An additional ODI has been added to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka to enhance their preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The two matches will be played on February 12 and 14 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, both scheduled as day games. The timing of the first ODI, just two days after the […]
An additional ODI has been added to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka to enhance their preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The two matches will be played on February 12 and 14 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, both scheduled as day games.
The timing of the first ODI, just two days after the scheduled fifth day of the second Test in Galle, raises questions about player availability. If the Test match goes the full distance, it remains to be seen how many players involved in the Test can make the quick turnaround for the one-dayers.
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Australia’s preparation for the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka will be bolstered by the inclusion of nine players from their preliminary Champions Trophy squad, who are not part of the ongoing Test series. This list includes captain Pat Cummins and fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. However, Cummins’ participation in the one-dayers remains uncertain due to an ongoing ankle injury that he had been managing during the India Test series.
Australia’s ODI squad is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka just as the second Test match is getting underway. Their Champions Trophy campaign kicks off with a high-stakes match against England on February 22, followed by games against South Africa on February 25 and Afghanistan on February 28. These fixtures will be crucial in setting the tone for their tournament run.
The Champions Trophy semi-finals are set to be held on March 4 in Dubai and March 5 in Lahore, after confirmation of the hybrid model due to India’s decision not to travel to Pakistan. The final will take place on March 9, with the venue either in Dubai or Lahore, contingent on whether India qualifies for the knockout stages.
Ben McKinney of Durham delivered a standout performance on the second day of the tour game, scoring a solid 94 for England Lions. Despite his impressive knock, the Cricket Australia XI (CAXI) took charge of the four-day encounter at the Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane. McKinney’s composed innings helped the Lions reach 213 in their second innings, but they were ultimately bowled out. The CAXI, in their chase, finished the day at 97 for one, requiring 164 more runs on the third day to secure victory. Tim Ward was still at the crease, unbeaten on 39 from 80 balls, having formed a solid opening partnership of 77 with Jayden Goodwin.
Earlier, the CAXI had seen Sonny Baker dismantle their first innings without adding to their overnight score of 176. Baker claimed the crucial wicket of centurion Lachlan Hearne with his first delivery of the day, finishing with figures of four for 43. Sam Cook, who had previously made inroads into the top order, also added to the Lions’ misery, ending with figures of four for 15. Despite the youthful nature of the Lions’ batting lineup, which included nine players aged 22 or under, they were unable to capitalize on their advantage, with McKinney standing out as the lone shining star.
McKinney reached his half-century with a textbook cover drive but fell just short of a century when he was caught pulling a delivery from Gabe Bell on the boundary. The tail was exposed, but McKinney’s resilience helped the Lions reach a competitive total. Last man Cook contributed with a quick 23 off 19 balls, sharing a useful 28-run partnership with Baker. On the CAXI side, Bell and Charlie Anderson each claimed three wickets. The home side’s chase suffered an early blow when Goodwin, the son of former Zimbabwe and Sussex batter Murray Goodwin, was trapped lbw by Bashir for 35. Raf MacMillan was unbeaten on 11 at the close of play.
Rishabh Pant has confirmed his availability for Delhi’s upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra, scheduled to begin on January 23 in Rajkot. DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma announced on Tuesday that Pant will join the squad in Rajkot ahead of the match. Pant, who has not played a Ranji Trophy game since the 2017-2018 season, will make his long-awaited return to domestic cricket. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the participation of Virat Kohli, who last featured in the Ranji Trophy for Delhi back in 2012.
While Pant’s inclusion is confirmed, the situation remains unclear for Kohli. Sharma expressed the DDCA’s desire for Kohli to play but mentioned that they have not yet received any confirmation from the star batter. Additionally, Harshit Rana, who was selected for the T20 squad for the upcoming England series, will be unavailable for the Ranji match. The absence of these key players highlights the challenges Delhi faces in building a strong squad for the crucial fixture.
The need for India’s senior players, including Kohli and Rohit Sharma, to play red-ball cricket has been emphasized by former players like Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. Their advice follows India’s disappointing series loss in Australia, where several players struggled. Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, both rising stars in Indian cricket, are also expected to feature for their respective state teams, Punjab and Mumbai, further intensifying the competition in domestic cricket.
Rohit Sharma’s training session with the Mumbai team on Tuesday has sparked speculation about his potential return to the Ranji Trophy for the next round of matches. While his involvement is still uncertain, his participation could provide a boost for Mumbai as they prepare for the upcoming fixtures. Meanwhile, there has been ongoing speculation regarding Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy to regain his red-ball form. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) typically names star players like Rohit and Kohli in the list of probables, but their inclusion in the final squad is contingent on their availability and commitment.
Kohli, who has been struggling with his form, particularly outside the off-stump, saw his tally of being caught behind rise to eight during the five Tests in Australia. Rohit, after stepping down from the final Test in Australia due to poor form, is also a player to watch. In addition to Pant and Harshit Rana, Delhi have named 38 probables for their remaining two Ranji Trophy games. Currently, Delhi sit fourth in Group D with 14 points from five matches, and the availability of these key players will be crucial as they push for a strong finish.
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