Wednesday, April 23
Mike Hussey lauds Pat Cummins' Test team as one of Australia's best, having achieved significant wins like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and World Cups. Under Cummins' captaincy, the team has maintained a core group, leading to consistent victories despite age concerns. Kerry O’Keeffe praises their resilience in tough situations, highlighting the legacy of this experienced yet successful team.
Australia secured a spot in the World Test Championship final by defeating India in the fifth Test in Sydney. The win also marked Australia's first series win against India in a decade. Captain Pat Cummins expressed his delight at holding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and qualifying for the WTC final. Australia will face South Africa in June.
Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting commended the record-breaking attendance of the India-Australia Test series, suggesting the rivalry may now be cricket's biggest. The series saw 837,000 attendees, with 375,000 at the Melbourne Test alone. Both praised the players' performances and Australia's ability to turn the series around, emphasizing the growing interest and intensity of this cricket rivalry.
India lost the final Test to Australia, leading to a 1-3 series defeat. Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade. India's inconsistency and reliance on star players like Jasprit Bumrah were evident. Australia celebrated their triumph, while questions loom over India's form, fitness, and team transitions as they missed the World Test Championship final.
Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, analyzed Indian batters' struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, particularly Virat Kohli's dismissals. He emphasized the need for effective man-management rather than traditional coaching. Highlighting head coach Gautam Gambhir's role, he stressed the importance of guiding players through their mental blocks and technical faults to enhance performance.
Pat Cummins celebrated a 3-1 series win in Sydney with his son Albie making a surprise appearance at the press conference. Cummins expressed pride in the team's performance on home soil. Reflecting on their journey, he highlighted the significance of this win and tactfully avoided discussing future succession plans, showing his commitment to continue playing.
India faced a challenging series marked by Jasprit Bumrah's stellar yet strenuous performance, ultimately sidelined by injury. Despite his absence, younger bowlers gained invaluable experience. Bumrah's leadership potential and exceptional contributions will be pivotal in future matches, especially against England.
Sanjay Manjrekar suggests that India captain Rohit Sharma's Day 2 interview during the fifth Test at Sydney might have been to clear credit misconceptions regarding his exclusion. Rohit aimed to clarify his decision amidst claims highlighting head coach Gautam Gambhir's input, emphasising the authority of the chairman of selectors. Rohit concluded the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on a disappointing note, scoring only 31 runs in five innings at an average of 6.20.
Australia defeated India in three days to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. India's batting lineup failed while their bowling over-relied on Jasprit Bumrah, who was injured. Poor decisions in team selection and approach led to a 1-3 series loss in challenging conditions. Australia now eyes another World Test Championship title.
12-year-old Sushila Meena, praised by Sachin Tendulkar, clean bowled former Olympic medallist shooter Rajyavardhan Rathore. Her impressive bowling skills have earned her recognition despite limited training. A video of her action, resembling Zaheer Khan's style, went viral, highlighting her talent and inspiring others. Sushila's dedication showcases emerging young cricketers in India.
