58 SPORT SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28 2020 Smith takes first points Aussie captain hits dazzling century in intriguing battle v King Kohli JACOB POLYCHRONIS belief as Australia kickstarted The chase was always a big Luckily for Australia, and and mistimed his pull shot to the men’s international sum- ask of the tourists with only Starc, Hazlewood (3-55) stead- be caught by Aaron Finch for THERE was a familiar comfort mer of cricket in scintillating two successful ODI chases of ied the ship, snaring three 21. Shreyas Iyer followed him yesterday as months of chaos fashion. India delivered some more than 300 being complet- wickets within the next five into the sheds two balls later and uncertainty cleared for a brief, breathtaking moments, ed at the SCG, and none great- overs, including the all-import- and India’s mountain became game of cricket as we knew too, and was spurred on by a er than 334. Astonishingly, it ant scalp of Virat Kohli (21). too steep to climb. Hardik Pan- and loved it before. large vocal sport that trans- briefly looked to be on the If anyone was going to pull dya and Shikhar Dhawan cer- The result of the first ODI ported everyone back to a time cards after a moment of mad- off the monster chase for India tainly gave it a good go. Their between Australia and India SCG, delighting in an enter- when crowds were a right, not ness from Mitchell Starc who it was going to be chaser extra- scores of 90 and 74 respect- mattered – the hosts won by 66 taining contest between two of a privilege. Ultimately, they sent down the second-worst ordinaire Kohli, who looked ively kept India’s faint hopes runs – but not as much as the the game’s greatest drawcards. were left disappointed as India opening over in ODI history. set to cash-in on a second life alive until deep in the game spectacle itself which was a Glenn Maxwell sizzled, Josh was powerless to chase down The left-armer bowled four having been dropped by Adam when Zampa ended their re- sight for the sorest of eyes. Hazlewood roared and Steve Australia’s total of 6-374 – its wides, a no ball and leaked 20 Zampa (4-54, pictured) on one. sistance with wickets in the In just the second ODI on Smith (105 off 66 balls, joined biggest 50-over score since the runs in an 11-ball over before But it wasn’t to be for the In- 35th and 39th overs. Zampa these shores in 679 days, near- by Aaron Finch’s 114 off 124) pool stage of the 2019 World India raced to 0-53 from its dian captain who advanced also claimed the wickets of KL ly 20,000 rowdy fans filled the once again left us in utter dis- Cup. first 30 balls. down the wicket to Hazlewood Rahul (12) and Ravi Jadeja (25). Full BBL stadiums look likely RUSSELL GOULD CROWDS could hit capacity at Big Bash games in Queens- land and Sydney this summer, as the doors to live sport con- tinue to open after a 2020 spent watching on TV. Tickets will be released for Big Bash venues in every state, and while capacities could start with a cap of 50 per cent for early games in Tas- mania and Canberra, the move into Queensland and Adelaide, then Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, should see the numbers grow. Cricket Australia will re- lease tickets for matches in stages as they continue discus- sions with state governments Stars' Meg Lanning celebrates a wicket during the WBBL semi-final win over the Scorchers at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Phil Hillyard about the changing landscape, hoping for the potential to get in as many people as possible. Tasmanian officials con- firmed crowds would be HOW REACHING FOR THE STARS PAID OFF capped at 50 per cent for games in Hobart, where the LIZ WALSH “When we were initially working on No. 1 thing was that she was enjoying ever-improving No.3 batter, South season will open next Thurs- this team, Trent wasn’t expecting to herself.” African Mignon du Preez. day when the Hobart Hurri- AT the end of last year, Melbourne be the one actually coaching it,” Cummins, who was part of putting Woodhill’s next job was to tell canes play the Sydney Sixers, Stars incoming general manager Nick Cummins said. together Sydney Thunder’s first WBBL Villani that she would no longer be and Launceston. Cummins sat down with the club’s Then, Cricket Australia approached team in 2015 (which ultimately took captain, with that responsibility falling Daily crowds of 23,000 are long-running list manager Trent Woodhill with a full-time role that out that first championship), said once to Lanning, but would instead take expected for the first Test in Woodhill, with one thing on their would put him in charge of overseas Lanning had signed and Woodhill was control over off-field roles including Adelaide, starting on Decem- minds: to transform the club’s recruitment for the BBL competition confirmed as head coach, the three cap presentations. Brunt would do ber 17, as fears of a second cor- Women’s Big Bash League side. as well as advising on innovation and sat down to map out a clear vision of opposition analysis. onavirus wave ease. That could The Stars ended their WBBL05 strategy. He accepted and resigned as the cricket the team would play, and This meant Lanning could focus on also increase for the first BBL campaign languishing on the bottom the Stars’ list manager. built the team from there. game-day. But at trainings she was game at the Adelaide Oval on of the ladder, having suffered 12 But he did not resign as WBBL They retained a small, but good simply “one of the girls”, working on December 28. losses from 14 games. coach. Why? core of domestic players including improving her batting, unsurprisingly Tickets for the final run of But tonight they will face Sydney Two words: Meg Lanning. veteran opening batter Elyse Villani smiling and laughing while going games to be played in Mel- Thunder in the WBBL final at North He’d made a promise to the Aussie and bowler Erin Osborne, who about it. bourne, which will see 11 Sydney Oval. captain that if she returned to the complemented youngsters like It’s no wonder Lanning finished the matches in 12 days at the MCG Off-field changes were needed for Stars from Perth Scorchers, that he spinner Alana King and allrounders minor rounds as the second-leading and Marvel Stadium, and Syd- long-term on-field success. would be involved. Annabel Sutherland and Tess Flintoff. run-scorer (behind Scorchers’ Beth ney, which hosts 11 at the SCG The pair started with a coup, “I promised Meg I was going to give They signed up-and-comers in Mooney), was this week named and Showground Stadium, signing Australian women’s cricket her a season that was lots of fun,” Sophie Day and Georgia Gall. captain of the WBBL06 Team of the won’t go on sale until Decem- high-performance guru Leah Poulton Woodhill said. They lured two heavyweight Tournament, and that the Stars ber 22. By that time, the pic- as new head coach, but Cricket NSW “One where she didn’t have to be internationals in English pair all- climbed from the bottom to the top of ture of how many will be lured her away again. So, Woodhill put the central focus, and that we’d put rounder Nat Sciver and fast bowler the ladder and will play in tonight’s allowed into those grounds his hand up to coach. people around her to make sure the Katherine Brunt, to play alongside competition decider. should be clearer. NTNE01Z01MA - V1.