Pat Cummins Enters 500 International Wickets Club

Australia captain Pat Cummins entered the 500 international wickets club after another effective display with the ball in the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. The Sydney Cricket Ground bowed to Cummins after the Australian skipper took the spotlight with his faultless captaincy and stunning bowling display. While up against a struggling Indian batting unit, Cummins kept the pressure on the top order but found his reward in the tail end. Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah were his two victims in the first innings as he returned with figures of 2/37 in his 15.2 over spell.

With another clinical performance, Cummins entered the 500 international wickets club, becoming the seventh Australian to achieve the feat.

In 214 matches, Cummins has 500 wickets to his name at an average of 24.45 and an economy of 3.76. Among all the Australians, the 31-year-old's average is only bettered by legendary Glenn McGrath, who averaged 21.75 for his 948 scalps in 375 appearances.

Cummins joins the elite list of Australians who took 500 international wickets in their career, featuring Shane Warner (999), McGrath (948), Brett Lee (718), Mitchell Starc (699), Mitchell Johnson (590) and Nathan Lyon (569).

In the longest format of cricket, Cummins has made 66 appearances and scythed 289 wickets, averaging 22.54 while striking at 46.4. In ODIs, Cummins has featured for Australia 90 times and boasts 143 scalps with an average of 28.78 while striking at 32.7. In T20Is, Cummins has 66 wickets in 57 matches at an average of 23.57 with a strike rate of 19.0.

In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Cummins is the second-highest wicket-taker in the series, with 22 wickets to his name. His tally is only behind India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The stand-in Indian skipper boasts a whopping 31 wickets in five Tests at an average of 12.65.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2nd Test: Rickelton, Bavuma Centuries Put SA In Strong Position vs Pakistan

Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma hit centuries and batted South Africa into a strong position on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Friday. South Africa were 316 for four at the close of play. Rickelton (176 not out) and South African captain Bavuma (106) put on 235 for the fourth wicket after the pair came together with the total on 72 for three. At that stage South Africa were in danger of wasting the advantage of winning the toss on a good batting pitch. But Rickelton and Bavuma were seldom troubled as they posted a fifty partnership off 66 balls and scored consistently at better than four runs an over throughout their stand.

It was the left-handed Rickelton's second Test century in three matches, following a shaky start to his Test career in which he had failed to register a half-century in his first 12 innings. He was in commanding form, striking 21 fours and a six off 232 balls.

Bavuma recorded the fourth Test hundred of a career in which he has made 24 half-centuries. He was out 15 minutes before the close, caught behind off occasional off-spinner Salman Agha. He hit nine fours and two sixes in a 179-ball innings.

Despite taking three wickets before lunch, it was a lacklustre performance by Pakistan, who only managed to bowl 80 overs in six-and-a-half hours and seldom looked threatening.

Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub suffered an ankle injury when he fell awkwardly in the outfield in the seventh over of the day. He was taken to the dressing room on a mobile stretcher and did not return to the field.

Pakistan's hopes rose when Aiden Markram was caught behind off Khurram Shahzad for 17 after he and Rickelton put on 61 for the first wicket.

Wiaan Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) followed in quick succession shortly before lunch, caught behind off Mohammad Abbas and Agha respectively. But the rest of the day belonged to South Africa.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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5th Test Live: Rohit Sharma 'Opts Out' As India Opt To Bat In Sydney

India vs Australia 5th Test Day 1 Live Updates: India's full-time captain Rohit Sharma opted out of the 5th and final Test against Australia as stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah decided to bat first at SCG on Friday. India made two changes in the team, with Shubman Gill replacing Rohit while Prasidh Krishan came into the team in place of injured Akash Deep. A win is what India need from the game to keep their World Test Championship Final hopes alive. Anything less than that will simply throw India out of the race for the summit clash. On the other hand, a win in the final game will also seal the deal for Australia, while a draw will see their WTC Final fate hanging on their two-match series vs Sri Lanka. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Score and Updates of India vs Australia 5th Test Day 1 -

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"Has Slacked Too Much": Ex-India Star's Warning For Underperforming Pant

While the entire focus during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy is on the duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, another star performer Rishabh Pant has also been under scrutiny. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored 154 runs in 4 matches at an average of 22. While runs have not come as much as expected from the bat of Pant, his shot selections and batting approach have also been under the radar of critics, of late. Former India cricketer Atul Wassan feels the 27-year-old needs to "think" and "tamper" his game according to the situation.

The statement from Wassan comes after Pant was brutally slammed for his performance in the Melbourne Test. Pant ended the fourth Test with scores of 28(37) and 30(104). 

Pant faced backlash from fans and former cricketers after India fell to a 184-run defeat in front of a record-attendance crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the Boxing Day Test. The southpaw gave away his wicket while trying to pull off an audacious shot in the first innings. Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who was on commentary, didn't mince his words while talking about Pant's dismissal.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid. You've got two fielders there, and you still go for that, you've missed the previous shot. And look where you've been caught. You've been caught at deep third," was Gavaskar's reaction during commentary.

In the second innings, when India stood in a comfortable position to end the Test at a draw, Pant's dismissal opened the floodgates. He tried to take on part-time bowler Travis Head and holed it to Mitchell Marsh, ending his time on the crease.

"He (Pant) has won matches with such shots. But now there are a lot of expectations. So he should know how to tamper his game. I think Pant has slacked too much. He has to think. If you are not tampering with yourself according to the situation as a senior player, then you need to think," Wassan told ANI.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Pant should be criticised for his failures, but not the way he gets dismissed.

