In the wake of the T20 cricket revolution, the enduring legacy of Test cricket faces a dual onslaught. Renowned Australian cricket luminary Ian Chappell, in a compelling piece for ESPNcricinfo, delves into the alarming state of the red-ball game, spotlighting what he terms the “abysmal pace of play.”

Chappell directs his scrutiny towards the batters, holding them responsible for the stagnation of Test cricket’s rhythm. In his incisive analysis, he decries the sluggish pace, pointing out the lack of initiative from cricket administrators. Despite commendable efforts from players like Ben Stokes to elevate Test cricket’s entertainment factor, Chappell argues that progress is hampered by a lack of proactive measures.

“Why do mid-pitch discussions happen without penalty? Shouldn’t etiquette dictate that batters are ready for their stance when a bowler is poised to deliver?”

Chappell queries, addressing issues ranging from extended breaks, frequent glove changes, and unnecessary boundary replays. He also raised concerns about the Decision Review System (DRS), attributing it to the prolonged nature of decisions and disputes.

Chappell’s critique extends to player behaviour, calling out the allowance for charging at umpires during appeals and the inconsistency in permitting abrupt changes to a batter’s stance.

“Fairness should be a consideration when framing cricket’s laws,”

he asserts, highlighting the need for equitable regulations in the face of evolving cricket dynamics.

After colleague Aaron Finch announced that he was hanging up his boots from the BBL, he announced his own retirement.

“I have loved playing for the Renegades, I’ve met some great people over the last five years and the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime. This playing group is special. They’ve been amazing to me, amazing team-mates and even better friends,” said Marsh.

“To the Renegades’ coaches and staff and everyone behind the scenes – thank you for backing me in from the start and over my final years. It’s made my job a little easier out in the middle,” he added.

Marsh scored the most runs in the first season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the same year, he played his first One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches during the West Indies tour.

Marsh scored a total of 2265 runs in 38 Tests, 2773 runs in 73 ODIs, and 255 runs in 15 T20Is for Australia. He notched up 13 centuries and 25 half-centuries in these formats.

The 34-year-old veteran, chosen unexpectedly over Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Matt Renshaw, will be opening for Australia in the upcoming Test series against the West Indies in Adelaide. This marks his debut in the new role, starting Wednesday.

“They (selectors) were obviously very keen to get Cameron (Green) in the side as well and play our best six batters, and for me it didn’t sit right to have him come in and bat up top,” he told reporters.

“I’ve played for a long time and I’m an experienced player, and I think it’s something I should have done.”

Mitchell Marsh’s resurgence in the all-rounder role has led to the sidelining of the highly rated Green. In a strategic move, Smith has been shifted up the order instead of selecting a specialist opener, allowing Green to return primarily as a batsman. Smith had been considering this idea since the Ashes in England last year, and it finally materialized during the third Test against Pakistan in Sydney this month.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity of getting in and facing the new ball,” he said.

“It’s something that isn’t really foreign to me. I’ve batted on numerous occasions where I’ve come in early doors and I batted at number three for quite a while.”

Ex-captain Smith, with 105 Tests and 9,514 runs under his belt, prefers batting early because “I don’t like waiting to bat.

“I actually don’t like watching cricket that much, believe it or not,” he said.

“I’d prefer to be out there batting. It gets a bit boring sitting there (with the pads on) but I don’t have to do that any more.”

Yuvraj Singh, the former Indian cricketer and World Cup hero, praised Rinku Singh for his outstanding performances in T20 cricket. Yuvraj considers Rinku Singh as the top left-handed batter in India right now, comparing his playing style to his own. In the recent T20Is, India has experimented with various left-handed batsmen, including Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube. In the first T20I against Afghanistan on January 11 in Mohali, these players featured in India’s top six, contributing to a six-wicket victory.

Rinku Singh has continued his excellent form from the IPL 2023 season to international cricket. With a stunning strike rate of 180.52 and an outstanding average of 69.50, he has scored 278 runs in nine innings.

Yuvraj Singh Commends Rinku Singh’s Excellent Performances

Yuvraj Singh emphasized Rinku Singh’s capacity for critical decision-making under duress in a recent interview. Yuvraj is confident in Rinku’s potential as a match-winner and reliable finisher, especially at the No. 5 or 6 positions.

“He’s probably the best left-hander in the Indian squad right now. He reminds me of myself – he knows when to attack when to rotate strike, and he’s incredibly smart under pressure,”

He added: “He can win us matches. I don’t want to put pressure on him, but I truly believe he has the skill to do what I used to – to be the finisher who delivers at No.5 or 6,”

Yuvraj Singh, with almost 12,000 international runs and 17 centuries in his impressive career, played a key role in India’s successful 2011 ODI World Cup campaign, earning him the Player of the Tournament award.He also played a significant role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup triumph.

Now, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team is aiming for a series victory as they take on Afghanistan in the second T20I match at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 14.

South Africa is set to host the 2024 U-19 World Cup, but David Teeger, the Proteas captain, has stepped down from his role. He stepped down as captain because people were worried about possible protests due to his supportive comments about the Israel Army. Cricket South Africa (CSA) released a statement, stating that Teeger’s presence as captain could lead to unrest among supporters.

Teeger had expressed his support for the Israel Army in late 2023, two weeks after Hamas’ attack on the country during the conflict in Gaza. Despite an investigation into his comments, CSA initially cleared him to play and appointed him captain. However, ahead of the U-19 World Cup, they decided to relieve him of his captaincy due to concerns about potential disruptions.

The tournament was supposed to be in Sri Lanka, but it had to change to South Africa because the ICC suspended the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. The U-19 World Cup will now take place in smaller grounds like Benoni, Potchefstroom, Kimberley, and East London, as South Africa is also currently hosting SA20.

Adam Gilchrist has clarified that a quote attributed to him online about Pakistan’s performance in Australia is completely false.
In a tweet, he said, “I never said that.” Absolutely fake, it is a made-up quote.” Gilchrist praised Pakistan’s performance, noting that they were excellent at times during the summer against a world champion Australian team.
He stressed that the quote doesn’t represent his thoughts and praised Pakistan’s performance in the Test series. Gilchrist, recognized as one of the best wicket-keeper batters globally, played 96 Tests and 287 ODIs for Australia in his 13-year international career.

Hetmyer has been excluded from both the ODI and T20I squads for the West Indies’ upcoming series against Australia. This decision follows his omission from the team against England late last year. Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers are included in the T20I squad after opting out of the Test tour for T20 franchise contracts.

Notably absent from the ODI squad are Holder and Mayers, with batters Brandon King and Sherfane Rutherford allowed to participate in franchise cricket before rejoining for the T20Is. The ODI team, led by Shai Hope, features potential debutants Teddy Bishop and Tevin Imlach. Allrounders Justin Greaves and Kavem Hodge make a return, along with legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr.

Hetmyer, who struggled against England, averaging 32.23 in ODIs, has been left out. The ODI series, scheduled for February 2, 4, and 6, will be followed by the T20Is on February 9, 11, and 13. West Indies aims to build on their recent successes and improve in preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, where they are the hosts. Australia’s ODI squad will be captained by Steven Smith, while the T20I squad is yet to be announced but is expected to include David Warner.

David Warner is making a dramatic entry into the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) for Sydney Thunder. He plans to play in the last three league stage matches before heading to the UAE to captain Dubai Capitals in the International League T20. Despite his recent retirement from Test cricket, he’s in a race against time to reach the venue for a crucial match against Sydney Sixers on January 12. Interestingly, Warner, who retired at the SCG last week, will land his helicopter on the same outfield where the ‘Thanks Davey’ message was painted during the Australia-Pakistan Test match. Initially considering Allianz Stadium, the plan changed, and weather permitting, Warner will touch down at the SCG outfield at 5 PM local time after attending his brother’s wedding in the Hunter Valley.

“He’s going to take a lot of effort to come and play for us. We love having him here. Last year he was awesome for us, maybe didn’t score as many runs as he would have liked but around the group and passing on knowledge was awesome to have him around. He’s one of the better team men. All the fans get to enjoy him playing cricket,” Sydney Thunder pacer Gurinder Sandhu said.

In the upcoming match, Sydney Sixers will feature Steve Smith, adding to the excitement of the game. The fixture is anticipated to be a blockbuster, and a full house is expected at the SCG. Commenting on David Warner’s entrance, someone remarked, “He’s a bit Hollywood, isn’t he? That’s very Davey.” Another person mentioned getting a Lime bike and planning to replicate the same and ride out as Warner lands tomorrow night.

“I’m glad they are making it happen because think everyone in the country who is a fan of cricket wants to see David Warner in the BBL and I’m really looking forward to coming up against him. One of the best players in the world and has been for a long time,” Sixers pacer Sean Abbott added.

The anticipation of Rashid Khan’s absence from the T20I series against India is viewed as a chance for other Afghan players to make a mark against formidable opponents and carve their names into the cricketing landscape, according to Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott. While Rashid, the star leg-spinner, is recovering from back surgery post the ODI World Cup in November, Trott sees this as an opportunity for fresh talent to step into the limelight.

During an interaction with ‘JioCinema,’ Trott expressed,

‘I believe with Rashid out of the side, it’s a good opportunity for other players to come in and step up and become household names like he is.”

Despite acknowledging the absence of Rashid’s leadership and all-around skills, Trott is optimistic about discovering players who can handle pressure and responsibility.

As Afghanistan kicks off the T20I series against India, Trott draws inspiration from their commendable performance at the ODI World Cup last year, setting the stage for rigorous preparation leading up to the T20 World Cup.

Addressing the challenges facing cricket luminaries like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Trott, a former England Test specialist, notes the advantage of having players who have competed against these stars in the IPL. He emphasizes the importance of executing plans against strong Indian sides and being ready to perform under pressure.

While Kohli is set to miss the series-opener due to personal reasons, Trott emphasizes that Afghanistan needs to excel in all aspects of the game and capitalize on key moments under pressure. Looking ahead, he mentions the team’s dual focus on winning the current series and building towards the T20 World Cup in June.

Reflecting on Afghanistan’s achievements in the 50-over World Cup, Trott highlights the players’ newfound belief and confidence. He sees these positive takeaways translating into other formats, fostering a competitive spirit on the world stage.

As the journey to the T20 World Cup in the Americas unfolds, Trott stresses the need to find the right combinations for different conditions. He aims to assemble a squad capable of adapting to diverse challenges and not relying excessively on spin bowling, ensuring a well-rounded and versatile team.