The Australian team has been handed a massive boost ahead of the Gabba Test against the Proteas as Pat Cummins returns to the squad after missing the series finale against the Windies. The Australian skipper was a major doubt for the series opener against Dean Elgar's South Africa after sustaining a quadriceps injury during the first Test against the Windies in Perth. Cummins replaces Micheal Neser in the starting eleven for the home side.
The Australian skipper's return was confirmed after the hosts announced the team for the first Test in Brisbane on Friday. However, Cummins will retake his leadership duties from Steve Smith, who led the side the in the absence of the star pacer.
Although Scott Boland retains his place in the starting eleven due to Josh Hazlewood's omission due to a side strain, Michael Neser had to make way for the Aussie skipper despite impressing in Adelaide.
It is worth noting that this is the first red-ball contest between the two sides since the infamous 'Sandpapergate' in the 2018 series. The home side is the favorites heading into the contest given their formidable batting unit, which includes the mercurial middle-order pair of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. The former, born in South Africa, will be playing in a Test match against the country of his birth for the first time in his career.
However, they will face an acid test against the famed Protean fast bowling attack that features Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, and Marco Jansen.
Australia XI for the first test against South Africa
David Warner Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Steve Smith Travis Head Cameron Green Alex Carey (wk) Pat Cummins (C) Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon Scott Boland
The green top at the Gabba is sure to excite the visitors, who have won their last three red-ball series Downunder. But a lackluster batting performance in the England series will be a cause of concern for the indomitable Dean Elgar heading into the mouthwatering contest against the Aussies.
Curious about who holds the unwanted record? See the top 10 players with most ducks in ICC events, featuring unexpected names like Jasprit Bumrah, James Anderson and Virat Kohli.
Cricket is a game of glorious highs, as well as, not-so-glorious lows at times! Besides the massive sixes, aerial catches, and other heroic moments, there's the other side of the game where a player walks back in the pavilion without scoring a single run.
You got it right, we are talking about the infamous "duck." So, get ready to discover the top 10 players with most ducks in ICC events.
Here's the complete list:
10. Mohammed Siraj (11 ducks) | India
Mohammed Siraj getting out for a duck in a test match. Image | DafaNews
Known for his fiery and aggressive bowling for India, Mohammed Siraj holds the 10th place for most ducks in ICC events, which clearly states how batting is not his forte. Siraj has a total of 11 ducks out of 51 innings.
Virat Kohli walks back to the dugout after getting out for a duck. Image | ProBatsman
Virat Kohli being here is perhaps the most astonishing name on the list. Apart from his exceptional batting records across all formats, and having scored 6451 runs in ICC events, he also has 11 ducks in 166 innings.
8. Khaled Ahmed (12 ducks) | Bangladesh
Khaled Ahmed facing a bouncer while batting for Bangladesh in tests. Image | ESPNcricinfo
A right-arm medium fast bowler from Bangladesh, Khaled Ahmed, appears in the list for having 12 ducks in ICC events in the span of 2021 to 2024. His focus is primarily on bowling and he serves as a typical lower-order batsman.
7. Mominul Haque (12 ducks) | Bangladesh
Mominul Haque after being dismissed for a duck. Image | ESPNcricinfo
Another Bangladeshi player with 12 ducks makes his way on the list. Mominul Haque, a left-handed batter and former captain of Bangladesh, holds the 7th position, despite delivering impressive ICC performances.
6. Keshav Maharaj (12 ducks) | South Africa
Keshav Maharaj batting for SA in an ICC tournament. Image | Outlook India
South Africa's leading orthodox spinner, Keshav Maharaj, who is known for his ability to surprise with the bat sometimes, also has 12 ducks in 65 innings. He is the only South African player in the list.
Jonny Bairstow walking back after getting dismissed for a duck. Image | Sky Sports
Jonny Bairstow found himself walking back to the dugout without scoring a single run 12 times in an ICC event. His explosive strokeplay and skill-set is undeniably good, but it is the count for ducks that places him at no. 5 in here.
4. James Anderson (12 ducks) | England
James Anderson dismissed for a duck. Image | Arab News
England's legendary fast bowler, James Anderson, also has 12 ducks in ICC events, spanning from 2003 to 2024. For a player whose career has been defined by his unparalleled legacy, a few early dismissals do not really matter.
Pat Cummins batting for Australia in ICC events. Image | Cricket Australia
Australia's captain and one of the world's premier all-rounder, Pat Cummins, has been out for a duck 13 times in ICC events. He has been remarkable with the ball and also backed up the team as a handy lower-order batter.
However, the intense quality of bowling and pressure in ICC tournaments make the best ones falter.
