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As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans continues through Jan. 15, you’re likely seeing fewer social media ads promising monthly cash cards worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that you can use for groceries, medical bills, rent and other expenses. But don’t worry. You haven’t missed out on any windfalls. Clicking on one of those ads would not have provided you with a cash card — at least not worth hundreds or thousands. But you might have found yourself switched to a health insurance plan you did not authorize, unable to afford treatment for an unforeseen medical emergency, and owing thousands of dollars to the IRS, according to an ongoing lawsuit against companies and individuals who plaintiffs say masterminded the ads and alleged scams committed against millions of people who responded to them. The absence of those once-ubiquitous ads are likely a result of the federal government suspending access to the ACA marketplace for two companies that market health insurance out of South Florida offices, amid accusations they used “fraudulent” ads to lure customers and then switched their insurance plans and agents without their knowledge. In its suspension letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited “credible allegations of misconduct” in the agency’s decision to suspend the abilities of two companies — TrueCoverage (doing business as Inshura) and BenefitAlign — to transact information with the marketplace. CMS licenses and monitors agencies that use their own websites and information technology platforms to enroll health insurance customers in ACA plans offered in the federal marketplace. Suit names long list of defendants The alleged scheme affected millions of consumers, according to a lawsuit winding its way through U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale that seeks class-action status. An amended version of the suit, filed in August, increased the number of defendants from six to 12: — TrueCoverage LLC, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based health insurance agency with large offices in Miami, Miramar and Deerfield Beach. TrueCoverage is a sub-tenant of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a building leased by the newspaper in Deerfield Beach. — Enhance Health LLC, a Sunrise-based health insurance agency that the lawsuit says was founded by Matthew Herman, also named as a defendant, with a $150 million investment from hedge fund Bain Capital’s insurance division. Bain Capital Insurance Fund LP is also a defendant. — Speridian Technologies LLC, accused in the lawsuit of establishing two direct enrollment platforms that provided TrueCoverage and other agencies access to the ACA marketplace. — Benefitalign LLC, identified in the suit as one of the direct enrollment platforms created by Speridian. Like Speridian and TrueCoverage, the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Number One Prospecting LLC, doing business as Minerva Marketing, based in Fort Lauderdale, and its founder, Brandon Bowsky, accused of developing the social media ads that drove customers — or “leads” — to the health insurance agencies. — Digital Media Solutions LLC, doing business as Protect Health, a Miami-based agency that the suit says bought Minerva’s “fraudulent” ads. In September, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas, which automatically suspended claims filed against the company. — Net Health Affiliates Inc., an Aventura-based agency the lawsuit says was associated with Enhance Health and like it, bought leads from Minerva. — Garish Panicker, identified in the lawsuit as half-owner of Speridian Global Holdings and day-to-day controller of companies under its umbrella, including TrueCoverage, Benefitalign and Speridian Technologies. — Matthew Goldfuss, accused by the suit of overseeing and directing TrueCoverage’s ACA enrollment efforts. All of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The motions deny the allegations and argue that the plaintiffs failed to properly state their claims and lack the standing to file the complaints. Defendants respond to requests for comment The Sun Sentinel sent requests for comment and lists of questions about the cases to four separate law firms representing separate groups of defendants. Three of the law firms — one representing Brandon Bowsky and Number One Prospecting LLC d/b/a Minerva Marketing, and two others representing Net Health Affiliates Inc. and Bain Capital Insurance Fund — did not respond to the requests. A representative of Enhance Health LLC and Matthew Herman, Olga M. Vieira of the Miami-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, responded with a short message saying she was glad the newspaper knew a motion to dismiss the charges had been filed by the defendants. She also said that, “Enhance has denied all the allegations as reported previously in the media.” Catherine Riedel, a communications specialist representing TrueCoverage LLC, Benefitalign LLC, Speridian Technologies LLC, Girish Panicker and Matthew Goldfuss, issued the following statement: “TrueCoverage takes these allegations very seriously and is responding appropriately. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we strongly believe that the allegations are baseless and without merit. “Compliance is our business. The TrueCoverage team records and reviews every call with a customer, including during Open Enrollment when roughly 500 agents handle nearly 30,000 calls a day. No customer is enrolled into any policy without a formal verbal consent given by the customer. If any customer calls in as a result of misleading content presented by third-party marketing vendors, agents are trained to correct such misinformation and action is taken against such third-party vendors.” Through Riedel, the defendants declined to answer follow-up questions, including whether the company remains in business, whether it continues to enroll Affordable Care Act clients, and whether it is still operating its New Mexico call center using another affiliated technology platform. Lawsuit: COVID relief package made ‘scheme’ possible The suspension notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services letter cites several factors, including the histories of noncompliance and previous suspensions. The letter noted suspicion that TrueCoverage and Benefitalign were storing consumers’ personally identifiable information in databases located in India and possibly other overseas locations in violation of the centers’ rules. The letter also notes allegations against the companies in the pending lawsuit that “they engaged in a variety of illegal practices, including violations of the (Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act), misuse of consumer (personal identifiable information) and insurance fraud.” The amended lawsuit filed in August names as plaintiffs five individuals who say their insurance plans were changed and two agencies who say they lost money when they were replaced as agents. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of 55 counts of wrongdoing, ranging from running ads offering thousands of dollars in cash that they knew would never be provided directly to consumers, switching millions of consumers into different insurance policies without their authorization, misstating their household incomes to make them eligible for $0 premium coverage, and “stealing” commissions by switching the agents listed in their accounts. TrueCoverage, Enhance Health, Protect Health, and some of their associates “engaged in hundreds of thousands of agent-of-record swaps to steal other agents’ commissions,” the suit states. “Using the Benefitalign and Inshura platforms, they created large spreadsheet lists of consumer names, dates of birth and zip codes.” They provided those spreadsheets to agents, it says, and instructed them to access platforms linked to the ACA marketplace and change the customers’ agents of record “without telling the client or providing informed consent.” “In doing so, they immediately captured the monthly commissions of agents ... who had originally worked with the consumers directly to sign them up,” the lawsuit asserts. TrueCoverage employees who complained about dealing with prospects who called looking for cash cards were routinely chided by supervisors who told them to be vague and keep making money, the suit says. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began contacting the company in January about customer complaints, the suit says TrueCoverage enrollment supervisor Matthew Goldfuss sent an email instructing agents “do not respond.” How it started The lawsuit states the “scheme” was made possible in 2021 when Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The act made it possible for Americans with household incomes between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level to pay zero in premiums and it enabled those consumers to enroll in ACA plans all year round, instead of during the three-month open enrollment period from November to January. Experienced health insurance brokers recognized the opportunity presented by the changes, the lawsuit says. More than 40 million Americans live within 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, while only 15 million had ACA insurance at the time. The defendants developed or benefited from online ads, the lawsuit says, which falsely promised “hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per month in cash benefits such as subsidy cards to pay for common expenses like rent, groceries, and gas.” Consumers who clicked on the ads were brought to a landing page that asked a few qualifying questions, and if their answers suggested that they might qualify for a low-cost or no-cost plan, they were provided a phone number to a health insurance agency. There was a major problem with the plan, according to the lawsuit. “Customers believe they are being routed to someone who will send them a free cash card, not enroll them in health insurance.” By law, the federal government sends subsidies for ACA plans to insurance companies, and not to individual consumers. Scripts were developed requiring agents not to mention a cash card, and if a customer mentions a cash card, “be vague” and tell the caller that only the insurance carrier can provide that information, the lawsuit alleges. In September, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the claims. In addition to denying the charges, they argued that the class plaintiffs lacked the standing to make the accusations and failed to demonstrate that they suffered harm. The motion also argued that the lawsuit’s accusations failed to meet requirements necessary to claim civil violations of the RICO Act. Miami-based attorney Jason Kellogg, representing the plaintiffs, said he doesn’t expect a ruling on the motion to dismiss the case for several months. The complaint also lists nearly 50 companies, not named as defendants, that it says fed business to TrueCoverage and Enhance Health. Known in the industry as “downlines,” most operate in office parks throughout South Florida, the lawsuit says. Complaints from former employees and clients The lawsuit quotes former TrueCoverage employees complaining about having to work with customers lured by false cash promises in the online ads. A former employee who worked in the company’s Deerfield Beach office was quoted in the lawsuit as saying that senior TrueCoverage and Speridian executives “knew that consumers were calling in response to the false advertisements promising cash cards and they pressured agents to use them to enroll consumers into ACA plans.” A former human resources manager for TrueCoverage said sales agents frequently complained “that they did not feel comfortable having to mislead consumers,” the lawsuit said. Over two dozen agents “came to me with these complaints and showed me the false advertisements that consumers who called in were showing them,” the lawsuit quoted the former manager as saying. For much of the time the companies operated, the ACA marketplace enabled agents to easily access customer accounts using their names and Social Security numbers, change their insurance plans and switch their agents of record without their knowledge or authorization, the lawsuit says. This resulted in customers’ original agents losing their commissions and many of the