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The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cricket-Future uncertain for Australia's Konstas after Windies wipeout
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - World Test Championship Final - Australia Practice - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 9, 2025 Australia's Sam Konstas during practice Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo (Reuters) -Amid the back slaps and banter in a victorious Australian dressing room, teen opener Sam Konstas's celebrations may feel bittersweet at the end of his forgettable test series in the West Indies. Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies on Monday with a 176-run rout in the pink-ball test in Kingston. But Konstas can claim little credit. A five-ball duck in the second innings at Sabina Park saw the 19-year-old, who has been touted as the "future of Australian batting", finish with 50 runs from his six innings at an average of 8.33. Only Jayden Seales, the West Indies fast bowler and tailender, had fewer runs among players who competed in all three matches. With England's Jofra Archer and the first Ashes test looming in four months, alarm bells are ringing in Australia. "The prospect of Konstas facing Jofra Archer with the first ball of the Ashes on November 21 – potentially delivered at 155km/h – doesn't feel like a fair fight," the Sydney Morning Herald said. Konstas also grassed two slips catches off Mitchell Starc's bowling on the final day at Sabina Park as Australia bowled out the hosts for 27, the second-lowest test innings score after New Zealand's 26 against England in 1955. Last December, Konstas took the cricket world by storm when he scored 60 on debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day, repeatedly ramping India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. He has not passed 25 runs in an innings since, holding an average of 16.30 from five tests. Australia have discarded plenty of players for lesser batting crimes but selectors are desperate for Konstas to make the grade and fill the void at opener which has lingered since David Warner's retirement. The West Indies pitches were surprisingly tough and Konstas was not alone in his struggles. His opening partner Usman Khawaja also had a poor series, averaging 19.50, while Travis Head was the top performer with a modest average of 37.33. Australia captain Pat Cummins was loath to criticise his batting teammates in the conditions. "It's really hard to judge, I think," he told reporters. "There'll be a few of the guys who of course wish they could have done better and if they had another crack at it maybe did a few things differently. "No doubt it was tough." Konstas will look forward to returning to home pitches where last year he racked up centuries for fun in the Sheffield Shield. Still only a teenager, he has plenty of time to develop as a player, but only a handful of Shield matches to convince he belongs in Australia's Ashes lineup. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Dewald Brevis' pyrotechnics gets Shukri Conrad's T20 era underway on a high note in Harare
Dewald Brevis struck 41 off just 17 balls to power the Proteas to victory in the first T20I in Harare. Picture: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Debutant Rubin Hermann top-scored with 45 and Dewald Brevis hit quickfire 41 to ensure Shukri Conrad's tenure as the new Proteas white-ball coach started on a positive note with a five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Monday. Conrad has enjoyed great success with the Test side, climaxing in the World Test Championship Final success at Lord's last month, but is embarking on a whole new journey with the limited-overs teams. The 57-year-old began by fielding three debutants in top-order batters Hermann and Lhuan-dre Pretorius along with allrounder Corbin Bosch. The latter played his part too by guiding the Proteas' past Zimbabwe's 141/6 with an unbeaten 23 off 15 balls. It was, however, Conrad's former SA U19 prodigy Dewald Brevis that made the biggest impact. The Proteas were precariously placed at 38/3 after the dismissal of stand-in skipper Rassie van Dussen (16) towards the end of the Powerplay when Brevis walked to the crease. The MI Cape Town starlet brought an immediate impetus to the Proteas' innings with a flurry of boundaries. Brevis was merciless against the spin of Ryan Burl, smashing a boundary and three consecutive sixes, as he took 25 runs off the 11th over. 🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨 A brilliant run chase led by our young guns! 🔥 Rubin Hermann and Dewald Brevis delivered standout performances with the bat, showing class, composure, and confidence under pressure! 🇿🇦💪 The Proteas Men got the job done in style to kick off the Tri-Nations… — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 14, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The momentum switched heavily in the Proteas' favour with not even Brevis' (41 off 17 balls, 1x4, 5x6) dismissal in the following over stemming the visitors' march to victory. "When I made my mark there, it was a big privilege to represent South Africa again, and that was what was going through my head. It was super fun, and I am glad we won," Brevis said. "I am just watching the ball and wherever the ball goes, it needs to go, irrespective of the size of the boundary." Brevis and Hermann shared a 72-run partnership off just 37 balls, which ate chunks out of the Proteas' eventual successful run-chase. "It was quite clear. We were in an interesting position, but we were only a few boundaries away. It wasn't a big total we chased. There was no need to rush anything or go searching - plan was to keep it simple and play our game," he added. Hermann's contribution should not be undervalued too for the left-hander, despite being on his international debut, provided a calming influence in the middle-order after the early wickets. The left-hander showed silly touches, utilising the sweep to good effect against the spinners, and also drilled some powerful drives straight down the ground before his off-stump was uprooted by a brilliant Richard Ngarava delivery. The left-arm seamer finished with excellent figures of 3/35 after earlier picking up both Pretorius (0) and Reeza Hendricks (11). Zimbabwe, however, needed more from their support bowlers after their batting unit delivered a below-par total on a sluggish Harare Sports Club surface. Left-arm spinner George Linde was excellent for the Proteas with figures of 3/10, while seamer Nandre Burger (1/22) also made an impressive comeback after a 10-month international absence Zimbabwe captain Sikander Raza's experience shone though with the skipper striking an unbeaten 54 off 38 balls (3x4, 2x6), while Brian Bennett (30) and Burl (29) also made worthwhile contributions, but unfortunately it was not enough for the home team on the day. The Proteas will be in action again on Wednesday when the face New Zealand in the second match of the T20I Tri-Series.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Gerald Coetzee raring to go for the Proteas across all formats after 'a tough few months'
Proteas fast bowler Gerald Coetzee is back to full fitness and will be making a comeback in the T20I Tri-Series in Zimbabwe. Picture: Phill Magakoe/AFP Image: AFP Gerald Coetzee admits he suffered from 'FOMO' after missing the Proteas' World Test Championship Final success at Lord's and that he remains committed to playing all formats. The 24-year-old fast bowler has been plagued by various injuries over the past two years, and is set to embark on his latest comeback to the national team during the upcoming T20I Tri-Series against hosts Zimbabwe and New Zealand starting on Monday in Harare. Coetzee last played for Proteas back in November when he picked up 'a groin niggle" whilst bowling in the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead. Scans later revealed that the damage was greater than initially expected with Coetzee being ruled out of the remainder of the home international summer. He returned to play a single match for the Joburg Super Kings during the SA20 before a left hamstring strain curtailed his participation in South Africa's premier domestic competition. There was renewed hope in February that Coetzee could return for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, but after experiencing tightness in his groin while completing his 10 overs at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria, the Proteas medical team ruled that the symptoms posed an increased risk of significant injury at a higher bowling load forcing the young tearaway to spend further time on the sidelines. Coetzee's road to recovery has since involved playing four matches in the IPL for Gujarat Titans back in April and now five successive matches for Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket the past month. The Proteas have already seen fellow injury-prone fast bowler Anrich Nortje opt out of Test cricket to preserve his fragile body for the white-ball formats, but Coetzee has adopted a philosophical approach and believes he still has plenty to offer in all formats of the game. 'I think what I do is for a living, being a fast bowler, I think I've come to understand what happens to us. And it has been a tough few months. But I'm not someone who stands out in that sense. 'I think if you look at the landscape of all the bowlers who bowl high 140s, you know, we all struggle with injuries occasionally. So it's been tough, but I understand the process. I understand what it requires,' Coetzee said. 'I love red ball cricket too much. And I also love one day cricket. I think T20 cricket is just what's most accessible to us. So that's usually when we get a chance to play something, it's been T20 cricket. 'But I love red ball cricket. All my goals I've set for myself are mostly red-ball cricket related. So I love it too much.' The Proteas' WTC Final success over Australia at Lord's certainly fuelled Coetzee's desire to get back into the Test side. 'I think anyone with a very competitive nature, you know, there was definitely FOMO, but I couldn't stop watching. I was so happy when we won,' he said. 'It was long overdue. I was very happy. You know, me not being there, I did have FOMO naturally.' Coetzee will most likely share the new-ball with fellow fast bowling returnee Nandre Burger, who has equally struggled with a lumbar stress fracture that limited his playing time for the Proteas. Burger has also begun his comeback trail via the MLC and will be eager to show that he is also fully recovered. The duo, of course, possess the X-factor of being able to bowl genuine quick which is a prize asset that needs to be treasured. Coetzee feels that despite their recent injury setbacks, neither will be holding back when they get the opportunity to be unleashed in the T20I Tri-Series. 'I think both of our nature is not to ease into anything,' he said. 'No, I think we're excited, man. We love cricket. 'We love playing for our country. And whenever we get an opportunity, it doesn't matter who the opposition is, you go out there and try and do your best. 'Like it's tough physically to bowl fast, but I love it. I enjoy it. And I do trust my body to keep doing that.'
India Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
England vs India, 3rd Test weather and pitch report: Will rain spoil Lord's clash?
Brimming with confidence after a memorable win in Birmingham, India now head to Lord's—the iconic venue steeped in cricketing history—for the third Test of the five-match series. With things nicely poised at 1-1, the clash in London from July 10 promises to be an exciting come into this Test with plenty of momentum. Not only did they level the series with a solid win in the second Test, but they also picked up their first-ever Test victory at Edgbaston. It wasn't just about getting over the line—it was a performance of intent. The batting clicked, the bowling was sharp, and the team looked in sync. Now, with Lord's up next, they'll be looking to carry that rhythm opening Test at Leeds was a run-fest. Both teams put on a show with the bat. India had four centurions—Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul all stood up with important knocks. But England had the final say, thanks to a brilliant 149 from Ben Duckett, which turned the game in their favour. Things changed in Edgbaston. India dominated from the start. Shubman Gill was in sublime form, scoring a double century in the first innings and following it up with another hundred in the second. The bowlers did their part too—Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep kept England under constant pressure with the ball and didn't allow them to settle. It was a comprehensive 336-run win, and just what India with the action moving to Lord's, there's been some chatter about the weather—understandably so, since both previous Tests were hit by rain at various points. But this time, the forecast looks promising. With sunshine expected through all five days, fans can hopefully look forward to a full match without interruptions. That's good news for both teams, especially the quick bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer, who'll want long spells in helpful in all, Lord's is shaping up to be a cracking contest. Momentum, form, and conditions are all in the mix—now it's just a matter of who can make it vs IND, 3rd Test: London WeatherAccording to both BBC and AccuWeather, there are no forecasts of rain across any of the five days of the Test match. The weather is expected to remain clear and sunny, with light winds and temperatures hovering between 30 and 31 degrees Celsius throughout. If these predictions hold true, fans can look forward to uninterrupted action and a full five days of high-quality cricket at the iconic Lord' vs IND 3rd Test: Lord's pitch reportThe pitch at the iconic Lord's features a green-top surface that could offer some uneven bounce. The last Test played here—the World Test Championship Final—highlighted just that. The inconsistent bounce troubled both batters and slip fielders, with edges often dying short. As a result, fielders were forced to stand closer, only to be caught off guard by sharp, low catches, several of which went down.- Ends
India Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Lord's Test, India's playing XI: Bumrah returns, but will Arshdeep also play?
So, we have had a short turnaround for the third Test as India and England are set to lock horns at the iconic Lord's stadium from July 10. India, without the services of Jasprit Bumrah, shocked everyone as they beat the hosts in their own game, scoring more than 1000 runs and taking 20 wickets across both Bumrah is expected to be back and play at Lord's as the cameras caught him going full tilt in the nets and eager to better his record at the iconic stadium. India are expected to complement the star pacer with the duo of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who made the England batters dance to their tunes with the latter taking 10 wickets in the match to set up the the big question now heading into the match will be if India would be tempted to add another pacer to their ranks. The early images of the Lord's pitch has shown it to be a bit more on the greener side, meaning that there will be movement and pace on offer for the bowlers. England have announced their lineup, with Jofra Archer being the only change. While Rishabh Pant was coy about how India will approach the pitch, England captain Ben Stokes expects the track to be similar to the one used for the World Test Championship Final last month. This presents an opportunity for Arshdeep Singh to make his much-awaited Test debut. Given that Prasidh Krishna has struggled so far in England, Arshdeep seems to be the straightforward option at the Pathan endorsed the inclusion of the young left-arm pacer in the playing XI to help Bumrah with the new ball."Now that Bumrah is coming back Akashdeep has to bowl with new ball from the other end. I think it's pretty straight forward as far as I'm concerned," said Pathan on Arshdeep makes the cut, then one of Washington Sundar or Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to sit out. Nitish didn't have the best of outings at Edgbaston as he failed with the bat and didn't create a lot of impact with the played a good hand with the bat in the first innings and got the wicket of Stokes in the second one that tilted the match in India's favour. If India chooses to have the luxury of an extra spinner at Lord's, expect Sundar to retain his spot over point of discussion will be if India will continue to trust Karun Nair or will they bring back Sai Sudharsan for the No.3 spot. Karun hasn't lit up the stage with the bat so far but has shown signs of brilliance. So, expect him to continue for atleast the third vs IND: India's playing XI for Lord's TestYashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar/Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.- EndsTune InMust Watch
