Australian captain Pat Cummins is confident that Australia will be winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). The series will see five Tests for the first time. Before the first Test on 22nd November in Perth, Cummins spoke to the media in a Press Conference where he expressed his excitement, saying, "It would be great to win the Border Gavaskar Trophy. India are a great side, but we are prepared."

When he was asked about the series, Pat Cummins shared that while India is a tough team, Australia are well-prepared for the much-awaited challenges. The BGT is always a big contest, and winning it would be a huge achievement for Australia. 

“Having five Tests for the first time here is big,” he said.

Bumrah and the rise of pace bowlers leading teams

However, Pat Cummins shared his view on pace bowlers taking the lead role in teams. He strongly believes that pace bowlers should play a key role in leading teams, especially in Test cricket. On Jasprit Bumrah captaining India in the first test, Cummins said, “It should happen more (pacers leading teams),”.

SEE ALSO: Mohammed Shami takes a dig at Sanjay Manjrekar after his IPL prediction

Pat Cummins also spoke about the all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, claiming that he will bowl in this Test series as well. Marsh’s role will be important to Australia’s balance during the series. He also praised Alex Carey.

“He’ll definitely bowl in this Test. He’s an all-rounder. With four pacers, we didn’t want our all-rounders to bowl a lot of overs,” he said. “Alex Carey has been brilliant. He has been really impressive and in a good place.”

Pat Cummins praised Nitish Reddy

He also shared his thoughts on the talented youngster Nitish Reddy as well. He said that Reddy is a talented cricketer who can swing the ball and has great potential as well. Notably, both have played together in IPL team SRH in 2024.

“He is an impressive youngster, he can swing the ball.” Pat Cummins said.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will begin on November 22nd in the Optus Stadium in Perth. India, who have won the last four BGTs, is up against a home team eager to end their winning streak. Rohit Sharma's unavailability will be felt, as Jasprit Bumrah leads the Indian team. 
Let's check out Three key player battles to watch include:

Jasprit Bumrah vs Travis Head: 

Jasprit Bumrah, India's top fast bowler, will face Travis Head, Australia's in-form batter. Head has a long history of troubling Indian bowlers, so Bumrah will have to be at his best to contain him. Bumrah's unique action and capacity to generate reverse swing may be the key to dismissing Head cheaply. Travis Head's Test cricket career has been significantly impacted by Jasprit Bumrah, who dismissed him twice during their encounters. Despite this, Head has scored 50 runs off 126 balls against Bumrah, averaging 25.

Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc:

Virat Kohli, an experienced and successful Indian batter, will compete against Mitchell Starc, Australia's top fast bowler. Starc is known for extracting speed and bounce from perhaps the most benign pitches, making him an uphill battle for Kohli. Mitchell Starc dismissed Virat Kohli four times in Test cricket matches. Notably, Kohli has still scored 236 runs off 394 balls against Starc, with an impressive average of 59. This suggests that, despite being dismissed four times, Kohli always performed well against Starc, demonstrating his versatility and batsmanship.

Ravindra Jadeja vs Steve Smith:

Ravindra Jadeja, India's veteran off-spinner, will face off against Steve Smith, Australia's experienced and successful batter. Smith is known for his history of handling Jadeja well, but Jadeja has been developing his variations and can be unpredictable. The duel between these two will be critical in determining the series' outcome, as both players have the ability to change the game with a few well-placed deliveries completely. Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Steve Smith eight times in Test cricket. Despite this, Smith has scored 270 runs from 735 balls, averaging 33.

Pat Cummins vs KL Rahul:

In the absence of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul will open the batting against Pat Cummins. His biggest challenge will be Pat Cummins, who is tall and fast. The Australian speedster hasn't been at his best in a few months, and the same is true for the struggling KL Rahul. Both players will attempt to get on top of each other. KL Rahul has been dismissed twice by Pat Cummins in Test matches. Nonetheless, he has managed to score a respectable 80 runs off 157 balls against Cummins. His batting average of 40 and strike rate of 51 show his ability to counter Cummins' bowling.

Marnus Labuschagne vs Ravindra Jadeja:

The battle between Marnus Labuschagne and Ravindra Jadeja will be crucial in determining the series' outcome. Labuschagne's adaptability to different bowling styles will be tested against Jadeja's spin. Jadeja's experience and skill will make it difficult for Labuschagne to score freely, making this a battle to remember. Ravindra Jadeja knocked out Marnus Labuschagne five times in Test cricket, while Labuschagne has 99 runs off 301 balls at an average of 19 and a strike rate of 32.

