Cricket

The highly anticipated Test series between India and New Zealand shifts to Pune for the second match, commencing on Thursday, October 24. The hosts, led by Rohit Sharma, will be eager to redeem themselves after their disappointing defeat in the first Test in Bengaluru.In the opening match, New Zealand emerged victorious by a commanding 8 wickets, largely due to India's disastrous first innings collapse, where they were bundled out for a mere 46 runs. Despite a valiant fightback in the second innings, the Indian batsmen were unable to salvage the match.Both teams have now set up camp in Pune, hoping for favorable weather conditions that will allow for a full five days of play. According to the latest weather forecast, the opening day of the match is expected to be partly cloudy, with temperatures hovering around the early 30s. The cloud cover is predicted to be 58% in the morning, reducing to 43% in the afternoon.India's victory in Pune would significantly strengthen their position at the top of the World Test Championship 2023-25 table. To bolster their squad, they have added spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar. New Zealand, on the other hand, will continue to be without their regular skipper Kane Williamson, who is still undergoing rehabilitation.The second Test promises to be an intriguing contest, with both teams determined to prove their mettle. India will be looking to bounce back from their Bengaluru setback, while New Zealand will aim to maintain their momentum and secure a series victory.

Pakistan's relentless pursuit of a turning track for the final Test against England in Rawalpindi has reached unprecedented levels. With the second Test in Multan concluding in a predictable manner, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has spared no effort in preparing a surface that will favor their spinners.Before the second Test ended, officials were already dispatched to Rawalpindi to oversee the pitch preparation. Post-match, Shan Masood expressed his desire for a turning surface. Giant heaters and windbreakers were strategically placed around the pitch to accelerate the deterioration process.England, on the other hand, has taken note of Pakistan's tactics. Harry Brook believes the Pindi surface has been "raked" to hasten its breakdown. In response, England has named a playing XI with only one specialist seamer, Gus Atkinson, and legspinner Rehan Ahmed.Pakistan's extreme measures stem from the fact that the Pindi pitch naturally favors fast bowlers. Unlike in Multan, where a used surface was available, the PCB is attempting to alter the surface's behavior. Masood and Saud Shakeel have acknowledged that Pindi has historically not been conducive to spin.However, Pakistan's recent success on a crumbling track in Multan has emboldened them to seek a similar advantage in Rawalpindi. Shakeel emphasized the importance of adapting pitch preparation to the opposition and series.Pakistan's shift towards spin-friendly pitches is a departure from their previous strategy of preparing seam-friendly surfaces to develop their young fast bowlers. However, a prolonged winless streak at home has forced a rethink.The PCB now recognizes the need to tailor pitches to specific series and opponents. Shakeel believes that preparing for SENA conditions can be done through practice and first-class cricket, while home pitches should be designed to exploit the opposition's weaknesses.Pakistan has yet to name their XI for the final Test, but the inclusion of three spinners remains a possibility. Legspinner Zahid Mahmood's ineffectiveness in Multan could slightly increase the chances of a specialist seamer being selected.

Former England captain Alastair Cook believes that New Zealand's Kane Williamson is the only player who can match the exceptional form of Joe Root at present. Root, along with Virat Kohli and Steven Smith, forms the 'Fab Four' of Test cricket. However, Root has consistently outperformed his rivals in recent years.With 12,716 Test runs, Root is just 3,206 runs behind Sachin Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs. Root's remarkable consistency has made him a formidable force in Test cricket.Cook, who played alongside Root for England, is impressed by his friend's unwavering hunger for runs. "I think at this precise moment in time, I find it hard to see anyone playing as well as Joe Root," Cook said. "Over the last year or so of the so-called 'Big Four', I think Williamson and him are probably in the best form at the moment."Williamson, who is also part of the 'Fab Four', has been in excellent form himself. However, a groin strain has ruled him out of the first two Tests of New Zealand's series against India.Cook believes that both Root and Williamson possess a unique combination of talent and determination. "They're all wonderful, wonderful players, all very different, actually, in their methods and ways of playing," Cook said. "But one thing which, kind of unites them is that hunger and desire to keep improving and keep churning out the runs."Root is currently playing in the three-match Test series against Pakistan, while Williamson is expected to return for the third Test against India. The battle between these two exceptional batsmen will be one of the highlights of the upcoming Test matches.

Shubman Gill's return to the Indian Test squad for the second match against New Zealand has boosted the team's morale after their disappointing loss in the first Test. Gill, who missed the Bengaluru Test due to an injury, is expected to play a crucial role in India's batting lineup.India's batting woes were evident in the first Test, where they were bowled out for a mere 46 runs in their first innings. The absence of Gill, a talented opener, was keenly felt as the team struggled to build partnerships.However, with Gill back in the fold, India will be hoping for a much-improved performance in the second Test. The 23-year-old has been in impressive form in recent months, scoring a century in the first Test against Bangladesh and a half-century in the second.India's bowling coach, Ryan Ten Doeschate, confirmed Gill's availability, stating that he is "fine for this Test." This news will come as a relief to captain Rohit Sharma, who will be looking to his team to bounce back from their defeat in Bengaluru.The second Test will be played from October 24 to October 28 in Mumbai. India will be eager to level the series and gain momentum ahead of the third and final Test in Indore.

South Australia's Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey has continued his impressive form with an unbeaten century against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield clash at Allan Border Field. Carey's 123 not out from 163 deliveries has put South Australia in a commanding position, leading by 358 runs with a declaration likely overnight.Carey, who is averaging 122 across four knocks this summer, has sent a strong message to the Indian team ahead of the upcoming Test series. Unfazed by the second new ball, Carey notched his second century of the summer by blasting paceman Mark Steketee for three consecutive boundaries in the final hour of play on Tuesday.Earlier, Carey brought up his half-century pulling Tom Whitney's short ball to the boundary. Whitney, who took five wickets in the first innings, backed up his performance with three key scalps early on day three before a minor heel injury prevented him from bowling further.South Australian skipper Nathan McSweeney also continued his excellent form, making 72 to push his case for a Test call-up. McSweeney's innings ended when he was caught at first slip by Usman Khawaja off Mitchell Swepson.In the spotlight since his omission from the Australia A squad, Test hopeful Matt Renshaw grabbed a headline moment late on day three with a brilliant catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Jake Lehmann from Marnus Labuschagne's part-time leg-spin. Labuschagne also took a catch above his head to send Liam Scott packing.With Carey and Jordan Buckingham unbeaten at the crease, South Australia is poised to declare overnight and set Queensland a challenging target.

England's spin trio of Rehan Ahmed, Shoaib Bashir, and Jack Leach will take on Pakistan's spinners on a Rawalpindi pitch that has been prepared to favor the home team's slow bowlers. The move is a gamble, as it leaves England with only two fast-bowling options in Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes.Ahmed, who made his Test debut in Pakistan two years ago, has been recalled to the side after a disappointing tour of India earlier this year. He will be expected to provide England with a third spin option alongside Bashir and Leach.Pakistan has gone to great lengths to dry out the pitch in Rawalpindi, using rakes, fans, and heaters. The move is an attempt to replicate the conditions in Multan, where Pakistan won the second Test by 152 runs on a recycled strip.England's decision to field three spinners is a risk, but it is one that they believe is necessary. The pitch in Rawalpindi has historically suited seam over spin, but it has also been among the world's best for batting since its return to staging Tests in 2019.England will need to bat well on the first few days of the Test if they are to avoid falling behind. The pitch is expected to turn earlier than usual, which could give Pakistan's spinners a chance to make early inroads.Harry Brook, who was dismissed for 9 and 16 by Pakistan's spinners in the second Test, believes that Sajid Khan and Noman Ali will play a "massive part" in Rawalpindi. "I've spoken to a few of the lads about gameplans and how we're going to go about it," he said. "Hopefully, it pays off and I play a big part in the game."England's team for the third Test is as follows:1. Zak Crawley2. Ben Duckett3. Ollie Pope4. Joe Root5. Harry Brook6. Ben Stokes (capt)7. Jamie Smith (wk)8. Gus Atkinson9. Rehan Ahmed10. Jack Leach11. Shoaib Bashir

