Cricket news round-up – 3rd September: A clean sweep for India in West Indies

India comfortably won the final Test match and series against West Indies. India A completed hat-trick win against South Africa A. Steve Waugh rejoined Australia as a mentor for the rest of the Ashes 2019.

India complete 2-0 Win over West Indies

India moved to the top of the ICC World Test Championship table with 120 points after beating West Indies comfortably in the second test. Virat Kohli also became the most successful Indian test captain with 28 test wins after the 257 runs win. For India, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Shami finished with 3 wickets each.

West Indies started the day on 45/2 with an improbable target of 468 to win or bat out two days to draw. They had an early blow when Darren Bravo felt uncomfortable after adding five runs because of the blow he received on the neck on the third evening. He was retired hurt and later replaced by Jermaine Blackwood as a concussion substitute. This was the first instances for West Indies after the new law in place and they became the first test side to bat with 12 players in an innings. Blackwood and Shamarh Brooks added 61 runs after losing Roston Chase and Shimron Hetmyer cheaply.

But Jasprit Bumrah got rid of Blackwood (38) in the 9^th over after lunch and that triggered a collapse. Brooks reached his maiden test fifty and became the only West Indian to score a fifty in this series. The debutants Jahmar Hamilton and Rahkeem Cornwall went soon after to Jadeja and Shami. After some more resistance, the duo shared the remaining two wickets as West Indies were all out for 210. Jason Holder remained the second highest scorer with 39.

3-0 lead for India A

India A took an unassailable 3-0 lead over South Africa A after completing their hat-trick of wins in another rain-affected match in Thiruvananthapuram. The match was curtailed to a 30-over per side as South Africa A won the toss and bat. Reeza Hendricks and Janneman Malan raced to 28 before Hendricks was brilliantly caught by Ishan Kishan. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and when they lost Temba Bavuma in the 24^th over with the score on 135, it looked difficult for them to go near 200. However, Heinrich Klaasen again played an extraordinary innings of 21-ball 44. He solely took South Africa A to 207 in 30 overs. For India A, Krunal Pandya took two wickets for 23 runs in 5 overs.

India did not have a good start. Ruturaj Gaikwad went for 1 and they lost the new batsman Ricky Bhui in the same over for a duck. Dismissal of Krunal Pandya for 13 made them tottering with 26/3. From their Kishan (40) and Manish Pandey (81) added 70 runs. However. Bjorn Fortuin got rid of Pandey with India needing 34 runs in last 5.2 overs. Shivan Dube played exceptionally for a 28-ball 45 and scored the winning runs in the 28^th over to take India A to a comfortable victory.

Arrest warrant issued against Mohammed Shami

An arrest warrant has been issued against Mohammed Shami who has to surrender within 15 days and apply for bail. Shami was accused of domestic violence in early 2018, and along with his brother, Hasid Ahmed was booked for domestic violence under IPC Section 498A. The warrant has been issued for both for the same case.

According to an official of Indian cricket board will not take any action against the cricketer until they see the chargesheet. As per an IANS report, a BCCI functionary has said “Yes, we do understand that an arrest warrant has been issued. But don’t really see us getting involved in this at this point in time. Once we see the chargesheet, we can decide how things stand and if the BCCI constitution calls for any action. But at this point in time, I would say it is too early to take a call on the matter.”

Steve rejoins Australian team

After missing third Ashes Test, Steve Waugh is back with the Australia side for the remaining Ashes series as the team mentor. Originally scheduled to be with the team for only the first two Tests of the series, Waugh was set to come back in the third after fulfilling a prior commitment. Now as finally rejoins the side just ahead of the Manchester Test, the team gets a morale boost.

Justin Langer said, “He’s been like a kid at Christmas, to come back after such a long time away from the game, his passion and enthusiasm for the game has been brilliant. We asked him to stay for the third Test but he had to go back for a function, he was actually going to fly there, do the function and fly back the next day. That’s how much he is enjoying it and we see great value.” The series is currently 1-1 and it has been 18 years since Australia won the Ashes in England. No wonder the Aussies are focused to make it 2-1 at any cost.