Tag: Boxing Day Test

  • AUS Vs IND 4th Test: Steve Smith Hasn’t Gone Anywhere; From Calls To Retire To Two Centuries In Two Tests

    AUS Vs IND 4th Test: Steve Smith Hasn’t Gone Anywhere; From Calls To Retire To Two Centuries In Two Tests

    Steve Smith Has Not Gone Anywhere: Australian Cricket Team batter Steve Smith scored a fine century in the fourth Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The talk around the veteran batter has come a long way, from calls for retirement to becoming an Australian hero, who scored two centuries in two matches.

    Before the start of the Australia vs India Test series, Smith only had 213 runs in five Tests in 2024 with an average of 26.62 and only one 50. Before that, 2023 was his worst full year as a Test batter in a decade.

    All this meant that some people were calling for the 35-year-old to retire and make way for young talent to come into the team. Smith has even had commentary experience during the IPL for the past couple of seasons.

    Steve Smith Has Not Gone Anywhere

    But these slight whispers surrounding Smith’s retirement, which came up due to him not scoring a 100 in red-ball cricket in over a year, turned into loud shouts after his dismal performances in the first two Tests of the series against India.

    In the three innings, he batted across the two games, the veteran scored 0, 17, and 2. This meant more than it seemed. Not only did it look like the end of the career of the best Australian Test batter of the past decade, but with David Warner retiring and Usman Khawaja out of form as well, it looked like the end of an era for Australian cricket.

    But all that shifted with the third India vs Australia Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane. India won the toss and decided to bowl first. The Aussies lost three wickets quite early in the inning. But then, Steve Smith, along with in-form Travis Head, stitched together a 241-run partnership to bat India out of the rain-affected game.

    Check Out:

    While Head scored his second ton of the series, Smith scored his first in about 18 months. Despite looking a bit shaky throughout the inning, Smithy held on and reached the 100-run mark. He got out almost immediately after at 101, but his inning played a massive role in Australia being the favourite to win the match despite it getting drawn because of rain.

    Coming to the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia got a grand start while batting first after winning the toss. All of their top-four batters scored 50s. At the end of Day One, the score was 311/6, and Smith was batting at 68.

    Today, on Day Two, not only did he score yet another 100, but he went on to score 140 runs, looking dominant throughout and getting out in a freakish manner. This is his largest score in Test cricket since scoring an unbeaten 200 against the West Indies in November/December 2022.

    On the back of Steve Smith’s century, Australia went on to score 474 in the first inning. At the end of Day Two of the fourth Test, India is at 164/5 and trailed by 310 runs.

    Check Out: Steve Smith Has Not Gone Anywhere

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  • What Is A boxing Day Test Match? What Is India’s Record In Boxing Day Test Matches? How Many Has India Played

    What Is A boxing Day Test Match? What Is India’s Record In Boxing Day Test Matches? How Many Has India Played

    How Many Boxing Day Tests Has India Played: Boxing Day Test matches are one of the longest-running traditions in international cricket. With it being the summer season in the southern hemisphere of the globe, a lot of cricket is played in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa at this time of the year.

    For those unaware, Boxing Day comes on the day after Christmas, December 26. This day is celebrated in some countries as the day when employers and the wealthy give gifts to their employees and those less fortunate. It is a recognised holiday in several countries.

    With Boxing Day being a massive deal in Australia, it is natural that it is where this day is the most associated with sports, especially cricket. Each year during the Australian summer, the Boxing Day Test match is played at the biggest cricket ground in the country, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

    How Many Boxing Day Tests Has India Played

    While matches have been played on Boxing Day since the 19th century, the first major game that was recognised as a BDT was played during the 1950-51 Ashes series between Australia and England. The match started on December 22, and its fifth and final day fell on the 26th.

    As the Indian Cricket Team usually travels to the southern continent around the turn of the year, the Men in Blue have played several Test matches from December 26 to 30.

    India has an okay record in Boxing Day Test matches in Australia. Having first played against the Aussies on this day in 1985, that first India vs Australia Boxing Day Test was a draw. Out of the next six occasions that these two countries played on this day, five were won by Australia, while one other was drawn.

    However, in the last two BDT matches between India and Australia, it is the Indian Cricket Team that has stood victorious. This includes the famous victory in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India came back from getting all out for 36 in the first match of the series to bring the series level.

    Check Out: How Many Boxing Day Tests Has India Played

    The India vs South Africa Boxing Day Test is historic as well. In 1992, when the Proteas were brought back to international cricket, India became the first country to play a series against them. That year, the two nations played the BDT in Port Elizabeth, with the home side picking up the win.

    On the seven occasions, the two nations have played a Boxing Day Test, South Africa has won five, while India has won two. The most recent edition of this match, played in 2023, was won by the Proteas by an inning and 32 runs.

    Finally, the third and final country with a major Boxing Day Test history is New Zealand. There has been only one India vs New Zealand Boxing Day Test match. It was played in 1998 in Wellington and was won by the home team by four wickets. There was also a Boxing Day ODI between the two, won by New Zealand.

    There has also been one Boxing Day Test match between India and West Indies in 1987 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This match ended in a draw.

    So, the Indian Cricket Team has played 18 test matches on Boxing Day so far, winning four, losing 11, and drawing three.

    The 2024 Australia vs India Boxing Day Test match will be the fourth match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will play a massive role in the result of this series. The two teams head into this game at the MCG having won one match each in this series.

    Check Out: How Many Boxing Day Tests Has India Played

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  • Watch: Jasprit Bumrah Taking Australia’s ‘Head’ Off for Duck

    Watch: Jasprit Bumrah Taking Australia’s ‘Head’ Off for Duck

    Jasprit Bumrah Taking Off Travis Head for Duck: Australia’s most dangerous batter, Travis Head, had to bow down in front of Jasprit Bumrah this time as the Indian took off the bells of the kangaroo in a brilliant fashion to bring India back to the game. Head took zero runs at the expense of 7 balls.

    The Head vs. Bumrah battle has been much anticipated in the ongoing BGT series, as both have been the best in their teams so far. 

    Head has been continuing as a puzzle for India in the last 3 Tests, but this time, Bumrah finally nailed it.

    The pacer swung the ball to the left, shaking the batter, and in a blink of a second, one of the balls was already in the air.

    Watch: Jasprit Bumrah Taking Off Travis Head for Duck

    Head’s dismissal was a turning point for India as the visitors took 3 wickets within 24 balls (including Head’s wicket).

    Australia once was in a commanding position, scoring 237 runs by losing just 2 wickets. Then Washington Sundar sent Marnus Labuschagne into the hands of Virat Kohli, who the Indian star wonderfully caught. Then Bumrah took off Head and Marsh to bring down the hosts to 246/5.

    While writing this article, Australia are at 290, losing 5 wickets. Steve Smith (68*/94) is on the crease along with Alex Carey (23*/32).

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  • BGT 2024-25 4th Test: Australia Confirms Playing XI, India Set For Rohit Sharma-KL Rahul Reshuffle For MCG Test?

    BGT 2024-25 4th Test: Australia Confirms Playing XI, India Set For Rohit Sharma-KL Rahul Reshuffle For MCG Test?

    Who Will Open for India In the 4th BGT Test: Australia have received a major boost as Travis Head has been declared fit for the 4th BGT Test against India, starting on December 26 at the MCG.

    Australia have confirmed their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, and Head has been included. Sam Konstas is set to make his Test debut, replacing Nathan McSweeney, who scored 72 runs in three Tests as an opener, while Scott Boland, the cult hero at the MCG with the best bowling figures of 6/7 at this venue in the 2021/22 Ashes, replaces the injured Josh Hazlewood.

    Head was under the cloud of a quad injury since the last day of the Brisbane Test, where he felt discomfort and hobbled between the wickets. Head also didn’t take the field during India’s brief second innings. He passed the fitness test on Tuesday and will take part in the MCG Test. Head is the leading run-scorer of the series with over 400 runs, including two centuries and one score of 89, while no other batsman has even 300 runs.

    “Trav’s good to go; he’ll play. He just ticked off some final things today and yesterday. But no worries about injury with Trav. He’ll go into the game fully fit,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said.

    “I don’t think you’ll see too much management of him throughout the game. He just kind of plays as is. Maybe around fielding, if he’s a bit uncomfortable, we will (manage him), but he’s fully fit.”

    Australia playing XI for 4th Test vs India

    Australia playing XI for 4th Test vs India: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

    Who Will Open for India In the 4th BGT Test?

    Meanwhile, the Times of India has reported that the out-of-form Rohit Sharma is “highly likely” to return to his opening position, and KL Rahul will be pushed to 3, and Shubman Gill into Rohit’s middle-order role.

    After Rahul’s impressive knocks of 26 & 77 in Perth, where Rohit missed the Test, Sharma batted in the next two Tests in the middle order but managed only 19 runs.

    In the pre-match press conference, Rohit refrained from confirming his batting position.

    “Let’s not worry about who bats where. Something that we need to figure out and not something I would be discussing here,” Rohit Sharma said.

    There are reports suggesting India are set to include Washington Sundar in the side for Nitish Kumar Reddy. Reddy has been impressive with the bat, but he has leaked runs with the ball. As India look for more control with the bat, they are expected to play Sundar, which would mean India will have two spinners—Sundar and Jadeja—in their line-up for the MCG Test.

    India Predicted playing XI for 4th Test vs Australia:

    Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

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  • “He Knows How to Make Big Hundred” – Michael Clarke On Travis Head After Akash Deep Commented On His Short Ball Weakness

    “He Knows How to Make Big Hundred” – Michael Clarke On Travis Head After Akash Deep Commented On His Short Ball Weakness

    Michael Clarke On Travis Head Short Ball Weakness: Former Australian Cricket Team captain Michael Clarke has backed Australia batter Travis Head’s ability to score big runs after Indian Cricket Team bowler Akash Deep highlighted how Head has a weakness against short balls.

    Travis Head has had a superb Border-Gavaskar Trophy so far. In the first three Australia vs India Test matches, the Adelaide native has scored two centuries, one in his home ground and the other at The Gabba in Brisbane.

    After scoring 152 in the first inning of the third Test in Brisbane, Head was dismissed cheaply in the second inning; the in-form batter was only able to score 17 runs, getting out to a short ball to which he found the top edge of his bat.

    Check Out: Michael Clarke On Travis Head Short Ball Weakness

    Following that match, Akash Deep, who impressed in his first outing in Australia in the third Test, discussed Head’s weakness against short balls, saying,

    “I think Travis Head, in particular, struggles against short balls. We won’t let him settle at the crease. We’ll target specific areas and hope to force him into mistakes, which will create chances for us.”

    While this has shown to be somewhat true in the past, Indian pacers have so far failed to exploit this weakness against a better team that has been a thorn in their side for over a year now. The bowlers and the team leadership have been guilty of failing to put a short ball plan in action against Head.

    Michael Clarke On Travis Head Short Ball Weakness

    Michael Clarke, who won the 2015 World Cup as the Australian captain, discussed Deep’s comments and what they mean. In a recent appearance on the Around the Wicket podcast, Clarke had this to say about how India should not worry if Travis starts scoring quick runs, saying,

    “The key for India is not to ball chase and look to get him out. If Travis Head scores 40 off 10 or 20 balls, I wouldn’t be too concerned if he is out. What you don’t want is Travis Head getting past 40-50 because he knows how to make big hundreds.”

    On the same podcast, he also said that he understands why an Indian player would make such a statement, claiming that they are trying to get into the head of the 30-year-old.

    “I don’t mind them coming out and saying that just to put it in Travis Head’s mind. The key to someone like Travis Head, he is playing smart cricket. He is coming in when the ball is not brand new and maximizing by saying ‘The better the bowling, the more aggressive I am going to be.’ He’s backing himself and is full of confidence playing his natural game,” said Clarke.

    After three Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the series stands at 1-1. The fourth and fifth India vs Australia Test matches, to be played in Melbourne and Sydney, will not only decide the fate of this series but also mark the equation for the World Test Championship final, which will be played in June 2025.

    The fourth Test of this series will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30, a Boxing Day Test.

    Check Out: Michael Clarke On Travis Head Short Ball Weakness

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