BAN vs PAK | 2nd Test: Rain washes the entire third day's play in Dhaka

Mayank Agarwal recalls words of wisdom from Dravid, Gavaskar after Player of the Match performance

Mayank Agarwal has been adjudged Player of the Match for a big 150 in the first innings and following that up with another splendid half-century in the second innings on a pitch where all New Zealand batsmen and even Indian batsmen found it tough to negotiate for a long time. He would have been competing with Ajaz Patel, who took a staggering 14 wicket-haul in the game and tried to keep New Zealand in the game for as long as possible. However, he was the lone man standing for the hosts and Mayank Agarwal turned out to be the difference between the sides on a pitch where balls were turning square from the very first day. He expressed his jubilation at coming back to form and scoring runs at the top of the order. Notably, there were question marks over his future after twin failures in Kanpur where he struggled against Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson. "Feels nice to be among the runs, this knock will be special for me," he said in the post-match presentation. He was asked about the adjustments in the technique he made after the failures in Kanpur and he rejected the claim citing a discussion with the coach Rahul Dravid, who backed him to play with his own technique rather than changing the style midway through the series. He said that Dravid backed him by saying that his style of play has earned him runs in the past and rather he should focus on the mental aspect of his game. However, he did make some tweaks in his technique after suggestions from Sunil Gavaskar, who suggested that he was not getting side on to counter the away going deliveries and also that his backlift was too high to play with soft hands. Having delivered big runs in Mumbai, he has earned the right to be in India’s squad for the tour of South Africa, at least as a backup opener and he relished the prospect of the challenges that may come his and India’s way in the rainbow nation. "Very honestly, did nothing different after Kanpur. It was about having mental discipline. Rahul bhai told me there's no point thinking about technique mid-series. 'This is the technique that has got you runs, have a solid mindset, stick to your game plans, the runs will come. Sunny G told me to keep my bat low, be more side-on. I couldn't do that early on but it helped. I wasn't really thinking of a century in each innings, but yes definitely should've converted the 60. A different challenge in SA, we relish as a team."

The Ashes | Cricket Australia relocates fifth Test from Perth, yet to finalise new venue

The fifth and final Test of the Ashes series between Australia and England will not be played in Perth due to stringent Covid-19 related restrictions being imposed by Western Australia, Cricket Australia confirmed in a statement. However, an alternative venue has not yet been decided and the process of finalising the venue for the Ashes finale is undergoing. "While absolutely every effort was made to ensure the final Test match of the series could be staged in Perth, border controls, quarantine requirements and the complexities of staging a five-Test series in a tight schedule have meant it is unfortunately not possible to align the respective priorities of the WA Government, CA and WA Cricket," CA said in a statement. "These complexities also mean that any suggestion of changing the order of the venues would not be feasible. Discussions about a replacement venue for the fifth Test match are underway." The Ashes series is scheduled to begin on December 08 in Gabba before the teams will travel to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney for the second, third and fourth Test of the series respectively.

IND vs NZ | 2nd Test, Day 4: Jayant Yadav demolishes Kiwis lower order to propel India to series win

India needed to take the last five wickets on the fourth day of the second Test of the series to defeat New Zealand and Jayant Yadav took it upon himself to bring about a complete demolition of the Blackcaps batting order. He first got the better of Rachin Ravindra and followed it up with the wickets of Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and William Somerville to come closer to a five-wicket haul. However, his off-spinner teammate Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed New Zealand’s last wicket in the form of Henry Nicholls to end the game inside the first session of the fourth day. India had set New Zealand a massive target of 540 runs and did not give them any sniff on the Wankhede Stadium surface that offered plenty of assistance to the spinners.

Injured Kieron Pollard ruled out of Pakistan tour, Windies promote Hope, Pooran to leadership roles

West Indies have suffered a setback in the form of their skipper Kieron Pollard being ruled out of the upcoming tour of Pakistan. Pollard failed to recover from the hamstring injury he picked up during the T20 World Cup and will not travel to the country for the three-match long ODI and T20I series. West Indies have elevated Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran to the leadership roles of the ODI and T20I sides. Hope has been appointed the ODI skipper and Pooran will be his deputy in the ODI series while there is a role reversal in the T20 series and Pooran will take over the reins in the shortest format with Hope as his deputy. West Indies were already without the experienced quartet of Jason Holder, Andre Russell, Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer for the Pakistan series and Pollard’s absence will dent their experience further. The entire tour will be played in Karachi and it will commence on December 13 with T20I and conclude with the final ODI on December 22. West Indies ODI squad Shai Hope (C), Nicholas Pooran (VC), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr, Devon Thomas West Indies T20I squad Nicholas Pooran (C), Shai Hope (VC), Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Rovman Powell