Cricket

Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have faced intense scrutiny following their underwhelming performances in the Test series against New Zealand. The duo's struggles with the bat contributed to India's humiliating 0-3 defeat at home.Despite the criticism, former BCCI chief selector Chetan Sharma has defended the two batters, highlighting their significant contributions to Indian cricket. Sharma expressed confidence in their ability to bounce back and perform well against Australia."Let's honor and respect what Rohit and Virat have done for the country," Sharma said. "They are never out of form. They are still doing it. Just wait and watch what Rohit and Virat do in Australia. They will dazzle with their bats."India head coach Gautam Gambhir also came to the defense of Kohli and Sharma, criticizing former Australian captain Ricky Ponting for questioning Kohli's place in the Test team. Gambhir emphasized the duo's passion for the game and their desire to achieve more."What does Ricky Ponting have to do with Indian cricket?" Gambhir asked. "Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still passionate about the game and want to achieve more. They are hungry for success and have done exceptionally well for the country over the years."Kohli and Sharma's poor form in the New Zealand series has raised concerns about their future in the Test team. However, Sharma and Gambhir's support suggests that the duo still has the backing of the selectors and the coaching staff.It remains to be seen whether Kohli and Sharma can regain their form and lead India to success in the upcoming Test series against Australia. Their performances will be closely scrutinized as they look to prove their worth and silence their critics.

Australia's hopes of having Michael Neser available as a backup seamer for the Adelaide or Brisbane Tests have been dashed due to a severe hamstring injury. However, there is a glimmer of hope that Jhye Richardson could be considered as an option later in the series if his return to first-class cricket progresses smoothly.Neser, 34, suffered the injury during the opening day of the Australia A match against India A at the MCG. He is expected to be sidelined until the start of the Brisbane Heat's BBL season on December 18. Even without the injury, Neser was unlikely to be selected as Australia's first-choice backup seamer for the Perth Test, with Scott Boland in line behind Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc.Barring an injury in Perth, Australia is unlikely to need Boland for Adelaide given the nine-day break between the first and second Tests. However, there is concern about the three-day turnaround between Adelaide and Brisbane, followed by a seven-day break to Boxing Day and then a three-day gap to Sydney. The quicks themselves and the team management have publicly stated that playing all five Tests without a change, as they did last year, is highly unlikely.If two of the quicks were to go down, as they did in the 2021-22 Ashes and 2022-23 summer, then Australia would need another fast bowler beyond Boland. Neser's unavailability brings the likes of Nathan McAndrew and Sean Abbott into the frame.However, there is hope that Richardson, 28, could be fit enough to be considered as he continues his careful buildback from injury and other physical issues. Richardson took 1 for 19 from five overs at the MCG on Wednesday in his fourth List A game so far this summer to go with two second XI matches. He will not play in Western Australia's upcoming Sheffield Shield game against Victoria at the Junction Oval starting on Friday.But speaking after WA's One-Day Cup loss, Richardson said he was hopeful he could play in WA's day-night Shield game against South Australia at Adelaide Oval, starting November 23, which could also be Lance Morris' first Shield game of the summer.Richardson's last Test match was a pink-ball game in Adelaide in 2021 when he took his maiden Test five-wicket haul against England. But he has endured a horror run with injuries since, including further shoulder and hamstring surgeries. On top of that, he has publicly acknowledged that a mental health battle has affected his physical conditioning.He has been bowling without interruption since his return in IPL 2024 but as a Cricket Australia contracted player, a decision was made during the off-season that his build towards a first-class return would be gradual. There was a period as late as September where it was thought he may not play any red-ball cricket before the BBL.But since then he has strung together four List A games, taking 5 for 63, 3 for 36, 0 for 25, and 1 for 19 and two four-day second XI games for WA.Richardson is still unable to throw from deep in the outfield due to the shoulder issue but he said it was manageable, while acknowledging fielding was an important part of contributing to the team.He was asked whether he thought he could handle playing back-to-back Shield games in late November and early December, before the BBL break. "I hope so," he said. "I think I could."Richardson confirmed he would go in the IPL auction but he did not have a target in mind in terms of his international return.

India's recent 0-3 Test series defeat at home to New Zealand has raised concerns about the team's preparation and approach. Former Australian pacer Brett Lee believes India underestimated their opponents, leading to their disappointing performance.Lee pointed out that India's batters struggled against New Zealand's spinners, Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, who exploited the subcontinent's turning pitches. He suggested that India may have entered the series with overconfidence due to their strong home record."They went into the series thinking that we'll just whitewash the Kiwis, thinking that's going to be an easy series," Lee said on his YouTube channel. "And that's no disrespect to the Kiwis. It's just that India are so powerful, so strong on home soil. The Kiwis caught India off-guard."Lee also highlighted a concerning pattern in India's batting approach, which lacked patience. He suggested that India's aggressive mindset may have backfired as they forced their game against the disciplined Kiwi bowlers."They were trying to hit boundaries every ball," Lee said. "They weren't prepared to grind it out, to bat for long periods of time. And that's what the Kiwis did. They were prepared to bat for long periods of time, they were prepared to grind it out."With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the horizon, starting on November 22 in Perth, Lee remains confident that India can bounce back and prepare themselves for the crucial series against Australia."This is a great learning curve for all out there," Lee added. "They are going to come in strong. They would have got a kick up the backside from their coach, Gautam Gambhir. This is atrocious, the way they played but they are still a team of champions."Lee also weighed in on the poor form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom have struggled with the bat this year. He advised the duo to take time off, refresh, and focus on refining their techniques ahead of the Australian series."When you have a couple of bad runs back-to-back, that's when the pressure could set in," Lee said. "I guess the thing now is someone like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma just have to go back to the drawing board. Work on that technique, freshen up, get away from cricket as much as they can and then hit the ground running when they go to Australia."With a spot in the World Test Championship final up for grabs, Lee believes India will come back stronger and well-prepared for the upcoming series against Australia.

Neil McKenzie, a former South African batter, has been appointed as the consultant coach for the Sri Lankan cricket team ahead of their crucial two-match Test series against South Africa, commencing on November 27. McKenzie's appointment is a strategic move by Sri Lanka Cricket to gain valuable insights into the South African conditions and enhance their chances of success in the upcoming series.McKenzie, who played 58 Test matches for South Africa between 2000 and 2009, amassed over 3,253 runs, including five centuries and 16 fifties. His experience as an opening batsman, particularly his record-breaking 415-run partnership with Graeme Smith against Bangladesh in 2008, will be invaluable to the Sri Lankan team.Since retiring from international cricket, McKenzie has gained extensive coaching experience in various roles. He served as South Africa's batting consultant during the ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies last year and was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore setup in the Indian Premier League as a batting coach earlier this year.Sri Lanka's decision to appoint McKenzie as a consultant coach is part of their strategy to improve their performance in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. Currently placed third in the points table, Sri Lanka is in contention for a spot in next year's WTC Final. The two-match Test series against South Africa will be their final away series in the current cycle, and a positive result could significantly boost their chances of qualifying for the final.McKenzie's appointment has been welcomed by Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley De Silva, who believes his insights into the South African conditions will be crucial for the team's success. "McKenzie will bring in vital, in-depth insights about the South African conditions to help Sri Lankan players adapt to the challenge," De Silva said.The first Test match between Sri Lanka and South Africa will be played at Kingsmead in Durban from November 27, followed by the second Test at St. George's Oval in Port Elizabeth.

Cricket Australia (CA) has defended its decision to rest key players for the series-deciding ODI against Pakistan, citing the need to prioritize player fitness and performance in the upcoming Test series. However, CA CEO Nick Hockley acknowledged that the organization is reviewing the travel schedule for next summer's white-ball series against India to ensure Australia can field its strongest XI more consistently.The decision to rest Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne from the third ODI in Perth drew criticism, as Australia suffered a series loss to Pakistan. However, CA explained that the plan to rest the fast bowlers had been in place since the schedule was announced, considering the demanding summer schedule that includes seven Tests and the Champions Trophy.Medical and strength and conditioning data indicate that fast bowlers are at a high risk of injury when given only a one-day break with a long flight, as was the case with the third ODI in Perth. Australia's recent experience in the UK, where they lost six fast bowlers to injury, reinforced this concern.Hockley emphasized the extensive planning and preparation involved in squad selection and player management. He stated that the decision to rest the Test players was made to ensure their fitness for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series and the Champions Trophy.However, Hockley acknowledged the lessons learned from the ODI series loss and indicated that CA will review the schedule for next summer's white-ball series against India, which precedes the Ashes. The goal is to optimize the travel schedule to minimize player fatigue and maximize the availability of the best possible XI.The challenge lies in balancing commercial needs with player welfare. Ideally, Australia would prefer to field its full-strength XI in all three games of an ODI series, but such a scenario would conflict with optimal broadcast and attendance schedules.Pakistan, on the other hand, played the same XI in all three ODIs, demonstrating the challenges all countries face in fielding full-strength teams for every international game. Hockley emphasized that CA has been criticized in the past for not providing opportunities to new players, and the ODI series loss provided a chance to expose young talent to the pressures of international cricket.

India vs Australia Test Series: News Corp Australia Unveils Multilingual CoverageThe highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia is set to ignite the cricketing world, and News Corp Australia is pulling out all the stops to provide comprehensive coverage for fans across the globe. The media giant has announced an extensive eight-page wrap in English, Hindi, and Punjabi in both print and digital editions to capture the essence of the five-Test series.The Indian team has already arrived in Australia, eager to defend their BGT title. The tour kicks off with the first Test in Perth on November 22, followed by matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.News Corp's special edition will be distributed across its various publications in Australia, ensuring that fans have access to in-depth analysis, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights. The coverage will commence on November 12, with a "16-page ultimate launch guide" scheduled for November 17, featuring additional content in Hindi and Punjabi.India's recent dominance in Australia has made this series even more intriguing. The visitors have emerged victorious in their last two Test tours Down Under, leaving the Aussies without a BGT triumph since 2014. However, India's recent form has been a cause for concern, with a 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand and key batsmen like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggling for runs.The announcement of multilingual coverage has generated excitement among cricket enthusiasts, particularly those from the Indian diaspora in Australia. The inclusion of Hindi and Punjabi content aims to cater to the growing number of Indian cricket fans who prefer to consume content in their native languages.

Pakistan's head coach Jason Gillespie has criticized Cricket Australia and broadcasters for prioritizing the upcoming Test series against India over the recently concluded ODI series against Pakistan. Pakistan's historic 2-1 victory in the ODI series, their first in Australia since 2002, received minimal publicity, according to Gillespie."To be honest, I pretty much saw no promotion of our one-day series by Cricket Australia, which was a bit of a surprise," Gillespie told the Sydney Morning Herald. "It's pretty obvious that they're prioritizing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India because I saw no promotion of this series."The Indian team will aim to secure an unprecedented third consecutive Test series victory in Australia. They previously achieved consecutive series wins in 2018-19 under Virat Kohli's captaincy and in 2020-21 under Ajinkya Rahane.The Test series begins with the first match in Perth on November 22, followed by a day-night encounter at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The competition then moves to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test from December 14 to 18, before the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The concluding Test match will be played in Sydney, starting on January 3.Gillespie's criticism highlights the disparity in attention given to different cricket series based on the perceived importance of the participating teams. While the India-Australia Test series is highly anticipated, the Pakistan-Australia ODI series received less fanfare. This disparity can impact the morale of players and the overall perception of the sport.

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma's participation in the upcoming Test series against Australia remains uncertain, as he is not expected to travel with the team to Australia for the first match. According to reports, Rohit's absence is due to personal reasons.The Indian squad is scheduled to depart for Australia in two batches on Sunday and Monday, but Rohit's travel plans are still up in the air. Head coach Gautam Gambhir will address the media in a pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on Monday, where he is expected to provide an update on Rohit's status.If Rohit misses the first Test, which begins on November 22 in Perth, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is likely to lead the team. Bumrah has been backed by Australian batting great Ricky Ponting to handle the dual responsibility of leading the team and spearheading the Indian pace attack.Ponting believes that Bumrah's experience and understanding of the game will enable him to manage the captaincy duties effectively. He also emphasized the importance of utilizing the experience of senior players in the team to support the captain.The Indian team will be hoping for Rohit to recover in time for the first Test, as his presence would provide a significant boost to their chances of success. However, if he is unable to play, Bumrah will be tasked with leading the team in one of the most challenging Test series in world cricket.

Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has sparked a social media frenzy with a viral post featuring himself alongside legendary South African speedster Dale Steyn. The image, captioned "Goat," has garnered immense attention, highlighting the mutual respect between the two bowling greats.Bumrah, who is expected to lead India in the upcoming Test series against Australia, has had numerous encounters with Steyn on the field, both in international matches and the Indian Premier League. However, they have never shared a dressing room.Steyn, who retired from international cricket in 2021, holds the record as South Africa's most successful Test pacer. His exceptional pace and swing bowling have earned him widespread recognition as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.Meanwhile, Bumrah is poised to take over the captaincy mantle for India in the opening Test against Australia, scheduled to begin on November 22 in Perth. Regular skipper Rohit Sharma is likely to miss the game due to personal reasons.Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has advocated for Bumrah to lead the team for the entire series if Rohit is unavailable. He believes that Rohit should focus solely on playing in the series.However, former Australia captain Aaron Finch has expressed a different view. Finch believes that Rohit deserves ample time with his family if he is expecting a child.Bumrah's leadership qualities have been evident in his role as vice-captain of the Indian team. His calm demeanor, tactical acumen, and ability to inspire his teammates make him a strong candidate for the captaincy role.The upcoming Test series against Australia will be a significant challenge for India, and Bumrah's leadership will be crucial in guiding the team to success. His experience, skill, and determination will be invaluable assets as India aims to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.