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“Seriously worried” – Ravi Shastri reacts to Australia’s performance

Charbel Coorey
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“Seriously worried” – Ravi Shastri reacts to Australia’s performance

Ravi Shastri believes Australia has a depth issue after their latest poor showing with the bat. Couple this with their aging team (all players except Nathan McSweeney are above 30 years of age) and Australia are on the brink of difficult transition period.

Shastri compared the current state of Australian domestic cricket to that of yesteryear. In the past, magnificent players either had to wait years for an opportunity in the Test team or miss out altogether. Prominent examples include Michael Hussey who didn’t debut until age 30 and Brad Hodge who played just six Tests.

Seriously worried about the depth in Australian cricket – Ravi Shastri

“I am seriously worried about the depth in Australian cricket,” Shastri said to foxsports.com.au.

“There were times when players had to play years and years of cricket to make the cut. Mike Hussey, Matthew Hayden – years and years, and you look down the ranks there in Shield cricket and some of the youngsters coming through the ranks, there aren’t many there.

“When you look at the batting line up, a couple of guys in the evening of their career, on the other side of 30 – deep into the 30s, you want to have some depth,” he said.

Australia’s latest poor showing against India at Perth reflects a batting unit on its knees. The signs were there last season against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand, but Australia managed to win six of the seven Tests, owing much to their bowlers and crucial dropped chances by Pakistan.

Pat Cummins’ team has been brutally exposed in the first Test, and the criticism is fierce with so many players out of form. Marnus Labuschagne is a prime example, averaging just 30.80 in his past 21 Tests after averaging 60.82 in his first 30. Steve Smith, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja have also struggled in the past year, with none averaging above 33 in this period.

ALSO READ: Australia fans slam team for horror show in 1st Test against India

What could the Australian top order look like in the next few years?

19-year-old Sam Konstas, who was a candidate to open against India after twin centuries in the Sheffield Shield, is a future prospect. Other opening candidates Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft are in their 30s, so one feels the selectors will be hoping Matt Renshaw starts to bang the door down at 28 years of age and supposedly his best years ahead of him.

If Nathan McSweeney doesn’t succeed at opener, he is an option to bat at three. After Steve Smith, Cameron Green, who hit 174* in New Zealand, will be sure to occupy that number four spot.

The likes of Josh Inglis and Beau Webster are also on the doorstep of the Test team, but as middle order players.

“The standards generally get driven in a team because you’ve got many players pushing for places in it – I just don’t see too many doing it,” said Michael Vaughan.

“When Australia had a batting line up that had many world class players in it, I reckon you probably had seven or eight world class players not in it – and that was just in the batting department.

“Who is pushing? How many players outside of this Australian camp… outside of (Josh Inglis), who are the players getting the numbers to put these players in this team under pressure? I just don’t see it.”

Why did RCB not bid higher to buy KL Rahul in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction?

Charbel Coorey
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Why did RCB not bid higher to buy KL Rahul in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) decision not to bid higher than INR 10.50 crore (approx. US$1.2 million) for KL Rahul was one of the talking points of day one of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Heading into the showpiece event in Saudi Arabia with one of the biggest purses remaining, it was expected that RCB would go hard for Rahul, who has previously scored 417 runs for the franchise at an average of 37.91 and strike rate of 145.30.

There was criticism for RCB from pundits and fans on social media. Robin Uthappa was quite forthright in his assessment.

“As a local Bengaluru boy and RCB fan, I am very unhappy because they have only one player in the marquee set despite having a huge purse in hand,” said Uthappa via Jio Cinema. “I am feeling sad for the RCB fans.”

Former India batsman Kris Srikkanth was also disappointed by RCB’s strategy. “Rcb needed one really good keeper batter and it would have been an ideal match to bring back Rahul into the fold that to at a steal of a price! The strategy they have currently is baffling and quite naive to be frank!”, he wrote.

What could be the reason why RCB did not buy KL Rahul in the IPL 2025 Auction?

It would have been good to be a fly on the RCB table in Jeddah to get a glimpse of the rationale behind their decision. Perhaps, given they play their home games at the very batting-friendly M Chinnaswamy Stadium, having two accumulators up top (with Virat Kohli being the other) may be something the franchise wanted to avoid.

