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Gabba Test, Afghanistan Series Win And Amir Retirement – December 14 Cricket Highlights

Aakash Saini

Akash Deep and Rashid Khan [Source: @BCCI, @ACBofficials/x]Akash Deep and Rashid Khan [Source: @BCCI, @ACBofficials/x]

Rains took a major chunk out of India’s opening day of the Gabba Test against hosts Australia, and washed out the entirety of South Africa’s third T20I match against Pakistan in Johannesburg. In New Zealand, outbound legendary fast bowler Tim Southee celebrated his farewell Test with a significant batting record.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest news that emerged out of Saturday, December 14.

Indian Bowlers Go Wicketless On Rain-Marred Opening Day

Indian fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep failed to take an Australian wicket on a rain-marred opening day of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 Test match at The Gabba in Brisbane. Winning the toss and opting to field first, Bumrah sent down six overs at an expense of just eight runs while Siraj and Deep combined for 7.2 overs.

Australian openers Usman Khawaja (19* off 47) and Nathan McSweeney (4* off 33) both survived the entirety of 13.2 overs before ceaseless rains at the venue called for an early stumps on Day 1.

South Africa vs Pakistan Third T20I Abandoned

Rain gods also had their say in South Africa, where the third T20I match between the hosts and the visiting Pakistan cricket team was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Intended to be hosted by the iconic Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, an understrength South African team ended up sealing the three-match T20I series by a 2-0 margin after match officials called off play.

Afghanistan Claim Series In Topsy-Turvy Decider Vs ZIM

The Afghanistan cricket team held its nerves to upstage hosts Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club to secure the three-match T20I series 2-1. Winning the toss and electing to ball first, Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai wrecked Zimbabwe’s top-order while young spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman accounted for the key wickets of Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere in his economical spell.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan, meanwhile, blew away the Zimbabwean lower-order with a scintillating four-wicket haul to restrict the hosts to just 127 upfront. In response, the visitors crashed to 44-4 around the opening powerplay before late resurrection from Azmatullah Omarzai (34 off 37), Gulbadin Naib (22 off 22) and Mohammad Nabi (24* off 18) steered them past the finishing line with three wickets in hand in the final over.

Tim Southee Levels With Gayle As New Zealand Take Day 1 Command

Legendary New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee levelled up with West Indies behemoth Chris Gayle as the joint fourth-highest leading six hitter in Test cricket with 98 maximums, doing so in his farewell match. The 36-year-old blasted three sixes and a boundary in his 23-run cameo against England on Day 1 of the third Test match at Hamilton’s Seddon Park.

Southee’s fiery knock, coupled with a sizzling half-century from Mitchell Santner, a captain’s innings from Tom Latham (63 off 135) and 40s from Will Young and Kane Williamson extended New Zealand’s total to 315-9 from 82 overs by stumps. For England, new ball quicks Matthew Potts and Gus Atkinson picked up three wickets each while Brydon Carse earned the prized-scalps of Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell. English captain Ben Stokes also bounced out Matt Henry during his 23-over workload on the opening day of the Hamilton dead-rubber.

Mohammad Amir Announces Second Retirement

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket, doing so for the second time after revoking his original plans earlier this year for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Confirming is decision, the 2017 Champions Trophy winning cricketer thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and expressed his best wishes for the next generation of talent.

Mohammad Amir played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 62 T20I matches for Pakistan since his international debut back in mid-2009 as a 17-year-old.