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Bangladesh end New Zealand tour with Liton’s imperious ton
With Liton Das’s imperious ton at Christchurch, his second in career, Bangladesh ended the New Zealand series with a draw 1-1 on Tuesday. Despite his century, Bangladesh lost the second Test in Christchurch by an innings and 117 runs within the third day of the match.
It has been Bangladesh’s best Test result against New Zealand so far. Before this series, Bangladesh played a total of 32 international matches in New Zealand but failed to win any of them. But in the first Test, Bangladesh managed to beat the Kiwis by eight wickets and created history.
“It was a dream to win a Test abroad against a big team,” Mominul Haque, Bangladesh captain told after the match. “It was so important for us to register the first win. We will also win series abroad in future. We now have that important belief. It was the biggest positive side of this series. But we have many things to do.”
Also read: Ashwell Prince laments Tigers' batting collapse in Christchurch
Bangladesh, however, failed to continue on a good run in the second Test when they had to endure a defeat by an innings and 117 runs.
In the first innings of the match, New Zealand had posted a massive total of 521 for six and declared the innings. Tom Latham, the New Zealand captain hit a double-ton while Devon Conway registered this second century of the series as well.
In reply, Bangladesh tumbled for 126 in the first innings with the highest score of 55 by Yasir Ali who was playing only his third Test. Trent Boult bagged five wickets for the hosts— his ninth five-fors in Tests so far.
“It was disappointing that we failed to bat well in the first innings of the second Test,” Mominul said. “Our bowling in this match was also below our standard. Shohan (Nurul Haque), and Yasir (Ali) did well in the first innings, and in the second innings, Liton was outstanding.”
The hosts enforced a follow on, and in the second innings, Bangladesh ended up on 278 all out. They came up with a better response, but it was too late from the Bangladeshi batters.
Liton came to bat at five and posted 102 for 114 balls— his second ton in Test career. His first Test hundred came against Pakistan in the previous series at home— which was Bangladesh’s first series in the new cycle of the World Test Championship.
The second Test of the series was the last Test of New Zealand legend Ross Taylor. The batter ended up his red-ball journey with the wicket of Ebadot Hossain. Latham took a great catch to remove Ebadot, and in his last ball of the career, Taylor got his farewell gift from Ebadot.
Also read: New Zealand take giant stride as Bangladesh suffer batting collapse
While leaving the field for the final time, Taylor got applauded by his teammates, opposition, and the crowd.
Taylor ended his Test career as one of the best batters that New Zealand has ever produced. He helped the Blackcaps won the last year’s World Test Championship final against India. He saw many ups in his career with little downs.
Bangladesh team will now travel back home and start preparing for the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which is set to begin on January 21 in Dhaka. This year BPL is scheduled to be played at three venues in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet. However, the official schedule is yet to be revealed.
Most Fierce Bowling Performances in BPL History
The enthusiasm among T20 cricket fans is growing as the eighth season of the Bangladesh Premier League approaches. The Forthcoming BPL 8 will feature some of the top T20 format bowlers in the world, who can make significant contributions to their respective teams in the competition. Not to mention, everyone is anticipating some game-changing bowling performances from both local and international players. Let's take a look at the top five finest bowling figures in the Bangladesh Premier league's history to rekindle fans' memories.
Bangladesh Premier League: Five Best Bowling Figures
There were some outstanding bowling performances in the first seven seasons of the Bangladesh Premier League. Here are the top five best individual bowling performances in the BPL thus far.
Mohammad Amir (6/17 against Rajshahi Royals)
1st Qualifier: Khulna Tigers vs Rajshahi Royals | Venue: Dhaka (January 13, 2020)
Left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir of Pakistan has the best bowling figures in the Bangladesh Premier League. He accomplished this feat in the first qualifying match against Rajshahi Royals in the seventh season of the BPL. When chasing Khulna's 158 runs, Rajshahi's batters had no idea what they were up against. Rajshahi were bowled out for 131 in exactly 20 overs. Mohammad Amir's fiery spell ended with a stat of 4-0-17-6.
Read Top Five Memorable Individual Knocks of BPL History
Mohammad Sami (5/6 against Duronto Rajshahi)
League Match: Dhaka Gladiators vs Duronto Rajshahi | Venue: Dhaka (February 27, 2012)
Retired Pakistani bowler Mohammad Sami has the second-best bowling stats in the history of the Bangladesh Premier League. Mohammad Sami of Duronto Rajshahi exploded with the ball in a league match against Dhaka Gladiators during the BPL's inaugural season. Dhaka's batting line-up was decimated by his precise bowling, and they were all out for 116. Rajshahi chased down the target with three wickets in hand. Mohammad Sami's ferocious spell came to an end with a tally of 3.2-0-6-5.
Wahab Riaz (5/8 against Rajshahi Royals)
League Match: Dhaka Platoon vs Rajshahi Royals | Venue: Dhaka (December 30, 2019)
Pakistani pacers have dominated the Bangladesh Premier League bowling stats, with pacer Wahab Riaz having the third finest bowling performance in the tournament's history. Wahab accomplished this feat during a league match against Rajshahi Royals in the previous edition of the BPL. Wahab's team Dhaka Platoon batted first and scored 174/5 in exactly 20 overs. Rajshahi Royals were all-out for 100 in 16.4 overs in the chase thanks to Wahab's superb spell. The left-arm medium-pacer took 5 wickets in the match, utterly thwarting Rajshahi's chase. Wahab Riaz had a 3.4-1-8-5 bowling spell in the match.
Read Bangladesh Premier League: A Look Back at the Past Winners
Kevon Cooper (5/15 against Rangpur Riders)
League Match: Barisal Bulls vs Rangpur Riders | Venue: Dhaka (November 23, 2015)
Kevon Cooper of the West Indies has the fourth-best bowling stats in the history of the Bangladesh Premier League. Pacer Kevon Cooper took five wickets in a league match against Rangpur Riders in the third season of the BPL, helping his team Barisal Bulls to a 13-run victory. Rangpur Riders were dismissed for 142 runs after Barisal Bulls scored 155/9 in 20 overs. Kevon Cooper finished his outing with a tally of 4-1-15-5.
Shakib Al Hasan (5/16 against Rangpur Riders)
League Match: Dhaka Dynamites vs Rangpur Riders | Venue: Dhaka (November 21, 2017)
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan is the only Bangladeshi bowler on the list. The best all-rounder in the world took five wickets against Rangpur Riders in a league match in the fifth season of the BPL. Despite the fact that Shakib's Dhaka Dynamites lost against Rangpur Riders, he was outstanding with the ball. He helped Dhaka to bowl Rangpur out for 142 runs. Dhaka were bowled out for 139 runs in the chase, losing the match by three runs. Shakib's spell was 3.5-0-16-5 in the end.
Read Favourite to Win the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2021 Award
Aftermath
Fans had experienced some remarkable bowling efforts in Bangladesh Premier League in the past seven seasons. The bowling numbers shown above are among the best five in BPL history. As the stats reflect, Pakistani quicker bowlers have had the best bowling figures overall. Twenty20 cricket fans will expect even sharper bowling performances from the participating teams in the forthcoming eighth season of the BPL.
National Chess: GM Enamul Hossain Razib emerges unbeaten champion
Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib emerged unbeaten champion in the 46th National Premier Chess Championship, securing 10 points from 13 matches at the end of the 13th and last round matches on Monday.
Bangladesh Chess Federation organized the meet, powered by Shah Cement, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Country’s Independence.
This was the 5th national crown for GM Razib.
Another Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh Ansar, who won the national chess title 14 times, became the runner-up securing nine and half points.
READ: MoFA hosts Sheikh Russel Rapid Chess Tournament
Last time champion country’s first Grandmaster Niaz Murshed of Bangladesh Ansar finished third place with 9 points.
Although Niaz dominated the meet with Grandmaster Razib till the 12th round, but he went down to 3rd slot after losing his lost match to International Master Mohammad Minhaz Uddin.
FIDE Master Mehedi Hasan Parag of Bangladesh Police secured the 4th position with seven and a half points.
International Master Mohammad Minhaz Uddin of Bangladesh Navy and Candidate Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia of Bangladesh Ansar have secured seven points each and will meet each other in play-off match for fifth place on Tuesday).
GM Reefat Bin Sattar of Bangladesh Ansar and GM Mollah Abdullah Al Rakib of Bangladesh Police earned 6.5 points each and they will meet each other in a play-off match for the 7th place.
Other positions are: 9th- CM Md Sharif Hossain of Bangladesh Navy, (six points), 10th-FM Subrota Biswas of Bangladesh Navy, (5.5 points) 11th-FM Debaraj Chatterjee of Barisal (5 points), 12th-CM Nayem Haque of Sirajganj,(4.5 points), 13th-CM Manon Reja Neer of Bangladesh Police, (4 points), and 14th- FM Khandaker Aminul Islam of Bangladesh Navy ( 3 points).
READ: Chess: Belgium’s GM Vadim Malakhatko takes solo lead
In the day’s 13th and last round matches, GM Razib beat FM Subrota; GM Zia beat CM Sharif, GM Niaz lost to IM Minhaz. FM Parag drew with GM Reefat, CM Tahsin drew with FM Debaraj and CM Neer drew with FM Amin.
Play-off matches for 5th and 7th position will be held on Tuesday from 3:pm at Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room,
Roll of Honour of National Chess:
1974- Miah Abdus Salek,1975- Dr. Mirza Akmal Hossain,1976- Dr. Mirza Akmal Hossain,1977- Not held, 1978- FM Rezaul Haque,1979 GM Niaz Murshed,1980- GM Niaz Murshed,1981- GM Niaz Murshed,1982- GM Niaz Murshed,1983- FM Jamilur Rahman,1984- FMr Younus Hasan,1985- Sayed Ahmed Sohel,1986- IM Zillur Rahman,1987- IM Zillur Rahman,1988- GM Ziaur Rahman,1989- FM Rezaul Haque,1990- FM Syed Tahmidur Rahman,1991- GM Reefat Bin Sattar,1992- GM Reefat Bin Sattar, 1993- GM Reefat Bin Sattar,1994- GM Ziaur Rahman,1995- GM Reefat Bin Sattar, 1996- GM Ziaur Rahman,1997- GM Enamul Hossain Razib,1998- GM Ziaur Rahman,1999- GM Ziaur Rahman,2000- GM Reefat Bin Sattar,2001- GM Ziaur Rahman,2002- GM Ziaur Rahman,2003- GM Reefat Bin Sattar, 2004- GM Ziaur Rahman, 2005- GM Ziaur Rahman,2006- GM Enamul Hossain Razib,2007- GM Mollah Abdullah Al Rakib, 2008- GM Ziaur Rahman,2009- GM Ziaur Rahman, 2010-IM Mohammad Minhaz Uddin, 2011-GM Ziaur Rahman, 2012- GM Niaz Murshed, 2013- GM Mollah Abdullah Al-Rakib, 2014- GM Ziaur Rahman and 2015-IM Mohammad Minhaz Uddin,2016- Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib,2017- Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib and 2018- Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman, 2019-Grandmaster Niaz Murshed, 2022-Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib.
BPL Football to begin on February 3
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2021-22, the most prestigious football competition of the country, will kick off on February 3 with the participation of top 12 clubs.
The decision was taken at the first meeting of the BFF Professional League Management Committee (PLMC) held at BFF conference room on Monday afternoon with committee chairman and BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy, MP in the chair.
However, the BPL venues will be finalized at the next meeting.
Also read: Bangamata Football: Mymensingh, Rajshahi earn comfortable win
The Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) Football 2021-22, the 2nd-tier football league of the country, will begin on February 20 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Kamalapur here.
The decision came from a sub-committee meeting of the Bangladesh Championship League on Monday at the same venue with PLMC chairman Abdus Salam Murshedy, MP in the chair.
The first window of BCL inter-club players transfer formalities will be held on January 15 to February 15 between 12 noon to 5 pm at the BFF office in every working day.
Also read: Bagerhat Football: Sadar Upazila emerge champions
The 12 teams are NoFel SC, Fortis FC, Kawran Bazar Pragoti Sangha, Agrani Bank SC, Dhaka Wanderes Club, Fakirerpool Youngmen’s Club, Farashganj SC, Uttara FC, Wari Club, Azampur FC (Uttara), Gopalganj SC and BFF Elite Football Academy.
Soon after completion of BCL football 2021-22, a U-18 Football Tournament will be held with the participation of the BCL teams.
Ashwell Prince laments Tigers' batting collapse in Christchurch
It was inevitable that the Kiwis would post a massive first-innings total after Tom Latham and Devon Conway added more than 200 runs in the second-wicket stand, and it happened. But Bangladesh's batting lineup failed to deliver Monday, on the second day of the Christchurch Test.
Replying to New Zealand’s first innings total of 521/6 declared, Bangladesh tumbled for only 126, with all of the top five batters failing to reach double figures.
A 60-run stand by Yasir Ali and Nurul Hasan Shohan rescued the Tigers from an even worse fate. Along the process, Yasir registered his maiden fifty in Tests while Shohan got 41.
Also reda: Top Five Memorable Individual Knocks of BPL History
“At tea time, we identified the pitch was quite good for batting. There was value for shots off the surface. The outfield was nice. If we could hang in a little bit, we could get a partnership going,” Bangladesh batting coach Ashwell Prince said at the end of the day’s play.
“The movement happened a bit quicker off the surface today. I was comfortable thinking some of the balls would go past the outside edge. It is normal for these conditions,” he added.
With 49 more overs to play in the day, New Zealand declared unexpectedly, and it seemed that the visitors were not prepared mentally to start batting at that point of the match. It was reflected in their performance when all of the top-five batters returned to the dressing room early.
“Of course, we are disappointed (about the lean show by the top five). It was a massive effort last week. We played 173 overs against a quality bowling attack. I think it is fair to say that we expected New Zealand to come back with a lot more urgency in this game. If you compare the two games, you can see that it is really difficult to fight your way back, even if you are the No 1 team,” Prince also said.
Also read: New Zealand take giant stride as Bangladesh suffered batting collapse
For New Zealand, Trent Boult was tremendous with the ball taking five wickets— his nine five-fors in Tests so far. Along the way, he completed 300 wickets in the format.
At the end of day two, Bangladesh are behind by 395 runs— a huge task they have ahead. It’s not clear if New Zealand would enforce a follow-on. It will only be known on the third day morning.
Bangamata Football: Mymensingh, Rajshahi earn comfortable win
Hosts Rajshahi and Mymensingh District earned convincing victories in the final round of the Bangamata National Women’s Football Championship at the Shaheed Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi on Monday.
In the day’s first match, hosts Rajshahi District, riding on a hat-trick by Shornali, earned an easy 8-0 goals victory over Nilphamari District.
Rajshahi led the first half by 3-0 goals.
Also read: Bangamata Football: Ansar & VDP crush Satkhira 12-0
Shornali scored four goals for the home team in the 6th, 12th, 48th and 88th minutes respectively to complete a hat-trick.
Sita netted twice in the 28th and 80th minutes while Shampa and Afroza added one more goal each in the 67th and 71st minutes.
In the day’s other match, a brilliant hat-trick by Selina guided Mymensingh to crush Magura District by 10-0 goals.
Also read: Fed Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani clinch season’s 2nd consecutive trophy
Selina scorrd four goals in the 2nd, 43rd, 81st and 89th minutes, Shikha and Amena netted two goals each while Ronnie and Salam scored one each for Mymensingh.
Top Five Memorable Individual Knocks of BPL History
As the new season of the Bangladesh Premier League approaches, cricket lovers are expecting some dazzling batting performances from local and international cricketers. After a one-year break, the eighth season of the BPL will kick off on January 21, with six teams competing. Some of the noteworthy individual innings of the tournament thus far are discussed in this article in order to revive the fans' memories of the Bangladesh Premier League. Let's look at the top five iconic individual knocks in BPL history.
Bangladesh Premier League's Five Unforgettable Individual Innings
There were many game-changing individual performances in the past seven seasons of the Bangladesh Premier League, but picking the best is always tough. Here are the top five most unforgettable individual performances in the Bangladesh Premier League thus far.
AB de Villiers (100* off 50 against Dhaka Dynamites)
League Match: Dhaka Dynamites vs Rangpur Riders | Venue: Chattogram (January 28, 2019)
Mr. 360 AB de Villiers only played one season in the BPL with Rangpur Riders. He was their mercury signing in the sixth season of the Bangladesh Premier League. De Villiers only played in a few league games but astonished the fans with his incredible batting display. AB de Villiers produced one of the most spellbinding knocks in BPL history against a powerful Dhaka Dynamites team in Chattogram. Chasing a mammoth 187-run target, AB de Villiers came into bat in the second over after the departures of Chris Gayle and Rilee Rossouw. De Villiers got off to a strong start in his innings, playing some incredible strokes all over the ground. Rangpur won with 10 balls to spare thanks to an undefeated 184* partnership between Villiers and Hales. He scored 100* off 50 balls. Villiers smashed six big sixes and eight boundaries in his magnificent knock, making it one of the most eye-catching performances in BPL history.
read Bangladesh Premier League: A Look Back at the Past Winners
Chris Gayle (126* off 51 against Khulna Titans)
Eliminator: Rangpur Riders vs Khulna Titans | Venue: Dhaka (December 8, 2017)
The Universe Boss Chris Gayle was in top form in the fifth season of BPL. Gayle delivered some spectacular knocks for Rangpur Riders throughout the season. He was the driving force behind Rangpur's first BPL triumph in 2017. Gayle produced one of the best BPL innings in the eliminator match against Khulna. Khulna scored 167/6 in 20 overs after batting first. Rangpur Riders won in 15.2 overs thanks to an unbroken 146*-run third-wicket partnership between Gayle and Mithun. Mithun played a pivotal part in the innings, but Gayle was merciless towards the opposition bowlers. He hit 18 massive sixes in his 126* off 51 runs knock. The whole stadium chanted his name during the game.
Ahmed Shehzad (113* off 49 against Duronto Rajshahi)
1st Semi-Final: Barisal Burners vs Duronto Rajshahi | Venue: Dhaka (February 28, 2012)
Ahmed Shehzad played one of the best T20 innings of his career against Duronto Rajshahi in the first semifinal of the BPL's first season. Barisal Burners earned a spot in the championship match against Dhaka thanks to his stunning century. Duronto Rajshahi scored 184/6 in their allotted 20 overs when they batted first. Opener Ahmed Shehzad formed two key partnerships in the middle to chase down the target. He scored 103 runs with Brad Hodge in the first wicket stand, then 74 runs with Phil Mustard in the second wicket partnership. Barisal won the match with four overs to spare. Shehzad stayed undefeated with 113* off 49 balls, and it was one of the finest BPL innings ever.
Read Bangladesh National Men's Cricket Team Schedules for 2022
Tamim Iqbal (141* off 61 against Dhaka Dynamites)
Final: Dhaka Dynamites vs Comilla Victorians | Venue: Dhaka (February 8, 2019)
The opening batter of Comilla Victorians Tamim Iqbal underperformed throughout the sixth season of the Bangladesh Premier League before the all-important final match against Dhaka Dynamites. Probably, he reserved his finest performance for the last match. Comilla struck a huge 199/3 in their stipulated 20 overs thanks to his record-breaking 141* from 61 balls knock. In response, the Dhaka Dynamites scored 182/9 in 20 overs. Comilla went on to win the BPL for the second time. However, it was Tamim Iqbal's sensational innings that stole the show. Tamim hit 11 sixes and 10 boundaries in his memorable innings. Many cricket pundits consider it to be the best-ever BPL knock to date.
Chris Gayle (146* off 69 against Dhaka Dynamites)
Final: Dhaka Dynamites vs Rangpur Riders | Venue: Dhaka (December 12, 2017)
Chris Gayle was the main fear factor for Dhaka Dynamites in the championship match after some dazzling performances in the league stage and elimination rounds, and he made the difference in the final. Rangpur Riders made a massive 206/1 in the final after batting first, due to a record-breaking 201-run partnership between Gayle and McCullum for the second wicket. McCullum played the anchor role, but Chris Gayle was unstoppable. He struck an undefeated 146* off 69 balls, including 18 sixes. It was an innings of perfection from arguably the greatest T20 batter of all time. Dhaka Dynamites scored 149/9 in 20 overs and lost by 57 runs in the final. Rangpur Riders won their first-ever BPL title thanks to Gayle's incredible performance. That knock by Chris Gayle is perhaps one of the most entertaining and memorable in BPL history.