Amid the criticism, fans online understood the decision. “RCB not going for Rahul is a very W move, Rahul is not a lesser player by any means but would not suit RCB especially with Kohli,” tweeted one fan.

“Apart from the fact that KL Rahul is a Kannadiga, there was no logic for RCB to go for him at the auction. An opening pair with him and Kohli would be great if the format was Tests or ODIs. Not for T20s,” said another.

RCB ended up purchasing England opener Phil Salt for INR 11.5 crore (approx. US$1.36 million). Salt was a key part of Kolkata Knight Riders’ championship-winning season in 2024, striking 435 runs in 12 matches at an average of 39.54 and strike rate of 182.00.

Australia fans react: Slam team for horror show in 1st Test against India

Charbel Coorey
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Australia fans react: Slam team for horror show in 1st Test against India

Australia fans have ripped into the team following their disastrous performance in the first Test of the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Australia will head into day four at 12/3 needing another 522 to win, but more realistic is the possibility of succumbing to one of their biggest ever defeats by runs.

Since bowling India out for 150 on day one, this Test has been nothing short of humiliating for Pat Cummins’ team. They fell to 7/67 the same day en route to 104, and then stood and watched as India mercilessly ran them into the ground as they did in 2018/19 and 2020/21.

Marnus Labuschagne has copped the brunt of the criticism. Once averaging 60 as the answer to Australia’s long-standing number three conundrum, Labuschagne is enduring a run so bad his place in the side is being questioned. Couple this with his desire to bowl bouncer after bouncer, and Australian fans are not happy.

“That’s the full humiliation for Marnus Labuschagne. His deterioration as a Test cricketer,” said Gerard Whateley on SEN Cricket’s live coverage after Labuschagne reviewed a plumb LBW without offering a shot against Jasprit Bumrah. Grim.

Australia’s selectors and captain Pat Cummins were also in the firing line. The uncertainty around their batting lineup last season has come back to bite, and a number of players are out of form. Also, the negative tactics late in India’s innings were among those rarely ever seen on these shores.

“Have you ever seen such a despondent team of Australian cricketers, resorting to those tactics?”, said Adam Gilchrist on commentary.

Australia fans react to humiliation against India in Perth Test

Here are some of the reactions to a dismal showing by Australia in such a big series. Not only are they aiming the regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014/15, but they have a shot at reaching the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

India came into this series having lost 3-0 at home to New Zealand. That seems a distant memory. Yashasvi Jaiswal was magnificent, notching up 161 in his first Test in Australia. Virat Kohli followed it up with a drought-breaking century of his own, celebrating with a mixture of joy and relief.

Biggest losses for Australia in Tests (by runs)

Charbel Coorey
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Biggest losses for Australia in Tests (by runs)

Australia’s quest to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) couldn’t have got to a worse start. In the first of five Tests in the 2024/25 showdown against India, Australia were pummeled after bowling India out for 150 on day one. They were then bowled out for 104 in response, before India piled on 487/6d to take a massive 533-run lead on a Perth Stadium pitch showing signs of wear.

To make matters worse, Australia lost three wickets in 4.2 overs to end day three at 12/3, still needing 522 to win. This begs the question – what are the biggest losses by Australia in Test cricket by runs? In this article, we’ll look at the top five.

Top 5 biggest losses for Australia in Test cricket (by runs)

1. 675 runs vs England, Brisbane, 1928

Australia’s heaviest defeat in Tests remains their 675-run defeat against England way back in 1928, which was Sir Donald Bradman’s debut. The Australians were totally dominated in this Test, with England scoring 521 and 342/8d in stark contrast to the hosts’ 122 and 66.

Bradman managed just 18 and 1 in his first Test as the likes of Harold Larwood (eight wickets) and Jack White (4/7) too good.

2. 492 runs vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2018

The next Test after Cape Town, 2018. Australia, predictably, were all over the place in Johannesburg under new captain Tim Paine. Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were gone, and the Australians were left trying to pick up the pieces of a horror tour.

