Test cricket isn’t what it used to be, and India have kept pace with the times – think of the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh just recently. But while run rates have soared and batters are looking for more boundary-scoring opportunities, India head coach Gautam Gambhir believes adaptability is still the most crucial element. “We want to be that team which can score 400 in a day and bat for two…
Big picture: Rip up the script, and go again The fans have been out in force in Multan this week, but not, as might be justified, to protest against the failings of a Pakistan team that has now lost six Tests in a row. Instead, they’ve been whirring away at either end of the heavily-watered strip of concrete that doubled as a record-breaking Test wicket during last week’s first Test,…
In desperate need of a result following an innings defeat in the first Test, Pakistan have seemingly had a complete change of heart on the sort of pitches they want at home, and opted to use the same one from the first Test. To that end, they have lined up with three spinners, with seam-bowling allrounder Aamer Jamal the only pace outlet. According to assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, though, this…
Pakistan have ripped up their home template ahead of the second Test starting Tuesday, naming three specialist spinners in their starting XI alongside seam bowling allrounder Aamer Jamal. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, legspinner Zahid Mahmood and offspinner Sajid Khan have all been called up in a radical shift away from the green-top seaming tracks Pakistan have recently said they aspire to produce at home. Part of this has been borne…
Ben Stokes will return to captain England in Multan this week after two months sidelined with a torn hamstring. Stokes has stepped up his recovery in the past week and will replace Chris Woakes in one of two England changes from the first Test, with Matthew Potts also coming in for the rested Gus Atkinson. England are braced for a lower-scoring second Test, with the match set to be played…
Steven Smith won’t open the batting against India in the Border-Gavaskar series with Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey confirming that Smith had indicated his desire to move back down the order, and that it was set to be accommodated even prior to Cameron Green’s injury. Speculation had swirled around Smith’s batting position dating back to Australia’s last Test series against New Zealand in March after his eight innings at…
Amol Muzumdar, the India head coach, was disconsolate after their semi-final hopes nosedived following their nine-run loss to Australia, but he wasn’t going to throw his team under the bus. He only hoped they can “learn from the experience and disappointment.” India were shoddy on the field and conceded “10-15 more” and tangled themselves into a position from which they were once again hoping for a Harmanpreet Kaur miracle to…
Teenaged opener Sam Konstas will audition for a Test spot in national team colours after being named in the Australia A squad for the upcoming red-ball series against India A. His spectacular rise has continued after being included in a 17-man squad for the two four-day games in Mackay and the MCG. Konstas, 19, lit up Australian domestic cricket by scoring twin centuries against South Australia in the opening round…
Australia captain Pat Cummins will prepare for the upcoming Test summer by leading the ODI series against Pakistan while Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head will both miss the three-match contest for paternity leave. Cummins has been named captain of Australia’s 14-man squad that was announced on Monday for the series that begins on November 4 at the MCG. The squad is missing Marsh and Head who both have babies due…
A high-stakes game played before a sold-out 14,946-strong crowd at Sharjah Stadium made up almost exclusively of Indian supporters had gone Australia’s way by nine runs after the tightest contest of the tournament so far. And Sutherland was “chill as”. It is testament to Sutherland’s character and why Australia see her as such a bright prospect that, having celebrated her 23rd birthday the day before, she took it all in…