West Indies vs Australia, WI vs AUS, Today Match Prediction

West Indies vs Australia, WI vs AUS, Today Match Prediction

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 : West Indies vs Australia 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : June 25,Wednesday​ 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:30 PM IST​​​​​𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 :​ Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : 1st Test 2025​​​​ 35 Years of Hurt: Can West Indies Finally Beat Australia in Test series at home? West Indies vs Australia TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. WI vs AUS Match Prediction & Analysis For the first time in seven years, Australia will walk out for a Test match without either Steve Smith or Marnus Labuschagne in the playing XI. This will mark the return of the Aussie side to the Caribbean after a gap of 10 years. As the team travels to the Caribbean, the spotlight shifts to a younger generation tasked with continuing Australia’s dominance over the West Indies — a rivalry they have not lost since 1990. Marnus Labuschagne has been left out of the squad for the first Test against West Indies, while Steve Smith will miss the match due to injury. In their absence, Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis have been named in the playing XI. On the bowling front, Brendan Doggett has been ruled out of the series with a hip injury, paving the way for Sean Abbott to join the squad as cover. Australia has recently lost the Test Championship final against South Africa by 7 wickets.  On the other hand, the hosts have left out Kemar Roach from the squad for the upcoming home Test series against Australia. In a bid to bolster their batting, the selectors have recalled Shai Hope and John Campbell. The team also features two uncapped players — Brandon King and Kevlon Anderson — both receiving their maiden Test call-ups. Young pacer Johann Layne is the new addition to the bowling unit, while Anderson Phillip retains his place. Layne, a 21-year-old fast-bowling allrounder from Barbados, has earned a place in the 16-man squad after an impressive run in domestic cricket, claiming 63 wickets in just 17 first-class matches. Both teams last played a Test match against each other in 2024 at the Gabba in Brisbane. A match that West Indies will always remember! West Indies batted first to score 311 runs in the first innings, with three of their players scoring half-centuries. In return, Aussie skipper Pat Cummins took a surprising decision to declare the innings on 289 for the loss of 8 wickets, which gave West Indies a 22-run lead. Australia managed to bowl out West Indies for 193 runs in return, with Hazelwood and Lyon claiming 3 wickets each. What happened next was completely out of the syllabus. Shamar Joseph picked up 7 wickets for 68 runs while limping to register West Indies’ first test win over Australia after a gap of 20 years by just 8 runs. Steven Smith, who opened the innings, remained unbeaten on 91, looking at his teammates falling at regular intervals. TEAMS PREVIEW West Indies Preview It’s been six months since the West Indies played their last test. With Roston Chase taking over the captaincy from Kraigg Brathwaite, he will have a huge task on his shoulders to make the impossible possible. Kraigg Brathwaite will open the innings with Mikyle Louis. Brathwaite has 442 runs in the last 10 tests at an average of 22. Against Australia, he averages a little better (25) with a century in 12 tests. Louis is still new to the test setup and has 358 runs in 18 innings so far. Returning Shai Hope will take the number three place. Hope averages 17 against Australia with the bat. John Campbell is back in the squad after serving a doping ban. With the experience of 20 Tests, Campbell averages 26 while scoring 888 runs. He might come in the middle with Brandon King. Selector Darren Sammy spoke highly of him in the press conference. He might get a chance to play eleven. Skipper Roston Chase will come at number six. Chase has 115 runs with the bat against Australia in 2 tests. He has 4 centuries and 4 half-centuries at home with an average of 35.  Jayden Seals will lead the bowling attack with Chase’s deputy Jomel Warrican. Seals has 38 wickets in the last 8 tests. This includes the test against Bangladesh, where he picked up 4 wickets with an economy of 0.31. Jomel Warrican will be the bowler to watch out for. He has 28 wickets in 4 tests. Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph will conclude the West Indies team. Shamar’s seven wickets in the last test against Australia handed WI a victory in the tests after a gap of 20 years. Australia Preview The drop in the average has left Marnus Labuschagne out of the squad. He opened the innings in the Test Championship final. In his absence, Sam Konstas will open the innings with Usman Khwaja. Konstas is set to make his third Test appearance, returning to the side after his two-match stint against India, where he made an impressive debut with a fluent 60 off 65 balls at the MCG. Khwaja has 517 runs against the West Indies in 6 tests at an average of 58. He is averaging 62 this year. He will be the batter to watch out for. Josh Inglis will come at number three. Inglis scored a century on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle earlier this year.  Cameroon Green will come in the middle with Travis Head, Beau Webster, and Alex Carey. Green made a comeback in the WTC final. Head averages 87 against the West Indies in 4 tests. This includes two centuries, with a career-best 175 runs. Webster scored 72 runs in the WTC Finals’ first innings. He has 231 runs with the bat and three wickets with the ball in 4 tests. Carrey has 131 runs in 4 tests against the West Indies. He is averaging over 72 this year. Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Josh Hazlewood will lead the bowling attack. Starc has 34 wickets in the last 8 tests. Against…

