The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) on Friday said Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar has accepted its invitation to become an honourary member of the prestigious institution. Founded in 1838, the MCC is one of the oldest sports clubs in Australia and is responsible for the management and development of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the game's premier venues. "An icon honoured. The MCC is pleased to announce that former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar has accepted an Honorary Cricket Membership, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to the game," the MCC posted on 'X'. An icon honoured.The MCC is pleased to announce that former Indian captain @sachin_rt has accepted an Honorary Cricket Membership, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to the game. pic.twitter.com/0JXE46Z8T6 — Melbourne Cricket Club (@MCC_Members) December 27, 2024 The legendary Tendulkar currently holds the record of most runs at MCG with 449 from five Tests at an average of 44.90 and a strike-rate of 58.69 with a hundred and three fifties. Earlier in 2012, Tendulkar was awarded the Order of Australia, one of the country's highest honours. The MCG is currently hosting the vital fourth and penultimate Test match between India and Australia with the rubber evenly poised at 1-1. Earlier, Australia's fiery pace attack destroyed India's top order on Friday to put them in the driving seat after they set a daunting first innings target on the back of Steve Smith's 34th Test century. The visitors were 164-5 at the close on day two at the MCG, still 310 runs adrift after Australia was out for 474 soon after lunch, buoyed by Smith's stylish 140. Rishabh Pant was not out six and Ravindra Jadeja on four, with three wickets in the final half-hour bursting India's momentum after they were 153-2. Scott Boland and skipper Pat Cummins grabbed two wickets each. "Smithy was awesome this morning. He felt so composed and took the game on when he was on top of them," Cummins told Fox Sports. "And then to get a couple of late wickets really sets up the rest of the game."
27 December,2024 02:18 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentA familiar collapse unfolded after Yashasvi Jaiswal's inexplicable run-out as India stared down the barrel at 164/5 against a menacing Australia on day two of the fourth Test on Friday. Jaiswal, who was quite fluent during his 118-ball stay that yielded 82 runs, was way short of his crease after a mix-up with Virat Kohli (36) while attempting a quick single, handing Australia the breakthrough that could prove decisive. India are still 310 runs behind Australia's first innings score of 474 and would need another 111 runs to avoid a follow-on that should never have been a consideration on a placid batting track. It was 153 for 2 at one stage and in four overs, another three wickets fell with Gautam Gambhir's plan of sending a night watchman in Akash Deep turning out to be one of the many poor calls that the head coach has taken in this game. In a space of barely five minutes, cricket showed its fickle nature as Jaiswal pushed towards mid-on and called for a quick single with an assured Kohli (36) at the other end. Kohli took a step and half before retreating. Pat Cummins swooped the ball and threw at the striker's end with a frustrated Jaiswal seen telling his idol "my call". This moment will be one for posterity as Kohli looked down and perhaps felt that he could have at least said a loud "No" to allow Jaiswal to sprint back. The run-out broke his concentration and for the first time after 85 balls, he poked a delivery bowled in the corridor of uncertainty and it was the end. Scott Boland repeated the dismissal that has been a norm for quite a while now. Akash Deep didn't have the technique to survive and the day ended in Australia's favour just like it started. The Jaiswal-Kohli pair had added 102 runs and looked comfortable just like they did in the Perth second innings. The ball hardly did anything after Rohit Sharma (3) played a poor shot and KL Rahul got a ripper from Pat Cummins. Jaiswal was in regal form, as he cut, pulled, drove and lofted the Australian bowlers stamping his authority as the next megastar of Indian batting. Kohli, at the other end, endured boos for Thursday's run-in with debutant Sam Konstas and battled his demons This was after Steve Smith's 34th Test hundred ensured a very good total for hosts. Starting the day at 311 for 6, Smith added 112 and 44 runs with Cummins (49) and Mitchell Starc (15) respectively, leaving the visitors searching for back-up plans. Jasprit Bumrah (4/99 in 28.4 oves) was once again brilliant despite the first spell thrashing from Konstas but Mohammed Siraj's ordinary showing (0/122 in 23 overs) was the primary reason for batters not being under any pressure. Smith, who was unbeaten overnight on 68 off 111 balls, took another 56 deliveries in the second morning to complete a Test ton which placed him on even keel with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar (34). The century came with a push drive through the vacant cover region and celebrations were pretty muted with a just vigorous head nod for his teammates in the dug-out. Smith, who had a torrid run till the second Test of this series, played both days in contrasting styles. On Thursday, he was ready to be patient and waited for deliveries at the expense of looking ugly. On Friday, the same batter was walking down the track to force the bowlers to alter their length. He was ready to pull and hook, getting two sixes off Bumrah and Siraj respectively. Despite a significant drop in temperature and some nip in the air, Indians failed to make use of the semi-new Kookaburra, with lines going all awry and length being short enough to be punished. Cummins was allowed to settle down and hit seven boundaries. The Indian ploy of playing two spinners backfired with Ravindra Jadeja (3/78 in 22 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/49 in 15 overs) never looking penetrative. For a change, Siraj didn't try and sledge an in-form batter, something that he did in Adelaide with some disastrous results. But that didn't soften the Australian supporters, who constantly booed him and Kohli as and when the ball went to them. (With agency inputs)
27 December,2024 01:18 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentRohit Sharma seems to have nothing left in the tank. "Tough times for him," the legendary Sunil Gavaskar said while on air with broadcasters '7Cricket'. "There will be a second innings and two more in Sydney. Questions will be asked if he doesn't score in those three innings," Gavaskar said on air as he saw it. After yet another cheap dismissal off a Pat Cummins' short ball, questions are mounting on when the 38-year-old Indian captain will finally call time on his Test career. But will Rohit allow all these questions to fester? The national selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar is in Melbourne and it won't surprise anyone if it comes out that the two former teammates have had some discussions on the future as India copes with a tough transition. Only 155 runs in eight Tests at an average of 11.07 in 14 innings is very poor by all standards and not scoring runs after tinkering a set opening combination hasn't done him any good. The common belief is that if India do not qualify for the World Test Championship, then Sydney will be the final destination of his cricketing journey in whites. But will the skipper be more pragmatic and for the sake of the team, drop himself from the playing eleven for the Sydney Test allowing an in-form KL Rahul to continue with a rampaging Yashasvi Jaiswal? Current national head coach Gautam Gambhir, during his playing time in the IPL, once dropped himself from after a horrendous first phase, knowing that his days as a T20 opener were behind him. There is a growing feeling that Indian cricket consider using a similar tactic for senior players. If Ravichandran Ashwin could be nudged into retirement and communicated that he is not even among the top two spinners in overseas conditions, then shouldn't the Indian skipper be told that he is perhaps no longer an automatic choice in the Test top six? But there is an ODI Champions Trophy to be played in another seven weeks and the skipper is still a force to reckon with in that format. Although current form is a huge factor and it does affect confidence, he might just come good in the ODIs if the Test responsibility is off his shoulders. Rohit was never comfortable with the idea of batting in the middle-order and he realised after three innings that it has not worked. As a result, Shubman Gill was dropped from the playing eleven to allow Rohit to go back to his familiar opening position. But just like his pull shots aren't coming off anymore, the strategic moves are failing too. Since the beginning of India's domestic season in September, Sharma has scored just one half-century in 11 Test innings, with a startling average of 12.36. For a player of his stature, these statistics reflect a significant decline in form. The biggest difference between Rohit and Virat Kohli, despite both going through a lean patch, is how they are looking at the crease. Kohli is still a picture of intent and gives the feeling that there could be a big knock around the corner and in fact, a hundred did come in the Perth Test's second innings. On second day at the MCG, he looked solid, trying to leave as many deliveries in the channel but not forgetting to punish the half-volleys. But Rohit has been a walking wicket, a trifle lost and looking completely out of place. No one could have put it as concisely as former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, whose technical analysis has always been spot on. "That's just a lazy, not switched on, not up for the moment type of shot," Ponting said while analysing his dismissal on air for 7Cricket. "He's been known as one of the best hookers and pullers of the ball since he's made his debut but that's just not there. It's nothing. It's not committed, not really looking to be aggressive, he's just looking to tap it on the head," added possibly the best horizontal bat shot-maker of his generation. As things stand, the skipper needs to make a quick decision. His team is possibly waiting for it. (With agency inputs)
27 December,2024 01:10 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentVirat Kohli made a critical lapse in judgment on the second day of the fourth Test against Australia on Friday, leading to an unfortunate run-out of in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal. Attempting a non-existent run, Jaiswal, batting on 82, paid the price for his Kohli's miscalculation, leaving India in a precarious position at 153 for three, still 321 runs behind hosts Australia's first-innings total of 474 all out. The incident occurred on the first ball of the 41st over when Jaiswal, looking to steal a single, drove a flighted delivery from Pat Cummins to mid-on. Immediately after striking the ball, the youngster took off for the run, but wicketkeeper Alex Carey reacted swiftly, collecting the ball and quickly hitting the stumps with a direct throw to send Jaiswal back to the pavilion. A massive mix-up between Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal sees Jaiswal run out for 82! #AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/a9G4uZwYIk — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2024 Earlier, Rohit Sharma's wretched run Down Under continued as India slipped to 51 for 2 at tea after Australia rode on Steve Smith's 34th hundred to post a challenging first innings score. Rohit's (3) mistimed a pull-short and Scott Boland had the easiest of takes at mid-on off a Pat Cummins' delivery. Seasoned KL Rahul (24), coming in at No. 3, looked confident before Australian captain bowled the delivery of the series at the stroke of tea to get rid of India's best batter on tour. The ball moved away late after pitching, clipping Rahul's off-bail and giving Australia a distinct advantage. India are way behind in this game due to Smith's 140 that took the hosts to an imposing first innings score. Starting the day at 311 for 6, Smith added 112 and 44 runs with Cummins (49) and Mitchell Starc (15) respectively, leaving the visitors searching for back-up plans. Jasprit Bumrah (4/99 in 28.4 oves) was once again brilliant despite the first spell thrashing from Sam Konstas but Mohammed Siraj's ordinary showing (0/122 in 23 overs) was the primary reason for pressure being released on batters. Smith, who was not out overnight on 68 off 111 balls, took another 56 deliveries in the second morning to complete a Test ton which puts him on even keel with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar (34). The century came with a push drive through the vacant cover region and celebrations were pretty muted with a just vigorous head nod for his teammates in the dug-out. Smith, who had a torrid run till the second Test of this series played both days in contrasting styles. On Thursday, he was ready to be patient and wait for deliveries at the expense of looking ugly. On Friday, the same batter was walking down the track to force the bowlers alter their length. He was ready to pull and hook, getting two sixes off Bumrah (3/97 in 28 overs) and Siraj (2/72 in 18 overs) respectively. Despite a significant drop in temperature and a nip in the air, Indians failed to make use of the semi-new Kookaburra, with lines going all awry and length short enough to be punished. Cummins was allowed to settled down and hit seven boundaries. Although skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir decided on dropping Shubman Gill, the ploy of playing two spinners has backfired with Ravindra Jadeja (2/72 in 18 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/49 in 15 overs) never looking penetrative. The hook off Siraj was so disdainfully hit that the bowler was left dumbfounded, hands-on-hips. For a change, Siraj didn't try and sledge an in-form batter, something he did in Adelaide with some disastrous results. But that didn't soften the Australian supporters, who constantly booed him and Virat Kohli as and when the ball went to them.
27 December,2024 12:34 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentStar India batter Virat Kohli made headlines during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), but not for his batting performance. Instead, it was his on-field antics that caught the attention. Kohli deliberately 'walked into' Australian youngster Sam Konstas on Day 1, an act that led the ICC match referee to impose a fine on him. While he admitted his mistake, Australian fans have yet to forgive the Indian star. When Kohli returned to the field with his bat in hand for the final session on Day 2, the MCG erupted in boos. With India losing captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the second session, Kohli walked out to bat alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal as the post-tea session began. A significant section of Australian fans greeted him with jeers, though Indian fans quickly drowned out the boos with applause. @toxify_x18 pic.twitter.com/BN708YwFUw — Embedded by Toxify (@toxify_v18) December 27, 2024 A few unworthy types booing the great man Kohli on his way to the crease...🇮🇳#TeamIndia🇮🇳#AUSvsIND #BGT pic.twitter.com/5h9YJJZHS0 — Sunil Awasthi (@sa9321) December 27, 2024 Konstas' debut has been described by cricket fans as 'pure cinema', and it certainly lived up to the hype. The 19-year-old arrived in the senior squad with considerable anticipation after winning the ICC U19 World Cup with Australia and scoring impressive hundreds in first-class cricket, including a knock against India during a pink-ball warm-up Test for the Prime Minister's XI at Manuka Oval, where he faced Indian stars like Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana. In his first encounter with a full-strength Indian side, Konstas displayed remarkable confidence, unafraid to play unorthodox shots. To build pressure on the youngster, Kohli resorted to his trademark aggressive tactics, bumping into Konstas and making shoulder-to-shoulder contact. However, the strategy backfired as Konstas confidently took on star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, smashing some big shots, including a reverse ramp, and scoring 34 runs off him as part of his total of 60 runs. As a result, Kohli was fined 20 percent of his match fee and received one demerit point from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The incident led to a surge of negative press for Kohli, particularly from the Australian media. The back page of The West Australian newspaper, which labeled Kohli a 'clown', quickly went viral on social media.
27 December,2024 12:14 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentFormer Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had a significant and fascinating link to MS Dhoni’s three ICC trophy victories. During his tenure, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) proudly added three major ICC trophies to its cabinet, marking a golden era for Indian cricket. The era of MS Dhoni began in earnest with India’s triumph in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Despite the team's youthful and inexperienced composition, very few believed India could clinch the title. However, against all odds, India emerged victorious in the tournament, etching their name in cricketing history. Following the team’s return to India with the prestigious T20 World Cup trophy, Singh took the time to personally meet the players and congratulate them on their heroic and iconic achievement. September 24, 2007, is a date etched forever in the minds of cricket enthusiasts across the globe. On this day, India defeated their arch-rivals Pakistan by a mere 5 runs to secure their first-ever T20 World Cup title. This win also made India the first nation to hold both the ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup, further cementing their place in the annals of cricketing history. Meanwhile, the Indian men's and women's cricket teams sported black armbands in their respective matches on Friday to honour Singh on Friday, who died in New Delhi. Singh, a two-time former prime minister from 2004 to 2014, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday after losing consciousness at his home owing to age-related ailments. He was 92. The men's team, led by Rohit Sharma, is playing the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne. The women's side, on the other hand, is facing West Indies in the third and final ODI in Vadodara. "The Indian team is wearing black arm bands as a mark of respect in the memory of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, who passed away," the BCCI said in a statement. Singh, also a renowned economist, was the architect and the brainchild of economic reforms in 1991 that pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation that is widely believed to have changed the course of India's economic trajectory.
27 December,2024 10:48 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRohit Sharma's wretched run Down Under continued as India slipped to 51 for 2 at tea on day two of the fourth Test after Australia rode on Steve Smith's 34th hundred to post a challenging first innings score of 474. Rohit's (3) mistimed a pull-short and Scott Boland had the easiest of takes at mid-on off a Pat Cummins' delivery. Seasoned KL Rahul (24), coming in at No. 3, looked confident before Australian captain bowled the delivery of the series at the stroke of tea to get rid of India's best batter on tour. The ball moved away late after pitching, clipping Rahul's off-bail and giving Australia a distinct advantage. India are way behind in this game due to Smith's 140 that took the hosts to an imposing first innings score. Starting the day at 311 for 6, Smith added 112 and 44 runs with Cummins (49) and Mitchell Starc (15) respectively, leaving the visitors searching for back-up plans. Jasprit Bumrah (4/99 in 28.4 oves) was once again brilliant despite the first spell thrashing from Sam Konstas but Mohammed Siraj's ordinary showing (0/122 in 23 overs) was the primary reason for pressure being released on batters. Smith, who was not out overnight on 68 off 111 balls, took another 56 deliveries in the second morning to complete a Test ton which puts him on even keel with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar (34). The century came with a push drive through the vacant cover region and celebrations were pretty muted with a just vigorous head nod for his teammates in the dug-out. Smith, who had a torrid run till the second Test of this series played both days in contrasting styles. On Thursday, he was ready to be patient and wait for deliveries at the expense of looking ugly. On Friday, the same batter was walking down the track to force the bowlers alter their length. He was ready to pull and hook, getting two sixes off Bumrah (3/97 in 28 overs) and Siraj (2/72 in 18 overs) respectively. Despite a significant drop in temperature and a nip in the air, Indians failed to make use of the semi-new Kookaburra, with lines going all awry and length short enough to be punished. Cummins was allowed to settled down and hit seven boundaries. Although skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir decided on dropping Shubman Gill, the ploy of playing two spinners has backfired with Ravindra Jadeja (2/72 in 18 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/49 in 15 overs) never looking penetrative. The hook off Siraj was so disdainfully hit that the bowler was left dumbfounded, hands-on-hips. For a change, Siraj didn't try and sledge an in-form batter, something he did in Adelaide with some disastrous results. But that didn't soften the Australian supporters, who constantly booed him and Virat Kohli as and when the ball went to them.
