Category: Sports

England ended an almost 15-year-long wait with a spirited victory on Australian soil in the fourth Ashes Test, defeating the hosts by four wickets in a frenetic Boxing Day contest at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

A Statement Performance

While the Ashes remain out of reach, Ben Stokes’ side produced a statement performance, sealing the match in just 32.2 overs on Day 2. The Test concluded inside two days on a surface heavily favouring fast bowlers, with not a single over bowled by a spinner throughout the match. England set the stage by opting to bowl first on a lively pitch with a visible grass covering, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Josh Tongue led the charge with a five-wicket haul as Australia was dismissed for 152 in their first innings.

Australia’s Response

The hosts responded emphatically, as England were skittled for 110, handing Australia a 42-run lead. Michael Neser claimed four wickets, and Scott Boland took three. By stumps on Day 1, Australia appeared firmly in control, finishing with all 10 wickets intact thanks to a steady stand between Travis Head and nightwatchman Boland.

Day Two Collapse

Australia resumed Day 2 with a healthy advantage, but momentum shifted quickly. Head looked dangerous once again, moving fluently to 46 before Brydon Carse shattered his stumps, triggering a collapse. England surged through the remaining wickets, dismissing Australia for 132, with stand-in captain Steve Smith left unbeaten on 24. As a result, the visitors set themselves a target of 175 runs.

Decisive Chase

England’s response was decisive. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley launched an ultra-aggressive chase, treating the pursuit like a limited-overs contest. Duckett struck 34 from 26 balls before being undone by a pinpoint yorker from Mitchell Starc, while Crawley contributed a brisk 37.

Although Australia briefly fought back by removing Joe Root and Stokes in quick succession, the chase never drifted off course. Jacob Bethell’s composed 40, supported by Harry Brook’s unbeaten 18, carried England home with ease.

Milestones Achieved

This victory marks England’s first Test win in Australia since January 2011 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It is also significant for Joe Root, achieving his first Test win in Australia after 18 matches, and for Ben Stokes, marking his first win in 13 games.

The series now heads to Sydney for the fifth and final Test on January 4, with England restoring some pride after a bruising Ashes campaign that saw them lose the first three games in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide as Australia retained the urn.

Brief Scores:
Australia 152 & 132 (Travis Head 46, Steven Smith 24; Brydon Carse 4-34, Ben Stokes 3-24) lost to England 110 & 178/6 (Jacob Bethell 40, Zak Crawley 37; Scott Boland 2-29, Jhye Richardson 2-22) by four wickets.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the Melbourne Cricket Ground surface after bowlers dominated the opening stages of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia.

A staggering 20 wickets fell on the opening day, with England choosing to bowl first. Australia was dismissed for 152, and the visitors struggled in reply, collapsing to 110 and conceding a 42-run deficit. The frenetic pace continued into day two, as England skittled Australia for 132 in their second innings, setting a target of 175 to claim their first victory of the series.

This was a rare occurrence in Australian cricket, with day one witnessing 20 wickets falling for the first time in 74 years in a Test played in the country.

Vaughan expressed his frustration on social media, stating on X, “This pitch is a joke .. This is selling the game short .. The players / Broadcasters and more importantly the fans .. 26 wickets in 98 overs !!!!! #Ashes.”

He was not alone in his criticism. Former England batter Kevin Pietersen also highlighted what he sees as a double standard, noting that pitches with spin-friendly conditions are often questioned, while seam-dominated surfaces escape similar scrutiny. “India always gets hammered when wickets fall like crazy on day 1 of a Test and so I hope that Australia gets the same scrutiny! Fair is fair!” Pietersen wrote on X on Friday.

On the field, England aggressively surged toward the target. By tea on day two, they had reached 77 for 2 from just 12 overs, losing Ben Duckett and Brydon Carse, while Zak Crawley was on 22 and Jacob Bethell remained unbeaten on nine.

Earlier, Australia’s second innings wrapped up shortly after lunch, with Travis Head’s 46 being the lone resistance, as Carse ended with figures of 4 for 34.

Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund believes the Punjab Kings do not have enough backup for off-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

Squad Strengthening

The Punjab Kings have strengthened their squad with key domestic picks like Vishnu Vinod and Praveen Dubey, along with Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly for middle-order balance in the mini auction. Mukund praised the team’s smart additions but noted that spin depth needs attention.

Mukund’s Analysis

Analyzing the Punjab Kings’ balanced approach, Mukund stated, “Punjab Kings didn’t need much heading into the auction, having already invested heavily earlier. The only concern is Yuzvendra Chahal not featuring in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — so it’s unclear if they have enough backup for him. They’ve added Praveen Dubey, a leg-spinner from Karnataka, and Cooper Connolly, who’s an exciting left-handed all-rounder capable of batting anywhere from three to five. That versatility definitely adds value to their middle order,” said Mukund on JioStar.

Vishnu Vinod’s Background

Vishnu joined Bangalore in 2017 as a replacement for the injured KL Rahul, playing three matches before being released. He remained unsold for the next three seasons, then was picked by Delhi in 2021 but did not play. After stints with Hyderabad and Mumbai as a backup wicketkeeper, he was signed by Punjab ahead of the 2025 season.

Uthappa’s Praise for Vishnu

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa highlighted Vishnu Vinod as one of Punjab Kings’ most promising additions. “Vishnu Vinod is a really exciting signing for Punjab Kings, and I genuinely hope he gets regular opportunities in the IPL. We’ve only seen glimpses of his ability during his stint with Mumbai Inddigihunt, but he’s got phenomenal talent. His inclusion adds depth to the middle order and even offers a potential fast-bowling option. There’s a lot of value he can bring to this setup.”

India pacer Renuka Singh marked her return to T20I cricket in emphatic fashion, delivering a match-winning spell as India clinched the five-match series against Sri Lanka with a commanding eight-wicket victory in the third T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium.

Match Performance

Playing her first T20I in over a year, Renuka finished with outstanding figures of 4/21 from four overs, dismantling the Sri Lankan batting line-up and earning the Player of the Match award. The right-arm pacer missed India’s tour of England earlier this year and was rested for the opening two matches of the series as the team experimented with different bowling combinations.

With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup less than six months away, Renuka’s performance served as a timely reminder of her importance to India’s plans.

Thoughts on Performance

“My performance was good. I have played T20 cricket for a long time, so I am happy. Kerala is my lucky place. I have also played Under-19 cricket here. Whenever I have played, I have taken four wickets. I was excited to come to Kerala. It is my lucky ground,” she said in the post-match press conference.

Team Focus and Preparations

She also highlighted the team’s broader focus as preparations intensify for the global event. “The bowling department is doing well. The combination of pacers and spinners is good. We are trying to find a better combination for the World Cup. We are trying to keep our standards high so that we can win as many matches as possible. Our motto is to take women’s cricket to the next level.”

Renuka has been India’s leading wicket-taker at the last two editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup, picking up seven wickets in both the 2023 and 2024 tournaments, though India fell short of reaching the final on both occasions. Buoyed by their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph at home earlier this year, the team is now eyeing a historic first T20 World Cup title in England and Wales in 2026.

Preparation for T20 World Cup

According to Renuka, all planning is firmly centred on the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins on June 12. She revealed she has been working extensively on adding variations to her bowling.

“I go to the NCA (National Cricket Academy) to prepare for any tournament because it works for me. I can do some extra work on my bowling and fitness, and that helps me execute better.

“For the last six months to a year, I have been working on my variations. There shouldn’t be a doubt in my head, so I want to be mentally prepared. I know that if my first over doesn’t go well, I have to come back strong. I just kept thinking what kind of ball would get me wickets on this pitch,” she said.

India have been placed in Group A for next year’s T20 World Cup, alongside Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, and two teams yet to qualify from the qualifiers.

India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma has made history in global cricket by becoming the first player in the world, across men’s and women’s T20I cricket, to score 1000 runs and take 150 wickets. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her admiration for this remarkable achievement, calling it ‘total magic.’

Deepti reached this milestone during the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram, solidifying her reputation as one of the most versatile white-ball cricketers in the sport. Sharing a graphic of the all-rounder on her Instagram story, Harmanpreet wrote, “This is total magic. Well done Deepti.”

In a decisive three-wicket spell, Deepti became the joint-highest wicket-taker in women’s T20I history, tying with Australia’s Megan Schutt at 151 wickets. She claimed her 150th wicket by dismissing Sri Lanka’s Kavisha Dilhari in the 14th over.

India secured an unassailable 3–0 series lead with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium. Shafali Verma was the standout performer, scoring an unbeaten 79 off 42 balls, which included 11 fours and three sixes, leading the charge to chase down Sri Lanka’s modest total with 6.4 overs to spare. Earlier, India’s bowlers set the foundation for victory, with Renuka Singh Thakur taking 4 wickets for 21 runs and Deepti claiming 3 for 18, restricting the visitors to 112/7.

India faced an early setback with Smriti Mandhana out for one and Jemimah Rodrigues dismissed by Dilhari, but Shafali remained unfazed. After a cautious start, she launched an aggressive attack on the Sri Lankan bowlers, reaching her fifty in just 24 balls. Captain Harmanpreet contributed a steady 21 not out, ensuring India completed another convincing win and secured their fourth consecutive T20I series victory over Sri Lanka.

Deepti’s recent performances have been a hot topic. She was awarded the Player of the Tournament at the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, finishing as the leading wicket-taker and helping India clinch their first-ever world title on home ground.

In the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, she made a significant impact as UP Warriorz (UPW) acquired her for Rs 3.2 crore, marking the second-highest bid in league history.

Cricket Australia chief executive officer Todd Greenberg has expressed concerns about extending the duration of a Test match from five days to two. He noted that while this could lead to heightened excitement due to the number of wickets taken, wicket-laden days may pose risks to the long-term health of Test cricket.

With the two-day Test match that began the Ashes series in Perth, there is a genuine possibility of a third quick Test during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. This comes after an eventful first day of this year’s Test match, which saw 20 wickets fall.

A remarkable 94,000 fans packed into the MCG, creating an unforgettable atmosphere, as highlighted by Greenberg.

“I didn’t sleep well last night, put it that way,” Greenberg shared with SEN Cricket. “It was an amazing day of Test cricket, so for that record number of people who were here, boy, they’ve had an experience.”

He added, “But our challenge is to make sure we can continue those experiences day after day. That’s the challenge for all of us.”

When asked if the 20 wickets in a single day were excessive, Greenberg replied, “No.” He explained that having that many wickets in a Test pushes the game towards a shorter format, which Cricket Australia wishes to avoid, believing it could harm both the game and the business.

“Short answer for that in my opinion is yes,” he said. “As mesmerising and fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a fan, we want Test cricket clearly to go for longer.”

Greenberg pointed out the need for balance between bat and ball. He noted that the conditions on the opening day favored bowlers, and he believes that the pitch is not solely to blame.

“So I would like to see a slightly broader balance between the bat and the ball. I thought yesterday slightly favoured the ball,” he remarked. “The batters have some ownership in some of that; it’s not all around the pitch, but we’ve got some challenges.”

This imbalance persisted on Day 2, as the first session saw another six wickets fall, raising the possibility of the Test match concluding well before its scheduled end.

A record total of 162,408 fans attended Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Big Bash League matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Optus Stadium.

Friday’s attendance shattered the previous record of 152,375 set on Boxing Day 2024. All three matches saw attendance records, highlighting the immense popularity of Australia’s national sport.

Melbourne Highlights

In Melbourne, a crowd of 94,199 witnessed 20 wickets fall in the fourth Ashes Test. This figure set a record for a day of cricket in Australia, surpassing the earlier record of 93,013 from the ODI World Cup final in 2015. The day’s second match featured the Melbourne Stars defeating the Sydney Sixers by seven wickets, drawing an impressive crowd of 25,589—the biggest ever for the SCG’s annual Boxing Day event.

Perth Scorchers Crowd

At Optus Stadium, the national single-day attendance record was established as the Perth Scorchers welcomed 42,620 fans for their Boxing Day Bash, eclipsing the previous record from BBL 13, as they hosted the reigning champions Hobart Hurricanes.

The Boxing Day attendance record follows total and single-day records set during the opening three Ashes Tests, alongside significant increases in attendances and broadcast audiences on Foxtel and Seven for the Big Bash League.

Official Statements

Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia CEO, remarked, “Boxing Day 2025 has been a landmark day for Australian Cricket, with records tumbling across all three venues hosting Test and BBL matches.”

He continued, “To set a new single-day attendance record of 162,408 is a proud moment for Australian Cricket and reflects our sport’s popularity and strength nationwide. The Boxing Day Test is bigger than cricket. It is one of the nation’s great events, and those who attended the MCG will cherish the experience forever.”

Greenberg added, “Similarly, attending Big Bash games is a summer ritual for many Australian families, and the buzz around the competition is as loud as it’s ever been. We’re witnessing incredible performances, record run chases, and a trend of nail-biting finishes every night.”

He concluded, “The unmissable on-field action has driven record crowds to every Test match, with all formats experiencing attendance and audience growth this summer. We thank all those who watched or attended a match on this incredible day for cricket and look forward to seeing packed venues across the country for the remainder of the summer.”

A depleted Manchester United climbed back into the Premier League’s top five with a 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday at Old Trafford, sealed by Patrick Dorgu’s stunning volley.

Dorgu scored his first goal wearing Manchester United colors after meeting a loose ball on the edge of the area in the 24th minute, leaving goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with no chance. The hosts hit the woodwork through Benjamin Sesko and went close again through Diogo Dalot after the break.

Missing seven players, including captain Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United also lost Mason Mount at halftime but held firm against a Newcastle side that enjoyed 66 percent possession.

The visitors came close when Lewis Hall struck the underside of the crossbar but were unable to find an equalizer. Newcastle is in 11th place with 23 points, while the host has 29 points after 18 games. The remaining games of the week are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Dorgu’s goal came in the 24th minute from a volley as Diogo Dalot’s long throw was only slightly cleared. The ball fell to the Dane at 15 yards, and he blasted it into the bottom left corner of the goal. Unfortunately for Newcastle, despite their efforts late in the match, they were unable to find an equalizer against a squad missing several vital players, including injured captain Bruno Fernandes and two African Cup of Nations members (Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo).

The solitary match this year reflects the fewest number of top-flight fixtures on Boxing Day in 43 years, a clear departure from the tradition of providing fans with a full schedule of festive matches.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur credited her bowlers for setting up the team’s eight-wicket victory in the third T20I of the five-match series against Sri Lanka, stating that their disciplined effort with the ball laid the foundation for the hosts to take an unassailable series lead.

Bowling Excellence at Greenfield International Stadium

In the first international women’s game at the Greenfield International Stadium, Renuka Singh Thakur and Deepti Sharma took seven wickets between them, restricting Sri Lanka to 112/7. Opener Shafali Verma then smashed an unbeaten 79 to complete the chase with 6.4 overs to spare.

“I think the contribution from our bowlers has been a highlight because in T20 cricket, the bowling is very important. If you keep ticking all the boxes in your bowling department, you have more chances to win the game,” Harmanpreet said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Today, we are in this position because of our bowlers. Credit goes to all our bowling lineup for the way they bowled in this series. They are the ones who always give us a breakthrough. The first six overs — their top-order is very important to get the wicket,” she added.

Renuka made her way into the playing eleven in place of a rested Arundhati Reddy, and Harmanpreet was pleased with her return. “Today we wanted to go with Renuka, so that she can give us that breakthrough. The first over was not something we were expecting. After that, how she came back and took those crucial four wickets — that is something we were looking for.”

Aim for Aggressiveness Leading Up to the T20 World Cup

Harmanpreet emphasized that the team’s dominant showing against Sri Lanka reflects their aim to raise standards and play more aggressively as they prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup in England. “It was a great series for all of us. That’s what we discussed when we got together after the World Cup: we have to raise our standard. Be a little more aggressive in T20; we all know the T20 World Cup is coming up, this is the right time to push ourselves, so really happy with the overall performance,” she said.

Sri Lanka’s Struggles and Areas for Improvement

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu acknowledged her team’s batting struggles throughout the series but noted positives in individual performances from Imesha Dulani and Kavisha Dilhari.

“I feel we are not playing our best cricket throughout the tournament. As a batting unit, we struggle a lot. We need to improve those areas. We are playing our best batting lineup. For the last six months, we have been using those players as a batting unit,” she stated.

“We try a few things in the bowling unit, but we always trust our youngsters and top-order; still, we are not finding the good way in this format. We gave an opportunity to Imesha Dulani today; she batted really well in the middle-order. Kavisha batted really well. These are the positives from today’s game.”

“Still, we are trying to find a few players before the World Cup, because we rested 5-6 players from our team. We need to improve those areas before the next World Cup. We have two bilateral series coming up, so I hope we can perform in both series,” she concluded.

India Women’s pacer Renuka Singh Thakur expressed her delight over her impressive four-wicket haul in the eight-wicket victory against Sri Lanka Women in the third T20I. However, she admitted that she is still pursuing her elusive five-wicket haul in T20 cricket.

In a historic match at the Greenfield International Stadium, which was the first international women’s game at this venue, Renuka excelled with figures of 4-21 as India restricted Sri Lanka to 112/7.

“Very happy. I never get five wickets; it’s always four. So maybe I’ll have to work harder to get a five-for as they are rare for me. I go to the NCA (CoE) to prepare for any tournament because it works for me. I can do some extra work on my bowling and fitness, and that helps me execute better,” Renuka said during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Renuka now holds the record for the most four-wicket hauls by an Indian bowler in women’s T20Is with four, surpassing leg-spinner Poonam Yadav, who has three. Her 4-21 ranks as the second-best figures by an Indian bowler in T20Is, following Daina David’s 4-12 recorded at Basseterre during the 2010 T20 World Cup.

“Harmanpreet was fully motivating me to get 5, as she also knows that I get only four wickets every time. I remember Jhulan (Goswami) di’s words when she said to take five wickets, you need to work harder. So that’s what I was thinking – to work harder to get the 5 wickets,” Renuka added.

In T20Is against Sri Lanka, Renuka has played eight matches, claiming 11 wickets at an average of 14.81, with a strike rate of 15.2 and an economy rate of 5.82. She concluded by stating that she is using the current series to fine-tune her preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup in England.

“I wanted to during this series, so that when I play in the future against Australia or the World Cup, there shouldn’t be any doubt about my slower one or anything else, so that I can mentally prepare myself. If my first over doesn’t go well, I think about what I need to do and what to bowl on this wicket when the captain throws the ball next.”