The Melbourne Cricket Ground will be permitted 30,000 fans per day during the Boxing Day test between Australia and India after authorities eased crowd restrictions last week. The match was to be capped at 25,000 fans per day but Victoria sports minister Martin Pakula confirmed the increase on social media after the southern state confirmed it had notched its 41st consecutive day without a new case of Covid-19. The second test of the four-match series will be the first time fans have been allowed to attend the iconic stadium since 86,000 watched Australia win the Women’s T20 World Cup final against India in March.
England leaving is not our fault: CSA
Judge Zak Yacoob, the chairman of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) interim board, said that England abandoning the tour is not “in any way” their fault and went on to add that the protocols that they laid down have been “very good”. “What I want to negate is an idea that our provision of services was substandard and that there is any justification for England saying they didn’t want to participate and go home. The facts are that ultimately, they were negative,” Yacoob was quoted as saying. “We wish to say absolutely and completely that any notion that they went away because it was in any way our fault, is completely wrong.”
Kohli most impactful player in ODIs
Sunil Gavaskar believes Virat Kohli has been the most impactful player for India in the last 10 years, considering the number of games that he has won for the country in this span of time. “I think if you look as an individual, then certainly it’s got to be Virat Kohli, because if you look at the number of matches he’s won for India when India has been chasing big scores”.
Williamson pulls out of WI Test
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson pulled out of the second Test against the West Indies in Wellington as he awaits the imminent arrival of his first child. The abrupt U-turn came just hours after Williamson had told head coach Gary Stead he would play in the match, which began on Friday last.
