Australia go 1-0 up in the Ashes
Australia bowlers, led by Nathan Lyon, took the all eight remaining English wickets on the morning session of Day 4, for just 77 runs, to win the first Ashes Test match, at the Gabba, by nine wickets. Resuming on 220/2, England were bowled out for 297 at the stroke of lunch.
Australia needed 20 after lunch to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. They reached the target in 5.1 overs with nine wickets to spare.
England get massive penalty for slow over rate; Head fined
The entire England team was fined their entire match fees and docked five World Test Championship points for slow over rates in the first Ashes Test match, in Brisbane. They fell five overs short of the target after adjusting for time allowances.
Additionally, Travis Head of Australia, the Player of the Match, was fined 15% of his match fee for breaching Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Head used inappropriate language after being beaten by Ben Stokes in the 77th over of Australia’s first innings. He also received one demerit point, his first offence in a 24-month period.
Hobart to host fifth Ashes Test
The Bellerive Oval in Hobart was named as the new venue for the fifth Test match between Australia and England. The match was initially scheduled in Perth. However, Covid-19 restrictions in Western Australia forced the CA changed the venue. It will also be the second day-night Test match of the series.
The match, scheduled from 14 January, will also be the first Test at the Bellerive Oval since 2016, and the first ever Ashes Test match there.
Dassanayake named new Nepal head coach
Pubudu Dassanayake was reappointed as Nepal Men’s head coach. Dassanayake will take over from Dav Whatmore, who stepped down from the position at the end of ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, in September.
Dassanayake worked with Nepal from 2011 to 2016, guiding them from Division Four of the World Cricket League to Division One, the WCL Championship. He also led Nepal in their first major ICC tournament, the 2014 T20 World Cup, and is credited for the discovery of a then-obscure Sandeep Lamichhane.