Wagner fifth in rankings
WELLINGTON: Paceman Neil Wagner has attained a careerbest fifth position among bowlers after taking nine wickets in the Wellington test and contributing in his team’s win over Bangladesh by an innings and 12 runs.
The 32yearold leftarm quick has not only gained six slots but also crossed the 800point mark, becoming only the third bowler from his country to do so.
He is now on 801 points. Only teammate Trent Boult (825) and fast bowling great Sir Richard Hadlee (909) have done better in terms of rating points.
Wagner is now the topranked bowler from his side but Boult, too, has gained one slot to reach seventh position after taking seven wickets in the victory in Wellington, which wrapped a winning 20 lead in the threetest series and ensured the Black Caps stay second in the test team rankings after the series.
Ross Taylor has moved up 11 places to 13th position in the list for batsmen after his score of 200 while Henry Nicholls’s knock of 107 has lifted him two places to fifth position with a careerbest tally of 778 rating points.
Captain Kane Williamson remains the thirdhighest ranked batsman, at second position in the list led by India captain Virat Kohli.
Australian Pat Cummins is the topranked test bowler. — RNZ
NEW DELHI: An unprecedented oneday international series victory over India has proved Australia’s World Cup defence is no longer the lost cause it seemed months ago.
Calm centurion Usman Khawaja, crafty legspinner Adam Zampa and clinical paceman Pat Cummins enhanced their reputations as Australia won the series decider in Delhi by 35 runs yesterday.
Khawaja scored 100 in a total of 272 for nine.
India crashed to 132 for six in response and was bowled out for 237, marking the first time Australia have battled back from 02 down to win a fivematch bilateral ODI series.
The three confidencebuilding victories came after Australia had won just four of its previous 26 completed onedayers.
‘‘People have written us off for quite a while,’’ captain Aaron Finch said.
‘‘We always knew that the plans and the style that we wanted to play are all there, can win us the World Cup, win us big series against great teams.
‘‘The resilience and fight that we showed — being down 20 it would have been easy to roll over . . . we’ve had our backs against the walls for quite a while now, so I’m really proud of the group.’’
Coach Justin Langer also praised Australia’s ‘‘unbelievable fight and great character‘‘, while India skipper Virat Kohli credited the opposition for showing more ‘‘passion, hunger and heart than us in the last three games’’.
‘‘They were brave in the pressure situations compared to our side,’’ Kohli said.
Australia banked its first ODI series win in India since 2009, first overseas ODI series win since 2016, first ODI series win since 2017 and plenty of momentum in its march towards the World Cup.
Kohli’s starstudded outfit had been widely expected to be England’s greatest threat at this year’s World Cup but Australia’s batsmen and bowlers both stepped up on this current tour.
None more so than man of the series, Khawaja.
The lefthander started the series turnaround with a maiden ODI ton in Ranchi and bettered Kohli to finish the leading runsscorer of the series, all but cementing his spot in the 15man World Cup squad.
A collapse of 54 for six followed Khawaja’s dismissal then Cummins and Jhye Richardson ensured the tail wagged, taking 42 runs off the final four overs.
A seventhwicket stand of 91 runs between Kedar Jadhav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar created some nervous moments for the visiting side but it was snapped when Cummins claimed his 14th wicket of the series.
Zampa hammered home Australia’s advantage with three quick wickets in the space of 14 deliveries, while recalled offspinner Nathan Lyon was Australia’s most economical bowler with one for 34.
Australia’s selectors suddenly have the good sort of headaches, rather than scrambling to find batsmen capable of delivering matchwinning innings in the absence of Steve Smith and
David Warner.
Ashton Turner, who starred with 84 not out as Australia chased down a record 359 to win the preceding game, scored 20 yesterday after being preferred ahead of Shaun Marsh. — AAP