Page 65 - Test Cricket

AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Captain Cummins leads Australia to 79-run win

Captain Pat Cummins' second 10-wicket total in test matches led Australia to a 79-run win over Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the fourth day of the second cricket test on Friday. Cummins made all the crucial breakthroughs late in the day as the hosts bowled Pakistan out for 237 to win the Boxing Day test and extend Pakistan's losing run in Australian tests to 16 matches. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha threatened to push Pakistan towards a win but Cummins ended the 67-run partnership between the pair in bizarre and dramatic fashion just 15 minutes before the scheduled close of play. Australia reviewed a not out call to Rizwan as a Cummins delivery flew into Alex Carey's gloves. But after a long review from the third umpire, Richard Illingworth deemed the ball flicked Rizwan's wrist band that was connected to his gloves. Rizwan was the furious with the decision, with Pakistan 219-5 at the time and starting to believe it could pull off the country's highest successfu

IND vs SA 2nd Test: Elgar named Proteas captain, Hamza replaces Bavuma

Proteas regular skipper Bavuma, who was injured in the first Test, has been replaced by Zubayr Hamza in the squad while Dean Elgar has been named skipper

Avesh Khan added to India's squad ahead of second Test against South Africa

A day after their embarrassing defeat to hosts South Africa in the first Test, India called up right-arm fast bowler Avesh Khan on Friday in a bid to bolster their pace attack for the second and final Test at Cape Town. India lost the opening Test by an innings and 32 runs here on Thursday, the match ending in three days. The right-arm fast bowler was named as a replacement for Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out of the two Tests as he did not get the necessary clearance from the BCCI medical team. "The Men's Selection Committee has named Mr Avesh Khan as a replacement for Mr Mohd. Shami for the second Test against South Africa to be played from 3rd-7th January 2024 in Cape Town," the board said in a release. The 27-year-old Avesh, who has so far claimed 149 wickets in 38 first-class games at 22.65, was a part of India's victorious campaign in the three-match ODI series against South Africa before the Tests in which he took six wickets. Avesh is currently busy representing the India

Virat Kohli becomes first batter to hit 2000 runs in 7 different years

In 2012 (2186 runs), 2014 (2286 runs), 2016 (2595 runs), 2017 (2818 runs), 2018 (2735 runs), and 2019 (2455 runs), Virat Kohli already accomplished the feat.

IND vs SA 1st Test: CSA provide crucial injury update on skipper Bavuma

Bavuma was injured during the first innings on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test when he was chasing a ball driven by Virat Kohli off the bowling of Jansen

IND vs SA 1st Test: Elgar has no point to prove, wants to go out with bang

Dean Elgar's school of batsmanship on Wednesday was completely out of character but the stodgy left-hander is more intent on bidding adieu to international cricket with a bang than trying to prove a point to anyone. Elgar's unbeaten 140, laced with 23 boundaries, has put South Africa in a commanding position against India on the second day but the man, playing his penultimate Test, felt it was all about enjoying a day that belonged to him. "I don't think I wanted to prove any point. Just that I wanted to go out with a bang as that is standard I set for myself as there's no looking back now," Elgar said about his 14th hundred. Elgar assessed that the track had become better for batting as there was no sunshine, which would have resulted in cracks on the surface but it held firm. "It was quite a good wicket to bat on. Had there been more sun, it would have been tougher. It's just that it's been my way. Could have been another batter another day." Normally known for his defensive dog

AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Australia recovers from poor start to lead by 241 runs

Australia lost its first four wickets for just 16 runs in its second innings but a 153-run stand between Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh had the hosts in a good position with two days to play in the second cricket test against Pakistan. Marsh was out for 96 and Smith for 50 to leave Australia at 187-6 at stumps Thursday and with a 241-run lead going into the fourth day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Captain Pat Cummins took his 10th five-wicket total in test matches earlier to help Australia earn a 54-run first-innings lead. But Pakistan came back from the innings break to take the wickets of Usman Khawaja for a duck and Marnus Labuschagne for five, leaving Australia two wickets down for only six runs and an overall lead of 60 at lunch. Cummins, who swung the Boxing Day test in Australia's favor late on day two, grabbed two wickets on Thursday morning to finish with figures of 5-48. Pakistan's tail showed far more resistance than expected to push its overnight score from 194-6 to b

AUS vs PAK Test: How lift malfunctioning stopped play after Lunch at MCG

The lift at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue of the second Test between Australia and Pakistan, was stuck with the third umpire Richard Illingworth inside

AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Captain Cummins leads the way, Australia lead by 124

Australia's pace-bowling captain Pat Cummins struck twice in four balls to crush Pakistan's comeback attempt on the second day of the second cricket Test on Wednesday. Pakistan started strongly then collapsed to reach 194 for six at stumps in reply to Australia's first-innings total of 318 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A total of 13 wickets fell in an eventful second day's play. Cummins claimed three for 37 and off-spinner Nathan Lyon took two for 48 for Australia. Abdullah Shafique (62) and skipper Shan Masood (54) both made half-centuries, sharing a 90-run partnership for Pakistan's second wicket. Pakistan's openers had survived the new ball before Lyon made the initial breakthrough in the 16th over, removing Imam-ul-Haq caught at second slip for 10 at 34 for one. Cummins changed the momentum of the day's play by claiming a diving return catch to dismiss Shafique at 124 for two. Cummins leapt into the air in delight in his next over after bowling Babar Azam for one, finding a

IND vs SA 1st Test: Elgar lights up Centurion with ton in farewell game

Dean Elgar brought up his 14th Test hundred in his last game at his home ground of SuperSport Park in Centurion. It came against India on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test

IND vs SA: KL Rahul becomes 1st overseas player to hit 2 tons in Centurion

Before KL Rahul, no other overseas player hit two centuries at this venue where Tests have been played since 1995. Kl Rahul's 101 runs helped India post a respectable 245 on the board

IND vs SA 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Rabada 5-fer gives Proteas upper hand

India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Only 59 overs of play was possible on the first day as Kagiso Rabada took a five-wicket haul and KL Rahul hit fifty as India remained 208/8

Women's cricket: Australia eyes 3-match Test series vs IND, ENG in future

Cricket Australia is looking to increase "marquee" women's Test series at home against India and England to three matches from the current one-off contest, according to its Chief executive Nick Hockley. The CA top official said the governing body will "keep advocating for more Test cricket" in the women's game. Hockley's comments came after captain Alyssa Healy felt a sense of unfinished business following Australia's historic defeat to India in Mumbai last week. Playing their first Test in India since 1984, Australia were beaten by eight wickets in the one-off contest at the Wankhede Stadium. "We'll keep advocating for more Test cricket as part of multi-format series," he told SEN. "Maybe that's something in the future that we can think about key marquee series going to three Tests." Marquee series for Australia would be against England and India-only, with New Zealand reluctant to schedule women's Tests, according to cricket.com.au. The loss in Mumbai was Australia's first aga

IND-SA: 'At this stage of his career, Kohli doesn't need lot of practice'

Virat Kohli came into the Centurion Test with only one proper net session on Christmas eve but India batting coach Vikram Rathour categorical said that at this stage of his career, the former captain doesn't need to train a lot. Kohli didn't take part in the only three-day intra-squad practice game played at Tuks Oval in Pretoria and had taken prior permission to meet his family in UK for a mini four-day vacation. On a Centurion pitch that offered a lot of bounce, Kohli looked in good touch for his 38 before Kagiso Rabada's late away swinger squared him up as India finished the rain-hit Day-1 on 208 for eight. "The stage of his career Virat (Kohli) is, I don't think he needs a lot of practice," Rathour said after the end of opening day's play of the first Test against South Africa here on Tuesday. "He bats a lot and trains a lot. So, if he practiced a few days less, doesn't matter much. We saw, how well he was playing. It didn't seem he was away from red ball cricket for six months

AUS vs PAK: Aussies lose 7 wkts in 1st session of Day 2, bowled out for 318

Marnus Labuschagne scored a patient 63 as Australia was bowled out for 318 at lunch on the second day of the second cricket test against Pakistan on Wednesday. On a Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch that continues to offer sideways movement for the seam bowlers, Australia lost seven wickets for 131 in an entertaining session that lasted for over 2 1-2 hours due to rain delays on the opening day Tuesday. In contrast to Labuschagne's 155-ball knock, Mitchell Marsh adopted an attacking mindset, blasting 41 off 60 deliveries. Invited to bat first in overcast conditions, Australia reached 187-3 at stumps Tuesday. David Warner, who was dropped at slip on two, scored 38 in a 90-run opening stand with Usman Khawaja (42). Steve Smith added 26 in a 46-run partnership with Labuschagne for the third wicket as Australia battled through a tough afternoon on a rain-interrupted first day of play when only 66 of the scheduled 90 overs were bowled. Travis Head (17) fell in the fifth over Wednesday, ca

India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 2: Centurion weather forecast on Dec 27

India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 2 weather forecast: It has been raining cats and dogs in Centurion since yesterday night, and the weather prediction for today is not encouraging either.

AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Warner picks Marcus Harris as his opening replacement

Veteran Australian opener David Warner has picked Marcus Harris as his replacement at the top of the order after he quits the longest format of the sport. Warner had already said that the ongoing three-Test series against Pakistan will be his last in the format. While there have been talks about his ideal replacement in red-ball cricket, Warner vouched for the 31-year-old Harris, who he feels has been around for a long time and that the selectors need to show faith in him. "It's a tough one. It's obviously up to the selectors. But from my position, I feel like the person who's worked their backside off and has been there for a while in the background," Warner was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Tuesday. "I think Harry's been that person. He's toured, he's going to have that chance. He scored a hundred the other day (for Victoria XI vs the Pakistanis). "He missed out in a couple of other games, but he's always been that person who was next in line. If the selectors show faith i

AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Australia reaches 187-3 after rain-interrupted 1st day

Marnus Labuschagne notched a gritty score of 44 not out to guide Australia through a rain-interrupted first day of play in the second test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. Invited to bat first by Pakistan captain Shan Masood, who won the toss in overcast conditions, Australia reached 187-3 at stumps. Pakistan squandered a golden opportunity to put Australia on the back foot early, allowing openers David Warner (38 off 83 balls) and Usman Khawaja (42 off 101) to share a 90-run partnership on a pitch offering sideways movement for the seamers. Warner, in his penultimate test, played a loose shot outside off stump on 38 in the final over before lunch and was caught at slip off the bowling of spinner Agha Salman. The 37-year-old Warner, who scored 164 in the first test in Perth, was lucky to reach double figures Tuesday. Warner offered a regulation chance on 2 to first slip off the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the third over, but it was put down by ...

Australia 114-2 at Tea on first day of 2nd Test against Pakistan at MCG

Invited to bat first by Pakistan, Australia reached 90-1 at lunch Tuesday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the second Test of the three-match series. Spinner Agha Salman claimed the key wicket of opener David Warner for 38 in the final over before lunch, caught at slip. Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to bowl first in overcast conditions, opting for a four-man pace attack. Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Warner both advanced down the pitch in the opening five overs in a bid to counter the seam movement of Pakistan's new-ball attack. Warner, on 2, offered a simple chance to first slip off the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the third over, but it was put down by Abdullah Shafique. The 111-Test veteran Warner, aged 37 and appearing in his farewell Test series, played at a wide ball in the 28th over and offered an edge to slip in the only breakthrough for the session. In a watchful innings, Khawaja was unbeaten on 36 off 80 balls at lunch, as Pakistan

India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 1: Centurion weather forecast today

India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 1 weather prediction: According to Accuweather.com, there is a rain forecast at SuperSport Park in Centurion throughout the day on December 26.