Cricket

Kane Williamson's return from injury has bolstered New Zealand's squad for the upcoming Test series against England, while Nathan Smith has earned his maiden Test call-up.Williamson, who missed the recent tour of India due to a groin injury, has recovered in time to take his place in the squad. His return could put pressure on Will Young, who impressed as player of the series in India.Smith, a 26-year-old allrounder, has been rewarded for his impressive performances in domestic cricket. He was the leading wicket-taker in last season's Plunket Shield and has also performed well for Worcestershire in the County Championship.Uncapped seamer Jacob Duffy has also been included in the squad, while Bear Sears and Kyle Jamieson are unavailable due to injuries. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in Pune, will join the group for the second and third Tests in Wellington and Hamilton.Ajaz Patel, who claimed 15 wickets against India, has been omitted from the squad, meaning his record of taking all 85 of his Test wickets away from home will remain intact for now.The opening Test against England takes place in Christchurch from November 28. New Zealand will be looking to build on their 3-0 win in India, which has given them a chance of reaching the World Test Championship final."It's obviously a big series for the side in terms of the World Test Championship and to also now be farewelling someone like Tim Southee, only raises it up further," said New Zealand selector Sam Wells."Tim has had a fabulous career and will go down as one of the great Black Caps. I am sure the team and the public will want to give Tim a fitting send-off in what is a highly anticipated series."

Virat Kohli, India's batting maestro, is poised to make history as he prepares to face Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, commencing on November 22 in Perth. Despite a recent dip in form, Kohli's impressive track record in Australia makes this series an ideal stage for him to rediscover his peak performance and leave an indelible mark on the game.Kohli is on the cusp of several significant milestones during this series. He is just 458 runs away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 1,809 Test runs in Australia, a feat that would solidify his status as India's greatest batter on Australian soil. Additionally, he is within striking distance of becoming the visiting player with the most Test centuries in Australia, currently trailing English legends Jack Hobbs and Wally Hammond by just one century.The Adelaide Oval holds a special place in Kohli's heart, as it is his most successful Australian venue. With 509 runs in four Tests at an average of 63.62, he is just 102 runs away from surpassing Brian Lara's tally of 610 runs and becoming the highest-scoring visiting batter at this iconic ground.Beyond Test cricket, Kohli is also in contention to top the list for most fifty-plus scores in international cricket by a visiting batter in Australia. He currently boasts an impressive 30 fifty-plus scores across all formats, putting him in the running alongside legends Viv Richards and Desmond Haynes.Kohli's consistent performance in Australia extends to overall international runs. He has accumulated 3,426 runs across all formats, putting him 126 runs ahead of Sachin Tendulkar's record of 3,300 runs. He is also aiming to become the first Indian to reach 4,000 international runs on Australian soil, requiring 574 more runs to achieve this milestone.The Adelaide Oval has been particularly kind to Kohli, as he has already notched five centuries at the venue. Scoring another century there wouldn't just make him the first visiting player to reach 1,000 runs at the venue, but also surpass Jack Hobbs' record of five centuries at the MCG.This series will mark Kohli's 100th international match against Australia, likely during the third Test at The Gabba. This achievement would make him the second Indian to reach this milestone, joining the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar who has played 110 matches against the Aussies.Kohli's current tally of 16 centuries against Australia puts him in a strong position to chase down Sachin Tendulkar's record of 20 international centuries against the Aussies.Having faced a challenging year with the bat, scoring just 488 runs in 19 matches across formats at an average of 20.33, Kohli will be eager to use this series as a platform for redemption. Australia has historically been a happy hunting ground for him, and his performance in this series holds the potential to shape not only the outcome of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also cement his legacy in Test cricket.

Tim Southee, New Zealand's legendary seam bowler, has announced his retirement from Test cricket after a remarkable 18-year career. The 35-year-old will bid farewell to the longest format of the game on his home ground in Hamilton next month, at the conclusion of England's tour of New Zealand.Southee has been a cornerstone of the Black Caps' bowling attack since making his debut against England in 2008. He has claimed 385 Test wickets in 104 appearances, second only to Sir Richard Hadlee (431) among New Zealanders. His impressive tally includes 15 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket matches.Southee's recent performances have been particularly noteworthy. He played a key role in New Zealand's historic 3-0 series win in India, the first by a visiting team since 2012-13. Despite claiming just three wickets across the first two Tests, he dismissed India's captain, Rohit Sharma, for a duck in the series opener and their top-scorer, Sarfaraz Khan, for 150 in the second innings.Southee's retirement marks the end of an era for New Zealand cricket. He is the country's most prolific bowler in international cricket, with 770 wickets across formats to date. No other bowler in international cricket has matched his feat of reaching 300 Test wickets, 200 ODI wickets, and 100 T20I wickets.Beyond his bowling prowess, Southee has also been a valuable contributor with the bat. He has scored 93 Test sixes, second only to Brendon McCullum among New Zealanders. His maiden Test innings in 2008 saw him strike an unbeaten 77, which remains his highest score in the format.Southee's retirement announcement has been met with tributes from around the cricket world. He is widely regarded as one of the finest bowlers of his generation and a true ambassador for the game.

India's shock 0-3 Test series defeat to New Zealand has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The loss, their first at home in nearly 12 years, has raised questions about India's preparation and mindset.Former Australian pacer Brett Lee believes India underestimated New Zealand, a team they have traditionally dominated at home. "They went into the series thinking they'd whitewash the Kiwis," Lee said. "That's no disrespect to the Kiwis, but India are so powerful on home soil."Lee's comments highlight the complacency that may have crept into the Indian camp. India's recent home record has been impeccable, with their last Test series loss coming against England in 2012. This may have led them to believe that victory over New Zealand was a foregone conclusion.However, New Zealand's spin duo of Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel proved to be India's undoing. The pair exploited the turning tracks, exposing the Indian batters' vulnerability against spin.Despite the setback, Lee believes India will be motivated heading into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "This is a great learning curve for all out there," he said. "They are going to come in strong."Lee also urged star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to hit the "reset button." "When you have a couple of bad runs back-to-back, that's when the pressure could set in," he said. "They need to go back to the drawing board and work on their technique."India's defeat has put their hopes of reaching a third straight World Test Championship (WTC) final in jeopardy. They now need to win the remaining two Tests against Australia to qualify for the final.

Veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja has extended his support to his new opening partner, Nathan McSweeney, ahead of their Test debut against India in Perth. Khawaja emphasized the importance of McSweeney playing to his strengths rather than attempting to emulate David Warner, who he described as a "special player."Khawaja, who has amassed nearly 5,500 runs in 73 Tests, believes that the notion of needing to score runs at a rapid pace is a misconception. He advised McSweeney to focus on "repeating the process" that has brought him success in the past."I don't know where this myth started that you needed someone to score really fast. As an opener, you're trying to score runs, and you've got five days to do it," Khawaja said. "Opening is as much about scoring runs as it is about absorbing that time."Khawaja acknowledged Warner's exceptional ability to switch gears effortlessly in the Test format. However, he cautioned McSweeney against trying to replicate Warner's style."Davey (Warner) was special. He could score runs while absorbing. He could sometimes score 100 off 100 balls, but he didn't do it every time. Sometimes it took him 170, 180 balls to get that 100," Khawaja said. "He was consistent, he was out there, he was setting a platform for guys later to come in and score runs."Khawaja expressed confidence in McSweeney's ability to both score runs and bat time. "I think Nathan does that really well. He can score runs, but he can also bat time. They're really important facets to have in Test cricket if you want to set games up."Khawaja warned McSweeney that there were "no guarantees in cricket" but said that the 25-year-old batter didn't "have to do anything different" in the Test arena. "You just try to repeat the process... The only thing that really changes is that you have a few more people watching."Khawaja believes that McSweeney has the temperament and skills to handle the demands of Test cricket. "You always go through ups and downs in cricket, but when you look at Nathan, you look at his demeanor, you look at the way he plays, you feel that over a longer period of time that, yes, this guy will be able to handle the scrutiny of Test cricket and the pressure of Test cricket."

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between Australia and India promises to be an enthralling spectacle, with both teams eager to prove their dominance. For the Indian cricketers, the challenge of playing in Australia's demanding conditions looms large.Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar emphasized the significance of the series, stating that it presents the ultimate test for Indian cricketers. India's recent dominance in the series, with four consecutive series wins, has instilled a sense of confidence within the team. However, Nayar cautioned that overcoming the challenges of Australian conditions requires a special mindset."It's one of the toughest challenges for an Indian cricketer, coming here and overcoming it," Nayar said. "I think a lot of the young boys are really keen and raring to go and hopefully make a name for themselves by the end of this tour."The Border-Gavaskar series will commence on November 22 with the first Test at Perth. The second Test, scheduled for December 6-10 at Adelaide Oval, will feature the captivating day-night format. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14-18, followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26-30. The series will culminate with the fifth and final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3-7.India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Series includes a blend of experienced and promising players. Rohit Sharma will lead the team, with Jasprit Bumrah serving as vice-captain. Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, and Virat Kohli are among the senior players expected to play key roles.The series is poised to be a fierce battle between two of the world's top cricketing nations. India will be determined to extend its winning streak, while Australia will be eager to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on home soil.

India's Young Guns Embark on Transformative Test Series in AustraliaIndia's upcoming Test series against Australia is poised to be a transformative experience for the team's younger members, who will be making their maiden appearances on Australian soil. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players like Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah have emphasized the profound impact that a Test series in Australia can have on a player's development.For players like Yashaswi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna, this series will be a baptism of fire. They will have the opportunity to prove their mettle against one of the world's most formidable cricketing nations.Kohli, Ashwin, and Bumrah, who have all experienced the rigors of Test cricket in Australia, have shared their invaluable insights with the younger players. They have stressed the importance of embracing the challenges and learning from the experience."Gauti bhai (Gambhir) had a chat with the boys just before we started, we had some of the senior boys as well," said assistant coach Paras Mhambrey. "Booms (Bumrah), Virat, Ash (Ashwin) having a chat with the guys how first they came here as youngsters with a lot of seniors around and how they sort of felt that once you finish an Australia series you go back a better cricketer."Bowling coach Morne Morkel described the series as "a showpiece on the international calendar" and predicted that both teams would engage in intense competition."I think it's a showpiece on the international calendar since it's going to be teams that not going to give anybody an inch or a sniff and it is going to be hard-fought sessions," said Morkel.Since 2014-15, Australia has not been able to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India winning four consecutive series. India remains the only Asian nation to defeat Australia in a Test series on their home soil."It's become a big part of Indian cricket to come here and do well. It's obviously a very proud moment that India won here twice in the last two times as well as winning it in India," said assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.The young Indian players are eager to make a name for themselves and contribute to the team's success. They will be tested to their limits, but the experience they gain will undoubtedly shape their careers.

Australia's Usman Khawaja has shared his insights on facing India's enigmatic fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, acknowledging the initial awkwardness of his unique action but emphasizing that it becomes more manageable with familiarity.Khawaja, who has faced 155 deliveries from Bumrah in seven Test innings, has managed to score 43 runs without being dismissed. He attributes this to adjusting to Bumrah's unconventional bowling style."Initially, it's his action that stands out," Khawaja explained. "It's different and bizarre, with his release point much higher than other bowlers. He seems to push the ball out further, making it appear faster than expected."However, Khawaja believes that once batters become accustomed to Bumrah's action, they can better anticipate his deliveries. "It's fine once you get used to it," he said. "I've played against him a lot, and while he can still dismiss me early, it's not as awkward as the first time."Despite the focus on Bumrah, Khawaja cautions against overlooking the rest of India's bowling attack. "They have a lot of other good bowlers," he said. "Mohammed Siraj is excellent against both right-handers and left-handers. Mohammed Shami is underrated, and they have quality spinners as well."Khawaja emphasizes the importance of not dwelling on Bumrah's threat but rather focusing on scoring runs against him. "I'm not thinking about where he's getting me out," he said. "I'm thinking about where I can score runs. That's what good batsmen do. If he misses, I'll capitalize; if he bowls well, I'll respect it."With Australia set to face India in a five-match Test series, Khawaja's experience against Bumrah will be invaluable. The series begins on November 22 in Perth, and Khawaja will be expected to play a key role as Australia's opening batsman.

South Africa's fast-bowling spearhead Lungi Ngidi has been sidelined for an extended period due to a groin injury, ruling him out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and the all-format tour of Pakistan. The setback is a significant blow to the Proteas, who are set to embark on a crucial home summer.Ngidi's injury was detected during a medical assessment as part of his structured conditioning program. Scans revealed bilateral proximal adductor tendinopathy, a condition that affects the tendons in the groin area. The 26-year-old will now undergo a rehabilitation program and is expected to return to action in January.Meanwhile, South Africa's Test captain Temba Bavuma remains a doubt for the first Test against Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin on November 27 in Durban. Bavuma has been recovering from a left elbow injury sustained during the ODI series against Ireland last month. He will undergo a fitness test on November 18 to determine his availability.If Bavuma is unable to play, Aiden Markram will lead the Proteas. However, Markram's recent form has been underwhelming, with the batter failing to score more than 33 in his last six Test innings. Ryan Rickelton, who played in the Tests against Bangladesh, could retain Bavuma's spot in the batting order.Bavuma's injury is a concern for South Africa, who are aiming to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Proteas need to win all four home Tests to secure their spot at Lord's, but three wins and other favorable results could also get them there.South Africa's Test schedule for the home summer is as follows:* 1st Test vs. Sri Lanka: November 27-December 1, Durban* 2nd Test vs. Sri Lanka: December 6-10, Centurion* 1st Test vs. Pakistan: December 26-30, Centurion* 2nd Test vs. Pakistan: January 3-7, Johannesburg* 3rd Test vs. Pakistan: January 11-15, Rawalpindi