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Smith, Clarke score tons as rain mars second day's play

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Smith and Clarke punished India's ordinary bowling on Day 2. Photo: AP

Smith and Clarke punished India’s ordinary bowling on Day 2. Photo: AP

Adelaide: Steven Smith (batting 162) and skipper Michael Clarke (128) scored centuries to help Australia reach 517 for seven on a rain-affected second day of the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval here Wednesday.

Intermittent rain plagued the day with the Australian duo ruthlessly dominating a listless Indian bowling, which conceded 163 runs in 30.4 overs.

A half-fit Clarke and Smith shared 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket and completely dominated with some scintillating strokeplay till the skipper, after completing his 28th century, lost his wicket when his sweep off a debutant Karn Sharma delivery went straight into the hands of Cheteshwar Pujara at square leg.

His wicket was India’s only success for the day.

The 25-year-old right-handed batsman Steven Smith once again showed mettle with a gritty knock. He batted with aplomb as his captain battled pain and initially struggled with body movement due to back spasm which had forced him to retire hurt Tuesday at an individual score of 60.

Early on, Smith kept the scoreboard ticking by peppering the boundary. His knock not only pressurised the Virat Kohli-led Indians but also took pressure off Clarke as he took time to settle down.

Though Clarke lacked in footwork and body movement due to the injury that has been troubling him for last couple of years, he trusted his class and experience to keep the Indians at bay.

He stood at the crease to fend off the Indian pacers, who were short on discipline and fire.

But regular breaks due to showers worked in Clarke’s favour and especially after lunch he looked a completely different batsman, using his feet to clinical precision against the debutant leg-spinner Karn. He also batted well against Varun Aaron, hitting him through cover and point.

Clarke’s knock comprised 18 boundaries and it came at a strike rate of 78.52, Smith hit 21 fours and his knock came at a strike rate of 70.12.

What didn’t help the Indians were the missed chances as Smith was dropped twice albeit after scoring his fifth ton.

First, when he was batting on 131, he danced down the track and missed a flighted delivery from leggie Karn Sharma but wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha failed to collect the ball properly.

Later, when he was on 161, Ishant misjudged a catch and ran behind instead of moving forward towards the ball at deep fine leg. He dived but it dropped few metres in front of him.

Wednesday’s play started 10 minutes late as overnight batsman Smith and Clarke did well to help their team reach the 400-run mark before drizzle forced an early lunch break.

After Mohammed Shami bowled four deliveries to complete the 90th over, Smith cut a short ball from Ishant Sharma through backward point to make his intentions clear.

He again punished Ishant in his next over with two cracking punches through covers as the Indian persisted with short and wide deliveries.

He reached his three figures by tucking a Shami delivery towards the deep mid-wicket for a couple. As part of his celebration, he ran towards the ground where late Phillip Hughe’s number 408 was written.

He looked skywards and was hugged by an emotional captain.

Mitchell Johnon (batting 0) was at the crease with Smith when the play was called off for the day due to bad light.

(IANS)

India strike late blows but Warner puts Australia ahead

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Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Adelaide: Indian bowlers took four wickets in the final session of the opening day of the first Test but Australian opener David Warner’s belligerent knock of 145 put the home team in a slightly better position with a total of 354 for six at the Adelaide Oval here Tuesday.

Left-handed Warner got good support from skipper Michael Clarke (60) and Steve Smith (unbeaten 72) to help Australia snatch the initiative on the first day of the emotionally charged Test as India was made to toil without much result in the first two sessions of play.

For the visitors, pacers Mohammed Shami and Varun Aaron picked up two wickets apiece but their economy rates took a beating against a destructive Warner, who grabbed all eyeballs with some scintillating strokeplay.

Experienced medium fast bowler Ishant Sharma only managed the solitary wicket of Chris Rogers, but looked stand-in skipper Virat Kohli’s best bet to inflict damage on the hosts.

India surprisingly fielded debutant Karn Sharma instead of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The leggie didn’t get much help from the turf and Clarke and Warner punished him, dispatching several weak deliveries to the fence.

But the Meerut youngster accounted for big-hitting Warner, who danced down the track and was caught at deep mid-wicket by Ishant.

After losing Chris Rogers (9) and Shane Watson (14), Australia rode on the 118-run Warner-Clarke third wicket partnership before the latter retired hurt due to back spasms, which have been bothering him for the last couple of years.

However, Warner continued his aggression on his way to his 10th century as the Indian bowlers failed to control him. The 28-year-old cut, pulled, drove and sliced to collect 17 boundaries which helped him to grab his fifth Test century in 2014.

Later, Mitchell Marsh (41) and Smith stitched a useful 87-run partnership to provide comfort to the Australians.

However, Marsh was caught at gully by Kohli off a Varun Aaron delivery and the next two batsmen – Nathon Lyon and Brad Haddin – fell to Shami quickly.

While Nyon had his stumps dismantled, wicketkeeper-batsman Haddin edged it to glovesman Wriddhiman Saha. Play was called off after the final wicket with four deliveries of the 90th over still to be bowled.

Earlier, Clarke won the toss and decided to bat – a decision justified by Warner. He tore the Indian bowling apart in the first four overs as Australia raced to 40 runs. Warner milked three boundaries in the second over, bowled by Aaron, to make his intentions clear.

He smashed Shami in the next over for three more boundaries and continued to hit the fence regularly, forcing Kohli to replace an erratic Aaron with Ishant in the sixth over.

Ishant responded to the challenge brilliantly, dismissing Rogers. The batsman lost his wicket while trying to cover drive a ball which teasingly moved away from him. He played it into the waiting hands of Shikhar Dhawan at second slip.

Watson (14) joined Warner in the middle with the team’s score reading 50/1 but the right-hander didn’t last long as he guided an Aaron delivery to Dhawan while attempting a slice towards the point region.

Despite two wickets tumbling, Warner remained his usual self and reached his fifty with a pull off Aaron in the 15th over.

Prior to the match, a rousing 63-second standing ovation marked a tribute to Phillip Hughes, who died Nov 27 after being hit by a bouncer during a domestic match.

Both teams wore black armbands in memory of the 25-year-old Hughes, who was batting on an individual score of 63 when a Sean Abbot bouncer hit him on the neck at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Nov 25 and he died two days later.

The Adelaide Oval crowd stood in silence as Richie Benaud paid a stirring video tribute to Hughes on the big screen. The crowd then erupted into applause for 63 seconds.

(IANS)

Australian batsman Phillip Hughes is dead

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Phillip Hughes

Sydney: Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, who was struck on the head by a cricket ball died in hospital, authorities said Thursday.

The incident took place when Hughes was playing in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hughes has died, said Cricket Australia in a statement Thursday.

“He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday,” Sydney Morning Herald cited the statement as saying.

“He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends. As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

Hughes, 25, has been in an induced coma since the accident Tuesday afternoon.

(IANS)

India, Australia ink five agreements

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india_australia_deal

Canberra: India and Australia Tuesday signed five agreements, including on exchange of sentenced prisoners and on tourism, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott held bilateral talks here.

The agreements are on social security, to “strengthen people-to-people contacts and facilitate and regulate the regulations between the two countries with respect to social security benefits and coverage”.

“It will provide for social security and superannuation benefits for those who have been residents of the other country on basis of equality of benefit, export of benefits and avoidance of double coverage.” an official statement said.

“It will lead to greater economies and promote the flow of professionals,” the statement said.

The agreement on transfer of sentenced prisoners is to “enhance cooperative efforts in law enforcement and administration of justice and to cooperate in the enforcement of penal sentences”.

“It will facilitate, regulate and lay down procedures for the transfer of sentenced persons and enable rehabilitation and reintegration of sentenced persons into society,” the statement said.

The MoU on Combating Narcotics Trafficking and Developing Police Cooperation, is to “address concerns regarding illicit trafficking and drug abuse”.

The fourth agreement is on Cooperation in the Field of Arts and Culture, and “will promote cooperation through exchange of information, professional expertise, training and exhibitions in the field of culture”.

The fifth agreement is in the field of tourism, to encourage “interaction between tourism stakeholders, training and investments in hospitality sector and promote the importance of the tourism sector in economic development and employment generation”, the statement added.

(IANS)

India and Australia agree to collaborate on rejuvenating Ganga

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A devotee taking a dip in the polluted waters of river Ganga in Allahabad. Photo: The Hindu

A devotee taking a dip in the polluted waters of river Ganga in Allahabad. Photo: The Hindu

Canberra/ANI: India and Australia on Tuesday announced plans to collaborate on rejuvenating the River Ganga during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

In a joint statement issued during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Australia, both sides welcomed the two-way exchanges and cooperation in river basin planning under the water partnership, and a new program of joint research on agricultural water management.

Both sides also welcomed co-operation between Australian and Indian universities, and in particular, the joint PhD programmes to encourage research.

During his visit here, Prime Minister Modi renewed his invitation to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to visit India again at his convenience. They also agreed that high-level visits played a key role in enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi kickstarted his day’s engagements with a visit to the War Memorial here, where he paid his tributes to those Australians who had died at war while serving their country.

He was also accompanied by his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott, where he laid a wreath in the Hall of Memory . Prime Minister Modi observed few minutes of silence at the memorial as a mark of respect and signed the visitor’s book here before he left.

Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm ceremonial reception here at the forecourt of the Australian Parliament and offered a gun salute.

He also inspected a guard of honour during his visit here.

During his opening statement at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Prime Minister Modi said that both nations were seeking early closure to a civil nuclear agreement that will give Australia a chance to participate in one of the world’s most safe and secure nuclear energy programmes. Besides, the two nations also decided to sign five pacts on several areas.

While addressing the joint session of the Australian Parliament, he placed Australia at the centre of India’s vision of a prosperous and regional order, at the juncture of the Indian and Pacific oceans, at a time when security and maritime navigation were valued more highly than ever before.

After addressing the Australian Parliament here, Prime Minister Modi has arrived in Melbourne where he is scheduled to address expatriate Indians at the the 161-year-old Melbourne Cricket Ground and attend two other events hosted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, before departing for Fiji for the third leg of his three-nation, 10-day trip.

(ANI)

Dhoni rested for first Test against Australia; Rahul, Karn get call-ups

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India-test

Mumbai: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been rested for the first match of the four-Test series starting Dec 4 against Australia while Karnataka opening batsman K.L. Rahul and Railways leg-spinner Karn Sharma received call-ups to the 19-member squad announced Monday.

Virat Kohli will lead the Indian team in the first Test of the series, which will be preceded by two two-day practice games in November.

“Virat Kohli will lead India in the first Test, starting on 4 December 2014, in Brisbane. M.S. Dhoni has been rested for the first Test as a prophylactic measure to ensure optimum recovery. He will join the team from the second Test onwards, and will lead the team for the rest of the Test series,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Patel said.

Left-hander Suresh Raina has returned to the squad after two years while Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper Naman Ojha will be Bengal glovesman Wriddhiman Saha’s back-up for the first Test.

Right-hander batsman Rahul was a serious contender for the reserve opener’s slot after scoring centuries in each innings of the Duleep Trophy final against Central Zone at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi Oct 29-Dec 2. In the previous season of the Ranji Trophy, the 22-year-old accumulated 1,158 runs to become the second highest scorer.

The selectors have picked five pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron while the spin department got an addition in the form of Meerut-based spinner Karn, who made his Twenty20 debut against England.

BCCI’s All-India Senior Selection Committee, which met here Monday, also rested opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the last two One-Day Internationals (ODI) of the five-match India-Sri Lanka series.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Karn Sharma, Vinay Kumar and Kedar Jadhav have been selected for the last two games to be played in Kolkata (Oct 13) and Ranchi (Oct 16).

India squad for Tests in Australia: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, K.L. Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Karn Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohd. Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron.

India squad for ODIs against Sri Lanka: Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Axar Patel, Karn Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Vinay Kumar, Kedar Jadhav.

(IANS)

Pakistan win first test series against Australia in 20 years

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pakistan_cricket

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan achieved their first series win over Australia in 20 years with a thumping 356-run win in the second Test here today, taking the two-match series 2-0.

The elusive win lifts Pakistan to number three in International Cricket Council’s Test rankings behind number one South Africa and Australia.

Spinners Zulfiqar Babar (5-120) and Yasir Shah (3-44) rocked Australia once again for 246 in the second innings soon after lunch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Pakistan won the first Test by 221 runs in Dubai.

Pakistan had taken a big step forward after scoring a mammoth 570-6 declared in their first innings and getting a 309-run lead by dismissing Australia for 261. That never allowed Australia to stage a comeback and avoid series defeat for the first time since losing 1-0 in Pakistan in 1994.

The defeat was Australia’s third worst in all Test cricket behind their 675 run loss against England in Brisbane in 1928 and by 408 against the West Indies at Adelaide in 1980.

In contrast Pakistan registered their biggest win in terms of runs, beating their 341-run victory over India at Karachi in 2006.

Pakistan had to fight hard in the morning session as Steven Smith defied Pakistan during his resolute knock of 97, but once Smith departed, leg-before by Shah, Australia lost their last four wickets for the addition of just eight runs.

Smith added an invaluable 107 for the fifth wicket with Mitchell Marsh, who fell after scoring 47.

Smith missed a sharp turner from Shah who also bowled Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc to finish with 12 wickets in the series. Babar had Nathan Lyon caught for his second fifth wicket haul, following up his first in the first Test in Dubai.

Babar finished with 14 wickets in the series as Pakistan did not miss ace spinner Saeed Ajmal’s absence who is suspended due to illegal bowling action. Before lunch Smith batted resolutely, using his feet against the spinners during his 204-ball knock and hitting a dozen boundaries.

Smith reached his eighth Test fifty with two boundaries off spinner Zulfiqar Babar, who failed to add to his three wickets on Sunday.

Marsh, who top-scored with 87 in Australia’s first innings, played Pakistan’s pace-cum spin attack confidently and he and Smith added 55 runs in the first hour.

But Mohammad Hafeez provided the breakthrough when he had Marsh caught by Asad Shafiq off an uppish flick. His 130-ball innings included six boundaries. Hafeez finished with 2-38.

The win is also special for skipper Misbah-ul Haq who equalled the most wins record by a Pakistani captain with 14. Imran Khan and Javed Miandad also won 14 Tests as captains.

Misbah set the world record for the fastest half-century and equalled the feat of fastest century in all Test cricket during his 101 not out on Sunday, capping a memorable Test match.

(AFP)

U.S praises Australia for air strike move against Islamic State

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Barack Obama, Oslo, Norway Photo: Sandy Young/Getty Images

Barack Obama, Oslo, Norway Photo: Sandy Young/Getty Images

Washington: The White House has praised Australia over its decision to join air strikes in Iraq and to send special forces military trainers to the country.

“With these deployments, Australia demonstrates its continued leadership and resolve in addressing the urgent and critical security challenges that threaten Australia, its people, and the broader international community,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Air Force One.

“Australians and Americans have fought alongside each other in every major conflict over the past century, and we are grateful for Australia’s further contribution,” Earnest said on Friday.

Australia’s cabinet earlier approved Super Hornets to start bombing raids against Islamic State extremists in coming days, supported by 400 RAAF personnel.

The RAAF will deploy six Super Hornets, a Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and a refueller.

About 200 special forces members will train and advise Iraqi forces, but are awaiting final legal approval before deploying.

Source

Muslim woman bashed, thrown from a moving train in a horrific racist attack

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Photo: William West via Getty Images.

Photo: William West via Getty Images.

– by Pedestrian

Melbourne: This is starting to get way out of hand. Yesterday afternoon, a Melbourne woman – who just so happened to be of Muslim appearance – was viciously bashed by what appears to have been a complete racist scumbag, and subsequently forced off a moving train as it approached a station in the city’s north.

According to police, the 26 year-old victim was standing near the doors of an outbound Upfield train as it was approaching Batman station in the northern suburb of Coburg. At that point, another woman has approached her and commenced hurling racial abuse. Shortly thereafter, the attacker grabbed her victim by the hair and neck, and repeatedly forced her head into the wall of the carriage. As the train pulled into the station, she then managed to open the doors before forcing the woman out and onto the platform as the train was pulling to a stop.

Without a word of a lie, that is an actual thing that happened to someone who, by all accounts, was simply minding their own business.

The woman was assisted by two men who came to the victim’s aid – police are calling for them, and any other witnesses, to come forward.

The racist stain of a human who is alleged to have perpetrated this cowardly act of bullshit is said to be – unsurprisingly – caucasian, around 177cm tall, solid build, short brown hair and light-coloured eyebrows. She was wearing baggy jeans, a puffy black hooded top, and runners.

If you happened to have seen this particular incident, or are ever in the position where you witness a similar incident, for pete’s sake speak up. There’s always more good people than there are dickheads. They are the true unwanted minority. Use your voice. Stamp this shit out. It’s not a good look for anyone.

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