1st Test, Day 1: India bowl out Aus for 177;77/1 in reply

NAGPUR, FEB 9 (IANS): Skipper Rohit Sharma struck a breezy half-century as India reached 77/1 at stumps against Australia on the first day of the first Test of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series after bowling out the visitors for 177 on an engrossing day of cricket at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, here on Thursday.

Rohit batted aggressively and raced to his fifty off 66 deliveries as he and K.L Rahul raised 76 runs for the opening wicket as India set themselves for a big total in their first innings. However, they let slip some of that advantage when Rahul got out just an over before stumps, raising Australia’s hopes after they failed to reach even 200 in their first innings on a spin-friendly track on which the ball was staying low occasionally.

Rahul, who looked a flick as Cummins strayed to the leg side. He struck another four off the fourth ball of the over as India scored 13 runs off the first over. With Scott Boland failing to find much purchase, Cummins brought in Nathan Lyon hoping the off-spinner would exploit the juice in the pitch to get him an early breakthrough. the first six of the match in the 14th over, taking a step down the pitch and hoisting him through the line. He also struck the offie for two fours.

It’s a very proud moment, lots of emotions: KS Bharat on making Test debut for India

NAGPUR, FEB 9 (IANS): fifty runs off 94 balls. The Indian skipper played in limited-overs mode as he started with two fours off the first two deliveries bowled by his counterpart Pat Cummins. Though the first four was inadvertent as Sharma tried to withdraw his bat and the ball streaked through the gap between third and fourth slips, the second boundary came off

Rohit Sharma plays shot during Day 1 of the 1st test cricket match between India and Australia. (PTI) cautious and resolute during his 71-ball 20, was foxed by debutant spinner Todd Murphy, as he tried to flick a delivery that gripped the surface and offered a return catch. R Ashwin (0 not out), who came out as nightwatchman, was unbeaten along with Rohit (56 not out off 69) at the stumps on the opening day. Rohit started aggressively as India reached

Ranji trophy: Agarwal hits double ton; K’taka edge over Saurashtra

BENGALURU, FEB 9 (PTI): Skipper Mayank

Agarwal hit a double century to help Karnataka post 407 in their first innings and take the upper hand over Saurashtra in their Ranji Trophy semifinal here on Thursday.

Karnataka added 178 runs in 46.3 overs after resuming their innings at the overnight score of 229 for 5. Agarwal’s overnight partner, wicketkeeper Srinivas Sharath (66) added just six runs to his score before being trapped LBW by Chetan Sakariya five overs into the second day’s proceedings.

Krishnappa Gowtham and Vijaykumar Vyshak failed to trouble the scorers much, departing in quick succession before Vidwath Kaverappa (15) lent Agarwal some support.

It was a complete Agarwal show on the sec-

Hockey India announce dates for Ntl C’ships

NEW DELHI, FEB 9 ond day as the confident right-hander played his shots to all parts of the ground to take Karnataka forward.

(IANS): Budding hockey stars in the country vying to make their way into the national program will gear up for the marquee domestic championships, where national selectors will be present to find fresh talent.

The domestic season for this year will begin with the all-important 13th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2023 scheduled to begin on February 15 in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

Last year’s winners Odisha will be looking to defend their title, while runners up Karnataka will hope to avenge their 0-2 loss in the Final. A total of 29 teams will arrive in Kakinada to participate in the prestigious tournament.

Hockey buffs in Bengaluru will be treated to exciting action with country’s best PSUs turning up for the 3rd Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2023 scheduled for February 26. In the previous edition held in New Delhi, Railway Sports Promotion Board had defeated Petroleum Sports promotion Board 3-1 in a thrilling shootout to bag the top honours while Services Sports Control Board beat Punjab National Bank to claim the third place. It was after the first edition of this newly-introduced National Championships exclusively for PSUs that players like Jugraj Singh and Sukhjeet Singh got a call-up for the Senior National Coaching camp in 2022 and subsequently made their debut with the National team.

Mayank Agarwal celebrates his double century.

Sakariya (3/73) and Kushang Patel (3/109) picked up three wickets apiece for Saurashtra. In reply, Saurashtra scored 76 for 2 in 30 overs at the close of play, still trailing Karnataka by 331 runs with three days play remaining in the match.

Wicket-keeper Harvik

Desai and Sheldon Jackson were unbeaten on 27 each. While Desai held one end up, Jackson looked in attacking mood, accumulating his runs off just 31 balls with the help of six boundaries.

Snell Patel and Vishvaraj Jadeja (22) were the two Saurashtra batsmen who got out on Thursday.

Right-arm fast bowler Vidwath Kaverappa (2/24) accounted for the two Saurashtra batsmen, cleaning up both.

Brief Scores:

Karnataka Ist Innings: 407 all out in 133.3 overs (Mayank Agarwal 249, Srinivas Sharath 66; Chetan Sakariya 3/73, Kushang Patel 3/109).