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Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, BAN vs SL 2025, Today Match Prediction

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, BAN vs SL 2025, Today Match Prediction

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 : Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh​𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : June 25,Wednesday​𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 10:00 AM IST​​​​​𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 :​ SSC Cricket Ground (Sinhalese Sports Club), Colombo, Sri Lanka𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : 2nd Test 2025​​​​ Sri Lanka’s challenge to get the bowling act together Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. SL vs BAN Match Prediction & Analysis It is the second game of the two-match Test series. The 1st Test Match ended in a tame draw, with the pitch offering little to the bowlers. The Sri Lankans struggled with the ball in the last game, and the side will look to take advantage of the home conditions and get a result that is in their favor. The Bangladeshis fought well with the bat in the last game and will look to draw positives from it.   The Sri Lankans enjoy an excellent record against Bangladesh at home. They have lost only once against them in 15 Test matches on home soil. The conditions will favor their bowlers on this track in Colombo. The Bangladeshis have a record of being poor tourists who struggled with consistency abroad. We expect a close contest, and it will be interesting to see if the Bangladeshis can win this game.   TEAMS PREVIEW Sri Lanka Preview Dhananjaya de Silva will be upset with his team’s performance in the last game. They allowed the Bangladeshis to dominate the game with the bat. It was a poor show from the bowlers across both innings that hurt the team. Their opponents will be confident heading into the contest, and de Silva would like a better show from his bowling attack to seal the series.   Pathum Nissanka batted brilliantly in the last game with more than 200 runs. He will look to deliver a steady start with Lahiru Udara. Dinesh Chandimal is the most experienced batsman in this lineup, and he must steer the innings with Kamindu Mendis and Oshada Fernando. Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, and Milan Priyanath Rathnayake must contribute runs in the lower middle order.   The bowlers must put the upset of the last game behind them. After struggling in the last game, Asitha Fernando and Milan Priyanath Rathnayake must strike with the new ball. Tharindu Ratnayake and Prabath Jayasuriya were toyed around by the Bangladeshi batters in the last game, and the team expects them to deliver a better performance. Dhananjaya de Silva will look to do well in the supporting role. Bangladesh Preview Najmul Hossain Shanto will be happy with his team’s performance in the last game. The side batted well and dominated most sessions in the last game. The captain led from the front and will go into this game with confidence. However, the Sri Lankans are a different beast in Colombo, and Shanto would like a spirited show from his players to win this game.   Anamul Haque struggled in the last game, and the team expects him to deliver a good start with Shadman Islam. Shanto hit hundreds in both innings in the last game, making the middle order formidable with Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim. The team expects a strong show in the lower middle order from Litton Das and Jaker Ali.   On the bowling front, the side expects a strong show from Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana, as the Sri Lankan batters are in good form. Nayeem Hasan bowled brilliantly in the last game and will look to trouble the batters in the middle with Taijul Islam. Mominul Haque will look to do well in the supporting role. Weather Conditions There will be cloud cover over Colombo on all five days. It will be challenging for the batsmen as the ball will move around a lot under the heavy weather. Batsmen have to bat with caution during the game. The average first-inning score at this venue is 325 runs, and the team batting first would like to have 450 on the board. SL vs BAN Pitch Report Sinhalese Sports Club is a typical Sri Lankan venue that assists the spinners on the track. Batsmen have done well against the new ball as they can play their strokes freely, but the conditions will be challenging once the ball gets older. Fast bowlers can do well when the weather is in their favor. Toss: To Bowl The batting conditions shall be challenging early in the game, with a cloud cover creating problems for them. The ball will move off the surface in the early overs. The team winning the toss shall look to take advantage of the conditions by bowling first in this game.

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ENG vs IND: KL Rahul admits modest Test average still hurts but focuses on enjoying his game

ENG vs IND: KL Rahul admits modest Test average still hurts but focuses on enjoying his game

India opener KL Rahul has admitted that his modest Test average still “hurts”, but insisted he is no longer focused on statistics and is instead enjoying his cricket more than ever. Rahul, who has often been under the scanner for inconsistency in the longest format, produced a sublime 137 in the second innings of the Headingley Test against England. Rahul’s ninth Test hundred – and eighth overseas – helped India stretch their second innings lead to 370, setting a daunting 371-run target for the hosts. Speaking to Sky Sports at the close of play on Day 4, the 32-year-old reflected on his mental transformation and a shift in perspective that has helped him rediscover rhythm in the game. “Of course, it hurts when I look at my average. But at this stage, I don’t want to think about numbers. I want to make an impact whenever I get a chance and enjoy playing Test cricket for India. It’s what I grew up loving,” Rahul said. Rahul, who for years has been known as a player capable of stylish starts without converting them into big scores, said he has become mentally calmer and more accepting of the game’s uncertainties. “I am just getting runs now. There was a time when I would get starts but not convert them into big scores, especially in Tests. I am much calmer in my head and not chasing numbers anymore. I just want to enjoy my cricket as much as I can,” he added. While Rahul may have distanced himself from statistical obsession, the numbers still present a compelling story. His 137 was his third century in England – the most by any Indian opener in the country – taking him past the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. He also extended his tally of hundreds in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries to six, underlining his overseas pedigree. ENG vs IND 1st Test Day 4 Highlights The stylish right-hander also stitched together a crucial 195-run stand with Rishabh Pant, which gave India a firm grip on the contest. In many ways, this innings marked a moment of personal redemption for Rahul, whose place in the side has often been questioned due to a fluctuating average and repeated opportunities. Rahul acknowledged that part of his growth has come from working closely with former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, whose influence over the past year and a half has helped him return to the basics and embrace a more grounded approach. “I have worked a lot with him, spent a lot of time with him in 15-18 months. I have gone back to basics, doing time. There was a time when I was in a quality over quantity mindset in international cricket and did not hit enough balls. Now I am back to enjoying hitting a lot of balls in the nets,” said Rahul. Rahul has predicted a dramatic Day 5 battle as India need 10 wickets to win while England must chase down the 371-run target in Leeds. “When the match started, it looked like a batting paradise and I thought it would be a draw. But now, there’s enough wear and tear and the cracks are opening up. It’s a perfect day—five wickets, and it’s going to be a blockbuster,” he said. – Ends Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: Jun 24, 2025

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Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan shine on County Championship debuts | Cricket News

Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan shine on County Championship debuts | Cricket News

