Cricket

Victoria's hopes of securing a fourth consecutive one-day cup title were dashed after a rain-affected 15-run defeat to Victoria under the DLS method.The match at the MCG on Wednesday was reduced to 46 overs per side due to rain, with Victoria winning the toss and electing to bat. However, the hosts found themselves in early trouble, losing two wickets for 16 runs in the first 4.5 overs.Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris struck early for Western Australia, dismissing Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski cheaply. But Sam Harper steadied the ship for Victoria, anchoring their innings with an unbeaten 59 from 54 balls. Harper hit five fours and three sixes, providing the impetus for Victoria's total of 132 for 6 from their reduced allocation of 23 overs.In reply, Western Australia never got going with the bat. Captain Ashton Turner made 24 from 24 balls before he was caught behind off Todd Murphy, but no other WA batter went past 20. Cameron Bancroft continued his poor run of form, dismissed for 4 from 17 balls.Murphy and Fergus O'Neill were the stars with the ball for Victoria, bowling out WA for 108. Murphy finished with figures of 4-27, while O'Neill took 3-12.The win gives Victoria a 3-2 record, putting them in contention for a spot in the final, while WA (1-4) are out of contention. WA have won five of the past seven one-day cup titles and six of the past 10, including the last three in succession.

Australian chief selector George Bailey has defended the selection of Nathan McSweeney as an opener for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener against India, despite criticism from former Test opener Ed Cowan.Cowan labeled McSweeney's promotion as "a guess" due to his limited experience opening the batting. However, Bailey expressed confidence in the 25-year-old's abilities, emphasizing his technique and temperament.McSweeney, who usually bats at No. 3 or No. 4 for South Australia, had never opened the batting until this week's Australia A match against India A at the MCG. His first outing as an opener saw him score 14 and 25, leading to criticism about his selection.Cowan argued that McSweeney's recent form and lack of experience opening the batting made his selection questionable. "The data would suggest at the moment in his career, he doesn't have the technique nor the temperament to do it," Cowan said.Bailey, however, believes that McSweeney has the potential to succeed at the Test level. "We like his technique, temperament; we think he's got the game to succeed at Test level," Bailey said.Bailey also pointed out that McSweeney's inclusion is about more than just individual stats. He believes McSweeney's selection brings balance to the team's composition. "We think he complements the team, and that's an important factor too—the balance of what you want your make-up of your XI to look like," Bailey said.McSweeney's selection is a gamble, but Bailey is confident that he has the potential to succeed. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a major test for the young opener, but if he can perform well, he could cement his place in the Australian Test team for years to come.

Australia's recent ODI series loss to Pakistan has sparked criticism, but the upcoming T20I series presents a different challenge. With a focus on building towards the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, Australia is fielding a diminished side, providing opportunities for emerging players.Josh Inglis, the permanent wicketkeeper, will captain the team, while Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will open the batting. Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, and Spencer Johnson will bolster the bowling attack.Pakistan, on the other hand, will seek to replicate their ODI bowling success, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf leading the charge. However, they may need to adjust their batting strategy, as Saim Ayub is not included in the squad.Tim David, Australia's T20 gun for hire, will be under scrutiny as he aims to regain his form as a finisher. Babar Azam, Pakistan's star batter, will also be in the spotlight, with his strike rate under examination.Australia will have at least three forced changes from their last T20I, while Pakistan is set to make at least five. The Gabba pitch is expected to provide pace and bounce for the fast bowlers, with the threat of rain and thunderstorms.

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.

The ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for 2025, faces an uncertain future as the impasse between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) continues. The BCCI has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) of the Indian government's decision to not send its team to Pakistan due to security concerns.Pakistan, however, remains adamant about hosting the entire tournament within its borders, having won the rights to do so. The PCB has sought assistance from the Pakistan government, which has reportedly refused to allow any games to be moved outside the country."We have been told by our government not to move any game out of Pakistan, and that will be our stand when the time comes," a PCB official told the Indian Express on condition of anonymity.Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali confirmed the government's stance, stating that the PCB has been barred from accepting a hybrid model that would involve some matches being played in a neutral venue.With Pakistan determined to host the entire event at home and India unwilling to cross the border, the Champions Trophy's fate hangs in the balance. Earlier reports suggested that the tournament could be shifted to South Africa if no common ground is reached, but Pakistan is unlikely to participate in such a scenario.Some have proposed holding the tournament without either India or Pakistan, but such a compromise would have a significant financial impact on the ICC and its revenue streams. India vs Pakistan cricket matches are a major revenue generator for both boards and the ICC.The ICC is facing a difficult decision as it tries to balance the security concerns of the Indian government with Pakistan's hosting rights. The tournament's future remains uncertain until a compromise can be reached between the two cricketing giants.

Virat Kohli, the batting maestro of Team India, has commenced his preparations for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia. Kohli arrived in Perth on Sunday, ahead of his teammates, to kick-start his training regimen at the WACA training pitches.Kohli's early arrival underscores his commitment to acclimatizing to the Australian conditions and fine-tuning his game before the series opener. During Wednesday's training session, he displayed sharp focus and precision, particularly against short-pitched, high-speed deliveries. This preparation is crucial, given Australia's formidable pace attack.Kohli's previous experiences on Perth pitches provide him with both familiarity and a reminder of the challenges ahead. In his 2012 Perth Test debut, he showcased resilience with scores of 44 and 75. His 2018 return to Perth, as captain at Optus Stadium, saw him score a stunning 123, demonstrating his batting prowess against Australia's pace attack.Kohli's early arrival in Perth signals his intent to address the specific challenges posed by Australian pitches, particularly the short-of-length deliveries that they are known for. The first group of Indian players arrived in Perth on Sunday, while the remaining members, except for captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, joined them on Monday.Rohit's availability for the first Test remains uncertain, as Gambhir stated that a final decision will be made closer to the match date. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Rohit's availability, Kohli's commitment and early preparation set the tone for India's warm-up for what promises to be a fiercely contested Border-Gavaskar series.

Arjun Tendulkar, the son of legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, has achieved a significant milestone in his cricketing career by claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. The 25-year-old left-arm seamer accomplished this feat during a Ranji Trophy Plate Division match against Arunachal Pradesh at the Goa Cricket Association Academy Ground in Porvorim.In his 17th first-class match, Arjun spearheaded the collapse of the Arunachal Pradesh batting lineup, finishing with impressive figures of 5 for 25 in 9 overs, including three maiden overs. His performance was crucial in restricting Arunachal Pradesh to a mere 84 runs in 31 overs.Arjun's bowling prowess was evident from the outset as he dismissed opener Nabam Hachang in the second over of the match. Despite brief resistance from Neelam Obi (22) and Chinmay Patil (3), Arjun struck twice in quick succession in the 12th over, further worsening the situation for the visitors.By the time Arjun completed his five-wicket haul, Arunachal were reeling at 36/5 in 17.1 overs. Arunachal skipper Nabam Abo top-scored with an unbeaten 25 from 25 balls, including five boundaries, but his efforts were not enough to prevent his team from being bowled out for a paltry total.Goa's bowling attack was further supported by Mohit Redkar (3/15) and Keith Mark Pinto (2/31), who helped wrap up the Arunachal innings. Before this match, Arjun had taken 32 wickets in 16 first-class matches, with his previous best being 4/49.In addition to his bowling, Arjun has also proven to be a capable batsman, scoring 532 runs at an average of 23.13, with a century and two half-centuries to his name. This performance marks an important milestone in Arjun's career as he continues to make strides in domestic cricket.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a highly anticipated five-Test series between India and Australia, is set to commence on November 22. This edition marks several significant milestones and potential farewells for legendary players.Australia has historically been a challenging destination for visiting teams, but India has performed admirably in their recent tours. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, who was part of the 2014-15 BGT squad, emphasizes the importance of character and aggression for success in Australia.Raina highlights the crucial role of Virat Kohli, who has been instrumental in India's past victories. Despite his recent struggles, Raina believes Kohli's experience and determination will be vital. However, he acknowledges that Kohli may face challenges against spinners on turning tracks at home.Rohit Sharma's absence due to personal reasons presents an opportunity for Jasprit Bumrah to lead the team. Raina praises Bumrah's leadership qualities and believes he has the potential to become a future leader in Test cricket.The embarrassing series whitewash against New Zealand has raised questions about coach Gautam Gambhir's performance. Raina defends Gambhir, citing his impressive record as a player and coach.With Rohit likely to miss the first Test, India faces a dilemma in finding an opening partner for Yashasvi Jaiswal. Raina suggests KL Rahul or Dhruv Jurel as potential options. He particularly praises Jurel's patience and defensive technique, which could prove valuable in Australia.Raina also expresses confidence in India's pace attack, despite its relative lack of experience. He highlights the potential of Prasidh Krishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep, who he believes can be effective with their line and length in Australia.

Usman Khawaja has dismissed the notion that Australia's Test batting lineup needs to score quickly at the top of the order, arguing that it's a "myth" that has no basis in reality. Khawaja's comments come as Australia prepares to debut Nathan McSweeney as an opening partner for the first Test against India in Perth.McSweeney, who typically bats at No. 3 for South Australia, will be stepping into unfamiliar territory at the top of the order. However, Khawaja believes that McSweeney's measured approach to batting is well-suited to the role."I don't know where this myth started that you need someone to score really fast to do well," Khawaja said. "You've got five days to do it...I don't know why you need to score fast."Khawaja pointed out that David Warner, who retired from Test cricket last summer, had a strike rate of 70.76 in first-class cricket, while McSweeney's strike rate is 41.92. Despite the difference in strike rates, Khawaja believes that McSweeney can be just as effective as Warner."Opening's as much about scoring runs as it is about being able to absorb," Khawaja said. "Davey was special; he could score runs while absorbing but he didn't do it [score fast] every time. He was consistent; out there and setting a platform, and Nathan does that very well."Khawaja also emphasized that McSweeney shouldn't overthink the transition to opening the batting."There's no guarantees in cricket...but he doesn't have to do anything different," Khawaja said. "Just repeat the process. He's been able to handle the pressure at Shield level. When you look at his demeanor, the way he plays, you do kind of feel over a longer period of time he'll be able to handle the scrutiny, the pressure of Test cricket."In addition to discussing McSweeney's debut, Khawaja also announced plans to link his Usman Khawaja Foundation annually with the Gabba Test. The foundation aims to assist youth from disadvantaged backgrounds through cricket and educational programs.