What Did Australia’s BGT Win Tell About Their Present And Future?
Australia’s comprehensive 3-1 series win over India in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy was a result that showed the team’s mentality, depth and future potential. Some testing moments were seen, especially from India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah and challenging pitch conditions, however, the win raises several questions about Australia’s squad, their immediate future and their long-term plans. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways from the series with a focus on what lies ahead for Australia. How Long Can Usman Khawaja Continue Playing For Australia? At 38, Usman Khawaja’s test future for Australia is now in question. His series against India was a tough one—he managed only 184 runs at an average of 20.44, which was a disappointing return for the opener. Khawaja was struggling against Bumrah, getting out to him six times and his last 24 innings average is just 28.68. However, his captain Pat Cummins feels that Khawaja is still playing well and can continue as long as he’s contributing. However, with his 39th birthday looming during the 2025-26 Ashes, how long can Khawaja continue to hold on to his spot? Performances in tough conditions in Sri Lanka and India may provide him with a temporary reprieve, however, a tour of the West Indies and a World Test Championship Final could well determine his immediate future. Can Australia Accommodate Both Beau Webster And Cameron Green In The Same XI? Beau Webster’s performances at Sydney, have given selectors plenty to think about. He looked the most assured batter on show when things were toughest and can also offer off-spin which adds value to his package. With Cameron Green recovering from back surgery, it is possible both might play in the same side especially with Green set to be used as a batter-only short-term solution. However, how might Australia squeeze both into the one XI? Beyond Nos. 4 and 5, to be taken up by Travis Head and Steven Smith, reshaping the top order to make way for both looks a challenge in itself. So if Green ever returns to top form, being able to include the luxury of keeping both in the same team at least offers further balance to Australia. Will Scott Boland Future Regularly For Australia? Scott Boland’s strong record of 56 wickets at 17.66 has given him a safety, however, a regular spot in the Australian XI by no means is sure. Boland was pretty good in the last two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Melbourne and Sydney. At 35, Boland’s future depends on managing his knee issues and with Hazlewood and Starc also in the twilight of their careers, Australia could soon need to look to younger quicks to maintain their strength in attack. What Does Australia’s Squad Depth Say About Their Future? Australia has a fine balance of experience and youth. With only two players below 30 in the side for the India series, things are looking bright for the young contingent. Todd Murphy (24) seems likely to be part of the Sri Lanka tour. Sam Konstas (19) did a fine job on debut. Cameron Green (26), Josh Inglis (29) and Beau Webster (31) give the side some excellent future options. While some might say the old core of the team is getting on, Australia’s selectors feel this transition will occur organically. The blend of experience and youth with an ever-changing squad ensures a bright future, as they now look to retain their World Test Championship title while continuing their hegemony in test match cricket. What Does All Of This Mean For Australia’s Forthcoming Tours? The series win over India showed that Australia has the power and flexibility to win in the short term, however, raises big questions about the roles of players like Khawaja, Green and Boland. Decisions made in the next series against Sri Lanka, the West Indies and the Ashes will define Australia’s future. The old guard and the new faces are going to be a perfect blend in defining the team’s test cricket journey in the years to come. Do let us know how does the future look like for Australia in test match cricket? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
AUS v IND: Mitchell Starc Runs Riot With The Pink-Ball On Day 1
