Latest news with #TestXI
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Not at the level we expect': Australia drop Marnus Labuschagne for first time in six years for 1st West Indies Test
A week on from their ICC World Test Championship final defeat, Australia have made two changes, including the axe of batter Marnus Labuschagne for the first time in six years from the Test XI since he burst onto the scene. After five scattered Test appearances, Labuschagne took to the spotlight during the 2019 Ashes at Lord's when he came in as a concussion substitute, replacing Steve Smith who is also ruled out of the forthcoming Test in the Caribbean due to a finger injury he suffered during the WTC final. Labuschagne had since gone on to compile 11 Test hundreds and amass over 4000 Test runs while leading the charts for Australia for the majority of the three WTC editions. However, a barren run since December 2022 had Labuschagne's Test average take a massive dip from 60 to below 47 this year. The 30-year-old was moved up to open the batting in the WTC final defeat to South Africa, making only 39 runs in two innings. 'Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects,' Australia chairman of selectors George Bailey said in a statement. 'We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively.' Post the WTC final loss, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald had sounded out that the team would back Labuschagne to bounce back in the Caribbean. 'He's missed out on big scores. He threatened at the MCG (when he) got a pair of 70s, and, you know, if they had been a pair of hundreds, the conversation shifts as well. 'But we're confident that he could return to his best and hence (that is) why we keep picking him. It is at what point do we stop picking him?' Konstas, Inglis in Sam Konstas who made a sprightly debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will take Labuschagne's spot while Josh Inglis will replace the injured Smith after having notched up a century against Sri Lanka on debut in February. Australia tour of West Indies schedule, squads First Test: June 25-29, Bridgetown, Barbados Second Test: July 3-7, St George's, Grenada Third Test: July 12-16, Kingston, Jamaica Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster West Indies Test squad: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Nightmare' ‘last-chance saloon' Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne might not play Ashes, say Ian Healy and Jason Gillespie
Marnus Labuschagne is under pressure to hold his spot in Australian Test side after the WTC final capped a poor run of form in the recent times. The former pacer Jason Gillespie has said that the upcoming series in West Indies might be Labuschagne's last if he doesn't perform. Former wicketkeeper Ian Healy has sent out warning to Usman Khawaja, saying he can't coast till Ashes. 'If you [Khawaja] limp to the end of your career and the last series you're hanging out for is the Ashes, it's going to be a nightmare,' Healy told SEN radio. 'England are coming. They're coming for us big time. They're picking the right style of bowler and they're looking at batsmen who can prosper in Australian conditions. They are going so specific (with selection) that they are going to be all over us. If you're not right on the top of your energy levels and your technique – which we're not at the moment – you're going to get hurt. In your last series if you're not there, if you thought it was going to be fun, it's a nightmare,' Healy said on Khawaja. Gillespie turned the heat on Labuschagne. 'If he [Labuschagne] does play in the Caribbean, I think it's definitely last chance saloon, there's no doubt about that,' Gillespie told SEN radio. 'I think if he doesn't perform strongly, then I think he's at a real risk of not playing in the Ashes.' It's not just his recent form that has been worrying Gillespie. 'Over the last two years, he's averaged in the mid-20s and he's got only one I suspect either one of Usman or Marnus will miss out in the West Indies. That's my estimation.' At the WTC final, Cameron Green, who had made his comeback after months of recuperating from injury, had batted at No.3 and failed. He was caught in the slips in both innings, poking at deliveries. In the second innings, he walked down the track but yet again had a fatal poke. 'With Steve Smith locked into No. 4 and Travis Head at No. 5 when fully fit, that leaves No. 3 as the last non-opening spot for a specialist batsman in the Test XI for the Ashes,' Gillespie said, in case Labuschagne doesn't make it for the Ashes. 'I know that Steve Smith's best position is at four and I think Travis Head's best position is at five. I think those guys are pretty set,' Gillespie said. 'So, I think ultimately that the selectors have got to decide: Is Jos Inglis the best man to do the job at three, or is Marnus the best man to do the job at three? Gillespie wants the selectors to look at the best performer in domestic cricket. 'Reward some performers in domestic cricket with either an opener or a number three who has performed strongly in Sheffield Shield cricket to promote one of those players to bat at three.'
India Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Karun Nair 186 not out highlights India A's dominant batting show vs England Lions
India A produced a dominant batting display on Day 1 of their four-day red-ball match against England Lions at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. Karun Nair made a compelling case for a place in the senior Test XI for the upcoming five-match series against England, beginning on 20 June. At stumps, India A had surged to an imposing 409 for 3 in 90 overs, making an emphatic start to their three-match tour of Old brought up his 24th first-class hundred – and his second in succession – following his match-winning knock in the Ranji Trophy final for Vidarbha earlier this year. He was in sublime touch, striking 24 boundaries and a six, capitalising on favourable batting conditions in A were jolted early by the loss of their captain Abhimanyu Easwaran and fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, but Nair and Sarfaraz Khan combined to steady the innings. The duo put on a mammoth 181-run stand for the third wicket, thwarting any momentum the England Lions had hoped to build. Post-Tea, Dhruv Jurel joined Nair in the middle and immediately got into his groove, cashing in on some lacklustre bowling from a weary England Lions attack. Jurel raced to an unbeaten 82 off just 104 deliveries, showcasing a fine blend of aggression and control as the bowlers struggled to maintain intensity in the final both Sarfaraz and Jurel displayed impressive skill and temperament, it was Karun Nair who stood out, exhibiting composure, elegance and a wide range of strokes. He took his time early on, seeing off the new ball against a disciplined four-pronged pace attack, before opening up with confident Nair has done itHe played under the clouds but did not gift his wicket. Showed Great Temperament#INDAvsENGLions #KarunNair @BCCIClip credit: @ECB_cricket The Cricket Pundits (@TCPofficial_X) May 30, 2025Nair, armed with a mountain of runs in domestic cricket and a solid stint with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, appeared calm and assured at the crease. His footwork was sharp — decisive against spin and pace alike. Whether rocking back to punch through cover or driving on the front foot, he looked in complete judgement outside the off-stump was immaculate, giving the Indian team management plenty to ponder as they prepare for life without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of a new cycle in the World Test impressive was Nair's backfoot play; he allowed the ball to come to him, playing late and handling the bouncers with aplomb. The Karnataka batter, who last played for India in 2017, displayed authority with his pull and hook shots, reminding everyone of his class and AND JAISWAL DISAPPOINTadvertisementEarlier in the day, there was disappointment for skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran, who failed to capitalise on yet another opportunity, falling leg-before to left-arm pacer Josh Hull. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who looked assured during his 55-ball 24, will rue his shot selection — a loose drive off pacer Eddie Jack resulted in a catch behind to Lions skipper James Khan, too, was visibly dejected as he missed out on a well-deserved century by just eight runs. The Mumbai batter, who was omitted from India's Test squad for the England tour, was caught behind while attempting to glance a harmless delivery down the leg-side — a soft dismissal after a composed India A look to pile on further runs on Day 2, the first-innings total is expected to provide their bowlers with a sizeable cushion as they adapt to English conditions. With several players staking a claim for senior selection, the visitors will hope the momentum continues across the four-day Watch
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
BCCI handed fresh India No. 3 suggestion as Gill backed for Kohli's No. 4: 'Why change something that is not broken?'
With the debate around who would be the next India captain after Rohit Sharma's retirement reportedly having reached its end, with Shubman Gill emerging as the likely replacement, a bigger challenge awaits the selection committee and team management of now finding who would fill the big shoes of Virat Kohli at No. 4. India do have a plethora of options to choose from, with a few experts having backed KL Rahul for the job, while others reckoned the experienced Karun Nair, who had a fabulous Ranji season, could replace Kohli at No. 4 in the Test XI. However, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer backed Gill for the role, as he felt Rahul should not be removed from the opening position after having proven his worth in the tour of Australia, and hence had a brand-new suggestion for the No. 3 spot. "I guess Shubman could be the guy. He opens in white-ball cricket, but in Test cricket, he needs to move down to 4. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have done well as openers in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. I feel KL should continue to open. Why change something that is not broken? Sai Sudharsan looks assured, and he should be given a longer rope at No. 3," Jaffer told The Times of India. The 25-year-old has only recently shown some stability at No. 3, having scored three centuries in the last 15 months. However, all those knocks came on home soil. A forgettable tour of Australia also had Gill as one of its victims, with the series exposing his vulnerability in a foreign land. He averages just 19 in 12 innings with no half-century score away from home. Not to forget, he also did not have a memorable time in England, where he struggled against the new ball, scoring just 88 runs in three matches, albeit as an opener. While it is yet to be seen if the think tank will make that decision, Sudharsan could be a definitive choice in the lineup. The left-hander does have the experience of playing in the English conditions, having performed impressively in the last County Championship, where he scored a century for Surrey batting at No. 6. He also scored a double century for Tamil Nadu in the previous Ranji Trophy season.
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Rohit Sharma's Test Journey: An Average Middle-Order Batter To A Fine Opener
Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket and bid farewell to a fine career which was divided into two distinct halves. He was a very mediocre middle-order batter for the first 27 matches of his Test career with a batting average of just under 40. However, just like in ODI cricket, his fortunes changed dramatically when he was pushed to open for the country. From the Visakhapatnam Test of 2019 till the Dharamsala Test of 2024, Rohit - the Test batter averaged 50 and was not only one of the premier openers in the world but also the leading batter for India in the format. The Struggle Outside India Rohit had a great start to his Test career with two hundreds in his first two appearances for India - against West Indies in Kolkata and Mumbai - but then witnessed a major slump in whites for India. He scored just 1585 runs in his first 27 Tests at an average of 39.6. Rohit had a very high Failure Rate of almost 50% and crossed the three-figure mark on just one more occasion in this time-frame - against Sri Lanka in Nagpur in 2017 - four years after his debut! Although he still had outstanding returns at home, Rohit had shocking numbers outside India scoring just 816 runs in 18 away Tests at an average of 26.3. He did not have a ton outside the country. Though a modern great in limited-overs' cricket, he was at the crossroads of his long-form career and time was running out fast for Rohit - the batter. The Vizag Twin Tons Rohit had a horrendous tour of South Africa and that was followed by a tough tour Down Under. The clamour for seeing him out of the Test XI increased. With his career in the doldrums, Rohit was pushed to open for India as the very last resort. It turned out to be a masterstroke. Rohit made the opportunity count and how! He smashed a ton in both the innings of the series opener against South Africa in Vizag, becoming the sixth Indian batter to achieve the unique feat. The stunning performance gave rise to Rohit Sharma - the Test opener - and unleashed another chapter for India in Test cricket. The Domination as Test Opener From the Vizag Test in October, 2019 till the end of the home series against England in Dharamsala in March, 2024, Rohit - the Test opener - rose to new heights and was amongst the premier top-order batters in the world! He was the leading run-scorer amongst all openers in the world in this time-frame and piled on 2552 runs in 32 matches at an average of 50.03 with nine centuries and 7 fifties. Amongst the 15 openers who scored at least 1000 runs in a minimum of 10 Tests played in this period, only Dimuth Karunaratne (52.4) had a higher batting average than Rohit during this period. No opening batter recorded more tons than Rohit's 9 in these four and a half years. Timing & Context of Performances Rohit's rise as a Test opener coincided with a turbulent time for the Big 3 of India in the format. Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had a poor run in 2020 and 2021. Kohli had an average of 26.1, Pujara - 26.2 and Rahane - 25 in this period and the onus was on Rohit to step up and make it count. Rohit towered above all other Indian batters in this time-frame (2020-2021) scoring 906 runs in just 11 Tests at an average of 47.68! His 161 off just 231 deliveries England in Chennai in 2021 (India were 0-1 down in the series) is widely rated amongst the greatest hundreds by any batter on Indian soil. Rohit played 20 Tests at home between Vizag, 2019 and Dharamsala, 2024 and hammered 1633 runs at an average of 54.43 and strike rate of 65.4. No Indian scored more runs than Rohit at home in this time-frame. The rate at which he scored his runs was also significant as not only did it demoralized the opposition bowlers but also created enough time for the Indian bowlers to bowl the opposition out twice. The Overseas Transformation While Rohit always had a fine record in India, the big change in his Test career came in his overseas performances. He scored 919 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 43.76 with two centuries and five fifties away from India in this period. From his opening partnership with Shubman Gill in Brisbane and Sydney to his 83 in the massive win at Lord's to finally recording his first overseas hundred - in the Oval Test of September 2021, Rohit the opener grew in stature and contributed to some of India's most significant wins away from home during this period. Rohit suffered a major dip in his form in the last eight Tests of his career and scored just 164 runs in 15 innings at an average of 10.93. These included two home Tests against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand and three away Tests in Australia. However, his most significant achievement in the longest format was the contribution he made as opener - raising his game, under pressure when the chips were down for India in the period between October, 2019 and March, 2024 - a period when most of the other Indian batters struggled, Rohit rose to the occasion and scored tough runs when his team needed him the most. And that is his biggest legacy to Indian Test cricket!
