Reinforced India bat first in pink-ball Test v Australia

Return of skipper Rohit Sharma and batter Shubman Gill bolstered India’s batting line up

 India, bolstered by the return of skipper Rohit Sharma and batter Shubman Gill, won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in the day-night second Test in Adelaide on Friday.

Rohit missed India’s comprehensive victory in the series opener in Perth to care for his newborn baby in Mumbai, while top order batter Gill sat out with a thumb injury.

India also brought in veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, while leaving out Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal.

“It looks a good pitch. It obviously looks a little dry at the moment but there’s enough grass covering as well,” Rohit said at the toss.

“I guess it will have some carry for the fast bowlers but as the game goes on it will get better to bat and there will be something in it for everyone.”

Scott Boland replaced injured paceman Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s sole change for the match.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said they would have liked to bat first but were ready to exploit the early conditions at the Adelaide Oval.

“Day one, pink ball. There might be a bit of nip there for us. It’s good to have a fresh start,” Cummins said.

“It’s a venue we really love playing at. Pink ball can be a little bit different than red ball.”

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Rohit Sharma (captain), Nitesh Kumar Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 is only 50 days away, with 16 international teams featuring the world’s best cricketers getting set for the global showpiece event in Australia that begins on 16 October. From one side of the country to the other, the T20 World Cup took to the skies in Perth and Sydney today as fans countdown to ‘The Big Time’.

In Sydney, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja was at Sydney Harbour as the flags of all 16 competing teams were flown over the city and its world-famous landmarks, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

In Western Australia, The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, arrived in Perth with Shane Watson bringing the trophy to local fans via helicopter from iconic tourist destination, Rottnest Island. Fan groups from all six teams that are guaranteed to feature across five matches in Perth marched to Perth Stadium and had the chance to get a live glimpse of the prized silverware.

A countdown clock and mural was also unveiled in Geelong, where the opening match of the T20 World Cup will be played between 2014 champions Sri Lanka and Namibia on 16 October. The mural was painted by a local Sri Lankan artist and will remain at Kardinia Park Stadium following the completion of the T20 World Cup.

Earlier this week, additional standing room tickets were sold out to the highly anticipated India v Pakistan match at the MCG on Sunday 23 October.

Over 800,000 fans are anticipated to attend the T20 World Cup with childrens tickets to all Super 12 matches available for just $5, while adult tickets start from $20.

ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “There is a real sense of excitement and anticipation now we are just 50 days away from the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. Today’s activities across Australia to celebrate the milestone highlight this is an event not to be missed. With all 16 teams confirmed and the finishing touches to event preparation being undertaken, I can’t wait for the cricket to start and to see who will claim the ultimate prize in T20 cricket.

‘There are still some tickets available for certain match days so anyone that wants to witness the world’s best T20 cricketers in a World Cup should check the ICC website to make sure they don’t miss out.”

Australian cricketer and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Multicultural Ambassador Usman Khawaja said;  

“The T20 World Cup is a massive global event and the fact that 16 teams will all be playing across Australia at the same time is very special. What I’m excited to see as being a part of the T20 Champions programme is the fans of all the different teams coming to the stadiums to celebrate their heritage and passion for cricket.

“While Australia are the hosts of the event, this will be a home World Cup for people of all different backgrounds no matter where they are from. We’ve seen tickets sell out for the India and Pakistan match with over 80% of those fans living here in Australia. This shows how big the opportunity is for cricket to engage fans of all different backgrounds to be part of the Australian Cricket family.”

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee CEO Michelle Enright said:

“With only 50 days to go until the T20 World Cup, our message is that this is a World Cup for everyone. It will be an unmissable celebration of cricket and the many different cultures that makes up its extraordinary global fanbase.

“World Cups have an unrivalled ability to unite the country and to inspire the next generation.  With kids tickets to all Super 12 matches at just $5, we hope as many families as possible are able to come and see the world’s best cricketers and share in the joy of live sport.”

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Australia won their seventh ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup with a 71-run victory over England in Christchurch.

Alyssa Healy’s staggering innings of 170 saw Australia put on 356 for five as England’s bowlers had no answer to a batting masterclass, Anya Shrubsole’s three for 46 the only highlight for the defending champions.

