Sourav Ganguly keeping well: Hospital

BCCI hits back at Queensland's Health Minister for remarks against Team India

Although Cricket Australia interim CEO Nick Hockley has refuted the claims that the touring Indian team has not protested against travelling to Brisbane in light of stricter isolation, the controversy around the issue of the fourth Test is not ending any sooner. According to a new report by the news agency ANI, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly upset with the comments made yesterday by Queensland health shadow minister Ros Bates’ and is considering options as significant as trimming the ongoing Test series to a three-match Test series ending in Sydney. ANI has quoted a BCCI official as saying that the board is miffed with the comments made by Bates and it believes the remarks were really uncalled for and that it shows the touring Indian side which has been fully compliant of all the Covid-19 related guidelines in a poor light. "The statement made by the public representative portrays Indians in poor light and let me assure you, we do not want to do anything other than to abide by the rules, and Rohit Sharma's strict quarantine is a case in point. To try and propagate a view that we don't wish to follow the rules is unacceptable and the tone and tenor, in which it was said seemed rife with hostility and bordered on racism. It is, therefore, not a surprise that a rethink is on the cards,” ANI quoted an unnamed official as saying. However, the BCCI is recognising the love and support the team has received down under during the ongoing series, and hence it does not want to betray those fans by taking a radical decision or making the decision a tough one to handle for its counterpart—Cricket Australia.

BBL 10: Match Preview | Beleaguered Renegades take on Dangerous Strikers

Bottom of the table Melbourne Renegades will try and start resurrecting their campaign when they take on a very capable Adelaide Strikers team in the latter’s team home ground. Things have been getting from bad to worse for the team in Red. Their last match saw them getting bundled out for just 89 in what was their sixth loss in a row. The Strikers too suffered a loss in their last game but their problems don’t seem to be all that deep-rooted. Their batting and bowling departments are well-endowed and only a slip-up saw them going down to Sydney Sixers. Any Hope for Renegades? It is hard to figure out how a team that has Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh opening the innings for itself can be so ineffective. Marsh has been in good form but Finch is yet to go all guns blazing this season. The impressive Sam Harper has been promoted up the order – he opened in place of Finch in the last game – but this move is yet to bring any rewards. Then the problems begin. Rilee Rossouw hasn’t done justice to the faith shown in him while the likes of Beau Webster and Jack Prestwidge haven’t set the stadiums alight yet. Mohammad Nabi’s presence in the batting line-up is useful due to his experience. Imad Wasim may get another go but he is yet to become a proven commodity. The bowling is also devoid of a big impact maker. Spinners are very crucial in this tournament and Renegades have pinned their hopes on the teenage sensation from Afghanistan Noor Ahmed. He has shown potential but, due to his age and being a leggie, he can go for runs as well. The other Afghan spinner – Mohammad Nabi – is an off-break bowler. His experience is valuable but would require weight of runs from his batsmen to be of greater impact. Peter Hatzoglou is another tweaker on whom the team has put the burden of expectations. Safe to say he is yet to join the league of the likes of Rashid Khan or even Tanveer Sangha. The pace attack is led by Kane Richardson, a bowler with great potential, but doesn’t have any big names to support him. Josh Lalor, Will Sutherland, and Zak Evans are all a roll of the dice. For the Renegades to succeed, the Finch-Marsh pair has to fire while the senior bowlers like Richardson and Nabi have to lead the way. Then, one of the less high-profile guys have to emerge as the x-factor. Only then can the Melbourne side get out of the rut they are in. Strikers Keen to Get Campaign Back on Track The biggest problem for Strikers in the last game was the lack of support for Rashid Khan. The Afghan spin maestro was in great form again in the last match but received no support from his fellow bowlers. The failure of Danny Briggs in the last match took hurt the strategy of the Adelaide side. Peter Siddle has mastered the yorker but he held himself back in the last match and missed the mark completely when he did come on. But a man with his experience should find a way back into rhythm. Wes Agar and Daniel Worrall too shouldn’t be deemed incompetent after just one match. Regarding the batting, there are concerns about the form of Matt Renshaw. But the last game brought Jonathan Wells back into form. Jake Weatherald also enjoyed a good time in the middle. This is a great development. The middle order now looks stronger. With Phil Salt and Alex Carey in the top order to set the stage, Strikers are in a good shape. Renegades vs Strikers: Match Details Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Date and Time: January 5, 1:45 PM IST, 5:45 PM Local, 8:15 AM GMT Broadcaster: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Pitch Report The two matches played in Adelaide so far has provided some help for pacers. Good bounce has been available for bowlers. This may continue in the upcoming matches, although the pitch at Adelaide can also become slow and allow spinners to come into play. Whether this happens in the next match remains to be seen. Weather and Toss Few clouds would be spotted in the sky on Tuesday evening but without much chance of rain. The weather will be cool in the evening. In other words, weather won’t play much of a part in the outcome of the match. Probable XIs Renegades: Sam Harper (Wk), Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch (C), Beau Webster, Mohammad Nabi, Rilee Rossouw, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Peter Hatzoglou, Noor Ahmed, Strikers: Phil Salt, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (C, Wk), Jonathan Wells, Jake Weatherald, Ryan Gibson, Rashid Khan, Daniel Worrall, Danny Briggs, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle

James Pattison ruled out of third Test

Australia fast bowler James Pattinson has been ruled out of the third Test against India due to bruised ribs. The match is scheduled to take place in Sydney between 7-11. “Fast bowler James Pattinson has been ruled out of our Australian squad for the third #AUSvIND Vodafone Test with bruised ribs,” said Cricket Australia (CA). CA hasn’t yet announced the replacement for the fast bowler. “He will not be replaced in the squad and will be assessed further ahead of the Brisbane Test match,” CA added. He has taken 81 wickets in 21 outings for Australia at an average of 26.33 and last featured in a Test against New Zealand last January. In other developments in the squads for the teams, David Warner, Sean Abbott and Will Pucovski have been included in the team for Australia with Joe Burns missing out his place. The injury concerns for India have continued with fast bowler Umesh Yadav too out of the series after sustains calf injury. T.Natarajan who made his India debut in the limited-overs debut earlier on the tour has been included in the Test squad. Earlier, Mohammed Shami was also ruled out of the series after fracturing his arm. The Test series between the two sides is levelled at 1-1 with two games to go. Australia defeated India in the first Test by 8 wickets while the visitors bounced back in the second clash. They won the match by 8 wickets riding on some fine batting from stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and debutant Shubman Gill.

India, Australia players, match staff test negative for Covid-19

In a big relief to both the BCCI and Cricket Australia and fans across the world, all the players on either side, along with match officials involved in the ongoing series between India and Australia have returned negative results after the latest round of Covid-19 testing. The negative results would give especially the Indian camp much-needed relief after five players—Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant and Navdeep Saini allegedly breached the biosecure bubble protocols. The BCI had launched an investigation, and asked these five players to isolate away from the other team members, but allowed them to train for the third Test. Later on, they were added to the touring group, and they took a chartered flight to Sydney from Melbourne. There are few media reports claiming that the touring Indian side had raised objections about the prospect of a strict quarantine in Brisbane where the fourth and the final Test of the series is due to be played, but CA interim CEO Nick Hockley has on record said that the BCCI has not asked for any considerations about the isolation period in Brisbane. The third Test between Australia and India of the Border Gavaskar series is scheduled to take place at the SCG from January 07, followed by the fourth Test at the Gabba from January 15. The series is levelled at 1-1, with the hosts winning the first Test comprehensively while the India side bouncing back strongly in the second Test at the MCG.