India drop Rohit Sharma but batters struggle again in Australia
India dropped skipper Rohit Sharma but their batting woes continued as they were dismissed for 185 on the opening day of the crucial fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney. Scott Boland led the way with four for 31 on Friday as Australia’s bowlers revelled in seam-friendly conditions to restrict India’s scoring and knock over wickets with a regularity that delighted a sellout crowd of 48,000.Only the suspicion of what Jasprit Bumrah, the outstanding bowler of the series and Rohit’s replacement as captain, might do on the surface constrained the joy of home fans packed into the famous old ground. They got a hint from the last ball of the three overs India managed to bowl before the close of play when Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja for two. Teenager Sam Konstas, who had a brief altercation with Bumrah just before Khawaja’s departure, will resume on seven not out with Australia nine for one.
Zimbabwe set to host Ireland for all-format series in February
Zimbabwe are set to host Ireland for an all-format tour consisting of seven matches in February, the board announced on Friday. The tour will begin with a one-off Test match from February 6 to 10 in Bulawayo, before the white-ball leg in Harare. The teams will play three ODIs on February 14, 16 and 18 and as many T20Is on February 22, 23 and 25. Originally, this series was pencilled in for two Tests along with six white-ball games in the ICC men’s Future Tours Programme (FTP). Zimbabwe are currently in the final leg of their multi-format home series against Afghanistan, where they lost both T20I and ODI series 2-1 and 2-0 respectively and secured a draw in the high-scoring, rain-affected first Test. The tour concludes with the ongoing second Test, on January 6. Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni stressed on the significance of hosting back-to-back full tours. “We are delighted to welcome Ireland for what promises to be an exciting and competitive tour,” he said.
Sams, Bancroft hospitalised after onfield collision
Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft were involved in a horrible collision while attempting to take a catch during the BBL match between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder. They were later taken to a hospital for further assessment. The incident happened in the 16th over of the Scorchers’ innings when Cooper Connolly played a shot in the air off Lockie Ferguson to the leg side. Sams converged towards the ball from the infield while Bancroft ran in from the outfield, with both players not seeing each other as they collided. Both lay immobile on the field for a while as the Thunder players called for medical support. Play was halted for close to 20 minutes as Sams was taken off the field in a medicab while Bancroft went off with a bloody nose, and both players had to be substituted. According to a statement from Thunder, they were conscious and talking, but there are concerns that they might have suffered fractures. “Sydney Thunder’s Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams have been substituted for tonight’s BBL14 match against Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium Both players are conscious and talking, demonstrating symptoms of concussion and have possible fractures.
Unpacking Rohit Sharma’s omission from SCG Test
In a recent conversation with an acquaintance, Gautam Gambhir believed to have reflected on the challenges of coaching a national team compared to an IPL side. He would highlight the complexities involved, such as managing star players, coordinating with the selection committee, dealing with its chairman, navigating the apex body, and above all working with the captain and his principles of leadership. Gambhir would go on to dwell how these layers create obstacles in the decision-making process. In contrast, he would note that coaching in the IPL is relatively straightforward, with fewer hierarchical barriers. After the recent MCG Test, some of these layers might have vanished. It is now evident that in the matter of Rohit Sharma, Gambhir has had the last word. The captain’s absence from the ongoing Sydney Test appears to validate the coach’s reported stance. Just a day before the Test began, the coach would not guarantee Rohit a spot in the playing XI. While it is often said that the captain is the boss in cricket, one cannot be sure if that was the case in this instance.
Karun Nair sets new List A record for most runs without being dismissed
Karun Nair on Friday broke the world record for most List A runs without being dismissed, while guiding Vidarbha to an eight-wicket victory over Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Nair, who smashed 112, set a new record of 542 runs without being dismissed, going past former New Zealand allrounder James Franklin, who in 2010 had managed a streak of 527 runs without getting out. Other prominent names in the list are: Joshua van Heerden (512), Fakhar Zaman (455) and Taufeeq Umar (422). The knock was his fourth hundred of the season – and third on the trot – as he helped Vidarbha overhaul UP’s 307 for 8 in just 47.2 overs. Nair’s unbeaten streak began on December 23, when he first blasted 112 off 108 balls against Jammu & Kashmir. He followed it up with an unbeaten 44 in a small chase against Chhattisgarh. He then made a season-high 168 not out against Chandigarh, helping Vidarbha chase down 316 in 48 overs, before finishing 2024 with another unbeaten ton – 111* against Tamil Nadu.
Muzarabani, Ervine and Williams keep Zimbabwe ahead
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan wrestled for the advantage on a fast-paced day of Test cricket in Bulawayo, with the hosts only slightly ahead. Two-hundred-and-eighty-three runs were scored and 13 wickets fell on the second day where the momentum see-sawed between the two teams, leaving the Test delicately poised. Resuming from 6 for 0 after bowling Afghanistan out for 157 on a rain-hit first day, Zimbabwe were in early trouble thanks to a top-order collapse. But half-centuries from Craig Ervine (75) and Sikandar Raza (61) and a knock of equal value from an injured Sean Williams (49) saw Zimbabwe take an 86-run lead – one that was significant given the difficult nature of the pitch. Zimbabwe then removed three Afghanistan batters – with Blessing Muzarabani accounting for two – to end the day 40 runs ahead, while Afghanistan have just seven wickets in hand to try and set up a challenging target.
Rutherford blitzes Thunder to last-ball win over Scorchers
Sherfane Rutherford hit a boundary off the last ball as Sydney Thunder edged Perth Scorchers in a thrilling BBL match overshadowed by a horrible on-field collision involving Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams. Needing 15 runs off the last over to chase down 178, Rutherford blasted veteran seamer Andrew Tye for three boundaries including a thick inside edge that raced past short fine-leg for the winning runs. He finished 39 not out from 19 balls and had help from debutant Hugh Weibgen, who came on as a concussion substitute. After being sent in on a batting-friendly Optus Stadium, Scorchers were ignited by a second consecutive half-century from opener Finn Allen. But their innings in the 16th over was halted by 20 minutes after Bancroft and Sams collided in the outfield trying to get to a catch. Both players were concussed and sent to hospital, but conscious and talking. The crowd of 46,471 is Scorchers’ highest ever home attendance during the regular season.
Australia debutant relives maiden outing against India
A change in Australia’s playing XI for the final Test saw 31-year-old Beau Webster make his international debut. A seasoned campaigner, Webster has spent over a decade on the domestic circuit, amassing more than 5000 runs and nearly 150 wickets in first-class cricket. Opening up on his maiden outing against India on Friday in Sydney, Webster relived the moments that made it special. “It was a great day. A really proud day to get my family down here in Sydney, and to get my cap from junior (Mark Waugh), was a really proud moment for me and my family,” he said. “To get in the game early with some catches early was definitely a way to settle the nerves and they went away pretty quickly after that.” Webster made an instant impact in the field as he held onto the catches of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli with Australia dominating the majority of the opening day. The right-arm quick almost managed to dismiss Kohli earlier in the day, but the catch pouched by Steve Smith in the cordon wasn’t ruled clean on the third umpire’s check. Webster, however, stated that on his maiden day as a Test, his match-up against Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja favoured him.
Ervine, Raza and Williams extend Zimbabwe’s advantage
Fifties from skipper Craig Ervine (75 off 165) and Sikandar Raza (61 off 104) followed by a crucial cameo from Sean Williams (49 off 52) meant that Zimbabwe continued to be in the box seat on the second day of the second Test against Afghanistan in Bulawayo. It was another bowler-dominated day as 13 wickets fell, which made the contributions of the Zimbabwean trio priceless in the context of the game. Zimbabwe ended with a first innings score of 243, which meant a handy lead of 86, and then had Afghanistan struggling at 46/3 by the close of play. Resuming the day at 6/0, the hosts lost two quick wickets in the first 30 minutes. Opener Joylord Gumbie edged one to second slip off Fareed Ahmad while Yamin Ahmadzai had Takudzwanashe Kaitano for a duck strangled down the leg-side. It was the perfect start to the day for Afghanistan and the new-ball bowlers did more damage for them in the session.
Rickelton, Bavuma tons deflate Pakistan on opening day at Newlands
Ryan Rickelton’s second Test hundred and Temba Bavuma’s fourth ton in the format headlined South Africa’s day out with the bat at Newlands on Friday (January 3). Rickelton (172*) was involved in a 235-run partnership with Bavuma (106) as South Africa ended the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at 316/4, with only 80 overs being bowled on the day. It was a productive first hour’s play for South Africa, with Rickelton leading the charge. He played some crisp drives to score regular boundaries while Aiden Markram also got going with two successive boundaries off Mir Hamza. Meanwhile, Saim Ayub twisted his ankle while fielding and had to be helped off the field, and later was taken to a hospital for scans. The bowlers didn’t find much help barring the occasional movement as the openers helped South Africa past 50. Markram, who was saved by the umpire’s call on the first ball of the match, had another reprieve after the drinks break, dropped by Abdullah Shafique at cover off Khurram Shahzad. At the other end, Rickelton continued to score at a good rate but the opening partnership came to an end when Markram tried to drive a Shahzad delivery pitched outside off and edged it to the ‘keeper. Pakistan were a lot more disciplined with their line and length in the second hour but it didn’t help that the edges weren’t carrying to the slip cordon.