"Pant should be criticised only for his failures, rather than how he fails. He averages 42 in Tests with at least 3 great innings, ever played by an Indian! In 42 tests he has 6 hundred & 7 nineties. He is a great player not scoring enough runs & that's the crux of it," Manjrekar wrote in a post on X.

(With ANI Inputs)

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"Rohit Addressed The Media...": Gavaskar Gives Fresh Twist To 'Rift' Rumours

On the first day of the New Year, several reports emerged that claimed there are rifts in the Indian dressing room. It happened right after India's 184-run defeat to Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Head coach Gautam Gambhir is believed to have said, "Bahut ho gaya (I've had enough) in his dressing room speech, with the dressing room environment being 'far from ideal'. While reacting to such reports, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that these all stories are cooked by media to keep the fans and their users engaged. He backed his opinion by saying that such stories emerge only after India lose a match.

"Every time the Indian team has not done well, these things about rifts and all that (come up). It is a common story. It's almost as if we people feel that the Indian team cannot lose. So if they lose, there has to be some reason other than cricketing," Gavaskar told India Today.

"I don't think any of the players really give a thought to what has been written. They just want to focus on how to get better than what they were in the previous Test," he added.

Amid speculation of unrest in the dressing room following a huge loss in the Boxing Day Test, Gambhir also clarified in a presser that it were "just reports, not truth".

NDTV, through its sources, has understood that Rohit is likely to be "rested" for the fifth Test vs Australia. Another point that has put doubts over Rohit's selection for the game that Gambhir came for the press conference on the eve of the game. The event is usually attended by the team captain.

Trying to find out the reason behind it, Gavaskar said: "The captain addressed the media just two days ago, so maybe he felt that he didn't need to address the media again and the coach had not addressed the media at all. So maybe the coach had to come and say that nothing of that sort had happened, which again should tell you a thing or two about those reports."

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Rain Threat Looms Over Sydney Test? Report Has Some Bad News For India

The fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) could get affected by rain during the last two days of the match, reported Wisden Cricket. The final Test will be a New Year's Test starting on January 3 at the SCG. Also, the Test is a special event as it marks the 'Jane McGrath Day', the wife of legendary pacer Glenn McGrath who lost her life in a battle with cancer. "On the third day of the match venue is covered with a full sea of pink and millions of dollars are typically raised for cancer support and awareness in Australia.

As per Google Weather as quoted by Wisden, on day one, the game will start under a thick cloud cover. There is a chance of rain by 25 per cent, which will reduce to just five per cent on day two. The second day will be bright and sunny as will Sunday, with the temperatures also rising to the mid-thirties.

The last two days of the match could get affected by inclement weather, with showers starting at day four end and continuing overnight. A constant drizzle is also likely on day five of the Test.

Also, as per BBC Weather, there could be some rain on Friday afternoon. During the weekend, there will be some sunshine. There is a 68 per cent chance of rain on the night of Monday, the day four of the match, but the weather is likely to be clear during the day's play. Day five, however, is likely to have heavy showers, which will continue throughout the day.

India is affected by form of their key batters, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, who have scored just one fifty-plus score throughout the series combined. Despite some incredible bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, who has taken 30 wickets in four matches at an average of 12.83, India have failed to make a big impact in the series and are trailing by 1-2.

Australia, on the other hand, are facing injury concerns with pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the series due to calf injuries. Also, recent reports suggest that another frontline pacer Mitchell Starc has been sent for scans two days before the Sydney Test.

The series is 2-1 in favour of Australia and they are in a strong position to join South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship. However, if India wins the match and draws the series, not only they will retain the trophy again, but will also keep themselves alive in the WTC race, given the results of the Australia-Sri Lanka series next year go their way.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (vc), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar. Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dayal.

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Clarke Gives His Take On Which Dismissal Pant Would Have Regretted More

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke feels Rishabh Pant would have regretted the shot that led to his dismissal in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test more. Pant was at the receiving end of backlash from fans and former cricketers after India succumbed to an 184-run defeat in front of a record-attendance crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the Boxing Day Test. In the first innings, he lost his wicket after trying to execute a cheeky shot. The plan was there in his mind, but when it came to execution, Pant fluffed and lost his wicket.

Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who was on commentary at that time, was livid and didn't mince his words while reacting to the chain of events he saw unfolding right in front of his eyes.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid. You've got two fielders there, and you still go for that, you've missed the previous shot. And look where you've been caught. You've been caught at deep third," was Gavaskar's reaction during commentary.

In the second innings, Australia captain Pat Cummins gambled on Travis Head to find a breakthrough. Pant was tempted to take on the part-timer and went for glory. He holed it to Mitchell Marsh and opened the floodgates that marked the beginning of India's downfall.

"I think his shot in the second inning was one he'll probably regret even more. The situation of the game, the building of partnership, and they were batting so well together, they really were stopping Australia from winning the Test match. I don't think they were going to win the Test. (it was) muscle memory, and he just reacted. He saw it short and tried to hit it out of the park," Clarke said on the ESPN Around The Wicket podcast.

"He could have hit it hard but probably should have just hit it along the ground. And when you are a big player and someone that's scored Test hundreds, and there's an expectation, if you are getting out like that, you are going to cop criticism. There is no doubt he is a wonderful player, just shot selection, it's the right time and right place," Clarke added.

Pant ended the fourth Test with scores of 28(37) and 30(104), summing up his underwhelming run in Australia since landing in Perth. Overall, in the series, the 27-year-old has managed to amass 154 runs at an average of 22.00 in seven innings.

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