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Morgan ton lifts England to 234 against Australia

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Eoin Morgan

Sydney: Skipper Eoin Morgan’s 121 lifted England to 234 all out in the opening match of the One-Day International (ODI) tri-series against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Friday.

Australia bowled with discipline to put the visitors in trouble from the outset.

Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc removed opener Ian Bell (0) and James Taylor (0) early with fellow pacer Pat Cummins inflicting further damager by dismissing the talented Joe Root (5).

Morgan, who replaced Alastair Cook at England’s helm, walked in when the score read 12 for three in 3.4 overs.

Opener Moeen Ali (22) also lost his wicket to James Faulkner before Xavier Doherty made further inroads into the English batting line-up by removing right-hander Ravi Bopara (13).

However, Morgan first stitched a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Jos Buttler (28) before the wicketkeeper offered a catch to David Warner off the bowling of Faulkner.

Even though he was running out of partners, the 28-year-old took his time to settle down before going for expansive shots.

His judicious shot selection saw him score 11 fours and three sixes as he recorded his seventh century.

Chris Jordan (17) supported the new skipper with a 66-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

For Australia, Starc emerged as the most successful bowler, picking up four wickets for 42 runs while Faulkner took three for 47. Doherty, Glenn Maxwell and Cummins picked up a wicket each.

Brief Scores: England 234 all out in 47.5 overs (Eoin Morgan 121, Jos Buttler 28; Mitchell Starc 4/42, James Faulkner 3/47) against Australia.

(IANS)

India secure a draw, Australia take series 2-0

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AUSTRALIA-CRICKET

Sydney: India managed to cling on to a draw in the fourth and final Test courtesy some brave batting by Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as Australia won the series 2-0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Saturday.

India looked well poised in their 349-run chase at tea and raised prospects of an improbable win, batting at 160 for two with opener Murali Vijay (80) and skipper Virat Kohli (46) looking set at the crease.

But yet another spectacular collapse saw India surrender that initiative, slumping to 217 for seven from 178 for two, which put the visitors in a precarious position from where Rahane (38 not out) and Bhuvneshwar (20 not out) batted resolutely to save the match for India.

Australia declared at their overnight score of 251/6, setting India a target of 349 runs. Australia skipper Steven Smith, later declared man of the series, knew it would be difficult for India to chase down the target on a wearing fifth day SCG pitch.

Indian openers Vijay and Lokesh Rahul (16) looked solid at the crease at the start despite Vijay getting dropped twice. However, Australia did not have to wait long for success as off-spinner Nathan Lyon (two wickets for 110) scalped first innings century maker Rahul, who gloved a turning delivery to backward short leg.

Vijay and Rohit Sharma (39) then looked strong in the middle, striking a decent partnership until the latter was caught by Man-of-the-Match Smith, who took a blinder at wide slip, flying to his right and taking a single handed catch.

Vijay then consolidated the Indian innings with captain Kohli. Though India were quite respectful towards the pacers, they went after Lyon, who emerged as the most successful bowler of the series with 23 wickets.

The 30-year-old Vijay took time to settle down but slowly got into the attacking mode to score his fourth half-century of the series and 10th of his career. His innings was laden with seven boundaries and two magnificent sixes.

At 178 for two India looked well on course with two of their most successful batsmen of the series at the crease. This was when the fall started.

Kohli presence meant India were still in with a chance despite Vijay’s untimely dismissal. However, Kohli, Suresh Raina (0), Wriddhiman Saha (0) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1) fell within a span of 16 runs, spelling deep trouble for India.

With almost 22 overs left in the day and just three wickets more needed, Australia looked set for victory and they pulled all stops to achieve it.

However, their onslaught was negated by solid Rahane and Bhuvneshwar, who played out the remaining overs quietly and with one ball left in the day’s play, both sides decided to shake hands.

Australian pacers were right on target on the fifth day track where spinners are traditionally been more effective. Mitchell Starc (two wickets for 36 runs) and Josh Hazlewood (two for 31) choked the Indian batsmen bowling a tight length.

Their efforts helped Australia reclaim the coveted Border-Gavaskar trophy.

(IANS)

Australia blaze through to extend lead to 348 runs

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Steve Smith plays a sweep shot during SCG Test. ©AP

Steve Smith plays a sweep shot during SCG Test. ©AP

Sydney: A blazing second innings run-rate in the second innings helped Australia extend its lead to 348 and take a commanding position at stumps on the fourth day of the concluding Test against India.

Having bowled out India for 475 for a 97-run lead, Australia scored at a fast clip to post 251 for six in 40 overs at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Friday.

The home team’s batting approach was in a stark contrast to their opponents, scoring at 6.27 runs per over in comparison to India’s 2.93.

Resuming at 342/5, India managed to avoid the follow on but lost skipper Virat Kohli early (147), who added only seven runs to his overnight score.

The other overnight unbeaten wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddiman Saha (35) looked fluent at the crease, tackling the Australian pacers well, who enjoyed considerable movement in the morning session.

However, Saha fell to a bouncer when he awkwardly gloved a Josh Hazlewood (1/64) delivery to the first slip.

India added 65 in 29 overs in the first session losing two wickets but they came out post the break with an attacking mindset.

Handy lower-order batsman Ravichandran Ashwin (50), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (30), Mohammed Shami (16 not out) provided some fireworks at the end of India’s innings to reduce the lead below 100.

Ashwin held the innings together scoring his fourth Test half-century.

Umesh Yadav (4) was the last wicket to fell, getting caught behind to end India’s innings. It was a collective effort from Australian bowlers who shared the wickets to fall with left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (3/106) being the most successful.

India started on a positive note with Ashwin getting fair amount of turn from the fourth day pitch. He accounted for the dangerous David Warner (4) in the second over itself.

The visitors had a couple of other chances to make early inroads into the Australian batting order. But they squandered those opportunities with Saha missing a stumping and a run-out chance.

Australia, sensing the tricky situation they were in, started to counter-attack, with No.3 batsman Shane Watson (16) and opener Chris Rogers (56) upping the ante.

Rogers scored his sixth consecutive half-century. His initial ascendancy was complimented by Steven Smith (71), in the form of his life, and Joe Burns (66).

Smith’s Donald Bradmanesque form saw him overtake the Australian batting legend to become the highest run getter in a Test series against India with 769 runs from eight innings.

Bradman scored 715 in six innings in the 1947-48 series.

Ashwin (4/105) was the only bowler who seemed to make a worthwhile impact on the marauding Australian batsmen and was rewarded for his efforts, picking up his best bowling figures outside India.

Indian pacers, particularly Umesh Yadav were plundered all over the park for runs, which dented India’s prospects of a face-saving win having already surrendered the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

(IANS)

Kohli, Rahul steady ship, India trail by 230 runs

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On a record-breaking spree: Kohli churns out another hundred. ©AP

On a record-breaking spree: Kohli churns out another hundred. ©AP

Sydney: Centuries from Lokesh Rahul (110) and Virat Kohli (batting 140) held the Indian innings together, ending the third day’s play at 342 for five, still trailing Australia by 230 runs in the fourth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Thursday.

Resuming at 71 for one, India put on 271 runs in 90 overs on the third day but a couple of wickets in the last session put them in a sticky situation.

Kohli and company will need to grind it out in the first couple of hours Friday if they are to get close to Australia’s mammoth first innings total of 572 for seven declared.

Some tight bowling in the morning helped Australia restrict India to score only 51 runs in 30 overs in the first session of play. The visitors started cautiously but made sure they did not lose wickets.

Rohit Sharma (53) scored some runs as he reached his first half-century of the series. However, immediately after reaching fifty he attempted a sweep off the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon, only to misjudge the ball and be castled.

However, thereon Kohli and Rahul struck a vital 141-run third wicket partnership which steadied the ship for India. Coming out post-lunch at 122 for two, the second session entirely belonged to India as the visitors scored 112 runs in 30 overs without losing a single wicket.

