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The Ashes Test Cricket Is A Grind Its Meant To Be Hard Says Labuschagne

The Ashes: Test cricket is a grind, it’s meant to be hard, says Labuschagne

England batsmen Joe Root and Dawid Malan scripted a brilliant fightback in the second innings of the first Test against Australia in Brisbane. The two batsmen stitched an unbeaten stand of 159 runs for the third wicket on Day 3 to get the side back on track after conceding a heavy lead in the first innings.

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne has said that the new ball keeps a lot of importance.

“The new ball is crucial. There can be long partnerships and then all of a sudden you can lose bang-bang-bang quick wickets,” Labuschagne said.

“If we can put that new ball in the right areas and get a couple of wickets with that new ball, it can really turn quickly.”

Talking about the fightback from Root and Malan, Labuschagne admitted that this is the way Test cricket is and added that the bowlers would need to work hard to scalp the remaining eight wickets.

“It’s Test cricket, you never expect any test nation, especially when you’re playing England in the Ashes, to come in and roll over and you’re going to knock them over,” Labuschagne said.

“Test cricket is a grind, it’s meant to be hard, otherwise it wouldn’t mean so much to both countries,” he added.

The visitors still trail by 58 runs with 8 wickets in hands.

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Super Smash: Cole McConchie, bowlers hand Canterbury thumping win against Central Districts

Canterbury thumped Central Districts by 48 runs on Friday in Christchurch after defending a target of 173 runs in 20 overs in the Super Smash tournament. The Central Districts didn’t really have a great start to the chase as they lost early wickets and were left tottering at 59/5 before getting bundled out for 124. Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers for his side after he returned with figures of 3/11 in 4 overs while Todd Astle bagged a couple of wickets at the cost of 13 runs in 4 overs. Earlier, in the day, the Canterbury side rode on a brilliant knock from McConchie to post 172/8 in 20 overs. McConchie struck a 54-ball 84 during the course. Canterbury also lost some early wickets but the skipper’s knock helped them to stay in front. Central Districts will now take on Otago in Napier on December 18 while Canterbury will play Wellington in Wellington on December 19.

The Ashes | 1st Test | Day 3: Joe Root, Dawid Malan script perfect fightback

England captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan steadied the ship for the visitors on the third day of the first Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane. England had been in a spot of bother after Australia had rode on a fine hundred from Travis Head to post 425 runs on the board in the first innings in reply to the visiting team’s 147. Head along with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon put up individual stands to frustrate the England bowling line up. While Travis struck 152 during the course, Starc and Lyon chipped in with 35 and 15 respectively to help the hosts stretch the lead to 278. Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood scalped three wickets apiece in the first innings. Later, the Joe Root-led side didn’t really have a great start to the proceedings as they lost openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed early to get reduced to 61/2. Burns was undone by Pat Cummins for 13 while Hameed was sent back in the hut by Starc. Malan who had come in at number three was joined by captain Root and the two batters made sure that the team didn’t lose any further wickets. Root and Malan put up an unbeaten partnership of 159 runs for the third wicket. While Root scored 86*, Malan remained not out for 80 as England were 220/2, trailing by 58 runs at the end of the third day’s play.

Yash Dhull to lead India in U19 Asia Cup

The All-India Junior Selection Committee has announced the squad for the U19 Asia Cup slated to take place in UAE from December 23 and Delhi batter Yash Dhull has been named the skipper of the side. "The All-India Junior Selection Committee has picked a 20-member India U19 squad for the upcoming ACC U19 Asia Cup to be played in the UAE from 23rd December," the governing body said in a statement. "The selectors have also announced a 25-member squad for a preparatory camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru from December 11th-19th ahead of the ACC event." Dhull has been rewarded for his performance in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy where he was the highest run-getter in the competition after he scored a total of 302 runs for the team in five matches. India U-19 Asia Cup squad: Harnoor Singh Pannu, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ansh Gosai, S K Rasheed, Yash Dhull (Captain), Anneshwar Gautam, Siddharth Yadav, Kaushal Tambe, Nishant Sindhu, Dinnesh Bana (wk), Aaradhya Yadav (wk), Rajangad Bawa, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Garv Sangwan, Ravi Kumar, Rishith Reddy, Manav Parakh, Amrit Raj Upadhyay, Vicky Ostwal, Vasu Vats (subject to fitness clearance). Standby players who will attend preparatory camp at NCA: Ayush Singh Thakur, Uday Saharan, Shashwat Dangwal, Dhanush Gowda, Singh Rathore.

There was always a lot of negativities around but I had no time for all that: Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri’s tenure as the head coach of the Indian team concluded after the T20 World Cup. The Shastri-Kohli era witnessed a number of ups and downs. While there were occasions where the fans were delighted with the team’s performance, there were other instances where they were left really disappointed. Shastri has now opened up about his time with Team India as the head coach and how he never really cared about the negativities around. “There was always a lot of negativities around but luckily, I had no time for all of that. But those who know me well will know what a thick-skinned guy I am for such things to affect me,” he said while talking to The Times of India. “The more I saw people getting jealous of what this team kept achieving, the more I laughed at their insecurities. The more some people wanted this team to fail, the better we did,” he added. The former India cricketer also revealed that he made up his mind of leaving the post while traveling to England earlier this year. “Later, sometime before we left for England this year, I had made up my mind to move on. What precipitated it was a couple of reasons. First, I was pushing 60 and there were these Supreme Court rules and all,” he said. “Second, I knew the quarantine and the bio-bubbles won’t go anywhere for another two years. Cricket will be played in isolation and that’s what we’re seeing right now too.”