The International Cricket Council (ICC) could introduce a dedicated fund to boost Test cricket outside the “big three”. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI, CA and ECB are all in favour of the move to make Test cricket more lucrative for players from around the world.
The total fund is expected to be around US$15 million. The minimum standard match fee is reported to be about US$10,000, excluding payments from the boards themselves.
When is the Test cricket fund expected to be introduced?
There is a chance that the fund could be implemented in 2025. For that to happen, the concept needs to be agreed upon before Christmas this year.
Earlier this month, BCCI secretary Jay Shah spoke of his support of the fund. Speaking to journalists at Times of India’s office, Shah, who is the favourite to become the ICC chairman in November, said discussions as underway.
“I am a member of F&CA (Finance and Commercial Affairs) of the ICC,” said Shah, as quoted by Cricbuzz. “I have suggested there should be a dedicated fund for Test cricket. It’s very expensive to host Test matches. If the (ICC) Board approves, we can do that. We’re trying to create a special fund for Test cricket.”
CA chairman Mark Baird is also confident. Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald, Baird said there is momentum behind the Test cricket fund.
“It’s fantastic to see some momentum behind the Test-match fund,” he said. “We need to take away the barriers and encourage Test cricket to be the best of the best. To retain that history and that legacy, which goes alongside the newer forms of white-ball cricket.”
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali made a bold prediction ahead of Pakistan’s two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Speaking on his YouTube channel on August 13, Basit said that only rain can save Bangladesh from defeat as they are no match for Pakistan.
Fast forward less than two weeks later, and Bangladesh humbled Pakistan in Rawalpindi. After scoring 448/6d on a flat surface, Pakistan then toiled for over 167 overs as the visitors piled up 565 with Mushfiqur Rahim hitting 191. Their decision to not play a specialist spinner was in the spotlight, and that spotlight shone even brighter as Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4/21) and Shakib Al Hasan (3/44) blew Pakistan away on a pitch that offered spin on the final day.
Basit Ali’s comments about Bangladesh don’t age well after first Test defeat
“Only rain can save Bangladesh,” Basit Ali said. “Otherwise, there is no comparison. Pakistan will have a big advantage in the home conditions.”
Such comments came as a surprise even before the Test. Pakistan have not won a home Test since August 2021, with their winless run now extending to nine matches. In this period, they have drawn four and lost five.
Fans on social media were quick to pounce after Bangladesh sealed a historic ten-wicket win.
The second Test begins at Rawalpindi on Friday, August 30. How the pitch plays will be of huge interest after Pakistan got their bowling combination terribly wrong in the first Test, opting to pick four fast bowlers on the docile surface.
Naseem Shah was particularly frustrated. Speaking after the fourth day’s play, Shah said “It’s been too many series where we get these types of pitches. We need to think about how to extract home advantage, because you have to find a way to produce results from these games, otherwise you’re not utilising home advantage.”
In terms of the World Test Championship 2023-25 scenarios, Pakistan must win the second Test to have any hope of reaching the final. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will feel confident of leaving Pakistan with a series win.
Pakistan have not won a single Test at home since the start of 2022. In this period, they have played ten matches on home soil, with four resulting draws and six others ending in defeat.
Playing at home is meant to be a big advantage in Test cricket. The likes of Australia and India have made it their mission to ensure their home patch is a fortress. Other nations including South Africa and New Zealand also pride themselves on performing as best they can at home, coinciding with the difficulty most touring teams face in recent years.
The same can’t be said of Pakistan. The return of international cricket to the country was meant to help drive their performance forward. However, it has done anything but. Flat, lifeless surfaces across the country have made the going tough for their bowlers, and the batting lineup has been unable to compensate.
Sadly, even when the pitches have had life in them, i.e. second Test vs. Bangladesh, the result remained the same.
Pakistan at home in Tests since start of 2022: A sorry story
Opponent
Location
Result
Year
Australia
Rawalpindi
Draw
2022
Australia
Karachi
Draw
2022
Australia
Lahore
Loss
2022
England
Rawalpindi
Loss
2022
England
Multan
Loss
2022
England
Karachi
Loss
2022
New Zealand
Karachi
Draw
2022
New Zealand
Karachi
Draw
2022
Bangladesh
Rawalpindi
Loss
2024
Bangladesh
Rawalpindi
Loss
2024
Pakistan’s last Test win at home came way back in February 2021 against South Africa on pitches that aided seam bowling. In fact, their first five home Tests back after a ten-year hiatus saw them win four and draw one.
