Crazy cricket: World’s two best teams lost on same day
PrashantNews
Undoubtedly, India and Australia are the two best cricket teams in the world. ICC has also ranked them at the top of the table in both test and ODI rankings. Ironically, both the nations on Sunday lost test matches with the Aussies losing by 8 runs and India by 28 runs.
In Hyderabad, India suffered a shocking defeat in the hands of England while in Brisbane, Australia was stunned by West Indies. From England side, Tom Hartley took seven wickets and Shamar Joseph also took seven wickets for West Indies to seal victories for their countries.
This was perhaps a rare day when the world’s top two teams suffered defeats on the same day.
In Hyderabad, Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley scripted England’s remarkable turnaround and set up a thrilling 28-run victory against India in the opening Test.
India initially looked to be in the driving seat after taking a lead of 190 but Pope’s epic 196 resuscitated England, who posted 420 all out in their second innings to roar back into the contest.
That left the hosts needing 231 to win the match but Hartley’s 7-62 in his debut Test wrecked India, who were all out for 202 in an extended final session on the penultimate day. Interestingly, 24 year old Hartley’s first ball was hit for a six but he made a strong comeback with the stunning figures of 7-62.
Rohit Sharma’s 39 was the top score by an Indian batter in the second innings. Ravichandran Ashwin (28) and Srikar Bharat (28) added 57 runs for the eighth wicket to try to take the match into its final day but that was not to be.
In Brisbane, West Indies quick Shamar Joseph took 7-68 as he bowled through pain to give the tourists a first test win in Australia since 1997 with an incredible eight-run upset on day four of the day-night second test.
Forced to retire hurt from a toe-crushing Mitchell Starc’s yorker the previous evening, Joseph bounced back to claim six wickets in a session to help West Indies sensationally dismiss Australia for 207 in pursuit of their modest target of 216. Joseph took seven wickets. The test series was tied at 1-1.