policyholders finding out they suddenly owed far more for health care services than their original plans had required, the suit states. It says that one of the co-plaintiffs’ health plans was changed at least 22 times without her consent. She first discovered that she had lost her original plan when she sought to renew a prescription for her heart condition and her doctor told her she did not have health insurance, the suit states. Another co-plaintiff’s policy was switched after her husband responded to one of the cash card advertisements, the lawsuit says. That couple’s insurance plan was switched multiple times after a TrueCoverage agent excluded the wife’s income from an application so the couple would qualify. Later, they received bills from the IRS for $4,300 to cover tax credits issued to pay for the plans. CMS barred TrueCoverage and BenefitAlign from accessing the ACA marketplace. It said it received more than 90,000 complaints about unauthorized plan switches and more than 183,500 complaints about unauthorized enrollments, but the agency did not attribute all of the complaints to activities by the two companies. In addition, CMS restricted all agents’ abilities to alter policyholders’ enrollment information, the lawsuit says. Now access is allowed only for agents that already represent policyholders or if the policyholder participates in a three-way call with an agent and a marketplace employee. Between June and October, the agency barred 850 agents and brokers from accessing the marketplace “for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches,” according to an October CMS news release . The changes resulted in a “dramatic and sustained drop” in unauthorized activity, including a nearly 70% decrease in plan changes associated with an agent or broker and a nearly 90% decrease in changes to agent or broker commission information, the release said. It added that while consumers were often unaware of such changes, the opportunity to make them provided “significant financial incentive for non-compliant agents and brokers.” But CMS’ restrictions might be having unintended consequences for law-abiding agents and brokers. A story published by Insurance News Net on Nov. 11 quoted the president of the Health Agents for America (HAFA) trade group as saying agents are being suspended by CMS after being flagged by a mysterious algorithm that no one can figure out. The story quotes HAFA president Ronnell Nolan as surmising, “maybe they wrote too many policies on the same day for people who have the same income or they’re writing too many policies on people of a certain occupation.” Nolan continued, “We have members who have thousands of ACA clients. They can’t update or renew their clients. So those consumers have lost access to their professional agent, which is simply unfair.” Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.

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In an international investigation, researchers from the University of Algarve's ( UAlg ) Centre for Marine Sciences ( CCMAR ) used tea bags as a tool to measure the rates at which organic matter decomposes. To assess the wetlands' capacity to sequester carbon in the soil, a global team of researchers buried 19 thousand tea bags of green and rooibos tea in 180 wetlands across 28 countries. The tea bag technique was used in Ria Formosa, a coastal lagoon known for its high biodiversity and ecological significance in the district of Faro by researchers from CCMAR and UAlg. Intertidal seagrass (strips of coastal land situated between the mean levels of high and low tide), low-lying salt marches, and meadows of ‘caulerpa prolifera’, a species of green algae, are the three types of habitats in the Ria Formosa where the researchers buried 120 sachets. Even though they may seem like an odd tool to quantify this occurrence the bags are “a proven method for measuring the release of carbon from the soil to the atmosphere”, as mentioned in a statement. According to Carmen Santos, a researcher at CCMAR, “Ria Formosa offers an excellent natural laboratory for understanding how temperature and ecosystem characteristics influence carbon storage”. This is the first-time tea bags have been utilised in long-term and large-scale studies. As mentioned in the study, higher temperatures caused organic matter to decompose quicker, which resulted in less carbon being preserved in the soil, with the two distinct teas acting in different ways. “For the harder-to-degrade rooibos tea, it didn’t matter where it was – higher temperatures always led to greater decomposition, indicating that the type of carbon we would normally expect to last longer in the soil was vulnerable to higher temperatures”, explained the researcher and lead author of the study Stacey Trevathan-Tackett, from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. As she added, “As temperatures rose, the green tea bags decomposed at different rates depending on the type of wetland: it was faster in freshwater wetlands, but slower in mangrove and seagrass wetlands”.IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Lyon, Boland revive Pakistan's 1961 feat vs Team India A gritty partnership of over 50 runs for the final wicket between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland left India exasperated as Australia extended their lead to over 300 runs on day four of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In a day packed with enthralling Test cricket, India bowlers had removed Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins during the final session, raising hopes of starting their chase before stumps. However, Lyon and Boland stood firm, frustrating the Indian bowlers with a resilient stand at the iconic MCG. Their partnership not only defied India but also turned the tide of the match. This marked just the second instance in Test history where a 10th-wicket pair batted for over 50 balls in both innings. The first instance occurred in 1961, when Pakistan’s Afaq Hussain and Haseeb Ahsan faced England in Lahore, lasting 9.2 overs in the first innings and 18.1 overs in the second. Lyon and Boland batted for 8.3 overs in the first innings and a pivotal 17.4 overs in the second. Drama unfolded late in the day when Lyon was caught in the slip cordon by Jasprit Bumrah during the last over. However, replays confirmed it was a no-ball, keeping the partnership intact. Earlier, India seemed on the verge of wrapping up the innings when Ravindra Jadeja bowled a superb delivery, pitching on off stump and turning away to edge Pat Cummins’s bat, dismissing him for a determined 41 off 90 balls. But with the bowlers tiring and the ball softening, Lyon and Boland capitalized on the opportunity to mount a defiant stand. India’s desperation showed as Siraj dropped a caught-and-bowled chance off Lyon and later lost their final review on an unsuccessful lbw appeal. Boland’s cut off Siraj brought up Australia’s 300, while Lyon showcased an array of strokes, including sweeps, lofted shots, and edges that kept the scoreboard ticking. In the day’s final moments, KL Rahul’s tumbling leg-assisted catch off Lyon was overturned due to Bumrah overstepping. Lyon then edged the last ball for a boundary, bringing up the 50-run partnership and closing out a remarkable day of Test cricket on a high for Australia. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Rohit Sharma draws flak over angered reactions to Yashasvi India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had a terrible day on the field on Sunday as he dropped three crucial catches of the Australian batters, prompting angered reactions from his skipper Rohit Sharma. After having dropped Usman Khawaja on 2 at leg-gully in the morning session, Jaiswal dropped Marnus Labuschagn on 46 at third slip in the second session off Akash Deep. At the stroke of Tea, the 21-year-old then dropped a catch of Pat Cummins off Ravindra Jadeja at silly-point. Of all the three chances, the second dropped catch in particular, saw emotions getting better of Rohit with the skipper seen shouting and throwing his arms around angrily. The animated Rohit reactions to the dropped chances didn't go down well with the commentators with the likes of Mike Hussey suggesting that such things aren't expected from skipper. “I've got to be honest, I don't like that reaction from the Indian skipper. I appreciate he's emotional, and he desperately wants wickets, but you're the one who has to send the message of calm and support. No one means to drop a catch. “He's gonna feel bad enough as it is for putting a catch down, especially someone like Marnus Labuschagne; it happens quickly, it's in, it's out. You don't need to see that as a young player,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket. Australia's women's skipper Alyssa Healy also said that the team needs to be gentle with Jaiswal as he will be key in India's fourth innings chase. “Particularly when you need him to walk out and open the batting alongside you, to make some runs and try and win a Test match for your country," she said. Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann also wasn't impressed with Rohit and Virat Kohli's reaction to dropped catches. He however liked Rishabh Pant's gesture which saw him putting arm around Jaiswal, lifting his spirits. "Rishabh Pant did well. He actually gave him a pat on the back and said 'just hang in there, we all drop them'. What he doesn't need is the captain Rohit Sharma and (Virat) Kohli throwing their arms about. The poor kid," Lehmann said on ABC Radio. Former Victoria wicketkeeper Darren Berry also called out for support to Jaiswal from senior after the dropped catches. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Melbourne Weather Report With the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) heading into its decisive Day 5, cricket enthusiasts are keenly watching the weather, hoping it doesn’t interfere with this gripping clash. India need a miraculous turnaround to chase a challenging target as Australia, leading by 333 runs at stumps on Day 4, aim to seal the game. According to the forecast by AccuWeather, Melbourne is expected to offer favourable playing conditions on Monday, with only minimal chances of rain disruption throughout the day. MELBOURNE DAY 5 WEATHER: MORNING CONDITIONS The day will begin with partly sunny skies. Temperatures are predicted to hover around 25°C under direct sun. While a wind from the south-southwest at 9 km/h will keep conditions pleasant, occasional gusts reaching up to 24 km/h could slightly assist bowlers. With a 3% probability of rainfall, the morning session is expected to proceed uninterrupted. Cloud cover will be significant at 86%, offering mild respite to the players. IND VS AUS WEATHER FORECAST: AFTERNOON CONDITIONS As the day progresses, the temperature is expected to rise to 27°C. Breezy conditions will prevail, with wind speeds escalating to 22 km/h and gusts peaking at 37 km/h from the south. Despite total cloud cover at 100%, rain remains unlikely, with just a 4% chance of precipitation. Humidity levels ranging between 47% and 57% will not significantly impact the game, while visibility remains excellent at 10 km. Overall, Day 5 is set to provide uninterrupted play, giving both teams a fair chance to fight for a result. With Australia aiming to build on their lead and India looking to stage a remarkable chase, fans can expect an intense day of Test cricket under largely cooperative weather conditions at the MCG. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Gavaskar clarifies context of 'stupid' remark Legendary Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday angrily expressed his disapproval of Rishabh Pant's shot selection during a critical moment on the third day of the Boxing Day Test. A fuming Gavaskar had slammed Pant for his ramp shot that got him out, labelling it as 'stupid'. For Gavaskar the Pant shot was driven by ego rather than strategic thinking. "When I see somebody as talented as Rishabh Pant play that shot, I had no problem with the first shot he played and missed. The reason I got upset was that ego took over for the next ball," Gavaskar told ABC Sport. Gavaskar elaborated on why he found Pant's shot selection particularly frustrating, suggesting Pant was trying to assert dominance rather than playing to the situation. "I've just been hit in the midriff for attempting a similar shot. I'm going to show the bowler who's the boss. Test cricket is not easy. When he got out, they had two fielders in the deep, and this is a big ground. It's not easy to hit sixes. You've got the fielders in catching positions over there—deep square leg and deep fine leg. But he got caught at third man with the edge." Gavaskar acknowledged Pant's talent and past performances but questioned the need for such a risky shot at that stage of the game. "I've seen him play some fabulous innings. But here in Australia, I get the impression that he thinks that's the only way he's going to score runs. Here he's stepping down the pitch, lofting the ball, and getting a boundary. That's not the way he has scored runs in the past. He has played those shots which have been outrageously good," Gavaskar said. Gavaskar highlighted Pant's ability to score runs through conventional cricketing shots, suggesting he should rely on his established strengths rather than attempting high-risk strokes. "I've seen him play the cover drive along the ground very well, the square pull shot he plays so well, the flick off the pads—everything he's got. So, to take a little bit of a risk at that stage was a bit much," said Gavaskar. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Bumrah denied a fifer despite KL Rahul's lucky catch An exhilarating fourth day's play of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Sunday was topped off with a dramatic last over that saw India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah being denied a fifer despite an unusual and lucky catch taken by teammate KL Rahul. With the last wicket stand of Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland frustrating India with an unbeaten stand of 55, Bumrah came in to bowl the last over of the day. He even got Lyon to edge one to Rahul in the slips but unluckily overstepped to hand the Australia no.10 a lifeline. The incident took place on the fourth ball of the last over of the day when Bumrah got one to straighten from length as Lyon, rooted to his crease, tried to defend it but edged it to third slip. Rahul, who was stationed at third slip, initially fumbled and lost the ball but then used his legs to clutch on to it as India began to celebrate the end of the Australian innings. However, in a late twist, the Indian team was then told by the umpire that Bumrah had over-stepped and the no ball meant that Lyon got a lucky lifeline. Seeing the hand being raised by the umpire for a no-ball, Bumrah and the team were seemingly disappointed. Adding salt to injury, Lyon then collected a couple of runs off the fifth ball and the final ball then flew past the third slip for a boundary after a Lyon poke as Australia ended the day at 228 for 9, taking their overall lead to 333 at stumps. At the close of play, Lyon was at 41 not out and no.11 Scott Boland had scored 10 as India failed to take the final wicket. In the second innings, Bumrah has four wickets wickets to his name while Mohammed Siraj picked up three after Australia took a healthy 105-run first innings lead. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: 'Bounce has got inconsistent' Marnus Labuschagne, Australia's top scorer, believes India faces a challenging chase due to the pitch's inconsistent bounce. Deliveries bowled from a back-of-a-length are arriving at stump height, creating difficulties for batsmen. Australia finished day four at 228 for 9 in their second innings, leading India by 333 runs. Contributions from the lower order, including Pat Cummins (41), Nathan Lyon (41 batting), and Scott Boland (10 batting), significantly boosted Australia's lead. Labuschagne's 70 was the highest individual score for the Australian team. Labuschagne discussed the pitch conditions anticipated for day five. “I think from the first innings, there was some movement, obviously. It was hard work in that first probably, especially the first 40 to 50 overs. But as the game's gone on, the bounce has got less and more inconsistent. So we're just getting more balls hitting the stumps. More balls are skidding through.” He observed that while the lateral movement remains consistent, the inconsistent bounce poses a significant challenge. “The seam movement's probably been the same. But just the amount of bounce is significantly lower. So that makes for pretty tricky batting there. Because more balls are hitting the stumps from a shorter length.” Labuschagne remained tight-lipped about Australia's declaration plans for the fifth morning. “Glad you think that I know if we're going to declare or not,” he chuckled. He confirmed that day four unfolded as per Australia's expectations. “We obviously had the perfect outcome for us. And they probably... we looked like having a bowl tonight and putting them under pressure. But, you know, the way the wicket played and the way India bowled and came out and put us under pressure in that first 40 to 50 overs, you know, declaration wasn't an option for us.” Labuschagne acknowledged the resilience displayed by the lower order. “The lower order deserves a lot of credit for how they managed that last part. I mean, I felt like we were probably ahead of the game just the whole way.” IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Starc assures he's '100% fit' Australia maintained their grip on the fourth Test against India with a resilient batting display on the fourth day, despite several dramatic moments and strategic questions about their decisions. Resuming their second innings at 135 for six after tea, the visitors pushed their lead to a commanding 333 runs, closing at 228 for nine in 82 overs. The standout performer of the day was captain Pat Cummins, whose gritty 41 off 90 balls proved crucial in frustrating the Indian bowlers. Australia's tail-enders followed his lead, with the last-wicket pair of Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland adding an unbeaten 55 runs. Marnus Labuschagne, who top-scored with a valiant 70 off 139 balls, earlier held the innings together before falling shortly after tea. However, Australia’s decision to bat deep into the final session, rather than declare with a sizeable lead, raised eyebrows. Pacer Mitchell Starc, when asked about the team’s strategy, deflected the question with a wry response: "You'll have to ask Pat Cummins... you will have to ask the brains trust." Starc, who was dismissed in dramatic fashion, became the victim of a sharp run-out orchestrated by Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Attempting a second run, Starc was left stranded as Cummins hesitated. Pant’s direct hit brought an end to Starc’s brief innings of 5 runs off 13 deliveries. Despite speculation about a potential back issue, Starc dismissed concerns regarding his fitness. Speaking after the day's play, he assured, "I am 100%... My pace is still up in the low 140s, so I’m not concerned. If I need to bowl 20 overs tomorrow, I will." Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah entered the record books during the day, taking 4/56 to complete 200 Test wickets in an illustrious career so far. Bumrah’s fiery spell, coupled with Mohammed Siraj's 3/66, gave India some hope, but the task ahead remains monumental. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: 'Some people doubted me' - Nitish Reddy Nitish Reddy's brilliant century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has silenced critics who doubted his ability to excel in Test cricket. The 21-year-old, with 293 runs in six innings at an average of over 58, has shown he belongs at the highest level. His knock of 114 runs was pivotal to India's first-innings total of 369, showcasing his resilience and skill on one of the grandest stages in cricket. After the fourth day's play, Reddy spoke candidly about the skepticism surrounding his selection. "Some people doubted me, saying a youngster from the IPL can't perform in such a big series," he said. "I just want to prove them wrong. I want people to know I'm here to give 100% for the Indian team." Reddy emphasised that his success has been years in the making. Dismissing the idea that his achievements came overnight, he explained, "For you guys, it might seem like one or two months, but for me, it's about the last two to three years. I've worked hard on my batting and bowling during that time." Ahead of the 2024 IPL, Reddy took extra measures to elevate his game, including hiring side-arm throwdown experts to practice against deliveries at speeds of up to 145 km/h. "After my first IPL season, I realized the areas I needed to improve in my batting. During the off-season, I worked extensively, and those efforts are paying off now," he said. Reddy also spoke emotionally about his father, Mutyalu, who made significant sacrifices for his cricketing career. "My father resigned from his central government job to support me. He was the first person who believed in me and has always been there—taking me to practice, to the gym. I'm so grateful to have a father like him," he said, dedicating his century to his father. A longtime admirer of Virat Kohli, Reddy cherished the standing ovation he received from the former Indian captain. "When Kohli scored a century in Perth, I was at the non-striker's end. Now, I scored a century, and he appreciated me. He told me I got the team back in the game. That's the best moment for me," Reddy said, beaming. Team India faces a challenging final day, with the opposition still holding one wicket. Reddy remains optimistic, promising a strong comeback. "First, we need to take their last wicket. Then, we'll rectify our mistakes from the first innings," he said confidently. Nitish Reddy's performance has not only proven his critics wrong but also signaled the arrival of a promising new star in Indian cricket. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: 'Jasprit Bumrah is like a genie' The fourth day of the Boxing Day Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy witnessed a captivating battle between bat and ball at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj delivered standout performances as India fought to contain a resilient Australian side, which extended its lead to 333 runs by stumps. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, speaking on Star Sports, heaped praise on the Indian seamers. Manjrekar even compared Bumrah's genius to legendary bowlers like Malcolm Marshall and Curtly Ambrose. "There's just no weakness this man has. It's almost like he is this genie that Indian cricket have brought as a gift and you make a wish and you get it. And it's always Bumrah providing it, be it T20 cricket World Cup or 50 over World Cup, or it's a match like this, crucial game on a page where a lot of the bowlers struggle to get anything out of it. He was getting lateral movement," Manjrekar said. "He's cleaned up Alex Carey, as if, he's a number 10, 11 batter. He just had two balls in that spell left. You knew he wasn't going to bowl more than two balls, and he nailed Alex Carey there as well. And when you look at the average, I mean, this is unbelievable. We talk about Curtly Ambrose. I had the privilege of playing against Malcolm Marshall. Now those are great names, and an average of under 20 after 200 wickets is just mind-boggling stuff from Jasprit Bumrah." Manjrekar also lauded Mohammed Siraj for rising to the occasion. "The fact of the matter is Mohammed Siraj realised that he had to put in his best show. So what he did basically was just ran in with a lot more energy, just put in a lot more effort. And sometimes that's all you need. And it was evident when we saw the speed gun, he was four or five kilometers quicker," he noted. "There were a couple of balls over that were touching 140. In the first innings, it was maybe 134, 135. So sometimes it's just about bending your back and forget about all the other issues. And that's what he did. And he was desperate for success. And sometimes when you push against the wall, and we've seen that with Mohammed Siraj, he comes up with the goods." Jasprit Bumrah's 4/56—including his 200th Test wicket—was the highlight of the day. He dismantled Australia's middle order with clinical precision, removing Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Alex Carey in quick succession. Mohammed Siraj, with figures of 3/66, also played a crucial role in triggering a dramatic Australian collapse after lunch. His dismissal of Steve Smith for 13 set the tone for a spell that saw Australia plummet to 91/6. Despite these setbacks, Australia showed grit, with contributions from Pat Cummins (41) and an unbeaten 55-run partnership between Nathan Lyon (41 not out) and Scott Boland (10 not out). IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Mohammed Siraj's perfect support act! When a fast bowler's own countrymen — whether captain, teammates or former cricketers in the same cricketing ecosystem — challenge their ego, it can be a deliberate or incidental act that spurs them to perform better. Fast bowlers often have a fierce competitive streak. Challenges from their countrymen can push them to raise their game and prove their superiority. Facing criticism or challenges at home helps bowlers build the mental toughness required for the intense scrutiny and high-pressure situations of international cricket. On Friday, legendary Sunil Gavaskar, delivering a harshly critical assessment, had called for the removal of Mohammed Siraj from the Indian squad. With 13 wickets in seven innings and a lack of aggression with the new ball, Siraj, a key component in the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series victory, had fallen short in the current series, adding to Jasprit Bumrah's workload. According to Gavaskar, the right-arm quick should be informed that he is being dropped rather than rested. "I think Siraj, perhaps, needs a little bit of a break. In the sense, I am not saying a break, he needs to be told that he is left out of the team for non-performance. There has to be a situation where you can't beat around the bush. "You need to be brutally upfront and say 'look, your performance has not been up to scratch, and therefore you are being dropped.' When you start talking about 'rest,' players get wrong ideas. They feel they don't need to up their game," Gavaskar had told Star Sports on Friday after the second day's play. With an average of 4.07 runs per over, Siraj led the unwelcome list of frontline pacers who have given the most runs in the series. In the ongoing Boxing Day Test, Siraj was completely out of sorts after conceding 122 runs in 23 overs without taking any wickets in Australia first innings. Probably that was the reason that India captain Rohit Sharma called up Akash Deep to share the new ball with Bumrah in the Aussie second innings on Day 4. Being denied the new ball and a keeper standing upto the stumps are the two biggest factors that can rub off a pacer's ego. These situations strike at the core of a pacer's pride and role in the team, potentially fueling their competitive fire or exposing weaknesses. Both situations put a pacer in a vulnerable position, testing their mental resilience and ability to bounce back. They challenge the bowler to prove their worth and reclaim their authority, which can either inspire growth or create friction, depending on how they are handled. These challenges, though difficult, often separate great fast bowlers from the rest, highlighting their ability to rise above setbacks and continue delivering under pressure. When a captain targets their own fast bowler's ego, it can be a tactical move designed to motivate them, ignite their competitive fire, or bring out their best performance. Fast bowlers often thrive on adrenaline and emotion. A captain's calculated criticism or challenge can act as a spark to drive the bowler to prove a point and perform with extra intensity. A social media video also showed skipper Rohit asking Siraj to step up. "Don't sit back and hide behind Bumrah, I need you to stand up and get the job done as well." This is where Siraj responded brilliantly on Day 4 when Bumrah needed support from the other end. Akash Deep bowled well in tandem with Bumrah but was unlucky to get a wicket. Siraj replaced Bumrah in the attack after 10 overs and bowled with usual aggression but with improved line and length, creating more chances and troubling Aussie opener Usman Khawaja in particular. And Siraj’s changed approach brought him a reward when he castled Khawaja with a full delivery that moved just enough to beat the inside edge and hit the top of off-stump. In the eight over of the second session, a pumped up Siraj got the prized wicket of first innings centurion Steve Smith by inducing a false shot from the former Aussie captain and having him caught behind by Rishabh Pant. This was the fourth instance that Siraj had dismissed Smith in 15 innings and that opened the gates for India as Bumrah then went on a rampage as he picked up the wickets of Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey in quick succession. Marnus Labuschagne batted brilliantly to weather the Bumrah storm whose deliveries missed the Aussie bat’s edge umpteen times. Going by stats, Bumrah bowled 60 balls to Labuschagne in the second innings and missed the outside edge 11 times. The Aussie edged 3 times scoring 24 runs off those 60 deliveries. But it was Siraj who got Labuschagne on the first delivery of a new spell by trapping the Aussie plumb in front with a back of a length delivery that jagged back sharply from outside off. Labuschagne was caught in the crease as he looked to block but missed to get struck on the back leg and as the third umpire went with the on-field umpire’s decision to give it out, a pumped up Siraj let the emotions flow. With a bruised ego, Siraj stepped up and bowled a superb spell either side of lunch where he accounted for Khawaja and Smith and later came up with the crucial scalp of Labuschagne. Cricket is as much a mental game as it is physical. By challenging a fast bowler, a captain can test their mental toughness and ability to handle pressure, which is critical in high-stakes scenarios and when done correctly, it can be a powerful tool to bring the best out of a fast bowler. With the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy still up for grabs, Siraj proved his captain right on Day 4 at the MCG. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Bumrah's brilliance, last-wicket stand for Australia keep MCG Test finely poised Jasprit Bumrah's fiery spell and a record-breaking milestone gave India hope on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test, but Australia's lower-order resistance ensured they remained in control. Despite Bumrah's 4-56 and Mohammed Siraj's resurgence, Australia reached 228/9 at stumps, leading by 333 runs, setting up a thrilling final day. Bumrah sliced through Australia's middle order, claiming his 200th Test wicket and becoming the bowler with the best average in Test history for those with 200 or more wickets. However, his efforts were countered by Marnus Labuschagne's gritty 70 and Pat Cummins' vital 41, along with a frustrating last-wicket stand of 55 between Nathan Lyon (41 not out) and Scott Boland (10 not out). Yashasvi Jaiswal had a challenging day, dropping three crucial catches, including Labuschagne on 46 and Cummins before his dismissal. These misses proved costly as Australia extended their lead on a pitch showing variable bounce. With all four results still possible, here's how Day 4 unfolded: Bumrah's record-breaking show: A historic milestone Jasprit Bumrah was once again the standout bowler for India, claiming his 200th Test wicket and solidifying his place in history. With the dismissal of Travis Head, Bumrah reached the remarkable milestone in just his 44th Test, making him the fastest Indian pacer to achieve this feat. Bumrah also set a new record for the best average among bowlers with 200 or more Test wickets, surpassing the legendary Joel Garner. He finished the day with 4-56, taking his tally for the series to 29 wickets and becoming India's most successful pacer in a Test series on Australian soil. Siraj back among wickets as India fight back After a wicketless first innings, Mohammed Siraj returned to form, taking key wickets in Australia's second innings. Siraj was the first change bowler, coming in after Akash Deep and Bumrah. Siraj quickly removed Usman Khawaja for 21, and then bowled brilliantly to dismiss Steve Smith. With the assistance of Virat Kohli, who advised Siraj to bowl wide of the crease, the pacer outfoxed Smith with a wide half-volley that the Aussie batter edged to Rishabh Pant. Siraj finished the day with impressive figures of 3-66, including the vital wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (70). Jaiswal's drop catches add pressure on India's chances Yashasvi Jaiswal endured a tough day in the field, dropping three critical catches. The first came early in the day when he dropped Usman Khawaja at leg gully. His next miscue was a relatively easy chance off Labuschagne's bat at gully when he was on 46. Jaiswal's third drop came just before tea when he let go of Cummins. The frustration was palpable in the Indian camp, with captain Rohit Sharma visibly upset. The missed chances allowed Australia to build a bigger lead, making India's task tougher. Labuschagne and Cummins stand gives Australia vital respite After India's early breakthroughs, Labuschagne and captain Cummins combined for a vital partnership of 57 runs. This stand brought some stability to Australia's innings, allowing them to recover from 91-6 to 148-7. Labuschagne, who top-scored with 70, and Cummins, with 41, frustrated India's bowlers and pushed the Australian lead past 250 runs, a vital cushion for the home team heading into the final session. Last-wicket stand frustrates India as Australia extend lead to 333 Despite India's best efforts to wrap up Australia's innings, Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland had other plans. Their unbroken 55-run partnership frustrated the Indian bowlers, with Lyon making 41 off 54 balls. This stand took Australia's lead to a formidable 333 runs, leaving India with a daunting task ahead on Day 5. With the last-wicket pair showing resilience, India's hopes of a quick end to Australia's innings faded, and the game remained delicately poised heading into the final day. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 5 Live: Hello and welcome! Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of Day 5 of the fourth Test match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A resilient 51-run partnership for the final wicket between Nathan Lyon (41*) and Scott Boland (10*) left India frustrated as Australia stretched its lead to 333 runs, finishing at 228/9 in 82 overs at stumps on day four of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India appeared poised to begin their chase before stumps after removing Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins in the final session. However, Lyon and Boland defied India’s attack for 110 balls, much to the dismay of the 43,867 fans present. Their gritty stand ensured Australia maintained control heading into the final day. The big question now is whether Australia will continue batting on day five or declare overnight, challenging India to achieve the highest-ever successful chase at the MCG. The session began with Mohammed Siraj striking with his first delivery, trapping Labuschagne lbw with a sharp ball that jagged off the pitch. Labuschagne reviewed the decision, but ball-tracking showed the ball clipping the bails on umpire’s call, ending his knock of 70. Soon after, Starc was run-out attempting a risky second run, with Rishabh Pant swiftly removing a glove to complete the dismissal at the non-striker's end. Australia seemed on the brink of being bowled out when Ravindra Jadeja produced a beauty, pitching on off-stump and turning away to find Pat Cummins’s edge, dismissing him for a hard-fought 41 off 90 balls. But as the Indian bowlers began to tire and the ball softened, Lyon and Boland capitalized, showcasing remarkable resistance. India's desperation showed when Siraj dropped a caught-and-bowled chance off Lyon, who later survived an lbw appeal, burning India’s final review. Boland cut Siraj for a boundary to bring up Australia’s 300, while Lyon mixed sweeps, lofted shots, and edges to keep the scoreboard ticking. Drama unfolded in the final over when KL Rahul claimed a tumbling catch off Lyon from Jasprit Bumrah’s delivery. However, replays revealed a no-ball, adding to India’s woes. Lyon then edged the last ball for a boundary, taking the partnership to 50 runs and capping an enthralling day of Test cricket. Match Statistics Sam Konstas Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Yashasvi Jaiswal Rohit Sharma (C) KL Rahul Top Stories Right Now