Cricket

India's recent dominance over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has intensified the rivalry between the two cricketing giants, according to senior Australian batter Usman Khawaja. India has emerged victorious in the last two Test series played in Australia, with identical 2-1 margins.Khawaja acknowledges that the rivalry has grown in significance due to India's recent successes. "For Indians, it's always been the case to beat Australia. And more recently, you know, since the rise of India and IPL and everything else that happened, it's the same way with Australia against India," he said.The rivalry has been further fueled by the fact that India has won all four of the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, including their home victories in 2016-17 and 2022-23. Khawaja believes that the rivalry has become even more intense since India's triumphs in Australia."And particularly since India's beaten Australia in Australia the last two times they've come out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It just means a little bit more,” he told Star Sports.Khawaja emphasizes the magnitude of the rivalry, stating that it is a reflection of the high regard in which both teams hold each other. "We're world number one, world number two teams really over the last two years. We were there at the last World Test Championship together. The rivalry has always been huge," he said.The upcoming five-match Test series between India and Australia, beginning on November 22 in Perth, is expected to further intensify the rivalry. Khawaja believes that the series will be a great opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills and test their mettle against each other.

Rishabh Pant's Test prowess has earned him high praise from former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who believes the wicketkeeper-batter is destined for greatness in the format. However, Ganguly also urged Pant to improve his performances in shorter formats.Pant's return to the Test side after his horrific car accident in December 2022 has been met with anticipation. He is expected to feature in the opening Test against Bangladesh, starting on September 19 in Chennai."I consider Rishabh Pant one of India's best Test batsmen," Ganguly said at a promotional event in Kolkata. "He will be an all-time great in Tests if he keeps performing like this."Ganguly acknowledged Pant's impressive performances in T20 and ODI cricket since his return from injury earlier this year. However, he emphasized the need for Pant to enhance his skills in the shorter formats."For me, he needs to get better in the shorter formats," Ganguly said. "With the talent he has, I'm sure with time, he will become one of the best."The Indian selectors have included uncapped left-arm pacers Yash Dayal and Akash Deep in the squad, while Mohammed Shami has been given more time to recover from ankle surgery."It's still a very good attack," Ganguly said. "In India, you will see a lot more spin. Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep are the four best spinners in the world at the moment."Ganguly also praised Akash Deep, calling him a player to watch out for. "He runs in, bowls quick, and will bowl for long periods," Ganguly said. "He will be as quick as Siraj and Shami, hitting high 140s."Bangladesh, fresh from their historic Test series win over Pakistan, will face a tough challenge in India. Ganguly believes India will be too strong for Bangladesh, but he expects a competitive series."India will be a different kettle of fish; India, whether at home or away, are a fantastic side with a very strong batting unit," Ganguly said. "I don't see Bangladesh winning; India will win the series."Ganguly expressed concern about the lack of talent in Pakistan cricket, which he believes has contributed to their recent struggles."I see a genuine dearth of talent in the country," Ganguly said. "Every generation has to produce outstanding players to win, and when I look at Pakistan in world cricket, there is a dearth of talent in that country."

Pathum Nissanka's unbeaten half-century has put Sri Lanka in a commanding position to secure a historic victory over England in the third Test at the Oval. By the end of the third day's play, Sri Lanka had reached 94 for 1, needing just 125 more runs to seal the win and end a seven-match losing streak against England.Nissanka has been the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's batting, scoring an impressive 53 not out. He reached his second fifty of the match with a powerful drive through the covers off debutant Josh Hull. Kusal Mendis has also contributed with an unbeaten 30, including four boundaries.Sri Lanka's pursuit of a challenging target of 219 runs was made possible by Jamie Smith's counter-attacking 67. Smith's innings pulled England out of a collapse that saw them lose five wickets for 26 runs.Smith's aggressive approach provided England with a glimmer of hope for a first home Test series clean sweep since 2004. However, his dismissal on the stroke of tea, chipping a ball to short midwicket, ended England's resurgence.Vishwa Fernando played a crucial role in England's collapse, claiming three wickets for 40 runs, including the prized scalp of Joe Root for just 12. Lahiru Kumara also made a significant contribution, taking four wickets for 21 runs in seven overs.Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook have criticized the hosts for their poor batting performance, which saw them collapse from 221-3 to 325 all out in their first innings.As Sri Lanka closes in on a potential victory, Nissanka's role has been pivotal in keeping their hopes alive for a memorable win over England.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian Test squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on September 19 in Chennai. The squad features the return of star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant and the maiden call-up of left-arm pacer Yash Dayal.Pant, who last played a Test match in December 2022, makes a comeback after recovering from a road accident that sidelined him for several months. The 26-year-old has been in impressive form since his return to cricket, playing a key role in India's T20 World Cup triumph.Another notable inclusion is pacer Akash Deep, who has impressed with his performances in the Duleep Trophy. Virat Kohli also returns to the Test side after missing the five-match series against England earlier this year.The squad is led by Rohit Sharma, with Dhruv Jurel serving as the second wicket-keeper batter. India and Bangladesh have a long history in Test cricket, with India holding a dominant 11-2 win-loss record.The second Test of the series will be played at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1. Bangladesh will enter the series with confidence after their historic 2-0 win over Pakistan in Pakistan. India, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their impressive home record, having defeated England 4-1 earlier this year.

Pakistan and India Should Play Cricket Matches in Each Other's Countries, Says Saeed AjmalFormer Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has called for the resumption of bilateral cricket matches between India and Pakistan, emphasizing the immense love between the two nations. Ajmal believes that such matches would foster goodwill and strengthen the bond between the neighboring countries.Pakistan last toured India in 2012/13 for a limited-overs series, while India's last visit to Pakistan was for the 2008 Asia Cup. Since then, political tensions have prevented the two teams from playing bilateral series, with their encounters limited to multi-nation tournaments."Even if the India versus Pakistan match happens on the moon, it will be huge," said Ajmal at the launch of the GloFans High School Cricket Cup. "There is a lot of love between India and Pakistan, and we must go to each other's countries."Ajmal, who represented Pakistan in 35 Tests, 113 ODIs, and 64 T20Is, also stressed the importance of promoting Test cricket. "There is a need to promote long-format cricket," he said. "The ones who play the longest format can play any other format."The former spinner praised the current crop of star batters, including Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Babar Azam, and Rohit Sharma. He also lauded India's fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was named Player of the Tournament in India's triumph at the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup."Bumrah is a very intelligent bowler, and intelligence is required with speed," Ajmal concluded.

Afghanistan Opener Ibrahim Zadran Doubtful for Historic Test Against New ZealandAfghanistan's hopes of a strong start in their inaugural Test match against New Zealand have been dealt a blow with the injury to opening batter Ibrahim Zadran. The 22-year-old sustained an ankle injury during the team's final practice session in Greater Noida on Sunday, just a day before the historic encounter."Today, in the practice session, Ibrahim had an injury in his ankle. But it's not sure 100 percent what will happen tomorrow. We will see what will happen with him," Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said at the pre-match press conference.Zadran's absence would be a significant setback for Afghanistan, as he has been a key contributor in their Test matches. He has played seven of Afghanistan's nine Tests, scoring 384 runs at an average of 32.00, including a maiden century against Sri Lanka earlier this year.The injury to Zadran adds to Afghanistan's already depleted squad, as they are also without star spinner Rashid Khan. The absence of these two key players could make it challenging for Afghanistan to compete against a strong New Zealand side.Persistent rain has also hampered the preparations for both teams, with the practice sessions being disrupted. The weather forecast for the Test match is also uncertain, with rain predicted for the first few days.Despite the challenges, Afghanistan will be determined to make a strong impression in their first-ever Test match. They will be led by experienced skipper Shahidi, who has played 10 Tests and scored over 500 runs.New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their dominance in Test cricket. They are ranked second in the ICC Test rankings and have a strong squad led by captain Kane Williamson.The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand will be a historic occasion for both teams. It will be the first time that Afghanistan has played a Test match against a top-ranked nation, and it will also be the first Test match to be played in Greater Noida.

Afghanistan's Test cricket aspirations hinge on securing a permanent home venue in India, according to captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. Currently unable to host international matches at home, Afghanistan has been forced to play their home Tests at various locations in India, including Dehradun, Lucknow, and Abu Dhabi.Shahidi believes that establishing a single home venue would significantly enhance Afghanistan's performance in red-ball cricket. "If we stick with one venue, it will be more effective for us," he said. "We know our own conditions very well. So hopefully that time comes in future that teams come to Afghanistan."Afghanistan's Test record has been limited, with only nine matches played in six years. However, Shahidi is eager for more opportunities against top-ranked teams. "If we get a lot more chances with the good teams, we will improve," he said. "I think if we get more chances on regular basis, we will improve a lot."Shahidi also expressed a desire for longer Test series, believing that it would provide Afghanistan with valuable experience. "If we get three- or four-match series in one time, I think it will be very good for us as a side," he said. "Playing matches will make us even better on judging the ball and playing good cricket in red-ball format."Despite their limited Test experience, Afghanistan has made significant strides in white-ball cricket, reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Shahidi is confident that Afghanistan can achieve similar success in Test cricket. "We want to show to the world our best format is Test cricket," he said. "I think we have that ability to do it and need to show it."However, the upcoming Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida is threatened by inclement weather, with rain and thunderstorms forecast for the coming week. It remains to be seen how much red-ball action Afghanistan will get from this match.

New Zealand will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test match starting on September 9, 2024, as part of their preparations for the upcoming World Test Championship challenges in the subcontinent. This will be New Zealand's first-ever Test against Afghanistan, who obtained Test status in 2017.New Zealand's recent subcontinent record has been underwhelming, with 40 losses in 90 matches. They will be keen to improve their performance in these conditions, especially with the marquee series against India approaching next month. Spin is expected to dominate proceedings, and New Zealand has come well-prepared with five slow bowling options.Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who returns to India for the first time since his 10-wicket haul in Mumbai in 2021, is expected to make the playing XI. Rachin Ravindra, who has been training in Chennai, is also likely to be included as an all-rounder. Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, and Michael Bracewell are vying for the remaining spinners' spots.Matt Henry is New Zealand's best seamer at the moment, but captain Tim Southee's dip in Test form is a concern. Will O'Rourke or express pacer Ben Sears may be given a go.Afghanistan, on the other hand, have played only nine Tests since gaining Test status. They have lost their last three Tests against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Ireland. However, they have managed to beat Ireland, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe in their brief Test journey.Afghanistan's squad for the Test includes experienced players like Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rahmat Shah. Seam-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai is likely to make his Test debut, while Zia-ur-Rehman, Zahir Khan, Khalil Ahmed, Qais Ahmad, Shahidullah Kamal, and Bahir Shah are the spin options.The match is likely to be affected by rain and thunderstorms throughout the week.

England's Revenge Tour: Botham's Record-Breaking Performance and Gavaskar's InjuryIn 1982, the England cricket team embarked on a tour of India, seeking redemption after their disappointing performance in the previous series. Despite losing both Tests and ODIs, England was determined to turn the tables.The first Test at Lord's proved to be a close contest, with Dilip Vengsarkar scoring a century for India. However, England's pace duo of Bob Willis and Ian Botham proved too strong, leading their team to victory.The second Test in Manchester ended in a high-scoring draw, curtailed by rain. The third Test at the Oval witnessed a remarkable performance by Botham, who set a new record for the fastest double century, reaching the milestone in just 220 balls. Kapil Dev also impressed with a blistering 97 off 93 balls, but the match ultimately ended in a draw.Beyond his record-breaking performance, Botham also made headlines for an unfortunate incident. While fielding at silly point, he smashed a drive off Ravi Shastri into the left leg of Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, breaking his tibia. Gavaskar was immediately taken off the field and later diagnosed with a broken tibia above the left ankle."I knew I'd hit it hard. I'm sorry to have put Sunny out of the Test," Botham reportedly said at the close of play.The injury to Gavaskar was a major blow to India, and England capitalized on the opportunity to win the series 1-0. Botham's all-round performance, including his record-breaking double century and the unfortunate injury to Gavaskar, made this series a memorable one in the annals of cricket history.