Australia has failed to win against India at their own turf in the last 2 occasions and Cummins feels that ‘it is time to make amends’ for those defeats. He also feels that Australia’s win over India in the World Test Championship final will give his side the edge in the series.

“The last two series here in Australia, we haven’t been successful, so it’s been a long time. Hopefully, it’s time to make amends,” Cummins told Sport Star.

“You know, we’ve played them plenty of times where they’ve beaten us, but we’ve also had plenty of wins against them as well, which we’ll draw confidence from. The most recent Test match was, of course, the World Test Championship in neutral conditions, and we came out on top in that match. It’s always fiercely competitive, and it always feels like it’s 50-50. I’m 10 out of 10 excited for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” Cummins added.

The 5-match Test series is set to commence from November 22 with the first Test to be played in Perth.

The post “Looking forward to it”: Pat Cummins speaks ahead of Border-Gavaskar series appeared first on Cricket Country.

After being put to bat, Purani Dilli 6 scored 173 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. On Monday night, they bowled brilliantly to limit Central Delhi Kings to 140 for 8.

They limited Central Delhi Kings to 39 for 2 inside Powerplay by taking advantage of the early swing at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

After Dhruv Kaushik was removed by Prince Yadav, a run-out claimed the second wicket.

Lakshay Thareja, who appeared to be in fantastic form, was removed for 34 off 26 in the ninth over, unable to build on his strong start. The Central Delhi Kings were down to 57 for 3 at the interval.

After that, in the 14th over, Shivam Sharma dismissed Hiten Dalal (27 off 25), raising the needed run rate above 12.

In the fifteenth over, Central Delhi Kings reached 100 runs, but they found it difficult to quicken their pace in the run chase.

In the 17th over, Prince Yadav secured his second wicket of the game by dismissing impact substitute Aryan Rana (8 off 10) to put Purani Dilli 6 well in charge.

In the 19th over, Jonty Sidhu reached his fifty runs in thirty-one balls; however, Prince Yadav caught and bowled him the same over.

In the last over, Ayush Singh Thakur claimed two wickets to guarantee Purani Dilli 6’s historic victory and a trip to the playoffs.

Prior to this, Purani Dilli 6 had a difficult start to their innings, losing three wickets with just 38 runs scored at the end of the Powerplay.

With timely boundaries, Keshav Dalal and Yug Gupta steadied the ship. However, in the 11th over, Jonty Sidhu gave Central Delhi Kings a breakthrough by dismissing Dalal for 28 off 20 balls.

Gupta, on the other hand, reached 100 runs for the side in 12.2 overs, however after hitting 44 off 30 balls, he was removed in the very next ball.

In the sixteenth over, Mayank Gusain (13 off 12) again fell cheaply to Dadar, leaving Purani Dilli 6 at 131 for 6.

Subsequently, Purani Dilli 6 reached a competitive total of 173 for 6, led by Lalit Yadav’s unbeaten 46 off 29 balls and Sumit Chhikara’s 19 not out off 10 balls.

Dadar was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with 2/29 in his four overs.

Brief Scores:

Purani Dilli 6: 173/6 in 20 overs (Lalit Yadav 46 not out, Yug Gupta 44; Rajneesh Dadar 2/29) beat Central Delhi Kings: 140/8 in 20 overs (Jonty Sidhu 52, Lakshay Thareja 34; Prince Yadav 3/15) by 33 runs.

The post Purani Dilli 6 Triumphs Over Central Delhi Kings by 33 Runs to Secure DPL Playoff Spot appeared first on Cricket Country.

Since making his debut against Bangladesh in Dunedin at the end of the previous year, Clarkson has played three ODIs and six T20Is for the Black Caps, while Smith was Wellington’s best player during the most recent Plunket Shield season in New Zealand.

Following their rejection of the offers last month, Conway and Allen left the two positions unfilled.

Conway, who has committed to the SAT20 Joburg Super Kings, has inked a non-binding contract with NZC that will see him play in all international matches barring the white-ball matches against Sri Lanka in January.

Gary Stead, the coach of New Zealand, stated that Smith and Clarkson were deserving of their first central contracts and that they will have a significant impact on the international scene in the upcoming months.

“Nathan’s been on our radar for a while having been a significant performer in domestic cricket for some time,” Stead was quoted as saying in a New Zealand Cricket statement.
“Josh has been involved in both white ball squads over the past twelve months which shows the strides he’s made in his game,” he stated.

“Josh will provide depth and adds value given the volume of white-ball cricket on the horizon.”

At the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, Smith and Clarkson, together with other contracted players Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Ben Sears, represented New Zealand at the Under-19 level.

NZ CENTRAL CONTRACT 2024-25

Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.

The post Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson Land Central Contracts with New Zealand Cricket appeared first on Cricket Country.

Adding to his woes, Shami suffered a significant ankle injury during the tournament, because of which he underwent surgery in February this year. 

During the CEAT Cricket Awards held last month, Shami spoke about his World Cup campaign, the video of which was made public by Star Sports on Sunday. He indirectly took a jibe at former India head coach Rahul Dravid and Indian captain Rohit Sharma by stating that he hadn’t been a first-choice player in all the 3 ODI World Cups he played. However, he did make remarkable comebacks once picked and thus, no one thought of dropping him again..

“I’m habitual to it, I think. In 2015, 2019, and 2023, I had the same start. When I was given a chance, the performances, thanks to god, they never thought of dropping me again. You can call to hard work, but I’m always ready for a chance. Only when you’re ready can you prove yourself. Otherwise, I can only run to the field to give water! It’s better to seize the opportunity when you get it,” Shami said.

The 33-year-old pacer is currently undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation process. The Indian management is determined to ensure Shami’s complete recovery, prioritizing his long-term fitness. The pacer himself stated that he would first play for his state side, Bengal before returning to the Indian team.

The post “They never thought…”: Mohammed Shami takes jibe at Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma appeared first on Cricket Country.

Suryakumar was expected to play for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s India C team in the Duleep Trophy first-round encounter against Shreyas Iyer’s India D in Anantapur on September 5, given that he was expected to be called up for a Test recall. However, the daring right-hander will now be recovering from a hand injury he sustained while fielding during a Buchi Babu match versus TNCA XI in Coimbatore at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for the next few days.

Because he was playing in the Duleep Trophy, Surya refrained from batting in the second innings out of prudence, but it looks that his injury is a little more serious than first thought. He should relax, the NCA medical staff has instructed.

Surya’s hopes of making a Test comeback may have been greatly boosted by a strong start to the Duleep Trophy, even though he was probably not going to make the squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Ever since making his debut against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, the T20I maestro has not been included in India’s red-ball team.

Here, the involvement of the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is something to be excited about. Will they respond quickly to assign Surya’s substitute at the last minute? Will they hold off till he recovers in time for the upcoming game? Not just cricket player Surya from the India C team has suffered an injury. Due to an injury, fast bowler Umran Malik was unable to play; however, Gaurav Yadav entered the team in his place.

Prior to the Duleep Trophy, India C and India B—Ravindra Jadeja was dropped from the India B team without an official reason—lost two of their best players; their replacements have not yet been announced. These two teams now have the fewest players (14) available in their squads.

The post Duleep Trophy Teams Hit by Unequal Squads: Suryakumar’s Injury and Jadeja’s Withdrawal Cause Concern appeared first on Cricket Country.

With a 10-wicket margin, Bangladesh have won the first Test. Pakistan’s first-inning total of 274 was surpassed by the visitors’ 262 thanks to Litton Das’s century (138) and his seventh-wicket partnership of 165 runs with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (78), defying Pakistan and Khurram Shahzad’s 6 for 90 effort.

It came after Bangladeshi pacers Hasan Mahmud (5 for 43) and Nahid Rana (4 for 44) bowled an amazing spell of fast on a green-top track that demolished Pakistan’s second innings, knocking the national side out for 172, leaving the visitors with a target of 185 to win.

Day four ended with Bangladesh reaching 43 for no loss at stumps, mostly because to an aggressive 33 not out off 23 balls from opener Zakir Hasan. When stumps were drawn, his partner Shadman Islam was on nine not out.

The dull performance by the home team infuriated former Pakistani batsman Ahmed Shahzad. In a video that Shahzad uploaded on X (previously Twitter), he was heard saying, “Bangladesh bowlers ne Pakistan ke ballebazon ko fir se tigni ka naach nachaya hai (Bangladesh bowlers have stunned Pakistan batsmen once again).”

“T20 shot selection is taking place. On the shots they are getting out on, the bat is so far away from the body. Even in Twenty20 and Ten cricket, coaches challenge you about such strokes.”

Allrounder Agha Salman was Pakistan’s top-scorer in the second innings, with a knock of 47, while the top-scorer in the match for Pakistan was opener Saim Ayub, who made 58 in the first innings. “Aap apni galtiyon se seekh hi nahi rahe hain (you are not learning from your mistakes).

You don’t have that charm anymore. Hum log galti kar rahe hain aapse ummeedein laga ke (we are making a mistake by attaching hopes to you) or the fans are doing that mistake because you are playing with their emotions in such a way,” Shahzad continued.

Bangladesh made history by defeating you in the first Test and now controlling the second. This is not an isolated incident. It is not an isolated incident when you lose to Ireland, Zimbabwe, or Afghanistan. You have brought it to this point; it is the reality of Pakistan.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shahzad continued, should also take equal responsibility for the team’s decline in performance and should give up its diversionary practices.
“I hold more than just the athletes accountable.

Due to some factors that were clearly in front of us, the PCB has equal blame for this (the collapse). We had some choices to make, so we said stuff on TV and tried to divert our attention like we always do, the former batsman said.

“Uske baad hum soch rahe the ke Bangladesh team aayegi, unko toh hum hara hi lenge (Then we were thinking we will be able to beat Bangladesh easily). And when we beat them, then the anger among people will cool down. So we will start the Pakistan Cup in the meantime.” “All this play of yours has backfired in your face.”

