Cricket

New Zealand's historic series win against India has propelled them into contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. With an unassailable 2-0 lead, the Kiwis are eyeing a clean sweep in the third Test in Mumbai, starting Friday.India, Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand are the four teams vying for the two spots in the WTC final, scheduled for June 2024 at Lord's. Despite their recent defeats, India remains atop the WTC table, followed by Australia. Sri Lanka and New Zealand occupy the third and fourth positions, respectively.New Zealand's victory in Pune has given them a psychological edge, but they face a new challenge in the red-soil pitch at the Wankhede Stadium. Coach Gary Stead acknowledges the difference in conditions and emphasizes the need for quick adaptation."The red clay is very different, so we're going to have to adapt quickly," Stead said. "Our next two training sessions are going to be important. For the WTC itself, there's no doubt one more win would certainly help us."New Zealand's triumph in the inaugural WTC edition in 2021, where they defeated India in the final, serves as inspiration for the team. Stead believes they can draw on that experience to achieve another special result."The first time we were in the situation of qualifying for the first WTC final, we had to win four Tests on the bounce and we managed to," Stead recalled. "Hopefully that's something we can lean on and say, 'we've done it before, here's an opportunity to perhaps do something very special again'."India, on the other hand, will be determined to avoid a series whitewash, which they last suffered at home in 2000 against South Africa. The hosts will be eager to close the gap with Australia at the top of the WTC table, where they currently trail by a mere 0.32 points percentage.The third Test in Mumbai promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams vying for victory and a place in the WTC final.

Australia's head coach, Andrew McDonald, has secured a contract extension until the end of 2027. This extension will see him lead the team through the defense of their ODI World Cup title in 2027 and the next cycle of the World Test Championship.McDonald's initial appointment in 2022 was for a four-year term, which would have taken him to early 2026. The extension adds two more years to his tenure, ensuring his guidance through a crucial period for Australian cricket.During his tenure, McDonald has overseen significant success for the men's team, including the 2023 ODI World Cup and World Test Championship titles. The extension provides him with the opportunity to achieve further milestones, such as Test series victories in India and England, which have proven elusive in recent years.McDonald's leadership has been instrumental in fostering a positive and inclusive culture within the team. He has praised the professionalism and commitment of his fellow coaches and staff, crediting them for creating a successful and unified environment."I am very fortunate to have an exceptional group of leaders, players, coaches, and staff who are fully invested in the ongoing well-being, success, and development of this group," McDonald said.Australia is currently vying for a spot in next year's WTC final at Lord's. The upcoming India series will be pivotal in their qualification prospects. Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has expressed his willingness to extend his tenure, potentially allowing him to continue working alongside McDonald until 2027.Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley lauded McDonald's contributions, stating, "Andrew has proven to be an outstanding men's head coach who as well as delivering exceptional results has built a strong coaching team, methodology, and an excellent environment for the team to perform at its best."

India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final have taken a hit after their series defeat against New Zealand. With just six Tests remaining, India's lead over second-placed Australia has been reduced to a mere 0.32%.India's path to the final is now fraught with challenges. They must win the third Test against New Zealand and then secure at least three victories in the five-Test series against Australia Down Under. A 3-2 result in Australia would be ideal, but if they manage only two wins, they will need other teams to slip up.Australia, meanwhile, has the most Tests remaining among the contenders. They face a tough five-match series against India, followed by two Tests in Sri Lanka. The Aussies will be eager to avenge their recent defeats to India, but they must also be wary of Sri Lanka, who have a strong home record.Sri Lanka, currently ranked third, has four Tests remaining. They face a tricky two-Test series in South Africa, followed by two home Tests against Australia. The Islanders have a good chance of qualifying if they can win three of these four matches.New Zealand, who have moved up to fourth after their wins against India, have four Tests remaining as well. They face one more Test in India, followed by three home Tests against England. The Black Caps have a good record at home against England, but they will need to perform well in India to stay in contention.South Africa, ranked fifth, has five Tests remaining. They face a tough away Test against Bangladesh, followed by four home Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Proteas will need to win at least three of these matches to have a chance of qualifying.The race to the WTC final is heating up, with several teams still in contention. India's task has become more difficult, but they remain the favorites. Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa will all be looking to capitalize on any slip-ups by the leaders.

