Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Smith worried as Australia let opponents off the hook

Australia captain Steve Smith is worried about his team's failure to convert potentially winning positions into victories after losing the one-day international series against India.

The visitors went down to the Virat Kohli-led side by five wickets in Indore on Sunday (24) after opener Aaron Finch had blasted 124 to give Australia the edge.


"We're quite often getting ourselves into good positions and we're not taking advantage of those, and today was no different," Smith said after the defeat that left his side trailing 3-0 in the five-match series.

"We continually address it and it's just hard to put the finger on exactly what it is we're doing or not doing to get the results we're after," he added.

Despite Finch's knock, Australia ended on 293-6, too small a score to defend at the batting-friendly Holkar Stadium.

This was not the first time the visitors had let India off the hook in the series. In the opening match India were at one stage 87-5 but posted a match-winning 281-7.

"It's been a bit of a trend for this format and the Test format as well," said a worried Smith.

Australia have won just three out of 17 matches across all three formats since a one-day series victory at home against Pakistan in January.

The current defeat was Australia's 11th loss in their past 13 ODIs away from home -- a worrying trend for the team that is two months away from a home Ashes series against England.

"It's a different format (the Ashes) but I'd certainly like to start winning some games of cricket in every format, to be honest," said Smith.

"We've got to start winning games of cricket. We've lost 11 of our past 13 games we've played away with two no results, so that's pretty ordinary. And not good enough from an Australian cricket team.

"So we need to start turning those results around and winning some games of cricket," he said.

Former Australia fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz defended the team's miserable run in India, saying it takes time adapting to sub-continent conditions.

The visitors, who drew a tough Test series in Bangladesh 1-1 before the latest one-day games, were undone by India's wrist spinners - with their batting faltering at crucial moments.

"In these conditions you expect the Indian players to be the best... it's a case of adapting your skills to suit the conditions here and it takes time," Kasprowicz said in New Delhi.

"It's difficult, because the conditions are so different from what we get in Australia, so that's part of the adjustment.

"Obviously that's something that you have got to do better and obviously with the Australian coaching team and with the staff around they will be doing that," Kasprowicz, a Cricket Australia member, added.

More For You

Salah scored a decisive penalty in the 63rd minute to help Liverpool overcome Girona, debutants in the tournament. (Photo: Getty Images)
Salah scored a decisive penalty in the 63rd minute to help Liverpool overcome Girona, debutants in the tournament. (Photo: Getty Images)

Champions League: Liverpool extend winning run; Real Madrid back on track

MOHAMED SALAH'S penalty maintained Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a victory over Serie A leaders Atalanta.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain secured a crucial win against Salzburg, and Bayer Leverkusen edged past Inter Milan to move into second place in their group standings. Aston Villa, participating in the competition for the first time in 41 years, continued their impressive form with a 3-2 win over Leipzig, leaving them in third place.

Keep ReadingShow less
The exchange occurred after Siraj dismissed Head and pointed toward the Australia dressing room. (Photo: Getty Images)
The exchange occurred after Siraj dismissed Head and pointed toward the Australia dressing room. (Photo: Getty Images)

ICC penalises Siraj, Head for heated exchange during Adelaide Test

INDIA fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and Australia batsman Travis Head were fined for misconduct on Monday following an on-field exchange during the second Test in Adelaide.

Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he gave Head a send-off following his dismissal for 140 in Australia’s first innings.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cole Palmer celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal from the penalty spot during the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea on December 8, 2024 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
Cole Palmer celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal from the penalty spot during the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea on December 8, 2024 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)

Chelsea come from behind to beat Tottenham 4-3 and go second

COLE PALMER converted two penalties as Chelsea overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Tottenham 4-3 on Sunday, moving to second place in the Premier League standings.

Early goals from Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski gave Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou a strong start. However, Chelsea capitalised on defensive lapses to extend their unbeaten Premier League streak to seven matches.

Keep ReadingShow less
For India, the defeat added to their struggles at Adelaide, recalling their 2020 collapse when they were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score of 36. (Photo: Getty Images)
For India, the defeat added to their struggles at Adelaide, recalling their 2020 collapse when they were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score of 36. (Photo: Getty Images)

Australia beat India by 10 wickets to level series at Adelaide

AUSTRALIA defeated India by 10 wickets in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, levelling the five-match series 1-1.

The hosts delivered a dominant performance with both bat and ball to secure victory on day three of the pink-ball Test.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bumrah’s Brilliance: Travis Head lauds Indian pacer ahead of Adelaide test
Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah’s Brilliance: Travis Head lauds Indian pacer ahead of Adelaide test

AUSTRALIA’S batsmen were dominated by Jasprit Bumrah in Perth, but Travis Head said they were looking forward to another round against the Indian spearhead, who he believes will be come to regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history.

Captaining India in place of Rohit Sharma, Bumrah took eight wickets to lead the tourists to a resounding 295-run win in the series-opener at Perth Stadium.

Keep ReadingShow less