Monday, July 13
Former India coach Ravi Shastri attributes Sam Konstas' on-field aggression to youthful exuberance during his Test debut against India. Shastri advises Konstas to focus on scoring runs and believes the upcoming Sri Lanka tour will aid his growth. Ricky Ponting notes Konstas must adjust his aggressive play to succeed as a Test opener.
Steve Smith will lead Australia in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka as Pat Cummins is on paternity leave and attending to an ankle issue. The squad is without Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh. Travis Head is Smith's deputy.
India cricketers Harshit Rana and Nitish Rana defended head coach Gautam Gambhir after heavy criticism following India's 1-3 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The debate intensified as former player Manoj Tiwary also criticized Gambhir, despite some successful T20I performances under his tenure.
Sunil Gavaskar has criticized the dismal performance of some of the top Indian players in the recent Test series against Australia, urging them to participate in the upcoming Ranji Trophy round starting January 23. Gavaskar emphasized commitment and suggested that non-participation of those available should bar them from returning to the Indian Test team.
Workload management is crucial for modern cricketers to stay fresh and injury-free. Jasprit Bumrah's heavy bowling schedule during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series raised concerns, especially after he suffered a back spasm. Despite bowling 151.2 overs, his teammates and Aussie bowlers bowled more, highlighting the need for careful workload management. Historical comparisons show varying workloads of Indian bowlers in past series.
Former England pacer Steve Harmison has criticised Virat Kohli for his altercation with debutant Sam Konstas during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, suggesting Kohli should be given a ban for his conduct. Harmison advised Konstas to avoid provoking players, especially ahead of the Ashes series against England. Kohli received a demerit point and 20% fine for his actions during the incident.
Shreyas Iyer is considered a crucial asset for Team India in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy due to his dependable middle-order batting and skill against spin. Despite recent setbacks, Iyer has shown impressive form in domestic cricket, including leading Mumbai to title victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, making him a strong contender for the squad.
Australia chief selector George Bailey is optimistic that Cameron Green will play as a batsman in the World Test Championship final against South Africa. Green, recovering from back surgery, is expected to return to batting by May. Mitchell Marsh was dropped for the Sri Lanka series, but Bailey remains hopeful about his future contributions.
Albino Gomes shares his journey from playing as a goalkeeper in school to his pivotal role in Aizawl FC's 2017 I-League win. He highlights key moments, including a crucial penalty save. Gomes now plays for Jamshedpur FC in ISL and aims to rejoin the national team, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and improving continuously.
Tamil Nadu opening batter N Jagadeesan hit six consecutive fours in an over during the Vijay Hazare Trophy pre-quarterfinal match against Rajasthan on Thursday. Tamil Nadu bowled Rajasthan out for 267. Varun Chakaravarthy took five wickets. Rajasthan's innings collapsed after a strong start, losing their last nine wickets for just 83 runs.
