Cricket News In Brief – January 27, 2012 – Part 3
Pakistan have faltered badly in their second innings after losing the top four batters for 54, failing to deal with the spin of Monty Panesar, who picked up three scalps.
Stuart Broad was left stranded on 58 as England were finally bowled out on 327 shortly after lunch but took a healthy first innings lead of 70.
Panesar bowled beautifully to pick three scalps while his partner Graeme Swann took the other to maintain his team’s dominant hold on Day three’s proceedings.
Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin asserted that his team was disappointed rather than embarrassed in their clashed against Australia Down Under.
The Men In Blue were on the receiving end for another humiliating whitewash after the Kangaroos need just four wickets to win the fourth and final Test at Adelaide. It will be India’s second 4-0 series clean sweep in just over a sixth month period.
Ashwin however, was not ready to term his team’s poor showing as embarrassment. "We are extremely disappointed but there is no need for embarrassment,” said Ashwin.
New Zealand skipper, Ross Taylor has been ruled out of action for up to a month after picking up a calf injury on Day 2 of the One off Test against Zimbabwe.
Taylor, who scored an unbeaten ton, was injured while trying to take a single and was immediately taken off the park.
He will definitely miss the remaining series against the Rhodesians but is hopeful of making a comeback for the home bouts against South Africa. "While it is early days, our target is to have Ross available for the one-day series against South Africa in late February," Paul Close, the NZ physio said.
South African all-rounder, Justin Ontong said he was surprised at his latest call up to the ODI team which will see him travel to play New Zealand.
Ontong made into the squad following a string of impressive performances in the domestic circuit and hopes to make full use of the opportunity for the fourth time of asking.
"I hope to really grab the opportunity this time. I am more experienced. I've played a lot of first-class cricket and that confidence is spilling into my game," Ontong said, while talking to ESPN cricinfo.