India thrashes Australia by eight wickets in Test 2 to draw 1-1 in four-game series | Cricket news

India draws 1-1 in Test series in Australia; the visitors had lost the first test after collapsing to 36 in total; Australia fined and deducted four World Test Championship points for slow overpricing in Test second; Third test confirmed for Sydney despite Covid outbreak

India’s alternate captain Ajinkya Rahane and Australia’s skipper Tim Paine bump fists after the tourists’ victory in Melbourne.

India completed a surprising change of form by sealing an eight-wicket victory over Australia on the fourth day of Test 2 at MCG to draw 1-1 in the four-game series.

The tourists’ resounding victory in Melbourne came just over a week after they fell to a national record of 36 in an eight-field loss to Australia in Adelaide.

India, captained by Ajinkya Rahane in the absence of Virat Kohli, who flew home for the birth of her son, reached her goal of 70 in 15.5 overs after throwing Australia for 200.

India lost to Mayank Agarwal (5) with the score at 16 and Cheteshwar Pujara (3) with the total at 19 when Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins scored in the fifth and sixth respectively.

Rahane was named Man of the Match after scoring a century in the first inning for India

Rahane, dropped at 19, finished undefeated at 27 and hit the winning run, fittingly after his first-inning century, while starter Shubman Gill finished 35 with no out.

Siraj helps polish Australia

India’s rookie sailor Mohammed Siraj pulled his team off the field at lunch after adding 3-37 in the second to their 2-40 on Australia’s first hit.

The hosts resumed the fourth day at 133-6 and Pat Cummins (22) and Cameron Green (45) added another 23 before Cummins defended a Jasprit Bumrah goalie until the second slip, the seventh-field partnership ended at 57.

Green was caught in the midwicket against Siraj to make it 177-8, before Siraj eliminated Nathan Lyon (3) eight runs later.

Fast India Mohammed Siraj pocketed five wickets in the game on debut

Josh Hazlewood (10) was the last man out, offering no shots to be thrown by spinner Ravi Ashwin (2-71), with Starc stranded at 14.

Australia had chosen to hit after winning the Boxing Day draw, but was ruled out for 195 before Rahane’s 112 lifted India to 326 in response.

Third test confirmed for Sydney despite Covid outbreak

Sydney will host the third test from January 7 after Cricket Australia deemed the recent Covid-19 outbreak in the city to have subsided sufficiently.

A wave of cases on Sydney’s North Beaches before Christmas had seen Melbourne on hold to host back-to-back events, but the Sydney Cricket Ground will host the game as planned.

The governments of New South Wales and Queensland were involved in the decision, and Queensland will host the fourth test, at The Gabba in Brisbane, starting January 15.

To complicate the organizing decision, the Queensland border was closed to anyone coming from the greater Sydney area, putting events, broadcasts and the media, as well as players from Australia and India, in limbo.

The third test will take place in Sydney after a Covid outbreak in the city put Melbourne on hold.

Nick Hockley, Acting CEO of Cricket Australia, said: “Despite the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am pleased to say that Cricket Australia remains on track to deliver the international men’s series as scheduled.

“We have met regularly over the past week to assess the unfolding public health situation in Sydney and measure its impact on border restrictions across the country.

“To date, we have been able to deliver a safe and successful summer thanks to our detailed biosecurity protocols and the incredible work of so many great people behind the scenes. To that end, we have made the decision to keep the New Years Trial at the SCG “.

Australia fined, points deducted for slow surcharge

Australia has been fined 40 per cent of its match fee and sanctioned four ICC World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow excessive rate in the second test in Melbourne.

The third test will take place in Sydney after a Covid outbreak in the city put Melbourne on hold.

Tim Paine’s team was ruled two overs from the goal after time allowances were taken into consideration and match referee David Boon imposed the penalty.

Paine pleaded guilty to the crime so there was no need for a formal hearing.

“According to article 2.22 of the ICC code of conduct that relates to minimum overstatement infractions, players are fined 20% of their match quotas for each side that does not play in the allotted time,” he said. the ICC.

“Furthermore, according to Article 16.11.2 of the playing conditions of the ICC World Trials Championship, one side is penalized two points for each short.”