WATCH: Rishabh Pant gets hit on elbow

Double injury scares for India; Pant, Jadeja taken to hospital for scans

Rishabh Pant has been taken to a hospital in Sydney after getting hit on his elbow on the third day of the third Test between Australia and India in Sydney. He was hit on his right elbow while attempting to pull a delivery of Pat Cummins in the 85th over of India’s innings. Pant looked in discomfort but batted on with a tapped elbow, but he could not last long after that blow. Later, Wriddhiman Saha donned the gloves and kept the wickets in place of Pant as a substitute fielder. Apart from Pant, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja too was hit on his finger and was out of the filed at the start of Australia’s second innings. However, Jadeja was seen sitting in the Indian dressing room, and hence it can be presumed that the left-hander who also has a crucial role to play in the second innings has not suffered any major injury. India were bowled out for 244 runs on the third day and handed Australia with an advantage of 94 runs lead. In reply, Australia marched along to get past the 100 run-mark quite comfortably.

Warne, Symonds caught mocking Marnus Labuschagne; broadcaster apologise

Former Australian cricketers Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds have been caught in a controversy after a behind the scene video appeared on social media where the duo was seen mocking Australia’s number 3 in Tests- Marnus Labuschagne. The incident happened when both Symonds and Warne were waiting for a Big Bash League game that was delayed due to the extended period of play in the ongoing Test between Australia and India, and they were seen talking and imitating Labuschagne’s batting style in the commentary box unaware of live streaming by Kayo-streaming partner of the Fox Sports, the broadcaster of the league was live. Kayo had to come forward and apologise for the good up of its commentators."Our stream started early and caught some unacceptable comments. On behalf of @kayosports and the commentary team, we unreservedly apologise," Kayo tweeted. The conversation began with Warne suggesting that Australia should bring Labuschagne onto bowl when India were going good with the bat to which Symonds threw an ‘ADD’ jibe about Labuschagne. Warne got carried away from there and started imitating Labuschange’s style of batting in the middle and called his mannerisms annoying while also saying the right-hander should bat properly.

Bihar skipper Aman confident of reaching quarter finals in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Ashutosh Aman would be leading the Bihar side once again when the team begins it’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign against Arunachal Pradesh on 11th January in Chennai. He is upbeat about the task at hand since a ‘balanced’ team has been selected for the tournament. There were many hurdles before the selection, but now as the team has been selected, Aman hopes that they could replicate their 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign where they topped the Plate group to qualify for the Quarter Finals, in their very first attempt as a reinstated team. Bihar's perspective: Things to look out for in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Talking about his plans, the skipper said, “For Mushtaq Ali, we have got a balanced team, it is a good mixture of youngsters and seniors. The main aim is to top the group and qualify for the quarter-finals...once we are there, we will try and give our best and reach as far in the tournament as possible.” This is also the first time that teams have been divided into a Plate group for Syed Mushtaq Ali. Bihar, which has won a solitary match out of the 12 that they have played so far in the history of the tournament, would look to better their record. But there are many hurdles before they could think of getting to the top of the group. And Aman acknowledges them too. “Our main competition is Chandigarh. They got the better of us in the Ranji Trophy last year, on the basis of their first-innings lead. Apart from them, Meghalaya is strong and so is Nagaland. Stuart Binny would be plying his trade for Nagaland this year...but that doesn’t mean we are any weaker,” Aman boasted. The team indeed has a good mix of youth and experience and Aman believes that youngsters like Sakib-Ul-Gani who scored a triple century in the CK Nayudu U-23 domestic championship, along with Akash Raj could come in handy. All-rounder Aman yearns for Ranji Trophy Aman rose to fame from Ranji Trophy, where during the 2018-19 season, he broke Bishan Sing Bedi’s 44-year-old record for most wickets in a Ranji season. He got 68 wickets in eight games, four more than Bedi’s 64 wickets. The only century in his career is courtesy the Ranji Trophy as well. If there is love personified between a tournament and player, Aman can give competition to anyone when it comes to his love for the premium First Class Tournament of India. Since rumors are ripe about the four-day tournament being scrapped this season, Aman feels a bit hard done as a player. But as a cricket appreciator, he is happy that in this time of covid-19, BCCI is still hosting Syed Mushtaq Ali for the domestic players with a possibility to host the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. “Ranji Trophy should be played. But it is unfortunate that due to Coronavirus it might be scrapped. I believe It is the original tournament, the real first-class cricket, so I would hope that we have Ranji Trophy this year..but we can only hope,” Aman said with a face that yearned for an opportunity to play First-Class cricket. It’s been almost a year since he last played competitive cricket. The all-round potential of this Air Force man has still not been fully utilized in the limited-overs and Mushtaq Ali is the right time for him to unleash the power with the bat. Emphasizing that he considers himself as an all-rounder in the team, Aman said, “I bat at number six and seven and try to contribute with the bat as and when required.” “For the upcoming tournament, I am practicing my shots which might be crucial at the fag end of the innings,” he added. The ultimate dream There is one more thing that is approaching its fag end and that is Aman’s playing age. Already at 34 and touching 35, the 2018-19 Ceat Domestic Cricketer of the year awardee doesn’t have much time on his hand to get to the ultimate dream of wearing the Navy Blue Indian cap. But that doesn’t make him one bit distraught, he is rather motivated to keep going. The boy from Gaya, Bihar has grinded it through studies, Indian Air Force and Services team till joining the Bihar cricket team and throughout this journey, he has kept his belief in two things- his love and passion for Cricket and his process. It wouldn't be wrong to say that if there is anyone that could dare to fulfill the ultimate dream at his age and with the bare minimum resources that he has at the offer, it is Sergeant Ashutosh Aman. After all, he has achieved greater things by believing in the process and by not giving up on his dreams in the face of all adversities. *This story is the third and last part of a three-part interview of Bihar cricket captain Ashutosh Aman. The other two parts can be read here: Interview Part-1 Interview Part-2