Joe Root's remarkable Test career has reached new heights, with the former England captain surpassing Alastair Cook as his country's leading run-scorer. Cook, who witnessed Root's historic achievement in Multan, Pakistan, expressed his admiration and belief that Root has the potential to become the most prolific run-scorer in Test cricket history, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.Root's current tally of 12,716 runs places him just 3,206 runs behind Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs. While the task may seem daunting, Cook believes that Root's exceptional talent and longevity could make it a reality."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."Root's journey to the top has been marked by consistency and brilliance. He has scored over 1,000 runs in a calendar year on seven occasions, including a record-breaking 1,786 runs in 2021. His ability to adapt to different conditions and bowl types has made him one of the most feared batsmen in the world.As Root continues to pile up runs, cricket fans are witnessing a potential shift in the history books. Tendulkar's record has stood for over two decades, but Root's relentless pursuit of excellence could see him break the unbreakable.

Former England opener Alastair Cook, recently inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, has lauded the aggressive and boundary-pushing approach of the current England Test team under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Cook believes that the team's "Bazball" brand of cricket is unprecedented in its relentless pursuit of runs.Cook, who witnessed the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final in the UAE, acknowledged the significant evolution in Test cricket. He attributed the shift to Eoin Morgan's leadership in one-day cricket and Stokes's transformative influence in the Test arena.England's recent first Test against Pakistan exemplified their attacking mindset, with Harry Brook's blistering 317 becoming the second-fastest triple century in history. Cook emphasized that England's strength lies in the collective aggression of its players, rather than isolated feats.However, Cook cautioned against overlooking past greats who also possessed belligerent batting styles. He cited Virender Sehwag's record-breaking triple century in 2008 as an example. Nonetheless, he believes that the current England team is pushing the boundaries of run-scoring like never before."I have never seen a team push the boundaries quite as much as this England team have done," Cook said. "There have obviously been great sides in the past who would score quickly, but not quite as quickly as this side seemed able and willing to do."Cook believes that the increased aggression in red-ball cricket is a positive development, as it ultimately leads to more runs being scored. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the end product rather than comparing generations of players.Cook's induction into the ICC Hall of Fame alongside Neetu David and AB de Villiers is a testament to his exceptional career. As the England-Pakistan series reaches its conclusion, Cook's insights provide valuable context for the ongoing transformation of Test cricket.

After suffering a disappointing eight-wicket defeat in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Team India has made a strategic change by adding Washington Sundar to their squad for the remaining two Tests. Sundar, a right-arm off-spinner and left-handed batsman, was not initially included in the squad or even the reserves.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has analyzed the rationale behind Sundar's inclusion. He noted that Sundar's recent century for Tamil Nadu against Delhi may have played a role. However, Chopra also raised concerns about the fitness of R Ashwin, who was brought in to bowl late in the final innings of the Bengaluru Test and bowled only two overs."The question that comes to mind is - what is the Indian team thinking?" Chopra said. "Do they want to play another spinner? There were already plenty of fast bowlers in the traveling reserves. Is Ashwin not fully fit?"Chopra questioned the logic behind not bowling Ashwin more extensively in the fourth innings, suggesting that he may be carrying an injury. "Was it because of that he was given only two overs on the last day?" he asked. "He was bowled when the match was over. It just did not make sense that you don't bowl Ashwin at all."Sundar's inclusion could indicate that the Indian team is considering playing two spinners in the remaining Tests. However, it remains to be seen whether Ashwin's fitness will allow him to play a full role.