Daily Round Up | Jan 6: Navdeep Saini set to make Test debut for India

BBL10 Match Preview: Hurricanes, Thunder fight to get back to winning ways after slip-ups

The Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder, both were handed defeats in their previous games, somewhat derailing their prospects of making it to the Playoffs as early as possible. While the Hurricanes couldn’t get past Stars even after an inspiring performance by Ben McDermott with the bat, Thunder’s express train was halted by the two Joes of Heat in Burns and Denly. While Hurricanes would wish that someone like Spiecman Andre Fletcher don’t catch the way he did in Hobart in their last game, Thunder would like to have Tanveer Sangha to be a little less expensive, although he is a wicket-taker now doubt. But the youngster was taken to the cleaners by the Heat. For Hurricanes, Big Ben and Dawid must fire Hurricanes’ batting line up looks much more impressive after the induction of number one T20I batter in the world Dawid Malan and with McDermott getting into the groove, it has become even more dangerous. McDermott, 26, is now the leading the run-scorers chart in BBL10 with 277 runs in six innings at an average of over 55 and a strike rate of more than 136. Malan, 33 on the other hand has also amassed 155 runs in just four innings with one fifty as well. It is these batsmen that the Hurricanes would wish are in the best of their form. Apart from these two, there is the ever-reliable Colin Ingram and the big hitter Tim David, who too have performed well, scoring 228 and 191 runs respectively in the BBL10 so far. If these four get going, no total would be small for the ‘Canes. Thunder need some spark in bowling While the batting of the Thunder has always been on the mark, it is their bowlers that need a bit of a spark. In the seven games, the bowlers have been able to get the opposition really dismantled only twice, but on both those occasions, it was the batting that had already mounted teh pressure by scoring more than 200 runs. Apart from those two occasions the only occasion where they did bowl well was against Perth Scorchers where they were able to restrict the team at 152. With Daniel Sams not available even for the next game, the likes of Chris Green and Adam Milne need to take the responsibility. Against a very attacking ‘Canes the Thunder bowling would have its real test. Hurricanes vs Thunder: Match Details Match Number- 31 Date & Time- Jan 7, 2021, 10:00 AM local, 12.30 PM IST, 07.00 AM GMT Venue- Perth Stadium, Perth Broadcast- Sony LIV and SonyTen Network Pitch Report Up until now, only one game has been played at the Perth Stadium in this BBL season and that saw a two-way result in which the side batting first posted an imposing 185 while that batting second bundled out for just 89. The wicket, however, is a true wicket with the ball coming on to the bat nice, and of course, there is early movement. The wicket is ready for a thriller if both teams apply themselves. Weather and Bat Flip With 58% cloud cover in the daytime, the players would hope for some respite from a 37-degree celsius temperature. In the hot weather, the pitch would get better with time, and hence chasing would be a preferred option for the team winning the Flip. Thunder Strongest XI Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Sam Billings (wk), Oliver Davies, Ben Cutting, Chris Green, Nathan McAndrew, Adam Milne, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain Hurricanes Strongest XI Ben McDermott (wk), D'Arcy Short, Dawid Malan, Peter Handscomb (c), Colin Ingram, Tim David, Johan Botha, Nathan Ellis, Scott Boland, Riley Meredith, Sandeep Lamichhane

Sourav Ganguly wants to stay back for one more day: Hospital

The BCCI president Sourav Ganguly will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday. The former skipper was scheduled to be discharged on Wednesday but he decided to stay for an extra day. “Treating doctors will be keeping constant vigil on his health situation and taking appropriate measures from time to time at home. Ganguly will be discharged tomorrow as he wants to stay back one more day,” the hospital said on Wednesday. Earlier, the MD & CEO of Woodlands Hospital, Kolkata, Dr Rupali Basu had said that Ganguly would be monitored daily at home. “The discussion was on the two other coronary blockages that need to be treated by angioplasty in this admission vis-a-vis at an immediate later stage,” said Dr Basu. “The consensus of the board was that deferring the angioplasty is deemed to be a safer option and Mr Ganguly is stable without any chest pain and is on very optimal medical management. The family members (of Ganguly) were also present during the board meeting and were explained about the disease process and further therapeutic plan,” said Basu. “Treating doctors will be keeping a constant vigil on his health situation and taking appropriate measures daily at home, once discharged,” said Basu. Ganguly was hospitalised after complaining of chest pain and underwent angioplasty. “Sourav Ganguly has undergone angioplasty. He is stable now. He will be monitored for 24 hours. He is completely conscious. There are two blockages in his heart for which he will be treated. As of now, he is stable. We will have a meeting on Monday and then we will decide what needs to be done further. Priority is to let him settle down after a heart attack. He is risk-free and he is talking as well,” Dr Aftab told reporters, according to news agency ANI.

Spectator at Boxing Day Test tests positive for COVID-19

A spectator attending the second Test between India and Australia in Melbourne as tested positive for COVID-19. “The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), as ground managers of the MCG, is aware that a person who attended Day 2 (Sunday, December 27, 2020) of the Boxing Day Test has since tested positive to COVID-19,” a statement said. “The MCG is being investigated as a potential source for the infection,” Victoria’s Department of Health said. “We’re encouraging anyone who was in The Great Southern Stand, zone 5 of the MCG between 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm on 27 December, to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.” India are currently playing a four-match Test series against Australia which is presently levelled at 1-1 India lost the first match by 8 wickets but made brilliant fightback in the second. Stand-in captain AJinkya Rahane scored a fine ton in the first innings while also anchored the team to a win in the second innings. The two teams are slated to play the third Test in Sydney beginning from Thursday. India made a few changes in the playing XI with Rohit Sharma coming in as the opener in place of Mayank Agarwal while Navdeep Saini will be making his debut. Saini has replaced injured Umesh Yadav. India have had some major injury concerns on this tour. Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and then KL Rahul were ruled out of the series due to respective injuries. The two teams will lock horns in the final Test in Brisbane.

India announce playing XI for SCG Test; Rohit replaces Mayank, Saini to debut

Carrying on the tactics of revealing the playing XI a day before the Test, the Indian team has announced the team for the third Test starting on January 07 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Incoming Rohit Sharma has replaced an out of form Mayank Agarwal at the top of the order, while Navdeep Saini is set to make his Test debut tomorrow at the SCG. There were talks about Navdeep Saini’s lack of rhythm in the ODIs and one of left-arm pacer T Natarajan and Shardul Thakur taking the place left void by Umesh Yadav who was ruled out of the series due to groin injury. India have decided to go in with five bowlers with both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin retaining their places. Navdeep Saini will form the pace trio with Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj and the skipper Ajinkya Rahane will expect a similar performance to the one in Melbourne where the bowling line up asphyxiated the hosts’ batsmen and did not allow them to cross the 200 run mark.