The recently-concluded Australian Cricket Awards 2025 saw some of the top players of the country attend one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in Australia’s sporting industry. Despite the absence of most of the star Aussie players due to their ongoing series in Sri Lanka, the annual awards saw several cricketing athletes attend the event.
Australia’s rising star Matt Short was one among them. It is safe to say that Short has been in superb form of late. His career has seen an upward trajectory in the recent past with the batting all-rounder more or less sealing a spot in Australia’s white-ball side.
During an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan during the Australian Cricket Awards 2025 in Melbourne for CricBlog, Short drew light on his current form, as well as his rise in international cricket. The opener spoke about how he received a lot of moral support from his partner, which subsequently enabled him to further establish himself in the cricketing world
Matt Short also had a lot of good things to say about Travis Head. He praised the left-handed batter, and drew light on how it feels to open the batting with him. Short stated that it was always “entertaining” to bat alongside the 2025 Allan Border Medal winner.
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Head has been in the form of his life in recent years. Moreover, several cricket pundits feel that Head is currently one of the best players going around. Besides, with Mitchell Marsh injured, there’s a good chance Head and Short will open the batting for Australia during the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Matt Short interview: Travis Head almost guarantees the team gets off to flyer
Below is the audio and transcript of our interview with Matt Short.
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Your meteoric rise in the last 12 months has been very nice. So if you were to summarise this season, what were you to say?
Matt Short: Yeah, it’s been a busy sort of 12-18 months. Probably 2 years to be fair. Actually, it’s funny….When I met my partner Madi, I sort of wasn’t playing any international cricket, or any cricket overseas or any tournaments. So when we met, it was like I told her that I’d be in Melbourne and not much travel and yeah, since meeting her it’s almost like skyrocketed. With trips overseas and sort of new teams and trips overseas and different tournaments around the world here and there. So it’s definitely been a big couple of years. Yeah, and also pretty busy with the young fellow. The 5-month-old back at home.
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Yeah, and Australia have Head (Travis Head) at the top, and there’s a huge likelihood that you can open with Head. So what goes through your mind when you open with Head, who’s been so good?
Matt Short: Yeah, it’s a pretty cool experience, actually. I’ve done it in Adelaide Strikers as well. So, had a bit of a taste of it with him. So yeah, when you’re standing on the other end with Trav, it’s pretty entertaining. He certainly takes a lot of the pressure off myself. A lot of the boys that bat with him…..you know you can sort of guarantee that he gets the team off to a flyer and kind of get to play that second fiddle when he’s out there. So yeah, hopefully get the opportunity to again bat with him and yeah, we’ll see what happens.
Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign kicks off on Saturday February 22 against archrivals England at Lahore.
Former India all-rounder and coach Ravi Shastri has warned against risking Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Bumrah suffered back spasms during the final Test of the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he bore the brunt of the workload.
Bumrah took 32 wickets at 13.06 in one of the great performances by any touring bowler in Australia. However, he sent 151.2 overs down as India turned to him time and again to keep them in the contest. The sheer volume saw him break down at Sydney, where he did not bowl in the second innings.
It’s high risk playing Jasprit Bumrah in the Champions Trophy – Ravi Shastri
Shastri believes it would be unfair to call on Bumrah to deliver straight away. Although he’s been named in India’s preliminary Champions Trophy squad, the fast bowler will not feature in the three-match ODI series against England starting February 6.
“I think it’s high risk. There’s too much big cricket coming up for India,” said Shastri to Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review.
“And at this stage of his career, I think he’s too precious to be just called on for one game out of the blue and asked to deliver.
“The expectations will be so much. They’ll think that he’ll come in straight away and set the world on fire. It’s never that easy when you come back from injury.”
However, Shastri admitted India’s chances of winning the trophy would take a huge hit if Bumrah is out. The star bowler is a matchwinner at all stages of the innings, especially at the death.
“Bumrah not fit will reduce India’s chances [of winning the Champions Trophy] by 30%, literally by 30-35%,” Shastri said.
“With a fully fit Bumrah playing, you are guaranteed of those death overs. It would’ve been a different ball game altogether.”
Fitness of Mohammed Shami key for India
Mohammed Shami, who missed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to injury, returned to action for India in the recent T20I series against England. He has been named in India’s ODI squad against the same opponent, and Shastri believes India will need to keep a close eye on how he pulls up after bowling more overs.
