Ishant fined for poor conduct

Brisbane, December 21

Indian speedster Ishant Sharma has been fined 15 percent of his match fees for breaching the ICC’s ‘Code of Conduct’ during the second Test between India and Australia while Steve Smith was fined 60 percent for his team’s slow over-rate. Sharma was fined for using inappropriate language after dismissing Smith during Australia’s first innings on the third day at the Gabba.

According to a media release sent by the ICC, Sharma has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee. The incident happened in the first innings when Sharma was seen using inappropriate words after dismissing Australia captain Steven Smith.

Australia replace injured Mitchell Marsh with Burns

Young batsman Joe Burns was on Sunday roped into Australia's 13-man squad for the Boxing Day Test against India in place of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who injured his right hamstring during the second Test. The 25-year-old, who is all set to make his Test debut, has been rewarded for his stellar show in the domestic circuit.

‘Watson must score to justify all-rounder tag’

Australia coach Darren Lehmann said onSunday that Shane Watson must contribute with the bat to justify his all-rounder status. The versatile right-hander played a vital role with his lively seamers in Brisbane and worked well in tandem with fellow pacers to trouble the Indian batsmen. Bowling as the fourth-choice quick, he picked up a wicket in the match for his efforts.

"We think Shane Watson did a really good job for us with the ball," Lehmann was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. “Obviously, we'd like him to make more runs but he did a good job with the ball and he can do that all-rounder role for us. That's why we went with a batter." Watson is averaging 24 this year and is yet to score a fifty in eight innings— PTI