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Should Australia pick Cameron Green or Beau Webster for the Ashes? Allan Border has his say

Charbel Coorey
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Should Australia pick Cameron Green or Beau Webster for the Ashes? Allan Border has his say

One of the key questions surrounding the Australian team ahead of the Ashes is whether they can fit Cameron Green and Beau Webster in the same XI. There is the possibility that there is room for just one, and who should get the nod is cause for debate.

Green and Webster played in the World Test Championship Final and then in the West Indies. The former batted at three, and after a tough start, played some important knocks on tough pitches in the second-half of the Caribbean tour.

Allan Border on whether Australia should pick Cameron Green or Beau Webster

However, Allan Border believes there is room for just one of the all-rounders for the sake of team balance. Speaking on SENQ, the former captain prefers Webster given the contributions he has made since his Test debut against India in January. Also, Border remains unsure of Green as a number three in Tests.

“We can stick with him [Green], I’m just a bit concerned,” Border said, as quoted by SEN. They want him to bat at about number three and I don’t think his technique is suitable for that job. I can’t see him batting at three.

[Beau] Webster has done nothing wrong since they picked him and that all-round ability, particularly going into Perth, you might need a bit of backup to the quickies over there.

“I’d be locking him [Webster] in at number six and Green misses out in my first instance.”

Border said Australia can fit both in the team if Marnus Labuschagne is picked to open. However, he warned against picking players who aren’t specialist openers for the top of the order.

“If Labuschagne opens they could play Green and Webster and that wouldn’t be a bad scenario, but do they want to manufacture the openers?”, Border said.

In terms of candidates to open the batting, Jake Weatherald has made a strong start to the 2025/26 Sheffield Shield season after a brilliant 2024/25 campaign. The left-hander struck a superb 99-ball 94 in the classic against Western Australia on a green Hobart track, and his inclusion can complement Usman Khawaja well.

Other contenders include Matt Renshaw and Sam Konstas, although the latter needs to inspire confidence to retain his spot as Test opener. Border was particularly blunt regarding Konstas’ approach and “constantly trying to play this bloody ramp shot”.

“Can he cover drive?” Allan Border’s blunt advice for Sam Konstas

Charbel Coorey
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“Can he cover drive?” Allan Border’s blunt advice for Sam Konstas

Allan Border did not mince words when talking about youngster Sam Konstas. The former Australian captain believes Konstas needs to focus on getting his technique right to succeed at Test level.

Konstas has experienced a slow start to the Sheffield Shield season. The 20-year-old has managed scores of 4, 14, 0 and 53 so far. Speculation is growing as to whether the opener will hold his place in the Test team for the Ashes considering he had a tough time of things in the West Indies as well earlier this year with 50 runs at 8.33.

“Stop the ramp shot” – Allan Border on Sam Konstas

Speaking on SENQ Breakfast, Border said Konstas needs to put the ramp shot away. He was dismissed for 20 playing the shot in New South Wales’ One Day Cup match against Victoria earlier this week.

“Sam Konstas, I’ve only ever seen him play a ramp shot. Can he cover drive or anything like that?”, Border said, as quoted by SEN.

“We just haven’t seen anything but Konstas constantly trying to play this bloody ramp shot. It’s a handy shot to have in the kit bag, but I’d be leaving it there for a while until I’ve got a few on the board.”

Border also said that Konstas needs to give himself a chance to get settled at the crease. The former captain, who scored 11,174 Test runs, said there are many ways to score at this level.

“It’s hard to tell people how to bat specifically, but I’d be saying ‘just stop the ramp shot, just give yourself a chance to get yourself in and just conventionally playing’, said Border.

“There’s lots of ways to make Test match runs. You don’t have to ramp playing the ramp shot. He’s good enough from what I’m hearing, but I just haven’t seen it yet.”

New South Wales’ next Sheffield Shield match is against Queensland at the Gabba. The match starts on October 28. Runs for Konstas in that match will do him the world of good given it will be against the likes of Michael Neser.

Steve Smith reveals Marnus Labuschagne text after he was dropped

Charbel Coorey
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Steve Smith reveals Marnus Labuschagne text after he was dropped

Steve Smith has revealed the words Marnus Labuschagne told him after the latter was dropped earlier this year. Before the season, Labuschagne told Smith that he would be back in the Test team for the start of the Ashes.

Fast forward a few weeks and Labuschagne is all-but certain to earn a recall. He has been outstanding for Queensland to begin the 2025/26 season, hitting two hundreds in as many Sheffield Shield games, along with two hundreds in three One Day Cup matches.

Steve Smith reveals text: Marnus Labuschagne told me he’ll be back in the Test team

“He [Marnus] said to me at the start of the summer, he goes, ‘I’ll be in that Test team come the first [Ashes] Test’. He’s backed up his words, probably. He’s obviously not selected yet, [but] he’s done a lot of things right,” Smith told reporters at Cricket Central in Sydney, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“I sent him a message a couple of days ago saying how proud I was of him. He’s just gone back and he’s got his fourth hundred in five hits. It’s a pretty big statement.”

Labuschagne spoke of his mindset shift in an interview with Fox Cricket during Australia’s first ODI against India in Perth. He told Kath Loughnan that he was “trying to be too perfect” regarding his technique. This overthinking was clear in his game, often trying to survive rather than score.

“We’ve all been there [dropped] at some point in our careers and it’s difficult to hear it,” Smith said. “But I think he knew he probably wasn’t batting as well as he had been over probably four years ago when he was scoring a mountain of runs.

“I think my advice to him was ‘stop thinking so technically, just go and play the game; watch the ball and react’. I think he’s been doing that really beautifully and he’s played so nicely.”

Where Labuschagne will bat in the Ashes remains to be seen. For now, he has been recalled to Australia’s ODI squad after Cameron Green’s injury, and is a chance of featuring in the second match in Adelaide.

What is Virat Kohli’s ODI record at Adelaide Oval?

Charbel Coorey
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What is Virat Kohli’s ODI record at Adelaide Oval?

Virat Kohli returned to the Adelaide Oval in the 2025 series against Australia. It is a ground he’s enjoyed success at in the past, but it wasn’t a happy outing for India’s great number three. He picked up his second consecutive duck in the series after Xavier Bartlett dismissed him LBW.

Virat Kohli at the Adelaide Oval in ODIs: Good numbers, like his Test record at the ground

Matches5
Runs244
Average48.80
Strike Rate82.71
Hundreds2

Kohli has two centuries in four ODIs at the Adelaide Oval. The first came during the 2015 World Cup against Pakistan, with his 126-ball 107 setting the platform for India’s 300/7. This total was 76 runs too many for Misbah-ul-Haq’s team.

Virat’s next century on the ground came four years later against Australia. Down 1-0 in the three-match series in 2019, India faced a tricky chase of 299. However, as he has done so often in his glittering ODI career, Kohli was the rock of the chase, scoring 104 off 112 balls to put India within touching distance.

However, Kohli’s second consecutive duck will increase speculation regarding whether he will make the 2027 World Cup. It wasn’t too long ago that he showed his immense class in the 2023 World Cup, but the fact he’s retired from Test and T20I cricket since means he needs time at the crease.

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be assessed by their performances, but insisted they are not on trial.

“It will be silly to put them on trial for every game. Once they start playing they will be assessed but they are not on trial,” Agarkar said at the NDTV World Summit, as quoted by CBNC TV18.

“It doesn’t mean if they don’t get runs in Australia, they would be dropped and similarly if they score three rons in Australia, they would be selected for the 2027 World Cup,” Agarkar continued.

In nine ODIs so far in 2025, Kohli has scored 275 runs at an average of 34.38 with two fifties and a hundred.

Adelaide Oval ODI records, recent highest scores & pace vs. spin stats comparison

Tarkesh Jha
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Adelaide Oval ODI records, recent highest scores & pace vs. spin stats comparison

Australia and India will square off at the Adelaide Oval for the second ODI of their bilateral series on October 23. The home side secured a comfortable seven-wicket win in the series opener at Perth, and will be looking to seal the series on Thursday.

Adelaide Oval ODI records: Chasing the key to victory again?

Adelaide Oval ODI Results – Last 10 matches

  • November 2024: Pakistan (169/1) beat Australia (163) by nine wickets.
  • November 2022: Australia (291/4) beat England (287/9) by six wickets.
  • January 2019: India (299/4) beat Australia (298/9) by six wickets.
  • November 2018: Australia (231) beat South Africa (224/9) by seven runs.
  • January 2018: Australia (197/7) beat England (196) by three wickets.
  • January 2017: Australia (369/7) beat Pakistan (312) by 57 runs
  • March 2015: Australia (216/4) beat Pakistan (213) by six wickets.
  • March 2015: Pakistan (241/3) beat Ireland (237) by seven wickets.
  • March 2015: Bangladesh (275/7) beat England (260) by 15 runs.
  • February 2015: India (300/7) beat Pakistan (224) by 76 runs.

This ground has a tendency to be perceived as a batting-friendly track, but the numbers paint a different picture. Of the 94 ODIs played, teams have averaged a first innings score of a modest 225. In the last 10 ODIs, the average first innings score rises to 256.9, but the bowlers still have a say.

The highest total recorded at Adelaide in ODIs is the 369 scored by Australia against Pakistan in late 2016. David Warner and Travis Head smashed 179 and 128 respectively.

Pace vs spin records: Fast bowlers rule the roost

Like most Australian pitches, pacers have found their groove at Adelaide more than the spinners. Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath are the highest wicket takers in ODIs on the ground, with both of them grabbing 23 and 21 wickets respectively. Malcom Marshall and EJ Chatfield are amongst the top in the overseas list, with 15 and 13 scalps to their respective names. Speaking of the slower bowlers, it’s the leg-spinners who have extracted the most purchase off the surface, with Shane Warne and Brad Hogg sharing 28 wickets between them.

In the last 10 ODIs at Adelaide, the fast bowlers are totally dominant compared to spinners. Pat Cummins (10), Mitchell Starc (7), and Josh Hazlewood (6) have secured the highest count of dismissals. Haris Rauf and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have taken five and four wickets respectively, whereas Adam Zampa also has five wickets to his name.

Australia will bank on the seasoned duo of Starc and Hazlewood to come out all guns blazing yet again, especially after their prolific outing at Perth and their aforementioned record at Adelaide.

Pace vs. spin comparison in last 10 ODIs at the Adelaide Oval

PaceSpin
122 wickets17 wickets
Average: 29.07Average: 81.59
Economy: 5.32Economy: 5.69
Four-wicket hauls: 7Four-wicket hauls: 0
Five-wicket hauls: 2Five-wicket hauls: 0

Key records in ODIs at the Adelaide Oval:

  • 94 ODI matches have been played at this venue.
  • 49 matches have been won by teams batting first, while 43 matches have been won by teams bowling first.
  • The average first innings score is 225, while the average second innings score stands at 197.
  • The highest total recorded is 369/7 in 50 overs, scored by Australia against Pakistan.
  • The lowest total recorded is 70 all out in 26.3 overs, scored by Australia against New Zealand.
  • The highest successful chase at this ground is 303/9 in 49.4 overs, achieved by Sri Lanka against England.
  • The lowest total successfully defended is 140 all out in 49 overs, by Pakistan against the West Indies.
  • Virat Kohli averages 61.00 in four ODIs on this ground, with two centuries.

All statistics in this article have been checked and verified via ESPNcricinfo and Cricmetric.

Australia possible 11 for 2nd ODI against India 2025

Charbel Coorey
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Australia possible 11 for 2nd ODI against India 2025

A new-look Australia took a 1-0 lead in the ODI series against India, courtesy of a seven-wicket victory at Perth. The experienced duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood led the way with inspired new-ball bowling, before captain Mitchell Marsh continued his magnificent run of form to see the hosts home.

Australia are expected to welcome back some familiar faces. Marnus Labuschagne is available after a magnificent start to the domestic season, as is Alex Carey who missed the first ODI due to Sheffield Shield commitments.

Rain is forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday in Adelaide. This could make for tricky batting conditions. Overcast conditions are expected on Thursday for the second ODI, which may prompt the team who wins the toss to bowl first.

Australia predicted 11 for the 2nd ODI against India at the Adelaide Oval

1. Travis Head, 2. Mitchell Marsh (c), 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Matt Renshaw, 5. Alex Carey (wk), 6. Mitch Owen, 7. Cooper Connolly, 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Nathan Ellis, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Adam Zampa

Josh Inglis will also miss the second ODI due to a calf injury, but will return to the squad for the Sydney match. Alex Carey could slot into the XI in place of Josh Philippe, although the latter impressed with gloves and bat in the rain-affected series opener.

Legspinner Adam Zampa is set to return, according to cricket.com.au. The aformentioned platform also confirmed Matt Kuhnemann will head home and return to the Australian squad for the T20I series.

With regards to the remainder of the attack, Australia could look to play both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood given the lengthy turnaround between the first and second ODIs. The big guns may be rested for the third ODI at the SCG, which begins less than 48 hours after the second match.

From a batting point of view, expect Marnus Labuschagne to slot in at number three in place of Matt Short. Labuschagne was originally dropped from the squad after a lean series against South Africa earlier this year, where he made scores of 1 and 1.

ALSO READ: Why is Cameron Green not playing in the Australia-India ODI series?

However, Labuschagne has been in irresistible form since. He has struck two centuries for Queensland in three One Day Cup matches, namely 130 off 118 balls against Victoria and 105 off 91 balls against Tasmania. The 31-year-old has been proactive at the crease, and will be looking to continue his good form if he’s recalled to the Australian team.

When is the last time Babar Azam scored a Test century?

Charbel Coorey
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When is the last time Babar Azam scored a Test century?

Babar Azam’s wait for a tenth Test century continued after he was dismissed for 16 AND 50 in second Test against South Africa. Pakistan’s number four was brilliantly caught by Tony de Zorzi at silly point off the bowling off Keshav Maharaj in the first innings, much to the shock of the fans at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

In the second innings, Babar played quite nicely, but his innings was cut short early on day four, trapped LBW by Simon Harmer.

Babar Azam’s last Test century stretches back nearly three years

Babar Azam’s last Test century was a masterful 161 against New Zealand at Karachi in December 2022, some 29 innings ago. In that same year, Babar also made hundreds against Australia (196 at Karachi), Sri Lanka (119 at Galle) and England (136 at Rawalpindi).

By the end of 2022, Babar had 3,645 Test runs at an average of 49.3. His average now sits at 42.38.

Babar Azam in Tests until end of 2022Babar Azam in Tests since his last century
83 innings29 innings
3,645 runs721 runs
Average: 49.3Average: 24.86
26 fifties4 fifties
9 hundreds0 hundreds

The classy batsman even found himself dropped during last year’s Test series against England following a lean run of form. According to ESPNcricinfo, this decision was “recommended by the newly formed selection committee, which met in Lahore within hours of the loss in the first Test [by an innings against England] on Friday.”

After the two Tests against South Africa, Pakistan’s next Test assignment will be two Tests away in Bangladesh in March and April 2026. They will also play the West Indies (two Tests) and England (three Tests) away from home in mid-2026. Their next home fixtures in the World Test Championship are Sri Lanka (two Tests) in November 2026 and New Zealand (two Tests) in March 2027.

IND-W vs ENG-W Twitter Reactions: Fans criticise Indian women’s team after lacklustre collapse against England in ODI World Cup

Tarkesh Jha
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IND-W vs ENG-W Twitter Reactions: Fans criticise Indian women’s team after lacklustre collapse against England in ODI World Cup

The India Women’s team suffered another heartbreaking loss in a nail-biter against England Women in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, leaving fans visibly frustrated on social media. Despite being in control for most of the chase, the hosts fell short by just four runs in Indore on Sunday (October 19), a defeat that now leaves their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.

England, opting to bat first, posted a formidable 288/8 in 50 overs, powered by captain Heather Knight’s brilliant 109 off 91 balls, laced with 15 boundaries and a six. In reply, India looked well on course for a record chase with Smriti Mandhana (88), skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (70), and Deepti Sharma (50) guiding the innings with authority.

At one stage, India needed just 56 runs off the final nine overs with seven wickets in hand on a batting-friendly pitch, but a late collapse saw them stutter to 284/6 at the end of their 50 overs. The narrow defeat has placed India in a precarious position, a must-win scenario against New Zealand Women in their next league game to stay alive in the tournament.

This marks India’s third straight close loss after strong starts, following similar heartbreaks against South Africa and Australia. Fans took to social media to vent their disappointment, criticising the team for losing composure in crunch moments despite getting everything they ever demanded, home conditions, crowd support, and form at the start of the tournament. 

Reactions IND-W vs ENG-W 2025 Women’s World Cup thriller: How did India lose that?

Earlier, the Women in Blue had lost to Australia in Vizag, with the Southern Stars completing the highest-ever chase in ODI history, thanks to them scaling the peak of 331 runs in the second innings. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side then also lost to South Africa, and critics have raised concerns regarding their poor performances against strong opponents in this multi-nation tournament. 

India face New Zealand and Bangladesh in their final two group games. Failure to reach the semi-finals in a home World Cup would be a huge disappointment.

Adelaide Oval weather forecast for 2nd AUS vs IND ODI

Charbel Coorey
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Adelaide Oval weather forecast for 2nd AUS vs IND ODI

On the back of a pace-bowling onslaught and Mitchell Marsh’s solid unbeaten 46, Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against India. However, it was a largely frustrating day for players and spectators, with persistent showers regularly halting proceedings at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

The series moves to Adelaide for the second ODI on Thursday October 23. There is some rain around in the city this week, so here is a look at the forecast for the match.

Adelaide Oval weather forecast: Rain should clear in time for 2nd AUS vs IND ODI on Thursday

There are plenty of showers forecast in Adelaide this week, with chances of thunderstorms and up to 30mm of rain on Tuesday. There are also showers forecast on Wednesday.

Thursday looks more promising. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the forecast is for cloudy conditions and a 20% chance of rain. It will be a cool day with a top of 19 degrees, which may tempt the captain who wins the toss to bowl.

Rain is forecast in Adelaide this week, but the forecast looks more promising for the 2nd ODI between Australia and India on Thursday.
Adelaide weather forecast for 20 to 23 October 2025 according to Bureau of Meteorology.

AccuWeather paints an even more promising picture. The platform forecasts clouds and sunshine with just a 2% chance of precipitation. Going by the predictions, there should be a full, uninterruped match.

Adelaide weather forecast 2nd AUS vs IND according to AccuWeather.

Adelaide Oval played host to a Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and Queensland that ended on Saturday (October 18). The Queensland bowlers found assistance on day one, before it settled down into a slower, lower track as the match went on. Legspinner Mitchell Swepson won man of the match for his 10 wickets.

Rain in the leadup to the second Australia-India ODI can affect pitch preparation. The surface will spend plenty of time under the covers, and both teams may prefer making first use of any moisture in the pitch. Australia opted to bowl first in Perth and made inroads into the Indian top order on a surface that had pace and movement.

Optus Stadium Perth ODI records, highest scores & pace vs. spin stats comparison

Charbel Coorey
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Optus Stadium Perth ODI records, highest scores & pace vs. spin stats comparison

Australia and India will meet in an ODI for the first time at Perth’s Optus Stadium. The hosts will be hoping its fourth-time lucky in 50-over cricket at this venue, with defeats in all their previous outings.

Optus Stadium Perth ODI records: Pace to dominate again?

Results in ODIs at Optus Stadium Perth: Three losses for Australia

  • January 2018: England (259) beat Australia (247) by 12 runs.
  • November 2018: South Africa (153/4) beat Australia (152) by six wickets.
  • November 2024: Pakistan (143/2) beat Australia (140) by eight wickets.

Bowlers have enjoyed proceedings in ODIs on this ground. The average first innings score is just 184, with Australia bundled out for 140 less than a year ago against Pakistan. The Pakistani fast bowlers were far too good that day, as Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/32), Naseem Shah (3/54), Mohammad Hasnain (1/24) and Haris Rauf (2/24) ensured there was no need for a fifth bowler.

Pace vs. spin records: Fast bowlers pick the bulk of the wickets

Fast bowlers have thrived on the pacy, bouncy Optus Stadium track. The quicks have picked up 35 wickets in the three ODIs to date at an average of 23.82 and economy of 4.67. Spinners have taken just seven scalps at an average of 32.57 and economy of 5.20.

PaceSpin
35 wickets7 wickets
Average: 23.82Average: 32.57
Economy: 4.67Economy: 5.20

The Australia-India ODI will feature seasoned fast bowlers. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are key for the hosts, while the likes of Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj will be looking to reopen Australia’s Optus Stadium wounds.

Other key records at Optus Stadium Perth:

  • Highest team score: 259 by England (batting first) vs. Australia in January 2018.
  • Lowest team score: 140 by Australia (batting first) vs. Pakistan in November 2024.
  • Chasing teams have won two of the three ODIs at Optus Stadium. There is a chance of afternoon showers in the Australia-India ODI.
  • Best bowling figures: 5/35 by Tom Curran vs. Australia, 2018.
  • Highest individual score: 87 (99) by Marcus Stoinis vs. England, 2018.
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