Nat Sciver once again steered England’s reply by battling to her highest score in international cricket with 148 not out, but it proved in vain after Shrubsole was dismissed to hand Australia the trophy once more.

Having been put in to bat in the bright Hagley Oval sunshine, Australia were measured in the powerplay, taking 37 off the seam attack of Katherine Brunt, Shrubsole and Nat Sciver.

But the introduction of spin in the form of Charlie Dean proved Healy and Rachael Haynes’ cue to start finding the boundary regularly.

England’s fielding errors – that had started in their opening group game against the same opponent -re-emerged as Haynes was dropped on 47 before Healy was put down on 41 in the same Kate Cross over.

As against the West Indies in the semi-final, Haynes’ half-century came first – off 69 balls – before Healy’s was brought up off 62 as they eased their way to the highest opening partnership in a World Cup final.

Even as Dean continued to be targeted, spin made the breakthrough as Sophie Ecclestone took her 21^st and final wicket of the tournament to dismiss Haynes for 68, Tammy Beaumont holding on to a mistimed shot as Haynes ended the World Cup on 497 runs.

The partnership had ended on 160 runs, but Healy built a new one with Beth Mooney who was promoted up the order from five.

But first Healy became only the second woman to score a hundred in a World Cup final, going at a run a ball as she became the only player to score two centuries in the knockout stage of a World Cup.

And she then surpassed the highest score in a Women’s World Cup final as she moved to 111 with a four off Cross.

More records came when Australia reached 260 for one to rack up the highest score in a World Cup final – with eight overs still to go.

Amy Jones twice sent the umpire upstairs to review stumpings before she finally grabbed her wicket, stumping Healy who ended on a spectacular 170 from 138 balls – the highest individual score in a Men’s or Women’s World Cup final – with over 100 runs coming in boundaries.

A packed Hagley Oval rose to applaud as Healy departed with Australia on 316 for two before another wicket came in Shrubsole’s over as Ashleigh Gardner was run out for one.

Meg Lanning, making her 100^th ODI appearance, did not last too much longer as she departed for 10 before Mooney was out off the very next ball following a sparkling 62 from 47.

New batter Tahlia McGrath negotiated the Shrubsole hat-trick ball as she and Ellyse Perry added 25 off the final 13 balls to see Australia post 356 for five.

In reply, England’s opening partnership failed to fire once again as Danni Wyatt was bowled by Megan Schutt for just four.

Australia’s young seamer Darcie Brown was the target of England’s aggression, with Beaumont leading the charge until she was dismissed LBW by Schutt for 27 from 26 balls.

Sciver was again called upon to deliver against Australia, having made 109 not out in the group game, and this time her presence at the crease gave England faint hope.

She saw an LBW overturned off the bowling of Alana King before partner and captain Heather Knight was given out the same way two balls later for 26.

Jones fell for 20 to end a promising partnership as England slipped to 129 for four before Sophia Dunkley was again part of an England rebuild.

But she was bowled by King two balls after the fifty partnership was brought up, the leg-spinner extracting turn to bowl her round her legs for 23.

Brunt then went for one as Healy got a stumping of her own before Ecclestone departed for three, out LBW to McGrath.

Jess Jonassen grabbed another caught and bowled against England as Cross went for only two to leave Knight’s side needing an unlikely 144 with only two wickets remaining.

Sciver was joined by Dean in time for her to bring up another brilliant century, coming off 90 balls with 10 fours and one six.

The pair built a partnership of 65 before Dean holed out to Jonassen at third man attempting a reverse sweep.

Shrubsole, the hero in 2017 as England beat India in the final, was once again involved in the closing action as she was the final wicket to go, Gardner taking the winning catch as England fell 71 runs short with Sciver stranded on 148 not out.

Scores in brief

Australia beat England at Hagley Oval, Christchurch by 71 runs
Australia 356/5 in 50.0 overs (Alyssa Healy 170, Rachael Haynes 68; Anya Shrubsole 3/46, Sophie Ecclestone 1/71)
England 285 all out in 43.4overs (Nat Sciver 148 not out, Tammy Beaumont 27; Jess Jonassen 3/57, Alana King 3/64)
Player of the Match: Alyssa Healy (Australia)

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