Tom Moody lauds Mohammed Siraj after pacer scalps fifer

WATCH: Rishabh Pant sings "Spiderman Spiderman" as Tim Paine takes guard

The word war between India and Australia is one of the important factors when the two sides play each other. The new addition to this banter is of Rishabh Pant with Tim Paine. The two wicket-keepers have been seen getting involved in some funny exchange of words. In a recent video that went viral on social media, Pant is singing “Spiderman Spiderman” behind the stumps while Paine takes his guard. The two sides are facing each other in the fourth and final Test of the series in Brisbane. Australia batted first and scored 369, courtesy a fine hundred from Marnus Labuschagne. For India it was debutants day out as T. Natarajan and Washington Sundar scalped a three-for each while Shardul Thakur also picked up three wickets. Later, the Australian pace attack pushed India on the backfoot to leave them tottering at 186/6 before Sundar and Thakur steadied the ship for the visitors. The two batsmen compiled a partnership of 143 for the seventh wicket. Both the players notched up individual half-centuries. Josh Halewood bagged a five-wicket haul as India were eventually bowled out for 336. The series is presently levelled at 1-1.

Washington Sundar's father happy at son's fulfilled promise on Test debut

Not everyone was surprised by the heroics of Washington Sundar with the bat on the third day of the fourth Test between Australia and India, and least of them was the all-rounder’s father who was rather disappointed he could not get to the three-figure mark. However, his father was s satisfied that Washington fulfilled the promise of putting a big score on his Test debut. Washington hit a superlative fifty on his Test debut and stitched a 123 runs partnership with Shardul Thakur to lead India’s revival in the series decider game. Washington’s father M Sundar said to IANS that the left-hander should have attacked more and taken the advantage of aggressive filed placements by the home side when Mohammed Siraj had walked out to bat. His father showed full confidence on his stroke playing abilities and hence said that he must have tried to bridge the deficit as India were nearing Australia’s first innings score of 369 the only reason behind him not gong for expansive shots. “I am disappointed he did not get a 100. When Siraj came, he should have hit fours and sixes. He is capable of that. He should have gone for sixes. He could have gone for pulls and big hits. Perhaps, he thought of trying to come close to Australia's total as the lead was very less," IANS quoted Washington’s father M Sundar as saying. "I speak to him in Australia every day. I told him last evening whenever you get a chance, get a big score. He said, 'Sure I will'. He is a natural opening batsman and has scored a lot of runs against the new ball. In Chennai League, he is the youngest player to score a hundred in the first division league. At the age of 14, he got a century while opening." Washington was also brilliant with the ball and picked up three big wickets of Steve Smith, Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon in the first innings while trapping opener David Warner LBW in the morning session of the fourth day of the Test.

T10 is the best advertisement for cricket Shoaib Malik

Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has said that the shortest format of the game- T10 is the greatest advertisement of the sports in non-cricket playing nations to gain a new and young audience for the game. “It’s always nice to be part of something positive in the game. T10 is the best advert for bringing a new audience to the game as it is quick and exciting and is able to showcase all cricketing skills in a very short and exciting period of time,” the 39-year-old said during an interaction before the start of the Abu Dhabi T10 League at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in the UAE city. Captaining the defending champions Maratha Arabians, Malik is happy and excited to be playing alongside longtime international teammate Mohammad Hafeez. The Sialkot-born, who has scored more than 11,000 international runs for Pakistan also believes that this league can unearth new talents. “I am excited to be back playing with my long time international colleague and teammate Mohammad Hafeez. Also, there are stars that would be unveiled in the league. Hopefully, those new stars would come from Maratha Arabians,” added Malik who represented Pakistan in 438 international matches. The league begins with the first game between the Arabians and the Northern Warriors.

Mohammad Amir ready to return to international cricket, but on one condition

Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Amir who had decided to take an indefinite break from cricket has revealed that he is thinking of making an international comeback if the current management is removed. The reports of his comeback spread like wildfire late at night in the Pakistani media and the internet was quick to catch it. The news got momentum as Aamir had also retweeted a tweet from Sports Journalist Abdul Basit which said, “Management k jany k bad !!!” replying to a tweet in which a video was posted where Amir,28, could be seen saying that he would go to the board (PCB) and make himself available for selection. Soon after this, tweets quoting former Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur started surfacing in which he said that Amir is still the best white-ball bowler in the world. Amir, in a short span of 147 international matches in all formats combined picked up 259 international wickets for Pakistan. After being left out of the Pakistan squad for the New Zealand tour and playing teh Sri Lanka Premier League, Amir told a news reporter that he did not get the required support from the management and that is why he is taking an indefinite break from cricket.