Cricket

Former Australian Test captain Ian Chappell has expressed concerns about the Indian batting lineup ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Chappell believes that if the Indian batters attempt to play over the top of the ball, they will be vulnerable to the extra bounce in Australian conditions.India's recent 3-0 series defeat to New Zealand at home has raised questions about the form of captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli. Chappell believes that the aging duo may be starting to decline, which could put pressure on the younger batters in the squad."India have got some batting problems," Chappell said. "Kohli and Rohit Sharma are both ageing, and you get to that point where people start talking about it and maybe it starts to creep into your head a little bit."However, Chappell also acknowledged that the Indian batters will be playing on good pitches in Australia. He warned that the extra bounce could expose any technical flaws in their batting."The only thing I'd say against that is they're coming to Australia where the pitches are pretty good, but there'll be the extra bounce and if they have gone over the top then the extra bounce will find them out," Chappell said.India has won the past two Test series in Australia, but former Australian skipper Mark Taylor believes that the pressure is now on the younger batters to make big runs."They (India) have moved on Pujara and they've moved on Rahane, and they've left Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, their best two players, but all of a sudden they've had a bit of a rocky period... and that has put pressure now on the younger guys and also their lower-order," Taylor said.The 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy will see India and Australia play Test matches in Perth, Adelaide (pink-ball match), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney from November 22 to January 7, 2025. It will be the first five-match Test series between India and Australia since 1991/92.

India's upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia has raised concerns among cricket pundits, particularly regarding the batting form of skipper Rohit Sharma and star player Virat Kohli. Former Australian captain Ian Chappell warns that the Indian batsmen could face difficulties if they attempt overly aggressive shots, as the Aussie conditions offer additional bounce that could expose their batting vulnerabilities.Chappell believes that India's batting lineup has some problems, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both aging and facing questions about their form. He cautions that the extra bounce in Australian pitches could find them out if they overplay their shots.Mark Taylor, another former Australian captain, agrees that the responsibility for substantial scoring now falls heavily on the emerging batsmen. He points out that India has moved on from Pujara and Rahane, leaving Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as their best players, but both have been struggling lately. This has put pressure on the younger players and the lower-order to contribute more runs.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will feature a comprehensive five-Test series between India and Australia, scheduled across five Australian venues from November 22 to January 7, 2025. The series will visit Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, marking the first instance of a five-match Test contest between these cricket powerhouses since the 1991-92 season.

Ian Chappell Slams Indian and English Batters for Poor Footwork, Criticizes Reverse SweepFormer Australian captain Ian Chappell has launched a scathing attack on the footwork of Indian and English batters in Test cricket, particularly Virat Kohli. Chappell's criticism comes in the wake of India's batting struggles in recent weeks, including their failure to chase down a modest target of 146 against New Zealand. England's batting also collapsed in spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan during the final two Tests.Chappell singled out Kohli's dismissal in the first innings of the third Test against New Zealand as an example of India's lack of decisive footwork. He argued that Kohli could have easily avoided being clean bowled by Santner if he had taken a small step out of his crease. However, Chappell also acknowledged that Kohli's shot selection was questionable.Chappell also expressed his disapproval of the reverse sweep shot in Test cricket. He questioned the logic of practicing the shot ahead of the third Test in Mumbai, given its inherent risks. He pointed to the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Mumbai Test as a prime example of the dangers of the reverse sweep.Chappell went so far as to label the reverse sweep as an "illegal" shot, arguing that it violates the principles of fairness in the game. He believes that the shot should be banned because it gives batters an unfair advantage by allowing them to change the order of their hands or feet.The reverse sweep proved to be a costly shot for India on Day 3 of the third Test, with Ravichandran Ashwin becoming the eighth wicket to fall while attempting it. Chappell's criticism highlights the ongoing debate about the role of footwork and shot selection in Test cricket, and his views are likely to spark further discussion among players, coaches, and fans.

The Indian cricket team's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has raised concerns about the aging of key players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Former Australian cricketers Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor have expressed their views on the matter, highlighting the need for India to address its batting problems.Chappell pointed out that Kohli and Sharma are both in their late 30s and may be starting to feel the effects of age. He noted that both players have not been performing to their usual standards in recent times, which has put pressure on the younger players in the team.Taylor echoed Chappell's sentiments, stating that India's decision to move on from experienced batsmen like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane has left a void in the team. He emphasized that Kohli and Sharma, as the team's best players, need to step up and make significant contributions.The former Australian captain also highlighted the importance of senior players making "bulkier runs," which has been lacking in India's batting lineup over the past year or so. He pointed to the contributions of Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, but stressed that the team needs its top batsmen to perform consistently.Chappell and Taylor's comments come at a time when India is facing a transitional phase in its Test team. The team has lost its last three Test series, including a humiliating defeat to New Zealand at home. The selectors have been experimenting with different combinations, but have yet to find a settled lineup.The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will be a major test for India's aging stars. If Kohli and Sharma fail to deliver, it could further intensify the debate about their future in the Test team.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup has witnessed several thrilling matches, but former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell believes that the tournament's success in the United States is hindered by the poor quality of pitches.The Nassau County International Stadium in the USA has come under fire for its inconsistent bounce and subpar performance, making batting extremely challenging. Scores of 100-120 runs have proven to be match-winning totals, with boundaries being a rarity. The sluggish outfield has also drawn criticism for limiting run-scoring, which is a key element of T20 cricket's entertainment value.Chappell, writing for ESPNCricinfo, expressed his concerns about the pitches in the USA, particularly the New York venue. "The pitches in the USA again generated controversy, particularly the New York venue, which attracted a lot of negative publicity and proved to be difficult for batters," he wrote.Chappell pointed out that the USA's reputation for "dodgy pitches" is not new, citing a five-match series in Los Angeles in 1999 between India A and Australia A. "The pitches on that occasion could only be described as 'ropey', especially when genuine pacemen like Brett Lee operated," he said.While Chappell acknowledges that no pitches should totally favor batters, he believes that dangerous surfaces are unacceptable. "There is a highly competitive cricket rivalry still to be played in the Super Eight - India vs Australia. This has become a blockbuster contest in recent years. Even if these two teams provide yet another exciting contest, it should not camouflage the USA problem," he added.Chappell emphasized that if cricket wants to make headway in the USA, it must improve its administration and pitches, while also convincing locally-born players that it's a game worth playing.

Legendary Australian cricketer Ian Chappell has launched a scathing attack on Ben Stokes' captaincy following England's 4-1 Test series defeat to India. Chappell believes that Stokes' aggressive approach faltered at crucial moments, particularly in the fourth Test in Ranchi, which India won convincingly.Chappell cited Stokes' decision to open the bowling with part-timer Joe Root instead of experienced seamer Jimmy Anderson on the third evening of the Ranchi Test as a major error. India took full advantage, scoring 40 runs off just eight overs."Stokes missed a trick in Ranchi," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo. "He then compounded his error by allowing too many easy singles on the final day by resorting to some cautious field placings. At a time when Stokes needed to be extremely brave as captain and hope he got lucky, he was abnormally conservative."Chappell believes that Stokes should take inspiration from Pakistan legend Javed Miandad, who was a master of leading teams in demanding chases."India probably would still have won but at least by going on the attack, Stokes would have given England their best chance of an upset victory," Chappell said. "Stokes could improve his captaincy in demanding chases if he took the example of the leadership master in those situations - Pakistan's Javed Miandad."Chappell also praised India captain Rohit Sharma for his astute leadership throughout the series."Rohit proceeded to take full advantage of the tentative field placings with a thoughtful innings and India's solid opening partnership helped seal victory," Chappell concluded.

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has launched a scathing critique of England skipper Ben Stokes' captaincy, attributing India's series-sealing victory in the fourth Test to a critical lapse in strategy at a pivotal juncture.Chappell's criticism stems from Stokes' decision to utilize part-time spinner Joe Root instead of deploying the experienced Jimmy Anderson on the third evening of the Test. According to Chappell, this allowed India to gain momentum, ultimately shifting the balance of the match in their favor."On the third evening, Stokes desperately needed to start India's chase with his best two bowlers and try to claim at least one wicket," Chappell said. "Incredibly, he gave the ball to a part-timer, Joe Root, and ignored the experienced, probing bowling of Jimmy Anderson."Chappell also criticized Stokes' approach on the final day, suggesting that his cautious field placings allowed India's batsmen to accumulate easy singles, thereby making the chase more manageable for the hosts."The second innings should have been a time to force the Indian batters into taking a risk, but by allowing easy singles, Stokes gave his opponents the upper hand," Chappell remarked.Chappell emphasized the need for instinctive decision-making in captaincy, suggesting that Stokes could benefit from studying the leadership style of seasoned captains like Pakistan's Javed Miandad in demanding situations."Effective captaincy often relies on gut instincts rather than rigid adherence to statistical analysis or theoretical frameworks," Chappell said. "Stokes needs to develop that intuitive sense of leadership."Chappell's critique highlights the importance of bold and decisive captaincy, particularly in high-pressure situations. Stokes' failure to make the right calls at crucial moments ultimately cost England the series.