Cricket

Australia's opening batsman conundrum intensified on Saturday as teenager Sam Konstas staked his claim with an unbeaten 73, while his rivals faltered ahead of the first Test against India.Konstas, 19, seized his opportunity in the final match of the Australia A series against India A, guiding his team to a six-wicket victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His composed innings, which included seven fours and a six, came after a challenging start to the series, where he had managed only 16, 0, and 3 in his previous three innings.Konstas' resurgence reminded selectors of his potential, having impressed with consecutive centuries for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield. However, his recent struggles for Australia A had raised doubts about his readiness to replace David Warner as Australia's opener.Meanwhile, Konstas' competitors failed to capitalize on their chances. Nathan McSweeney, who had emerged as a frontrunner with scores of 39 and an unbeaten 88 in the previous match, could only manage 14 and 25 at the MCG. Marcus Harris, hoping to add to his 14 Test caps, followed up his solid 74 on Friday by falling for a golden duck in the second innings. Cameron Bancroft, whose hopes of reviving his Test career were already fading after poor performances in Mackay, also suffered a golden duck.With the first of five Tests against India beginning on November 22 in Perth, Australia's selectors now face a difficult decision about who will open alongside Usman Khawaja. Konstas' strong performance has thrown a spanner in the works, while McSweeney, Harris, and Bancroft have failed to cement their positions.

Nathan McSweeney's impressive performance in the first four-day match against India A has solidified his position as a leading contender for the vacant opening spot in Australia's Test side. The Australia A captain will open alongside Marcus Harris in the second match at the MCG, a clear indication of their status as frontrunners.McSweeney's standout performance in Mackay, where he guided Australia A to victory with an unbeaten 88, has earned him high praise. "I'm really confident in my game," he said. "I'm progressing and I'm batting some of the best innings I've played."The 24-year-old has never opened in his first-class career, but his recent form has made him a viable option. Another possibility is for him to bat at his usual No. 3 spot, with Marnus Labuschagne moving up the order."You could do," said captain Pat Cummins. "Maybe once we we kind of start discussing who's in the side, then you start looking at the batting order."The Australia A XI for the second match includes three specialist openers: Harris, McSweeney, and Cameron Bancroft. Harris' 36 in the second innings was the highest score among them.The selectors will use the second match to gather final information before announcing the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Series. Australia will name a 13-player squad with two batting spots up for grabs.McSweeney's strong performance has put him in a prime position to earn a Test debut. If selected, he will be eager to prove his worth and cement his place in the Australian team.

Former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy have endorsed Nathan McSweeney as the ideal candidate to fill the vacant opening slot in the national team for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. With David Warner's retirement and Steve Smith's return to his preferred number 4 position, Australia is seeking a reliable opening partner for Usman Khawaja.McSweeney, the captain of Australia A, has impressed with his recent performances, scoring 291 runs in his last four innings, including a century in the Sheffield Shield and the One-Day Cup. Ponting believes McSweeney's experience and leadership qualities make him the most suitable choice."He's got the most out of any of those guys from the 'A' game in Australia at the moment," Ponting said. "And he's more experienced. He has captained Australia A in the past, and he's captaining them now. So, I'm leaning towards McSweeney now for that opening role at the start of the Australian summer."Healy echoed Ponting's sentiments, praising McSweeney's batting ability and maturity. "I was glad people could see how Nathan McSweeney can bat yesterday," Healy said. "He showed that at 25 years of age, he's the most ready of the four."Ponting also suggested that Australia's decision to experiment with Smith as an opener indicated their willingness to consider younger players. "Another thing that I'd said then was that I don't think they'd go back to a Bancroft or Harris because if they're willing to do that they would've done it the last year," Ponting added.With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy set to commence on November 22, the Australian selectors face a crucial decision in choosing the opening partner for Khawaja. McSweeney's impressive form and leadership qualities have made him the frontrunner for the role, and his selection would signal a new era for Australian cricket.

Marnus Labuschagne has declared the race for Australia's vacant Test opening spot wide open, following Steven Smith's return to his preferred No. 4 position. Smith's move back to the middle order has sparked speculation about who will fill the void at the top of the order, with Labuschagne, David Warner, and several other candidates in the mix.Labuschagne believes Smith's return to No. 4 is a logical decision, given his exceptional record in that position. "One of the best players for Australia batting in the position he has had the most success in is a pretty simple fix," he said. "Cameron Green is unavailable for the summer, so there is no one batting at No. 4. Why not have the person who has done it best for Australia batting in that position?"Labuschagne praised Smith's ability to adapt his game to different match scenarios, making him ideally suited to the No. 4 role. "At No. 4, you have to be good at playing spin, work on when you need to push, when you need to hold, and when you need to get through a tough spell," he said. "That has always been his strength."While Labuschagne is open to batting wherever the team needs him, he believes he has been successful at No. 3 and would prefer to remain there. "I will bat wherever they tell me to bat," he said. "Currently, I would say that how I have played at No. 3 has been relatively successful. Hopefully, it should be more successful, but that's where I have batted."The race for the opening spot is now wide open, with several candidates vying for selection. New South Wales teenager Sam Konstas, Victorian opener Marcus Harris, and Western Australia's Cameron Bancroft are the three specialist openers in contention. All three will feature for Australia A against India A next week, providing them with an opportunity to stake their claim for a Test debut.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, Bengal's prolific opening batsman, continues to impress with his consistent performances, raising questions about his absence from the Indian national team. In the recent Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh, Easwaran hammered a century (127), his fourth in the last nine innings. This followed his two centuries in the Duleep Trophy and a superb 191 in the Irani Cup against Mumbai.Easwaran's impressive run of form has seen him score 7,638 runs in 99 first-class matches at an average of 49.92, including 27 centuries. Despite his stellar performances, he has yet to receive a call-up to the national team.In an interview with TOI, Easwaran expressed his desire to make a fresh start this season after an injury-hit campaign last year. He praised the sporting pitch at Ekana Stadium, where he scored two centuries in the last 15 days.Easwaran also discussed his aggressive approach in the second innings against Uttar Pradesh, which he attributed to the need to put up a decent score. He highlighted the importance of being proactive on challenging wickets.Reflecting on his cricketing journey, Easwaran credited his father's passion for the game as his inspiration. He also acknowledged the valuable lessons he learned during his time with India A, where he played alongside international cricketers.Easwaran emphasized that his focus remains on performing for his team and that the decision of whether or not to call him up to the national team rests with the selectors. He expressed his gratitude for being part of the Indian team environment during the 2021 England tour, where he gained valuable insights from senior cricketers.

Steven Smith, Australia's batting mainstay, will relinquish his opening role in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against India. The decision, initiated by Smith himself, was confirmed by George Bailey, the chair of selectors.Smith's request to move back down the order had been in the works even before Cameron Green's season-ending back injury. Bailey revealed that Smith, in discussions with captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald, had expressed his desire to return to the middle order."Pat, Andrew, and Steven Smith had been having ongoing conversations separate to the untimely injury to Cameron anyway," Bailey said. "And I think Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position."The move back to the middle order opens up two spots in the top six, with Green's absence creating a vacancy at No. 4 and Smith's departure leaving the opening slot vacant. Bailey hinted that Smith would have moved regardless of Green's injury, but declined to speculate on the exact configuration of the top six had Green been fit."Part of those discussions have been had and what it might look like," he said. "But I guess once you do get moving parts, a lot of those conversations become null and void."The selectors are likely to opt for a specialist opener to replace Green and return Smith to his preferred position. Bailey downplayed the need for an extra bowling option in the top six, noting that Australia's attack has played without an allrounder before."They've done it in the past," Bailey said. "You don't know how each Test is going to play out in terms of the workload for the quicks, or how much of an impact Nathan Lyon's going to have across the summer."The focus now shifts to Australia's domestic openers, with Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Sam Konstas emerging as potential candidates to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order. Bailey suggested that Konstas could put himself in the mix with continued strong performances."He's in the mix as are plenty of others," Bailey said. "I certainly don't want to single single him out. I think the consistency of Cam Bancroft over a number of years, the consistency of Marcus Harris over a number of years, they've both had a look at Test cricket as well."

Virender Sehwag's transformation from a middle-order batsman to a devastating opener is a pivotal moment in cricket history. The idea to elevate Sehwag to the top of the order originated from an unexpected source: Zaheer Khan.During a conversation with Shoaib Akhtar, Sehwag revealed that Khan had suggested the move to then-captain Sourav Ganguly. The suggestion stemmed from a match in 1999, where Akhtar had dismissed Sehwag at number seven in the batting order."What were you doing at number seven?" Akhtar asked Sehwag. "I used to bat in the middle order at that time," Sehwag replied.Khan's suggestion was met with skepticism initially, but Ganguly was willing to experiment. In July 2001, during a tri-series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, Sehwag was pushed up to open alongside Ganguly due to an injury to Sachin Tendulkar.The move proved to be a masterstroke. Sehwag's aggressive style and ability to score quickly at the top of the order transformed India's batting lineup. He made his Test debut as an opener in 2002 and never looked back.Sehwag went on to become one of the most successful opening batsmen in cricket history. He played 104 Tests and 251 ODIs, scoring 8586 and 8273 runs respectively. He was a key member of India's victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup teams.Sehwag's impact on cricket was profound. His aggressive approach and ability to dominate bowling attacks inspired a generation of batsmen. He retired in 2015, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most entertaining and destructive openers the game has ever seen.

Shikhar Dhawan, India's prolific opening batsman, has bid farewell to international and domestic cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career spanning over a decade. In a heartfelt video message, Dhawan expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country and the unwavering support he received throughout his journey.Dhawan's international debut came in 2010 against Australia in Visakhapatnam, and he quickly established himself as a formidable force in the Indian batting lineup. Over the course of his career, he amassed an impressive 10,000 runs across all formats, including 24 centuries—17 in ODIs and 7 in Tests.One of Dhawan's most memorable performances came during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where he emerged as the tournament's leading run-scorer. His exceptional batting, which included two centuries and one fifty, played a pivotal role in India's triumph.Dhawan's retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket. He was a key member of the team that won the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2011 Cricket World Cup. His aggressive batting style and ability to score runs at a rapid pace made him a fan favorite.In his retirement message, Dhawan expressed his gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and fans for their unwavering support. He acknowledged the sacrifices he had made along the way but emphasized that he was at peace with his decision.Dhawan's retirement leaves a void in the Indian cricket team, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of players. His exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and infectious enthusiasm have made him one of the most beloved cricketers in India.

Dan Lawrence, a versatile cricketer who has patiently awaited his opportunity, is set to make his Test debut as an opener for England in the first Test against Sri Lanka. Despite spending years as a drinks carrier and filling various batting positions, Lawrence is eager to seize this chance and prove his worth.Lawrence's journey to the Test team has been marked by both perseverance and adaptability. After initially being groomed as an opener, he transitioned to a middle-order role and even developed his spin bowling skills. His recent stint as captain of London Spirit has honed his leadership abilities.Despite his eagerness to bat at any position, Lawrence acknowledges the challenges of opening the batting. However, he is determined to embrace the opportunity and make a positive impact. His aggressive strokeplay and resilience align well with England's current approach under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.Lawrence's selection as an opener has raised some eyebrows, but he remains unfazed. He believes that his experience and versatility make him a suitable candidate for the role. The absence of Ben Stokes and the decision to replace him with Matthew Potts have also contributed to Lawrence's selection.As England prepares for the first Test, Lawrence is focused on enjoying the experience and contributing to the team's success. He is grateful for the opportunity to showcase his abilities and hopes to earn a permanent spot in the Test side.