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Kuldeep Yadav bagged his second five-wicket haul in Test cricket as Australia were asked to follow on at home for the first time since 1988 on a rain hit fourth day in Sydney on Sunday.

Play only started after the lunch break with the home side resuming on 236 for 6, and it began badly for the Aussies as Pat Cummins was bowled by Mohammed Shami without adding to his overnight score. Continue reading “India vs Australia Sydney Fourth Test Day 4- Match Report January 6 2019”

Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja combined and claimed five wickets between them as India moved into a dominating position at the end of Day 3 of the fourth test at Sydney on Saturday. Continue reading “India vs Australia Sydney Fourth Test Day 3 Match Report January 5 2019”

Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicket keeper to score a test century in Australia as the visitors took control of the fourth test at the end of Day 2 at the SCG.

Resuming at 303/4, the overnight pair of Hanuma Vihari and Cheteshwar Pujara added 26 more runs before Nathan Lyon got the break through for Australia. Vihari’s attempted sweep didn’t come off and the ball hit his glove, giving close-in fielder Marnus Labuschagne an easy catch.

Pujara and Pant stitched together an 89 run association for the sixth wicket before the Saurashtra batsman was dismissed just seven short of what would’ve been a magnificent double century. Lyon was again the wicket taker, taking a sharp catch off his own bowling. Continue reading “India vs Australia Sydney Fourth Test Day 2 Match Report-2019”

Cheteshwar Pujara scored a brilliant unbeaten 130 as India finished Day 1 of the fourth test at Sydney on a commanding score of 303/4.

India made 2 changes to the playing XI, bringing in Lokesh Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav in place of Rohit Sharma and the injured Ishant Sharma respectively, while the hosts dropped Mitchell Marsh and the out of form Aaron Finch and brought in Marnus Labuschagne and Peter Handscomb. Continue reading “India vs Australia Fourth Test Sydney Day 1 Match Report-2019”

Team India after an emphatic win at MCG, would be looking to create history for the first time when they square off against Australia in the fourth and final test at Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. Continue reading “India vs Australia Fourth Test Sydney Match Preview-2018”

Here is Team India’s Test record against Australia at Sydney Continue reading “India’s Test Record at Sydney against Australia”

India thrashed Australia by 137 runs to win the Boxing day test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and secure an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the four-match series on Sunday. Continue reading “India vs Australia Third Test Melbourne Day 5 Match Report-2018”

Pat Cummins kept the Indian bowlers at bay with an unbeaten 61, as Australia managed to take the MCG test into the fifth day after finishing day 4 at 258/8.

Resuming at overnight score at 54/5, the Indian pair of Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant started the proceedings solidly by adding 29 more runs, before the 27 year old opener was bowled by Cummins for a well made 42.

Ravindra Jadeja and Pant in quest for some quick runs were dismissed by Cummins and Hazlewood respectively and the tourists declared their second innings at 106 for eight, leaving the home side an improbable target of 399 runs to chase in the fourth innings.

Cummins was Australia’s best bowler as he finished with best figures of 6/27, while Josh Hazlewood bagged 2 wickets.

Chasing a target of 399 in the second innings, Australia started disastrously as they lost out of form opener Aaron Finch in the second over, caught at second slip by Virat Kohli off Jasprit Bumrah for just 3.

The hosts suffered yet another set back when Marcus Harris was dismissed for 13, getting an inside edge from left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja that was snapped up by Agarwal.

Usman Khawaja looked good in his innings of 33, until he fell leg before wicket by Mohammed Shami after the lunch break to leave the home side in trouble at 63 for 3.

Shaun Marsh and Travis Head batted sensibly by adding 51 runs for the fourth wicket stand, before the former was dismissed LBW by Bumrah for a well made 44. It was perhaps not a decision that would’ve been given in the pre-DRS era, with the ball appearing to slide down leg to the naked eye, but Marais Erasmus raised his finger, and Marsh had to go after the review showed it was umpire’s call.

Marsh’s younger brother Mitchell was the next to fall, with an expansive cover drive off Jadeja proving to be his undoing, leaving the Aussies in wobble at 135 for 5.

Travis Head provided some resistance for a well made 34, before he chopped on- another dismissal which exemplified the poor technique for some of the home side’s batsmen.

Skipper Tim Paine made 26 before he edged Jadeja to Pant. Cummins and Mitchell Starc frustrated the Indian bowlers by adding 39 runs for the eight wicket before the latter was dismissed by Shami for 18 runs.

Cummins and Nathan Lyon then showed dogged resistance with the bat. India took the extra half an hour on offer, but the duo remained firm as Australia ended Day 4 at 258/8, leaving another 141 runs for an unlikely victory going into Day 5.

India at Stumps on Day 4 Second innings- 106/8 declared – Mayank Agarwal 42, Rishabh Pant 33. (Cummins 6/27, Hazlewood 2/22). Australia second innings 258/8- Pat Cummins 61* Shaun Marsh 44. ( Ravindra Jadeja 3/82, Jasprit Bumrah 2/53 and Mohammed Shami 2/71)

Jasprit Bumrah produced a magnificent spell with the ball and claimed 6 wickets as India dominated Day 3 of the third test at Melbourne on Friday. Continue reading “India vs Australia Third Test Melbourne Day 3 Match Report December 28 2018”

The MCG produced another day of attritional, dogged cricket as India and Australia fought to assert dominance on the second day of the third test in Melbourne. The hosts managed to declare at 443/7, and Australia managed to see through a few tricky late overs without losing a wicket.

Resuming overnight at 215/2, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara continued from where they had left off on the first day, slowly accumulating runs as the visitors went through the first session cautiously. Continue reading “India vs Australia Melbourne Third Test Day 2 Match Report December 27 2018”

Aiming to bounce back from their second test loss, India finished Day 1 of the third one in Melbourne on 215/2. In front of a bumper 73,000 strong Boxing Day crowd at the MCG, debutant Mayank Agarwal laid a solid foundation upfront that was capitalised upon by the experienced duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli as Australia’s bowlers were made to toil throughout the day.

Having won the toss, India having opted to bat first, and as mentioned in our preview, made 3 changes to the side that had lost in Perth, with both out of form openers (KL Rahul & Murali Vijay) dropped and pacer Umesh Yadav making way for a specialist spinner in form of Ravindra Jadeja. The hosts made only one change, with Mitch Marsh brought in for Victorian Peter Handscomb, and the crowd made their feelings known by booing the all rounder when he came on to bowl later in the day. Continue reading “India vs Australia Melbourne Third Test Day 1 Match Report December 26 2018”

A tongue in cheek comment or a case of casual racism? Commentator Kerry O’Keefe was heard on commentary mocking the standard of the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic cricket tournament, saying that Mayank Agarwal, who made his debut today against Australia in Melbourne, had made his triple century against “Canteen Staff”, who had a “chef” and a “kitchen hand” for them.

It attracted a lot of criticism on social media. Check out O’Keefe’s commentary video below Continue reading “Video Kerry O’Keefe racist commentary? Ranji Trophy comments & “Canteen Staff” Chef Kitchen Hand MCG Test 2018″

The best attended test of the year begins tomorrow as Australia and India square off at the MCG in the third test of their four match series. The first two games at Adelaide and Perth were very competitive, and with the series tantalisingly poised at 1-1, this has all the makings of a cracking test match.

India had drawn first blood in Adelaide but failed to capitalise on it in Perth. The visitors erred in picking an all pace attack- Australia’s solitary spinner Nathan Lyon was named Man of the Match for his performance at the Optus Stadium. It not only put extra pressure on their quicks but also lengthened their tail, and the difference in contributions between the lower order was one major reason for Australia triumphing in WA. The victory was also Tim Paine’s first as Australian captain. Continue reading “India vs Australia Melbourne Third Test Match Preview Boxing Day 2018”