Steve Smith’s commanding 140 propelled Australia to a strong position against India in Melbourne, helping the hosts reach 474 in their first innings. This marked Smith’s second consecutive century after breaking a 26-Test drought in Brisbane, and his 34th Test hundred overall, placing him alongside cricket legends Brian Lara and Sunil Gavaskar in joint seventh on the all-time list.
The 34-year-old’s innings featured a crucial 112-run partnership with captain Pat Cummins (49) before ending unusually when he charged Akash Deep, resulting in an inside edge onto his pads that dislodged the leg stump bail.
India’s response started poorly as captain Rohit Sharma’s struggles continued, falling for three to Cummins. KL Rahul’s dismissal to an exceptional Cummins delivery left India at 51-2. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli temporarily steadied the innings with a 102-run stand before Jaiswal’s run-out for 82 triggered a collapse.
The visitors ended day two at 164-5, trailing by 310 runs, with Boland claiming both Kohli (36) and Deep (0) in the late session. Earlier, India had been well-positioned at 153-2 before losing three wickets for six runs.
Jasprit Bumrah emerged as India’s most effective bowler with 4-99, while Mohammed Siraj struggled with figures of 0-122. The series remains tied 1-1, with both teams eyeing a 3-1 victory to secure a World Test Championship final spot.
Smith’s performance included aggressive shots, notably a six off Bumrah and his century-making drive off Reddy, establishing a new record of 11 Test centuries against India. The Australian innings concluded with Starc’s 15 and Lyon’s lbw dismissal to Bumrah.
India’s batting display fluctuated between extremes, highlighted by Rohit’s continued poor form – managing just one fifty in 14 innings – and the costly run-out of Jaiswal, who was left stranded after a communication breakdown with Kohli at the non-striker’s end.
About the author
US and UK Reach Limited Trade Deal While 10% Tariffs Remain
President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a limited bilateral trade agreement on Thursday that maintains Trump's 10% tariffs on British exports while expanding agricultural access and reducing steep US duties on British automobile exports. The "general terms" agreement marks the first of numerous tariff-adjusting deals Trump expects to finalize in the coming weeks. It follows his implementation of new import taxes aimed at addressing the $1.2 trillion US goods trade deficit. Trump celebrated the deal in the Oval Office with Starmer connected via speakerphone. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer prepared to launch negotiations with Chinese officials in Switzerland. Trump emphasized that Britain "made a good deal" but cautioned that other trading partners might face higher final tariffs due to their large US trade surpluses. "It opens up a tremendous market […]
US and Britain Set to Announce Historic Tariff Reduction Deal
The United States and Britain are preparing to announce an agreement to lower tariffs on certain goods on Thursday, marking the first such deal since President Donald Trump implemented worldwide tariffs. Trump announced on Truth Social that he would hold an Oval Office news conference at 10 a.m. EDT Thursday regarding a "major trade deal with representatives of a big and highly respected country." A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed he would provide an update on US-UK trade discussions later Thursday. Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated the framework of an agreement would be announced. "The United States is an indispensable ally for both our economic and national security," a Downing Street spokesperson stated. "Talks on a deal between our countries have been continuing at pace, and the Prime Minister will update later today." A British official […]
Europe Commemorates 80th Anniversary of VE Day Amid Shifting Security Landscape
Solemn ceremonies will be held at war memorials across France on Thursday as the country marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, observed as a public holiday there annually. In Paris, President Emmanuel Macron will lay a wreath at Charles de Gaulle's statue, walk up the Champs-รlysรฉes to the Arc de Triomphe, rekindle the eternal flame at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and inspect troops. The ceremony will include a minute's silence, a rendition of the Marseillaise, a speech from Macron on "the values that triumphed in 1945," military bands from six countries, a parade of French armed forces personnel, flags, wartime vehicles, re-enactors, and a flypast. However, France is among the relatively few European countries marking VE Day with such an elaborate ceremony. Some commemorate it more modestly without a public holiday; others call it […]
Young Britons Turn to Catholicism Seeking Deeper Connection in Digital Age
Twenty-three-year-old Joshua Steel found a "great sense of peace" when he began attending Catholic Mass in Britain, something he says was missing in his life. Twenty-six-year-old Dan Williamson was driven to convert by an "ache" for something "deeper and ancient and more rich." Both are among a growing number of men aged 18-34 attending church in Britain compared to pre-pandemic times, challenging the assumption that Christianity was in generational decline in Western nations like Britain. As cardinals gather to vote for Pope Francis's successor on May 7, the traditions and rituals of the Catholic Church, combined with a longing for connection and faith, appear to be attracting younger British adults, particularly men. "I was looking for meaning in life," Steel said after Mass at St. Elizabeth of Portugal church in southwest London, as incense lingered in the air. An Australian […]
UK Stocks Decline Led by Healthcare and Real Estate Despite Trade Talk Progress
Britain's main indexes fell on Wednesday, with healthcare and real estate stocks leading the decline despite positive developments in trade talks, as investor focus shifted to the upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decision. By 1008 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 0.3%. The domestically focused midcap index slipped 0.2%, poised to end its nine-session upward streak. An index of the UK's healthcare companies dropped 2% after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration appointed Vinay Prasad, an oncologist previously criticized for FDA leadership and COVID-19 mandates, as the director of its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Shares of GSK and AstraZeneca fell between 4.4% and 2%, with GSK heading toward its largest daily decline in a month. The real estate index shed 1.3% following an industry survey that showed Britain's construction sector contracted for a fourth consecutive month in […]
German Chancellor Nominee Rejected in Historic First-Round Vote
Friedrich Merz, Germany's conservative leader, unexpectedly failed to secure enough votes to become chancellor on Tuesday, plunging Europe's largest economy into renewed political uncertainty. The 69-year-old Merz, whose CDU/CSU conservatives won February's federal election and recently signed a coalition agreement with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), received only 310 votes in the secret parliamentary ballotโsix short of the absolute majority required. At least 18 coalition MPs apparently withheld their support. While not necessarily fatal to his chancellorship bid, Merz's first-round rejection marks an unprecedented setback in post-war German politics and embarrasses a leader who promised economic revival during global instability. The vote immediately cast doubt on Merz's planned diplomatic visits to France and Poland scheduled for Wednesday. Bundestag President Julia Kloeckner announced that nine lawmakers abstained while 307 voted against Merz, who appeared visibly shocked by the outcome. Party insiders […]
Related
Mbappe Scores Double Against Celta Vigo In Must Win Battle Before Barcelona Clash
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid held off a determined Celta Vigo 3-2 to maintain pressure on LaLiga leaders Barcelona ahead of next weekend's crucial Clasico. Following Barcelona's narrow comeback victory at Valladolid on Saturday, Madrid's hard-fought win Sunday preserves the four-point gap between the rivals before their highly anticipated meeting. The defending champions, currently second in the standings, were forced to withstand intense late pressure from seventh-placed Celta, who harbor European qualification ambitions this season. Despite their Champions League exit and Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona last week, Madrid remain hopeful of overtaking Hansi Flick's side in the league race. Carlo Ancelotti's team entered the match facing defensive injury concerns but weathered early Celta opportunities before gaining control through 20-year-old Turkish midfielder Arda Guler's creative influence. Filling in for the ill Rodrygo, Guler demonstrated his ambition […]
Northampton Shocks Leinster to Reach Champions Cup Final
Well, tonight in Dublin, at the hallowed RDS Arena, we witnessed a seismic shift in the landscape of European rugby. A script no one truly predicted unfolded as Northampton Saints, against all expectations, delivered a jaw-dropping 37-34 defeat to the mighty Leinster, punching their ticket to the Investec Champions Cup final. Consider this: Leinster, the perennial contenders, the standard-bearers of defensive prowess in this competition, had conceded a mere seven tries en route to this semi-final. Seven. Tonight, the Saints, with a relentless attacking fury, breached that seemingly impenetrable wall five times. Five tries, including a hat-trick of blistering scores from the electrifying Tommy Freeman. This was not just a victory; it was a drama of epic proportions. Ten tries were scored in a breathless encounter, a seesaw battle that kept us on the edge of our seats until the […]
TOP ORDER TURMOIL: England Backs Struggling Batsmen Ahead of Crucial Summer
England selector Luke Wright has publicly supported under-pressure batsmen Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope while acknowledging that "runs are the currency" in international cricket. Both players have been retained for the upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe despite recent poor form. "In international cricket, someone is always under pressure or scrutiny from the outside," Wright stated after England announced their squad for the Zimbabwe Test at Trent Bridge beginning May 22. "This is no different. I have no doubt those boys will do well. When they are playing well, we're a better team." The selector emphasized the simple truth of cricket performance metrics: "Any player knows that runs are the currency. Any batter wants to get runs." Crawley's struggles are particularly notable, with only one fifty in his last 14 Test innings, while vice-captain Pope has managed just two half-centuries in […]
Real Madrid Boss Alonso Plots to Steal Barcelonas Dream Signing
Jonathan Tah's anticipated move to FC Barcelona faces mounting uncertainty. Despite the club identifying the 29-year-old Bayer Leverkusen center-back as a priority summer signing and securing a verbal agreement, several rivals are now attempting to hijack the deal. Tah's Leverkusen contract expires on June 30, making him an attractive free transfer target. However, Barcelona's persistent Financial Fair Play constraints have prevented them from finalizing the agreement, leaving the door open for competitors. Most notably, Tah's current manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly interested in bringing the German defender with him to Real Madrid. According to Mundo Deportivo, Alonso, who is set to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu, views Tah as a key reinforcement for Madrid's defense. The situation has left Tah in a state of limbo. While reports indicate he has not signed with any club and still prioritizes […]
Fan Falls From Stadium Wall During Pirates Game Fighting For Life
A spectator at Wednesday night's Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs game fell from the 21-foot (6.4-meter) Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park. Medical personnel attended to the injured man for approximately five minutes before transporting him from the field. During this time, many players were observed kneeling or praying on the field as the situation unfolded. Pittsburgh Public Safety later posted on the social media platform X that the man was in critical condition following the incident. Local police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fall. The Clemente Wall, named after Pirates legend Roberto Clemente, is a distinctive feature of PNC Park's right field area. The incident temporarily halted the game's proceedings while emergency responders provided medical attention. No additional details about the fan's identity or the specific circumstances leading to the fall have been […]
Shedeur Sanders Tops Jersey Sales Despite Sliding To Fifth Round In NFL Draft
Despite being selected 144th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders leads all draft picks in jersey sales on Fanatics as of Wednesday, according to cllct. The specific number Sanders will wear with the Browns remains unknown. Previously, his Colorado teammate Travis Hunter, selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, held the top spot in jersey sales, followed by Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward and then Sanders. Sanders' draft position represented a significant fall for a player widely projected as a top-10 pick since last offseason. The Browns traded picks 166 and 192 to the Seattle Seahawks to select Sanders at 144. He was the sixth quarterback taken, behind Ward (1st), Jaxson Dart (25th), Tyler Shough (40th), Jalen Milroe (92nd), and Dillon Gabriel (94th). Sanders spent his first two collegiate seasons (2021-22) at Jackson State before […]
Be the first to leave a comment