England team at MCG; and Sunil Gavaskar

NEW DELHI: The Melbourne Cricket Ground, long celebrated as one of the sport’s grand theatres, became the stage for another uncomfortable debate about pitch quality after the Boxing Day Test ended inside two days, prompting biting sarcasm from batting great Sunil Gavaskar.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!What was expected to be a five-day spectacle unraveled at alarming speed. All 20 wickets fell on the opening day as the ball swung extravagantly and jagged sharply off a surface that offered uneven bounce and relentless movement. The carnage continued on day two, and by the evening session England had sealed a four-wicket win — their first Test victory in Australia since January 2011.

In total, 36 wickets fell in just 142 overs. The rapid finish not only shocked fans but also delivered a heavy financial blow. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg estimated the shortfall from the Melbourne Test at over AUD 10 million, compounding the damage after the Perth Test earlier in the series also finished within two days. It is the first time in 129 years that the same series has produced multiple two-day Tests.MCG head curator Matt Page admitted he was in a “state of shock” watching the mayhem unfold. Ten millimetres of grass had been left on the pitch, a decision that produced excessive seam movement and bounce, making survival with the bat a near-impossible task.Gavaskar, however, cut through the official explanations with trademark wit and sting. Reacting to yet another short-lived Test in Australia, he pointed to the irony of the Perth pitch earlier in the series receiving a glowing assessment.

“Another Test match in Australia has finished in less than two days of cricket,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar. “The Australian Cricket Board’s CEO says it is not good business and most, if not all, cricket fans in the sub-continent (read India) are screaming blue murder about the quality of the pitch given in Melbourne.”He expressed astonishment at the earlier verdict on the Perth surface, adding: “They were astonished when the first Test match pitch in Perth was given a very good rating by the match referee Ranjan Madugalle.”Turning his attention to Melbourne, Gavaskar sharpened the blade further. “Since there is a new match referee, Jeff Crowe, for the Melbourne and Sydney Test matches, the rating could be different,” he wrote. “Since 36 wickets fell in the Melbourne Test instead of 32 in Perth, Crowe might drop the word ‘very’ from the ‘very good’ that Madugalle gave for the Perth pitch and rate the MCG pitch as good. Surprises never cease, of course, so we may get another rating.”With tongue firmly in cheek, Gavaskar also toyed with Crowe’s background. “Since he is a Kiwi and we all know that the Oz vs Kiwi clashes often have more passion in them than an Ashes contest… will the Kiwi in him want to let the Aussies have it?” he asked, before adding that Crowe now lives in the USA and “the passion may have calmed down a bit.”He concluded by defending the MCG turf staff while skewering perceived double standards. “The curators… may make a human error and get it slightly wrong,” Gavaskar wrote, but they are not treated like the “devious” groundsmen in India. “Tut tut,” he signed off — a gentle phrase, delivered with an unmistakable bite.

Australia’s Steve Smith, watches a delivery from England’s Brydon Carse. (AP/PTI)

Geoffrey Boycott did not treat England’s Boxing Day Test win as a fairytale moment. Instead, he presented it as a clear judgement on how the game is now played and, in his view, misplayed. Writing in The Telegraph, Boycott dismissed any suggestion of luck and argued the result was built on fundamentals. “England won the Boxing Day Test because they played better cricket than Australia. It was no fluke,” he wrote, before widening the argument to what he sees as a structural problem in modern batting.

According to Boycott, the way batsmen are developed is now at odds with the demands of Test cricket. He pointed to the dominance of white-ball formats and the pitches that come with them. “One-day matches are played on the flattest batting pitches the groundsmen can provide so the batsmen can dominate by hitting hard at the ball,” he said. “It is absolutely the opposite of learning to bat against the moving ball on seaming pitches.” For Boycott, the issue is not limited to one series or one opposition. He believes England’s own players are being short-changed by the current calendar. “Our top batsmen play very little County cricket and almost nothing on tours outside Test matches,” he wrote. “Nets alone will not help batsmen master the technique of playing the moving ball.” That frustration then turned towards the administrators. Boycott accused the ECB of prioritising revenue over long-term excellence. “Sadly, the ECB suits have them playing more and more 50-over, T20 and Hundred cricket because it brings in lots of money,” he wrote, adding: “And we know how money is their idea of success, not winning the Ashes or being the best team in the world.” He even used Joe Root’s struggles as a warning sign rather than a personal failing. “Joe Root is England’s best technical batsman, but had two failures trying play in a normal style,” Boycott wrote. “It just goes to show how modern batsmen do not really have a clue how to defend on a seaming pitch.” Australia, however, came in for the harshest assessment. Boycott said he and other former players had been flagging concerns for some time. “Some of us ex-player ‘has-beens’ have been saying before and during this tour that the Aussie batting is ordinary, dependent on Smith and Head,” he wrote. “That batting line-up in the second innings showed how poor some of them are.” He also questioned whether Australia’s approach shifted after gaining a first-innings lead. “I don’t know, but what I did see was some awful batting,” Boycott said, before detailing a sequence of dismissals he felt were avoidable, marked by hesitation and poor shot selection. While acknowledging the impact of England’s seamers, Boycott ended where he began, with blunt clarity. “I take nothing away from the quality of the England seamers, but some of those dismissals were shockers.” And in case there was any doubt about his verdict, he summed it up in four words: “It was awful stuff.”

