World champions Australia defeated Olympic champions Argentina 2-1 in a hard-fought summit clash to defend the Hockey World League (HWL) Final crown.
Australia finished on top of the standings despite losing 2-3 to Olympic champions Argentina earlier in the day. India, which needed just a draw to progress, finished second.
The colour of balls used in the English one-day game could change from white to pink if trials by the Marylebone Cricket Club prove successful.
Yuvraj Singh feels it moved a bit more than SG Test ball while Robin Uthappa's observations varied from colour change to lack of reverse swing as the first set of inputs on the much talked about 'Pink ball' Day-Night experiment in the Duleep Trophy came to the fore.
India captain Rohit Sharma said that left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed's ability to swing the white kookaburra upfront gives the team an option to use their premier bowler Jasprit Bumrah differently in the shortest format.
India batsman Ajinkya Rahane is excited at the prospect of playing with pink ball in the Duleep Trophy tournament later this year.
India will face Great Britain in the quarter-finals on Thursday after the British drew 3-3 with Belgium to top Pool A in the Hockey World League (HWL) Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium in Raipur on Tuesday.
The colour of balls used in the English one-day game could change from white to pink.
From madrasa and gulley cricket to the doorstep of Indian cricket, Irfan Pathan has come a long way.
With the Eden Gardens set to host the country's first day-night match with a pink ball in club cricket, an expert panel, comprising Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Dean Jones, strongly feel the innovation is here to stay.
'So what happens to places like New Zealand or even England, when those typical cold English weather, so what does one do, when you are not going to sweat?' Tendulkar asked during a social media interaction with former Australian pacer Brett Lee.
The iconic Eden Gardens emerged as the frontrunner to host the first ever Day-Night Test match in India against the visiting New Zealand side even as Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly said it will depend on their upcoming 'pink ball experiment' from June 18.
India put up a valiant fight before defending champions Australia pipped them 3-2 in an absorbing encounter in the six-nation Champions Trophy hockey tournament, in Breda, the Netherlands, on Wednesday.
England shocked five-time reigning champions Australia 3-1, while Belgium defeated Pakistan 2-1 in their Pool A matches on the opening day of the Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
The Aussies battled for a 3-2 victory.
Hosts India produced a spirited performance to stun Olympic silver medallist Belgium in the shoot-out and progress to the semi-finals of the Hockey World League (HWL) final after both the teams were locked at 3-3 at the end of regulation time, in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
India captain Virat Kohli says Umesh Yadav's 'standout performance' has made the fast bowler a strong candidate for selection in the playing XI in the Test series in Australia.
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday released the itinerary for the home series against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates, which will include three Tests, three One-day Internationals and as many T20 Internationals.
Images from Day 2 of the Pink-ball first Test between Australia and India, in Adelaide, on Friday.
V R Raghunath's twin strike went in vain as Indian men's hockey team went down to Australia 3-4 in the second and final game to draw the two-match series 1-1 in Melbourne on Wednesday. Akashdeep Singh (6th minute) and Raghunath (22nd, 25th) scored for the visitors, while Australia's goals came from the sticks of Tent Mitton (13th) Jake Whetton (23rd) and Jeremy Hayward (38th, 54th). Playing with 10 men for large periods of the third quarter, India defended stoutly but were finally outsmarted by Australia just six minutes from the hooter.
Rupinder Pal Singh's brace went in vain as Indian men's hockey team lost 2-3 to hosts Australia in a tense opening game of the four-nation Invitational Tournament in Melbourne on Wednesday. The Indians began positively against top-ranked Australia, showing positive intent and energy in the first quarter. However, the first 15 minutes ended in a stalemate. Indian youngster Affan Yousuf's attacking approach almost paid dividends early on had it not been for a solid defense from the Kookaburras.
Sanjay Manjrekar said the team management should take the blame for selections which have backfired.
India gave wings to their ferocious ambition of winning a maiden series Down Under, beating Australia by 31 runs in the opening Test with an irresistible fusion of self-belief, hunger and talent in Adelaide.
India's excitement around their current pace attack is palpable but they would do well to temper their sunny optimism in Australia.
India will seek to end 43 years of hurt when they begin the Hockey World Cup campaign against South Africa on Wednesday.
A change in technique after being asked to open had a negative impact on his performance during his playing days. No wonder VVS Laxman wants Rohit Sharma to stick to his natural game in his new role during the South Africa Test series.
India's Test captain Virat Kohli has decided to take rest while teammates Shikhar Dhawan and Ishant Sharma will be playing for Delhi's home fixture against Baroda in their opening group league match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, to be played on Thursday.
Indian men's hockey team slipped one place to occupy sixth in the FIH rankings after their lackluster show in Rio Olympics while their female counterparts surprisingly gained one position to be at 12th in the latest charts released on Tuesday. The Indian men's side crashed out of the Olympics in the quarterfinals by losing to eventual runners-up team Belgium 1-3 while the women's team failed to get past the group stage.
Factbox on the second Test match between Australia and England, which starts on Saturday:
India went down fighting 1-3 to Australia via the penalty shoot-out in the final of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament, in Breda, the Netherlands, on Sunday.
The Indian batting legend is hardly worried that India doesn't have a settled No 4, saying the slot can be kept flexible as per requirement and match situation.
'It is a big step towards changing something in Test cricket.'
Shane Watson feels that the faltering Indian batsmen will fare much better against Australia later this year compared to how they performed against England in the ongoing five-match series.
In order to raise the dwindling number of spectators in the stadium, the Board of Control for Cricket in India last week said it is all set to host its first-ever day/night cricket Test with the pink ball against New Zealand in October.
Penpix of England players in England's Ashes squad.
- India are strong contenders to get into semi-final along with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - Rohit is a class player and if he gets going at the top of the order, then he also has the ability to single-handedly win matches for India
Prithvi Shaw lived up to expectations with a classy century on his Test debut but the teenage sensation must tighten up his technique for tougher challenges away from home, believe former players.
From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eminent sports personalities, the country was wholesome in its praise for the Indian hockey team's gutsy effort.
New Zealand Cricket has agreed to play a day-night Test against Australia as part of a deal that will resume regular cricket between the two neighbours after a gap of four years and provide a significant financial leg-up for New Zealand.
Akashdeep Singh scored twice as Indian men's hockey team stunned world champions Australia 3-1 in the fourth and final Test to register a historic 3-1 series win over the mighty Kookaburras in their home soil in Perth.
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