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News18
12-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
'Can't Believe You Are Done...': Ravi Shastri Leaves Heartfelt Message For Virat Kohli
Last Updated: Ravi Shastri expressed astonishment at Virat Kohli's retirement from Tests, praising his legacy and their successful partnership. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who had a brilliant coach-captain partnership with ace batter Virat Kohli, has expressed his astonishment at the latter retiring from Tests, besides thanking him for the amazing memories that he gave to everyone and to him individually as well. The 36-year-old Kohli, who admitted that it was not an easy call to make, turned up in 123 Tests for India, scoring 9230 runs with 30 centuries and 31 fifties at an average of 46.85. Kohli will now only be seen in ODIs, having already retired from T20Is in 2024 after having a crucial role in India's T20 World Cup victory over South Africa. 'Can't believe you are done. You are a modern-day GIANT and were a fantastic ambassador for Test match cricket in every way you played and captained," Shastri tweeted on Monday afternoon. Can't believe you are done. You are a modern-day GIANT and were a fantastic ambassador for Test match cricket in every way you played and captained. Thank you for the lasting memories you've given to everyone, and to me in particular. It's something I will cherish for life. Go… — Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) May 12, 2025 Shastri and Kohli's partnership took Indian Test cricket to massive heights. During the MCG Test in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the former had said that Kohli will play for another three to four years, but the star batter drew an early close to his career in the whites. Out of the 39 Tests which India played with Kohli as skipper and Shastri as coach, they won as many as 22 for a win percentage of 56.41. The side lost 13 Tests and drew four in this era. A closer look at how the side did in home and away Tests in this period shows that the home win percentage was almost 79% while the away win percentage was 44%. Since making his debut in 2011 as the nation's Test cap number 269, Kohli led India to the world number one position in the format and fetched a historic series win in Australia in 2018-19. Overall, India played 14 Tests at home during this period, winning 11, losing one and drawing two. First Published: May 12, 2025, 15:24 IST
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cooper Connolly's father in heartwarming revelation as Pat Cummins detail emerges
Aussie cricket fans are thrilled for young talent Cooper Connolly after the 21-year-old was handed his baggy green in Galle having fallen short of breaking Pat Cummins' bizarre record. After speculation Connolly could slot into the Aussie line-up for either Beau Webster or Todd Murphy for the second Test, it was the off-spinner to make way in a brutal axing on a wicket that should turn early. While it was unfortunate for Murphy, Connolly was thrilled with former Aussie opener Simon Katich presenting the Western Australian with his baggy green as his mother and father embraced their son. And the 21-year-old batter is tied second as the player with the fewest first-class matches to debut for Australia. Connolly has played just four matches for Western Australia - the same as Bill Watson - and only current Test captain Cummins and Tibby Cotter have played fewer before their debut. Connolly has impressed Australian selectors with the bat this summer having averages 61.80 in first-class cricket. Despite not taking a wicket, the young Western Australian has impressed selectors with his off-spin bowling. And he will act as a second left-arm spinner behind Matt Kuhnemann who took nine wickets in the first Test. Since the MCG Test against India, Connolly is Australia's fourth debutant in as many matches after Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis. And speaking to Channel 7, Connolly's father Shane admitted he was so proud of his son having pushed him to strive for greatness. "We have always been hard on him, so we probably expected more than most from him," Shane said after the baggy green presentation. "People would tell us he was going to be ok, but we didn't believe all the rumours, so we just kept pushing him. We are probably his harshest critics and he understands that." Fans were thrilled for the youngster and praised the 21-year-old's rise amongst the Aussie ranks. Cooper Connolly is Australia's 471st Test cricketer - and it sounds like he's also finally lived up to his dad's expectations! 😉READ MORE: — The Roar (@TheRoarSports) February 6, 2025 Cooper Connolly gets his maiden Test cap with a first-class experience of only four matches! #SLvAUS — ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 6, 2025 Cooper Connolly's Test debut in his 5th first class match. Fewest first-class matches before Test debut by any Australian since Pat Cummins (3). For context, Sam Konstas (11) had almost 3x as much first class experience when he debuted on Boxing Day #SLvAUS @abcsport — Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) February 6, 2025 Australia clearly wanted to add an extra batter to the line-up with the Galle wicket looking like it will turn earlier than the pitch used in the first Test at the same ground. And while Murphy can feel unfortuante to miss out, another player who is under immense pressure is Marnus Labuschagne. Australia made the call to keep Labuschagne in the starting XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka, despite struggling in recent months. The No.3 averaged averaged 25.8 at home against India. He also flopped in the first innings against Sri Lanka. While there were question marks over whether the 30-year-old would play the second Test in Galle, Labuscahgne lined-up with stand-in captain Smith suggesting a big score was only around the corner. "(Labuschagne) played nicely at the back end of the summer, he looked like he was putting the pressure on the bowlers a little bit more," Smith said ahead of the second Test. "The more difficult the wicket is in terms of how much it's spinning, the more aggressive you have to be with your batting and the more proactive you have to be. He understands that, he understands spin and angles as good as anyone. I don't think he's far away from a good score." While Labuschagne is safe for another Test, he does face pressure from the likes of Inglis, Cameron Green and Connolly. Green is shaping for a return to cricket before the ICC Test Championship Final. He will be returning as a specialist batter and selectors could see Labuschagne as a potential option to drop if he continues to fail. A big score from Connolly will also pile the pressure on the Queenslander as fans are starting to ask the question before the showdown against South Africa in the final.
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Warne-esque' Alana shines at the King's HQ
There is something about Melbourne and leg-spinners. Just as the legendary Shane Warne did with such theatre and magic throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Alana King is the latest to master a very difficult craft to bamboozle English batters during an Ashes tour. King has taken 18 wickets in the series so far at an average of just has regularly worked her way through England's top order with guile and control, combined with the classical theatrics of a leg-spinner, which makes every ball an event in itself. And fittingly, in front of two Shane Warne stands - one at the Junction Oval for the second one-day international and now in the MCG Test - she has taken 4-25 and 4-45 respectively. "King has been devastating. She gets the ball drifting in and then turning away, almost unplayable deliveries," former England fast bowler Steven Finn said on TNT Sports."She has been Shane Warne-esque. It was quite fitting that she was getting the ball to rip and spit so much in front of his stand." It also seems that King has managed to add the sneaky mind-games of a leg-spinner into her armoury, alongside her consistency and sharp turn. When she comes into the attack, you are on the edge of your seat in anticipation and England know it - all their gameplans to spin seem to fly out of the window. The visitors, already 12-0 down and staring down the barrel of a clean sweep in the multi-format series, were bowled out for 170 on day one and such has been Australia's dominance, it felt like King had won the battle before she had even bowled a single ball. She managed to remove three of England's set batters - Sophia Dunkley was caught and bowled for 21, Danni Wyatt-Hodge nudged the ball to short leg for 22 and Nat Sciver-Brunt was bowled for the fifth time in a row for 51, the only notable contribution of the innings. "King is a fantastic bowler and she sets brilliant plans to different batters as well," England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss said on TNT Sports. "Once she got into her groove, it looked like she was going to get a wicket every single ball she bowled. The skill level and the control she has, particularly for a leg-spinner, is unbelievable." King's contribution ensured that England's challenge of avoiding a 16-0 drubbing is already looking unlikely. She was offered valuable support by the rest of a formidable attack that has regularly left England bewildered over the past three weeks. Seamer Kim Garth finished with 2-13 from 10 overs, Darcie Brown took two wickets with her pace and off-spinner Ash Gardner offered plenty of control with her have got to think creatively if they are to take the remaining nine Australian wickets as quickly as possible, with all-rounder Tahlia McGrath's place at number eight an ominous reminder of their strength in depth. Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone is likely to play a key role considering the turn that King produced, as England may rue the omission of Charlie Dean's off-spin in favour of the extra seamer in Ryana Macdonald-Gay. But while Ecclestone is the world's best bowler and could hold the key to hopes of an England fightback, the series as a whole belongs to King for now. "I'd probably have Sophie Ecclestone as the best all-format spinner because of her ability to bowl at every stage of an innings," Finn added. "In a T20 game, she's bowling the 18th or 20th over. But Alana King, at the moment, is the most dangerous for taking wickets."
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Don't like it': Ricky Ponting takes aim at Aussies over glaring Sam Konstas issue
Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting has taken aim at the selectors for dropping Sam Konstas for Josh Inglis having claimed he needs more time out in the middle before the Test Championship final. Konstas won over Australian fans during the MCG Test against India having attacked Jasprit Bumrah like no batter has before in red-ball cricket. The 19-year-old has been touted as the long-term opener for Australia with his talent on show throughout the first two matches of his career. Although the youngster has been brought back down to earth with selectors opting to promote Travis Head to opener and drop Konstas from the XI altogether. Selectors wanted to shield Head from spin when he first comes into bat, which Konstas make way and Inglis earn his baggy green. This was against Ponting and Michael Clarke's advice earlier in the week. And Pointing once again voiced his surprise at the decision during Channel 7 commentary. Speaking ahead of the toss, Ponting could not believe Konstas wasn't afforded the opportunity to gain more experience out in the middle. Especially when Konstas is expected to be back into the team to take on South Africa in the ICC Test Championship final. "I don't like it, to be honest. I just expected that Konstas would play and would open the batting," Ponting said on Channel 7. "We have seen Travis head open the batting in the sub-continent before and he did very well. "No doubt he will look to get Australia off to a flyer and almost bat like he would in on-day mode, but I think there is a real missed opportunity for the Australians here to get to learn a bit more about Sam Konstas. If he is the player we all think he is, I would have loved to have seen him work out a way to play spin in tough conditions in Sri Lanka over the next couple of weeks." Later when it was put to him again, Ponting added: "I thought Konstas had to play". Scott Boland was also omitted from the Australia side with three spinners preferred alongside Mitchell Starc. And Ponting wasn't the only former player to slam the snub of Konstas. Former fast-bowler Stuart Clark echoed plenty of Ponting's frustration and claimed it was 'ridiculous' to hand Konstas a baggy green and take it away two Tests later. "Sam Konstas had one of the most remarkable debuts of all time. I can't see why you leave him out of team," Stuart Clark said on ABC Radio after the selections were confirmed. "I find it not going to get any better unless he plays." Despite his snub for the first Test, stand-in in captain Steve Smith claimed Konstas would take plenty away from this tour even if he doesn't make it into the XI. Smith just about confirmed Konstas wouldn't be selected on Tuesday when confirming Head would open the batting. Despite being dropped, Smith claimed Konstas would learn a lot and used his own experience in India back in 2013 as a comparison. "Just the amount of balls I was hitting in the nets, and the skills I was able to develop from facing loads of net bowlers and things like that," he said. "Whether he plays or not, I think it's going to be a wonderful experience for him. He's going to learn a lot." Head did get off to a brilliant start having scored his half-century in just 35 balls as he looked to take on the Sri Lankan spinners in the first session. He was caught out for 57 off 40. While many could feel the selectors got it right with Head, Ponting and Clarke were not denying the 31-year-old wouldn't score runs. Instead they claimed Konstas needed more experience opening at international level.
