Page 2189 - Sports
No feud with Neymar, says Cavani
Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani has said he has no problem with Brazilian teammate Neymar, rejecting speculation of a feud between the two.
Chris Woakes to miss Sydney Test, Mason Crane to debut
Leg-spinner Mason Crane will make his Test debut for England in the fifth and last Ashes Test, replacing pacer Chris Woakes.Right-arm fast bowler Woakes has been ruled out of the final Ashes due to recurrence of a side injury.ESPNcricinfo reports that Woakes had carried a heavy workload in the Ashes series and had run over 35 miles in the field during Australia's innings in Perth, and had been diagnosed with a minor strain on his left side.The England management decided not to play Woakes. The 28-year-old was out of action for three months in 2017.Woakes had played every game in the four Ashes and had bowled 48 overs on the slow Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch last week.Meanwhile, Crane will make his Test debut almost a year after playing a single Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales.At 20-year-old thus will be the youngest specialist spinner to make his Test debut for England in 90 years. Ian Peebles held that record when he made his debut aged 19.With Woakes out of the ...
Dale Steyn's inclusion in first Test against India unlikely
Dale Steyn's might have to wait longer for his Test comeback as South Africa head coach Ottis Gibson has hinted it would be a risk to include the former world's No. 1 fast bowler in the series against India."Dale Steyn is fit again. But I don't know just yet whether we will see him this week," ESPNcricinfo quoted Gibson, as sayingThe 34-year-old has been out of Test action since injuring his shoulder during a series against Australia in Perth in November 2016.Gibson had earlier said that everybody in his squad was fit but the inclusion of Steyn in Playing XI comes under doubt due to stiff competition from other five quicks in the squad- Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo."I don't think if we were to pick a three-man seam attack plus a spinner that you would want to put him in that three-man attack, in case something happens and that leaves the team vulnerable if he can't finish the game. That's not to say that he won't finish the game, ..
Two Indian umpires in ICC panel for Under-19 World Cup
Indian umpires Anil Chaudhary and C K Nandan will be a part of the 14-strong panel of officials for the Under-19 World Cup starting January 13 in New Zealand, the International Cricket Council announced today. The 12th edition of the tournament will feature Robert Bailey, Gregory Brathwaite, Anil Chaudhary, Nigel Duguid, Shaun George, Shaun Haig, Mark Hawthorne, Ranmore Martinesz, C.K. Nandan, Ahsan Raza, Shozab Raza, Timothy Robert Robinson, Langton Rusere and Paul Wilson in umpiring role. Apart from them, David Odhiambo, Buddhi Pradhan and Ian Ramage from the ICC Development Panel will also be officiating in the tournament. Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, and Devdas Govindjee and David Jukes of the International Panel of ICC Match Referees, will also be officiating in the tournament. Shaun George and Ahsan Raza will be the on-field umpires for the match between defending champions the Windies and hosts New Zealand on the opening day at the
Quick-fire City back in the groove, Llorente fires Spurs
Raheem Sterling scored the fastest goal of the Premier League season as leaders Manchester City got back on track with a 3-1 win against Watford, while Fernando Llorente put Tottenham on course for a 2-0 victory at his former club Swansea. Sterling struck after just 38 seconds before Christian Kabasele's first-half own goal put Pep Guardiola's side in control at Eastlands. Sergio Aguero made it three as City gave the perfect response after their 18-game winning run was ended in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday. Unbeaten City are 15 points clear of second-placed Manchester United as they continue to turn the title race into a lengthy coronation party. Guardiola had complained that the hectic festive fixture schedule was a "disaster" after City striker Gabriel Jesus suffered a knee ligament injury at Palace. But Guardiola was able to replace the Brazilian with Sergio Aguero, while David Silva returned from a two-game absence. City, playing their fourth match in .
Starc 'ready' to go says Smith, Agar likely to sit out
Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is in line to return to Australia's bowling line-up with second spinner Ashton Agar unlikely to play in tomorrow's final Ashes Test against England. Captain Steve Smith said Starc was "ready to go" after bowling this week in the nets after missing the drawn fourth Melbourne Test with a bruised heel. "Starcy has pulled up pretty well this morning and he says he's ready to go. I guess that's a good indication," Smith told reporters on Wednesday. Agar's chances of playing in his fifth Test, bowling in spin tandem with Nathan Lyon, have also been downgraded with extra grass on the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch. "The wicket's got a fair bit of grass and looks to be a pretty good wicket," Smith said. "I'd say we'll probably opt for just the one spinner. Nathan's done a terrific job throughout this series and I'd say we'll go down that route." Australia have already clinched the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series ahead of the
Big seeds tumble out of Qatar Open
The Qatar Open second and third seeds -- Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta and Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic -- crashed out of the tournament in the first round on a night of shocks in Doha. Both seeds lost in third set tie-breaks. Carreno Busta was beaten by Croatia's Borna Coric, 7-5, 2-6, 6-7 (8/10) in an enthralling match lasting 2 hours 41 minutes. And Berdych went down 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (4/7) in the match on centre court which followed against his fellow 6ft 5ins opponent, Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff. It means the tournament has lost two of its top-ranked players after having already being shorn of three major stars -- Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga -- before it began, as they try to recover from injuries. To complete a bad night for the seeds, number six seed Filip Krajinovic of Serbia also lost, in straight sets to Germany's Peter Gojowczyk. Busta's match with Coric was the game of the tournament so far. The 21-year-old Croat, who beat Andy ...
