Page 21 - Australia Cricket Team

India missed opportunity, tough task to win Boxing Day Test: Gavaskar

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar feels India have missed an opportunity by allowing Australia's lower order to add valuable runs, making it difficult for the visitors to win the Boxing Day Test here. Australia, who were struggling at 156 for 8, finished the fourth day at 228 for 9, taking their lead to 333 and setting up an intriguing final day. "I think it was a missed opportunity because till tea time certainly it was India's day, and after tea time, (Pat) Cummins, (Nathan) Lyon, and (Scott) Boland really frustrated the Indian bowlers. At the end of the day, having got a lead of 333, it does make it a little difficult for India to win this game," Gavaskar told India Today. Australia's number 8, 10, and 11 batters consumed nearly 35 overs, with Cummins (41 off 90 balls), Lyon (41 off 54 balls), and Boland (10 off 65 balls) contributing to the team's second-innings total. "...even if half of those runs were saved and Australia had been dismissed for 60 runs less, then we're talking about .

IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 5 - If I've to bowl 20 overs, I'll bowl 20: Starc

Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc has allayed concerns about his possible back injury, saying he is fit and ready to bowl 20 overs on Monday if the situation demands on the final day of the fourth Test against India here. Starc was seen clutching his back on the third day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. "And we've got 98 overs tomorrow of cricket and we'll see how that plays out. We'll push on. So no, I'm all good for second innings. It's not something that is bothering me," Starc told ABC network after the fourth day's play on Sunday. "My pace is still up... I still bowled a spell after it and I'm still in the low 140s (kmph), so I'm not concerned. If I need to bowl 20 (overs) tomorrow, I'll bowl 20," The match is evenly poised with Australia finishing the fourth day at 228 for nine, a lead of 333 runs with a full day's play remaining. Asked if Australia should have declared and given itself more time and overs to enforce a win, Starc sa

IND vs AUS: My aim is to become a complete all-rounder, says Nitish Reddy

Reddy also called the moment when he was at the non-striker's end while his idol Kohli scored a ton in Perth as magical

IND vs AUS: Labuschagne believes Australia is marginally ahead in the match

Marnus Labuschagne compared the conditions of the ongoing Boxing Day Test with the historic Gabba Test between India and Australia in 2021

India vs Australia 4th Test Highlights: Australia nine down, lead by 333 runs at stumps on Day 4

Pat Cummins scored a vital 90-ball 41 for his side to stretch the lead and the last-wicket pair of Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland also put on another unbeaten 55 runs for the last wicket.

Pant let team down with poor shot; Reddy's knock among greatest: Gavaskar

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday lashed out at Rishabh Pant for his "stupid" shot in crunch situation but praised young Nitish Kumar Reddy to the skies for conjuring up "one of the greatest Test knocks" on the third day of the Boxing Day match. With India desperately looking for a big partnership in the fourth Test against Australia at the MCG, Pant attempted to scoop Scott Boland to fine leg, only to get a leading edge for Nathan Lyon to complete a simple catch at deep third man. Pant had tried to play a similar shot in the previous ball too but failed to connect and was hit in the naval area. The batter seemed to be in pain as he lay on the ground. Gavaskar said the wicketkeeper-batter had let the team down by throwing his wicket away when India needed him the most. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. You have got two fielders there and you still go for that (shot). You missed the previous shot and look where you have been caught. You have been caught at deep third man. That is ...

Kohli and Konstas might share a smiling photo post-match: Stuart Clark

Sam Konstas's competitive nature aligns with that of Virat Kohli and it would not be surprising if the two share a laugh about the shoulder-barging episode before posing for a photo after the Boxing Day Test, reckoned former Australia pacer Stuart Clark. Kohli had intentionally bumped Konstas during the ongoing fourth Test at Melbourne, an act for which he copped a 20 percent fine from the ICC, besides getting booed by the Australian fans. But Clark, who played 28 Tests for Australia, these two ultra-competitive sportspersons will gel well eventually. He's (Konstas) a competitor. He wants to compete. He wants to do well. So, from that point of view, I think that incident (shoulder-barging) that happened in history, I think what you'll find is, I wouldn't be surprised if (Virat) Kohli takes him under his wing, Clark told PTI. And there'll be a photo of them after the game, smiling and laughing about it. He won't take a backward step. No one expects Kohli to either. No one expects ..

Pathan and Manjrekar believe Nitish-Sundar stand kept India alive at MCG

The duo rescued India from a precarious position when they were reduced to 221 for 7 to end the day at 358 for 9

Nitish Kumar Reddy: The story of sacrifice, belief and perseverance

Reddy's maiden ton at MCG helped India gain momentum in the match after being reduced to 221 for 7 at one point

IND vs AUS: Reddy's century is a milestone worth celebrating, says Sundar

Washington Sundar, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy, led India's fightback at the MCG on day 3 with a 127-run stand for the seventh wicket

India vs Australia Highlights, 4th Test Day 3: Reddy hits maiden Test century; India 358-9 at stumps

4th Test Day 3 | IND vs AUS Highlights: India are at 358-9, trailing by 116 runs, when rain stopped play. Reddy unbeaten on 105 runs off 176 balls.

IND vs AUS: Have we seen the last of Rohit Sharma's "Hit-man" era?

Rohit has scored only 22 runs at an average of 4.4 in the four innings he has batted in the ongoing India vs Australia Test series

IND vs AUS: Smith believes luck and faith helped him regain his form

Smith was struggling with his form ahead of the series, but it seems like he has overcome that phase, as he now has two centuries under his name in the last two Tests

Is it Kohli's mistake? Pathan-Manjrekar bickers over Jaiswal's run-out

The incident took place during the 41st over when Jaiswal played the ball to mid-on and called for a single, but Kohli turned around to track the ball, missing Jaiswal's call

Sachin Tendulkar becomes honorary member of Melbourne Cricket Club

MCC, on their social media page on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed that Sachin has accepted their invite to join the club as a member on Friday

IND vs AUS: Sundar says team is positive and ready for fightback

Sundar said that the wicket conditions improved as the day went on, which will prove beneficial for Indian batters on day 3

Australian media calls Virat a 'joker'; Irfan Pathan says it's unacceptable

Irfan Pathan, who is part of the Star Sports' broadcast team in Australia, said that the same media that labelled Kohli as 'King' ahead of the series is now calling him a 'joker'

4th Test Day 3: What is follow-on score for India vs Australia at MCG?

Steve Smith's magnificent knock of 140 that truly anchored Australia's innings. His performance ensured that the home team would post a formidable total, as Australia reached a massive 474 runs.

IND vs AUS Highlights 4th Test: Kohli-Jaiswal mix-up triggers batting collapse; 164-5 at Stumps

4th Test Day 2 | IND vs AUS Highlights: India lost three wickets in final 30 minutes of play on Day 2. 102-run stand between Kohli and Jaiswal ended with a runout-it can be termed a Great Mix-up

Netizens call for retirement as Rohit's horrid form in 2024 continues

In just the 2nd over, a short ball from Pat Cummins proved his undoing. Attempting to play it towards the leg side, Rohit misjudged the shot, resulting in a simple catch for Scott Boland at midwicket