The post Ahmed Shehzad Slams PCB and Team: ‘Bangladesh Took Pakistan to Task’ appeared first on Cricket Country.

Speaking about development, Ashwin stated he is continuing the Indian spinners’ tradition from where the greats like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh left it in a video interview with veteran cricket journalist Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel.

“Mai lucky hu (I am lucky). What (legacy) Anil bhai and Harbhajan left, I have learnt from that. Whatever I am doing today is because of them, and what I am doing is part of the journey,” said a philosophical Ashwin, who has taken 516 wickets so far in 100 Tests.

As he continued to discuss how the world is changing, Ashwin used the Indian Premier League (IPL) as an example.

“I giggle when I hear people suggest that cricket players are earning a lot of money in the IPL, doing this and that. Will the pay be the same in 2040 as it is now if the IPL happens?” he inquired.

“The world will stride forward,” said Ashwin, who is currently the number one Test all-rounder in the ICC rankings and has scored five Test centuries.

“I’m going somewhere, and someone else is going to go ahead. It resembles a 400-meter relay competition in which one person will run 100 meters and another 100 meters. Thus, humankind is evolving and will get better. And I have no doubts at all that someone greater or even more incredible than I will emerge.”

The post R Ashwin Speaks on the Responsibility of Continuing India’s Spin Bowling Tradition appeared first on Cricket Country.

Jadeja was praised greatly by Ashwin, who described him as the “most talented cricketer” he had ever seen.

“Jadeja is the most talented cricketer I’ve seen; everything about him is natural. Over the years, our relationship has improved as we’ve learned to understand each other’s differences. I tend to think a lot, whereas he does not. Understanding took time, but now we have a strong working relationship,” Ashwin said during an interview with Vimal Kumar on YouTube.

The veteran spinner also made it completely clear that he has no jealousy towards Jadeja and even said that it is a “conditioning we need to overcome”.

“It’s not Jadeja’s fault that I’m not playing. I don’t have the kind of jealousy where I would wish to keep him out just to play myself. The notion of jealousy is a conditioning we need to overcome,” he explained.

In order to prevent misunderstandings, Ashwin added in the interview that it is critical to communicate effectively with players who are not on the national team.

“It’s imperative to provide athletes who aren’t performing with clarity and confidence. It’s not about fault when someone gets replaced; rather, it’s about opportunity and team dynamics,” he stated.

“Instead of focusing on external comparisons, the emphasis should be on internal inspiration,” Ashwin continued.

The post Ravichandran Ashwin on Working with Ravindra Jadeja: ‘It’s All About Team Spirit, Not Jealousy’ appeared first on Cricket Country.

Samashti Gubbi posted the little video to Instagram, and it has received over two million views already. The combination of classical language and sport has won over many social media users.

The man eagerly offers real-time comments at the start of the video. The exhilaration of the occasion is highlighted by the batsman’s rising voice as he makes a stroke. He is surrounded by onlookers who are clearly impressed by his style and cheer and applaud.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Samashti Gubbi (@sanskritsparrow)

The Sanskrit commentary, translated into English, says: “The bowler is holding the ball in his hand. The bowler is traveling a great distance. Everyone watches as he makes a solid shot and sprints to finish the run. They go have a conversation. Let’s now examine what transpires. Everyone is having a great time playing. The bowler is back and performing admirably. He’s got a great game going. Manjunath is his name. Hurry up.”

Social media users were quick to express their admiration for the commentator’s talent and the beauty of the Sanskrit language.

“Salut for his talent,” a user said, while another added, “We need a Sanskrit commentator like him.”

Reactions to the image such as “This is how cricket would look in ‘Dvapara Yuga'” swamped one area of the comments section.

“Reached ‘Dvapara Yuga’ while scrolling,” remarked one user, and another said something similar, “Cricket in Mahabharata Times.”

In Hindu cosmology, the third era, or “Dvapara Yuga,” is regarded as the third-best of the four. According to historical accounts seen in books like the Mahabharata, Sanskrit, the classical language of Hinduism, was extensively spoken throughout this time.

The post Bengaluru Man’s Commentary in Ancient Sanskrit Ignites Internet Craze appeared first on Cricket Country.

The third tournament’s schedule was revealed on Monday. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, Joe Root, and England Test captain Ben Stokes will all be playing for the Paarl Royals, MI Cape Town, along with other notable figures.

In addition, Anrich Nortje will return after missing the second edition due to injury, while Kane Williamson, who signed up with the Durban Super Giants, will make his debut.

The tournament playoffs will be at three venues.

The top two teams will square off in St. George’s Park for Qualifier 1, with the victor moving on to the championship match. The teams who place third and fourth will face off in the Eliminator. In Qualifier 2, which will take place at Centurion, the losing team from Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator will square off.

“We’re thrilled to start the season in Gqeberha with our defending champions and look forward to an action-packed summer of cricket,” stated Grame Smith, a former captain of South Africa and commissioner of the SA20 league. We want to give players and spectators alike an incredible experience as we invite global talent to the thriving pool of local stars.”

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