Spending time in Indian dressing room is the best phase of my life: R Sridhar

Jack’s a fine spinner: Joe Root backs Leach and his decision at toss even after comprehensive defeat

England captain Joe Root backed up his bowlers and in particular spinner Jack Leach even as he was taken for 102 runs in his 13 overs and could take only one wicket. The skipper rather took the blame on himself for Leach’s dismal performance. "If anything, that [Leach's poor numbers] probably falls on me for probably giving him too aggressive fields, too early - not letting him settle in and giving him a bit more of a chance early on," Root said in the post-match press conference after losing the game on Day Four at the Gabba in Brisbane. "Jack's a fine spinner. He's shown over the 20-odd Test matches that he's played what an instrumental part he can play within this team and I'm sure he'll play a big part in this series moving forward,” the 31-year-old stressed. Asked whether either among James Anderson and Stuart Broad should have played the game, Root said that in hindsight all decisions have flaws if they don’t turn out good. “We wanted to be able to change the pace of the game and move through different gears throughout the innings. I thought our seamers were brilliant, Woody [Mark Wood] in particular, Robbo [Ollie Robinson] as well and [they were] backed up by the other guys,” he said. Root, who was criticised for opting to bat first on a green Gabba wicket still defended his decision. He said, "The toss, I think it was the right decision, but when you're 40 [29] for 4, it's very difficult to get yourself back in the game from that position.” The two teams will now travel to Adelaide for the second Test, a day/night affair which will be played with the Pink ball to begin on December 16th.

Ashes | England lose five WTC points and 100% match fee for slow over rate

England have been penalised for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane costing them five World Test Championship points. Apart from this, the England team were also fined 100 per cent of their match fees. "As per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a team is docked one point for each over short," the ICC release read. "Match referee David Boon has also penalized England 100% of their match fee for falling five overs short of the targets after adjusting for time allowances. Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel charges players 20% of their match fee for every over the team falls short on." The Joe Root-led side are now placed at number sixth spot with 9 points while Sri Lanka are at the helm at the moment. The Lankan Lions are followed by Australia, Pakistan, India and West Indies respectively. The Australian side began the second cycle of the WTC on a positive note after they defeated England by 9 wickets in the first Test at the Gabba. The two sides will now meet each other in Adelaide for the second Test scheduled to begin on December 16.

We just outclassed them on the day: Imad Wasim on Pakistan's T20 WC win against India

Pakistan created history during the recent T20 World Cup after beating India for the first time in a World Cup fixture. All-rounder Imad Wasim acknowledged that it was a good feeling to defeat India in a World Cup game and the side got the perfect result. "It was really good and beating India always provides some special moments for everyone involved in Pakistan cricket. Of course, I enjoyed the occasion and the match, and the result was just perfect," Imad told PakPassion.net. Imad further admitted that the Pakistan side had some pressure before going into the game but eventually outplayed India. "There was pressure on us, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play against India in a T20 World Cup and I was really grateful for that opportunity. It felt like everything we touched that day turned to gold. Make no mistake, India are a very, very good side, but we just outclassed them on the day,” he said. "The way we played was just fantastic and I would say that it was a near-perfect performance. In fact, I would go so far as to say that what we achieved on that day will be difficult to replicate in the future,” he added. Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets after chasing down a target of 152 runs in less than 18 overs with both Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam scoring individual fifties. Earlier, Shaheen Afridi ripped through the Indian bating line up after scalping the wickets of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul early in the innings. It was the then captain Virat Kohli who held the fort at the other end to help India put 151/7 in 20 overs on the board.

'It’s your turn’: Smith's suggestion fetches Cummins important breakthrough

Steve Smith was appointed as the vice-captain of the Australian side after Pat Cummins was promoted as the skipper and a small instance of the leadership partnership between the two became visible during the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. Smith asked Cummins to bowl to Ben Stokes when the new captain was looking to hand over the ball to Mitchell Starc. Cummins eventually scalped Stokes’ wicket. “I was going to bowl Starccy one more and Smithy kind of tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘I think it’s your turn’,” Cummins told reporters after play. Australia took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after winning the first encounter by 9 wickets. The visitors were bundled out for 297 despite a good day at the office on Day 3 of the Test. Captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan were the overnight batsmen for England but their departure saw wickets falling at a quick succession. Spinner Nathan Lyon who has had a long wicket drought returned with a four-for in the innings while Cummins and Green picked up a couple of wickets apiece. The two teams will now lock horns with each other in the second Test in Adelaide scheduled to begin on December 16.