Marnus Labuschagne joins Australia teammates for fourth Test against India

All-rounder Marnus Labuschagne has had his first training session with the Australian teammates since being called into the extended squad for the fourth and final Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starting Thursday.

Labuschagne bowled a spell of leg-spins and hit-out in the nets at the Aussie team’s optional session at the SCG on New Year’s Day, as he is set to play his first Test on home soil.

The 24-year-old, who made his debut against Pakistan in the UAE last year, has been included into the squad at the expense of Mitchell Marsh as a top-six batsman and extra bowling option.

Axed batsman Peter Handscomb also marked his attendance, after admitting last week about his chances of making a comeback into the side for the all-important Sydney Test.

The pair was joined by the majority of Australian top order batsmen, with the quicks – including Mitchell Marsh – taking the morning off alongside Shaun Marsh and Travis Head.

India defeated Australia by 137 runs in the third Test at MCG to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

Squad: Tim Paine (c, WK), Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Marnus Labuschagne

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2CHpXz9

Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler in the world: Virat Kohli

Indian captain Virat Kohli has rated Jasprit Bumrah as the “best bowler in the world” and someone even he would be “scared to face” on a bouncy Perth wicket.

Courtesy Bumrah’s best bowling figures 9 for 86, India defeated the hosts Australia by 137 runs in the third Test to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

Kohli also opened up about Bumrah’s work ethic and his impact on the team during the post-match media interaction.

The star batsman feels that it is Bumrah’s mindset what separates him from anyone else in the world right now.

Here are the excerpts from Kohli’s media interaction:

On Bumrah’s influence

Jasprit obviously is the best bowler in the world, as per me. He is a match winner, without doubt, even if he has only been playing (Test cricket) for 12 months. I mean if there was a pitch like Perth, I wouldn’t want to face Jasprit Bumrah to be honest because if he gets on a roll, he can really crank it up. The way he bowls is so much more different to anyone and I think he realizes that more than the batsmen. That’s why he is so confident about his skills.

On Bumrah’s transformation

I think the fact that he was showing amazing levels of energy and fitness in white-ball cricket and hence he was so good because he was not giving runs with the new ball. He was getting wickets; he would come back in the death overs and not bowl one loose delivery. He was training like he wanted to play Test cricket. He was that obsessed about his fitness levels and his work ethics. So we discussed before South Africa that if we put him as a surprise package he could be lethal if he gets his lines and lengths right.

On the pacer’s mindset

The mindset he (Bumrah) has is what separates him from anyone else in the world right now. He looks at the pitch and he doesn’t think it’s a hard toil on these wickets. He thinks how can I take make a breakthrough for the team and your mindset separates you from the rest. He is as strong headed as I have seen anyone in the past and that’s the key to his success, and that’s what I have seen in the past 12 months. The way he has matured and the areas he has bowled so quickly in his Test career I think it’s a scary sign for the batsmen around the world.

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2QdVBrs

ICC announces the women’s ODI team of the year 2018

The International Cricket Council on Monday announced the women’s ODI team of the year with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates named as captain of the 50-over side.

Bates’ appointment as the ODI skipper is a recognition of her contribution in inspiring her side to the second position in the ICC Women’s Championship after three rounds.

In the seven ODIs this calendar year, Bates has scored 438 runs with two centuries and a half-century. She is currently ranked seventh in the ICC Women’s Players Rankings for ODI Batters.

The 11-member women’s ODI side comprises players from seven countries, including two each from England (Tammy Beaumont and Sophie Ecclestone), India (Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Yadav), New Zealand (Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine) and South Africa (Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp), and one player each from Australia (Alyssa Healy), Pakistan (Sana Mir) and Deandra Dottin (the Windies).

The voting academy consisted of Melinda Farrell, Melanie Jones, Lisa Sthalekar (all Australia), Charlotte Edwards, Kalika Mehta (both England), Anjum Chopra, Snehal Pradhan (both India), Lesley Murdoch (New Zealand), Urooj Mumtaz (Pakistan), Natalie Germanos (South Africa), Alan Wilkins (Wales) Ian Bishop (West Indies).

ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year (in batting order):

1. Smriti Mandhana (India)
2. Tammy Beaumont (England)
3. Suzie Bates (New Zealand – captain)
4. Dane van Niekerk (South Africa)
5. Sophie Devine (New Zealand)
6. Alyssa Healy (Australia – wicketkeeper)
7. Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)
8. Deandra Dottin (Windies)
9. Sana Mir (Pakistan)
10. Sophie Ecclestone (England)
11. Poonam Yadav (India)

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2Soz258

Smriti Mandhana wins ICC women’s cricketer of the year award

India’s stylish left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana has won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and also been named as the ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday.

Mandhana has helped India win an ODI series against England and T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka and South Africa this year. The 22-year-old finished as the highest scorer in ODIs in 2018 with 669 runs in 12 matches at an average of 66.90. She notched seven half-centuries and a hundred in 2018.

Mandhana, who scored 622 runs in T20Is in 2018, was among the three players who crossed 600 runs. She was the third highest scorer in the World T20 with 178 runs.

New Zealand’s all-rounder Sophie Devine was the runner-up for the ODI Player of the Year, while Pakistan bowler Sana Mir was third in the race.

Meanwhile, Australia’s opening batter and wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy, who came up with some superb performances and finished with 225 runs in six matches at the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 in the West Indies, has been named as the ICC Women’s T20I Player of the Year.

England’s 19-year-old left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone has been voted the ICC Women’s Emerging Player of the Year after grabbing 18 wickets in nine ODIs and 17 in 14 T20Is during the calendar year.

Winners:

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ICC Women’s T20I Player of the Year – Alyssa Healy (Australia)

ICC Women’s Emerging Player of the Year – Sophie Ecclestone (England)

*The voting academy: Melinda Farrell, Melanie Jones, Lisa Sthalekar (all Australia), Charlotte Edwards, Kalika Mehta (both England), Anjum Chopra, Snehal Pradhan (both India), Lesley Murdoch (New Zealand), Urooj Mumtaz (Pakistan), Natalie Germanos (South Africa), Alan Wilkins (Wales) Ian Bishop (West Indies).

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2LLcysI

Rohit Sharma and Ritika Sajdeh blessed with a baby girl

India’s limited-overs deputy Rohit Sharma and his wife Ritika Sajdeh were blessed with a baby girl on Sunday (December 30), the BCCI has confirmed in an official statement.

Rohit left for Mumbai on Sunday evening to join his wife and will miss the fourth and final Test against Australia in Sydney starting January 3. He will join the ODI squad on January 8 ahead of the limited-overs series that starts on 12th January.

Ritika’s cousin Seema Khan, who is also Sohail Khan’s wife, had earlier posted an Instagram story captioned ‘baby girl’ and ‘masis again’ with a picture of her and Ritika, setting off celebrations among the ‘Hitman’ fans.

Rohit could not be present beside his wife to witness the birth of his first child as he was part of the Indian team that won a historic Test match at the MCG on Sunday.

He, however, had shared his excitement about the impending addition to his family in a recent interview with Michael Clarke.

“I cannot wait to be a father; it is going to be a game-changing moment in our lives. I am eagerly awaiting the moment of becoming a father. It will be a moment to change our life,” Rohit had said.

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2EZ1o2b

Anushka Sharma shares an Instagram story after India’s historic win over Australia at MCG

India registered a historic win in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. With the win at the MCG, India have now taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match Test series.

The Boxing Day Test win at the MCG gave Virat Kohli his 11th away Test win as captain in just 24 Tests and he went to equal with Sourav Ganguly on the record, who had achieved 11 away Test wins in 28 matches as captain. Also, Kohli has become the first Indian captain to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy in Australia.

