VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid evoked memories of two of India’s greatest comebacks with a scintillating 175-run partnership in the second Test against Australia on Thursday. Laxman smashed 109 and Dravid a watchful 53 to guide the tourists out of immediate danger to 216-3 at stumps on the second day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Andrew Symonds smashed a breathtaking century in a record partnership with Brad Hogg to put Australia in control of the second Test against India on Wednesday. The powerful all-rounder demolished India’s bowling attack with an unbeaten 137 after Hogg made a vital 79 to steer Australia out of danger to 376-7 at stumps on the first day.
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/ 20 November 2007
Australia beat Sri Lanka by 96 runs on Tuesday to win the second Test at Bellerive Ova and complete a 2-0 series sweep. The Australians wrapped up victory in the third over after lunch on the fifth and final day when Sri Lanka were dismissed for 410 despite a defiant 192 from Kumar Sangakkara.
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/ 18 November 2007
Australian strike bowler Brett Lee has supported Ricky Ponting’s decision not to enforce the follow-on in the second Test against Sri Lanka despite the temptation of chasing a quick kill. The Australians had the option of making the Sri Lankans bat again after bowling them out for 246 — 296 runs behind the home side’s first innings total of 542.
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/ 18 November 2007
Australia resisted the option to enforce the follow-on after dismissing Sri Lanka for 246 after tea on the third day of the second test at Bellerive Oval on Sunday. Sri Lanka finished 296 runs behind Australia’s first innings total of 542-5 after a batting collapse but were spared the ignominy of being sent back in after Ricky Ponting decided to give his bowlers a rest.
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/ 17 November 2007
Adam Gilchrist became the first player to smash a 100 sixes in Test cricket in a brutal display of power hitting that put Australia in control of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday. Gilchrist clubbed three massive sixes, including two in succession off Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, to blaze his way to an unbeaten 67.
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/ 16 November 2007
International news agencies have ended their boycott of Australian cricket after reaching a deal over media coverage rights. Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse had all been refusing to cover the series between Australia and Sri Lanka in protest at Cricket Australia’s demands.
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/ 15 October 2007
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Former South African president Nelson Mandela has been invited to attend next weekend’s World Cup final between the Springboks and England. South Africa coach Jake White said the current president Thabo Mbeki had already confirmed he would attend the match and there was a chance Mandela might also come to Paris if he was healthy enough to make the trip.
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/ 10 October 2007
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Bryan Habana’s year just keeps getting better and better but the South Africa wing is hoping the best is yet to come. The 24-year-old already had an inkling that this was going to be a special season when he helped the Bulls become the first South African team to win the Super 14.
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/ 10 October 2007
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South Africa have always prided themselves on their giant forwards, but scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, one of the smallest members of the team, has arguably played the biggest part in getting them to the World Cup semifinal. Du Preez may be little in stature compared with his teammates but what he lacks in size he makes up for skill and sheer courage.