How Did Virat Kohli Escape An ICC Ban Despite ‘Physical Contact’ With Sam Konstas In Boxing Day Test – Explained
The one incident that got the cricket world talking the most on the first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne was Virat Kohli’s altercation with Sam Konstas. The brief showdown took place after the 10th over of the Australian innings on the opening day of the fourth Test here when the players were crossing over. Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch in the face off that was initiated by the travelling star. Kohli was eventually charged with breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig.
Shubman Gill dropped for second spinner in MCG Test
It was clear something was afoot early in the day when, during the warm-up session, Shubman Gill was on the field for only a short period. He didn’t do much and left way before the toss on Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The decision to drop him must have been quite a blow for a batter who is looked at as one of the big prospects of Indian cricket. India batter Shubman Gill made way for a third specialist all-rounder in Washington Sundar in the fourth Test in Melbourne (AFP) India batter Shubman Gill made way for a third specialist all-rounder in Washington Sundar in the fourth Test in Melbourne (AFP) When it emerged that Gill had been dropped to accommodate a second spinner in Washington Sundar, the surprise was even bigger because it meant that India would be lining up with six bowlers — Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Nitish Reddy. And no matter how you see it, one can’t help but feel that is a bowler too many.
Australia v India: fourth men’s cricket Test, day one – as it happened
Oh, what a piece of bowling from Jadeja! Just as I was thinking about Australian tons on debut, about Ponting’s 96, and all that stuff. Around the wicket, down the line of the stumps, drawing a big forward defensive lunge from Konstas. The ball straightens just enough to beat the edge and strikes his back leg. Konstas doesn’t bother reviewing. Immense ovation for the young player as he walks off though, and the MCG gives you a long runway to keep soaking up that applause. He was chancy, he was dramatic, and he found his own unique way to nullify the threat of a Bumrah opening spell.
R Ashwin Watches Travis Head’s Training Video, Pinpoints His Exact Game Plan
Travis Head has been a bane for India on many occasions by now, and getting him out cheaply will be crucial for India’s hopes of winning the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Head has already smashed two centuries (152 and 140 respectively) in the second and third Tests, tormenting the Indian bowlers at will, and also adapting to his weaknesses. In a video shared on social media showing the left-hander batting in the nets, Head seems to be working on his weak areas again, and the recently-retired Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out exactly that.
Bangar, Pujara offer advice to team India on how to counter Head at MCG
With the threat of Travis Head looming large on India ahead of the Boxing Day Test starting on December 26 in Melbourne, Sanjay Bangar and Cheteshwar Pujara have spelt out advise to the visitors’ on how to stop the left-handed batter from getting big runs. Despite being dismissed for just 11 in his first innings of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Head has gone on to smash 89, 140 and 152 in his next three outings. The knock of 140 was instrumental in giving Australia a ten-wicket win at his home ground, Adelaide Oval. Head had previously hit centuries against India in 2023 World Test Championship final and ODI World Cup final to give Australia title wins. Bangar, the former India batting coach, asked for India to try a round-the-wicket bowling angle when Head is fresh at the crease.
Melbourne Cricket Ground Pays Floppy Hat Tribute To Shane Warne During Boxing Day Test
The crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was seen paying a floppy hat tribute to the former Australia cricketer Shane Warne, during the opening day of the Boxing Day Test on Thursday. At 3:50 pm Melbourne time (10:20 am IST), the MCG crowd took a moment to doff their floppy hats as a tribute to Warne, who passed away in March 2022. The tradition of doffing floppy hats started in the Boxing Day Test in 2022 and has continued ever since. It is in remembrance of Warne, whose floppy hat doff became a signature style. His children were also in attendance during the fourth Test between India and Australia. The play was halted for a minute at 3:50 pm and those with floppy hats in the audience didn’t miss the chance to remember Warne.
Shane Warne honoured by MCG crowd during India vs Australia Boxing Day clash
Cricket fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Shane Warne on the opening day of the fourth India vs Australia Test match on Thursday. The stadium, packed with over 85,000 spectators, saw the fans doff their hats in unison at 3:50 PM local time, honouring Warne’s iconic celebration. The tribute during the Boxing Day Test was led by Warne’s children Jackson and Brooke while the timing symbolised his Test cap number 350.Cricket Australia shared the touching tribute for the King of Spin on its social media channels.For the Victoria-born Warne, the MCG was more than just a stadium as many of his greatest accomplishments unfolded at this venue.
MCG doffs hat to Shane Warne in emotionally-charged moment as Australia legend’s children lead special ‘350’ tribute
The Melbourne Cricket Ground spent a heartfelt minute commemorating one of the finest bowlers from Victoria, and Australia as a whole, as the 83,000-thousand strong crowd paid tribute to the late Shane Warne on Boxing Day during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.The tribute was led by the legendary leg-spinner’s children Jackson and Brooke Warne, who orchestrated the huge MCG crowd in doffing their caps in a tribute to Warne’s famous celebration during the Ashes. In an extremely moving image, the crowd can be seen wearing floppy hats and doffing them in a big wave of respect towards one of the legends of Australian cricket, who tragically passed away in March 2022.
Dane Paterson five-for, Corbin Bosch’s four rock Pakistan in Centurion
An 81-run stand between Kamran Ghulam, who scored an entertaining half-century, and Mohammad Rizwan dragged Pakistan out of the hole they were put in during the morning session. But five wickets for Dane Paterson meant South Africa continued to chip away at Pakistan to retain their stranglehold on the day, reducing them to 209 for 9 by tea. Rizwan and Ghulam had been building up the partnership the other side of lunch, and continued in similar vein. But with the clouds menacingly moving right overhead, the luckless Kagiso Rabada was brought in for another excellent but fruitless spell. It produced the most engaging cricket of the day, with both KGs – Rabada and Ghulam – locking horns on more than one occasion. Rabada grew increasingly frustrated with Ghulam’s stubborn resistance and got close enough to tell him, with Ghulam responding in less than family-friendly terms to go back to the bowling crease.
Paterson takes five wickets as Pakistan bowled out for 211 in first Test against South Africa
South African fast bowler Corbin Bosch took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket and together with Dane Paterson had reduced Pakistan to 209 runs for nine at tea on the opening day of the first Test at Centurion on Thursday. Paterson took 5-61 in 16 overs and Bosch 4-63 in 15 overs on debut as South Africa held the upper hand after winning the toss and putting the tourists into bat. The 30-year-old Bosch made a dream start as he claimed the wicket of Pakistan captain Shan Masood as he came on as second change in a fiery four-man bowling line-up that dominated the day’s proceedings Bosch, playing on his home ground, had been drafted into the South Africa side after a raft of injuries to their regular fast bowlers and made good use of the opportunity with two wickets in the opening session and two more after lunch.
