Phenomenal the way we turned things around' - Smith

Phenomenal the way we turned things around' - Smith

Nobody turns up to day five of a Test anymore. Well, hardly anybody. At the Gabba: 2593 showed up, with free entry all day. At the MCG: 6189 - though more flooded in after tea when Cricket Australia threw open the gates. And yet day five was when both Tests sprung dramatically and unexpectedly to life. The end result was that in Brisbane, Australia nearly lost the unlosable Test, while in Melbourne they won the unwinnable.

Even Steven Smith turned up to the MCG on day five thinking a result was unlikely. Possible, yes, but improbable. After all, rain had washed out nearly half of days one, two and four, and Pakistan had piled on 443 in their first innings, across three days. "If we can get a lead of 150-ish then maybe we can have a crack and see how we go," Smith said on ABC Radio on the fifth morning. "Funnier things have happened in the game of cricket."
He might not have expected it, but Smith's words could hardly have been more prophetic. In the first session, Smith and Mitchell Starc provided outstanding entertainment for the small crowd. Starc struck seven sixes, the most for any player in a Test innings at the MCG, and Australia amassed 624, the highest total ever in a Test at the venue. In the end, Smith gave himself a little extra room to manoeuvre, declaring 181 in front.
Australia's golden run continued when Josh Hazlewood struck in the second over of Pakistan's second innings, justifying Smith's declaration timing - Pakistan had to bat for a nervy four-over period before lunch. Everything continued to fall into place from there: Nathan Lyon - whose consistency was questioned by Smith on the fourth evening - ran through the middle order, and the fast men finished the job after tea.
Australia had won by an innings, in a Test in which Pakistan had made 443 batting first, and in which Australia did not even begin to bat until after lunch on day three. In a Test in which rain wreaked havoc. After the match, Smith could hardly believe that Australia would fly to Sydney for the third Test having already wrapped up the series with a 2-0 lead.

Hodge concerned about Powerplay failures

Gujarat Lions v Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2016, RajkotMay 3, 2016

Hodge concerned about Powerplay failures

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'We're still in good shape' - Hodge

Gujarat Lions coach Brad Hodge has admitted there were "quite a few areas of concern" after the team's second

Sri Lanka in England 2016May 3, 2016

Mathews hints at giving Dickwella chance at No. 3

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Sri Lanka Test captain Angelo Mathews has hinted that they might give wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella a chance at No. 3 during the Tests in England.

Ashwin has bailed me out in a lot of situations' - Dhoni

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R Ashwin has now bowled only five overs in his last three Twenty20 matches. These are the kind of numbers

April 12, 2016

Sri Lanka Cricket launches Super Under-19 Provincial Tournament

 Cricket has launched a 'Super Under-19 Provincial Tournament' to function as a sturdy link between schools
 cricket and senior cricket.
 The tournament will be contested between ten teams over three weeks, starting from April 19.
 Each side will play four two-day matches in the group stage, before the leaders in each group progress

Bruised Mumbai look to bounce back quickly

Bruised Mumbai look to bounce back quickly

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Match facts

Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)

Pune are light on Indian batsmen

 Pune are light on Indian batsmen

Match facts

Saturday, April 9, 2016
Start time 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)

Ashwin brushes off World T20 criticism

Ashwin brushes off World T20 criticism

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When it was offered that MS Dhoni, the India captain, had said R Ashwin had struggled with the dew, the offspinner flatly responded: "I don't know what he said."

India offspinner R Ashwin 

Waqar Younis steps down as Pakistan coach

Waqar Younis steps down as Pakistan coach

Waqar Younis has resigned as Pakistan's coach three months before his contract was going to end, and only one day after Shahid Afridi relinquished his T20 captaincy.

Sarfraz named Pakistan's new T20I captain

Sarfraz Ahmed named Pakistan's T20I captain

Everything we do is for the betterment of West Indies - Brathwaite

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Carlos Brathwaite earned his ke

Allrounder Carlos Brathwaite, who hit four successive sixes a

"Ben Stokes is still my hero"

Ben Stokes is still my hero

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With one over to go, England were favourites for the World T20 crown, but with West Indies needing 19, Ben Stokes conceded four sixes in four balls. That prompted an outpouring of support for the dejected Stokes.

afridi not retiring

Afridi not retiring from T20Is, but steps down as captain

Shahid Afridi has decided not to retire from T20 internationals following Pakistan's exit from the World T20, but he has stepped down from captaincy

womans!indies goo high

West Indies Women gun down 149 for maiden WT20 title

DHONI makes fun of reporter

clint McKay retires!

Clint McKay retires from international and Australian FC cricket

Clint McKay has announced his retirement from Australian first-class and international cricket. The 33-year old fast bowler will continue to play for Sydney

Ravi Shastri's contract ends>>

Ravi Shastri's contract ends after India's World T20 semifinal exi

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Shastri could become India's full-time coach. © Getty

Anurag Thakur, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, has said that the Indian team director Ravi Shastri's contract has ended

Shane Warne wants to coach Team India

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Former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne said he would love to work with the Indian cricket team. Warne said he would not hesitate to coach a side that has the backing of billion plus supporters.

umpires are ready!

Dharmasena, Tucker to officiate in World T20 2016 final

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Kumar Dharmasena and Rod Tucker of the Emirates Elite Panel will be the two on-field umpires for the men's ICC World T20 final in Kolkata on Sunday (April 3), the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.

kiwis

New Zealand newsApril 1, 2016

Grant Elliott retires from ODIs

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Elliot-kiwis

New Zealand allrounder Grant Elliott, 37, has retired from ODIs, two days after his side was knocked out of the World T20 at the semi-final stage by England. Elliott is yet to take a call on his T20 career.

dhoni blames>

West Indies power-hit their way to World T20 final-
Dhoni blames no-balls, dew factor for loss

R Ashwin is widely considered the leader of India's bowling attack, particularly in home conditions. He has ended the World T20 - a tournament held in India, on pitches