India head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed confidence in veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, stating that both players still possess the hunger to excel and will decide on their Test careers with the team’s best interests at heart. Gambhir’s remarks came in the aftermath of India’s 1-3 series defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The final Test, held in Sydney, saw Australia reclaim the coveted trophy after a decade, simultaneously denying India a place in the World Test Championship final. “They are tough people with hunger; they’ll decide what is best for Indian cricket,” Gambhir said during the post-match media interaction, as per PTI. The head coach also lauded Rohit Sharma’s accountability, particularly as an opener, despite the latter’s prolonged lean patch. “To keep the dressing room happy, I have to be honest and fair to everyone. Rohit Sharma showed accountability at the top,” he said. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, opted to rest himself from the final Test, citing his poor run of form as a significant factor. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli too struggled throughout the series, often falling prey to the Australian pacers, with eight of his dismissals coming in the slips. Gambhir did not shy away from highlighting the importance of commitment to red-ball cricket, particularly emphasising the need for players to participate in the domestic circuit. “If they have commitment towards red-ball cricket, they should show up for domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy,” the head coach asserted, as per PTI reports. Though Gambhir did not directly name senior players, his remarks seemed aimed at those who have often prioritised international schedules over domestic cricket. Australia’s emphatic win in the fifth and final Test not only secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also exposed India’s vulnerabilities in the longer format, particularly in overseas conditions. Gambhir’s statements underline the pressing need for both accountability and preparation across all levels of cricket in the country.
05 January,2025 10:30 AM IST | SydneyIndia lost the Border-Gavaskar trophy after 10 years with a six-wicket loss to Australia on day three of the fifth and final Test here on Sunday. Australian chased down the 162-run target in 27 overs with Travis Head (34 not out) and Beau Webster (39 not out) taking the team home. India lost the five-match series 1-3. Their only win on the tour came in the first Test in Perth. Also read: Virat Kohli's offside woes resurface as Scott Boland strikes again: WATCH Resuming day three at 141 for six, India lost their remaining four wickets for 16 runs to be all out for 157 in their second innings. Pat Cummins and Scott Boland shared the wickets in the session with the latter completing a six wicket haul. India had won the previous four series against Australia, two at home and as many Down Under. Brief Scores:India 1st innings: 185 Australia 1st innings: 181India 2nd innings: 157 all out in 39.5 overs (Rishabh Pant 61, Scott Boland 6/45).Australia 2nd innings: 162 for 4 in 27 overs (Usman Khawaja 41, Travis Head 34 not out, Beau Webster 39 not out ; Prasidh Krishna 3/65). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 10:03 AM IST | Sydney | PTIRahmat Shah struck 139 in Bulawayo on Saturday to revive Afghanistan hopes of winning a series-deciding second Test against Zimbabwe before rain stopped play late on Day Three. Also Read: Pak in trouble after Rickelton hits double Much hinged on Shah, a double centurion in the drawn first Test, and he proved equal to the task as Afghanistan reached 291-7 by the close of play for a 205-run lead. The experienced 31-year-old put on 132 for the seventh wicket with debutant Ismat Alam (64 not out) to turn a worrying overnight situation into a potential path to victory. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:58 AM IST | Bulawayo | AFPPakistan were reeling in response to a relentless South African batting performance on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday. Pakistan were 64-3 at the close after double centurion Ryan Rickelton (259) led South Africa to a first innings total of 615. Also Read: Pak’s Saim out for six months with fracture Kagiso Rabada struck twice and Marco Jansen once when Pakistan started their innings. The tourists were effectively four down because opener Saim Ayub was ruled out of the match with a broken right ankle. Babar Azam, forced to open in Ayub’s absence, was 31 not out at the close with his side still 551 runs behind. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:56 AM IST | Cape Town | AFPPakistan’s young all-format opener, Saim Ayub could miss next month’s ICC Champions Trophy after being ruled out of competitive cricket for six weeks because of an ankle injury that he sustained during the ongoing second Test against South Africa. Also Read: It's seam machine at SCG! The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday that MRIs and other tests were carried out on him and the doctors have advised Saim six weeks rest. Saim had hurt his ankle while fielding on the boundary on the first day of the second Test against South Africa on Friday. “He has a right ankle fracture injury which will take at least six weeks to heal,” a board official said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:54 AM IST | Karachi | PTIA game that has progressed at breakneck pace at the Sydney Cricket Ground is tantalisingly poised, the only guarantee being a three-day finish. A frenetic second day’s play on Saturday, which produced 313 runs and 15 wickets, has left the fifth and final Test in the balance, with the subtext of the uncertainty surrounding Jasprit Bumrah’s availability when India come out to defend a target on the third day adding to the drama and suspense. Bumrah suffers back spasm Bumrah left the field after bowling just one over at the start of the post-lunch session in Australia’s first innings and was driven to a nearby hospital for scans after experiencing back spasms. The official word is only that the medical team is monitoring him. India will need Bumrah’s services, of that there is little doubt. They finished the second evening on 141 for six, an overall lead of 145, after a fascinating counterpunch from Rishabh Pant, who produced the second fastest Test half-century (29 balls) by an Indian on his way to electric 61 that rocked Australia and thoroughly entertained another huge gathering topping 47,000. Also Read: "It is getting difficult in some areas": Prasidh Krishna Pacer Mohammed Siraj is ecstatic after dismissing Australia’s Travis Head on Saturday Pant’s spectacular onslaught on a shell-shocked attack was so different from how he had approached his two previous outings and was perhaps catalysed by a lack of faith in a green surface that continued to assist seamers prodigiously. He had seen his own pacers exploit the conditions superbly when Australia began on nine for one in reply to India’s 185, not as tiny as it might appear numerically. Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy all stepped up after Bumrah, the captain for the match, left the field, and Virat Kohli, who took over leadership responsibilities, marshalled his troops admirably, as if he had never left that role. India caught everything that came their way and despite a cracking half-century on debut from Beau Webster, opened up a narrow four-run advantage by bowling out the hosts for 181. Prasidh readjusted his length after a wayward opening spell to finish with three wickets while it was Siraj who had delivered the early blows, dismissing Sam Konstas and Travis Head in the same over to leave the Aussies reeling at 39-4. Webster rebuilt in Steve Smith’s company during a stand of 57 and Alex Carey again held up India, but the pacers regathered focus to clean up the last four wickets for just 19 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal produced four cracking boundaries in Mitchell Starc’s first over to help India race to 42 when Scott Boland got into the act with three wickets in no time. Among his victims, for the fourth time this series, was Kohli, who perished to a catch behind the stumps for the eighth time in these five Tests in a disappointing pattern. Risky rewards Pant decided there was no point just hanging around. He charged Boland straightaway, a first-ball six stemming from a club over long-on revealing the mood he was in. The boundaries flowed unchecked with Pant in full flow. On the risk-reward scale, he was perennially in the blue, smashing the bowling to smithereens and dominating a 46-run fifth-wicket stand with Ravindra Jadeja. Australia kept plugging away and were rewarded for their perseverance. India’s hopes of stretching their lead rest with Jadeja, dropped by Smith in the day’s penultimate over, and Washington Sundar, the last recognised pair at the crease.
05 January,2025 07:52 AM IST | Sydney | R KaushikIndia’s overall lead is not even close to the 200-run mark, but pacer Prasidh Krishna says the unpredictable nature of the SCG track will keep them in the hunt since batting won’t be easy for Australia in the fourth innings because of the variable bounce. Also Read: "Got an incredible ability to put pressure back on to bowlers": Aus coach on Rishabh Pant India ended the second day at 141-6 for an overall lead of 145. “It is getting difficult in some areas. The ball is keeping low sometimes, but there is enough bounce for us to be in the game and look for those edges. Try and beat them on either side of the bat,” Prasidh said. “There is no particular number in mind, but then as many runs as we score would be great. We are ready to bowl them out for whatever,” he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:46 AM IST | Sydney | PTIIt was not at all surprising that Rishabh Pant bulldozed the Australian attack with his stroke-play in the second innings but his ultra-defensive approach on the opening day indeed was, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said on Saturday. Pant had laboured to 40 off 98 balls, taking multiple blows on his body during his 149-minute stay at the crease. Pant had said that he was not in a frame of mind to attack. Also Read: "He’s tried everything within his capabilities": Manjrekar on Virat Kohli Andrew McDonald Pant, though, went through the gears effortlessly in the second innings, hitting left-armer Mitchell Starc for two massive sixes. Scott Boland and Beau Webster were not spared either as they too were lofted for a six each in a whirlwind knock of 61. “First of all, it’s not surprising, the way he plays. We were in fact a little bit surprised in the first innings, the way he went about his work. He’s got an incredible ability to put pressure back on to bowlers,” McDonald said, doffing his hat to one of India’s biggest match-winners in recent years. However, Australia didn’t allow the wicket-keeper batter to completely run away with the game as Pat Cummins dismissed him just when things looked like getting out of hand. “We bounced in and out of a few plans there and [he] clearly kept taking on the boundary riders and was getting away with it. It was an innings that you would say was right for that time.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:42 AM IST | Sydney | PTIFormer Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in on Virat Kohli’s ongoing struggles against deliveries outside the off-stump, following Kohli’s dismissal on day two of the fifth Test against Australia. Kohli’s repeated dismissals to similar modes of attack have raised questions about his form, and Manjrekar opined that the batter is now grappling with self-doubt despite trying everything to overcome this glaring weakness. Kohli was dismissed by Australian seamer Scott Boland for the fourth time in the series. This marked the eighth time in nine innings that Kohli fell prey to the same weakness. Also Read: 'Real face of Australian culture': Australian crowd shames Indian fans with offensive 'where’s your visa' chant at MCG; WATCH Manjrekar shed light on what Kohli tried to do to combat this issue, but to no avail. “I mean, he’s gone back and he’s inside the batting crease. Now that is a very rare thing for Virat Kohli to do. You know, Virat Kohli loves getting outside the batting crease going forward. He’s tried everything within his capabilities and on this occasion he tried being inside the batting crease, same result.” “Mark [Nicholas] makes a good point about him now having clear self-doubt with what has happened and with the sameness of the end for every innings,” said Manjrekar on Star Sports. Manjrekar drew comparisons to other cricketing greats, acknowledging that even legends go through slumps, but rarely in such a consistent and identifiable manner. “Lots of greats have gone through a rut, but not in the fashion where they’ve got out to one particular shot and the great has not been able to find a way,” he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:30 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSA video featuring a segment of the Australian crowd targetting Indian cricket fans with offensive chants during the fourth Test of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy has sparked widespread outrage on social media. The video, which was recorded at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Boxing Day Test, has now gone viral. In the footage, Australian fans can be heard insulting the Indian supporters by chanting, 'Where's your visa?' “Where’s your visa” pic.twitter.com/foVQFkFUqH — auspill (@aus_pill) January 2, 2025 Although the incident occurred during the MCG Test, the video resurfaced amid the ongoing series-deciding match in Sydney. Australia defeated India by 184 runs in Melbourne, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The hosts are now looking to avoid defeat in Sydney to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Real Face of Australian fans & their culture at display during today's Sydney test match. Racist crowd chanting "Where's your visa?"#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/riiN2RQpQ4 — Voice of Hindus (@Warlock_Shubh) January 3, 2025 I am Aussie and former 5th Royal Australian Regiment and a cricket fan and I want to apologise for these filthy people chanting racist words to our guests. I assure you, they are NOT Aussies and are probably half breeds who's parents are not even able to speak English. — Stereospresso (@StereospressoFR) January 3, 2025 What do you make of this chant? I love stirring the Indians as much as anyone but in my view this chant is not in good taste. What are your thoughts? #BoxingDayTest #AUSvIND #AUSvsIND #AUSvINDIA 🎥 - backtothebench - Instagram pic.twitter.com/26z9ieabpX — JAKE FLAGPIES23 🏆🖤🤍 (@IncrediblyBozza) January 2, 2025 In the ongoing fifth Test in Sydney, the contest remains evenly balanced between the two teams. Rishabh Pant played a pivotal role on day two, hammering the second-fastest half-century by an Indian in Test cricket to give India a 145-run lead with four wickets remaining. By the close of play, India stood at 141-6, with Ravindra Jadeja on eight and Washington Sundar on six, following the dismissal of Australia for 181 in response to India's first-innings total of 185. Pant's aggressive batting was evident as he hit a six off his very first ball and reached his half-century in just 29 balls, marking the milestone with another huge six. His 28-ball half-century against Sri Lanka in 2022 remains the fastest by an Indian. Pant was eventually dismissed for 61 off 33 balls by Pat Cummins, but it was Scott Boland who emerged as the main threat for India, claiming 4 wickets for 42 runs. Pant's explosive knock has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the match, with uncertainty surrounding whether India's skipper, Jasprit Bumrah, will take any further part in the proceedings.
04 January,2025 02:25 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentAn explosive Rishabh Pant slammed the second-fastest Indian Test half-century Saturday to drive the visitors to a 145-run lead with four wickets left after an intense day two of the decisive fifth Test against Australia. At the close in Sydney, India were 141-6 with Ravindra Jadeja on eight and Washington Sundar six after they dismissed Australia for 181 in reply to their first-innings 185. Australia lead the series 2-1 with India needing to win at the Sydney Cricket Ground to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Pant signalled his intent by plundering a six on his first ball and reached 50 after just 29 deliveries with another big shot that cleared the ropes. Only his 28-ball half-century against Sri Lanka in 2022 was faster for India. He was finally dismissed for 61 off 33 by Pat Cummins, but Scott Boland was India's main tormentor, taking 4-42. Pant's exploits set up an exciting finale, amid doubts over whether skipper Jasprit Bumrah will take any further part. He left the field after bowling one over following lunch and was driven from the SCG, likely for hospital scans. Bumrah was seen returning before stumps. In his absence, Prasidh Krishna (3-42), Mohammed Siraj (3-51) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-32) stepped up to fill the void and dismiss Australia after they resumed on 9-1. "It's been a hell of a Test, it's been in fast-forward mode," said Australian all-rounder Beau Webster, who top-scored with 57 and took a wicket. "With the amount of wickets, I am just happy that I could contribute with the bat, few catches and wicket there as well, so really happy." "It's a real tussle," he added. "We don't know what a good score is yet and obviously plenty on offer for the quicks." Yashasvi Jaiswal got India's second innings off with a bang, crunching four boundaries from the first over by Mitchell Starc. But the opening partnership was quickly shattered when KL Rahul was bowled for 13 by Boland, whose line and length was impeccable. He pounced again in his next over with a ball that jagged back to deliver the same punishment to Jaiswal (22). Virat Kohli desperately needed a big score -- for himself and the team -- but failed to deliver again, perishing in the slips for six with his nemesis Boland once more the destroyer. It was likely the 36-year-old Kohli's last Test innings in Australia, with India usually only visiting every four years. Webster claimed Shubman Gill (13) as his first Test wicket, but at the other end Pant was on a mission until an edge off Cummins carried to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Boland claimed his fourth to remove Reddy cheaply. "As many runs as possible would be great for us because we don't know what the wicket will be behaving like for us," said Prasidh. "There's no particular number in mind, but as many as we can score. We are ready to bowl them out for whatever." - Dramatic - Australia lost Sam Konstas (23), Marnus Labuschagne (two), Travis Head (four) and Steve Smith (33) before lunch. In front of his home crowd, Smith looked set to become only the 15th batsman and fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs. But he was made to wait, five runs short, after Prasidh enticed an edge to Rahul in the slips. The home side resumed after a dramatic final-ball wicket on Friday when Bumrah -- captaining the side after Rohit Sharma was "rested" -- had Usman Khawaja caught. That Australian body blow came two balls after Bumrah and Konstas had a tense exchange. The 19-year-old Konstas padded up again on seven with new partner Labuschagne, who didn't last with Bumrah getting the faintest edge to Pant. A fearless Konstas slammed Bumrah to the boundary, then produced an audacious reverse ramp shot for another four. But the teenager overplayed his hand and fell to a Siraj outswinger, attempting a drive that flew to Jaiswal at gully. Siraj removed Head in the same over with another gem to leave Australia at 39-4. Smith and Webster, who replaced the dropped Mitchell Marsh, began the rebuild before Prasidh dismissed the veteran just before lunch and bowled Carey soon after their return. India then took 3-4, with Reddy at the forefront, as the tail collapsed. (With agency inputs)
04 January,2025 01:49 PM IST | Sydney | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
