Steve Smith of Australia (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Steve Smith etched his name deeper into Ashes history by overtaking Allan Border to become Australia’s second highest run scorer against England in Test cricket. The milestone came during the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, even though Smith endured a tough match with the bat overall. The veteran batter managed just nine runs in the first innings, falling to Josh Tongue, but showed resistance in the second innings. As wickets tumbled around him on a hostile surface, Smith remained unbeaten on 24 from 39 balls, striking one boundary and standing almost alone as Australia’s batting folded cheaply once again.

Smith’s consistency across Ashes contests now places him above Border in the all-time charts. In 40 Tests against England, he has accumulated 3,553 runs at an average of 55.51, with 12 hundreds and 14 half-centuries in 72 innings. Border finished his career with 3,548 runs against England from 47 Tests at an average of 56.31, including eight centuries and 21 fifties. Only Sir Don Bradman remains ahead of Smith, having scored a staggering 5,028 runs in 37 Tests at an average of 89.78. The match itself turned into a fast-moving, bowler-dominated contest. England won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Josh Tongue produced a memorable spell, claiming 5 for 45 to record England’s first-ever five-wicket haul in a Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Australia were dismissed for 152 in 45.2 overs, with Michael Neser top-scoring with 35 and Usman Khawaja adding 29. A brief half-century partnership between Neser and Cameron Green offered some resistance before a run-out sparked another collapse. England’s reply was equally fragile. They were skittled for 110 in just 29.5 overs, with Harry Brook scoring 41 and Gus Atkinson contributing 28. The aggressive Bazball approach faltered again on a pitch offering sharp movement and uneven bounce. Neser led Australia’s bowling with 4 for 45, while hometown favourite Scott Boland picked up 3 for 30, giving Australia a slender first-innings lead of 42. The second innings followed a similar pattern. Australia struggled to cope with the conditions and were bowled out for 132 in 34.3 overs. Only Travis Head, with 46, and Smith, with his unbeaten 24, managed to cross 20. Brydon Carse took 4 for 34 and Ben Stokes supported him with 3 for 24 as England kept the target within reach. Australia set England 175 to win. England made a confident start to the chase, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett putting on a half-century opening stand. Crawley later added 47 more with Jacob Bethell, placing England firmly in control. Australia mounted a brief comeback, reducing England from 112 for 2 to 165 for 6, but Harry Brook and Jamie Smith held their nerve to guide England to a memorable victory. While the match belonged to the bowlers and the volatile pitch, Smith’s climb past Allan Border ensured the Test also carried a significant moment of individual achievement in Ashes history.

Shehzad Poonawalla and Shashi Tharoor (Images/Agencies)

NEW DELHI: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of putting “family interests above national interest” while defending Operation Sindoor. He cited Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s remarks to counter Opposition criticism of the military operation.In a post on X, the BJP leader wrote: “Once again a fact check for Rahul Gandhi & his ilk like Prithviraj Chavan from Shashi Tharoor. Shows them a mirror on their fake narratives about Op Sindoor & ‘surrender’ narrative.”

Referring to comments made earlier by Tharoor, Poonawalla said even leaders from the Opposition had acknowledged that national security issues should rise above partisan politics.“Foreign policy is not of the BJP or Congress, but of India. If someone in politics rejoices at the defeat of a Prime Minister, they are celebrating the defeat of India.”Using the remark to attack the Congress leadership, Poonawalla added: “Sadly Rahul Gandhi puts parivarik interest above India’s interest. In his hatred for BJP — he hates India.”This is not the first time the BJP spokesperson has cited Shashi Tharoor to target the Opposition. Earlier, Poonawalla had referred to Tharoor’s article criticising dynastic politics to take aim at the Gandhi family and the Congress leadership. Describing the piece as “insightful”, Poonawalla had hailed the Congress MP as a “Khatron ke Khiladi” for openly questioning political succession within his own party.

‘Completely defeated’: Prithviraj Chavan after Operation Sindoor

The BJP’s sharp response comes amid a political storm triggered by remarks from senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who earlier this month claimed that India was “completely defeated” on the first day of Operation Sindoor.Speaking to reporters in Pune, Chavan had said: “On the first day (of Operation Sindoor) we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place on the 7th, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down. The Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew.”He further questioned the nature of modern warfare and the size of India’s armed forces.“Recently, we saw during Operation Sindoor, there was not even a one-kilometre movement of the military… Whatever happened over two or three days was only an aerial war and missile warfare. In such a situation, do we really need to maintain an army of 12 lakh soldiers, or can we make they do some other work?”The comments drew strong criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress of repeatedly undermining the armed forces. Responding on X earlier, Poonawalla had said the statements were “shocking” and alleged that the Congress had a history of questioning military actions, adding: “Sena ka apman is Congress ki pehchaan.”Chavan, however, refused to apologise for his remarks, insisting that he had a constitutional right to question government actions.“Why will I apologise? It is out of the question. The Constitution gives me the right to ask questions,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi cites Donald Trump on Operation Sindoor

The BJP has also linked the controversy to Rahul Gandhi’s earlier remarks on Operation Sindoor, in which the Congress leader cited US President Donald Trump’s claims and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi halted military action under external pressure.Gandhi had said: “Trump dialled PM Modi and said: Sunn… yeh jo tu kar raha hai isko 24 ghante ke andar band kar… aur Narendra Modi ne paanch ghante ke andar saara ka saara rok diya.” (Listen… whatever you’re doing, stop it within 24 hours, and Narendra Modi stopped everything within five hours.)The government has repeatedly rejected this claim. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament that Prime Minister Modi and Trump had no calls during the period in question, while PM Modi himself said in the Lok Sabha: “No world leader asked for suspension of Operation Sindoor.”Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed.

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UP might soon be home to Taiwan Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (Teema)’s technology park as the Uttar Pradesh Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) is emerging as one of the key contenders for the proposed Indian facility, people familiar with the matter said.Foxconn chairman Young Liu, who currently heads Teema, and is part of a broader first-phase plan that includes the US, Mexico and Poland is heading the initiative. Teema is also said to be in discussions with several other Indian states as it evaluates potential locations. “The tech park may come up in the Yeida region, close to Foxconn’s upcoming OSAT (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test) facility,” one of the people told ET. “The Teema plan layout has been designed to be constructed right next to a Foxconn campus. The strategy is simple, to create advanced smart manufacturing hubs in strategic locations worldwide, exporting Taiwan’s successful technology park experience.” The project focuses on the creation of an AI-integrated and ESG-focused global manufacturing network and is being led by V Lee, former India head of Foxconn, the people cited said. The aim is to improve the global competitiveness of Taiwanese companies while speeding up the international expansion of Taiwan’s electronics supply chain. Taiwanese engineering, procurement and construction company CTCI is collaborating on the project along with Foxconn. “As nations strive for economic growth, the development of Teema Technology Parks become crucial to help Taiwanese companies expand globally and manage supply chain challenges and geopolitical risks,” ET reportedm citing one person familiar with the matter. “The entire initiative aims to combine Foxconn’s experience in high-tech manufacturing and supply chain integration with CTCI’s strength in large-scale engineering turnkey projects and project management to create internationally competitive and sustainable industrial clusters overseas.” The global technology park strategy was announced on November 21, when Foxconn and Teema said they would jointly develop manufacturing hubs in the US, India, Mexico and Poland. They noted that the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains and the growing focus on local manufacturing were prompting Taiwanese companies to seek overseas production bases and transshipment hubs to preserve export flexibility and competitive advantage. According to the announcement, the initiative is also intended to drive industrial internationalisation by enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enter global supply chains through the overseas expansion and technological capabilities of larger companies. This includes encouraging large Taiwanese firms to lead smaller players in building supply chains abroad, reducing trade barriers and supporting international growth. Teema had also said it was collecting data on key markets across North America, Europe and Asia and working on overseas expansion strategies for each of the four identified countries. In the first phase, supply chain integration platforms will be set up in all four locations, with the initial technology park planned for Sonora in Mexico.According to an ET report in April, Foxconn was evaluating around 300 acres along the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, for its first manufacturing facility in north India. The proposed site is close to the land acquired by HCL-Foxconn for an outsourced OSAT facility. However, those plans were later put on hold after tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump came into effect. While the current status of Foxconn’s north India project remains unclear, Teema may be considering the Yeida region due to its proximity to the upcoming Jewar airport. The location would Taiwanese companies an opportunity to expand into a new region, as most of their Indian manufacturing operations are currently based in southern states.

To celebrate his 60th birthday, Salman Khan unveiled the intense teaser for Battle of Galwan. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the war epic features Khan as Colonel Santosh Babu. The 1.12 minute long teaser shows Salman Khan riling up the soldiers of his regiment ahead of an epic battle with the Chinese troops.

