Cricket

Australia's formidable bowling quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon poses a significant threat to India's dominance in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, according to Pakistan's Test team head coach Jason Gillespie. Despite India's impressive record of four consecutive series wins since 2014-15, Gillespie believes the Australian bowlers have the potential to turn the tide.Gillespie expressed his confidence in an interview with 'Fox Sports', stating, "I will be backing them in and I am sure they can do the job. They are the best bowlers in the country. Their records speak for themselves. This quartet, including Nathan Lyon, is the best possible bowling attack that Australia can put out in the park."India, led by Rohit Sharma, has maintained an unbeaten streak in the current World Test Championship cycle, securing victories against the West Indies and England, and a draw against South Africa. However, Gillespie remains optimistic about Australia's chances, saying, "They are red-hot, they are playing some good Test cricket for a while now. Even though they have beaten Australia in recent times. I think Australia have a chance to beat India this time around."The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, part of the World Test Championship, will commence on November 22 in Perth. This series will also mark a historic milestone as it will be the first time since 1991-92 that India and Australia will compete in a five-Test series for this trophy.In terms of player positions, following David Warner's retirement, Steve Smith had moved to the opening slot but didn't perform well. Gillespie suggested, "Players like David Warner are pretty tough to replace. I didn't mind the idea of Steve Smith going up in the order. I have a feeling that he might have slot back in the middle order to bat at 4."India and Australia currently occupy the top two spots in the World Test Championship points table, with New Zealand in third place. The upcoming series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's leading Test nations.

Mitchell Starc Relishes Rivalry with Virat Kohli Ahead of Border-Gavaskar TrophyAustralian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has expressed his excitement for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he will once again face off against Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli. The two cricketing giants have engaged in numerous intense battles over the years, and Starc relishes the opportunity to test his skills against Kohli."I enjoy my battles with Virat Kohli, it's because we've played a lot of cricket against one another," Starc told Star Sports. "I always have some good battles. I've managed to get him out once or twice and he's no doubt scored a fair few runs against me so it's always a good contest and one we both enjoy."The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins on November 22 in Perth, will be the fifth consecutive series between India and Australia. India has emerged victorious in the previous four encounters, including triumphs on Australian soil in 2018-19 and 2020-21.Starc acknowledges India's dominance in recent years but remains confident in Australia's ability to challenge them. "India has been playing really well in the last few years, especially in their home conditions," he said. "But we're confident in our team and we know that if we play to our potential, we can beat anyone."The rivalry between Starc and Kohli is one of the most captivating in international cricket. Both players are known for their fierce competitiveness and unwavering determination. Starc's ability to generate pace and swing with the new ball makes him a formidable opponent, while Kohli's exceptional batting skills and leadership qualities have established him as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be another thrilling chapter in the Starc-Kohli rivalry. With both players in top form, fans can expect a series filled with high-quality cricket and intense battles.

Australia's premier fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, has declared the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India to be on par with the prestigious Ashes series. The five-match Test series, the first since 1991-92, is set to commence in November.Starc, who has been a key figure in Australia's recent Test successes, believes the Border-Gavaskar Trophy holds immense significance. "Being five matches now, it's probably right on par with an Ashes series," he told Wide World of Sports.Australia has not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2014-15, with India claiming four consecutive series victories, including their historic triumphs in Australia during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours. Starc is determined to reverse this trend and has set his sights on a complete whitewash."We always want to win every game at home, and we know India is a very strong team," he said. "As we're placed at the minute, we're the top two teams on the Test ladder... so a very exciting series coming up for the fans and certainly the players. Hopefully, when we're sitting there on the 8th of January, we have that trophy back on our shores."With just 11 more caps, Starc will join an elite group of cricketers who have played 100 Test matches. The 34-year-old has no plans to retire from the longest format of the game and has made a conscious decision to reduce his involvement in limited-overs cricket to maintain his longevity and effectiveness in the red-ball arena."Every time I get to wear the baggy green cap, it feels very special," he said. "Hopefully, it's five times through the summer with five wins, and we can sing that song five times, then we move on from there."Starc is scheduled to participate in a series of limited-overs matches in England in the coming month. Upon the conclusion of the white-ball fixtures, he plans to return home and represent New South Wales in domestic competitions."The Tests will always be taking precedence for me," he said. "We've got seven Tests on the bounce with five against India and then two in Sri Lanka, so they sit top of the tree with what's coming up."Starc will lead Australia's attack, which will also feature Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. "Pat is resting for this UK tour... we love playing all three formats, but that could look different at different times over 12 months.""There is certainly no end date on (our bowling careers)," he added. "That will be an ongoing one. We'll see where (our) bodies are and the want to keep going, but at this stage, it's all guns blazing for five Tests against India."

Pat Cummins Rested, Mitchell Starc to Miss T20s in Australia's UK TourAs part of a strategic workload management plan, Australia's ODI World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins will be rested for the upcoming limited-overs tour to Britain. Mitchell Starc, another key bowler, will miss the Twenty20 phase of the tour.The tour, scheduled for September, will feature five one-day internationals against England and three Twenty20 matches against Scotland. Cummins' absence is part of a long-term strategy to manage his workload ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, according to Cricket Australia.Mitchell Marsh, who captained Australia in the recent T20 World Cup, will lead the team on the tour. The selectors have opted to rest wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and veteran opener David Warner, with an eye towards the future.Young batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was a traveling reserve for the T20 World Cup, has been included in both the ODI and T20 squads. "This tour gives us a great opportunity to bring in some new players and give some senior players time to prepare for the home summer and a busy first half of next year," said George Bailey, Australia's selection chairman.Bailey emphasized the importance of integrating new players into the white-ball setup, including Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, and Aaron Hardie. "With the Champions Trophy next year, there has been a lot of planning invested into these next six months," he said.Despite not reaching the semifinals of the T20 World Cup, Australia remains the reigning World Cup champions in the 50-over format and the World Test Championship winners.

Rohit Sharma's blistering assault on Mitchell Starc in the T20 World Cup has etched itself into cricketing history. The Indian captain's onslaught not only propelled India to victory over Australia but also shattered the Aussies' hopes of reaching the semifinals.Sharma's 92-run knock off just 41 deliveries was a masterclass in power-hitting. Starc, Australia's bowling spearhead, bore the brunt of the carnage, conceding 29 runs in a single over that included four sixes and a four.The Indian victory sparked jubilant celebrations both on and off the field. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the T20 world champions, followed by an open bus parade in Mumbai that drew massive crowds.Sharma's popularity soared even further after the tournament. During a promotional event in the US, fans greeted him with chants of "Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Starc." The captain responded with a smile and a request for calm.Starc, reflecting on the match in a podcast interview, acknowledged Sharma's brilliance. "He had a good tournament, especially at the back end," Starc said. "I think he targeted that wind in St Lucia as well. I think I had five bad balls and he hit them all for six."Sharma's performance against Australia was a testament to his exceptional talent and leadership. His ability to dominate world-class bowlers has made him one of the most feared batsmen in the game today.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction of 2024 witnessed unprecedented bidding wars, with Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc fetching record-breaking sums. SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired Cummins for Rs 20.5 crore, while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) outbid them with a staggering Rs 24.75 crore for Starc.While some fans and experts questioned the astronomical prices, both players justified their worth with exceptional performances. Starc, despite a relatively quiet group stage, delivered match-winning spells in the Qualifier 1 and final. Cummins, as SRH captain, led his team to the final, where they narrowly lost to Starc's KKR.However, in a recent interview, Starc admitted that he and Cummins were "a bit overpaid." He revealed that they had a laugh about it, saying, "We played the first game and nine weeks later we play again in finals. Suddenly it goes from 2 overpaid guys to these 2 are playing the final."Despite their high price tags, Starc and Cummins proved their value on the field. Their performances highlighted the importance of quality fast bowling in T20 cricket. However, former Australian pacer Brett Lee believes that India's Jasprit Bumrah is currently the best bowler across all formats.Lee praised Bumrah's pace, swing, and leadership abilities. He said, "He is the best bowler in all formats right now and leads the attack. Bumrah can keep up an amazing pace while shaping the new ball away. His tournament performance demonstrated his leadership abilities, taking about 15 wickets with remarkable economy. He is absolutely exceptional, and India is deserving of praise for their accomplishments."The IPL auction and the subsequent performances of Starc, Cummins, and Bumrah have sparked discussions about the value of fast bowlers in modern cricket. While high prices may raise eyebrows, the impact of these bowlers on their teams' success cannot be denied.

The India vs Australia T20 World Cup 2024 match at St Lucia will be etched in the annals of cricket history for Rohit Sharma's extraordinary batting display. In a Super Eight encounter, Rohit unleashed a barrage of boundaries against the Australian bowlers, amassing a blistering 92 runs off just 41 deliveries.Rohit's onslaught was particularly relentless against Mitchell Starc, the left-arm pacer brought into the Australian lineup to exploit the Indian captain's perceived weakness against left-armers. However, Rohit turned the tables on Starc, smashing him for four sixes and a four in the third over of India's innings. The over yielded a staggering 29 runs, including a wide.Rohit's first two sixes off Starc were exquisite aerial drives over extra cover, followed by a powerful blow into the cow corner region. The fourth maximum was a mishit that soared over the wicketkeeper's head.Starc, who has faced Rohit on numerous occasions, acknowledged the Indian's dominance in that match. "I've played a lot against him. He had a good tournament, especially in our game. I think he targeted that wind in St. Lucia as well. If you look at the runs from each end, one end went for a lot more than the other. I bowled from that end. I bowled five bad balls and he hit them all for six," Starc said on the LiSTNR Sport podcast.Australia had opted to field first, but Rohit's sublime knock, featuring seven fours and eight sixes, propelled India to a formidable total. The Indian captain also became the first player to score 200 sixes in T20 cricket.India ultimately emerged victorious by 24 runs, with Rohit's innings playing a pivotal role in their triumph. The match showcased the Indian captain's exceptional batting prowess and his ability to dominate even the most formidable bowlers.

Mitchell Starc, the Australian pace spearhead, played a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) third Indian Premier League (IPL) title triumph in 2024. Acquired for a record-breaking Rs 24.75 crore in the players' auction, Starc lived up to his billing, delivering match-winning performances throughout the tournament.In the grand finale against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Starc was at his devastating best, claiming figures of 2-14. His fiery spell helped KKR bowl out Sunrisers for a paltry 113, the lowest total in an IPL final. Starc's performance earned him the Man of the Match award, cementing his status as one of the world's premier T20 bowlers.Starc's impact extended beyond the final. In the first playoff against Sunrisers, he produced a match-winning 3-34, once again showcasing his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations. His consistent brilliance throughout the tournament played a crucial role in KKR's title triumph.However, a recent video has emerged where Starc expresses his disappointment over the prize money distribution for the IPL title. In a talk show, Starc revealed that KKR received a prize of Rs 20 crore for winning the tournament, which was less than the amount he had earned at the auction."The IPL Final presentation didn't start until midnight & basically killed the vibe. Then cheques for winning team came over, it had INR 20CR price. Angkrish (Raghuvanshi) looked at that and said - Huh! it's not even what you got paid," Starc said in the video.Despite the prize money discrepancy, Starc's contribution to KKR's title victory cannot be overstated. His exceptional bowling performances were instrumental in the team's success, and he will undoubtedly remain a key figure for KKR in the years to come.

Rohit Sharma's Devastating Assault on Mitchell Starc in T20 World CupIn a Super 8 encounter during the T20 World Cup in St Lucia, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma unleashed a blistering assault on Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, leaving spectators in awe of his extraordinary batting prowess.Facing Starc's left-arm pace, Rohit made a mockery of the Australian pace spearhead, amassing an astonishing 29 runs in a single over. The over witnessed Rohit's effortless boundary-clearing ability, as he smashed four towering sixes and a boundary. The over also included a wide and a dot ball.Recalling the match on the LiSTNR Sport podcast, Starc admitted, "I have played against him (Rohit) a lot. He had a really good tournament, especially the back end. I think he targeted the wind in St. Lucia as well. There was that one end where we conceded a lot more than others. And I was bowling from that very end (laughs). I had 5 bad balls and he hit all for sixes (four 6s and one 4s)."Despite Starc eventually dismissing Rohit with a yorker-length ball that shattered his stumps, the damage had already been done. Rohit had amassed an impressive 92 runs from just 41 deliveries, setting the stage for India's eventual victory in the T20 World Cup.Starc's over against Rohit became a defining moment in the tournament, showcasing the Indian skipper's exceptional batting skills and the Australian team's struggles in the competition. The match sparked discussions about team selection and the challenges faced by Australia in the tournament.