The Indian Cricket Team’s batting was completely exposed as the Australian pacer Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc during day 1 of the pink-ball test at the Adelaide Oval, which began on Friday, December 06, 2024. Starc ‘Bowls Fast’ To Jaiswal In a thrilling sequence of play, Mitchell Starc struck early, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal off the very first ball of the match. He then went on to take two more quick wickets before the dinner break, leaving India reeling. Starc Dismantles India’s Top Order Starc’s relentless pace did significant damage, sending back KL Rahul (37 off 64) and Virat Kohli (7 off 8) in quick succession, leaving Australia well and truly in the driver’s seat. Earlier, Rahul and Shubman Gill (31 off 51) had added a steady 69 for the second wicket, giving India a decent base. However just when it seemed India was off to a good start, disaster struck. Starc And Boland Continue The Carnage Scott Bolland delivered another crushing blow to send Gill packing in the final over before the break with a full ball, which trapped the opener plumb in front. India’s collapse happened in quick time and decisiveness since the last three wickets yielded just 12 runs; it left the team facing a precarious situation. Rohit Sharma Departs Early Rohit Sharma, who had been watching from the dressing room, was soon called to join Rishabh Pant (4 not out) at the crease, with India’s hopes hanging by a thread. Having dropped himself down the order to accommodate K.L Rahul at the top, Rohit found himself thrust into a growing crisis. Starc Completes His Five-Wicket Haul Mitchell Starc came in after the break and pulled off a memorable five-wicket haul against India, adding two more wickets to that list of R. Ashwin and Harshit Rana. India Lose Their Momentum Under Starc’s Pressure The day 1 had begun so promisingly for India when they decided to bat on a grassy pitch however, the innings soon became one-way traffic in favor of the Australians. Jaiswal, who had just completed his memorable debut in Australia, was out first ball to a full, swinging delivery by Starc, leg before wicket. Gill And Rahul Fight Back But Fall To Starc’s Short Balls Shubman Gill, coming in after injury, looked confident at the crease, while Rahul, after a slow start, started playing aggressively. The pair did well against Starc, whose inconsistent lengths let Gill in particular thrive, with several stylish cover drives and off-drives off the left-arm pacer. However, India’s progress was halted as Starc’s short-pitched deliveries caught Rahul and Kohli off guard. Both were dismissed in successive overs with sharp bounces sending them to the slips. Boland then sent back Gill as tea arrived and India now was in a vulnerable state. Australia In Command With Starc’s Blitz Australia now has the upper hand in the contest as India’s promising position now is shattered in a marvelous display of seam bowling. Australia Playing At Adelaide Is A Test For India Australia has a strong track record in Day-Night Tests at Adelaide, consistently posting impressive first-innings totals. In their last four outings at the venue, Australia has scored 442/8 declared, 589/3 declared, 473/9 declared, and 511/7 declared, showcasing their ability to dominate the batting-friendly conditions with long partnerships. India’s Struggles In Adelaide’s Pink Ball Tests In contrast, India has had a tough time batting first in Adelaide’s pink-ball tests. The best they could do was 259/9 declared in 2018. Their other three tests have seen much lower totals in the first innings, such as 202, 244, and 180. That is quite a stark difference, really, to say that India has not really managed to adjust to the pink ball and to Adelaide conditions generally, usually failing to meet the high Australian standards. Will India bounce back the way they did in the 1st test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth or will Australia dominate the second test and make the series scoreline equal? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
AUS v IND: What Makes Australia Dominate In Pink Ball Tests?
As Australia prepares for another day-night test match in Adelaide, there is a lot to look forward to as this side is confident of avenging the heavy defeat at India’s hands in the first test. However, Australia’s brilliant record in pink-ball tests stands at its own pedestal. Notching up all seven of the day-night tests at the Adelaide Oval and 11 of 12 overall at their home, they have their best track record. Following are the factors that feature why Australia is dominating day-night tests. Win The Toss And Batting First In Pink Ball Test The secret to Australian success in day-night tests seems to be winning the toss and batting first. Indeed, they have won all seven of their matches when deciding to bat first, posting monstrous totals-often well over 400 runs. An earlier success by West Indies batted first and scored 311 and then went on to win the match by eight runs is an excellent example of how batting first gives a head start. Of the 12 day-night tests played at home, ten have seen the team winning the toss opt to bat. England were exceptions in Adelaide (2017) and Hobart (2022), both of which they lost after failing to build on their early advantage. In like manner, New Zealand in 2015 and Sri Lanka in 2019 could not make a mark after opting to bat, managing scores of just 202 and 144, respectively. Even when South Africa declared at 259/9 in Adelaide in 2016 to bowl under lights, Australia’s unbroken