Instead, Beau Webster will step into the playing XI, becoming the 469th Test cricketer for Australia. This marks the second consecutive debut for the team after Sam Konstas’ impressive first outing in Melbourne.

Captain Pat Cummins clarified that Marsh’s exclusion was not due to fitness issues, despite the all-rounder experiencing minor back concerns earlier in the series. Rather, his underwhelming batting performance—averaging just 10.42—and lack of effectiveness with the ball played a role in the decision.

Webster’s selection stems from his strong recent form in first-class cricket. Across his last three matches, he has taken 12 wickets, including six in the most recent Australia A vs. India A game in Melbourne, where he also contributed an unbeaten 46*.

Mitchell Starc, who sustained rib soreness during the Melbourne Test, has been declared fit and retains his place in the side.

Australia XI for Sydney Test:

1. Sam Konstas
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith
5. Travis Head (VC)
6. Beau Webster
7. Alex Carey (WK)
8. Pat Cummins (C)
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Scott Boland

India Squad for the Series Finale:

Playing XI:

1. Rohit Sharma (C)
2. Jasprit Bumrah (VC)
3. Yashasvi Jaiswal
4. KL Rahul
5. Abhimanyu Easwaran
6. Devdutt Padikkal
7. Shubman Gill
8. Virat Kohli
9. Rishabh Pant
10. Sarfaraz Khan
11. Dhruv Jurel

Reserves:

1. Mukesh Kumar
2. Navdeep Saini
3. Khaleel Ahmed
4. Yash Dayal

India’s squad includes a mix of youth and experience, with stars like Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Ravichandran Ashwin joined by emerging talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal.

With both teams eager to end the series on a high note, the Sydney Test promises to deliver high-octane cricket as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy reaches its crescendo.

The post Australia Springs a Surprise for Final Border-Gavaskar Test in Sydney appeared first on FolksTimes.

Bumrah’s stellar performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series has been instrumental in this accomplishment. His nine-wicket haul during the MCG Test against Australia has further solidified his position as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings. This consistent excellence has seen him maintain his dominance at the top.

Other Movers in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings

Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins also made significant strides, gaining 15 rating points after his six-wicket haul in the Boxing Day Test. This performance elevated him to third place in the bowling rankings. Additionally, Cummins’ contributions with the bat—scoring 90 vital runs—secured him the third spot in the ICC Test All-Rounder Rankings.

South Africa’s Marco Jansen also saw remarkable progress. His seven-wicket performance in the Centurion Boxing Day Test against Pakistan catapulted him six places to the fifth position in the bowling rankings, marking his first entry beyond 800 rating points.

Test Batting Rankings See Shifts

Several batters made notable gains in the ICC Test Batting Rankings. South Africa’s Aiden Markram returned to the top 20 after his gritty knocks of 89 and 37 against Pakistan, which also secured South Africa’s spot in the ICC Test Championship final. Meanwhile, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal climbed to a career-best fourth place, reflecting his consistent performance. Australia’s Steve Smith and Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel also advanced, moving up to seventh and sixth positions, respectively. India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy made a significant leap, climbing 20 places to rank 53rd.

Records and Resurgence in Zimbabwe-Afghanistan Test

The Zimbabwe-Afghanistan Boxing Day Test witnessed a flurry of batting milestones, with six centuries being scored. Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi made history by recording the highest-ever Test scores for their nation. Their remarkable performances elevated them to 52nd and 57th positions in the rankings, respectively. For Zimbabwe, Sean Williams broke into the top 20 with 653 rating points—the best for a Zimbabwean batter since Brendan Taylor in 2014. Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett also made gains, with Bennett entering the top 100 bowlers after securing his maiden five-wicket haul.

T20I Rankings Update

Performers in the ongoing T20I series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka have also seen upward movements. Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka edged closer to the top five batters, while New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner broke into the top 10 bowlers with his consistent performances.

This latest update to the ICC rankings reflects the dynamic nature of international cricket, highlighting the exceptional talents making their mark across formats and series worldwide.

The post Jasprit Bumrah Achieves Historic Feat as India’s Highest-Ranked Test Bowler in ICC Rankings appeared first on FolksTimes.

Australia was bowled out for 337 in the first innings, with Mohammed Siraj taking the final two wickets, dismissing Mitchell Starc (18) and Scott Boland (0). Siraj finished with figures of 4/98, while India’s top bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, claimed 4/61. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and Nitish Kumar Reddy each took one wicket.

Chasing a challenging total, India’s innings got off to a rocky start. KL Rahul (7) was the first to fall, dismissed by Australian captain Pat Cummins. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had impressed in the previous match, played some stylish shots but was caught behind for 24, off a superb delivery from Scott Boland.

India’s top order continued to falter, with Virat Kohli managing only 11 before he was caught behind off Boland. Shubman Gill appeared settled but was bowled out by a brilliant delivery from Mitchell Starc for 28, leaving India at 86/4.

Rohit Sharma, who was dismissed for a duck but saved by a no-ball from Starc earlier, added just 6 runs before falling to Cummins. India reached 100/5 in 18.4 overs, with Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 28 off 25 balls. Pant’s unconventional shots and valuable boundaries kept India’s hopes alive, alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was unbeaten on 15.

The Australian seamers, led by Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, continued to apply pressure throughout the day. Cummins and Boland each claimed two wickets, with Mitchell Starc picking up the crucial wicket of Shubman Gill, who had looked comfortable before his dismissal.

Earlier in the day, Travis Head once again proved his dominance against India, playing a remarkable knock of 140. Head, who had been in exceptional form in previous encounters with India, brought up his century in 111 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes. His aggressive play, especially against the inexperienced Harshit Rana, was a highlight of the day. At Tea, Australia was at 332/8, with Mitchell Starc (18*) unbeaten. Head had extended Australia’s lead over India to 152 runs, continuing his golden run against the visitors.

Australia resumed after lunch at 191/4, with Head and Mitchell Marsh (2*) unbeaten. The Australian pair had added 105 runs in the first session, with Head and Marnus Labuschagne (64) playing dominant knocks. However, Ravichandran Ashwin struck early, dismissing Marsh for 9. Head’s partnership with Alex Carey was crucial, with Head attacking India’s bowlers and finding boundaries regularly. However, Siraj removed Carey for 15, and Head’s brilliant innings finally came to an end when Siraj bowled him out for 140. Australia was at 310/7.

Skipper Pat Cummins (12) and Mitchell Starc tried to push the total further but were dismissed in quick succession, with Bumrah getting Cummins for his fourth wicket. Australia ended their innings at 332/8 after 85 overs.

The Indian bowling attack showed resilience but struggled to break the Australian partnership. Bumrah was the standout bowler with 3/23, while Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up 1/49. The visitors will need a monumental effort on Day 3 to mount a successful chase, with Australia leading by 29 runs.

Australia’s commanding position in the match has left India with a significant uphill task. With Pant and Reddy at the crease, India will need a strong partnership to challenge Australia’s lead and avoid another defeat in the ongoing series. Day 3 promises to be a crucial one, with India needing to surpass Australia’s lead while facing a challenging bowling attack under the lights of the Adelaide Oval.

The post Australia Builds Strong Lead in BGT as India Faces Uphill Task on Day 2 appeared first on FolksTimes.