Salman Khan turns 60 today. To mark the occasion, the makers had promised to unveil the teaser of Khan’s much-awaited war drama, ‘Battle of Galwan.’ Today, the teaser was released across social media platforms. Safe to say, the teaser promises This reveal was being treated as a “birthday gift” from the superstar to his fans, following weeks of intense buzz regarding his physical transformation for the role. The film is based on real events that transpired between the Indian and Chinese troops at the Galwan region on June 15, 2020 when about 200 Indian soldiers courageously defended the territory against a force of 1200 Chinese Liberation Army soldiers.

Salman Khan stuns in the teaser of ‘Battle of Galwan’

Salman Khan portrays Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment. The teaser begins with Salman Khan riling up his fellow soldiers with the opening line, “Jawano yaad rahe, zakhm lage to medal samajhna aur maut dikhe to salam karna…” (Soldiers, remember—if you are wounded, consider it a medal; and if you face death, salute it)The camera pans into Khan holding a wooden stump, ready for a combat. A befitting song accompanies. The teaser ends with Khan saying, ‘Maut se kya darna, usey to ana hai.” (Why fear death? It is bound to come)

Fan expectations from ‘Battle of Galwan’

Known for his action and massy films, Salman Khan is all set to render a curveball with his portrayal as a commanding officer in ‘Battle of Galwan.’ The role, touted to be a powerful one, with tones of leadership, responsibility and patriotic fervour could very well become one of the most meaningful performances of his career.

About ‘Battle of Galwan’

Directed by Apoorva Lakhia and written by Shiv Aroor, Chintan Gandhi, Suresh Nair, the film stars Salman Khan and Chitrangada Singh as leads alongside Abhilash Chaudhary and Ankur Bhatia in pivotal roles. Produced by Khan, the music has been composed by Himesh Reshamiya.

‘Battle of Galwan’ release date

In a new development reported today, Aditya Chopra has moved the release date of the Alia Bhatt, Sharvari Wagh, Bobby Deol starrer ‘Alpha’ from its initial date of April 17, 2026 to avoid a clash with the Salman Khan starrer, ‘Battle of Galwan.’

Mitchell Starc has etched his name in Test cricket history by claiming the best strike-rate in a calendar year among bowlers with at least 50 wickets. The Australian left-armer’s dominant 2025 performance, with 55 wickets at a staggering strike-rate of 28.3 balls per wicket, tops the elite list ahead of legends like Waqar Younis and Dale Steyn.

Mitchell Starc’s record-breaking 2025: 55 wickets at 28.3 S.R.

Starc, the Australian pace spearhead, delivered a career-defining year in 2025, capturing 55 wickets across 11 Tests at an average of 17.32 and a strike-rate of 28.3 balls per dismissal. This blistering efficiency marks the tightest bowling strike-rate in a calendar year for any bowler taking 50-plus wickets in Tests. Starc picked up three five-wicket hauls, with his best figures of 7/58 underscoring his ability to dismantle the opposite team’s batting unit on lively pitches.

MITCH STARC SEEEEEEED! What a ball to dismiss Ben Stokes. #Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/PehDst540x

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 21, 2025

Playing a pivotal role in Australia’s Ashes campaign and home series against India, Starc combined raw pace with late swing to devastating effect. His economy of under 3.7 runs per over highlighted his control, making him the benchmark for modern fast bowling excellence in the longest format.

Waqar Younis’ 1993 rampage: 55 wickets in just 7 Tests

Pakistan’s Waqar Younis follows closely with a strike-rate of 29.5 from 1993, where he snared 55 wickets in only seven Tests at an average of 15.23. Renowned for his lethal toe-crushing yorkers, Waqar claimed six five-fors, peaking with 7/91. That year, he terrorized batsmen across England and the West Indies, forming a fearsome duo with Wasim Akram.

Waqar’s brevity – needing fewer matches than most—amplifies his feat, as Pakistan swept series with his reverse swing mastery. His performance remains a gold standard for express pace in subcontinental conditions.

Jasprit Bumrah’s 2024 masterclass: 71 wickets at 30.1 S.R.

https://x.com/cricketcomau/status/1991737829794410602India’s Jasprit Bumrah rewrote records in 2024, amassing 71 wickets in 13 Tests with a strike-rate of 30.1 and an unmatched average of 14.92 among this group. Five five-wicket hauls, including 6/45, propelled India to series triumphs in Australia and England. Bumrah’s unique seam-up action and ability to generate bounce on flat decks set him apart.

His workload across grueling tours showcased endurance, blending precision with aggression to become India’s strike weapon. At 30.1 balls per wicket, Bumrah’s efficiency rivals the greats despite flatter pitches in modern eras.

