Pat Cummins (11) and skipper Tim Paine (16) were at the crease when umpires dislodged the bails for the day.
Brief scores:
Australia: 277/6 (Marcus Harris 70, Aaron Finch 50; Ishant Sharma 2/35) at stumps on Day 1 vs India.
This comes following the announcement from the head of government in the Australian state of Victoria Daniel Andrews in which he eased Covid-19 restrictions following a sharp decline in the number of infections.
"The Boxing Day Test of course is very different because that is some way off," Premier Andrews told reporters as per a report in cricket.com.au.
"I am very confident that we will get a crowd at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test. I don't know how big it will be but there will be a crowd, that's the advice that I have, that's what we're working towards," he added.
During their last tour to Australia in 2018-19, the Virat Kohli-led side had won the third Test at MCG by an innings to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The upcoming Australia tour of the Indian team will comprise three T20Is, three ODIs and four Test matches, expected to be played between November 27 and January 19. The official itinerary is, however, yet to be announced.
It is believed that the limited-overs leg of the tour will be played in Sydney and Canberra next month.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, Cricket Australia and the New South Wales state government reached an agreement last week for the Indian team and Australian players returning from the ongoing IPL edition being held in the UAE to quarantine in Sydney while also being granted access to nearby training facilities.
As per the tentative schedule, the first two ODIs are set to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 27 and 29 while the third ODI on December 1 and the first T20I on December 4 will take place at Canberra's Manuka Oval. The teams will then return to Sydney for the final two T20Is at the SCG on December 6 and 8.
(IANS)
"You are aware that there was a small, contained cluster of Covid cases last week. We have been working very closely with the South Australian government and at this stage we have been given assurances that it has been contained," Hockley said in response to a question by IANS during an interaction with Indian media.
"The lockdown that they were under finished last Saturday. So at this stage all assistance go for the Adelaide Test. We are confident that it will go ahead as scheduled," he added.
There had been doubts over the first Test -- a pink-ball fixture -- as coronavirus outbreak in South Australia led to suggestions that the December 17-21 match at the Adelaide Oval, the only Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which Virat Kohli will play before returning to India for the birth of his child, be shifted to the latter half of the series.
But Hockley said that the match is on schedule.
"We have been lucky that the cases have been very low in Australia. The community transmission has been limited. We worked very hard with the health authorities and with each host city in Australia and worked together the best possible conditions that includes over the last number of days of quarantine, full training, centre-wicket practice, outdoor gym for both India and the Australian players returning from IPL," said the Cricket Australia chief executive.
"Obviously, the safety of both participants in the community is our absolute number one priority. But we are working closely with the BCCI to make sure that we are providing absolutely the best possible conditions for both training and playing and also accommodation throughout the course of the tour," he added.
Before the Test series, Australia and India are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is beginning Friday.
(IANS)
Finch made 114 from 124 deliveries with the help of nine 4s and two 6s while Smith scored 105 off just 66 balls -- an innings studded with eleven 4s and four 6s -- as the hosts posted 374/6 in their allotted 50 overs at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Electing to bat, the hosts started off steadily with both Finch and David Warner taking their time to adjust to the pitch. However, once they got settled, there was no looking back as the pair scored 156 runs in 27.5 overs.
During the course of the partnership, Finch became the second-fastest Australian to score 5,000 ODI runs (126 innings, 11 more than Warner).
India got their first breakthrough as Warner got out against Mohammed Shami after playing a well-rounded 69-run knock, with the help of six 4s.
Smith, who came in next, started right from the word go and scored runs in quick succession, stitching a 108-run partnership with Finch.
However, in order to up the ante, the Australian skipper, after scoring his 17th ODI hundred, got out by Jasprit Bumrah.
Marcus Stoinis went back to the pavillion without troubling the scorers in the 41st over.
Glenn Maxwell, who had failed miserably in the IPL, made sure he smashed the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground. Maxwell used switch hits and reverse sweeps as he scored 45 runs off just 18 balls (five 4s, three 6s) before getting caught at the long-on boundary off the bowling of Shami.
