Following a dominating show with the ball in Brisbane, Australia's star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh hopes that the weather remains in Australia's favour and allows them to take all 20 Indian wickets to win the match. It was a tough day for Team India as they lost four early wickets after conceding 445 runs in the first innings. Speaking at the post-day press conference, Mitchell Marsh said, as quoted by cricket.com.au, "We have got six wickets to take first. But we know that we've got to take 20 wickets to try and win this Test match, and all the conversations and all the planning will be, 'How do we do that?'" "Hopefully, the weather holds off, and tomorrow it's just about coming in, having a crack, and seeing where we get to. We are always asking for the (weather) radar and what's happening, and with two days to go, I think there's still plenty of time for a result," he added. Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah reveals the name of the Indian bowler who is playing with a niggle Dismissing Indian stalwart Virat Kohli for the fourth time in the ongoing series, Mitchell Marsh said, "We know when he walks out, he is a big wicket for them. He is one of the greatest players ever. So, it's about being diligent and executing our plans well. It's nice to get one of the game's greats out." Coming to the match, India won the toss and opted to field. After a wicketless spell of approximately 13 overs on Day 1, India bounced back on Day 2, dismissing Usman Khawaja (21 off 54 balls, three fours), Nathan McSweeney (9), and Marnus Labuschagne (12), reducing Australia to 75/3. However, a 241-run stand between Steve Smith (101 off 190 balls, 10 fours) and Travis Head (152 off 160 balls, 18 fours) shifted the momentum in Australia's favour. Jasprit Bumrah (5/72) eventually broke the partnership, triggering a flurry of wickets. Despite this, Australia ended the day in a commanding position at 405/7, with Alex Carey (45*) and Mitchell Starc (7*) unbeaten at the crease. On Day 3, Carey (70 off 88 balls, seven fours and two sixes) and Starc (18) pushed Australia to a total of 445 in 117.1 overs. Bumrah was the standout bowler for India, taking 6/76. Mohammed Siraj picked up two wickets, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep claimed one each. In their first innings, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (4), Shubman Gill (1), Virat Kohli (3), and Rishabh Pant (9) early. However, KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 33 off 64 balls at the close of play. (With ANI Inputs)
16 December,2024 10:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndia pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah on Monday revealed that Mohammed Siraj has been bowling with a niggle and praised him for fighting through pain during the ongoing third Test against Australia here. Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah revealed that Mohammed Siraj has been bowling with a niggle in the third Test match and Bumrah praised him for his grittiness. Mohammed Siraj snapped two wickets in his 23.2 overs in the first essay. Jasprit Bumrah once again emerged as the best bowler as he claimed six wickets for 76 runs. He also credited Siraj was supporting him despite experiencing the pain. "We (Siraj and I) have had conversations but this was the conversation he had with me before we came here (Brisbane). When we came here in Perth, as well as the last game, he looked in very good spirits," Jasprit Bumrah told reporters after day three. "He was bowling well and he has picked up a fair few of the wickets. In this game, I will give him credit that he had a little bit of a niggle but he still kept on bowling and still helped the team because he knew if he goes inside and he doesn't bowl, then that team will go under pressure." Also Read: "Completely and utterly blindsided'": Jason Gillespie slams PCB for lack of communication "So I think he has got a great attitude and he has got a fighter spirit that the team loves," he said. Mohammed Siraj looked in discomfort after bowling the second ball of the 37th over. The Indian physio came in to check the speedster following which Siraj left the field and Akash Deep completed the over. The 30-year-old, however, returned to the field on Day 2 and ended up taking the wickets of Australia skipper Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. "I personally love that as well, that he is up for a fight and he always gives it all for the team. So I think that is the biggest positive for any cricketer going forward. "That he gives it his absolute best on the field. And even when he is not 100% fit, when he has got a niggle, he is still fighting for the team. So that is a great attitude." "Keep running in, keep having a smile on your face." Mohammed Siraj has registered five and four wickets in the first two Test matches in Perth and Adelaide, but he is being criticized for a lack of control over his lines and lengths. However, Jasprit Bumrah has advised Siraj to just focus on the controllables. "Yes, in terms of wickets and all, some days you will bowl well, the wickets will come as I spoke to him before. And some days you will not bowl very well but the wickets will follow. So it's all money in the bank," Bumrah said. "That is the conversation that I have had with him. That you keep focusing on your stuff, things that you can control. "You wanted to play Test cricket, you are doing that. Your family is really proud of you. You are doing something that not many have done before. So I think he is in a very good space. "I don't know what else is happening. But he has got a great attitude and that is a very big positive for us." India was 51/4 on a rain-hit third day in reply to Australia's huge first-innings total of 445. (With PTI Inputs)
16 December,2024 09:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Australian pacer Jason Gillespie slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board after he stepped down from the national team's head coach position. Gillespie stated that he was completely and utterly blindsided by the cricket board in Pakistan. Jason Gillespie, whose contract was set to expire in 2026 resigned last week. Following the resignation, he expressed his frustration by saying that there was lack of communication which made him feel that the board no longer needed him in the role. "There were certainly challenges. I went into the job eyes wide open, I want to make that really clear. I knew that, you know, Pakistan had cycled through a number of coaches in a pretty short space of time. "The straw that broke the camel's back, I suppose, was, as a head coach, you like to have clear communication with your employer," Jason Gillespie told ABC Sport. "I was completely and utterly blindsided by a decision to not have a high-performance coach," he added. Also Read: "It's not just about chess, there's lot of emotional pressure too": D Gukesh The PCB didn't review the contract of Tim Nielsen, who was brought in on the recommendation of the former Aussie quick, as the high-performance coach of the team. "Tim Nielsen was told that his services were no longer required and I had absolutely zero communication from anyone about that. "And I just thought after a number of other things that had gone on in the previous few months, that was probably the moment where I thought, 'Well, I'm not really sure if they actually want me to do this job or not." Adding to Jason Gillespie's frustration was the fact that the feedback given to him regarding Nielsen and the team's performance was positive. "I developed a really close relationship with the Test captain, Shan Masood, and felt we were certainly going in the right direction and things were going really well," he said. "All the feedback that I'd got or the feedback the PCB got was just how effective, you know, Tim had been in his role as well and the players were getting a lot out of him." Jason Gillespie guided Pakistan to a 2-1 win against England in October, after losing the first match by an innings and 47 runs. However, after the loss in the first Test, he was informed that a new selection panel would be introduced, and he would not be a part of it. He felt his role as head coach was diminished and even suggested that he often didn't know the team lineup until the day before a match. This lack of clarity and communication only deepened his frustration with the PCB's handling of his position."I felt I was basically hitting catches and that was about it on the morning of a game," he said. "You want to be able to have clear communication with all stakeholders, with selectors, for instance, knowing what the team is as head coach well before the game, or before at least the day before the game," he said. (With PTI Inputs)
16 December,2024 07:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSpeaking exclusively to Star Sports, former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar spoke on how India’s top order collapsed on day 3 of the test match: I think at times you also have to look at what the opposition is doing better. Now after their first innings loss or poor performance against the Indian bowlers, the Australian team thought that let us see through Bumrah and that's where you could see the clear game plan working in the title test match wherein McSweeney and Labuschagne played out a crucial session so that their middle order can come in and cash in and that allowed Travis Head to play with a lot of freedom. That is something that the Indian top order should look, they should sort of start talking in the lines of, hey, let's try and get Cummins to bowl the fourth spell or Hazelwood get the fourth spell. Do they really have that sort of decisiveness to rattle us with the older ball? And those are the challenges that you have to give as a batting group to one another and try and get out of this rut because in four innings out of the five on this series, we've seen the same story happening again. Also Read: "Sky's limit for Prithvi Shaw": Shreyas Iyer Speaking exclusively to Star Sports, former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden spoke on India’s batting collapse: I just feel at the moment that there's an urgency around India's batting. It has to be an effort over time here at The Gabba. Technically, you know, find a way to get through the new ball. You haven't got that long. You know, those wickets all came largely within the first 10 overs. So for mine, just having, you know, this brewing effort around trying to find a way to stay and remain at the crease. Nathan McSweeney hasn't set this series on light. But what he has done is resisted the urge to get out early. Ousman Khawaja is a bit the same. And that's Australian conditions. It's a new ball wicket. Melbourne will be no different, nor Sydney. Speaking exclusively to Star Sports, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar spoke on how Team India should have approached their batting: Yeah, don't look at a scoreboard. Just look at the clock and just get there. That's the thing that this is where I want to be at lunch. And then because it gives you a little time to settle down, it also gives you a sense of what the pitch is. Second ball you play, you're not even, you know, the first ball has been a streaky boundary as well for Jaiswal. Second ball, obviously. So maybe the other thing could be that because he's got out now twice in the first innings within three deliveries, first ball in Adelaide, second ball over here, maybe Rahul takes the first ball. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 December,2024 05:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPrithvi Shaw's fall from prodigy to prodigal has been seemingly irreversible, but Shreyas Iyer feels that Mumbai batsman can reach the deserving heights if he gets his work ethics right. Prithvi Shaw gave glimpses of his talent in the concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Mumbai under Shreyas Iyer clinched the title. Iyer scored 197 runs in nine matches but was not able to score a fifty. "I think personally he is a God gifted player. The amount of talent he possesses as an individual, no one has it. It's just that he needs to improve his work ethics", said Shreyas Iyer after Mumbai's 5-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh here in the SMAT final. "He needs to get his work ethics right. And if he does that, sky's the limit for him", he said. However, Iyer said the desire to embrace redemption should stem within Shaw himself. Also Read: "Indian team is in transition, it's my job to help others", says Jasprit Bumrah "We can't babysit anyone, right? He has played so much cricket. Everyone has given him inputs. At the end of the day, it's his job to figure out things for himself. And he has also done it in the past. It's not that he hasn't", he said. Detailing his point, Iyer said: "He has to focus. He has to sit back and put a thinking cap on. He will get the answer by himself. No one can force him to do anything." Shreyas Iyer's appreciation of Ajinkya Rahane should work as a guide for Prithvi Shaw. "He is that sort of a character who will give 110% for the team. He started at number 4, where he knew that there were two openers. So, he sacrificed his position and then after that when Surya came in, he became an opener. So he is a fantastic team man." "But irrespective, salute to him, the way he approached each and every game, match by match. I am a firm believer of someone who has a certain type of routine and he is one of them", he said. Ajinkya Rahane emerged as the top run-scorer in this edition of SMAT. He garnered 469 runs with an average of 58.62 and a strike rate of 165. Mumbai's cupboard is brimming with young talent, and Iyer underlining that fact might just also have been a mild warning to Prithvi haw to knuckle down. "All the youngsters who have come up and the way they showcase their talent is simply phenomenal. You should see their character and their approach outside the dressing room and also on the field." "They're fearless in their approach and this is the kind of players we need to back. And for me personally, whenever I go out there I want to win. It doesn't matter who we play, winning is something that makes me feel happy and it is everything for me", he explained. But for now, Iyer wants to immerse in the joy of leading his side to the second SMAT title after 2022, without worrying about the road ahead including a new IPL franchise in Punjab Kings. "Right now I just want to go and enjoy it with my teammates. I am not thinking about what to plan ahead. Go out there, enjoy with my teammates, my family, my friends." "Get some applause from my friends about this success. Cherish it. And after that, we will see what is up there", said Shreyas Iyer. (With PTI Inputs)
16 December,2024 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah defended his side in Australia and turned down the talks of additional pressure on him. He said that the team is in transition and given his experience, it's his job to take extra responsibility. Having opted to bowl first in the third Test match at Gabba, Team India was smashed for a huge first-innings total of 445 runs. Jasprit Bumrah claimed six wickets for 76 runs. In response, Team India skittled down to 51 runs for the loss of four wickets. Later, the play was abandoned for the day due to bad lighting and rain interruption. Also Read: Two unbeaten 36s in five days! This young Mumbai talent ruled SMAT T20 final with flair "We don't, as a team, point fingers at each other and we don't want to get into that mindset where we are pointing fingers at each other that 'you should do this, you should do that'," Bumrah told media after stumps when asked for his assessment of India's batting. "We, as a team, are going through a transition, new players are coming here and it's not the easiest place to play cricket. Over here, it's a different atmosphere with this wicket being a different challenge so yeah, we are not looking at that." Jasprit Bumrah who leads the pace attack defended the Indian attack on remarks of him not getting required support from other pacers. "As a bowling unit, as I said, we are in transition so it's my job to help the others. I have played a little more than them so I am trying to help them," he said. India laboured to 51 for 4 as Australia put themselves in the driver's seat on a rain-marred day three of the third Test at the Gabba. Rain hung around Brisbane for the most part of the day, and in the end, the play was officially called off after the sixth interruption. (With PTI Inputs)
16 December,2024 03:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThirty-six is an important number in Suryansh Shedge's fledgling career. The two unbeaten 36s in five days during the just-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy showcased the bubbling talent and maturity inside this 21-year-old from Mumbai. The first 36 (12 balls) came on December 11 at Alur against Vidarbha. Mumbai needed 65 runs off 29 balls and Shedge took Mandar Mahale to the cleaners, striking him for 6, 6, 6, 4 to bring the equation down to more manageable levels. Stand and deliver!Suryansh Shedge with the finishing touch for Mumbai ✨Scorecard - https://t.co/4J8WAjUsK9#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @MumbaiCricAssoc pic.twitter.com/RauIq8gKrS — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 15, 2024 The second 36 (15 balls) came on Sunday in the SMAT final against Madhya Pradesh. Shedge walked in when Mumbai needed 46 from 34 balls, not tough in T20s but the pressure of the final could make a difference. However, Shedge coolly clobbered Venkatesh Iyer for two sixes before smashing Tripuresh Singh for 4, 6, 6 to put a lid on the match. Being a finisher in T20s can be a nerve-jangling job even for the seasoned names, and this young man has pulled it off twice under pressure situations. "I was told beforehand that this would be my role. I would be batting at 5 or 6. So coming into this tournament, I tweaked my practice sessions a bit. I was playing 6-ball sets, trying to score a certain amount of runs in those 6 balls. That kind of helps," Shedge said after the SMAT final. Also Read: Rain plays spoilsport as India end day 3 at 51/4 in reply to Australia's 445 "I was taking breaks after every 6 balls because when you go into bat, you will only get 10-15 balls to face. So, I was trying to simulate that in the practice session," he added. However, the simulation routine does not programme his brain to play premeditated shots. "Before the bowler is on his run-up, I don't think of any shots. When he starts running, then my brain starts working. Then I commit (to a shot). There are no double thoughts in my head. That's an important point. If you're in a dilemma whether to play the shot or not, then 5 out of 10 times you won't connect it. But when you go for it, I think you'll connect it. So, it kind of becomes a muscle memory." It is of no wonder then that Shedge is an admirer of Hardik Pandya and Ben Stokes, two of the cleanest strikers in contemporary cricket. But Shedge has not limited himself to the barriers of cricket in his quest to maximise his abilities. "I like competition. I like pressure because it tests me. And at the end of the night, when my head hits the pillow, I want to feel that satisfaction of doing something for the team. So, I have inculcated breathing exercises before matches. It increases relaxation because I have high energy," he said. Also Read: Five city cricketers in Maha U-19 squad Shedge received a vote of confidence from his skipper Shreyas Iyer. "We all have seen him perform in the last few games. But I saw him in the nets. I wasn't judging him through his performances elsewhere. I really love his work ethic. He is someone who puts in hard yards. Even after the game, he goes, he trains and you could see it in his athletic ability," said Shreyas. "He's a phenomenal talent. He's that kind of a player who is always there for the team. He goes full throttle, he's hell bent towards achieving success and that's what fascinates me about him," he added. This self-awareness is possibly coming out of the tough year Shedge had to go through in 2023. "A huge blow that I got was last year when I got a stress fracture in the L4 region. I was just going to enter the Syed Mushtaq Ali season. Lucknow Super Giants was going to retain me, but then they had to release me because of injury. I couldn't attend an NCA camp also because of the injury. So, the first two months were hard for me. But my parents, my coaches, Abhishek Nair sir, Monty Desai sir and Manish Bangera sir, they helped me a lot when I was going through the motions," said Shedge. Beyond all these, Shedge is a cricket nerd who is glued to YouTube footage of matches when he is not on field. "I watch a lot of cricket. It instills love for cricket. And it keeps on increasing." The day might not be very long when cricket returns that love to Shedge. (With agency inputs)
16 December,2024 01:40 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondentIndia laboured to 51 for 4 as Australia put themselves in the driver's seat on a rain-marred day three of the third Test at the Gabba on Monday. After Australia ended their first innings at 445, India's top order flattered to deceive, throwing away their wickets to end the day in a precarious position. Rain hung around Brisbane for most of the day, and in the end, the play was officially called off after the sixth interruption. India need to reach 246 to avoid the follow-on. The visitors trail by 394 runs. Earlier, Australia added 40 runs to their overnight total. The pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep picked a wicket each to stop the hosts from reaching 450. In a rain-curtailed session, Australian skipper Pat Cummins increased India's woes with Rishabh Pant's dismissal during the third day of the third Test. At the stroke of Tea, India managed to crawl its way to 48/4, trailing by 397 runs, with KL Rahul and skipper Rohit Sharma unbeaten with scores of 30 (52) and 0 (1), respectively. The consistent rain in Brisbane didn't help India one bit. The constant interference of the weather gods made the passage of play short, and at that moment, Rishabh Pant lost his wicket to Australian skipper Pat Cummins. Also Read: Virat Kohli’s familiar off-stump flaw triggers backlash, Gavaskar-Bangar react While the break allowed Australian pacers to stay fresh, the Indian batters struggled to find their rhythm due to the limited time at the crease. Pant returned to The Gabba three years after bringing down the walls of Australia's fortress. India's situation was not good right from the beginning, and it became more difficult after Virat Kohli's bat was silenced by Josh Hazlewood. With India in dire need of a similar act of heroism from Pant, the southpaw showed signs of promise by picking up three runs on his first deliver of the match. Rain interrupted the session again, but Pant remained consistent in his approach of picking up runs on loose deliveries that fell in his hitting arc. As Pant and Rahul started to gain momentum with the odds stacked against them, rain once again came in to take away all of it. The duo returned once the rain let off. Rahul arguably played the shot of the day with a cover drive straight out of the cricket textbooks off Cummins. With the scoreboard regularly ticking and the partnership becoming a threat to the Australians, Cummins upped the ante to extend the dominance exuded by the hosts. The Australian skipper had worked out his angles and pitched the delivery beautifully to draw Pant (9) out. He nipped the ball away from Pant enough to catch the outside edge straight through to Carey. Rahul tried to take the fight back by reeling off a four off Mitchell Starc, which turned out to be the final action in the second session. Earlier in the day, in a start-stop session utterly dominated by Australia, Indian players were once again asked to reflect on their flaws as the impending doom of defeat started to linger in Brisbane. It was A-Lister Jasprit Bumrah who paved the way for India by removing Mitchell Starc in the opening hour. Starc looked deadly the moment he smoked the ball into the stand with a picture-perfect slog-sweep off Ravindra Jadeja. Bumrah sensed the threat radiating from the Starc and forced out an edge from the southpaw in the next over. Starc's feet were stuck on the ground as he attempted to push the ball away. Also Read: IN PHOTOS: Rain threat casts shadow over Brisbane Test A loose waft from the Australian was enough to pick up a nick as the ball travelled into the safe gloves of Rishabh Pant. With Alex Carey on the field, Nathan Lyon resisted the temptation to go after the Indian attack, as rain made its presence felt at irregular intervals. With the tempo of the day set, Mohammed Siraj broke the shackles and managed to breach Lyon's defence to hit the middle stump. With just a wicket left, Carey decided to charge at Akash Deep but ended up mistiming his shot, forcing Australia to wrap up its inning on 445. In reply, Indian batters continued to live through the nightmares inflicted in Adelaide, with Starc being the driving force of the Australian pace attack. His first victim of the day was Yashasvi Jaiswal, a player he has developed a rivalry with since the Perth Test. The young Indian southpaw managed to avoid a golden duck by edging the ball to the boundary. Still, Starc retaliated by swinging the ball and using the scrambled seam delivery to its effective use. He picked up Jaiswal's wicket on his second ball of the match after the Indian chipped it away straight into Mitchell Marsh's hands. Shubman Gill (1) was next to return cheaply after he edged it away to Marsh, who took a flight and snaffled it with both hands. Virat Kohli (3) soon joined the duo's company after being tempted by Hazlewood to chase the outside off delivery and edge it away towards the wicketkeeper. Brief Scores: Australia 1st Innings: 445 all out in 117.1 overs (Travis Head 152, Steve Smith 101; Jasprit Bumrah 6/76). India 1st innings: 51 for 4 in 17 overs (KL Rahul 33 batting; Mitchell Starc 2/25) (With agency inputs)
16 December,2024 01:16 PM IST | Brisbane | mid-day online correspondentVirat Kohli’s ongoing battle with deliveries outside the off-stump continues to haunt him, and the Gabba Test was no exception. Josh Hazlewood repeatedly targeted that familiar off-stump line, and Kohli fell for a paltry 3. The 36-year-old played a wide delivery right into his body, only to edge it straight to Alex Carey, who didn’t even need to break a sweat in securing the catch. This dismissal came at a time when India was already teetering, having lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Even a school child will understand that the same mistake should not be repeated. Meanwhile Virat Kohli after 15 years of international cricket !! How ??#INDvsAUS #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/8ydBJkgPNg — Crick Forecast (@crickforecast) December 16, 2024 India desperately needed their star batsman to steady the ship, but Kohli’s overwhelming urge to chase every delivery outside off-stump led to yet another self-inflicted wound. Hazlewood’s delivery, predictably wide outside off, had Kohli once again failing to adjust his footwork. Instead of leaving it, he reached for it, conveniently handing Australia a vital wicket. Naturally, the Aussies erupted in celebration, knowing they had just removed one of India’s key players. Also Read: India staring down the barrel as Australia strike thrice Meanwhile, fans have been having a field day on social media, unleashing brutal trolling, and questioning why Kohli continues to chase deliveries outside the off-stump that seem to have his number every time. His struggle against these deliveries is glaringly evident, and fans are left scratching their heads, wondering if Kohli ever plans to learn from this recurring nightmare. Virat Kohli is as reliable as a batter as any number eleven. Losing wickets to the deliveries on the off where shot should not be attempted. Terrible tactics. Stubbornness that can be fixed only by playing in the domestic circuit, but he's too arrogant to do that. — Tushar Gupta (@Tushar15_) December 16, 2024 Dear Virat Kohli, Why can’t you simply LEAVE that delivery? Poori duniya bol bol ke thak gayi hai, aapko sunai nahi de raha?@imVkohli pic.twitter.com/D5tPbPqCyV — Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) December 16, 2024 The problem with Virat Kohli is that he thinks he is bigger than the game. Hence repeating the same mistakes.Instead God Sachin Tendulkar's 241 innings demonstrated his control and respect for the game.Virat's downfall has started..!! — UmdarTamker (@UmdarTamker) December 16, 2024 Virat Kohli can never be close to Sachin pic.twitter.com/kcKUknyRFZ — Div🦁 (@div_yumm) December 16, 2024 India now finds itself under immense pressure, as Australia stands poised to dictate the terms, having already posted a colossal 445 in their first innings, thanks to dazzling centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith. Also Read: Play resumes after rain interruption in Brisbane In reply, India’s top order crumbled early, with Jaiswal and Gill departing quickly, followed by Kohli and Rishabh Pant to set the stage for a ruthless Australian attack to put India firmly on the back foot. Despite evident efforts during net sessions to rectify the issue ahead of the Brisbane Test, Kohli’s inability to adapt in match situations has become a recurring concern. His dismissal in Brisbane is part of a series of similar errors, prompting former cricketers to raise alarms about the consistency of one of India's most reliable batters. Speaking to Star Sports, Sanjay Bangar pointed out that while Kohli’s recent dismissals have often been due to exceptional bowling, his latest mistake was entirely avoidable. Hazlewood’s delivery, which was pitched fuller and well outside off stump, enticed Kohli into a loose drive, leading to a catch to Australia’s wicketkeeper, Alex Carey. Also Read: IN PHOTOS: Virat Kohli’s persistent off-stump flop show draws sharp criticism Offering advice to Kohli, Sunil Gavaskar reflected on Sachin Tendulkar's unforgettable 241 in the 2003-04 Sydney Test, where Tendulkar deliberately avoided his signature cover drive and concentrated primarily on leg-side strokes. Gavaskar suggested Kohli should adopt a similar approach and temporarily disregard playing shots on the off-side. Meanwhile, Sanjay Manjrekar commented on the persistence of certain technical flaws among players, seemingly referring to Kohli, who once again succumbed to a wide delivery outside the off stump and made an early return to the pavilion. "I guess the time has come to scrutinise the role of a batting coach in the Indian team. Why major technical issues have remained unresolved for so long with certain Indian batters," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
16 December,2024 10:39 AM IST | Brisbane | mid-day online correspondentPlay resumed after heavy showers forced the players indoors in the second session of the third day's play in the third Test between India and Australia on Monday. India were struggling at 27 for three when the covers had come on and the players headed back to the dressing room. Earlier, just as Josh Hazlewood induced a nick from Virat Kohli to account for the veteran batter for the second time this series, the heavens opened up leading to an interruption and forcing an early lunch. Earlier, India had bowled out Australia for 445 in their first innings. The start of play on day three and India's innings were also slightly delayed due to rain. Rain had marred the opening day as well with less than 15 overs of play possible. As the rain came down from the sky covered with dark clouds, both sides had to take Lunch, with India reduced to 22/3, trailing by 423 runs, with KL Rahul unbeaten with a score of 13(24). In a start-stop session utterly dominated by Australia, Indian players were once again asked to reflect on their flaws as the impending doom of defeat started to linger in Brisbane. It was A-Lister Jasprit Bumrah who paved the way for India by removing Mitchell Starc in the opening hour. Starc looked deadly the moment he smoked the ball into the stand with a picture-perfect slog-sweep off Ravindra Jadeja. Also Read: India staring down the barrel as Australia strike thrice Bumrah sensed the threat radiating from the Starc and forced out an edge from the southpaw in the next over. Starc's feet were stuck on the ground as he made an attempt to push the ball away. A loose waft from the Australian was enough to pick up a nick as the ball travelled into the safe gloves of Rishabh Pant. With Alex Carey on the field, Nathan Lyon resisted the temptation to go after the Indian attack, as rain made its presence felt at irregular intervals. With the tempo of the day set, Mohammed Siraj broke the shackles and managed to breach past Lyon's defence to hit the middle stump. With just a wicket left, Carey decided to charge at Akash Deep but ended up mistiming his shot, forcing Australia to wrap up its inning on 445. In reply, Indian batters continued to live through the nightmares inflicted in Adelaide, with Starc being the driving force of the Australian pace attack. His first victim of the day was Yashasvi Jaiswal, a player he has developed a rivalry with since the Perth Test. The young Indian southpaw managed to avoid a golden duck by edging the ball to the boundary, but Starc retaliated by swinging the ball and using the scrambled seam delivery to its effective use. He picked up Jaiswal's wicket on his second ball of the match after the Indian chipped it away straight into Mitchell Marsh's hands. Shubman Gill (1) was next to return cheaply after he edged it away to Marsh, who took a flight and snaffled it with both hands. Kohli (3) soon joined the company of the duo after being tempted by Hazlewood to chase the outside off delivery and edge it away towards the wicketkeeper. This marked the final action of the session as KL Rahul, who looked the most settled out there, returned to the dressing room. The five-match series is locked at 1-1. (With agency inputs)
16 December,2024 10:01 AM IST | Brisbane | mid-day online correspondentHeavy showers interrupted the proceedings in the second session of the third day's play in the third Test between India and Australia on Monday. India were struggling at 27 for three when the covers came on and the players headed back to the dressing room. Earlier, just as Josh Hazlewood induced a nick from Virat Kohli to account for the veteran batter for the second time this series, the heavens opened up leading to an interruption and forcing an early lunch. Earlier, India had bowled out Australia for 445 in their first innings. The start of play on day three and India's innings were also slightly delayed due to rain. Rain had marred the opening day as well with less than 15 overs of play possible. As the rain came down from the sky covered with dark clouds, both sides had to take Lunch, with India reduced to 22/3, trailing by 423 runs, with KL Rahul unbeaten with a score of 13(24). In a start-stop session utterly dominated by Australia, Indian players were once again asked to reflect on their flaws as the impending doom of defeat started to linger in Brisbane. It was A-Lister Jasprit Bumrah who paved the way for India by removing Mitchell Starc in the opening hour. Starc looked deadly the moment he smoked the ball into the stand with a picture-perfect slog-sweep off Ravindra Jadeja. Bumrah sensed the threat radiating from the Starc and forced out an edge from the southpaw in the next over. Starc's feet were stuck on the ground as he made an attempt to push the ball away. Also Read: India staring down the barrel as Australia strike thrice A loose waft from the Australian was enough to pick up a nick as the ball travelled into the safe gloves of Rishabh Pant. With Alex Carey on the field, Nathan Lyon resisted the temptation to go after the Indian attack, as rain made its presence felt at irregular intervals. With the tempo of the day set, Mohammed Siraj broke the shackles and managed to breach past Lyon's defence to hit the middle stump. With just a wicket left, Carey decided to charge at Akash Deep but ended up mistiming his shot, forcing Australia to wrap up its inning on 445. In reply, Indian batters continued to live through the nightmares inflicted in Adelaide, with Starc being the driving force of the Australian pace attack. His first victim of the day was Yashasvi Jaiswal, a player he has developed a rivalry with since the Perth Test. The young Indian southpaw managed to avoid a golden duck by edging the ball to the boundary, but Starc retaliated by swinging the ball and using the scrambled seam delivery to its effective use. He picked up Jaiswal's wicket on his second ball of the match after the Indian chipped it away straight into Mitchell Marsh's hands. Shubman Gill (1) was next to return cheaply after he edged it away to Marsh, who took a flight and snaffled it with both hands. Virat Kohli (3) soon joined the company of the duo after being tempted by Hazlewood to chase the outside off delivery and edge it away towards the wicketkeeper. This marked the final action of the session as KL Rahul, who looked the most settled out there, returned to the dressing room. The five-match series is locked at 1-1. (With agency inputs)
16 December,2024 09:12 AM IST | Brisbane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
