The fifth day of the test match between India and Australia was halted due to lightening in Gabba. There have been multiple delays in the test match so far.
Brisbane: Play on day five of the third Test between India and Australia was halted due to lightning around the Gabba after the visitors were bowled out for 260.
Australia made 445 in their first innings.
The match has been impacted by multiple delays over the course of five days.
Resuming the day at 252 for nine, India added eight runs in 24 balls.
Jasprit Bumrah (10 not out off 38) and Akash Deep (31 off 44), who helped India avoid the follow-on on day four, shared 47 runs off 78 balls for the final wicket.
Australia gained an 185-run first innings lead after Akash Deep was stumped off Travis Head in the 79th over.
Pakistan’s chase of 240 was in deep trouble at 60-4 in the 20th over. Then Salman was dropped behind the wickets on 6 off Aiden Markram. But he didn’t offer another chance.
Updated On – 18 December 2024, 07:14 AM
Pakistan
Paarl (South Africa): Career-best performances by allrounder Salman Agha led Pakistan to a series-opening win over South Africa in their one-day international on Tuesday.
Salman’s unbeaten 82 from 90 balls finished off Pakistan’s well-paced victory by three wickets with three balls remaining.
That came after his part-time off-spin took 4-32 and tore out South Africa’s top order, starting the Proteas’ gradual decline to a below-par 239-9.
Pakistan’s chase of 240 was in deep trouble at 60-4 in the 20th over. Then Salman was dropped behind the wickets on 6 off Aiden Markram. But he didn’t offer another chance.
Salman was initially supporting opener Saim Ayub to rescue their side.
Saim, who was stranded on 98 not out in a Twenty20 last Friday, achieved his second ODI century. He was out for 109 off 119 balls, caught at fine leg after pulling Kagiso Rabada.
His and Salman’s partnership of 141 runs to the 42nd over lifted Pakistan to the verge of victory, with the run rate above what was required.
But two more wickets fell, and Salman had to bide his time mainly in singles, with support from No. 9 batter Naseem Shah, to get Pakistan over the line at 242-7.
South Africa chose to bat first and openers Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton made a flying start at 70 without loss at the end of the powerplay. But within four overs, South Africa was 88-4 as Salman dismissed them and bowled Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs.
Heinrich Klaasen, with backup from stand-in captain Markram, held the innings together with 86 from 97 balls until his middle stump was knocked over by Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 45th over.
South Africa, with one eye on the following test series in which it’s trying to reach the World Test Championship final, rested captain Temba Bavuma and suffered a late withdrawal when spinner Keshav Maharaj injured his groin just before the toss.
Will continue to play club cricket; retires as second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets)
Updated On – 18 December 2024, 12:11 PM
File Photo
Brisbane: India’s premier off-spinner R Ashwin on Wednesday surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect in the middle of the Test series against Australia here.
Ashwin retires from the game as the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets). He will continue to play club cricket.
“I won’t take too much of your time. Today will be the last day for me as an India cricketer,” Ashwin said at the end of the drawn third Test here in a joint press conference with captain Rohit Sharma during which he declined to take any questions and left after making the announcement.
The 38-year-old played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket.
“He was very, very sure of his decision. We should stand by what he wants,” said Rohit after Ashwin left the stage.
He was seen sharing an emotional moment with star batter Virat Kohli in the dressing room hours before the announcement.
“A name synonymous with mastery, wizardry, brilliance, and innovation,” said the BCCI in its tribute post on X.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙬𝙞𝙣 🫡
A name synonymous with mastery, wizardry, brilliance, and innovation 👏👏
The ace spinner and #TeamIndia‘s invaluable all-rounder announces his retirement from international cricket.
Rain was always a constant theme in the match at Brisbane, and only 22 overs of play was possible on day five. After bowling out India for 260 to take a 185-run first-innings, Australia declared its second innings at 89/7 and gave the visitors’ a target of 275 runs in a bid to get an unlikely victory
Published Date – 18 December 2024, 12:10 PM
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Brisbane: Rain eventually prevailed in denying the Gabba Test a blockbuster finish on day five as Australia and India drew the match on Wednesday. It also means the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will head to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, with the scoreline interestingly placed at 1-1.
Rain was always a constant theme in the match at Brisbane, and only 22 overs of play was possible on day five. After bowling out India for 260 to take a 185-run first-innings, Australia declared its second innings at 89/7 and gave the visitors’ a target of 275 runs in a bid to get an unlikely victory.
India reached eight for no loss in 2.1 overs, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, unbeaten on four each, seeing out 13 balls before bad light meant the players had to go off and tea break was called upon. After that rain came in, and ensured no further play was possible. Fittingly, handshakes happened between the two teams amid a rain interruption to draw the match, where just 216.1 overs of play happened across five days.
Resuming day five from 252/9, after avoiding the follow-on, Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah were at it again to reduce the deficit for India. Akash and Bumrah added eight more runs in four overs and took their last-wicket partnership to 47 before Travis Head snapped it.
Coming from round the wicket, Head got a slider to move across Akash and beat his outside edge after drawing him forward. In this process, Akash’s backfoot came out of the crease and Alex Carey completed a sharp stumping to end India’s innings and give Australia a big lead, as the batter was dismissed for 31 off 44 balls.
The 47-run stand for the last wicket between Akash and Bumrah is also a new record for India in terms of tenth-wicket partnership in Tests against Australia at the Gabba, going past the previous record was 33, between Manoj Prabhakar and Javagal Srinath in 1991/92.
Just as Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja, who turned 38 on Wednesday, were ready to come out and bat, a lighting alert near the Gabba meant everyone was forced off the field and lunch was taken in.
After clinching a lead of 185 runs, Australia had a highly eventful, 18-over second innings. They came out to play their shots in a quest to get runs at a fast speed and were dismissed in quick succession by India’s pacers. But with a big lead in hand, Australia found 274 good enough total to declare, thanks to cameos from Carey, Head and Pat Cummins.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets to take his match figures to nine. It also got Bumrah to take his tally of wickets in Australia to 53, which is now the new record for most wickets taken by Indian bowler in Tests in this country, eclipsing Kapil Dev’s 51 scalps.
He got excellent support from Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, who chipped in with two scalps each. Bumrah provided the first breakthrough by getting some inward movement on a length delivery, and take the inside edge of birthday boy Usman Khawaja to rattle the top of off stump. He came back to have Marnus Labuschagne slash away from the body and nick behind to Rishabh Pant.
Akash was next to strike, as Nathan McSweeney flashed at an outside off stump delivery and edged behind to Pant. Mitchell Marsh’s promotion to number four didn’t work as Akash found his outside edge and Pant completed another catch.
Siraj came in to have Steve Smith strangled down the leg side, as Pant completed a brilliant diving catch. Head and Carey hit quick boundaries before the former went for a big heave, but gave a top-edge to across-moving Pant, who took his fifth catch of the innings. It’s also the fourth instance of Pant taking five or more catches in a Test innings, which is the joint-most for any Indian keeper in Tests alongside MS Dhoni.
Cummins had an entertaining stay at the crease, hitting a four and six off Akash and giving the same treatment to Siraj, before being foxed by a slower ball from Bumrah and was caught by cover for 22 off just 10 balls. Five balls after he got out, Cummins called back the batters in to declare Australia’s innings and set stage for an exciting finish, which didn’t happen due to rain.
Brief scores: Australia 445 and 89/7 dec (Pat Cummins 22, Alex Carey 20 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 3-18, Akash Deep 2-28) draw with India 260 (KL Rahul 84, Ravindra Jadeja 77; Pat Cummins 4-81, Mitchell Starc 3-83) and 8/0 in 2.1 overs.
“He could have said, listen after the end of the series, I won’t be available for selection for India. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the 3rd Test in 2014-15 series, it leaves you one short,” Gavaskar told broadcasters
Published Date – 18 December 2024, 02:07 PM
Sunil Gavaskar
Brisbane: Former Indian captain and legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar reacted to Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement decision’s impact on the team and said the all-rounder did the same as MS Dhoni did during the 2014-15 Asutralia series.
Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket immediately following the drawn Gabba Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gavaskar drew parallels to MS Dhoni’s mid-series retirement during the 2014-15 Test series in Australia, arguing that such decisions disrupt team planning.
“He could have said, listen after the end of the series, I won’t be available for selection for India. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the 3rd Test in 2014-15 series, it leaves you one short,” Gavaskar told broadcasters.
“The selection committee has picked so many players for a tour with a purpose. If there are any injuries they can select from the reserve players to have in the team. So, Sydney is somewhere where there is a lot of support on offer for spinners. So India could have played with two spinners. You never know. He could have been there for sure. I don’t know how the pitch in Melbourne will be like. Normally, you tend to look at the end of the series. That’s it. In the middle, it is not usual,” he added.
When asked if Washington Sundar was being groomed to replace Ashwin, Gavaskar admitted it seemed likely. “Maybe Washington Sundar is ahead of him. Rohit mentioned that Sundar is flying out tomorrow. So, this marks the end of Ashwin as an international cricketer. He has been one heck of a cricketer,” Gavaskar said.
Menwahile, Sundar posted a heartfelt post for state-mate Ashwin on Instagram, following the allrounder’s retirement. “More than just a teammate – Ash anna, you have been an inspiration, a mentor and a true champion of the game. It’s been an honour to share the field and the dressing room with you.”
“Coming from the same state of TN, I have grown up watching you from the close corners of Chepauk to playing against you and alongside you. Every moment has been a privilege. The learnings, both on and off the field are something I will carry with me forever. Wishing you success and happiness in whatever comes next,” the post read.
Ashwin’s retirement comes at a crucial juncture in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the series delicately poised 1-1 with the drawn Gabba Test. His absence leaves a gap in India’s bowling arsenal, especially as they prepare for the upcoming Test in Melbourne and Sydney, traditionally a spinner-friendly venue.
Shami made his comeback from injury during the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has also been named in Bengal’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, starting Saturday.
Published Date – 18 December 2024, 03:10 PM
Mohammed Shami
Brisbane: India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday said it is high time the NCA provides clarity on Mohammed Shami‘s fitness, emphasising that he won’t risk fielding the pacer in the ongoing Border Gavaskar series until they are sure of his condition.
Shami made his comeback from injury during the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has also been named in Bengal’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, starting Saturday.
“It’s high time somebody from NCA talks about him. Really, that’s our National Cricket Academy where he is doing his rehab. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update,” Rohit said during the post-match press conference.
Following the pink ball Test in Adelaide, Rohit had revealed that Shami had developed swelling in his knees while playing in SMAT. “But look, I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home. But there have been some complaints about his knee as well. So, the last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens.
“So, there’s no way we want to take that chance. Unless we are not 100%, 200% sure, we are not going to take any risk,” he added.
The 34-year-old Shami, who last played for India in the ODI World Cup final in November 2023, was forced into the long layoff due to an ankle injury that needed surgery.
Just before his much-anticipated comeback against New Zealand, he developed swelling in the knee, delaying his return.
Rohit said the door remains open for Shami if he is completely fit.
“Like I said in the last press conference, the door is open. If those guys at the NCA feel that he is okay to go and recover and play, we’ll be happy to have him,” said Rohit.
Last week a BCCI official had told PTI that Shami himself feels he is not ready to take the rigours of red ball cricket right now.
“The swelling seems to come and go. He himself is keen on playing more and more domestic cricket. He can then bowl at least three spells and 10 overs per game,” the BCCI source had said.
India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the opening match of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup on January 13, 2024, marking the start of the week-long event which will be organised at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the national capital and at the Noida Indoor Stadium
Updated On – 18 December 2024, 05:45 PM
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New Delhi: Hosts India will face arch rivals Pakistan in the opening match of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup on January 13, the organisers announced on Wednesday.
As many as 24 countries have already confirmed their participation in the week-long event (January 13-19), which will be organised at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the national capital and at the Noida Indoor Stadium.
“The league matches will start on January 13. There will be an opening ceremony on that day and after that the most exciting match of the season, the match between India and Pakistan men’s teams will be played on January 13,” Kho Kho World Cup CEO Vikram Dev Dogra said in the press conference on Wednesday.
“Thereafter, on 14th, 15th and 16th January, the remaining league matches will carry on, following which the quarterfinals will be held on January 17 and semifinals on January 18 and final on January 19.” He said the national camp of 60 men and 60 women is currently undergoing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and the Indian teams — men and women — for the World will be selected from among these players. Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) president and chairman of the tournament’s organising committee, Sudhanshu Mittal announced that Bollywood megastar Salman Khan will be the brand ambassador of the World Cup.
“I am announcing with pride that the brand ambassador of the event will be Salman Khan.” Mittal said. USA, England, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil are among the teams that have confirmed their participation in the tournament.
The event will take place in a league-cum-knockout format, for both men and women. Among Asian countries, Indonesia will send only their women’s team while all other nations will send both their men and women’s squads. Mittal said that 615 players and 125 support staff will take part in the event. Each team will comprise 15 players, one coach, one manager and international technical officials.
Tamil Nadu boys secured a commanding 82-56 victory over Jharkhand in the ongoing 9th Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship at Saroornagar, Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Published Date – 18 December 2024, 07:51 PM
Players of Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand in action in Hyderabad on Wednesday
Hyderabad: Tamil Nadu boys secured a commanding 82-56 victory over Jharkhand in the ongoing 9th Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship at Saroornagar, Hyderabad on Wednesday. In other matches, Haryana narrowly defeated Rajasthan 79-76, Andhra Pradesh beat Puducherry 88-48, Delhi thumped Gujarat 89-37 and Chandigarh topped Jammu & Kashmir 63-48.
Nikhat’s impressive run ended in the semifinal clash against Swastika Ghosh of Airport Authority of India, where she lost 5-11, 6-11, 7-11, 8-11. Earlier in the quarterfinals, she defeated Poymantee Baisya of West Bengal 5-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9.
Published Date – 18 December 2024, 08:36 PM
Nikhat Banu
Hyderabad: Telangana paddler Nikhat Banu clinched the bronze medal in the women’s singles event of the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championship in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Nikhat’s impressive run ended in the semifinal clash against Swastika Ghosh of Airport Authority of India, where she lost 5-11, 6-11, 7-11, 8-11. Earlier in the quarterfinals, she defeated Poymantee Baisya of West Bengal 5-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9.
Results: Semifinals: Nikhat Banu lost to Swastika Ghosh (Airport Authority of India) (5-11, 6-11, 7-11, 8-11).
In the other Group A match, Jammu and Kashmir drew with Manipur 1-1. Bengal, 32-time champions, accumulated nine points from three matches
Published Date – 18 December 2024, 08:49 PM
West Bengal and Rajasthan players vie for ball in Hyderabad on Wednesday
Hyderabad: West Bengal beat Rajasthan 2-0 to secure their spot in the quarterfinals of the 78th Senior National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy at Deccan Arena on Wednesday.
In the other Group A match, Jammu and Kashmir drew with Manipur 1-1. Bengal, 32-time champions, accumulated nine points from three matches. Manipur have seven points from three, while Jammu & Kashmir earned their first point of the final round.
Bengal scored on either side of the half-time break through Rabilal Mandi (45th) and Naro Hari Shrestha (56th). Manipur, who came into the match on the back of wins against defending champions Services and Rajasthan, took the lead through Naoroibam Romen Singh (45+2′) before Aakif Javaid equalized for J&K in second-half injury time.
Results: Jammu & Kashmir 1 (Aakif Javaid 90+1’) drew with Manipur 1 (Naoroibam Romen Singh 45+2’), Rajasthan 0 lost to West Bengal 2 (Rabilal Mandi 45’, Naro Hari Shrestha 56’).
