Mitchell Marsh-led Australia will be taking on Phil Salt's England in the second T20 International encounter of their ongoing three-game series at the Sophia Gardens Stadium of Cardiff on the 13th of September.&nbsp;



The Mighty Aussies secured a comfortable 28-run run in the first-match in Southampton. With the series now on the line for the hosts while the visitors will be looking to seal the series, the second T20I will be a really exciting one to watch.&nbsp;



In the first game, the Kangaroos managed to post a decent total of 179 runs on the board, thanks to a blistering fifty by Travis Head.&nbsp;



The Three Lions, who opted to field first, struggled to contain the run flow of the Aussie batting unit, with spin bowling all-rounder Liam Linvingstone, dismissing three batters.?



However, the England batting unit weren't able to cope up with the pressure created by the Australian?s and the Aussie bowling unit, under the leadership of Josh Hazelwood, did not allow the hosts to gain any kind of momentum and they ensured that the Three Lions didn't get the opportunity of coming on the front foot.&nbsp;



Livingstone fought like a lone warrior and gave his absolute best in both the departments to help his side stay in the game but his lone efforts didn't prove enough to help his team win the match.&nbsp;



The action of the two-fierce rivals will now shift to Cardiff, England will be looking to make a comeback and equalise the series while the Kangaroos, on the other hand, will be looking to carry forward their winning momentum and secure an early series win.?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">England vs Australia 2nd T20I: Weather Report of the Sophia-Gardens Cricket Stadium</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/09/1000002227-807x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-147092" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: AccuWeather</figcaption></figure>



In accordance to the weather reports of AccuWeather, the weather conditions in the city of Cardiff are going to be Cricket friendly. The temperature is anticipated to be around nine degrees Celsius while the humidity levels will be more than 80%. The chances of rainfall are pretty low which stand at 7%.



In short, the Aussie and English fans will get the opportunity to enjoy the whole game without any kind of stoppages.&nbsp;



Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-nz-azhar-mahmood-appointed-as-the-head-coach-of-pakistan/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-nz-azhar-mahmood-appointed-as-the-head-coach-of-pakistan/">ENG vs AUS 2nd T20I: Preview, Playing 11?s and live streaming details</a>

England vs Australia 2nd T20I: Weather Report of Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

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The 2nd T20I match of England vs Australia was played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff where England won the match by defeating Australia by three wickets, and with this victory the series has also reached a 1-1 draw. The biggest contribution to England's victory was made by middle order batsman Liam Livingstone who played an innings of 87 runs.



<div class="wp-block-rank-math-toc-block" id="rank-math-toc"><nav><div><div class=""><a href="#australia-batting-scorecard">Australia Batting Scorecard</a></div><div class=""><a href="#england-batting-scorecard">England Batting Scorecard</a></div><div class=""><a href="#england-vs-australia-playing-11">England vs Australia Playing 11</a></div></div></nav></div>



England captain Philip Salt won the toss and invited the visiting Australian team to bat first. Batting first, the Kangaroo team scored 193 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs. Travis Head's excellent form continued in this match as well, he scored 31 runs in just 14 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes.



Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was playing only his third match, also played an important role in taking the scoreboard forward. Fraser scored a half-century in just 31 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes. Wicketkeeper batsman Josh Inglis scored 42 runs in 26 balls while batting-allrounder Aaron Hardie scored 20 runs in just nine balls.



While chasing the target, England lost their wickets in the form of Will Jacks and Jordan Cox for just 34 runs. Sean Abbott took the wickets of both the batsmen in the same over. After the dismissal of both, there was a partnership of 45 runs between Philip Salt and Liam Livingstone. After the dismissal of Salt (39), the Australian team made a comeback in the game for some time but Liam Livingstone soon turned the match in England's favour.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-14-031151-1024x662.jpg" alt="England Levels T20 Series 1-1 Against Australia with Liam Livingstone's Heroic 87-Run Knock in Cardiff" class="wp-image-147118" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Liam Livingstone | Pic: SportsCafe.in</figcaption></figure>



Liam Livingstone displayed great skill and scored 87 runs in just 47 balls with the help of six fours and five sixes. Jacob Bethell supported Livingstone very well, Bethell, playing his first international match, scored 44 runs in just 24 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes and leveled the England vs Australia series 1-1.



ALSO CHECK: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-mega-auction-bcci-likely-to-announce-retention-rules-in-september/#google_vignette">BCCI Likely to Announce Retention Rules in September</a>



Down below check the batting scorecard of Australia and England



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="australia-batting-scorecard">Australia Batting Scorecard</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Batting</th><th>Run</th><th>Ball</th><th>4s</th><th>6s</th><th>SR</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Matthew Short&nbsp;</td><td>28</td><td>24</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>116.66</td></tr><tr><td>Travis Head (c)</td><td>31</td><td>14</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>221.42</td></tr><tr><td>Jake Fraser-McGurk&nbsp;</td><td>50</td><td>31</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>161.29</td></tr><tr><td>Josh Inglis ?</td><td>42</td><td>26</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>161.53</td></tr><tr><td>Marcus Stoinis&nbsp;</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>40.00</td></tr><tr><td>Tim David&nbsp;</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>33.33</td></tr><tr><td>Cameron Green&nbsp;</td><td>13</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>162.50</td></tr><tr><td>Aaron Hardie&nbsp;</td><td>20</td><td>9</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>222.22</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">CREDIT: <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-in-england-2024-1385674/england-vs-australia-2nd-t20i-1385698/full-scorecard">ESPN</a></figcaption></figure>



Fall of wickets: 1-52 (Travis Head, 4.2 ov), 2-87 (Matthew Short, 8.5 ov), 3-119 (Jake Fraser-McGurk, 12.4 ov), 4-131 (Marcus Stoinis, 14.3 ov), 5-157 (Tim David, 16.6 ov), 6-157 (Josh Inglis, 17.1 ov)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="england-batting-scorecard">England Batting Scorecard</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Batting</th><th>Run</th><th>Ball</th><th>4s</th><th>6s</th><th>SR</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Phil Salt (c)?</td><td>39</td><td>23</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>169.56</td></tr><tr><td>Will Jacks&nbsp;</td><td>12</td><td>10</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>120.00</td></tr><tr><td>Jordan Cox&nbsp;</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0.00</td></tr><tr><td>Liam Livingstone&nbsp;</td><td>87</td><td>47</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>185.10</td></tr><tr><td>Jacob Bethell&nbsp;</td><td>44</td><td>24</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>183.33</td></tr><tr><td>Sam Curran&nbsp;</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>50.00</td></tr><tr><td>Jamie Overton&nbsp;</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>100.00</td></tr><tr><td>Brydon Carse&nbsp;</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0.00</td></tr><tr><td>Adil Rashid&nbsp;</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>100.00</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">CREDIT: <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-in-england-2024-1385674/england-vs-australia-2nd-t20i-1385698/full-scorecard">ESPN</a></figcaption></figure>



Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Will Jacks, 3.1 ov), 2-34 (Jordan Cox, 3.3 ov), 3-79 (Phil Salt, 8.2 ov), 4-169 (Jacob Bethell, 16.1 ov), 5-171 (Sam Curran, 16.4 ov), 6-193 (Liam Livingstone, 18.4 ov), 7-193 (Brydon Carse, 18.5 ov)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="england-vs-australia-playing-11">England vs Australia Playing 11</h2>



England: Philip Salt (c &amp; wk), Liam Livingstone, Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Brydon Carse, Saqib Mahmood and Reece Tople



Australia: Travis Head (c), Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly and Adam Zampa

England Levels T20 Series 1-1 Against Australia with Liam Livingstone's Heroic 87-Run Knock in Cardiff

england-levels-t20-series-1-1-against-australia-with-liam-livingstones-heroic-87-run-knock-in-cardiff

Australia skipper Pat Cummins has come with a massive statement on Jasprit Bumrah after the win against India in the fourth Test of the series. He said that he had no empathy for the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team for not winning the game despite giving his best. 
India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been one of the main reasons why the team has been putting in a great fight in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The premier fast bowler has given his best with the ball, and the same was the case in the Melbourne Test. 
Jasprit Bumrah yet again single-handedly carried the bowling lineup of the team. He hardly got any support from others as he was seen bowling his heart out. Since there was no support from others, he had to bowl again and again which took a lot out of him. 
Jasprit Bumrah picked up four wickets in the first innings and then followed it with five wickets in the second innings. His exceptional effort with the ball was the massive reason behind India making a comeback in the match giving them a chance to draw and even win the match. 
Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled 53 overs in the match, unfortunately ended on the losing side as Australia won the game by the massive margin of 184 runs. With this win, they took a 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with one game to go.
<h2>"Empathy? Not too much, no - Pat Cummins on Jasprit Bumrah</h2>
Pat Cummins was in awe of Jasprit Bumrah, saying that he is the most influential Indian player. He claimed that the fast bowler has been troubling them a lot in the series and is a big threat to them. Speaking to reporters, he explained: 
"Yeah, he's, you know, obviously a really good bowler in great form. You know, he's been their most influential player. He's made it difficult for us at times. You know, I thought all their bowlers bowled really well yesterday. 
"Again, I don't think the pitch was doing too much, but they made it really tough for us and toiled hard. So I thought, yeah, they all bowled quite well. You know, he, in particular, poses the biggest threat."
Pat Cummins was also asked by one of the reporters if he feels empathy for Jasprit Bumrah losing after such a game. Replying to this, he said: "Empathy? Not too much, no." 
Jasprit Bumrah notably is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The premier Indian pacer has picked 30 wickets in the series and would want to add more to his tally.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-lost-the-boxing-day-test-at-the-melbourne-cricket-stadium-by-184-runs-australia-took-a-2-1-lead-in-the-series-/">India lost the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium by 184 runs. Australia took a 2-1 lead in the series.</a>

Australia skipper Pat Cummins has come with a massive statement on Jasprit Bumrah after the win against India in the fourth Test of the series

Pat Cummins makes fun of Jasprit Bumrah, says he has no...

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India skipper gave a bold verdict on Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal during the second innings of the Melbourne Test against Pat Cummins. He said he didn't know what to make of it but also subtly blamed umpires for not deciding in their favour. 
Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal in the second innings of the fourth Test against Australia. The batter was literally holding the fort for India, and until he was batting, it also seemed that the Rohit Sharma-led side would draw the game and head into the last match with a score of 2-1. 
But in what was a turning point of the game, Yashasvi Jaiswal bagged a controversial dismissal. This was because third umpire Sharfuddoula didn't consult the technology and gave the verdict based on the visible evidence that he saw after multiple replays being played. 
Pat Cummins bowled a short ball on the leg stump, to which Yashasvi Jaiswal attempted to play a pull shot. The ball took the glove and was grabbed by Alex Carey, but the on-field umpire didn't raise his finger. Upon taking the DRS, the Australia team was pretty confident about the batter hitting the ball. 
As the replays were being played, there seemed a deflection and after seeing replays three to four times, the umpire was convinced and then finally decided to check the ultra Edge. What caught the attention of many was when the RTS showed up, there wasn't any spike there. 
This invited huge controversy as even Yashasvi Jaiswal didn't look okay with the dismissal, he was seen having a conversation with the umpire. It also invited a lot of debate with many fans and experts sharing their take on the same. 
<h2>I really don't know what to make of that because the technology didn't show anything - Rohit Sharma on on Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal </h2>
Captain Rohit Sharma also shared his verdict on the same and pointed out the same thing related to technology not showing the spike. He was left confused about how umpires want to use the technology. 
The skipper also was upset with things not going their way in the last few years related to technology. While talking about the same, he explained: 
"Look, I really don't know what to make of that because the technology didn't show anything. With the naked eye, it seemed that he did touch something. I don't know how the umpires want to use the technology, but in all fairness, he did touch the ball. But again, it's about the technology, which we all know is not 100 per cent." 
"Like I said, we don't want to look too much into that. It's just that we are more often than not falling on the wrong side of it. It has been happening since India. I think we have been a little unfortunate."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/top-five-highest-totals-chased-down-by-india-in-test-cricket-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top five highest totals chased down by India in Test cricket </a>

India skipper gave a bold verdict on Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal during the second innings of the Melbourne Test against Pat Cummins.

"Don't know how the umpires..." Rohit Sharma delivers bold verdict on Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal

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IND vs AUS: Team India need to sit back and look at what they missed in the Boxing Day Test that they let the game slip away. They had the game under control when Australia was 90/6 in the second innings with a lead of around 200 runs. But eventually, the hosts played better cricket than India.
They won the fourth IND vs AUS test by 184 runs to take an unassailable 2-1 lead. With this, Australia inches closer to winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a wait of ten years and are also a frontrunner to qualify for the World Test Championship 2023-25 final.
India, on the other hand, will have everything on the line when they step on the field for the fifth test at the SCG. That final test will begin on January 03, 2025. India need this win anyhow. Hence, we will talk here about three crucial changes India need to make to win the fifth test.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Three crucial things India need to do to win the fifth and final Test at the SCG</h2>
1. Rohit Sharma should be dropped
Rohit Sharma has been going through a horrid run with the bat. The last couple of months has been horrible for the Indian captain. He has managed only 164 runs in the last 15 innings at a poor average of 10.93. Shubman Gill had to be left out from the fourth test.
Despite his poor form, he is still part of the playing XI and taking up a spot of a deserving player. India won the first test when he was not available under Jasprit Bumrah. Hence, India should drop Rohit and bring Gill back and let Bumrah to lead the side.
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to open
The pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul has been pretty decent for India in this series. Both have complemented each other and played well along. Rohit opened in the third test, and India had opening stands of 8 and 25 in two innings.
India need a good start from their openers because losing early wickets exposes other batters against the new ball, which is very hard to face this series. Hence, with Rohit getting dropped, let Jaiswal and Rahul open.
3. Make necessary changes to bowling unit
It will not be wrong to say that Jasprit Bumrah has been the lone warrior for India throughout the series. 30 wickets in four tests at an average of 12.83 is unmatchable. But he has not had support from other fast bowlers. Mohammed Siraj has taken 16 wickets at 31.44, and Akashdeep has 5 wickets at an average of 54.
So, it is time for a change. It is time for India to go with fresh legs and pick Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana for the last IND vs AUS test. Both are tall bowlers and quicker in pace. Adding to that, India should stick to two spinners, as the surface at SCG has more help for spinners than other Australian surfaces.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/struggling-rohit-sharma-registers-an-all-time-embarrassing-record-with-his-dismal-performance-at-the-mcg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Struggling Rohit Sharma registers an All-time embarrassing record with his dismal performance at the MCG</a>

Australia are leading by 2-1, and the fifth and final test will begin on January 3, 2025, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India need to win to retain the BGT trophy.

3 changes India must make to win the SCG Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

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India batter Virat Kohli has come under a massive firing line after he failed in the recently concluded fourth Test against Australia. The Boxing-day Test match between the teams took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. 
Virat Kohli was expected to play a major role for India in the fourth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. This was because, after his century, he looked torrid with the bat with balls outside off stump, bringing his downfall in the Australian conditions. 
In the first innings of the MCG Test, Virat Kohli looked very solid with the bat, and it seemed that he had found the solution to the balls outside off. The batter didn't deal with the balls in that channel, but his patience didn't last long as he ultimately poked at the ball, which was in the same area bowled by Scott Boland. 
In the second innings, Virat Kohli was expected to bring the Indian innings on track after the team lost Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul early on in the innings. However, this wasn't the case. The batter was back in the hut with the ball outside off yet again, bringing in the downfall. 
Mitchell Starc bowled a delivery around the fifth stump, and this lit Virat Kohli's eyes as he went for the big drive. The ball caught the outside edge of his bat and was caught by Usman Khawaja in the slips as the batter had to take the long walk back to the pavilion after scoring just 5 runs.
<h2>The King is dead, King Bumrah has taken the mantle now - Simon Katich </h2>
As Virat Kohli failed to make an impact in the second innings at MCG, Simon Katich fumed at the batter and said that the King is dead. The premier batter was dethroned from his title, with former Australia cricketer naming Jasprit Bumrah the new King. Speaking while doing commentary, he explained: 
"The King is dead. He trudges off. King Bumrah has taken the mantle now. Kohli looks dejected with himself. That was a big knock for him. He has come up short. Australia will be very, very happy with the situation they find themselves in." 
Virat Kohli, in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has managed just 61 runs in other matches. Overall, in 2024, he has only scored 417 runs this year at an average of 24.52. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/top-five-highest-totals-chased-down-by-india-in-test-cricket-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top five highest totals chased down by India in Test cricket </a>

India batter Virat Kohli has come under a massive firing line after he failed in the recently concluded fourth Test against Australia.

"The King is dead" - Virat Kohli destroyed as new King of Cricket gets named

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Team India fell to an embarrassing 184-runs defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match versus the Mighty Australians on the 30th of December, 2024. On the fifth day of the contest, a strange celebration of Australian player Travis Head was spotted, the video of which is going viral on various social-media platforms. The batting all-round executed this celebration after picking up the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant. 
<h3>Head's celebration has created controversey</h3>
In the final day of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match, Head helped the Aussies gain the advantage with this really good bowling display. He gave a massive blow to the Men in Blue by sending Rishabh Pant back to the pavilion who was looking settled out there in the middle. But, soon after dismissing the Indian wicket-keeper batsman, the celebration of the 31-year-old shocked the world of Cricket and Social Media users. 
The kind of celebration which Head excecuted after taking the important wicket of Pant is not easy to understand. Some people believe that his celebration gestures were to show that Pant got caught in his trap, but many spectators were not happy with his celebration. Some called it indecent and unusual but the debate in the world of Cricket still continues regarding his way of celebrating. 
<h2>The reason behind the controversial celebration of Travis Head</h2>
Following the dismissal of Pant, Head's way of celebrating didn't go down well with many Indian Fans. He put one of his fingers in a circular gesture of the other hand. This celebration took the Commentators and audience by surprise. 
James Brayshaw, the Australian commentator explained the action of the elite Australian player and said, "After ending the Test-Match versus Sri Lanka with figures of 4-10 next to his name in 17 deliveries in 2022, he (Head) said that he had to put the digit on the ice. This was a reference to that and he said that I did it again and now I am putting it back on the ice".
Video of his digit on the ice: <a href="https://x.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1873597172471759073?t=JKhvpA_npLGeMo2VWq4Dog&amp;s=19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch here</a>
While Head's actions may seem controversial, his intentions were not negative and he didn't target Pant in any way at all. So it's highly unlikely that the ICC will punish him.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/struggling-rohit-sharma-registers-an-all-time-embarrassing-record-with-his-dismal-performance-at-the-mcg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Struggling Rohit Sharma registers an All-time embarrassing record with his dismal performance at the MCG</a>

Travis Head of Australia celebrated in a controversial manner after getting the wicket of India's Rishabh Pant in the Boxing-Day Test-Match | Image: Getty Images

Travis Head's celebration after getting the wicket of Rishabh Pant has sparked a controversy among the world of Cricket

Travis Head at the risk of getting punished by the ICC due to his controversial Celebration in Melbourne

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Rohit Sharma and his men have suffered their second defeat in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy as Australia clinched a 184-run win in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium. With this win, they have taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the series with one game to play.
Australia have a golden chance to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade-long wait and also qualify for the World Test Championship final. On the other hand, it has been a horrible last few months for Team India and Rohit Sharma. India were clean swept for the first time in history by New Zealand.
They lost an ODI series in Sri Lanka. Apart from that, the form of the Indian captain is another big talking point among the former cricketers and fans. Rohit once again failed in the second innings at MCG and got out for nine runs off 40 balls. He never looked in control and lost the game.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma achieves an unwanted record with another failure in ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25</h2>
India had a target of 340 runs to win. But the top order failed once again. Rohit got out to the Australian captain Pat Cummins yet again. It was the 8th time that Cummins dismissed the Indian captain in Tests. Rohit scored only nine runs. With this, he has only scored 31 runs in five innings across three tests he has played on this tour.
He has scored runs at a dismal average of 6.20 with a high score of 10 runs. Rohit has now recorded the lowest batting average by a visiting captain on Australian soil. His average of 6.20 is the lowest of all time since the game has started. Earlier, former West Indian captain Courtney Walsh held this record with an average of 7.75 during the 1996-97 tour.
Rohit's form has come under scrutiny as the MCG loss has demolished India's chances to qualify for the WTC final. The Indian captain has struggled to get to even double figures. He has only scored 164 runs in the last 15 innings at a below-par average of 10.93. Overall, he has scored 619 test runs in 2024 at an average of 24.76.
India needed to win this test, and they were in a good position at one point. But now, their qualification depends on Sri Lanka when they host Australia for two tests. But before, India need to win the fifth test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-lost-the-boxing-day-test-at-the-melbourne-cricket-stadium-by-184-runs-australia-took-a-2-1-lead-in-the-series-/">India lost the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium by 184 runs. Australia took a 2-1 lead in the seri</a>es

Rohit Sharma got out after scoring 9 runs off 40 balls in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test match at the MCG.

Struggling Rohit Sharma registers an All-time embarrassing record with his dismal performance at the MCG

struggling-rohit-sharma-registers-an-all-time-embarrassing-record-with-his-dismal-performance-at-the-mcg

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, Team India managed to lift the T20 World Cup for the 2nd time ever in their history as they secured a nail-biting win versus South Africa in the final and left arm pacer Arshdeep Singh played a key role in helping his team lift the trophy. 
Arshdeep finished the tournament as the joint-highest wicket taker alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi (17 wickets) and his exceptional performances in the shortest format of the game in 2024 have been rewarded as the pacer has been nominated in ICC's Men's T20 International Player of the year award. Alongside the 25-year-old, Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe and Travis Head of Australia have also been nominated. 
<h3>The performance of Arshdeep Singh in 2024</h3>
The performance of Arshdeep Singh with the ball in 2024 has been phenomenal. In 18 matches, the 25-year-old has managed to dismiss 36 batters at an exceptional average of 13.5. With these statistics, he finished the year of 2024 as the joint-highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals.
Earlier in the year 2022, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had taken 37 wickets. This is the second best performance of an Indian fast bowler in T20 Internationals in a calendar year. Now Arshdeep Singh has become number two in this list.
<h2>Smriti Mandhana is also in the race of winning the ICC Women's ODI Player of the year</h2>
Apart from Arshdeep, Indian Women's Cricket Team's elite batter Smriti Mandhana is also a part of the race of winning the ICC award. Her exceptional performances with the bat in the 50 over format meant that her name has also been nominated in the list of 'ICC Women's ODI Player of the year award'. 
She will be locking horns for this award versus Annabel Sutherland of Australia and South African captain Laura Wolvaardt. It will be interesting to see which player will be given the ICC Women's ODI Player of the year award.Mandhana is anticipated to be the favorite to win the award.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/can-team-india-still-qualify-for-the-wtc-final-despite-suffering-a-defeat-in-melbourne-versus-australia-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Can Team India still qualify for the WTC Final despite suffering a defeat in Melbourne versus Australia?</a>

Arshdeep Singh of India celebrates their T20 World Cup 2024 win in Mumbai's Marine Drive | Image: BCCI

Left Arm pacer Arshdeep Singh of Team India has been nominated for ICC Men's T20 Player of the year award and he's regarded as the favorite to win the award

Arshdeep Singh of India the favorite to win ICC's Men's T20 Player of the year award

arshdeep-singh-of-india-the-favorite-to-win-icc-s-men-s-t20-player-of-the-year-award

The Indian Cricket Team, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, suffered a humiliating 184 runs defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match and after this defeat, their road to qualifying for the 2023-25 WTC Final has become even more difficult. In this article, we will find out how the Men in Blue can still qualify for the WTC final despite suffering a defeat in Melbourne
Let us tell you that Temba Bavuma-led South Africa have already booked their ticket for the 2023-25 WTC Final in Lord's. The Indian Team are competing with the Mighty Australians to secure the second vacant final spot. While the Men in Blue are currently sitting at the third position in the overall WTC standings following their defeat in Melbourne, the Kangaroos on the other hand have occupied the second spot. 
<h2>How can the Indian Team qualify for the WTC Final after suffering a defeat in the Melbourne Test-Match?</h2>
Following their defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match, the first thing which the Indian team needs to do is defeat the Mighty Australians by any means possible in the fifth and highly important Test-Match in Sydney of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The Sydney Test-Match is going to be the Rohit Sharma-led team's final fixture of the current WTC cycle which makes it mandatory for them to secure a victory there. 
If they suffer a defeat in the Sydney Test-Match, then all of their hopes of qualifying for the final will get crushed. Securing a win in the final BGT Test will allow Rohit Sharma and his men to snatch the second position away from the Kangaroos in the overall standings. 
This will only be possible though if the Pat Cummins-led team lose the two-match Test-Series versus Sri Lanka by a margin of 1-0 or 2-0. If the Kangaroos lose the Sydney Test but end up winning the Test-Series versus the Sri Lankans by a margin of 2-0, then in this situation, the Men in Blue will get eliminated from the race of the final. 
<h2>The Proteas have qualified for the WTC Final for the first time</h2>
The Proteas have qualified for the WTC Final for the first time ever in their Cricketing history and they will be looking to go all out in search of their first ever ICC Trophy. The Final of the previous edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) was played between Fierce-Rivals Australia and India where the the Kangaroos managed to reign supreme. The Final of the Inaugural edition of the event took place between New Zealand and the Indians in 2021 where the Kane Williamson-led team crossed the finish line successfully.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/-rohit-thank-you-for-your-service-massive-statement-comes-on-india-retirement-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Rohit, thank you for your service' - Massive statement comes on India retirement</a>

Australia celebrate after dismissing the final Indian batter in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test | Image: ICC

The Indian Team suffered a humiliating defeat in the Boxing-Day Test and this defeat has made their chances of qualifying for the WTC 2023-25 cycle Final even harder.

Can Team India still qualify for the WTC Final despite suffering a defeat in Melbourne versus Australia?

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The Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium ended with a dominating win for the hosts. After having a wicketless second session prior to the tea break on Day 5, India came back strong to take seven wickets in the final session.
The Indian batting line-up once again struggled against the disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for just 155 runs in the second innings. As a result, Australia have bagged a win by 184 runs to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series.
This win has certainly boosted Australia's chances of winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after more than a decade and also booking a place in the World Test Championship 2023-25 final. India had their chances, and they would have liked a win, but their performance with the bat was one key reason that they had to surrender once again.
<h2>WTC 2023-25 Final: Australia firm their grip on the remaining place in the World Test Championship final with the MCG win</h2>
It was India's fifth loss in the last seven tests, which has put them on the verge of being eliminated from the race to the World Test Championship final. And now, the loss at the Boxing Day Test has hurt their chances to qualify to a big extent. South Africa have already made it to the final after winning the first Test against Pakistan in Centurion.
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 99.9702%; height: 200px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 11.1012%;"><col style="width: 11.1012%;"><col style="width: 11.1012%;"><col style="width: 11.1012%;"><col style="width: 11.1012%;"><col style="width: 11.1012%;"><col style="width: 11.1012%;"><col style="width: 11.1012%;"><col style="width: 11.1012%;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">Pos</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Teams</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Played</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Won</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Lost</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Draw</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Ded</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Points</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">PCT</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">1</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">South Africa (Q)</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">11</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">3</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">1</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">88</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">66.67</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Australia</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">16</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">10</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">4</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">10</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">118</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">61.46</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">3</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">India</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">18</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">9</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">114</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">52.78</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">4</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">New Zealand</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">14</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">3</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">81</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">46.21</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">5</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Sri Lanka</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">11</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">5</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">6</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">60</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">45.45</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">6</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">England</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">22</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">11</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">10</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">1</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">22</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">114</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">43.18</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Bangladesh</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">12</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">4</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">8</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">3</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">45</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">31.25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">8</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">Pakistan</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">11</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">4</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">8</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">40</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">30.30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="height: 20px;">9</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">West Indies</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">11</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">32</td>
<td style="height: 20px;">24.24</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
They are at the top of the WTC table with 66.67 PCT. The race is between Australia and India for the second spot. However, the loss at MCG has decreased India's chances more. Australia are second on the WTC table with 61.45 PCT, and India are placed third with 53.27 PCT now.
<div dir="auto">The fifth and final test at the Sydney Cricket Ground has now become a must-win clash for Rohit Sharma and his men. They need to win that game to draw the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and also to keep their hopes alive for the WTC final. But if India win that game, they also need to hope that Sri Lanka can beat Australia in the upcoming home test series.</div>
<div dir="auto">Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/top-five-highest-totals-chased-down-by-india-in-test-cricket-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top five highest totals chased down by India in Test cricket </a></div>

India lost the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium by 184 runs. Australia took a 2-1 lead in the series.

india-lost-the-boxing-day-test-at-the-melbourne-cricket-stadium-by-184-runs-australia-took-a-2-1-lead-in-the-series-

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who missed the first test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has been in the buzz ever since the beginning of the series. The World Cup-winning skipper, who was largely praised earlier in 2024 for having led the Indian side to a World Cup final and then winning a T20 World Cup, has faced serious criticism for his tactical decisions as well as leadership roles alongside his batting performances, which have been under scrutiny. 

The Indian batter has been under the radar since India’s 3-0 loss at home against New Zealand. The disappointing series has also raised discussions about the team’s overall batting depth and approach, placing additional scrutiny on his role within the squad.

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohit_Sharma">Rohit Sharma</a> skipped the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth due to the birth of his second child. Jasprit Bumrah stepped up as the stand-in captain in his absence and led the team to an impressive victory. Bumrah’s leadership was widely praised, as ever since then, India has failed to put on a promising show in any of the matches that followed.

<h2 dir="ltr">3 reasons why Rohit Sharma should retire from Test cricket</h2>

<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_677217384d79b.jpg" alt="" width="783" height="487">
Is it time for Rohit Sharma to drop the curtains on his glorious career? (Image Credit: X)

<h3 dir="ltr">1: Inconsistent Performances</h3>

The legendary Indian opener, who has had a decorated career in limited-overs cricket, has never been equally promising while facing the red ball. However, the ongoing WTC marked some solid test performances from Rohit initially under home conditions as he turned into one of India’s leading run-getters before facing a serious dip in form. 

Though Sharma has been a consistent performer, mostly at home, he has often failed to perform in the SENA countries against top-quality bowling attacks. However, as of now, his inconsistency seems to be severely affecting the team’s overall performance in vital matches. 

<h3 dir="ltr">2: No impact in the leadership role in Tests</h3>

Though Rohit Sharma remains only the third Indian skipper to have won an ICC trophy with the side and his captaincy has received widespread recognition in the limited overs format, he has not had an impact in the longest format of the game. 

Sharma has often looked baffled and clueless over decisions to be made when it came to tactical presence for the longest format of the game, and possibly letting go of the role might help him focus on limited-overs cricket and the team to explore other players in a leadership role. 

<h3 dir="ltr">3: Opportunities for Emerging Players</h3>

Undoubtedly, India is one of the biggest powerhouse nations for cricketing talent, and letting go of a player like Rohit Sharma who is in his lows after having relished his decade-long career would only open new doors for such talented players to come in and portray their dominance in the longest format while representing India at the international front.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/-rohit-thank-you-for-your-service-massive-statement-comes-on-india-retirement-/">Thank You for your service Rohit, massive statement on Indian skipper's retirement speculation</a>

Skipper under scrutiny - Reasons Rohit Sharma should retire from Test cricket (Image Credit: X)

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who missed the first test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has been in the buzz ever since the beginning of the series.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has faced serious criticism for his tactical decisions as well as leadership roles alongside his batting performances, which have been under scrutiny