Category:

Other Sports

Dive into a world of diverse sports with our comprehensive coverage. From basketball and soccer to tennis, golf, and beyond, we’ve got the latest scores, thrilling highlights, and in-depth analyses. Explore the achievements of your favorite athletes, the drama of intense competitions, and the heartwarming stories that make sports so captivating. Stay connected to the excitement of various sports, all in one place. Whether you’re a fan of the pitch, court, or fairway, our content brings you closer to the action.

Other Sports

Thoughts on Valencia CF unveiling a major set of announcements today with Nou Mestalla now good to finally finish off the works through June 2027 

by Sports Benches

Today’s the day Valencia CF has finally resumed their long-awaited works of the Nou Mestalla venue when construction was suddenly stopped due to financial problems coupled with ownership changes since 2009 having originally promised to get things done throughout the last decade.

But hey, following a host of revisions even as realistic as possible through ways and means, Valencia sought some much-needed funding lately from Goldman Sachs with their refinancing deal as well as La Liga’s minority shareholder CVC.  

Now it’s on the club to turn this around from an abandoned field into a state-of-the-art stadium that everyone has been long waiting for having first announced their plans to move from their still current Mestalla venue nearly 20 years ago (2006).

Yes, have heard a few times about Nou Mestalla being able to host the World Athletics Championships by building a large surface over the lower-tier stand in order to make an oval running track and then break it down by going back into football mode once it’s over – take note of that West Ham with their London Stadium from the 2012 Summer Olympics as they can still host Athletics but maybe make the permanent lower-tier structures more closer to do with Football.

However, it’s still too way early to say other than a bare-bones like structure they’ve built so far between 2007-09; if so, the earliest they could do is years after the FIFA World Cup during the 2030s.

So much has been happening since then but good to hear that Valencia CF is still on track in spite of their current league position (19th) as well as their poor owners who doesn’t seem interested in this project by choice but decided to finish off the project anyway out of necessity where die-hard fans still want Peter Lim and his group to go home in Singapore.

Not only the machines have now arrived back into the half-built building, the club also unveiled a logo for the new stadium itself including a 3D model version too for those who want to see it and it’s free of charge anytime between 9-5 weekdays.

Then we’ll see once the works are finally done by the summer of 2027, we could see Nou Mestalla being named one of the final venues for the co-hosted 2030 World Cup by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

It’s still early days yet again but at such a crucial time when there’s a World Cup around the corner, Valencia has taken the first step once more with a still a long way to go before they can feel like home at Nou Mestalla in the hope of challenging Real Madrid & Barcelona for silverware domestically again + European Football.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

2025 United Cup Tennis Final, Coco Gauff & Taylor Fritz puts USA back on top with the 2-0 clean sweep over runners-up Poland at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena 

by Sports Benches

So there we have it, the 2024-25 United Cup tournament is done and dusted mostly at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney with some group stage ties from Perth’s RAC Arena. The winner is the United States of America following their 2-0 series final whitewash over Poland without the need of a 3rd mixed doubles game.

We began the night with Coco Gauff having her moment against one of the world’s best out there in Iga Swiatek through straight sets, even though both sets were oh so competitive. But hey, Coco’s got it while Swiatek is feeling the heat who does not have a consistent Australian record, especially when playing at the Australian Open – this is from someone who always dominates on clay when it comes to the Roland Garros.

Although you can count she has won the US Open one time before on the hard courts and that was back in 2022.

Then this 2nd tie between Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz was not only another top notch outing but also a nail biter too across the best of three set. There’s Fritz firing off to a great start and Hurkacz not giving up along the way after Stage 2 thanks to his brilliant fightback that kept himself in the race alive for Poland. 

This 2nd men’s singles match was done off the back of a side-by-side drag race finish and it turns out that Fritz had the better gas though than Hurkacz even via the sudden death tiebreak much to the delight of his USA team-mates as well as girlfriend Morgan Riddle by his side.