2. Tim Southee (14 ducks) | New Zealand
Tim Southee getting dismissed for a duck. Image | India TV News
Next up is New Zealand's swing master, who often showed a knack for hitting some powerful boundaries while batting down the order. That's right! Tim Southee has 14 ducks in ICC events, which is the second-most by any player.
As we come down to the final name on the list, we find the world's best bowler Jasprit Bumrah, with 21 ducks, holding the place tight. The one who so frequently dismisses opponents for a duck, and holds spectacular bowling records, tops this chart as well.
Bumrah has stunned fans every time he has come down to play. Be it scoring the most runs in a single over in tests or having the most ducks, this man will get you everything!
Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar – Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record
As Joe Root needs only 2915 test runs to catch Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run getter in test cricket, we bring you a comprehensive Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar test career comparison.
One is called the God of Cricket, and the other is perhaps the greatest test batter of his generation. Both Sachin Tendulkar and Joe Root have contributed to test cricket in their own way.
Since Root started his incredible run with the bat in 2021, everyone started the Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar comparison in test cricket. Some even suggested that the former English captain might even break Sachin Tendulkar's test record as well.
Before India take on England in another mouthwatering five-test match series, we will try to analyse whose test career is better. Is it Joe Root or Sachin Tendulkar? Who is better in test cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar in test cricket - in numbers
Image - BCCI
Even before we get into comparing the players, we need to get the numbers right.
Sachin, the highest run-getter in test and international cricket, scored 15921 test runs in a record 200 test matches. The Indian legend averaged 53.78 and also scored 51 test tons, which is also a record.
Debuted at the age of 16, soon, Sachin soon became the then second youngest ever test centurion at the age of 17 years 107 days old. Sachin created that record when he smashed an unbeaten 119 against England in Manchester in 1990.
Root till now has played only 153 test matches and has a batting average of 50.80. Since the start of 2022, Root has scored 13 test tons, scoring 3475 runs at an average of 53.46. He is also the highest run scorer in World Test Championship history.
Format
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
100s
50s
Tests
153
279
23
13,006
262
50.80
36
65
Other records Root has in his test career:
3rd most test runs in a calendar year (1708, in 2021)
5th most test hundreds (36)
6th most test hundreds in a calendar year (6 in 2021)
Most fifties in consecutive test matches (12)
4th most test fifties (101)
Root vs Sachin in Test Cricket: Comparison
Sachin currently has a lead over Joe Root in every aspect of numbers in test cricket. The master blaster has better records than Root in test cricket.
But to compare them, we will have to compare them with the current number of matches Root has played so far.
Sachin after 153 test matches
Runs: 12152
Innings: 250
Average: 54.25
100s: 39
50s: 51
Highest: 248*
Sachin in wins after 153 tests:
Won: 48 tests
Runs: 4011
Average: 62.67
100s: 13
50s: 16
Root after 153 test matches
Runs: 13006
Innings: 279
Average: 50.80
100s: 36
50s: 65
Highest: 262
Root in wins after 153 test matches:
Wins: 70 tests
Runs: 6999
Average: 64.21
100s: 25
50s: 28
So, if we compare Sachin's record to Joe Root's after 153 test matches, we can see that Root is leading the chart with more runs and more fifties. But, Sachin has a better batting average, more hundreds.
However, in 153 test matches, Root won 70 test matches for England while Sachin had only won 48 test matches as a player. Although their batting averages in winning causes are nearly the same, Root has scored nearly 3000 more test runs on winning occasions for England.
Although Joe Root has scored the most test runs if we compare their stats after 153 test matches, Sachin played nearly five years after playing his 153rd test match in 2008.
Not only that, in those next 47 test matches he played for India, he scored 3769 runs at an average of 52.34 with 12 tons.
Root is currently 34, and can stretch his career for at least 4-5 years if he can stay fit. With the number of test matches England play every season, there is a certain possibility that Root can end up playing more than 200 test matches in his career.
Even if he plays 47 more test matches and bats at least 75 innings, he would need 2915 test runs at an average of 38.87.
With the current form Joe Root is in, this is quite possible for him to get. But, will he be able to keep the form like Sachin had done at the age of 35 and after? That's the question the World Cricket will be eyeing.
Playing test matches is one thing but to win test matches is a whole other ball game as only the best teams are able to win and get better as a test match side. During the 140+ years of test cricket there have been around 2500+ test matches that have been played by the various teams playing and these teams strive to beat the other team in this match and win the series as a result. Winning a test match is the ultimate satisfaction for a team even now. So, let’s look at the statistics of Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010.
The number 5 team in this list is the New Zealand team which has won 52 test matches since 2010 out of a total of 122 test matches played till now. They have lost 46 matches which is not a good record to have and hopefully the win loss difference decreases and they have a total of drawn test matches of 24 and going forward it can be said that their record will improve.
