SL v AUS: Steve Smith Joins 10,000-Test Run Club After Lengthy Wait
Steve Smith has officially joined the exclusive 10,000-Test run club, becoming just the fourth Australian cricketer to achieve this rare milestone. Steve Smith’s Near-Miss At The SCG The 35-year-old right-hander, Steve Smith reached the landmark in the first test against Sri Lanka in Galle, after an agonising wait following his near-miss earlier this month. Steve Smith’s Milestone Moment In Galle Steve Smith had only been one run away from 10,000 during Australia’s game against India at the SCG, when he was dismissed for 9,999 runs. Many wondered if he would ever reach or cross that exact threshold. On Thursday in Galle, however, Smith’s wait finally ended in spectacular style as, with the first ball he faced, he made his 10,000th. He had walked to the crease with Australia at 2-137 in the opening session and immediately went on the attack, striking a single to mid-on off Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya. The crowd erupted in applause as Smith raised his bat, sharing a brief embrace with his batting partner Usman Khawaja. Steve Smith Celebrates The Achievement The moment was bittersweet for Steve Smith, who looked sheepish as he acknowledged the crowd, however, the achievement was monumental. He is now part of an elite group that includes Allan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting, all of whom have surpassed the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket. Notably, all three were present at the SCG for the match where Steve Smith’s wait began. Galle’s Quiet Celebration Galle, though, was an altogether low-key affair and only a small number of Aussie supporters were out to cheer on Smith at this small seaside venue. Nonetheless, the achievement it still carries does great importance for the cricket world. He now joins some of the game’s greatest players, with only Brian Lara reaching the milestone in fewer Tests than Smith’s 115. Alongside Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, and Ricky Ponting, Smith is one of only a few to have achieved such a feat in under 200 innings. Among active players, only England’s Joe Root, with 12,972 Test runs, has a higher tally than Steve Smith. A Year Of Near Misses And Achievements For Steve Smith Steve Smith had come into the Australian summer 315 runs shy of the milestone and had been inching his way back with centuries in successive tests against England in Brisbane and Melbourne. When he walked into Sydney for the New Year’s Test, he needed only 38 runs; yet he was caught for 33 early on the second day of the match. The next two departures in the 9,990s brought him into the Sri Lanka series to finally gain the mark he had long pursued. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL v AUS: Unfinished Business On Steve Smith’s Mind As Australia Returns To Galle
As the opening test of the 2025 series against Sri Lanka comes around, Steve Smith is ready to go back as Australia’s captain. Steve Smith Returns To Galle As Captain The Galle International Stadium is a beauty and an eye opener to what lies in store. Having seen everything and anything in his distinguished career, it was only on Tuesday that Steve Smith came to this shrine to find himself warmly culturally greeted with energetic Sri Lankan folk dancers, masks and even flame throwers, but the Australian captain had eyes for only one thing, the 22 yards of turf that were going to decide the match. An Uncertain Deck At Galle As is always the case, the battle will be fought at Galle. First item on Smith’s agenda was to get a close-up look at the surface from every angle, something he did with equal parts curiosity and urgency. The pitch, as of the eve of the Test, seemed to be in a rather unpredictable state with heavy rainfall earlier in the week leaving thick clouds and extreme humidity hanging over the stadium. There is no telling how it’s going to come out despite all the ground staff’s efforts-be it cutting short the grasses or employing that UV light device-as is often so in Galle, it shall be one major determinant of match intensity. Drama At Galle Through Time From Nathan Lyon’s debut in 2011 to the very narrow contests of 2022, Galle has always been a stage for drama between Australia and Sri Lanka. But this series carries an extra weight for the Australians: they have already qualified for the World Test Championship final, but their record in Sri Lanka is at stake. Australia hasn’t won a Test series on the island in 14 years and, for Smith, it feels like something he wants to put right. Electric Atmosphere At Galle The atmosphere at Galle is electric, the local crowd adding their fervour to the mix. The Papare music of the Galle Cricket Club and the busy fort add to that distinct energy, defining this coastal venue. The game is everything, but above all the celebrations outside of the pitch. With nothing much to lose, Australia feels it is quite set on the right note at making the record straight. For Steve Smith, nothing proves the point in this task of accepting the challenge to lead his team into victory. Josh Inglis To Debut Josh Inglis is all set to get a match day call, this contest could turn out to be both interesting as it is demanding. And so much for this series for the batsman Steve Smith—is a chance of completing what hasn’t been complete yet. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL Owners And Tech Giants Bid For Hundred Franchises
