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Steve Smith Joins Ricky Ponting, Don Bradman In Elusive Test Record At MCG

Australia batter Steve Smith slammed his 42nd Test half-century on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against India at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday to join the elusive list of batters to achieve the unique record. Smith has now joined legendary batters Ricky Ponting, Don Bradman and Greg Chappell to register 10 or more 50-plus scores in Tests at the iconic venue. It was Smith's 10th fifty-plus score at MCG in his 12th Test at the venue that earned him entry among the greats of the game. Chappell leads the chart with 13 fifty-plus scores from 17 Tests while Bradman (12 from 11 Tests) and Ponting (11 from 15 Tests) also feature in the list.

Ravi Shastri Very Unhappy With Virat Kohli Over Sam Konstas Clash, Says: "Senior Star..."

India stalwart Virat Kohli clashed with Australia's 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas early on Day 1 of the fourth Test in Melbourne. During the ninth over, the duo shoulder-barged into each other, prompting Kohli to turn back and give Konstas a glaring look, as well as exchange a few words. Despite former Australia captain Ricky Ponting suggesting that Kohli was in the wrong, the 36-year-old escaped without a ban, instead only being fined 20 per cent of his match fees by the International Cricket Council (ICC), as per sources to NDTV. Now Ravi Shastri - who shared a good bond with Kohli during his time as head coach of Team India - has given his say on the matter.

Zimbabwe's Andy Pycroft Completes 100 Tests As Match Referee

Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Pycroft on Thursday became only the fourth official in the history of men's Test cricket to complete 100 games as a match referee with the Boxing Day contest between India and Australia that began in Melbourne on Thursday. The exclusive list is led by former Sri Lanka player Ranjan Madugalle as the most experienced match referee with 225 Tests, followed by New Zealand's Jeff Crowe (125) and England's Chris Broad (123). The 68-year-old Pycroft played three Tests and 20 ODIs for Zimbabwe from 1983-1992.

Sam Konstas Enters Elite List, Breaks Jasprit Bumrah's Unreal 4483-Delivery Streak

It was in 2021 against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground that Jasprit Bumrah was last hit for a six in Test cricket. Coming into the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the marquee India pacer was hit for a six for the first time in three years as Australian debutant Sam Konstas made excellent use of his unreal T20 cricket skills. Konstas paid no respect to Bumrah's reputation and began unleashing ramp shots, both conventional and reverse, to unsettle the dangerous pacer. En route his maiden half-century in Test cricket, Konstas hit Bumrah for some exquisite shots, before being removed by Ravindra Jadeja.

4th Test Day 1: Jasprit Bumrah Keeps India In Game; Australia 311/6 After Impressive Sam Konstas Debut

Jasprit Bumrah's knack of coming up with magic deliveries in crunch situations kept India alive after Australia's top-order, headlined by teen debutant Sam Konstas' stroke-filled half-century, guided the hosts to 311 for 6 on the opening day of the fourth Test in Melbourne on Thursday. If Konstas' audacious 60 off 65 balls enthralled the near sell-out crowd of over 80,000 at the MCG during a humid morning session, Bumrah's (3/75 in 21 overs) deception of length to dismiss Travis Head (0) also had its takers as chants of 'Boom, Boom, Booooomraaaaaaah' reverberated through the stands.

Virat Kohli Escapes Ban After Heated Exchange With Sam Konstas In Boxing Day Test, But Slapped With...

Virat Kohli, former India captain, has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee in the India vs Australia 4th Test in Melbourne after a shoulder barge incident with debutant Sam Konstas on Thursday, sources told NDTV. The incident happened after the completion of the 10th over of the Australian innings when the players were crossing over. Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch. Both players quickly turned around to glance at each other and engage in a heated exchange of words with Konstas' teammate Usman Khawaja stepping in to separate them.

"Don't Smile While Speaking": Virat Kohli's Fiery Command To Mohammed Siraj Over Interaction With Australians. Watch

Virat Kohli had a heated Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and Australia in Melbourne. With Australia beginning well, Kohli appeared more charged up to make a breakthrough. This not only led to a shoulder-barging clash with Australian opener Sam Konstas, but also a charged up comment to pacer Mohammed Siraj. As Siraj and Marnus Labuschagne were sharing a moment of banter, Virat Kohli was caught on the stump mic asking Siraj in Hindi to not smile while speaking to Labuschagne.

Sam Konstas Breaks Silence On Clash With 'Favourite Player' Virat Kohli On The Field

Making his debut for Australia in the Boxing Day Test against India, teenager Sam Konstas made headlines with his explosive 60-run knock at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday. Over the course of his stay in the middle Konstas hit some explosive shots, especially to counter the Jasprit Bumrah threat. However, the 19-year-old opening batter was also involved in a heated altercation in the middle with 'his favourite player in the whole world' Virat Kohli. Speaking after his dismissal, Konstas opened up on what transpired with Kohli in the middle, saying emotions got the better of both of them.

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Steve Smith Joins Ricky Ponting, Don Bradman In Elusive Test Record At MCG

Ravi Shastri Very Unhappy With Virat Kohli Over Sam Konstas Clash, Says: "Senior Star..."

Zimbabwe's Andy Pycroft Completes 100 Tests As Match Referee

Sam Konstas Enters Elite List, Breaks Jasprit Bumrah's Unreal 4483-Delivery Streak

4th Test Day 1: Jasprit Bumrah Keeps India In Game; Australia 311/6 After Impressive Sam Konstas Debut

Virat Kohli Escapes Ban After Heated Exchange With Sam Konstas In Boxing Day Test, But Slapped With...

"Don't Smile While Speaking": Virat Kohli's Fiery Command To Mohammed Siraj Over Interaction With Australians. Watch

Sam Konstas Breaks Silence On Clash With 'Favourite Player' Virat Kohli On The Field