Top Stories: Things that made news in the cricket world today

Virat Kohli and Pat Cummins end 2019 as number 1 Test batsman & bowler

• Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne has finished the year at a career-best fourth position while South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has moved into the top 10 of the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings in the latest update carried out on Monday.
• Labuschagne, who was ranked 110th at the start of the year, has moved up one slot after scores of 63 and 19 in the Melbourne Test against New Zealand, which Australia won by 247 runs to go 2-0 up in the three-match series.
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India vs Australia: D’Arcy Short replaces Sean Abbott for ODI series

• Sean Abbott won’t be taking part in the upcoming ODI series versus India, starting January 14 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
• The 27-year-old has developed a moderate side strain while representing the Sydney Sixers in the 2019-20 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).
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‘It was a fair call’ – Rashid Khan reacts on umpire scratching his nose after raising his finger for LBWC

• On Sunday, in a Big Bash League 2019-20 match, a bizarre instance happened that hogged the spotlight as the umpire hilariously changed his decision.
• During the game between Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades, bowler Rashid Khan appealed for leg before wicket against Beu Webster but the match official turned down the appeal in a funny fashion that left every player on the field dumbstruck.
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India has put pressure on Bangladesh to not tour Pakistan: Pakistan Foreign Minister

• Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi feels India have put pressure on Bangladesh to not tour Pakistan for two Tests and three T20Is scheduled in January-February.
• Pakistan is trying hard to see international cricket return on its soil after it remained sidelined for a long time after the terror attack that targeted the Sri Lankan national side in Lahore in 2009.
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Reports: Gautam Gambhir ready to take over as DDCA President if given a chance

• Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir has always been vocal about the issues that have been happening in and around India.
• Whenever there is an issue, he takes to his official Twitter handle to raise his concern.
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‘Did Shane Warne ever want rest and give Stuart MacGill a go?’ – Nathan Lyon denies resting for SCG Test

• Nathan Lyon has shut all down all the talks about him being rested for the third Test match against New Zealand in Sydney.
• The off-spinner rejected the former Australian spinner Shane Warne’s suggestion to do so in order to make space for Mitchell Swepson’s debut in Test cricket. Swepson has been included in the squad for the New Year Test as the surface is expected to turn.
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Australia vs New Zealand: Will Somerville to replace injured Trent Boult in Kiwis squad

• New Zealand faced a couple of major blows during their ongoing Test series in Australia as pacers Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult have been ruled out of the tour because of injuries.
• The Kiwis have already lost the three-match series and will take on the hosts in the academic third match in Sydney starting January 3.
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Not enough evidence against Krishmar Santokie, says BCB ACU

• The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) anti-corruption unit has not found anything alarming against Sylhet Thunder’s West Indian pacer Krishmar Santokie for his suspicious wide and no-ball deliveries against Chattogram Challengers in the opening game of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
• The ACU has now closed the case after interrogating the left-arm pacer.
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Reason why Tom Blundell sported multi-coloured batting grip at MCG

• Tom Blundell was the only New Zealand batsman who left the Melbourne Cricket Ground with his head held high on Sunday as Australia thrashed the Black Caps in the Boxing Day Test.
• The hosts beat New Zealand by 247 runs in the second Test to wrap up the three-match series by taking a 2-0 lead with a game to go. The hosts had previously won the series-opener by 296 runs in Perth.
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‘It’s been frustrating’ – Joe Root after England end 2019 with yet another Test loss

• England ended the year 2019 with a painstaking defeat at the hands of South Africa in the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
• The touring party was outsmarted by the hosts in all facets of the game as South Africa won the game by 107 runs and took the lead in the four-match Test series.
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