Page 173 - Sports
On-song Kiwis favourites against Afghanistan (Preview)
New Zealand will start as clear favourites against Afghanistan after registering a tight win in their last encounter, when the two sides meet for a World Cup clash on Saturday.
Players wanted retaliatory celebration against India, PCB says no
Amid the ongoing controversy over M.S. Dhoni sporting an Army insignia during the ongoing World Cup, it has come to fore that the Pakistan team wanted to celebrate India's wickets 'differently' when the two teams meet in Manchester on June 16.
Glossier ball offering more swing this World Cup: Boult
New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult has attributed the low-scoring thrillers at the ongoing World Cup to the "glossier" Kookaburra balls which offers more swing, making the contest between bat and ball even. "The balls are actually different for this tournament. They've got a different gloss on them, they're painted differently, so there's definitely been a little bit more swing," said Boult, who took his 150th ODI wicket against Bangladesh at The Oval on Wednesday. "Conditions have been good but I believe there should be that little period at the start of the game where it's an even battle of bat versus ball, so it's nice to see the ball moving like it is at the moment." Boult got his World Cup preparation off to a fine start by picking four wickets in a warm-up game against India. "The white balls have been quite prominent, you can see the quarter seams and everything with the ball, but it's fully covered now. It's nice to hold in the hand and it's moving a little bit, so I'm ...
We were better team, only difference was they had Ronaldo, says Xhaka after facing defeat
After facing a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Portugal in the Nations League semi-finals on Thursday, Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka enunciated that they were a better team and the only difference between both the teams was they had Cristiano Ronaldo."I think we had a very good game. In my opinion, we were the better team but the difference is they have Ronaldo. It's unbelievable what a player he is. He's one of the best players in the world," Goal.com quoted Xhaka as saying.Portugal bigwig Ronaldo stunned the Switzerland side as he scored a hat-trick during the match to help his side secure a spot in the final."He's special because he knows always where you have to go and to be. I think we had him in our hands but, in the end, he scored three times and we lost the game. I think we can be proud of how we play, against a very good team," he added while praising Ronaldo.Xhaka also praised the 34-year-old for his 'unbelievable quality'."Those two are clear of the rest. If you play at 34
Indian team's practice session called off due to rain
The Indian team's practise session Friday was called off due to rain, leaving the Virat Kohli-led side with only one day to train ahead of Sunday's big-ticket World Cup showdown with Australia here. India travelled to London from Southampton on Thursday, a day after beating South Africa by six wickets in their tournament opener. Rain had also forced India to cancel their optional practise on the eve of the game against South Africa at the Hampshire Bowl. The two-time winners face a formidable opponent in defending champions Australia, who are on a 10-match winning streak, which began in India only where they overcame a 0-2 deficit to win the five-match series 3-2.
Chelsea challenges FIFA transfer ban at sports court
Chelsea has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA for breaking youth transfer rules. The court has confirmed the expected appeal, adding it is "not possible to say at this time" when a verdict is expected. Chelsea has not asked for an urgent freeze on the ban, which would allow the club to sign and register players during the offseason. Without an interim ruling, Chelsea cannot register any new players signed with money from Eden Hazard's widely expected $130 million-plus sale to Real Madrid. FIFA found Chelsea guilty of 29 violations of transfer rules designed to protect minors from trafficking. CAS suggests its judging panel could reach a verdict without a formal hearing "based only on the parties' written submissions.
Starc fastest to 150 ODI wickets
Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc became the fastest to 150 wickets in One-day Internationals on way to his match-winning five-wicket haul against the West Indies in the World Cup here. Starc's sixth five-wicket haul derailed West Indies' chase in their World Cup tie at Trent Bridge on Thursday. His figures of five for 44 guided Australia to a 15-run win over the West Indies. Starc surpassed Pakistan great Saqlain Mushtaq to the fastest to 150 wickets. The Australian achieved the milestone in 77 ODIs, a match quicker than Saqlain. New Zealand's Trent Boult is in the third spot, having reached the landmark in 81 ODIs, followed by Brett Lee (82) and Ajantha Mendis (84).
Australian female footballers to earn same base pay as men
Australia's professional female footballers secured a landmark pay rise Friday that will see them receive the same minimum wage as their male counterparts in a win for gender equality. Under a new collective bargaining agreement unveiled on the eve of the World Cup in France, the base annual pay for players in the W-League was hiked 33 percent to Aus$16,344 (US$11,393). Their season is much shorter than the A-League, but pro-rata it matches the men's minimum salary. Australia has emerged as a champion for equality in the sports arena with netballers and women cricketers also winning better pay deals in recent years. Football Federation Australia hailed the move as "an outcome that delivers on the gender equity principle of 'same base pay for same base work'". The deal means that players in both leagues "will receive the same minimum remuneration hourly rate", said FFA Head of Leagues Greg O'Rourke. Up until two years ago many players in the W-League were considered amateur and ...
Mitchell Starc breaks ODI record, gets new nickname
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc was at his menacing best against West Indies in the World Cup tie which Australia managed to win at Trent Bridge.
I still have a lot of room for improvement: Jan Oblak
Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone have developed from a middling team in La Liga to a major force in Europe. One of the characteristic features of their game under the former Argentina midfielder has been their dogged defence and goalkeeper Jan Oblak has been an instrumental part of this. Atletico finished the 2018/19 season second on the league table with the least goals conceded amongst any and Oblak finished top of the pile among goalkeepers yet again.
England aim to bounce back against Bangladesh (Preview)
After conceding a narrow defeat to Pakistan in their last World Cup fixture, England will look to bounce back against Bangladesh when the two teams meet at the Cardiff Wales Stadium on Saturday.
