It’s about giving my best in this Test match and helping Virat out: Ajinkya Rahane | Rahane says that starting well in Tests is crucial
Ajinkya Rahane has been given a much bigger role in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar trophy that is set to begin in Adelaide. Though the visiting team has won the previous time, there is still pressure as the Aussies well back two-star players – Steve Smith and David Warner who also seem to be in great form.
“We do have a strong attack. We will miss Ishant, he is a senior fast bowler. But the guys who are here – Umesh (Yadav), (Navdeep) Saini, (Mohammad) Siraj with Jasprit and Shami – are all experienced and they know how to bowl in these conditions. It is all about bowling in partnerships for us,” Rahane said on Tuesday (December 15)”, said the vice-captain.
The middle-order batsman feels that the pink-ball is going to be all about the momentum as he feels the Indian team has got the capability of taking 20 wickets. “Ashwin’s role will be very important, he is experienced and has got variety in his bowling. His role as a bowler and as a batsman will be really important. I am sure he will have a very good series,” Rahane said.
Talking about the new cricketing rules which starts even before the game begins, Rahane said that the quarantine is definety challenging but they were lucky enough to get practice sessions. “The preparation was really good. We got time this year to practise and plan really well. The two practice matches helped us before the first Test match. We are looking forward to starting well in this series. Getting used to the conditions is really important and playing as a team is the key, When you play for your country, you don’t need to tell anyone anything. That’s the motivation. Luckily in Australia, the situation is much better. Now, it is about thinking about the series rather than focusing on other things,” said Rahane.
The captaincy has been a matter of concern for the visitors as Virat Kohli will head back home after first Test to welcome his first child. Rahane has been named as the captain in Kohli’s absence also Rohit Sharma has left India, to be part of the last two Tests. believe in staying in the present.
“Right now, Virat is our captain. We think about this Test match and then after that, when he leaves, we will discuss our plans. For me, it’s about giving my best in this Test match and helping Virat out”, Rahane said.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
Should India play both Ashwin and Jadeja in Australia? | Why India should play both Ashwin and Jadeja in the Test series against Australia
The Indian team was handed a rude shock as the selectors opted to keep Ishant Sharma out of the scheme of things for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. The pacer had done remarkably well in the previous tour in which the Virat Kohli-led side had emerged victorious. However, an injury during the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) means that the Blues will be missing their most seasoned pacer in the all-important series. Now, the team management has quite a puzzle to solve in their bowling order.
The pace trio of led by Ishant and steered by the duo of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah had worked wonders for the Indians in 2018/19. Now, they are compelled to make a change in combination and as things stand now, Umesh Yadav will feature in the playing XI taking over Ishant’s role. However, could the Indian team have opted for a slightly left-field choice by going in with two spinners in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja? Or maybe factor in Kuldeep Yadav as a supportive spinner in place of one of the two of them? Let us ponder upon that scenario.
Should India play Ashwin and Jadeja in the absence of Ishant?
Playing two spinners in a test Down Under has been an unconventional notion that not many teams have adopted. The pitches over there are certainly deemed to be more suitable for quicks and teams naturally prefer utilizing the utmost potential of their arsenal of pacers. In the absence of Ishant though, the Indian team has to make a choice between keeping the combination of the attack intact by going after a pacer or picking their best bowlers for the game. If they go for the latter option, then it could be argued that Ashwin and Jadeja are far better test bowlers than the likes of Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj.
But, another fact of matter is that the nature of pitches in Australia are changing gradually and very few tracks turn out to be juicy and ferocious that make the batsmen suspect to facing chin music. Like for example, the pitch in Perth last time around. In the very next game, the Melbourne pitch turned out to be an absolute dead track as one could see Mitchell Starc’s delivery not carrying to the wicketkeeper and instead reaching Tim Paine with an additional bounce ahead of him.
Since January 2016, Nathan Lyon with 93 scalps has been the second highest wicket-taker in tests in Australia, only behind Mitchell Starc who has 104 dismissals to his name. The four Test matches are slated to be played at Adelaide Oval, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In the given time-frame, Lyon is the highest wicket-taker in Sydney (26) and the second highest wicket-taker in Adelaide (23) and Melbourne (12). He is even the highest wicket-taker in Perth (14), though it is known to be a pacer’s paradise. Of course, much of these statistics can be attributed to Lyon’s personal brilliance too and it is a feat that other players can find difficult to replicate.
However, these numbers do sort of indicate that spinners might turn out to be quite useful if utilized efficiently in the new Australian tracks. Most of the pitches turn out to be flat, which assist fast bowlers only a bit initially.
Later on, it is upon the pacers to persistently chase the same accurate line and length and bowl in the corridor of uncertainty. Ishant stood apart in this facet, as his tremendous ability to hold things up at one end allowed him to keep the Aussie batsmen at their toes by hardly giving them away any freebies. Umesh Yadav can be fantastic in short spells, as his home record shows, but his performances overseas do not inspire much confidence. Saini and Siraj are too new to the circuit to be thrown into the heat of action straightaway.
Umesh Yadav can produce great spells, but remains inconsistent overseas.
Instead, the likes of Ashwin and Jadeja are well-versed with maintaining a tenacious, perseverant line and length for a considerable period of time in whites. They have bowled in tandem for the better part of the previous decade in tests in India, with an undeniably brilliant degree of success. They complement each other well, hunting in a pair which is quite important to scalp wickets against players like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne who most likely settle on the crease for the long haul.
Ashwin does not have a particularly excellent record in Australia, but it is mostly attributed to his debut tour to the country in 2011/12 and then indifferent form in 2014/15. He played an integral role in the victory in the Adelaide in 2018/19, taking three wickets each across the two innings with an economy rate of 1.68 and 1.74 respectively. Five of the six players he dismissed were from the top/middle order whereas his final wicket of Josh Hazlewood was critical as that ended the Australian inning and allowed India to take a lead in the series. Unfortunately, the off-spinner had to sit out of the next three matches due to injury issues.
On the other hand, Jadeja played the last two matches of the series and took seven wickets in three innings. He bowled at an economy rate of 2.25, and bowled long spells as he delivered 89 overs in three outings. Moreover, Jadeja’s batting form needs to be optimized currently given that the middle-order will be slightly weakened in Kohli’s absence. The southpaw has had a batting average of 41, 45.6 and 62.86 in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively. He batted at a strike rate of 67.49, 60.64 and 61.62 in the three calendar years and scored 10 half centuries along with a solitary century in total.
The southpaw has gradually developed to become a batsman who can bat for a long period of time in Test cricket. In limited-overs, his attacking capabilities have enhanced drastically and that was particularly visible in the recently concluded IPL and the ODI and T20I series against the Aussies. Combining both these abilities, he can become a real asset with the bat in the lower-order. In the current run of form, Jadeja can arguably make it to the test team solely as a batsman and bowler too. That is perhaps the greatest testament to the improvements that he has made in his playing style in recent years.
Moreover, the Indian bowlers have always been culpable of conceding too many runs to the opposition’s tail-enders. It is a pattern that has cost India many a overseas matches and it is coupled by India’s own inability to bat deep in foreign conditions. Jadeja’s batting will help neutralize the additional runs that the Aussie tail-enders add to their tally and also significantly strengthen the Indian batting order lower down the order.
For India to go with the duo of Ashwin and Jadeja, the first step would be identifying the changing nature of Australian tracks. It needs to be a bit flexible in terms of the approach towards the game and not rigidly stick to a fixed plan as such. The batting friendly pitches that the team will come across barring Brisbane are much akin to the tracks over in India. So why not go with a combination that has delivered the desired results at home too?
Ashwin has grown wiser with the ball over a period of time and Jadeja’s tenacity consistently remains the same. They are well aware of making the best use of conditions, donning the aggressor’s role or even playing the supportive cast as and when necessary. Surely, they are not going to leak runs aplenty and will be getting into the mix of wickets as per the condition of the pitches. Moreover, they thrive whilst bowling together and will be best-placed to make use of the worn out tracks in the second innings. Discipline and consistency is of utmost importance in Test cricket when a team encounters dead pitches where wickets are hard to come by. That, along with Jadeja’s incredible batting prowess down the order makes for a combination that is worth trying out at least for two matches in the series.
The Indian think-tank does not seem keen on exploring this possibility as of now.
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.
AUS vs IND 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs IND 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs India 1st Test Key Players | Adelaide Oval Pitch Report
Put all the talk to the side. All the build up, the anticipation, the conversations. The speculation about playing XIs. The white-ball matches provided some excellent entertainment, but the game’s most traditional format restarts in Australia with one of international cricket’s most decorated rivalries.
Fans will be comforted with the safety of Test cricket in what has been a chaotic 2020. A year where fans were starved of cricket action over four months, where fingers were crossed among fans and administrators that this series will go ahead as planned.
Now, the questions will finally be answered. Can India repeat their superb performance of 2018/19, or will it be Australia who gain revenge? Will the presence of the great Steve Smith, along with the rise of Marnus Labuschagne, be too much for India to handle? Can Virat Kohli lead the way so well in his only Test in the series that India gain an advantage? Which bowling attack will outperform the other?
These questions and more will make for riveting viewing. India, who struggled with the bat in the tour games, need to deliver in the opening Test, where conditions will be tricky for batting under lights. However, India have the arsenal in their bowling attack to deliver the goods, and it makes for a mouth-watering battle. With key match-ups right throughout the two teams, one needs to ensure they have their eyes glued to a screen as long as possible, otherwise you’ll miss something significant.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Australia:
Steve Smith will be key in leading Australia’s attempt at revenge. A slight back niggle two days before the Test sent some alarm bells ringing, but he’s good to go. Smith’s record against India is nothing short of incredible, with 1,429 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 84.05.
Marnus Labuschagne’s rise has been a huge positive for Australia. He currently averages 63.23 in 14 Tests to date, which includes a dominant 162 against Pakistan in the Adelaide day/night Test in 2019.
Can Cameron Green replicate his wonderful First Class record in Tests? The talented all-rounder recently scored a century vs the Indians at Drummoyne, and boasts a FC batting average of 55.04 in 21 matches, along with 33 wickets at 21.72.
Mitchell Starc absolutely loves bowling in day/night Tests at Adelaide. In four such matches, Starc has picked up 24 wickets at an average of 18.00. However, can Starc improve on his average of 36.19 against India?
Nathan Lyon has the most wickets of any current player in Australia-India matches (85, avg. 32.60). Also, Lyon has a superb record at Adelaide, with 50 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 26.12. In day/night Tests on this ground, Lyon has taken 18 wickets in eight innings at an average of 23.44.
Pat Cummins, the number one-ranked bowler in Tests, will be key along with Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood has a superb record at the Adelaide Oval, with 26 wickets in five Tests at an average of 21.38.
India:
India’s key man will be Cheteshwar Pujara. India’s rock at number three led the way beautifully in 2018/19, hitting three tons in the four Test matches. His overall record against Australia is outstanding: 16 Tests, 1,622 runs, avg. 60.07.
The visitors will also want Virat Kohli to contribute in his only Test for the series. The skipper loves playing at the Adelaide Oval, with three centuries in as many Tests on this ground (total of 431 runs, avg. 71.83).
Ajinkya Rahane has hit two half-centuries in as many Tests at Adelaide. The classy right-hander will be crucial to India’s chances.
Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will also be key for India in the absence of Ishant Sharma. Bumrah took six wickets at Adelaide in 2018 (3/47 and 3/68).
Can R Ashwin outbowl Nathan Lyon? The off-spinner, like Bumrah, took six wickets at Adelaide in 2018 (3/57 and 3/92).
Stats and Facts
India have won the last two Test series’ against Australia (2017 in India and then 2018/19 in Australia).
Australia have played seven day/night Tests, and have won all seven. India will be playing just their second day/night Test after smashing Bangladesh in 2019.
India won their Test in Adelaide in 2018/19 by 31 runs to take a 1-0 lead in that series.
Steve Smith averages 61 at the Adelaide Oval.
Possible Playing 11
According to reports, Australia will put faith in the out of form Joe Burns, who has averaged just 6.6 so far this season. In the two warm up games, he made scores of 4, 0, 0 and 1. At Adelaide, Burns has made scores of 14, 11 and 4. So, Australia will be hoping Burns turns this around.
Also, Justin Langer confirmed that, if fit, Cameron Green will make his Test debut. This means that Matthew Wade will play as opener.
Australia: 1. Joe Burns, 2. Matthew Wade, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Tim Paine (c & wk), 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood
India have confirmed their XI. Prithvi Shaw has been preferred over Shubman Gill, and Wriddhiman Saha will don the gloves ahead of Rishabh Pant.
In the lead up to the Test, the Adelaide Oval surface looked devoid of any significant grass. So, the toss will prove crucial, as batting first will be key in the effort to dictate when the opposition bats. The twilight period and session under lights is undoubtedly the most difficult in day/night Tests on this ground, as the ball moves around quite a bit. So, it is important for both sides to have set batsmen heading into this period, if possible.
One thing is for sure, and that is that the under-fire openers from both sides will have their work cut out.
The weather forecast looks very good throughout the Test, with temperatures to hover around the mid-20s. Not much rain is expected at all; certainly not enough to ruin the Test.
A huge game for both teams. Starting off the series with a win is crucial, as it provides a mental edge over the opposition for the remainder of the series. Australia, even without Warner, look to have more runs in them than India, particularly given how India struggled against the bouncing ball in the tour games. So, they must improve.
Australia start as favourites, and look good to go 1-0 up given their all-round bowling attack, as well as the presence of Steve Smith.
Border-Gavaskar 2020 Series: 5 Key Player Battles | 5 key player battles to watch out for in the Border-Gavaskar 2020 Series
The Border-Gavaskar series will commence with the Indian team taking on the Tim Paine-led Australian side in their own backyard from December 17 onward. The Aussies will be eager to overturn the defeat that they suffered in the previous leg of this historic rivalry. They are strengthened by the presence of Steve Smith this time around; whose absence was one of the key reasons behind their loss in 2018-19.
On the other hand, the Indians will be missing the services of skipper Kohli for three matches in the series. Rohit Sharma is expected to join the contingent for the last two games whereas doubts continue to loom over David Warner’s fitness. Overall, the unavailability of certain key individuals provide an opportunity to the younger guns to prove their mettle in the topmost echelon of international cricket. In this article, Cricblog looks at five key player battles that will determine the outcome of this contest.
Note: Only players who are available to feature for the entire length of the series are considered in this article
Border-Gavaskar 2020 Series: Can India get the better of Steve Smith?
Steve Smith had single-handedly batted India out of the 2014/15 Border-Gavaskar series in Australia as he amassed a century in each of the four matches to record 769 runs in total. He seemed unbeatable on occasions, tiring out the Indian attack with supreme efficiency and ruthlessness. However, it needs to be asserted that Virat Kohli has a much improved bowling lineup at his disposal in 2020 than he had in 2014/15.
But needless to say, the former Australia captain retains the ability to deliver a similar performance and Ravindra Jadeja could possibly prevent him from doing so. It has been widely discussed that Smith’s record against slow left-arm orthodox spin remains one of the very few weaknesses in his overall batting style. One of the Cricviz reports published in August 2019 ahead of the Ashes highlighted that Smith averaged the lowest against left orthodox spin (34.9) as against leg-break (48.77), left pace (65.28), right pace (67.05) and off break (94.07) back then.
These records must have altered a fair bit in the time since but it also highlighted that the batsman’s scoring rate against left arm off-spin was the lowest as compared to the other bowling styles. It is a different matter of fact that Smith completely dominated Jack Leach in the Ashes that followed this report as he racked 101 runs off him at a strike rate of 65.16 and was dismissed merely once by the spinner.
However, Jadeja does boast of a praiseworthy record against Smith. The all-rounder has dismissed him on four occasions in 474 deliveries across two series’, and conceded runs at a strike rate of only 31.86. It might prove to be difficult to try and overpower Smith with pace bowling, howsoever brilliant India’s current arsenal of fast bowlers must be. Maybe, Jadeja can help the visitors exploit perhaps the only chink in Smith’s armour.
2. Mayank Agarwal vs Josh Hazlewood
Border-Gavaskar 2020 Series: Mayank Agarwal will be key.
Mayank Agarwal will have to shoulder significant responsibility at the top of the order with the absence of Rohit and then Kohli in the series. Moreover, his batting partner is yet undecided and Agarwal will have to demonstrate the temperament that he has become renowned for over the course of the coming four games. The player from Karnataka has been in a purple patch of sorts since his induction to the Test side and had a fantastic home leg last year.
Agarwal will have to be wary of the intricate line and length that Jose Hazlewood will test him with at the start of the innings. Being a naturally attacking batsman, it will perhaps be a true test of Agarwal’s character to curb his natural instincts for a while and weather the storm accordingly. He stood up to the challenge in 2018/19 as he faced 67 deliveries from Hazelwood across the Tests at Melbourne and Sydney respectively. The opener scored 27 runs with three boundaries across these deliveries but did not concede his wicket to the strike bowler even once.
