60 SPORT TUESDAY DECEMBER 29 2020 New medal for Boxing Day best RUSSELL GOULD

THE best player in the Boxing Day Test will win a medal named after the newest mem- ber of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, Indigenous cricket icon Johnny Mullagh. Considered one of the best players of his era, the Mullagh Medal was established to hon- our a player who dominated Australia’s first ever tour of England in 1868. That team consisted en- tirely of Aboriginal players and Mullagh, an all-rounder as gifted as any Australia has pro- duced, was the standout. Playing a staggering 45 of 47 matches on the tour, Mul- lagh took 245 wickets at an av- erage of 10 and scored 1698 runs at 23.65. Born Unaarrimin, Mullagh, becomes the first Aboriginal inducted to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. Selection criteria ordinarily demands players must have played Test cricket, but an ex- ception was made for Mullagh by the committee which be- lieved the game’s Indigenous heritage had been neglected. “This was probably a bit of an oversight, in retrospect,” Peter King, the chairman of the Australian Cricket Hall of fame said. “We have chosen Johnny as a representative of that era.” Bubbles on Aussies feel the Paine of DRS their minds BRISBANE Heat hero Lewis Gregory says he may have underestimated how difficult SAM LANDSBERGER lapsed to 6-99 when Paine was told to opener Matthew Wade said last night. lineball calls went opposing ways. Australia’s two-week manda- go. Cameron Green and Pat Cum- “From all reports, and from what “I heard a noise on the Pujara one, tory COVID-19 quarantine TIM Paine’s DRS dismissal has left mins guided them to 6-133 at stumps I’ve seen, Snicko probably showed a I was at first slip at the time, and his would be. Australia furious at TV umpire Paul on day three after first-innings totals very similar thing. bat was the only thing out there,” The Englishman helped the Wilson because they believe Chetesh- of just 191 and 195 this series. “One was given out, one was given Wade said. Heat get its first win of the Big war Pujara was given not out off simi- While the MCG crowd of 24,995 not out … that’s the way the cookie “And then we saw what you guys Bash season with three key lar evidence a day earlier. let out its largest roar when Green’s crumbles sometimes.” saw, there was a small spike. wickets against the Hobart A visibly upset Paine appeared to punch through mid-off put Australia Paine lost a review when he re- “So either way if it was out or not Hurricanes at the Gabba on say: “What the f---?” when he was in front in the final over, India trails ferred Cummins’ appeal on the first out, consistency is all you want as a Sunday, two days after finish- given out for one run, despite Hot Spot by just two runs and is on target to ball of day two, which showed a mur- player.” ing his 14-day quarantine. showing no mark on his bat and on- level the series at 1-1 today. mur on Snicko but no Hot Spot on The DRS system has long infuriat- “It’s obviously difficult and I field umpire Paul Reiffel turning down “From what I’ve seen it (Paine’s Pujara’s bat. ed Paine although his frustration ap- may have underestimated how India’s appeal for caught behind. dismissal) looked quite similar to the But India’s No.3 was given not out pears to be aimed at the TV umpire’s difficult the two-weeks quar- The Aussies lost 3-1 and had col- one we referred on Pujara,” gritty and the Aussies were furious that the application rather than with the tech- antine is,” he said. South African batsmen fight back against depleted Sri Lankans AFP wicket, while former captain Faf du bowling one ball in his third over. the Sri Lankans struggled to find Plessis (55no) and Temba Bavuma Sri Lanka was already without consistency and the batsmen took SOUTH Africa’s batsmen scored (41no) added an unbeaten 97 for the batsman Dhananjaya de Silva who advantage of some loose bowling, freely against a depleted Sri Lankan fifth wicket as the hosts scored at was ruled out of the rest of the series striking a total of 48 boundaries in bowling attack as the hosts fought better than four runs an over. after suffering a grade two tear in his 72 overs. back on day two of the first Test at Sri Lanka went into the match left thigh which forced him to retire Sri Lanka briefly fought back SuperSport Park in Centurion. without leading fast bowler Suranga hurt after scoring 79 on Saturday. when Rassie van der Dussen and South Africa was 4/317 at stumps Lakmal because of a hamstring With De Silva also a capable off- Elgar fell in successive overs to in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings strain and suffered a major blow spin bowler, the tourists were re- make the total 200 for three, while total of 396. when opening bowler Kasun Rajit- duced to a four-man attack. South African captain Quinton de Dean Elgar (95) and Aiden Mar- ha limped off the field with what ap- As had been the case with the in- Kock fell four overs later after mak- kram (68) put on 141 for the first peared to be a groin injury after experienced South African bowlers, ing a quick 18. Dean Elgar of South Africa scored 95.

NTNE01Z01MA - V1