I mean, yes, the result was USA 2-0 Poland but what a Final it was along with a full 10,000 attendance house, as they’ve just regained the trophy for the 2nd time since 2023 with Germany being other winner last year also v Poland (so sorry with their runner-up finish yet again but still played their best) & so does the tournament itself over the last ten days.

At the same time, I was also fortunate enough to stop by and watch one of the United Cup games a week ago with Great Britain v Argentina, even though I didn’t get the chance to see the whole thing across three matches (women’s singles, men’s singles and mixed doubles ties).

But I, for one, would like to come back there again when the next United Cup Tennis tournament edition will return in 11-12 months time. For now, yes, it’s been unlucky and disappointing for the Aussies not to make it past the group stages despite their consolation win the other day v Great Britain (who later went on to being eliminated from the Quarter-Finals by the eventual runner-up side) but their inconsistent women’s singles record + shock opening game series defeat by Argentina says it all. We will have to start from scratch via Qualifiers in a few weeks time rather than September when it comes to the Davis Cup since they were out from semis.

But there’s still a lot more to look forward to other than the Adelaide tournament for six days today this week, we got Alex De Minaur coming off a good run much like with his fiancé Katie Boulter even though she’s British. Plus, our doubles record are still oh so strong to pull off yet again when the Australian Open will begin across a long-three week draw starting Sunday from early rounds to finals with one winner across each category can only be crowned at the famed Rod Laver Arena.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Day 3, 2025 New Year’s SCG Test: Beau Webster hits the winning runs with Australia now sweeping the deciding win, Border-Gavaskar Trophy & also WTC Final v Proteas

by Sports Benches

After five ultra quality competitive Test matches between Australia v India over the last few weeks including this low-scoring World Heavyweight Championship of Cricket decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground, we’ve now got a winner in both this 5th & final game as well as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series with the game now over through three days out of five – and the winner goes to Australia who just hit the winning runs by six wickets.

Glad they were able clean up India’s 2nd innings batting haul for 157 this morning with Scott Boland leading the way following his six-wicket haul that sets up 162 to win. Although our Top 3-4 may have disappointed us in the lead-up towards lunch including Steve Smith who was left stranded on 9,999 overall Test runs after another cheap dismissal yet again, but at least they have stuck to their game all along and that was enough to bring them home (just right on that run target) over Team India.  

Kudos to quick all-round debutant Beau Webster’s (age 31 by the way) amazing batting show who deserves to take home that middle stump along with the bat on top of his first innings half-century after he scored the final ball four for that winning moment as well as the Kookaburra ball while he’s sound backing up our fast bowling cartel & can also take catches too.

We also cannot forget Travis Head’s much needed help in this crucial nerve-wracking final innings run chase, having been there and done that with championship-winning spells every time he’s out in the middle, and we owe him for the silverware the Aussies have been collecting time after time from World Cups to any other series.

Other than that, gotta say one of the fast bowling cartel would be most valuable player in this series and it’s Scotty Boland – he should’ve been kept on during the third Gabba test last month which could’ve set up the difference a draw and a win. But hey, he’s our cult hero over the last few years and we continue to need him as long as we can – nothing against Josh Hazlewood but we need healthy competition and this is what we need to maintain Australia’s status as World No.1.

Yes, the batters had their fair share too but again, they need to be up their game on par with the quicks and Nathan Lyon where they can’t let it slip away from here, especially when looking to defend the World Test title v South Africa later this year in June this time at Lord’s. The Proteas have been a fierce Test competitor for a long time outside of our “Big Three” bubble much like the Black Caps from New Zealand, so yeah, game on like it was before back in 2022-23 at home and we’ve won that 2-0 out of three.

Also, thank you India for being a tremendous visiting competitor who doesn’t give us an easy ride. They’ve only won the first test before last month for a headstart in Perth but that doesn’t mean they weren’t below Top 3 standard as their batting has been good mainly with Yashavi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant & Nitish Kumar Reddy. So does the bowling thanks to one of the world’s best in Jasprit Bumrah – just a shame their constant changing selection to suit which ideal conditions has came back to bite them.

