Australia, England registered shameful record during first Ashes Test at Perth as express pace dominates proceedings
Australian batsman Usman Khwaja on Monday resorted to playing mind games ahead of the first Test, stating that the expectations to deliver the goods on rank turners could put the Indian spinners under pressure in the upcoming series.
'The real problem for Shaheen Afridi is the pressure of being the spearhead of this Pakistan attack and without much real support at the other end when it comes to pace, genuine pace.'
Fascinating glimpses from Day 1 of the first Test between India and Australia in Nagpur.
Australia included uncapped pacers Josh Hazlewood and Peter George, while opener Phillip Hughes made a comeback from injury, for the upcoming Test series against India.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel stole the show in India's record-breaking victory in the Rajkot Test.
Top-order batsman Usman Khawaja has been drafted into the Australia squad for the ongoing ODI series against India in place of opener David Warner whose wife is expecting the couple's second child. Khawaja will join the squad in Brisbane and, at this stage, will remain for matches two and three of the five-game series, at the Gabba on January 15, and at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 17 respectively, Cricket Australia said. National selector Rod Marsh said Warner would be welcomed back into the squad when circumstances allow.
Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell has slammed his country's selectors after the failure of the Australian batting line-up.
Three fielders on the off and three on the on, all close to the stumps, designed to intimidate the batter and get him out.
India captain Rohit Sharma on Friday said his team was not brave and lacked application in the third Test against Australia in Indore.
With a massive 1,608 runs in the WTC 2021-2023 cycle, Khawaja was the major reason Australia qualified for the WTC final.
Only two batters have managed to achieve this unique record before him.
Usman Khawaja hit an unbeaten century to give Australia the upper hand on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test against India in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Gurkeerat Singh turned in a superb all-round showing as India 'A' beat fancied Australia 'A' by four wickets in the final of the 'A' teams triangular series in Chennai on Friday.
'To be honest, I was a little nervous, because in India when we were playing West Indies, in the last two innings, I got out on 92 and 92. So I was scared slightly but I got through that phase quickly'
Khawaja said he was still good with bat in his hand and that "age is just a number".
'I cannot believe that D'Arcy Short has been left out of the side. I don't know what he's done wrong. He can bowl and his batting at the top is dynamic. He's in terrific form, and he and Finch make an awesome partnership at the top'
Ahmed Javed Khwaja is the second Pakistani doctor to be arrested on suspicion of having links with the banned outfit.
These are obviously not 'organic' desertions but brought about under intense military pressure, post the 9/5 arrests. It seemed as if the party was being dismantled the same way it was brought into power!, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W, India's external intelligence agency.
A supremely confident Delhi Daredevils return to their den and have a struggling and injury-ravaged Rising Pune Supergiants in their firing line up next in the Indian Premier League, in New Delhi, on Thursday.
The Pune outfit is presently languishing at the sixth spot in the eight-team standings with just four points.
'We love competing and winning against a very good Indian side. It's always nice to do that, especially on their turf'
Indian captain Virat Kohli has been rendered a doubtful starter for the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia in Ranchi, a scenario that has put the hosts under immense pressure on the eve of the decider of the bitterly fought series.
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