India take conservative approach for first Test, choose specialists

December 17, 2020

NEW DELHI: Charting into unknown territory, a pink-ball Test against Australia under lights and in breezy Adelaide, the Indian team has stuck to its overseas combination of packing its line-up with batting specialists besides a conventional wicketkeeper and four bowlers. Back in 2018, when India toured South Africa and England,...

ISHANT’S ABSENCE THROWS A PROBLEM FOR TEAM INDIA

December 16, 2020

NEW DELHI: Ishant Sharma, who could have become only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to tour Australia five times, will be missed not just because of his experience but because of the kind of wickets he has taken Down Under on those five tours. The right-arm pace bowler, who...

HOW AUSSIE OFF-SPINNER NATHAN LYON TRAPS BATSMEN WITH BOUNCE

December 15, 2020

Watching Australia’s Nathan Lyon bowl and pick wickets using flight, bounce and traditional off-spin is a delight, says Harbhajan Singh, the second most successful off-spinner in Test history. Lyon, who has 390 Test scalps, could become the third spinner in Test history to get to 400 wickets after Muttiah Muralitharan...

Opening conundrum remains for India as Vihari cements his No. 6 position

December 14, 2020

SYDNEY: With Cheteshwar Pujara (No.3), captain Virat Kohli (No. 4) and Ajinkya Rahane (No. 5) being automatic choices, India’s batting line-up had two big questions ahead of the first Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval—who will face the new ball with Mayank Agarwal, and who will man the No....

In a bid to reform, West Indies cites Indian Supreme Court verdict on BCCI

December 10, 2020

Over five years after the Supreme Court of India declared the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a public body discharging public functions, West Indies cricket has taken cue from the Indian apex court’s observation and has classified Cricket West Indies (CWI) in the same bracket. A...

Fear of reinjury may be hurting Bumrah: Prabhakar

December 1, 2020

Jasprit Bumrah’s poor form in ODIs from early this year has continued to chase him in Australia despite his impressive showing for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League T20 over the last couple of months. The right-arm pace bowler has not just failed to pick enough wickets in...

Smith and Finch hit tons as Aussies beat India in 1st ODI

November 28, 2020

Steve Smith and Aaron Finch led the way with centuries as Australia opened their home summer with a one-day victory over India by 66 runs on Friday in the first men’s international played in front of a crowd since March. The capacity of the Sydney Cricket Ground was reduced by...

INDIA SHORT ON BOWLING OPTIONS IN ODIS, MAY STRUGGLE DOWN UNDER ODIs

November 26, 2020

India will have their backs to the wall if even a couple of their bowlers fail to click during the three-game ODI series that begins on Friday in Sydney. The Virat Kohli-led tourists have a severe shortage of options in batsmen who can bowl or bowlers who can bat, with...

Kohli and Rahane are as different as chalk and cheese: David Warner

November 24, 2020

Australia will be facing two different captains during their upcoming Test series against India at home and they may change their approach with respect to engaging with their opponents accordingly, according batsman David Warner. With regular skipper Virat Kohli opting to play just the first Test of the four matches...

Knew Gilchrist was vulnerable on the ball pitched up, recalls Praveen Kumar

November 23, 2020

Former India fast bowler Praveen Kumar, who helped India clinch the second Tri-series final in 2008 at Brisbane with an early three-wicket burst, says he used to catch the batsmen by watching their feet and body language. India, having won the first of the best-of-three finals, had needed to win...