Tag: Australia vs India

Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah insisted Thursday that India were carrying no baggage from their Test whitewash by New Zealand and warned Australia that star batsman Virat Kohli was looking “ominous”.

India head into the first of five Tests against Australia on Friday in Perth on the back of their first home series loss in 12 years.

But speedster Bumrah, who will captain the side after Rohit Sharma stayed home following the birth of his second child, said they were only looking forward.

“The beauty about cricket is even if you win, you start from zero, and even if you lose you start from zero,” he told reporters. “So that’s how I look at the game.”

“Obviously, yes, we were disappointed and we were down that we had a tough series [against New Zealand].

“But we are not carrying any baggages. We come with a fresh mindset, different opposition and you learn from the changes that have happened in our team.”

With Rohit out, KL Rahul or Abhimanyu Easwaran are in line to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, while there are doubts over number three Shubman Gill who has hurt his thumb.

Their bowling line-up is also unclear. Bumrah said India had settled on who would partner him in the attack, but he would wait until the toss to reveal all.

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Kohli is certain to play but will stand up under increasing scrutiny after managing only two Test centuries in the last five years and averaging just 15 against New Zealand.

Despite signs that one of the world’s greatest batsmen may be past his best at 36, Bumrah cautioned that Kohli should never be written off.

Kohli holds a stellar record in Australia, having scored 1352 runs across 13 Tests at an average of 54.08 with six centuries and four half-centuries.

“He is one of the greats of the game,” said Jasprit Bumrah. “He’s the utmost professional that we have in our team. He’s got a lot of success.”

“Okay, one or two series here and there can go up and down, but the confidence that he has at this moment, I have no doubts.

“He’s looking to contribute. And the way I’ve seen him at training … the signs are ominous.”

With Bumrah taking the armband, the first Test will have two fast bowlers captaining their teams, with Pat Cummins in charge of Australia.

“I love the responsibility. I wanted to do the tough job since I was a child,” he said. “I’ve never followed a copybook plan… I’ve never followed a model and I go with my instincts and that’s how I’ve always played my cricket. I have a lot of faith in my instincts and gut.”

READ: ‘They look like mummies’: Salman Butt takes a dig at Pakistan players’ fitness

Australia captain Pat Cummins on Thursday urged new opener Nathan McSweeney not to try and emulate swashbuckling David Warner, while admitting his team had unfinished business with India.

The uncapped McSweeney will make his Test debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener at Perth Stadium on Friday, parachuted in at the top of the order alongside Usman Khawaja after Warner’s retirement this year.

He has big shoes to fill and goes into the game having only opened once before at first-class level, in a warm-up Australia A match this month.

Cummins said he must be himself when he fronts a world-class Indian attack spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah on what is expected to be a fiery pitch.

“Davey [David Warner] is very hard to replace in many ways, but I think the most important thing for someone like Nath [Nathan McSweeney] coming in is to play his own game,” he said. “He doesn’t need to strike at 80 like Davey did if that’s not his game.”

Other than McSweeney, Australia has a settled side which is on a mission to win their first Test series against India in almost a decade.

Only Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith remain from the squad that last won in Australia back in 2014-15.

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Since then they have slumped to four straight Border-Gavaskar series losses, including two at home.

“It’s kind of one of the last things to tick off for a lot of us,” Cummins told reporters of beating their big rival. “Almost every challenge that we’ve had thrown with us over the last few years we’ve stepped up and done well.”

“To do that for another year, another home summer, would kind of cement this.”

While Australia will go into the first of five Tests with their starting XI locked in, India is set for a shake-up after their devastating 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand.

Rohit Sharma will likely miss the match following the birth of his second child, with Bumrah assuming the captaincy.

Number three Shubman Gill is in doubt with an injured thumb, while the bowling line-up behind Bumrah is yet to be decided. Nevertheless, Cummins is under no illusions about the task ahead.

“There will always be pressure when you are playing at home,” he said. “We’re all excited, we know India are right up there with the best teams.”

“They are missing a couple of guys we are more familiar with, but we know that whoever they pick they will obviously think are good enough for Test cricket.”

READ: Aaqib Javed opens up on Fakhar Zaman’s potential comeback

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has issued a stern warning to those doubters of Virat Kohli, emphasizing that the star batter could make a resounding comeback in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

Kohli has been under fire lately due to his below-par form, having scored a solitary half-century and averaging only 21.33 in five Test matches.

During India’s first-ever clean sweep at home in a three-match Test series against New Zealand, Kohli managed only 93 runs from six innings at an average of 15.50.

However, Shastri, who served as the head coach during Kohli’s tenure as captain, has shown his faith in the star batter.

“Well, the King is back in his territory. That’s all I will tell them,” Shastri stated in The ICC Review while responding to a question about Kohli’s critics.

The former all-rounder emphasized that Virat Kohli earned the title of ‘King’ due to his dominant batting performances in Australia, and he is likely to replicate his previous successes in the upcoming series.

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“When you’ve earned that title after your exploits in Australia, it will be on your [opponent’s] mind when you go out to bat.”

For the unversed, Kohli led India to their first-ever series victory in Australia during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He holds a stellar record in Australia, having scored 1352 runs across 13 Tests at an average of 54.08 with six centuries and four half-centuries.

Ravi Shastri advised Virat Kohli to remain calm and play naturally, avoiding reckless dismissals like in the New Zealand series.

“Your juices are flowing, you’re charged up. It’s again a case with Virat. You want to see calmness because at times you are overeager to get out there and throw the first punch,” Shastri said.

“But I think that calmness in the first half an hour where he gets out to bat or in the first three innings of the series will be extremely important. If he can be calm and play the game at his own pace rather than being in a hurry, I think he’ll be fine.”

It’s worth noting that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will start from November 22 in Perth. The second match will be played in Adelaide from December 6, followed by the third Test in Brisbane, scheduled from December 14-18.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the fourth match from December 26, while the final Test will be played in Sydney from January 3.

READ: Tim Southee announced retirement from Test cricket

Uncapped opening batter Nathan McSweeney has been named in the Australia squad for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, the Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed on Sunday.

Australia will host India for a five-match Test series, starting from November 22 in Perth. The second match will be played in Adelaide from December 6, followed by the third Test in Brisbane, scheduled from December 14-18.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the fourth match from December 26, while the final Test will be played in Sydney from January 3.

Since David Warner retired in January, no firm contender emerged to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.

While Steve Smith initially stepped into the role, he failed to shine and will revert to his usual number four, behind Marnus Labuschagne.

Uncapped South Australian captain McSweeney, 25, became the front-runner after an impressive start to the domestic season.

However, former Test players Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, along with rising teen star Sam Konstas, were also in the picture.

It effectively culminated in a “bat-off” in two Australia A v India A four-day red-ball clashes over the past fortnight.

McSweeney put himself in pole position with an impressive unbeaten 88 in the first match at Mackay, coming in at number four.

Promoted to open for the first time ever in the second match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), he made just 14 and 25, but selectors had seen enough and shown faith in him to open the innings in the Perth Test.

“Nathan [McSweeney] has displayed the attributes we believe will equip him well for Test cricket along with a strong recent record in domestic cricket,” said chief selector George Bailey.

“His performances for South Australia and Australia A weighed in his favour and supports our view he is ready for the opportunity at Test level.”

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McSweeney also expressed his excitement after being selected in the Australia squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“I feel like my game’s the best it’s been, and I just can’t wait to get out there and hopefully do everyone proud,” he told reporters, adding that he was ready to face the first ball from India.

“I’ve heard that Uzzie [Usman Khawaja] is not the biggest fan of it (facing the opening delivery). I’ve already been told that by a couple of boys.

“I faced the first ball in both innings out here (against India A), so I’m comfortable with that too.”

Travis Head is set to come in at five with Mitchell Marsh filling the allrounder role after Cameron Green was ruled out of the series following surgery on his spine.

Alex Carey will be donning the wicket-keeping gloves while white-ball-opener Josh Inglis has been picked as a backup batter ahead of Harris, Bancroft and Konstas.

Bailey had previously said Inglis was not being considered as a Test opener, meaning he will be the back-up batsman.

“Josh has been in great touch in the Sheffield Shield competition and deserves his place in his first Test squad,” said Bailey.

Veteran pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc again lead the attack, alongside spin king Nathan Lyon, who will play his 130th Test in Perth, looking to add to his 530 wickets.

Scott Boland is the spare quick bowler, with fellow seamer and rival Michael Neser injured in Australia A’s game in Mackay and not considered.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc

READ: Shaheen, Naseem wreak havoc as Pakistan bundle Australia for 140

Australia’s white-ball captain Mitchell Marsh has expressed great admiration for Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, going so far as to express a wish that Pant was an Australian.

Australia will host India for a five-match Test series, starting from November 22 in Perth. The second match will be played in Adelaide from December 6, followed by the third Test in Brisbane, scheduled from December 14-18.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the fourth match from December 26, while the final Test will be played in Sydney from January 3.

During India’s last tour of Australia in 2020-21, Rishabh Pant played a key role in his side’s 2-1 victory in the four-match Test series. The southpaw played gutsy knocks of 97 and 89* in the third and fourth matches respectively and was adjudged man of the match in the latter.

Mitchell Marsh, in a recent interview with an Indian sports channel, praised Pant for his fighting nature, referencing to his recent comeback to competitive cricket after a life-threatening car accident in 2022.

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“He’s a ripping bloke. I wish he was Australian. He’s obviously been through a lot over the last few years, and it’s been a hell of a comeback,” said Marsh.

“He’s a positive guy, still really young, and he loves winning. He’s highly competitive for someone who has the persona of being relaxed and always laughing and smiling. He’s got that big smile,” he added.

Marsh’s team-mate Travis Head also voiced similar opinion, praising Pant’s aggressive intent on the field.

“The Indian cricketer I believe is most Australian would be Rishabh Pant. I think the way he goes about his aggressive nature and his work ethic would make him very enjoyable to play with,” said Head.

It’s worth noting that Pant has scored 624 runs at an average of 62.40 in seven Test matches that he played in Australia.

READ: David Miller opens up on his last-over dismissal in T20 World Cup final

GROS ISLET: Australia have won the toss and chose to field first against India in a crucial ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eights fixture here at Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium on Monday.

PLAYING XIs

Australia made one change to their lineup as Mitchell Starc comes in for Ashton Agar while India are unchanged.

Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

India: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.

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Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh opened up on his decision to bowl first, stating that the pitch looks belter and that he would love to chase.

“It looks like a belter of a wicket. There is a bit of breeze around and the surface looks lovely,” said Marsh.

“We found ourselves in this position a few times, backs to the walls. At this stage of the tournament, every game’s a must-win, pressure comes with that,” he added.

India’s captain Rohit Sharma shared that he would have bowled first too but remained confident in his team’s ability, who are unbeaten in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 thus far.

“It looks good, hope it doesn’t change too much. We have adapted well to conditions, so hopefully, another game where we can do that,” said Sharma.

HEAD TO HEAD

Australia and India have squared off 31 times in T20Is with the latter possessing a superior record with 19 wins.

Matches 31, India 19, Australia 11, NR 1

FORM GUIDE

India are in red-hot form in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 as they are currently unbeaten while Australia suffered a major dent to their momentum with Afghanistan upset.

India: W, W, NR, W, W

Australia: L, W, W, W, W

READ: Usman Khawaja comments on Babar Azam’s future as Pakistan captain

SAINT VINCENT: Australia’s T20I captain Mitchell Marsh expressed his confidence in his team’s ability to force a turnaround in the must-win ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eights fixture against India.

Australia suffered a massive blow to their semi-final hopes after they succumbed to a shock loss against Afghanistan at Arnos Vale Ground here on Saturday.

A victory over Afghanistan would have taken Australia, alongside India into the semi-finals. But, they now need to beat India in their final Super Eights fixture, scheduled on June 24, to advance into the knockouts.

However, if India beat Australia and Afghanistan defeat Bangladesh then India and Afghanistan would go through, marking the end of Australia’s campaign.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh, consequently, termed their match against India a “must-win game” and asserted that the pressure would bring the best out of his players.

“First things first, (we have to) recover. We have a lot of belief in our group. We are a very good cricket team. Yes, tonight we had an off night but I guess there’s also a positive in the fact that in 36 hours we go again. It’s a big game, it will be against India obviously and it’s a must-win game,” stated Marsh during the post-match press conference.

“I think if you look back at the short history of this team, I know for a fact that it brings out the best in our guys, so the boys will certainly be up and about for it.

“We’ve got a good bunch of people and I believe our best is up there with the best. So, we need to bring that on whatever day it is, in a couple of days’ time and move forward pretty quickly.”

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Australia, who have done exceptionally well with the bat and ball this tournament, were sloppy in the field against Afghanistan as the former champions put down five catches but Mitchell Marsh remained confident in his team’s ability in the department.

“There’s a lot of things you can look at, the reality is there’s small margins here when the scores are low,” said Marsh.

“We don’t want to have too many off nights in the field but I also believe that at our best we’re an unbelievable fielding side.

“It’s easy to look at tonight and, yes, it was disappointing but ultimately, we have 36 hours to turn it around and I still believe that our best is very good in the field.

“We certainly pride ourselves on our fielding. Can’t question the boys putting in the work. I think it’s no different to any other skill set. We put in the work, we didn’t execute in the field tonight and ultimately it played a part in us losing the game.”

READ: Mitchell Marsh reveals reason behind shock loss against Afghanistan

Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday announced the plan to create dedicated fan zones for the Indian audience at all venues during the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar series later this year.

The five venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide will have dedicated seating areas for Indian fans.

The plan to establish fan zones aligns with Cricket Australia’s Multicultural Action Plan, aiming to create an inclusive environment for Indian cricket fans.

CA will soon announce details of ticket sales for the fan zones, encouraging Indian fans to seize the chance to enjoy the high-action series in the vibrant atmosphere.

Fans will be allowed to bring traditional musical instruments such as the Dhol in the fan zones.

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CA took a similar initiative last year during Pakistan’s tour of Australia, setting up a dedicated space for Pakistan cricket fans labelled as the ‘Pakistan Bay’ in Perth Stadium for the first Test match.

‘Pakistan Bay’ consisted of two stands surrounding the Pakistan team’s dressing room. Pakistani tea, halal food, and desi cuisines were also available for Pakistan cricket fans.

The Border-Gavaskar series will kick off on 22 November in Perth, followed by the Day-Night Test in Adelaide on 6 December.

The Gabba in Brisbane will host the third Test, while the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the Boxing Day Test.

The series will conclude in Sydney with the Pink Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)

READ: Bangladesh announce squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

Veteran wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will captain Australia in their Twenty20 International series against India next month with a host of senior players giving the tour a miss, selectors said Saturday.

Wade was elevated to the top job with regular captain Mitchell Marsh returning to Australia after the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 in India to prepare for the home Test summer.

Test and one-day skipper Pat Cummins along with pace partners Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are also being rested, as is allrounder Cameron Green.

Spinner Ashton Agar was not considered due to injury.

But batting stalwarts Steve Smith and David Warner were among the 15-man squad for the five-game series starting on November 23 in Vishakhapatnam.

“It’s an experienced squad with a mixture of players who have had their first opportunity on the international stage and that we hope will continue to develop into important players in our T20 group,” said chief selector George Bailey.

“Matthew has captained the team previously, is a leader in the group and we look forward to him taking the reins for this series.”

Australia T20I squad

Matthew Wade (c), Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

READ: ICC World Cup 2023: South Africa down Pakistan in a nail-biter

LONDON: Scott Boland sparked a dramatic collapse as a dominant Australia hammered India by 209 runs to win the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Sunday.

India, set a record 444 to win, resumed on 164-3.

But they slumped to 234 all out before lunch on the fifth day, losing their last five wickets for a mere 22 runs.

Boland did the initial damage with two wickets in Sunday’s seventh over, including the prize scalp of Virat Kohli, on his way to figures of 3-46 in 16 overs.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon (4-41) then polished off the tail.

Victory meant Australia had now captured the one major men’s cricket title that had previously eluded them.

Boland might not have been in the side but for an injury to Josh Hazlewood.

The 34-year-old seamer now looks to have assured himself of a place in Australia’s XI for the first Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston starting on Friday.

“It felt pretty good to get Kohli out,” said Boland, who has now taken 33 wickets in eight Tests at the remarkably low average of 14.57.

“I have been playing state cricket for Victoria for 12 years,” he added. “I have done some hard work and it is nice to play international cricket and get some wickets.”

Defeat left India, beaten by New Zealand in the inaugural 2021 WTC final in Southampton, still searching for their first piece of global silverware in a decade.

Had India reached a target of 444, it would have surpassed the West Indies’ 418-7 against Australia at St John’s in 2003 as the highest winning fourth-innings chase in Test history.

India were also attempting to top the corresponding Oval record of 263 posted by England in a one-wicket win over Australia way back in 1902.

Yet even though the odds were heavily against their side, scores of India fans, the key component in a cumulative crowd in excess of 100,000 across the five days, still streamed into the ground.

Australia, who had lost their last four Test series against India, were in charge from early on in this match after being sent into bat.

Both player-of-the-match Travis Head (163) and star batsman Steve Smith (121) made hundreds in a first-innings total of 469.

– ‘Savour this ahead of Ashes’ –

“The way Travis and Smith put on that partnership put us at ease,” said Australia captain Pat Cummins.

The fast bowler added: “Boland was fantastic, he’s now my favourite player, everyone just did their role really well…We’ll savour this and then turn our attention to the Ashes.”

India skipper Rohit Sharma said: “In the second innings, we didn’t apply ourselves with the bat…Playing two (WTC) finals is a good achievement for us but, yeah, we would like to go a mile ahead of that as well.”

Chants of “Kohli, Kohli, Kohli” rang out round the ground as the former India captain and Ajinkya Rahane walked out to bat on Sunday.

But Kohli had added just five runs to his overnight score when, on 49, his edged drive off Boland was brilliantly caught by a diving Smith at second slip.

Two balls later, new batsman Ravindra Jadeja fell for a duck, caught behind nicking a superb Boland delivery that seamed away.

Rahane had marked his first Test in over a year by top-scoring with patient 89 in India’s first innings.

But an otherwise composed 46 on Sunday ended when he edged a booming drive off Mitchell Starc straight to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Lyon then proved too much for India’s tail and he finished the match when last man Mohammed Siraj was caught off a reverse sweep.