At the end of the day, the Aussies has been facing this over and over again and they’ve responded brilliantly with some wickets and spectacular batting moments along the way. Next up, winning the series v India in India for early 2027; heard NZ has done it recently in such a long time as why can’t Australia? We shall wait & see.

For now, bring on the Australian Open Tennis at Melbourne Park starting next Sunday across three weeks, the World Test Championship Final in June as said above, and also the next Ashes tour this time on home soil v England next summer.

Here’s the combined XI too that would be an unstoppable force against the world’s best as if Australia and India were playing as one whole team:

  1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
  2. Usman Khawaja
  3. Marnus Labuschagne
  4. Virat Kohli
  5. Travis Head
  6. Rishabh Pant (Wicket-Keeper)
  7. Nitish Kumar Reddy
  8. Ravi Jadeja
  9. Pat Cummins
  10. Scott Boland
  11. Jasprit Bumrah
  12. Beau Webster (12th Man – I know he only played one Test so far but is still a useful back up player in all areas an all-rounder with the bat, pace and even spin though).

Plus, thanks to everyone putting in the hard-earned money that is now counting at the several million dollars mark towards funding more nurses to help treat cancer patients also from the last few days when it comes to the McGrath Foundation – well done. We also cannot forget the star-studded guests coming along at the same time like Hollywood actress Rose Byrne, legendary batsman of ours Steve Waugh and US Tennis legend & also Nine’s Australian Open tennis pundit in Jim Courier. 

And last but not least, we didn’t know Mark Nicholas (no relation) has been commentating for India’s Star Sports via their English language viewership throughout this series including SuperSport two summers ago when the Proteas toured here with the broadcaster wanting to have their own commentary like it has been many times before for three Tests and the same goes with Star with their vast Indian audience – even though times are much different nowadays.

He was the last long-time face on the screens of Nine along with the late Richie Benaud as his predecessor before Richie sadly passed away to skin cancer nearly a decade ago when they used to have the rights for so long up until 2018 before the network elected to go with the Australian Open Tennis.

Maybe Cricket Australia should get him onboard as their senior on-air digital journalist since Fox & Seven is still covering it through 2031 as he’s also a regular columnist too with ESPN Cricinfo, although South Africa has been great to him too since Nine left cricket with the Proteas and SA20 thanks to SuperSport and we hope he is all well still contributing with our beautiful game at age 67.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Day 2, 2025 SCG New Year’s Test: India fight back but Aussies still hold the cards with the ball going into Day 3

by Sports Benches

It’s been an excellent low-scoring contest so far after Day 2 between Australia and India at the SCG but bowling proved to be the better fit for the Aussies though off the back of their underwhelming performance with the bat before they bounced back later on to keep themselves alive in this World Heavyweight Championship like decider for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

For a start, our batting needs to up their game with a mix of single digit to bang average double digit scores wasn’t enough to build a good steady lead over India. The only decent thing about their okay 1st innings batting card is debutant all-rounder Beau Webster who scored 50 on debut and has also took a wicket too where Shubman Gill was caught behind by Alex Carey which was refreshing change indeed – nothing against Mitchell Marsh other than his catches but so far, so good. 

For everyone else, they better to not let balls flying through the edges of their bat next time regardless on the run chase target or else no series trophy for them.

Then as said, we were a couple times better when the Aussies were out of the field with the Kookaburra ball for India’s second innings shift once again. Okay, they should’ve not let it slip away with lost runs on the board with Yashasvi Jaiswal from the start alongside Rishabh Pant a while ago who top scored a quickfire 61 runs – not bad from the keeper there. 

But at least picking up early wickets was the key to keeping this series race alive and the Aussies have done it once again with six on the board in the hope of finishing up the job first thing for Day 3 tomorrow morning. At the moment, India are currently on 141/6 with a 145 run lead – so no excuses there with little room for missed/dropped catches. We could’ve got seven had the catch have been taken as Pommie Mbangwa said “catches win matches” or at least change up this game.

