Cricket News

Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Siraj and other pacers exposed

Published

2 days ago

January 6, 2025

The nightmarish batting performance is deservedly under the scanner after India’s meek surrender in the Border-Gavaskar series but a closer look at the team’s bench strength would reveal that bowling resources are a bigger concern for the side as it navigates a difficult transition.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test future hangs in balance after their poor returns with the bat but the national selection committee has the reserves to ensure that the order remains a solid one even if the two giants were to be phased out.

However, bowling, especially pace, is a different story.

The cupboard is bare and it will take some time to prepare another cracking line-up that can match the aura of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma.

The available names are doing their best but is that enough for the team or for Bumrah, whose workload became a massive concern during the just-concluded series?

The spearhead was forced to watch from the dressing room during the last innings of the decisive fifth and final Test that India lost by six wickets as back spasms prevented him from bowling.

Mohammed Siraj, after 36 Tests, hasn’t developed into a game-changer yet and Prasidh Krishna bowls too many loose balls.

There is the duo of Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, who are skilful, but they are not really tested at the highest level.

In the Ranji circuit, there aren’t too many exciting fast bowling options that the selectors can explore as of now.

The main problem seems to be a dearth of left-arm seamers as Arshdeep Singh hasn’t actually set the stage on fire and Yash Dayal doesn’t look a finished product.

But when it comes to batting there is some real talent available although the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will not decide anything till the end of the Ranji Trophy season.

If the panel decides to move away from Rohit and Kohli or the two announce retirements, there are at least half a dozen name ready to stake a claim for the two slots that will open up.

One of the prime contenders could be B Sai Sudharsan of Tamil Nadu.

The elegant left-hander impressed in his appearance for India A against Australia A in Mackay but then he had a sports hernia operation and is undergoing rehabilitation.

As and when Sudharsan is ready and if there are at least a couple of slots, he should be in contention provided he is in form and has the requisite fitness levels.

In the current set-up, there is Devdutt Padikkal, another stylish and sinewy left-hander, who has played a couple of Tests.

Abhimanyu Easwaran has been around the side for three years now but there is a belief in the Indian cricketing circle that he is not cut out for bigger challenges in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia).

A proof of it the recent series, where he travelled with the squad but wasn’t even remotely in contention for a playing XI slot in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

For Sarfaraz Khan, his technique against real quick bowling was always doubtful but the manner in which he got out in Pune and Mumbai in the home Tests against New Zealand has made the current team management wary.

In most of the venues, Sarfaraz didn’t even come out to bat during the customary net sessions, an indication that he is quite low in the pecking order.

There is every chance that he might not make it to squad for the upcoming limited-overs series against England.

There are also three seasoned players who might get a second wind if the second half of Ranji Trophy goes well for them.

They are Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is yet to make his debut, three-Test-old Rajat Patidar and Mumbai’s very own Shreyas Iyer.

Iyer’s problem has been the short ball, while Patidar flattered to deceive against England at home last year.

Gaikwad failed in two India A games Down Under but his pedigree is unquestionable.

It is understood that the selection committee won’t be looking at just the volume of runs or wickets but would also focus on impactful performances.

A century on a Lahli green top or a five-wicket haul on a Rajkot belter would carry more weight than performances in favourable conditions.

How a young bowler is coming back with the old ball for his third or fourth spell or how a batter is dealing with spinners on rank turners will also hold more credence.

But any decision on who would be elevated to the next level will be taken only after the end of the domestic season in February.

India’s next red-ball assignment is the tour of England in June.

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Champions Trophy 2025: British Lawmakers urge to boycott Afghanistan

Published

20 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Agencies

A group of British lawmakers urged England to boycott their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan next month, saying the country’s cricket board (ECB) needed to take a stand against the Taliban’s crackdown on women.

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 it has clamped down on the rights of women and girls, restricting their access to education and work, curbing their freedom of movement, and forcing them to cover their faces and bodies.

Women and girls have also been barred from sports and gyms, a breach of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rules. The Afghanistan women’s team was also disbanded, with several members fleeing the country after 2021.

England are scheduled to face Afghanistan in a group-stage match on February 26 in Lahore, Pakistan.

A letter signed by more than 160 politicians on Monday called for England’s players and officials to speak out against the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan.

“We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy Group stage on February 26th to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated,” the letter added.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould responded by calling for a uniform approach from all member nations towards Afghanistan’s participation in international cricket.

“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” Gould said.

“The ICC Constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan.

“While there has not been a consensus on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures. A coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.”

England previously faced Afghanistan at the 50-overs Cricket World Cup in 2023, as well as at the Twenty20 World Cup in 2022.

Last year, Australia called off a T20 series against Afghanistan citing the deteriorating human rights situation for women.

Cricket News

‘What Does Shubhman Gill Contribute To The Team India?’

Published

22 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Agencies

Shubman Gill’s struggles in Test cricket continued during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

He managed just 93 runs in five innings, averaging under 20.

Gill missed the series opener in Perth because of an injury and was excluded from the playing XI in Melbourne as the team opted for three all-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Shubman Gill’s struggles in Test cricket continued during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

He managed just 93 runs in five innings, averaging under 20.

‘In this series, I did not get it from Shubman. Even on the field, he was poor. He couldn’t stay in slip and point. What does he contribute to the team?’

Since his Test debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2020, Gill has played 32 matches and averages a little over 35, a figure that falls short of the expectations surrounding his potential.

Cricket News

Bavuma & Co eyes glory as South Africa gear up for WTC Final

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2025

Agencies

Following his side’s win over Pakistan in the second Test match of the series, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said that it was a satisfying feeling.

Temba Bavuma-led South Africa on Monday clinched a massive 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second and final match of the series at the Newlands in Cape Town. With the win, the Proteas whitewashed Pakistan in the two-match Test series.

Speaking after the win, Bavuma said that he is pleased to see his side “motivated” for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at the Lord’s.

“We won the first game, we qualified for the (WTC) final and we had some time before coming here, so for the guys to get themselves up and get motivated, that’s what I’m pleased about. It’s satisfying, good old Test cricket that we’re used to. There’s was something for the new-ball bowlers and then it flattened out, and our batters dug in for a good score. Late on day four there was some spin. It’s what we were accustomed to growing up. It will put us in good stead, but there are also lessons about how we can get better,” Bavuma was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying.

The Proteas skipper hailed Kwena Maphaka for his “super confident” and always being in the contest.

“(Maphaka) Exuberance of youth, a guy who’s super confident and wants to be in the contest. He never had his head down and always wanted to make a play for the team. [WTC final at Lord’s] Looking forward to it, up against Australia so it’s not going to be any mean feat. We’ll enjoy the moment,” he added.