Page 218 - Sports
Mark Wood declared fit for upcoming World Cup
England pacer Mark Wood was cleared of any serious injury on Monday and was declared fit for the upcoming World Cup, beginning May 30.England's medical team believes that Wood simply jarred his foot while bowling, ESPN Cricinfo reported.Wood, who can bowl at 90 kmph, pulled up during the fourth over of the warm-up match against Australia in Southampton on Sunday.The player has had his history of foot and ankle problems. So this caused a lot of scares in the England camp when he was subsequently sent for scans.The England team believes that he will be available for selection for their first World Cup match against South Africa.Wood won't be taking part in the warm-up match against Afghanistan today, but he was seen practicing on the edge of the square at The Oval shortly before the match against Afghanistan.England's skipper Eoin Morgan has also recovered and he will be taking part in today's warm-up match between England and Afghanistan.Morgan was diagnosed with a small fracture in ...
Crowd hostility adds to the game: Australia's Carey
Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey feels the expected hostility from the English crowd towards Steve Smith and David Warner will only add to their game and make them stronger during the course of the World Cup beginning Thursday.
England are favourites but India, Australia too are serious contenders: McGrath
Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath has handpicked England as the favourites to lift the upcoming World Cup but said going by current form, India and Australia too are serious contenders for the title. McGrath, who retired from international cricket after winning the Player of the Tournament in Australia's victorious 2007 World Cup, said going by their recent prowess in ODI, Eoin Morgan's men are the ones to beat in the showpiece, starting May 30 in the United Kingdom. "England, a very good one-day unit. To me they are the favourites going into this World Cup, so I think they'll do very well," McGrath was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "Probably! I can't remain biased my whole life. You've got to go on current form. The England team - the way they go about it, they have impressed me. They have scored some big, big totals. "Most teams used to go hard in the first 15 and the last 15, and consolidate in the middle. But teams like England, India are just going hard the whole 50 overs,
England's Wood cleared for World Cup opener
England fast bowler Mark Wood has been passed fit for the World Cup opener against South Africa, a team spokesman announced Monday. The Durham quick left the field early while running in to bowl during Saturday's warm-up defeat by Australia in Southampton after suffering a foot injury. Wood's injury-plagued career has been blighted by a history of repeated ankle problems but hospital scans saw the 29-year-old given the all clear for Thursday's opening match of the World Cup, against South Africa at the Oval. Wood was scheduled to bowl during the warm-up immediately before Monday's practice match against Afghanistan but will not play any part in the fixture itself. Wood has been one of England's quickest bowlers of recent years. But fears over his ability to stay fit for prolonged periods remain and he has bowled a mere 13.1 overs since the start of the season in a bid to reduce his workload prior to the World Cup.
Will do everything we can to win the trophy this time: Guptill
They missed out on a fairy-tale ending in the previous edition but New Zealand will leave no stone unturned to lift their maiden World Cup trophy this time, says their swashbuckling opener Martin Guptill. New Zealand started the warm-up games with a bang, slaying tournament giants India by six-wickets and 77 balls to spare on Saturday. "I wouldn't say we are favourites to win the World Cup this time but we have named a strong squad. We know it's going to be a tough tournament. We are going to try our best, do everything we can to go and win the trophy we missed out on the last time," Guptill told PTI. New Zealand have landed in the UK with an experienced and balanced side and the English pitches are likely to suit big hitters like Guptill, who will be crucial to the team's success. The 32-year-old was one of the key members of the team's best-ever World Cup campaign when they reached their maiden final in the previous edition. The New Zealand opener was the highest run-getter with 547
Kvitova gets all clear for Wimbledon after arm injury
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she expects to be fit for the grass-court season despite pulling out of the French Open with a left arm injury on Monday. The Czech, who was seeded sixth at Roland Garros, will be out for "two to three weeks". "It means no tennis, of course, as it's my left forearm," said the big-hitting left-hander. "Maybe I can play rightie. Two to three weeks, so I'll do some fitness and everything that I can do to prepare my body for the tennis on the grass." Kvitova had been due to play Romania's Sorana Cirstea in her opening Roland Garros match on Court Suzanne Lenglen later in the day. "I am so disappointed to have to announce my withdrawal from Roland Garros," Kvitova wrote on Twitter. "I have had pain in my left forearm for a few weeks and last night an MRI confirmed a Grade Two tear which unfortunately could get worse if I play today." The 29-year-old made her return from a horrific hand injury, sustained in a knife attack by an intruder at her .
England pacer Mark Wood declared fit for World Cup
England pacer Mark Wood has been cleared of serious injury and will remain part of the 15-member squad for the World Cup beginning May 30.
England favourites, but Australia can reach final: McGrath
Legendary Australia pacer Glenn McGrath feels England will go into the World Cup as favourites.
Glenn McGrath picks England as World Cup favourites
Former Australia cricketer Glenn McGrath named arch-rivals England as the favourites for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, beginning May 30."England (are) a very good one-day unit. To me, they are the favourites going into this World Cup, so I think they will do very well," ESPNcricinfo quoted McGrath, as saying.The 49-year-old retired from the international cricket after receiving the Player of the Tournament title in the 2007 edition of the World Cup, which Australia won.McGrath was part of an Australia side that regularly defeated England. However, England's improvement in the one-day cricket has forced the Australian to back Eoin Morgan-led side."You've got to go on current form. The England team - the way they go about it, they have impressed me. They have scored some big, big totals. Most teams used to go hard in the first 15 and the last 15, and consolidate in the middle," he said.However, this was not the first time McGrath termed any team as his favourites."But teams like ...