Young Indian talents Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan made strong statements in red-ball cricket with impressive performances on their County Championship debuts in England. Playing for Hampshire in Division One, Tilak walked in when his team was under pressure at 34 for 2 against Essex in Chelmsford. The 22-year-old displayed remarkable composure and patience, finishing unbeaten on 98 from 234 deliveries. His innings included 11 fours and three sixes, showing his ability to adapt to the longer format. He also chipped in with two tidy overs of spin, conceding just six runs.Tilak, speaking to a local BBC station after stumps, said, “I’ve wanted to play in England for three years so now I’m here I want to fulfil this opportunity.” The young batter’s calm and gritty knock under pressure shows he is eager to prove himself in the longer format too. KL Rahul press conference: On his role, being elder brother in team, role clarity and match Ishan Kishan, meanwhile, turned heads with an attacking knock for Nottinghamshire against Yorkshire. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter struck 87 off 98 balls, laced with 12 fours and a six. Only Ben Slater, who made 96, scored more for Nottinghamshire. Kishan, signed for a short two-match stint, also made an impact behind the stumps by taking a sharp catch to dismiss opener Adam Lyth off Mohammad Abbas. Among other notable names, Jofra Archer made his long-awaited red-ball return for Sussex against Durham. The England pacer, playing his first First-Class match in four years, bowled 14 overs with six maidens and conceded just 28 runs while picking up a wicket. Archer also contributed a quick 31 off 34 balls with three fours and a six, boosting Sussex’s lower order.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? Archer’s comeback adds an interesting twist to England’s Test plans, with the hosts currently engaged in a five-match series against India. With Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan making the most of their opportunities, Indian youngsters are showing they can adapt to County cricket and make valuable contributions in English conditions.

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KL Rahul's 'hurtful' admission after going past Rahul Dravid with Leeds knock: 'When I look at my average...'

KL Rahul’s ‘hurtful’ admission after going past Rahul Dravid with Leeds knock: ‘When I look at my average…’

KL Rahul has suddenly found himself bearing far more responsibility in the Indian Test team, as he graduated into being a senior player with a lot more on his table than even just 6 months prior. The retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have converted him into the veteran leader of the batting unit, and that is certainly a tag he lived up to at Headingley, as he scored a graceful, in-complete-control 137 in the third innings. KL Rahul rests his head against his bat as he walks off after having scored a memorable 137 in the third innings at Leeds.(Action Images via Reuters) While Rahul’s talent and top-end quality is beyond reproach, he has often struggled with consistency and reliability through his career. Rahul is attempting to solve that issue in his game, and after a 2025 that has seen him find his groove in ODI cricket and now possibly Tests, he seems to have found the mental key for that edge. “I am just getting runs now. There was a time when I would get starts but not convert them into big scores, especially in Tests,” said KL Rahul straightforwardly to Sky Cricket after the fourth day’s play in Leeds. “I am much calmer in my head and not chasing numbers anymore. I just want to enjoy my cricket as much as I can.” KL Rahul prioritises creating an impact for India over personal accolades While Rahul’s mind may no longer be on numbers, they do now say that eight of his nine Test centuries have been scored overseas. Rahul’s opening role wasn’t nailed down, with criticism over his poor average despite repeated in the Test team often lobbed at him. However, he will have hoped to have turned a page, given the showcase he put on at Headingley. While the numbers might not be make-or-break for Rahul, he does have the distinction of being the player with the most centuries as an opener in England, this being his third of his career. He outdoes Rahul Dravid, who previously had two, as well as Sunul Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. Rahul isn’t happy with where his average is, but he has also realised that if he plays well and finds a zone for himself, the runs and that average will follow.  “Of course, it hurts when I look at my average. But at this stage, I don’t want to think about numbers. I want to make an impact whenever I get a chance and enjoy playing Test cricket for India and it’s what I grew up loving,” explained Rahul. With all the talent to be a gamechanger of a player in this Test series, it goes over to the Indian bowling unit to try and produce a result in the first Test match, with England needing a further 350 runs and India needing all 10 wickets in an incredibly balanced contest heading into day 5.

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IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant equals Sachin Tendulkar's record, now only behind Rahul Dravid | Cricket News

IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant equals Sachin Tendulkar’s record, now only behind Rahul Dravid | Cricket News