Meanwhile, Virat’s wife and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma even shared an Instagram story after India registered the memorable win over Australia in the third Test match in Melbourne.

She took to the photo-sharing website to share her happiness over the team’s win. She posted a clip of the match and captioned it, ‘Historic win’.

However, Virat is in no mood to let up and is already marshalling his troops for the final Test in Sydney, starting January 5.

“We are not going to stop here. This has given us more confidence to play more positive cricket in Sydney.

“We’ve done well in all three departments, which is why we’ve retained the trophy. But we want to continue. This is how we played in South Africa too, and we’re ready for the final game,” he said at the post-match press conference.

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2BPVlcS

Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli celebrate differently after India script history at MCG

Team India’s head coach Ravi Shastri was in high spirits after Virat Kohli & Co. scripted history at MCG on Sunday.

Shastri was seen drinking beer one arrival to the team hotel. The ‘Bharat Army’ was waiting outside the hotel and once the gates of the team bus opened out came Shatri with a beer bottle in his hand. H was delighted after Team India managed to beat the Aussies by 137 runs and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the ongoing four-match Test series.

#AUSvIND A little dance from @imVkohli as The Bharat Army give #TeamIndia a special welcome back to the team hotel. #BharatArmy #TeamIndia #IndianCricketTeam #COTI pic.twitter.com/wEHElXDy9H

— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) December 30, 2018

Captain Kohli, too was in high spirits after the memorable win and he broke into a dance step, which excited the Indian fans even further.

A little dance from @imVkohli as @thebharatarmy give #TeamIndia a special welcome back to the team hotel! #AUSvIND

(VIDEO Credit – alysyed on Insta) pic.twitter.com/RdvMHyHmMZ

— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@TeamVirat) December 30, 2018

The final Test match of the series will be played at the SCG on January 3. The Indian skipper has already made it clear that the win at the MCG would not change things for the team going into the fourth and final Test match.

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2EVvTXn

Team India reacts after defeating the Aussies in the Boxing Day Test

Virat Kohli-led Team India scripted a historic 137-run win against the Aussies in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.

It was the speedster Jasprit Bumrah, who got things done in a right way as his nine-wicket haul in the match helped India to register their 150th Test victory.

Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara’s gritty 106-run knock which included a 170-run partnership with captain Kohli played a decisive role in the context of the match.

Team India first played a Boxing Day Test in 1985. Over the years, they lost 5, drew 2 before finally winning in 2018. This is a sweet end to the year for Kohli and his team.

Here’s how Indian players reacted after the historic win:

What a win!! Proud to be part of this unit . Onto Sydney now. Jai hind pic.twitter.com/DsW8WXRMGj

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 30, 2018

Winning like this down under is truly special. Look forward to Sydney. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zhPImW2GQW

— ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) December 30, 2018

Great win here for the Team. Special effort by the lads, the one that will remembered for a long time @BCCI #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/TyVglQY7qO

— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) December 30, 2018

Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency.
A dream win for us and what a way to end the year!
Truly exceptional.#AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/6Kaiy46v4O

— Jasprit bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) December 30, 2018

Not an easy place to come and win and every test win here needs to be cherished like there is no tomorrow. Special mention to @imVkohli @cheteshwar1 and our very own Malcom M @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/jIB8oJ0eMG

— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) December 30, 2018

A game of class and Top team effort #teamindia pic.twitter.com/KVqRQ1U6Eh

— Kuldeep yadav (@imkuldeep18) December 30, 2018

The pace triplet at The G. This was such a historic Test. Proud feeling to be a part of this group. Record breaking 130+ wickets in 2018 #TeamIndia @circleofcricket @ESPNcricinfo pic.twitter.com/wYreTY3XtT

— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) December 30, 2018

No.1 Test team for a reason . #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/kjPByn4rHq

