Cricket news round-up – January 5: Labuschagne scores a Test double, Irfan Pathan retires

Irfan Pathan retired from all forms of professional cricket. Virat Kohli rejected the idea of four-day Test. The visitors took upper hand at Capetown. Marnus Labuschagne reached his maiden Test double against New Zealand.

Irfan Pathan retires

On Saturday Irfan Pathan announced retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. After playing professional cricket for almost 16 years Pathan finally took the call.

Pathan made his international debut in 2003 and then went on to represent India in 29 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 24 T20Is. He was last seen wearing Indian colours in 2012 but then kept playing domestic cricket until February 2019. Pathan said, “In 2016, I had a good outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. I spoke to the selectors after that and got a feeling that they were not too happy. I knew that was it. There was no way I could return to the national team…”

He further added, “It has been a great journey. I played cricket with all my heart and soul. I am really proud of it and when I look back, I feel happy with my achievements. It’s been a great career.”

South Africa at backfoot

At the end of day two, the Cape Town Test stood at an interesting juncture with England gaining the upper hand. However, South Africa are also not much behind. They were dominating a big part of the day with a 117-run partnership between Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen.

England started the day on 262/9 and could add seven runs before James Anderson became Kagiso Rabada’s 3^rd victim. Ollie Pope remained unbeaten on 61.

South Africa did not have a good start as the debutant Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza, and the captain Faf du Plessis, all were dismissed before the team total reached 50. From there Elgar and Dussen recovered the innings and took them to 157 before Elgar threw away his wicket to Dominic Bess. Both dismissals of Dussen and Quinton de Kock were soft dismissals as Sam Curran was benefited both the time. Later James Anderson picked up two wickets with the second new ball as South Africa ended the day with 215/8, still 54 runs behind England.

Maiden Test double for Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne continued his dream run as he reached his maiden test double hundred on the second day of the Sydney Test. New Zealand started well as Matthew Wade was dismissed on the first over of the day. However, Labuschagne built partnerships with Travis Head and Tim Paine. He reached double hundred during his partnership with Paine with a thick outside edge. But soon both Paine (35) and Labuschagne (215) were dismissed which triggered a collapse as Australia lost their last five wickets for just 44 runs.

Both Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme finished with three wickets each. The leg spinner Todd Astle picked up two wickets including the wicket of the double centurion.

New Zealand started steadily as the openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell batted for a session with lots of Grit and determination to take them to 63/0 at the stumps on day two. They would try to bat as long as they can on day three to reach closer to Australia’s total.

Kohli rejects four-day Test idea

Virat Kohli is in favour of traditional five-day format and thinks that it should not be modified. He is fine with day-night Test as that would work as a crowd puller but against altering the basic. “T20 was a revelation in introducing a new format. I was not in favour of, when I was asked about, the hundred-ball (format) and I said I’m not going to go and try myself out in another kind of format because there’s already so much going on,” Kohli said.

“With Test cricket, day-night Test is the most that should be changed. Then you are purely talking about getting numbers and entertainment.” He added, “So, I don’t endorse that at all. I don’t think that is fair to the purest format of the game, how cricket started initially. Five-day Test matches is the highest of tests you can have at the international level. According to me, it should not be altered.”