Australia slump to a humiliating loss; India go 2-0 up

March 6, 2013

Australia_slump

Hyderabad, Mar 6: The shocking ease with which Australia collapsed on Day four was surprising. Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin were quick to seize on the batsmen's remarkable lack of will to fight as India completed a mammoth win -- by an innings and 135 runs -- with a day to spare.

The 9,495 faithfuls had not even settled into their seats here at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Tuesday when Ishant Sharma started the carnage. Australia started the day at 74/2, a further 192 runs behind India, and were all out for 131. There was no need for a second session of play.

India needed all of 122 minutes and 35 overs to roll over the visitors. Australia became the first team to lose by an innings after declaring in the first innings. It was a clear reflection of the cobwebs in the minds of Australia's batsmen and the stranglehold the Indian spinners have had over them in this four-match series, which India now lead 2-0. Ishant got Shane Watson to tickle a ball straying down leg straight into Dhoni's gloves, and it was free fall for the Australians from there on.

Michael Clarke survived some tense moments that involved an edge to the 'keeper off Ishant's bowling which was turned down by umpire Kumar Dharmasena. But the Aussie skipper didn't last long as Jadeja got him with a beauty that spun across the face of the bat and knocked down the off stump.

Jadeja ensured there would be no more fight from the rival camp when he struck for the second time in the span of five deliveries to get rid of opener Ed Cowan (44; 150b, 6x4), with Virender Sehwag at slip alert to an opportunity that popped up off Dhoni's pads.

Ashwin added five more to the 12 wickets he bagged in Chennai, but it was Jadeja who was all over the Aussies like a rash. His direct hit from covers got rid of Moises Henriques and it was all over bar the shouting for the Aussies. Ashwin sowed the seeds of doubt in Aussie minds with the wickets of David Warner and Phil Hughes, both bowled while attempting the sweep to deliveries bowled over the wicket.

The Australians' lack of experience in Indian conditions and their limitations were fully exposed by the Ashwin-Jadeja duo. Poor shot selection made it worse. Glenn Maxwell failed to pick Ashwin's carrom ball and Virat Kohli took a smart catch -- again off Dhoni's pads -- to dismiss Peter Siddle. Matthew Wade succumbed to Ashwin a delivery later as Dhoni became the most successful Indian captain two minutes into the delayed lunch break.

With 22 Test match victories, he has now eclipsed Sourav Ganguly's mark of 21 wins.

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Agencies
May 22,2020

India's cricket board will not push for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia to be postponed but would consider staging the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the October/November slot if it becomes available, a senior BCCI official has told Reuters.

This year's IPL, which is worth almost $530 million to the BCCI, has been indefinitely postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic while the World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 18, is also in jeopardy.

Reports in Australian media have suggested India's influential board may look to push for the World Cup to be postponed to open up a window for the IPL.

World Cup contingency plans are on the agenda at next week's International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting but BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal said India would not be recommending it be pushed back.

"Why should the BCCI suggest postponing the Twenty20 World Cup?" Dhumal told Reuters by telephone.

"We'll discuss it in the meeting and whatever is appropriate, (the ICC) will take a call.

"If the Australia government announces that the tournament will happen and Cricket Australia is confident they can handle it, it will be their call. BCCI would not suggest anything."

While Australia has seen new infections of the novel coronavirus slow to a trickle and is gradually easing travel curbs and social distancing restrictions, hosting a 16-team World Cup would be a Herculean task for Cricket Australia.

Dhumal questioned whether the tournament should go ahead if it had to be played without spectators and said the Australian government would play a key role in any decision.

"It all depends on what the Australian government says on this - whether they'd allow so may teams to come and play the tournament," he added.

"Will it make sense to play games without spectators? Will it make sense for CA to stage such a tournament like that? It's their call."

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts was guarded about the prospects of staging the tournament as scheduled on Friday.

"We don't have clarity on that one, yet. But as the situation continues to improve, you never know what might be possible," he said.

"It's ultimately a decision for the ICC."

The ICC has said it was unlikely to make a final call on the fate of the World Cup until August but some boards are in the process of making contingency plans in the event of a postponement.

While the BCCI recognised an open October-November window would suit the IPL, Dhumal said there was no point in making plans until there was some certainty about the World Cup.

"If we have the window available, and depending on what all can be organised, we'll decide accordingly," he added. "We can't presume that it's not happening and go on planning."

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News Network
January 12,2020

New Delhi, Jan 12: Flamboyant India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was on Saturday pulled out of the India A team's tour of New Zealand after he failed mandatory fitness tests in Mumbai.

The selectors had picked him in the squad without testing him in the Ranji games.

Tamil Nadu captain Vijay Shankar has been drafted into the India A team and he has already boarded the flight to New Zealand where they will play two 50-over warm-up games, three List A games and two four-day 'Tests' against the home A team.

It has been learnt that Pandya failed a couple of mandatory fitness tests and his scores were well below the permissible range suggesting that he is far from being fit for international cricket. In this situation, pulling him out of the India A squad was expected.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Mumbai, Jan 9: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that the Men in Blue have the edge over Australia in terms of talent and confidence ahead of the two teams' three-match ODI series starting January 14 in Mumbai.

"In the past that wasn't the case because they were doing really well. We were trying to match that level. I feel that Indian cricket is a notch ahead in terms of talent, in terms of cricket and in terms of confidence," Star Sports expert Irfan Pathan said. "The only thing that will make it equal is the kind of pitches we are going to play in Australia because we do not have experience playing on those hard and bouncy pitches," said Pathan, who recently called time on his international career.

Recounting his favourite memory of playing against Australia, Irfan said, "It all started in Australia for me. The most memorable moment was getting my first wicket and helping India win a Test match in Australia after 21 years. Winning the Test in Perth and being named the Man of the Match is also a favourite memory for me."

Australia have already announced their team for the three-match ODI series with India. The team will be led by Aaron Finch. The other members of the team are Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, and Adam Zampa.

India are yet to announce their team but in all probability, it will be led by Virat Kohli who has been in phenomenal form over the last few years. All three ODIs are day and night affair. While the first match of the series is on January 14 in Mumbai, the second will be played at Rajkot on January 17 followed by the January 19 clash in Bengaluru.

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