Test Cricket Archives

Shanto leads Bangladesh, but there is a greater chance of a draw.

Posted on June 21, 2025June 21, 2025 by [email protected]

There was a lot of doubt at the start of the day about how Bangladesh would bat and how long they would give themselves to bowl Sri Lanka out. As it turned out, they were essentially powerless to make the decision because lunch was called ten minutes sooner than planned. It started to rain a little more than an hour into the morning session.

We will hopefully witness 94 overs of play during the day because the break was too short to allow for any over loss. However, with Bangladesh’s advantage at 247. Which is probably enough for a sporting declaration, the most likely outcome currently appears to be a draw.

When the rain started, Mushfiqur Rahim was running out after a stand of 109 with Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was undefeated at 89. To reach his fifty, Mushfiqur was looking for a tight single. But he was just a hair short of the crease after a direct hit from mid-on.

Shanto

Only one additional stop happened during this Test. On the second afternoon, despite the fact that rain was a constant threat. However, given the constant risk of rain. It was odd that neither Shanto nor Mushfiqur showed any hurry in the hour and a little play.

Both sides had shown an intention to fight for a result the previous afternoon. But Bangladesh were happy to grind around at a session run rate of just 3.15. Clearly ready to bat through lunch or maybe beyond.

Traditional wisdom would have suggested that it would take at least two sessions to bowl Sri Lanka out. Since Bangladesh certainly wanted a lead of at least 300 likely close to 350 a run rate of five or more seemed to be the norm. However, since Sri Lanka was also content to set defensive fields, Bangladesh. Who had recently experienced a very poor run rate in Test matches. Had no intention of sacrificing important World Test Championship points.

When Shanto smoked his first delivery faced today and Mushfiqur hammered one down the ground off the fifth ball of the morning. There was first some optimism that Bangladesh might advance the match. Both batters were happy to dead-bat the spinners. But generally dot balls won.

The only delivery that went wrong for the Sri Lankan spinners was the occasional one. They were unable to obtain the same purchase off the ground that Nayeem Hasan had so brilliantly used on the fourth afternoon.

Overall, it looks like a day that started out with the possibility of a sprint finish will end in an easy draw.

Mehidy will return to Colombo for the second Test.

Posted on June 20, 2025 by [email protected]

Test vice-captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz is expected to be available for selection in the second match of the current two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Colombo. So Bangladesh can exhale with relief.

Mehidy was rested for the premiere of the series after missing the two-day training session. Before the first Test in Galle because of an illness.

There were some questions about his availability for the second Test as he had been absent from the ground for the first two days of the Galle Test. Mehidy, however, removed every doubt on Thursday, June 19, by attending the training.

The all-rounder is reportedly making a full recovery from the fever and will probably be eligible for selection.

A top-order batter Haque Anamul In the first Test. Bijoy took Mehidy’s place but was ineffective, scoring a duck in the first innings.

Mehidy surely will improve the team as one of Bangladesh’s leading run scorers in Test cricket, particularly as the Colombo pitch is predicted to help spinners. June 25 is when the second Test is expected to start.

Mushtaq Ahmed, a spin bowling consultant, left Galle on June 17 in advance of the current Test match, according to a BCB official. He is anticipated to return during the ODI series. Which starts in early July.

In preparation for the Test series, Mushtaq had trained intensively with the spinners in Galle and Dhaka.

“The contract between BCB and Mushtaq is based on the quantity of working days. He arrived during the preparatory stage and departed once his given duties were finished. On July 6, he will be back,” Nafees continued.

Jansen and Rabada each score twice.

Posted on June 11, 2025 by [email protected]

Temba Bavuma chose to bowl on a cloudy morning, and South Africa’s pacers were spot on. He struck frequently to put Australia in a position in the opening session of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s. Australia entered the lunch break on Day 1 at 63/4. Steve Smith not out at 26. Kagiso Rabada spearheaded the attack with well while Marco Jansen provided good support. Jansen and Rabada, South Africa’s new-ball duo, bowled three consecutive maidens while maintaining discipline with the line and lengths.

Even as Rabada delivered a hat-trick of maidens to Usman Khawaja, Labuschagne got Australia moving with three pairs off Jansen. He eventually got his reward when he had the left-hander edging to first slip to dismiss him for a 20-ball duck.

The batter fell to Rabada, who was beautifully taken by Aiden Markram at second slip. Ending Cameron Green’s attempt at number three. They subsequently got through the first hour without suffering any further damage as Smith and Labuschagne hit a couple of boundaries to defeat an outstanding spell from Rabada (6-4-9-2). They also defeated Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder.

On the first ball of the second hour, Smith looked at a loose ball from Ngidi for a boundary. The bowler also caught the edge of his bat, but the ball went to the boundary. Mulder attempted to worry Labuschagne a few times without success, while Smith also hit a drive past point off Ngidi. Thirty minutes into the second hour, Jansen came back into the attack and got Labuschagne to edge to the ‘keeper, breaking a 30-run stand. This was Jansen’s breakthrough.

Smith and Travis Head each hit a boundary off Jansen to begin the recovery process anew. The umpire’s call spared Smith after he was slapped on the pad after crossing too far to an oncoming Jansen delivery. After that, Jansen struck hard just before lunch, catching Head down the legside on the final ball before the break.

Ashwin supports Bumrah and Jadeja for the position of Test captain in India

Posted on May 16, 2025May 16, 2025 by [email protected]

R Ashwin believes that other seasoned candidates like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are still valid choices for the position. Even though Shubman Gill is the clear favorite to replace Rohit Sharma as India’s next Test captain.

The lineup for India’s Five-Test series against England. Which begins on June 20, may be chosen in the last week of May. The selection process is dominated by discussions over a potential new captain.

“First of all, Gill is regarded as the captain by everyone. They’re all heading that way. But why do we overlook Ravindra Jadeja? Jasprit Bumrah is a noisy alternative,” Ashwin stated in a YouTube video interview with former Tamil Nadu opener Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan. I would suggest that if you are open to hiring a new captain. Why not assign Gill as an experienced man’s understudy for two years before giving him a full-time position?

With 3370 runs and 323 wickets from 80 Test matches, Jadeja is the most seasoned player in the Indian squad following the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit from the game. However, Bumrah has only captained India in three Test matches, most recently in the opening and final Tests of the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He has no prior experience as a Test cricket captain.

R. Ashwin

“Why don’t we gather all three or four candidates, have them give a presentation, and ask them to explain the team’s vision?” Ashwin said. “It takes place in nations like Australia. Why don’t we take that route?

Following the third BGT Test late last year, Ashwin announced his retirement from all cricket-related activities. He stated that Bumrah should also be given serious consideration and that his recent back issue shouldn’t be a barrier.

“Look at Pat Cummins, who is currently captaining Australia in Tests and ODIs after having a back stress fracture as well,” Ashwin said. In that sense, Bumrah is a national treasure and need to be discussed.

He needs to be questioned about his ability to play five Test matches. Can you serve as captain full-time? Although he had a stress fracture, I’m sure he’ll give it some thought. The cap bearing his name ought to be at the top of that ring, in my opinion.

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood Likely to Miss India Test Series Due To Injury

Posted on December 17, 2024 by [email protected]

A right calf injury that he suffered during the current third Test at the Gabba is likely to keep Australia’s pacer Josh Hazlewood out of the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy match against India.

Cricket Australia announced on Tuesday that Josh Hazlewood. A bowler for Australia, is expected to miss the rest of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy match against India. Because of a strain to his right calf that he suffered during the current third Test at the Gabba. Hazlewood’s absence from the Brisbane Test because of the niggle has hurt Australia’s bowling assault.

In an official statement, Cricket Australia stated that Josh Hazlewood will not be able to play any more in the Test match against India in Brisbane due to a strained right side calf. “He probably won’t be able to play the rest of the Test series.” After speaking with team physio Nick Jones, veteran cricketer Steven Smith, and captain Pat Cummins. The New South Wales player bowled just one over on Tuesday before leaving the field. Later, Hazlewood had scans to determine the extent of the damage.

On Monday, the third day of the competition, the 33-year-old knocked out India’s top batsman Virat Kohli with a brilliant delivery outside the off-stump.

After missing the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide because of a side strain, Hazlewood returned to the team for the third Test.

He was added to the Australia eleven for the current Brisbane Test. Taking the place of fellow pacer Scot Boland, who participated in the day-night Adelaide Test.

The captaincy of Rohit Sharma is under fire after the “Jasprit Bumrah Decision.”

Posted on December 10, 2024 by [email protected]

In the pink-ball Test match against Australia, Rohit Sharma is under flak for his captaincy. Following the team’s loss to Australia in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, India captain Rohit Sharma faces some difficult issues. After India easily trounced Australia in the first game at Perth, Rohit took Jasprit Bumrah spot as the team’s captain.

However, India lost by a humiliating 10 wickets in the day-night Test, and Rohit’s leadership was unimpressive. Aakash Chopra, a former batter for India, is still perplexed by Rohit’s use of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the match as analysts ask him pointed questions.

Chopra responds to some fan inquiries in a video posted on his YouTube page. Chopra was eager to point out how poor the Hitman’s decision-making was in Adelaide when a fan inquired about Rohit’s captaincy during the game.

“My friend, you are entirely correct. Did we give Head bouncers? Bouncers must be bowled on Head’s head. He doesn’t go until we do that, and he will continue to bother us. He has already done that and is doing it now. He did that in both the World Cup and WTC finals,” he remarked.

