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Tag: Australia

  • Afghan lives matter’: China tells Australia, refuses to say sorry for controversial tweet

    China on Monday refused to Australia, after a Chinese diplomat posted a graphic image depicting an Australian soldier with a bloodied knife next to an Afghan child, a post described by Prime Minister Scott Morrison as “repugnant” and “false”.

    The controversial post comes in the backdrop of an ongoing police investigation into a recent disclosure by Australia’s defence establishment that said the country’s soldiers had committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

    Recently, an inquiry report claimed to have learnt that from 2009-2013, about 25 Australian soldiers had been involved in the killings of 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners.

    “Shocked by the murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, & call for holding them accountable,” spokesperson Zhao tweeted the caption.

    PM Morrison issued a strong statement against the tweet, asking the social media platform to remove the photograph.

    He described Zhao’s tweet as “truly repugnant, deeply offensive, utterly outrageous” and that the “Chinese government should be totally ashamed of this post. It diminishes them in the world’s eyes”.

    “It is a false image and terrible slur on our defence forces,” Morrison said.

    Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, on Monday brushed aside the criticism and instead asked Australia to do some “soul-searching” in the face of the war crimes investigation.

    “The Australian government should do some soul-searching and bring the culprits to justice, and offer an official apology to the Afghan people and make the solemn pledge that they will never repeat such crimes,” Hua said on Monday.

  • Australia Hits Back At “Needless” Worsening Of Ties With China

    Australia has hit out at “needlessly” worsening relations with China, with the country’s prime minister appealing for smaller nations not to be caught in the crossfire of Sino-US rivalry. 

    Prime Minister Scott Morrison decried mounting Chinese pressure and rejected the portrayal of Australia as a US lapdog, saying it was wrong and “needlessly deteriorates relationships” in an online speech to a London forum late Monday. 

    Morrison insisted Australia wanted “mutually beneficial” relations with both its largest trading partner and the United States, while having the right to pursue its own interests independent of both.

    In recent months, Canberra’s relationship with Beijing has gone from bad to worse.

    Beijing has produced a laundry list of complaints about Australian policies — from banning Huawei’s participation in 5G rollout to its call for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

    It has also targeted sensitive Australian exports with economic sanctions, in a bid to increase the cost of defying China’s wishes.

    Morrison warned this coercive diplomacy was just “a foretaste” of what other countries — including those in Europe — can expect to endure in future.

    “Greater latitude will be required from the world’s largest powers to accommodate the individual interests of their partners and allies. We all need a bit more room to move,” Morrison told the UK Policy Exchange. 

    During the last four years, US President Donald Trump has taken a confrontational approach, trying to rally allies to counter China’s rising influence, something critics say risks creating a Cold War-style standoff between two competing power blocs. 

    It is uncertain that Sino-US relations will improve under a Biden administration, with the Democrat outspoken during his campaign on China’s dismal human rights record. 

    “There must be a more nuanced appreciation of individual states’ interests in how they deal with the major powers. Stark choices are in no-one’s interests,” Morrison said.

  • These moments don’t come again’ – India head coach Ravi Shastri backs Virat Kohli’s decision to take paternity leave

    Virat Kohli’s absence in the last three Tests against Australia is currently the biggest talking point as Team India gears up for the series Down Under, which begins from November 27 in Sydney. India will first play a 3-match ODI series followed by as many T20Is. And then the 4-match Test series which will start from December 17 in Adelaide.

    Captain Kohli will fly back home after leading the side in the first Test which, is a day-night affair, for the birth of his first child. While many experts have opposed Kohli’s return amid the Test series, head-coach Ravi Shastri has backed the captain’s decision to return for the birth of his first child.

    “I think it’s the right decision he’s taking. These moments don’t come time and time again. He has the opportunity, he’s going back, and I think he’ll be happier for that,” Shastri told ABC Sport.

    Shastri agreed to the fact that the Indian captain has been the ‘driving force’ behind the team’s success over the years. However, he asserted that Kohli’s absence will generate opportunity the ‘young guys.

  • Australia must tire out Jasprit Bumrah, batsmen must deliver: Josh Hazlewood

    Josh Hazlewood was on the field when India achieved the near impossible two years ago – won a first Test series in Australia. Part of the pace attack that will again be tasked to make amends for the 2-1 loss in 2018-19, the 29-year-old feels familiarity with the Indian batting line-up will make the job a bit easier this time.

    Hazlewood took 13 wickets in that four-Test series, forming a strong bowling unit with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Virat Kohli’s team still hurt them. The return of Steve Smith and David Warner, and the rise of Marnus Labuschagne, makes Australia the favourites this time.

    “They won last time, and we don’t lose too many series in Australia,” Hazlewood said in an interview on Wednesday. “That certainly hurt at the time. We know the guys who were in that time. I will remember that. It gives motivation this time around.

    “Australia-India rivalry is up there with the Ashes. India have probably added to it, the last time when they came here and won. That was some tight series.”

    Cheteshwar Pujara was India’s standout batsman, scoring three centuries and grinding out the Australian attack. Kohli and Rishabh Pant scored centuries. Despite India’s batting depth, it is their bowling that the hosts will have to contend with, feels Hazlewood.

    Rivals in pace

    “They out-bowled us the last time they came. That went a long way for them in winning the series. They have most bases covered with their quicks. If Ishant Sharma gets here at some point it will add to their strength.

    “They are all a little bit different. For the last 10-15 years, Indian pacers have kept improving. Our batters will have to be on their toes to counter that.”

    Bumrah took 21 scalps to be joint-highest wicket-taker with Lyon. Mohammed Shami (16) and Ishant Sharma (11) too played vital roles with India fielding four fast bowlers in Perth, the one game they lost.

    Ishant, who left IPL midway due to a stomach muscle injury, is back to bowling almost full steam at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Bumrah and Shami, with Test pacers Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj are training in Sydney ahead of the Test series, starting on December 17.

    “Bumrah is probably the standout. He is unique with his action. He maintains pace very well throughout the day, and the whole series. He is probably the key. He can take wickets upfront or with the old ball. I guess it’s about getting lot of overs into him, try to tire him out in the first couple of games. That will be the key,” Hazlewood said.

    Hazlewood made his Test debut against India in 2014, and his latest IPL season was with Chennai Super Kings. Thus he has an idea how Indian cricket has progressed. He had three interesting picks for those who could hurt Australia.

    “We have played a lot of pink-ball cricket in the last five-six years, and a lot of it has been at the Adelaide Oval. We know the conditions. The timing of the new ball, change of innings is very important. The two hours at night. It’s about setting your team up. Those things can have big swings in the match,” Hazlewood said.

    India’s fixtures start on November 27 with the ODI series followed by a T20 series. Though Hazlewood made his ODI debut in 2010 and T20I start in 2013, he hasn’t played much limited-overs cricket. He has played 51 Tests, 51 ODIs and eights T20Is. He wants to change that.

    “On some occasions, the T20 and Test teams played at the same time. That wasn’t ideal. It’s a lot different this year. There will be lot of opportunities. I put myself in the IPL auction. In the next 12 months, I hope to improve and get a few more games.”

  • Virat Kohli has Just Fulfilled Netflix’s ‘Dream’ and It Can’t Keep Calm

    Virat Kohli and his boys have arrived in Australia for the upcoming bilateral series, starting from November 27. All the players are currently serving a 14-day mandatory quarantine. The Indian skipper took to Twitter to share a selfie where he could be seen spending some leisure time in isolation. The selfie also gives fans a sneak-peek into Virat’s laptop screen which is displaying his Netflix profile as he gears up to binge-watch “a good series.” “Quarantine diaries. Un-ironed T-shirt, comfortable couch, and a good series to watch,” Virat posted alongside the photo.

    Meanwhile, after leading the Indian side in the limited-over series and the first Test in Adelaide, Virat Kohli will be returning home to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child. Anushka and Virat had announced that they were expecting their first child in August. The baby is due in January.