India’s Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)

For Yashasvi Jaiswal, the memories of his India debut in the West Indies extend far beyond the runs he scored. What has stayed with him most clearly is the calm assurance he received from Rohit Sharma long before he stepped onto the field. Speaking in an interview with journalist Vimal Kumar, Jaiswal explained how Rohit’s conversations helped him feel settled and confident ahead of his first Test. “He spoke to me really well. He said a lot of things that gave me a lot of confidence,” Jaiswal said. “He kept telling me, ‘You’re free—go out there, play freely, play your shots with confidence. But try that if you get set, then make it a big innings.’ So there were many such conversations.”

What stood out was how early Rohit made his intentions clear. As the Indian squad travelled to Dominica, the captain ensured Jaiswal knew his role well in advance. “Almost fifteen days before, he had already told me,” Jaiswal recalled during the interview. “He said, ‘I won’t tell you just one day before that you’re playing. I’m telling you fifteen days in advance—you’re going to play. Prepare yourself. We’ll prepare together, and we’ll do it properly.’ That was his thought process.” That clarity helped Jaiswal absorb the moment without panic. “So the moment I found out that I was going to make my debut, it was a very special moment for me,” he said. “I had never played for India before, and this was my first time.” The preparation showed on the field. At just 21, Jaiswal marked his Test debut at Roseau with a remarkable 171 against the West Indies, displaying patience, control and maturity. Two years on, he has made an impressive start to his Test career, featuring in 28 matches and scoring 2,511 runs at an average of 49.23. Jaiswal also spoke with deep admiration for Rohit’s role beyond tactics and selection. “What can I even say about Rohit bhai? I honestly don’t have words for him,” he said. “What a person he is. What a guy. He’s like an elder brother—he teaches you, he inspires you.” Being part of a dressing room that included senior figures only added to the experience. “It’s a dream for so many people to play alongside Rohit bhai, Virat paaji, Hardik bhai,” Jaiswal said, referring to Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya. Above all, he highlighted the values passed down by the senior players. “They teach us that this is Indian cricket and that we must take care of it, carry it forward, and give our best in our own way,” he said. Looking back, Jaiswal’s debut was not just about a memorable hundred. It was shaped by early trust, careful preparation and leadership that allowed a young batter to walk out with clarity rather than fear.

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana joined an elite club on Sunday, becoming only the second Indian woman after Mithali Raj and the fastest ever to surpass 10,000 international runs. Smriti, who made her India debut against Bangladesh in April 2013, needed 27 runs to reach the milestone in the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. She achieved it in just 20 balls and went on to score a brilliant 80 off 48 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 170.2, marking her 32nd fifty in international cricket.

With this achievement, Smriti joins New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and former England captain Charlotte Edwards as the only other women to cross 10,000 international runs. Her career statistics are equally impressive: 629 runs in seven Tests, 5,322 runs in 117 ODIs, and the chance to surpass Mithali Raj’s all-time record of 10,868 international runs. Smriti had already etched her name in T20I history, becoming the first Indian and second overall after Suzie Bates to reach 4,000 runs in Women’s T20Is during the series opener against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam. The left-handed opener was also a key figure in India’s victorious Women’s ODI World Cup campaign, scoring 434 runs in nine innings at an average of 54.25. She finished 2025 as the highest run-scorer in ODIs, amassing 1,362 runs across 23 innings, including five fifties and five centuries. Smriti also became the first Indian woman to score a century in all three formats of the game. After the five-match T20I series concludes on December 30, Smriti will lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2026 Women’s Premier League, which kicks off on January 9. RCB will face Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians in the opening match at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee said his focus from childhood was only on bowling at 160kmph, and personal records or big wickets did not matter to him as long as he reached that speed. Lee said he set this goal when he was nine years old and worked towards it throughout his career.Lee, now 49, has been inducted into Australian Cricket’s Hall of Fame. He said he devoted his life to this target and credited his mother, Helen, a former sprinter, for his genetics.

