Ajinkya Rahane swaps bat for microphone post retirement

Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane is all set to make his Test commentary debut for Sony Sports Network during the two-Test series, starting in Sri Lanka on August 15. “I’m looking forward to sharing experiences, breaking down the nuances of the game and offering fans insights into the decisions, strategies and moments that shape a Test match,” said Rahane, who recently brought the curtains down on an illustrious playing career spanning nearly two decades.

Darwin [Australia], August 13 (ANI): A fan in attendance during the first Test against Bangladesh delivered a hilarious reply to batter Steve Smith after he halted play momentarily due to sight screen issues at Darwin on Thursday.

During the first day of the Test, the ever-reliable Steve Smith was tasked with taking Australia out of a collapse. However, at one point during his innings, he halted play due to problems with the sight screen, and the fan was having none of it. As the wait continued, the fan in a furious but hilarious tone, asked Smith to start batting again. ipl-today.in

“Just hit the damn thing, Smudge (Smith’s nickname). Stop being a princess. You are not bigger than the game, Steve, deal with it," said the fan in a video posted by Fox Cricket on their Instagram handle.

Coming to the match, the Bangladesh pace overwhelmed Aussie batters, ending the first session at 74/4, with Hasan Mahmud bowling a sensational two-wicket spell, dislodging both openers Travis Head (22) and Jake Weatherald (23) after they had put Australia to a solid start with a 45-run opening stand.

During the second session, wickets continued to tumble for Australia, but Smith did not budge, smashing his 45th Test fifty. At the time of writing, the batter is still standing unbeaten at the time of Tea. Australia is 183/8, with Smith (67*) and Nathan Lyon (0*) at the crease.

Smith also tied legendary Steve Waugh for most Test fifty-plus scores for Australia, with a total of 82, including 37 centuries and 45 fifties. The highest fifty-plus scores for Australia in Tests are by Ricky Ponting (103 such scores, including 41 centuries and 62 fifties).

Mahmud (4/49) and Taskin Ahmed (2/46) were sensational with the ball for Bangladesh.

Teams:

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Litton Das(w), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain

Australia (Playing XI): Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. (ANI)

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Pitch at the Galle International Stadium. Image :Subhayan Chakraborty, RevSportzVaibhav Tripathi, Galle

For the first time on the tour, Team India had a rest day on Wednesday. Much like they have been doing since August 8, Sri Lanka practised at the scenic Galle International Stadium. Between the start of their practice session and the announcement of their squad, Gautam Gambhir, dressed casually, made a surprise visit to the stadium. The India head coach wasn’t alone.

Accompanying him were batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule. The coaching trio was there to have a look at the pitch, which has become a major talking point.

Gambhir was seen taking a closer look at the pitch after removing his glasses. He assessed the pitch with Kotak and then had a conversation with the curator as well, in order to get an idea of the pitch preparations.

The main pitch cover was briefly removed for an inspection by the Indian contingent and was immediately put back on once they left.

Work continued on the pitch for most of the day, with the ground staff making regular visits to the playing area. About an hour after Gambhir’s departure, the main cover was removed once more and a mower was used on the surface. The pitch had little grass remaining, with the bulk of it having been removed three nights before the game.
The ground staff were under watch as they went back and forth across the playing surface before running the roller. The pitch was subsequently left open to the sun for a short period before being covered again.

Galle has been good for batting in the recent past, especially during the first three days. Even pacers have found success at this open venue, with the breeze playing a big factor. Going by the statistics, historically, spinners have enjoyed bowling on this surface. Someone like Prabath Jayasuriya, who will lead Sri Lanka’s spin attack, has taken 81 wickets at this venue in 11 innings. Ramesh Mendis, too, has more than 50 Test wickets at this venue.

Given how India have played Test cricket, specifically in the subcontinent against spinners, the talk around the pitch tends to intensify as the match approaches.

With the grass removed and the pitch exposed to the sun, it could play well for batters for at least two days. However, the preparations indicate that spinners will come into effect, and the game is unlikely to go into the fifth day.

Will the pitch favour the batters, as has been the case in the recent past, or will it turn? In the middle of those questions stands an Indian team that is likely to decide on its playing combination only after a thorough assessment of the pitch.

Two practice sessions before the match will give a clearer idea of what India’s combination could be for the series opener.

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Bangladesh's hopes of hosting India for a long-pending white-ball rubber in September seem all but over with the BCCI announcing that Shreyas Iyer and his men will face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series in Delhi from September 13 to 17. The BCCI and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced the series in a joint statement on Wednesday, the window for which clashes with the plans that Bangladesh had proposed. The Indo-Bangla bilateral series had to be postponed last year due to the political unrest in that country.

The games against Afghanistan are a part of ACB's Future Tours Programme. They are being treated as a home assignment for the ACB, which has made India a base for conducting games in recent years due to the volatile political situation in Afghanistan. The series will get underway on September 13, with the second T20I scheduled for September 15 and the third on September 17. All the three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium here. Afghanistan most recently toured India for a three-match ODI series in June, and the two sides also played a three-match T20I series in January 2024.

India hosted Afghanistan for their historic first Test in 2018, and the two teams have since continued to engage regularly across formats. BCCI President Mithun Manhas said the Indian Board remains committed to supporting the growth of cricket in Afghanistan and providing its players opportunities to compete at the highest level. "Bilateral cricket is an important part of this, as it allows teams to play regularly against quality opposition and gain valuable experience. We welcome the Afghanistan Cricket Board to India for this series and look forward to working closely with them to make it a successful one," he said.

"We believe there is scope to do more together and will continue to support Afghanistan cricket while strengthening the relationship between the two cricketing nations." BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said the India-Afghanistan cricketing rivalry has produced some thrilling encounters over the years, with both teams boasting of quality cricketers. "Afghanistan's players are also quite popular among fans in India, which is a reflection of the strong bond that has developed between the two cricketing nations.

"India hosting Afghanistan for their historic first Test in 2018 was another significant milestone in this journey, and since then, we have continued to see regular bilateral engagements between the two teams. Rohan Jaitley, the president of Delhi and District Cricket Association, which is hosting the matches, said the DDCA will provide the two teams the best possible facilities. ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said the series holds great significance for Afghanistan cricket and represents another important step in the development of the longstanding relationship with the BCCI.

"Hosting India for a bilateral series in India is a significant milestone for us, and we highly value the cooperation and support of the BCCI in making this event possible," Ashraf said. "We are confident that the series will create valuable opportunities across commercial, technical, and cricketing areas, while adding a new dimension to our bilateral engagement. We look forward to a successful series and to further strengthening our partnership with the BCCI."

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