The Ashes | Jack Leach looks to emulate Ravindra Jadeja's methods to succeed in Australia

IND vs NZ | 2nd Test: India to take late call on Wriddhiman Saha's fitness as Virat Kohli returns

India will take a call on Wriddhiman Saha’s injury and fitness on the eve of the second Test starting December 03 in Mumbai. Saha was suffering from a stiff neck in the first Test and did not keep wickets for most parts of the Test with Srikar Bharat doing the duties behind the wicket. “We will take a call closer to the game. Physios are in constant touch with Rahul and Virat. Closer to the game, we can take a call on what condition he is in. Whatever he did in the last game was a fabulous effort. It was painful to bat, but he raised his hands and delivered for the team,” bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said. India are set to welcome the full-time skipper Virat Kohli for the first Test after he opted for rest during the first game of the series. He has given himself and the team management a conundrum which Mhambrey called a “good headache” as Shreyas Iyer announced his arrival at the Test level in a grand style. Now, they have to take a tough call on choosing one among Iyer, experienced but under pressure duo of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara to leave out in order to accommodate Kohli in the playing XI. Mhambrey said that the performance by Iyer on his Test debut established the volume of talent available in Indian cricket and emphasized that the team management is cherishing such sort of selection dilemmas. He did not give any hint of what the management is thinking about considering the team selection but threw his weight behind Rahane and Pujara and said that they are just one good innings away from regaining their best touch with the bat. “It is a good (headache) We have so much talent available and that speaks volumes about Indian cricket. With youngsters coming up, we want to give them an opportunity and someone like Shreyas comes up with a 100 and follows up with a 50 - that’s fabulous. That speaks volumes about Indian cricket and the way forward. But then, we have to see the combinations that would suit the particular wicket. We are happy to have that kind of problem,” Mhambrey said. “It is both for Ajinkya and Pujara - they have huge experience. We also know that they are one innings away [from finding form]. We are backing them. They have played enough cricket to understand what is expected from them and get going,” the bowling coach said. If Saha gets ruled out and Bharat makes his Test debut, it also opens another door of team combination for India as he can be asked to open in place of either Mayank Agarwal or Shubman Gill with the middle order remaining the same with Kohli, Rahane and Iyer batting at consecutive positions.

The Ashes | Alex Carey confirmed for Test debut as Australia move on from Tim Paine

Alex Carey has been named in Australia’s 15-man squad for the first two Tests of the upcoming Ashes series and Cricket Australia has confirmed him as the replacement for the erstwhile captain Tim Paine, who went on to an indefinite break away from the game. Carey will take the gloves and will debut at the Gabba in the first Test starting December 08. “I am incredibly humbled by this opportunity,” Carey said. “It’s an exciting build-up for what is a huge series.” Carey has been picked ahead of Josh Inglis, who has got strong support for his batting abilities. There was always speculation over Paine’s place in the side after his resignation from captaincy. A school of thought did not find him deserving to take the wicketkeeping gloves for Australia but he got strong backing from his teammates such as Nathan Lyon, who came forward rating him as the “best wicketkeeper” in the world. However, all those speculations and guesswork were ended as soon as Paine opted out of the game. Australia will start their new era with the Ashes series as the new leadership group comprising of Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, who is returning to the group after a gap of three years.

After David Warner & Rashid Khan, coach Trevor Bayliss walks out of Sunrisers Hyderabad

After losing former captain David Warner and T20I player of the decade Rashid Khan, Sunrisers Hyderabad have lost the services of World Cup winning coach Trevor Bayliss. Things are looking grim for the Hyderabad based franchise after they have chosen to build around Kane Williamson, Abdul Samad and Umran Malik for the upcoming seasons. Cricbuzz reported that Bayliss is now in contention for a coaching role of the new Lucknow based franchise. He will be in competition with Andy Flower, who has chosen to leave the Punjab Kings. Under Bayliss, SRH ranked third in the 2020 season of the Indian Premier League and finished last in the 2021 season. The Australian coach is currently contracted with the Sydney Thunder as their head coach for the upcoming season.

Manchester United owners acquire franchise in soon to be launched UAE T20 league

After a failed attempt to buy a franchise in the Indian Premier League, the Glazer Family that owns the iconic football club Manchester United has finally expanded their scope and prospects in the game of cricket. They have acquired a franchise in the UAE T20 league through their own company Lancer Capital. "I am very excited to be a part of UAE T20 at its formation. UAE T20 promises to be a world class event that will be transformative to the growth of cricket in the Emirates," Manchester United co-chairman Avram Glazer said in a statement. The development comes days after the reports of Reliance Industries that owns the most successful IPL franchise Mumbai Indians also acquiring one franchise in the UAE league became public. Notably, the Glazer Family through the same Lancer Capital tried to bid for one of the two new franchises of the IPL but they were outbid in the last round of the bidding process.