The Raja Saab Actress Malavika Mohanan Glows In A Pink Brocade Saree And Puff-Sleeved Blouse: See How To Recreate The Look Malavika Mohanan Pink Brocade Saree Look: South Indian actress Malavika Mohanan mostly works in Tamil and Malayalam films. Her recent film, The Raja Saab
Zeynep Sonmez made headlines with history and heartfelt gesture at the Australian Open 2026 on Sunday. After coming through Qualifiers, the 23-year-old Sonmez first helped a ballkid who fainted beside the court before becoming the first Turkish woman to advance into the second round of the
The sharp surge has helped silver emerge as the top performer among major asset classes, supported by strong demand and multiple positive global factors. New Delhi: Silver prices have continued their remarkable rally, rising another 22 per cent in January so far
Croma has kicked off its Republic Day Sale, rolling out wide-ranging discounts across smartphones, laptops, televisions, home appliances and audio products. The sale is currently live across Croma stores nationwide and will run until January 26
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday said at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, will pay an official visit to India on 19 January 2026
Mackenzie Scott Net Worth: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, reported to have given more than 7 billion dollars in 2025 alone, taking her total charitable giving since 2020 to 26 billion dollars across more than 2,700 organisations
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Smriti Mandhana has added another record to her name in Women's Premier League. In the 11th match of WPL 2026 against Delhi Capitals, she scored 96 runs off 61 balls and played a big role in her team's 8-wicket win
Pakistani media outlets, including Geo Super and TelecomAsia.net, confirmed that Islamabad views Bangladesh's position as legitimate. The landscape of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup has been plunged into further turmoil as Pakistan indicates it may rethink its participation if the ongoing standoff
'Are you not entertained?' Why two-dayer was no less of a Test
In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams for his show at the 2022 AFL grand final.
The Robster's performance in front of 100,024 footy fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think Robbie Williams is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance in the middle, acknowledging Kids is a belting track and Rudebox is awful.
The point being, entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music, literature or even Test cricket.
Test cricket has unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important of all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England at the MCG was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form, with a hint of Brydon Carse batting at number three.
This is not a defence of the pitch which produced England's first Test win in this country for almost 15 years and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball. Not so much the Boxing Day Test, but the Boxing Days Test.
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, and one that should historically be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers, sometimes it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra. Some matches drag on in interminable tedium, others are over in the blink of an eye.
This is the understanding we all buy into when we devote time to the game. The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment made elsewhere.
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
Australia play an annual pink-ball Test, out of step with the rest of the world. A year ago in Multan, Pakistan responded to being beaten by England on the flattest pitch imaginable by using the same pitch for the next Test, dried by industrial fans and garden heaters. Old Trafford somehow manages to complete Test matches despite the permanent threat of the Manchester rain.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers, that the best players were unable to showcase their talents because of the conditions. That this was a lottery, not a contest between bat and ball.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores in Melbourne were made by Travis Head and Harry Brook, two of the best batters in the world. Australia's batters made more mistakes than England, so the home side lost.
Try telling the England fans who have endured 18 winless matches in Australia that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the bottom tier of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, creating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian sport.
There was optimism as England surged with the ball on Saturday morning, a song with unprintable words when Ben Duckett was giving the tourists momentum with the bat and unconditional love when Ben Stokes and Joe Root led the celebrations of an England win longed for like few others.
The MCG has form for pitch problems in Tests where England have avoided an Ashes clean sweep. Eight years ago, they arrived in Melbourne 3-0 down and were presented with a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
Alastair Cook ground out an unbeaten 244 over seven hours at the crease, only 24 wickets fell in the drawn Test and anyone who sat through it needed therapy afterwards.
MCG pitches have been spicy ever since, culminating in this year's jalapeno. Neither Cook's match nor this one is ideal – they are extreme ends of the spectrum – yet value, significance and history can be attached to both.
Four Tests into this current series, it is the two-day match in Perth and this one in Melbourne that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said Cook of the Boxing Day Test of 2025. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment.
"There is a tinge for all of the people who were due to come tomorrow, and had been looking forward to it tomorrow, and they are going to miss out on a special occasion.
It's all well and good criticising the pitch, criticising the ground staff. It is a sign there are so many moving parts to preparing wickets. They have left too much grass on it. There's a bit of me frustrated with the last two days, even though I've enjoyed the carnage of it.
Cook was playing the last time England won a Test in Australia, 5,468 days ago. Back in 2010-11, England managed three wins in this country in the space of six weeks, all by an innings. Since then, they have been ritually humiliated in Australia – batterings in Brisbane through to slaughters in Sydney.
In the build-up to this Test, Stokes spoke on Christmas Eve like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The captain talked about protecting his players after they surrendered the series in three Tests and the squad then became the subject of an investigation by director of cricket Rob Key over their drinking in Noosa.
In the days that followed, Stokes' players protected him, restoring the smile to the skipper's face.
Carse, England's new number three, delivered his best bowling performance of the series, while Josh Tongue is the breakout star of the tour.
Jacob Bethell justified his selection with an unflappable knock in the second innings, while only Brook could have made the audacious 41 when England found themselves 8-3 in the first innings.
These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee the futures of Key or head coach Brendon McCullum, but something to build on for the final Test next week.
At the very least, Melbourne 2025 joins some of the other England standout performances in Ashes dead rubbers, like 1998 on the same ground, or 2003 in Sydney.
As the England supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, taking their songs to Federation Square, the Southbank or the Crown Casino, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Bangladesh Cricket crisis deepens CBI conducts searches in various parts of Kolkata in bank fraud case India warns Apple it will proceed with antitrust case after company plays for time SC stays FIR against ED in I-PAC case Myanmar begins defence in landmark genocide case at UN court Delhi Excise Policy case Google files to appeal decision in search monopoly case IND VS NZ Live Cricket Score ₹7.65 theft case concluded by Mumbai court after 49 years Delhi airport plans four-month closure of third runway for upgrades
White House trade advisor and US President Donald Trump's aide, Peter Navarro, claimed that the people of the United States are allegedly paying for the artificial intelligence (AI) services that companies provide in India, according to a telephonic interview with the former White House chief
1 days ago
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia. The Women's Selection Committee has finalised India's squad for the tour of Australia starting from February 15, comprising three ODIs, three T20Is and one Test
1 days ago
Days after citing a security threat as a reason to buy Greenland, President Donald Trump has now raised concerns with aides about Canada's susceptibility to America's so-called rivals in the Arctic, such as Russia and China, NBC News reported, citing current and former US officials
1 days ago
Chennai, Jan 18 (PTI) Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday announced an annual Literature Award for best works in languages including Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi. The award, under the auspices of the state government, will carry Rs 5 lakh cash prize, he said
1 days ago
India's fixed-income market has had a restless few weeks. Yields have moved in fits and starts, sentiment has swung between optimism and caution, and yet—beneath the surface—the market has remained far more orderly than the headlines might suggest
1 days ago
Two Hindi comedy films, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos and Rahu Ketu, were released simultaneously on January 16, leading to a direct box office clash. Vir Das' Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos and Pulkit Samrat's Rahu Ketu are locked in a box-office clash. Both films released on Friday, January 16
1 days ago
Apple iPhone 18 India Launch: Apple's A20 Pro chip, built on TSMC's cutting-edge 2nm N2 process, promises around 15% better performance and 30% more battery efficiency compared to the current A19. Apple iPhone 18 India Launch: After the iPhone 17 launch
1 days ago
The mourners had gathered in the small village of Vero, a half-hour drive from Ajaccio, the capital of the picture-postcard Mediterranean island of Corsica. In their midst was former nationalist leader Alain Orsoni, 71, who had flown in from exile in Nicaragua to bury his mother. Suddenly
1 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Singur, accused the Trinamool Congress of running a “maha jungle raj” in West Bengal and urged voters to pledge for change ahead of the Assembly elections. He said only a BJP government could restore law and order
1 days ago
Former CPI(M) MLA S Rajendran has joined the BJP. He stated he has no conditions and no desire to contest elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the NDA's Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign on January 23. The AIADMK-led NDA aims to regain power
1 days ago
Croma has kicked off its Republic Day Sale with a broad set of discounts across electronics, highlighted by a steep price cut on Apple's latest iPhone 17. The sale is currently live at Croma stores nationwide and will run until January 26. Republic Day Sale now liveThe Tata-owned electronics
1 days ago
The 50 promises a massive, never-before-seen reality TV experience with a star-studded contestant line-up, grand scale and an unconventional format that is set to redefine Indian reality shows. Colors TV is ready to shake up the Indian reality TV space with its upcoming mega show, The 50
1 days ago
British number one Emma Raducanu overcame a shaky start to sail past Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew and reach the second round at the Australian Open. Seeded at a major for the first time since the 2022 US Open, Raducanu looked sluggish as she dropped serve early on against the world number 196
1 days ago
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Saturday imposed a penalty of Rs 22.2 crore on IndiGo following an investigation into widespread flight disruptions in December, finding that the airline overstretched its flight crew and failed to adequately implement revised pilot duty and rest norms
1 days ago
Stringent anti-pollution curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) were reinforced in the national capital on Saturday after Delhi's air quality worsened, with AQI breaching 400 in some areas. The curbs under GRAP-4 include a ban on entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi, construction
1 days ago
Sri Lanka secured a commanding victory over Japan in the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup. Openers set a new record partnership for the tournament. Sri Lanka's bowlers then restricted Japan, showcasing the team's depth. This win positions Sri Lanka strongly for the next stage of the competition
1 days ago
Memes and match-winning numbers have gone hand in hand as Daryl Mitchell once again tormented India, turning the ongoing ODI series into his personal highlight reel. As India and New Zealand locked horns in the series decider at Indore on Sunday, social media erupted with jokes
1 days ago
Taiwan's Lin Chun-yi clinched the India Open men's singles title on Sunday, but his breakthrough triumph came at a tournament overshadowed by criticism over playing conditions that included bird droppings on court and even a monkey in the stands
1 days ago
NASA's Artemis II rocket is now on the launch pad for a historic lunar journey. Four astronauts will travel around the moon and return. This mission is a crucial step towards future moon landings. The launch is planned for February, following a key fueling test
1 days ago
Bodoland Lottery Results Today 18 January 2026 Live: The Assam Bodoland Lottery Department will declare its results today at 3 PM. Participants can view their results at bodollotteries.com, the official website, scroll down for more details.Bodoland Lottery Results Today 18 January 2026 Live: The
1 days ago
Max Verstappen isn't panicking about the future. If anything, he sounds almost too calm. With Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin circling — and the next big rules reset looming — the four-time world champion has made it clear that the upcoming season could shape what comes next
1 days ago
Dark showering has emerged as the latest trend among wellness enthusiasts. Experts suggest that it may help reduce stress, promote better sleep, and even aid in managing anxiety. From calming the mind to creating a soothing sensory experience
1 days ago
A delegation from Gujarat, spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, is set to make waves at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Their mission? To lure in global investors and highlight Gujarat's ambitious development strategy. Ahmedabad
1 days ago
US-Iran Tensions: The protests, which began in December last year at two markets in the Iranian capital Tehran, continued to escalate despite a high death toll. After weeks of demonstrations, which later turned violent, the unrest appeared to have subsided.US-Iran Tensions: The protests
1 days ago
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said a U.S. invasion of Greenland "would make Vladimir Putin the happiest man on earth" in a newspaper interview published on Sunday (January 18, 2026). PM Sanchez said, ”Any military action by the U.S
1 days ago
With the three-match series tied at 1-1, the Indian team management made the bold call to bench Prasidh Krishna in favor of Arshdeep. IIn a high-stakes series finale where every selection is scrutinized, Arshdeep Singh proved exactly why he remains India's go-to man for early breakthroughs
1 days ago
Maharashtra municipal corporation election results are reshaping the opposition bloc. The NCP (SP) faced significant losses in its stronghold, while Shiv Sena (UBT) saw its influence shrink outside Mumbai. The Congress, however, gained ground in several cities
1 days ago