However, it has been a huge struggle since. Very batting-friendly pitches have been their nemesis. In the nine Tests in Pakistan since the start of 2022, the average first innings score is 427.4 at 48.02 runs per wicket. This includes a game in Rawalpindi where 14 wickets fell across five days against Australia. Later that same year, England had to score a record number of runs in one day just to give themselves a chance of forcing a very late win.
There are other scores of 400+ throughout the Tests as well. It led to frustrations seeping through during their first Test against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi, where the Tigers amassed 565 in response to Pakistan’s 448/6 declared.
“We need to be honest,” Naseem Shah said after Pakistan toiled for more than 167 overs. “It’s been too many series where we get these types of pitches. The groundstaff tried their best to make this pitch good for bowling, but perhaps because of the heat and sunshine there isn’t much help from the pitch,” he continued.
“We need to think about how to extract home advantage, because you have to find a way to produce results from these games, otherwise you’re not utilising home advantage.”
Worse, Pakistan’s batters have crumbled under pressure, with the latest being the capitulations in the two-match series against Bangladesh. Pakistan as a whole seem to be struck down by a conservative mindset of trying to avoid losing rather than trying to win.
Reactions spread far and wide throughout the cricketing world, as Bangladesh created history by beating Pakistan in a Test match for the first time. A draw looked the most likely result right throughout the game even heading into the final day, but a monumental Pakistan collapse against Bangladesh’s disciplined attack spelt curtains.
That Bangladesh put themselves in a position where they could dream of a win was thanks to their batting effort. They took advantage of Pakistan’s baffling call to play without a specialist spinner in such conditions, with Mushfiqur Rahim (191) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (77) combining for a 196-run stand to break the Pakistan’s morale.
The four seamers toiled for 117.3 overs combined. Offspinner Agha Salman sent down 41 without success, although catches were dropped. Bangladesh piled on 565, but anything other than a draw still looked unlikely.
However, enter Pakistan. A mix of timid and reckless batting kept the door ajar early for Bangladesh, and they smashed it open. After the fast bowlers took the first three wickets, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4/21) and Shakib Al Hasan (3/44) took the rest, taking advantage of the turn on offer on the Rawalpindi surface.
Only Mohammad Rizwan (51) and Abdullah Shafique (37) offered any meaningful resistance. However, Shafique’s dismissal summed up where Pakistan cricket is at right now. They are stuck in cement, and can’t find a way out.
Bangladesh then knocked off the 30 they needed in just 6.3 overs to seal a historic win, which was also the first time they ever won a Test after conceding 400 in an innings.
Reactions: Pakistan slammed for terrible loss as Bangladesh rejoice
Pakistan trolled and criticised following defeat
Fans were quick to pile onto Pakistan in what has been a difficult year for the team. They were eliminated in the first round of the T20 World Cup and their hopes of reaching the WTC 2023-25 Final have taken a hammer blow after yet another home Test match without a win.
One of the special things about Pakistan cricket is that when you play against them, you don't need to do anything extra, they find a way to lose the match by themselves. #PAKvBANpic.twitter.com/bUNEtplrNu
This imminent defeat for Pakistan at home to Bangladesh will probably make Pakistan even more 1st Innings runs cautious when England tour there in October #ENGvSL#PAKvBAN . 💤
That Pakistan were so confident of going all-pace in a Test where Shakib and Mehidy take seven wickets on Day 5 must rank as an all-time failure of getting the basics in Asia right. #PAKvsBAN
Cricket is becoming an embarrassment for us. Just a few months ago.. we lost the T20 against the USA, and now we're losing a Test match against Bangladesh. No matter what reforms are made, nothing seems to be working!#PAKvBAN
Pakistan cricket going from bad to worse – playing four pacers on a home pitch where their own batsmen have fallen to Bangladesh spinners was a dumb choice; and a striking result. A reflection also of the leadership aspirations creating groups within the ‘team’ #PAKvsBAN
What a moment for Bangladesh. So much happening back home. Flood after the students revolution. What a wonderful time to be a Bangladeshi. Resilience and courage.
Super. Historic. A win for the ages from Bangladesh.
The game keeps giving, it's never about the names but the game, you have to be on top of your game for long enough to ensure you stay ahead. Bangladesh backed what works for them, most importantly knew it and trusted it to…
Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes 4-21 on the fifth day. Miraz often comes good when it is time for him to step up. Batted well with Mushfiq for the 196-run stand.
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) August 25, 2024
The second Test will also be played at Rawalpindi. It begins on August 30. Bangladesh can further boost their WTC Final hopes with a win. For Pakistan – they must win.
In an interview with CricBlog, England bowler Saqib Mahmood spoke of his performance in The Hundred Final. He bowled a magnificent spell, finishing with 3/17 to lead Oval Invincibles to the title. He won player of the match.
Mahmood also spoke of his road to recovery after stress fractures in his back kept him out of action for an extended period of time. He also touched on his goal of returning to the England side.
Here is the full audio of the interview, and you can catch some of the quotes below.
Highlights from Saqib Mahmood interview
You’ve kept a low profile over the last year or two due to your [back stress fracture] injuries. Has it been nice to get your name out there again?
Saqib Mahmood: “Coming into the Hundred, everyone has their own goal and the team goal. The team goal obviously is to win it. But for my personal goals… at the end of the day, cricket is a team sport full of individuals. I wanted to put in performances to knock on the England door again. That was my intention coming into the tournament.”
“I missed out in the middle [of the tournament]. I got dropped because of the balance of the team. It was frustrating because I was bowling well, but I have a lot of respect for Tom Moody. The reason made sense, but I was the fall guy for that.”
“To be honest, I thought my tournament was over especially with the way the guys were going. I tried to keep myself going and keep myself ready in case a chance came, which it did. When I came back, I wanted to prove a point a little bit. Real happy how it went in the final particularly.”
Talk through the spell in the final… 3 wickets in 7 balls getting the ball to reverse at speed. What was your thought going into the final set of 5?
Saqib Mahmood: “Take it back to when I got the new ball, I really wanted to take a wicket or two up top, especially Vincey [James Vince]. Vincey was the leading run-scorer by a long way in the Hundred this season. I really wanted to get him out and leave my mark at the top.”
“There were a few plays and misses, and I couldn’t quite get the wicket, so I was itching to come back and leave my mark in the game.”
“Decided to go a bit fuller. As soon as I saw the ball reverse which got [Leus] du Plooy out… As a bowler, you see movement like that, and it gives you an extra 10%. After that, that was as hard as I’ve run in all season. The adrenaline was going, few play and misses, and felt right on top of Kieron Pollard at the time.”
“The captain [Sam Billings] and coach [Moody] spoke and said we needed to get the wicket of Pollard. ‘Moods’ [Tom Moody] basically said I was the one most likely to get him out. I said ‘I fancy my matchup here’ so we went with that… and to get him out first ball after having that discussion [in the timeout] was a great feeling. I pointed straight over to the dugout.”
Lancashire is your prime base, but talk to us about your relationship with Oval Invincibles. Maybe you might end up at Surrey one day?
Saqib Mahmood: “I really enjoyed my time here. The stadium is unbelievable, the crowd is amazing, just building relationships with all the workers here. It’s been real nice, it definitely feels like home away from home.”
On a future with Surrey… “I don’t want to fuel those rumours. I’m very happy at Lancashire. Lancashire have been really good to me. They’ve looked after me really well after my stress fractures as well. It’s my boyhood club. It’s my tenth season as a pro at the club and hopefully there’s another ten years there. As much as I enjoy The Oval, Lancashire is my home.”
Is your short term goal to break into the red-ball side with Lancs?
Saqib Mahmood: “I wouldn’t say break into the red-ball side. I think what I can do is good enough, it’s just about managing my workloads. It’s about being smart with that.”
“For me, at the moment, white-ball cricket is just ahead of red-ball cricket for me because of what’s happened over the past couple of years with the body. It’s not saying I’m giving up on red-ball cricket or anything like that… it’s more just I have to prioritise white-ball cricket at the moment.
Saqib Mahmood: “As cricketers and athletes, it’s important to have targets which give you that extra bit of motivation. My individual target coming into The Hundred was to do well and try get back in an England shirt. If it happens, great. If it doesn’t, that’s the game and there will be plenty of opportunities to get back in the side in different ways. The main thing for me is that I’m playing cricket.”
Australia legend Matthew Hayden believes moving Steve Smith to opener is “crazy.” He said Smith should bat where he has scored the bulk of his Test runs at number for Australia’s benefit in a series as big as the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
“I, personally, as I said at the time, was on record saying that I didn’t like changing,” Hayden said at the CEAT cricket rating awards in Mumbai, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“I think it’s crazy to think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position. And then you change to a completely different position. For a few reasons, I think that’s crazy. Firstly, why? Such a gun in that position, such a coveted player,” he said.
Smith has found the going difficult in his time as Test opener. In eight innings, he has scored 171 runs at an average of 28.50, with the highlight his 91* against West Indies at the Gabba.
Matthew Hayden has called for Steve Smith to be shifted away from opener.
Matthew Hayden calls for Steve Smith to move back to number four
“The rationale that George Bailey [national selector] gave was correct in so far as that he was choosing his best top six batsmen,” Hayden said. “Now, you can’t argue with Steven Smith, he is averaging 65 [57] in Test-match cricket…. 32 Test-match hundreds.”
5,966 of Smith’s 9,685 Test runs have come at number four at an average of 61.50. Given India’s strength in bowling, Australia may be tempted to move Smith back to his previous position.
“The role of an opening batsman compared to a middle-order batsman is very different,” said Hayden. “And it didn’t take long to discover that when you get into challenging conditions, like they faced in the first series outside of Australia, which was in New Zealand, that opening the batting is very difficult.”
Much will be expected of Usman Khawaja.
If Australia shift Smith down the order, they will have to find a new opener to partner Usman Khawaja. Cameron Green, who was originally touted as David Warner’s first replacement, could be the option. But, Hayden believes performers in Sheffield Shield cricket should be rewarded more.
“[Moving Smith to opener] also is not a great nod to the first-class set-up, which is very much in the Australian culture, been driving great results towards key roles, be that any one of the roles – wicketkeeping, batting, spinners, fast bowlers, opening batters,” Hayden said.
“So the [batting positions of] one, two and three is a category which needs to be protected in my opinion. It sets up play.”
However, Hayden believes the opener role is vulnerable, no matter who they pick there given the quality of the bowling to be on show in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
“We have guys like [Cameron] Bancroft that are always in the pipeline, Matt Renshaw is in the pipeline,” said Hayden.
“Bancroft, when you look at his form in England, has been excellent, but that’s domestic cricket. It’s not the Border-Gavaskar-type cricket so a bit of a few things to really prove from that engine room in Australian cricket, which has been challenged right now with David’s absence.”
Australia are expected to make the call on who opens in the five-match series against India after their white-ball tour of the UK in September. Smith himself said “I’m happy anywhere and I’ll bat wherever for the team.” According to reports, both captain Pat Cummins and selector Bailey have hinted Australia will start with Smith as opener and Green at four following the latter’s brilliant tour of New Zealand.
The Manchester pitch is in the spotlight after day one of the England-Sri Lanka Test. The big moment took place in just the 23rd over where a Shoaib Bashir delivery barely got off the ground to pin Dinesh Chandimal LBW for 17. It was a blow for Sri Lanka as Chandimal was looking solid.
A delivery had also kept low in Bashir’s previous over, raising questions of the surface. Wisden has raised the possibility of the Manchester pitch failing ICC pitch regulations, which can result in a poor rating.
According to the ICC regulations for Tests, “it is acceptable for a pitch to offer some degree of turn on the first day of a match, particularly in the sub-continent, though anything more than occasional unevenness of bounce at this stage of the match is not acceptable. It is to be expected that a pitch will turn steadily more as a match progresses, and it is recognised that a greater degree of unevenness of bounce may develop.”
Manchester pitch criticised after uneven bounce on day one of ENG-SL Test
It will be interesting to see how the pitch – which is quite dry – will play for the remainder of Test. The Cricketer’s George Dobell took to X to rightly ask what the reaction would have been had that delivery taken place on day one of a Test in India.
“So, what would the reaction of that Chandimal wicket be had it been an England player on the first morning of a Test in India?” he wrote.
Earlier, Mark Wood almost ripped Kusal Mendis’s thumb off his hand. However, the surface played pretty well afterwards. Milan Rathnayake achieved the highest score by a number nine on debut in a men’s Test, hitting an excellent 72 to propel Sri Lanka to 236.
Here are some thoughts and reactions from fans on the Manchester pitch.
So, what would the reaction of that Chandimal wicket be had it been an England player on the first morning of a Test in India?
That Chandimal LBW was an utter sucker! Bashir bowling 17 out of 61 overs on a Day One at Old Trafford… An interesting pitch… SL's spinners might enjoy this.
England have bowled really well, but this is a shocking pitch, have to feel for Sri Lanka. Quiet a lot have kept really low, then the Wood wicket took off, on day 1 to. #ENGvSL
Hi Steve, thought a few kept low as there was almost a “dead patch” short of a length from the end Bashir bowled from. Chandimal got 2/3 of them before the shooter got him. The big turner De Silva bowled from that end also didn’t bounce from a shorter length either.
England finished the day 22/0. Openers Dan Lawrence and Ben Duckett got through the four overs largely untroubled, but the latter survived a close call against a Dhananjaya de Silva delivery that spun sharply.
Milan Rathnayake received his Test cap from Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara. A few hours later, Rathnakaye played an outstanding innings of 72 to rescue his team from a precarious position. At the end of day one, England finished on 22/0 in response to Sri Lanka’s 236 – a score they would have taken with both hands after falling to 6/3, 92/6 and 113/7.
Rathnayake combined with captain Dhananjaya de Silva (74) for a 63-run stand. The debutant wasn’t finished there, lifting the Sri Lankans to a respectable total on a Manchester pitch offering alarming variable bounce at times.
What is the highest score by a number 9 on Test debut? A look at the top 5
Where does Rathnayake’s effort stand among the highest scores by a number 9 batsman on Test debut? Here is a look at the top five such scores in history.
5. Wilfred Ferguson 56* – WI vs ENG 1948
Way back in January 1948, Wilfred Ferguson struck an unbeaten 56 in the second innings against England. Walking in at 252/7 with the West Indies leading by 295, Ferguson helped lift his team to 351/9d to leave England needing 395 for victory.
The legspin bowler and right-handed batsman went on to take 34 wickets and score 200 runs in eight Tests.
4. Monde Zondeki 59 – SA vs ENG 2003
The talented Monde Zondeki made his first big impression in Tests with the bat. Against England at Headingley in 2003, Zondeki combined with Gary Kirsten to add 150 for the eighth wicket after the Proteas fell to 142/7.
James Anderson, who only retired in the summer of 2024, broke the partnership by dismissing Zondeki. Unfortunately for Zondeki, he picked up a side injury early in his bowling spell and was out for the remainder of the series. However, it did not stop the Proteas from winning the Test with Kirsten (130 and 60) named player of the match.
3. Darren Gough 65 – ENG vs NZ 1994
England were in trouble in the third Test of their 1994 home series against New Zealand. Leading 1-0 heading into the final match, England fell to 235/7 in the face of disciplined bowling by the Black Caps. With Mike Atherton (111) back in the pavilion, New Zealand could sense a quick finish.
However, debutant Darren Gough had other ideas. Gough dug deep for 65 off 126 balls in 157 minutes to keep New Zealand at bay. He combined for a 130-run stand with Phil DeFreitas (69), who also went on to take 3/61 and 3/60 to win player of the match.
The Test ended in a draw and England took the series 1-0.
2. Balwinder Sandhu 71 – IND vs PAK 1983
India were in all sorts of trouble when debutant Balwinder Sandhu walked in to bat on Test debut. Pakistan, led by Imran Khan, ripped through the Indian batting lineup to leave them 72/7 in response to a mammoth 581/3.
After bowling 33 overs in the first innings, Sandhu played an attacking innings with the bat, hitting 71 off just 88 balls. He and Mohinder Amarnath (61) were the only two players to cross 20, and they combined for a 59-run stand.
However, it wasn’t enough to spark a turnaround, with Pakistan going on to win the fourth Test by an innings and 119 runs. The six-match series ended 3-0 in Pakistan’s favour.
1. Milan Rathnayake 72 – SL vs ENG 2024
Sandhu’s record lasted more than 41 years until Milan Rathnayake turned up. The left-hander produced strokeplay any top order player would be proud of in an innings filled with grit and substance.
Along with solid defence, Rathnayake hit six fours and two sixes in his 135-ball stay on a tricky pitch and slow outfield. If that confidence can translate to his pace bowling, Sri Lanka could very well have a fine player on their hands.
WTC 2023-25 scenarios:The race for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final heated up after an action-packed last few months of Test cricket. South Africa confirmed their spot in the final, set to be played in England in mid-2025, after a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in Centurion.
In this article, we’ll look at the scenarios for each team in question, including the maximum percentage they can attain. First, here is the scoring system for the competition:
Points per match
Percentage
Win
12
100
Tie
6
50
Draw
4
33.33
Loss
0
0
WTC 2023-25 scenarios: The points system.
WTC 2023-25 scenarios: South Africa reach final – who will join them?
Australia and India were considered the favourites to reach the final. However, South Africa’s strong run has sealed their qualification. Now, Australia and India fight it out to join the Proteas at Lord’s.
South Africa
QUALIFIED
Current points: 88
Current percentage: 66.67
Remaining fixtures: 1 Test vs Pakistan (H)
Australia
Current points: 106
Current percentage: 58.89
Remaining fixtures: 2 Tests vs India (H), 2 Tests vs Sri Lanka (A)
Australia face a tough fight to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They also travel to Sri Lanka in January for a tough two-match series in Galle. So, we can certainly expect Pat Cummins’ team to be tested against spin in early 2025.
If Australia win all four remaining Tests, they will finish with a percentage of 67.54. If they beat India 3-1 and draw 1-1 in Sri Lanka, they will end with a percentage of 62.28.
If the BGT ends 2-2, Australia’s win percentage will be 57.84 heading into the Sri Lanka series. India’s will finish at 55.26.
Afterwards, if Australia beat Sri Lanka 2-0, they will finish with a win percentage of 62.28.
A 2-2 draw in the BGT and 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka will see Australia finish with a win percentage of 57.02. This will be enough for qualification ahead of India’s 55.26.
India
Current points: 114
Current percentage: 55.89
Remaining fixtures: 2 Tests vs Australia (A)
India’s shock 3-0 loss to the Black Caps left them in a very difficult position. Victories in the final two Tests in Australia will take them to a win percentage of 60.53.
In such a scenario, Australia’s win percentage would drop to 51.96 before their series in Sri Lanka. A 2-0 win for Australia there will take them to 57.02, which would still see India qualify.
If India draw in Melbourne and win at the SCG, their win percentage will finish at 57.02. In that scenario, Australia’s percentage will drop to 53.92 before Sri Lanka and must win 2-0 to take them to a win percentage of 58.77 that will see them qualify ahead of India.
If India lose the BGT 3-1, their win percentage will drop to 50. Even if Australia lose 2-0 in Sri Lanka, Pat Cummins’ team will still qualify with 57.02 win percentage.
If the BGT ends 2-2, India will qualify if Sri Lanka beats Australia 2-0.
Australia captain Pat Cummins, along with Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, have spoken of the importance of regaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy this upcoming summer. Australia have not held the trophy since 2014/15, where they won the series 2-0 at home. Incredibly, the Australians have won just four of their past 18 bilateral Tests against India, a record the team is desperate to overturn.
“It’s been ten years of unfinished business, it’s been a long time, and I know we’re extremely hungry to turn things around especially here at home,” Lyon said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “Don’t get me wrong, India is an absolute superstar side and extremely challenging but I’m extremely hungry to turn things around and make sure we get that trophy back.”
Lyon then went on to say the team has come a fair way in the past couple of years. The offspinner believes the team is on the way to greatness, but a series win over India is an important piece of the puzzle.
“Feel like we are a different team to a couple of years ago, we are on a journey of becoming a great Australian cricket team. We’re definitely not there but we are along that journey and have been playing some decent cricket,” he said.
Astounding that quite a few Australia players have never won a Border Gavaskar Trophy series – Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood echoed Lyon’s thoughts. The pace bowler believes the lack of success against India is something the team needs to get right to confirm their status as one of Australia’s stronger teams.
“There are quite a few players who have never beaten India in a Test series. It’s quite astounding to say that,” Hazlewood said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Hazlewood also praised India’s depth, especially given how they bounced back after being bowled out for 36 in 2020/21. However, he believes no matter the opposition, Australia should win every series at home.
“It’s been ten years of unfinished business, it’s been a long time, and I know we’re extremely hungry to turn things around especially here at home”
Nathan Lyon.
“That’s [Border Gavaskar Trophy] one we need to tick off, definitely, in particular at home – we should pretty much win every series here at home,” Hazlewood said.
“That last series we obviously bowled them out for 36 in Adelaide and we thought here we go, [we are] back at home [and] confident on these grounds. People say we played India B in that last Test, but they can sometimes be stronger than the best team. They’ve got unbelievable depth in all formats and we are starting to see that now.”
Pat Cummins primed to be rested and ready for 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy
Pat Cummins is just as motivated. The captain will miss the white-ball tour of Scotland and England, and has been given two months off bowling by Cricket Australia to be primed for the five-match series.
“I’m just trying to fill up the bucket again after two years of non-stop bowling. (Hoping) come that first Test in as good of a position as I have been in for a few years,” Cummins said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
Cummins is expected to feature in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan in November as well as one game for New South Wales.
“I’ve got those ODIs, aiming to absolutely be part of that series,” he said. “I would say at least a NSW one-day game, if not a Shield game, before the ODIs.”
The 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy will begin on 22 November in Perth. Adelaide (D/N), Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney will host the remaining four Tests.
