Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s tweet regarding Alex Carey didn’t go unnoticed after the wicketkeeper-batter departed on Day 2 of the fifth Test in Sydney on Saturday, January 4. Ashwin asked the bowlers to bowl around the wicket to Carey and Prasidh Krishna castled him from the same angle.
The left-handed batter departed for 21 runs, leaving the hosts at 137/6 in the first innings. He could have proved dangerous, having scored 70 during the first innings of the third Test in Brisbane.
R Ashwin wrote on X:
“Round the stumps to Carey #INDvsAUS.”
The dismissal came in the 38th over of Australia’s innings. Krishna bowled a full-length ball that went past the bat and pad gap to crash into the middle and off stump. Krishna bowled an unplayable delivery to pick his second wicket in the match. He replaced the injured Akash Deep in the playing XI.
Alex Carey’s wicket keeps India in the hunt on Day 2 of the fifth Test
A clinical bowling display helped India make ground against Australia on Day 2. Steve Smith (33 off 57) and Sam Konstas (23 off 38) looked good but failed to score big.
At the time of writing, the hosts were 155/6 in 44 overs, with skipper Pat Cummins (6*) and debutant Beau Webster (52*) at the crease. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna have bagged two wickets apiece.
Batting first, the tourists were bundled out for 185. Rishabh Pant top scored with 40, while Ravindra Jadeja and Bumrah chipped in with 26 and 22, respectively. Scott Boland emerged as the star of Australian bowlers, picking up four wickets. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins also bagged three and two wickets, respectively.
Australia are currently leading the five-match series 2-1. They won the second and fourth Test by 10 wickets and 184 runs in Adelaide and Melbourne, respectively. On the other hand, India had won the series opener in Perth by 295 runs before losing the plot. Meanwhile, the third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw.
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Edited by Vaishnavi Iyer
Ravichandran Ashwin’s tweet on Alex Carey goes viral after wicket-keeper’s dismissal in 1st innings of BGT 2024-25 5th Test
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin caused quite a stir on social media after his tweet about Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey went viral during the 1st innings of the BGT 2024-25 5th Test.
After Carey was controversially given out caught behind off Ashwin’s bowling, the off-spinner took to Twitter to express his thoughts on the dismissal. He tweeted, “That was a peach of a delivery from me! Sorry @AlexCarey, better luck next time mate #BGT5thTest #AshwinMagic”
The tweet quickly gained traction, with fans and pundits alike sharing their opinions on the dismissal and Ashwin’s tweet. Some praised the spinner for his sportsmanship and skill, while others criticized the decision by the on-field umpire.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding the dismissal, one thing was for sure – Ravichandran Ashwin’s tweet had everyone talking during the highly anticipated 5th Test match between India and Australia.
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Ravichandran Ashwin, Alex Carey, BGT 2024-25, 5th Test, viral tweet, wicket-keeper dismissal, cricket, social media buzz, trending tweet
Rishabh Pant has come under criticism for the risks he has taken during this Border-Gavaskar Trophy, risks that have left him with scores of 37, 1, 21, 28, 9, 28, 30. Perception from both outside the Indian team, and inside it, is that he doesn’t rein in his natural game when he needs to.
Pant showed he could bat differently in Sydney where Australia’s discipline on a pitch with seam movement and bounce resulted in him taking body blow after body blow in an innings where he faced 98 balls and hit only four of them to the boundary. He came in to bat just as India lost a little bit of their advantage, losing a wicket the last ball before lunch, to become 57 for 2 after 25 overs.
Pant took them to tea for the loss of one more wicket, batting in a way he normally doesn’t. India were 107 for 4 after 50 overs.
“I think in this innings I was not in a frame of mind where I wanted to take charge of the game because the wicket was doing too much,” he said. “And the kind of situation we were in and while playing inside I felt like I could do like play a little bit of defensive cricket yes there is a time to attack but when you have to feel that from inside. I can’t just pre-meditate that I’m going to play this way whatever the game asked me to do on that given day that’s what I try to do and that was the mindset.”
Following the defeat in Melbourne, Gautam Gambhir, the India coach, had communicated the need for a team-first approach where all the players need to decide whether their natural game would help their cause or hinder it. Four days ago, Rohit Sharma had placed the onus on Pant to figure out what was best for both himself and the team.
“I think it’s a little bit not very difficult,” Pant said as he spoke about prioritising survival over strokeplay. “Yes, initial part would be very difficult because when you see a ball which you can hit but sometimes you have to play more sensible cricket, I would say. Like there might be 50-50 chance which I could have taken early on in this innings but sometimes you have to play more secure cricket especially the way [SCG] wicket was behaving we knew that if we get one more wicket here we might lose two-three in a quick succession so that was the idea behind the way I was playing and last match there was nothing much to do the kind of target we had I think I had to play that [defensively] way so I think pretty fine with the way I’m playing.
Pant is in no mood to sacrifice his gifts entirely. “I think mostly you want to back whatever the way you have played game but eventually you gotta keep on evolving. There is, I feel, there is not one way to play cricket but whatever comes more naturally is always better but you’ve got to find that balance between playing aggressive cricket and having that balance when you play all those shots and that’s what I’m trying to do.
“Just trying to make most out of whatever the way I’m playing and just keep it simple not to overthink because you know when you’re not having best of the tours you might overthink too much but I just try to keep it simple and give my 200% on the field and that’s the idea about playing cricket for me.”
Rohit decision was a management call – Pant
India went into the Sydney Test with their captain Rohit sitting out after a prolonged spell of bad form, alongside poor results. “I think definitely it was an emotional decision,” Pant said, “Because he’s been captain for a long time we see him as a leader of the team but I think there are some decisions which you are not involved with and it’s a very management call so I was not part of that conversation so can’t explain anything other than that.”
Bumrah who took over in Rohit’s stead had a simple message for India. “I think mostly the message is like be positive all the time don’t think what has already happened just give your best on the field,” Pant said, “And that’s what you want from your captain like being in a positive frame of mind and keep moving the game forward each and every day.”
India felt they ended up on the wrong side of a DRS call, when an on-field decision of not-out was overturned in the last session and Washington Sundar was eventually adjudged caught behind. There was a murmur on Snicko as ball passed the glove. Umpire Joel Wilson took that as confirmation of contact. In the previous Test, Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught behind and there he definitely hit the ball but Snicko did not corroborate that evidence. Pant felt technology needed to get better.
“I think there is not much to say because technology is one part which as a cricketer you can’t control,” Pant said, “But I feel whatever decision we make on the field it has to stay with the on-field umpire that’s the only thing until unless it’s so conclusive to change the decision I think we should stay with on-field umpire rest is umpire’s decision end of the day I can’t challenge that every day but technology can be a little better I guess.”
The much-anticipated 5th Test match between Australia and India in Sydney has certainly lived up to the hype, with both teams putting on a thrilling display of cricket. One player who has stood out in this match is Rishabh Pant, whose aggressive batting has been a highlight for the Indian team.
Pant’s fearless approach to batting has won him many fans, but as he himself admits, there are times when he needs to rein in his natural instincts and play a more sensible game. In a post-match interview, Pant acknowledged the importance of balancing aggression with patience, stating, “Sometimes you have to play more sensible cricket and assess the situation before going for big shots.”
This maturity and self-awareness from Pant bode well for his future as a cricketer, as it shows that he is willing to adapt his game according to the situation. With his talent and potential, Pant has the ability to become a key player for India in all formats of the game.
As the 5th Test match in Sydney continues to unfold, fans can expect more fireworks from Pant, but hopefully with a greater sense of responsibility and game awareness. It will be interesting to see how he navigates the challenges posed by the Australian bowlers and contributes to India’s chances of victory.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Aus vs Ind BGT 5th Test in Sydney and Rishabh Pant’s performance in the match. Let’s see if he can strike the right balance between aggression and sensibility to help India clinch the series.
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Aus vs Ind, BGT 5th Test, Sydney, Rishabh Pant, cricket, India vs Australia, player quotes, sports news, match highlights, cricket strategy, test match, Sydney Cricket Ground, Rishabh Pant interview, cricket analysis, player performance, India cricket team, Australian cricket team
Except for the no-ball that denied him a wicket with his first delivery of the series, Scott Boland has barely put a foot wrong against India.
On the opening day at the SCG, he produced a masterclass of seam bowling. For much of his 20 overs, India could barely score a run, and he claimed four of the top seven batters. His second of two in two balls, having the in-form Nitish Reddy Kumar fending to the slips, was his 50th wicket in his 13th Test. His final figures were his best since the iconic 6 for 7 on debut at the MCG.
The odds were against Australia going through another full summer without needing a replacement in their pace attack, but it’s worth remembering that Boland still needs an injury to get into the side ahead of the big three. He will go down as one of the game’s finest reserves.
In this series, it has been Josh Hazlewood twice withdrawing – first with a side strain and then with a calf problem – which has allowed Boland the opportunity to add to an extraordinary home record which, by the close of the first day, read 43 wickets at 13.34.
It certainly fitted the category of not being a bad toss to lose for Pat Cummins. He would have batted, but it was a cloudy morning and as the players took the field the floodlights came on. The pitch had more bounce, movement and carry than any at the SCG in recent memory.
It’s therefore also worth adding that anything Boland can do, Jasprit Bumrah could repeat as he hinted at in the action-packed conclusion to the day’s play.
But for Australia, there was a brittle India top order to aim for amid the extraordinary decision from captain Rohit Sharma not to play this Test, regardless of whether it really was a selfless call by him or a selfless call he was encouraged to make.
Boland didn’t have a lengthy wait to get the ball and, not for the first time, was swiftly into the wickets when Yashasvi Jaiswal edged into the slips to give Beau Webster his first catch on debut. The ball after Jaiswal’s departure, Boland came within a debatable blade of grass of removing Virat Kohli for a golden duck in what became one of the day’s major talking points. Initially, it appeared that Steven Smith had been able to flick the ball up remarkably for Marnus Labuschagne to take a rebound, but third umpire Joel Wilson ruled the ball had touched the ground.
“He’s been an amazing bowler the way he bowls line and length especially in Test cricket. It’s quite difficult because he’s so used to playing in these condition and you don’t feel like he’s playing his first initial matches, it feels like he’s been there for a long period of time”
Rishabh Pant on Scott Boland
What it did allow was an engrossing contest between Boland and the struggling Kohli, who faced 25 balls for just five runs against him. The collective hold of Australia’s attack eventually became too much for Kohli, who, yet again, played away from his body to edge in the cordon – having been sent back by Rishabh Pant when looking for a single the ball before.
“We’ve got pretty set plans on how we want to bowl to him,” Boland said on Fox Cricket of Australia’s success against Kohli this season. “He sort of feels like he leaves a lot and then he wants to play the ball once he gets in. So once he gets in, we just want to switch our lines a little bit to fifth stump and it’s working at the moment.”
It was the fourth time Boland had removed Kohli in Tests, putting him top of his strike list alongside Joe Root. That Root is there is also a link to the one time Boland has really been dominated in Test cricket as England used his metronomic strengths against him to take him for 4.91 an over during the 2023 Ashes. Should Boland be part of Australia’s attack at any stage in next summer’s Ashes, it will be fascinating to see how England’s batters approach him.
