Australian media insults Indian team, IPL 2019 auction date confirmed and more - Cricket News Today, 3rd December 2018

Welcome to Sportskeeda's Cricket News Today, a section that covers a summary of the trending news topics of the day in the world of cricket.

Ahead of the India-Australia Test series, slated to begin on December 6, the Indian team finished their practice game in Sydney. For fans, however, be it a match day or even a non-match day, there are loads to catch up on the cricketing front with updates from around the world.

Here are some of the headlines from the world of cricket:

#1 Australian media thrashed for disrespecting India

An Australian publication has been severely panned for captioning a picture of the travelling Indian team members as 'Scaredy Bats', ahead of the first Test at Adelaide. A picture showing Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar arriving in Adelaide, along with the caption, gained traction on Twitter after being shared by journalist Richard Hinds.

Anyone else tired of the childish and predictable mocking of visiting teams by Australian media? It’s become a boorish tradition that reflects poorly on our country.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/3bFgFSgaWZ

— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) December 2, 2018

Australian Twitter users themselves led the furore against the media's disrespectful reporting, which has allegedly claimed that the Indian team is 'scared of the dark in Adelaide' and the 'bounce in Brisbane'. Incidentally, there is no game scheduled to take place in Brisbane.

#2 IPL auction date confirmed

The venue for the 2018 IPL auctions was Bengaluru

The 2019 IPL auction is set to take place in Jaipur on December 18, bringing an end several media reports that had been doing the rounds over the last one month.

According to Cricbuzz, the BCCI confirmed the date, also adding that a total of 70 slots are available for the auction - consisting of 50 Indians and 20 foreigners.

Owing to general elections in the country, the IPL might be shifted out of India, but there are still no concrete reports about a change in venue. The scheduling of the 2019 World Cup has meant that the IPL has been brought forward for a March start.

The Kings XI Punjab, partly owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, has the biggest purse available, having let go of 11 players ahead of the auction.

#3 Australian teenager smashes six sixes in an over

Ollie Davies (Picture Credit: Daily Telegraph)

Ollie Davies, hailing from New South Wales, added his name to an illustrious list by hitting six sixes in an over while playing in the Cricket Australia Under 19 Male National Championships.

Captaining the New South Wales Metro, he hit a total of 17 sixes, six of which came strung together in the 40th over. He ended with a 115-ball 207.

Oliver Davies blasts SIX sixes in an over and notches double-ton in record knock. MORE HERE: https://t.co/bgOpDqLFIo pic.twitter.com/8TGPkdSEz3

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 3, 2018

As quoted by ESPNCricinfo, Davies said: "I was looking to hit the good balls for one and then anything loose was looking to pounce on and take over the fence. After the first two sixes, I had in the back of my head that I wanted to give it a crack and it paid off at the end".

"I was just trying to target forward of square and cow corner, getting down on the back leg before it was even bowled and trying to slog sweep."

#4 Ponting believes Kohli can be 'rattled'

"Mitchell Johnson definitely rattled him a few times"

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has urged the Australians to 'get under the skin' of Virat Kohli, who he believes can be 'rattled'. He also said that there have been instances in the past when Kohli has looked rattled after hostility was shown against him.

"Well, he might. I don't necessarily believe that he is someone you shouldn't try to get under his skin. I have seen him rattled", Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"Mitchell Johnson definitely rattled him a few times with some good hostile bowling and some good hostile body language around him. So, I would not sit back and let anyone bully,"

"The way we go about playing cricket, especially at home, it is about good strong body language. That is the way Australians have always played their best."