James Faulkner- The hero of Australia!

He did it at Mohali and now he has done it again at the Gabba. James Faulkner scored 69 from 47 balls to pull off an amazing victory against England and helped Australia to gain a 2-0 lead.

Earlier, Eoin Morgan scored a brillliant century and guided England to a competitive total of 300. He hit 6 sixes (including one off Mitchell Johnson). Ian Bell provided a good start as he scored 68. Glenn Maxwell was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets.

The chase didn't start in a right way as Australia lost both their openers cheaply. Shaun Marsh scored a half-century but was clean bowled off Root. Joe Root bowled really well, giving away just 46 runs and took 2 wickets.

Glenn Maxwell and Brad Haddin then started a rescue operation as Australia were easily ahead of England by runs but they had lost more wickets. They took Australia to 200 before both were dismissed in the 35th over bowled by Bresnan. Maxwell scored a quick half-century.

Coulter-Nile was promoted up the order but was dismissed for just 16. Mitch Johnson also couldn't contribute much with the bat as he managed just 2 runs.

At this point Australia were 244/9, needing 57 off 36. James Faulkner then struck 5 sixes in the 3 overs bowled by Stokes(45th and 47th and 49th).

The equation was suddenly 12 off 6 with Bresnan bowling the last over. Faulkner hit 3 4's off the 1st 3 balls to finish things off in a style.

Saeed Ajmal back in business as Sri Lanka end day at 220/5

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
3rd test, Sharjah

Saeed Ajmal finally troubled Sri Lankan batsmen after a dismal performance in the 1st 2 tests. Angelo Matthews and Prasanna Jayawardene had to stitch a partnership of 60 runs to consolidate the innings which was once looking in tatters.

Mohammad Talha took the only wicket, of Kushal Silva, in the 1st session when the batsman nicked to the wicket-keeper.

After lunch, it was Abdur Rehman who striked in the 1st over of the session dismissing a patient looking Karunaratne when the score was 65.

Yet another half century partnership from the experienced duo (Sangakkara and Jayawardene) brought the Lankan innings on track before the former threw away his wicket after scoring 52.

Saeed Ajmal then took the wickets of Jayawardene and Chandimal, after tea, to reduce Sri Lanka to 166/5. He extracted some turn and bounce to dismiss the experienced man and then a doosra to end Chandimal's stay.

Since then, captain Matthews and Prasanna Jayawardene have hung on and shared a vital partnership of 54 runs to steer Sri Lanka to 220/5 at stumps.

Aaron Finch's blistering century helps Australia to take a 1-0 lead

Aaron Finch's century helped Australia reach a competitive total of 270 with 26 balls to spare in the 1st of the 5-match one day series held at Melbourne.

Aaron Finch's century helped Australia reach a competitive total of 270 with 26 balls to spare in the 1st of the 5-match one day series held at Melbourne.

England, electing to bat first, lost Cook in the very first over. Joe Root also didn't contribute with the bat scoring just 3 off 23 balls. Ian Bell and Gary Ballance were looking to consolidate the innings when Bell was clean bowled off Doherty. Ballance and Morgan then fought out and shared a partnership of 83 runs. Glenn Maxwell, then, dismissed Morgan against the run of play which slowed down the run rate thereafter. Gary Ballance top scored with 79 runs and some lusty shots from Bresnan and Buttler at the end took England to a total of 269.

Australia got off to a flying start with Finch taking the initiative. The century run partnership turned the game completely in Australia's favour. Aaron Finch scored a brilliant century while Warner was dismissed for 65. Watson stayed no longer and was clean bowled off Jordan in the very next over. Then the captain and Finch consolidated the innings and took the score past 230 after which the latter was caught at third man. Tim Bresnan dismissed Clarke for 43. Bailey and Maxwell then steered Australia to victory.

Score:- England 269/7 (50) Australia 270/4 (45.4)

Man of the Match:- Aaron Finch
England, electing to bat first, lost Cook in the very first over. Joe Root also didn't contribute with the bat scoring just 3 off 23 balls. Ian Bell and Gary Ballance were looking to consolidate the innings when Bell was clean bowled off Doherty. Ballance and Morgan then fought out and shared a partnership of 83 runs. Glenn Maxwell, then, dismissed Morgan against the run of play which slowed down the run rate thereafter. Gary Ballance top scored with 79 runs and some lusty shots from Bresnan and Buttler at the end took England to a total of 269.

Australia got off to a flying start with Finch taking the initiative. The century run partnership turned the game completely in Australia's favour. Aaron Finch scored a brilliant century while Warner was dismissed for 65. Watson stayed no longer and was clean bowled off Jordan in the very next over. Then the captain and Finch consolidated the innings and took the score past 230 after which the latter was caught at third man. Tim Bresnan dismissed Clarke for 43. Bailey and Maxwell then steered Australia to victory.

England 269/7 (50) Australia 270/4 (45.4)

Ishwar Pandey picked up for the tour of New Zealand

Ishwar Pandey

Ishwar Pandey has been selected in the ODI as well as the test squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. Along with him, Varun Aaron and Stuart Binny are the other two inclusions in the test squad.

                                           

Yuvraj Singh has been dropped from the ODI squad due to his disastrous form which was depicted in the series against Australia at home and in South Africa. Pragyan Ojha has been excluded from the test squad.

                                

India will look for improving their disastrous overseas record when they meet against the Kiwis. The last time they were there, the visitors won both the ODI and the test series. But now it's a complete different challenge as they are without their experienced little master.

The one day series starts from 19th January while the test series begins from 6th February.

Indian team for the NZ tour.

TESTS
MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishwar Pandey

In: Ishwar Pandey
Out: Pragyan Ojha

ODIs
MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron

In: Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron
Out: Yuvraj Singh, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav