Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Australia openers survive after Kohli, Pujara heroics post huge total

A 170-run stand between century-maker Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli put India in a dominant position in the third Test Thursday as Australia's openers survived half a dozen nervy overs before the close.

Dogged Pujara stroked 106 and Kohli 82 before they both fell soon after lunch on what until then had been a lifeless Melbourne pitch.


Rohit Sharma was not out 63 after notching his 10th Test half-century when Kohli called a halt to the innings late in the day at 443 for seven as India go in search of a crucial 2-1 lead in the four-Test series.

That gave the tourists' attack six overs before stumps to target Australian openers Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch, who battled through to be eight without loss.

"I think we have enough runs on the board. Already today you can see the pitch has started deteriorating and there's variable bounce on it. I don't think it's easy to bat on now," said Pujara.

"Our bowlers have been bowling well so I would say we have enough runs on the board."

Despite the ominous task ahead, Finch insisted Australia could still win.

"It's still game on if we bat really well and then back up and bowl well and put Indiaunder a lot of pressure," he said.

"I think that absolutely all three results are still on the table 100 percent -- India, Australia and a draw. It's hard to say after two days with the wicket deteriorating, but we are confident we can bat really big."

- Stoic Pujara -

Pujara and Kohli had continued to build their intimidating partnership after coming together when openers Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal fell on day one.

They batted through to lunch with scarcely an alarming moment. But when Kohli started to take on the short ball soon after being seen by the physio for a back complaint in the afternoon session, he was undone by pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

The Indian run-machine had hit a four and was attempting another boundary next ball when he uppercut to third man for Finch to take an easy catch.

It deprived Kohli of a 26th Test century and the chance to surpass boyhood hero Sachin Tendulkar by making a seventh hundred in Australia. They remain tied on six each.

A stoic Pujara had been unflappable in his 319-ball innings until Pat Cummins sent down a rocket that stayed low, breached his defence and clattered into the stumps.

Pujara, who has scored more runs and faced more balls than any other batsman in the series, added 38 to his overnight 68 in another tremendous knock by a man who has now scored 17 Test tons and two in this series.

It was an arduous day for Australia's bowlers in hot conditions with Cummins' 3-72 proving the pick.

Sharma, back after missing the second Test with an injury, was in good touch, but had a massive let-off on 15 when he swept a Nathan Lyon delivery to square leg where substitute fielder Peter Siddle made a complete mess of a simple catch.

Australia's leading spinner finally got a reward in his next over, trapping vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane lbw for 34 as the pitch started to show signs of variable bounce which could spell trouble for the home batsmen.

Lyon had another chance spilled when Cummins fumbled an easy catch from Rishabh Pant near the boundary. Pant finally fell for 39 and when Ravindra Jadeja went soon after, Kohli made the declaration.

The flat track in Melbourne follows much livelier pitches in Adelaide and Perth which produced results in the four-Test series which is on a knife-edge at 1-1.

Last year's Boxing Day Test saw a dull Ashes draw with England that prompted the match referee to grade the pitch "poor" and there was hope for more juice in it this time round.

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said the pitch would only be fully judged after the Test finishes, but conceded "a sense of urgency in the regeneration of this wicket square".

More For You

Salman Rushdie

Rushdie was stabbed about 15 times: in the head, neck, torso and left hand, blinding his right eye and damaging his liver and intestines. (Photo: Getty Images)

Rushdie attack trial begins as jurors shown graphic details

JURORS heard how a knife attack on novelist Salman Rushdie unfolded in a matter of seconds at a 2022 New York talk and how close he came to death, in the prosecutor's opening statement on Monday (10) at the trial of the man accused of trying to murder the author.

A poet introducing the talk, on the subject of keeping writers safe from harm, was barely into his second sentence when defendant Hadi Matar bounded onto the Chautauqua Institution open-air stage and made about 10 running steps towards a seated Rushdie, Chautauqua District Attorney Jason Schmidt told the jury.

Keep ReadingShow less
Will Smith’s shout-out to Diljit Dosanjh sparks viral collaboration buzz

Will Smith’s comment on Diljit Dosanjh’s latest song sparks excitement among fans

Instagram/diljitdosanjh

Will Smith’s shout-out to Diljit Dosanjh sparks viral collaboration buzz

When Hollywood superstar Will Smith drops a comment on your Instagram post, you know something big is brewing. That’s exactly what happened when Diljit Dosanjh, the Punjabi music sensation, shared a snippet of his latest track, Tension, on social media. Smith, known for his iconic roles and global influence, left a simple yet impactful comment: “Fire!.” Diljit, clearly thrilled, responded with, “@willsmith BIG BROTHER 🦾.”

This brief exchange sent fans into a frenzy, with many speculating if a collaboration between the two stars is on the horizon. One fan wrote, “This is BIG!,” while another chimed in, “Hopefully, there are plans for you two to work together!”

Will Smith drops a "Fire!" comment on Diljit Dosanjh’s post, fuelling collaboration rumoursInstagram/diljitdosanjh

Keep ReadingShow less
Police halt Ed Sheeran’s street performance

Sheeran, who began his career as a busker in the UK, said later on his Instagram account that he did have permission to perform.

Police halt Ed Sheeran’s street performance in Bengaluru

A STREET performance by Ed Sheeran in Bengaluru was stopped abruptly by police last Sunday (9), outraging fans and prompting the British singer to issue a clarification.

Sheeran, dressed in a white t-shirt and shorts was seen singing and playing his guitar on a pavement in the centre of Bengaluru ahead of his concert last Sunday night.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Yvette-Cooper-Getty

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said employers had for too long been able to "exploit illegal migrants and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally with no enforcement action ever taken". (Photo: Getty Images)

Immigration arrests up 73 per cent in January

UK immigration enforcement teams made more than 600 arrests in January, a 73 per cent increase on the same period a year ago, as part of the Labour government's plan to tackle undocumented migration and people smuggling gangs, officials said on Monday (10).

The 609 arrests, compared to 352 in January 2024, were made during visits to 800 premises including nail bars, restaurants, car washes and convenience stores, a government statement said.

Keep ReadingShow less
NIFFA 2025 to open with ‘Superboys of Malegaon,’ biggest line-up yet

Superboys of Malegaon’ set to open NIFFA 2025, Australia’s biggest Indian film festival

Instagram/shashank.arora

NIFFA 2025 to open with ‘Superboys of Malegaon,’ biggest line-up yet

The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) is gearing up for its most ambitious edition yet, bringing over 40 Indian films to Australian audiences. In collaboration with Dendy, the festival will showcase three world premieres and 36 Australian premieres, featuring a diverse mix of films across multiple Indian languages, including some never seen before in Australian theatres.

Reema Kagti’s much-anticipated Superboys of Malegaon will open the festival on February 13, 2025, with a grand red-carpet gala in Sydney. The film, which previously screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival, will travel across major cities, including Canberra, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne, before a nationwide release by Forum Films.

Keep ReadingShow less