, "But the biggest test would be whether he again feels any pain after four days. If the NCA medical team green-lights his fitness, obviously he will join before the second Test."The national selection committee will assess Shami's fitness after the Ranji match concludes on November 16. If cleared, he might join the Indian team before the second Test against Australia, starting on December 6.Shami's return to fitness is a major boost for the Indian team, who are looking to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The experienced pacer brings a wealth of experience and skill to the bowling attack, and his inclusion would strengthen India's chances of success Down Under.

James Anderson, England's legendary pace bowler, has surprised the cricketing world by registering for the upcoming IPL mega auction. The 42-year-old, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year as the most successful fast bowler in the format, has set a base price of Rs 1.25 crore for the auction scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah.Anderson's decision to enter the IPL auction is driven by his desire to enhance his knowledge of the game and gain experience as a coach. Despite never having played in the IPL or a T20 match since 2014, Anderson believes he has more to offer as a player and is eager to learn from the world's best T20 league."There is still definitely something in me that thinks like I can still play. I have never done the IPL; I have never experienced it and I think for a number of reasons I feel like I have more to give as a player," Anderson told BBC Radio 4 Today in a podcast.Anderson's illustrious Test career spanned 188 matches, during which he claimed 704 wickets, placing him third on the all-time wicket-takers list behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. His exceptional skill and longevity have earned him the nickname 'Burnley Express.'While Anderson acknowledges that his playing days are numbered, he is keen to continue his involvement in cricket in a coaching capacity. He has already gained some experience mentoring the England team and believes that playing in the IPL will further enhance his knowledge and expertise."I have done a little bit of coaching since I have finished in the summer. I have been around the England team doing a bit of mentoring or whatever you like to call it," he said. "I just think opening my eyes to something like that and experiencing it, sort of might help me grow my knowledge of the game and help further down the line."Anderson's decision to enter the IPL auction has sparked speculation about which teams might be interested in acquiring his services. His experience and skill could prove invaluable to any franchise looking to bolster their bowling attack.

Mohammed Shami, India's seasoned pacer, is on the road to recovery after a year-long absence due to an ankle injury. The 34-year-old underwent Achilles tendon surgery earlier this year and has been working diligently to return to competitive cricket.Shami's recovery has progressed steadily, and he recently shared a video on social media showcasing his bowling prowess in the nets. The clip, accompanied by a motivational quote, highlights his determination to regain his fitness."Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out," Shami wrote.The veteran fast bowler has been training intensively, even bowling to India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar in the nets after India's first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru.Despite nearing full fitness, Shami was ruled out of the ongoing three-Test series against New Zealand. However, he remains optimistic about his return as India prepares for a five-Test series in Australia next month."It felt great because I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can't put too much stress on my body," Shami said earlier. "We decided that I would bowl properly, and I gave my 100%. It felt great, and the results are good. Hopefully, I'll be back on track soon."Shami emphasized the importance of spending more time on the field before India's crucial tour of Australia, which begins on November 22 in Perth. He also expressed his desire to play a couple of domestic matches to regain match fitness before embarking on the overseas tour."I know what kind of an attack we want for that Test series (against Australia), so it's better I spend some more time on the ground before going," Shami said. "If I get fit and I get a gap of eight to 10 days, then it's better I play one or two domestic matches before going to Australia."India will be hoping for a fully fit Shami to bolster their pace attack in what promises to be a high-intensity series Down Under.

Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma has expressed uncertainty over the availability of fast bowler Mohammed Shami for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Shami has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup."It's difficult to make a call on him for the Australia series," Sharma said. "He had a setback and had swelling in his knees. That put him back a little bit and had to start again. He's at the NCA with doctors and physios. We don't want to bring undercooked Shami to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed."Shami's absence would be a significant blow to India's bowling attack. The 32-year-old is one of the most experienced and successful fast bowlers in the country, with 216 wickets in 61 Tests.He has not played since the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2023. He was included in the squad for India's two-Test tour of South Africa in December 2023, pending fitness approval. However, the BCCI medical team did not clear Shami for the tour, ruling him out of the matches.Shami's injury history is a concern for the Indian team. In 2015, he suffered a significant knee injury during the ODI World Cup in Australia. Nitin Patel, currently the head of the BCCI medical team, oversaw his recovery.The Indian team management will be hoping that Shami can recover in time for the Australia series. The first Test is scheduled to begin on February 9 in Nagpur.

New Zealand's Test squad for their upcoming tour of India has suffered a setback with the withdrawal of fast bowler Ben Sears due to a knee injury. Sears, who made his Test debut against Australia earlier this year, experienced pain in his left knee during the recent Test series in Sri Lanka. Scans revealed a tear to his meniscus, ruling him out of the three-match series against India.Jacob Duffy, who has yet to make his Test debut, has been called up as Sears' replacement. Duffy, 30, has played six ODIs and 14 T20Is for New Zealand and has an impressive 299 first-class wickets to his name. He is expected to leave for India on Wednesday morning, the first day of the first Test.In Sears' absence, New Zealand's fast-bowling attack will likely consist of Tim Southee, Matt Henry, and Will O'Rourke. Ajaz Patel is expected to be the primary spin option, with allrounders Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, and Michael Bracewell also providing spin support. Glenn Phillips can also offer part-time spin if needed.New Zealand head coach Gary Stead expressed disappointment over Sears' injury but remained optimistic about Duffy's potential contribution. "It's an exciting opportunity for Jacob, who has been around the Test squad before," Stead said. "With three Tests ahead of us, he has every chance of making his Test debut."Duffy's recent experience playing for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship is believed to have played a role in his selection. Stead praised Duffy's performances in white-ball cricket for the Black Caps and expressed confidence in his ability to contribute if called upon.New Zealand's tour of India begins with the first Test in Bengaluru on February 22. The series will then move on to Pune and Mumbai for the second and third Tests, respectively.

