Cricket

Australia's recent ODI series loss to Pakistan has sparked criticism, but the upcoming T20I series presents a different challenge. With a focus on building towards the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, Australia is fielding a diminished side, providing opportunities for emerging players.Josh Inglis, the permanent wicketkeeper, will captain the team, while Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will open the batting. Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, and Spencer Johnson will bolster the bowling attack.Pakistan, on the other hand, will seek to replicate their ODI bowling success, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf leading the charge. However, they may need to adjust their batting strategy, as Saim Ayub is not included in the squad.Tim David, Australia's T20 gun for hire, will be under scrutiny as he aims to regain his form as a finisher. Babar Azam, Pakistan's star batter, will also be in the spotlight, with his strike rate under examination.Australia will have at least three forced changes from their last T20I, while Pakistan is set to make at least five. The Gabba pitch is expected to provide pace and bounce for the fast bowlers, with the threat of rain and thunderstorms.

Fox Cricket Poster Controversy: Rohit Sharma Snubbed, Nathan McSweeney and Josh Inglis Earn Test CallsAustralian media channel Fox Cricket has sparked a social media storm with its poster for the upcoming Test series between India and Australia. The poster, featuring Pat Cummins and Virat Kohli, has drawn criticism for omitting Indian captain Rohit Sharma.Social media users were quick to point out the absence of Sharma, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time. Many accused Fox Cricket of disrespecting the Indian skipper and questioned the decision to feature Kohli instead.The controversy has overshadowed the announcement of Australia's Test squad for the series opener in Perth on November 22. Uncapped Nathan McSweeney has been handed a surprise call-up to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja, while Josh Inglis has been named as backup wicketkeeper to Alex Carrey.McSweeney, 25, has impressed with his consistent performances in the Sheffield Shield and his leadership qualities as captain of South Australia. Inglis, who moved to Perth from England at the age of 14, has also been rewarded for his strong domestic form.The pace unit will be led by skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, with Scott Boland as the reserve quick. Nathan Lyon remains the lone specialist spin option.The Test series between India and Australia is one of the most anticipated events in the cricketing calendar. The two teams have a long and storied rivalry, and the upcoming series promises to be another thrilling contest.However, the controversy surrounding Fox Cricket's poster has cast a shadow over the build-up to the series. The channel has been accused of bias and disrespect, and it remains to be seen how the issue will be resolved.

Pakistan's confidence is soaring as they prepare for the decisive third ODI against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The visitors have been in scintillating form, led by the fiery bowling of Haris Rauf, who has claimed eight wickets in the series so far.Pakistan's victory in the second ODI in Adelaide was a clinical display of pace bowling and aggressive batting. Saim Ayub, the young opener, played a key role in the win, treating Australia's frontline attack with disdain.Australia, on the other hand, will be without several key players, including Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne, who are preparing for the upcoming Test series against India. Josh Inglis will captain Australia for the first time, facing the daunting task of galvanizing a new-look team.The Optus Stadium is expected to provide a fast and bouncy surface, which should suit Pakistan's pace attack. Rauf, in particular, will be looking to exploit the extra bounce and continue his impressive form.Pakistan's batting has also been in good touch, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan providing stability at the top of the order. Kamran Ghulam and Salman Agha have also made valuable contributions.Australia's batting has been a concern, with openers Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk struggling for form. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will need to step up and provide some much-needed runs.The series has taken on added significance ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Both teams will be eager to gain momentum and confidence before the tournament.

Australia's T20I team will be led by wicketkeeper Josh Inglis in the upcoming series against Pakistan, as Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head are unavailable due to paternity leave and Test preparation, respectively. Inglis, 29, will become the 14th T20I captain for Australia, having been approved by the board following a recommendation from the selectors.Inglis's appointment as captain is a surprise to some, as he has not led at BBL level. However, he is highly regarded for his leadership credentials and tactical nous. He was appointed captain of a strong Prime Minister's XI in a first-class match against West Indies in November 2022.Inglis was also vice-captain of the Perth Scorchers last season and a key part of their leadership group. He was strongly considered to take over the captaincy when Ashton Turner suffered a season-ending injury, but Aaron Hardie was chosen instead due to a preference not to have a wicketkeeper-captain so far from his younger bowlers.Australia's selectors do not have the same concerns at international level given the experience of bowlers in the side. The team has a history of having an interim wicketkeeper captain, with Matthew Wade serving as vice-captain in recent years and standing in as skipper in 13 games, including during the 2022 World Cup.The T20I series against Pakistan will also see a change in coaching staff, with head coach Andrew McDonald, batting coach Michael Di Venuto, and bowling coach Daniel Vettori taking a short break. Assistant coach Andre Borovec will take charge, as he did for Australia's five-match T20I series against India last October. Former Australia batter Brad Hodge will also work with the group as an assistant coach, while Matthew Wade has been appointed interim fielding and keeping coach.Australia's T20I squad vs Pakistan:* Sean Abbott* Xavier Bartlett* Cooper Connolly* Tim David* Nathan Ellis* Jake Fraser-McGurk* Aaron Hardie* Josh Inglis (c)* Spencer Johnson* Glenn Maxwell* Matthew Short* Marcus Stoinis* Adam Zampa

Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is in contention to make his Test debut as a specialist batter in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, according to chief selector George Bailey.Inglis has been in red-hot form in domestic cricket, scoring four centuries in his last seven Sheffield Shield matches. While he is Australia's incumbent keeper in ODIs and T20Is, his impressive batting performances have put him in the mix for a Test call-up."There's no doubt that the form is really fantastic at the moment... the ability to jump back into domestic cricket and dominate has been fantastic," Bailey said. "I think in different series at different times of the year, he would firmly come into the mix purely as a batter the way he's been going."However, with Australian Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey also in rich form, Inglis is unlikely to be considered for the wicketkeeping role. Instead, he is being eyed as a specialist middle-order batter."If the right opportunity opened up throughout the summer, in the spots where we think he's most capable of performing, I think he'd be firmly in that conversation as well," Bailey added.Inglis's emergence as a specialist batter comes at a time when Australia is looking to fill the vacant opening slot following David Warner's retirement. However, Bailey ruled out Inglis for the opener's role, saying that he is not being considered for that position in the short term."I've spoken to Josh on this. Not in the short term, I don't think that he's someone that we would be looking to place at the top of the order," Bailey said.Inglis is also a contender to lead Australia's T20I side in the upcoming three-match series against Pakistan. However, all-format players, including regular T20 skipper Mitchell Marsh, are sitting out of the Pakistan series to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Cameron Bancroft's Test recall hopes suffered another setback as he failed for the fourth consecutive time in the Sheffield Shield season. However, Josh Inglis continued to impress, while Hilton Cartwright guided Western Australia to a six-wicket victory over Tasmania at the WACA.Chasing a modest target of 83 on the final day, Bancroft had a chance to boost his confidence after scoring just eight runs in his previous three innings. However, he struggled against the probing bowling of Riley Meredith and Kieran Elliott, miscuing a pull shot to fine leg for just two runs."He's pretty good to be honest...keeping things really simple," said WA captain Sam Whiteman of Bancroft. "I think it's a matter of time. Each fail...he's one closer to a big score. He's a pretty positive guy."WA's chase hit a snag as they slumped to 18 for 4, with Whiteman, Mitchell Marsh, and Aaron Hardie falling to Elliott. Inglis and Cartwright then steadied the ship with a quick half-century partnership, guiding WA to victory. Inglis finished unbeaten on 26 from 36 balls, while Cartwright remained not out on 39 from 50 balls.Cartwright's performance was particularly remarkable as he had to leave the ground at tea on day two when his wife went into labor. He returned on day three to resume his innings on 52 after the birth of his second child.Tasmania's innings ended quickly on day four, with Brody Couch claiming his fourth wicket of the innings to trap Meredith in front. Couch finished with match figures of 7 for 83, touching speeds of 143kph.

Australia's search for a Test opener against India has taken an unexpected turn, with New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd suggesting that white-ball wicketkeeper Josh Inglis should be considered alongside prodigy Sam Konstas.Inglis, 29, has been in impressive form in the Sheffield Shield this season, scoring two centuries and averaging over 50. Despite never having opened in first-class cricket, Shipperd believes Inglis' aggressive style and international experience make him a viable candidate."I'd have Inglis and Konstas in the conversation as one-two, two-one, and let the Australian selectors mull over those two," Shipperd said. "His performances for Australia have been first-class, and I think they're looking for a style of player at the top of the order, and Inglis may fit that brief."However, Inglis' lack of experience as an opener remains a concern. He has only batted above No. 6 in first-class cricket, and his highest score in that position is 122.Konstas, on the other hand, has shown promise as an opener, becoming the third-youngest player to score twin centuries in a Shield game. Shipperd believes Konstas has the skills and temperament to succeed at the highest level."He's really poised and balanced. Anytime you get through the first 25 overs of a Victorian attack with a new ball that shows you've got something," Shipperd said.Despite Konstas' impressive start, Shipperd acknowledges that he may benefit from more time in Shield cricket before making his Test debut."I'm not sure. That's a very good question, though," Shipperd said. "Yes, he was made to wait. So whether that made him or he was already made anyway, because he was scoring multiple hundreds across the course of that journey between him not being selected and then finally selected, I think at around 21.""But Sam, I do see a lot of that skill level and that poise at the crease, shots on both sides of the wicket, in front of the wicket, behind the wicket. I think he's got what it takes."The Australian selectors will have a tough decision to make when choosing their openers for the first Test against India. Inglis' experience and aggressive style could be a valuable asset, while Konstas' potential and impressive start in Shield cricket make him an intriguing option.

Western Australia's hopes of securing a first-innings lead against Tasmania were boosted by a resilient batting performance on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA.Despite a disappointing start that saw opener Cameron Bancroft depart cheaply for the third consecutive match, Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly combined for an unbroken 119-run partnership to guide WA to 219 for 4 at stumps.Inglis, who struck a century in the season opener against Queensland, once again showcased his impressive form, reaching a half-century off just 57 balls. Connolly provided valuable support, helping WA recover from a precarious position.Earlier, Tasmania had posted a competitive 277 in their first innings, thanks to a late-order rally led by Mitch Owen (69) and Matt Kuhnemann. Corey Rocchiccioli was the standout bowler for WA, claiming 4 for 70.WA's chase got off to a shaky start when Bancroft fell for 8, followed by captain Sam Whiteman and Mitchell Marsh. However, Hilton Cartwright's aggressive half-century before tea provided a much-needed boost.Cartwright's departure after the interval due to the birth of his second child left WA in a spot of bother. However, Inglis and Connolly stepped up to the plate, turning the tide in WA's favor.With the match evenly poised heading into day three, WA will be aiming to build on their solid batting performance and establish a significant first-innings lead. Tasmania, on the other hand, will be looking to make early inroads and regain control of the contest.

Western Australia's batting heroes, Sam Whiteman and Josh Inglis, defied a hostile Queensland attack to rescue their team from a disastrous start on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA.After Test hopeful Cameron Bancroft fell off the first ball, Michael Neser wreaked havoc, claiming two more wickets to leave WA reeling at 18 for 3. However, Whiteman and Inglis combined for a mammoth 203-run partnership, turning the tide in WA's favor.Inglis, known for his aggressive style, smashed 122 off 117 balls, while Whiteman played a more measured innings, batting for almost the entire day to score 102. Neser, who has been on the fringes of Test selection, inspired a late rally with the second new ball, dismissing Whiteman and Matthew Kelly to finish with 5 for 48.Queensland skipper Marnus Labuschagne's decision to bowl first paid off initially, but Whiteman and Inglis's heroics proved too much for the visitors. Hilton Cartwright and Cooper Connolly also contributed valuable runs, while first-class debutant Tom Straker impressed with his lively spell.Both teams entered the season with injury concerns, but WA's depth was tested with several key players sidelined. Queensland, too, were without quick Xavier Bartlett.As the match enters day two, WA will look to build on their strong position, while Queensland will need to find a way to break through their resilient batting lineup.