He is coming off rather subdued performances in the ODI series and will be eager to perform well in the whites. Hazlewood will be targeting to break the solidity and flair that Agarwal brings to the fore and hence the duel between the duo will be worth keeping an eye out for in the next one month or so.
3. Marnus Labuschagne vs Jasprit Bumrah
Border-Gavaskar 2020 Series: Marnus Labuschagne has been superb for Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne was just a new kid in the block when he was drafted in Australia’s playing XI in the Sydney Test match in early 2019. However, the batsman has developed to become one of the key pillars for the side in the middle-order. Especially in home and familiar conditions, Labuschagne will be a force to reckoned with for the Indian bowling lineup.
Jasprit Bumrah is touted to give the lad a hard time on the pitch. Labuschagne has shown incredible technique and a knack to score big so far. However, Bumrah’s sheer incisiveness, length and pace will be a completely new challenge for the batsman. He has faced merely 28 deliveries from the Indian pacer in the whites, having played 25 dots and scored four runs out of them.
They have come across each other more often in ODIs though. Bumrah has bowled 37 deliveries to the batsman in the 50-over game and the Aussie has notched 33 runs with four boundaries. The Mumbai Indians’ fast bowler has dismissed Labuschagne once in ODIs.
Nevertheless, a full-stretch Test series against a fiery in-form Bumrah will be a provocation like none another for the rising Australian star. He tends to quietly do the job well under Smith’s shadow but the Indians can simply not afford to weigh him down by any stretch of imagination. Certainly, Jasprit Bumrah will be instrumental in working around the threat that Marnus Labuschagne poses to the Indian team.
Cheteshwar Pujara had put forward a monumental batting performance in the previous tour to Australia wherein he racked up 521 runs in four matches that included three centuries.
In addition to tackling the express pacers, Pujara worked tenaciously to neutralize the impact of Nathan Lyon. The seasoned off-spinner thrives in Australian pitches by relentlessly pitching the ball on the rough patches of the pitch and complicating matters up for the batsmen. Pujara used his swift footwork to consistently meet Lyon’s deliveries at the bounce and thus reduce the spin that he extracted out of the surface.
Both these players are the typical material to succeed in the longest format of the game. They maintain a terrific, single-headed attitude towards their objectives and hence this match-up can also be termed one where two individuals of a similar mindset come at odds with each other.
Lyon has bowled 929 deliveries in the whites to Pujara and has dismissed him on nine instances. The Indian batsman has also scored 420 runs off the spinner at a strike rate of 45.26 and with 33 boundaries to his name. In the 2018/19 series, Pujara faced 406 deliveries from Lyon but was dismissed merely twice and scored 178 runs at a strike rate of 43.84 and 15 boundaries to his name. The contest between these two behemoths of Test cricket will largely determine the score that the Indian team manages to notch in the four matches.
5. Ajinkya Rahane vs Mitchell Starc
Border-Gavaskar 2020 Series: Will Mitchell Starc produce his best?
Ajinkya Rahane will have to takeover immense responsibility in the absence of Kohli for the better part of the series. He will be expected to rack up the big scores this time around and not play a supportive role to other batsmen. Mitchell Starc’s lethal left-arm pace will possibly trouble Rahane, though history shows that the Mumbai-based batsman has taken a very offensive stance to Starc’s bowling in the whites so far.
The pacer has bowled 161 deliveries to Rahane in Tests so far, and the Indian batsman has notched 100 runs against him at a strike rate of 62.11 with 11 boundaries and a couple of sixes. The Indian skipper will be in-charge of piling up runs from the middle-order and might often come across Starc when the second new ball must be around the corner. Such a situation will be one where Rahane will have to bail his side out single-handedly, given that a wicket in that stage can trigger a line of dismissals completely derailing the innings.
Starc can deliver some really demanding and energizing spells with the new ball, the ones that infuse a new lease of life in the innings. He has the ability to overawe the batsmen with his skills at any moment of time, in-form or out of form. Such spells need to be dealt with cautiously, given that they have the potential of turning into highly influential phases of the game. Ajinkya Rahane will have to put to use his entire wealth of experience for a positive result for the Indian team.
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.
BBL 10 Match 9: SCO vs STA Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SCO vs STA Dream11 Prediction Today | Scorchers vs Stars Key Players | Launceston Pitch Report
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In a tournament that needs a thriller, this could be it. Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars, two of the highly-fancied teams for the BBL 10 Title, do battle in what has the potential to be an early season blockbuster.
For that to happen, though, the Scorchers will have to be better than they were in the opening game against the Renegades. The spotlight will be on their batsmen after getting rolled for 130 en-route to a thumping seven-wicket defeat against a team that suffered the biggest-ever BBL defeat 24 hours later. No batsman in the top six crossed 25, so the onus will be on the Scorchers’ top order, which contains talent, to put on a better showing.
The Stars, like last season, are one of the contenders for the Title. Again, they have made a great start to their campaign, but ultimately the question will be whether they can go all the way. For now, though, they will want to continue the momentum, as they are currently the only team to take the maximum points so far in BBL 10. They will welcome Nicholas Pooran, who is set to make his debut. So, after good wins against the Heat and Thunder, can the Stars make it three straight?
BBL 10 Match 9: SCO vs STA Preview Dream11: Can Mitch Marsh influence this game?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Melbourne Stars:
Marcus Stoinis has the most runs in Stars-Scorchers matches out of the players in the current squad. He has scored 226 runs in nine innings at an average of 32.29. However, can he improve on his strike rate of 113?
Liam Hatcher, the young Aussie quick to watch out for in the coming years, impressed on Stars debut a few days ago. He is coming off 3/28 against the Thunder.
Glenn Maxwell, who was in fine form for Australia in the recent white-ball matches, has made a solid start to BBL 10: 46* (26) and 39 (29).
Nathan Coulter-Nile is expected to return for this match. He was player-of-the-match in Stars’ first game of BBL 10, with a superb 4/10 against the Heat.
Adam Zampa has taken five wickets in four games against Scorchers. Also, Zampa is coming off a player-of-the-match performance, after taking 2/10 against the Thunder.
Perth Scorchers:
Josh Inglis scored over 400 runs at an impressive strike rate of 153 last season. Scorchers need a good start from him against a high-performing Stars side.
Cameron Bancroft has the most runs against Stars out of any of the current Scorchers players (159 runs, avg. 31.80, SR 108.16).
What impact will Colin Munro have? He was good in CPL 2020 earlier this year, with 207 runs at an average of 34.50 and SR 133.54 on slow pitches.
Mitchell Marsh (16) and Ashton Turner (24) both made starts against the Renegades. The Scorchers need them to go on with those starts today.
Andrew Tye has a magnificent record against Stars. He has taken 19 wickets in nine games against them.
Jhye Richardson has taken five wickets in six games vs Stars, and is coming off 2/20 vs Renegades.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 16, Scorchers 8, Stars 8.
Stars beat Scorchers twice last season. In the last meeting, Stars rolled Scorchers for just 86. Josh Inglis was the only player to produce anything of note for the Scorchers, with 37 off 19 balls. Marcus Stoinis sealed the chase with 39* off 31 balls.
Jason Behrendhorff will be key. Can he improve on his record of two wickets in six matches vs Stars? (avg. 87)
Possible Playing 11
Melbourne Stars have finally confirmed their squad. Nicholas Pooran is set to debut. Nic Maddinson is back from Australia A duties, and it will be interesting to see who he comes in for. Nathan Coulter-Nile was rested for the game against Thunder, and should return today.
Dilbar Hussain is out for four to six weeks with a hamstring injury. Adam Zampa has been granted leave to take a break from the bio-secure bubble.
Melbourne Stars: 1. Marcus Stoinis, 2. Andre Fletcher, 3. Glenn Maxwell (c), 4. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 5. Nic Maddinson/Nick Larkin, 6. Hilton Cartwright, 7. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 8. Clint Hinchliffe, 9. Lance Morris, 10. Liam Hatcher, 11. Billy Stanlake
Perth Scorchers produced a poor performance against Melbourne Renegades, and will be out for an improved performance. They have tweeted their squad for the match.
Perth Scorchers: 1. Josh Inglis (wk), 2. Colin Munro, 3. Joe Clarke, 4. Mitchell Marsh, 5. Ashton Turner (c), 6. Cameron Bancroft, 7. Aaron Hardie, 8. Jhye Richardson, 9. Andrew Tye, 10. Jason Behrendhorff, 11. Fawad Ahmed
Launceston Pitch Report and Weather
Launceston hosted the match between Strikers and Hurricanes yesterday. In that game, the new-ball bowlers found some considerable movement off the pitch, which was difficult for the top order to negotiate. So, watch out for the new-ball bowlers in this game; the key for the top order players will be to get through the initial challenging overs.
Unfortunately, there is a good chance of late afternoon/early evening showers in Launceston, which could prompt the captain who wins the bat flip to bowl first.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
BBL 10 Match 9: SCO vs STA Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
BBL 10 Match 9: SCO vs STA Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
If there is a result, the Stars look good for a win. They are in better form than the Scorchers, who will need to kickstart their season in this match.
3 key players who must step up for India in the Australia Tests | 3 players who must step up if India are to win the Tests vs Australia
The number one ranked Test team Australia will lock horns with India for the Border Gavaskar Trophy which will start with a day-night game at the Adelaide Oval on December 17. India’s skipper Virat Kohli will return home after the first Test ends on December 21 to attend the birth of his first child. India would be hoping to recreate the magic of 2018/19 when they defeated the Australian team for the first time on their home turf.
Both Test playing nations would be eyeing to make the final of the World Test Championship (WTC), which will be played in June 2021 at Lord’s. India has played 10 Test series Down Under since 1947-48, and barring three series, which were drawn – the visitors have lost on seven occasions. The first victory came in 2018/19, which was their 11th attempt.
The unavailability of Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma for the major part of the series makes Australia start as overwhelming favorites. However, even without some of their key players, one can’t write off a team like India. Few of the Indian players have shown form and promise in the tour practice matches. Here we’ll look at the 3 Indian players which hold the key for team India’s chances in the forthcoming Test series.
India to win in Australia? Mohammed Shami will be key.
Shami inarguably has been the most improved Indian bowler across formats since the start of the year 2019. The right-arm pacer continued the same run of form this year as well. In the recently concluded pink ball practice game against Australia A, Shami emerged as the pick of Indian bowlers. The 30-year-old bagged 3 for 29 in the first innings and followed it with 2 for 58 in the second innings.
Also, he was one of the main contributors to India’s victory in 2018. In the 4 games, he took 16 wickets at an impressive average of 26.19 which includes a famous second innings 6-fer in Perth. With his raw pace, he can unnerve the Australian batsmen. The speed merchant also has the knack of taking prize wickets and is expected to terrorize the opposition batsman with his bouncer barrage. He also is a great exponent of reverse swing bowling and his seam position is considered to be one of the best among all the speedsters in the world.
2. Cheteshwar Pujara
India to win in Australia? Pujara needs to repeat his 2018/19 performance.
India’s number 3 amassed 521 runs at 74.43 with three centuries and one fifty which earned him the Man-of-the-Series award in the 2018-19 series Down Under. Pujara will once again hold the key for India in their trophy defense. Pujara’s role will be more important as there aren’t many experienced batsmen in the current Test team leaving him, Kohli and Rahane for the Adelaide Test.
He’s a monk while batting and his patience earns him big runs on the field. He can occupy the crease for hours, which can be very irritating for the opposition bowlers and captain. The 32-year-old has scored 5,840 Test runs, with the help of 18 centuries, in 77 games. Pujara averages 60 in red-ball cricket against the host nation with over 1500 runs (1622) in 29 innings so far in his career. He certainly likes playing against the Aussies and his numbers reflect that. His ability to tire out the opposition bowlers with his mental discipline makes him one player to keep an eye on.
1. Ajinkya Rahane
India to win in Australia? Rahane will be crucial.
Rahane will lead India in the remaining three Tests as stand-in captain in Kohli’s absence. He has led India on 2 Occasions before this series. He first led India in the fourth Test of the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against the very opposition at home in Dharamsala, where India went on to win the match by 8 wickets to seal the series 2-1. He enjoys a hundred percent winning record while leading the team in this format.
However, this time he’ll be up against a full-strength Australian team and it’ll be a test of his character and leadership. The middle-order batsman showed promise as he smashed a scintillating hundred in the first practice game at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney. In the absence of their star batsman, he has to take additional responsibility with the bat along with Pujara as this will be his third tour to Australia. The stand-in Skipper of India will look to replicate what he did in the 2014-15 series, he averaged 57 with the bat in that series. With a bunch of inexperienced youngsters, the onus will be on Rahane- The batsman and captain to rise to the challenge.
Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.
Pressure on India to move clear of NZ in WTC | India will be looking to move clear of New Zealand in the World Test Championship
After achieving a clean sweep win against West Indies, New Zealand has drawn level with Australia in World Test Rankings. West Indies collapsed in the Test match and NZ won by an innings and 12 runs, which eventually lifted the Black Caps to 116 points which is the same as Australia. However, the Aussies is still at the top just by decimal points.
NZ has moved England to fourth position after India but it only gets interesting here after as Indian and Australia both gear up for upcoming Test series this week.
It's neck and neck at the top of the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Team Rankings. Australia are still No.1 with 116.461 rating points ?
“It does sound pretty cool. I didn’t realise that until this morning. We have been playing some good cricket as of late in our conditions, and away for that matter, and it’s a pretty cool thing”, said Tom Latham in the post match presentation as New Zealand’s stand-in captain while Kane Williamson is on paternity leave.
The World Test Championship that is scheduled for June 2021 in Lord’s seems to have pushed the teams to perform. New Zealand can jump on top if they win the two-Test series against Pakistan in December and will be needing another series sweep to be able to participate in the Test Championship finale.
As a result, India will need to perform well in Australia as New Zealand are in fine form. As the qualification criteria has changed from absolute points to a percentage of points contested, India will need five wins or four wins and three draws to take them clear of New Zealand. Scenarios and details here.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI | Border-Gavaskar Trophy Combined XI – which players make the cut?
If there is any bilateral Test series that creates excitement of almost the same level as the iconic “Ashes” among cricket lovers, it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia.
After the completion of the ODI and T20I series, it’s time for some red ball cricket. The first edition of BGT took place way back in 1996 in India. Since then, 14 series have been played; in which India have been the better side with 8 BGT trophies. As we all are excited to witness the historic rivalry starting from 17th of this month, I am going to create my BGT XI of all time (6 batsmen, one wk, two seamers and two spinners) basing on the performances of players from both the sides (those who have played 10 games or more in BGT) in both the countries. Here we go.
OPENER 1: MATTHEW HAYDEN
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – Matthew Hayden was superb.
There shouldn’t be any doubt regarding the first opening slot in a test XI including Indian and Australian players as Matthew Hayden owns it. Hayden represented Australia in four BGTs and has amassed 1888 runs at a tremendous average of 59. He was really dominant in his very first tour of India in 2001, as he scored 549 runs from just 6 innings at an unbelievable average of 109.80 with 2 centuries including a double ton at Chennai. He was one of the best players of spin in his time and was one of those few Australian batsmen who used to frustrate Indian spinners. Also, he has scored 861 runs at an average of 71.75 in Australia in the BGT. So, he is an automatic choice for the opening slot in my XI.
Nicknamed as “monk”, Murali Vijay played a very crucial role in the Indian Test batting lineup for quite a number of years. He used to deal with the new ball with patience. His leaving technique as well as the habit of playing close to his body was instrumental for him to give India solid starts in tough overseas conditions. In BGT, Vijay scored 1324 runs from 15 Tests at a solid average of 47.28 with 4 centuries and 6 half centuries. He was very impressive in his very first tour of Australia in 2014-15 as he scored 482 runs at an average of 60.25 and thus turned out to be one of the few shining lights for the visitors in an otherwise abysmal campaign.
NO 3: STEVEN SMITH
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – Steve Smith has dominated with the bat.
Having played his first BGT series in 2013, Steve Smith has done phenomenally well in this battle so far. He has scored a mammoth 1429 runs from just 10 Tests at an unbelievable average of 84.05 with 7 hundreds and 3 half centuries. The way he has performed in India (660 runs at an avg of 60, 3 centuries), shows he is surely different from most of the other Aussie batsmen who used to struggle there. He has been magnificent over the years and I can’t have a better player than Smith at the most vital position in my XI.
NO 4: SACHIN TENDULKAR
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – Tendulkar, one of the all-time greats.
Well what more can I say about this man? Considered as the finest ever batsman to have played the game by many, Sachin has scored 3262 runs at an average of 56.24 with 9 hundreds and 16 half centuries and therefore is right up there at the top spot in the list of highest run getters in the history of BGT. Watching him bat live was an honour and I have witnessed some spectacular knocks from him in BGT games. He loved the SCG and his highest score of 241* also came there in 2004. Apart from that, his 155*(191) at Chennai (1998), 116 at MCG (1999), 153 (205) at Adelaide (2008), 214 at Bangalore (2010) were really special knocks. Therefore, the master bats at no 4 in my XI.
NO 5: MICHAEL CLARKE
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – Michael Clarke enjoyed playing against India.
Michael Clarke was definitely not the most popular man in that star-studded Australian line up, but he used to perform exceedingly well when required. So, I consider him as one of the most effective batsmen I have seen in the BGT games and admire him a lot as well. Clarke has amassed 2049 runs at a superb average of 53.92 with 7 hundreds and 6 fifties in the BGT and his highest score is 329*; the marathon knock he played at the SCG. He has decent numbers in India also, unlike most of his team mates. His debut century (151) at Bangalore (2004) and a gorgeous knock of 130 at Chennai (2013) were applauded highly by the cricket fraternity. So, Michael Clarke bats at 5 in my XI.
NO 6: VVS LAXMAN
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – VVS Laxman loved playing Australia.
There was a time when the love affair between VVS Laxman and the Australian team was more popular than some historic love stories. Laxman has scored 2434 runs at an average of 49.67 in the BGT. It all started at the SCG, where he hit his first century in 2000. He rescued India from a disastrous position batting alongside Rahul Dravid for one whole day, in which India didn’t lose a single wicket and eventually won that famous Test at the Eden Gardens in 2001; which earned him the tag “Very Very Special”. He had a magnificent series down under in 2004, in which he scored 494 runs at an average of more than 82. Apart from these, his special ability to bat along with the tail-enders ensured many victories for India including the ones at Perth (79 runs) in 2008 and at Mohali (73 off 79 balls) in 2010. An artist with the bat, VVS is my pick for the number 6 slot.
NO 7: MS DHONI (c & wk)
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – MSD, superb player
Known as the finest finisher of Indian cricket in white ball, MS Dhoni is also the most successful WK-batsman among the keepers who have played 10 or more Tests in BGT with 990 runs at an average of 35.35 which includes that famous knock of 224 at Chennai as his lone hundred and 5 half centuries. He is also the most successful captain in BGT with 8 victories from 13 matches; thus has lifted the trophy thrice. Also as a keeper, Dhoni has 65 dismissals behind the stumps (50 catches, 15 stumpings) in the 19 BGT games he has played. So, he is my wk-batsman as well as the captain.
NO 8: ANIL KUMBLE
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – Anil Kumble was outstanding for India.
With 111 wickets from just 20 games, Anil Kumble is the most successful bowler in the history of BGT. He has a terrific average of 30.32 and an impressive SR of 58.7 with the ball and has ten 5-fers and two 10-fers to his name. His memorable bowling spells include 8-141 at the SCG (2004), 7-48 at Chennai (2004), 5-84 at the MCG (2007-08), 5-62 at Kolkata (1998) etc. Well known for his never say die attitude, Kumble is the lone leg-spinner in my XI.
One of the finest seamers to have represented India, Zaheer Khan has the most number of wickets as a fast bowler in the history of BGT. Overall, Zaheer has taken 61 wickets from 19 matches at an average of 35.59 and a SR of 63.2. He has bowled some really good spells, viz. 5-95 at Brisbane (2004), 5-91 at Bangalore (2008), 5-94 at Mohali (2010), 4-77 at MCG (2011) etc and therefore is one of my 2 fast bowlers in this XI.
NO 10: NATHAN LYON
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – Nathan Lyon has performed well vs India.
Nathan Lyon is one of the few spinners who have troubled the Indian batsmen a lot in recent years. Lyon has picked 85 wickets from 18 games in the BGT at an average of 32.6 and a SR of 60.2, which includes 7 fifers and one ten-fer. Unlike the Aussie spinners from the past, Lyon has done well in India (34 wickets from 7 games at an average of 30.59 and SR of 51.79). Some of his memorable spells include 7-94 at Delhi (2013), 7-152 at Adelaide (2014), 8-50 at Bangalore (2017), 5-67 at Perth (2018) etc. He has performed in both India and Australia, for which I have picked him over Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh.
NO 11: GLENN MCGRATH
Border-Gavaskar Trophy All-Time Combined XI – McGrath, one of the best ever quicks.
Considered as the finest fast bowler ever to have played the game by many, Glenn McGrath has done exceptionally well in the BGT. Renowned for his nagging accuracy, McGrath has picked 51 wickets from just 11 matches at a superb average of 18.64 and a SR of 50.1. Some of his memorable spells in the BGT are 5-48 and 5-55 at the SCG (2000), 4-18 bowling 14 overs at Kolkata (2001), 3-19 bowling 19 overs at Mumbai (2001) etc. My favourite fast bowler ever, McGrath is my no 11 in this XI.
So this is my BGT XI of all time basing on the performances of the players in both India and Australia. What do you think? Have your say!
Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.
Cameron Green will debut if fit: Justin Langer | Australian coach Justin Langer has said that Cameron Green will play if he passes concussion tests
Australian coach Justin Langer has confirmed that Cameron Green will make his Test debut in the first Test against India, provided he passes the concussion protocols.
In the Australia A vs Indians tour match in Sydney last week, Green was struck on the head by a full-blooded drive by Jasprit Bumrah. It was a nasty blow, but thankfully Green has been responding well since.
“We all saw, it was a very unusual incident that happened with him,” said Langer.
“If Cameron gets through the protocols and he gets through training and he feels good, I’ve seen him last night, he had a big smile on his face, he had another test this morning that we got good news.”
