THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q TUESDAY Q DECEMBER 29, 2020 11

Siraj's hard work during shows his versatility NEW DELHI, DEC Jadeja on day three. He 29:After soaking up 137 scored eight and 33 in Aus- balls as his part- tralia's dominant eight- ners fell all around him on win in the series- lockdown bears fruit Monday, makeshift opener opener in . NEW DELHI, DEC 28: lier this year. Matthew Wade said he Wade's output compares India's debutant pacer Mo- "The SG seam is more would be happy to remain favourably with most of his hammed Siraj on Monday pronounced and the kook- at the top of Australia's or- batting team mates, espe- said that the MCG track has aburra seam flattens der for the rest of the Test cially , who slowed down considerably quickly like it has hap- series against India. was bowled around his and to wipe off the Aus- pened now. I bowled well Promoted to replace the legs for eight by Jasprit tralian tail, they will have to in New Zealand during A injured , Bumrah on Monday, fol- hit one area consistently. tour and that experience Wade was dismissed for lowing a in the first The Indian bowlers, de- helped me a lot. 40 on day three of the sec- innings. spite Umesh Yadav's injury "Actually, if you see ond Test at the Melbourne Smith, on his worst run early into the second in- there is not much differ- Ground but it of scores in tests, nursed a nings, reduced the home ence as to how you per- proved to be Australia's back problem in the team to 133 for six. The form in Ranji Trophy and highest score as the home leadup to Adelaide but hosts have only a two-run at this level. Yes, perfor- side crashed to 133 for six Wade said the master bats- lead with four re- mances at the Test level at stumps. man had not complained maining in the second Test. has its own value but the On an otherwise gloomy of it. "The track on the first day basics don't change," he day for home fans, Wade's Australia's rescue mis- was very helpful for said.He is indebted to In- endurance was heartening sion will be in the hands of but it has become very slow there should be equal focus off well. I did well for India dian team's bowling coach for 's team, espe- young all-rounder today. Not much is happen- on each ball," the 26-year- A in the red ball format Bharath Arun, who was cially when weighed Cameron Green (17 not ing and there wasn't much old Hyderabad pacer said, and that really helped and also his mentor when he against the troubles of his out) and tailender Pat swing on offer. The key is to having already got three after my good perfor- first came up the ranks for opening partner Joe Cummins (15) on day four. remain patient and hit one wickets in the match includ- mance with the white ball the Hyderabad Ranji side. Burns. Wade said Australia's area consistently," Siraj said ing that of in in this year's IPL, I got "I have always said With Burns out for a bowlers would take 'any- during the virtual media the second innings. confidence that I can do about Arun sir's contribu- duck and four in Mel- thing' to defend. Australia, conference. Siraj's elevation as a Test well for senior team also tion in my career. When he bourne, it may well be the after all, won in Adelaide His senior pace bowling bowler has happened in and hopefully, I will keep was Hyderabad coach, he specialist opener making struggling as a spectator fine ... Who knows? We’ll after India were skittled partner the wake of some great up the good work in future would tell me, ‘The kind of way, rather than stand-in when batting lower down wait and see with red- for 36, their lowest Test in- gave him pointers on how to performances for Hyder- too," he said. quality you have, you can Wade, if Warner is fit for the order. ball." nings total. get wickets on a flat deck. abad and India A at the What helped Siraj per- get any batsman out in the third Test in Sydney. "When (coach) Justin Wade was out slogging "It would be really nice "Jassi bhai told me that first-class level. form impressively with the world cricket’. Same here, "Getting out there and (Langer) asked if I was for these two to get a nice don't try anything different. "During lockdown, I had red kookaburra is his ex- before my Test debut, he getting into it is something happy to do it, I didn’t re- during a brisk, 39-ball 30 ," Wade said Bowl in one area and create worked very hard on my perience of playing for A gave me a lot of encourage- I’ve really enjoyed," said ally know what to expect." in the first innings and was hopefully of Green and pressure with dot balls and fitness and that's paying team in New Zealand ear- ment," he said. Wade, who admitted to "But now I’ve done it, it’s trapped lbw by Ravindra Cummins. Kohli is ICC cricketer of the decade Wade calls for NEW DELHI,DEC 28: hundreds in seven of the India on eight countries he has Monday headlined the ICC played in with six double top honours for the decade, hundreds in 2016 and 2017 consistency in DRS use winning the Sir Garfield combined, a golden period Sobers award for the best in his long-format career. NEW DELHI, DEC male cricketer of the past 10 The world governing 28: Unhappy with skip- years. body named Australian per Tim Paine's dismissal Kohli was also picked for batting mainstay Steve in the second innings of the ODI Cricketer of the Smith the Test Cricketer of the ongoing Boxing Day Decade award. the Decade and Test against India at the Former India skipper Afghanistan star Rashid MCG on Monday, Aus- Mahendra Singh Dhoni Khan as the T20 Cricketer tralia's makeshift opener won the 'ICC Spirit of of the Decade. Matthew Wade has called Cricket Award of the Australia's Elysse Perry for consistent implemen- Decade', chosen by fans for swept the women's awards, tation of the Decision Re- his gesture of calling back securing the ICC Female view System (DRS). England batsman Ian Bell Cricketer of the Decade ho- Wade made the state- after a bizarre in the nours alongside ODI and ment after Paine was Nottingham Test in 2011. T20 Cricketers of the given out, caught behind The International Cricket Decade award. off Ravindra Jadeja on the Council (ICC) made the an- The award winners: third day. The wicket- nouncements via Twitter, *Virat Kohli (Sir Garfield keeper batsman was ruled bestowing the top honours Sobers Award for ICC Male out after the on-field call award. The moments I hold tried to do every game that I on Kohli, who scored 66 out Cricketer of the Decade). by Paul Reiffel was over- closest to my heart in the play. of his 70 international hun- * (Rachael turned by third umpire last decade definitely has to "I never focussed on stats dreds, in the "ICC Awards" Heyhoe-Flint Award for Paul Wilson. be the World Cup win in and numbers along the period. ICC Female Cricketer of the Paine didn't hide his 2011, the Champions Tro- journey at all and those In the same period, he Decade). disappointment over the phy win in 2013 and win- things just become the by- was also the batsman with *Steve Smith (ICC Men's decision while leaving the ence. "I heard a noise on his pad. Wade and Marnus ning the series in Australia product of what you do on most fifties (94), most runs Test Cricketer of the field, prompting Wade to the Pujara one, I was at Wade, meanwhile, Labuschagne (28 off 49 in 2018," said Kohli in a the field and those for me, (20396) besides having the Decade). compare it with Aus- first slip at the time, and blamed yet another poor balls) were the only two statement. just end up being mile- maximum average (56.97) *Virat Kohli (ICC Men's tralia's review of Chetesh- his bat was the only thing show from the home team Aussie batsmen so far to On Sunday, Kohli was the stones that you cross on the among players with 70 plus ODI Cricketer of the war Pujara on the second out there, and then we saw batsmen as Australia are cross the 20-run mark as lone player to be named in way to the path to victory." innings. Decade). day's play on Sunday. what you guys saw on the struggling to save the sec- the Indian bowlers made teams of the decade across For the ODI honour, Overall, the 32-year-old *Ellyse Perry (ICC "From what I've seen it ground, which was a small ond Test. merry before Green and formats and was named Kohli was the only player has amassed 12040 runs in Women's ODI Cricketer of looked pretty similar to spike. Either way if it was Leading the series 1-0, Cummins put on a 34-run captain of the Test all-stars. with 10,000 plus runs in ODIs, 7318 runs in Tests the Decade). the first ball of yesterday, out or , consistency the home side slumped to unbeaten stand for the On being also named the the "ICC Awards" period and 2928 runs in T20 Inter- * (ICC Men's the one we actually re- is all you want as a 133 for 6 in their second seventh wicket. ODI Cricketer of the including 39 hundreds and nationals, averaging more T20I Cricketer of the ferred, I think it was off player."Paine was given innings to take a lead of "To be fair we haven't Decade, Kohli added: "ODI 48 fifties at an average of than 50 across formats. Decade). Pujara. out purely based on a two runs on day three with gone deep enough yet to cricket is something that I 61.83.Kohli, who flew back Kohli was also part of the *Ellyse Perry (ICC "So from all reports and Snicko spike as there was all-rounder Cameron really cash in on tired took to very early. I came to home after the first Test in World Cup-winning India Women's T20I Cricketer of what I've seen, Snicko no mark on Hot Spot, Green (17 not out) and Pat bowlers late in the day. the ODI team first and then, Australia, was earlier squad in 2011. the Decade). showed a very similar which is the correct proto- Cummins (15 not out) at "Our intent's to go out I made my Test debut a cou- named skipper of the ICC The other nominees of *Kyle Coetzer (ICC Men's thing, one was given out col.But Wade took objec- the crease. and score, obviously, as a ple of years later. Test Team of the Decade the ICC Male Cricketer of Associate Cricketer of the and one was not out. tion to Pujara's case as "We've only got our- batting group and individ- "So, I got the understand- and was the only player to the Decade were R Ashwin, Decade) That's the way the cookie then also there was no selves to blame a little bit ually, but they're making ing of my game pretty soon, be named in teams of the , Kumar San- *Kathryn Bryce (ICC crumbles sometimes, but mark on Hot Spot and a there, but they've (India) it quite challenging at pretty early. And as I men- three formats. gakkara, Steve Smith, Ab de Women's Associate Crick- that's what it looked like very small spike on been pretty much on the times," Wade said. tioned before, my only in- He is already India's Villiers and Kane eter of the Decade) from where we've been Snicko, although the In- mark from the start," "Hard to get going, tention and mindset was to most successful captain in Williamson. *MS Dhoni (ICC Spirit of sitting and watching," dian was given a benefit of Wade, who top-scored for they're bowling pretty make winning contribu- the longest format with 33 "Firstly, it's a great hon- Cricket Award of the Wade said at the virtual doubt, suggesting that the Australia with a defiant well, pretty straight, mak- tions for the team and I just Test victories. He has Test our for me to receive this Decade). post-day press confer- toe of his bat had clipped 137-ball 40, said. ing it hard for us to score." Liverpool miss chance to stretch lead; Tottenham held at Wolves NEW DELHI, DEC 28: Liverpool's hopes With Leicester City and Manchester United the hosts. play for it and we have to finish the situations never experienced relegation with 11 previ- of opening up a menacing five-point lead at sharing the spoils on Saturday, Tottenham The hectic Christmas programme contin- off and we have to pass in the right mo- ous clubs, can inspire a great escape. the top of the Premier League were scuppered Hotspur had the chance to move into third ues on Monday with the standout game being ments." Jose Mourinho's Tottenham have now in unlikely fashion as struggling West spot on Sunday but conceded a late goal in a 1- Everton's home clash with Manchester City. Klopp's mood was hardly helped by a groin gone four games without a Premier League Bromwich Albion snatched a 1-1 draw at An- 1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Klopp criticised West Brom's defensive ap- injury to central defender Joel Matip -- one win and once again their defensive tactics field to leave manager Juergen Klopp scowling Liverpool lead the standings with 32 points proach at Anfield but what soured the taste of of his few options with Virgil van Dijk and Joe came under scrutiny against Wolves. on Sunday. from 15 games, with Everton on 29, Leicester his Christmas was the way his side tossed Gomez long-term absentees. Tottenham were given a perfect start when Leading through Sadio Mane's early goal, on 28 and United on 27. away two points by failing to kill off the game. "It is a massive worry but it is not a new Tanguy Ndomeble thumped home a shot after Klopp's side appeared to be heading for an Tottenham have 26 points alongside Man- "The problem that I have is I think West worry," former Liverpool defender and Sky 57 seconds but they spent most of the game eighth successive home league win but a late chester City. Brom deserved the point -- it's our fault, but Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said, saying thereafter soaking up Wolves pressure. header by Semi Ajayi left Liverpool frustrated. Leeds United beat Burnley 1-0 on Sunday they deserved a point in the second half," Klopp must sign a defender in January. They failed to have a shot on target from Not that the weekend's most odd result will with an early penalty by Patrick Bamford Klopp conceded. While West Brom remain in deep trouble the 21st minute onwards. Wolves were re- cause Klopp a sleepless night, even though it while Brighton and Hove Albion twice led at "We don't live in dream-land and just win having picked up only eight points from 15 warded for their relentless attacking when left them with only a three-point lead over West Ham United but had to settle for a 2-2 football matches because we want to win games, the result will give the fans some hope defender Romain Saiss glanced in a header neighbours Everton. draw with Tomas Soucek scoring late on for them: we have to work for it and we have to that new manager Sam Allardyce, who has from a corner in the 86th minute.