They’ve already gave a free run to Pant and Jaiswal, the Aussies can’t let the two remaining all-rounders + the tail batters get their lions share of adding runs any longer. Yes, Jasprit Bumrah may have hauled off the field over an injury also earlier today but I imagine he will be back to bat a bit tomorrow. Then we’ll see if he will be brave enough to bowl again that would be crucial to keep this series alive through a long, long way for Team India.

For now, the deciding 5th Test race is still on with still some play left to play for even though there’s 2-3 days to spare. India bouncing back as batting a bit longer and getting the Aussies all out in quick succession would be key while Australia need to limit India’s 2nd innings card under 180-200 and we could hopefully see a much improved batting effort so they can both win the trophy & the World Test Championship Final berth v South Africa.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Day 1, 2025 New Year’s Sydney Test: Australia mow down India with the Kookaburra ball despite losing toss as well as a series of controversial review decisions along the way

by Sports Benches

Glad to hear the Aussies are currently on a roll following the first day of this deciding World Heavyweight Championship like Test match from the Sydney Cricket Ground as they are currently 9-1 with a 175 run trail having already bowled India all out under 200 a while ago for just 185.

Yes, they may have lost the toss to India who elected the opportunity to bat first but hey, at least the Aussies got themselves going with early wickets on the board amid some controversial appeals from the third umpire along the way. 

At first, we thought Steve Smith took a catch by lifting the ball off the ground before it went into the fielders hands which should’ve been out but then they said no. 

Then this second one – although relieved when the Aussies managed to get rid of Washington Sundar – Indian fans weren’t happy when Pat Cummins heard a knick off the bat before he used the appeal to great effect & he got what he wanted which was ultimately successful. 

It wasn’t the first time Pat Cummins uncovered India’s dirty secret having done that to opener Yashasvi Jaiswal a few days ago that led to Australia keeping themselves alive in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy race on the final day’s play of the previous Test at the MCG in Melbourne.

Other than that as said with the controversial appeals as well as the missed dropped catches, they were top notch as always when it comes to their fast bowling group where Scott Boland was brilliant once again with four on hand alongside Mitchell Starc of 3 wickets while Pat Cummins collected two + the catch of the quick scoring keeper Rishabh Pant for 40.

Plus, special shoutout to all-rounder debutant Beau Webster also with two early wicket catches including the dismissal of veteran Virat Kohli. So does our other new cult teenage hero from Kogarah in the St Georges NSW area Sam Konstas, who not only made a couple of stunning catches but also wowed Jasprit Bumrah yet again so far as the opener first ball boundary through square for four.

Let’s hope Sam can continue to shine especially on home turf by building on his debut Test 50 from the Boxing Day Melbourne Test last week going into Day 2 tomorrow as take it easy since it’s Tests not the Big Bash. But he will have to get through this shift with a new partner though in Marnus Labuschagne after Usman Khawaja got out that quick sadly on the last ball of today – also by Bumrah who continues to be lethal as one of the world’s elite fast bowlers of the game.

1 down, 3-4 days to go with Australia currently on the up and India fighting hard to pull up on their own where they can also change this storyline off the kookaburra ball too. So yeah, a big partnership from a big top-order batting performance should be key for the Aussies to be in the box seat and hopefully regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy through this weekend – that’s all.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

2024-25 United Cup Tennis: Australia unable to advance to the Quarter-Finals despite series deciding win last night over Great Britain with poor women’s singles run a factor in their elimination from Group F

by Sports Benches

So there we have it despite Australia’s series deciding win over Great Britain to finish off the Group F campaign last night, it’s a shame they won’t even able to take further part unfortunately along with Argentina in this 2024/25 United Cup competition. 

Their poor women’s singles performances across both matches was a non-starter coupled with that shock mixed doubles series defeat a few days ago v Argentina proved so difficult for the Aussies to at least justify the best of second-place spot redemption for their Sydney group which belongs to Czech Republic when they won the opening tie v Norway even though the Czechs lost 2-1 v Poland earlier yesterday.

If so, Australia would’ve had another reunion with Italy being set up there who faced them not so long ago during the Men’s Davis Cup semi-final in November last year and again, that proved to be an extremely long shot indeed.