Mayank Yadav's impressive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 earned him a call-up to the Indian cricket team for the T20I series against Bangladesh. The fast bowler made an immediate impact, consistently bowling at speeds above 150kmph and maintaining exceptional accuracy.In his debut match against Bangladesh in Gwalior, Yadav bowled a maiden over and claimed his first international wicket in Mahmudullah. However, he has yet to reach 150kmph in international cricket, despite exceeding 149 kmph in the first T20I and clocking 146-147 on a few occasions in the second T20I.Yadav's performance has sparked a debate among fans about India's pace setup ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia. Former Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal commented that Yadav had not touched 150kmph in the series, to which Murali Kartik replied, "Neither has Bangladesh."Yadav's recovery from an abdominal strain at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru has been crucial to his return to form. He spent time at the NCA bowling eight to ten overs daily to regain match fitness.As the BGT series approaches, Yadav's performance will be closely watched as India seeks to strengthen its pace attack. His ability to bowl at high speeds and maintain accuracy could prove invaluable in the upcoming Test matches against Australia.

Olly Stone, the English fast bowler, will depart from England's tour of Pakistan on Wednesday to attend his wedding this weekend. His return date remains uncertain, making his availability for the second Test doubtful.Stone's departure was initially planned for after the first Test, but he has been granted an early release due to his wedding on Saturday. The 29-year-old has been a key member of England's Test squad since his return to the side in the summer, taking seven wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka.However, Brydon Carse was preferred as England's high-pace option for the first Test in Multan, which began on Monday. This has allowed Stone to return home earlier than expected.The date of Stone's return is unclear and will depend on the fitness of England's other fast bowlers after the first Test. With a tight turnaround between his wedding and the second Test on Tuesday, it is unlikely that he will be available for selection.Carse, Gus Atkinson, and Chris Woakes are the three seamers selected for the first Test, with Matthew Potts as the reserve fast bowler.England's management has expressed their support for Stone's decision to leave Pakistan, considering that he was not included in the latest batch of central contracts and that his wedding was planned before his recall.Stone had previously discussed his wedding plans with England's managing director, Rob Key, and coach, Brendon McCullum, who agreed to his request to attend his wedding."We booked the wedding on the basis of me only playing for Notts at the time," Stone told the BBC. "Jess said she was happy to move the wedding, but I was adamant on keeping it where it was if possible. For what she has given up and sacrificed for me, I thought the least I could do was to try and make it work."In the past, players have made significant sacrifices to prioritize their cricket careers. Tony Pigott postponed his wedding to play his only Test for England in 1984. More recently, contracted players have rescheduled weddings due to clashes. Joe Root, England's Test captain, revealed that he and his wife, Carrie, had rearranged their wedding three times due to tours.Root expressed his support for Stone's decision, saying, "It's a special time in anyone's life. I'm really excited for him. I'm sure he is all over the place with everything that's going on, but it'll be very special for him - and his wife - starting a different chapter in his life. We'll all be raising a cold water to him at some point, celebrating."

Mahli Beardman, a prodigious 19-year-old fast bowler, has been thrust into the spotlight as a standby player for Australia's upcoming ODI series against England. This unexpected call-up is a testament to Beardman's exceptional talent and the selectors' foresight in grooming future stars.Beardman's meteoric rise to prominence began with his stellar performance in the Under-19 World Cup final against India in February. His raw pace and incisive swing left an indelible mark on the cricketing world. Despite having played only one senior professional match, Beardman's potential has been recognized by the Australian selectors.The absence of Australia's leading fast bowlers, including Pat Cummins, has created an opportunity for Beardman to showcase his abilities. Injuries have also sidelined several other pacers, leaving the team short of experienced options. Beardman's selection, despite his limited experience, has raised eyebrows but also reflects the selectors' confidence in his abilities.Mentored by legendary Australian pace icon Dennis Lillee, Beardman possesses the raw pace and technical prowess to succeed at the highest level. Capable of bowling over 140 km/hr, he has the ability to unsettle even the most accomplished batsmen.Beardman's disbelief at his selection is a testament to his humility and the unexpected nature of his call-up. "I didn't think it was real, to be honest," he said. "I thought it might have been one of the boys pranking me."While Beardman may not get to play in the five-match series starting on Thursday, his selection is a clear indication that the selectors are looking to the future. As senior bowlers like Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc age, Beardman is being groomed as a potential successor.Reflecting on his promotion, Beardman expressed his eagerness to learn from Australia's experienced pace bowlers. "Mitch Starc and 'Hoff' (Hazlewood), it's just unbelievable knowledge and an invaluable experience," he said. "I can't wait to get over there and soak up as much knowledge as possible."Beardman's selection is a reminder that the future of Australian cricket is in safe hands. With his raw talent, unwavering determination, and the guidance of experienced mentors, he has the potential to become one of the most feared fast bowlers in the world.