Australian PM Tony Abbott came in defence of young Australian captain Steven Smith's decision to declare in the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
The Australians found it difficult to breach VVS Laxman's defence during his playing days but on the same soil, it was Narendra Modi's speech that 'bowled' him over and he is confident that young India will achieve success under the Prime Minister's able leadership.
With Australia taking a 2-0 lead in the four-match Test series against India, the scales are titled highly in favour of the hosts. History also shows that the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been a happy hunting ground for the hosts. With the Boxing Day Test around the corner, here is a quick look at how the teams stand.
Suryakumar Yadav consolidated his position atop the rankings after his stupendous 111 not out in the second T20I against New Zealand. He gained 31 rating points from the series. His 890 points kept him 54 ahead of Pakistan's Mohammed Rizwan, who is placed second.
Mithali Raj has predicted an India-New Zealand final in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Ireland's win against England threw the Super 12s wide open and issued a warning to the cricket powers who have largely snubbed them in competition.
Arshdeep Singh removed Pakistan's in-form openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to give India a perfect start with the ball.
Cricket diplomacy was in abundance at a rare reception given to Narendra Modi at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground with the prime minister saying a "new journey" in India-Australia relationship has begun.
According to ESPNcricinfo, MCC chief executive Stuart Fox spoke on SEN radio on day 4 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa and said that the club, as well as the Victoria government, had made an inquiry with CA about hosting a neutral Test.
Both teams shared a point each as rain refused to relent, forcing the umpires to call off the match.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 3rd Ashes Test played in Melbourne on Sunday.
Mitchell Johnson electrified a world record Test crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a searing new ball spell to capture two late wickets and leave England a rocky 226 for six at the close of the opening day of the fourth Test on Thursday.
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf is banking on his knowledge gained from the Australian Big Bash League to outsmart Indian batters when the two arch-rivals clash in the T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23.
India might be going through a torrid time following two successive defeats Down Under, but former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes if the tourists have a chance of victory in the four-match series, it will be in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG starting on Friday.
England are the first team to hold both the ODI and T20I World Cups at the same time.
Imran Khan revealed it was the same message he had given his team in 1992 before their final against England in Melbourne.
Buttler said he felt the current squad was only at the beginning of a new era for English cricket.
Number of Tests won by India outside Asia in 2018 now stands at 4 -- the most they have ever won in a calendar year, points out Rajneesh Gupta.
Pat Cummins is the first Australian to score a 50 and take 6 wickets in an innings in the same Test against India.
India's first innings lead of 292 is the highest they have ever achieved in a Test in Australia, points out Rajneesh Gupta.
Only two Indians have scored a 50 in the first innings of a debut Test outside India: Sunil Gavaskar in 1971 and Mayank Agrawal in 2018.
The official Twitter handle of Melbourne City showed some fans painting a mural featuring three of India's highly beloved cricketers, skipper Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli and all-rounder Hardik Pandya and the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Glenn Maxwell blasted a splendid 83-ball 96 to lift Australia to a three-wicket victory against India that also helped the hosts seal the five-match ODI series 3-0, in Melbourne, on Sunday.
IMAGES of the T20 World Cup match played between India and Pakistan at the MCG on Sunday
crowd of 80,000 flocked to the MCG for Thursday's sudden-death encounter.
On Tuesday, Warner, one the finest all-format players, became the 10th man in Test cricket's history to score a century in his 100th match, and the second to score a double ton.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar spoke on who has the edge between Pakistan and England, he said, "I will probably back Pakistan because bowlers win tournaments and that is where Pakistan, with the kind of bowling attack that they have, I mean four quality quicks and they have the wrist spin, and if they require they also have the option of a left-arm spinner,"
In 28 innings this year, Suryakumar has scored 1,026 runs at an average of 44.60. One century and nine half-centuries have come out of his bat, with the best score of 117. These runs have come at a strike rate of 186.24.
MCC expresses interest to host Indo-Pak Test after T20 WC clash success
Virat Kohli is the first player to finish as the leading run-scorer in two T20 World Cups.
India must look to score runs off Pakistan left-arm pacer Shaheeh Shah Afridi instead of trying to play out his overs when the two arch-rivals clash in the T20 World Cup, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir said on Wednesday.
Pressure is on India, Pakistan have nothing to lose: Shoaib Akhtar on India-Pakistan World Cup clash
Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley rejected the idea of making changes to the remaining Ashes schedule.
Wade opted out of Australia's optional indoor session on Thursday afternoon.
Young captain Steven Smith compiled a watchful half-century to guide Australia to 259 for five at stumps and leave the third Test against India delicately poised after an attritional opening day.
Rohit Sharma took his time joining the World Cup party but arrived in style on Thursday, rocking the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a match-winning century to sink Bangladesh and send reigning champions India charging into the semi-finals.
One fan has got a mural painted on the wall of his home in Dalgaty Lane as a mark of tribute. And little wonder, it is slowly turning into a tourist destination.
Thirty years after Imran Khan's Pakistan claimed the 1992 World Cup, Babar Azam's team may feel it is their destiny to deliver trophy.
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