Yes, it was close but Great Britain had the upper hand particularly with Alex De Minaur’s future wife Katie Boulter, who is extremely good in that women’s singles area unlike us. It’s something we will have to live with for a long while until we find our next sensation to take on the world’s best when Ash Barty is clearly content away from the court these days following her Australian Open singles’ triumph three years ago. Although we can count ourselves okay when it comes to Billie Jean King Cups albeit from early qualifiers to Quarter-Finalists – nothing more.

Other than that, great to see De Minaur avoiding another series tie humiliation over Billy Harris in straight sets before De Minaur filled-in to empty the tank for doubles specialist Matt Ebden once more alongside Olivia Gadeki. However, his future wife wasn’t there though as Olivia Nicholls took Boulter’s spot instead to team up with Charlie Broom in order to avoid a conflict of interest between those two who love and cherish for each other, having just announced their long-awaited engagement lately.

I guess they won’t have to live up with that again as the next time Alex and Katie are playing on court, then it has to be together whether it’s through training or mixed doubles matches outside of team tournaments. Fortunately, he and Gadecki gave a good reason for us to celebrate our first night of 2025 on a high thanks to their match-deciding win v Nicholls & Broom.

Yes, it’s a pity Australia are unable to contend further having made the semis last year where they were defeated by eventual champions Germany. However, we are still good to go where our doubles performances are still top notch along with Alex Minaur off the back on a straight of recent grand slam quarter-finals outside of the Australian Open last season.

Make sure everyone will be right behind him as who knows if he will make his first Quarter-Final appearance at Melbourne Park soon enough. For now, they should be right behind his future wife Katie when her Great Britain team will take on Poland this evening from 5.30pm AEDT. It’s gonna be a tough one when she will go head-to-head v one of the top players in Iga Swiatek but her support would be greatly appreciated and she’s coming off a great run lately likewise as World No.24.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

2024-25 United Cup Tennis: Great Britain v Argentina group stage match day on-site at Ken Rosewall Arena

by Sports Benches

Now I may have not been able to see out the whole thing but at least was fortunate enough to see some of it, particularly during the first half morning and afternoon with the United Cup Tennis yesterday between Great Britain and Argentina in Group F drawn with Australia at Ken Rosewall Arena.

First of all, Katie Boulter too good against Nadia Podoroska in straight sets. She too is entering the next Australian Open edition soon with high hopes beginning mid-January at Melbourne Park & congratulations on her recent engagement by the way with our own Alex De Minaur.

Speaking of De Minaur, he is also entering Melbourne Park too off the back on his string of recent grand slam Quarter-Finals last year, particularly outside the Australian Open other than the fourth round here where he was defeated by Andrey Rublev. Who knows? Maybe either one or even both of them will look to have an extended 2nd week run and Australia will be right behind them, even with just Katie if she does stick around – at least in this upcoming women’s singles draw. 

Oh, nice seeing Alex watching on by the way also from yesterday too – just don’t know where he was sitting exactly when staring around the whole arena.

For now, they may as well have to face one another in the mixed doubles match on Wednesday when Australia v Great Britain regardless of outcome beforehand. But hey, they are very compatible with each other that makes this romantic relationship so unique as wishing them lots of success both on & off the court. 

Then this second match was a full of cat and mouse through a series of deuces where Billy Harris was on a roll from the start but Tomas Martin Etchverry proved to be the master of this court following his magnificent comeback from the opening set down to keeping Argentina’s hopes alive going into the mixed doubles decider. 

In the end though, Boulter came back along with Charlie Broom to secure the series game deciding win over Etchverry and Maria Loudres Carle, having stayed up all along that puts them now on top spot of their group in the 24/25 United Cup.

If you can’t get enough, here’s the two minute odd YouTube clip from yesterday’s game. Also, special shoutout to Chris Stubbs by the way who is currently hosting the United Cup Tennis world feed coverage on top of grand slam tennis and of course motorsports throughout the year! Good on ya Stubbsy!

