Sunil Gavaskar criticised the lack of complaints from former Indian players about the green pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground, contrasting it with the usual uproar over spin-friendly pitches in India. On Day 1, India struggled against Australia’s bowling, with Rishabh Pant showing resilience despite multiple blows, highlighting the tough batting conditions.
Related news
Zimbabwe's captain Craig Ervine led the team with 75 runs, supported by Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams, to reach 243 against Afghanistan. Rashid Khan took four wickets for 94 runs. Afghanistan struggled in their second innings, trailing by 40 runs at 46-3, with Blessing Muzarabani and Sikandar Raza causing early damage.
Mitchell Marsh appreciated Nicholas Pooran's exceptional batting as they led Lucknow Super Giants to a five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Pooran's aggressive 70 off 26 balls and Shardul Thakur's four-wicket haul were crucial in chasing down the target of 191.
Veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja, 38, plans to continue his Test career as long as he feels he is contributing effectively. Despite a below-par performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Khawaja remains focused on contributing to the Australian team's success, maintaining regular communication with coach Andrew McDonald and chief selector George Bailey.
Jason Gillespie resigned as Pakistan's red-ball coach after being excluded from the national team's selection for the South Africa series. He faced a difficult environment created by some PCB officials who sidelined him in key decisions. The board disregarded his recommendations, appointed a different coach, and failed to consult him on squad selections, ultimately leading to his departure.
Steve Smith achieved his 33rd Test century, his first in 18 months, despite the difficulties posed by the changed Kookaburra ball introduced in 2020. He considers the last three years the toughest of his career due to increased seam movement and harder wickets.
Mohammed Siraj is pleased with the BCCI's decision to lift the saliva ban, which he believes will enhance bowlers' ability to achieve reverse swing in IPL 2025. He looks forward to playing under Shubman Gill for Gujarat Titans and aims to learn from coach Ashish Nehra while contributing to the team's success.
After a narrow four-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants, KKR shared a heartfelt message from team owner Shah Rukh Khan. In his note, SRK praised the team’s fight, urged them to move on with heads held high, and reminded them that heartbreak can bring a team closer. The message has gone viral.
Australia, India, and England, along with the ICC, are reportedly discussing a two-tier Test cricket system to have the big three nations play each other more often. This proposed system may start after 2027, potentially changing the current format and reducing the need for these teams to play against many other nations.
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Rohit Sharma and selectors will influence his retirement decision. Manjrekar also suggested Virat Kohli play County cricket to enhance his Test skills before the England series. Kohli's fitness could allow him to continue playing at a the highest level, asserted Sanjay Bangar.
Vidarbha took a crucial 37-run lead against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy final on day three. Harsh Dubey became the highest wicket-taker in a single season with 69 wickets. Key performances included Sachin Baby's 98 and Aditya Sarwate's 79, but Kerala fell short of Vidarbha's first-innings total of 379, getting dismissed for 342.