Published: Jan 03, 2019, 05:38 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 03, 2019, 05:38 AM (IST)
The fourth Test between India and Australia got underway at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from Thursday. India have a 2-1 lead and are aiming for a historic series win.
Both the teams rung in a couple of changes each in their playing XIs. India brought back KL Rahul to open the innings and replaced Ishant Sharma with a spinner in Kuldeep Yadav.
Australia dropped opener Aaron Finch and allrounder Mitchell Marsh. Peter Handscomb and Marnus Kabuschagne have been drafted in the playing XI.
Players of both the teams and the match umpires could be seen sporting black armbands. The Indians were wearing it in the memory of legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar who died at the age of 87 in Mumbai on Wednesday. Achrekar has coached several cricketers including Balwinder Singh Sandhu to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Achrekar, who has played just one first-class match in his playing career, was bestowed the Padmashri award in 2010. He was conferred with the Dronacharya award for his services to cricket coaching in 1990. He is also known for shaping up prominent players like Pravin Amre and Sameer Dighe.
On the other hand, Australians are mourning the loss of former opener Bill Watson who played four Tests in 1955 alongside the likes of Richie Benaud, Neil Harvey, Alan Davidson and Ray Lindwall. He scored 106 runs in seven innings at 17.66. He was 87.
In 41 first-class matches, Watson scored 1958 runs with six centuries and five fifties.