India's five-Test home season, once billed as a golden opportunity to secure a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, has taken a dramatic turn. With just a week remaining in the home leg, India's WTC final hopes are hanging by a thread after consecutive defeats to New Zealand.The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, now faces a daunting task of salvaging the home season with a resounding victory at the Wankhede Stadium during the festive week. Failure to do so could result in a prolonged and challenging tour of Australia.Rohit, who will be leading India for the first time in a Test series Down Under, is aware of the magnitude of the task ahead. He has emphasized the importance of providing support and guidance to the relatively inexperienced group of players, many of whom will be making their Test debuts in Australia."It is crucial that we provide the support and guidance that we ourselves craved when we were in their shoes," Rohit said after India's loss in the second Test against New Zealand. "That is what I intend to do with the many players who have not yet toured Australia or will be playing their first or second Test there."Rohit stressed the need to maintain a positive and supportive environment within the team, regardless of the recent setbacks. "We cannot afford to overreact to what has happened," he said. "We need to have quiet chats with certain individuals and let them know where they stand and what the team expects from them."The Indian management is determined to avoid dwelling on the broken 12-year unbeaten streak at home. "I am not going to overreact to what has happened here," Rohit said. "We need to have a quiet chat with certain individuals and let them know where they are and what, as a team, we require from them."As India prepares for the upcoming challenges, Rohit and the management will need to find a way to restore confidence and belief within the team. The Wankhede Stadium, known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate crowd, could provide the perfect setting for a turnaround.

The World Test Championship (WTC) has been thrown wide open after South Africa's historic victory in the subcontinent and New Zealand's series triumph in India. Both teams remain in contention for the final, with every remaining match crucial.South Africa's next challenge is in Chattogram, where they face Bangladesh in their final away Test of the 2023-25 cycle. After their victory in Mirpur, the Proteas are confident of a clean sweep, especially given Bangladesh's ongoing turmoil.Bangladesh's head coach was replaced on the eve of the series, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is considering stepping down after less than a year in charge. To salvage some pride, Bangladesh must improve their first-innings performance, where they faltered in the opening Test.South Africa's bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada, who recently claimed his 300th wicket, will be a formidable challenge. The spin duo of Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan will also be key, as they exposed weaknesses in South Africa's batting.South Africa needs to win at least four of their remaining five Tests to qualify for the WTC final. Bangladesh, though out of contention, will be eager to perform well at home after a disappointing setback.

India's World Test Championship (WTC) aspirations have suffered a significant setback following their historic home series defeat to New Zealand. After losing the first Test in Pune, India succumbed to a 113-run defeat in the second Test, marking their first home Test series loss since 2012.The second Test witnessed India collapsing to 245 all out in their second innings, handing New Zealand a series victory. Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's valiant 77 off 65 balls, India crumbled under the relentless pressure of Mitchell Santner, who claimed 13 wickets over two innings. A promising 62-run stand between Jaiswal and Shubman Gill had raised hopes, but New Zealand's disciplined bowling proved too much for the Indian batting lineup.India's position in the WTC standings has taken a hit. Before the second match, Rohit Sharma's team led the table with a percentage (PCT) of 68.06. However, back-to-back losses to New Zealand have dropped their PCT to 62.82, narrowing their path to the final. Australia sit close behind at 62.50, followed by Sri Lanka at 55.56.To stay on course for the WTC final at Lord's next summer, India must perform impeccably in their remaining fixtures. They have one more match against New Zealand before heading to Australia for a crucial five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Winning at least four of these six remaining games will give them a strong chance of securing a spot in the final.However, if India falter, they'll have to rely on favourable outcomes from other series. Australia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa's upcoming clashes will heavily influence India's prospects. Notably, Sri Lanka's matches against Australia and South Africa could make or break India's hopes.Though the road ahead is steep, India remain in the hunt. Success against Australia will be critical if they aim to reach their third consecutive WTC final. The team now faces the challenge of rediscovering form and maintaining consistency under pressure.

The 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is nearing its conclusion, with India and Australia emerging as the frontrunners for a rematch of the previous WTC final, which Australia won. Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali believes that the final will once again feature India and Australia, but he has a suggestion for the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding future WTC cycles.Ali suggests that the ICC consider hosting India-Pakistan Test matches at neutral venues such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi to include these two teams in the WTC cycle. He emphasizes that India and Pakistan should be part of the competition, as they are the only teams that do not play bilateral series against each other."The Indian government always says no, but they play in ICC events like the World Cup," Ali said. "If PCB gives a suggestion, then they (ICC and BCCI) don't take it seriously, which is wrong."Currently, India leads the WTC table, followed by Australia and Sri Lanka. New Zealand's recent victory over India in the first Test of their series in Bengaluru has kept their hopes of finishing in the top two alive. India will face Australia in a five-Test series after their three-Test series against New Zealand.Ali believes that the WTC final will likely be between India and Australia, given their current form. "Four teams are in the top half (of WTC table) -- India, Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. But according to me, there are only three -- India, Australia, and Sri Lanka. But the kind of cricket India and Australia are playing, the WTC final should be between these two teams," he said.

The upcoming second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune is set to feature a bald and slow-turning pitch, according to ESPNcricinfo. The pitch, primarily composed of black soil, will offer less bounce and be flatter compared to the first Test in Bengaluru.India, reeling from their lowest Test score at home (46 all out) in the first Test, is eager to level the three-match series at 2-1. The team's strategy for both the Pune and Mumbai Tests is to prepare pitches that favor spin, giving their spinners an advantage.However, there will be a key difference between the Pune and Mumbai pitches: bounce. The black soil in Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium will result in lower bounce than the red soil in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.In Bengaluru, overcast conditions and intermittent rain made the pitch more conducive to seam bowling, which New Zealand exploited to their advantage. However, in Pune, India is expected to field at least three spinners, potentially altering the combination based on the amount of spin the slow surface offers.The Indian selectors have added Washington Sundar to the squad as the 16th member, despite having Axar Patel as the fourth spinner alongside R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav.Pune's MCA stadium has hosted only two previous Tests. The inaugural Test in 2016 saw Australia win by a massive 333 runs, with left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe taking 12 wickets. The pitch was rated poor by the ICC match referee due to its abrasive surface and loose topsoil. In 2019, Virat Kohli scored a double-century in an innings victory over South Africa.The pitch for the New Zealand Test is expected to be devoid of grass, with minimal seam movement outside the first hour after the toss. However, the dry surface will support reverse swing. The slowness of the surface and the lack of support for fast bowlers make the toss crucial, with teams likely to opt to bat first.

Bangladesh's Khaled Ahmed Omitted from Test Squad for South Africa SeriesFast bowler Khaled Ahmed has been excluded from Bangladesh's squad for the upcoming first Test against South Africa, scheduled to commence on October 21 in Mirpur. This marks the sole alteration to the 16-man contingent that toured India in September and October.Ahmed featured in only the second Test against India in Kanpur, where he bowled four overs in the first innings, conceding 43 runs without claiming a wicket. Bangladesh will host South Africa for two Tests, with the second match taking place in Chattogram from October 29.This series marks the first assignment under interim coach Phil Simmons, who joined the squad on Wednesday following the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) decision to remove Chandika Hathurusinghe from the position due to disciplinary reasons.Bangladesh currently occupies the seventh position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, having secured a 2-0 victory in Pakistan and suffered a 2-0 defeat in India. South Africa, on the other hand, stands fifth in the WTC standings, having recently emerged victorious in a two-Test series against the West Indies in August.Bangladesh Squad for First Test against South Africa:* Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain)* Shadman Islam* Mahmudul Hasan Joy* Zakir Hasan* Mominul Haque* Mushfiqur Rahim* Shakib Al Hasan* Litton Das* Jaker Ali* Mehidy Hasan* Taijul Islam* Nayeem Hasan* Taskin Ahmed* Hasan Mahmud* Nahid Rana