Rahul, 22, scored his maiden century in only his second Test after a disastrous debut in Melbourne where he had scores of 1 and 3.

However, he rose from that failure and played a patient yet composed innings to reach his century in 253 balls. His knock was highlighted by 12 boundaries and one splendid six over deep mid-wicket.

The Bangalore boy heaved a sigh of relief after reaching his century and became a little loose with his shots. This had an immediate impact as he top edged a bouncer soon after tea only to be caught and bowled by Mitchell Starc (2/77).

In the meantime, Kohli solidified his innings to score his fourth century of the series and 10th of his career. His innings of 140 not out, laden with 20 boundaries, also broke the record for most runs by an Indian in a series Down Under, going past the ever-reliable Rahul Dravid’s 619 runs scored in 2003-04 series.

In the process, the Delhi lad also became the first ever player to score three tons in the first three innings as a skipper.

Just when it looked like India could end the day in a strong position, all-rounder Shane Watson (2/42) clinched Ajinkya Rahane (13) and Suresh Raina (0) on successive deliveries.

Playing a Test match after almost two and a half years, Raina failed to make an impact as he followed a slow and swinging delivery only to edge it and get caught behind.

India ended the day with wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (batting 14) striking an unbeaten 50-run stand with Virat Kohli.

The most successful bowler of the series with 20 wickets, Lyon (1/91) looked lethal with the old ball on a turning track but had to be content with the lone scalp of Rohit Sharma.

Australian bowlers tried their best to take more wickets but they were, uncharacteristically, not supported by their fielding.

Rahul was lucky on two occasions. Australia had a brilliant chance of running him out just after Rohit’s dismissal which they totally messed up.

Rahul had another escape when he was dropped by Australia skipper Steven Smith, who ran back from slip to catch a top edged pull. The ball eventually burst through his hands into the ground.

Later, Smith also dropped Kohli just before tea at second slip.

(IANS)

Team Pakistan for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 announced

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Sohail Khan. — AFP/File

Sohail Khan. — AFP/File

Pakistan announced their 15-man World Cup squad on Wednesday, leaving out Fawad Alam and Umar Gul and including pace bowler Sohail Khan who last played international cricket in 2011.

Veteran batsman Younis Khan, who hit a purple patch in Test cricket but was mediocre in the recent ODIs against New Zealand, was also included in the squad.

Left-hand middle-order batsman Fawad Alam, who has been Pakistan’s most reliable ODI batsman of late, will feel unlucky to have missed out, the selectors instead preferring another player in similar mould, Haris Sohail.

“We did consider both of them [Fawad and Malik], but in the end we believe Haris Sohail bowled well in the series against New Zealand with his left-arm bowling,” chief selector Moin Khan said.

“He also gives us an added advantage of being a left-handed batsman.”

Fast bowler Junaid Khan also returned from a knee injury after missing the series against New Zealand, and will lead Pakistan’s pace attack with Mohammad Irfan.

Pakistan, placed in Group B, will open its campaign with a highly-charged clash against arch-rivals and defending champions India in Adelaide on February 15 followed by matches against the West Indies, Zimbabwe, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Ireland.

The top four teams from each of the two groups will qualify for the quarter-finals, leading up to the final in Melbourne on March 29.

Khan said the team was selected after consultation with Misbah and coach Waqar Younis.

“We selected the squad after thorough consultation… and although no one can give assurances of results, we are hopeful that the team will do well,” said Khan, a member of Pakistan’s only World Cup winning side in Australia in1992.

Squad:

Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz ahmed, Younis Khan, Harris Sohail, Misbah ul Haq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz

Australia in command as India trail by 501 runs

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steven-smith

Sydney: An all-round performance by Australia saw them end the second day’s play with a first innings lead of 501 runs as India finished at 71 for one at stumps in the fourth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Wednesday.

Resuming at 348 for two, Australian batsmen hammered the flat Indian bowling attack to declare at 572 for seven with David Warner (101) and captain Steven Smith (117) scoring centuries. In reply, India lost in-form Murali Vijay for a duck on the third ball of the innings.

