Australia routs West Indies for 86 and makes clean sweep of ODI series
Canberra (Australia), Feb 6: Fast bowler Xavier Bartlett ran through the West Indies lineup with another impressive total of 4-21 as Australia swept the one-day international series with another resounding eight-wicket win on Tuesday.
Australia won the first match by eight wickets in Melbourne and the second by 83 runs in Sydney.
Bartlett, who grabbed four wickets in his debut ODI at MCG in the series opener before the pace bowler was rested at Sydney, ripped through West Indies batting as the visitors were bowled out for 86 — its fifth-lowest total in ODIs.
Jake Fraser-McGurk made a rapid 41 off just 18 balls as Australia sped to 87-2 in just 6.5 overs with the opening batter smacking three sixes and five fours.
Josh Inglis was also in a hurry and made a brisk unbeaten 35 off 16 balls as fast bowler Matthew Forde gave away 40 runs off his two overs with Fraser-McGurk and Inglis both showing plenty of aggression.
“It's pretty insane. It's just great to get a taste of international cricket,” Bartlett said. “To cap it off with a series win was great. There was still some pressure there (today) but I relaxed a little bit more and tried to enjoy it a little bit more and they came out alright again.”
Australia's 12th successive win came in its landmark 1,000th ODI as it became only the second country after India to play so many ODIs.
Bartlett was on target from the onset once Steven Smith won the toss and elected to bowl first. He had opener Kjorn Ottley leg before wicket in his second over but television replays suggested the batter had inside edged the ball.
Lance Morris, one of the two changes Australia made with Bartlett, had an injury scare when he walked off the ground with a side strain in his fifth over
But Bartlett, who replaced rested Josh Hazlewood, bowled at an impeccable line and length as he conceded just 11 runs in his first five-over spell.
Morris dented West Indies enough before walking off the field as he had Keacy Carty as his first international wicket when Marnus Labuschagne grabbed a stunning catch at backward point and then had Teddy Bishop clean bowled with a superb full delivery.
Alick Athanaze top-scored with 32 but when he fell to a rash sweep against Adam Zampa and was caught at deep backward square leg, West Indies lost the last six wickets for just 16 runs and the innings got folded in just 24.1 overs.
Smith recalled Bartlett who had the wicket of Romario Shepherd with his first ball of the second spell and then cleaned up West Indies innings by having the wicket of Alzarri Joseph.
“Our batting let us down, it did for the entire series,” West Indies captain Shai Hope said.
“We need to do some real soul-searching to understand what's needed in certain conditions ... The mindset has a lot to do with it, playing the situation. We just didn't bat as well as we could have. We must take the positives with us and try to negate the negatives. Hopefully we can come back stronger for the next series.”
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Become CM after winning next Assembly polls: Minister KN Rajanna to DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Jan 10: Karnataka Minister K N Rajanna on Friday suggested Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to become Chief Minister of the state for the full five years, after winning the next Assembly polls under his leadership, rather than eyeing the post during the remaining two-and-half years of the current government's tenure.
His comments came following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recent dinner with select Dalit and ST Cabinet colleagues, creating a buzz within the Congress, amid speculation about a possible change of guard in the state after March, under a "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" formula.
Cooperation Minister Rajanna, who is considered to be a confidant of Siddaramaiah, was also part of the dinner meeting.
Shivakumar has made no secret of his ambition to become the CM.
"As a human being, the desire for power is natural. I don't feel that him (Shivakumar) showing interest or desire for the Chief Minister post is wrong. Previous (2023) election was under the leadership of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and people blessed us (Congress)," Rajanna said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, the high command has appointed the legislature party leader, who is the CM, and they have the powers to change the leader in the future if they want, and everyone will accept whatever decision they make.
"Let's go for the next Assembly polls under Shivakumar's leadership, and with the party coming to power once again under his leadership, let him be the chief minister for the full five years, why fight for two-and-half years now?"
Rajanna said, "I'm not saying don't fight for two-and-half years. My suggestion for him is why fight to be CM for two-and-half years, become CM for a full five years. Who will object..."
Asked if he will be minister in Shivakumar's cabinet if there is a chance, Rajanna said, he won't contest elections anymore, and also don't expect to become minister in anyone's cabinet.
There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the CM's post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May 2023, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy Chief Minister.
There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a "rotational chief minister formula," according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two-and-half years, but they have not been officially confirmed by the party.
A meeting of Congress leaders, ministers, and lawmakers from SC/ST communities, scheduled for Wednesday evening under the leadership of Home Minister G Parameshwara and supported by Rajanna, had to be postponed following instructions from AICC general secretary in-charge of the state, Randeep Singh Surjewala.
According to sources, the decision to postpone the meeting came after Shivakumar, a chief ministerial aspirant, met AICC general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal in New Delhi on Monday night to discuss party developments.
A section within the Congress feels that the SC/ST convention and Parameshwara's dinner meeting could revive the demand for a Dalit or AHINDA (a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) leader to become the next chief minister. This could complicate Shivakumar's prospects if Siddaramaiah steps down after the state budget, as speculated.
Rajanna had in the past demanded the party to enforce the 'one person, one post' policy, which was seen as a move to mount pressure on Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief.
He had also batted for three more Deputy Chief Ministers -- from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST and minority communities -- along with Shivakumar a Vokkaliga.
Reacting to union minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy's 60 per cent commission charge against the Congress government, Rajanna said, "Ask Kumaraswamy how much is his percentage and let's say what is the difference later. Is Kumaraswamy a Satya Harishchandra?"
Claiming that 90 per cent of political leaders in this country are corrupt, he said, "How much would we spend during elections? Where does that money come from? Do we spend by selling our assets? Don't we borrow from someone for it? Does the person who lends money, lends just like that? If we speak the truth before the media, it will become an issue. The situation is such that the truth cannot not be spoken."
