Australia 420/4 at lunch on Day 2 of SCG Test

January 7, 2015

Sydney, Jan 7: Striking his fourth century of the series, captain Steven Smith helped Australia reach 420 for four at lunch on the second day of the final Test against India at the SCG.

SCG Test

Resuming the day on 348 for two, the hosts found it tough to get runs against a disciplined Indian attack but overnight batsmen Smith (117) and Shane Watson (81) stitched together a 196—run third—wicket partnership to keep the fight on.

The Virat Kohli—led India though did seem to learn its lessons from day one as the visitors only conceded 72 runs in the 30 overs bowled in the morning session and also got two ’set’ batsmen back in the pavilion.

Watson was the first to go, adding just 20 more runs to his overnight score, as Mohammed Shami (2—80) got his second wicket of the innings so far.

Watson was guilty of throwing away a Test hundred after he forced a pull of a short ball only to pick the fielder at deep mid—wicket.

Smith departed six overs later as the in—form batsman was also guilty of chasing a wide Umesh Yadav (1—119) delivery only get a feather touch and it was a regulation catch for wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.

But Smith sure showed his class in his 208—ball stay at the crease as the batsman mixed the right dose of caution and aggression, his innings laced with 15 fours.

India though could have got another wicket in the 115th over of the innings through Ravichandran Ashwin (1—98) after the off—spinner forced Shaun Marsh (14 not out) to edge one to gully only to see a diving Murali Vijay drop the red cherry.

Joe Burns, who joined Marsh after Smith’s fall, has had a torrid time in the middle and is yet to open his account after facing 17 deliveries.

The Australian batsmen weren’t as prolific as the openers on day one morning as Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0—78) and Shami started the proceedings in a disciplined manner.

Of the two overnight batsmen, Smith was more comfortable at the crease, continuing his good run of form as Watson looked to graft his way to a big score, crossing the 150—mark in their partnership early in the session.

Ten overs into the day then, the 100th of the innings, Smith brought up his 8th Test hundred off 168 balls to a rousing reception from the SCG crowd as he paid tribute to late Phillip Hughes by twirling his bat towards the skies.

In doing so, the young captain matched South Africa’s Jacques Kallis as the only other player to score four consecutive hundreds in a four—match series. He also matched the feat of Sir Don Bradman, who scored four hundreds but in a five—match series.

Smith also became the second highest Australian run—scorer in a four—Test series. He fell short by nine runs of the highest score of 706 runs held by Ricky Ponting, scored against India in 2003—04.

The 400—mark came up in the 107th over. And while Smith was garnering all attention for his immense run—scoring, Watson looked to clear the ropes off Shami in the 108th over and only managed to hand out a regulation catch to Ashwin in the deep.

Six overs later, it became a double—blow as Yadav had Smith caught behind by Saha, the batsman flashing at a good length ball.

It could have been a third quick dismissal had Vijay, at short gully, held on to a low, one—handed catch to his right off Ashwin in the 115th over with Marsh (on 9*) the batsman to get a life. The batsman, along with Burns, then avoided any further loss as Suresh Raina (0—39) bowled the last over before lunch.

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News Network
April 28,2020

Chennai, Apr 28: Former Karnataka batsman J Arun Kumar was on Tuesday appointed coach of the USA cricket team and listed earning a Test status, by his own admission a "far-fetched" thought at the moment, among his long-term goals.

Jak, as he is known in the cricketing circles, has worked with the Karnataka team for several years and as batting coach with IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab.

"... Following an exhaustive recruitment process, former first class Ranji Trophy and IPL player and coach, J Arun Kumar, had been identified as the preferred candidate for the next men's head coach," USA Cricket chief executive Iain Higgins said on its website.

The CEO added, "He travelled to the USA to meet support staff, selectors and players at a talent camp in Houston and to continue those discussions with us.

"I'm delighted to say that we have subsequently reached agreement with Jak that he will take up the role and be permanently based in the United States as and when his working visa has been obtained."

Arun Kumar was also in charge of a fledgling Puducherry team before quitting in February owing to differences with the association officials.

The COVID-19 pandemic has however prevented a prompt departure for the United States.

"Of course, the COVID-19 crisis has now presented some challenges around the scope of the role in the short/medium term, but we look forward to completing all of the arrangements and to welcoming him more formally in due course," Higgins said.

Arun kumar, who scored over 7,200 runs in first-class cricket and over 3,000 runs in List 'A' games, had guided Karnataka to a treble for two successive seasons -- Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Irani Cup -- in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Delighted to get the role, the 45-year old said he has a vision for USA cricket, including making it a Test-playing nation.

"The first thing is based on my visa and when the coronavirus situation will end in the US, so it's all based on that. At what time my visa will be approved, that's when I will be heading there.

"There are long, mid and short-term goals and my vision obviously will be that the USA in the coming years will be one of the Test playing nations.

"It's a far-fledged goal, but yes, that's the vision and as of now the short term will be World Cup league.

"We will have to be the top side in that and then go to the next level," Arun Kumar told PTI in an interaction.

He further said the immediate aim is to get the team together after a bad run in Nepal.

"Priority is to get the team together, we had a bad run in Nepal, so obviously the team is on little down slide, so we will get up and the immediate short-term goal is to get in touch with players.

"This lockdown gives us time to actually know each other, although we are spread out in different parts of the country, and it is gives us time to connect better and work on certain mental and tactical aspects of the game," he added.

Arun Kumar had been in the US briefly some time ago and had met some officials, selectors and players at a camp in Houston.

"I met some officials, selectors and players at a talent camp in Houston and got an insight of what I can expect in the future and based on those we have designed a pathway for junior to senior cricket and women's cricket.

"It is a work in progress," he said.

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News Network
March 7,2020

Melbourne, Mar 7: Ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup against Australia, India spinner Poonam Yadav said that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has given her a lot of support.

"Harmanpreet has been of immense support. When I got hit for a six in the first over, she came to me and said, 'Poonam, you're one of the most experienced players in the team, and we expect better of you'," Poonam said.

The 28-year-old experienced bowler has played 68 shortest format games for India and taken 94 wickets at an average of 22.66.

She has been in devastating form throughout the tournament and has bagged nine wickets so far.

"So, that kind of stirred something within me. I told myself if my captain has that much faith in me, I should be able to make a comeback," she said.

"I took a wicket in the very next ball, and didn't look back since. Now when I look back at that moment, it means so much in the context of my individual performance and run to the final," she added.

In the opening game against Australia at Sydney Showground, Poonam came within a whisker of the third hat-trick in Women's T20 World Cup history, dismissing Rachael Haynes and Ellyse Perry before Jess Jonassen was dropped.

The final of the tournament will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 8 -- International Women's Day.

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News Network
June 29,2020

Jun 29: The West Indies cricketers will sport a 'Black Lives Matter' logo on the collars of their shirts during the upcoming three-Test series against England to protest against racism in sports.

Skipper Jason Holder, who has voiced his support to the cause that has once again come to the forefront after the killing of American George Floyd, said in a statement on Sunday: "We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness."

The ICC-approved logo, designed by Alisha Hosannah, will be the one which featured in the shirts of all 20 Premier League football clubs since the sport's resumption earlier this month.

"This is a pivotal moment in history for sports, for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team," Holder was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality. "As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for a generation to come."

Holder, who wants racism to be treated at par with doping and corruption, said they arrived at the decision to wear the logo after much thought.

"We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop," he said.

"We have to find some way to have equal rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background."

The West Indies players are likely to wear the shirts for the first time in this week's four-day warm-up match at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on Monday.

The opening Test of the series, which will mark the resumption of international cricket after the coronavirus-forced hiatus, will get underway at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8.

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