A couple of IPL franchises and a couple of renowned tech industry owners have shown interest in taking the ownership roles in The Hundred. IPL Franchises Show Interest In The Hundred A few IPL franchise owners are among the shortlisted investors: Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, and Delhi Capitals co-owners GMR Group. A consortium of global tech giants with leaders from Google, Microsoft, and Adobe also remains in contention. IPL And Tech Giants In The Spotlight The bid for The Hundred franchises is in its decisive phase, as investors compete to win equity stakes for all eight franchises. Mumbai Indians and the tech consortium, led by Nikesh Arora of Palo Alto Networks, heavily target the London-based teams, particularly Oval Invincibles and London Spirit. The consortium includes some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names, such as Sundar Pichai (Google CEO) and Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO), among others. IPL franchise owners, including RPSG Group, are also targeting multiple teams in the competition. Interest In Manchester And London Teams The most sought-after teams are London clubs, Oval Invincibles and London Spirit, which investors are interested in tapping into the commercial potential of the city. Manchester Originals, hosted by Lancashire, is another highly sought-after team, largely because of the city’s connection to famous football clubs and its young, vibrant population. IPL owners are attracted to the possibility of working with Lancashire in managing cricket operations, making Manchester a strong contender for their investments. Apart from the London-based teams, there are others in the regional franchises, including Trent Rockets, Northern Superchargers and Welsh Fire that have generated much interest. The Sun Group that owns Sunrisers franchises of both IPL and SA20 has shown much interest in these teams while global fund manager CVC Capital Partners has taken a keen interest in Birmingham Phoenix, focusing on them. A Profitable Future For The Hundred Interest for both the IPL teams and global investors is strong towards the ECB decision of privatizing The Hundred by selling 49% stakes in franchises. Bids are expected to exceed £350 million, thereby shaping the new structure of the competition from 2026 onwards under the new ownerships. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND v ENG: T20I Series To Test Limits Of The Shortest Format
India and England prepare to clash in a five-match T20I series starting today, January 22, 2025. While India seems to have things under control, England finds itself struggling to show the full potential of its white-ball squad. India’s Smooth Sail In T20Is Since dominating Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and making short work of South Africa. While key players, such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have bid adieu to the T20I circuit, Team India still looks to include new talent very effectively, as though nothing has ever been changed. A Bumpy Ride For England In T20Is England’s path has been a far more difficult one. Since their glorious 2022 T20 World Cup triumph, the Three Lions haven’t been able to ensure consistent performances at ICC events, and now, with Brendon McCullum in charge, they are looking to redefine the current team and realize their ‘untapped’ potential. Challenges In T20I For Coach McCullum It is Brendon McCullum’s first white-ball series as a coach for England, which presents an ideal situation to squeeze every drop from the talent-packed team containing players such as Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone. Meanwhile, India’s T20I coach, Gautam Gambhir, believes his side’s recent test match defeats would have little to no effect on the confidence levels. Breaking Boundaries Between Forms This series comes at a time when the lines between T20I and ODI formats are increasingly blurred. With the Champions Trophy on the horizon, both teams will be keen to test their players in the shortest format, which could potentially open doors for future ODI spots. England’s Power-Packed T20I Squad England’s side is chock-full of firepower. Batting at No. 3, Jos Buttler has some explosive batting below him in the form of Liam Livingstone and dynamic Harry Brook. In attack, they have one of the most potent fast-bowling attacks in Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. Their squad, as deep as it is destructive, is a force to be reckoned with against India. India’s Selection Dilemmas India, on the other hand, has a lot of decisions to take, especially with their spinners and batting depth. The bowling unit looks quite solid with the seam attack with Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Mohammed Shami. The choice of spinners is still unsure with Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and the likes of Ravi Bishnoi in the selection mix. Pitch Conditions The Eden Garden pitch is looking like a heaven for batsmen with true bounce along with small boundaries and loads of dew which shall ensure high scoring games. According to the coaches of both the teams, they acknowledged that the real challenge lies here in getting their players to adapt to these conditions. Most probably dew might play its tricks, especially while playing the second innings. Expectations From The First IND v ENG T20I The first T20I is definitely going to be an exciting start of what is waiting to be a thrilling series. As both teams try to prove their dominance in T20I format, the fans are in for a big, high-octane contest full of big hits and nail-biting finishes. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND v ENG: An Action Packed Series Awaits
