Cricket

South Africa's Test captain, Temba Bavuma, has made a timely recovery from an elbow injury and will lead his team in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The Proteas have named a 14-man squad for the series, which also includes the return of Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee to the Test fold.Bavuma's return is a significant boost for South Africa, who are chasing their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) final appearance. The Proteas need to win all four Tests at home - two against Sri Lanka and two against Pakistan that follow - to be assured of a place in the title round. They could still make it, based on results elsewhere, with three wins out of four."We've picked the strongest possible side to ensure we stay competitive and keep our hopes alive for a place in the World Test Championship final," said head coach Shukri Conrad. "It's great to have Temba back leading the side after his recovery. His leadership and skill are invaluable to the team."Jansen and Coetzee have both worked hard during their conditioning programmes and are ready to contribute to the team. The trio of Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Wiaan Mulder will complete the pace-bowling options alongside Jansen and Coetzee.Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy are the two frontline spinners selected, while Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, and Kyle Verreynne provide batting depth.The two-Test series begins in Durban on November 27 before the teams move to Gqeberha for the second Test starting December 5.

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.

India's humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand has cast a shadow over their World Test Championship (WTC) aspirations. To qualify directly for the WTC final at Lord's in June 2025, India must now win four Tests in Australia.As India prepares for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a five-Test series against Australia, former batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and ex-cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar have expressed their views on India's chances.Gavaskar believes that India can turn the tables on Australia, as they have done in the past. He highlights the leadership of Rohit Sharma and the match-winning ability of Rishabh Pant. However, he acknowledges that beating Australia 4-0 is a distant dream.Manjrekar emphasizes the importance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli performing well in the series. He also points out that India's bowling, which has been their strength in recent years, will be tested in the absence of Mohammed Shami.India's pace attack for the series includes Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna, who will support Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed are in the reserves.The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins in Perth on November 22. India will need to overcome the challenges of facing a strong Australian team and the absence of Shami to achieve their goal of winning four Tests and qualifying for the WTC final.

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.

India's Test Squad Begins Training in Perth, Practice Sessions Shielded from Public ViewWith the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) fast approaching, the Indian Test squad has assembled in Perth and commenced training at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) Stadium. However, the team's practice sessions have been shrouded in secrecy, with the grill bordering the practice area covered to prevent public scrutiny.The Indian contingent arrived in Australia in two batches on Sunday and Monday and will undergo a 10-day acclimatization and training period before the BGT opener. However, uncertainty looms over the availability of captain Rohit Sharma for the first Test due to personal reasons.A Forbes cricket journalist shared an image of the practice nets at the WACA, revealing that they were covered with a black sheet to block public view. Notably, the Indian team is not training at the venue of the first Test, Optus Stadium, which is just a short drive away.India opted to cancel their practice game against India 'A', who are also touring Australia. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and his team believed that extended net sessions would be more beneficial than a practice match.India, who recently slipped to number two in the World Test Championship (WTC) table, are eager to redeem themselves after a disappointing 0-3 whitewash in the home Test series against New Zealand. To qualify for the WTC final for the third consecutive time, India must win four of the five Tests in the BGT.The Indian team's decision to shield their practice sessions from public view has sparked speculation about their strategies and preparations. However, it is clear that the team is determined to put in the hard work and regain their dominance in Test cricket.

India Embarks on Historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy Quest in AustraliaThe Indian cricket team has set sail for Australia, embarking on a pivotal five-Test series that will shape their World Test Championship aspirations. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, commencing on November 22, 2024, holds immense significance for India, who seek redemption after a recent series loss.With a points percentage of 58.33%, India trails Australia in the World Test Championship standings. To remain in contention for the championship, they must emerge victorious in at least four of the five Tests. This series marks a historic milestone, as it will be the first time India and Australia will engage in a five-Test series on Australian soil since the inception of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian charge, with Jasprit Bumrah serving as his deputy. The squad boasts a formidable lineup, including Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Abhimanyu Easwaran. Rishabh Pant returns as wicketkeeper, joined by newcomer Dhruv Jurel. The spin attack features the experienced trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. The pace attack comprises Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana.The first Test will commence on November 22 in Perth, followed by Adelaide on December 6, Brisbane on December 14, Melbourne on December 26, and Sydney on January 3, 2025. India faces a daunting task, but they possess the talent and determination to overcome the challenges and emerge victorious.

Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne has shared his earliest memory of Virat Kohli ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series between India and Australia. The upcoming five-Test series carries immense significance as it will determine the teams' chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London next year.Labuschagne, who has been a consistent performer against India in the Test format, recalled his first encounter with Kohli during the 2018 series. "My first memory of Virat was probably, from a playing perspective, the 2018 series. He was captain at that time, I think, and he was quite intense. When I watched the series, it was a very intense series. I probably haven't seen that same Virat since then, you know, the start of that series. For a long time, he's just been a quality act, but my first memory would be that," Labuschagne told Star Sports.The 30-year-old batsman aims to continue his impressive record against India in the upcoming series. In 10 Test matches against India, Labuschagne has amassed 775 runs at an average of 45.58, including three fifties and one century.The BGT series commences on November 22 in Perth, with both teams facing challenges in their quest to reach the WTC final. India, after a disappointing 0-3 series loss against New Zealand, needs to secure at least four wins out of the five Test matches, with the remaining match ending in a draw or a loss, to qualify for the WTC final.Australia, on the other hand, is aiming to defend their WTC title and cannot afford a series defeat to keep their hopes alive. The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top Test teams, with Labuschagne's performance against Kohli and India likely to be a key factor in determining the outcome.

India's recent loss to New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) has raised concerns about the team's batting performance. Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria believes that India captain Rohit Sharma should consider changing his batting position to address the team's struggles.Kaneria, in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, expressed his concern over the form of India's top order, particularly Rohit and Virat Kohli. He suggested that Rohit should move down to the middle order, possibly at number three, to improve his performance."Rohit has been struggling with the track in India. In the recent series, Southee got him out twice, and the ball will move more over there in Australia, so you have to see how you go with that," said Kaneria.Kaneria believes that the Indian top order should consist of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill as openers, followed by Rohit at number three and Kohli at number four. He emphasized that the success of the team depends on the performance of the top order."Indian batters need to click; that's the only concern. If the bowlers take wickets, then the batters need to click. A Test is won by bowlers, so Indian batting needs to click as their top order, where Rohit and Kohli are struggling with runs," explained Kaneria.Kaneria also pointed out that the rise of T20 cricket has negatively impacted Indian batters' ability to face spin bowling. He believes that the team needs to address this issue to improve their performance in Test cricket.India's loss to New Zealand has dropped them to second place in the WTC standings. To secure a spot in the next WTC final, India will need to win at least four matches in their upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his views on India's chances in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. While acknowledging India's recent dominance over Australia in Test cricket, Gavaskar believes that a 4-0 victory for India in Australia is unlikely.Gavaskar emphasized that India's focus should be solely on winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, rather than on qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He stated, "Don't talk about the World Test Championship final. Now just focus on trying to win the series in Australia."Gavaskar's prediction is based on the formidable nature of the Australian team in their home conditions. He believes that India can realistically aim for a 3-1 victory, but a 4-0 sweep is an ambitious target.India has won the previous four Test series against Australia, all by a margin of 2-1. However, Gavaskar believes that Australia will be a different proposition in their own backyard.Despite Gavaskar's cautious optimism, India's recent record against Australia provides some hope. India has won two Test series in Australia in the past decade, including a historic 2-1 victory in 2018/19.The WTC scenario is also complex. While India needs four wins to guarantee qualification for the final, it is unlikely that they will need to win all. Other nations in contention for the WTC final, such as Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand, will face each other and potentially hamper each other's results.Overall, Gavaskar's prediction reflects a realistic assessment of India's chances in Australia. While a 4-0 victory may be a stretch, India has the potential to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and continue their recent dominance over Australia in Test cricket.