Australia's young batting brigade has come under immense fire as the home side suffered an unimaginable series defeat against the Men in Green for the first time in the ODI format since 2002. Some fiery exhibition of fast bowling from Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah reduced the all-might Aussie batting lineup to rubbles as Australia were bowled out for less than 180 in the remaining two ODIs. The obvious reason for their swift downfall can be pointed out to their paltry batting which led to their undoing in the series.

The Australia batting department experienced some new lows in that series. This 1-2 series defeat also marks the first instance where none of the Aussie batters failed to register a fifty or fifty-plus score. 

Hussey dissects the underlying reason behind Australia's catastrophic batting failure

Former Australia cricketer and sports commentator Michael Hussey commented on air about the players' inclination towards playing an aggressive brand of T20 cricket. He highlighted that the heavy-risk brand of cricket has infiltrated the Aussie batting lineup. Due to the high proliferation of franchise cricket, their batters have now become more susceptible to getting out in a rash manner. 

“Playing a lot of T20 cricket and seeing what’s happening around the world, batters these days are going really hard – playing high-risk games. When it comes off, it looks great and it’s exciting for everyone to watch. But when it doesn’t in the face of high-quality bowling, you can get exposed.”

It has been a go-to strategy, especially for the likes of Josh Inglis and Jake Fraser-McGurk to go all out from ball number one in the recently concluded three-match series. This strategy can do wonders on some days while on other days, it can backfire. The 49-year-old urges the youngsters to adopt a slightly different approach to 50-over cricket and shift their focus on converting small starts into big scores. 

“You’ve got a bit of time, you can build that innings … turn that 20-30 into a 50-60 and then hopefully an 80-100, but that’s part of the development. 50 overs is sort of that in-between game … you do have a bit more time.” 

Michael Vaughan shell-shocked after witnessing Australia's horror show with the bat

Former England captain Michael Vaughan shared the same concerns as his counterpart Hussey and admitted that he had never ever seen the Aussie batting lineup crumble against such a high-quality seam attack. Vaughan felt that the potent Pakistan pace attack troubled the batters with swing and pace, although not being express pace, to lose all 20 wickets under 200 in both games was simply unthinkable by his standards. 

“Let’s be honest, for three games I don’t remember seeing an Australian batting lineup look so exposed.” Three games on the trot against a bit of pace, a bit of movement – it’s not express, it’s not rapid. But they’ve been completely exposed.”

Following the conclusion of a highly entertaining ODI series, the focus now moves to the T20I series that will commence on November 14 at the Gabba. Some big names from the Australian camp will be missing as the likes of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood are all but away to prepare for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy that will start on November 22. 

See also: Australian squad announced for Perth Test with two potential Test debutants

The extraordinary might of the Australian team was crushed at the Adelaide Oval as Pakistani speedster Haris Rauf ran through the batting lineup like a hot knife through the butter. On a steamy pace-friendly wicket, Rauf extracted prodigious bounce and seam movement to trouble the Aussie batters early on. He received ample support from his pace counterpart Shaheen, who accounted for three dismissals while Naseem and Hasnain finished with one wicket apiece.

Four out of five of his dismissals featured soft dismissals that came in the form of caught behind whereas one solitary dismissal came in the form of bold dismissal. Inglis, Labuschagne, Hardie, Maxwell, and Cummins succumbed to his hostile pace bowling. His figures of 5-29 are his best-recorded ODI figures on Australian soil and on the back of such a ground-breaking performance, the Men in Green can now dream of a potential victory in this series. 

A look into Haris Rauf's obliterating bowling spell   

Out-class Spell by Haris Rauf Today #PAKvsAUS pic.twitter.com/9zKl7mAYAb

— Ahsan Shah 💙 (@parh_ly_ahsan) November 8, 2024

Inglis was the first victim to fall to Rauf's hostile bowling. He was dismissed during the 14th over when he attempted to pull a shortish delivery angling down the leg side. Haris was rewarded for this ordinary delivery as Inglis only managed to get some glove on the way making it all too easy for Rizwan to complete a simple catch behind the stumps. 

Labuschagne was the next batter to depart and he was dismissed at a very crucial time when Australia needed a partnership to stay afloat. Rauf bowled an absolute peach in the form of a seam-up delivery and Labuschagne poked at it tentatively to find the outside edge through to Rizwan behind the stumps. 

Hardie was the next victim to fall and he too succumbed in a very similar fashion as his predecessor Labuschagne during the 26th over of the match. A regulation seam-up delivery on a length deviated very late to take the outside edge of Hardie's bat which ultimately resulted in his demise on 14.

Then a big wicket of Maxwell which completely derailed Australia during the 28th over. Maxwell made a very poor choice to counter-attack Rauf for which he paid a hefty price.  Maxwell's eyes lit up after seeing a short and wide delivery outside off. He tried to take a swipe at it only to drag the ball back onto his stumps.

And then finally, Rauf delivered a final nail in the coffin by removing the skipper Cummins who could have threatened Pakistan in the dying phase of the innings. His dismissal broke the back of the Australian innings as the home side failed to put up a big score on the board.

Where does the match currently stand? 

Shaheen Afridi picked up the final wicket of the innings to clean up Australia for 163. Haris's inspirational bowling spell has given the visitors a fighting chance of getting back into the series. The Men in Green narrowly missed out in the first ODI at Melbourne but with such a relatively small target to chase, Pakistan find themselves on the cusp of a maiden ODI victory in Australia since 2017. 

See also: Low scoring Oman vs UAE ODI enters the record books

Josh Inglis will assume the captaincy role following the conclusion of the second ODI at Adelaide and will lead the Men in Yellow in the third ODI as well as the forthcoming T20I series against Pakistan which is expected to commence on November 14. He will lead the side in the absence of premium stalwarts such as Mitch Marsh and Travis Head who are both unavailable due to paternity leave and Test preparation. 

In addition, Australia's Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins and vice-captain Steve Smith will also not be available to feature for the remainder of the series in order to prepare for the grueling Border Gavaskar Test series. 

Inglis to lead a whole new-look Australia squad 

Following his captaincy appointment, Inglis becomes the 14th T20I captain and the 30th ODI captain to lead Australia. He will have his work cut out as his side will be without the services of experienced Cummins, Smith, Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne, all of whom will be away to prepare for the much-awaited Border Gavaskar Test series. 

The squad will feature some fresh faces in the form of Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, and Josh Philippe who have made limited yet impactful international appearances for Australia in recent times. Moreover, Lance Morris has also been included as a cover for Josh Hazlewood and is likely to feature in the last ODI of the three-match series. 

Dissecting Inglis' captaincy background

Unlike his teammates Matt Short, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, and Nathan Ellis, Inglis does not have any credible captaincy experience under his belt. The 29-year-old does not have any captaincy experience at the BBL level unlike some of his fellow teammates. But the flamboyant wicket-keeper batter is widely renowned for his leadership qualities and his tactical instinct at the domestic level.  

Inglis served as the vice-captain for the Perth Scorchers during the previous season and played a significant role within their leadership team. He was a leading candidate to assume the captaincy following Ashton Turner's season-ending injury. However, Aaron Hardie was ultimately selected for the position. This decision was primarily influenced by a preference to avoid appointing a wicketkeeper as captain, particularly given the time constraints faced by the younger bowlers.

In the ongoing three-match ODI series, Australia have taken an early 1-0 lead following a nervy win at the MCG. The hosts will once again lock horns with the visitors in the second ODI at Adelaide where they will look to wrap up the series in one of the most clinical ways possible. 

See also: ICC WTC 2023-25: A saga of strange wins and shocking defeats

While the official deadline for the IPL retention is October 31, the possible retention of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) has been revealed.

According to ESPNcricinfo, South African power hitter Heinrich Klaasen will be the top retention for the SRH. The next two possible names are Australian star Pat Cummins and Indian all-rounder Abhishek Sharma. 

Each team can retain a maximum of six players, including a maximum of five capped players (Indian or foreigner) and a maximum of two uncapped players.

SEE ALSO: Paras Mhambrey returns to Mumbai Indians as bowling coach

The reported earnings

According to the retention rules, if SRH retain Klassen as the first player, the South African will earn INR 23 crore. While Pat Cummins joined last season with an auction price of INR 20.50 crore, he will now get INR 18 crore if he is retained as the second player. 

While Abhishek Sharma can be the third retained player, his value will be INR 14 crore. 

The ESPNcricinfo report further added that Australian star Travis Head and Indian cricketer  Nitish Kumar Reddy could also be retained. 

Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, SunRisers Hyderabad became one of the most exciting and dangerous teams at the IPL 2024. The IPL 2016 champions finished as the runners-up in the last IPL season as they lost the IPL 2024 final against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). 

How did the star SRH players perform in the IPL 2024?

In the IPL 2024, Head was the leading run-scorer for SRH and the fourth leading run-scorer overall. The left-handed batter scored 567 runs in 15 innings with a strike rate of 191.55, as he recorded one century and four half-centuries.

Klaasen scored 479 runs in 15 innings during the IPL 2024 with a strike rate of 171.07. He hit four half-centuries. 

Apart from scoring 484 runs in 16 innings (strike rate 204.21) with three half-centuries, Abhishek Sharma picked up two wickets during the IPL 2024. On the other hand, Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 303 runs in the last IPL season (strike rate 142.92), including two half-centuries, and also claimed three wickets.   

SRH skipper Pat Cummins was the second leading wicket-taker for his team in the IPL 2024, with 18 wickets in 16 matches. 

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins is hoping for a closely-fought Test series against India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, Team India are all set to travel Down Under to play a five-match Test series as well. And, India and Australia are favourites for the World Test Championship finals as well.

A closely fought Test series likely to take place in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald, Cummins said that the last Test series in 2020-21 reached to the final session of the last Test match at Gabba as well. In that series, Rishabh Pant played a stunning knock to help India register a famous series win under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane. Moreover, India have won the last two away tours of Australia and they have not let Australia win the BGT trophy in the last decade too.

“The couple of home series I’ve played against India there’s always an element of attrition to them. The last series came down to the last session at the Gabba on the last day of the last Test match. That’s a good thing to keep in mind; it is a long series, and it might be tightly held until the last game, so you’ve got to manage your resources throughout,” Cummins said.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: Top 5 captains of the tournament

Pat Cummins opens up on Cameron Green's Injury

The captain also shared his views on fast bowling allrounder Cameron Green's injury. Green has sidelined from the England white-ball series due to a stress fracture in the back, which could potentially keep him out for a long time as well. However, Cummins also said that he was really sympathetic of Green's injury but also reminded that fast bowling comes with injuries as well.

“Really sympathetic. We want him bowling, Cam wants to be bowling, and he has a long career ahead of him. So it’s about trying to place Cam the cricketer in the best position he can be to have the career that he’s hoping for. He’s young, so I’m sure he’ll be right in the long run," Cummins said. “Bowling and trying to bowl fast is unfortunately fraught with injuries. In some ways, the hardest thing is missing cricket and seeing games go by that you could have been part of, but also it can be a pretty lonely way back."

Notably, Pat Cummins himself was away from Tests for six years between his first and second Test match due to multiple back injuries as well. And, now he has given priority to his body and takes rest to keep himself fresh in the longer run. 

However, the first Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy will start on November 22.

However, SunRisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins also reacted to the new Indian Premier League rules. He was asked about the new rule of IPL where the board will ban players for 2 years who make themselves unavailable after their selection in the auction. Cummins also said that it won't affect him, since he has not pulled out of an auction before as well.

"I’ll work out in the next little bit what this season looks like. There’s a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don’t know whether that would have affected me in the past, I’ve never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL. Test cricket is the absolute No. 1 priority, World Cups are right up there, and then I think you use them as your tent poles and work out what else makes sense around that," Pat Cummins concluded.

David Warner has announced that he will be available to play for the Australian team in the Champions Trophy next year if selected. Warner retired from all formats of cricket after the T20 World Cup 2024, where he was the opening batsman for Australia. Following their exit in the Super 8 stage, many thought Warner had ended his international career.

He confirmed his retirement on Instagram but mentioned that he might return for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year if needed. Warner expressed his honor in representing Australia and said he would continue playing franchise cricket for a while. He also thanked his fans and teammates for their support.

Warner’s announcement and potential return

“Chapter closed!! It’s been an unbelievable experience to play at the highest level for such a long period. Australia was my team. The majority of my career was at the international level. It’s been an honour to be able to do this. 100+ games in all formats is my highlight. I want to say thanks to everyone out there who has made this possible. My wife and my girls, who sacrificed so much, thank you for all your support. No person will ever know what we’ve been through.”

“For all the cricket fans out there, I truly hope I have entertained you and changed cricket, especially tests, in a way where we scored a bit faster than others. We cannot do what we love without the fans, so thanks”.

“I will continue to play franchise cricket for a while, and I am also open to playing for Aus in the Champions trophy if selected. To the players and staff, thanks for putting up with me. No more what’s app junk, your ears are now going to be free of my voice. This team has had unbelievable success the Last few years and long may this continue. Pat cummins, Andrew old Mac and staff have got this,” said Warner.

Having retired from Test cricket earlier this year, Warner will now be working as a commentator for Fox Cricket.

Australia’s T20 World Cup 2024 preparations have taken an unexpected but strategic turn. Key players such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head will miss their national side’s warm-up matches as they return home to Australia for a brief respite. This move aims to ensure these key players are well-rested and refreshed ahead of the high-stakes tournament.

Key players Missing Warm-Up Matches

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head, pivotal members of Australia’s squad, will not participate in the warm-up matches. After a gruelling season, including their participation in the IPL final, the decision was made to give them a short break to recharge. This temporary absence is part of a broader strategy to prioritize player well-being over immediate match readiness.

See Also: OTD in 2012: KKR won their maiden IPL title by defeating CSK

Impact of IPL Participation

The IPL has seen significant participation from Australian players, with Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green being notable mentions. Maxwell and Green were integral to Royal Challengers Bangaluru’s playoff run, showcasing their prowess in one of the world’s most competitive T20 leagues. Their experience in the IPL is expected to be invaluable for Australia’s World Cup campaign.

Strategic Break Before the World Cup

The rationale behind allowing players a short break is rooted in long-term planning. Australian team management believes that a few days at home with family will help players mentally and physically rejuvenate. Mitchell Marsh, who will captain Australia in this global event, emphasized the importance of flexibility and prioritizing players’ needs.

“It’s important to be flexible. Guys have been at the IPL. They’ve been playing a lot of cricket so we’ve prioritized giving them a couple of days at home, see their family, refresh and play the long game for this tournament. We’ll get to our 15 eventually but it’s really important that we give them a break, even if it’s [just] a couple of days at home,” Marsh told cricket.com.au.

“I’m just ticking off the last few things I need to tick off to be fit and available. All went well today. It’s been progressively slow but finally getting there now and looking forward to getting stuck into the tournament,” the T20 skipper added.

Australia’s Warm-Up Matches

Australia’s warm-up matches are scheduled before their opening game against Oman in Barbados on June 5. These matches are vital for assessing the team’s form and making necessary adjustments. The absence of critical players might pose a challenge, but it also allows other squad members to step up.

Group Stage Fixtures

Australia’s campaign starts against Oman, followed by group-stage matches against England, Namibia, and Scotland. These fixtures will test Australia’s depth and adaptability, especially given their opponents’ diverse playing styles.

Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.Travelling

Reserves: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 8 wickets in the final showdown at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The victory marked a remarkable achievement for the Shreyas Iyer-led side, which delivered a commanding performance to clinch the coveted title.

KKR’s Commanding Performance

Chasing a modest target of 114 runs, KKR showcased their prowess with the bat, achieving the target in just 10.3 overs. This impressive display of batting prowess highlighted KKR’s dominance throughout the match.

The early stages of SRH’s innings saw the formidable bowling duo of Mitchell Starc and Vaibhav Arora wreak havoc on their batting lineup. Starc’s crucial breakthroughs in the powerplay, including the dismissals of Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi, set the tone for KKR’s bowling attack. Arora further compounded SRH’s woes with his pivotal wicket of Travis Head, laying the groundwork for KKR’s victory.

See Also: KKR secure IPL Title after a decade; Fans go wild on social media

Starc’s Impactful Bowling

Mitchell Starc’s journey in IPL 2024 was marked by initial skepticism following his high-priced acquisition by KKR. However, Starc silenced his critics with stellar performances, particularly in the latter half of the tournament. His standout display in Qualifier 1 and the final match showcased his ability to deliver under pressure, solidifying his place as a key player for KKR.

Mitchell Starc’s Redemption

In the final showdown against SRH, Starc once again rose to the occasion, delivering a clinical bowling performance that stifled SRH’s batting lineup. His economical spell in the initial overs played a pivotal role in KKR’s dominant start, setting the stage for their eventual triumph.

Pat Cummins’ Acknowledgment

Following the match, SRH captain Pat Cummins commended KKR for their exceptional performance, acknowledging the impact of Starc’s bowling prowess. Cummins highlighted KKR’s bowling strength and expressed admiration for their strategic approach to the game.

Pat Cummins | SRH captain: They bowled fantastically. Old mate Starcy turned up again! Not enough tonight, totally outplayed. You hope you get some boundaries away but they bowled fantastically well, didn’t give us anything. Similar to how they bowled in Ahmedabad. It was a tricky wicket. If we got 160, we felt we would have been in the game. So many (positives), the style with which the guys played especially with the bat. Lot of skills to get to 250 three times. I loved how brave the guys were. It was a lot of fun, great season.