“It will be interesting to see if India play him out in all three, or they give him the first one and the third one, and then ease him into the Champions Trophy,” Shastri said.
“But he’ll be watched very closely because 10 overs is totally different to four overs, and then you’re going to see how he pulls up in the field as well having bowled those 10 overs.”
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting echoed the thoughts around Shami’s importance. Also, Ponting believes Shami’s absence down under put almost all of the responsibility on Bumrah to deliver.
“My biggest concern about India when they came for Australia in the Test series was Bumrah not having Shami there as a backup and him having to burden most of the load,” Ponting said on The ICC Review.
“And that’s probably what happened, and might even have something to do with why he [Bumrah] got hurt. He probably ended up having to bowl a bit more in that series with Shami not being there.
“If Shami’s fit, that’s a positive.”
India play three ODIs against England at Nagpur, Cuttack and Ahmedabad before their first match of the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
Despite a massive win in the 1st Test, Australia are considering changes for the 2nd Test also in Galle. Australia’s team combination worked nicely in the opening clash and more of the same is expected, but there could be a personnel change or two.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia are set to replace Beau Webster or Todd Murphy with Cooper Connolly on a Galle surface expected to turn even more. The move would be harsh on Webster who enjoyed an excellent debut against India last month, but Connolly’s spin – which Steve Smith was in praise of on match-eve – could sway the selectors.
Predicted XI for Australia for 2nd Test: Potential debut & Marnus seems safe, for now
1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Travis Head, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith (c), 5. Josh Inglis, 6. Alex Carey (wk), 7. Beau Webster, 8. Cooper Connolly, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Matt Kuhnemann
Marnus Labuschagne’s place in the XI was under threat after struggling on the first day of the series. Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay had his number as Labuschagne fought hard for 20 off 50 balls in an innings where Usman Khawaja (232), Steve Smith (141) and Josh Inglis (102) all scored tons in Australia’s highest-ever total in Asia.
With one hundred in his past 49 innings, there have been calls for Labuschagne to make way. However, Smith confirmed the top order would remain the same, backing Australia’s number three to come good.
“I can’t see the top six changing, I daresay that’ll be the same,” said Smith, as quoted by The Roar.
“(Labuschagne) played nicely at the back end of the summer, he looked like he was putting the pressure on the bowlers a little bit more.
“The more difficult the wicket is in terms of how much it’s spinning, the more aggressive you have to be with your batting and the more proactive you have to be.
“He understands that, he understands spin and angles as good as anyone. I don’t think he’s far away from a good score.”
Who would Cooper Connolly come in for?
Another point of conjecture for Australia is who Cooper Connolly would replace. Beau Webster was not called on with the ball in the opening Test, but he provides the kind of batting depth that may be required on a turning pitch. So, Todd Murphy, who played third fiddle to Nathan Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann, could make way, as reported by CODE Cricket.
Todd Murphy could be the unlucky second Test scalp as selectors consider handing out another international debut for the second Test against Sri Lanka. #SLvAUS
Replacing Murphy with Connolly may be seen as risky given the latter is yet to take a First Class wicket. However, Smith said Connolly’s consistency at training has been impressive, and such bowling can be rewarded on a helpful surface.
“He was pretty consistent when he was bowling in Dubai [in the training camp] and in the nets here,” Smith said. “That’s kind of all you’ve got to do in these conditions, just try and bowl as many good balls in a good area and let the conditions take over.”
A win or draw would seal Australia’s first series win in Sri Lanka since 2011. Also, Australia have won just one series in Asia overall since that triumph 14 years ago – against Pakistan in 2022.
In fact, Australia have not won two Tests in a series in Asia since beating Bangladesh 2-0 in 2006; the tour most remembered for Jason Gillespie’s double century. This represents a great opportunity, but expect Sri Lanka to fight back hard in Dimuth Karunaratne’s 100th and final Test.
Charbel (@cric_blog) believes Australia are right to do what they can to win this series in Sri Lanka instead of focusing too much on the future.
None of Australia’s men’s Test players will be in attendance for the 2025 Allan Border Medal. The awards, which takes place on Monday February 3 at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, have been labelled as “meaningless” from corners of the media, with fans also questioning the timing given the current tour of Sri Lanka.
According to The Age, Cricket Australia (CA) spoke with broadcasters and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) about holding the awards in January. But, given the Belinda Clark Award is to be announced on the same night, CA decided to lock in February 3 as the official date.