“That (160kmph) means more to me than any wicket I’ve taken. Of course, the team comes first – to win the (2003) World Cup, the 16 straight Test wins, that’s the pinnacle; that’s why you play the game,” Lee was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.“But in terms of personal milestones, it wasn’t wickets for me. Because I’d set my goal at such a young age to hit that 160(kph) barrier and to go past it … when you dream about something, you dedicate your life to achieving that dream, and it comes off, it’s very special.”Lee finished his international career with 718 wickets across formats over two decades. He said his physical build and athletic ability helped him become a fast bowler.“For me, run-up was my most important asset. Then it was having a braced front leg. That’s something you’re either born with, or you’re not, (and) that will allow you to get that speed through the crease. For me, that’s something that came naturally – that part of my action took care of itself.”“And then you’ve got the front arm – the snap down of the left arm which created my pace; the quicker my left-arm came down, the quicker my right arm would follow,” he added.Lee had earlier said that from the age of nine, his aim was to bowl fast. “I got that enthusiasm and that really good vibe out of seeing the stumps either break or be knocked over.”Lee crossed the 160kmph mark twice in international cricket. The first instance came during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, when he bowled a 160.1kmph delivery to dismiss Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu in the semifinal.“At that stage we were under a bit of pressure (defending 212), and needed the best out of me. And that was to just steam in and bowl as quick as I could on a good length… looking up (at the scoreboard) and seeing I went past 160(kmph) was a pretty special moment,” he recalled.His fastest recorded delivery was clocked at 160.8kmph during the fifth ODI against New Zealand in Napier on March 5, 2005.“It’s quite ironic, I felt my fittest when I bowled my quickest ball (160.8kph) in Napier against the Kiwis, but that was a time when I ended up spending 18 months out of the Test team,” he said.“That was when I felt like I probably should’ve been in, but if you look at the attack we had… there were a number of guys putting their hand up and taking wickets. Looking back, I felt like I was raring to go, but I couldn’t get the nod.”Lee said that period was difficult, but he stayed focused.“That was hard to take, but I had to get on with it – I had to suck it up. And I knew I just had to keep bowling fast, keep taking wickets in one-day cricket, and the opportunity would present itself.”Lee described himself as someone who did not step back under pressure.“For me, there are two styles of people. There’s one that, when the pressure’s on, they’ll run and hide. Or there’s the other style where you think as an athlete: ‘This is what I’m built for’.“And I look to go the second option: ‘This is the moment that you want’. Now, whether or not you win, lose or draw, it doesn’t matter. It’s the moment that you want to be involved in,” he said.

Rithvik Sanjeevi and Surya Charishma Tamiri (Agency Image)

Surya Charishma Tamiri and Rithvik Sanjeevi emerged as the new women’s and men’s singles champions respectively at the Senior National Badminton Championships, sealing their titles with composed performances on Sunday. In the women’s singles final, 19-year-old Surya, hailing from Vijayawada, recovered from a slow start to defeat Tanvi Patri 17-21, 21-12, 21-14 in a contest that stretched close to an hour. Tanvi had the early upper hand, dictating play midway through the opening game and forcing Surya into a series of unforced errors to take the first game.

A key moment arrived early in the second game at 6-5, when Surya struck a service return into the net. She was handed a lifeline when the service judge called a height fault, allowing her to stay in the rally. Capitalising on the reprieve, Surya raised her intensity and rattled off seven straight points to seize control of the game and level the match. The deciding game turned into a test of endurance. Surya dragged Tanvi into extended rallies, and the physical toll soon became evident. Tanvi tried to stay in touch, but her movement slowed as the game progressed. From 15-14, Surya shifted gears and closed out the contest by winning six consecutive points to clinch the title. In the men’s singles final, Rithvik Sanjeevi leaned on his solid defence and calm temperament to outplay Bharat Raghav. Rithvik claimed the opening game comfortably, but the second game proved more challenging as Bharat surged ahead to a 9-5 lead. The 2024 Odisha Masters champion responded with a run of six straight points to swing the momentum back in his favour, appearing set for a straightforward finish. However, a couple of poor judgement calls allowed Bharat back into the contest, and he even reached game point. Rithvik held his nerve, stayed true to his tactics, and sealed the match in 39 minutes. The doubles finals also produced clear winners. In women’s doubles, seasoned campaigners Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat K claimed the title with a straight-games victory over second seeds Priya Devi Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra, winning 21-14, 21-18. Top seeds Hariharan Amsakarunan and R Ruban Kumar lived up to their billing in the men’s doubles final, defeating Mithileish P Krishnan and Prejan 21-17, 21-12. In mixed doubles, second seeds Sathwik Reddy K and Radhika Sharma caused an upset by beating top seeds Ashith Surya and Amrutha P 21-9, 21-15 to lift the championship trophy.