Gus Atkinson’s rise: England’s 2024 star with 52 wickets

Emerging English quick Gus Atkinson burst onto the scene in 2024, securing 52 wickets in 11 Tests at a strike-rate of 35.6 and average of 22.15. His highlight was a mesmerizing 7/45, complemented by three five-fors. Atkinson’s raw speed and skid made him England’s find during a transitional phase post-James Anderson.

Debuting amid high expectations, Atkinson adapted seamlessly to overseas challenges, troubling Australia and India. His rapid ascent signals a bright future for English pace bowling.

Dale Steyn’s iconic 2008: 74 wickets at 35.8 S.R.

South Africa’s Dale Steyn capped the top five with 74 wickets in 13 Tests during 2008, boasting a strike-rate of 35.8 and average of 20.01. Five five-wicket hauls, led by 6/72, powered South Africa to the No. 1 Test ranking. Steyn’s ferocious pace and relentless accuracy overwhelmed England, India, and Bangladesh.

That year defined Steyn’s peak, blending hostility with skill to become one of cricket’s most feared fast bowlers. His haul remains the highest wickets in this elite strike-rate bracket.

Also READ: Records and stats – Least balls faced by Australia across both innings in Tests since 1900

Why strike-rate defines bowling greatness?

Strike-rate measures wickets per balls bowled, revealing a bowler’s ability to strike frequently – a vital metric in bowler-friendly eras. These five transcend conditions, from Waqar’s swing to Starc’s seam movement. Modern analytics favour such efficiency over volume.

Starc’s 2025 surge, amid Australia’s pace revival, edges out predecessors by dismissing batsmen every 28.3 balls. Bumrah’s 71 wickets highlight volume with bite, while Steyn’s 74 set the volume bar.

Also READ: Abhinav Mukund reveals his best Test playing XI for 2025; names Temba Bavuma as captain

Interstellar objects usually pass through quietly, noticed only by a small group of astronomers before fading back into deep space. Comet 3I/ATLAS has followed a different path. Even as it moves away from Earth and heads out of the solar system, it keeps offering scientists new details to puzzle over. Recent observations suggest this visitor from another star system behaves in ways that are both familiar and oddly unusual. Its dust and gas do not simply trail behind it as expected. Instead, parts of the comet appear to move in shifting patterns that change over time. These movements are subtle, not dramatic, but they matter. They give researchers a rare chance to study how an untouched object, formed far beyond our Sun, reacts when exposed to solar heat for the first time.3I/ATLAS is only the third known object confirmed to have entered the solar system from interstellar space. Before it, astronomers identified the unusual object Oumuamua in 2017 and the comet 2I Borisov in 2019. Each arrival has added a small piece to a much larger picture of how other planetary systems form and evolve.

What is a sun facing antitail of comet 3I/ATLAS

Most comets develop tails that stream away from the Sun, pushed back by solar radiation and the solar wind. An anti tail is different. It appears to extend in the opposite direction, toward the Sun. This effect is uncommon but not unheard of among comets from our own solar system.In the case of 3I/ATLAS, the anti tail became especially interesting because it showed narrow jet like features. These jets were not static. Over repeated observations, they appeared to wobble, shifting position in a slow and regular way. This behaviour hinted that something more complex was happening at the comet’s core, as per a paper published on the paper repository site arXiv.

How were the wobbling jets discovered

Astronomers detected these changes after observing 3I/ATLAS across 37 nights between early July and early September 2025. The work was carried out using the Two meter Twin Telescope at the Teide Observatory in Tenerife.Over time, the team watched the comet’s coma change shape. Before August, it looked like a fan of dust facing the Sun. Later, as the comet moved closer to its October approach to the Sun, a clearer tail pointing away from the Sun became visible. Within the sun facing structure, the jets appeared on seven separate nights.By tracking their movement, researchers noticed a regular pattern. The jets seemed to shift every seven hours and forty five minutes, suggesting a slow precession rather than random motion.

What does the wobble reveal about the comet

The most likely explanation for the wobbling jets is rotation. As the comet spins, active areas on its surface release gas and dust in changing directions. From Earth, this looks like a gentle oscillation.From the data, scientists estimate that the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS completes one full rotation roughly every fifteen hours and thirty minutes. This is shorter than earlier estimates and suggests the comet’s interior structure may be more compact or uneven than first thought.Because this object formed around another star, its behaviour offers a glimpse into physical processes that may be common elsewhere in the galaxy.

