Cricket

The upcoming India vs Australia Test series is highly anticipated, with former England captain Michael Vaughan predicting a 3-1 victory for the hosts. The five-match series, scheduled to commence on November 22 in Australia, is considered the pinnacle of Test cricket.India has dominated the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in recent years, retaining it for the last four series, including two victories in Australia. However, Vaughan believes the Aussies have a strong chance of reclaiming the trophy this time around.Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist also predicts a 3-2 win for his home team, while former India batting star Yuvraj Singh foresees a 3-2 victory for India.The series will feature matches in Perth, Adelaide (pink-ball Test), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. India has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 10 times, while Australia has claimed it on 5 occasions. Australia's last Test series win against India came in 2014-15, while their last series victory in India was in 2004-05.The upcoming series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top Test teams. India will be looking to continue their dominance, while Australia will be eager to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has expressed his cautious optimism regarding Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team. Gambhir, who took over the reins from Rahul Dravid in July, has overseen India's emphatic 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai. However, Tamim believes it is premature to fully assess Gambhir's impact."When you're winning, you don't know the real character of the man," Tamim said. "It's only when you lose a series, then you lose another, that the real character comes out."Tamim acknowledged Gambhir's capabilities but emphasized the need for time to evaluate his performance. "No doubt, he is a capable man, but it's too early," he said. "Let India have a bad game, then we will see what comes out."Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first in the second Test in Kanpur. India, who lead the two-match series 1-0, have fielded an unchanged side. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have made two changes, with Khaled Ahmed and Taijul Islam replacing Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana.The start of the match was delayed due to a wet outfield. India had won the opening Test by a commanding margin of 280 runs.

Australia's success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy hinges on their ability to neutralize India's formidable spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, according to all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.India has won the last two Test series in Australia, becoming the only Asian nation to achieve this feat. Maxwell believes that Ashwin and Jadeja have played a pivotal role in India's dominance, often dictating the outcome of matches."Over a long period of time, having played against guys like Ashwin and Jadeja, those two seem to have always been the ones we've faced consistently, and the battles we've had with them have often dictated the outcome of the game," Maxwell said.Maxwell, who no longer plays Test cricket for Australia, emphasized the importance of nullifying the Indian spinners. The Ashwin-Jadeja combination has taken a staggering 821 wickets in 330 innings, including 50 five-wicket hauls."If we play well against those two (Ashwin, Jadeja), we'll generally find ourselves in a better position compared to when they've had a field day and run through us," Maxwell added.Maxwell also praised India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for his remarkable transformation into an all-format bowler. He hailed Bumrah as the best in the business at the moment."And probably, more recently, Jasprit Bumrah. I was there in his first year of the IPL in 2013 at Mumbai and pretty much faced him every day in the nets," Maxwell said. "To see him evolve from a young, untapped talent to what he is now—the probably best bowler across all three formats—is a pretty amazing story."

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian spinner, has etched his name in the annals of Test cricket history by becoming the Indian bowler with the most Test wickets in Asia. During the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, Ashwin claimed the wicket of Najmul Hossain Shanto, taking his tally to 420 wickets in Asia. This achievement saw him surpass the previous record held by Anil Kumble, who had 419 wickets in the continent.Ashwin's journey to this milestone has been marked by consistency and excellence. In 102 Test matches, he has amassed a staggering 523 wickets, with his performances in Asia standing out. By reaching 420 wickets, he joins an elite club of bowlers who have taken over 400 wickets in Asia.The legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for the most Test wickets in Asia, with an impressive 612 wickets out of his overall 800 wicket haul in the continent. Ashwin and Anil Kumble are the only other bowlers to have taken more than 400 wickets in Asia.Next on the list after Muralitharan, Ashwin, and Kumble is another Sri Lankan, Ranganath Herath, with 354 Test wickets in Asia. Following him is India's Harbhajan Singh, with 300 wickets in Asia to his name.Ashwin's milestone is a testament to his skill, longevity, and resilience in the sport. His ability to spin the ball prodigiously and extract turn from even the flattest of pitches has made him a formidable force in Test cricket. His success in Asia, where pitches often favor spinners, highlights his adaptability and mastery of the craft.This achievement is not only a personal triumph for Ashwin but also a proud moment for Indian cricket. It showcases the depth and talent of Indian spin bowling and reinforces India's dominance in the Test format, especially in Asian conditions.

Sri Lanka's dominance continued unabated on day two of the Test against New Zealand, as they extended their first innings total to 402 for 5 at lunch. Despite the overcast conditions and increased turn for the spinners, the hosts remained in control, thanks to an unbeaten 93 from Kamindu Mendis.The session began with Angelo Mathews adding 10 runs to his overnight tally before falling to Glenn Phillips' nagging line and length. Phillips struck again just before lunch, dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva for 44. However, Mendis' presence at the crease ensured that Sri Lanka maintained their momentum.Mendis, who became the first batter to score fifty-plus in each of his first eight Tests, continued his impressive form. He struck boundaries off Will O'Rourke and Mitchell Santner, showcasing his ability to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking.De Silva, who had launched Phillips for a six early in his innings, was eventually undone by the off-spinner's variations. Looking to sweep, he top-edged the ball, which was well caught by Tom Blundell.Despite the late wicket, Sri Lanka remained in a strong position. Mendis, who has yet to be dismissed in the match, is closing in on a fifth Test century. His partnership with de Silva was the fifth fifty-plus stand of the innings, highlighting the depth of Sri Lanka's batting lineup.New Zealand's bowlers, led by Phillips, have struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batsmen. Phillips has taken three wickets, but his economy rate of 6.50 is a testament to the ease with which the hosts have scored runs.

Toss for India-Bangladesh Test Delayed Due to Wet OutfieldThe toss for the second Test between India and Bangladesh has been delayed due to a wet outfield following overnight rain in Dhaka on Friday, September 27, 2024.Overnight rain left the outfield saturated, prompting the ground staff to bring out super-soppers to dry the pitch. An inspection is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. local time to determine if play can commence.India defeated Bangladesh by 280 runs in the opening Test in Chennai, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The second Test is crucial for Bangladesh to level the series, while India will aim to seal the victory.The wet outfield has cast a shadow over the start of the second Test, but both teams will be eager to take to the field as soon as possible. The toss delay has given the players and officials time to assess the conditions and prepare for the match.The weather forecast for Dhaka over the next few days is mixed, with a chance of further rain. However, the ground staff is working diligently to ensure that the outfield is ready for play as soon as possible.

Josh Hull, the promising Leicestershire left-arm seamer, has been ruled out of England's Test tour of Pakistan due to a persistent quad injury. The 20-year-old sustained the niggle during his debut in the final Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval.Initially, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) believed Hull had sufficient time to recover and withdrew him from the limited-overs series against Australia. However, the injury has lingered, forcing the decision to exclude him from the three-Test series in Pakistan.England will not call up a replacement and will travel to Pakistan with a 16-man squad on October 1. The first Test in Multan commences on October 7.Hull's selection for the tour was intended to accelerate his development as a unique asset for England's bowling attack. Standing at 6ft7in, his left-arm angle and ability to swing the ball into right-handers offer a distinct skillset.After impressing in a tour match against Sri Lanka, Hull was drafted into the squad following Mark Wood's injury in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. His strong performances in training caught the attention of head coach Brendon McCullum and bowling consultant James Anderson, leading to his surprise debut at The Oval.Hull displayed glimpses of his potential, taking 3 for 53 in the first innings. However, he failed to claim any wickets in the second innings as Sri Lanka chased down 219 to inflict England's only Test defeat of the summer.The match marked Hull's 11th first-class appearance, a season in which he had managed only two wickets in three Division Two appearances for Leicestershire, at a high average of 182.50.It remains uncertain whether Hull would have featured in Pakistan or if he will be included in the tour to New Zealand. The ECB will monitor his recovery closely.

Gautam Gambhir's maiden assignment as India's Test head coach has commenced with a resounding victory, as the Rohit Sharma-led team crushed Bangladesh by 280 runs in the opening Test in Chennai. The Indian squad has now arrived in Kanpur for the series-deciding second Test at the Green Park Stadium.During their journey from Chennai to Kanpur, the Indian players engaged in lighthearted banter and camaraderie. Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel bonded over their shared love for "filter coffee" and "chocolate," while R Ashwin playfully complained of being "bullied" by his teammates, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.The amusing interactions were captured in a video shared by the BCCI on social media. The video begins with Akash Deep and Axar teasing Siraj, who sported a bucket hat and sunglasses. Sarfaraz Khan then enthusiastically chanted "Jassu, Jassu" for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who responded by comparing his fan following to that of Sachin Tendulkar.As the flight approached Kanpur, Bumrah and Jadeja playfully addressed Ashwin as "Ash anna" and "Ash anna for a reason." "They are just bullying me," Ashwin remarked in the video.Meanwhile, the selection committee has retained an unchanged squad for the second Test in Kanpur.

Despite retiring in 2013, Sachin Tendulkar remains the undisputed king of Test cricket, holding the record for most runs scored in the format. With 15,921 runs to his name, Tendulkar's legacy continues to inspire aspiring cricketers worldwide.Among active players, India's Virat Kohli, Australia's Steve Smith, and England's Joe Root stand as the top three batters with the most Test runs. Root leads the pack with 12,402 runs, followed by Smith (9685 runs) and Kohli (8871 runs).Kohli, Smith, and Root have been hailed as potential successors to Tendulkar's throne, with many experts predicting they could break his record. However, Smith and Kohli have recently experienced a significant dip in form.Former Australian star Brad Hogg has expressed doubts about Kohli's ability to reach Tendulkar's heights. "I just don't think Virat is going to get there," Hogg said. "He's lost his momentum, and he needs to turn it around in the next 10 Test matches or he's going to drop off."In contrast, Hogg believes Root has the potential to surpass Tendulkar's record. "Joe Root has 146 Test matches with 12,000 runs," Hogg said. "Sachin Tendulkar made nearly 16,000 runs in 200 Test matches. That's 4,000 runs in 66 Tests. I think Joe Root can go close to toppling that."Root's consistent performance in Test cricket has earned him widespread admiration. "Watch out, Joe Root is on the move to beat Sachin Tendulkar," Hogg added. "I think quietly he'll have that in the back of his mind to try and topple that little unique stat."