Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India axe openers, Australia recall Marsh for 3rd Test

India axed both openers Tuesday while Australia recalled allrounder Mitchell Marsh at the expense of struggling batsman Peter Handscomb for the high-stakes third Test.

With the four-Test series tied 1-1, much is riding on the Boxing Day showdown at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where up to 90,000 fans are expected, and India can't afford another top order flop.


Murali Vijay and KL Rahul scored just 95 runs between them in eight innings across the opening two Tests in Adelaide and Perth, failing to play their part alongside the likes of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara.

They have paid the price with debutant Mayank Agarwal expected to open the batting with Hanuma Vihari, who is set to be bumped up the order.

Experienced No.6 Rohit Sharma was declared fit and resumes his place in the side after missing the Perth Test.

But ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who also missed that game, has failed to recover from an abdominal strain, with left-arm finger-spinner Ravindra Jadeja brought in as part of a four-man attack.

Skipper Kohli, who had some testy exchanges in Perth with Australian counterpart Tim Paine, insisted the defeat there was in the past and his team was starting with a new slate in Melbourne.

"As a team, whether you’re 2-0 up or 1-0 down, what has happened in the past has no significance to what is going to happen in the next Test," he said before the team was announced.

"So the key is to stay in the moment, stay in the present. We just need to play consistently good cricket and not get too excited or taken aback from situations in the match."

Kohli, who scored a battling century in Perth but was criticised for failing to acknowledge the crowd when he was controversially given out, also said he would not be looking for confrontations with Paine in Melbourne.

"Both teams are passionate and desperate to win. Obviously, things happen on the field. But as long as the line isn't crossed," he said.

"I'm sure Tim and myself understand what happened and we don’t want to do something unnecessary. We want to lead our teams well and play good cricket that the public wants to see."

- Relieve pressure -

Despite winning to level the series in Perth, Australia opted for change by recalling Marsh, whose part-time seamers will help relieve pressure on the home side's pace attack on a pitch that is not expected to offer as much for the bowlers as Adelaide or Perth.

Part of the thinking also revolves around the potentially decisive fourth and final Test in Sydney, with only a three-day recovery period if Melbourne goes the full five-day distance.

Handscomb is the fall guy, axed after scoring just 34, 14, 7 and 13 across four innings.

"I'm sure Pete would be upset. I think he's had conversations with the selectors that there's a few things they would like him to work on and Pete is open to that," Paine said.

He added that he did not believe dropping a player from a winning XI would impact Australia's momentum.

"No I don't think so, we did it last year during the Ashes as well. The majority of this decision has been based around it's a long series, we've played on a lot of hot days and our bowlers have had a big workload," he said.

"We believe Mitch can come in and do a really good job with the bat and obviously he'll give great support to our bowlers."

Australia - Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Tim Paine (capt), Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc.

India - Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

More For You

Another round of Indian deportees from US to arrive in Amritsar

Indian immigrants who allegedly illegally migrated to US arrive at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, in Ahmedabad. (ANI Photo)

Another round of Indian deportees from US to arrive in Amritsar

A US military transport aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster III, is set to land at Amritsar International Airport on Saturday (15) night, carrying around 119 Indian nationals.

This movement follows the earlier deportation of 104 individuals, marking another phase in the US government's intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Keep ReadingShow less
Why Trump believes Middle East peace plan will work

Donald Trump with Benjamin Netanyahu

Why Trump believes Middle East peace plan will work

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan to move 10 million people out of Israel and resettle them in Germany, France and the UK has caused outrage across the world.

With Hamas leaders standing happily by his side, Trump told reporters at a press conference at the White House: “Everybody I have spoken to loves the idea.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Will 'Bridgerton' season 4 have the biggest twists so far? Here’s what the sneak peak reveals!

A glimpse into Bridgerton Season 4: Romance, drama, and intrigue await in the highly anticipated new chapter

Instagram/bridgertonnetflix

Will 'Bridgerton' season 4 have the biggest twists so far? Here’s what the sneak peak reveals!

Netflix has given fans a tantalising glimpse into the upcoming fourth season of Bridgerton, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The sneak peek, shared on February 14, gives us behind-the-scenes moments and fresh footage from the new episodes, which are currently in production. The season will centre on Benedict Bridgerton played by Luke Thompson, the free-spirited second son of the Bridgerton family, as he navigates love and societal expectations. His story takes a dramatic turn when he encounters the enigmatic “Lady in Silver,” Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha, at a lavish masquerade ball hosted by his mother.

The teaser also introduces three new characters: Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung) and her daughters, Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Isabella Wei), who are set to stir up the marriage market. Familiar faces will also return, including Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, and Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton. Fans of Penelope and Colin will be pleased to see them back, with a still image hinting at their growing family.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chila Burman casts ‘neon’ light on Indian migration stories

Chila Burman shows her work in tapestry

Chila Burman casts ‘neon’ light on Indian migration stories

CHILA BURMAN, who lit up Tate Britain during the dark days of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and the West End of London last year, has now put her trademark tiger on the quayside façade of the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.

For her new commission, called Chila Welcomes You, the artist has brought her personal perspective to “the heritage of conflict and stories of Indian migration to Britain after the Second World War”.

Keep ReadingShow less