Shafali Verma, only Indian among ICC Player of the Month for December nominees
Shafali’s inclusion comes after a sensational run against Sri Lanka, where the 20-year-old set the tone at the top of the order with fearless strokeplay.
Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon leapfrogged Glenn McGrath as the second-most prolific wicket-taker in Australian Test history with an early double blow on day two of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. Lyon now stands next to legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne, who tops the list with 708 scalps.
After being left out of the XI for the second Test in Brisbane, Lyon had a point to prove in Adelaide, making an instant impact by removing Ollie Pope (3) to go level with McGrath on 563 wickets. Just moments later, Lyon from around the wicket beat Ben Duckett lunging forward, with the finger spinner hitting the top of off-stump.
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Lyon’s 564 wickets also put him in outright sixth place on the all-time Test wicket-taker’s list, with Warne, the only Australian above the off-spinner.
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On Thursday, Lyon’s efforts spoiled what looked to be a steady reply from England, who bowled Australia out for 371 on a flat surface before moving to 41/1 after the early loss of Zak Crawley (9). Lyon made his Test debut in 2011 in Galle, taking the wicket of Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara with his first ball.
The 38-year-old who once called the Adelaide Oval home as a curator now has the most Test wickets at the venue (65). At the end of the second day’s play, England were 213 for 8, still 158 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total of 371, with momentum firmly with the hosts.
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