South Africa, led by Aiden Markram (152), Temba Bavuma (95*), and AB de Villiers (69), hit 488. Australia fell to 96/6, but fifties to Paine (62) and Pat Cummins (50) gave some respectability.

Second time around, Australia were reduced to a nearly identical 95/6, but there was no half-century for either Paine or Cummins this time around as Australia were rolled for 119 chasing 612 for victory.

Biggest losses for Australia in Tests: Tim Paine battled hard on Test captaincy debut but it was a tough outing.

3. 408 runs vs West Indies, Adelaide, 1980

Clive Lloyd at his best. The legendary captain smashed 121 at a strike rate of 77.56, along with Viv Richards’ 76 at a strike rate of 105.55, as West Indies hit 328 in the first innings of the 1980 Adelaide Test.

The great West Indies attack, featuring Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Colin Croft, dismissed Australia for 203. In reply, West Indies batted Australia out of the Test thanks mainly to Alvin Kallicharran (106), Viv Richards (74) and Gordon Greenidge (76).

Needing 574 to win, Australia managed just 165. All four fast bowlers shared the ten wickets, with Michael Holding the pick (4/40).

4. 373 runs vs Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, 2018

The first Test of the 2018 series between Pakistan and Australia belonged to Usman Khawaja. He, Travis Head and Tim Paine masterminded an Australian escape in Dubai, where they batted 139.5 overs to save the Test. Khawaja himself hit 141 off 302 balls.

But, the second Test was a horror show for Australia. After reducing Pakistan to 57/5 on day one, they didn’t get a sniff thereafter. Tim Paine’s team were rolled for 145 in response to Pakistan’s 282, with seamer Mohammad Abbas (5/33) the chief destroyer.

Pakistan’s second innings effort of 400/9d, led by half-centuries to Fakhar Zaman (66), Azhar Ali (64), Babar Azam (99) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (81) set Australia a mammoth 538 to win. Abbas (5/62) was too good again as Australia were bundled out for 164.

5. 356 runs vs Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, 2014

Abu Dhabi again. This time in 2014. Misbah-ul-Haq hit the equal second-fastest century off just 56 balls in an extraordinary show.

Earlier in the Test, Younis Khan (213), Azhar Ali (109) and Misbah-ul-Haq (101) ground Australia into the ground. In response to Pakistan’s 570/6, Australia could only manage 261 as Pakistan’s seamers had the ball reversing.

Azhar (100*) and Misbah (101*) both hit their second centuries of the match to then leave Australia needing 603. Steve Smith (97) performed well, but Australia fell way short.

List of top 5 biggest losses for Australia in Test match cricket: Looking at the biggest defeats by runs in Tests
Biggest losses for Australia in Tests: Misbah-ul-Haq took Australia apart in 2014.

List of Australians in IPL 2025: Which Aussies will play?

Charbel Coorey
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List of Australians in IPL 2025: Which Aussies will play?

37 Australians put their name forward for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction, as confirmed by Fox Sports Australia. This was in addition to the players already retained by their franchises ahead of the two-day event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Last year, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins went for record amounts. Both will feature again in IPL 2025 for Delhi Capitals (DC) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) respectively. Overall, more than AU$12 million was spent on Australian players in the auction, but David Warner and Steve Smith were the notable players who went unsold.

List of Australians in IPL 2025

Two Australians were retained by their IPL franchise ahead of the 2025 Mega Auction.

Pat Cummins – Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH retained Pat Cummins for a significant INR 18 crore (approx. AU$3.28 million). Cummins led SRH well in his first season as captain in 2024, helping guide the team to their first final appearance since 2018.

The franchise eventually fell short, losing to KKR in the final. However, Cummins’ leadership and performance as a bowler in batting-friendly conditions was worthy of retention.

Travis Head – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Travis Head was key in SRH’s strong season in 2024. The opener smashed 567 runs at an average of 40.50 and extraordinary strike rate of 191.55. His partnership with Abhishek Sharma at the top was the big catalyst for SRH’s performance.

SRH retained Head for INR 14 crore (approx. AU$2.55 million).

