Wednesday, July 15
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed the absence of pacer Akash Deep due to a back injury ahead of the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney. The playing XI will be decided on match day. Australia’s captain Pat Cummins announced Beau Webster’s Test debut replacing Mitch Marsh. Mitchell Starc will play despite a rib issue.
Ravi Shastri suggested that Rohit Sharma may consider retiring from Test cricket and urges him to play his natural attacking game in the upcoming match in Sydney. Shastri highlighted that Rohit's recent form has been affected, and a decision on his future might come after the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia.
Jasprit Bumrah has achieved a significant milestone in 2024 by breaking Waqar Younis's record for the best strike rate and average by a fast bowler in international cricket across formats in a calendar year. With 86 wickets in 21 matches, Bumrah's impressive performance places him as the leading wicket-taker, which he continues to carry Indian bowling on his shoulder as a modern-day great.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is expected to play the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series despite a rib injury, according to teammate Alex Carey. Starc's fitness will be evaluated closer to the match, with Jhye Richardson ready to step in if needed.
Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath praised Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah for his instrumental role in keeping the Border-Gavaskar Trophy competitive, citing his adaptability and control. McGrath highlighted Bumrah's unique hyper-extension and short run-up while emphasizing the talent pool in Indian cricket, including prospects like Prasidh Krishna and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
In a historic decision, Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi chose to share the 2024 World Blitz Championship title after a series of intense and closely-fought games in New York. Following a tie in the sudden death rounds, FIDE and both players agreed on the unprecedented outcome, marking the first dual winners in the championship's history.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni revealed the best compliment he's received came from his wife saying, 'you have done alright in life.' Despite accolades from cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Dhoni values his wife's words the most, showcasing his humility. His response highlights his effort to impress his wife above all.
Indian chess prodigy Vaishali Rameshbabu secured a bronze medal at the 2024 World Blitz Championship in New York, praised by her mentor Viswanathan Anand. China's Ju Wenjun triumphed over Lei Tingjie, while the Open section title was shared by Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi after a tie in the finals.
Kevin Pietersen criticises the World Test Championship qualification process after South Africa reached the 2025 final with fewer matches. He blames structural flaws, highlighting discrepancies as England, despite winning more games, rank sixth. He urges the ICC Chairman to address this issue, calling for urgent reforms to ensure fair competition.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri calls for a two-tiered Test cricket system to sustain the format amid T20 cricket's rise. He stresses scheduling high-ranked teams and maintaining the five-day structure to ensure competitive matches and retain fan interest. A two-tier structure would prevent one-sided contests and uphold Test cricket's quality.
