Australia retains Ashes with win over England
Melbourne, Dec 28 (AP): It was quite a Test debut for Australia fast bowler Scott Boland.
Player-of-the-match Boland claimed the remarkable bowling figures of six wickets for seven runs as Australia beat England by an innings and 14 runs before lunch on the third day of the third Ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
The massive victory means Australia retains the Ashes, with a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Resuming on Tuesday on 31-4, England was bowled out for 68. Ben Stokes, on 11, was bowled by Mitchell Starc in the fifth over of the day.
The 32-year-old Boland removed Jonny Bairstow for 5 in his first over of the day, then world No. 2-ranked batter Joe Root for 28 in his second over, before dismissing Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson without scoring in his third over.
When James Anderson was bowled by Cameron Green for 2, England's resistance had lasted just 27.4 overs.
Boland, who claimed match figures of 7-55 and is only the second Indigenous player to represent Australia's men's test-cricket side, was awarded the Johnny Mullagh Medal for player of the match. The award honors Australia's Indigenous team which toured England in 1868.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said his side had been relentless and would now aim for a 5-0 sweep of the series.
"Any Ashes series is when you try to make a mark on your test career, so a chance to start cementing our identity," Cummins said.
England captain Joe Root tried to remain positive.
"We have to stay strong and look at the next two games to take something from the tour," Root said at the post-match ceremony.
Play resumed as scheduled on Tuesday after players from both teams were tested for COVID-19 overnight.
"All results have come back negative," Cricket Australia said.
The start of Monday's second day of play was delayed by 30 minutes due to a COVID-19 scare involving two members of England's support staff.
Australia was bowled out for 267 on Monday as the home side grabbed a first-innings advantage of 82 runs. England could not even reach that figure to make Australia bat a second time.
The fourth test is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5 in Sydney, with the fifth from January 14 in Hobart.
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Rahul Gandhi lays foundation stone for 100 houses for landslide victims in Wayanad
Wayanad (Kerala) (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday laid the foundation stone for 100 houses to be constructed by the party for victims of the 2024 landslide here.
Congress is constructing 100 houses, each measuring 1,100 sq ft and 8 cents of land.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha assured the affected families that he and his family would always stand with those who had lost everything in the tragedy.
He recalled witnessing two major landslides and how people responded to them.
“You have lost a lot, but you have not lost your spirit. You never lost your courage. Most importantly, you did not lose your compassion,” Gandhi said.
Rahul said that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had pointed out alleged delays in the process of constructing houses for the victims.
“There were complexities related to permissions, land and other issues. Now, I hope it will be completed soon,” he said.
He described the ceremony as a "symbol and a message" to the affected families.
“In this process of recovery and healing, we are with you. We will stand with you whenever you need us,” he said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she had witnessed the hardship of people who lost everything, including their families.
She mentioned Anyan and Hanni, who lost their farms and family members in the landslide.
“We have tried our best to raise your voice in Parliament again and again. All our MPs met the Home Minister to demand that it be declared a national disaster. We wrote to the Prime Minister and held protests outside Parliament,” she said.
She said what struck her most after the tragedy was the courage of the people.
“The way you all stood together, no matter what religion or section you belong to, you gave love and courage when it mattered most,” she said.
She said she was not the MP when the tragedy struck, but had since become a daughter, sister and part of the family.
Vadra said all political parties had contributed to the rehabilitation process.
As the people's struggle continues, the party would stand with them to overcome it, she added.
Both leaders also distributed Rs 5 lakh each to 40 people who lost their shops in the landslide.
Senior Congress and UDF leaders were present at the event.