Fans want Dhoni to keep Army insignia on gloves
A controversy has erupted after former Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni was seen sporting an Army insignia on his wicket-keeping gloves in the ongoing World Cup.
Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval to be NZ's 9th Test venue
Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval will become the ninth Test venue in New Zealand when they will host England on November 21, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said while revealing the home season which starts from November 1.
Lalrindiki, Ishika Chaudhary and Mumtaz star as India beat Ireland 3-1
Goals by Lalrindiki, Ishika Chaudhary and Mumtaz Khan helped the Indian junior women's hockey team notch up a 3-1 victory over Ireland's development side here. With the win India ended their Ireland tour on a high having clinched the Cantor Fitzgerald U21 International 4-Nations title after beating Ireland 1-0 in the final on Tuesday. In a cagey first quarter, both teams were keen to establish defensive solidity rather than attacking. The fifteen minutes were devoid of any clear cut goal-scoring chances with the teams heading into the break goalless. India started stronger in the second quarter and won a PC in the opening minutes of the period. Lalrindiki made no mistake converting smartly to give India the lead. India's attack kept Ireland constantly on the defensive. At the back end of the quarter India had another PC, and this time it was Ishika who converted to double India's lead. A heavy downpour after the second quarter caused a delay leaving time for only one quarter. The ...
England to play 2 tests, 5 Twenty20 matches in New Zealand
England will play New Zealand in two tests and five Twenty20 matches as part of a six-week cricket tour beginning in late October. The ECB said Friday that the tests will both be played on New Zealand's North Island at Mt. Maunganui beginning Nov. 21 and at Hamilton from Nov. 29. The T20s will precede the tests and be played over 10 days in Christchurch (Nov. 1), Wellington (Nov. 3), Nelson (Nov. 5), Napier (Nov. 8) and Auckland (Nov. 10). England will also play two T20 warm-up matches in Lincoln and two warm-up matches ahead of the tests, a two-day game in Whangarei from Nov. 12 and a three-day match at the same venue starting Nov. 15.
India have got some vulnerabilities: Allan Border
Former Australia captain Allan Border feels India despite having some vulnerabilities in its squad for the ongoing World Cup, will prove to be a big stumbling block for Aaron Finch and boys when the two teams meet on Sunday at the Kennington Oval.
It's not just Ronaldo, we're going to face great Portugal: Virgil van Dijk
Netherlands are all set to vie against Portugal for the Nations League final and former's Virgil van Dijk feels that it is not only Cristiano Ronaldo that they are going to face but a 'great Portugal' side."We'll see. It's not only Cristiano Ronaldo we're going to face, we face a great Portugal. We will see what's going to happen," Goal.com quoted Van Dijk as saying.Both Netherlands and Portugal registered a 3-1 victory in the semi-finals against England and Switzerland respectively to secure their spot in the final.Van Dijk is enthused about the final and stated that they are going to give everything."I'm looking forward to playing this final with this team, and we're going to give everything that we can to hopefully hold that trophy in the end and do everyone proud," he said.Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in the semi-final against Switzerland and Van Dijk is considered as one of the best defenders. Therefore, the fans will witness a compelling clash between the two.Van Dijk also ...
Defeat against Australia a tough pill to swallow, says Hope
Wicket-keeper Shai Hope admitted the manner of West Indies' defeat to Australia was a hard pill to swallow after his side enjoyed a commanding position for majority of the game at Trent Bridge. Australia, who were reeling at 79/5, recovered from the batting collapse to post 288 all out on the back of a match-winning knock by Nathan Coulter-Nile (92) and a valuable anchoring role by Steve Smith (73). A brilliant bowling spell by left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (5/46) was sufficient to ensure a 15-run victory for Australia despite Hope's composed knock of 68. "This is going to be a tough pill to swallow having basically been dominating the game for the majority of it and then not being able to cross the line," Hope said. "Regardless of what happens we have to play cricket on the day. We always play the best we possibly can and the better team will win on the day," he added. It was ultimately scant consolation but both Hope and outfielder Sheldon Cottrell grasped stunning catches during ..
India vulnerable but will pose a tough hurdle for Australia: Border
India will pose a tough hurdle for Australia despite their "vulnerabilities", feels the great Allan Border ahead of the high-profile World Cup clash here on Sunday. Australia are on a roll having won their last 10 ODIs, including the three victories on the trot against India in March when they came from behind to beat Virat Kohli and Co 3-2 in an away series. Though India won comfortably beat South Africa in their World Cup opener on Wednesday, Border said it was not a convincing performance. "I think they (India) got out of jail a little bit the other day, the South Africans played pretty well but they are just not scoring enough runs, and then Rohit Sharma kept it all together for the Indians," wrote Border in his column for the ICC. "India have got some vulnerabilities, but they also have some world-class performers in Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and the rest it's a pretty handy side!" The former Australia captain said the game against a top team like India will given them
Anand loses to Mamedyarov, falls to last spot in Norway Chess
Former world champion Viswanthan Anand slipped to the bottom of the points table after going down to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan in the second round of the Altibox Norway Chess tournament here. Anand, who lost to world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the Armageddon game in the first round, was out of sorts in the classical game against Mamedyarov wherein he held a decent position for a long time. Mamedyarov, however, capitalised on a blunder by the Indian ace to get the first maximum of two points in the super tournament that has introduced an Armageddon game in case of a draw. Fabianoa Caruana of the US was the other winner of the day winning against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France in classical time. The other three games of the day ended in draws and lead to deciding Armageddon games. Russia's Alexander Grischuk drew against Wesley So of US. However, the American won the return game with black pieces. Magnus Carlsen survived many anxious moments and was close to losing