Jasprit Bumrah

“After bowling four overs, Jasprit Bumrah had already claimed a wicket. Why, then, did he bowl just four overs and then not bowl again? Throughout the entire session, he did not bowl. When you suggest that you missed a trick in captaincy, you are absolutely correct. Let’s be honest about Rohit’s captaincy. We witnessed defensive leadership. “He let the match drift,” he continued.

“I’ve also included a list of the Indian captains who have suffered the most straight defeats. In 1967, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi suffered six straight defeats. Following that, Sachin Tendulkar in 1999, MS Dhoni twice lost four straight games in the 21st century, Virat Kohli lost four straight games in 2020–21, and Rohit Sharma has already lost four straight games,” he said.

“In the Perth game, he wasn’t the captain. Therefore, he does not count that victory. If we exclude the previous century, it would be Dhoni, Kohli, and Rohit. Three straight home defeats are the most worrisome thing, which may not be the case with anyone else. He continued, “The captaincy has been a little lackluster.”

England star to make test debut against New Zealand after being sold to RCB in IPL auction

Posted on November 26, 2024 by [email protected]

England announced their lineup for the series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch on Tuesday, and Jacob Bethell will bat at number three in his Test debut.

In his Test debut, Jacob Bethell will bat at number three. England announced their lineup for the series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch on Tuesday. During a net practice, wicketkeeper Jordan Cox broke his right thumb, forcing the 21-year-old into the starting lineup for the game starting Thursday. With captain Ben Stokes at number seven in the batting order, regular number three Ollie Pope takes Cox’s place in the gloves and bats down at number six.

Only two months ago, Bethell made his debut for his country in white ball matches against Australia and the West Indies. He has never batted higher than number four in first-class cricket, where he averages 25.44.

Despite scoring 262 when batting third in the first Test in Pakistan last month, Joe Root remains at number four.

On a Hagley Oval field that typically gives a greenish wicket favoring the seamers, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and all-rounder Stokes make up the pace attack. The only spinner is Shoaib Bashir.

Kane Williamson, the top batsman, has returned after missing the recent 3-0 Test series victory in India due to injury, but New Zealand has not yet announced their starting lineup.

England’s players include Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes (capt.), Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, and Zak Crawley.

New Zealand: Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (captain), and Tom Blundell.

Mohammed Siraj helps India in asserting its dominance in spite of Head 50.

Posted on November 25, 2024 by [email protected]

India continued to advance toward victory on Day 4 of the first Test in Perth as Mohammed Siraj claimed two crucial wickets of Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja. Although Australia managed to collect 92 runs in the session thanks to a valiant 63* from Travis Head, the outcome seemed to be going only one way with 430 runs remaining and just five wickets remaining.

Smith got off his king pair a couple of balls later with a cover drive through the offside, but Jasprit Bumrah was right on the money right away when he smacked him on the pads with the first ball. On the opposite end, Khawaja top-edged a draw to the ‘keeper Rishabh Pant, and Siraj received a back of a length delivery to shoot up. For the first time since 1969, the home team lost four wickets while scoring fewer than 20 runs.

Mohammed Siraj

Both players, as well as first-change Harshit Rana, repeatedly thudded the pads and pounded their bat, demonstrating the relentlessness of the Indian bowlers. When the ball was determined to be just about clipping the stumps, Siraj had Head smacked on the pads and went into a celebratory appeal. But the umpire decided not to throw the batter out because Head barely survived the DRS appeal on the umpire’s call. Toward the conclusion of the first hour, Head scored a couple of boundaries to relieve some of his own burden.

The hosts scored 22 runs off the first four overs after the interval thanks to the left-hander Head’s continuous punishment of weak deliveries down the leg-side or if width was available. On the other end, Smith was gradually returning to his most fluid appearance. He also modified his approach from the first innings, waiting for the ball to come to him instead than making an extravagant shuffle across off-stump. But Siraj’s innings ended when he angled in and hit the batter’s outside edge to Pant, forcing him to straighten.

After Siraj’s brilliant volley over the ‘keeper for four, Head reached his fifty, and there was a cheer as he reached the 100-mark for Australia. Mitchell Marsh, on the other hand, gazed out to sea. He got beaten on the outside edge as well as the glove a couple occasions when the back of the length deliveries kicked off to him. Marsh needed 16 deliveries before he made a streaky three. At lunch, Australia is at 104 for 5.

Brief Scores:

India 150 and 487/6 – declared (Yashasvi Jaiswal 161, Virat Kohli 100*, KL Rahul 77; Nathan Lyon 2-96) lead Australia 104 and 104/5 (Travis Head 63*, Steve Smith 17; Mohammed Siraj 3-34, Jasprit Bumrah 2-26, ) by 430 runs

Gambhir: If Rohit misses the first Test, KL Rahul can open.