It's 'coming home'? History beckons England
A bunch of once-in-a-generation specialists, armed with a new cricketing philosophy, would strive to translate hopes into result for hosts England, in what is deemed their best chance to win a maiden ODI World Cup title. Cricket is no longer the top sport in game's original home but the declining popularity could get a much-needed fillip if Eoin Morgan stands with the trophy on the Lord's balcony on July 14. There was a sea-change in their cricketing philosophy after the 2015 World Cup debacle, where they failed to qualify even for the quarter-finals. The team has since started playing aggressive brand of cricket and has earmarked match-winners, specific to the format. And it has produced remarkable results. A testimony to that is that never ever an England ODI team has gone into a marquee event with such high level of expectations, sitting atop the ICC rankings. If India possess a formidable top three in Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the hosts possibly have the best ..
Why can't I get another hat-trick in the World Cup: Malinga
Seasoned campaigner Lasith Malinga is aiming for another hat-trick in the upcoming World Cup having taken four wickets in four balls against South Africa in the 2007 edition of the quadrennial event. "Why can't I get another hat-trick, I will be trying and that would be special," Malinga was quoted as saying by the ICC media. Sri Lankan speedster, who needs just one more ODI wicket to topple compatriot Sanath Jayasuriya (323 wickets) and move into the all-time top 10 list, said he enjoys playing in the England because of the testing conditions it offers. "One of the things I like about playing in England is you have to adapt to every condition. It could be really hot or quite cold and that is a real test of your skill as a bowler," said Malinga. The 35-year-old was a vital cog in the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians bowling unit, claiming 16 wickets to help his side win a record fourth title in the T20 cash-rich league. His performance against Chennai Super Kings in the the final ...
Hardik selfie-obsessed, Virat always in gym: Rohit Sharma
Indian opener Rohit Sharma is expected to play a pivotal role in India's campaign in the World Cup beginning Thursday in England and Wales.
Angelo Mathews advises SL to play with freedom in World Cup
Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has advised his team to accept the challenge and play with freedom in the forthcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.The 1996 World Cup champions and two-time runners-up, Sri Lanka come into the tournament as the number nine ranked team. They have won only six of the 22 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) since January last year."In a big tournament like this, you've got to play with freedom and embrace it, rather than putting too much pressure on yourself. Yes, it's a World Cup, you have to perform well to win it, but at the same time you have to embrace the challenge," ICC quoted Matthews, as saying.Several players of their 15-man squad will be returning after some time on the sidelines, including skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who until last week had not played any ODI since the last edition of the World Cup."If you put a lot of pressure on yourself, it adds to your burden. But try and embrace it, look at it as an opportunity to perform, to do something .
If body allows, will continue after WC: Ross Taylor
Senior New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor feels that he can continue even after the upcoming World Cup if his body allows, taking inspiration from hard-hitting West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle.
Windies bank on power hitters to go deep in WC (SWOT)
Blessed with some of the best power hitters in the world, West Indies can be unpredictable as the team can cause major upsets this World Cup starting on Thursday in England and Wales.
Leg-spinner is wicket-taker, says Shadab Khan ahead of World Cup
Ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, Pakistan's Shadab Khan said that a leg-spinner may concede runs but he is a wicket-taker.As a leg-spinner eases the burden on pacers, one of the best in the business the 20-year-old Shadab has 47 wickets across 34 games."With a leg-spinner, yes you may score runs, but he is a wicket-taker. You're always looking for wickets so that's why we're always in the game," ICC quoted Shadab, as saying.The run rate is above six an over in most of the encounters. The job of a bowler has shifted from control to conquer, which is achieved by picking wickets and manage the damage."It's a very important role. With batting (friendly) tracks, the par score will be 300. So, if you take wickets in the middle overs, you have a good chance to win games. On these batting surfaces, we have to take wickets, otherwise, they'll score 350-plus, so if you take the wickets you can contain them under 300. To contain them under 300 is very good," he said.Having missed the ...
Vidal, Sanchez head Chile Copa America squad
Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal and Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez are among the 23 players named in Chile's Copa America squad.
Shakib has a point to prove, says Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes
The tag of world's premier all-rounder rightfully belongs to Shakib Al Hasan, who is all set to prove a point to his critics, feels Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes. Shakib has recently regained his top ODI all-rounder's position in ICC rankings and Bangladesh's greatest ever cricketer with more than 5000 runs and 250 wickets in the 50-over format will play a key role for the 'Tigers'. There were some doubts surrounding Shakib's fitness but the coach insisted that he is fine. "Shakib is fine. He is in a great position physically. He had a little problem in Ireland but he's got over that and is raring to go. He is looking forward to a wonderful tournament. I think he's got a bit of a point to prove and he probably thinks that as well," Rhodes was quoted as saying in the ICC website. The talented all-rounder, according to Bangladesh coach was falling off the radar a bit but is now slowly getting back to his best. "He (Shakib) seems to have been a little bit forgotten but now he's back
Fans in England are ruthless, there's not much love: Lyon
After Steve Smith and David Warner were given a torrid time during Australia's first warm-up game, off-spinner Nathan Lyon insisted that his team was prepared for the "ruthless" reaction from the England fans.
With Smith, Warner in, I think Australia will win: Warne
The 2019 edition of crickets biggest showpiece event gets underway this Thursday and while pundits are busy debating whether India and England will do justice to their favourites tag, former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne has once again bowled the perfect googly. He has backed Aaron Finch and boys to go on and lift the Cup come July 14 at the historic Lords cricket ground.