With the excitement for bilateral series going down, an action packed series featuring India and England surely is expected to keep everyone glued to the television. IND v ENG Anticipated To Be Full Of Action Packed Cricket Despite being watched by large audiences, these series rarely excite like test match series do. However, sometimes a series comes along that promises thrilling cricket and genuine anticipation. One such series is the upcoming T20I showdown between England and India. England’s Bold New Era White-ball cricket has witnessed a sea change both in India and England, particularly in T20Is. Brendon McCullum coached England have gone in for an aggressive approach just like India after their T20 World Cup win. The India vs England T20I series, thus, could be an absolute thriller between these two powerhouses as the battles are expected to be aggressive, explosive batting galore. India’s Aggressive Intent Since their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, the batting philosophy for India has shifted dramatically. India has shown a more attacking approach with the bat and the proof is in their record-breaking scores, including T20Is at 297 and 283. India’s boundary hits have gone up by leaps and bounds, having one every 2.18 balls, as compared to 2.63. England To Continue Playing Bazball This has also reflected on England’s psyche as they have enhanced their boundary attempts per ball from 2.51 to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 from 2.32. England’s capability to chase down big targets, which they have been able to do successfully including chasing a total of 218 runs, depicts the intent of aggressive T20 cricket. The series excitement builds as both teams come to increase the attack game. IND v ENG Expected To Be Evenly Poised The statistics are staggering. India has scored at an average of 200+ in seven out of 11 T20Is since the T20 World Cup. The Men In Blue have become a boundary-hitting machine, however, England has matched their aggression. Both sides are no longer playing conservative cricket—both teams are capable of chasing down huge targets and setting remarkable totals. The battle between these two sides will not only be about who hits more sixes and fours, but also about the tactical adjustments each side makes. The key will be how both teams manage to get through critical overs without conceding too many runs. IND v ENG Playing Conditions Conditions-wise, both teams may favor India’s smaller grounds and the fresh early-season pitches. As long as the tracks aren’t made slow—the thing India loves to do for competitive gain in the hope that it will yield something better-this series might feature some explosive cricket. If conditions match the two teams’ form right now, then this series is going to see some of the most breath-taking, high-scoring cricket witnessed in T20 cricket. Squad Depth And Bench Strength We are expected to see a lot of hard-hitters in this series. England’s Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone and Harry Brook will bring firepower to the batting lineup, while India’s Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma will be key contributors. The absence of players like Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav could create a more level playing field, giving England the opportunity to exploit India’s weaknesses. Anticipation And Excitement For IND v ENG The anticipation surrounding this series is palpable. It carries the potential to shatter existing records and push the limits of aggressive T20 cricket. Looking back at the incredible South Africa-West Indies series in March 2023, where teams posted unheard-of totals, this India-England series could potentially exceed even that remarkable scoring rate. The excitement and unpredictability of T20 cricket are on full display in this high-stakes clash. With everything in line-aggressive batting, freshly manicured pitches and high stakes, India vs England could not only break a few records but also redefine the very approach to T20 cricket in modern times. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
WPL 2025: BCCI Unveils Women’s Premier League 2025 Schedule
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the schedule for the third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The WPL 2025 will take place in four cities across India; Baroda, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mumbai. WPL 2025 To Start In Baroda The WPL 2025 is set to commence on February 14, 2025 at the newly constructed BCA Stadium in Baroda, where Gujarat Giants (GG) are going to take on the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Six matches are going to be played in Baroda. Bengaluru To Host A Couple Of WPL 2025 Fixtures The next challenge now goes to Bengaluru as the tournament advances to the preliminary games from Baroda. RCB will host a home game at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 21, 2025 against the Mumbai Indians (MI). RCB has three home games after this against UP Warriorz (UPW) on February 24, 2025, followed by a fixture against Gujarat Giants (GG) on February 27, 2025 and lastly, against the Delhi Capitals on March 01, 2025. Lucknow To Witness WPL 2025 Action Lucknow will debut in the WPL 2025 as another venue. UP Warriorz will have three of their fixtures at their home ground Lucknow’s WPL 2025 debut is expected to add an additional excitement for locals. Mumbai To Hosts The Last Phase And The WPL 2025 Playoffs The last leg of the WPL 2025 will be held in Mumbai where the last two league matches along with the much-awaited play-offs will be played at the Cricket Club Of India (CCI) Brabourne Stadium. Mumbai Indians will finish their league stage schedule by playing back to back home games against the Gujarat Giants on March 10, 2025 and RCB on March 11, 2025. WPL 2025 Playoffs The conclusion of playoffs will be with a cliffhanger-type finale, where the top team will enjoy direct passage to the final. The second and third-ranked teams will compete on March 13, 2025 in an Eliminator, which will be a fantastic opportunity to survive to the championship match. The WPL 2025 grand finale will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, where the winner shall bag the prestigious WPL 2025 title. Single-Header Format For WPL 2025 As was the case in the previous seasons, all the matches in the third edition are going to be single-header fixtures, so every game is going to be of immense importance in the quest for supremacy. The WPL 2025 is going to be another exciting chapter in the growing legacy of women’s cricket in India, as there are diverse venues and teams eager to flaunt their skills. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Anrich Nortje To Miss Champions Trophy Due To This Injury
South Africa’s Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy due to a back injury and becomes the latest setback to the fast bowler. Although Anrich Nortje was included in South Africa’s squad earlier this week, team officials revealed 48 hours later that he will not be fit on time to play the tournament’s opening match against Afghanistan on February 21, which also includes England and Australia in the same group. Who Will Replace Anrich Nortje? The replacement for Anrich Nortje will be confirmed at a later date. Options for his replacement could be seamer Gerald Coetzee, who recently recovered from a groin strain, or 18-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who could also be considered for the role. Anrich Nortje has had difficulty with recurring injury concerns in the past as well. His last test match was in March 2023 and his last one-day international was in September 2023. Anrich Nortje did play for South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 though, as the Proteas lost to India in the final of the tournament. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Shreyas Iyer Is The X-Factor India Needs At Champions Trophy
As the selection talks begin for the Indian Cricket Team for the ICC Champions Trophy, Shreyas Iyer is one name that every sensible cricket follower would expect to be featured in the Indian Cricket Team. What Can Shreyas Iyer Do? As a classy stroke player, Shreyas Iyer can stabilize innings and hold his ground at pressure games. He would be the potential missing X-factor that Team India may require for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which is to commence on 19th February. Shreyas Iyer’s potential as a match-winner during middle-order crises, especially at big-ticket events, makes him an asset India cannot miss. Why Will Shreyas Iyer Help India’s Middle Order? Shreyas Iyer is that stability which the Indian Cricket Team will need in the middle order. Soaking the pressure and delivering the goods while being in the middle order is an important feature of any ICC competition. Iyer can accelerate to a certain level if a situation gets really tough to handle and is a good finisher too. This quick adaptation of Shreyas Iyer under pressure will really be a big aspect for the Indian Cricket Team in the Champions Trophy. Shreyas Iyer Comes Back From A Rough Patch Coming into this series, Shreyas Iyer hadn’t been great since his last game for India, during India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka in August 2024. Iyer had played only three ODIs and had aggregated only 38 runs, averaging a 12.66, which indeed is low for a cricketer of that caliber. With the announcement of the Indian Cricket Team squad for the England limited-overs series and the Champions Trophy likely to come out in the coming days, Shreyas Iyer would also want to ensure himself a place in the team. Shreyas Iyer: From Struggles To Resurrection He was very bold after his no-shows for the previous matches against Sri Lanka. Shreyas Iyer batted extremely well in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, however, was not there in the list of BCCI central contracts; he was not there for the domestic tournaments. However, return to form is surely something that could only be described in superlative terms. Shreyas Iyer’s Impressive Records Shreyas Iyer has scored 4,300 runs with an average of 39.77 in international cricket, with 14 tests, 62 ODIs and 51 T20Is, with a strike rate of 96.57 and six hundreds. Shreyas Iyer showed maturity and consistency in big games in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, scoring 530 runs in 11 innings with an average of 66.25 and a strike rate of 113.24. This shows how vital an asset, Shreyas Iyer is going to be for the Indian Cricket Team in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Shreyas Iyer’s Outstanding 2024-25 Domestic Season Shreyas Iyer has been playing exceptional cricket in the domestic season of 2024-25 for Mumbai. In just four matches of Ranji Trophy, Iyer had scored 452 runs with an average of 90.40 and strike rate of 88.80. His individual highest score had been 233 runs. Shreyas Iyer’s brilliant performances were also noticed in shorter formats where he gave a spectacular performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he scored 345 runs in nine matches of the tournament while maintaining an average of 49.28 with strikes at 188.52. He steered Mumbai to victory in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by taking the same. Shreyas Iyer’s Contributions In The Vijay Hazare Trophy Shreyas Iyer has been batting well in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. In five matches for Mumbai, he scored 325 runs. Against Puducherry, his unbeaten 137 saved his team from a precarious 82 for five. Iyer again came out with a match-winning performance under pressure. His explosive 114 off just 55 balls against Karnataka also showcased his striking range. Within 50 balls, Shreyas Iyer had completed his century. Shreyas Iyer’s Adaptability Shreyas Iyer close game experience together with his talent to make himself in any kind of changing situation means he’s that player who looks more dominating, especially for match-winning situations in high pressure games. He does boast excellent records both at home and away, on several instances, also showing he is the kind of chap who would genuinely come up at the right time when it matters. Missing a player like Shreyas Iyer from the ICC Champions Trophy would mean missing one out on key matches when it really counts. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Martin Guptill Announces Retirement From International Cricket
New Zealand’s Martin Guptill has decided to retire from international cricket. Guptill, who played all three formats of the game, marked the end of a glittering career. Guptill, one of the world’s best openers, left an indelible mark on international cricket as he had played 367 matches for the Black Caps. He scored 23 international centuries and set many records, especially in white-ball cricket. Martin Guptill’s Promising Start In INT Cricket Martin Guptill first represented his country New Zealand in an ODI in January 2009 against the West Indies. A few months after that, in February of the same year, he represented New Zealand in the T20Is. He marked his Test career debut by playing for New Zealand in March 2009 itself. Martin Guptill’s Overall Career Martin Guptill represented New Zealand at the international level till 2022. In total, he has played more than 350 matches in his international cricket career by representing the blackcaps in ODIs, T20Is, and Tests. This includes 198 ODIs, 122 T20Is and 47 Tests. Guptill’s T20I record reads 3,531 runs. He was the first man to emerge from New Zealand and set the record for scoring the highest number of runs ever in that match. For ODIs, Martin Guptill could have made 7,346 runs so he stands at third on the most run-scoring list of ODIs for New Zealand and two people score more than him. Those include Taylor and Stephen Fleming. For his test cricket, he managed 2,586 runs. In total, during his entire cricketing career, Martin Guptill scored 23 centuries and 76 half-centuries. Martin Guptill’s Early Days In Cricket Martin Guptill early showed the talent that made him stand apart from the rest. In 2009, he became the first New Zealand player to score a century on ODI debut against the West Indies at Eden Park. His break year also kept his name on the ICC World ODI XI list. The same year, Martin Guptill made history by becoming the first New Zealand player to score an ODI double-century in the year 2015. Thus, he is the man responsible for three of the four individual highest scores against New Zealand in ODI. Martin Guptill In ODI’s However, it was a few great innings that constituted his career and such an innings came in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup quarter-final against the West Indies. On that day, Martin Guptill bashed 237 not out and made the record of the highest individual score in a World Cup match as well as New Zealand’s first-ever ODI double-century. Other notable knocks include his unbeaten 189 against England in 2013 and 180* against South Africa in 2017, which counts among New Zealand’s highest scores in the ODI format. Martin Guptill In T20Is Martin Guptill was one such cricketer to watch even in the format of T20I, scoring two memorable tons-one an innings of 101* off 69 balls against South Africa in 2012 and the other an innings of 105 off 54 balls against Australia in 2018. Martin Guptill In Test Match Career Though he is more of a specialist for limited overs, Martin Guptill was also a consistent test player, scoring 2,586 runs in 47 Test matches. Among his three test match centuries, there are a career best of 189 against Bangladesh in 2010, 109 against Zimbabwe in 2011 and 156 against Sri Lanka in 2015. During the international career that has lasted over more than 13 years, Guptill ran for more than 13,000 runs for New Zealand and proved to be the backbone of their batting line. Martin Guptill’s legacy will always be remembered as one of the most consistent and prolific top order batters in the sport. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Should Team India Add More Pacers Or More Spinners Post BGT Loss?
The Indian Cricket Team struggled during their recent tour of Australia. With the bowling unit completely dependent on Jasprit Bumrah, the question arises whether team India should go back playing four specialist spinners or should they continue with four specialist pacers in their bowling unit? Team India’s Preference For Pace For sometime now, Indians have had recourse to a substantial group of frontline pacers particularly during overseas tours where there were favorable conditions. Historically, it has been an obsession under Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli that there needs to be at least four specialist pacers in the playing XI, an approach which most of the times was found successful. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, however, brought forth the debate on whether it is valid in the present times or time to think in a different balance of pace and spin. Recent BGT Upset For Team India The 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was a demonstration of the dangers of straying from this winning formula. India’s bowling attack was stretched to its limits with Jasprit Bumrah ruled out through injury and India ended up with a disappointing series result of 1-3. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled long hours but to no avail against an Australian batting lineup that was far too strong. This put into the fore how important it is to have a strong core of pace bowling when cricketing is done under seam and swing-friendly conditions. Team India’s Bowling Strategy Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, India’s bowling strategy was slightly changed during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Instead of relying on four fast bowlers as specialists, India relied on a core of three specialist pacers accompanied by many all-rounders. This change, though flexible in batting order, went wrong for India in the bowling department. All-rounders like Nitish Kumar Reddy were used and played a not so vital role with the ball and such a move was questionable considering the conditions where pace would play a crucial role. Statistics Highlight Team India’s Bowling Needs Statistical analysis indicated that team India’s third and fourth seamers did well in the away conditions during the last several years, having an average of 27.18 and the main strike bowlers showed an even better average of 24.94. In sharp contrast, while playing the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the very same third and fourth seamers combined to post a worrying 40.18. Such statistics may indicate going back to more traditional configuration of valuing more proven effectiveness over flexibility. Team India’s Condition-Based Decisions The constant seesaw between the pace and the spin also led to a question about the playing conditions. Traditionally, Australian pitches have been known to favor fast bowling, with their speed and bounce. However, team India chose two spinners in its playing XI. It was a rare decision and one that did not go right for them at all. The spinners could bowl only 16 percent of the overs and did little in taking wickets. In contrast, Australia used their fast bowlers very effectively by placing a well-balanced lineup that constantly threatened the Indian batsmen throughout the series. Team India’s Future Bowling Strategy With these recent performances, there is sufficient evidence to justify a return to a pace-heavy strategy for team India’s future excursions, especially on fast, bouncy tracks abroad. Four specialist pacers would ensure sharper penetration with rest for the primary strike bowlers coming into each contest in fresh conditions. These words of Gambhir from previous remarks—words where he does actually emphasize that to win a test match, the team has to take 20 wickets —reinforces that a potent pace attack simply cannot be in test match cricket. The Balanced Philosophy By Team India Bowling Team India should strike the right balance of both pace and spin and depending on conditions and opposition. However, it should, in a way, depend on away conditions more on the pacers side. The strategy would be restored back to using more specialist pacers as future planning is on by the selection committee and management team. Do you think that team India will go back playing with four specialist spinners in their upcoming test match series or will they go with four specialist pace bowlers in their lineup? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye