Category: Cricket

Bitter rivals Pakistan and India will square off in the Champions Trophy in Dubai on February 23 as the International Cricket Council announced the schedule on Tuesday.

Midway through a Christmas Day fitness test, star Australian batter Travis Head spotted a cameraman filming and hammed it up for those watching his every move.

Forget about Christmas — it is Boxing Day Test eve and Australian selectors have swung the axe, calling on a teenage prodigy to make his debut.

India are heading into the Boxing Day Test against Australia with blockbuster retirement rumours hanging overhead.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is adamant his knee is “fine” as he leaves the door ajar to return to his opening role in the Boxing Day Test.

Sam Konstas will become Australia’s fourth-youngest Test debutant on Boxing Day after coach Andrew McDonald confirmed he would replace Nathan McSweeney at the top of the order.

Letters written by Sir Donald Bradman during the 1980s and 1990s have revealed the icon’s admiration for the late Shane Warne, identification of a young Ricky Ponting and fears of a second World Series Cricket.

The 19-year-old opener will get his chance against India but have the most fearsome introduction with Jasprit Bumrah firing on all cylinders

Before Christmas has even hit, there is more anticipation about Boxing Day than usual, in more ways than one. Australia and India sit at 1-1 with two Tests to play, the first at the MCG where India won on their last two tours. The ticketing forecast says it will be a full house, the weather forecast says it will hit 40C, and while the latter may suppress the former, it’s the first time that all tickets have been claimed since the Ashes match of 2013. Amidst all this stands a Test debut opening the batting for a 19-year-old, with Sam Konstas’ spot in the XI confirmed on Tuesday by Australia coach Andrew McDonald.

Older generations will remember Doug Walters debuting at 19, and some would remember Neil Harvey doing the same. There have been a few modern bolters at young ages, like Ashton Agar or Matthew Renshaw, and Konstas will have the benefit of a captain in Pat Cummins who debuted at 18. In terms of substantial modern batting careers, though, Konstas most brings to mind Phillip Hughes, who was playing Sheffield Shield cricket by 18, and Ricky Ponting who did the same at 17. Both were in the Test team by 20.

England Test captain Ben Stokes faces at least three months out after tearing his left hamstring during the tour of New Zealand, team management announced on Tuesday.

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Lee still chuckles at a mistake his champion brother Brett Lee made prior to a remarkable Test debut against India in Melbourne 25 years ago.

Recently retired spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has chosen India’s 2-1 series triumph in Australia in 2020/21 as the high point from his illustrious international career as well as sharing the ‘one regret’ he holds from his 106 Test matches.

Star batter Travis Head was a rare exception among the Australian squad preparing for a potentially decisive Test in the Border Gavaskar Trophy to opt out of a non-compulsory training session in Melbourne on Monday.

The Melbourne Renegades’ imports took to the “embarrassing” Marvel Stadium conditions comfortably with a trio of match-winning cameos on Monday night.

Australian squad bowler Sean Abbott has a word of advice for broadcasters should Sam Konstas earn selection as expected for the Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG.