The Australian selectors have unveiled their squad for the upcoming Boxing Day Test against India, dropping opening batsmen Nathan McSweeney and calling up teenage prodigy Sam Konstas.
‘Couldn’t have had a worse night’: Renegades run riot on Hurricanes in nightmare all-time low
The Melbourne Renegades have enforced a demolition of the highest order on the Hobart Hurricanes in Geelong on Wednesday night, winning by six wickets in their chase of a franchise record-low target of just 75 runs.
‘Can’t film without asking me’: Kohli‘s airport clash with media ahead of MCG blockbuster
Indian superstar Virat Kohli has been been involved in a verbal stoush with media at Melbourne Airport, landing in Victoria ahead of the Boxing Day test at the MCG.
Stars’ huge boost as marquee duo set to return; Sixers gun out for season: BBL Late Mail
The winless Melbourne Stars will be bolstered by the inclusion of their two best bats, with Glenn Maxwell and Ben Duckett locked in to face Adelaide Strikers on Friday.
‘I’ll take the compliment’: Prodigy unfazed by deafening hype as ‘dream’ Test calls grow louder
He was belting everything on Tuesday on his way to a record-breaking BBL half-century, but teen sensation Sam Konstas was on the defensive two days later when peppered with questions about his possible Test debut after English legend Michael Vaughan urged Australian selectors to pick him for the final two matches against India.
Aussie skipper’s big change on hold as women’s ODI series opener in NZ abandoned
Australian captain Alyssa Healy is set to return from a knee injury as a specialist batter but her comeback will have to wait as the first ODI against New Zealand in Wellington was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.
‘Makes me jealous’: ‘Intoxicating’ experience has Test hopeful primed for cricket’s biggest stage
Beau Webster says his recent addition into the Australian Test squad has only fuelled his desire to wear the Baggy Green.
Aussies on brink with high-stakes Tests ahead; India’s precarious position: WTC State of Play
The race to the World Test Championships final is heating up.
The ‘tipping point’ and shock ultimatum in Ashwin retirement that’s left India ‘short’
Ravichandran Ashwin told Indian team management he did not want to tour Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Test series unless guaranteed a spot in the playing XI and made his shock retirement decision after being snubbed by coach Gautam Gambhir for two of the three matches so far.
‘Really hard’: Cummins leaps to defence of under fire stars as huge Aussie issue laid bare
Captain Pat Cummins has jumped to the defence of Australia’s top order after another disappointing performance at the Gabba, attributing their lean run to the country’s lively decks and acknowledging a recent drop in Test batting averages worldwide.
Flintoff calls up Flintoff as 16-year-old makes cut for England Lions tour
- Teenager made his professional debut this year
- Bashir to be given experience in Australia for Ashes
Rocky Flintoff has been called up to his father’s Lions squad for next month’s tour of Australia, with England using the trip to give young bowlers who are already in contention for a place in the senior Test squad experience of local conditions before next winter’s Ashes.
The junior Flintoff continues what has been a startling rise, having been given his first professional contract by Lancashire in August, aged 16. He made his first-class debut soon afterwards and was a last-minute call-up to the Lions squad in South Africa this month, their first trip since his father, Andrew, was named coach in September.
Continue reading...New Zealand v England report cards: grading every player after Test series
Praise for Brook and Carse, with Bethell and O’Rourke announcing a new rivalry as Southee bows out
By Gary Naylor for the 99.94 Cricket Blog
Ben Stokes: 158 runs at 52.7; seven wickets at 36.9; one catch
Continue reading...‘Has to be’: Marsh mystery that won’t go away; struggling Aussie’s forgotten impact — Talking Pts
India is one victory away from retaining the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the rain-marred third Test at the Gabba ended in a draw, despite an audacious bid by Australia to at least make a match of it on the final day in Brisbane.
Australia denied in third Test draw after India bowlers expose familiar frailties
- Australia 445 & 89-7; India 260 & 8-0 at the Gabba
- Play ends early on day five after hosts suffer top-order collapse
First of all, you have to say “fair play” to Australia for making a game of it. Losing some time out of day five of the Brisbane Test was already inevitable with the weather forecast. But when most of the first session disappeared due to lightning precautions and then rain, it seemed sure that any hope of a contest had gone too. Instead Australia came back from an early lunch break looking to smash quick runs, then set India 275 to win in 54 overs. It was a great set up, until rain returned to end the fourth innings just after it had begun.
Looking past that boldness, though, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the helter-skelter of Australia’s second innings was a boon to India. Another crop of wickets for the visiting bowlers, and another failure apiece were chalked up next to the names of Australia’s specialist bats.
Continue reading...‘Never going to lose’: Heat veteran shines as Stars’ ‘strange’ selection exposes glaring void
Brisbane Heat veteran Jimmy Peirson has left the Melbourne Stars scrambling for early season answers, as their Big Bash campaign delivers a second straight loss to start their summer.