However, opener Lokesh Rahul (31 not out), playing his second Test and Rohit Sharma (40 not out) stabilised the innings for India and stayed at the crease till the close of the play.

Australia started the day slowly but steadily as Smith scored his fourth century of the series with Shane Watson (81) providing him strong support from the other end.

Though the Indian bowlers slowed down the run rate, Smith and Watson gradually extended their third wicket partnership to 196 runs. The enterprise finally came to an end when Watson pulled a short Mohammed Shami delivery, only to be caught by Ashwin at deep mid-wicket.

Smith, who resumed the day at 82 not out, too fell shortly after but not before playing a brilliant innings which turned out to be his eighth Test ton. The 25-year-old also caressed 15 boundaries in his 208-ball knock.

Indian bowlers lacked venom in their attack which helped the home side build another 114-run partnership between left-handed Shaun Marsh (73) and Joe Burns (58).

The duo helped their side reach a strong total with a partnership of 114 runs. Unlike the addition of a mere 72 runs from 30 overs in the morning session, Marsh and Burns, who also scored his first Test half-century, helped pile on 118 more runs in 29 overs in the post-lunch session.

While Marsh scored a fluent 73, which included nine fours and one six, he was ably supported by Burns.

The two also perished in quick succession but some last minute slogging from Ryan Harris (25 runs from 9 balls) guided Australia to reach an imposing total of 572 for seven when Smith decided to declare.

Indian bowlers, who bled runs throughout Tuesday, showed some rare discipline in the morning session. Unlike the first day when runs came at will, the pitch got slower which helped off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (1/142) to tighten the run flow.

But pacer Shami (five for 122) was the pick of the bowlers as he clinched his second five-wicket haul in Tests and first outside India.

(IANS)

Harmer, Steyn blow West Indies away

by

Hashim Amla

by David Hopps, ESPNcricinfo

South Africa were left needing 124 to win the third Test at Newlands and take the series 2-0 after a monumental West Indies collapse on the fourth day. West Indies’ last seven wickets tumbled for only 33 runs in 15 overs as not for the first time in the series they were blown aside.

The ball before Marlon Samuels self-destructed to cries of condemnation from all quarters West Indies seemed to be making a fist of it. Samuels and Shiv Chanderpaul put up prolonged resistance in a fourth-wicket stand of 87 in 28 overs, which was enough to take them into a lead of 90, but once Samuels perished attempting to strike Simon Harmer straight for six, it all became very messy.

West Indies did at least take an unexpected wicket in the three overs remaining. If they were disorientated with the bat, that seemed nothing compared to their bizarre tactics in the field as 2.3 overs were shared by Jerome Taylor, Samuels of all people, and a second spinner, Sulieman Benn. Benn’s third delivery, though, a quicker arm ball, left Alviro Petersen transfixed. Comprehensively bowled for 0, his Test career remained as troubled at the end of the series as it had been at the start.

It would be easy to condemn Samuels for the manner of his departure as he holed out to straight long-on, with Dean Elgar, one of several boundary outriders, making good ground to take the catch. “Arrogant”, “brainless” and “inexcusable” were just three words on commentators’ lips. Even West Indies’ coach Stuart Williams called it “awful”.

In Samuels’ defence, it was exactly the sort of shot that had first indicated West Indian potential for victory. If he had broken Harmer, the sole spinner, he might have exposed South Africa in a single session that had the potential to extend for up to four hours.

Harmer, though, is not easily broken. He has had an excellent debut Test, taking seven wickets in the match and going at three runs per over. He has shown enough attacking potential, too, to suggest that he might prove himself a more adaptable spin bowler than some who have answered the Proteas’ needs.

Dale Steyn was deadly once the ball started to reverse, his pace unnerving, his accuracy immaculate and his eyes so dead they might have won the part of the oldest character in the Twilight fantasy series. He bowled Jermaine Blackwood with a wicked outswinger to follow a couple of inswingers and was on a hat-trick after picking up Denesh Ramdin first ball, Ramdin finding Harmer in front of square leg as he played too early. It was world-class fare.