2025 Allan Border Medal to take place without top men’s players
Kane Cornes from Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) was scathing in his review of the 2025 Allan Border Medal. He likened the situation to an AFL Brownlow Medal night without the top contenders present.
“It’s like having the Brownlow Medal and the top eight fancies are ineligible,” Cornes said on SEN, as quoted by news.com.au.
“Even the rusted-on SEN lovers of cricket if you asked them ‘Hey list me off the last five AB medal winners I don’t reckon they could do that’.
“It is the most meaningless award. It just doesn’t mean anything.”
Joel Morrison, head of events at CA, said finding a window where everyone is available was too difficult a task.
“The difference this time will be the fact that the men’s Test team will be over in Sri Lanka. That’s a reflection of the evolution of the global game and the increasing playing opportunities overseas while the awards are on,” Morrison told The Age.
“This is the first time where we literally haven’t been able to find a window where all players can be in the one location at the one time, without conflicting with a BBL game and still holding it in the thick of the cricket season as opposed to at the end of the season for club and state cricket in March.
“It’s the first time we haven’t been able to have the men’s Test team there, but we’ll have our Australian women’s team, WBBL and BBL players, and men’s white-ball players as well.”
Why is this event being held during an overseas test series?
Travis Head and Annabel Sutherland tipped to take out top awards
Travis Head and Annabel Sutherland are tipped to win the Allan Border Medal and Belinda Clark Award respectively. Head has struck 1,427 runs across formats since January 2024. Ashes Test hero Sutherland has cemented herself as one of Australia’s top all-rounders.
Head, or any other Australian men’s Test player for that matter, will accept the 2025 Allan Border Medal virtually. This includes Pat Cummins, who is currently in Sydney with a newborn.
Here is the full list of awards to be presented. The awards will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo at 8pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
There aren’t many better sights in T20 cricket than when Abhishek Sharma gets going. His latest exploits – a magnificent 54-ball 135 at the Wankhede – made a mockery of an England side that aspires to perform well at the T20 World Cup in India in a year’s time.
Abhishek’s second T20I century won’t be his last if he keeps batting like this. As one of the centrepoints of India’s all guns blazing approach, the left-hander went on a rampage, smashing the most sixes in a single innings by an Indian (13) and finishing with a strike rate of 250.
On the way, the opener blazed India’s second-fastest T20I century off 37 balls, only behind Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball innings against Sri Lanka in 2017. Also, his 135 is India’s highest-ever individual score in men’s T20Is, beating Shubman Gill’s 126* against New Zealand two years ago.
Abhishek Sharma scored 38 more runs than the entire England team did. Despite an excellent onslaught by Phil Salt, the visitors lasted just 10.3 overs, bowled out for 97 to lose by their biggest-ever margin in T20Is.
Reactions: Abhishek Sharma & India hammer England at the Wankhede
The fourth T20I was controversial with the concussion rule a major topic. The fifth was not even a contest. England tried to recover after India ran rampant, but they were never in the game.
Man of the series Varun Chakravarthy made an immediate impact with the ball as the wickets were shared right around. Abhishek Sharma himself took two wickets in an over to complete a dream night, while Shivam Dube (2/11) also had an excellent outing.
“Well played @IamAbhiSharma4! That’s where I want to see you! Proud of you,” tweeted former cricketer and Abhishek’s mentor Yuvraj Singh. Here are some reactions to India’s huge win.
It was such a special innings today from Abhishek Sharma. I think we are only starting to see what he can offer because he will be a special player. I hope he keeps at his bowling because all-rounders are so crucial in this game
Abhishek Sharma put up a spectacle today which will be remembered for years to come. The clean bat swing while keeping his shape today was a joy to watch. He looked good pretty much the entire series, and today he made it count in a great manner.
We have seen batters backing away when they are hesitant to face high-end pace. Abhishek Sharma backs away to carve over deep point and deep covers as if its childs play. You bowl faster and it helps him further.
Gautam Gambhir said, "I haven't seen a batter T20 hundred than Abhishek Sharma's one against quality bowlers of 145kmph consistently". pic.twitter.com/gJWQ6luQ5m
England have played the kind of game that your top ranked associates get crucified for playing against a significantly more resourced full member team.
97 all out on a batting paradise and a small ground. Salt got 55 of them. Only one other batsman got into double figures. So essentially ten of them made 42 runs. Poor batting all in all by England. Time to introspect about their T20 approach and particularly their game vs spin.
This is brutal. The worrying thing for England is that they have very few players who are at the peak of their powers. In the main, it's a mixture of players past their best, players yet to reach their peak and players who aren't international class. A recall for Root is a must.
New Zealand 2025 Champions Trophy squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young
NZ Predicted Starting XI: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, William O’Rourke
New Zealand in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup
Matches played: 9
Matches won: 4
Matches lost: 4
No result: 1
W/L ratio – 1.000
Batting run rate – 5.82
Most runs for NZ in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:
Will Young (RHB): 456 runs, AVG: 65.14, SR: 93.63, 100s: 1, 50s: 3
Most wickets for NZ in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:
Jacob Duffy (right-arm pace): 11 wickets, AVG: 23.90, ECO: 5.47
Matt Henry (right-arm pace): 9 wickets, AVG: 10.33, ECO: 3.72
Will O’Rourke (right-arm pace): 8 wickets, AVG: 31.62, ECO: 5.60
New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 Analysis: How far can the Black Caps go?
Santner Leads New Zealand Through Transition
New Zealand is in a transition phase, with Mitchell Santner taking over the captaincy from Kane Williamson. Santner will lead New Zealand for the first time in a global event and will be able to draw on the experience of players like Williamson and Tom Latham.
The veteran pace duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult have retired from international cricket. The absence of the latter, in particular, means New Zealand faces a downgrade in their new-ball wicket-taking ability, which has long been one of their greatest strengths. Nevertheless, the Black Caps still possess the resources to navigate this change, and with their knack for punching above their weight in ICC tournaments, they could sneak their way into the last-four stage of the competition.
New Zealand 2025 Champions Trophy Analysis: Can the Black Caps replace Trent Boult effectively?
Rising Young Talent in New Zealand’s Pace Attack
With Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke, New Zealand boasts two young fast bowlers known for their pace and ability to extract bounce.
“He’s one of those guys who, when you look at places like Pakistan, pure speed is what you’re looking for, and he certainly has that. A young tearaway is always exciting to see, and we’re very pleased to have him in the squad,” said Head Coach Gary Stead, speaking about Ben Sears.
Nathan Smith, another promising young cricketer, could prove to be a valuable seam-bowling option. He is also a useful lower-order batsman.
With Sears, O’Rourke, and Smith included, there was no place in the main squad for Jacob Duffy, despite his breakthrough season in international white-ball cricket.
“It’s a tough decision,” Stead said. “Jacob Duffy has been probably the one that people would say is hard done by. He’s been very very good in what he’s played for us. I think the way to look at it, though, is that if some of these guys, perhaps like a Lockie Ferguson, were available, Jacob Duffy may not have got the opportunity, so for us it’s a real positive story that although Jake’s missed [out], it’s still positive that we’re growing that depth long-term for our team.”
Meanwhile, the responsibility falls on Matt Henry, who’s averaging 23.8 in ODIs since 2020, to lead the pace attack. Lockie Ferguson, now one of the more experienced bowlers in the set-up, will add extra pace to the arsenal.
A potential concern for New Zealand is Matt Henry’s injury history. If New Zealand were to lose him, they’d not only be without a high-quality new-ball bowler – a department already weakened by Boult’s retirement – but they’d also be forced to rely on a largely inexperienced pace unit. While O’Rourke has shown promise, he still grapples with control issues, and this new-look attack could struggle, especially in Asian conditions.
New Zealand also lacks elite death bowling, which could pose a significant challenge if they fail to pick wickets with the new ball or during the middle overs.
Spin Depth: A Solid Core, but Missing a Wrist Spinner
The skipper, Mitchell Santner, who can also provide valuable lower-order runs, will lead the spin attack.
Santner has mastered the art of subtle variation, combined with unwavering control. Among contemporary fingerspinners, few vary their pace as much as he does, ranging from the mid-70s to the upper 90s. The dip he obtains causes the ball to pitch slightly shorter than the batter expects, often enticing a false shot. Additionally, he uses the crease cleverly and varies his release angle to keep batters guessing. All of this makes him a bowler to watch out for on the slower pitches of Asia, as he demonstrated in the 2023 World Cup, where he was New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker.
Glenn Phillips, now an improved spinner, and Michael Bracewell, another all-rounder, will join him in the spin department. Rachin Ravindra, who sent down 65.4 overs in the 2023 World Cup, will provide a fourth option. There’s a strong possibility that all four could feature together in the same XI.
