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SPORTS MARCH 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 41

ers for big boundaries regularly.
Marsh hammered Indian pac-
er Siraj for 12 runs with the help of
three boundaries. The batting pair
of Marsh and Smith were decisive in
their approach and made the Indian
bowlers toil hard making merry of
the excellent batting conditions on
offer.
Smith’s stint at the crease was
cut short as he handed a simple catch
to KL Rahul in Hardik Pandya’s over
after scoring 22 runs. The right-hand-
ed batter Marnus Labuschagne came
out to bat.
Australia all-rounder Marsh
brought up his 14th ODI fifty in the
17th over of the innings while La-
buschagne continued to pile up runs
from other ends. Marsh continued
his powerful hitting and hammered
Kuldeep Yadav for 13 runs with the
help of one four and one six.
Ravindra Jadeja then delivered
a stunning delivery to clear the big
wicket of Marsh in the 20th over of
the game. Marsh returned after play-
ing a fiery knock of 81 off 65 balls
featuring 10 boundaries and five
maximums.
The right-handed batter Josh
Inglis then came out to bat. Wickets
kept coming for India as Labuscha- Hardik Pandya departs after being dismissed by Australia’s Marcus Stoinis at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday (ANI)
gne was dismissed by Kuldeep Ya-
dav after scoring 15 runs. Australia
all-rounder Cameron Green then matches. According to Prasad, Ra- cord. But stats speak otherwise. He Let’s look at a few others,” Prasad
came out to bat. hul’s selection in the team was even has a test avg of 30 overseas in 56 in- tweeted earlier.
Mohammed Shami then deliv- allegedly the result of favouritism. nings. He has scored 6 overseas cen- The second ODI of the series
ered a stunner in the 28th over to dis- “There is a view that KL Rahul turies but followed it up with a string will be played at Visakhapatnam on
miss Josh Inglis for 26. Green failed has an outstanding overseas Test re- of low scores that’s why averaging 30. March 19.
to score big as he was dismissed for 12
by Shami in the 30th over of the game.
Marcus Stoinis then came out to Pandya won’t be part of World Test Championship Final
bat but the batter could not do much
as he fell prey to Shami after scoring ardik Pandya the stand-in captain in India’s “If I want to play Test cricket, I will go through the
5 runs. At this point, Australia kept ODI series against Australia has revealed grind, I will earn my position and then come back. For
losing wickets and went down to 9. Hthat he won’t be taking part in the World Test that reason, to be very honest, I will not be available or
Adam Zampa then came out to bat Championship final, play the World Test Championship Final, or any future
but could not stand long at the crease Hardik Pandya has not played Test cricket for In- test matches until I feel that I have earned my spot,”
as he was dismissed by Siraj and with dia since September 2018 and has been limited to only Pandya said quoted by ICC.
this wicket India restrict Australia to playing white-ball cricket due to constant injuries es- The series also provides both teams with the op-
188 in 35.3 overs. pecially back injuries. However, with India qualifying portunity to test themselves against each other keep-
After the game, former India for the World Test Championship, he was asked ahead ing the Cricket World Cup in mind. Hardik, when
pacer Venkatesh Prasad praised KL of the first ODI against Australia if he would be ready asked about World Cup preparation and India’s dis-
Rahul’s sublime unbeaten knock of to don the whites again for the one-off game at The mal knockout record of late in Men’s ICC events,
75 and insisted the wicket-keeper Oval. spoke about the importance of bilateral series for
batter formulated his innings quite While Pandya’s presence does give India an edge preparation.
brilliantly. with the bat, especially in the absence of Rishabh Pant, “We are not trying anything new,” Hardik said.
Prasad took to Twitter and as well as the ball in swing-friendly English conditions, “We will play according to the situation but we will try
tweeted, “Excellent composure un- the all-rounder was quick to rule himself out for the to be brave which I think in the last couple of series we
der pressure and brilliant innings by Ultimate Test. have done well,” quoted ICC.
KL Rahul. Top knock. Great support On being quizzed if he would be tempted to re- “The more challenging and closer the bilateral
by Ravindra Jadeja and a good win turn, Pandya said as quoted by ICC: “To be honest, games get, the more we can learn and start playing un-
for India. #INDvAUS” no. I am ethically very strong in my life. I haven’t done der pressure as well as the knockouts.
Only a month prior, Prasad had 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of the 1%. “I don’t think we need to look at it [previous ICC
posted a number of threads arguing So me coming there and taking someone’s place will events] right now - past is past. We are looking forward
that Rahul needed to be removed ethically not go well with me.” to the future and hoping for the best,” quoted by ICC.
from the Indian squad for Test

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