Cricket

India's Historic Comeback: A Triumph of Resilience and DeterminationIn a remarkable display of resilience and determination, India overcame adversity to clinch a memorable 2-1 series win against Australia during the 2020-21 tour. After being bowled out for their lowest-ever total of 36 in Adelaide, many wrote the team off. However, under the leadership of stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, India mounted a stunning comeback, securing a thumping eight-wicket victory in Melbourne before sealing the series with a thrilling three-wicket win in Brisbane.The Adelaide debacle was a crushing blow, but it also served as a catalyst for the team's resurgence. Led by Rahane's composed century and stellar bowling from the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin, India turned the tide in Melbourne. The victory, coming on the back of the 36, lifted the team's spirits and set the stage for one of the most iconic comebacks in cricket.Ravi Shastri, the then-head coach, instilled a mindset of resilience in the team after the Adelaide disaster. "Wear that 36 as a badge," he said. "So that you never forget it when things are going your way, cash in and make the most of it."India's character and belief were on full display in the remaining Tests. They drew the third Test in Sydney and pulled off a stunning three-wicket victory in the final Test in Brisbane. Reflecting on the series, Shastri called it the biggest moment in Test cricket. "I don't think cricket has seen anything like this or anything bigger than this," he declared.Virat Kohli, who departed after the first Test, was full of praise for the stand-in skipper Rahane and the squad. "The character and the belief shown by the whole squad—a group of young guys, which was led beautifully by Jinx (Ajinkya Rahane) in those three Test matches," he said.India's historic comeback is a testament to the team's resilience, determination, and mental strength. It is a story that will be told for generations to come.

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.

The mention of Test cricket in Australia evokes vivid memories of a unique and immersive experience. From the lush outfields dotted with seagulls and pigeons to the large stadiums with long boundaries, from fielders catching the ball with their fingers pointing to the sky to the inverted score that reads 3/20 rather than 20/3, from the soothing voice of Richie Benaud and the child-like excitement of Tony Greig on the Channel Nine telecast to the sound of the ball thudding into the hard surface and hitting the bat, the experiences were all new and captivating, leaving a deep impression that enriched one's love for the traditional format.A prominent part of this visceral experience was the pace and bounce on view. It was relayed even before a ball was bowled simply by how far back the wicketkeeper and the slip catchers would position themselves. When the ball was delivered, it often whirred past the batter's head, and tales of yore of how Jeff Thomson's bumper once reached the boundary on one bounce would be passed on from old-timers.Skill, strength, and stamina were essential for success in Australia. India's own trajectory over the past two decades Down Under illustrates that. From being competitive in 2003-04 and 2007-08 to suffering a rout in 2011-12 to finally celebrating series victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21, the pace attacks that India has had for these tours go a fair way towards making sense of the results.In 2018-19, the foundation of India's historic triumph lay in its pace attack going as far as outbowling its Australian counterpart, no mean feat considering the individual and collective brilliance of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins. Jasprit Bumrah, on his maiden Test tour of Australia, finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the series with 21 scalps at an unrivalled strike rate of 44.90 while Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma played excellent supporting roles with 16 and 11 wickets respectively. In contrast, it was off-spinner Nathan Lyon who led the way for the Aussies with 21 wickets. The honours were shared almost evenly among the pace trio — Cummins took 14 and Starc and Hazlewood 13 each — but they weren't quite at their best to find a way past Cheteshwar Pujara and company. During that tour, Bumrah, Shami, and Ishant were at the peak of their physical capabilities too, which meant India could rely on them to maintain their standards over the course of a four-Test series. Both Bumrah and Shami lasted the entire stretch while Ishant, by now a much-improved bowler, played all but one Test.Two years later, in the Covid-affected Australian summer of 2020-21, India's series victory had a miraculous touch to it given the number of injuries and absentees, but in all the drama, twists, and turns that each of the four matches offered, the depth of India's pace resources came to the fore. Even in the fourth and final Test, when the make-up of India's attack had no resemblance to the one that started the series, Shardul Thakur managed seven wickets across the two innings to go with Mohammed Siraj, in only his third Test, claiming his first five-wicket haul in the second innings. Ishant was unavailable for the entire series while Shami had gone home after suffering a fracture on his right forearm in the first Test. Bumrah, too, had to miss the storied, series-winning Gabba Test after 11 scalps in the first three matches.As India embarks on another Test tour of Australia next month, the build-up to the five-Test series — the first of this duration between these teams since 1991-92 — has understandably revolved around the pace department. With an eye on Australia, skipper Rohit Sharma said before the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru last week that the team is looking at creating a pool of eight or nine fast-bowling options. "We want to create a bench strength where tomorrow if anything happens to anyone, we are not worried, and we don't want to be too heavily reliant on a few individuals. That's not the right thing to do. We want to look at the future at the same time, try and make sure that we get the right guys in as well," he said at a press conference. "We want to create guys where even if there are injuries, we have got someone to quickly step in and take that role. It's not about three or four options. When it comes to batting, there are a lot of options. We want to create the same with the bowlers as well."The intention of having a big pool is prudent, but non-negotiable to India's plans will be Bumrah yet again. Gaining legitimacy to be considered India's greatest pacer with every passing performance, he is clearly the most complete fast bowler in the world right now. Whether it's the first over of a Test match or the final over of a T20I, in Mumbai or Manchester, amid glowing sunshine or under overcast skies, Bumrah is the bowler for all seasons and occasions.Joining the leader of the attack on that flight to Australia will be Siraj and Akash Deep. Siraj doesn't always hit his straps, but he has strengthened his credentials over the past four years to be pardoned a few blips. And though Akash, 27, is a rookie in terms of international cricket, the attributes he has exhibited in his three Test appearances suggest he has the tools to evolve into a key member of the pace unit. With Shami facing a race against time to be fit after a setback in his injury rehab, however, it is the identity of the remaining two, or perhaps even three, pacers in the squad that is shrouded in suspense at the moment.By the selectors including Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Mayank Yadav in the travelling reserves for the ongoing Tests versus New Zealand, it can be surmised that they are the leading contenders to make the cut. Having been picked as the fast men in the India-A squad, Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, Khaleel Ahmed, and Navdeep Saini would assume they will also be part of the conversation. Only Saini, who played two Tests on the last tour, has experience of conditions in Australia among this lot.While the pacers below Bumrah, Siraj, and Akash in the pecking order may not have been needed in a shorter series, it is pertinent to reiterate that there will be five Tests packed into a little less than six weeks with a two-day warm-up game also sandwiched between the first two Tests. Cracking series awaits. Even if the injuries that some of India's players suffered in 2020-21 are discounted as a one-off, it is seldom possible for three pacers to go through an entire series of this intensity without encountering problems with either form or fitness. If they somehow can, it may go a long way towards helping India pull off a hat-trick of series wins in Australia. Even if not, another cracking series that adds to the bank of indelible memories of Test cricket in Australia is hopefully in the offing.

Pakistan's national bureau of statistics hosted its inaugural 'Data-Fest' conference this week, just a stone's throw away from England's hotel in Islamabad. Under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, this England set-up has shown minimal interest in numbers, but there is one figure that stands out ahead of their series decider in nearby Rawalpindi: 101.25, Harry Brook's batting average in Pakistan.Two years have passed since Brook announced himself as a Test cricketer with an outrageous maiden hundred in Rawalpindi. He was England's fourth centurion as they racked up 506 for 4 on the opening day of their series against Pakistan, eventually falling for 153 off 116 balls on the second morning after looting 27 off an over from Zahid Mahmood.He followed that innings with subsequent hundreds in England's victories in Multan and Karachi, an extension of a stunning run of form in Pakistan that had started with a century in the 2022 PSL and continued with a breakthrough T20I series. Not since Kevin Pietersen had an England batter made such a compelling start to their Test career.Brook started the series with 317 in Multan on his return this month, a mammoth innings that was England's highest in 34 years. But more than 500km away in Peshawar, Sajid Khan was watching closely on TV, and noticed Brook hanging back against spin. When he was called up for the second Test, Sajid hatched a plan to turn the ball sharply out of the rough."There was a small patch outside off stump," Sajid explained. "When he faced his first ball, I told Rizi bhai [Mohammad Rizwan] that if he plays like this again, I will get him out." Brook stayed back as Sajid predicted, looking to punch through cover, but was beaten on his inside edge by a ball that kept low and had his leg stump knocked back.Brook was out playing off the back foot again in England's second innings, too, this time to the left-armer Noman Ali. He sat deep in his crease to a fullish ball, looking to swing it over midwicket, but was deceived by the low bounce and trapped lbw. With scores of 9 and 16, this was Brook's least successful Test in Pakistan: his first without a hundred, and his first defeat.Brendon McCullum, England's coach, smirked after the second Test when he heard Sajid had been revealing his plans to Brook. "Did he? Well bowled," McCullum said. "He is such an exciting cricketer, and such a big player for us as well, and he's trying to put pressure on the opposition… Sometimes, when you're doing that, you make mistakes and you get out."One quiet Test immediately after a triple-hundred is not enough to prompt any long-term concerns, but Brook said on Tuesday that he has been discussing gameplans against Sajid and Noman ahead of this week's decider. "They're obviously both going to play a massive part in their team," he said. "Hopefully, it pays off and I play a big part in the game."Brook agreed with Sajid's assessment about his preference to play spin off the back foot. "I do like to," he said. "It gives you a lot more time to play the spinning ball. It gives you different areas to play in. I'm not saying I'm not going to do that: I'm going to look to play off the back foot, and I'm going to look to put him under pressure."It is hardly an issue that has plagued him across his Test career: to date, Brook averages more against spin (67.81) than seam (57.70). But the reason that his twin failures were notable was that, having missed England's tour to India on compassionate leave, this was the first time he had played on a pitch weighted firmly in the spinners' favour.England staged a six-hitting competition ahead of their final training session in Rawalpindi on Wednesday morning, with Brook finishing a close second to Rehan Ahmed. Stokes said the aim was to "get the good vibes going" after three weeks largely confined to two hotels and two stadiums, but it also served as a reminder of Brook's devastating power.It is easily forgotten that Brook has still only played 20 Tests, such was the speed with which he became an all-format regular for England. He has a stellar record, averaging a shade below 60, but remains a work in progress. "He's a baby in the greater scheme of things," Jason Gillespie, Pakistan's coach, said. "He'll work things out in all conditions: the good players tend to do that."This has been a long season for Brook: since the start of April, he has played more or less non-stop, with 35 matches across formats including eight Tests, five ODIs as a stand-in captain, and a T20 World Cup. Thursday's Rawalpindi Test will finally bring it to a close, even if he will only have a short break before England travel to New Zealand.As a three-format player, Brook is growing accustomed to the relentlessness of the international schedule and will soon become used to opponents targeting what they perceive to be potential weaknesses. If he can overcome both pitfalls and maintain his remarkable three-figure average in Pakistan, it will go a long way towards England clinching this series.

Pakistan's recent Test victory over England in the second Test was a testament to the team's resilience and adaptability. However, head coach Jason Gillespie downplayed his role in the triumph, emphasizing that the decisions made after the first Test defeat were largely out of his hands.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed a new selection committee, including former umpire Aleem Dar and Aaqib Javed, and excluded Gillespie and captain Shan Masood from the selection process. Gillespie acknowledged that he was now solely responsible for match-day strategy and player preparation.This shift in responsibilities contrasts with Gillespie's initial mandate when he took over the role earlier this year. He had previously expressed a desire to make long-term decisions for the team's development. However, the decision to field a spin-heavy attack and prepare a surface to assist them appears to contradict his earlier stance against short-termism.Gillespie declined to comment on the team's composition, stating that he was no longer involved in the selection process. He acknowledged the unusual nature of his situation, but emphasized his focus on protecting the players from external noise and fostering a positive environment.Despite the limited scope of his current role, Gillespie praised the players' resilience and ability to stay calm under pressure. He highlighted the team's ability to recover from early setbacks and the collapse triggered by Sajid Khan's bowling on Day 2.Gillespie emphasized the importance of communication and collaboration within the support staff. He expressed pride in the relationships built with the players and the team's ability to stay focused on the controllable aspects of the game.

Former England captain Alastair Cook believes that Joe Root has the potential to become the leading run-scorer in Test cricket history, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Root recently surpassed Cook to become England's leading scorer in Test cricket during the ongoing series against Pakistan in Multan.Cook, who watched Root achieve this milestone, expressed his admiration and congratulated him. "I watched the moment, then I rang him after the end of the play," Cook said. "I couldn't think of the right words to write in a text message. So I thought I'd just ring him, see what he was up to, and make sure he had a beer in his hand, which I think he did."Root's current run tally stands at 12,716, just 3,206 runs shy of Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs. Cook believes that Root has the ability to reach this milestone. "I think Joe Root could set a mark, certainly on an English side, that'll be very hard to beat," Cook said. "But you just never know. I hope he can get very close, if not be the first person who scores 16,000 Test runs. It'd be a great achievement."Before surpassing Tendulkar's record, Root must first overtake six other players: Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs), Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs), Kumar Sangakkara (12,400 runs), Brian Lara (11,953 runs), and Mahela Jayawardene (11,814 runs).Root will continue his pursuit of Tendulkar's record in the third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, beginning on Thursday. If he continues to perform at his current level, he has a good chance of achieving this historic milestone.

New Zealand's skipper Tom Latham has emphasized the team's adaptability and focus on utilizing their bowling options effectively in the upcoming second Test against India. Despite their historic eight-wicket victory in the opening Test in Bengaluru, Latham stressed the importance of not having preconceived notions about the pitch conditions."We're trying to adapt as quickly as we can," Latham stated. "If it's a wicket that turns a little bit more, we've got four spinners in our line-up, but it's also about trying not to go into the game with too many preconceived ideas."Latham acknowledged that he has considered how to best utilize the team's spinners, including Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, and Glenn Phillips. He emphasized the need to gather information from previous matches and practice wickets to prepare for the conditions.Despite their impressive victory in Bengaluru, Latham emphasized that the team is not resting on its laurels. "We celebrated what was a special performance, but our attention has turned quickly to this game," he said. "We're trying to take the confidence from last week and take that into this game."Latham also addressed his lack of big scores, stating that his focus is on contributing to the team's success. "I've certainly been working hard behind the scenes to get my game where I want it to be," he said. "As a batsman, it's a really fine line."Latham praised Rachin Ravindra's approach in the first Test, highlighting his ability to balance attack and defense. "The way he played throughout that whole innings was outstanding," Latham said. "He put the foot down a little bit, played a little bit more attacking at certain stages, and then obviously sucked up a little bit of pressure at times as well."Regarding Kane Williamson's absence, Latham stated that he is working closely with the medical team. "It's a day-by-day thing with Kane," he said. "Hopefully, we'll find out a little bit more after the Test."

Pakistan's unwavering faith in their spin-heavy strategy has led them to field an unchanged starting eleven for the decisive third Test against England in Rawalpindi. This decision comes after their resounding 152-run victory in the second Test in Multan, where their triple-spin attack proved highly effective.The decision to retain the same lineup is a testament to Pakistan's belief in the curators' efforts to transform the Rawalpindi surface into a spin-friendly haven. Historically, the Pindi pitch has not been conducive to spin, but the curators have been working tirelessly to alter its behavior.Industrial-sized fans and heaters have been deployed to dry out the surface, while windbreakers have been placed around the pitch to prevent moisture from seeping in. Footmarks are visible on the strip, particularly outside the left-hander's off-stump, indicating that the pitch may offer assistance to spinners.Pakistan's head coach, Jason Gillespie, acknowledged the unique nature of the pitch. "It's an interesting pitch," he said. "We expect it to favor the slower balls here."The series is currently level at 1-1, with both teams eager to secure a series victory. Pakistan is seeking their first series win since their 2-0 triumph in Sri Lanka in July, while England is aiming to avoid a series defeat.Pakistan's unchanged lineup features Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mahmood.

Under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir, the Indian cricket team has adopted an aggressive approach, prioritizing fearless play and strategic decision-making for the team's success. Gambhir believes that the advent of T20 cricket will reduce the frequency of draws in Test matches."Draws are boring. With T20 cricket around, I don't think we will see a lot of draws in Tests," Gambhir stated at a press conference ahead of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune.The Indian team has kept its playing XI for the second Test under wraps, as is customary for the home team. "In any Test match, picking up a playing XI is always tough. It is always good to have competition," Gambhir said.New Zealand currently holds a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after their eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru. The defeat was a humbling experience for India, who had previously swept Bangladesh 2-0, including a rain-affected victory in Kanpur."Cricket, sports are a big leveller. If we have enjoyed days like Kanpur we had to endure what happened in Bengaluru. We didn't show any intention to bat out the remainder of the two and a half days," Gambhir said of the Bengaluru loss, where India was dismissed for 46 in the first innings, their lowest-ever total at home.Winning the remaining two Tests is now the top priority for Rohit Sharma and his team before they embark on a five-Test series in Australia.