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Has Shakib Al Hasan retired from cricket? All-rounder speaks out

Charbel Coorey
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Has Shakib Al Hasan retired from cricket? All-rounder speaks out

Shakib Al Hasan has clarified that he has not retired from any format. The Bangladesh all-rounder still has aspirations of playing his final match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Shakib has enjoyed plenty of success on this ground. In Tests, he has the second-most runs (1,583 at 43.97) and second-most wickets (76 at 30.05). It is a similar story in ODIs as the all-rounder has the third-most runs (2,656 at 37.40) and most wickets (131 at 24.19). In T20Is, the left-hander has the second-most runs (547 at 18.23) and second-most wickets (45 at 18.28).

I haven’t retired from any format – Shakib Al Hasan

Before the Kanpur Test against India in 2024, Shakib hinted at a Test and T20I retirement. He said he had already played his final T20I for Bangladesh and wished to retire from Tests following the Mirpur Test against South Africa a year ago.

However, he had to make himself unavailable for the match due to political protests against him in Dhaka. Also, in August of 2024, he was among the 147 named in the first information report (FIR) for an alleged murder during Bangladesh unrest.

“To be honest, I am not retired from any format officially,” Shakib told Cricbuzz. “I think it’s more for them than it’s for me (playing in Mirpur one final time). If that happens, that’s the best thing that can happen to my fans and to me.”

Earlier this year, Bangladesh’s sports advisor Asif Mahmud said the all-rounder can’t play for Bangladesh again following Shakib’s social media post on Sunday wishing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a happy birthday.

“We cannot let him carry the Bangladesh flag,” Asif said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “It won’t be possible for me to allow him to wear the Bangladesh jersey. Maybe I haven’t told the BCB before, but now my clear direction for the BCB would be that Shakib Al Hasan can never again play for Bangladesh.

“The number of times he has asked to enter the country, to play for Bangladesh, he had said that the Awami League had given him the 2024 general election nomination forcibly. He claimed that he was not involved in politics. He wanted to become an MP to work for the people of his area Magura. The truth, however, is that he is intricately involved in Awami League’s politics.”

Despite these statements, Shakib still has hopes of a final international match in Dhaka. Whether the 38-year-old will get that opportunity remains to be seen.

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

Charbel Coorey
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SCG ODI records, recent highest scores & pace vs. spin stats comparison

The famous Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will host the third and final ODI of the 2025 series between Australia and India. The hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead after wins in Perth and Adelaide, with lesser experienced players including Cooper Connolly and Mitch Owen stepping up under pressure.

SCG ODI records: Batting first the key to victory again?

SCG ODI Results – Last 10 matches

Chasing is king in Perth and Adelaide, but it’s a different story in Sydney. Teams batting first have won the last nine ODIs at the SCG. Here are some of the recent results dating back to the start of 2016:

  • February 2024: Australia (258/9) beat West Indies (175) by 83 runs.
  • November 2022: Australia (280/8) beat England (208) by 72 runs.
  • November 2020: Australia (389/4) beat India (338/9) by 51 runs.
  • November 2020: Australia (374/6) beat India (308/8) by 66 runs.
  • March 2020: Australia (258/7) beat New Zealand (187) by 71 runs.
  • January 2019: Australia (288/5) beat India (254/9) by 34 runs.
  • January 2018: England (302/6) beat Australia (286/6) by 16 runs.
  • January 2017: Australia (353/6) beat Pakistan (267) by 86 runs.
  • December 2016: Australia (324/8) beat New Zealand (256) by 68 runs.
  • January 2016: India (331/4) beat Australia (330/7) by six wickets.

High average first innings score

SCG is a terrific batting ground in ODI cricket. In the past 10 matches, the average first innings score is 315.7 at an overall run rate of 6.31. No team was bowled out when batting first in an ODI at the SCG in this period.

300 was breached five times. 280 was breached seven times. With hot and dry conditions in Sydney in October, expect another good batting surface for the 2025 ODI.

Pace vs. spin records: Similar economy rates

Pace bowlers have taken 109 wickets in ODIs at the SCG dating back to the start of 2016. They collectively average 34.94 with an economy of 5.96 in this period.

Josh Hazlewood is the top wicket-taker among pace bowlers with 20 wickets at a superb average of 19.40 and economy of 5.33. Mitchell Starc has struggled, with seven wickets at an average of 52.71 and economy of 6.47.

On the spin front, Adam Zampa has been superb. The legspinner has taken 19 wickets in his last eight ODIs on this ground at an average of 22.00 and economy of 5.48. Kuldeep Yadav took 2/54 in his only ODI at the SCG to date.

Pace vs. spin comparison in last 10 ODIs at the SCG:

PaceSpin
109 wickets40 wickets
Average: 34.94Average: 46.38
Economy: 5.96Economy: 5.80
Four-wicket hauls: 2Four-wicket hauls: 2
Five-wicket hauls: 1Five-wicket hauls: 0

Other key ODI records at the SCG:

  • Rohit Sharma has scored 333 runs in five ODIs on this ground at an average of 66.60 and strike rate of 88.80. This includes two fifties and a hundred.
  • Virat Kohli, who made consecutive ducks in the opening two matches of the 2025 series, has a middling ODI record at the SCG: 7 inns, 146 runs, avg. 24.33, SR 82.95.
  • Mitch Marsh has the most ODI runs for Australia at the SCG among active players. In five innings, the captain has scored 235 runs at an average of 58.75 and strike rate of 95.53. This includes two fifties and a hundred.

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

SCG Sydney weather forecast for 3rd AUS vs IND ODI

Charbel Coorey
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SCG Sydney weather forecast for 3rd AUS vs IND ODI

Rain affected the Perth ODI. There was rain in Adelaide in the days leading up to the second ODI. There will be no such weather concerns at the SCG for the third and final match of the series between Australia and India.

It has been a very warm month in Sydney. October 22 saw records shattered with temperatures reaching 37 degrees in the CBD, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. However, conditions on Saturday will be comfortable for the players and spectators at a sold out SCG.

ALSO READ: AUS vs IND 2nd ODI Reactions – Praise for Connolly and co., while India fans lament team selections

SCG weather: Good conditions forecast for 3rd AUS vs IND ODI

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasts a top of 24 degrees with partly cloudy skies. The chance of rain is minimal.

There will also be a breeze throughout the afternoon and evening, which may limit dew. This could prompt the captain who wins the toss to bat, along with the fact that teams who batted first have won the past nine ODIs at the SCG.

“Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northeasterly 20 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then tending northerly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening,” reads the forecast.

SCG weather forecast for 3rd AUS vs IND ODI, as per BOM.

Also, the hot, dry conditions in Sydney recently can lead to a pitch that is more batting-friendly. The batsmen will certainly welcome that, with bowler-friendly surfaces in the opening two ODIs.

Australia come into this match with the series wrapped up. An inspired bowling performance set the victory up in Perth, before Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly, Matt Short and Mitch Owen all played starring roles in the Adelaide win.

AUS vs IND 2nd ODI Reactions: Connolly, Short, Owen lead Australia to series win over India

Charbel Coorey
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AUS vs IND 2nd ODI Reactions: Connolly, Short, Owen lead Australia to series win over India

Australia have taken out the ODI series against India, winning a tight match in Adelaide by two wickets. India fought till the end, taking late wickets to cause a few nerves among the Australians, but Cooper Connolly stood firm to see his team home.

Connolly’s unbeaten 61 off 53 balls is his first half-century for Australia and comfortably his best innings in international cricket to date. Walking in at 132/4 chasing 265, Connolly was proactive from the word go, rotating strike superbly as he combined with Matt Short (74) for a 55-run stand.

“I was nervous walking out to bat,” said Connolly to Adam Gilchrist following the match. However, it didn’t show. The 22-year-old’s composure was a key feature of his innings, and the fact he led Australia to a win is a huge confidence booster.

Matt Short continued his love affair with the Adelaide Oval with a 78-ball 74 that kept Australia ticking in the middle overs. Following his dismissal, Mitch Owen then took advantage of the platform, smashing a 23-ball 36; more glimpses of what he can offer Australia in the upcoming T20 and ODI World Cups. His innings changed the momentum of the game, putting Mitch Marsh’s team within touching distance.

AUS vs IND 2nd ODI Reactions: Australia win series, India with questions to answer

Earlier, India’s lower order rallied to give them a defendable 264/9. Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer had to fight tooth and nail against quality Australian bowling on a seaming Adelaide pitch. Josh Hazlewood in particular was outstanding, finishing with one of the great wicketless spells you are bound to see in ODIs.

However, after their 118-run stand, India lost too many regular wickets, with Adam Zampa finishing with four wickets and the man of the match award.

Also read: Reactions to Virat Kohli consecutive ducks – a first in his ODI career

In the field, India missed key opportunities, namely Mohammad Siraj’s dropped catch with Matt Short in his 50s. Also, India fans lamented the makeup of the bowling attack, with a particular focus on Kuldeep Yadav.

Here are some of the reactions to the match.

The final ODI will be played in Sydney on Saturday. The five-match T20I series then kicks off on Wednesday in Canberra.

PAK vs SA 2nd Test Reactions: South Africa praised for comeback, Pakistan criticised for collapse

Charbel Coorey
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PAK vs SA 2nd Test Reactions: South Africa praised for comeback, Pakistan criticised for collapse

South Africa levelled the two-match series against Pakistan after a magnificent, stirring fightback in Rawalpindi. About 24 hours before they sealed victory by eight wickets, the Proteas were on the mat at 235/8 in reply to Pakistan’s 333 on a turning pitch.

At that stage, all signs pointed to a similar outcome to the first Test in Lahore. Pakistan took a first innings lead of 111 and went on with the job despite being bowled out for 167 in the third innings.

This time, South Africa had other ideas. The returning Keshav Maharaj, along with Senuran Muthusamy, put on 71 to get the Proteas into a second innings shootout scenario. However, they weren’t done there, with Kagiso Rabada playing one of the greatest-ever knocks by a number 11, smashing a 61-ball 71 that included a glorious six off Shaheen Afridi over long on.

Rabada and Muthusamy, who played so magnificently for his unbeaten 89, put on 98 for the final wicket. This flattened Pakistan. Their body language in the Rawalpindi sunshine told the story. Shan Masood looked a little frazzled, and the fear was a third innings collapse could be on the cards.

It turned out that way. As they did against the likes of Bangladesh and England at home last year, Pakistan fell apart in the third innings. They couldn’t recover mentally from South Africa’s lower-order onslaught, falling to 16/3. Babar Azam played nicely for his 49* yesterday and gave hope of leading a strong response for his team, but when he was dismissed for 50 today, it led to another procession.

Simon Harmer was the chief destroyer, taking 6/50 in an exhibition of spin bowling. The offspinner took his 1,000th First Class wicket in the process, making a career out of beating batsmen in the air and threatening both edges.

PAK vs SA 2nd Test Reactions: WTC Champions South Africa get first win of new cycle

Pakistan were rolled for 138. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton put on a quick 64 for the first wicket, before two consolation wickets for the hosts.

The result saw praise for South Africa and criticism for Pakistan in equal measure. The Proteas showed why they are the World Test Champions, while Pakistan displayed the flaws that stops them from challenging for a top-two spot in the WTC table.

Praise for South Africa after stirring comeback

“The SA spinners are cooking. After India’s 0-3 rout against NZ last year, I’m slightly worried. Remember, NZ also played a Test series vs SL before coming here. Lost that but got valuable practice,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).

Here are some of the reactions to South Africa’s win.

Criticism for Pakistan after letting the match slip

“To have the opposition 8 wickets down and nearly 100 runs behind on first innings, but then lose the match by 8 wickets is remarkable even by Pakistan cricket standards,” wrote a fan on X (formerly Twitter).

Here are some of the reactions to Pakistan’s defeat.

The next Test for South Africa is a mouthwatering series in India starting November 14. Pakistan’s next Test assignment is two Tests away to Bangladesh in March-April 2026.

Twitter Reactions to Virat Kohli scoring consecutive ODI ducks against Australia

Charbel Coorey
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Twitter Reactions to Virat Kohli scoring consecutive ODI ducks against Australia

Virat Kohli’s return to a happy hunting ground has had a sad ending, dismissed for a second consecutive duck in the ongoing ODI series against Australia. It is the first time that Kohli has ever been dismissed for conscutive ducks in his glittering ODI career, following his eight-ball nought at Perth.

Xavier Bartlett, typically an outswing bowler, trapped Kohli in front with a delivery that held its line. Virat, falling over, looked to compensate by playing around his front pad, but he was struck on the knee roll. He decided not to review; a wise call with ball tracker showing three reds.

Shubman Gill and Virat were dismissed in the same over in a very testing opening period for India on an Adelaide pitch offering plenty of assistance for the fast bowlers. The surface had spent quite a bit of time under covers with rain in the leadup to the game, and Australia were happy to make first use of the conditions after winning the toss.

India fans heartbroken after Virat Kohli makes consecutive ducks in ODI series

Virat acknowledged applause from the crowd as he walked off one of his favourite grounds, possibly for the final time.

Speculation will only grow as to whether Virat will make it to the 2027 World Cup. One of the greatest ODI batsman is only playing the single format after retiring from Tests and T20Is, and the lack of game time seems to be catching up.

Many India fans are disappointed with how things have transpired so far in this series for Virat. “Sad way to end his last innings at Adelaide. A ground where he has dominated everytime,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).

“Our misery is turning funny because who the hell thought that there will be a possibility that Kohli can go through this series scoring 0 runs,” wrote another.

At the time of writing, India are 46/2 after 14 overs on a tricky surface. While Bartlett took two wickets, Josh Hazlewood looked the most threatening, going past both edges with incredible regularity in a seven-over spell that read 7-2-22-0.

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.

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