Morne Morkel’s hostility deserved a greater reward than two top-order wickets. Vernon Philander had a wicketless Newlands Test. Initially so destructive here, with 30 wickets in his first four Tests, he has managed only one in his last two appearances.

The rain was teeming down in Cape Town at the scheduled start of play. When things got underway at 3pm, there was quite a shock in store, especially for the South African bowlers: a single session of 53 overs or three-and-a-half hours – with, of course, the potential for an extra half hour if they did not bowl their overs fast enough. Statisticians mulled over whether this must be the longest session in Test history and share prices for Ceylon Tea fell on the Colombo exchange.

There was not the merest hint that South Africa’s bowlers felt the need to pace themselves. The longest session depended entirely on West Indies’ ability to survive it.

At 88 for 2 at start of play, they were only four runs behind and had played gamely in this Test, but few imagined they might carry it through to something substantial. That suspicion deepened with the departure of Leon Johnson in the third over of the day. Two aerial drives against Steyn, the first whizzing over Hashim Amla at first slip, took West Indies into the lead, but Morkel unpinned him with a rising delivery around off stump.

Samuels and Chanderpaul are the oddest couple at the crease. One dances; one sits back and observes. One is forever vulnerable to conceit; one measures risk by a single grain. Samuels was eager to dismiss Harmer from his presence; Chanderpaul watched every ball intently, as if slow turn was really fast turn, leaping from the cracks, his caution encouraged, on 33, when Harmer found a thin edge and AB de Villiers dropped an inviting chance.

Still at three down, it was possible to imagine that Chanderpaul’s reprieve might be costly. But the rush of wickets following Samuels’ dismissal soon revealed a familiar truth. Harmer’s agony was shelved as Holder clipped him carelessly to short midwicket and, two balls later, Taylor’s ungodly wind-up plopped into the hands of deep midwicket. It was as if Steyn had spooked minds and Harmer shared the rewards.

When Steyn picked off Benn, all that was left was for West Indies to complete their innings in a manner that summed up the disarray of the previous hour. This they duly achieved as Chanderpaul and Shannon Gabriel were lost in confusion in midwicket, leaving Bavuma’s direct hit from backward point to end proceedings.

World Cup 2015 team India: No place for Yuvraj, Jadeja included

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Cricket World Cup 2015

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) met in Mumbai on Tuesday and picked up the 15 probables for the World Cup starting February 14. As expected there was no surprise in the selection with Yuvraj Singh and Murali Vijay ignored.

The selectors didn’t feel of going in with an extra opener in Vijay, who is in great form in the Test series against Australia. Moreover, Yuvraj was not preffered as an injured Ravindra Jadeja was included expecting him to recover on time for India’s first match on February 15 against Pakistan.

India have gone with an extra allrounder in Stuart Binny apart from Jadeja and have picked up four pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami.

Stuart Binny’s father Roger Binny is an Indian former cricket all-rounder who is best known for his impressive bowling performance in the 1983 Cricket World Cup where he was the highest wicket-taker (18 wickets), and in the 1985 World Series Cricket Championship in Australia where he repeated this feat (17 wickets).

India World Cup team: MS Dhoni (Captain), Virat Kohli (V Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Md. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.

Australia batsmen hammer India on day one

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David Warner and Chris Rogers put on 200 for the first wicket in quick time © Getty Images

David Warner and Chris Rogers put on 200 for the first wicket in quick time © Getty Images

Sydney: A 200-run opening wicket partnership between David Warner and Chris Rogers helped Australia post a solid 348/2 at the end of the first day’s play of the fourth and final Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Tuesday.

It was a day to remember for the Australian batsmen as Warner (101) scored his 12th Test hundred while his partner Rogers (95) fell five short of what would have been his fifth century. Skipper Steven Smith (82 not out) and Shane Watson (61 batting) also scored half-centuries with the both of them unbeaten at stumps.

Indian bowlers were clueless on halting the run flow and taking wickets on what proved to be a classic batting track. Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar hardly managed to find his rhythm and swing the ball while Umesh Yadav remained wayward and expensive for most of his spells.

Mohammed Shami had pace and Ravichandran Ashwin looked dangerous a few times in the day but the Australian batsmen were totally in their groove.

Having already lost the series 0-2, India went in to the final Test making four changes to the squad. Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar came in to replace the retired Mahendra Singh Dhoni, opener Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and pacer Ishant Sharma.

However, the changes bore no fruit as all three sessions were dominated by the home side.

Warner looked in a feisty mood from the word go and hammered the Indian bowlers for 16 boundaries all over the ground. Rogers played the anchor role to prefection and provided strong support from the other end.

Rogers caressed 13 boundaries to score his fifth consecutive half-century in Tests. However, he was in trouble as early as the eighth over, while batting on 19, when he edged a seaming Shami delivery.

However, young Lokesh Rahul at second slip dropped a sitter and Rogers went on to add 76 more runs to the Australian tally.

India finally found success in the middle of the second session when Warner edged a turning Ashwin delivery and was caught at slip. Immediately in the next over, Rogers lost concentration and played on Shami only to shatter his stumps.

However, the two quick wickets did not help India further as Smith and Watson held the innings together and guided Australia to build a platform for a strong total. Unless Indian bowlers create some magic at the start of Day 2, the home side is well on course to post a massive first innings total.

India had one last chance to take a wicket when Watson edged the penultimate delivery of the day but the ball went through Ashwin’s fingers at the slips.

There was an emotional moment towards the end of the first session when Warner reached 63 not out. He bent down and kissed the turf as a tribute to late cricketer Phillip Hughes, who on this very ground was struck by a bouncer Nov 25 which eventually led to his tragic death two days later.

Warner’s gesture was appreciated by the crowd which rose and applauded and looked towards a specific stand where Hughes’ family sat.

Hughes was also batting on 63 not out in the first class match when the bouncer hit the back of his head.

(IANS)

Dhoni retires from tests, Kohli to lead India

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MS Dhoni

by Ian Ransom, Reuters

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has retired from test cricket “citing the strain of playing all formats,” and Virat Kohli will lead the team in the fourth test against Australia in Sydney, the country’s cricket board said on Tuesday.

The shock announcement came minutes after Dhoni faced reporters in the wake of India’s draw in the third test against Australia in Melbourne, which conceded the four-match series 2-0 to the hosts.

Dhoni said nothing of his retirement plans during the post-match media conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the news was broken on the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI’s twitter feed.

“MS Dhoni has chosen to retire from Test Cricket with immediate effect,” the said on its Twitter feed.

“Virat (Kohli) will be the captain for the 4th and Final Test against Australia.”

The BCCI later issued a statement saying the wicketkeeper-captain would now concentrate on one-day internationals and Twenty20 cricket, a surprise move given most senior cricketers generally forgo the shorter formats of the game in a bid to preserve their test careers.

“One of India’s greatest Test Captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the Test Rankings MS Dhoni, has decided to retire from Test Cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of Cricket,” the statement said.

“BCCI while respecting the decision of M S Dhoni to retire from Test Cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test Cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India.”

The 33-year-old had been under immense pressure in the wake of the team’s disappointing 3-1 loss against England and the series defeat by Australia may have hastened the decision.

Long considered Dhoni’s heir apparent, Kohli led the team in the first test against Australia in Adelaide, scoring back-to-back centuries in his debut as captain and earning plaudits for his aggressive approach despite the cliff-hanging loss by 48 runs.

Though not a victory, Dhoni’s last test in charge may have been satisfying on a personal level, having struck an unbeaten 24 to help guide his team to safety on the fifth and final day as Australia’s seamers pushed hard for a third successive win.

His stewardship is likely to be hotly debated for months and years to come, having taken India’s test team to the world number one ranking for a brief period, but also leading a team that would invariably fail to perform away from home soil.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom, Editing by Patrick Johnston)

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