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Australia lose top Test championship spot after Sri Lanka defeat

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Australia vs Sri Lanka
  • Australia lost their top World Test Championship position.
  • Dinesh Chandimal scores maiden Test double ton for Sri Lanka.
  • Kane Williamson’s New Zealand won the inaugural Test championship final last year.

Australia lost their top World Test Championship position to South Africa Tuesday after they were defeated by Sri Lanka in the second match of their series.

The island nation completed a stunning innings and 39-run victory over captain Pat Cummins’ Australia in Galle on Monday to end the two-match series level at 1-1.

The result shook up the championship table with Sri Lanka climbing to third as the race to make the final hots up.

“South Africa take over as the new leader on the latest standings with a win-loss percentage of 71.43 percent, while Australia drop to second with 70 percent after their first Test loss in the current period,” the International Cricket Council said.

“Sri Lanka are now firmly in the mix for the World Test Championship final next year, with their win helping them jump in front of Pakistan, India and West Indies.”

Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya had a dream debut with a match haul of 12 wickets and veteran batsman Dinesh Chandimal stood out with an unbeaten 206 — his maiden Test double ton.

Cummins termed the loss a “reality check” for a team that won the opener inside three days but were then bundled out on the fourth day of the second match.

“The reality is some of our players haven’t been here before. So you could call it a reality check, because it’s a first experience,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald said, agreeing with the skipper.

“It’s a sample size of one. We have the opportunity to learn from that. And we’ll take that. But we learned a hell of a lot in the first game too.

“You can learn through winning and you can learn through defeat too.”

Australia’s next Test outing is at home against West Indies in November, while Sri Lanka host Pakistan for a two-match series starting Saturday.

Kane Williamson’s New Zealand won the inaugural Test championship final last year, beating India in Southampton.

 

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Australia probes retail giants over customer ‘faceprints’

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Australia

Kmart and Bunnings use facial recognition technology to take “faceprints” of customers. AIC has started an investigation to see if privacy rules have been broken. Retailers must be able to prove their response is appropriate, Commissioner Angelene Falk said. The privacy watchdog in Australia has opened an investigation into the usage of facial recognition technology … Read more

Australia, India to play five-match series in next FTP cycle

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Australia, India to play
  • Australia and India will play five Test matches between 2024 and 2023.
  • The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will be played back-to-back.
  • Five Tests will be played between the two nations not for the first time.

Five Test matches between Australia and India will be played back-to-back in the upcoming cycle of the Future Tours Program (FTP).

When India is slated to visit Australia in 2024, the enlarged bilateral engagement, which is played for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, will begin. The home series against India in 2023 will still consist of four Test matches and take place in February or March.

As the Australian team’s closest match to an Ashes series, former Australia captain Steve Waugh said, “I believe it’s a terrific initiative. Waugh participated in seven Test series against India, three of which he led.

For the Ashes trophy, Australia and England frequently face off across five Test matches. India will play Australia in a series that will consist of five Test matches, similar to how they played England in prior years across five home and away matches.

According to a recent article in The Australian, “It is a benefit for Australia, which is due to begin serious negotiations on another broadcast deal,” the expansion has a financial component.

The four Test matches are reportedly worth $400 million to Cricket Australia under the most recent TV agreement, which is one of the reasons the idea of the tourists departing in the middle of the 2020–21 season was so unsettling. The broadcasting income would increase dramatically with an additional Test match versus India every four years.

Various boards are putting the finishing touches on the following cycle of the FTP, which will go into effect following the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June 2023.

At the next International Cricket Council (ICC) annual convention in Birmingham, it is anticipated that it will be approved.

Only until the FTP is made public will India’s bilateral matches be known, however it is assumed that the redesigned series would begin in late 2024, when India will travel to Australia for a bilateral series.

Five Tests will be played between the two nations not for the first time. India has played three five-Test series in Australia, with the most recent being in 1991–1992, which Australia won 4-0.

India hosted Australia for five games in 1959 and 1969, and for six Test matches in the 1979–1980 series. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is currently held by India, who memorably won it in 2020–21.

Part of the current WTC, the four-Test 2023 home series is essential to both clubs’ hopes of advancing to the championship game. Prior to that, the Australian side will travel to India for six white-ball matches (three One Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals) in the months of September and October.

The teams’ participation in the ODIs has not yet been decided, though, because the T20 World Cup is in October.

 

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South Africa World Cup dreams take major hit

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South Africa World Cup dreams
  • The upcoming cricket summer is already too packed, according to Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.
  • South Africa will be replaced by a three-Test series in Melbourne and Sydney.
  • Cricket Australia is ninth in the Super League standings with 70 points from 12 games played.

The Proteas’ withdrawal from the three-match ODI series in Australia in January has hurt South Africa’s prospects of securing automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

With just the top eight teams earning a spot in the 50-over competition in India the following year, the Proteas now occupy a perilous 11th spot in the Super League standings.

The Proteas requested that the games be moved so that the series would not conflict with their new domestic T20 competition. The three-match series in Australia was initially planned to begin in mid-January of the following year.

The upcoming cricket summer is already too packed, according to Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, therefore more dates haven’t been able to be set.

Cricket South Africa won’t be able to play in the ODI series in January, he said, which was regrettable.

“Having said that, we are excited to welcome South Africa for the three-match Test series, which includes the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Tests, as well as for the extensive international cricket schedule that will be played around Australia this summer.”

“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, a record six touring teams for the Men’s and Women’s international series, the 12th BBL season, and the 8th WBBL season will all be included in this.”

“We are eager to welcome back cricket enthusiasts this summer.”

Cricket South Africa (CSA) Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki emphasized the significance of having all of their local players available for the new domestic T20 competition despite his disappointment that fresh dates for the series could not be secured.

“The CSA is always committed to upholding its bilateral agreements. Even while CSA is dedicated to upholding its obligations under the Future Tours Program, there may occasionally be unforeseeable events that would compromise this determination. With regard to the Australia tour, CSA contacted its counterpart months ago to reschedule the tour to times that would work for both parties.”

“The CSA provided four alternatives in that regard. Unfortunately, none of them were acceptable to Cricket Australia, much to our disappointment “explained Moseki.

“CSA has approved giving Australia the competition points from the ICC. While we are disappointed that we lost these important points, we are optimistic that our strong Proteas squad will earn enough points in the upcoming matches to guarantee automatic qualifying to the championship match in India next year.”

“Even though the CSA has found it difficult to make this choice, the future viability of our new T20 League depends on having all of our local players available for this intriguing new event on the CSA calendar.”

In the three-Test series, which includes the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, “CSA is looking forward to being hosted by Cricket Australia for an appealing blend of cricket.”

Prior to the end of the Super League season, South Africa has ODI series against England and India scheduled. They may also face the challenge of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier in order to advance to the main event the following year.

With 70 points from 12 games, Australia is presently ninth in the Super League standings. Their next encounter is a three-match series against Zimbabwe that will start at the end of the next month.

 

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Ramiz Raja hopes to hold tri-nation series in Pakistan each year

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ramiz raja

Ramiz hopes to hold tri-nation series in Pakistan. PJL will commence on October 1. ICC annual meeting will take place on July 23. PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, who has departed for England to attend critical ICC and MCC meetings, would suggest to many cricket bodies that Pakistan host regular tri-nation series. The PCB chairman intends … Read more

SL vs AUS: South Africa overtakes Australia in WTC rankings

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sl vs aus

South Africa gets the top spot in WTC rankigs. Australia lost the second Test against Sri Lanka. New Zealand won the inaugural WTC. Australia surrendered their top spot in the World Test Championship to South Africa on Tuesday after losing the second match of their series versus Sri Lanka. Monday in Galle, Sri Lanka, the … Read more

Waqar Younis talks about success of Pakistan at 2022 T20 World Cup

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waqar younis talks about success

Pakistan has all the opportunities to win the 2022 T20 World Cup, says Waqar. Waqar praises Babar and Rizwan for their performances. Many Pakistani players have featured in BBL. Waqar Younis, a legend of Pakistan, believes his former side has every opportunity to win this year’s ICC T20 World Cup. The Asian nation is now … Read more

Skipper Bismah Maroof eyes tri-series, Commonwealth Games victories

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commonwealth games

Pakistan women’s team is all set to compete in the tri-nation series in Ireland. The team will leave for Ireland on July 16. Edgbaston Stadium will host cricket games. Pakistan women’s team has recently concluded its training camp in Islamabad. The national team will be taking part in the tri-nation series in Ireland and later … Read more

Australia looking to fit Tim David into T20I squad

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tim david

Watson says the board needs to fit David in the T20I squad. David performed exceptionally during the IPL. Australia is currently touring Sri Lanka. Australia is the reigning T20 World Cup champion and has not lost a T20 International series this year. However, with fewer than a hundred days till the commencement of their home … Read more

SL vs AUS: Debutant spinner Prabath Jayasuriya bags 6 wickets

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SL vs AUS

Jayasuriya took 5 wickets in his first test match. He becomes the 7th player to do so. Sri Lanka has lost the 1st Test against Australia. The debuting spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took six wickets as Sri Lanka knocked out Australia for 364 on the second day of the second Test in Galle on Saturday, leaving … Read more

Covid outbreak hits Sri Lanka on eve of Australia Test

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Covid
  • Sri Lanka’s players tested positive for Covid-19 on eve of the second Test against Australia.
  • Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay and Asitha Fernando all tested positive.
  • Hosts looking to bounce back from crushing 10-wicket defeat in first Test.

A Covid-19 outbreak hit Sri Lanka’s team on the eve of Friday’s second Test against Australia with Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay and Asitha Fernando all testing positive for the virus.

“All three players were found to be positive during a Rapid Antigen Test conducted yesterday,” Sri Lanka Cricket said Thursday.

The hosts are looking to bounce back after their crushing 10-wicket defeat inside three days in the opening Test of the two-match series.

Angelo Mathews has returned to the team after testing positive during the first Test but Praveen Jayawickrama had already been ruled out on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid.

Sri Lanka had already reinforced their spin bowling contingent with the addition of Maheesh Theekshana, Dinuth Wellalage and Prabath Jayasuriya along with all-rounder Lakshita Manasinghe, who bowls off-spin.

Lakshan Sandakan, a left-arm wrist-spinner who last played a Test in 2018, was added Thursday to the squad as further cover.

 

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Australia consider Maxwell as spin all-rounder for second Test

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Australia
  • Australia captain Pat Cummins confirms Glenn Maxwell will fight for a place in the team.
  • Off-spinner Maxwell took five wickets in Australia’s 3-2 one-day series loss to Sri Lanka.
  • Three Sri Lankan players contracted Covid-19.

All-rounder Glenn Maxwell remains in Australia’s plans for the second Test against Covid-hit Sri Lanka on an expected turner at Galle, skipper Pat Cummins said Thursday.

Maxwell, a batsman who bowls off-spin, will fight for a place in the team with fast bowler Mitchell Starc as the tourists look to clinch the series in the final match starting Friday.

Cummins said he will announce the XI at the toss.

“Same 12 (as in the last match), we are going to have a look at the wicket today, maybe in the morning as well and see what they end up doing with it,” Cummins told reporters after having a first look at the pitch.

“The wicket may be different from last week,” he said. “Last week we probably didn’t need two quicks but we know Mitchell Starc’s class, so wait and see.”

Cummins said Maxwell, who last played a Test in 2017, will come in “as a spinning all-rounder at (number) eight” if he is picked.

“I thought he was the pick of the bowlers in the one-day series. He was excellent,” Cummins said of Maxwell who took five wickets in his team’s 3-2 ODI loss to Sri Lanka.

“You feel like you can easily get 15 to 20 overs out of him.”

The tourists won the opener by 10 wickets inside three days with off-spinner Nathan Lyon taking nine wickets.

Cummins said anyone getting a game in the sub-continent has an eye on next year’s tour to India, where Australia will play four Tests across February and March.

‘He’ll be fine’

Starc was the leading Australian bowler with 24 scalps when the tourists were whitewashed in their 2016 trip to Sri Lanka, but Cummins said the veteran quick would understand the team call if he misses out.

“He’ll be fine. It’s purely conditions-based,” said Cummins.

“They know their quality. Mitch Starc was the leading wicket-taker here last time. They’re great team players. They know their worth to the team.”

Sri Lanka have been hit by a Covid-19 outbreak with Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay and Asitha Fernando all testing positive for the virus.

The hosts had already reinforced their spin bowling contingent with the addition of Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, and Prabath Jayasuriya along with all-rounder Lakshitha Manasinghe, who bowls off-spin.

Lakshan Sandakan, a left-arm wrist-spinner who last played a Test in 2018, was Thursday added to the squad as further cover.

Cummins said they have some knowledge about Sri Lanka’s additions, especially mystery spinner Theekshana and left-arm orthodox Wellalage — both of whom await a Test debut after their one-day exploits.

“Two spinners who we saw quite a bit of in the one-day series,” said Cummins.

“Not too much extra planning. We’ll wait and see. We feel like we have been lucky to avoid it (Covid) so far,” said the fast bowler.

 

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Indigenous Australian activists fight for ancient rock art

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rock art

Indigenous Australian activists fighting to save 40,000-year-old rock art. Murujuga rock art is sacred to Indigenous custodians.  Scarborough gas project would see 13 wells drilled off coast of Western Australia. Two Indigenous Australian activists are fighting to save 40,000-year-old sacred rock art in Western Australia from pollution and plans for a major gas project. Destruction … Read more

SL vs AUS: Sri Lanka brings in spin attack for final test against Australia

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sl vs aus

Sri Lanka is looking to level the Test series with Australia. Lyon took 9 wickets in the opening Test. Australia lost to Sri Lanka 3-0 in 2016. Sri Lanka, led by Dimuth Karunaratne, hopes to even the Test series with spin reinforcements in Friday’s second match against an optimistic Australia. The visitors batted and bowled … Read more

ENG vs IND: Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow lead England to victory

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eng vs ind

England wins the fifth Test match. The series was leveled at 2-2. The match was originally scheduled in Manchester last year. ENG vs IND: England defeated India by seven wickets after completing a record-setting run chase to win the Covid-delayed fifth Test in Edgbaston on Tuesday. England’s final score was 378-3, with Joe Root unbeaten … Read more

Jonny May to miss England’s second Test against Australia amid Covid

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jonny may to miss second test

Jonny may not return for the second Test. His illness has hindered his fitness. There are several replacements that can be filled. Jonny May is unlikely to return for England in this Saturday’s second Test, and his involvement in the remainder of the series is in doubt because of his recent Covid injury. The veteran … Read more

Shoaib Malik available to play in T20 World Cup in Australia

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shoaib malik available for t20 world cup

Malik is available for selection in the squad for T20 World Cup. He was recently chosen as the mentor for the PJL. T20 World Cup and PJL will take place in October this year. Even though he is the coach of the Pakistan Junior League (PJL), veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik is available for selection to … Read more

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