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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21 illegal migrants from Bangladesh sent back from Assam
Guwahati (PTI): A total of 21 illegal migrants from Bangladesh, including children, were sent back to their country from Assam in the early hours of Sunday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The push back took place from Sribhumi district of the state, he said.
"Alert eyes. Midnight action. At 12:30 AM sharp, 21 illegal migrants were sent back to their respective country, thanks to the ever-watchful @sribhumipolice," Sarma said in a post on X.
"Apprehended. Documented. Sent back home. Seems like while most people were dreaming, our police were wide awake doing the night shift for the nation. Sleep can wait when duty calls," he added, lauding the police action.
The two photographs shared by the chief minister on X showed at least seven children among the illegal migrants.
The Assam government has been cracking the whip on illegal migrants from Bangladesh, pushing back infiltrators through its borders with the neighbouring nation.