Four-time major champion Aryna Sabalenka reacts during the Battle of the Sexes match against Nick Kyrgios. (AP)

When Billie Jean King played – and beat – Bobby Riggs in the iconic Battle of the Sexes in 1973, women’s tennis was struggling for relevance. The complexion of the sport is much different now. There is equal pay at all four majors, with that win for BJK playing a crucial role in the formation of the WTA, the governing body for women’s tennis. Unfortunately, the modern rendition of the Battle of the Sexes, between World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and World No. 671 Nick Kyrgios, was an own goal that hurt women’s tennis and veered towards a circus act.Kyrgios, who has won just one competitive match since the end of 2022, triumphed 6-3, 6-3 against four-time major champion Sabalenka with the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Peter Crouch and more celebrities watching on. Without getting into the men vs women biological debate, Kyrgios — despite looking absolutely exhausted from the middle of the first set onward — cantered to victory on the back of some nifty kick serves, lots of spin and more consistent groundstrokes.

“It was a really tough match,” Kyrgios said in the on-court interview after. “She is a hell of a competitor. It could have gone either way.”From the very onset, the rules for the contest in Dubai were comical. In an attempt to level the playing field between Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, and Sabalenka, the Belarusian’s side of the court was 9% smaller, and both players were limited to one serve per point.In practice, these rules looked bizarre. Sabalenka’s shortened court, by 3.5 feet, meant she was standing well behind the baseline while serving, to make it resemble a regular court. Additionally, the court’s proportions would have been challenging even for professional athletes, as was clear by Sabalenka’s rising unforced error count.

Aryna Sabalenka walks to the court for her Battle of the Sexes match against Nick Kyrgios in Dubai. (AP)

Sabalenka walked onto the court between the fans, with “Eye of the Tiger” playing in the background, wearing a silver sparkly jacket as if a WWE superstar entering the ring. Throughout the exhibition, she did entertain as one would expect of a WWE wrestler. She smiled, she laughed, and she did the Macarena during a time-out in the second set. On the tennis front, she looked uncomfortable against Kyrgios’ choppy forehands, unconventional shotmaking and failed to capitalise on any momentum.This was suitable for those who have a passing interest in tennis and a couple of hours to waste. It won’t be the ‘Drive to Survive’ moment for tennis. Even for an exhibition, this was a laughably poor idea from the beginning. Any attempts at converting the naysayers failed, despite what Kyrgios, Sabalenka and their management agency (both represented by Evolve) would like the rest of the world to believe.“This is a great stepping stone for the sport of tennis. Of course I was nervous. This was all the world was talking about for six months. Aryna was up for the challenge. I was under the pump there.”Sabalenka, despite the criticism that has come her way for weeks, insisted that she would like a rematch. “I felt great,” she said. “I feel I put on a great fight. He was struggling, he was getting really tired. I hit a lot of great shots. I really enjoyed the show. I feel like next time I play him, I know the tactics and his strengths and weaknesses.”

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo (centre) was in attendance for the Battle of the Sexes tennis match between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka. (AP)

Billie Jean King’s high-stakes win against Riggs did more to help tennis than a regular match would have. It brought about equality, fairness and social justice for women’s tennis. Fifty-two years later, Sabalenka’s agreement to play this charade did more damage than good.“I was intrigued to see the battle of the sexes. It is a just an exhibition and pointless. Not sure this helps tennis. Kyrgios underarm serve, drop shot ,etc,” posted former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski.Either way this contest went, it was destined to be a bad look for women’s tennis. By manner of design, Sabalenka, and women’s tennis by extension, were bound to be attacked by sexists and misogynists.“Women’s tennis got EXPOSED in Dubai. Kyrgios (not even top 500 men) straight-sets Sabalenka 6-3 6-3, toyed with the “World No.1” like a child. Court rigged: his side smaller, one serve only, still demolished her.“Battle of the Sexes? More like a massacre. Reality doesn’t lie,” wrote one user on X.

Nick Kyrgios (R) beat Aryna Sabalenka (L) 6-3, 6-3 in the Battle of the Sexes match in Dubai. (AP)

Another opined: “What a crock. Kyrgios toying with Sabalenka on a heavily disadvantaged court to hit into, whilst he feeds her half-speed shots was an embarassment [sic]. What a horrible watch that was.”2025 was a stellar year for women’s tennis. Sabalenka reached three of four major finals, winning one. Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina and Madison Keys all had great career arcs and women’s tennis had many fascinating stories to tell. This attention-seeking, money-grabbing act shouldn’t take away the sheen from that.

Josh Tongue of England celebrates (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin praised Josh Tongue after the England pacer’s Player of the Match performance in the Melbourne Test, drawing from his own memories of playing county cricket alongside him. “I remember when I played county cricket in 2017 in Worcestershire, Josh Tongue had stress fracture issues,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “He is able to produce those wicket-taking balls. Brydon Carse is a bit of an enforcer. If they are able to hold their lines for longer periods of time, they can create a good team. Also, the batting must have a bit of a thought. England can’t get themselves ahead and leave the game behind.”

Ashwin also pointed out England’s recurring batting issues and the lack of control in key moments. “For instance, how Harry Brook bottled the game against India. In Perth, there was a small passage of play. They go for that brute force without any thought process. England have an upside if they can correct their bowling. They need to start producing a spinner from somewhere to hold an end up,” he added. Tongue backed up Ashwin’s assessment with a match-winning display at the MCG. He finished with seven wickets in the Test, including a five-wicket haul of 5/45 in the first innings and 2/44 in the second, earning him the Player of the Match award. Speaking after the game, Tongue described the moment as unforgettable. “It’s what dreams are made of. Obviously waking up on Boxing Day, a few nerves but yeah, to get a fifer and get my name on the honours board, it’s a very special feeling,” he said. Reflecting on his injury-hit journey, Tongue admitted how close he came to walking away from the game after rupturing his right pectoral muscle in 2023 and later suffering a hamstring injury. “100%. I was in a tough situation with my body and stuff. I was potentially retiring, but I’m glad that I put in the hard work to get myself back playing cricket and now playing for England, it’s all that I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.

Smriti Mandhana, right, and Shafali Verma greet each other between the wickets during the fourth T20 International cricket match between India Women and Sri Lanka Women, at Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana scored 80 and Shafali Verma made 79 as India posted their highest Women’s T20I total of 221 for two in the fourth match against Sri Lanka on Sunday.After batting second in each of the first three matches of the five-game series, India were asked to bat first this time. Mandhana and Shafali dominated the Sri Lanka bowlers at the Greenfield International Stadium and set the tone for a big total.

Towards the end of the innings, Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 40 off 16 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 16 not out from nine deliveries to take India past 220.Mandhana and Shafali added 162 runs for the opening wicket in 15.2 overs. It is now the highest partnership for any wicket for India in women’s T20Is.This was also the fourth time the pair crossed the 100-run mark together. They went past their previous best stand of 143 against West Indies at Gros Islet in 2019.Mandhana also reached a major milestone, becoming only the fourth batter to complete 10,000 international runs across formats, after Mithali Raj, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and England’s Charlotte Edwards.Shafali continued her strong run in the series, registering her third successive half-century. She missed out on her first T20I hundred and was dismissed in the 16th over, giving a return catch to Nimasha Meepage. Shafali scored 79 off 46 balls, hitting 12 fours and one six.Both openers relied on placement and timing rather than power, finding gaps regularly and scoring on both sides of the wicket.One of the notable moments came when Shafali stepped down the pitch to hit Kawya Kavindi over her head on the final ball of the fourth over. Earlier in the same over, Mandhana had struck two boundaries.Mandhana, who had a quiet series by her standards until this match, looked comfortable at the crease. Her innings included three sixes, all hit on the leg side, along with several drives.After the dismissals of Mandhana and Shafali, Richa Ghosh took charge. She hit four fours and three sixes and added 53 runs in an unbroken partnership for the third wicket with Harmanpreet Kaur as India crossed the 200-run mark.