Indian Cricket Team Updates

Kings XI Punjab, one of the eight competing teams of Pepsi IPL season 7, today announced George Bailey as the Captain to lead the squad in the upcoming tournament. The captain of the Australian T20 International team and right handed batsman will guide the team under his aegis.  Commenting on the announcement, Promoters of Kings XI Punjab, said “We are delighted to have George Bailey as a captain to lead the team. He is a great cricketer who has showcased his leadership skills as a captain of Australian cricket team as well. We are hopeful that his performance and guidance will lead the team to great success this season.” I am extremely honored and excited to lead Kings XI Punjab this season. I would like to thank the franchisee for having faith in me and entrusting me this opportunity. I hope to live upto the expectations of the franchise and its fans and I am looking forward to playing with some of the finest cricketers in the team.” said George Bailey on his appointment as ...

Statistical Highlights from the 6th ODI between India and Australia: # Virat Kohli's 17th century (115 not out off 66 balls) in ODIs is his third vs Australia. # Kohli's strike rate of 174.24 is the third highest by an Indian batsman in ODIs (minimum 100) - the highest being Kohli's 192.30 during his innings of 100 not out off 52 balls vs Australia at Jaipur on October 16, 2013. (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 6th ODI 2013 - Report ) # India have won 16 ODIs when Kohli has recorded a hundred. His record in Indian wins is 3708 runs at an average of 69.96 in 73 matches, including 16 centuries and 15 fifties. # In successful chases, Kohli is averaging 86.53 - his tally being 2596 in 46 matches, including eleven centuries and twelve fifties. # Kohli is the first player to amass 1000 runs in the last three calendar years in ODIs i.e. 1381 in 2011, 1026 in 2012 and 1033 in 2013. # Kohli is averaging 60.80 vs Australia in ODIs - his tally ...

No, it wasn’t the repeat telecast of the second ODI, in Jaipur. India indeed chased down a 350-plus total for the second time in the series. And yes, it was Shikhar Dhawan (100 off 102) and Virat Kohli’s (115* off 66) centuries that got them home again. India’s sensational batting gave them a six-wicket win in Nagpur and a chance to win the series in Bengaluru. (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 6th ODI 2013 - Stats Highlights ) Dhawan, taking his love affair with Australia to a new level, strolled his way to his fourth ODI hundred. With his fifth consecutive 50-plus ODI score, the colour purple of Virat’s form became a tinge richer and deeper. During his 178-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma, Shikhar batted exactly according to the needs of the chase – he was solid yet attacking and took calculated risks. The left-hander scored most of his boundaries flicking and cutting the ball. He also played the odd sweep and paddle sweep to the spinners. Australia’s chang...

George Bailey became the first Australia skipper to amass 300 runs in any bilateral ODI series. He reached the milestone en route his 98-run knock against India in the fourth match against India at Ranchi on Wednesday. Here are all the statistical highlights from the encounter that was abandoned due to rain: (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 4th ODI 2013 - Report ) # Nine games between the two countries could not produce results in ODIs. Australia have won 66 and India 38 out of 113 contested - winning per cent for Australia (63.46) and India (36.53).  # Australia's 295 for eight is the highest innings total at Ranchi. # George Bailey (98) has posted his second highest score in ODIs, next only to the 125 not out vs West Indies at Perth on February 3, 2013. # Bailey's 98 is the second highest by a captain in a no-result games in ODIs, next only to the 101 by Bev Congdon for New Zealand vs England at Wellington on March 9, 1975. # Bailey's el...

The fourth ODI of the series between India and Australia ended in a washout as rain played spoilsport in Ranchi. India’s aim of drawing level in the series with a win has been put on hold as Australia maintain their 2-1 lead going into the fifth match.  (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 4th ODI 2013 - Stats Highlights ) Chasing Australia’s 295 for 8, the Indian openers had scored 27 in 4.1 overs before rain interrupted the play. Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on nine while Shikhar Dhawan was batting on 14 when the players were taken off the field. After MS Dhoni elected to field, Mohammad Shami had the Aussie top-order back in the pavilion in eight overs. His first spell of six overs with pace, control and immaculate length got him the wickets of Aaron Finch (bowled off a back-of-the-length fast, swinging delivery), Phil Hughes (caught behind off another shortish, rising delivery) and Shane Watson (bowled off a swinging length ball) for 21 runs. Playing his firs...

The contest between Australia and India has so far been dominated by the batsmen. The touring side raised a mountain of runs in the first two ODIs. While they were able to defend it the first time, India upstaged them in the second match.  (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 3rd ODI 2013: Preview ) With the seven-match series in balance at 1-1, the teams will face off for at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Saturday for the third game. On a wicket that is traditionally expected to have a little more juice in it for the bowlers as compared to the previous ones, the bowlers will be looking forward to playing a more integral role in the match. Australian skipper, George Bailey certainly hopes so. “Looks like there’s a little bit more grass here, although I don’t know if it will stay or go in the next 24 hours. But there might be a little bit more life than the Jaipur wicket. The boundaries are a little bit bigger as well. “A lot of our playe...

Rohit Sharma’s (141 off 123 balls) third ODI century, Shikhar Dhawan’s (95 off 86 balls) game-changing knock and Virat Kohli’s (100 off 52 balls) brutal assault – that produced the fastest ODI century by an Indian – gave India a historic win against Australia in the second ODI in Jaipur. The Men in Blue chased down a mammoth 360 – the highest target chased by India in ODIs. With a nine-wicket win, India drew level 1-1 with Australia with five matches to go in the series. Dhawan and Sharma gave India just the start they needed. After surviving the accurate and quick opening bowling of Mitchell Johnson and Clint McKay, the duo settled down nicely on the batting track to put up 176 runs in 26.1 overs. (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 2nd ODI 2013 - Stats Highlights ) Dhawan got a couple of reprieves – he was dropped by ‘keeper Brad Haddin on 18 and survived a close stumping chance on 42 – and capitalised on the slice of luck. The left-hander, who has a penchant for...

The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune became India’s 44th and 186th ground overall to host a One-Day International. Pune also became 10th Indian city (and 28th in the world) to have more than one ODI ground (it also has Nehru Stadium). Other Indian cities with more than one ground are Ahmedabad, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Rajkot, Vadodara and Visakhapatnam. (Also Read:  Report: India vs Australia Star Sports 1st ODI 2013 ) The 44 grounds in India are by far the most any country has used for hosting One-Day Internationals. England is second with 22 grounds, followed by Australia (17), Pakistan (16) and the West Indies (15). This match was the 400th day-night One-Day International for Australia. They became the first team to play this many ODIs. George Bailey became the 13th player to lead Australia against India in ODIs. George Bailey’s 85 is the second-highest innings by an Australian in his first match as captain against India aft...

The Australians have clearly learnt from their T20I loss at Rajkot. It was evident in their changed bowling plan of keeping the length short 80 percent of the time. Indian batsmen struggled against the short and back-of-length deliveries, hence failing to chase Australia’s 305. The visitors went one-up in the series with a 72-run win after bowling India out for 232.  (Also Read:  Stats: India vs Australia Star Sports 1st ODI 2013 ) India’s chase began by the loss of Shikhar Dhawan (7) in the seventh over. James Faulkner not only got rid of the Indian batsman, but also the Australian wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, by accidentally hitting him in the eye while high-fiving him. Phillip Hughes took over the duties behind the stumps before Haddin returned on the field during the 30 th  over. Faulkner more than made up for the accident and the dropped catch of Suresh Raina (39 off 45) with his bowling figures of 8-0-47-3. (Also Read:  Aaron Finch: We have confidence in ...

Although they lost the tour-opener to India, Australia have taken positives from the only T20I, which will hold them in good stead as the seven-match ODI series pans out. While speaking to the media on Saturday afternoon, captain George Bailey said, “It was good game of cricket. Aaron Finch's form at the top of the order was great and the way Xavier Doherty bowled was very pleasing. We fielded well and the way we went about our batting, there were a lot of things to like.” (Also Read:  Australia’s batting depth as their strength: MS Dhoni ) Although the visitors will be focusing on one game at a time, they will be hoping to topple India from the No.1 ODI spot as they had mentioned ahead of the T20I. But elaborating on that wish, Bailey said, “I think it will be silly to go in hoping for a 6-1 result. It’s a long way away. Realistically, I will be very surprised – happily surprised – if that happens. It’s a one-match-at-a-time focus for us.” (Also Read:  India vs Austral...

The Australians have returned to India this time to take on MS Dhoni’s men in the shorter formats of the game. As they look to take on the No.1 ranked ODI side, they will be missing the services of key player and captain, Michael Clarke. George Bailey, who will be leading the side in the absence of Clarke, addressed the media in Mumbai with coach Steve Rixon ahead of the only T20I and seven ODI series slated to begin October 10. (Also Read:  I ndia Squad for Australia Series ) Agreeing that they will be missing Clarke, Rixon likened the impact of his absence to India missing their captain. “You take MS Dhoni out (of the India side), that probably answers the question,” he said when asked how much it would hurt the visitors. (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports T20 Cup 2013: Preview ) Although they will be without Clarke, the tourists are ranked No.2 in the ICC rankings and have a competitive squad. The contest between the teams is expected to be a mouthwat...