27 December,2024 10:36 AM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentRohit Sharma’s return to the opening role in the Boxing Day Test on Friday turned out to be an outing he would rather forget. The India captain was dismissed cheaply by Pat Cummins for just three runs on Day 2, continuing his struggles with form. Facing a short-of-length delivery outside off stump, Rohit attempted an unconvincing pull shot. It was a half-hearted effort that resulted in a mistimed top-edge, which looped towards mid-on. Scott Boland made no mistake, easily claiming the catch to send Rohit back to the pavilion. This experiment, where Rohit opened the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, appeared to be an attempt to rejuvenate his approach, but it failed to yield any positive results. His series scores now stand at a disappointing 3, 6, 10, and 3. Captain Rohit Sharma loses his wicket early for 3 off 5 #INDvsAUS #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/dMyTerXCRR — Cricket Kraze (@cricketKraze11) December 27, 2024 Rohit’s struggles against Cummins in Tests have become a recurring issue, with the numbers highlighting his ongoing challenges. Over 13 innings, Rohit has faced 199 deliveries from Cummins, scoring a mere 127 runs while being dismissed seven times. Ricky Ponting, speaking on Seven Cricket, was critical of the shot selection: “That’s just a lazy, not switched on, not up for the moment type of shot. He’s been known as one of the best hookers and pullers of the ball since he made his debut but that’s just not there. It’s nothing. It’s not committed, not really looking to be aggressive, he’s just looking to tap it on the head. Might have held in the wicket yes, it might have seamed away from him a fraction. But if you’re going to survive against this Australian attack, you’ve got to be switched on. You’ve got to be making good decisions. If you’re not, they’ll knock you over every time.” Earlier on Day 2, Rohit faced criticism for his perplexing captaincy decisions and team selections during the Melbourne Test. His decision to bring Washington Sundar into the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, at the expense of Shubman Gill, has drawn repeated scrutiny. From his handling of the bowlers to the specific match-ups deployed against Australian batters, Rohit struggled to optimize India’s bowling resources in the opening two days. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri was particularly critical of Rohit and head coach Gautam Gambhir for opting to play two spinners in the XI, given their evident lack of trust in the spinners' ability to deliver. Meanwhile, Australia asserted their dominance with Steve Smith’s century powering them to a commanding 474 in their first innings on Day 2. Despite a spirited fightback from India on Day 1, the Indian bowlers were unable to dismiss the overnight pair of Smith and skipper Pat Cummins, who contributed 49 runs off 63 balls. The duo added 112 runs for the seventh wicket, nullifying the slight advantage that Jasprit Bumrah had provided his team earlier in the match.
27 December,2024 10:08 AM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentFormer Indian cricketers Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan expressed their condolences following the death of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, lauding his contributions to the Indian economy and his visionary leadership. Singh, who passed away on Thursday night, is remembered for his pivotal role in shaping India's economic reforms. Taking to X, Gambhir said that Manmohan was "one of a kind". "Dr Manmohan Singh Ji was truly one of a kind. His contribution especially towards bringing economic stability to our country will be studied by future generations. May god give strength to his family and loved ones," Gambhir wrote in his post. Dr Manmohan Singh Ji was truly one of a kind. His contribution especially towards bringing economic stability to our county will be studied by future generations. May god give strength to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/1kpXntJ1jj — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) December 26, 2024 Suresh Raina expressed his condolences on X, saying "Rest In Peace" 🕉️🙏#RestInPeace pic.twitter.com/LhrIk9XViU — Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) December 26, 2024 Shikhar Dhawan said that the former PM will be missed, hailing him as a "visionary leader". A great soul and a visionary leader. You will be missed. Rest in peace, sir 🙏 pic.twitter.com/PG3YkWtkZq — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) December 26, 2024 "A great soul and a visionary leader. You will be missed. Rest in peace, sir," he wrote in his post on X. Irfan Pathan also posted on X saying that India and its economy will forever be "indebted" to Manmohan. "India and its economy will forever be indebted to Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji for his remarkable contributions. May his soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his family," he wrote. India and its economy will forever be indebted to Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji for his remarkable contributions. May his soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his family. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/o0gVq3xe84 — Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 26, 2024 Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions, AIIMS informed. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home after which he was rushed to the AIIMS Delhi. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26th December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM," AIIMS said in a statement. Manmohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India- from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in the 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then succeeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. He retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years in the house.
27 December,2024 08:57 AM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentA resurgent Steve Smith crunched his second century in as many Tests as Australia made a daunting 474 in their first innings of the fourth Test against India in Melbourne on Friday. The hosts resumed on 311-6 after a dominant opening day where all their top four blasted 50 or more to lay a solid platform, spearheaded by carefree debutant Sam Konstas. That thrilling action in front of 87,000 fans was equally notable for Virat Kohli's shoulder barge on Konstas, with the Indian superstar fined 20 percent of his match fee. There was no let up from Australia on Friday, plundering another 163 before finally being dismissed soon after lunch, with the composed Smith making a heroic 140, slamming 13 fours and three sixes. Paceman Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with 4-99, while spinner Ravindra Jadeja took 3-78. Smith padded up again on 68, with skipper Pat Cummins alongside him on eight. The veteran batsman showed his intent early with a four from Bumrah while Cummins also batted with freedom, not afraid to play his shots. They took 15 off one Akash Deep over to bring up their 50-run partnership before Smith hooked Bumrah for six to rub salt in the wounds. India's body language showed their frustration as the Test slipped away on a benign pitch offering them little. Smith reached his 34th Test century with a boundary off Nitish Kumar Reddy, which came on the back of a return to form at the last Test in Brisbane where he made 101. It was a patient innings from the 35-year-old and moved him alongside four other players on the all-list of century-makers, including Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara. Only six players have scored more, led by Sachin Tendulkar's 51. With the landmark out of the way, both players began swinging the bat, with Cummins paying the price, caught for a fine 49 by Reddy in the deep off Ravindra Jadeja to end a 112-run stand. Mitchell Starc was bowled by Jadeja for 15 in the first over after lunch, with Smith following in bizarre fashion soon after. Facing Deep, he danced down the wicket looking to drive but got an inside edge, with the ball bouncing off his pads and trickling onto leg stump and dislodging a bail. Nathan Lyon (13) was the final wicket to fall, lbw to Bumrah. The five-match series is locked at 1-1 after India won by 295 runs in Perth before being crushed by 10 wickets in Adelaide. The rain-affected third Test in Brisbane was drawn.
27 December,2024 08:46 AM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentIn what should have been a celebration of sportsmanship and skill, the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was marred by an incident that left many in the cricketing community disappointed. The altercation between Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas during the opening session has sparked widespread criticism and reflection on the spirit of the game. Former ICC Australian umpire, Daryl Harper, who has witnessed Kohli’s journey since his debut Test in Jamaica in June 2011, expressed dismay at the turn of events. Harper remembered about officiating Kohli’s first match, where his enthusiasm bordered on excessive, leading to a caution from ICC Match Referee Jeff Crowe. Harper stated, “I vividly recall that my colleague Ian Gould and I asked ICC Match Referee Jeff Crowe to take him aside and explain that his persistent and unnecessary appealing was not the acceptable behaviour for players at the Test level.” Daryl Harper Harper noted that despite Kohli’s fiery debut, the West Indian players, led by Darren Sammy, displayed exemplary sportsmanship. “I can also recall that none of the West Indian players targeted the young Kohli on his debut with any kind of deliberate physical contact. In fact, I can’t recall any verbal comments from Darren Sammy’s team towards any opponent. They understood the meaning of the Spirit of Cricket,” he remarked. Reflecting on the recent incident, Harper expressed his disappointment at Kohli’s actions against Konstas. “To see any player take a course that ensured contact with an opponent, as Kohli clearly did with Konstas in the opening session on the big stage at the MCG was quite deflating for anyone who cares about our wonderful game.”
27 December,2024 08:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Bipin DaniADVERTISEMENT
