Indian Cricket Team Updates

Facing an insurmountable 384-run target after Australia declared their innings at the stroke of lunch, India pulled off a draw at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Having lost the first two games, the visitors' conceded the four-Test series and the Border-Gavaskar trophy to Australia. (Also See:  HIGHLIGHTS: AUSTRALIA VS INDIA - 3rd TEST, DAY 5, Melbourne ) Left reeling on 3/19, Virat Kohli (54) and Ajinkya Rahane (48) stabilised the Indian innings and fought to keep the team in the fray taking India to tea in an unbroken stand. But Kohli's departure pushed India further on the backfoot even as Rahane determinedly anchored the innings until Josh Hazlewood ended his defiance. MS Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin held the innings together until play was called-off. (Also See:  India's greatest Captain MS Dhoni Retires from Test cricket ) Chasing the stiff target, India lost Shikhar Dhawan to Ryan Harris with just with two runs on the board. Lokesh Rahul who then walked in t...

3rd TEST, DAY 5 - AUSTRALIA VS INDIA DAY 5 - TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER, AUSTRALIA VS INDIA Match drawn India 2nd Innings: India 462/8 Overs: 126.2 Run Rate:3.65 INDIA trail by 68 runs Shikhar Dhawan 0, Murali Vijay 11, Lokesh Rahul 1, Virat Kohli 54, Cheteshwar Pujara 21, Ajinkya Rahane48 , MS Dhoni 24*,  Ravichandran Ashwin 8* Ryan Harris 2/30, Mitchell Johnson 2/38, Josh Hazlewood 2/40, Shane Watson 0/14, Nathan Lyon 0/36, Steve Smith 0/10 Australia  2nd Innings: Stumps - Day 4: 261/7 Run Rate: 3.48 Overs: 75 David Warner 40, Shane Watson 17, Steve Smith 14, Chris Rogers 69, Joe Burns 9, Brad Haddin 13, Mitchell Johnson 15, Ryan Harris 21, Shaun Marsh 99, Nathan Lyon 1, Josh Hazlewood 0* Mohammed Shami 2/92, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/75, Umesh Yadav 2/89, Ishant Sharma 2/49 India 1st Innings: India 462/8 Overs: 126.2 Run Rate:3.65 INDIA trail by 68 runs Shikhar Dhawan 28, Murali Vijay 68, Chetesh...

India were trailing by 68 runs in the first innings with two wickets in hand at stumps on Day 3 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Ajinkya Rahane’s (147) superlative batting performance and Virat Kohli’s carefully compiled innings had kept India in the fray. However the end of the 262-run stand triggered a batting collapse in the last session of the day. With four wickets falling in quick succession Australia were back in the reckoning. And with Kohli departing in the last over of the day for 169, India were 462/8 at the end of day’s play with Mohammed Shami batting on nine. The Kohli-Rahane partnership was the key to the shift in fortunes for the better part of the third day after Australia had dominated for the first two days. After the visitors lost Cheteshwar Pujara and the inform Murali Vijay in the first hour of day's play, the pair joined forces to script India's revival. Coming together at 147/3, both batsmen scored centuries and added 262 for the fourth wic...

India were trailing by 422 runs in the first innings with nine wickets in hand at stumps on Day 2 in reply to Australia’s 530 runs. Steven Smith marched Australia to a commanding position with an authoritative 192-run knock. While he had watchfully built the innings to steer Australia to a comfortable position yesterday, Smith changed gears on the second day and plundered the Indian bowling attack. Complemented by the lower-order, Australia’s stand-in captain backed India into the corner.  (Also See:  HIGHLIGHTS: AUSTRALIA VS INDIA - 3rd TEST, DAY 2, Melbourne ) Once again in the series, Murali Vijay (55*) led India's response and had guided the visitors to 108/1 at stumps. The opener was ably complemented by Cheteshwar Pujara who was batting on 25 at the other end when play ended for the day. Opening the innings with Shikhar Dhawan, Vijay struck Mitchell Johnson to the ropes down the ground in the third over to set the tone of the innings. Although tested by the Johnson-l...

3rd TEST, DAY 2 - AUSTRALIA VS INDIA STUMPS: DAY 2 - SATURDAY 27 DECEMBER, AUSTRALIA VS INDIA India 1st Innings: India 108/1 Overs: 142.3  Run Rate: 3.71 Shikhar Dhawan 28, Murali Vijay 55*, Cheteshwar Pujara 25* Ryan Harris 1/19, Mitchell Johnson 0/24, Josh Hazlewood 0/19, Shane Watson 0/14, Nathan Lyon 0/32 Australia  1st Innings: Australia 530 Overs: 142.3  Run Rate: 3.71 David Warner 0, Chris Rogers 57, Shane Watson 52, Shaun Marsh 32, Joe Burns 13, Brad Haddin 55, Mitchell Johnson 28, Ryan Harris 74, Nathan Lyon 11,  Steve Smith 192, Josh Hazlewood 0* Mohammed Shami 4/138, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/134, Umesh Yadav 3/130, Ishant Sharma 0/104,  Murali Vijay 0/14 Format: TEST Toss: Australia, who chose to bat Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Kettleborough, John Ward, Geoff Joshua Referee: Roshan Mahanama PLA...

Shaun Marsh has been recalled into the Australia Test team for the opening Test against India, in Adelaide. The 31-year-old batsman has been included in the 13-man squad as a cover for captain, Michael Clarke, who is nursing a hamstring injury. Marsh has nine Tests under his belt so far, the last of which came in February when he grabbed a pair against South Africa at Port Elizabeth.  "The National Selection Panel has today advised that West Australian Shaun Marsh has been added to the Test squad as an additional batsman for the first Test," read a statement from Cricket Australia on Thursday.  "The Australian Test squad will assemble in Adelaide today and tomorrow ahead of the first Test starting on Tuesday 9 December."  Shaun Marsh will join brother Mitchell in the squad and if both make it to the playing XI, it will be the first time since the Waugh brothers that brothers will play a Test match for Australia together. Australia squad:  Michael Clarke, Brad Ha...

Cricket Australia have announced a 12-man squad for the first Test against India, at the Gabba. Michael Clarke, who is nursing back and hamstring injuries, has been named the captain for now. However, his participation in the Brisbane Test is subject to his fitness. (Also Read:  INDIA SQUAD FOR TEST SERIES IN AUSTRALIA 2014-15 ) Clarke will play the second two-day warm-up match against the touring Indians as part of the Cricket Australia XI, in Adelaide on Nov 28-29. Brad Haddin has been named his deputy, and will take over the reins of the team should Clarke fails to prove his fitness. Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood have been given a call-up while Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell miss out. Also returning is Shane Watson, who missed Australia’s tour of the UAE due to injury. Pacer, Ryan Harris also returns back to the fold after recovering from his knee surgery. The first of the four-Test series is scheduled to begin on December 4 at Brisbane. Test squad:  Chris Rogers, D...