One small point, however, is that they lack a wrist spinner in the squad, which could limit their wicket-taking ability in the middle overs, particularly if opposition teams navigate the Powerplay with minimal damage.
New Zealand’s Batting Blueprint
The batting unit will once again centre around Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, and Devon Conway. Tom Latham will take on wicketkeeping duties. There are no changes from the 2023 World Cup, though the in-form Will Young could potentially replace Conway in the XI, given Conway’s recent dip in form.
Daryl Mitchell is one of the world’s best No. 4 batters in this format. Since the start of 2023, he has accumulated 947 runs at an average of 45.09 and a strike rate of over 100, including 3 centuries and 3 half-centuries while batting at No. 4 in ODI cricket.
He has excellent ability against spin; able to play square of the wicket on both sides with sweeps and reverse sweeps, and can launch powerful sixes down the ground. Since the start of 2023, he has scored over 500 runs at an average of 56.67 and a strike rate of 96.23 against spin in the middle overs (11-40) in ODI cricket.
Latham, who plays the sweep shot effectively, is also a solid player of spin, averaging over 50 against spin in ODIs in Asia. Along with Mitchell and Williamson, they form a strong and reliable middle order for New Zealand.
While New Zealand’s lower order isn’t the most dynamic against pace, it remains competent and functional. Phillips has the power, and Bracewell can also prove to be dangerous, as demonstrated by his impressive record in the limited sample of 101 balls faced in overs 41-50 against pace in ODIs, where he scored 185 runs, getting out just twice (AVG: 92.5, SR: 183.2). Santner at No. 8 adds further depth to the lineup and has the ability to chip in with impactful cameos, as he showed against the Netherlands in the World Cup match in Hyderabad.
New Zealand 2025 Champions Trophy SWOT Summary
STRENGTHS:
Strong and experienced middle-order batting.
Dynamic bowling duo in the middle overs; high-pace hit-the-deck (Ferguson) and left-arm spin (Santner).
Proven track record of coming together as a unit and punching above their weight in ICC tournaments.
WEAKNESSES:
Vulnerability in death bowling.
Absence of a wrist spinner, limiting their wicket-taking ability in the middle overs.
Lower order’s limited range and potential struggles against high-quality pace.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Early big tournament exposure and opportunity for young pacers like Sears, O’Rourke and Nathan Smith to establish themselves.
Potential for Santner to grow into his role as a captain and build a new era of New Zealand cricket.
THREATS:
Injury to injury prone Matt Henry could severely impact bowling resources.
Pressure on inexperienced bowlers in high-stake tournament matches.
Potential challenges for young pacers adapting to subcontinental pitches and conditions.
2025 signals a fresh start for many individuals around the world with new year resolutions commonly put into action at this time of the year. For the cricket world however, the action simply continues. After a raft of scintillating cricket played over the festive period predominantly in Australia and South Africa, the eyes of those in the cricketing world quickly turn to another action-packed 2025 schedule. There is lots of cricket to come throughout the year in all corners of the world and in all formats and here are a few highlights to keep an eye out for.
A look at the ICC tournaments for 2025
ICC Champions Trophy 2025
It has been a lengthy eight years since the last ICC Champions Trophy took place in England in 2017. Back then, Pakistan secured a magnificent 180-run victory over arch-rivals India to lift the trophy and have remained reigning champions for a near decade after the 2021 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was scrapped to make way for a T20 World Cup.
While the much-awaited return of the tournament in February is already causing excitement amongst cricket fanbases worldwide, there has been a bit of needle and contention surrounding the tournament taking place in Pakistan. Due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian government informed the ICC that their team will not travel to Pakistan to play matches.
As a result, the United Arab Emirates has been added as a host for the tournament. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will act as a neutral venue for India’s matches, including their group stage match against Pakistan on 23rd February. Despite the controversial shadow cast on the tournament, many are expecting hard-fought and big scoring matches from all the eight nations involved. Whether we will have another blockbuster Pakistan versus India final again remains to be seen.
Group A: Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan
Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England, South Africa
World Test Championship Final
The teams for the WTC final have been decided. Australia will take on South Africa in a one-off test match at Lords for the right to be named the best Test nation in the world. Although there is some conjecture as to how South Africa got to the final, with no regular rotation of Test matches between each nation organised by the ICC, these two nations will face off over five days (with a reserve day) starting on 11th June.
ICC tournaments 2025: Australia sealed qualification to the WTC Final with a 3-1 win over India.
Australia secured their place in the event by lifting the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in ten years after defeating India 3-1 in a pulsating Test series in Australia. South Africa followed suit over the festive period, beating Pakistan 2-0 in a two-match Test series, with a nail-biting two-wicket win in the Boxing Day Test ultimately putting one foot in the WTC final door.
ICC tournaments 2025: South Africa were jubilant after sealing qualification.
The contention however arises from the way Test matches are scheduled and how certain matchups contribute to the overall table. South Africa finished top of the league table, despite only playing 12 tests compared to the 17 Australia played and the whopping 22 contested by England, who finished in 6th position.
While marketing and economic factors play a huge role in determining which Test matches are scheduled, with India consistently bringing huge value and appeal from their fervent fanbase, South Africa reached the final without having to face Australia or England, also facing India (1-1), Pakistan (2-0), and Sri Lanka (2-0) on home soil.
There is no blame attributed to South Africa of course, if any blame can be placed at all. South Africa are still worthy opponents for Australia who themselves are coming up to a transition period.
Women’s Cricket World Cup
In the women’s game, the next edition of the World Cup will take place between August and September 2025. The 13th edition of the tournament will be played in India, with similar neutral venue arrangements to the ICC Champions Trophy to be put in place in the event of Pakistan qualifying for the tournament. Pakistan missed out on a direct passage and will have to go through qualification to make the main event.
Australia will be looking to retain the trophy they won in 2022 when Meg Lanning’s side defeated England by a convincing 71 runs in Christchurch to secure their seventh World Cup success. In the history of the competition, only Australia (7), England (4), and New Zealand (1) have lifted the trophy. However, India Women will be looking to make home advantage and conditions count to win their first WWC trophy.
Usman Qadir, son of Pakistan’s legendary cricketer Abdul Qadir, has managed to make a name for himself despite carrying the huge expectations and legacy of his father. The spinner made his international debut for Pakistan in 2020 and has gone on to represent the Asian nation in 25 T20Is and one 50-over game. Usman has picked 32 wickets in 22 international matches so far.
The leggie recently grabbed headlines for his bold move to relocate to Australia with hopes of pursuing his cricketing career down under. He’s currently playing for the Hawkesbury Club in Sydney, and the talented bowler hopes to represent Australia in the international arena too. Usman has already displayed his exploits in T20 leagues such as the Big Bash League (BBL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL).
During an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan for CricBlog, Usman Qadir drew light on the cricketing dreams he had while growing up. Further on, he also spoke about the upcoming Champions Trophy. The 31-year-old revealed the fact that the stadiums in Pakistan itself are not ready. He was hopeful of the pitches and stadiums getting ready before the commencement of the tournament.
While speaking to Arvind Kalyana Krishnan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Women’s Ashes Test match, Usman Qadir also came in support of Babar Azam. He backed the Pakistani batter despite his poor form in the recent past. He urged Babar Azam’s critics to think twice before criticising the batting maestro. Moreover, he stated that the people who criticize Pakistan’s star batter while sitting in front of the television shouldn’t forget Azam’s achievements.
Usman Qadir interview: Pakistan need to ensure they get the stadiums ready for the Champions Trophy
Below is the entire conversation between Arvind Kalyana Krishnan and Usman Qadir:
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Right now, with the Champions Trophy that’s going to take place…..Based on the pitch conditions and current form, what do you think? Are there any favourites?
Usman Qadir: I think that they need to make the stadium first. Let them make that first…..We will then have to see if they will be able to make the pitch or not. But yeah, once they make the stadium, then they should be able to make the pitch. I think that the wicket would support the spinners more in Pakistan….All the spin-friendly wickets as well.
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: As for Babar Azam, no doubt people consider him to be one of the best players. However, his form of late hasn’t been great. So what is your opinion on his current form? Do you have any opinions?
Usman Qadir: Well, I have a lot of opinions of my own, but all I want to say is that if a player is playing well, then y’all shouldn’t go behind him. You just have one player after all these years and you go behind him? So yeah, it’s just that our (Pakistan’s) ex-cricketers and cricketers who are behind him can’t see that a guy has gone on to become so big and score so many runs and achieve so much. Instead of appreciating him, they criticise him.
Also, when you go behind someone so much then it’s pretty obvious that their form will become poorer. You sit in front of the TV and criticize him for no reason. The amount of runs he scores is more than the runs his critics have made in their whole careers. I think people should think carefully and think twice before saying anything.
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Ok, now my last question to you is that cricket is in your DNA, it’s in your blood, so when you were growing up, was there any kind of family pressure?
Usman Qadir: As such there wasn’t anything like that. For me, I wanted to play international cricket, and god gave me that. So as for the rest, I don’t know what the future holds…..That’ll depend.
Varun Chakaravarthy’s second T20I five-fer also went in vain as England kept their series hopes alive with a 26-run win over India in Rajkot. Adil Rashid’s excellent middle-overs squeeze choked India’s scoring, derailing their chase on a pitch that only got tougher to bat on in the second innings.
The bandwagon now moves to Pune for the fourth T20I, where India will aim to seal the series.
Match Details
IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025
Time: 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 Possible Playing XIs
Rinku, fit again, should make his return to the XI, while there’s a strong possibility of Ramandeep Singh replacing Washington Sundar in the side. Besides, Arshdeep could come in for Bishnoi, who has struggled to find his rhythm this series.
Jacob Bethell, who is likely to have recovered by now, should replace Jamie Smith in the XI, with the rest of the side remaining unchanged.
England: Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium Pune Pitch Report
In 13 IPL matches in 2022, a total of 4,108 runs were scored at a rate of 8.18 runs per over. Unlike many other venues, teams batting first at the MCA Stadium had the upper hand, winning 10 of the 13 games. On the black soil surface here, spinners typically prove more effective, often being more economical than pacers.
The weather during the match is expected to be clear, with temperatures around 21°C, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted game.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 – Top Dream11 Picks for the Match
Top wicket-keeper picks:
Jos Buttler: The highest run-scorer of the series and easily England’s most comfortable batter on this tour, Jos Buttler is a must-pick for this match.
Top batter picks:
Abhishek Sharma: His style of play almost always guarantees bonus fantasy points for boundaries and a high strike rate. He also bowled an over each in Rajkot & Chennai, and if Bishnoi doesn’t feature, he could be called upon again as India’s third spinner. Given all these factors, Abhishek makes for an excellent captain or vice-captain choice.
Tilak Varma: Tilak, the man in form with an average of 103.8 and a strike rate of 167.3 in T20Is since 2023, is a top pick for this game. However, risk-takers and those playing grand leagues might consider leaving him out.
Top all-rounder picks:
Hardik Pandya: Batting at No. 5 and consistently bowling key overs, Hardik Pandya is an absolute must-pick for all the right reasons.
Axar Patel: Consistently among the wickets against a struggling England batting line-up against spin, Axar is a top pick for this match, especially in Pune, where finger spinners have proven to be effective.
Liam Livingstone: Livingstone’s stock and selection percentage have surged after his knock of 43 (24) in Rajkot. Given that he might contribute with a couple of overs as well, he’s a great pick for this game.
Top bowler picks:
Varun Chakravarthy: The Player of the Match in Kolkata, with figures of 2/38 in Chennai, and another Player of the Match award for his 5-fer in Rajkot, Chakravarthy has been exceptional, spinning a web around the English batters. It goes without saying — he’s a must-pick.
Jofra Archer:After a forgettable outing in Chennai, Archer bounced back with 2/33 in the last match. He’s been in great rhythm overall, and his high selection percentage makes him a top pick for this T20I.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team
Sanju Samson: Jofra has had Samson’s number in this series, dismissing him three times in as many attempts, leading to some chatter among the public about Sanju’s struggles against fast bowling. That said, I’d still want to back him in my fantasy team, especially with his wicketkeeping duties.
There’s a lot of unnecessary chatter about Samson and his game against pace. He has 3 centuries in his last 8 T20I innings and, while maybe not elite, he’s always been a very comfortable batter against pace, including short-pitched bowling.
Phil Salt: Salt has had a rough time in this series, scoring only nine runs in three innings, causing his selection percentage to drop sharply. However, his dismissals haven’t followed any clear pattern, and he could easily come up with a big score anytime, making him a solid pick for grand leagues.
Ben Duckett: Duckett’s stock has risen following his 26-ball half-century in Rajkot, with his selection percentage jumping from 30.33% to over 60% for this match. The only reason he doesn’t make it to the top picks section is the abundance of strong options available.
