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Brisbane, Dec 17 (IANS) In an unexpected turn of events, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep put on an unbeaten 39-run partnership to foil Australia’s hopes of enforcing a follow-on on Day 4 of the Third Test at The Gabba.

With India’s top order once again failing to hit the mark, barring KL Rahul who continued his fine showing in Australian conditions with a valiant 84-run innings, Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori believes the showing by Bumrah and Akash can propel belief back into India’s top order for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

“I think we expect everything, I think we understand that any batter on any given day can step up and deliver, so I don’t think we assume that anyone’s going to live up to the average. I think you look at those averages and you think there’s not much there, but Bumrah has proven that. He’s been able to put on partnerships, he’s been proven that he can attack and he can defend, and I think Akash’s better than a number 11, so the team within themselves all understand that every wicket’s vitally important, so there was no reason to back off at all,” said Vettori at the post-day press conference.

Akash Deep, who is playing his first game in foreign conditions, walked into bat at 213/9 while the visitors needed 33 runs to save the side from getting a follow-on which could have potentially lost them the game.

Concerns arose for the hosts as Australia suffered a major injury blow with the experienced seamer Josh Hazlewood likely to be ruled out of the series against India after the scans confirmed he had strained his right calf. Hazlewood hurt his right calf during Australia’s warm-ups on Tuesday morning. He bowled one over in the first session before leaving the field with calf soreness in the first session on Day 4.

The 33-year old missed the second Test at Adelaide Oval due to a side strain. In Hazlewood’s likely absence, Scott Boland, who replaced Josh in the 2nd Test is likely to be called into the squad for the remaining two games as confirmed by Vettori.

“He’s (Josh) pretty despondent. Obviously, he felt it this morning in warm-ups and gave it a good crack, but yeah, it’s just unfortunate for him too. He made a come back and put so much effort in another injury with a side strain from the last test and then to pick up a calf injury here, particularly in these circumstances, was really tough on him.

“I think Boland speaks for himself. I mean, the way he bowled in Adelaide, the way he’s consistently been the back-up seamer, and every single time he’s been asked to step up, particularly in Australia, he’s been outstanding. So, I think that would be the logical thing to conclude,” concluded Vettori.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Seamer Ryana MacDonald-Gay, all-rounder Freya Kamp, spinner Linsey Smith and wicketkeeper-batter Linsey Smith have been named in England’s squad for the upcoming Women’s Ashes.

Ryana, who made her white-ball debut on England’s tour of Ireland earlier this year, took two wickets on her Test debut against South Africa and retains her place in the longer format team for the trip to Australia.

Freya and Linsey are in an Ashes squad for the first time and are a part of the T20I team only, while Bess is included in T20I and Test squads after suffering a fractured thumb, which kept her out of the South Africa tour.

Left-arm pacer Mahika Gaur will be with the group, continuing her return to bowling following the injury that made her unavailable for the recent South Africa tour. England travel to Sydney on January 2 and will play a warm-up match against a Governor General’s XI on January 9.

“We have named balanced squads for this Ashes series, with a good mix of youth and experience. Ashes series’ are always special. We want to go there, play our way, and are all excited about the challenges ahead,” said head coach Jon Lewis in a statement.

England begins their Women’s Ashes trip with three ODIs in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart from January 11-16. It is followed by three T20Is taking place in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide from January 20-25.

The four-day Test, also the maiden day-night game, is set to be held from January 30 to February 2 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The game will also end the multi-format Women’s Ashes series for the first time since it was introduced in 2015.

During the last Ashes in England in 2023, Australia won the Test match at Trent Bridge but England triumphed in both white-ball formats, resulting in an eight-all draw of the multi-format series.

England ODI squad: Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge

England T20I squad: Heather Knight (captain), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Linsey Smith, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge

England Test squad: Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge

–IANS

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