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Jason Sangha pushes Test case with unbeaten double ton

Jason Sangha pushes Test case with unbeaten double ton

Yahoo5 days ago
Jason Sangha has given his Test prospects a massive boost after striking an unbeaten double century for Australia A in their drawn first-class clash with Sri Lanka A in Darwin.
In reply to Sri Lanka's dominant 6-485 declared, Sangha posted 202no off 379 balls as Australia A reached a monster 4-558 before the game was declared a draw on the cusp of tea on day four.
Opener Jake Weatherald (183) led the way for the hosts on Tuesday in a knock that gave his own Test hopes a boost.
But it was the Sangha show on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old began the day unbeaten on 121, and the skipper continued to pile on the pain on the way to his maiden double century in first-class cricket.
200 up for Jason Sangha!And some real class shown by Sri Lanka A, congratulating him after he reached the double ton.Watch #AusAvSLA - https://t.co/B4bcd6zaNR pic.twitter.com/TeZShzDgs5
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 23, 2025
Sangha's previous highest score in first-class cricket was 151, but he blew that away on the batter-friendly deck at the Marrara Cricket Ground.
Only 10 wickets fell across the four days, with the two-match series finishing in a dull 0-0 draw.
Sangha's star is well and truly on the rise.
He struck an unbeaten 126 to lead South Australia to a tense four-wicket victory in last season's Sheffield Shield final against Queensland, helping the Redbacks break a 29-year title drought.
Sangha averaged 78.2 across six Shield games last season, and he looms as part of generation next for the Australian Test team.
Eighteen-year-old Oliver Peake is also part of that next generation, with his 92 off 178 balls against Sri Lanka A on Wednesday further showcasing his talents.
It came after Peake scored an unbeaten 55 off just 38 balls during Australia A's series-opening one-day win over Sri Lanka A on July 4.
Meanwhile, Weatherald's century on Tuesday came at the perfect time, with the opener a real chance to be called up into the Test arena for this summer's Ashes if he can keep his form going.
Australia's current opening pairing of Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas flopped badly in the recent Test series against the West Indies, raising questions about whether it's time to inject Weatherald.
Weatherald led the Shield run charts last season with 906 runs at an average of 50.3, and his scores of 54 and 183 across his two first-class hitouts against Sri Lanka A will further bolster his cause.
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Woakes and Carse have played in all four games for England and will surely need replacing at the Oval, as will Archer, who has now played two demanding Tests in succession, having not played any cricket lasting more than 50 overs a side in more than four years. Then there is Stokes, who has been a colossus in this match but could not bowl on the fourth day and was clearly in pain with his shoulder when he forced his way through another 11 overs on Sunday. England must think long and hard before they risk their captain because his ability to play an all-round role with bat and ball remains integral to their chances of causing an upset in Australia this winter. Advertisement 'It was a workload thing,' said Stokes in playing down any injury concerns. 'I ask players to run through a brick wall, so I will always try to do the same.' 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This was only the second draw in the 40-Test reign of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, the first here at Old Trafford when two days of rain stopped England beating Australia two years ago. The famously inclement Manchester weather had nothing to do with this one. This was down to five sessions and 11 hours of Indian defiance, patience, determination and technical excellence. And that should be celebrated as much as any individual milestone and any cricketing pyrotechnics. Click here to read more cricket stories on The Athletic, and follow Global Sports on The Athletic app via the Discover tab.

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