Happy New Year to all as 2024 ends tonight before we say hello to 2025 at midnight while the United Cup Tennis reaches the halfway mark.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Day 5, 2024 MCG Boxing Day Test: Aussies bowl India out victorious on what has been an unreal final day’s play of red ball cricket with the SCG final match decider to come

by Sports Benches

Who would’ve thought this would happen when there’s not much time left on the final day’s play but we got a result to settle though and it turned to be a good one with Australia victorious over India by 184 runs in order to keep their series hopes alive 2-1 going into the Sydney Cricket Ground decider starting Friday.

We began the morning with the Aussies all out for 234 with a 339 run lead after Nathan Lyon was bowled through the stumps for 41 by India’s frontline fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah who did collect his 5fer after all. That leaves India 340 to chase in order to not just win this match but also retain the series where they’ve been holding that firm for so many years now since March 2017 on home soil.

Fortunately, Australia got away with early wickets with one by Mitchell Starc and two from captain Pat Cummins – he’s a top bowling all-rounder of any kind even though scoring 40 odd runs across both spells at No.8 isn’t bad. Here’s a special shoutout to Travis Head by the way despite an underwhelming batting shift who got a wicket off Rishabh Pant and he’s a part-time spinner by the way in addition to batting on the top order (No.5).

Then Scotty Boland “the MCG hero” came in to save the day by dismantling the other India half batting card. That lower order they’ve got on there can still be terrifying as if all of their starting XI are batters including one that has eventually shrugged the good look of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s face after he actually knicked the ball straight into Alex Carey’s gloves. 

He top scored 84 by the way and has been a brilliant opener through the course of this series so far but safe to say that he mistimed that hook shot unfortunately. 

And the rest as the Aussies say is history who somehow managed to reach their arm’s length towards victory with thanks also to Nathan Lyon via LBW against Mohammed Siraj. He’s usually good when bowling offies having got rid of Day 3 centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy while he can bat a bit at the tail as seen throughout yesterday afternoon & he is still at it at 37.

What more can we say? Our batters are revved up and still on track to achieve something special again that could be championship-winning for the Sydney decider.

We’ve got a new cult hero and he’s only under 20 in Sam Konstas as sure he will continue to keep learning on what it takes to have a positive approach at Test level like scoring heaps of quick runs along the way when David Warner is now gone as message already sent worldwide including England who will come here next Summer for the home Ashes. Also, Steve Smith still on form, so does Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja still has something left in the tank at 38 – at least for another 12 months when he wants to finish off on a high note especially against the English.

Now that we’ve done a victory shoutout lap to the Aussie Men’s Cricket Team after their triumphant win, they only have one job to go and they better take this series deciding opportunity with both hands. That way, we know the Aussies will go one step closer to not just beating India for this next Test but also the series on what has been a top-notch World Heavyweight Championship contest so far as if cricket meets boxing or WWE when writing an excelled scripted series storyline like this Test.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Day 4, 2024 MCG Boxing Day Test: Australia still on track with credit to Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland off the willow going into the fifth and final day’s play v India tomorrow

by Sports Benches

We thought the Aussies were so doomed following their okay start when our top and middle order cards may have been collapsed during the fourth day’s play today but at least they’ve hung in there through the end at around 6pm AEDT with thanks to Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland even though they only have a wicket remaining against them. Now they are in a good position to not just lock in this 4th Test, the Aussies can also keep their series hopes alive going into the 5th and final test in Sydney 2-1 starting Friday.

As said, it was lovely to see Lyon scoring runs wherever possible by filling in the gaps with Boland backing him up while Captain courageous Pat Cummins scored another 40-odd run haul in his 2nd shift – all coming from the tail end sans Marnus Labuschagne who scored not bad at 3.

Other than that, things are still left to be desired where they could’ve done any better. Yes, felt sorry for 19-year-old Sam Konstas but he needs to be more like a proper Test batsman and not just swashbuckling shots downtown all day off the back of his debut 50 back in Day 1, particularly when playing against the red Kookaburra ball. What disappoints me the most though is fast bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh who keeps on failing to justify his spot in the team both bat and ball apart from his brilliant catches on the field – about time we bring Beau Webster in & it needs to happen now, that’s all!!

What else? India also continued to enjoy a solid day until Lyon & Boland saved the day for the Aussies this afternoon with Jasprit Bumrah leading the way in the fast bowling department alongside Mohammed Siraj, although he wouldn’t be impressed after giving away a few no balls whilst being tired trying to finish off Australia’s 2nd innings total right there – so frustrating isn’t it.

Who knows if Bumrah will be getting his next 5fer tomorrow despite his expansive afternoon v Lyon & Boland today but I guess the Aussies would want to declare a bit later if Lyon gets his 50 as soon as we’re back to finish things off tomorrow morning.

As it stands, Australia are currently 228/9 with a 333 run lead – so whichever score they end up either way through the last wicket fall or a declaration if Lyon gets his 50, India would have to chase that total to both win this one as well as this series.

Then it’s up to our bowlers to get this done quick smart including India’s lower order who can be ruthless as if all of their batters are more than capable at scoring runs than everyone else but so can the Aussies as proved this afternoon. They have one job to get this done by the end of tomorrow at 6pm and that is to win this match on what has been a top-notch four days between the two teams at the MCG!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Day 3, 2024 MCG Boxing Day Test: India’s lower-order batting saving grace to hold back the Aussies thanks to Washington Sundar’s 50 & Nitish Kumar Reddy’s 100

by Sports Benches

The Aussies had a great opportunity to finish off the work with the ball when Day 3 resumed first thing this morning but not what we wanted unfortunately off the back of India’s stunning lower-order batting extravaganza that kept them going like Washington Sundar’s 50 while their fast-bowling all-rounder scored his maiden Test 100 after only four caps at 21 years of age in Nitish Kumar Reddy. 

Yes, it’s been a bitter pain pill to swallow from the Aussies when they just couldn’t make the most out of their catches while letting runs slide against their way. 

But they only got a wicket to finish off now albeit with a reduced 116 run lead at 358 as the Aussies will need to bat again since they can no longer take advantage of the follow-on option now that Day 3 has already passed due to bad light and rain with two more days to go in this Boxing Day Test of 2024. We will need to count on our new opener and cult-hero Sam Konstas to deliver the goods quick smart like he did on Day 1 when the Aussies won the toss to bat with his debut Test 50 (scored 60) as his 2nd spell should be the key to keeping this series alive with one Test to go (a draw wouldn’t be bad to bring this to a decider) even though he’s just getting started at the ripe age of 19.

I mean, wow, two youngsters making a name for themselves at such a young age from the moment they were born in the mid 2000s to making a name for themselves through the ranks from juniors and now both of them have made a statement for themselves in front of 70,000 to 80,000 odd people – how good!!

This is what we love to see from the best of our characters in this long-running game in red ball cricket through one era to another that makes his contest so special and competitive to be fair. No doubt we will get to see more and more youngsters like these being thrown into the deep end, especially at the highest of levels like Test Cricket over the next couple of years. 

For now, India are doing so well thanks to their lower-order batting saving grace while the Aussies need to think quick in a bid to bring this match home with the win. Meanwhile, yes, We got the Domestic T20 Big Bash League going through each and every night including tonight for at least the next month. But if you can’t get enough of sport, there’s always the United Cup Tennis at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney with the Aussies also in action first up in their group v Argentina.

Okay, the women’s singles tie was a bit out of reach for a start but we got Alex De Minaur though to try and turn this around against Tomas Etchverry and also our double pairs too in Matt Ebden and Ellen Perez if he wins this match. Update: De Minaur did bounce back fair and square in straight sets, just a shame our mixed doubles efforts fell short unfortunately that gave Argentina the 1st series match win 2-1 at the hands of Etchverry once again this time with Maria Loudres Carle.

Now they would need to be at their very best against Great Britain on New Year’s Day Wednesday but Monday’s result between GB and Argentina would of course depend Australia’s status in this United Cup group phase (Pool F).

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail