Cricket

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is determined to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India in the upcoming five-match Test series, which begins on November 22 in Perth. Cummins acknowledges that Australia has struggled against India in recent Test series, but he is confident that his team can turn things around on home soil."We haven't had a lot of luck against India over the last few Test series, but we always pride ourselves on playing well here in Australia," Cummins said. "We have really high expectations when we play Test cricket in Australia, so anytime we don't win down here, of course, you look at those series a bit more closely."The last Test series between Australia and India in Australia was a particularly tough one for the hosts, with India winning 2-1. Rishabh Pant's heroics in the final Test at the Gabba sealed a historic three-wicket win for India."The last series, in particular, was a really tough one," Cummins said. "It went right down to that last session at the Gabba, and unfortunately, we couldn't pull it off. A lot of the guys in the team are the same as those who played in that series, and we're here to make amends."Cummins identified Pant as India's "X-factor," but stressed that his team is focused on rectifying the setbacks from four consecutive series defeats to India."Rishabh had a great series here in Australia last time," Cummins said. "He's always a bit of that X-factor in the middle order. You never quite know what you're going to get, which is exciting, even as the opposition."Australia will face Pakistan in a white-ball series before the much-anticipated Test series against India. It will be the first Test series between India and Australia comprising five matches since 1992.

Former England opener Alastair Cook, recently inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, has lauded the aggressive and boundary-pushing approach of the current England Test team under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Cook believes that the team's "Bazball" brand of cricket is unprecedented in its relentless pursuit of runs.Cook, who witnessed the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final in the UAE, acknowledged the significant evolution in Test cricket. He attributed the shift to Eoin Morgan's leadership in one-day cricket and Stokes's transformative influence in the Test arena.England's recent first Test against Pakistan exemplified their attacking mindset, with Harry Brook's blistering 317 becoming the second-fastest triple century in history. Cook emphasized that England's strength lies in the collective aggression of its players, rather than isolated feats.However, Cook cautioned against overlooking past greats who also possessed belligerent batting styles. He cited Virender Sehwag's record-breaking triple century in 2008 as an example. Nonetheless, he believes that the current England team is pushing the boundaries of run-scoring like never before."I have never seen a team push the boundaries quite as much as this England team have done," Cook said. "There have obviously been great sides in the past who would score quickly, but not quite as quickly as this side seemed able and willing to do."Cook believes that the increased aggression in red-ball cricket is a positive development, as it ultimately leads to more runs being scored. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the end product rather than comparing generations of players.Cook's induction into the ICC Hall of Fame alongside Neetu David and AB de Villiers is a testament to his exceptional career. As the England-Pakistan series reaches its conclusion, Cook's insights provide valuable context for the ongoing transformation of Test cricket.

New South Wales' hopes of victory in their Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria dwindled on day three as they were left chasing an improbable 383 runs with just four wickets in hand. Despite a valiant six-wicket haul from Mitchell Starc, the Blues were left reeling at 185 for 6 at stumps, still 197 runs adrift of their target.Sam Konstas, who had been touted as a potential Test debutant, failed to capitalize on his opportunity, scoring 43 before being dismissed by Todd Murphy. Steven Smith also fell cheaply, trapped lbw by Scott Boland for a duck.Josh Philippe provided some resistance with an unbeaten half-century, but the Blues' chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost four wickets for just 35 runs. Boland was the chief destroyer, claiming the scalps of Nic Maddinson, Smith, and Ollie Davies.Earlier in the day, Victoria had set the Blues a daunting target thanks to half-centuries from Sam Harper and Tom Rogers. Harper made 72 before holing out to wide fine leg, while Rogers scored 59 in his maiden first-class half-century.Starc was the standout performer for the Blues, finishing with figures of 6 for 81 from 17.5 overs. He dismissed both O'Neill and Murphy to complete his six-wicket haul, but the damage had already been done.With just one day remaining in the match, Victoria are firm favorites to secure victory. The Blues will need to produce a remarkable batting performance to pull off an unlikely win.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Glasgow will not feature cricket, marking its absence from the quadrennial event. This decision has raised questions about the future of cricket in multi-sport competitions.The CWG Federation has cited budgetary constraints as the primary reason for the exclusion of cricket and other sports like field hockey, badminton, shooting, and wrestling. CEO Katie Sadleir emphasized the need to "reset and redefine the Games" to reduce costs, minimize environmental impact, and enhance social impact.Cricket's return to the CWG in 2022 after a 24-year hiatus was met with enthusiasm. Australia emerged victorious in the women's T20 competition, while South Africa had won the men's 50-over gold in 1998. However, its absence in 2026 has cast doubt on its long-term presence in the Games.Despite its exclusion from the CWG, cricket is set to make a grand return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. The International Olympic Committee's decision to include men's and women's T20s as new disciplines reflects the growing popularity of the sport in the United States.The Asian Games has also reinstated cricket, with India dominating the T20 events in the 2022 edition. This suggests that cricket remains a popular sport in Asia and could potentially be included in future multi-sport competitions in the region.The absence of cricket from the 2026 CWG is a setback for the sport's inclusion in major international events. However, its inclusion in the Olympics and the Asian Games provides hope for its future in multi-sport competitions. The decision to exclude cricket from the CWG highlights the challenges faced by organizers in balancing budgetary constraints with the desire to include popular sports.

After suffering a disappointing eight-wicket defeat in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Team India has made a strategic change by adding Washington Sundar to their squad for the remaining two Tests. Sundar, a right-arm off-spinner and left-handed batsman, was not initially included in the squad or even the reserves.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has analyzed the rationale behind Sundar's inclusion. He noted that Sundar's recent century for Tamil Nadu against Delhi may have played a role. However, Chopra also raised concerns about the fitness of R Ashwin, who was brought in to bowl late in the final innings of the Bengaluru Test and bowled only two overs."The question that comes to mind is - what is the Indian team thinking?" Chopra said. "Do they want to play another spinner? There were already plenty of fast bowlers in the traveling reserves. Is Ashwin not fully fit?"Chopra questioned the logic behind not bowling Ashwin more extensively in the fourth innings, suggesting that he may be carrying an injury. "Was it because of that he was given only two overs on the last day?" he asked. "He was bowled when the match was over. It just did not make sense that you don't bowl Ashwin at all."Sundar's inclusion could indicate that the Indian team is considering playing two spinners in the remaining Tests. However, it remains to be seen whether Ashwin's fitness will allow him to play a full role.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is back in action after undergoing heel surgery earlier this year. The 34-year-old has been pain-free since the procedure and is eager to regain his sharpness ahead of the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia.Shami has not played for the national team since the 2019 World Cup final against Australia. He had almost returned to full fitness before being ruled out of the ongoing three-test series against New Zealand due to a separate knee injury.With the Border Gavaskar Trophy approaching, India is keen to have Shami back in their ranks. The pace bowler has been bowling during practice and is confident of being ready for the five-test series in Australia next month."I'm 100% pain-free," Shami said. "It felt great yesterday because I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can't put too much stress on my body."Shami is aware of the importance of the upcoming series and is determined to be at his best. "I know what kind of an attack we want for that test series (against Australia), so it's better I spend some more time on the ground before going," he said.The fast bowler is also considering playing a couple of domestic matches to improve his sharpness. "If I get fit and I get a gap of eight to 10 days, then it's better I play one or two domestic matches before going to Australia," he added.India's tour of Australia begins in Perth on November 22. Shami's return to the team will be a major boost for India's chances of success in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

India's upcoming Test series against New Zealand serves as a crucial preparation for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. The five-match Test series in Australia, commencing on November 22, will pose significant challenges for the Indian team. However, Rohit Sharma and his squad remain confident, buoyed by India's previous victories in the BGT.Ahead of the eagerly awaited series, fans eagerly anticipate the return of star pacer Mohammed Shami. Shami's last international appearance was in the ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia. Since then, he has undergone knee surgery and has been recovering.Earlier this month, reports emerged that Shami had suffered a knee swelling during a practice session, potentially jeopardizing his participation in the Tests against Australia. However, in a recent interview with NDTV, Shami confirmed that his knee is now fully recovered and he is eager to return to domestic cricket."I have repeatedly stated that I have not sustained any new injuries. There may be occasional setbacks, but it's unfair to blame anyone. Out of 365 days, one day can go wrong," Shami told NDTV."It's crucial to have faith in the team and our abilities. I hope to play at least one domestic match and be fully fit for the Australia series. That's my goal," he added.In a separate interview with ANI, Shami reflected on India's loss to Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final."We should have won the final. We shouldn't blame anyone or question anything. From a batting perspective, it's not that we didn't try to score runs," Shami told ANI."Our target was not limited. As bowlers, we gave our all. They had some luck on their side. We were almost unbeaten. We were determined to win. The entire nation supported us, but we fell short in the final. It wasn't our day," he added.

South Africa's batters faced a challenging first evening on a turning pitch in Dhaka, but Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder's resilient partnership of 32 guided them through without further damage. However, the pitch seemed to settle overnight, allowing Verreynne and Mulder to consolidate their position and extend their seventh-wicket stand to a decisive 119.Despite the threat of Bangladesh's three spinners, it was Hasan Mahmud's pace and reverse swing that proved most effective, claiming the only two wickets of the session. However, South Africa had already established a commanding 137-run lead by lunch, with Verreynne remaining unbeaten on 77.Bangladesh's spinners, Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan, struggled to extract turn on the second morning, while Verreynne and Mulder played with confidence and composure. They effectively utilized the sweep and reverse sweep, taking advantage of the slow surface and the lack of turn.Verreynne reached his half-century with a drilled sweep, while Mulder followed suit with a cut for four behind point. Mahmud's reintroduction into the attack brought about a brief setback, as he dismissed Mulder and Keshav Maharaj in consecutive deliveries.However, Verreynne remained unyielding, anchoring the innings and guiding South Africa to a comfortable lead. Dane Piedt provided valuable support at the other end, ensuring that South Africa maintained their momentum heading into the afternoon session.

Mitchell Starc, Australia's premier fast bowler, made a triumphant return to first-class cricket on Monday, claiming six wickets for New South Wales against Victoria in Melbourne. Starc's impressive performance marks his successful re-entry into the game after a brief hiatus and bodes well for Australian cricket.During the second innings, Starc showcased his exceptional bowling skills, capturing six wickets for 81 runs in 17.5 overs. His victims included Ashley Chandrasinghe, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Elliott, Fergus O'Neill, and Todd Murphy.Starc's return to form is particularly significant as he prepares to face India's formidable batting lineup in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. The left-arm pacer is currently the third leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, with 48 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 28.37.In the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle, Starc has taken four four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul, making him the joint third-highest wicket-taker alongside Pat Cummins. The leading bowlers in this WTC cycle are Ravichandran Ashwin with 59 wickets and Josh Hazlewood with 51 wickets.Starc's performance against Victoria is a testament to his unwavering determination and skill. He is now eyeing significant milestones in the upcoming Border Gavaskar series, including reaching 400 Test wickets and 700 international wickets. So far, he has claimed 358 wickets in 89 Test matches and a total of 678 wickets in 279 international matches.Starc's return to form is a major boost for Australia as they prepare to face India in a highly anticipated Test series. The Border-Gavaskar series, which begins on November 22, will be a crucial test for both teams as they aim to qualify for the World Test Championship final.