— Bhuvneshwar Kumar (@BhuviOfficial) December 30, 2018

And that's a wrap on Melbourne! What a rollercoaster of a game it has been. Games like these bring out the true beauty of test cricket. Thank you all for your wishes. Ending 2018 with this lovely memory. On to the final one now! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/durwAO5HmC

— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) December 30, 2018

Firsts are always special. In Australia, against Australia. On Boxing Day. The debut couldn't have been any sweeter. Thank you for the overwhelming welcome and support. pic.twitter.com/3nHuxVlvdc

— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) December 30, 2018

The Man of the Moment and the best in the business – BOOM @Jaspritbumrah93

Amazing performance by this guy here and the entire team pic.twitter.com/8LMYGgTL43

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) December 30, 2018

Playing at Australia has always created some special memories & this one would be cherished specially, as Indian Pace Battery delivered an extraordinary performance. Kudos team India #AUSvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/PVSazvY1Ej

— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) December 30, 2018

Nothing compares to this awesome feeling. Congratulations on this historic win India. We did it, thanku for your love and support #AUSvIND #BleedBlue #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/bJGvzTseLJ

— Rishabh Pant (@RishabPant777) December 30, 2018

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2SpC88Y

Virat Kohli gifts his pads to a young fan after historic victory against Australia at MCG

India captain Virat Kohli went on to make a young fan’s day special by gifting him his pads, along with an autograph on the boy’s miniature bat after his team’s historic victory over the hosts Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.

Kohli, along with his team, took a lap of honour around the MCG and thanked the fans who braved the rain to turn up at the stadium on the final day and cheered for the touring side throughout the match.

India won the Boxing Day Test by 137 runs after picking up the final two Australian wickets in the second session after rain wiped out the first session.

Australia needed 141 runs on the final day with two wickets in hand but their resistance was ended by India pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma, who got the wickets of the overnight batsmen Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, respectively.

The Indian players then went to thank their fans after the post-match ceremony and it was then that Kohli decided to hand his pads to a young boy.

Here’s the video:

RT lunigirly: Kohli handing over his pads to a young Indian fan pic.twitter.com/McLr2nKJOS

— #IPL2019 #IPLAuction (@im_kohli18) December 30, 2018

The 4-match series currently stands 2-1 in favour of India with the visitors looking poised to win the final Test and script history by winning their maiden Test series on Australian soil

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2CFgCaK

Seven-year-old Archie Schiller leads handshakes after India defeat Australia in the Boxing Day Test

Seven-year-old Archie Schiller led the Australian team for the handshakes after India defeated the hosts by 137 runs in the Boxing Day Test at MCG on Sunday.

Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball picking a nine-wicket haul in the match as India registered their 150th Test win and became only the fifth team to do so.

Virat Kohli-led Team India has now taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the ongoing four-match series. But just watching the young leg-spinner must have been an extremely adorable sight for the fans and especially for the Schiller family.

Archie had gone through his third heart surgery in 2017 but this year he has moved on from the troubles of his congenital heart disease and was appointed Australia’s co-captain for the third Test match against India.

Here is the video:

Onya Archie! What a week he's had leading the Aussie team in Melbourne.

And great stuff here from the Indian players and match officials after the Test match! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Q0jRn52Jck

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 30, 2018

Meanwhile, India will be looking to build on the momentum and will leave no stone unturned to make it 3-1 at the SCG. The fourth and final Test starts on Thursday.

The co-captains leading the Aussie side in the handshakes after India claim a great Test win #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ZVwD3LY6uP

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 30, 2018

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2AnI9vS

Twitter Reactions: India win third Test against Australia to retain Border-Gavaskar Trophy at 2-1 up

India have retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy with ease at the MCG, claiming a 137-run victory on the fifty day of the third Test after rain provided more resistance than many of Australia’s batsmen.

Virat Kohli & Co. now hold a 2-1 series lead and are perfectly placed to complete a breakthrough series win at the SCG, where the final Test starts on Thursday.

India have lost all 11 previous Test series they’ve played in Australia, a barren stretch dating back to when they were crushed by Don Bradman’s side in 1948.

But the visitors, having exposed Australia’s batting woes in clinical fashion throughout the Boxing Day Test, will be full of confidence after wrapping up the last two wickets on Sunday morning.

Here are some of the best tweets:

Incredible effort by #TeamIndia to take a 2-1 lead, especially @Jaspritbumrah93 who has played an instrumental role in this win. He has gone from strength to strength in all formats of the game. Definitely one of the best in the world today. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/vweoHd0nEE

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 30, 2018

Memorable win for #TeamIndia at the MCG. Great team effort and now we have an opportunity to create history at Sydney. Congratulations to each and every member of the team and to our domestic cricket where our cricketers enhance their skills. pic.twitter.com/osU6HHCSQl

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 30, 2018

37 years 10 months ago was the last time India won a test at the MCG, none of the players from either sides were born. This win is one to savour & cherish for a long time and a perfect end to 2018 for Team India. Each player can be very proud of their contribution to this win

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 30, 2018

India just to good in all departments this Test, well done 2-1 to India means Australia will need to fight in Syd to stop India winning the series. Enjoy your New Years

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 30, 2018

Brilliant team performance. Well done India #AusvInd

— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) December 30, 2018

What an unbelievably amazing 18 months it has been as a bowling unit. @Jaspritbumrah93 is such a gem to Indian cricket. He has been Ably aided by Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Ashwin and Jadeja. Without doubt this is BEST we have had in a very long time. #AUSvIND

— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) December 30, 2018

Can there be a better way to end 2018? I Guess not. Congratulations Team India for the Historic win and a great finish to the year. @Jaspritbumrah93 you are special #AUSvIND

— Siddharth Kaul (@sidkaul22) December 30, 2018

Not an easy place to come and win and every test win here needs to be cherished like there is no tomorrow. Special mention to @imVkohli @cheteshwar1 and our very own Malcom M @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/jIB8oJ0eMG

— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) December 30, 2018

2,3,3,2. Second inngs wickets once again shared between four Indian bowlers. Sign of a very good bowling attack.
FAB FOUR in the bowling now!
#AUSvsIND

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 30, 2018

Rubber retained. Can @imVkohli and Co become the first India side to win a series in Australia? I believe they will. Best bowling attack in the world, and batsmen — not just Kohli — looking in good nick. Difficult to thwart.

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 30, 2018

Done it #AusvInd #7cricket

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 30, 2018

Nice that there’s still appreciation & room in the game for the “quiet achiever”;Jasprit Bumrah’s not far off becoming the “gold standard”. Pujara proving that those who critique his scoring rate don’t quite grasp his significance to an evolving India batting lineup.

— ian bishop (@irbishi) December 30, 2018

Congratulations @BCCI Very good win … and am glad they won !!!

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) December 30, 2018

Congratulations Team India. What a splendid performance.@ bcci @StarSportsIndia

— ramesh powar (@imrameshpowar) December 30, 2018

Many congratulations for a fabulous win ,Team India. @RaviShastriOfc @BCCI

— Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (@LaxmanSivarama1) December 30, 2018

Most away Test wins as captain for India
11 – Saurav Ganguly (in 28 Tests)
11 – Virat Kohli (in 24 Tests)#AusvInd#AusvsInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 30, 2018

Bowling out opposition most times in a calendar year in Test cricket:

26 – Australia in 2005 (30 inns)
25 – South Africa in 2008 (28 inns)
25 – INDIA in 2018 (27 inns)#AUSvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 30, 2018

Asian sides winning more than one Test in a series in Australia:
India (2) in 1977-78
India (2) in 2018-19#AUSvIND #AUSvsIND

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 30, 2018

Most wins for India outside Asia in a calendar year in Tests:

4 – 2018*
3 – 1968#AUSvIND

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 30, 2018

from Blog – The Cricket Times | CricketTimes.com http://bit.ly/2CEte22