Read Five Defining Moments of Bangladesh’s Historic Test Victory Over New Zealand
Way Forward
Cricket fans had witnessed some incredible individual innings in the previous seven seasons of the Bangladesh Premier League. The above-mentioned Individual batting efforts are among the top five most memorable innings in BPL history. Those innings are not just among the finest in the BPL's history, but also among the best in franchise-based T20 cricket tournaments around the world. T20 cricket lovers will expect even better batting performances than those highlighted above next season.
New Zealand take giant stride as Bangladesh suffer batting collapse
New Zealand have taken a giant stride in the ongoing Christchurch Test after posting a massive total of 521 for six in the first innings and declared, and right after that, Bangladesh suffered a familiar batting collapse in the format.
At the end of day two, New Zealand are leading by 395 runs.
Read:Latham, Conway come up with thumping response
Devon Conway completed his second hundred of the series off the first ball of the day while Tom Latham registered his double ton.
After Conway was trapped run-out by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ross Taylor came to bat, and the Bangladesh players gave a guard of honour as he was playing his last Test.
Taylor could only make 28 runs in, probably, his last innings in the format. With this Test, Taylor played a total of 112 Tests and he amassed more than 7500 runs with 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.
In reply to New Zealand’s massive total, Bangladesh ended up on 126 for 10 after they were brought down to 11 for four.
Yasir Ali Rabbi hit his maiden fifty while coming up with a 60-run stand in the sixth-wicket partnership.
None of Bangladesh’s top five batters was able to reach a double-digit score with two departed with a duck each.
Yasir ended up on 55 while Nurul Hasan Shohan, who was playing to replace injured Mushfiqur Rahim, posted 41. After Yasir and Shohan departed, Bangladesh’s innings ended fast.
Trent Boult scalped five wickets— his ninth five-for in his Test career while Time Southee took three and Kyle Jamieson bagged two.
Along the process, Boult completed 300 wickets in Tests.
Read:Pumped-up Tigers aim for monumental series win against Blackcaps
“Milestones don't really matter, there are some big names in this list. There was a good amount of pace and bounce on this wicket, enjoyed bowling on the surface - with Southee in, gives us a left-right combination well,” Boult said at the end of day’s play.
Bangladesh won the first Test by eight wickets— which was Bangladesh’s maiden Test win against New Zealand and the first win in New Zealand soil in 32 attempts across the format.
England Avert Ashes Whitewash after a nerve-wracking Draw in the Fourth Test
Australia won the 2021-2022 Ashes series after three straight victories against England. When the Sydney Test began, they were on a mission to whitewash England. However, England's tail-enders survived a tense last hour of the match to deny Australia a 5-0 series victory. Australia will play the fifth match in Hobart with the goal of completing the series 4-0, while England will try to restore some pride. The series' final match will begin on January 14. The fourth Test match report of Australia vs England is discussed in this article.
Australia vs England 2021-2022 Ashes: Fourth Test Match Report
When England batted in the closing hour of day 4, they had a mammoth 388-run target. Therefore, the English campaign preferred to save the match rather than go after the target. The English openers survived the fourth day, scoring 30 runs in 11 overs.
The openers started fresh with the hopes of drawing the match, but new sensation Scott Boland gave Australia an early breakthrough in the first hour on day five. He sent Haseeb Hameed back to the pavilion in the tenth over of the day.
Read BPL 2022: The Favourites, Outsiders and Underdogs
The England batters tried to build big partnerships in the middle but were unable to do so. In fact, most of England's partnerships lasted 10 to 15 overs.
With only two wickets remaining in the closing hour of day five, the match was heading towards a nail-biting finish. Steven Smith infused some excitement into the match by dismissing Jack Leach two overs short of the scheduled over. England were able to draw the match with the help of two veteran cricketers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Zack Crawley (77) and Ben Stokes (60) both scored crucial runs for England, while Australia's most successful bowler in the second innings was Scott Boland (3/30).
Read: Memorable International Cricket Moments in 2021
Australia made one major change for the fourth Test in Sydney. Travis Head was replaced by Usman Khawaja. The elegant left-hander made the most of his opportunity, smashing back-to-back hundreds in the contest. Khawaja's 137 in the first innings contributed to Australia's 416/8d total. For England, Stuart Broad took 5 wickets in the first innings. However, England were bowled out for 294 runs in their first innings, handing Australia a 122-run lead. Jonny Bairstow scored 113 runs for the visitors, while Scott Boland took the most wickets for the hosts with four.
Australia were much more aggressive in the second innings. They declared their innings on 265/6d after setting England a 388-run target. Usman Khawaja sparkled once more with the bat, finishing undefeated on 101*. Jack Leach took the most wickets with four for the English team.
Player of the Match
Osman Khawaja was awarded player of the match for his amazing batting effort in the game. He scored centuries in both innings, allowing Australia to take complete control of the Sydney Test against England.
Read: England clings on for a draw in dramatic 4th Ashes test
2021-2023 ICC Test Championship Points Table
Sri Lanka top the ICC Test Championship points standings with 100 percent PCT, ahead of Australia and Pakistan. On the other hand, England have plummeted to the bottom of the current points table.
ICC Test Championship Points Table (as of January 9, 2022)
Position
Team
PCT (%)
1
Sri Lanka
100
2
Australia
83.33
3
Pakistan
75.00
4
India
55.21
5
South Africa
50.00
6
Bangladesh
33.33
7
West Indies
25.00
8
New Zealand
11.11
9
England
10.41
Source: https://www.icc-cricket.com/world-test-championship/standings
Bottom Line
The England team is having a very hard time in the ongoing Ashes series. England's top order has appeared to be shaky to face an inspiring Australia bowling unit. As a result, England's middle-order has been put under a lot of pressure, reducing their prospects of dominating during the match. England's bowlers have performed well in the series, although not as well as their opponents. Australia are expected to reclaim the number one position in the ICC Test Championship after this Ashes series. Oppositely, England's place in the standings may decline further, causing a major blow in their quest for the second cycle's final match.
Read BPL 2022: SWOT Analysis of all Six Teams
Judge asks what more Djokovic could have done for a visa
An Australian judge who will decide whether top-ranked tennis star Novak Djokovic plays in the Australian Open questioned on Monday what more the Serbian could have done to meet Australia’s coronavirus entry requirements.
The 34-year-old is fighting deportation and the cancellation of his visa in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
The Australian government canceled his visa shortly after he arrived in Melbourne late Wednesday because officials decided he didn’t meet the criteria for an exemption to an entry requirement that all non-citizens be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Djokovic, who court documents say is unvaccinated, argued he did not need proof of vaccination because he had evidence that he had been infected with the coronavirus last month.
Australian medical authorities have ruled that a temporary exemption for the vaccination rule can be provided to people who have been infected with COVID-19 within six months.
Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly noted that Djokovic had provided officials at Melbourne’s airport with a medical exemption given him by Tennis Australia, which is organizing the tournament that starts on Jan. 17, and two medical panels.
“The point I’m somewhat agitated about is what more could this man have done?” Kelly asked Djokovic’s lawyer, Nick Wood.
Read: Will he stay or will he go? Djokovic’s hearing looms large
Wood agreed with the judge that Djokovic could not have done more.
Transcripts of Djokovic’s interview with Border Force officials and his own affidavit revealed a “repeated appeal to the officers with which he was dealing that to his understanding, uncontradicted, he had done absolutely everything that he understood was required in order for him to enter Australia,” Wood said.
Djokovic has been under guard in hotel quarantine in Melbourne since Thursday, when his visa was canceled.
But the judge ordered that the world No. 1-ranked tennis player be released from hotel quarantine during his court hearing. It was not clear where Djokovic relocated to during his hearing. He did not appear on screen in the first hours of the virtual hearing.
Lawyers for Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews will make their submission later Monday on why Djokovic should be deported.
Djokovic’s lawyers submitted 11 grounds for appeal against his visa cancellation.
Read: Djokovic in limbo as he fights deportation from Australia
The lawyers described the cancellation as “seriously illogical,” irrational and legally unreasonable.
The virtual hearing crashed several times because of an overwhelming number of people from around the world trying to watch the proceedings.
Djokovic is a nine-time Australian Open champion. He has 20 Grand Slam singles titles, a men’s record he shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.