Australian cricket sensation Steve Smith has expressed his desire to step into the opening spot for the Aussie Test team, a move that has caught many by surprise following David Warner’s retirement.

Smith, a seasoned 34-year-old batter who currently holds the No.4 position, where he boasts an impressive average of 61.50, is eyeing the challenge of opening in Tests for the first time in his 13-year-long Test career.

While coach Andrew McDonald has expressed skepticism about the shift, Smith has found support in the form of a ringing endorsement from his teammate Marnus Labuschagne. Labuschagne believes that if given the opportunity to open, Smith would maintain an average in the 60s, showcasing his adaptability and prowess with the red ball.

“He wants it, that’s for sure. And jeez, what can’t that guy do?”

Labuschagne shared with cricket.com.au after Australia’s triumphant 3-0 series victory against Pakistan.

Labuschagne continued,

“He averages 67 at four, 62 at three, 58 at five. I’m sure if we go down that path and give it to him, he’s going to average in the 60s opening. I think it could be a good challenge for him. It could be one that gets him out and gets his beans going, out (to bat) straightaway, the ball swinging around and nipping around, he’s got a beautiful technique to combat any type of bowling. There’s probably no one you want out there more.”

However, the prospect of Smith’s transition to an opening role may need to wait, as the Australian think tank seems inclined to explore options like Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, or Cameron Bancroft to fill Warner’s shoes in the upcoming Test series.

Under the radiant sunshine at Newlands, South Africa’s captain, Dean Elgar, won the toss and chose to bat in the second and conclusive Test against India. The home team aims for a series sweep against the top-ranked side in the world.

South Africa have implemented three changes to their victorious squad from the first Test in Pretoria, where they dominated on a lively pitch, winning by an innings and 32 runs.

Making his debut in the middle order, Tristan Stubbs steps in for the injured regular captain, Temba Bavuma. Spinner Keshav Maharaj celebrates his 50th cap, taking the place of the injured Gerald Coetzee, and seamer Lungi Ngidi replaces Keegan Petersen as the hosts opt for an additional bowler.

Expressing his thoughts on the wicket, Elgar remarked:

“It looks like an interesting wicket, a few snakes in it; hopefully it comes to the fore when we bowl. It is a big hurdle for us and a big test; this is our marquee game of the season. We have to start well.”

India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, admitted that he would have chosen to bat first had he won the toss, as the visitors also made two changes. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, recovered from back spasms, replaces Ravichandran Ashwin, while seamer Mukesh Kumar steps in for Shardul Thakur to play his second Test.

Rohit shared his perspective, saying:

“There will be enough on the pitch for the seamers, so hopefully we can cash in on it. It is important for us to forget what has happened in the past; it is about the present.”

The match marks the final appearance of Elgar’s illustrious 12-year Test career, as he announced his retirement ahead of the series.

South Africa XI:

– Dean Elgar (capt.)

– Aiden Markram

– Tony de Zorzi

– Tristan Stubbs

– David Bedingham

– Kyle Verreynne

– Marco Jansen

– Keshav Maharaj

– Kagiso Rabada

– Nandre Burger

– Lungi Ngidi

India XI:

– Rohit Sharma (capt.)

– Yashasvi Jaiswal

– Shubman Gill

– Virat Kohli

– Shreyas Iyer

– KL Rahul

– Ravindra Jadeja

– Jasprit Bumrah

– Mohammed Siraj

– Prasidh Krishna

– Mukesh Kumar.

In a recent critique, former Australia captain Steve Waugh expressed dismay at South Africa’s decision to dispatch a less-experienced squad to New Zealand for a Test tour, concurrently allowing their key players to participate in a domestic T20 tournament. Waugh emphasized that such choices pose a significant threat to the traditional and enduring format of the game.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) unveiled a squad featuring seven uncapped players, led by Neil Brand, for the upcoming two-Test series in New Zealand, coinciding with the commencement of the SA20’s second edition on January 10.

Waugh urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other cricket administrators to intervene to safeguard the sanctity of Test cricket. He conveyed his concern to the Sydney Morning Herald, stating:

“Obviously they don’t care. If I was in New Zealand, I wouldn’t even play the series. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket? If the ICC or someone doesn’t step in shortly, then Test cricket doesn’t remain a true test against the best players.”

Reuters reached out to the ICC for comment, but no response has been received at the time of reporting. The ICC, however, holds limited influence over bilateral cricket schedules and domestic T20 leagues, as these are determined by the respective cricket boards. Greg Barclay, the ICC chairman, previously acknowledged the challenge, stating “there’s not a lot we can do” regarding the dominance of T20 leagues in the cricket calendar.

The prevalence of franchise cricket has placed pressure on bilateral tours in recent times, with certain teams, such as the West Indies, struggling to field their strongest squads. Last year, Cricket South Africa canceled a tour of Australia to ensure the participation of its top players in the inaugural SA T20 tournament, which is financially supported by Indian Premier League franchises.

Expressing concern about the potential shift away from Test cricket, Australian captain Pat Cummins remarked:

“I know the South African team aren’t sending their strongest side. I’m hoping it’s just a phase.”

Cummins acknowledged the broader issue of the overwhelming amount of cricket and its impact on player availability.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood weighed in on the situation, suggesting that better scheduling could have prevented this scenario. He remarked:

“All the best sides have to play for the World Test Championship, so it’s a pity that South Africa aren’t being able to send their full-strength squad. Hopefully, somewhere down the line, schedules can be made in a certain way where we see the strongest elevens playing Test cricket.”

Get ready for an action-packed year as the Bangladesh men’s cricket team embarks on their busiest Test schedule ever in 2024. The Tigers are slated to participate in a total of 14 red-ball matches over the next 12 months, surpassing their previous high of 10 Tests in 2022. Last year saw a comparatively lighter load with only four red-ball games, resulting in an impressive three victories and one defeat.

While the team’s focus on Test cricket intensifies, the Twenty20 arena is also set to witness the prowess of the Tigers. With 17 T20 matches lined up in bilateral series and the ICC Twenty20 World Cup on the horizon, Bangladesh’s T20 squad is gearing up for an exciting year of fierce competition.

However, the ODI landscape seems to have taken a backseat in 2024, with only nine 50-over games on the calendar, a significant drop from the 32 ODIs played in 2023.

Here’s a glimpse of the Bangladesh cricket team’s fixture highlights for 2024:

– March: Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka – 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20s (Home)

– April: Bangladesh vs. Zimbabwe – 2 Tests, 5 T20s (Home)

– June: ICC T20 World Cup – The USA and the West Indies

– July: Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh – 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20s (Away)

– August-September: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh – 2 Tests (Away)

– September-October: India vs. Bangladesh – 2 Tests, 3 T20s (Away)

– October-November: Bangladesh vs. South Africa – 2 Tests (Home)

– November-December: West Indies vs. Bangladesh – 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20s (Away)

With a challenging and diverse lineup, the Bangladesh cricket team is poised for an exhilarating journey in the cricketing landscape throughout 2024.

In a poignant turn of events, David Warner is poised for an emotional farewell to Test cricket in his hometown of Sydney. The seasoned opening batsman secures his spot in an unaltered Australian lineup for the impending third and final Test against Pakistan next week.

Back in June, Warner had expressed his desire to conclude his illustrious 12-year Test career at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With Australia already clinching an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, the 37-year-old’s wish is set to materialize.

George Bailey, the chief selector, confirmed the decision, stating:

“The National Selection Panel have retained the same squad from Melbourne to Sydney as we look to clean sweep the Test series. We look forward to celebrating David Warner’s final Test match and his incredible career at his home ground.”

Warner, a native of Sydney, entered the current series amid uncertainties regarding his form due to a lack of Test runs. However, his commanding 164-run performance in the first innings of the opening Test in Perth swiftly dispelled any doubts about his position in the team.

Australia secured a resounding victory in that Test, winning by 360 runs. In the subsequent Test in Melbourne, captain Pat Cummins delivered a match-winning performance, claiming 10 wickets as Australia triumphed by 79 runs in four days.

The triumph marked Australia’s fourth consecutive series win at home, with an impressive record of 10 wins out of 12 Tests since Cummins assumed captaincy ahead of the 2021-22 Ashes series.

As the focus shifts to Sydney, Pakistan will be vying for their first Test win in Australia in nearly three decades.

Australia Squad:

– Pat Cummins (captain)

– Scott Boland

– Alex Carey

– Cameron Green

– Josh Hazlewood

– Travis Head

– Usman Khawaja

– Marnus Labuschagne

– Nathan Lyon

– Mitchell Marsh

– Steve Smith

– Mitchell Starc

– David Warner

Australia asserted control in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon putting Pakistan on the back foot at 194-6 on day two, still trailing by 124 runs.

At stumps, Mohammad Rizwan held firm at 29, while Aamer Jamal remained unbeaten at two. Cummins claimed key wickets, dismissing Abdullah Shafique (62), Babar Azam (one) and Agha Salman (five). Lyon also made an impact by removing Imam-ul-Haq (10) and Shan Masood (54), while Josh Hazlewood contributed by bowling Saud Shakeel for nine.

Reflecting on the day, Captain Cummins expressed satisfaction, stating,

“It feels like we’re well into their order now.”

He praised Australia’s batting performance, reaching 300 after a challenging start. The hosts had claimed seven wickets in the morning session, restricting Pakistan to 318.

Aamer Jamal led Pakistan’s bowling attack with 3-64 as Australia resumed on 187-3. Despite an optimistic start by openers Haq and Shafique, Lyon’s spin broke through, with Haq edging to Labuschagne at slip. Shafique and Masood built a partnership, but Cummins’ sharp catch and Lyon’s spin disrupted their momentum.

Marnus Labuschagne, the top-scorer with 63, continued his resilience from day one. He brought up his 17th Test half-century and anchored the innings. Travis Head showcased aggression but fell on 17. Despite the challenges, Labuschagne’s wicket eventually fell to Jamal.

Pakistan capitalized on the new ball, dismissing Carey, Starc and Marsh. A fiery over by Hasan Ali saw multiple appeals, but Marsh survived after reviewing two decisions. However, Jamal’s persistence paid off as he claimed Marsh’s wicket and the tail quickly followed.

Australia, having won the first Test by 360 runs in Perth, aim to maintain their dominance in the series. As Pakistan faces a challenging position, the third day promises crucial moments in the battle between bat and ball.