Marnus Labuschagne, who came out to bat next, wasn't able to stay for long much at the crease as he got out after scoring just two runs against Yuzvendra Chahal, who ended up conceding 89 runs in his 10 overs -- the most by an Indian spinner in ODIs.
However, Smith stuck to one end and kept scoring boundaries at will. He brought up his 10th hundred in just 62 balls -- the third fastest by an Australian in ODIs. The former Australia skipper got out bowled in the final over of the innings, but not before inflicting huge damage to the Indians.
Alex Carey and Pat Cummins remained unbeaten on 17 and 1 respectively as Australia ended their innings at 374/6.
Brief Scores: Australia 374/6 (Aaron Finch 114, Steve Smith 105; Mohammed Shami 59/3)
(With IANS Inputs)
David Boon of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Virat Kohli's side was ruled to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
"In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time," the ICC said in a statement.
"Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Rod Tucker and Sam Nogajski, TV umpire Paul Reiffel and fourth umpire Gerard Abood levelled the charge," the statement added.
The first ODI between Australia and India on Friday went beyond the scheduled close by almost over an hour -- the match was supposed to end at 10.15 p.m. local time, but the final ball was delivered at 11.10 p.m. The game went on for about eight-and-a-half hours.
The match on Saturday was also held up during Australia's innings after a couple of protesters came onto the pitch, delaying the proceedings. However, they caused a delay of only about five minutes.
Friday's man-of-the-match Steve Smith said after the game that it was the longest ODI he has played.
"That was the longest 50 overs in the field I've ever had, that's for sure," Smith told reporters after the match.
"I don't know what to put it down to. Obviously there was the (pitch invaders) who came on the field in India's innings which took a bit of time. And I think they went 45 minutes over the scheduled time and we were something similar," he added.
"I don't know why. Not sure why. But it certainly felt like a long time out there," Smith said.
(IANS)
Electing to bat, Australia once again had a great start as skipper Aaron Finch and David Warner made most of the batting friendly conditions and amassed 142 runs for the opening wicket. Finch was the first wicket to fell in the 23rd over as he went back to the pavilion after contributing with 60 runs, which included six 4s and a six.
However, Warner continued from the other end and looked all set for a well-deserved century before Shreyas Iyer's brilliance in the outfield saw the left-handed batsman getting run-out at his individual score of 83, an innings studded with seven 4s and three 6s.
Smith continued from where he left the innings in the last match as he scored boundaries at will and kept the Indian bowlers under immense pressure. Such was his sheer dominance that skipper Virat Kohli had to brought in a semi-fit Hardik Pandya to bowl in the 36th over of the innings.
Smith and Marnus Labuschagne shared a 132-run partnership during the course of which Smith brought his 11th hundred in just 62 balls. The 32-year-old, after scoring 104 runs with the help of fourteen 4s and two 6s, was caught at short third-man off the bowling of Pandya.
Glenn Maxwell, who came in next, kept collecting runs for Australia quickly like the first ODI as he and Labuschagne made use of each and every scoring opportunity and kept piling misery on the Indian bowlers. Both stitched an 80-run partnership before Labuschagne fell in the 49th over at his individual score of 70 runs.
In the 50th over, Maxwell brought his half century in just 25 balls. Australia ended their innings with 389/4 with Maxwell and Moises Henriques remaining unbeaten on 63 and 2 respectively.
Brief Scores: Australia 389/4(Steve Smith 104, David Warner 83; Hardik Pandya 1/24)
(IANS)
Cricket Australia on Thursday said Melbourne has been placed on standby to host the thirst Test between India and Australia if Sydney's COVID-19 situation renders it "untenable" despite efforts being made to continue with the original schedule.
The fate of the third Test has been shrouded in uncertainty since earlier this month after a fresh COVID-19 outbreak in the northern beaches in Sydney, which is scheduled to host the third Test from January 7.
"CA has reaffirmed its commitment to giving it the best chance to play the third Vodafone Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the fourth Vodafone Test at the Gabba as per the original schedule," CA said in a statement.
"Should the public health situation in NSW render playing in Sydney untenable, CA's preferred contingency plan is to work with the Victorian Government to play the third Vodafone Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground followed by the fourth Vodafone Test at the Gabba," it added.
A final decision on the third Test venue would be made during the Boxing Day Test.
Even though the situation in northern beaches has improved, there are concerns that Queensland will not grant the required exemptions, which will mean players and broadcasting crews will not be able to travel from Sydney to Brisbane between the third and fourth Tests.
However, CA interim chief executive officer Nick Hockley said the board is working closely with the Queensland government to get exemptions.
"We are working constructively with the Queensland Government and have been encouraged by the positive nature of discussions with them. We thank the Queensland Government for their support," Hockley said.
"The record testing numbers and the drop in new community transmissions in NSW have provided cause for optimism, however if the situation in Sydney deteriorates, we have strong contingency plans in place," he added.
Earlier, CEO Stuart Fox said Melbourne Cricket Club is "ready" to host back-to-back matches between India and Australia but would rather see Sydney retain its traditional New Year's Test.
"I've been in touch with Cricket Australia daily and our position has been, we would love to see the Sydney Test Match stay in Sydney, it's no fun having it relocated," Fox told 'SEN Radio'.
"We're ready to go if we're needed, but again, if that Test can get away in Sydney, it's such an iconic Test, very traditional and an important sporting moment in Australian sport so let's hope it gets away, I'd hate to see it moved."
In a bid to save its New Year fixture, NSW on Wednesday had offered to host the Brisbane Test as well, if the Queensland government refuses to grant exemptions to the teams returning from Sydney.
"I don't think a decision is pending today, probably the strategy would be to delay and see where the Sydney numbers get to," Fox said.
"Obviously, there's a lot to think about with staffing, preparing another pitch and ticket sales, so we're in a position, we're ready to go, but again, let's hope it stays in Sydney.
The series finale is scheduled to be played at the Gabba on January 15.
(With PTI Inputs)
The Indian team on Friday announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, making a host of changes to the line-up which featured in Adelaide.
ALERT🚨: #TeamIndia for 2nd Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia to be played in MCG from tomorrow announced. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4g1q3DJmm7
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 25, 2020
Right-handed batsman Gill, who had made 127 runs in the two warm-up games, will open the innings alongside Mayank Agarwal. Gill, who has played three ODIs, replaces Prithvi Shaw in the playing XI. Shaw had come under severe criticism following his failure in the pink-ball Test which India lost by eight wickets.
Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who returned with scores of 9 and 4 in the first Test, has been replaced by Rishabh Pant.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja comes into the side after clearing a fitness test on Thursday. Jadeja had injured his hamstring during the first T20I against Australia, minutes before he'd received a blow to the helmet from a Mitchell Starc delivery which led to a concussion. The team management had at that point recommended a three-week recovery period for the all-rounder.
Right-arm fast bowler Siraj, who has played one ODI and three T20Is, comes into the side in place of Mohammad Shami who has been ruled out of the series because of an injury. Shami, 30, suffered a fracture on his bowling hand after he was hit by a ball from Australia pace bowler Pat Cummins during India's second innings in the Adelaide Test.
Ajinkya Rahane will lead the Indian side in absence of Virat Kohli who has returned home for the birth of his first child. Cheteshwar Pujara will serve as his deputy.
India's playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
(IANS)
Australia were dismissed for 195 in their first innings on Saturday.
India had taken a 53-run lead in the first Test at Adelaide last week although they eventually lost the game by eight wickets after being bowled out for 36 in the second innings.
Back in 1985-86, India had got lead in the first Test at Adelaide, making 520 to Australia's 381, and in the second Test in Melbourne, scoring 445 against Australia's 262.
Both the games, however, produced drawn results.
In the third Test in Sydney too, India had taken the lead after scoring 600 for four wickets and dismissing the Aussies for 396. That game, however, also ended in a draw.
On Sunday in the ongoing Test, India were in danger at 116 for four but skipper Rahane scored a half-century to take them past the Australian total.
(IANS)
Rahane was unbeaten on 104 while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was with him at the crease on 40, the two having added an unbeaten 104 for the sixth wicket.
The India stand-in skipper shared half-century partnerships with Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant to rescue India after they were reduced to 64 for three in the first session.
India lost two wickets in each of the first two sessions but did not allow any breakthrough to Australia in the final session.
India were 189 for five at the end of the second session, having lost the wickets of Vihari and Pant while adding 99 in that session.
Vihari fell for 21 to leave India at 116 for four. He had added 52 for the fourth wicket with Rahane. Pant, who came in at the fall of Vihari's wicket, then added 57 runs for the fifth wicket with Rahane before getting caught behind off the bowling of Mitchell Starc, who got his 250th Test wicket.
India had earlier lost the wickets of opener Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara and went to lunch at 90 for three. Both were dismissed by Pat Cummins.
Brief scores: Australia 195 all out vs India 277/5 (A Rahane 104 batting, S Gill 45, R Jadeja 40 batting, P Cummins 2/71, M Starc 2/61, N Lyon 1/52).
(IANS)
Rahul had not played any match of the ongoing series in which the third Test starts on Thursday here.
"KL Rahul sprained his left wrist while batting in the nets at the MCG during Team India's practice session on Saturday," the BCCI said in a statement.
"The wicketkeeper-batsman will not be available for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he will need about three weeks time to recover completely and regain full strength," it added.
It has been learnt that the stylish right-hander suffered a sprain while facing one of the three throwdown specialists at the nets and had to call off his training session.
For the time being, he will not be able to add to his 36 Test matches although Virat Kohli, before the start of the Test series, had stated that they were looking at Rahul as a middle-order batsman.
Rahul had accompanied the squad to Sydney and on Tuesday left for India.
He will head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for rehabilitation.
The injury also puts him in doubt for the four-match home Test series against England, which begins February 5.
Rahul's departure will effectively mean that one among Mayank Agarwal or Hanuma Vihari will save their place in the Indian playing XI depending on where vice-captain Rohit Sharma bats.
Both Vihari and Agarwal have been in poor form with one score of fifty plus in eight innings.
If Rohit bats in his new-found opening slot, then it could be curtains for Agarwal for the time being.
Another option could be Agarwal and Rohit opening with Shubman Gill, despite his 45 and 35 not out, being pushed to middle order in place of Vihari.
The third option is Rohit batting in the middle order and Agarwal and Gill getting one more Test as an opening pair.
(With PTI Inputs)
Meanwhile, right-arm pacer Navdeep Saini will make his Test debut as he replaces injured Umesh Yadav, who has returned to India after suffering calf muscle injury during the second Test in Melbourne which India won eight wickets.
Saini, 28, has so far played seven ODIs and 10 T20Is for India.
"We all are really excited to have him (Rohit) back in the team, especially his experience at the highest level which matters a lot. Talking about his batting, he is batting really well in the nets. He had good 7-8 sessions, came to Melbourne, started practice straightaway when our Test match got over," said stand-in India skipper Ajinkya Rahane in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
"I think he is batting really well. The last couple of series he has been batting as an opener, so you will definitely see him batting at the top," he added.
Rohit missed the first two Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he was serving his quarantine period in Sydney. He had arrived late in Australia because of a hamstring injury he sustained in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The series is currently tied at 1-1 with Australia winning the first Test in Adelaide while India registering a win in the second in Melbourne.
India Playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini.
(IANS)
Siraj tried hard to hide his emotions but ended up in tears, later wiping them using both his hands, a small video of which was shared by the official Twitter handle of cricket.com.au.
✊ #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4NK95mVYLN
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 6, 2021
Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer reacted to the incident and tweeted: "Even if there's little or no crowd to cheer you on, no better motivation than playing for India. As a legend once said 'You don't play for the crowd, you play for the country'."
Even if there's little or no crowd to cheer you on, no better motivation than playing for India. As a legend once said "You don't play for the crowd, you play for the country." 🇮🇳 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/qAwIyiUrSI
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 7, 2021
The 26-year-old had made a dream Test debut in the Boxing Day Test and scalped five wickets as India won the match by eight wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
In the build-up to the Test series, Siraj had to overcome the personal tragedy of losing his father, around a week after the Indian cricket team landed in Australia in November. He was given the option of flying back home by the Indian cricket board to be with his family but he decided to stay back in Australia in order to fulfill his late father's wish to represent Team India and perform well.
"It is a very big loss for me because he was my biggest supporter. My father's wish was to see me play for India and make the nation proud. Now, all I want to do is fulfill my father's dream," Siraj had told bcci.tv after his father's death.
"Even though my father is no more in this world, he is still with me in my heart. I talked to my mother who reminded me of my father's dream and encouraged me to perform well for Team India," he had added.
(IANS)
Umpires called the end of the second session after Cameron Green, who scored 84, got out after being caught behind by substitute wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha against Jasprit Bumrah. Green shared a 104-run partnership off just 116 balls with skipper Tim Paine who remained unbeaten at 39.
Earlier, resuming the session at 182/4, Steve Smith and Green collected runs at a brisk pace and scored boundaries at will, thus adding pressure on the Indian bowlers. Smith (81) was the first wicket to fall in the session as he got out lbw against off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the third time in the series.
Paine, who came in next, started off slowly but once he got his eyes set, he punished the Indian bowlers and alongside Green, hit the ball to all parts of the ground. Green, in particular, was highly impressive as he scored his maiden half-century. The hosts were also helped by poor fielding by the Indian players who dropped plenty of catches.
After reaching the milestone, the all-rounder unleashed and scored four sixes before getting out and bringing an end to his 132-ball inning.
For India, Ashwin and Navdeep Saini picked two wickets apiece while Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah scalped one wicket each.
Apart from Green and Smith, Marnus Labuschagne also contributed with valuable 73 in their second innings.
Australia had made 338 in the first innings and bowled India out for 244 in theirs.
Brief scores: Aus 338 and 312/6 declared (Cameron Green 84, Steve Smith 81; Navdeep Saini 2/54)
(With IANS Inputs)
Over the last two weeks, there had been doubts over the final Test after reports emerging about Team India expressing their reluctance to travel to Brisbane due to harsher bio-security protocols.
However, CA interim CEO Nick Hockley on Monday confirmed that the Indian team has agreed to travel to Brisbane.
"We have been working closely with Queensland Health to ensure our strong biosecurity plans guarantees the fourth Test at The Gabba is played safely," Hockley said in a statement.
"Throughout the season, we have developed a strong track record for a safe and responsible return to sport thanks to our well-established bio-security protocols, the ongoing support from public health officials and the incredible hard work of so many people across Australian cricket.
"I want to thank the Queensland Government for their cooperation and willingness to working closely with CA and the BCCI so we can deliver the fourth Test as planned, but more importantly delivering on a plan that places the safety and wellbeing of the players, match officials and the wider community as a top priority," he added.
Cricket Australia also informed that 50 per cent of the total crowd capacity will be allowed at the Gabba during the Test match.
"Acting on the advice of the Queensland Health and the Queensland Government, Cricket Australia and Stadiums Queensland are working together to ensure the safety of patrons attending the Vodafone Brisbane Test on January 15, with a crowd capacity of 50 per cent at The Gabba," CA statement read.
Stirling Hinchliffe, Queensland Sport Minister, said Queenslanders were looking forward to Australia playing India in the fourth Test at The Gabba.
"Covid-19 pandemic has made this anything but an ordinary Test to prepare for. I want to thank Cricket Australia and the BCCI for working closely with the Chief Health Officer and the Queensland Government to make this a Covid-safe Test," Hinchliffe said.
"With the extraordinary spirit of cooperation behind the scenes, I'm confident we're going to witness a great Test at the Gabba this week," he added.
(IANS)
Resuming at four for none on the final day, India overhauled the target with 18 balls to spare in a match that went down to the wire.
Rishabh Pant led the chase with his aggressive yet mature unbeaten 89 while Shubman Gill scored 91.
The winning moment 🙌#AUSvIND | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/skaJTXB055
— ICC (@ICC) January 19, 2021
Cheteshwar Pujara enduring many a painful blows on his body in his dogged 56-run knock that he raised with a 211-ball vigil.
Australia had won the pink-ball Adelaide Test while India struck back with victory in Melbourne. The third Test in Sydney had ended in a draw.
India had won a historic Test series Down Under two years back and now the team is cherishing back-to-back series victory.
The visitors had lost the ODI series before winning the T20 series that preceded the Test rubber.
At the start, India lost experienced vice captain Rohit Sharma (7) early but young Gill rose to the occasion with an impressive knock that kept India in the hunt as Pujara dug heels on the other end.
Rahane did try to build on the good start with his short but attacking 24-run knock before his sift dismissal.
With Pant's ability to strike the ball at brisk pace, India always had a chance to got for the kill.
Pant pulled off some breathtaking cover drives off Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in the final session though he benefitted from missed stumping chance.
Brief Scores:
Australia 369 and 294
India 326 and 329 for 7 in 97 overs (S Gill 91, R Pant 89 not out, C Pujara 56; Pat Cummins 4/55).
(WIth PTI Inputs)
Shami was hit on the right hand just above the wrist on Saturday by a delivery from Australia pacer Pat Cummins as the India No. 11 tried to take evasive action. He could not pick the bat due to severe pain and had to retire hurt as India's second innings folded for 36.
A source confirmed, "It looks like he (Shami) will not play the series."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is, however, yet to issue a statement on this.
India suffered an embarrasing eight-wicket loss on the third day of the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval.
After the match, skipper Virat Kohli had said that Shami was in a lot of pain and was taken to a hospital for scans.
"No news on Shami, he's going for a scan now. He was in a lot of pain and couldn't even lift his arm. We'll probably know in the evening what happens," Kohli had said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
If Shami is ruled out of the series, it would deepen India's fast bowling crisis as Ishant Sharma is already out due to injury.
The two teams will meet again in the second Test beginning December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where Team India will be without the services of Kohli and in his absence, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side.
The third and the fourth Test of the ongoing series between Australia and India, currently scheduled to be played in Sydney and Brisbane next month, could be switched following a new Covid-19 cluster in Sydney.
According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, Cricket Australia are mulling over the idea of taking the third Test to The Gabba and switching the fourth match of the series to the Sydney Cricket Ground. According to the cricket board, the leading option was still to play third Test in Sydney but if not, the third match could be played in Brisbane from January 7-11 and the fourth one could be played in Sydney from January 15-19, the report further said.
The plan of holding the third Test in Brisbane has surfaced as it would allow the Australian and Indian teams, and television broadcast crews, to cross borders more easily.
If the Queensland government decides to close its border to people from Sydney due to the growing Covid-19 cluster in Sydney then it could make it impossible to travel from Sydney to Brisbane.
Another option which CA could look upon is to host the next two Tests in Melbourne, where the series will resume on Boxing Day (December 26) as it would require less movement for the administrators and broadcasters.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday announced increased restrictions as she revealed 30 new cases of community transmission, 28 of them linked to the Avalon outbreak and the other two from the northern beaches as well, the SMH report stated.
Australia have already taken a 1-0 lead in the series, following their emphatic eight-wicket win over India in the first Test played at the Adelaide Oval.
(IANS)