BGT 2024-25: IPL Auction No Distraction For Perth Test, Says Cummins

Lucknow Super Giants: Australia captain Pat Cummins is confident that the upcoming IPL mega auction, scheduled to overlap with the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, will not distract his team. The IPL auction is set for November 24 and 25 and shortly after day three and four ends on November 24 and 25, respectively, the action will shift to the two-day IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah. Yeah, I think he is there in the auction. I don't think so (it will be a distraction). Dan has flown over there, but he has been here for the whole prep. Done all the meetings, done all the chats, watching it. We came to know that anyway. So, for the players, I don't think so. Most of these guys have been there in the auctions before. They know they can't really do anything. You are a sitting duck and seeing whether you get selected or not. It doesn't... doesn't make a difference to how we go about the first two days. It is not a distraction as far as I can see it, Cummins told reporters. Cummins and Travis Head are the only Australian players in the current squad retained by their IPL franchises. Daniel Vettori, Australias assistant coach, will miss the Perth Test to be in Jeddah as Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach. Similar is the case with Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, who are confirmed to miss commentating on the Perth Test for broadcasters Channel Seven after day ones play to be in the auction as head coaches of Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, respectively. Dan has done all the meetings and preparations with us. Its all set, so no concerns there, Cummins added. The scheduling has drawn criticism, with former Australia captain Pontingsaying, A lot of players in both teams are part of the auction. It could have been scheduled during the nine-day gap between Tests, avoiding unnecessary pressure. Cummins, however, remains unfazed with scheduling. We are fully focused on the Perth Test. The auction timing means it wont interfere with the first two days of play. Were ready to give our best, he asserted. The scheduling has drawn criticism, with former Australia captain Pontingsaying, A lot of players in both teams are part of the auction. It could have been scheduled during the nine-day gap between Tests, avoiding unnecessary pressure. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Thoda Gyan Apne Future Ke Liye Bacha Lo: Shami Rips Into Manjrekar Over IPL Auction Prediction

New Delhi: India pacer Mohammed Shami has slammed former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar for his remark over IPL auction, calling him a aba people could contact to know their future. In an Instagram story, Shami shared a screenshot of a post featuring Manjrekar's opinion on the pacer's auction price, suggesting that there could be a potential decrease in his bidding at the upcoming mega auction. Baba ki jay hoooooo. Thodsa gyan apne future k lie bhi bacha loo kaam aayega Sanjay G? Kisi ko future janna ho to sir se mile (All hail the saint. Save some knowledge for your future as well, it will come in handy. If anyone wants to know the future, they should meet sir),Shami wrote. Earlier while speaking to Star Sports, Manjarekar stated that Shami's injury history could result in a price drop for the pacer in the upcoming IPL auction. There will definitely be interest from teams, but given Shami's injury historyand this recent one took a significant amount of time to recovertheres always a concern about a potential breakdown during the season, Manjrekar had said on Star Sports. If a franchise invests heavily and then loses him mid-season, their options become limited. This concern might lead to a drop in his price tag, he added. Shami, who has been out of action the 2023 World Cup final, has fully recovered from the injury that ruled him out for more than a year, made his comeback to professional cricket in the Ranji Trophy, representing Bengal. The 34-year-old seamer, playing his first Ranji Trophy match since 2018, showed his class and experience, finishing as Bengals standout bowler with figures of 4-54 in 19 overs last week. Shami, who has been out of action the 2023 World Cup final, has fully recovered from the injury that ruled him out for more than a year, made his comeback to professional cricket in the Ranji Trophy, representing Bengal. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

BGT 2024-25: Kohli Will Be Under Less Pressure Being In Australia Than India, Says Mark Waugh

Border Gavaskar Trophy: Former Australia batter Mark Waugh opined that Virat Kohli will feel less pressure while playing in Australia than in India as the right hander loves the Australian conditions and have great records against the nation. Kohli touched down in Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy amidst a form slump as he averaged 20.62 across his ten most recent Test innings, way below than his average of 54.08 in Tests in Australia and his overall career average of 47.83. But having scored some of his landmark centuries in Australia and leading India here to a 2-1 series win in 2018/19 is expected to bring the best out of him in the upcoming five-match series, starting on November 22 at Perth Stadium. Hes got a great record in Australia, he loves the conditions. I think hes a better player of pace than spin. Hes had a lean trot though, by his standards, and his average has dropped a lot,' Waugh told Fox Cricket. Maybe Perths a good starting place for him, because he made that brilliant hundred on a very, very tricky pitch (in 2018). Its always good when youve got good memories at certain grounds. Hell be under less pressure being in Australia than India. Its so encompassing, playing in India on your home soil. Itll be a fresh start for him, this series, he said. For the first time since December 2014, Kohli has fallen out of the ICC Test batting rankings' top 20, but the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy offers him a chance to revive his struggling Test career. The Australians would still see him as a big wicket, Waugh continued. They know what hes capable of, and his record in Australia is so good, and he loves the big stage. India have beaten us the last four series, so I think itll bring the best out of Kohli. Whether hes good enough and technically good enough to make runs is a different story, Waugh added. Formal bowler Brett Lee is also confident that Kohli will produce his best again in Australia this summer and can cause trouble for the hosts. Hes got an Australian mentality, a never-say-die attitude. He doesnt mind getting into a scrap. He doesnt mind having a crack. There has been a lot of conjecture around his form recently, but Im not worried about that. I know with Kohli, hes got the experience underneath his belt, Lee told Fox Cricket. Formal bowler Brett Lee is also confident that Kohli will produce his best again in Australia this summer and can cause trouble for the hosts. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

BGT 2024-25: This Australian Team Has 'greatest Bowling Quartet Of All-time', Opines Vaughan

This Australian: Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels that Australia's frontline bowling quartet of Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are arguably the nation's best of all time and are key to victory for Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India at home. India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia the last two times it was played there in 2018/19 and 2020/21. Moreover, Australia have not won the series since 2014-15, when they won 2-0 on the home soil. We saw in the One Day game against Pakistan in Perth that there's plenty of bounce and there'll be a little bit of action for for both sets of seamers. It's the best series at the minute because of the two quality teams, over the last six or seven years Australia and India have been consistently the best two Test match teams, Vaughan told SEN 1170 Mornings. In the last few series, India have had the upper hand, theyve played some good cricket, theyve been flamboyant at times and they've been able to dig in at times so Im intrigued to see how Australia fight back, he said Lyon (530 wickets), Starc (358 wickets), Hazlewood (273 wickets) and (269 wickets) all sit inside the top 10 for Test wickets taken in the Australia's cricket history. This Australian team is quality, particularly that bowling attack. That quartet you could argue is Australia's greatest bowling quartet of all-time. So I'm intrigued to see how both sets of batters go against the bounce in Perth and also the quality they're going to have to face, Vaughan added. Lyon (530 wickets), Starc (358 wickets), Hazlewood (273 wickets) and (269 wickets) all sit inside the top 10 for Test wickets taken in the Australia's cricket history. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

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SA20 Season 3: With 50 Days To Go, De Villiers Excited For Upcoming Mega Action

The Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Proteas legend AB de Villiers is excited ahead of their opening match of the SA20 Season 3 between double champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town at St Georges Park in Gqeberha on January 9. With only 50 days to go until the first ball is bowled, de Villiers, the brand ambassador of SA20, on Wednesday analysed the chances of the teams. The opening match will return to St Georges for a second year running, and De Villiers, who has fond memories of the oldest international ground in the country, feels there could be no better place to kick off an incredible month of cricket. St Georges Park has the best atmosphere of all the grounds I feel. Certainly, during my playing days over there, they got right behind me, De Villiers said. There is nothing better than playing at St Georges Park. With the band there, there is always music in the background. Its almost like you have earpods in your ears. Dancing to some tunes while youre playing cricket. The home side, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, have been the standout team over the past two seasons, winning back-to-back titles under the guidance of their dynamic leadership duo of coach Adrian Birrell and captain Aiden Markram. De Villiers, having played under Birrell for many years with the Proteas mens team, feels their edge over the opposition is due to their tremendous team ethic and culture created by the Eastern Cape farmer. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape have been incredibly successful in SA20 - both seasons champions. It is an incredible achievement for them. They will try their absolute best to go three in a row, De Villiers said. I feel their strength lies in their ability to play as a team. It is something Adrian Birrell has achieved over there in the setup, their ability to hunt as a pack. Captain Aiden Markram is calm and composed. You also feel that anyone can chip in at any time. Adi Birrell is a true legend. He brings a lot of calmness and composure. He is a down-to-earth farmer from the Eastern Cape, an absolute legend over there. His humility is what stands out. He never talks down to anyone. He always sees the basics of the game as the most important thing, de Villiers was quoted as saying in a release on Wednesday. De Villiers, though, is expecting a crackerjack opening game due to MI Cape Town having bolstered their already power-packed squad with England Test captain and double white-ball World Cup winner Ben Stokes for Season 3. MI Cape Town are a star-studded team. They have been for the past two seasons, and now with the addition of Ben Stokes, makes that side even better, De Villiers said. But it also shows that the best teams dont always win championships. I do, however, expect a better performance, looking at that line-up on paper, it's just pure power, said the former South Africa captain, considered by many as the best 360-degree batter in the cricket world. De Villiers, who was part of the SA20 commentary team over the past two seasons, also expects another bumper month of action-packed cricket and incredible entertainment. But it also shows that the best teams dont always win championships. I do, however, expect a better performance, looking at that line-up on paper, it's just pure power, said the former South Africa captain, considered by many as the best 360-degree batter in the cricket world. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS