Dawid Malan gets Test recall, Dom Sibley snubbed for 3rd Test

Coming up against England is a real test: Australian team looking to win elusive T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council announced the schedule for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on August 17 and Australia, who haven’t won even a single T20 World Cup, would be looking to end that wait once the Super 12 starts October 23 in the competition, that begins on October 17. “We all know that that’s one trophy that Australia haven’t got so it would be nice to grab that,” Matthew Wade, who captained the team in Bangladesh recently, told ICC in a video. “We have got some good youth and some good experience and there are few people starting to get games which they weren’t for a long time. So it’s gonna be a really exciting opportunity for us,” he added. Alex Carey, who led the ODI team in regular skipper Aaron Finch’s absence in West Indies in July this year was also excited for the tournament. “We have waited an extra 12 months for this and seeing the draw that Australia has got, yeah really exciting,” he said in the same video. Although Australia would be opening their tournament with an encounter against South Africa, Mitchell Marsh, the in-form Aussie all-rounder was thrilled about playing arch-rivals England who have been placed in the same group as the Kangaroos. “I think we look forward to every game that we play for Australia but coming up against England is always a great test and provides a lot of entertainment to people as well. So I am sure we will be up and about for that one,” said the 29-year-old. The Western Australian was also excited about seeing teammate Adam Zampa deliver a new ball during the tournament for which he has been working for quite some time. “Adam Zampa has been working on a new ball and has got a pretty cool name for it as well, he would be bringing it out by the time the World Cup starts. So I am looking forward to that as well,” said Marsh. “Obviously, there is Starcy, he has proved himself over the years at the world stage, so looking forward to that as well,” he added.

Focused on helping CSK reclaim the IPL - Ruturaj Gaikwad upbeat ahead of tournament resumption

Ruturaj Gaikwad who recently made his international debut during the tour of Sri Lanka will cherish the moment forever. Gaikwad said that he lived every moment of that tour and being a part of the Indian dressing room. It was a dream come true moment for Gaikwad who played the last two matches on that particular tour. Gaikwad didn’t get his opportunity in the ODI series but a covid outbreak in the Indian camp meant that seven of the first choice players went into isolation after Krunal Pandya tested positive for the virus. It meant that all the available players had to make their debut and that is how Gaikwad’s name came up in the team sheet during the course of the final two T20Is. While he couldn’t quite make an impact making scores of 21 and 14 but during his brief stays he did gave glimpses of what he is capable of and that he has the ability to replicate his IPL form in national colours. Gaikwad who is now a regular of India A squad said that nothing can match being a part of the Indian dressing room. "I will forever remember it. It ended in two days and we did not win (referring to playing on consecutive days), I lived every moment of it. A dream come true. It struck me that I want to go out there, again and again, keep performing for the team,” Gaikwad was quoted as saying by Times of India. Rahul Dravid who was appointed as the head coach for that particular tour as Ravi Shastri was with the squad in England had earlier worked with Gaikwad in India A which made things relatively easier for the opening batsman. Gaikwad revealed that all Dravid wanted from the young guns in the team was to think and adapt to conditions. He also hailed Dravid for the calming influence he brings to any side. "I've spent a couple of years with Rahul (Dravid) sir during my India 'A' days and his theory has always been the same: Think and adapt. Even when we were left with five batters, he assured us that we were all there on merit and asked us to make the most of the opportunity," Gaikwad said. Gaikwad who plies his trade for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL is upbeat to help his side win the title after three years. "It has been three years since we won the IPL title and I am focused on helping CSK reclaim it. The team has shown faith in my abilities and I must give my 110% to contribute towards the team's success,” Gaikwad said. Gaikwad had become a household name with three back to back half-centuries in the final three games of the 2020 IPL. From the 2021 edition, he has established himself in the opening slot and will look to continue the good work once the tournament resumes in UAE on 19th September.

IPL 2021: Shubman Gill expected to be match fit by the start of UAE leg

Kolkata Knight Riders and Indian Test opener Shubman Gill who was ruled out of the England tour owing to a shin stress fracture is on the process of full recovery and is expected to be fit by the start of the second leg of IPL 2021. As per information from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Gill is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore for a couple of weeks. He is expected to be released well before the resumption of the cash-rich league. "We are quite hopeful that he will be available for the IPL," Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore was quoted as saying by the Cricbuzz. Gill was part of the Indian XI which lost the ICC World Test Championship against New Zealand. Immediately after the match, he complained of pain and was confirmed of a shin stress fracture. He returned home at stayed there till July allowing his left shin to heal and eventually started working out at the NCA at the start of this month. As per words from the NCA conveyed to Cricbuzz, the NCA staff is taking the matter cautiously and making him work on Alter-G Machine which is an anti-gravity treadmill that reduces the body weight while running. It effectively makes Gill take sixty per cent of his body weight on his legs and put less amount of pressure on his lower half of the body. As per reports, he is responding well to the regime and as he starts gaining full fitness, the work regime will keep increasing. "He is not feeling pain. Gradually his workload will be increased - from slow jogging to running twice-thrice a week. We're confident he will be fine by the IPL which is anyway a month away," a well-oiled source was quoted by Cricbuzz on Wednesday. The IPL resumption is still more than a month’s away but with strict covid protocols at place, the Kolkata Knight Riders are planning to leave for Abu Dhabi on 27th August. Gill who is currently at the NCA is expected to join his franchise early September. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will mark the resumption of the 14th edition on 19th September.

How did Mohammed Siraj overcome tragedy to make history for India, new book reveals details

From being a debutant at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the second Test of the series to becoming the spearhead of the attack by the final Test, the story and rise of Mohammed Siraj as a Test bowler has been nothing short of phenomenal. From the tragedies he endured in the tour Down Under to reaching the zenith of his life, Siraj “miyaan” is there to stay for some years. He has added a different variety to the Indian bowling line-up and his spell at the Lords was just a testimony of how good he is at the highest level. An eight wicket-haul at the Home of Cricket was a clear indication that the highs of the Australia tour wasn’t evanescent and this bloke is there to achieve something really big. A story of real grit and glory, Mohammed Siraj’s rise to the top is among the several stories in a new book on Indian cricket named ‘Mission Domination: An Unfinished Quest’ co-authored by Boria Majumder and Kushan Sarkar. Coming back to the Test match at Lord's, Siraj despite being the most inexperienced pacer in the side delivered for his skipper whenever he was handed over the ball. With the match meandering towards a draw in the final session of the day, Kohli handed over the ball to Siraj and he delivered with back to back wickets of Moeen Ali and Sam Curran. He then came back to dismiss Jos Buttler and James Anderson to script a historic win for India. The Indian team management always knew that Siraj belonged to this level after seeing him grind it out in the Australia tour and leading the pace attack in a matter of two Tests. It was the tour of Australia which could have turned his career in either direction. Having lost his father, Mohammed Ghaus during his stay in Australia, Siraj decided to stay back with the team despite the BCCI offering him to go back and be with his family. Siraj always wanted to fulfil his father’s dream and despite losing the pillar of his life, he decided to serve his nation. Siraj had lost his father during the fourteen day quarantine in Australia and with stringent protocols in place, none of his teammates could even go to his room and console him. They were on video call with him for the major part of the day fearing that he doesn’t harm himself. “At the time there were cops outside every room just in case the Indians tried to violate protocol. They were being guarded as prisoners who could export Covid to Australia!" "As a result, his teammates were on video calls with him all day and were concerned he wouldn't do something drastic or damaging to himself. Only the physio could go to his room to treat him, and Nitin Patel used the window to go and console the young man who was in mourning.” "Siraj broke down on multiple occasions, which is only natural but never gave up. He was steadfast and resolute. He wanted to fulfil his father's wish of doing his best for India and when the opportunity came his way at the MCG on the huge occasion of the Boxing Day Test, he just did not want to let it go,” an excerpt from the book reads. Before his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test, Siraj had got his break in international cricket having played a few white-ball games for the national team. However, he was far from his best and hardly made an impact in those games. Siraj even abused himself and tried to push harder for his maiden Test. Having dismissed the likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head while playing for India A, Siraj wanted to replicate that in the highest level. Finishing as the leading wicket-taker for India in the historic Test series win, Siraj became an overnight sensation. "In fact, he said to us he was abusing himself for failing and coaxed himself to push harder on debut. 'I was telling myself that I had done nothing worthwhile in the white-ball games. And here are the same batsmen — Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, who I had bowled to and had success against while playing for India A. Then why couldn't I do so at this stage? I had to. There was no turning back'." "Siraj did not turn back. 13 wickets later he ended up as India's highest wicket-taker. It was only fitting that his teammates handed him the tricolour during the team's victory march. He was so much more than a cricketer. He was a young boy who had turned into a man in the course of the two months in Australia,” some excerpts from the book further read.