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January 2, 2024
Former England cricket captain Nasser Hussain eagerly anticipates India’s standout talent Rishabh Pant’s triumphant comeback in the upcoming year and confidently predicts that one of Pant’s promising young teammates will elevate their performance in 2024, ultimately ascending to the pinnacle of cricket stardom.
Pant has faced significant challenges following a severe car accident in late 2022. However, the resilient wicket-keeper/batsman has demonstrated tremendous progress in his recovery journey, fueling optimism for his highly-anticipated return to the field before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup takes center stage in the West Indies and the United States next year.
Long-time admirer Hussain has consistently appreciated Pant’s attacking approach to the game. With this in mind, he ardently hopes that the gifted 26-year-old can make a timely comeback and ultimately leave an indelible mark on the cricket world as early as 2024.
“That was such a serious accident. The whole world held its breath and it has been a slow recovery,” Hussain said as part of the Coke is Believing series.
“You follow on social media, on my phone, and the initial first walking steps to scenes in the gym, then scenes of him playing a bit of cricket, scenes of him with Ricky (Ponting).
“I traveled with Ricky in the summer in the Ashes, and Ricky was texting him ‘how’s the progress coming along,’’ and he is a box office cricketer.”
With Pant sidelined, KL Rahul has stepped up to keep wickets in his absence. He had an excellent tournament at the recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, amassing 452 runs at an average of 75.33.
“India has done well without him (Pant) as KL has come in and been brilliant in all formats,” Hussain noted.
“He (Gill) had a perfect three-quarters, or nine-tenths of 2023. You must have learned so much having the likes of Rohit Sharma at the other end,” Hussain said.
“He just fell away maybe at the end. Maybe that illness, you know, got to him a little bit, and he’s formed in a month. We take it far too short when we’re in the broadcasting world. He’s a super talent, and he’s going to be the next sensation for India for years to come. So, hopefully, he’ll have a good 2024.”
Australian men’s cricket captain Pat Cummins announced the team’s lineup on Wednesday for the highly anticipated Sydney Test match against Pakistan. The captain confirmed that the lineup remains unchanged after their triumphant Boxing Day Test performance. The team sets its sights on securing 12 World Test Championship points and clinching a decisive 3-0 series victory over their opponents, who demonstrated resilience in Melbourne.
The Sydney Test marks a significant milestone for veteran opener David Warner, who will retire as Australia’s fifth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history. Aged 37, Warner boasts an impressive record of 793 runs at an average of 49.56 at his home ground, including four centuries, contributing to his overall Test career tally of 8695 runs at 44.58. In addition to announcing his retirement from One Day Internationals earlier this week, Warner made a heartfelt appeal on social media on Tuesday, seeking the return of his misplaced Baggy Green caps, reportedly lost during his transit from Melbourne to Sydney for the pivotal Test match.
“Unfortunately, someone has taken my backpack out of my actual luggage, which had my backpack and my girls’ presents in there; inside this backpack was my Baggy Greens,” Warner stated in his video post.
“It’s sentimental to me, it’s something I would love to have back in my hands walking out there this week.”
While a prolonged practice session for emerging Australian all-rounder Cameron Green suggested a possible return, the team has maintained its successful strategy as it defends its World Test Championship title. With a schedule that includes breaks between home series against Pakistan and the West Indies and a tour of New Zealand, Captain Cummins believes there is sufficient time for the fast bowlers to participate in every match.
Australia’s Test calendar for 2024 comprises several bilateral series and three ICC tournaments. Key events include a two-Test, three-ODI, and three-T20I series against the West Indies in January and February, followed by a visit to New Zealand in February and March. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be contested in Australia from November 2024 to January 2025, while the 2025 World Test Championship final is scheduled for June 2025 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in England.
“Normally, each summer, there’s something that pops up. But all three of us (Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood) are fresh.
“Even the way this summer is spread out a bit more, there’s two Tests on, then a bit of a gap; then two Tests, then a bit of a gap; then New Zealand.
“We’ll give it a chance. It’s all gone pretty smoothly so far.”
The Australian cricket team, led by captain Pat Cummins, has announced an unchanged lineup for their upcoming Test match against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The team includes:
This consistent selection highlights Australia’s confidence in its squad. Australia aims to maintain its strong performance and secure another victory in the series.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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