Bihar captain Ashutosh Aman points out biggest issues plaguing state cricket

Bihar captain Ashutosh Aman had played professional cricket in the Indian domestic circuit even before joining the Bihar team. He represented the Services team in two List A games. As opportunities were very few and took a long time to come by, he turned Pro and switched sides from Services to his home state Bihar, when the state finally got the opportunity to play First Class Cricket once again in 2018-19. Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) the parent body running cricket in Bihar is a mess that is indescribable. It is so messy that it hasn’t been able to conduct a free and fair election since the start of its proceedings in 2018-19 and has changed the President and Secretary a lot many times in these two years. The problem has deepened so much that the two warring factions of the BCA, one controlled by the Secretary and one by the President selected two different teams of Bihar for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The embarrassment was published all over the media. Later BCCI intervened to solve the matter. Fighting adversities on all fronts Asked to comment, Aman had his reservations about speaking on the issue. He said, “I will say as much that we should all be together and play in a manner that is beneficial for the state as a whole.” He held on to the respect for the association, but couldn’t ignore the neglect of authorities on the facilities provided to players. His struggle is not limited only to administration but involves the lack of resources too. Talking about the problems faced by the players at the grassroots level he said, “The biggest problem at the grassroots is the non-availability of grounds in Bihar.” Pointing towards the pitch of the ground, on the boundary lines of which this interview was taking place, he said, “We have only this ground in Bihar which is at par with other states. And we have 38 district teams. Imagine what they must be playing on!” “I come from Gaya and the matches there are also played on disappointingly bad grounds. People can get injured any time,” he added emancipating the plight of the players. “The other ground at par with this one is of the Urja Stadium. But to practice or play there the association has to pay them,” he said. I tried to enquire if another ground in the vicinity of the capital, the Jagjivan Stadium of the Railways was worth a try. Answering the query he said, “The Jagjivan Stadium in Danapur isn’t that good. So all in all, we have this single ground. Although now Devi Bhaiya (Bihar Cricket Association’s official curator Devi Dayal) has prepared another good ground in Bhagalpur, it’s utility is still limited.” Since he has played in two very different setups of Services- the all disciplined life and Bihar, where there might be anything but discipline among the administrators, Aman says that coping up to the changing environment is a tiring job, but he is not shy of taking it upon himself to change things. “Services have been playing Ranji Trophy for quite some time now. So there is infrastructure, professionalism. On the other hand, Bihar was reinstated only two years ago. The boys here are playing competitive cricket just now. So in time, things would improve. And I have started inculcating the spirit of cricket and the most important aspect of any sport, DISCIPLINE.” *This story is the second part of a three-part interview of Bihar cricket captain Ashutosh Aman. The other two parts can be read here: Interview Part-1 Interview Part-3