Why is this discovery important

Jets and outgassing have been observed in solar system comets before. What makes this case stand out is that it is the first time such behaviour has been clearly seen in an interstellar comet.Researchers describe 3I/ATLAS as a pristine body. It likely spent billions of years in deep space before briefly encountering the Sun. Studying how it reacts to solar heating helps scientists test models of comet formation beyond our own planetary system.As the researchers noted in their paper, this is a rare opportunity that may not come again soon.

What happens to 3I/ATLAS next

On December 19, 2025, the comet came the closest to Earth, and since then it has been drifting away. It is projected to leave the solar system completely, just like other visitors from other stars.Its trip is almost ended, yet it will still be useful to science for a long time. Astronomers will keep using the information they got from this short visit to change how they think about comets, rotation, and planetary systems outside of our own. When 3I/ATLAS ultimately leaves our solar system, it will leave behind more questions than answers. This is generally how progress starts.

Ben Stokes of England leads his team out during day two of the Fourth Test in the 2025/26 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images)

Ben Stokes and Steve Smith said on Saturday that a Test match finishing in two days was “not what you want”, adding to criticism of the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch after the fourth Test between Australia and England ended early.A total of 20 wickets fell on the opening day on Friday, with Australia bowled out for 152 and England dismissed for 110. Another 16 wickets fell on day two, bringing the match to an end within 142 overs as England won by four wickets.“When you go out there and you’re faced with those conditions, you’ve got to crack on and deal with it,” Stokes said after England ended a 15-year wait for a Test win on Australian soil.“But being brutally honest, that’s not really what you want.”“You know, Boxing Day Test match, you don’t want a game finishing in less than two days,” the English captain added. “It’s not ideal, but you can’t change it once you start the game and you’ve just got to play what’s in front of you.”Smith said the pitch had too much grass, which created excessive seam movement and made batting difficult.“It was tricky. No one could really get in. I think when you see 36 wickets across two days, that’s probably too much,” he said.“It probably did a little bit more than they wanted it to. Maybe if we dropped it down to eight millimetres, it would be about right.”Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said short Test matches were damaging from a commercial point of view. The Boxing Day match saw the most wickets fall on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909.The concerns followed the first Test of the series in Perth, where 19 wickets fell on day one and the match also finished in two days, resulting in significant financial losses for Cricket Australia.“A simple phrase I’d use is short Tests are bad for business. I can’t be much more blunt than that,” Greenberg said.“So I would like to see a slightly broader balance between the bat and the ball.”Several former players also criticised the Melbourne pitch. Former England captain Michael Vaughan called it “a joke” on Saturday, adding, “This is selling the game short.” Another former England captain, Alastair Cook, described it as “an unfair contest”.Pitch preparation in Australia is traditionally handled independently by curators, without input from team captains or Cricket Australia. Greenberg, however, indicated that greater oversight may be required.“It’s hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, especially commercially,” he said.“I’m not suggesting I’ll go around talking to ground staff, but we do have to have a careful eye on what our expectations are over the course of a summer.”

Pictured shared by Digvijaya Singh

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday created a stir by praising the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh — a group the Congress has long opposed ideologically. Sharing a black-and-white photograph from a social media platform that showed Narendra Modi seated on the ground while BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani sat on a chair in the background, Singh acknowledged how the RSS shapes leadership within the organisation.He pointed to the image as an example of how a grassroots worker from the RSS and Jan Sangh rose to become prime minister of the country.

Posting the picture on X, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister wrote, “I found this image on the Quora site. It’s very impressive. How an RSS grassroots swayamsevak and Jan Sangh @BJP4India worker sat on the floor at the feet of leaders and became the state’s Chief Minister and the country’s Prime Minister. This is the power of the organisation.”But later in the day, he issued a clarification, saying, “I support the organisation. I am against the RSS and Modi ji… You have misunderstood… I have praised ‘sangathan’. I was, am, and will remain a staunch opponent of the RSS and Modi… Is it a bad thing to strengthen and praise the organisation?…”Earlier this week, Singh had also praised Rahul Gandhi for his stance on socio-economic issues, giving him “full marks” while calling for internal reforms within the Congress. Drawing a parallel with Rahul Gandhi’s push for Election Commission reforms, Singh argued that the party itself needed similar changes.In another post on X, he wrote, “Rahul ji you are absolutely ‘Bang On’ in matters of Socio-Economic Issues. Full Marks. But now please look at Congress also. Like Election Commission needs Reforms, So Does Indian National Congress. You have started with ‘संघटन सृजन’ But we need more Pragmatic Decentralised Functioning.”He added, “I am sure you would do it because I know you can do it. Only problem is that it is not easy to ‘Convince’ you!!”