Cricket

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has hailed India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler he has ever faced and predicted that he will go down as the greatest all-format bowler of all time.Maxwell, who has faced Bumrah both for Australia and in the Indian Premier League (IPL), praised the Indian pacer's unique release point, slow ball, yorker, and ability to swing the ball both ways."I think Bumrah probably going to go down as the best all-format bowler of all time," Maxwell said in a video shared by ESPNcricinfo. "I think he's the best bowler I have faced."Maxwell highlighted Bumrah's ability to change his bowling angle at the last moment, making it difficult for batsmen to predict his delivery. He also praised Bumrah's wrist position and his ability to sniff out wickets."His release point, because he releases it from so far out in front of himself, almost feels like he can change where he's bowling right at the last moment," Maxwell said. "Unbelievable slow ball, great yorker, has the ability to swing it both ways; he's got a brilliant wrist, and he's got a good sniff. It feels like he's got all the tricks of a really good fast bowler."Bumrah, who is currently ranked as the No. 1 Test bowler in the world by the ICC, is expected to play a key role for India in their upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia in 2024. Maxwell, however, will not face Bumrah in the series as he is out of Australia's Test reckoning.Both Bumrah and Maxwell are also expected to be part of the IPL rumor mills, with the retention announcements set to come on October 31. Bumrah is expected to be retained by Mumbai Indians (MI), while Maxwell's future at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is uncertain.

India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final have taken a hit after their series defeat against New Zealand. With just six Tests remaining, India's lead over second-placed Australia has been reduced to a mere 0.32%.India's path to the final is now fraught with challenges. They must win the third Test against New Zealand and then secure at least three victories in the five-Test series against Australia Down Under. A 3-2 result in Australia would be ideal, but if they manage only two wins, they will need other teams to slip up.Australia, meanwhile, has the most Tests remaining among the contenders. They face a tough five-match series against India, followed by two Tests in Sri Lanka. The Aussies will be eager to avenge their recent defeats to India, but they must also be wary of Sri Lanka, who have a strong home record.Sri Lanka, currently ranked third, has four Tests remaining. They face a tricky two-Test series in South Africa, followed by two home Tests against Australia. The Islanders have a good chance of qualifying if they can win three of these four matches.New Zealand, who have moved up to fourth after their wins against India, have four Tests remaining as well. They face one more Test in India, followed by three home Tests against England. The Black Caps have a good record at home against England, but they will need to perform well in India to stay in contention.South Africa, ranked fifth, has five Tests remaining. They face a tough away Test against Bangladesh, followed by four home Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Proteas will need to win at least three of these matches to have a chance of qualifying.The race to the WTC final is heating up, with several teams still in contention. India's task has become more difficult, but they remain the favorites. Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa will all be looking to capitalize on any slip-ups by the leaders.

Cricket's return to the Olympics after a 128-year absence could see matches played on the East Coast of the United States to cater to the massive Indian audience and tap into the growing domestic market in the host country.According to LA28 host committee chair Casey Wasserman, the East Coast's more favorable time zone for Indian viewers compared to the West Coast makes it the preferred location for the men's and women's cricket competitions. New York, which hosted preliminary-round matches of the T20 World Cup earlier this year, is a potential venue.Wasserman emphasized the importance of maximizing cricket viewership in India, a country with a huge fan base. He noted that the East Coast is nine-and-a-half hours behind India, allowing viewers to watch the matches live, while Los Angeles is 12-and-a-half hours behind.The LA28 organizers are exploring the use of pre-existing infrastructure to host cricket matches, potentially saving over $150 million and generating new revenue. The three venues that hosted the T20 World Cup in the US – Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and a temporary stadium on Long Island – are potential candidates.Hosting Olympic competitions away from the main center is not uncommon. The Paris Olympics featured surfing events in Tahiti, sailing in Marseille, shooting in Chateauroux, and soccer matches across the country.

India's five-Test home season, once billed as a golden opportunity to secure a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, has taken a dramatic turn. With just a week remaining in the home leg, India's WTC final hopes are hanging by a thread after consecutive defeats to New Zealand.The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, now faces a daunting task of salvaging the home season with a resounding victory at the Wankhede Stadium during the festive week. Failure to do so could result in a prolonged and challenging tour of Australia.Rohit, who will be leading India for the first time in a Test series Down Under, is aware of the magnitude of the task ahead. He has emphasized the importance of providing support and guidance to the relatively inexperienced group of players, many of whom will be making their Test debuts in Australia."It is crucial that we provide the support and guidance that we ourselves craved when we were in their shoes," Rohit said after India's loss in the second Test against New Zealand. "That is what I intend to do with the many players who have not yet toured Australia or will be playing their first or second Test there."Rohit stressed the need to maintain a positive and supportive environment within the team, regardless of the recent setbacks. "We cannot afford to overreact to what has happened," he said. "We need to have quiet chats with certain individuals and let them know where they stand and what the team expects from them."The Indian management is determined to avoid dwelling on the broken 12-year unbeaten streak at home. "I am not going to overreact to what has happened here," Rohit said. "We need to have a quiet chat with certain individuals and let them know where they are and what, as a team, we require from them."As India prepares for the upcoming challenges, Rohit and the management will need to find a way to restore confidence and belief within the team. The Wankhede Stadium, known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate crowd, could provide the perfect setting for a turnaround.

VVS Laxman to Coach India for South Africa T20I TourFormer Indian cricketer VVS Laxman has been appointed as the head coach for the Indian team during their upcoming four-match Twenty20 International (T20I) tour of South Africa in November. Laxman will take over from Gautam Gambhir, who will be accompanying the Test squad to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.The South Africa tour was not initially part of India's schedule but was recently arranged following discussions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA). The T20I series will be played across four venues: Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg, with matches scheduled for November 8, 10, 13, and 15.Laxman, who has previously coached India during other short white-ball series, will be supported by staff from the National Cricket Academy (NCA), including Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. These coaches have recently worked with the India Emerging team at the Asia Emerging Cup in Oman.On October 25, the BCCI announced the 15-member squad for the T20I series, which will be led by Suryakumar Yadav. The series comes just ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, providing a valuable opportunity for players to showcase their talent and potentially boost their demand among IPL franchises.

The ICC World Test Championship standings are heating up, with India and Australia neck-and-neck at the top. India currently holds a slim lead with 62.82% of possible points, while Australia trails closely behind with 62.50%.India's remaining schedule includes a home Test against New Zealand and a five-Test series in Australia. Despite recent setbacks against New Zealand, India can still finish with a maximum of 74.56% of points. The upcoming series against Australia will be crucial for their chances of reaching a third consecutive World Test Championship final.Australia, the reigning champions, need to win at least four of their remaining seven Tests to defend their title. They have the advantage of playing two Tests in Sri Lanka next year, which could potentially allow them to draw 2-2 with India and still remain in contention for the final. However, their immediate focus will be on regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, where they have struggled against India in recent years.Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand are also in the mix for a top-two finish. Sri Lanka's victory over England has given them hope, but they face challenging series against South Africa and Australia. New Zealand's historic series win in India has put them back in contention, but they will likely need to win all four of their remaining Tests. South Africa's success in the sub-continent has boosted their chances, and they have the advantage of playing four matches at home.England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies are currently out of contention for the final, but they will be looking to finish the cycle on a positive note with strong performances in their remaining matches.

India's remarkable home dominance in Test cricket has been shattered by New Zealand, who are on the verge of inflicting a series whitewash on the hosts. This would mark the first time in over two decades that India has suffered a clean sweep at home.Since their last home series loss to South Africa in 2000, India has maintained an unblemished record, winning 18 consecutive series and going unbeaten for 12 years. However, New Zealand's emphatic victories in the first two Tests have put India's proud home record in jeopardy.The last time India was whitewashed in a Test series, home or away, was also against New Zealand in 2020. Since the 2000 home clean sweep by South Africa, India has endured four more series whitewashes, all away from home.South Africa's 2000 Home Whitewash of IndiaIn February 2000, South Africa became the last team to whitewash India at home. Led by Hansie Cronje, the Proteas won the two-match series convincingly.In the first Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India was bowled out for 225 despite Sachin Tendulkar's 97. South Africa responded with 176, giving India a slender 49-run lead. However, India's second innings collapsed to 113, setting South Africa a modest target of 163. The visitors chased down the target with four wickets in hand.In the second Test in Bengaluru, India was again dismissed for a low score of 158. South Africa then piled up 479, with five half-centuries. India's second innings was more competitive, with Mohammad Azharuddin scoring a century. However, South Africa's spinners proved too strong, and India was bowled out for 250, losing by an innings and 71 runs.New Zealand's Chance to Repeat HistoryNew Zealand has a golden opportunity to repeat South Africa's feat and become the first team to whitewash India at home since 2000. After winning the first two Tests by comfortable margins, the Black Caps need only a draw in the third and final Test to secure the series.If New Zealand can complete the whitewash, it will be a significant achievement and a testament to their growing dominance in Test cricket. For India, it will be a bitter pill to swallow, as they will lose their long-held home invincibility.

Left-arm spinners have consistently posed a formidable challenge to the Indian cricket team, particularly in recent years. Here are some notable instances where these bowlers have wreaked havoc on Indian batters:Monty Panesar (England):In 2012, Panesar tormented India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After toiling for five wickets in the first innings, he found the pitch more conducive to his bowling in the second. He dismissed Sachin Tendulkar twice, once bowled and once lbw, and ripped through the rest of the Indian batting lineup to help England secure a famous 10-wicket victory.Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka):In 2015, Herath played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka's stunning victory over India at Galle. After going wicketless in the first innings, he produced a mesmerizing spell of 7-48 in the second, dismissing India for just 112 and securing a memorable Independence Day triumph for the hosts.Steve O'Keefe (Australia):In 2017, O'Keefe played a key role in Australia's 333-run victory over India in Pune. He exploited the dry pitch conditions to great effect, taking 6-35 in both innings and bowling India out for a paltry 105 in the first innings.Ajaz Patel (New Zealand):In 2021, Patel became only the third cricketer in Test history to take all 10 wickets in an innings when he dismissed India for 119 in Mumbai. He followed up with another four wickets in the second innings, giving him a match haul of 14 wickets, the most by an overseas bowler in India.Tom Hartley (England):In 2024, Hartley made a sensational debut for England in Hyderabad. With India chasing a modest target of 231, Hartley exploited the crumbling pitch conditions to take 7-62 and bowl England to a famous 28-run victory.Matt Kuhnemann (Australia):In 2023, Kuhnemann made a significant impact in Australia's victory over India in Indore. Bowling on a bald, dry track, he took 5-16 in the first innings, restricting India to just 109 runs.These instances highlight the effectiveness of left-arm spinners against India, particularly on pitches that offer assistance to their bowling style. Their ability to generate turn and bounce has consistently troubled Indian batters, making them a formidable force in Test cricket.

Virat Kohli's struggles in Test cricket continue to raise concerns, with the former Indian captain managing just 88 runs in four innings against New Zealand in the ongoing home series. The majority of his runs (70) came in a single innings, highlighting his ongoing difficulties in the red-ball format.Former teammate Dinesh Karthik has suggested that Kohli may need to return to domestic cricket to regain his form. "What he needs to do is probably go back to domestic cricket," Karthik said on a Cricbuzz show. "He is a man who is searching for answers."India's 113-run defeat in Pune confirmed New Zealand's historic maiden Test series victory in India. Kohli was dismissed by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner in both innings for scores of 1 and 17.Karthik believes that left-arm spinners pose a significant threat to Kohli. "Virat Kohli has not had it easy," he said. "The series has not been good to him; (in) three out of four innings he has disappointed. It's obviously a recurring pattern where spinners have troubled him."Kohli's Test record against spin has been underwhelming in recent years. "Virat Kohli's Test record in the last 2-3 years has not been great against spin," Karthik said.The third and final Test of the series begins in Mumbai on November 1. Kohli will be hoping to end the series on a high and silence his critics.