1. Australia Beat India in the 2nd ODI
Rohit Sharma’s second successive century was once again overshadowed by Australia’s collective batting might as the hosts continued their dominance over Indian bowlers to notch up a seven-wicket victory in the second ODI and took a 2-0 series lead in Brisbane on Friday.
Openers Aaron Finch (71) and Shaun Marsh (71) laid the foundation before George Bailey (76 not out) and Steve Smith (46) snatched the game from India for the second time in three days.
Also read on The Quint: In Stats: The Failure of Indian Fast Bowlers to Step Up Overseas
2. We Need to Score 340 Runs to Be on the Safer Side: MS Dhoni
Indian captain MS Dhoni said that his team need to amass 340 runs to be on the safer side. He added, his bowlers are not executing the plans and therefore the Indian team is failing to defend totals consistently.
India lost yet another match after posting a total in excess of 300. MS Dhoni has a lot to think about the bowling combination he will field in the third ODI in Melbourne on Sunday.
3. Mirza-Hingis Win Sydney International Tournament
Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis’ awe-inspiring run continued unabated as they lifted their second trophy of the season with the WTA Apia International title after clinching their 30th win a row in Sydney on Friday.
The victory over Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic though was not without initial hiccups as the top seeds lost the first set meekly before eking out a 1-6, 7-5, 10-5 win in one hour and 13 minutes.
The world number one team were losing 1-6, 1-4 at one stage before levelling the second set 5-5 and then sealed it to stretch it to a Super tie- breaker.
4. Sehwag Teaches Cricket to WWE Stars
Swashbuckling former Indian opener Virender Sehwag gave WWE Divas Champion Charlotte and WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler their first taste of cricket in New Delhi on Friday.
Assisted by his two children, Aryavir and Vedant, Sehwag introduced the duo to cricket and shared the techniques of batting, bowling and catching with his eager WWE pupils.
Dolph and Charlotte both enjoyed the experience of batting against the former off-spinner. They also had the chance to bowl at Sehwag, who seemed to resist his legendary aggressive approach of smashing the ball for fours and sixes.
The WWE stars are in New Delhi to entertain the Indian crowds for two days (15 and 16 January).
Dolph ZigglerThat was an awesome experience, and we’re grateful to Virender for giving us our first taste of playing cricket.
5. Mohammad Amir Booed on Return to International Cricket: Reports
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir was booed on his return to international cricket by the crowd during the first Twenty20 match against New Zealand in Auckland on Friday, reports said.
The 23-year-old left-arm paceman was making his first appearance for Pakistan since returning from a five-year ban and jail time for being implicated in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010.
Pakistan beat the hosts by 16 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with Mohammad Hafeez scoring 61 as they reached 171 for eight.
Amir opened the bowling and picked up figures of 1/31 in his four overs but did not bat.
Also read on The Quint: Mohammad Amir, Does a Spot-Fixer Have a Place in Sport?
6. James Anderson Removed From English Attack
England fast bowler James Anderson was removed from the English attack after he stepped onto the danger area three times during South Africa’s first innings in the third Test at Johannesburg.
Although it didn’t affect the English team in anyway as the
Proteas were nine wickets down when the incident took place and Ben Stokes just
took one ball to finish the South African innings.
However, James Anderson, who was removed in the 100th
over on day two (Friday) of the Test, was furious with umpire Aleem Dar
and claimed that he had been warned only once before the incident
took place.
But an ECB spokesman and the England captain Alastair
Cook admitted that Anderson had been warned twice before being removed from the
attack.
The first and second warnings were given in the 61st
and 94th over respectively.
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