Saurashtra Ist Innings: 76 for 2 in 30 overs (Harvik Desai 27 batting, Sheldon Jackson 27 batting; Vidwath Kaverappa 2/24).

But that did not happen and continued to bat aggressively, hitting Cummins for two fours in the fifth over Rahul helped himself to a four with a driving square through the covers.

Lyon, the best Australian off-spinner of his time who has taken 460 wickets in 116 matches, bowled well and did cause some trouble for the Indian batters but with Rohit in aggressive mode and KL Rahul very cautious, the Aussies failed to create many chances. Sharma launched him down the ground for

Sharma intended to get onto the front foot at every opportunity, unlike the Aussie openers who were both caught on the crease. He completed his half-century off 66 balls, hitting eight fours and a six. However, just when the Indians were looking forward to ending the day with 10 wickets in hand, Rahul was out and thus giving Australia a foothold into the proceedings. Brief scores: Australia 177 all out in 63.5 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 49, Steve Smith 37, Alex Carey 36, Peter Handscomb 31; Ravindra Jadeja 5-47, Ashwin 3-42) v India 77/1 in 24 overs (Rohit Shama batting 56; Kl Rahul 20, Murphy 1-13).

It was a dream come true for wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat when he was presented with his Test debut ahead of the first Test against Australia at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur. Bharat, who plays for Andhra in domestic cricket, got to make his Test debut alongside Suryakumar Yadav and was watched by his family as well as childhood coach J Krishna Rao when Cheteshwar Pujara gave him his cap. Bharat had been the second keeper in the Test team and with Rishabh Pant out of action for an indefinite period due to injuries sustained in a horrific car accident on December 30, there was a slot open in the side. He then got the nod ahead of Ishan Kishan to be India’s wicketkeeper in the Border- Gavaskar Trophy opener at Nagpur.

“It was a lot of joy to go back over the years from where it all started. Coming all the way long here and watching my (Test) jersey. It’s a very proud moment, lots of emotions. It is not just my dream, so many people have dreamt about me playing for India and doing well for India.”

“So much of hard work behind me, a lot of support and strength over the years right from my teammates, my family, my wife, my parents, my friends, coaches. Without their support, it wouldn’t have been quite possible for me to share this stage today. I think a lot of credit goes to them for putting in all they had behind me and making me reach where I am today,” he said in a video posted by the BCCI on their official website.

Formula E World C’ship: ‘We are well prepared but no scope for complacency,’ says Jaguar TCS’ Barclay

HYDERABAD, FEB 9 ( AGENCIES): Jaguar TCS Racing driver Sam Bird will enter the Hyderabad E-Prix as the only driver to claim four wins in Asia, and the previous new city that hosted Formula E saw Jaguar’s Mitch Evans win the race, reports Sportsstar. With both drivers gunning for glory in India’s maiden Formula E World Championship, team principal James Barclay doesn’t want complacency to set in and is aware of the challenges the new circuit will pose. “We have two amazing drivers in Mitch and Sam and Mitch to me is the standout driver in the last two years. He has fought for the championship in the two years and narrowly just lost out on the championship. He is a phenomenal driver and has got great skills. He has been with us since the first day and he was the first driver that we signed as a team. Overall we are well prepared but there is no scope for complacency,” Barclay told Sportstar.

Pressure is a privilege, and I believe in the theory that pressure makes diamonds. We love the big stage with all the fans there, with the spotlight on

Championship. The bigger the moment, the better it is for us,” he added.

‘Adapting quickly to the fastest circuit’ Jaguar enters Round four of the championship as fifth in teams’ standings after a podium finish and recording the fastest lap in the Diriyah double-header.

The 2.83km Hyderabad street circuit comprising 32 laps is one of the fastest in the world and Barclay said that adapting to the track will be a challenge for his team.

“The key factor to a new track is adapting quickly and when we roll out for free Practice 1, we need to see that our simulation is accurate and is matching to new-look track. If it is not the case, you have to adapt quickly and find a way to deal with the track. Another factor will be the weather and temperature will play a role as in 35 degrees and above we need to manage the tyres, control their temperature and take into consideration other factors also. We are equipped and have to take quick decisions,” Barclay said.

Teams racing in Formula E don’t have much time for preparedness as the race and qualification happen on the same day. The team principal acknowledged the fact that teams do race against time but that’s the challenge that Formula E poses. In the Hyderabad E-Prix, the free Practice 1 is scheduled to take place on Friday from 16:00-17:00 followed by Practice 2 on Saturday scheduled from 8:10-8:40. The Qualifying is slated to be held from 10:40-12:05 followed by the race starting at 15:00 (All Timings IST).

“In a one-day format honestly speaking we don’t have much time and have just two practice sessions within an hour of running and that’s where the simulation preparations are going to be really important. But that’s what makes Formula E unique as the teams that adapt quickly have an advantage.”