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South Africa clinches series with big win

December 3, 2012

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Perth, December 3: South Africa won the third Test by 309 runs on Monday to clinch back-to-back series in Australia, retain the No. 1 ranking and end Ricky Ponting’s career with a big defeat.

Robin Peterson dismissed Ponting (8) and skipper Michael Clarke (44) as South Africa finished off the Perth Test with a day to spare after battling to salvage draws in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide.

Australia, set an unlikely target of 632 to win, was out for 322 after a late cameo by No. 10 Mitch Starc, who ended unbeaten on 68 and shared an 87-run last-wicket stand with Nathan Lyon (31).

After resuming at 40-0, Australia’s day started in the worst possible way when David Warner (29) was removed by Vernon Philander on the second ball without addition to the overnight score.

Morne Morkel removed Shane Watson (25), also caught at slip by Graeme Smith, to bring Ponting to the crease.

South African lined up in a guard of honour as Australia’s all-time leading scorer made his way to the pitch, stopping momentarily to shake hands with Proteas captain Graeme Smith, with Australia at 81-2.

Ponting got off the mark with a trademark pull to the boundary off Morkel and drove another boundary in his only other scoring shot of a 23-ball innings, but was caught by Jacques Kallis trying to cut Peterson.

Every South African player ran to shake Ponting’s hand as the ex-Australia skipper left the WACA arena, where his Test career began in 1995. The scoreboard flashed up a message “Thanks Ricky” and the crowd stood to applaud him. Clarke gave Ponting a pat on the back as they crossed in the tunnel between the pavilion and field, then went out and hit the next two balls from Peterson to the boundary to be not out 8 at the interval.

Clarke and Hussey were starting to get settled in during the middle session. Clarke scored double centuries in the first two matches but when he was out and Hussey went soon after, the end was only a matter of time.

Starc combined with John Hastings (20) in a 31-run ninth-wicket partnership that ensured Australia avoided its second-worst ever defeat in terms of runs a 408-run loss to the West Indies in 1980 and his entertaining last-wicket stand with Lyon that only delayed the inevitable.



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News Network
July 16,2020

Kolkata, Jul 16: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday went into home quarantine after his elder brother and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) joint secretary Snehasish Ganguly tested positive for Covid-19.

Snehasish, a former Bengal first-class player, has been admitted to the Belle Vue hospital in Kolkata after his COVID report came positive.

"He was suffering from fever for the last few days and his test report came positive today. He's been admitted to Belle Vue Hospital," a CAB official said.

"The reports arrived late in the evening. As per health protocols, even Sourav will have to be in home quarantine for a stipulated period," a source close to the BCCI President added.

Snehasish had shifted to their ancestral house, where Sourav is based, in Behala after his wife and in-laws at his Mominpur residence tested positive for the dreaded virus.

The former India captain was, however, unavailable for a comment on the development.

Recently, during an interview to India Today, Sourav had spoken about how life around him has changed, making people more vulnerable.

"My brother visits our factories everyday and he is more at risk," the former batting star had said

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Agencies
March 14,2020

Sydney, Mar 14: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been placed under 24-hour isolation amid the fears of coronavirus after he reported a sore throat following the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which the hosts won by 71 runs.

"In accordance with recommended health protocols, Lockie Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24 hours after reporting a sore throat at the end of the first ODI," said New Zealand Cricket in a statement.

"Once the test results are received and diagnosed, his return to the team can be determined," it added.

The first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series was played in front of empty stands as the spectators were not allowed to be at SCG as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, Australian fast bowler, Kane Richardson was also tested for the coronavirus, after suffering from a sore throat on Thursday. That saw him left out of the squad for Friday's game but the test was negative.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New Delhi, Aug 4: Former India women's team captain Anjum Chopra firmly believes that the BCCI has a plan for women's cricket but she wants the Board to communicate its ideas more specifically.

Speaking to news agency, Chopra, who is now a successful broadcaster, said the BCCI is thinking in earnest about the progress of women's cricket.

"It's not that the BCCI is not thinking about women's cricket. I only think they need to be more specific in communication about women's cricket," Chopra said.

"I firmly believe that they must be thinking about women's cricket but the communication all this while has been very specific to men's cricket."

The latest trigger for criticism of BCCI was India's withdrawal from a tour of England in September owing to logistical issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chopra concedes it was "not nice" but Indian players' participation in the women's IPL, in November, will still be useful preparation for next year's ODI World Cup.

"It is heartening to see women's cricket making headlines. They should have been a part of that England tour and it did not feel nice initially but the women's IPL, irrespective of the format, will be helpful for World Cup preparations. Any form of cricket is good preparation," Chopra said.

"Missing out on a tournament is not nice, but logistically there may have been issues. And you can't send an under-prepared team."

"If you see in isolation we may have missed out on an opportunity to play in England. The more the girls play the better it is, before playing a tournament of the stature of World Cup. The assurance from the president is a very good thing."

Chopra welcomed the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI's decision to hold the women's event in the UAE alongside the IPL, which will run from September 19 to November 10. The women's IPL will coincide with the business end of the men's league.

"I am definitely happy, it's always nice to be part of any cricket anywhere across the world.

"They should have been nearing the final stages of the preparation for the World Cup by now, but because of the pandemic things did not go as planned," she added.

Chopra had a successful international career spanning over 17 years, during which she represented India in a record six World Cups and became the first woman cricketer to appear in 100 One-day Internationals.

She also felt that the pandemic would not have much impact on the women's game that has gained momentum in recent times.

"...Cricket was on pause button...Once cricket resumes and players are back on the park, everything is going to get picked up. It might take some time to get started as everything starts from zero...

"The awareness the women's game has created, I hope it stays. They will just restart, not start after the pandemic."

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