Category: Cricket

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

Although only 13 overs were completed on the opening day of what shapes as a pivotal Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane, that did not make it any less intriguing as the shadow-boxing between India and Australia continued.

Indian legend Virat Kohli was on his way back to the pavilion in Perth. And almost instantaneously, every Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports viewer had exceptional insight as to why.

Marnus Labuschagne has responded after David Warner cast doubt over the 30-year-old’s return to form following his half-century in Adelaide.

While England’s captain Ben Stokes said it is important to remain in the present and not look ahead to the Ashes, selectors are canvassing far and wide for potential tourists as he seeks to lead his side to a clean sweep in New Zealand.

David Warner could feel it in his gut. And it was the sickest of feelings. This, surely, could not happen.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is squared at 1-all after one-sided Tests in Perth and Adelaide, with the third Test beginning in Brisbane on Saturday shaping as a pivotal match in what is proving to be another intriguing series between the two rivals.

When Steve Smith is at his best, his hands make the sweetest sound when making contact with the ball, and it has been no different this summer as the Australian star closes on another record.

The hosts were unbeatable at the Gabba until India broke the spell but a series of changes mean they can start to rebuild the record in the third Test

It’s passing strange. In town ahead of the Australia-India Test, Brisbane feels as it always has: guys walking down Queen Street carrying boxes of mangoes, the Queensland humidity performing its ritual of luxuriant suffocation as the city’s air begrudgingly shifts along the snake-path of the river. The Gabba Test though, does not feel quite the same.

For three decades and more, this was where Australian teams were unbeatable. Pointed out with a heavy drumbeat of symbolism, the previous visiting winner was the great West Indies team of 1988. It took the best ever to achieve this feat, was the message. But that’s not the case any more.

Captain Pat Cummins has hinted that Australia may continue its bouncer ploy at the Gabba this week after confirming Josh Hazlewood would return to the starting XI for the third Test against India.

There wasn’t a player under more pressure in the Aussie side than Marnus Labuschagne entering the second Test in Adelaide, but the struggling star was able to turn his form around, with one former great pinpointing why.

The series is locked at 1-1 after Australia’s excellent performance with, and against, the pink ball in Adelaide, and the third Test of the five-match series is set to be a beauty at the Gabba, starting Saturday.

There won’t be any pre-Ashes barbs from England too far out from next year’s showdown against Australia, with captain Ben Stokes declaring he “spoke a little too much” before the teams last met and lost focus on what was in front of him.

Australia is on guard against a longstanding trend in which the Aussies have tailed off towards the end of longer Test series.