Skip to main content
NTv Online

Sports

Sports
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Other sports
  • Tennis
  • Bangla Version
  • Archive
  • Bangladesh
  • World
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Comment
  • Education
  • Life
  • Health
  • Art & Culture
  • Election
  • বাংলা
  • Bangladesh
  • World
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Comment
  • Education
  • Life
  • Health
  • Art & Culture
  • Election
  • বাংলা
  • Bangla Version
  • Archive
Follow
  • Sports
Reuters
25 December, 2018, 11:18
Update: 25 December, 2018, 11:18
More News
Rajshahi romp to BBPL title crushing Khulna
Tigers to tour Pakistan in three phases to play full series
Bangladesh women clinch gold medal
Bangladesh bat first in historic day-night Test against India
ICC bans Shakib from all forms of cricket for 2 years

India unveil new opening pair, Australia pick Marsh

Reuters
25 December, 2018, 11:18
Update: 25 December, 2018, 11:18

Melbourne: India dropped both their struggling openers and opted for the left-arm spin of Ravindra Jadeja for the Boxing Day test against Australia in their bid to reclaim the lead in the four-match series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Tuesday.

Openers Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay have paid the price for putting together just one double-digit stand at the halfway point of the four-test series, hardly the starts that would help bring India a first test series win Down Under.

Mayank Agarwal will make his test debut on Wednesday with spinning all-rounder Hanuma Vihari joining him in a new-look opening pair.

After their decision not to play a specialist spinner spectacularly backfired in Perth, where Australia levelled the series 1-1, the tourists included Jadeja in the playing XI after first choice Ravichandran Ashwin failed to recover from an abdominal strain.

India also left out paceman Umesh Yadav, while Rohit Sharma returned to bolster the middle order.

Australia have recalled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh at the expense of middle order batsman Peter Handscomb in the only change to the side who won the Perth test by 146 runs.

‘It’s a long series, our bowlers have had a really big workload and we feel we’re going to need Mitch’s bowling at some point,’ Australia skipper Tim Paine told reporters.

‘I’m sure Pete would be upset. I think he’s had conversations with the selectors that there’s a few things they would like him to work on and Pete is open to that.’

The MCG pitch, a year after being rated ‘poor’, sported a green tinge which made India captain Virat Kohli optimistic of a result in the penultimate match of the series.

‘As a side you always want a result. The surface looked pretty dry underneath yesterday. There’s a good coverage of grass which should keep the surface intact,’ Kohli told reporters.

‘It should have enough for the bowlers to be interested on all days of the test match. Hopefully it’s much more lively than it was last time.’

Kohli and Paine clashed more than once in the tension-filled Perth test but the Indian captain played down the altercations, saying sparks are bound to fly when two competitive teams meet.

‘When both teams are passionate and desperate to win, obviously those things happen on the field. As long as the line is not crossed, you have no issues,’ said Kohli.

‘I’m sure Tim and myself both understand what happened and we definitely don’t want to do something unnecessary. We want to lead our team well and play good cricket which the public want to see.’

The series will shift to Sydney for the finale beginning on Jan. 3.

Teams:

India: Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

Australia: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain-wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Most Read
  1. Get all sports-related updates under one umbrella
  2. History-maker SAFF Champions now role models for hundreds of girls
  3. Most Japan firms say Games should be cancelled or postponed
  4. Country's football legend Badal Roy passes away
  5. Corona curbs cricketing clash, creates concern
  6. Thank you captain, tigers win series
Most Read
  1. Get all sports-related updates under one umbrella
  2. History-maker SAFF Champions now role models for hundreds of girls
  3. Most Japan firms say Games should be cancelled or postponed
  4. Country's football legend Badal Roy passes away
  5. Corona curbs cricketing clash, creates concern
  6. Thank you captain, tigers win series

Follow Us

Alhaj Mohammad Mosaddak Ali

Chairman & Managing Director

NTV Online, BSEC Building (Level-8), 102 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215 Telephone: +880255012281 up to 5, Fax: +880255012286 up to 7

Browse by Category

  • About NTV
  • NTV Programmes
  • Advertisement
  • Web Mail
  • NTV FTV
  • Satellite Downlink
  • Europe Subscription
  • USA Subscription
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact

Our Newsletter

To stay on top of the ever-changing world of business, subscribe now to our newsletters.

* We hate spam as much as you do

Alhaj Mohammad Mosaddak Ali

Chairman & Managing Director

NTV Online, BSEC Building (Level-8), 102 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215 Telephone: +880255012281 up to 5, Fax: +880255012286 up to 7

Reproduction of any content, news or article published on this website is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved