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+   7    S 4 5       &'( )'*+ his Test debut against West Indies ended abruptly due to  ='807&' acer was on injury even before he could PThursday ruled out of the bowl an over. He has been struggling are remainder of the series against shaping up well and might prepared to risk playing Q-00 Australia due to the calf injury replace Umesh in the playing Aseasoned opener David he sustained during the XI.” Warner in the third Test against match and the The final call will be taken India even if he is not 100% fit, Indian team management is by the head coach , assistant coach Andrew R likely to prefer stand-in skipper Ajinkya McDonald said on Thursday. over left-arm pace sensation T Rahane and coach In the absence of Warner,  ='807&' “We do know with the Natarajan for the third Test. Bharath Arun after reaching who was recovering from a groin history that Will has had, and According to sources, . muscle tear, Australia’s ill Puckovski’s history of with my time with him at senior pacer Yadav, who missed Shardul has so far played failed miserably in the first two Wbouncing back strongly Victoria. He had a pretty good the third Test due to a calf 62 first class games and has 206 matches. from concussion-induced track record of performing muscle tear, is heading home to show for his efforts. “That’s a real, clear option. breaks gives Australia assistant when he has returned,” for rehabilitation. Another aspect that India He may not be 100 per cent fit — coach Andrew McDonald McDonald was quoted as say- The third Test begins in would like to address ahead of who is coming off an injury? You confidence that the young ing by Australian Associated Sydney from January 7. the Third Test is a long tail that never know until you get out opener will not have trouble in Press (AAP). “Umesh will have to go for has affected the team. there,” McDonald said. scoring runs if drafted into “I think the selectors will an extensive rehab. He has left Shardul has six first class “Look, if he’s 90-95% fit and playing XI. put a bit of trust put into the for India,” a BCCI half centuries and during his the conversation is that he's fit Pucovski, who was player around whether he’s source privy to stint with the national team in enough to be able to go out there primed to make debut in year-old's ninth concussion, mentally ready. And clearly it developments white ball games, he has proved and perform his duties for the , was ruled out of the not all from . He has will be up to the coach once in Australia to be a decent batsman. team, then I’m sure that’ll be a first two Tests after being hit now been included in the he lays eyes on him to see told PTI on “Obviously the next conversation the coach has with on the head in the first warm- squad for the remainder of the where he’s at in terms of being Thursday. few training sessions the player. up game. That was the 22- series. skill ready. “While peo- will be important “Most times Justin (Langer) ple are excited and that’s why the is pretty open with the players in back. have a little bit of depth out there.” and there's about the final call is likely terms of giving them accountabil- “I’m sure that he’s excited to One of the biggest setbacks nothing to suggest that there’s a brilliant to be taken in ity around that.” come back into the group as well. for the Aussies so far has been a link there. progress Sydney,” the Warner has been named in There’s nothing worse than being rare slump in form for batting “I’m sure ideally you would shown by T source said. As far as Yadav the squad along with Victorian injured when you are at the top mainstay , who has so prefer to be with your family Natarajan, is concerned, he is expected young gun Will Pucovski for the of your game as David has been far scored only 10 runs in four around Christmas time and we mustn't to head off to National third Test as Australia look to over a period of time.” innings in the series. Justin addressed that. Some play- forget he has played Cricket Academy in bounce back from the eight- Pucovski, too, is set for a “I wouldn’t be too quick to ers and staff members unfortu- only one first class Bengaluru for extensive loss in the Boxing Day potential debut after the young- be judging Steve Smith not look- nately are going to be disconnect- match for Tamil rehab programme. Test here. ster suffered a concussion in the ing good in the middle. He ed from family during Christmas Nadu. And Shardul The 33-year-old McDonald said Warner is first warm-up match against the looks pretty solid and hitting the time, less than ideal there’s no has been a sea- had hobbled off optimistic about making a come- Indians earlier this month. ball well at the nets,” McDonald doubt. soned domestic red the field after back in Sydney. “He will be put through said. “Yeah, it’s a challenge to ball pacer for suffering the “He’s (Warner) very opti- tests whatever it needs to be put Asked if life in a bio-bubble rebound. The world’s best play- ,” the source injury during mistic that he should be ready to through to make himself avail- was affecting Smith, he said: “No, ers usually rebound. He’s (Smith) added. the third day go, which is a great news for us. able for selection to potentially none whatsoever. Obviously we in a really good space to be hon- “Shardul was real- of the Boxing We are really excited to have him    P  B      %         open the batting. So it’s good to worked closely at UAE with the est, come Sydney Test.” ly unfortunate that Day Test. (  !$"  #8