Rishabh Pant (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) Rishabh Pant continued to cement his reputation as India’s most fearless wicketkeeper-batter, notching up twin centuries in the Headingley Test and matching multiple records along the way. After scoring a fluent 134 in the first innings, Pant added another 118 in the second, becoming the first Indian to score centuries in both innings of a Test in England. He now joins India’s twin centuries club which includes Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar (three times), Rahul Dravid (twice), Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma. Pant’s consistency in England is fast earning him a special place among India’s batting greats. His four Test hundreds in England put him alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Dilip Vengsarkar, both of whom have four Test centuries in the country. Only Rahul Dravid has more for India, with six Test tons in England. Pant’s twin hundreds also made him only the second designated wicketkeeper to achieve this feat in Test history after Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower. His match aggregate of 252 runs is the highest by an Indian wicketkeeper in a Test, breaking Budhi Kunderan’s record of 230 against England in Chennai in 1964. It is also the fourth-highest match aggregate by any wicketkeeper in Test cricket, with only Flower ahead of him. KL Rahul press conference: On his role, being elder brother in team, role clarity and match Pant’s power-hitting was on full display at Headingley as he struck nine sixes in the second innings, equalling the record for the most sixes in a Test in England alongside Andrew Flintoff and Ben Stokes.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? Pant has also joined an elite list of visiting batters with five consecutive fifty-plus scores in England, putting him in the same bracket as Don Bradman, Hansie Cronje, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kumar Sangakkara and Daryl Mitchell. Only Steven Smith has more, with seven. The Headingley Test was historic for India too, as the team produced five centuries in the same match for the first time. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Pant scored centuries in the first innings while KL Rahul and Pant added two more in the second. After bringing up his second century, Pant brushed off Sunil Gavaskar’s playful suggestion to celebrate with a somersault, saving it for another day and instead launching a quick counterattack on Joe Root before falling for 118. Pant’s record-breaking spree in England underlines his growing stature as one of India’s most impactful batters in overseas Tests.

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IND vs ENG: 'Straight ball hai, theke?'; Rishabh Pant’s self-check moment and twin tons light up Headingley - Watch | Cricket News

IND vs ENG: ‘Straight ball hai, theke?’; Rishabh Pant’s self-check moment and twin tons light up Headingley – Watch | Cricket News

India’s Rishabh Pant (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) India vice-captain Rishabh Pant yet again proved why he is one of the most entertaining characters in world cricket, both with his audacious shots and with the conversations he has with himself in the middle. On Day 4 of the first Test against England at Headingley, Pant added another gem to his growing collection of iconic knocks overseas. After scoring a masterful 134 in the first innings, he stitched a momentum-shifting 195-run partnership with KL Rahul in the second innings and brought up his second century of the match, becoming the first Indian to score twin tons in a Test in England. While Pant’s flamboyance is well-known, what caught the stump mic and the cameras was his candid reminder to himself during one of his adventurous attempts against Shoaib Bashir. Eyeing another innovative stroke, Pant muttered, “Straight ball hai, Rishabh aise yeh jaroori nahi hai theke? Marna hai to seedha lag jayega na iss ball pe zabardasti with the wind try kare jaa raha hai.”This self-advice came as he was trying to reverse scoop a delivery that did not warrant such a shot. Moments later, Pant calmed himself down and returned to a more traditional approach, eventually steering India towards a massive lead. KL Rahul press conference: On his role, being elder brother in team, role clarity and match Pant’s 118 off 140 balls in the second innings secured his place in an elite club. He became only the second designated wicketkeeper after Andy Flower to notch hundreds in both innings of a Test. He also matched the record for the most sixes in a Test innings in England, hitting nine maximums, a feat previously achieved by Andrew Flintoff and Ben Stokes.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? His innings pushed his tally in England to 808 runs from 10 Tests at an impressive average above 42. His match total of 252 runs is now the highest for a wicketkeeper in a Test in England, surpassing Alec Stewart’s 204 against South Africa in 1998. After reaching his milestone, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar asked Pant to celebrate with a somersault. Pant, however, gave his trademark grin and saved the flip for another day. He instead continued his charge, smacking Joe Root for a mix of unconventional sweeps and classical lofted drives before falling for 118, caught by Zak Crawley. While India’s lower order folded quickly, Pant and Rahul’s fireworks gave India a massive cushion, leaving England to chase 371 on a wearing Headingley surface. Fans will remember this innings not just for the runs but also for Pant’s honest, almost comic self-talk that reflects the genius and unpredictability that define him.

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