Green, who has impressed at First Class level, will train with the Australian squad at Adelaide Oval later today and tomorrow. If he passes the necessary tests to show that he has made a full recovery, he will make his Test debut in the day/night match against India.
“If he’s passed fit he’ll definitely play,” Langer said.
“He’s a terrific young bloke, he’s obviously an excellent talent, he’s earned the right for selection through his performances through Sheffield Shield cricket.
“If he’s fit and available then he’ll make his Test debut, which is very, very exciting for Australian cricket, for him and his family.”
Green, at 21 years 196 days, will be Australia’s youngest Test debutant since Matt Renshaw (20 years 241 days) in 2016. His addition to the squad is justified, with superb First Class numbers that read:
31 batting innings, 1,321 runs, average 55.04, including a century against the Indians in a tour match at Drummoyne Oval.
22 bowling innings, 33 wickets, average 21.72.
This news comes as Moises Henriques has come into the squad as a replacement for the injured Sean Abbott. Injuries and form concerns, particularly around the opening slot, has been a source of thinking for the Australians. It will be interesting to see which approach they go with.
Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
BBL 10 Match 8: HUR vs STR Preview Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | HUR vs STR Dream11 Prediction Today | Hurricanes vs Strikers Key Players | Launceston Pitch Report
Just over 48 hours after playing each other, Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers gear up for take two.
In a strange but eventful game on Sunday afternoon, it was D’Arcy Short who made the Strikers pay for costly mistakes. Short, who is BBL royalty, made his mark on the tournament with 72 off 48 balls, making Dan Worrall pay dearly for an early dropped catch. But, it was Worrall who then made the Hurricanes sweat, with a remarkable 62 off 39 balls to give the Strikers hope of chasing down 175 from the depths of 102/9.
So, what does this game have in store as the action moves to Launceston? The Hurricanes have two wins from two, and will look to continue the momentum. The pace trio of James Faulkner, Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis have led the way nicely with the ball, with Colin Ingram and Tim David already possessing a half-century each in BBL 10. For the Strikers, their batting was a mess for the most part two days ago, with just one batsman out of the top seven crossing double figures (Matt Renshaw). They will be out for significant improvement this time around, and will be boosted by the return of Alex Carey.
BBL 10 Match 8: HUR vs STR Preview Dream11 – D’Arcy Short to perform again?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Hobart Hurricanes:
D’Arcy Short’s excellent record against the Strikers continued with 72 off 48 balls two days ago. Overall, Short has struck 499 runs vs the Strikers at an average of 62.38.
Ben McDermott, who is coming off a century for Australia A against the Indians, is back for the Hurricanes. He has a middling record for Hurricanes vs Strikers (125 runs, avg. 25.00), which he will be keen to improve on.
Colin Ingram and Tim David each have a half-century to their name in BBL 10.
James Faulkner has made an excellent start to the tournament, taking five wickets in two games. This includes 3/21 against the Strikers two days ago.
50% of Riley Meredith’s deliveries were dot balls vs Strikers on Sunday, and finished with 2/30. His partner in crime, Nathan Ellis, will be key at the death as always.
Scott Boland took 2/26 on this ground vs Strikers last season.
Adelaide Strikers:
Alex Carey is back, and the Strikers will want him firing right away. He has scored 241 runs against the Hurricanes at an average of 40.17.
More will be expected from Phil Salt and Jake Weatherald. Weatherald has scored a century vs the Hurricanes (BBL 07 Final). Salt had a strike rate of 146 in the powerplay last season, and hit 66 off 33 balls vs Hurricanes in their second meeting in BBL 09.
Matt Renshaw (33 off 27) was the only batsman in Adelaide’s top seven to cross double figures last game.
Big game for Jonathan Wells, who was out for a golden duck two days ago. He was the fourth-highest run-scorer in BBL 09, with 478 runs at an average of 68.28.
It wasn’t the best day for Rashid Khan, who went at 9.50 an over courtesy of D’Arcy Short’s sixes. Can he bounce back? Interestingly, Rashid has just five wickets in seven matches vs Hurricanes.
Wes Agar has taken six wickets in his last three matches vs Hurricanes. He will be key, along with Peter Siddle, who took 19 wickets in BBL 09.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Strikers 8, Hurricanes 6.
The Hurricanes have won just one of five matches at Launceston.
Hurricanes currently sit second with five points. Strikers are seeking their first win.
Possible Playing 11
Hobart Hurricanes have confirmed their 14-man squad for this match. Ben McDermott is back.
Hobart Hurricanes: 1. D’Arcy Short, 2. Will Jacks, 3. Ben McDermott, 4. Colin Ingram, 5. Peter Handscomb (c & wk), 6. Tim David, 7. James Faulkner, 8. Johan Botha, 9. Nathan Ellis, 10. Scott Boland, 11. Riley Meredith
Adelaide Strikers have also named their 14-man squad. Alex Carey returns, replacing Harry Nielsen.
Adelaide Strikers: 1. Phil Salt, 2. Jake Weatherald, 3. Alex Carey (c & wk), 4. Matt Renshaw, 5. Jonathan Wells, 6. Ryan Ribson, 7. Rashid Khan. 8. Daniel Worrall, 9. Peter Siddle, 10. Wes Agar, 11. Danny Briggs
Launceston Pitch Report and Weather
There is a chance of a light, late shower in Launceston on Tuesday. However, the weather is unlikely to impact the match.
In the last BBL game on this ground, the Strikers smashed 186/5. The Hurricanes responded with 176/6. A good, even-paced surface is expected.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
BBL 10 Match 8: HUR vs STR Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
BBL 10 Match 8: HUR vs STR Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Alex Carey’s inclusion can be a boost to the Strikers. They have enjoyed playing on this ground in the past, and have a good chance of winning this match. In saying that, the all-round Hurricanes deserve to start as favourites.
