At least this contest went the distance. After a series of truncated Tests the outcome of this isolated T20 match was in doubt until the penultimate ball. England, thanks to some inspired out-cricket in the closing overs – after some shabbier stuff earlier on – won by five runs. With the match in the balance
Steven Smith’s ninth hundred – his fifth in six Tests – held Australia’s innings together in Jamaica, his partnerships of 118 with Michael Clarke and 76 with Adam Voges ensuring West Indies were able to claim only four wickets on the first day. The returns were fewer than Denesh Ramdin would have wanted when he
Australia did not need to win, and India never really thought seriously about doing so. A curiously muted final day of the Boxing Day Test petered out with four overs still to bowl; on recent evidence more than enough time to winkle out the visitors’ last four wickets. A draw was enough for Australia to
A flat drop-in pitch. Possible rain. Brazen Indian batsmen. A brittle touring tail. Reverse swing. An extended day’s play. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy not quite secured. A new captain and an older coach. A commitment to entertain. These were just a few of the variables for Australia after four days of the Boxing Day Test at
First India then Australia: neither side was able to take control on day two of the second Test in muggy Brisbane. The visitors’ loss of six for 87 at the steady hands of Josh Hazlewood gave the hosts a better sight of the batting crease than they could have expected after day one, but a