Rohit and Kohli’s return to form a matter of 25-30 deliveries: Nayar
India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, however, thinks that the duo’s return to their best is a matter of regaining confidence and composure in the initial phase of their innings.
India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, however, thinks that the duo’s return to their best is a matter of regaining confidence and composure in the initial phase of their innings.
It seemed that the Christmas break infused new life into the Australian top order that fired in unison on return to action in the fourth round of the Border-Gavaskar tussle on Boxing Day, helping the hosts pile up 311 for 6 even as late strikes helped India share the honours after the opening day’s play at the jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes 19-year-old rookie opener Sam Konstas has what it takes to make a mark in the remaining Border-Gavaskar trophy Tests against India.
If Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane were Australian strongholds, Melbourne brings happy memories for India as the tourists return to the iconic ground having won the last two Tests at the MCG in 2018-19 and 2020-21, and the New Year’s Test in Sydney will bring spin into play.
Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat in the middle order in the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests, has failed to yield the desired results for the Indian team in the Border-Gavaskar series so far.
Incessant rains played spoilsport on Day 1 of the third round of the tussle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as only 13.2 overs could be bowled with Australia reaching 28/0 after being sent in on a Gabba wicket, still sporting a tinge of green and under overcast conditions.
After a recent horror run with the bat in the first innings of Test matches over the past three months, India will be keen to arrest the trend when they take on Australia in the third of the five-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Border-Gavaskar series is tantalisingly poised at 1-1 with both India and Australia having shown the promise and flaws to head into the fabled Gabba for the third Test, starting in Brisbane from Saturday.
Hazlewood, who missed the day-night Test in Adelaide with a side strain, proved his fitness under the scorching Queensland sun alongside his longtime partner-in-crime Mitchell Starc, as the duo fired in unison under the watchful eyes of bowling coach Daniel Vettori.
In a massive relief for Indian cricket fans ahead of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Brisbane, starting Saturday, star quick Jasprit Bumrah shrugged off any injury concerns and completed a full warm-up with his teammates on Thursday before bowling in their main training session.
