Sunil Gavaskar has explained that the momentum which Indian team got in Perth was lost during the gap of the 10 days as they lost the second Test match. Australian team shifted the momentum towards their side after they won the pink ball Test in Adelaide.

“The momentum that the Indian team got in Perth was lost during the 10-day gap. Now the momentum is with Australia because they have won this Test match. After the Adelaide Test, a few days later, you are playing at The Gabba. So, the momentum is now with the Australian team,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

India will now face Australia for the third Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is set to begin December 14 in Gabba. The ongoing Test series is very important for India as the chance of India qualifying for the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) is dependent on the outcome of this series.

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Ahead of just 3,162 spectators in Brisbane on Sunday, the hosts were comfortably leading 2-113 in the opening session of the fourth day as they looked to win the series 2-0.

Then, second-gamer Shamar Joseph (7-68) opened the floodgates by taking six wickets in an amazing 10-over performance, despite having had his toe shattered by a Mitchell Starc yorker the previous evening.

In his second Test as an opener, Steve Smith (91 not out) carried his bat and initiated a daring rescue attempt. However, Joseph would not be defeated. In amazing circumstances, he ran towards the boundary and sent Josh Hazlewood’s stumps flying for his seventh wicket, forcing a 1-1 tie in the series.

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Reaching a peak speed of about 150 km/h, Joseph was able to find life with an old pink ball that had given Australia’s batters little trouble in the past. He started the collapse by bowling Travis Head (42) and Cameron Green (42) with successive deliveries.

Head became just the seventh Australian to register a king pair with his golden duck, which was his third consecutive in Test matches at the Gabba. In a frenzied six-over session that also cost 45 runs, Alex Carey (two) became Joseph’s fourth victim after Smith survived the hat-trick ball but Mitchell Marsh (10) did not last much longer.

But Joseph wasn’t finished, as Starc (21 off 14) became his sixth wicket in as many overs, capping an Australian quick’s fleeting appearance that included four boundaries.

When captain Pat Cummins came to the crease ten minutes before the tea break, Australia still needed 45 to win. Cummins had scorched an unbeaten career-best 64 in the first innings before declaring 22 short of the West Indies’ first-innings 311 total. After trailing for just three, Nathan Lyon managed to hold on until halftime, with Australia needing 29 more runs to win and finish a 5-0 summer sweep.

Lyon fell in the first over after the resumption, but Smith continued to counter-attack as he spectacularly ramped a six as the target went into single figures. But he exposed Hazlewood once too often and Joseph clattered the stumps once more to cap an incredible solo performance.

Joseph said he thought he’d struggle to even be at the ground after being forced to retire hurt on Saturday night, until chatting to the team doctor. “He did something to my toe, I don’t know what he did,” Joseph said. “I feel that we’ve won the series, even though it’s 1-1. I already cried after my five-wicket haul … I’m not that tired; I told my skipper today I’d bowl today until the last wicket fell.”

West Indies Test squad for Australia tour: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alzarri Joseph (vice-captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua DaSilva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclai, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.

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With help from technology unavailable, the one delivery of Stokes that was called no-ball was because the TV umpire checked it after David warner, batting on 17 at that time, got bowled on that ball. While the Australian opener got the reprieve, his team lost 13 runs as those deliveries were not called no-balls despite Stokes at times going well over the line. Stokes not being called for these no-balls also meant that he was not able to correct his run-up while both Australia and England lost an opportunity on the extra deliveries.

Under International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, the third umpire in World Test Championship matches is supposed to check every delivery for a no-ball.

The broadcasters later reported that the equipment used by the third umpire to check the front foot had broken down and the officials had reverted to the protocols used before the technology existed.

Unless the equipment can be repaired or replaced, the on-field umpires will call a no-ball if they see it. If they miss it, the position of the front foot will only be checked by the third umpire after the fall of a wicket.

Missing a wicket in his first over would cause a feeling of deja vu for Stokes, who is returning after a break to tend to mental issues following an injury, as he was denied his first Ashes wicket in 2013 when he overstepped the mark in the Adelaide Test with Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin getting the benefit. Haddin, who was caught behind for 51, went on to make 118 after his reprieve. Australia won the series 5-0.

On Thursday, Warner went on to score 94 before getting out caught by Stokes off Ollie Robinson.

Inputs from IANS

The post Ashes 2021: Day 2 of Brisbane Test Plunged Into Controversy As 13 No Balls Not Called By Umpire appeared first on Cricket Country.

The upcoming Ashes is the fifth trip of Anderson, who was a member of the 2010/11 Ashes-winning team.

“There is normally a lot of noise around an Ashes, plenty of verbal bashing, but this feels like the quietest build up to a series I have experienced over here. One guy in a restaurant tried to taunt us but it fell a bit flat when he warned us to get ready for a green seamer at the Gabba. I looked at Stuart Broad and we said ‘great, can’t wait then’,” wrote Anderson.

“This is my fifth Ashes tour and it has a very different vibe to what I have experienced in the past. We have gone out for dinner a few times and the nice welcome, barring the odd one or two individuals, shows the Australian public are genuinely happy to see us this time. They have recently emerged from tough, long lockdowns and are just glad the Ashes series is going ahead,” added Anderson, who has scalped 60 wickets in 18 Tests in Australia.

Talking about how an Ashes series in Australia ignites feelings in England cricketers, Anderson remarked, “There is just something about the Ashes as an England cricketer that lights a fire inside you. You know the history, and how much it means to Australians to beat England in front of their own crowds. You are here to be walloped and laughed at, your purpose is to make Australians feel good about themselves and take national pride in their team. It is our job to make sure that does not happen.”

The 39-year-old mentioned that his own preparation for the Ashes has been very different as compared to previous editions but has cited his rich experience to help him get into the groove. “In terms of bowling overs out in the middle, I have never been so underprepared. With the weather and quarantine, it has been a very different preparation to anything I’ve experienced before, let alone an Ashes. I feel fortunate that with my experience I will be able to switch on when that Test match comes around.”

Anderson signed off by saying that he would be happy if he plays in three Tests in the Ashes and get to be on the winning side for a second time. “Personally, I would be delighted to play three of the five Tests in this series. Any more would be a great bonus. I was going to get through all five against India in the summer before the last was cancelled but this will be more intense and the conditions draining so we are going to have to manage our way through it. It is the same for Australia.”

“There is Test cricket and there is an Ashes series. There is Ashes cricket and then there is an Ashes series in Australia. It is another level again and to win over here for the second time in my career would be a very special feeling.”

(With IANS Inputs)

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“I am honoured to accept this role ahead of what will be a massive Ashes summer. I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim (Paine) has given the group in the past few years. With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad and some great young talent coming through we are a strong and tightly-knit group. This is an unexpected privilege which I am very grateful for and am very much looking forward to”, Cummins, who will lead Australia out against England at The Gabba on December 8 said in a statement.

With this appointment, Cummins has become the first pace bowler since Ray Lindwall, who captained for one Test in 1956, to be appointed skipper of the men’s team.

Cricket Australia’s selection committee, which also includes head coach Justin Langer, had submitted the names of potential candidates to a five-member panel led by CA chairman of selectors George Bailey and also includes Tony Dodemaide, former Australia batter and CA board member Mel Jones, chief executive Nick Hockley and chair Richard Freudenstein.

Ashes 2021

The Ashes are set to start on December 8 with the first Test scheduled to take place at the iconic Gabba. The series has got slightly delayed because the Australian players returning from India after the scheduled ICC T20 World Cup had to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Men’s Ashes schedule

1st Test: December 8-12, Gabba

2nd Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval (D/N)

3rd Test: December 26-30, MCG

4th Test: January 5-9, SCG

5th Test: January 14-18, Perth

(With agency inputs)

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The second Test of the Ashes series will be the only day-night Test and will take place at the Adelaide Oval, starting December 16. The third and fourth Test – which will be the Boxing Day Test and the New Year Test – will take place at the MCG and the SCG respectively.

The six-week-long series concludes at Perth’s new Optus stadium and not WACA.

Here is the schedule released by Cricket Australia.

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“I had a call last night from the BCCI secretary and he confirmed we are good to travel to Brisbane on Tuesday,” Hockley said.

Earlier, the Indian team showed reluctance to travel to Brisbane – where the COVID-19 protocols are strict. This piece of news should come as a relief for fans as there were also talks of the Test being called off.

Things became complicated after Queensland closed its border to Greater Sydney due to the Covid-19 outbreak which emerged before Christmas. From the Indian side showing reluctance to travel to Brisbane to the Health minister making a blunt comment, there were a lot of controversies because the fate of the Test was hanging in the balance.

According to reports, the India team will travel to Brisbane on Tuesday – a day after the ongoing third Test at Sydney. After the completion of the fourth and final Test, the team will leave for India immediately.

Meanwhile, India is in a spot of bother in the third Test at Sydney. The tourists are looking to save the Test on the final day.

At the time of filing the copy, Australia needs seven more wickets to win and they have two sessions to get that. Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara are in the middle.

The post Aus vs Ind, 4th Test, 2020-21: BCCI Confirm Indian Cricket Team Will Travel to Brisbane For Final Test appeared first on Cricket Country.

Cricket Australia is expecting a sold-out T20I series between Virat Kohli’s India  and Aaron Finch’s Australia over the next week, with as many as 130,000 fans believed to be in attendance in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

According to cricket.com.au, over 100,000 tickets for the three-match series have been sold and a further 30,000 are expected. Of these, the most numbers are believed to be for Friday’s second T20I at the MCG where 70,000 spectators are expected.

That is followed by 35,000 fans for the third match in Sydney and 30,000 for the opening match at the Gabba.

The record for most spectators in attendance for a T20I match on Australian soil is 84,041 when Australia hosted India in 2008, which is the one occasion on which over 65,000 fans came to watch a T20I in the country. According to cricket.com.au, a total of 58,787 spectators showed up at the MCG for a T20I between these two teams in 2016.

Australia, ranked third in T20Is, are also going through a lean period, having lost five of their last six T20Is and recently slumped to their 18th ODI defeat in 21 matches. During this time, they lost an unprecedented seven successive ODIs.

The hosts have won nine of 16 T20Is this year, losing seven which includes a run of five defeats in six games – to Pakistan in the final of a tai-series in Zimbabwe followed by three to Pakistan in the UAE last month and now on Saturday to South Africa in a one-off. The win came over hosts UAE before the series loss to Pakistan.

India have a good record in T20Is in Australia – four wins and two losses, of which three came in a landmark sweep in 2016.

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