 )78,+ opening the innings, while Siraj fin- lowing his hauls of three for 35 bowlers. ished with five wickets in the match. and two for 35 in Tauranga. For , Dinesh ndia held on India's batting mainstay For Pakistan, Fawad Chandimal's knocks of 85 and Ito his second position while 's lack of form Alam's valiant second-innings 25 have lifted him three places stand-in skipper saw him lose two spots to slip to the has lifted him 80 to 38th while Dhananjaya de broke into the top 10 after gaining 10th place. places to 102nd position while Silva (up nine places to 34th) five places in the latest ICC men's Australia left-arm fast bowler wicketkeeper Mohammad and (up four Test batting ranking released on 's four wickets in the Rizwan's scores of 71 and 60 places to 60th) have also made Thursday. match helped him reach a career have helped him advance 27 notable gains among batsmen. 2   9 Rahane climbed to the sixth best-equalling fifth position. places to a career-best 47th Left-arm fast bowler spot after scoring 112 and 27 's scores of 30 position. Vishwa Fernando has gained to inspire India's eight-wicket series- and 40 as opener helped him reach Left-arm fast bowler two slots to reach 45th posi- levelling win in the second Test 50th among batsmen from 55th, Shaheen Afridi has moved tion after his three-wicket ,     against Australia in Melbourne. It is while Cameron Green gained 36 from 35th to 33rd after grab- haul. just one below his career-best rank- slots to reach 115th position. bing four wickets in the first In the ICC Test team rank-  ='807&' squad took a brief two- ing of fifth attained in October last New Zealand captain Kane innings. ings, New Zealand are in line day break after India’s year. Williamson, meanwhile, ended the In Centurion, a knock of to wrest the top spot from oining the Indian team fine win in the second Off-spinner Ravichandran year at the top position after he 199 by saw him Australia, Jafter completing his Test at MCG. Ashwin, too, was rewarded for his dethroned Australia's Steve Smith, not only win the player of the who remain fractionally mandatory 14-day quar- The 33-year-old five-wicket haul at the MCG as he who slipped to the third spot after match award but also gain 14 ahead since the Test team antine, star batsman Rohit Mumbaikar, who had gained two places to the seventh managing scores of 0 and 8 in the places to reach 21st position, rankings are updated only at Sharma on Thursday missed the limited-overs spot, while pacer two innings at MCG. one behind team-mate Dean the end of each series. went through his first series as well as the first rose to the ninth position. Williamson, who had briefly Elgar, who too gained four Even a draw in the second practice session in two Tests against , who scored a occupied the top spot towards the spots after a knock of 95. Test against Pakistan could see Australia under the Australia due to a ham- crucial 57 and captured three wick- end of 2015, was rewarded for his gained four New Zealand take the top watchful eyes of batting string injury that he sus- ets in the second Test, remained at player of the match effort in the first places and is 56th among spot. coach Vikram Rathour. tained during the IPL, number three but reduced the gap Test against Pakistan in Tauranga, The prolific opener is was seen taking catching with to seven points which New Zealand won by 101 expected to play the third practice in the pho- in the allrounder's ranking. runs. Test in Sydney from tographs. He, however, gained 11 and four Williamson gained 13 rating January 7. Three throwdown positions to reach a career best- points for his effort of 129 and 21 “The engine is just experts — Raghavindraa, equalling 36th and 14th positions in to go 11 points clear of Kohli, who getting started and here is Nuwan Seneviratne and batting and bowling respectively. is on paternity leave, and 13 ahead a quick glimpse of what Dayananda Garani — MCG debutants Shubman Gill of Smith. lies ahead. #TeamIndia were also there to assist and Mohammad Siraj made notable (up three places to #AUSvIND,” BCCI tweet- Rohit. Prior to meeting entries in 76th and 77th positions in 14th) is another New Zealand bats- ed with two pictures of his teammates, Rohit had the list for batsmen and bowlers, man to move up, while 26-year-old the batsman. While he spent two weeks in quar- respectively. fast bowler Kyle Jamieson reached trained, the rest of the antine in Sydney. Gill scored 45 and 35 not out the top 30 after just five Tests, fol-       5 = O

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oalkeeper Karl Darlow Gpulled off a string of saves to help Newcastle hold Liverpool to a 0-0 draw as the defending  ='807&' champion’s vaunted attacking trio came up empty. he Indian women’s Mohamed Salah missed two Tteam’s wait to resume good chances when he had just international cricket since Darlow to beat, and strike-part- the coronavirus-induced ner Roberto Firmino saw two break continued with its headers saved at St. James' Park scheduled tour of Australia on Wednesday. getting postponed to next Three days after struggling season, West Bromwich Albion earned a said on Thursday. point at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s The Indian team, team was frustrated once again, which last played the T20 although Darlow needed some World Cup final in March, help in the form of a late goal-line was scheduled to play clearance from Fabian Schar to three ODIs on January 22 deny Sadio Mane and maintain in Canberra, January 25 in the stalemate. Melbourne and January Liverpool has now won only 28 in . two of eight league away games However, the govern- this season but still tops the ing body added the tour table, three points ahead of will now be a part of the Manchester United. build-up to the 2022 Liverpool could have taken World Cup, which has the lead 11 minutes before the been pushed to March- break when Salah beat the offside April due to the pandem- trap to control the ball in front of /% $*%   3         5 # +     ic, and will include three the advancing Darlow, who got T20Is. his hand on the Egyptian's shot Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson could tap into an empty net. “We are very hopeful to steer it wide of the post. Becker then had to pull off a div- Darlow then clawed away of delivering an expanded The goalkeeper then pro- ing save of his own 11 minutes another Firmino header near schedule between the duced a fine reaction save in stop- from time when Ciaran Clark the end to preserve his clean Australian and Indian page time to repel Firmino’s met Matt Ritchie’s free kick with sheet. women’s teams for next header from point-blank range. a downward header. It was the only Premier season, which would be an Salah had another chance to Liverpool nearly scored League game played Wednesday outstanding for fans break the deadlock in the 67th moments later when Darlow after Fulham recorded a number in both countries,” CA when he was played in by pushed the ball away onto Mane’s of coronavirus cases and its interim chief executive Firmino but directed his effort leg and Schar had to hack the ball match at Tottenham had to be officer Nick Hockley said past the upright. off his line before the forward postponed. in a statement.