partnership at stumps showed how important it is to have a solid first innings score. India’s 2020 loss, despite having a first-innings lead of 53 runs, remains one of the rare exceptions to this pattern. The New Ball Effect The new pink ball used in day-night tests significantly upgrades the performance of seam bowlers compared to its red version. Fast bowlers have particularly flourished under this condition, especially the Australian fast bowlers. Since 2015-16, the average for fast bowlers in the first 20 overs of a red-ball test has been 33.02. However, in pink ball tests, it drops down to 24.56. Australia’s fast bowling has been very effective with the pink ball, averaging just 18.87 in the first 20 overs, compared to 25.01 with the red ball. Even the visiting quicks, on average, have done a better job with the pink ball (33.94) than with the red (45.91). That gap makes batting in the early sessions of a pink ball test much tougher than in day games. Batting Issues In The Final Session The last session of a day-night test, which is generally played under lights, is the most challenging for batsmen. Fast bowlers reign supreme in this phase with an average of 20.30, as opposed to 23.03 in the first session and 32.01 in the second. The Australian bowlers are even more lethal, with an average of 14.66 under lights in all 12 day-night tests. Visiting bowlers have an average of 32.08 under lights. Interestingly, the Adelaide Oval presents a different picture, where the fast bowlers do well in the first session (23.02) than in the third (25.66). Australia’s pacers are as deadly in the afternoon, with an average of 17.42 and 18.26 respectively. Nathan Lyon’s Performance While Australia’s fast bowling cartel has shone in day-night test matches, Nathan Lyon has also played a crucial role in his side’s dominance. As a spinner, Lyon outshines visiting spinners in such conditions. Since the 2015-16 season, Lyon has averaged 25.58 in pink ball tests and 31.80 in red ball tests at home. His ability to take wickets at the right time and at a faster rate than with the red ball, has made him a valuable player in Australia’s current dominance. The visiting spinners, however, have fared poorly in Australia. Since 2015-16, they have averaged 62.31 in red ball test matches and 64.44 in pink ball test matches, while Nathan Lyon has been a contrast to all of them every time. Leading Run Getter In Pink Ball Tests Marnus Labuschagne has been outstanding in pink ball tests. With 894 runs at an average of 63.85 and four centuries, Labuschagne is the highest run-getter in pink ball test matches for Australia. Travis Head with two hundreds is the next best. Leading Wicket Taker In Pink Ball Tests Mitchell Starc has been Australia’s leading wicket-taker in pink-ball Tests. With 66 wickets at an average of 18.71, he is the only player in Australia to have taken 50-plus wickets in this format. Along with Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have also kept excellent records, with averages under 20. Australia In Pink Ball Tests Australia’s near-perfect record in day-night tests at home comes from a couple of factors. All these have been part of the bat-first strategy, the effectiveness of seamers with the new pink ball and the dominance of Australian bowlers under lights. Nathan Lyon’s success as a spinner in these conditions adds to Australia’s formidable reputation. With Labuschagne, Starc and Lyon leading the charge, Australia remains a force to be reckoned with in day-night test matches and continues to make it hard for opponents to beat them on home soil. Will Australia keep dominating in the pink ball test or will India have the upper hand this time in Adelaide? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Cricketers with Family Members Who Took the Olympic Stage
Cricket is all set for a grand comeback at the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 after an absence of 124 years from the world’s biggest sporting stage. While athletes from across the world shone brightly in the Paris Olympics 2024, it is of importance to note that despite its gigantic following, cricket has never been included since 1900. Then, it was only 24 players who participated in a two-day Test match between Great Britain and France; gold went to the former. Fast-forward to 2028, and cricket will again feature but in a much more modern format: T20 International. Though cricket itself has spent over a century out of the way, some family members of cricketing legends have enjoyed their share of limelight at the Olympics. So, here is a brief look at three cricketers whose relatives have graced the grand Olympic stage: 1. Mitchell Starc’s Brother, Brandon Starc, at Paris 2024 The Starc family indeed does have sport running through its veins. While Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has had success in cricket’s biggest tournaments with his lethal bowling and record-breaking IPL deals, it is his younger brother who represents the family name in the Olympics. Brandon is an Australian high jumper who has been persistent at the Games since Rio 2016, moving on to Tokyo 2020, and recently Paris 2024. His experience includes a silver medal in the 2010 Youth Olympics and gold in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Olympic podium hasn’t seen Brandon yet. 2. Keith Thomson’s Brother, William Thomson, at Mexico 1968 New Zealand’s Keith Thomson was known for his brief career as a test cricketer, playing one test match against India in 1968, before moving to become an umpire. However, it was his brother William Thomson who made the news in another sport. William was a member of the New Zealand men’s hockey team during the 1968 Mexico Olympics. What was expected to be a straightforward victory for the Kiwis did what no one had thought they would–defeat reigning champions India in the opening match. Unfortunately, New Zealand couldn’t sustain that momentum, finishing third in their group and out of the semifinals despite a solid record of three wins and four draws. 3. Winston Benjamin’s Son, Rai Benjamin, at Paris 2024 Son of the former West Indies pace bowler Winston Benjamin, Rai Benjamin, made a name for himself in athletics and captured gold at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the 400m hurdles. Rai’s time of 46.46 seconds secured him a top spot at Stade de France, building on his already distinguished list of accolades including a silver medal at Tokyo 2020 and a raft of awards won at the World Championships. His victory in Paris was extra special for his family but also offered a glimpse into the future of sporting greatness. These stories remind us that while cricket as a game was not present, the fighting spirit of the loved ones of cricket stars never went out of existence as we prepare ourselves for cricket’s comeback in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. Now, the whole world will wait for 2028—cricketers are going to get their chance to blaze the Olympic podium again. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL 2024: Mitchell Starc Shines At Wankhede In Intense Mumbai Heat, Fitness Secrets Are Out Now
In front of a packed Wankhade crowd against the Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Mitchell Starc came out with a match-winning performance of 4 for 33. Not just the local crowd, Starc also overcame the intense Mumbai heat and shined like a superstar for KKR, helping them win at the Wankhede for the first time in 12 seasons. Starc has always had fitness issues right through his career. Be it the ankle, toe or even the calf, the tall pacer hasn’t been lucky when it comes to injuries. Yet, he has been able to play at the highest level for over a decade now, thanks largely to his fitness regimen. The Aussie pacer follows a disciplined plan when it comes to fitness and diet. A quick sneak peak into Mitchell Starc’s fitness and diet plan, to stay fit at the top level. 1. Isometric Warm UpsIsometric exercises primarily emphasize holding muscles in a static position, aiding in the preparation of the legs for dynamic movements essential for quick bowling and fast running. 2. Lower Body TrainingStarc emphasizes lower-body training, acknowledging the critical role of leg strength in generating the pace necessary for his bowling prowess. 3. Cardio Mitchell Starc’s cardio regimen is aimed at reducing excess body fat while simultaneously enhancing his cardiovascular endurance. 4. Strength TrainingStarc favors strength training exercises such as barbell cleans, trap bar deadlifts, split jerks, and kettlebell swings, which contribute to powerful deliveries and overall body strengthening. 5. Ice Bath SessionsTo ensure complete recovery, Mitchell Starc incorporates ice baths into his post-game recovery routine. These baths effectively alleviate muscle soreness, providing him with instant relief. 6. Adequate SleepStarc’s workout regimen also prioritizes rest ensuring he gets adequate sleep. A consistent sleep schedule supports his recovery process and contributes to his overall well-being. 7. Diet IntakeStarc’s diet is rich in essential nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. He opts for foods such as eggs, plant-based protein sources, sweet potatoes, avocado, and almond milk as staples in his daily nutrition plan. 8. Natural SupplementsStarc favors sources abundant in fish oil, vitamin D, glutamine, creatine, and Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) for his nutritional needs. Starc’s discipline towards his regular workouts and diets has helped him to compete at the highest level. After a slow start, Starc is coming into his own for the KKR in IPL 2024. Great sign for the Knights, not so for the batters for the rest of the competition. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye.
