England pacers lead fightback at day’s end to keep visitors in contest

After Team India’s relentless attack, SuperSport clarify they have zero control over Hawk-Eye

After much delay, the broadcasters of the third Test between hosts South Africa and India which faced a great controversy on the Decision Review System, have come up with their clarification on the issue. The Hawk-Eye technology was under question after an LBW decision given out by the on-field umpire was overturned by the third umpire after the ball was shown as going over the stumps by the Hawk-Eye. The ball hit the batter, Dean Elgar, on the pads below the knee roll and even the on-field umpire exclaimed, “It’s impossible” after the review was shown on the big screen. After that decision, Indian skipper Virat Kohli was seen going to the stumps mic and deliberately speaking about the broadcasters. KL Rahul and Ravichandran Ashwin, the other two Indian players were also heard hurling jibes at the broadcasters after that decision. In its defence, Supersport said that the technology has been approved by the ICC and has been in use for years. "SuperSport notes comments made by certain members of the Indian cricket team. Hawk-Eye is an independent service provider, approved by the ICC and their technology has been accepted for many years as an integral part of DRS,” AFP quoted the broadcaster as saying. "SuperSport does not have any control over the Hawk-Eye technology,” it added.

U19 World Cup | India face junior Proteas in opener, Sri Lanka, Australia start on winning note

The Under-19 World Cup 2022 began in West Indies on January 14 with Australia beating hosts West Indies comfortably to start their journey. In another game, Sri Lanka struggled but eventually got past minnow Scotland to start on a winning note as well. In today’s encounters, four times U-19 World Champions India would be up against 2014 winner South Africa at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Among the other three encounters, the low ranked teams generally termed minnows, face up against each other. While Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea face up against each other in Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Ireland play Uganda Everest Cricket Club Ground, Georgetown, Guyana. In the last game of the day, Canada will take on UAE at Warner Park, Basseterre in St Kitts and Nevis. Teague Wyllie, Radhakrishnan lead Aussies to win In the first match of the World Cup, Australia were all over the hosts West indies as their bowlers bowled the Ackeem Auguste led side out for 166. Fast bowler Tom Whitney and then spinners, the ambidextrous Chennai born Nivethan Radhakrishnan and skipper Cooper Connolly took three wickets each while one wicket went to William Salzmann as West Indies were rolled over in the 41st over itself. For the hosts, skipper Auguste was the lone warrior who scored 57 off 67 balls, while Rivaldo Clarke and McKenny Clarke contributed with 37 and 29 respectively. No other batter apart from these three was able to enter even in the double figures. Chasing 167, Australia did lose Corey Miller and Issac Higgins early, but opening batter Teague Wyllie remained on the crease and had good rough partnerships, first with skipper Connolly and then with Radhakrishnan of 53 and 75 runs respectively to guide his team home. He remained unbeaten on 86 off 129 balls. Dunith Wellalage's five-wicket haul take Sri Lanka past Scotland In the second game of the day, favourites Sri Lanka were given a close run for their money by Scotland as they were dismissed for only 218 while batting first, having won the toss. It was only because of Sakuna Liyanage’s 85 and Raveen de Silva’s 30 late in the innings that Sri Lanka were able to cross the 200 run mark. They were eventually bowled out in the 46th over. For Scotland, Sean Fischer-Keogh picked three wickets while Jack Jarvis and Oliver Davidson picked two each. Chasing the target, Scotland started cautiously but then kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Jarvis tried his best by scoring a valiant 55, but could not get the desired support from other batters and eventually Scotland ended their innings at 178 in the 49th over. For Sri Lanka, their skipper Dunith Wellalage picked five wickets and was helped by Shevon Daniel who picked two wickets as well.

The Ashes | Final Test, Day 2 - Australian pacers wrap up England for 188

188 runs is all that England could muster in their first innings at Hobart on Saturday, 15 January. Playing the final Test match of the series, England batters once again failed to show character, something that has emerged as a theme throughout the series and got bundled out without even playing 50 overs. At a point in time England were 75/2 and it looked like they would put up a good fight while chasing 303 runs in the first innings. However, it was not to be as the visitors suffered a middle order collapse and were reduced to 85/5. From there it was just a waiting game as to when the wickets will come and unnecessary shots from Ollie Pope and Sam Billings made the job easy. If it were not for Chris Woakes’ 36 off 48 balls, England would not have been able to cross the 150-mark. Pat Cummins was the star of the show affecting the collapse at a crucial stage of the game while Mitchell Starc took the crucial wicket of Ben Stokes amongst two others. Scott Boland was on fire as well and picked up one wicket. He would have taken a couple more if flying edges were grabbed in the slip cordon.

‘What on earth are you doing there?’ Ricky Ponting seethes at Ollie Pope dismissal

Former Australia captain and one of the best batsmen that the continent has produced, Ricky Ponting was heard seething at the Ollie Pope dismissal. Pope was found guilty of fishing outside off stump against Scott Boland. The incident came just a few overs after England had gone through a middle-order collapse that wiped off the visitors best hope to put on a decent total. After Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Dawid Malan one after the other, the onus fell on Pope and the debutant Sam Billings to hold for and get England to safety. However it was not to be and Pope fell prey to Bolan’s outswingers. “What on earth are you doing there?,” questioned Ponting during live commentary. “There was a little bit of outswing earlier in the over, he knows what Boland is trying to do. He’s just fallen for a simple trap.” Calling it an absolute nothing shot Ponting further went onto explain what exactly made him so furious about the incident. “It’s a defensive push to a ball that’s on about sixth stump. You’re not going to score from it, all you’re going to do is to nick it through to Carey, which is what he’s done. Ollie Pope you can shake your head as much as you like, but that’s your mistake young man.”