Scott Boland, Australia’s famous MCG debutant, has retained his place for the New Year’s Ashes Test at the SCG as spearhead Josh Hazlewood is yet to fully recover from his injury. Australia will also not take a risk with the injury to Jhye Richardson, confirmed skipper Pat Cummins. Hazlewood is still under rehab from the side strain he picked up in the first Test at the Gabba and is now set to miss three back to back Tests because of the untimely injury. The lead pacer is hoping to be fit for the final Ashes Test against England in Hobart, a D/N…
Author: Kashish Chadha
Kashish Chadha
Kashish Chadha is a cricket analyst and writer by heart and profession. You can find his works featured on such websites as CricXtasy, Circle of Cricket, and Cricfit.
Sunil Gavaskar opined on the prolonged struggles of India’s Test match No.3 & No.5 Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, finding them near the axe if they don’t pull up their socks and perform in the second innings of the New Year’s Test in Johannesburg against South Africa. Gavaskar’s remarks came from the commentary box as he is doing broadcasting duties on tour for SuperSport in South Africa. The batting maestro saw Pujara (3) and Rahane (0) fall on successive balls on Day 1 of the second Test and said the two players probably have only an innings left in their respective…
These six players – Saqib Mahmood, George Garton, Tymal Mills, Sam Billings, Reece Topley and James Vince – will go back to England before the alternate T20I squad – missing those involved with the Ashes tour – travels to Barbados on January 15 for the T20I series starting a week later. The Ashes gets over on January 18 but keeping in workloads and the bubble fatigue amid the COVID-19 regulations, as well as the busy calendar. The selectors have opted not to force on the Test squad members a super quick turnaround and mixing of the format. The Test squad led by Joe…
South African captain Dean Elgar was left “shocked” as he learnt of his experienced wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock’s decision to quit Test cricket. De Kock retired from the format after the end of the first Test against India in Centurion, citing a fresh start with his young family, whom he wants to give more of his time to while continuing his national duties in ODIs & T20Is. The 29-year-old bid adieu to the Test game at a time when Elgar is having to navigate through a challenging World Test Championship campaign with an in-transition side. De Kock’s absence leaves a massive void, as he was a 54-Test…
Often the lone spinner in Australia’s Test match attack, Nathan Lyon wouldn’t mind joining forces with another tweaker in Mitchell Swepson as the hosts ponder over two spinners playing in the New Year’s Ashes Test in Sydney, starting January 5. While the weather forecast and recent history of SCG as a venue – spinners average 48.17 since January 2010 – may discourage the Aussies from making that move, there is a line of thought that says it’s an ideal opportunity for them to blood Swepson in the mix with subcontinent tours lined up over the next 15 months. All of Australia’s three…
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has started rolling out delayed compensation to the players, in line with the formula established by a working group led by Mohammad Azharuddin. Many domestic Indian cricketers faced financial crisis after the Ranji Trophy was shelved in 2020-21 for the first time in history. The women’s game was also severely affected as the T20 competition was cancelled due to the second wave of the pandemic. The board had announced in September that the players who participated in the 2019-20 season will receive 50% match fees as covid compensation for the 2020-21 season. It is understood that the board…
Head coach Rahul Dravid said Virat Kohli has been “phenomenal” as India’s Test captain since the team’s arrival on the trip to South Africa. Dravid lauded Kohli’s leadership qualities in a controversy-filled month where speculations have been raised of a rift between him and the BCCI as well as the selection committee. Kohli, who decided to relinquish the T20I captaincy after the 2021 World Cup, was removed from the ODI skipper’s duties by the board and Chetan Sharma led the selection committee. A decision which, in Kohli’s words, was conveyed to him only an hour and a half before the Test selection for the tour…
Thomas Tuchel’s men conceded twice early on at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool. However, goals in quick succession close to the end of the first half brought the Blues back into the game, from which the two teams got a point each, ultimately. Sadio Mane – lucky to even be on the pitch as per the Chelsea camp after a first-minute elbow barge on Cesar Azpilicueta – opened the scoring in the ninth minute. https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1477680998586494977 Credit: Getty Images The Senegal international capitalized on an error by Trevoh Chalobah, rounded compatriot Edouard Mendy, and scored into an empty net, minutes after Kelleher had prevented Christian Pulisic from doing the…
The former India head coach reminisced a story involving youngsters Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill from the sidelines of the historic Brisbane Test in early 2021. The 59-year-old remembers feeling awe-struck by the two youngsters’ confidence and clarity, and deciding not to tell them anything as they can look after themselves on the field. The incident is from the tea interval on Day 5 of the memorable Test match that India won to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite missing multiple first-choice players. Chasing a stiff target of 328, India had Gill laying a perfect foundation to the chase with an exceptional 91 before Pant owned the stage…
Australian middle-order batter Travis Head has tested positive for the contagious Covid-19 virus ahead of the New Year’s Test of the Ashes 2021-22 to be played at the SCG from January 5. Head’s positive test led to a delay in the Australian team’s departure from Melbourne to Sydney. The Australian selectors and management have sought replacements for the fourth Test of the series already bagged 3-0 by the home side. As per a Cricket Australia update related to Head’s positive test, the player being affected by the dangerous virus came to light via a routine PCR check. https://twitter.com/CricketAus/status/1476720568934219779 However, the left-hander, who struck a…