Melbourne Stars sign West Indian hard hitter Andre Russell for BBL 11

India suffer setbacks as Jadeja, Ishant, Axar Patel, Shubman Gill doubtful for South Africa tour

India are set to suffer major setbacks before embarking on the tour of South Africa as four of their first-choice picks for the Test squad are likely to be ruled out of the entire tour. The quartet of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shubman Gill and Ishant Sharma have picked up injuries in the recently-concluded Tests series against New Zealand and are unlikely to recover in time to take the flight for the tour, The Indian Express reported. Due to selection conundrums arising out of poor form and fitness concerns of some key players, selectors have delayed their meeting over the squad selection for the tour. Notably, Jadeja did not play the second and final Test of the series against New Zealand and reports suggested that he was rested as per precautionary measures. However, this report suggested that the all-rounder has suffered ligament tear and could undergo surgery which would take months to recover. Axar Patel has suffered a back injury and would take at least six weeks to come back to full fitness, the report said further. Shubman Gill has suffered a relapse of the shin injury that ruled him out of the Test series in England earlier this year and as per the report, the selectors are not quite sure of sending him on the tour. Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the Mumbai Test and the report suggested that the veteran of more than 100 Tests has suffered a side strain and is quite doubtful for the tour of South Africa. India also have other conundrums pertaining to the poor form of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara and their place in the Test squad, let alone the playing XI with young batsmen such as Shreyas Iyer grabbing their opportunities and players such as Hanuma Vihari waiting in the wings.

The Ashes | Gabba Test, Day 1: Pat Cummins takes five-wicket haul on first day as Australia captain

The new era of Australian Test cricket has started on an incredibly dominating note with the new skipper Pat Cummins leading the side with a five-wicket haul against England on the first day of the first Ashes Test at Gabba. He first got the better of Ben Stokes with a beauty from round the wicket angle in the morning session and followed it up with the wickets of Haseeb Hameed, who was looking set at the crease, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood to claim his sixth five-wicket haul in the longest format. He was the most successful bowler among Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood but all of them bowled remarkably well on a damp Gabba pitch to bowl England out in the afternoon session for a mere 147. Both Hazlewood and Starc bowled superbly well for their two wickets each on the first day. England won the toss and decided to bat first in a move that appeared a brave call considering the nature of the surface at Gabba and weather conditions expected in Brisbane for the first day of the Test. Only Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler looked in control and England have been thrown into a disarray in the first Test of the Ashes series in Australia once again.

BAN vs PAK | 2nd Test: Sajid Khan rattles hosts, put them on brink with eight-wicket haul

Bangladesh are struggling to save the second Test of the series against Pakistan despite a major portion of the first three days being washed out due to persistent rains. They could bat only 32 overs on the fourth and early part of the fifth day of the Test to be dismissed for a mere 87 runs and leaving themselves to follow on. Pakistan had declared their first innings at 300/4 and then unleashed their bowling attack on the home batsmen. Sajid Khan demolished the batting order and picked six wickets on the fourth day and extended it to a weight-wicket haul on the final day to put Bangladesh on the mat. The hosts did not find it easy even on the second opportunity to bat and save themselves from a big defeat as the Pakistan new ball pair of Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi struck thrice to leave them on the brink.

The Ashes | Gabba Test, Day 1: Cameron Green dismisses Ollie Pope to pick maiden Test wicket

After a struggle of four Tests during the last summer against India to pick up a wicket, Cameron Green picked his first Test wicket on the first day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba. To add to Australia’s relief, he dismissed Ollie Pope, who was the best England batsman on the day and was batting with absolute control against the likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. He dug the ball in short and Pope tried to pull the ball without going fully back in his crease and the extra bounce meant a top edge for Hazlewood to take a fantastic catch diving full stretched forward. With his wicket, England slipped to 118/7 as their top order was obliterated by the trio of Australian pacers. Jos Buttler joined Ollie Pope and attacked bowlers with some remarkable shots which he plays in white-ball cricket but Starc came back in his second spell to dismiss him and quash any hopes of England’s revival. Green has been rated very highly for his all-round skills and the coach Justin Langer had suggested his role will be instrumental in managing the workload of pace bowlers, especially Pat Cummins, who has taken up the extra responsibility of being the skipper of the side.