Ashes | 1st Test, Day 4 - Australia at the cusp of victory after taking 8 wickets in first session

Hosts Australia had a brilliant time in the first session of Day 4 picking up 8 wickets to clean up England for 297 runs. England, who came into the day’s play at 220/2 never looked settled in the middle and fell like a pack of cards. Set players from the last day in captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan failed to convert their toiling 50s into centuries and departed between a span of four overs. The double blow left England reeling against the consistent pressure created by the Australian bowlers and they failed to build any partnerships in the middle.

Nathan Lyon was the pick among the bowlers clasping four wickets in the second innings, while Cameron Green provided him with ample support removing the key wickets of Joe Root and Chris Woakes.

While the bowling unit under new captain Pat Cummins executed the plans brilliantly, a special mention has to be given to Alex Carey who etched his name into the records book as well.

Carey became the keeper with most catches on debut, holding onto eight chances behind the stumps.

England have set up a paltry target of 20 runs for Australia in the final innings, which in all practicality is indefensible under any scenario.

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Nathan Lyon picks his first wicket in 326 days; breaks 400-wicket barrier

Australian off spinner, fondly dubbed as their Greatest of All Time (GOAT), Nathan Lyon finally picked up his 400th wicket in Test format. He dismissed England’s Dawid Malan to break a long standing English partnership of 162 runs, a record stand for England in the third wicket. Lyon beat an advancing Malan on flight and got him to inside edge a delivery. The ball popped off his pad and went straight into the hands of Marnus Labuschange standing at silly mid off. With Malan getting out for 82, this ended up snowballing into a flurry of wickets where the visitors lost three quick wickets in a space of five overs. Two of the wickets (Malan and Ollie Pope) were picked by Lyon. It needs to be mentioned that Natha Lyon had not played any international matches since the home series against India and had to wait 326 days to break the 400-wicket barrier. Lyon is the only fourth Australian bowler to have entered the 400 wickets club and is preceded by Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Ashes | Hobart beats MCG & SCG in the race to host final Test match

Cricket Australia have confirmed that the fifth and final Test match of the Ashes will be hosted by Hobart’s Blundstone Arena between 14-18 January. The much-anticipated decision comes after the board was forced to shift the final match out of Perth due to strict Covid protocols. This will be the first time that the state of Tasmania will host a men’s Ashes game. It will be a day-night, pink ball Test match to keep in sync with the original timings at Perth. “There were a range of considerations, including commercial, logistical and operational factors and on the balance of these, the CA board agreed on Blundstone Arena being the most appropriate venue to host the fifth Vodafone Men’s Ashes Test. Further, CA have also stated that Hobart had the edge in the race against Melbourne and Sydney because of the postponed game between Australia and Afghanistan. “We also acknowledge the postponement of the Australia and Afghanistan Test due to take place in Hobart earlier in the year played a part in the decision.” CA had deferred the Afghanistan tour after the Taliban taking over the administrative reigns of the country.

LPL 2021-22 | Dambulla Giants vs Galle Gladiators: Rain plays spoilsport as match gets called-off

Rain played spoilsport during the Lanka Premier League match between Dambulla Giants and Galle Gladiators in Colombo as the clash was called-off. Batting first, Dambulla had a decent start to the proceedings as Dickwella and Munaweera who had walked in at number three put up a 40-run stand for the second wicket. But Munaweera’s dismissal saw a few wickets falling in quick succession leaving the Giants struggling at 79/5. Shanaka and Mendis then came in for the rescue as the two batters stitched a partnership of 45 runs for the sixth wicket. While Shanaka scored a 32-ball 37, Menids remained unbeaten at 33 off 23 during the course. Noor Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers after he returned with figures of 2/24 in 4 overs while Samit Patel produced an economical spell as he picked up one wicket at the cost of 19 runs in 4 overs. Later, the Gladiators had scored 18 runs in 1.2 overs when the rain put a halt on the play and the match was eventually abandoned. Kusal Mendis was unbeaten at 15 off 5 while Danushka Gunathilaka was at 3 off 3 when the game was stopped. Gladiators will now Kandy Warriors while Dambulla Giants will lock horns with Colombo Stars on Saturday in Colombo.

BBL 2021: Adam Zampa anchors Melbourne Stars to thrilling win against Sydney Thunder

Melbourne Stars stole away a win in a nail-biter against Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League clash in Melbourne, courtesy some brilliant bowling from Adam Zampa in the final over. Needing 11 in the last over of the innings, while chasing 166, the Thunder side could only manage to get six runs. The equation was down to 5 needed off the last ball with Cutting on strike. Zampa bowled a flat leg break and Cutting didn’t connect the square cut as the Stars took away the win. Earlier, the Thunder side had lost a couple of early wickets during the chase but an 89-run stand for the third wicket between Matthew Gikes and Sam Billings brought them back in the hunt. But Billings eventually departed for 43 off 31 and his dismissal certainly broke the shackles as Sydney lost a couple of more wickets in a quick succession reducing them to 135/5 in the 18th over. Later, Ross and Cutting made sure that there weren’t any further fall of wickets but couldn’t manage to take the team over the line. Melbourne Stars on the other side, rode on some good batting from Nick Larkin, Cartwright and Andre Russell to put 165/4 in 20 overs. While Larkin struck an unbeaten fifty, Cartwright scored 42, Russell chipped in with a 9-ball 17* during the course. Larkin lavished praise on Adam Zampa to win the match for the side in the end. “Wrecked. It was probably their game for most of the chase but our bowlers held their nerve. He (Zampa) wanted the ball and took it out of Maxi's hands. I struggled for the first 20-odd balls and then the Power Surge helped,” he said after the match. The two teams will now face each other in Sydney on Sunday.