In today’s cricket sports news, discover how New Zealand has accomplished a miraculous victory over Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Michael Clarke believes that Australia has placed itself in a precarious position ahead of the Ashes by dropping Travis Head for the first Test against India. Lastly, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Iyer would not play in the remainder of the Test, and Indian captain Rohit Sharma noted that the batsman “does not appear to be doing well.”
New Zealand Wins Another Last-ball Thriller Over Sri Lanka
Original Source: New Zealand wins ANOTHER nailbiter amid last-ball madness against Sri Lanka
New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka on the penultimate ball of day five in Christchurch after pursuing the 285-run total with two wickets in hand.
Kane Williamson and Neil Wagner scampered through for a frantic bye to give New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series at Hagley Oval with one run needed from the penultimate ball.
Asitha Fernando’s bouncer flew past Williamson and into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. Wagner, celebrating his 37th birthday, dove toward the other end with a damaged hamstring.
Replays showed Williamson was safe by less than five centimetres, so the judgment was sent upstairs to the third umpire.
Black Caps legend Craig McMillan remarked in Spark Sport commentary, “The desperation dive pulls New Zealand home in a thriller… a famous victory.”
“Despite the weather and a plucky performance from Sri Lanka, New Zealand have navigated their way through a series of hurdles to triumph in the most amazing circumstances.”
New Zealand veteran Stephen Fleming continued: “For a Test match to finish on the penultimate ball on day five — extraordinary. What an incredible two weeks of Test cricket.
“Halfway through the day when we were catching some Z’s, we didn’t believe there was going to be much cricket. We were very mistaken.
Williamson’s nerve-holding was a masterclass.
The Black Caps are known for winning “by the barest of margins,” but this was one of the most dramatic Test match endings. We said the same thing regarding New Zealand’s one-run win over England, which also ended in dramatic fashion, two weeks earlier.
New Zealand won on Monday thanks to Williamson’s undefeated 121.
Day five was delayed due to rain, and when play resumed in the afternoon, it looked like a draw. Sri Lanka needed nine wickets to qualify for the World Test Championship final, while New Zealand needed 257 runs from 53 overs to win.
The Kiwis usually play for a draw in the latter three hours, but they stunned everyone by attacking, evidently inspired by England’s BazBall mindset.
Black Caps opener Tom Latham fell early to spinner Prabath Jayasuriya 24, followed by Henry Nicholls for 20. New Zealand needed 195 runs in 34.2 overs as Daryl Mitchell came to the crease.
Mitchell and Williamson’s 142-run fourth-wicket stand turned the game around for New Zealand.
Mitchell was out for 81 (86) after hitting four sixes and three boundaries, while wicketkeeper Tom Blundell followed for 3. Williamson’s cover drive brought up his 27th Test century as wickets fell at the other.
Two singles and a run out were followed by an exquisite square drive through point by Williamson.
Fernando’s bouncer over Williamson’s head was the penultimate delivery. Williamson and Wagner finished the game, thus the umpiring blunder didn’t matter.
The outcome set up a World Test Championship final between Australia and India.
Michael Clarke Discusses Australia Dilema
Original Source: Michael Clarke reveals Australia’s awkward David Warner dilemma for Ashes after ‘unbelievable’ mistake
With dropping Travis Head for the first Test against India, Michael Clarke believes Australia has put itself in a tricky position ahead of the Ashes.
On Tuesday morning’s Sky Sports Radio’s “The Big Sports Breakfast,” Clarke suggested Australia “should have won the series” if not for self-inflicted mistakes.
Head, who hit 90 in Ahmedabad, was left out despite topscoring for Australia in the second innings of all three Tests.
“Incredible,” Clarke said.
“Has someone come out and stated, ‘We got it wrong’ yet? Everyone stated, “We made the correct decision,” but was it still the right decision to not pick Travis Head in the first Test match?
“Being a selector is tough, don’t get me wrong, but we have to confess we got it wrong in not picking Steve Smith in our Twenty20 World Cup campaign and 100 percent wrong in not picking Travis Head in the first Test match. We lost both, so no coincidence.
“We lost the T20 World Cup, underperformed, and when you look at this Test series gone by, no matter how terrible the pitch has been, we had every opportunity. ц It should have been that close.”
The way Australia developed over the four-Test series in the subcontinent was “good,” Clarke said.
As the World Test Championship and England and the Ashes approach, that was a lesson.
“Let’s also see what our preparation is like for that Ashes series, hopefully we’ve learnt from what occurred in India as well,” Clarke said.
“Our cricket got better the longer we played there, no coincidence.”
Clarke said Head’s non-selection in the inaugural Test surprised him and his teammates.
“Can you picture as well Travis Head, a senior player, he’s captained South Africa, his record in the previous 12 months excellent, No.4 ranked Test batter in the world, think the shock he would have had being told he’s not been picked and he’s around the group as well,” Clarke added.
“Everyone would have been going, ‘What has just occurred here?’. We shot ourselves in the foot.”
Head revealed late last month that he had “robust” meetings with selectors, who left him out of the first Test because to his subcontinental troubles.
Clarke wondered if selectors would treat skipper David Warner, whose difficulties in England are well-known, similarly.
“You look foolish now,” Clarke observed.
“Because all of us former players and fans go, ‘OK. I applaud their “horses for courses” approach even if I disagree with Travis Head’s choices. Cool, you’re going with that.
“In England’s first Test, how do they pick David Warner?
Clarke stated that he supports Warner “100%” in the first Test against England.
Clarke continued, “If he doesn’t perform, then you can drop him.”
Clarke suggested players should be more forgiving in the subcontinent, especially newcomers.
“It’s very hard [when you first play there],” he added.
“Even spin’s finest players are distinct. Playing spin bowling here is different. It takes time to acclimatize and work out that irregular bounce, to figure out which shots are appropriate, and to vary. You have to give guys a chance.
“Even if Travis Head started and didn’t perform, the selectors might explain that. But to not pick him in the first Test is exactly what England did with Anderson and Broad when they came to Australia, trying to get too creative. Start with your best.”
Following Recent Injury Setback, Rohit Sharma Updates Shreyas Iyer
Original Source: Rohit Sharma Provides Unfortunate Update On Shreyas Iyer After Latest Injury Setback
Shreyas Iyer underwent scans after complaining of lower back pain on the third day of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test. The BCCI announced that Iyer would not participate in the rest of the Test match, and Indian captain Rohit Sharma said the batter “does not seem to be doing well.” Iyer will miss the three-match ODIs against Australia in Mumbai starting March 17, according to Rohit.
Iyer’s injuries and Rohit
The Mumbai batsman skipped the New Zealand ODI series earlier this year and sought rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Iyer missed the first Test against Australia in Indore owing to a back issue, despite Board sources saying he would need weeks to recuperate. Rohit Sharma spoke during the post-match press conference.
“Poor man. It was a terrible accident. After waiting all day to bat, he had back pain again. He was sent to the hospital for scans. After winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series 2-1, Rohit said, “I don’t know the specific report of the scans, but he doesn’t seem to be doing that well.”
“ц It looked bad when it happened. I wish him a speedy recovery and a return to play “Rohit continued.
Iyer was added to the team after clearing a fitness test and scored 4 and 12 in the second Test in New Delhi, but he struggled in the third Test in Indore, scoring 0 and 26. The NCA’s fitness regimen and Iyer’s lower-back issues raise doubts. Another player’s injury resurfaced after gaining medical clearance to play international cricket. Jasprit Bumrah went through a similar scenario.
Iyer, captain of the Indian Premier League’s Kolkata Knight Riders, may not play. ц
Summary of Today’s Cricket Sports News
Overall, after pursuing the 285-run goal with two wickets in hand, New Zealand triumphed miraculously over Sri Lanka on the penultimate ball of day five in Christchurch. Kane Williamson and Neil Wagner scurried through for a last-ball bye to help New Zealand win by one run and take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series at Hagley Oval.
On the other hand, as a result of the “unbelievable” decision to bench Travis Head for the first Test against India, Australia, in Michael Clarke’s opinion, has put itself in a precarious situation ahead of the Ashes. Clarke claimed his team “might have won the series” if not for their own errors. The most egregious of these omissions was Head, who led Australia in scoring in the second innings of all three Tests in which he participated until exiting for 90 in Ahmedabad.
Finally, Shreyas Iyer withdrew from this year’s ODI series with New Zealand and afterwards attended the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for rehabilitation. Indian captain Rohit Sharma said the batter “does not seem to be doing well,” and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Iyer would not play for the rest of the Test match. It appears that Iyer will miss the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against Australia, which are set to begin in Mumbai on March 17. Rohit did not elaborate on the nature of the injury, but it seems certain that he will not play.