AUS Attaining BGT, Babar Azam’s Fightback And Ayub Treatment – January 5 Cricket Highlights

Pat Cummins with Jasprit Bumrah, and Babar Azam [Source: @cricketcomau/x, AP Photos]Pat Cummins with Jasprit Bumrah, and Babar Azam [Source: @cricketcomau/x, AP Photos]

Australia concluded its decade-long Border-Gavaskar Trophy drought with a home series win over India. In South Africa, Babar Azam and Shan Masood took the fight to the Proteas bowlers after being asked to follow on. Moreover, the PCB is fast-tracking all the efforts in the recovery attempts of injured Pakistan batter Saim Ayub before the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Sunday, January 5.

India Surrender BGT In The Absence Of Jasprit Bumrah

Scott Boland picked up two more wickets on Day 3 of the SCG Test to envelop India’s second innings for just 157 after the visitors had reached 141-6 by stumps the preceding evening. While Boland claimed sensational figures of 6-45, Pat Cummins also dismissed India’s both overnight batters as Australia set themselves a 162-run target in the decisive innings of the match.

In the absence of stand-in captain and in-form fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna picked up the key wickets of Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith within his opening spell before Mohammed Siraj got the better of Usman Khawaja. However, unbeaten Travis Head (34*) and debutant Beau Webster (39*) ensured Australia romped past India by six wickets to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test series, lifting the coveted title for the first time in a decade.

Babar Azam, Shan Masood Counter SA Amidst Following On

The Pakistan cricket team, resuming its first innings at 64-3 on Day 3, folded up for 194 to fall 421 runs short of South Africa’s total. Babar Azam top-scored with 58 runs before Kwena Maphaka and Keshav Maharaj picked up two wickets each to ensure South Africa’s monumental lead.

Being asked to follow on, Babar and captain Shan Masood sparked Pakistan’s remarkable fightback against South Africa with a colossal 205-run partnership. Masood reached 102* by stumps on Day 3 as Pakistan will continue on the fourth morning at 213-1 to find themselves another 208 runs away from the Proteas. Babar chipped in with 81 runs during his partnership with the skipper before he was entrapped by Marco Jansen at the brink of stumps.

PCB Arrange Special Treatment For Saim Ayub

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a special arrangement for Saim Ayub after the young Pakistan batting star twisted his ankle and suffered an injury during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. While Saim has already been ruled out of cricketing action for six weeks, PCB Chairman Mohsin Khan has assured that the board will provide him with all the necessary resources in his bid of attaining full recovery in time for next month’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Gautam Gambhir Lashes Out At Konstas For Jasprit Bumrah Spat

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has lashed out at Australia’s young batting sensation Sam Konstas for his heated verbal exchange with visiting fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. In the final over of Day 1 of the SCG Test, Konstas and Bumrah had a go at each other before the latter dismissed Usman Khawaja off the final ball before stumps.

Gambhir claimed that Konstas’ actions were ‘inappropriate’ and the youngster had “no business to be involved” with a senior player like Jasprit Bumrah.

Virat Kohli To Play Till 2027 World Cup?

Virat Kohli concluded the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series with just 190 runs from nine innings to his name at a substandard average of 23.75. Notably, the legendary Indian batter recorded 100 of those runs in a single innings of the Perth Test earlier during the tour.

Kohli’s lack of runs and dwindling form has raised much concerns among Indian fans and experts, with several of them claiming that the 36-year-old will soon be announcing his retirement from the international game. However, as per a PTI report, Virat Kohli is ‘in no mood to retire’ and might play for Team India until the 2027 ODI World Cup. It is worth noting that the cricketer has already announced his retirement from T20Is, doing so mere moments after India’s triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup crusade.