Posted on November 11, 2024 by [email protected]

If Rohit is unable to open, Gambhir stated that either KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, or even Shubman Gill are options.

Gautam Gambhir is content with his options in case Rohit Sharma is unable to play in the first Test match against Australia in Perth. But he is hoping that Rohit will be available.

Additionally, Gambhir stated that Jasprit Bumrah, the chosen vice-captain, “obviously will [be the captain]. If Rohit is not available” in the event that Rohit is unable to play.

There is currently no confirmation, but we will keep you informed of any developments. At a press conference in Mumbai prior to the team’s trip to Australia, Gambhir stated, “Hopefully he’s going to be available, but everything we’re going to get to know at the start of the series.”

The remainder of the team is scheduled to depart later on Monday. But Gambhir has not confirmed whether Rohit would be on that plane. Five players Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Gill, Washington Sundar, and Jaiswal have already departed for Australia.

As previously stated, Rohit is doubtful for the first Test for to personal concerns. However, there has been no confirmation as of yet.

This raises the question of who, in the event that Rohit is unavailable, will open with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“KL [Rahul] and [Abhimanyu] Easwaran are undoubtedly present. Therefore, if Rohit is unavailable, we will make a decision closer to the opening Test match,” Gambhir stated. “It’s not that there are no possibilities; there are options there. The squad has a wide range of alternatives.

Gambhir said for KL Rahul

We’ll prepare and start the best playing XI that can help us win the first Test match as the date approaches. In the second four-day match against Australia A, Rahul and Abhimanyu opened for India A, although both scored little. Rahul scored 4 and 10 in the two innings of his lone game, whereas Abhimanyu. Who also participated in the opening game of that series, scored 7, 12, 0, and 17 in the two games.

Rahul appeared destined for a middle-order position in Test cricket before the recent events, but Rohit’s possible absence has repositioned him as a top-order batsman.

Sometimes you also accompany the more seasoned players. And that is the man’s quality. Regarding Rahul, Gambhir stated that he is capable of batting at the top of the order, at number three, and even at number six. “Performing these kind of tasks also requires a great deal of talent. Additionally, he has taken wickets in the one-day format.

“Can you imagine how many nations have players like KL who can bat at No. 6 and open the batting? Therefore, I believe he can cover for us if necessary, particularly if Rohit is unable to play in the opening Test match.”

Rahul is one of two Asian openers, along with Saeed Anwar, to have hit Test hundreds in Australia, England, and South Africa. Rahul also has a great deal of experience facing the new ball in foreign circumstances.

The team also offers Shubman Gill, who made his Test debut as an opener on India’s most recent trip to Australia but has since moved up to the upper-middle order.

“We’ll make an effort to find the most qualified team in Perth to complete the task for us. And it all relies on what we think is the best mix, whether it’s Shubman beginning the batting, Easwaran, or KL,” Gambhir stated.

Informed on Pitch Betting, Gautam Gambhir Faces Stern Rahul Dravid Comparison

Posted on November 7, 2024 by [email protected]

Gautam Gambhir has received a lot of criticism for his decision to disregard Rahul Dravid’s flawless pitch theory during the New Zealand Tests.

The return of rank-turners in India’s Test match against New Zealand has raised serious concerns about head coach Gautam Gambhir’s future. India suffered the first-ever clean sweep in a three-match series and lost a home Test series for the first time in twelve years. The team’s demise was caused by a number of circumstances. But one of the most significant ones was head coach Gautam Gambhir’s insistence on bringing back rank turners for the Pune and Mumbai Tests. Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali. Also criticized Gambhir for the pitch selection, comparing him to Rahul Dravid as the discussion on the topic continues.

According to Basit, India’s new head coach Gambhir has a far superior coaching mentality than his predecessor Dravid. Gambhir was perplexed by the former Pakistani star’s choice to abandon Dravid’s pitch theory and return to rank-turners.

Gautam Gambhir is not as intelligent as Rahul Dravid. For four days, Dravid made pitches, and on the final two days, the ball would turn. Basit stated on his YouTube channel that “you are now making such pitches where even someone. Who isn’t a regular spinner is getting a lot of turn right from the first day.”

In the Indian team, Gambhir has also adopted a more aggressive style of play. Basit believes that unlike Dravid, the former coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders has a solid understanding of players’ psychology.

A good coach was Rahul Dravid. He was aware of the athletes’ mentality. He went on to say that it is unreasonable to order Virat Kohli to play T20 in Test cricket.

The Indian cricket team has a formidable challenge. When they travel to Australia for five Test matches. India’s triumph in Australia would mostly depend on Gambhir’s coaching philosophy and the exploits of seasoned players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Tag: Test Cricket