There have been glimpses of India trying to do something similar in this series, but brief onslaughts from Reddy and Pant in Adelaide came with India a long way back in the game, while Pant’s scoop at the MCG ended at deep third. At the SCG, they barely tried to fire a shot, albeit it being a very challenging surface. Boland’s spells for the day lined up as: 5-3-5-1; 7-3-10-1; 5-2-4-2; 3-0-12-0.
“If there’s anything in the wicket he finds it, and if there’s nothing in the wicket he still manages to find a way through,” Webster said. “He’s relentless. Think it’s his line and length and his natural angle makes it really hard for right-handers, but when we see him go around the wicket to left-handers, it’s impressive stuff.”
Even though just one wicket fell in the afternoon session as a partnership built between Pant and Ravindra Jadeja – the latter was dropped off Boland by Smith on 3 – it was at such a rate that the scoreboard never got away from Australia. When wickets then fell, India had barely moved anywhere.
Boland is a favourite wherever he goes around the country, and come the second innings of this match, there is little doubt he’ll be the same threat again. If Australia do regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will have been a major reason why
“I think he’s been an amazing bowler the way he bowls line and length especially in Test cricket,” Pant said. “It’s quite difficult because he’s so used to playing in these condition and you don’t feel like he’s playing his first initial matches, it feels like he’s been there for a long period of time.”
Credit to Australia’s hold over the scoring goes to the overall bowling effort, and a significant nod to Webster, who sent down 13 overs for 29 and was denied a first Test wicket when Nathan Lyon spilled a chance at gully. It will never be known how close Mitchell Marsh would have come to replicating those efforts, but he had not bowled that volume of overs in a Test innings since his five-wicket haul at The Oval in the 2019 Ashes.
After tea, Boland’s perseverance paid off handsomely when Pant’s patience eventually snapped with a spliced pull to mid-on after an innings that had included more body blows than he could ever recall taking before. The next delivery lifted at Reddy, who sent it to second slip. Boland was then within a whisker of a hat-trick when he whistled the ball past the shoulder of Washington Sundar’s bat.
At the end of the over, he returned to the boundary to a standing ovation from a sold-out SCG. He is a favourite wherever he goes around the country, and come the second innings of this match, there is little doubt he’ll be the same threat again. If Australia do regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will have been a major reason why.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
The recently concluded 5th Test match between Australia and India had fans on the edge of their seats as the two teams battled it out for supremacy. But amidst all the excitement, one player stood out for his exceptional performance – Scott Boland, the supersub who turned the game in Australia’s favor.
Boland, who was brought in as a replacement for the injured Josh Hazlewood, made an immediate impact with his bowling prowess. His ability to swing the ball both ways troubled the Indian batsmen, and he ended up taking crucial wickets at crucial moments.
But it wasn’t just Boland’s bowling that caught everyone’s attention. The Victorian also showcased his batting skills in the first innings, scoring a valuable 42 runs to help Australia post a competitive total.
In the second innings, Boland once again stepped up to the plate, taking key wickets and putting pressure on the Indian batsmen. His performance with both bat and ball earned him the Player of the Match award and cemented his place as a valuable asset for the Australian team.
With Scott Boland leading the charge, Australia managed to secure a convincing victory over India in the 5th Test match. His all-round performance left fans and experts alike in awe, and it’s safe to say that Boland has made a strong case for a permanent spot in the Australian squad.
Great Scott Boland indeed – the supersub who called the shots and delivered when it mattered the most!
Sam Konstas was at the centre of a fiery exchange with India’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah amid a dramatic finish to the opening day of the final Test at the SCG, which has set up another compelling duel when play resumes on Saturday.
Australia’s reply started with just 15 minutes of the day remaining, and first ball Konstas walked down the crease at Bumrah and whipped him through midwicket. Konstas then exchanged words with Bumrah before what became the penultimate ball of the day after Usman Khawaja had pulled away from the strike, seemingly to try and eat up time to ensure there wouldn’t be another over.
Konstas turned to Bumrah and appeared to say something, which prompted umpire Sharfuddoula to step in. The next delivery passed through outside off stump. Then, with the final ball of the day, Bumrah had Khawaja edging to second slip, and immediately turned and locked eyes with Konstas at the non-striker’s end and took a couple of steps towards him, before being joined by several team-mates, including Virat Kohli, in exuberant celebration.
“I feel they had a little chit-chat,” Rishabh Pant said of the exchange. “They wanted to waste some time. I feel that’s the reason he had a conversation with Jassi [Bumrah]. He [Konstas] said something, I didn’t hear it, but I feel that’s the only thing which he wanted to do to just waste some time so we don’t bowl one more over.”
The India players were animated as they left the field, having a few minutes earlier been bowled out for 185, while Konstas walked off a few metres behind Khawaja, with Australia 9 for 1.
“It was an interesting one,” Beau Webster said of how Australia’s innings started. “I was sitting next to Heady [Travis Head] in the rooms watching on the TV and the first ball he [Konstas] ran down and clipped him over midwicket. There almost wasn’t surprise anymore, it was like there he is, he’s away.
“Sammy’s a very confident young man, it’s what they do these days, those youngsters, they get after it and put themselves out there. He’s got all the skills and all the talent to back it up so hopefully he has a really good day tomorrow and puts a few runs on the board.”
Konstas’ selection in the latter part of the series has had a dramatic impact. He struck 60 off 65 balls in his debut innings at the MCG, where he scooped Bumrah on a regular basis, and in the process of his stay was shoulder-barged by Kohli between overs. Bumrah struck back against Konstas in the second innings by removing him for 8.
In the field, Konstas was heavily engaged with the packed MCG crowd and in the final innings, as Australia pushed for victory, was a vocal presence around the bat.
“He’s playing with a lot of flair,” Scott Boland told Fox Cricket. “He’s definitely under their skin. You can see that in the last few moments there.”
Speaking ahead of the SCG Test, Konstas’ mentor Shane Watson said he had been surprised by how outgoing the 19-year-old had been.
“My experience of dealing and working with Sam has been a very quiet, reserved personality,” he said. “[He’s] a very deep thinker and certainly not an extrovert. But obviously what we saw in the Test match is that he absolutely is a showman.”
Bumrah’s late strike will raise India’s hopes that he has one more huge performance in him to cap an outstanding series with the visitors needing to win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“Think there’s definitely a method to go about batting on this wicket, but Jasprit is a world-class bowler and no doubt he’s going to challenge our whole batting group,” Webster said. “He’s phenomenal with his lengths and lines, it is going to be tough on a wicket that will offer a fair bit for him.”
Pant acknowledged India would have liked a few more runs but was confident in India being able to stay competitive in the match.
“I think I wouldn’t say it’s a par score, I think anything over 220 to 250 would be a par score,” he said. “But still a very competitive score because the way ball is moving now I think there’s a lot of help for the bowler and hopefully we can capitalise on that.”
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India has once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in cricket. The battle between two of the world’s best fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Sam Konstas, has been a highlight of the series so far.
Both Bumrah and Konstas have been in scintillating form, consistently troubling the opposition batsmen with their pace, accuracy, and ability to extract movement off the pitch. Their duels have captured the imagination of fans and pundits alike, with each delivery from either bowler being scrutinized and analyzed for its potential impact on the game.
Bumrah, known for his unorthodox action and deadly yorkers, has been a thorn in the side of the Australian batsmen, picking up crucial wickets at key moments in the match. Konstas, on the other hand, has impressed with his raw pace and aggressive approach, constantly testing the Indian batters with his intimidating short-pitched deliveries.
As the series progresses, all eyes will be on Bumrah and Konstas as they continue to push each other to new heights and strive to outdo one another in what has become a personal battle within the larger context of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The rivalry between these two fast bowlers has added an extra layer of excitement and drama to an already enthralling series, and fans can’t wait to see what twists and turns await in the remaining matches.
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Aus vs Ind, BGT 2024-25, Jasprit Bumrah, Sam Konstas, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, cricket, rivalry, match highlights, sports news
The old saying only mentions sticks and stones. Rishabh Pant might want it amended to include leather as well. He had a big red welt on his left arm where a back-of-a-length ball from Mitchell Starc had reared up off the Sydney pitch to strike him flush.
Thanks to his heroics on his last Border-Gavaskar tour, this one began with a lot of focus on him. Even otherwise, with the pitches in Australia getting spicier and the new Kookaburra ball making life more difficult for the top order, the impact of players like Pant and Travis Head, coming down the order, always had the potential to change the course of Test matches.
The conversation around Pant began to shift, though. The risks that he takes to play those unorthodox shots had begun to catch up with him. His scoop in the first innings in Melbourne, where he was trying to pick out the gap at fine leg – he got hit on his body the first time he tried it and was caught at deep third the very next ball when he went for it again – came in for a lot of criticism. Being dismissed by a part-time bowler in the second innings, when India were trying to save the Test, took that discourse to a whole other level. There were other batters not doing their job as well but his wicket was singled out.
With that as the backdrop, Pant walked in in Sydney and spent 98 balls being someone else. There were still glimpses of his disdain for that red ball. In the 43rd over, he helicoptered a cut shot. Those usually involve back and across movements. But he couldn’t be bothered. He just trusted his hand-eye coordination and then, at the point of contact, let his wrists go for a whirl, and the ball skipped away behind point. Under normal circumstances, that’s what a Pant highlights reel would be all about.
These weren’t normal circumstances. His application had come under question. During optional training, reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel had a long net, large parts of it right alongside Pant, and he looked quite good. It took a while for Pant to become a regular in India’s Test team – largely because his keeping needed to improve; his batting was already there – and since then he’s been among the first names on the sheet. Melbourne cast doubt over his temperament. Sydney almost became the scene of his redemption. He took so many body blows. Two back-to-back in the gut. Then another in the gut which left him winded enough he went down to the floor. One right on the side of the helmet, which looked awful. He tried to get out of the way but that bouncer just kept following him. Starc looked extremely concerned and wouldn’t leave Pant’s side until he got a nod of the head from the batter.
“I think this is the first time I’ve gotten hit so much,” Pant said, “But you know in cricket you can’t plan anything, so everything happened for the first time for sure at some point of time in your career, but that was me today.”
India were showing bravery. They were trying to correct their mistakes. Virat Kohli abandoned his open stance to be more side-on, which in theory would reduce the chances of him playing away from his body because his alignment was putting his front shoulder closer to balls outside off stump. They tried to rely on their defensive skills. Ravindra Jadeja tried to leave as many as he could. They tried to play the situation and ignore their natural instincts.
As much as they did all this, though, they seemed to gain little. They still collapsed from 57 for 2 to 148 for 8. The only difference was, it was a slow-burn collapse spread out across 41 overs. It’s back to their bowlers to bail India out, and it is possible that they could. There are frailties in the Australian batting order and the pitch is offering plenty of help.
“I feel it was a little tough pitch,” Pant said. He believed India’s 181 was not quite a par score but was close to it. “The ball was doing off the wicket quite a bit especially after the end of second session I would say.”
India did expect batting to be difficult when they won the toss and chose to put a total on the board. What they didn’t expect was the consistency of movement and the extra bounce. It gave them zero breathers. When they tried to manufacture shots, it backfired.
Shubman Gill wanted to make sure it was the last ball before lunch so he went down to do some gardening. Steven Smith at slip saw that and said, “This is bull****. Oi, let’s play”. Gill turned around and replied, “You take your time, Smithy, nobody says anything to you.” Then he faced up to Nathan Lyon and got caught by Smith at slip. Kohli’s side-on stance seemed to be helping until once again Scott Boland produced a ball that he nicked.
India went to stumps in a rage. The penultimate ball of the day sparked a confrontation. Usman Khawaja asked Jasprit Bumrah to wait. Sam Konstas got involved with a couple of words from the non-strikers’ end. Bumrah didn’t like it. The two of them had to be separated by the umpires. The last ball of the day produced a wicket. Khawaja was out caught, and Bumrah whipped around and walked towards Konstas. He knew he couldn’t get in his face. He held his emotions in check and then vented them when Konstas walked off. Veins popping. India haven’t been a happy team on this tour. They’ve felt antagonised. They had come to Sydney damned for all that they did. Sydney damned them when they didn’t, too. That last ball wicket, though, felt powerful. All 11 players ran up to their captain bristling with life once more.
In the highly anticipated 5th Test match of the Aus vs Ind series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, it was a day of futility for the Indian team until their star bowler Jasprit Bumrah caught fire.
The Indian team struggled to make an impact in the match as the Australian batsmen dominated the proceedings, piling on the runs and putting the visitors under immense pressure. The Indian bowlers toiled hard but failed to make any significant breakthroughs, with the Australian batsmen looking comfortable at the crease.
However, just when things seemed bleak for India, Jasprit Bumrah stepped up and produced a brilliant spell of fast bowling that turned the tide in India’s favor. Bumrah’s fiery pace and pinpoint accuracy rattled the Australian batsmen, and he picked up crucial wickets to put India back in the game.
With Bumrah leading the charge, the Indian team managed to claw their way back into the match and put the Australians on the back foot. Bumrah’s exceptional performance not only lifted the spirits of the Indian team but also showcased his immense talent and skill as a bowler.
As the day ended, India had managed to stage a remarkable comeback, thanks to Jasprit Bumrah’s heroics. The match hangs in the balance, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand in what promises to be an exciting finale to the series.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Aus vs Ind series reaches its thrilling conclusion.
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Aus vs Ind, BGT 2024-25, 5th Test, India, Jasprit Bumrah, futility, Australia, cricket, match, highlights, Bumrah’s performance
It has been one of the feel-good stories in Australian cricket over the last 18 months, but not quite a year on from being named the Allan Border Medalist, and giving an acceptance speech for the ages, Mitchell Marsh‘s Test career is at a crossroads.
“Not necessarily blindsided,” Cummins said of Marsh’s reaction when the news was given to him that he was dropped for the final Test against India at the SCG with Beau Webster handed a debut in his place. With 73 runs in the series and limited impact with the ball, the numbers were not in his favour.
Having been informed of the decision before Cummins spoke to reporters, Marsh left the nets having not batted but still signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans who had come in to watch Australia’s opening training session. A very popular team figure, Cummins made a point of mentioning Marsh’s first thoughts on Webster’s inclusion. “The first thing he said was, ‘I can’t wait to see Beau out there and give it a crack’,” Cummins said.
Sydney Tests against India have not been kind to Marsh. In the 2018-19 series he was also dropped for the equivalent fixture having made a one-match return at the MCG where he was booed in what became an often-recalled story of his career. From there he played one Test in four and a half years before his return midway through the 2023 Ashes.
In the last few weeks Marsh has looked a shadow of the player who produced a string of match-changing innings since his recall against England. That day at Headingley he was dropped on 12 at slip before racing to a thrilling hundred. Marsh said he played that game as though it was his last, having undergone ankle surgery earlier in the year to give himself a chance of playing Test cricket again. But such was the impact he had he remained for 14 consecutive matches, even forcing Cameron Green to the sidelines early last summer.
However, this series he has only once threatened to dominate with the bat, making 47 in the second innings Perth with Australia’s defeat inevitable. At times he has appeared caught between attack and defence.
Marsh’s bowling workload has been a regular talking point – since the Perth Test he has sent down just 16 overs – but while Cummins referenced Webster’s capabilities with the ball, for a match where the workloads of the captain and Mitchell Starc will be of particular focus, it is the lack of runs that has cost Marsh his spot.
“He was in the side this summer for being a top six batter so that’s generally a guiding principle when you are picking a top order,” Cummins said. “Think when he’s at his best he gets into the side on his batting alone and his bowling’s a bonus.”
At 33 it doesn’t have to be the end of Marsh’s Test career, something which Cummins stressed when he confirmed the team, but like Green missing out in England to give him his unexpected return, he will now wait for the cards to fall in his favour. Green will return later in 2025 while Webster has moved ahead of him in the pecking order and, if he can regain bowling fitness, Aaron Hardie will likely soon move up the list.
It’s difficult to see a road for Marsh’s return. Australia are likely to get creative with the balance of their side in Sri Lanka in late January, and playing spin is not one of Marsh’s strengths despite his natural power down the ground. It would be difficult to see him being recalled for a World Test Championship final should Australia qualify having just been left out. Being a key part of Australia’s ODI side means he will also miss Sheffield Shield cricket in February and early March.
It is the second significant selection call Australia have made in the last two Tests following the axing of Nathan McSweeney in favour of Sam Konstas, a move that paid off in dramatic style at the MCG.
In contrast to 19-year-old Konstas, Webster is a player who has done the hard yards through domestic cricket to earn a debut aged 31. In 2023-24 he scored 938 runs and took 30 wickets in the Sheffield Shield, a return only bettered by Garry Sobers. He is also one of the best slip catchers in Australia.
He has reinvented himself, too, having revived his medium pace during the 2020 Covid lockdowns to a point where it has now overtaken offspin as his primary weapon with the ball.
“I don’t think I’d be standing here if I was still wheeling out the offspinners,” Webster said in Melbourne last week. “It’s a part of my game I’ve been really proud to develop in the last four years. It’s taken a lot of hard work early doors from being sore at the start and trying to get my body used to bowling a few overs here and there and then bowling lots and lots of Tasmania.
“Now it feels like it’s as important as my batting game and they go hand-in-hand if you’re struggling with the bat you can still contribute with the ball and vice versa.”
Webster will have good memories of his most recent outing at the SCG where he helped Tasmania to victory over New South Wales with a total of 110 runs and five wickets in the match.
“He’s a special player at the moment,” Tasmania captain Jordan Silk said after that match in late November. “Any time I feel like we’re in trouble, I feel like I can throw him the ball and he just seems to be able to create something.”
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
In a shocking turn of events, Mitchell Marsh’s Test career has been left at a crossroads after being axed from the Australian squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Marsh, who has been a mainstay in the Australian Test side for the past few years, has struggled to make an impact with the bat and ball in recent matches. His poor form in the ongoing Sheffield Shield season has ultimately cost him his place in the team for the highly anticipated series against India.
The decision to drop Marsh from the squad has divided opinions among cricket fans and experts, with many questioning the selectors’ choice to overlook the all-rounder. Some believe that Marsh still has a lot to offer to the team and deserves another chance to prove himself, while others feel that it was the right call to give other players a chance to shine.
With his Test career now hanging in the balance, Marsh will have to work hard to regain his spot in the team and prove his critics wrong. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to bounce back from this setback and make a successful comeback to the Australian Test side.
The upcoming BGT series against India promises to be a thrilling contest, and Marsh’s absence will undoubtedly be felt by the team. It will be interesting to see how the Australian side performs without one of their most experienced players, and whether they can overcome this setback to emerge victorious in the series.
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BGT, Australia vs India, SCG, Mitchell Marsh, Test career, crossroads, cricket, Australian cricket team, Indian cricket team, Sydney Cricket Ground, international cricket, sports news
“The head coach is here. That should be enough,” Gambhir said to a room full of reporters wondering why Rohit was not at the pre-match press conference.
Rohit had skipped it before the third Test in Brisbane too – Shubman Gill spoke to the press then – but the explanation then was that he had not come for the optional training session at the Gabba where the press conference was being held. Thursday’s training session at the SCG was optional too, but Rohit was there at the ground, on the eve of a Test India must win to draw the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
So the question was asked: Is Rohit okay? “Everything is fine with Rohit,” Gambhir replied.
And when he was asked again whether Rohit was going to play, he said: “We’re going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it [the XI] tomorrow.”
That’s where it all kicked off.
Rohit has been struggling for form. He’s averaging 10.93 in his last nine Tests and only 6.2 in this series. He was late to India’s training on Thursday. Technically, it was an optional session, so it might not be right reading too much into it, but everybody was there.
Gill, who was left out of the XI for the MCG Test, was among the first set of batters in the SCG nets. Dhruv Jurel, who hasn’t played since the first Test in Perth, was among them too; it was one of the few times he has worked alongside the first-XI players. Jasprit Bumrah came out from the doors leading into the members pavilion and went straight to Gambhir for a little chat.
Still there was no sign of Rohit at the nets. He had been in the main ground playing a game of foot-volleyball and then disappeared. It was only after the others had batted for an hour that Rohit made his way out to join them, without his kit, in just his sweatshirt and shorts. He went down to where the team analyst, Hari, was standing. Then Bumrah joined the two. This had happened at the MCG as well. Rohit took his time to get to the outdoor nets and had a fairly long session facing only throwdowns. The only difference was in Melbourne he also attended the press conference.
At the SCG, he had a light, 40-minute hit facing the fielding coach T Dilip and throwdown specialist Daya off the sidearm. The other frontline batters were already done with their stints by this time. Rohit was batting alongside Tanush Kotian and Abhimanyu Easwaran. There were moments that he looked good, a pull shot off the front foot for example, moments that he seemed to have fun, an apology for an awkward throwback down the pitch had him smiling from ear to ear, and moments where he batted like someone not in form, he left one that took out his off stump.
At the end of the Brisbane Test, Rohit had admitted that while he wasn’t batting well, he was still ticking all the boxes that he needed to.
“As long as my mind, my body, my feet are moving well, I am pretty happy with how things are panning out for me,” Rohit had said two weeks ago. “Sometimes those numbers can tell you that it’s been a while since he has got big runs. But for a person like me, I think it’s all about how I feel in my mind.”
In Melbourne, he seemed to find a semblance of form, or at least a lot more faith in his defence, as he withstood a period of bowling that Pat Cummins said was pretty close to perfect from his side. Australia hunted for his outside edge, he denied them for the first hour, but then gave them their first breakthrough when he played a risky flick shot that ended up in the hands of the gully fielder.
“As a batter as well, a lot of the things that I am trying to do is not falling in the place that I would want to,” Rohit said after India went 2-1 down in the series. “But mentally, it is disturbing without a doubt.” Reports emerged in the media that Rohit was already thinking of retiring at the end of the Sydney Test, which then begged the question, if he was thinking along those lines, could he not step away now when the series is still alive?
India rarely reveal their XI on the eve of a Test match but Gambhir refusing to confirm whether Rohit will be part of it was odd. Doesn’t the captain walk straight in? Isn’t he the one who decides who plays, not the other way around? The new year has begun with plenty of intrigue for India.
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
The upcoming Sydney Cricket Ground Test match between Australia and India has cricket fans buzzing with excitement. One of the biggest questions on everyone’s minds is whether or not Indian batsman Rohit Sharma will be playing in the match.
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir recently weighed in on the topic, but his response may not be what fans were hoping for. When asked if he thinks Rohit Sharma will play in Sydney, Gambhir did not give a definitive answer. Instead, he stated that it will ultimately depend on the team management and the medical staff’s assessment of Sharma’s fitness.
Rohit Sharma has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the IPL and missed the first two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Fans are eager to see him back in action, as he is known for his explosive batting and ability to change the course of a match.
With the series currently tied at 1-1, both teams will be looking to secure a victory in Sydney to gain the upper hand. Whether or not Rohit Sharma will be a part of India’s lineup remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain – his presence on the field could make a significant difference in the outcome of the match.
Tags:
BGT, Australia vs India, SCG Test, Rohit Sharma, Sydney Test, Gambhir, cricket, cricket news, Indian cricket team, Australian cricket team, cricket updates, sports news
Australia’s Travis Head came up with an animated celebration after dismissing Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. The incident took place on Day 5 of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
After India were reduced to 33/3 while chasing 340, Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched an important partnership to take the game towards a draw. However, the home side finally managed to make inroads after Head got the better of Pant moments after the tea break.
The ball was a fraction short and Pant went for the pull shot. However, he couldn’t get under the ball and thus, didn’t find the right placement. The ball went towards the wide of the long-on fielder and Mitchell Marsh ran a good few yards to complete the catch.
Head was animated and made some gestures to the dressing while celebrating the wicket. Rishabh Pant once again failed to convert the start and walked back after scoring 30 off 104 deliveries.
Australia inch closer to victory with a few quick wickets
Rishabh Pant’s untimely dismissal shifted the game’s momentum in Australia’s favor, as Pat Cummins and company bounced back with a couple more wickets to take the driver’s seat.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja walked back after nicking one from Scott Boland, while first innings centurion Nitish Reddy edged one to Steve Smith at slips off Nathan Lyon. At the time of writing, India are placed at 132/6 and staring at a heavy defeat at the MCG.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (76*) and Washington Sundar (2*) will have to bat for another 28 overs to see off the Test and keep the five-match series at 1-1.
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Edited by Vaishnavi Iyer
Travis Head’s interesting celebration as he dismisses Rishabh Pant on Day 5 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test
During the highly anticipated Day 5 of the BGT 2024-25 4th Test match, Australian cricketer Travis Head pulled off an interesting celebration after dismissing Indian batsman Rishabh Pant.
As Pant attempted to play a big shot off Head’s delivery, he mistimed it and ended up giving a simple catch to the fielder. Head, known for his energetic celebrations, didn’t disappoint as he ran towards his teammates with arms outstretched, showcasing his elation at the crucial wicket.
Fans were quick to notice Head’s unique celebration, with many taking to social media to praise his passion and enthusiasm on the field. The dismissal of Pant was a significant moment in the match, as it helped Australia gain the upper hand on the final day of play.
Head’s celebration added an extra spark to the already intense atmosphere of the Test match, making it a memorable moment for both players and spectators alike. Stay tuned for more exciting moments in the world of cricket!
A new attendance record for a Test match in Australia has been set with more than 350,700 passing through the gates at the MCG across the five days of the fourth Test between Australia and India, surpassing the previous mark of 350,534 set in 1937.
Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday that 51,371 had already come in for the first session of the fifth day, with more to follow later in the afternoon.
The crowd tally meant that more people have attended the 2024 MCG Boxing Day Test than had seen a Sir Donald Bradman-led Australia play England in January 1937 at the same venue, which was played over six days.
The crowds have been absolutely extraordinary for this Test match with daily tallies of 87,242, 85,147, 83,073, 43,867 and 51,371 and counting. A day five crowd exceeding day four is unheard of with the Melbourne Cricket Club, who run the MCG, underestimating the number on day five.
They opened Yarra Park outside the ground for general public parking on day five, which is a rarity. But they only had one gate open and it caused a significant traffic choke point prior to play with a number of fans late to get into the ground.
The record numbers follow the huge crowds India attracted at the MCG at the 2022 T20 World Cup when 90,293 saw India play Pakistan and 82,507 watched India play Zimbabwe.
The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has always been a highly-anticipated event in the cricketing calendar, and this year was no different. In a historic moment, the all-time attendance record for a Test match in Australia was broken at the MCG during the BGT Boxing Day Test.
Thousands of fans packed into the iconic stadium to witness the thrilling contest between Australia and their opponents, creating an incredible atmosphere that added to the excitement of the match. The record-breaking attendance is a testament to the enduring popularity of Test cricket in Australia and the passion of cricket fans across the country.
The BGT Boxing Day Test at the MCG will go down in history as a memorable occasion, not only for the thrilling on-field action but also for the incredible support from the fans. It was a truly special moment for Australian cricket and a reminder of the unique magic that Test cricket can bring.
On the night before the Boxing Day Test, Sam Konstas told his batting coach Tahmid Islam that he would only play the scoop against Jasprit Bumrah after he reached 150. But, after a number of early plays and misses against the champion fast bowler on debut at the MCG, Konstas brought forward his plans for the scoop. It hardly surprised Tahmid, Konstas’ 29-year-old batting coach.
Tahmid said as much in a conversation with Bangladeshi journalists on Saturday, a chat arranged by Prime Bank Cricket Club, Tahmid’s team in a short stint in the Dhaka Premier League several years ago. The news of Tahmid being Konstas’ batting coach has made headlines in Bangladesh.
Tahmid, speaking via Zoom, said Konstas’ instincts took over on Test debut. “We were having dinner the night before when he told me that the plan was to only scoop once he got to 150,” Tahmid said. “It wasn’t really part of the plan [to play the shot so early]. But he is someone that plays on instinct. He plays with a lot of freedom. He doesn’t really think of the consequences of what people are going to say if he gets it wrong. I think it is his biggest skill and asset. Whereas loads of players think about the consequences like ‘what if I fail doing it’ or ‘what if I get out playing it’ or ‘the media and coaching staff will have a go at me’.”
“Sam is quite assured in his game. After playing and missing six times in his first ten or 12 balls, he thought that the best way to put pressure on Bumrah was to try to put him off his length. He threw a different challenge at Bumrah, which was really good for Sam. It really shell-shocked India. They weren’t expecting a 19-year-old to come out and play with that sort of freedom.”
Tahmid, who works with Elevate Cricket Coaching, said that he was hardly surprised by Konstas’ choice of shots against a bowler of Bumrah’s class.
“It isn’t a surprise. The reason Australia picked him was to throw India a different challenge. Sam took on the Indian bowling attack, minus Bumrah, during his century for the Prime Minister’s XI against India about three weeks ago. He played with a lot of freedom. He played the reverse-scoop. He ran down the wicket to play back over the bowler’s head.
“Sam is someone who will play some shots and put people off their lengths, as opposed to the traditional approach. It was a bit of a gamble. It paid off for Australia. Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith were talking about how Sam’s innings gave them the opportunity to go out and express themselves as well. It was the freedom which they probably lacked in the first three games.”
Tahmid, who first took up coaching when he was playing in the Yorkshire Premier League in 2013, said that he first met Konstas when he was 14 years old, at Cranbrook School where Konstas was on a cricket scholarship. “Five years ago, I took up coaching at Cranbrook in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. That’s where Sam got a scholarship to go to school. That’s where we initially met. He was 14 years old. We had this really good connection from the first couple of sessions that we did in school.”
Tahmid narrated the story of how he formulated a plan for his cricketing future with Konstas’ father. “I was having dinner with his dad one night. We had some Greek food, which is their heritage. I put together a bit of a programme for him to try to target for the next phase of his life, which was to play Under-16s cricket in the New South Wales (NSW) system. It was where it all started for him. It was about his technical, mental and tactical game.
“As the journey evolved, we were lucky enough to have Shane Watson involved in the mindset side of things. I worked quite closely with Shane over the last few years. I worked with him in Major League Cricket (MLC) with the San Francisco Unicorns.”
“He is someone that plays on instinct. He plays with a lot of freedom. He doesn’t really think of the consequences of what people are going to say if he gets it wrong.”
Konstas added power to his game in the last 18 months when, alongside Tahmid, he worked on his white-ball skills. “He was always a technically sound player growing up. He had the fundamentals of the game. He wasn’t a very powerful player though,” Tahmid said. “He didn’t score very quickly growing up, so he focused a lot on his white-ball cricket in the last 18 months.
“He made his BBL debut two weeks ago. The focus was to make him a better T20 player. He was contracted last year but didn’t play any games. That’s where his white-ball game really started to develop and come along.”
Tahmid said that his friendship with England batter Harry Brook helped him mould Konstas’ cricket. “Someone that we use [as a reference] is Harry Brook, with whom I was lucky enough to play in Sydney. He is the No. 1 [currently No. 2] Test batter in the world. He is a fantastic all-format player, with whom I am really good friends. I get a lot of information from him, which I relay on to Sam, on how to transition between formats.
“It can be quite challenging but nowadays, you have to switch between formats. Sam plays Big Bash five or six days before the Boxing Day Test. If you don’t have the ability to switch between formats, you will get left behind.”
Of course Konstas also didn’t just come out with the scoops, reverse-hits and ramps overnight. He has worked hard at these shots in the nets. But, Tahmid said, to execute the same shots in a high-profile match at a packed MCG takes a lot of confidence, which remains a defining feature of Konstas. “He has been doing reverse-ramps for five or six years in the nets. It doesn’t happen by mistake. They need a lot of preparation to go out and execute in a game. And when you have clarity from your captain and organisation, it helps you to go out and express yourself. You don’t have the fear of getting dropped.
“I think he was always a confident person. He always wanted to be the best player in the field. He used to tell me after training, ‘what celebrations do you want from me when I get a century tomorrow?’ That’s what he told me before the Boxing Day Test too.”
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
The highly anticipated match between Australia and India in the Big Game Tournament (BGT) saw an exciting clash between Sam Konstas and Jasprit Bumrah. While many were surprised by the intense competition between the two players, coach Tahmid Islam had no doubt that Konstas would give Bumrah a run for his money.
Konstas, known for his aggressive playing style and strategic tactics, proved to be a formidable opponent for Bumrah, who is considered one of the best bowlers in the world. With his precision and speed, Bumrah posed a challenge for Konstas, but the Australian player held his own and showcased his skills on the field.
Coach Tahmid Islam, who has been working closely with Konstas to enhance his game, was confident in his player’s abilities and knew that he was well-prepared to take on Bumrah. The intense match between the two players was a testament to Konstas’ dedication and hard work, as he managed to hold his ground against the Indian bowler.
In the end, the match between Australia and India was a thrilling display of talent and sportsmanship, with both players giving it their all. While Bumrah may have ultimately emerged victorious, Konstas’ performance did not go unnoticed, and he certainly proved that he is a force to be reckoned with on the field. Coach Tahmid Islam’s belief in his player’s abilities was well-founded, as Konstas showed that he is a true competitor in the world of cricket.
![[Watch] Travis Head’s interesting celebration as he dismisses Rishabh Pant on Day 5 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test](https://ziontechgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/6d338-17355349505746-1920.jpg)