4. South Africa | 66
South Africa have one of the most impressive records in the test cricket as in the 127 test matches they have played in from 2010-2025 , they have been able to win 66 test matches and they have lost 39 matches against good teams as well and they also have drawn 22 test matches. South Africa was barred from cricket as well for a number of years and they were reinstated in 1993 again and their journey hasn’t looked back since.
3. India | 80
After Australia, the third team with most test match wins is the Indian team with 80 test match wins since 2010 in a total of 156 matches. They have also lost 48 matches which is not a good sign as well as they have 28 drawn matches throughout their journey from 2010 and the hope is this record gets better with time and they win more matches than they lose.
2. Australia | 84
Australia have played a total of 157 test matches since 2010 and they have won 84 matches and also lost 48 matches as a side and some of the losses were memorable. And Australia have drawn 25 matches and drawn test matches can be very entertaining as well. Australia will play more test matches as they go along over the years and they will reach 100 test wins really soon as well.
England is the test team with the most number of wins in test matches since 2010. They are the only team who have played over a 190 test matches and they have won 90 matches whereas they have also lost 70 test matches as well which shows they are beaten a lot of times as well and the number of drawn test matches by England are at 31 and as they play along they will win more rest matches as well as lose matches as well.
Recently the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle ended. The final match of which was won by South Africa. South Africa was successful in winning its first ICC trophy after 27 years after defeating Australia. But amidst all this, former South African captain AB de Villiers has raised questions on the WTC format and has demanded several reforms from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
AB de Villiers has strongly advocated making the World Test Championship schedule more fair and consistent for all Test playing nations. De Villiers, 41, has suggested a four-year cycle like the ODI World Cup, instead of the current two-year cycle, to ensure every team can compete against other Test-playing sides.
Speaking to BBC Sport, AB de Villiers expressed his disappointment. He said, “We’ve had some very disappointing and sad ends to a lot of campaigns, especially the World Cups, but now it’s time to start believing that we can do this more often,”
“[This moment] won’t be lost. It was too big and too special for all South Africans – it was a Test match no one will ever forget. But yes, to a certain extent, something needs to be done.”
De Villiers advocates making WTC a balanced system
AB de Villiers further elaborated during this interaction, “I saw the schedule that came out for the next cycle of the WTC and there is an improvement, but I still feel there’s work that needs to be done there to just to get it as consistent as possible and as fair as possible for all for all Test-playing nations.”
“You want to get to that final feeling like you’ve played against all these nations,” De Villiers added. “Maybe a four-year cycle would be nice. We’ve done that in the past with one-day internationals, so why not in Test cricket? It would make sense and it would give the organisers just so much more time to get a really fair, well-balanced system out there.”
De Villiers believes a longer cycle will allow teams to play a sufficient number of matches, making a team's journey to the final more credible.
South Africa played least number of Test matches in WTC 2023-25
De Villiers' comments come at a time when the Proteas have played the least number of Test matches (12) among the nine teams during the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. The number was a full 10 matches less than England's 22, while Australia, who face South Africa, played 19 matches during the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.
Harshit Rana called up to join India's Test squad for England series as backup
The rising young pacer Harshit Rana called up to join India's Test squad for England series as backup. Discover the reason behind this last-minute key addition for the upcoming intense clash starting from June 20, 2025.
The BCCI has made a strategic last-minute addition to the India's Test squad for England tour (starts June 20, 2025) which will mark the beginning of Shubman Gill's captaincy era. It is now official that Harshit Rana called up to join India's Test squad for England series as backup.
He has not been officially added to the squad but has travelled to Leeds as an unofficial cover for the team. Check the full story below:
Harshit Rana's inclusion as a backup in India's Test squad against England
Harshit Rana representing India in tests. Image | Instagram
Harshit Rana's journey in England has taken a significant turn as he has been asked to stay with the senior Indian Test squad for the upcoming series. He was initially part of the India A team that toured England.
During this time, Rana played two unofficial test matches against England Lions where he contributed with the ball (took an important wicket) and bat (scored 16 runs).
He was also involved in an intra-squad practice match in Beckenham, providing him further opportunities to showcase his skills in front of the senior team.
Following these engagements, the team management have decided to extend his stay and include him as backup. "Please don't count him as an official member of the squad as yet,” a top BCCI official told Cricbuzz to confirm Rana's presence.
The potential reason behind the call-up:
India's Test squad for England series. Image | Instagram
Rana's inclusion (even as a backup) provides crucial depth and flexibility, and gives them diverse options to adapt to various pitch conditions throughout the demanding series.
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