Adam Zampa – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Adam Zampa will link up with Cummins and Head at SRH. The franchise picked up the excellent legspinner for the good price of INR 2.4 crore (approx. AU$765,560).

In an attack featuring the likes of Cummins, Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel, Zampa could fit in quite nicely should SRH choose to play him.

Josh Hazlewood – Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Josh Hazlewood was a big winner in the auction. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) picked up the pace bowler for INR 12.50 (approx AU$2.27 million). Hazlewood returns to RCB after playing for them in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, Hazlewood was terrific, taking 20 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of just 8.11.

Tim David – Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Tim David will head to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and will have a crucial role as their finisher. RCB play their home games at the batting-friendly M Chinnaswamy Stadium, so they need David to be at his best to maximise the conditions.

RCB picked David up for a relatively cheap INR 3 crore (approx. AU$547,000).

Mitchell Starc – Delhi Capitals

Unsurprisingly, Mitchell Starc attracted many bids as the first Australian in the 2025 auction. He was eventually purchased by DC for INR 11.75 crore (approx. AU$2.14 million).

Starc was the most expensive IPL player ever in 2024 before the record was broken ahead of the 2025 season. He was underwhelming for much of the IPL 2024 campaign for KKR, but he came good in the playoffs where he won man of the match in the Qualifier and Final.

Jake Fraser-McGurk – Delhi Capitals

Young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk will head back to the Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025. DC exercised the Right to Match (RTM) option after Punjab Kings put in a final bid of INR 9 crore (approx. AU$1.64 million).

Fraser-McGurk could have attracted more bids had he enjoyed a more successful start to his international career. That being said, he is a threat on batting-friendly pitches of the IPL, as he showcased last season where he smashed 330 runs at a strike rate of 234.04.

Marcus Stoinis – Punjab Kings

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis was picked up by Ricky Ponting’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 11 crore (approx. AU$2 million). Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had the opportunity to use their RTM card, but chose not to.

Stoinis hit a superb 124* off 63 balls to seal a record chase for LSG against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2024. PBKS will be hoping for a similar impact.

Glenn Maxwell – Punjab Kings

Unsurprisingly, Glenn Maxwell was picked up in the auction. However, the price of INR 4.2 crore (approx. AU$765,387) is much lower than he is used to.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) did not hesitate in rejecting the RTM option to buy him back. Maxwell’s 52 runs in nine innings last season was enough for RCB to let him go.

Josh Inglis – Punjab Kings

Ricky Ponting’s influence at Punjab Kings is clear. Josh Inglis, who is a good player of spin and can score all around the ground, was picked up for INR 2.6 crore (AU$476,000).

As of November 2024, Inglis has 3,317 T20 runs at an average of 30.43 and strike rate of 148.41.

Aaron Hardie – Punjab Kings

Another Aussie at PBKS. Aaron Hardie, who plays for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket (MLC) and Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League (BBL), was picked up for INR 1.25 crore (approx. AU$228,000).

Xavier Bartlett – Punjab Kings

Xavier Bartlett is the fifth and final player at PBKS for IPL 2025. Bartlett was the top wicket-taker in the 2023/24 BBL season with 20 in 11 matches. He has since been elevated to a central CA contract and Australia’s white-ball teams.

PBKS picked up Bartlett for just INR 80 lakh (approx. $138,000) and can offer value in the powerplay should the franchise choose to play him.

Mitchell Marsh – Lucknow Super Giants

LSG picked up all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for INR 3.4 crore (approx. AU$619,599). Marsh played just four matches in IPL 2024, scoring just 61 runs. He then picked up a hamstring injury which ended his tournament.

Marsh at LSG is an interesting call given the Lucknow surface has been arguably the most difficult for batting in recent seasons.

Nathan Ellis – Chennai Super Kings

Nathan Ellis will link up with five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This promises to be an excellent pickup, with the potentially slow surface at Chepauk suited to Ellis’ terrific changes of pace. However, he does also possess a fine yorker.

CSK forked out INR 2cr (approx. AU$365,000) for the pace bowler and can be a handy option to use throughout the season.

Spencer Johnson – Kolkata Knight Riders

Left-arm fast bowler Spencer Johnson will join defending champions KKR. The franchise picked up an excellent value-for-money pick, spending just INR 2.8 crore (approx. AU$510,000).

Johnson has made a fine impression in T20s, impressing around the world and even taking a five-wicket haul in November 2024 against Pakistan.

Australian players who went unsold in the IPL 2025 Auction

Here is the list of Australians who went unsold in the IPL 2025 Auction:

  • David Warner
  • Alex Carey
  • Josh Philippe
  • Steve Smith
  • Lance Morris

Brett Lee interview – Jasprit Bumrah a great leader with the ball

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan
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Brett Lee interview – Jasprit Bumrah a great leader with the ball

The build-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has been nothing short of marvellous. This Test series between India and Australia has been trending across all social media platforms. The hype around this series was justified as the first day of the first Test saw a lot of action, with Jasprit Bumrah starting in magnficent fashion.

Despite the absence of the Indian captain Rohit Sharma, their stand-in captain was amazing with the ball in the Australian first innings. He even picked four wickets on the first day and ensured that Australia were in all sorts of trouble. Earlier, Australia’s bowlers had restricted India to 150 in the first innings.

With all eyes on the bowlers on both sides, who better to speak about them than Australia’s legendary fast bowler Brett Lee? During an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan during the Kayo Sports’ Summer of Cricket event organised by Fox Cricket, Brett Lee drew light on Australia’s bowlers and India’s Jasprit Bumrah.

Firstly, he spoke about the possibility of Scott Boland getting a chance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Despite the fact that the Victorian has been in superb form in the domestic circuit, Australia’s regular pacers (Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins) have been arguably the greatest pace-bowling trio of this era. Having said that, Boland’s record in the longest format of the game is sensational, to say the least.

Lee also spoke about Bumrah’s importance in the Indian team. The Australian legend gave his thoughts on having a bowler being the captain. He wanted Bumrah to bowl in the same manner he always bowls and not change anything. Lee had heaps of praises for the Indian pacer.

Brett Lee on Jasprit Bumrah: He leads with his superb bowling

Below is the audio and transcript of the chat with Brett Lee.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Scott Boland has been in very good form. Any likelihood of him playing any of the games?

Brett Lee: Look, I think it’s a good question because he’s probably a guy that would be next in line or sort of the next guy in the pecking order. The thing about Australia is that they’ve got three amazing fast bowlers that I don’t want to see rested. So guys like Scott Boland have to make sure that they’re ready. Michael Neser has been thrown in the mix as well so we will have to wait until it happens.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Could you explain the importance of Jasprit Bumrah the player and skipper in the first match? What is your opinion on this?

Brett Lee: Well, Jasprit Bumrah is a great leader with the ball, and now he’s got the opportunity to do it you know, with the captaincy band on his shirt. So you know that’s a big credit for him. Also, I want to see him just not change the way he bowls and not be afraid. The thing I’ve always said about fast bowlers as captains is that sometimes they under-bowl themselves. I wanna make sure he gets the right amount of balls underneath the belt from him.

After this, Arvind and Brett continued the conversation by speaking about their previous encounter. As Arvind was in Brett’s gym in Mumbai, he reminded him of the same. In a light tone, They spoke about how Arvind had promised the Aussie legend that he’d get a body like the Australian actor Chris Hemsworth during their next meet, which came in the form of an interview between the journalist and cricketing legend in Melbourne.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: One last thing, I’m not too sure if you remember this but back in Mumbai, BKC, I was in your gym. The last time we met, I had promised you I’d get a body like Chris Hemsworth (laughs). So what do you think now?

Brett Lee: Ooh yeah! (Remembering it). Chris Hemsworth? Haha (laughs). You’re looking good mate, you’re looking good buddy. You’ve done very well. You’ve worked hard (laughs again).

Matthew Hayden interview: Players struggle with adapting to Tests

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan
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Matthew Hayden interview: Players struggle with adapting to Tests

The 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) is taking the cricketing world by storm. Experts all around the world have given their predictions for the series. While India were recently whitewashed by New Zealand at home, Australia have not beaten India in a Test series since 2014/15.

Australia’s legendary batter Matthew Hayden gave his opinion on the series, focusing on the modern player’s ability to bat long. During an exclusive conversation with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan, the former opener gave his thoughts on Rohit Sharma and his recent tendency to take the aggressive route. It is to be noted that Rohit Sharma has been batting with a lot of intent of late, and has developed a habit of taking on the opposition bowlers early on. Despite him missing the first Test, a lot more is expected from the opener.

Hayden’s comments on modern day batting aged well with 17 wickets falling on the first day of the 2024/25 BGT. Australia crumbled to 67/7 in response to India’s 150, often looking clueless against Jasprit Bumrah and co. on a challenging Perth Stadium pitch.

Further on, while speaking to Arvind Kalyana Krishnan during a virtual meeting organised by 7 Network, Hayden also touched on the 2025 IPL Mega Auction clashing with the first Test in Perth. He drew light on how it would impact the individuals playing the first of the five-match Test series as well as coaches Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting.

It is to be noted that Hayden is currently with 7 Network, and will be working on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with them.

Matthew Hayden interview: Batting in the modern era and possible IPL Auction distraction

Below is the entire conversation with Matthew Hayden.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: So my question to you is about Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma has started to take the aggressive route and this aggressive approach has worked in limited-overs cricket but didn’t work in the longest format of the game against New Zealand during their recent series. So what is your opinion on Rohit Sharma taking on the Australian bowlers and going the aggressive route in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

Matthew Hayden: Yeah, I’ve mentioned this before but see the thing is as a broadcaster what I’m looking forward to the most across the five-match Test series is to see how the modern batsman of the modern era kind of get over their hangover of playing short-format cricket over the past 12-18 months.

India do have the advantage because they have played a little more Test match cricket then what Australia has. So for my thing, because I guess hitting boundaries is a great drug to batsmen. Once you get that feeling of hitting boundaries…..It’s a really important part of building confidence and building through your innings, but as the old saying goes, you can’t score runs in the changing room, and when you think back to Indian batters in Australia that I eluded to this point with Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman as well with this point that they just face so many balls.

I mean Pujara in his 11 matches averaged 126 balls per innings……And when you think about his success story averaging 47 with just under a 1000 runs he just batted time, and you can’t tell me that Rohit Sharma is either “it’s not his fitness” or “it’s not his skill set”.

It ultimately comes back to the challenge that all these batters will have ahead of this series against all the world-class, either pace or spin attack. It’s to have the courage to bat session after session, ball by ball, over by over through the course of the five-day window, and that’s the modern challenge.

We go berserk on players that have all the style and charisma. Jake Fraser-McGurk is a great example in the shorter formats of the game. The fact that he hits these wonderful boundaries…..But he doesn’t hit anywhere near enough of those boundaries to be a really consistent contributor over time in the one-day format or even in the T20 format for that.

You know you’re judged on..…Your only commodity as a batsman is runs, and the most successful run-getters in this country tend to be those who bat for long time, and the most successful here can I remind everyone is Sachin Tendulkar. He scored 1800 runs in his 20 matches over here at an average of 53, with six hundreds and seven fifties. So there’s an almost shut case example of talent meets a more determined mindset. My favourite innings of Sachin Tendulkar was the Sydney Test match where he just refused to play a cover drive for almost two days to get 200 runs. It was a remarkable innings, and that’s the sort of character is required to get runs in this country.

Not someone that bats 30 balls and makes a glorious you know, 52 runs but doesn’t make an impact because he’s in the dressing room sipping soy lattes.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Yes, now my second question to you is that the IPL Auctions will be coinciding with the first match. So do you think it will create any sort of impact on any players playing the match?

Matthew Hayden: Yeah (laughs) look, cricket is not in the business of producing robots. I mean the players are the number one stakeholders of the IPL and there’s a lot riding on this super auction, and players will inevitably need to deal with that distraction and those who do better than the others will have the competitive advantage.

Even our commentary box at Channel 7 will have its work cut out with Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting you know at the helm of two franchises. Ricky a new franchise [Punjab Kings]! So I’ll be making sure that we’re on track (smiles). I’ll be doing the marching orders to the boys to make sure that they’re focused on their jobs which is commentating for Channel 7 (smiles).

Was KL Rahul out or not out in Perth? India fans livid with third umpire after given caught behind

Charbel Coorey
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Was KL Rahul out or not out in Perth? India fans livid with third umpire after given caught behind

It didn’t take long for controversy to arrive at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), as KL Rahul was given out caught behind via DRS in the first session of the Perth Test. Rahul, batting nicely on 26 against a very disciplined Australian attack on a helpful pitch, was given not out by on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough off a Mitchell Starc delivery that went past his edge.

The Australians were adamant he edged it. Pat Cummins went up for the review almost immediately. However, that’s where things became murky. While there was a spike on UltraEdge, third umpire Richard Illingworth couldn’t clearly tell whether it was ball hitting bat or bat hitting pad. He asked for another offside angle which didn’t come, and surprisingly he still gave Rahul out, much to the opener’s frustration.

The decision has been criticised heavily on social media. Fans believe there was not enough evidence to overturn the decision, especially given the DRS replay (right-hand side below) was cropped, making it very difficult to decipher conclusively what caused the spike.

“That is a moment that will be discussed long into this day, long into this match,” said Adam Gilchrist on commentary as Rahul walked off. “That’s controversial, there was a spike on the snicko, but was it from ball hitting the bat or bat hitting pad?” asked Mike Hussey.

Given the uncertain nature of it all, for Richard Illingworth to conclude that there was enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision was a hugely surprising call.

KL Rahul given out in controversial circumstances in Perth: India fans react

“What’s the rush when you have technology? What’s the point if you’re making such stupid decisions?”, wrote one fan on X. “Even with the DRS replay cropped, they didn’t check the pad or bat properly, this is a horrible call! This wicket would completely change the game. Feel for KL Rahul.”

Below are some other reactions from fans, pundits and cricketers on social media after Rahul was controversially dismissed for 26 off 74 balls.

KL Rahul was batting beautifully on a challenging Perth surface. The Australians had the ball on a string. However, Rahul kept them at bay thanks to an excellent show of discipline and technique.

The opener’s 74-ball stay ended in disappointing and controversial fashion. But, if he continues to play with such grit against a good attack, India will find it difficult to keep him out of the XI for the remainder of this series.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy BGT 2024/25 Predictions: Who will win the series?

Charbel Coorey
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Border-Gavaskar Trophy BGT 2024/25 Predictions: Who will win the series?

After all the build up and hype, the 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) is upon us and it’s time to lock in our predictions. A fascinating series awaits, with two batting lineups looking to prove the doubters wrong on what are expected to be spicy pitches starting with Perth.

In this article, I will share my picks for leading run-scorers, leading wicket-takers and surprise packets from both teams, plus the series winner. Do share your thoughts in the comments or @cric_blog on X.

We are also on YouTube. If you prefer video, we also discuss our BGT 2024/25 predictions on the CricBlog TV YouTube channel.

BGT 2024/25 Predictions: Leading run-scorers, leading wicket-takers, surprise packets & series winner

Without further ado, here are my key predictions for the big series and reasoning behind them.

Leading run-scorers: Travis Head (Australia) and Rishabh Pant (India)

Travis Head loves playing against India. His superb hundred in the 2023 ODI World Cup Final stands out, but he also produced a superb century in the 2023 World Test Championship Final. Overall, he has scored 715 runs in ten Tests at an average of 42.06.

Moving pitches and quality Indian bowlers will be sure to test Head, but his counterattacking style can hold both he and Australia in good stead.

Similar applies to Rishabh Pant from an Indian perspective. A lot has happened in his life since his magnificent series in 2020/21, and that can spur him on to further greatness. He will score quickly, and can score big especially if the top order sets up a platform.

Other key contenders: Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli.

Leading wicket-takers: Pat Cummins (Australia) and Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Along with Kagiso Rabada, Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah are the best fast bowlers in the world. Also, they both have the potential to finish as all-time greats in the format.

On surfaces expected to aid fast bowling, both Cummins and Bumrah – with their consistency and ability to move the ball – will be tough to handle. Given the importance of the series and the roles in their teams, expect both to play at least four of the Tests, and they are good enough to dominate throughout.

In seven Tests in Australia, Bumrah has taken 32 wickets at an average of 21.25. Against India at home, Cummins has picked up 35 wickets at 23.1.

Other key contenders: Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.

Surprise packets: Alex Carey (Australia) and Dhruv Jurel (India)

Alex Carey has already played 32 Tests, so to call him a potential surprise packet can be a surprise. However, he has the potential to turn the series in Australia’s favour. He comes into the 2024/25 BGT in great form, having struck runs in England and 452 runs in six innings in the Sheffield Shield.

The Carey-Pant battle could indeed be a deciding factor. Pant is ahead as a Test batter, but who’s to say Carey can’t produce the goods as he did in Australia’s last Test where he scored a memorable 98* to seal victory against New Zealand?

Dhruv Jurel is one to watch for India. He was outstanding for India A against Australia A on a challenging MCG pitch earlier this month, making scores of 80 (186) and 68 (122). His technique and temperament were impressive features of his game downunder, as was the case when India were under the pump in the fourth Test against England in February. Jurel scored 90 and 39* under pressure and won man of the match.

Series result: Australia to win 3-1

The absence of Cheteshwar Pujara this time around could be a huge factor. He faced over 2,000 deliveries across the 2018/19 and 2020/21 successes, keeping the Aussie attack at bay. Who will that player be this time? Time will tell.

On pitches offering more for the bowlers, Australia will have just enough to win this series. I expect there will be a few close Tests, but the hosts will prevail due to the ability of their top order to bat long, plus the longer batting order.

However, the form of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in particular remains in the spotlight. Also, Nathan McSweeney as opener can go either way, although I think he will hold his own. India’s bowlers can certainly make inroads, but whether they have enough runs this time to challenge is probably a bridge too far.

I believe Australia will win their first BGT series since 2014/15. Do you agree? Let us know what you think!

Perth weather forecast for 1st AUS vs IND BGT Test

Charbel Coorey
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Perth weather forecast for 1st AUS vs IND BGT Test

The Perth weather is typically beautiful for Test cricket, but there has been some unseasonal rain in the lead up to the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). The Optus Stadium pitch is in the spotlight, but pre-match rain makes “big-snake cracks” unlikely according to WA Cricket head curator Isaac McDonald.

According to ESPNcricinfo, rain during the week has affected pitch preparation. McDonald still feels the surface will play well, but he doesn’t think it will deteriorate as it did during the Australia-Pakistan Test last year.

“I don’t think this weather is going to make this pitch fall apart,” he said. “There’ll be some deterioration. Grass will stand up during the game and offer that variable bounce. But in terms of big-snake WACA cracks, unfortunately, I don’t think the weather’s going to get us there.”

Optus Stadium Perth weather for 1st BGT Test between Australia and India

Up to 7mm of rain is forecast to fall on Thursday, but conditions are expected to be perfect for the Test which begins on Friday November 22. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a possible morning shower on day one, but there is only a 40% chance of up to 1mm falling in the entire day.

Days two, three, four and five are forecast to be sunny, with temperatures crossing 30 degrees over the weekend. Reliable platform AccuWeather forecasts the same.

However, the rain in the leadup adds a different complexion to proceedings. Batting first has proven very successful at Optus Stadium, with Australia winning all four matches thanks to an average score of 456 first up. However, there could be extra movement in the surface early given it’s been under cover in the days leading up to the Test.

McDonald said 8-10mm of grass would be left on the pitch, which can aid the quicks even further. “At the moment, we’re leaning towards rolling it a bit more on top to get that firmness, and that happy medium between bat and ball. [It] would be nice if the sun pops out, but we’re really comfortable as a curating team,” he said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Despite the dominance Australia have enjoyed batting first, a potentially difficult decision awaits the winner of the toss. Both batting lineups are on shaky ground, with Australia doing it tough at times last summer and India fresh off a 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand. So, there may the temptation to bowl and have first crack at the opposition on a pitch that will likely have moisture.

Time will tell, but it already adds a fascinating narrative to what shapes up to be a magnificent series.

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