Hello folks. The Sport360 team is in place to bring you all the latest cricket news including updates from the second Test between Pakistan and Australia.
7:00pm – Liam Plunkett unfazed by England competition
Liam Plunkett is relaxed about inviting competition for his England place after missing the start of the Sri Lanka tour to get married.
Plunkett’s wedding with long-term American partner Emeleah took place last Saturday in the Cotswolds, the same day his team-mates were busy winning the second one-day international 5,000 miles away in Dambulla.
Read what Plunkett had to say here.
England’s Liam Plunkett (l).
6:30pm – Kohli v Holder among key India-Windies ODI battles
West Indies did not put up much of a fight in the two-Test series against India, losing the Rajkot and Hyderabad Tests within three days.
The Caribbean side are more comfortable in white-ball cricket but this time, absence of star names like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Evin Lewis means the visitors can expect a tough time against a strong Indian outfit.
We take a look at the three key battles that could decide this series here.
6:00pm – Sarfraz lauds Mohammad Abbas’ display in Pakistan win
Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed heaped praise on seamer Mohammad Abbas after the side’s 373-run over Australia in the second Test at Abu Dhabi.
The hosts completed a crushing victory on day four having set the Aussie a mammoth target of 538 to capture the two-match series 1-0. Abbas was the star of the show for Pakistan once again with the pacer picking up another five-wicket haul to take his series tally to 17.
Read what Sarfraz had to say on Abbas and more here.
Mohammad Abbas has come in for some special praise.
5:00pm – Tim Paine admits current Aussie squad a shadow of the past
Australia captain Tim Paine has given his side a frank appraisal after seeing the Baggy Greens slump to their greatest ever Test loss, in terms of runs, against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
After the Aussies were humbled by a mammoth 373 runs, Paine said that the current line-up was “completely the opposite” of former great Australian teams, especially in the batting department.
Read the Aussie skipper’s honest assessment in full here. Our man Alex Broun believes the Aussies are going through a batting crisis ahead of the Test series against India. Read his take on the matter here.
Tim feels the Paine in Abu Dhabi.
4:45pm – Pandya calls Asia Cup injury a blessing in disguise
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya feels the back injury he sustained in the Asia Cup is a ‘blessing in disguise’.
The 24-year-old had to be stretchered off the field after collapsing on the pitch while bowling in the clash against Pakistan and has been out of action ever since.
Read what Pandya had to say on his injury setback and more here.
Pandya is relieved to get a break from cricket.
4:30pm – Martin Guptill ruled out of limited-overs clashes against Pakistan
New Zealand have been dealt a major blow ahead of their tour of the UAE where they take on Pakistan with opening batsman Martin Guptill ruled out with a calf injury.
The Kiwi limited-overs openers sustained a strain on his left calf and his name has now been withdrawn from both the T20 and ODI squads for the series.
Read more on this story here.
Guptill is ruled out for both the ODI and T20 clashes with Pakistan.
4:00pm – Pat Cummins eager to rekindle Kagiso Rabada rivalry
Australia pace ace Pat Cummins is set to renew his rivalry with South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada when the two sides meet in an ODI series next month.
Cummins had been out of action with a back injury which ruled him out of Australia’s tour of the UAE but is now back to bowling after regaining his fitness.
Read what the Aussie pacer had to say on his rivalry with Rabada here.
Cummins and Rabada are set to go head-to-head once again.
3:00pm – Resurgent Sarfraz Ahmed shines in Pakistan player ratings
We have rated Pakistan players’ performances across the two Tests against Australia and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has shone alongside seamer Mohammad Abbas.
Read how Sarfraz, Abbas and the rest of the Pakistan Test squad fared in the two matches here.
Sarfraz Ahmed bounced back in style.
2:15pm – Marsh brother disappoint in Australia player ratings
Our player ratings for the Australian team following their 0-1 series defeat to Pakistan is out and it does not make for pretty reading for the two Marsh brothers – Shaun and Mitchell.
Read more on how the Marsh siblings and the rest of the Aussie squad fared across the two Tests here.
Shaun Marsh (r) was Australia’s biggest disappointment.
2:00pm – Mohammad Abbas shine in Pakistan report card
Our report card for Pakistan players from their Abu Dhabi Test against Australia is out and seamer Mohammad Abbas has walked away with full marks following his sensational bowling display.
Read more on how Abbas and the rest of the Pakistan team fared in our report card for the match here.
Mohammad Abbas celebrates his ten-wicket haul
1:55 pm – Abbas destroys Australia
Abbas has been on fire in Tests.
Pakistan defeated Australia by 373 runs on day four of the Abu Dhabi Test, thanks to a second five-wicket haul in the match from Mohammad Abbas.
Despite the absence of regular skipper and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who was out after receiving a blow to the head while batting, the hosts made a strong statement with seamer Abbas wrecking the Aussie top order in the first hour.
Catch all the live updates here.
1:30 pm – Steyn lauds Abbas
Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas has taken Test cricket by storm, steaming past 50 wickets in 10 Tests.
The 28-year-old is being labelled as the best seamer in the world at the moment and South African veteran Dale Steyn called him the potential No1 Test bowler in the world.
Read more here.
12:00 – Khawaja injured
Usman Khawaja
Australia batsman Usman Khawaja could be a doubt for the visit of India after scans on his injured left knee revealed a meniscal tear.
The Aussie top-order batsman sustained an injury to his knee during a fielding drill ahead of the third day of the ongoing Abu Dhabi Test against Pakistan.
For more, click here.
