During a discussion, Manjrekar said that while Jadeja looked comfortable facing the pacers, he started to struggle once Australia skipper Pat Cummins brought Lyon into the attack.

“He played the fast bowlers a lot and played them very well. He didn’t make even a slight mistake against the fast bowlers. However, once Nathan Lyon came, he was expecting off-spin, that the ball would turn. His bat came for the off-spin and the ball was not turning at all. So he played with that mindset,” Manjrekar said.

“It seems like Jadeja needs to practice a little more against spin because he is looking absolutely comfortable against seam. He used to play very well against spin earlier but it happens that when you play overseas, you start playing fast bowling well and your focus is slightly removed from spin. If only fast bowlers had been there, Jadeja would have played a big knock,” Manjrekar added.

Jadeja has indeed struggled against Lyon and has been dismissed a total of 7 times in 16 innings in Test cricket.

The post ‘Needs to practice more…’: Ex-India star BRUTALLY criticizes Ravindra Jadeja appeared first on Cricket Country.

However, whenever Siraj has done this action, it has resulted in the dismissal of the batter after a short while. People now believe that whenever a fielder or player in general changes the bail of the stumps, it causes a sort of bad luck to the batter, as there has not been a time when bails got switched and the batter remained for long after that.

During the fourth Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc was also spotted doing the same thing, while Indian star Ravindra Jadeja was batting with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Star Sports India (@starsportsindia)

Jatin Sapru and Irfan Pathan were on the commentary panel and shared their views on this incident

“Last time this trick was used, Mohammed Siraj did it to maybe Labuschagne, wicket went to Nitish Reddy,” Jatin said on Star Sports.

Irfan Pathan said how Australia did not need to do this bail changing trick and jokingly mentioned how Mitchell Starc did not have any wicket to his name, and did this switch in order to secure a wicket.

“The position where Australia is in right now, if you have to change the bails, then Mitchell Starc is just thinking about himself that he has not taken any wicket. He needs a wicket,” Irfan said shortly after Jatin.

This small trick by Starc somehow did succeed as soon after this incident, Ravindra Jadeja got dismissed with an LBW by Nathan Lyon, to which the ball-tracker also confirmed it to be a wicket.

The post WATCH- Mohammed Siraj’s ‘bail-switch’ method gets followed by Mitchell Starc: Successfully dismisses Ravindra Jadeja appeared first on Cricket Country.

Pant lost his wicket to Scott Boland after scoring 28 runs in 37 balls. The way in which Pant lost his wicket was not something that impressed Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar, who claimed this action to be ‘stupid’. Gavaskar usually speaks well about Pant, but he lashed out at the wicketkeeper-batter since he does not want him to get away with it.

“Stupid, Stupid, STUPID! You’ve got two fielders there, and you still go for that. You missed the previous shot, and look where you’ve been caught. That is throwing away your wicket. You cannot say that is your natural game. I’m sorry. That is not your natural game. This is a stupid shot. This is letting your team down badly. You have to understand the situation as well.” Gavaskar said during commentary on ABC Sport.

“He should not be going in that [India’s] dressing room, he should be going in the other dressing room,” Gavaskar added.

Rishabh Pant gets off to a fiery start on Day Three. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zvWehli0Ol

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2024

Later on in the commentary panel, Gavaskar said that if Pant wants to play like that, he needs to be dropped down to no. 7. As of now, he comes to bat at no. 5. However, he came out to bat at no. 6 in the ongoing first innings of the 4th Test of ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, as Akash Deep was sent as nightwatcher on Day 2.

Pant and Jadeja together mad a partnership of 32 runs for the sixth wicket, When there were a few mix-ups between the two even when they were making their partnership.

The 24-year-old has not been in the best of form in the series. He has scored 124 runs from six innings so far, averaging at 20.66. Pant has not scored even a single half-century as of now in this series.

The post ‘That is throwing away…’: Sunil Gavaskar speaks about Rishabh Pant’s aggressive shot that led to his dismissal in Boxing-Day Test appeared first on Cricket Country.

The incident occurred when the players were crossing over after the 10th over. After taking a single off Mohammed Siraj’s last ball, Konstas took his gloves off and started to walk towards his batting partner Usman Khawaja at the other end.

Kohli then picked up the ball before heading straight into the direction of Konstas and shoulder pushing him. The two then exchanged a few words with each other before the players and umpires intervened.

Following the incident, an old video of Konstas donning Australia’s U-19 jersey and choosing his favourite player in the world has started making rounds on social media. Konstas’ options ranged from David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam and many more. However, he ended up picking Kohli as his favourite and did so by even choosing the India cricketer over his own countryman, Steve Smith.

The 19-year-old played a fine knock of 60 from just 65 deliveries during the first day of the Melbourne Test to put India on the backfoot. Konstas was eventually dismissed by spinner Ravindra Jadeja after playing a highly impressive innings.

Australia ended the opening day of the fourth Test on 311/6 with Smith unbeaten on 68 and skipper Pat Cummins unbeaten on 8. For India, pacer Jasprit Bumrah was again the star performer, picking up 3 important wickets and leading the Men in Blue’s comeback during the third session.

The post WATCH: Old video of Sam Konstas picking Virat Kohli as his favourite player goes viral appeared first on Cricket Country.

Seeing this, Virat Kohli lost his cool and seemed to give Konstas a shoulder push during the first session of the day. The incident occurred when the players were crossing over after the 10th over. After taking a single off Mohammed Siraj’s last ball, Konstas took his gloves off and started to walk towards his batting partner Usman Khawaja at the other end.

Kohli picked up the ball and moved purposefully in Konstas’ direction. Both the players didn’t change their direction and this saw them bump into each other. The two then exchanged a few words with each other before the players and umpires intervened.

Reacting to the incident, former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting slammed Kohli for his actions, urging the match referees to take a good look.

“Have a look where Virat walks. Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said.

“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together,” Ponting added.

“It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late; he wouldn’t even know anyone was in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer,” Ponting further added.

The incident didn’t seem to break Konstas’ concentration and he went on to smash the Indian bowlers even more before eventually getting dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja after scoring 60 runs off 65 deliveries.

The post Ricky Ponting BLASTS Virat Kohli for heated clash with Sam Konstas, demands match referee to take action appeared first on Cricket Country.

Though there are still 2 matches to go in the Border-Gavaskar series, it has already been full of on-field and off-field incidents. Following Jadeja’s controversial interview, seamer Akash Deep refused to entertain the Australian journalists. Star India batter Virat Kohli was also involved in a verbal spat with the media on Melbourne airport.

Clarke reminded that MS Dhoni also didn’t address the media during an entire tour when he was leading the Indian team. He also mentioned that Sachin Tendulkar was also very restrictive around the Australian media.

“I don’t think much has changed, to be honest. I’ve experienced Indian teams coming here, and their captain, MS Dhoni, didn’t do one press conference during the entire Test series. So, Sachin was very restrictive around when he chose to do media. I think it’s been the same for a long time. So, I like the fact they’re still putting someone up,” Clarke told ESPN.

The former Australia skipper said that the fiery tone was first set by India head coach Gautam Gambhir with his press conference before the beginning of the series.

“I think they made it pretty clear before they left India what they were going to be like when they arrived in Australia. They’re going to stick to themselves, stick to their plan. Gambhir made that very clear in the first press conference. So, I don’t know why anybody’s surprised, and for them, it’d be about what’s happening on the field, not off the field. So, I don’t think even the chat around it would be bothering India too much,” Clarke said.

The post ‘Don’t think much has changed’: Ex-Australia skipper takes a dig on Indian team amid Ravindra Jadeja controversy appeared first on Cricket Country.

Ahead of the interview with the media, the BCCI had already informed that Jadeja will not be taking any questions in English as they have to “catch the bus.” This resulted in becoming a big controversy as the Australian media claimed that Jadeja spoke in Hindi during the entire interview because the interaction was mainly for Indian reporters.

“India are a powerhouse. They clearly think cameras at the airport and filming families is a step too far. And this is their way of reacting. It just adds more drama for me. There are AI systems that you can use to translate Hindi into Australian English. So if they are not willing to speak in English.. Just put it into the system and it’ll come out as Australian English You just quote Jadeja in what comes in the AI. It might not be the exact same but it will be quite funny,” Vaughan said in the Club Prairie Fire podcast.

Vaughan also made a cheeky comment on the Indian team manager’s “we have a bus to catch” comment and said that their team doesn’t travel by bus as the players have “pretty cool cars”.

“I don’t think they have buses. That’s a lie. I think they have cars. I’m pretty sure they don’t go on a double decker team bus. They have pretty cool cars,” Vaughan said.

The fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series is set to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and it will commence from Boxing Day, December 26.

The post ‘Pretty sure they don’t…’: Michael Vaughan gives BLUNT verdict on Ravindra Jadeja’s Hindi interview row appeared first on Cricket Country.

Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is the lone warrior for India in the bowling department. The legendary pacer has bagged 21 wickets in three Tests, and is currently the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing series.

Pujara, who used to be India’s one of the most consistent Test performers, believes that batting is a little better because the middle order and lower-middle order are contributing with the bat, but the bowling is going to be the main weakness in the Boxing-Day Test.

“My biggest question and the reason for a little bit of concern is that the Indian bowling is looking a little weak,” Pujara told Star Sports.

“Batting is a little better, like the top five didn’t do well, but the middle order and lower middle order, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish (Reddy), and even tailenders, Bumrah and Akash Deep contributed with the bat,” he added.

“Now, there is a weakness in the bowling, so what will you feed the team? That is the biggest question, because you can’t drop Nitish, you can’t drop Jadeja, so what will be the team combination?” he asked.

Pujara also said that since Ashwin has taken retirement, the team will not play well in Melbourne. He also added that the seamers in the team are good, but Nitish Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja are not the right players who will be able to do the work of being the team’s fourth and fifth bowlers.

“Ashwin has taken retirement, so two spinners, I don’t think they will play in Melbourne. So, how will you strengthen the bowling? Because the three seamers are very good, but their supporting role, fourth and fifth seamer, Nitesh Kumar is the fourth seamer and Ravindra Jadeja is the fifth bowler. If you add both of them together, the bowling is not that good,” he said.

“We will have to think about that, because if you want to win a Test match, then you have to take 20 wickets, and the ability to take 20 wickets is not that good, the supporting role of the other bowlers is not good, so we will have to improve that as soon as possible, and how that will be, I don’t know, but that is a big question,” he concluded.

The five-match Test series is currently levelled 1-1 due to the third match at the Gabba ending up in a draw., and the upcoming fourth Test match between India and Australia is set to begin December 26, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This ongoing Test series is also important for both the teams as the outcome of this five-match Test series will secure their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals, set to be held in England in 2025.

The post ‘Because the three seamers are…’: Cheteshwar Pujara reveals reason behind India’s weakness before Boxing Day Test appeared first on Cricket Country.

Rohit has been going through a rough patch in red-ball cricket as of late and in the 3 innings that he has so far batted in the ongoing Australia series, he has only managed to score 19 runs.

Ahead of the fourth Test in Melbourne, Rohit was seen taking on spinners in the nets. Padikkal was joined by fellow spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar in testing the batter. Padikkal, who only played one Test match in this series, in Perth, beat Rohit with a delivery that kept low and, creating a possible scenario of a LBW.

Following his disappointing knock in the Brisbane Test, legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said that Rohit will himself relinquish the captaincy if his poor run of form continues in the final 2 matches of the series.

“I think Rohit obviously will get the opportunity to play in the next couple of matches, that’s for sure. But maybe at the end of it, if he hasn’t scored runs, my feeling is that he himself will take the call,” Gavaskar had told ABC Sports.

The post WATCH: Rohit Sharma’s batting struggles continue, gets HUMILIATED by part-timer in nets appeared first on Cricket Country.

However, a portion of Australian media suggested that Jadeja refused to answer questions in English, along with leaving the media arrangement before Australian reporters can get a chance to ask their questions. However, the team’s media manager have denied this incident.

Because of a controversy that surfaced in Melbourne on Saturday, December 21, a match between the reporters of both the countries got boycotted, and ultimately resulted in the match getting called off.

A section of India’s team and the travelling media decided to boycott the press match against local media persons, set to be held on Sunday afternoon. The game was scheduled to be held at the Junction Oval, but had to be called off.

As controversy around Jadeja’s Hindi-specific press conference intensified, some Indian reporters claimed that the media event got called off only because of travelling purposes. Since Jadeja was asked questions in Hindi, he decided to answer in Hindi as well. However, he did not refuse to speak in English as he got suggested by Australian media.

India will now face Australia for a Boxing-Day test at the MCG, set to begin December 26.

The post Cricket Match between India and Australia media team gets cancelled amidst Ravindra Jadeja’s press conference controversy appeared first on Cricket Country.