Suryakumar Yadav: Since the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar has averaged just 21.3 across 12 innings, and he hasn’t quite gotten going in this series either. However, with his immense ability, he’s always a threat to explode at any moment, making him a fine option for grand leagues.
Jamie Overton: Standing at 6’5’’ with the ability to hit the deck hard and a handy lower-order batting skill, Overton is an enticing option for your fantasy team.
Adil Rashid: The architect of England’s middle-overs choke in Rajkot, Adil Rashid is the only English bowler to record an economy rate under seven and the only bowler with an economy below six in this series. He has been bowling well and could be a good pick for your fantasy team.
Mark Wood: The 35-year-old has been bowling with high pace and excellent rhythm, and with his extremely low selection percentage, he could be a terrific differential pick, especially if England bowls first.
Arshdeep Singh: If he plays, it’s a no-brainer pick, no questions asked.
Top safe C/VC options: Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jos Buttler, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh (bowling first) Top risky C/VC options: Jamie Overton, Sanju Samson, Jofra Archer (bowling first)
I encourage you to build your own Fantasy XI using the insights provided in the article. Instead of giving you a ready-made team, I’ve offered a base team. Use it as a starting point to select the players you believe will lead you to victory!
(team is below)
IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction: Base Team
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
He had to wait an extra few weeks, but Steve Smith became the fourth Australian – and 15th overall – to notch up 10,000 Test runs, achieving the feat off his first delivery of the Sri Lanka series in Galle. It is confirmation of his greatness, proving that it is not essential to follow the textbook to have a successful career.
And it is a career no one could have expected, rising from a legspin prospect to the best batter of his generation.
Smith found a technique that worked for him. After notching up his first 1,000 Test runs at 35.71, Smith then went on a rampage, reaching 2,000 at an average of 50.000 and then maintained an average of 60+ between 5,000 and 8,000 runs.
Smith went on to reach his 35th Test century in the same innings, making Sri Lanka pay for dropping him second ball. In the process, he reminded one and all of why he has been so successful around the world especially in Asia, with his elite footwork on display on a spinning Galle pitch.
Australia’s number four was superb coming down the track, and was often quick to pounce off the backfoot when the spinners adjusted to a shorter length. When Sri Lanka then resorted to legside tactics to slow the scoring, Smith played the long game, displaying the kind of relentless approach and hunger for runs that has served him so well over the years.
He will start day two on 104* off 188 deliveries.
Steve Smith reaches 10,000 Test runs: The reactions
Smith’s average of 56.44 (when 104* in the first innings against Sri Lanka) is the second-highest among players with 10,000 runs. He is behind only Kumar Sangakkara’s 57.41.
“Steve Smith expressing himself while at work (batting) is box office” tweeted R Ashwin. Former England captain Michael Vaughan, who has heaped praise for Joe Root in the past, said “I would argue that Steve Smith is the best modern day Test match player.”
Here are some reactions to Steve Smith reaching 10,000 Test runs.
Steve Smith expressing himself while at work(batting) is box office😂😂 #AUSvsSL
10,000* Test Runs for Steve Smith, from a leggie who can hang around to the absolute beast & best in Tests. What a remarkable journey, in times to come people will ask about the transformation, technique, mannerisms and we would be the one saying, yes, we watched him bat.
Runs and stats don't capture the essence of Steve Smith.For a decade,he carried Australia on his shoulders.. stepping up when the team needed him the most…thrived in the toughest series,facing the best.His impact on the game goes beyond numbers.The greatest ever. pic.twitter.com/27dQ35wviN
Steve Smith is the DON! The greatest since the World War 2. His last Test peak is happening here! The world ain't ready for his rampaging 3 more years of peak! THIS IS STEVE SMITH ERA. pic.twitter.com/S5wQmGtfxW
1k test runs with a 💯(115 vs ENG) 2k test runs with a 💯(192 vs IND) 3k test runs with a 💯(143 vs ENG) 4k test runs with a 💯(119 vs SL) 5k test runs with a 💯(178* vs IND) 9k test runs with a 💯(110 vs ENG) 10k test runs with a 💯(104* vs SL) pic.twitter.com/RKqMVYTpnV
Smith’s century in Galle is his third in the past four Tests. He also struck tons against India in Brisbane and Melbourne. In the process, he has confirmed he has plenty left in the legs ahead of a big year for Australia which includes the World Test Championship Final and Ashes.
