Author: Bharath Ramaraj

Alex Carey (41*) shared crucial stands of 43 and 34 with Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc to help Australia extend their dominance over India in the World Test Championship final at The Oval. At lunch on the fourth day, they were 201 for 6, ahead by 374. On a sunny morning, the Indian players walked out to the middle with a purposeful gait, and an eye on taking early wickets. Although Mohammed Shami continued to beat the bat in England by hitting a good length, Umesh Yadav, his pace colleague, bowled a tad fuller to force Marnus Labuschagne to edge…

Barring the first session, Australia once again had the better of the proceedings as they ended the third day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India on 123 for 4, an overall lead of 296. Marnus Labuschagne was unconquered on a patient 41, with Cameron Green having held him stave off a late surge from the Indian bowlers. Most of the action took place in the opening session, when Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) shared an association of 109 for the seventh wicket to give India a semblance of hope of making a comeback. After KS…

After a rather frustrating morning session, Australia hit back by mopping up India’s lower order, and then extended their lead to 196 by tea on day three of the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval. At 260 for 6, India had a small window of opportunity to claw their way back into the game. However, Australia shut the door quickly, with Pat Cummins dismissing Ajinkya Rahane for 89. Cameron Green also played a vital role in that dismissal by pouching a one-handed stunner at gully. Cummins then cleaned up Umesh Yadav for just five. At that moment, with…

Ajinkya Rahane (89 not out off 122 balls) and Shardul Thakur (36 not out off 83 balls) lifted India’s sagging spirits with an unbeaten stand of 108 for the seventh wicket in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval. India went into lunch on 260-6, still behind by 209 runs. Just a couple of hours earlier, everything seemed to be going Australia’s way. In the first over of the day itself, Scott Boland had sneaked through KS Bharat’s defence with his trademark nip-backer to shatter the timber. Bharat might have not showcased the best of defence, but…

The Australian pace bowlers and Nathan Lyon whittled away at the batting unit with regular strikes, as India slid to a precarious 151 for 5 at stumps on day two in the World Test Championship (WTC) final played at the Oval. Australia currently have a substantial lead of 318 runs. The Australian pace bowlers bowled with persistence, and also extracted more from The Oval deck than their Indian counterparts. Pat Cummins, the Australia skipper, led the way by winning an LBW decision against Rohit Sharma. Rohit paid the price for getting caught in the crease against a scrambled-seam delivery. Shubman…

India bowled incisively and with more purpose in the morning session on the second day of the World Test Championship final at The Oval. However, at lunch, Australia still held the aces, having moved to 422 for 7 on a track that continued to offer just enough seam movement and variable bounce. Australia began the day with their two overnight batters, Travis Head and Steven Smith, eager to push on. Smith clipped two over-pitched deliveries off his pads to get to his 31st Test hundred, and ninth against India, in the first over of the day. On his part, Head…

Travis Head (146*) put the Indian attack to sword as Australia took command of proceedings by stumps on the first day of the World Test Championship final at The Oval. At close of play, Australia were for 327-3, with Steve Smith also closing in on three figures at a venue where he has two centuries from three previous Tests. Head shared a potentially game-breaking alliance of 251 with Smith, to ensure that Australia dominated the final two sessions. But when Head had first joined Smith at the crease, they were in a spot of bother at 76 for 3. Head,…

In conditions where the ball nipped off the seam consistently, Australia went into the lunch interval on day 1 of the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval as the happier of the two sides. At the break, they were 73 for 2. India, who opted to bowl in good conditions for pace bowling, immediately found movement off the seam to trouble the Australian openers – Usman Khawaja and David Warner. Mohammed Siraj was the one to strike as he employed the three-quarter-seam ball to nip one away from Khawaja and take the edge. KS Bharat duly pouched…

At midnight on December 31, 1999, there were massive celebrations at Sydney Harbour to welcome the new millennium. Around 1 million crowded the shores of the harbour and an estimated 20 tonnes of fireworks were lit up. It was certainly a party out there in Sydney. Just a couple of days later, India locked horns with Australia at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). India, who had already lost the series, looked listless as they were thumped by an innings and 141 runs. The only saving grace was VVS Laxman’s brilliant 167. Just watching the Indians go through the motions,…

Here is a question that is part of many cricketing discussions. What makes a good Test-match quick bowler? Waspish pace and finding nifty movement? Or perhaps, it is about pounding the deck hard in order to keep the batter on the back foot? Fitness and effort have to be a part of a fast bowler’s quiver as well. There is one more non-negotiable jigsaw piece, which needs to be fitted to complete the puzzle: Control, or the ability to hit a similar line and length time and again. Scott Boland, who has plied his trade for Victoria in the Sheffield…