Maxwell, Wade axed from Australia's ODI squad to play England
Regulars Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade were axed from Australia's squad today for this month's one-day international series against England. Chief selector Trevor Hohns said ODI specialist Maxwell was omitted over consistency concerns, while Tim Paine takes the wicketkeeping gloves from Wade following his outstanding form in the Ashes Test series. Selectors also named Australia's Test pace trio -- Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins -- and prodigious Twenty20 batsman Chris Lynn for the five-match series, starting in Melbourne on January 14. Hohns said the selection panel wanted to have another look at Lynn, while seeking more consistency from Maxwell. "No one is in any doubt about Glenn's ability or his potential to produce match-winning contributions with the bat," Hohns said. "What we have wanted from him is more consistency but in his past 20 matches in this format he has averaged 22 and we need more than that from a player in the side's batting engine ...
Woakes out for England, Crane to make Test debut: Root
Seamer Chris Woakes has been ruled out with a side strain opening the way for young leg-spinner Mason Crane to make his debut for England in tomorrow's final Ashes Test against Australia. England skipper Joe Root confirmed 20-year-old Crane will play following the injury set-back to Woakes. Woakes had scans on his injured left side today and was ruled out of the Sydney Test as the tourists seek to win their first Test win of the series. The Warwickshire paceman missed a significant part of England's home season after straining his side during last year's Champions Trophy and pulled up sore after last week's fourth Melbourne Test. Woakes has taken 10 wickets at 49.5 in the four Tests and scored just 114 runs through seven innings batting number eight at an average of 16.28. But he is a key member of England's limited overs sides -- and with both a one-day international series and a Twenty20 tri-series to follow over the next month, England are not prepared to risk ...
Maharashtra Open: India's No. 1 Yuki Bhambri outplays Arjun Kadhe
India's highest ranked singles player Yuki Bhambri qualified for the second round of the Maharashtra Open as he defeated local-boy Arjun Kadhe in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 here today at the Mhalunge Balewadi Stadium.Meanwhile, defending champions Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan also advanced to the second round in the doubles category as they defeated fellow Indian duo of Leander Paes and Purav Raja in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.Ranked 118th in the world, Yuki Bhambri started his match confidently as he absorbed the pressure put on him by his countryman Arjun Kadhe. 23-year-old Kadhe had entered the Tata Open Maharashtra as a wildcard, but showed no signs of inexperience in the first set. Whereas, Yuki not only served well but also returned Kadhe's serves to take away any advantage that Kadhe could have had over him.Bhambri and Kadhe won two each of the first four games to make it an interesting watch for the spectators, but it was Bhambri who showed why he is the top-ranked Indian ..
Flight carrying Delhi cricket team delayed due to technical
The flight carrying the Delhi cricket team back home from here was forced to return to the bay after it developed a technical snag causing a long delay. The Indigo flight was scheduled to depart for the national capital at 9:20 last night, but was delayed after the pilot had to apply brakes while the plane was taking off at full speed. There was some problem with the engine, airline authorities of the 6E-867 flight said, eventually leading to a rejected takeoff at the Devi Aihilya Bhai Airport. The passengers, including the cricketers and team support staff, were provided accommodation by the airline authorities past midnight after the captain aborted takeoff at the last minute. Anxious passengers heaved a sigh of relief when the flight captain announced that they would be deplaned after the necessary maintenance checks revealed malfunction. Cricketer Unmukt Chand, who was also onboard the Delhi- bound flight, posted a tweet about his situation. "Indigo flt 867 abruptly ..
Ponting on coaching reports: Had discussion with Cricket Australia
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Wednesday admitted that he's held discussions with Cricket Australia to coach the team for the next World T20I tournament, but maintains that no agreement has been reached.It was earlier reported that with Darren Lehmann's contract as coach expiring in 2019, Cricket Australia is in negotiations with Ponting to coach the home team for the event, which is to be played in Australia in 2020."I've had discussions with Cricket Australia for a long time about getting involved somewhere in some way shape or form," the veteran cricketer said.The two-time World Cup winning captain had earlier been the assistant coach for the T20I side in a three-game series against Sri Lanka in 2017, working alongside Justin Langer.The 43-year-old will also play an assistant's role to Darren Lehmann in Australia's T20I tri-series against England and New Zealand in February this year."I would like to get involved somewhere if it works out that way, but certainly nothing .
Maxwell loses place in ODI squad as Lynn bolts in
Feisty batsman Glenn Maxwell was left out of Australia's 14-man squad against England for the upcoming Gillette ODI Series."No-one is in any doubt about Glenn's ability or his potential to produce match-winning contributions with the bat," national selector Trevor Hohns said in a statement to cricket.com.au.Maxwell's exclusion does raise some questions as the 29-year-old has been in career-best form in domestic cricket and the Big Bash League (BBL).The all-rounder entered the BBL break of the JLT Sheffield Shield as the competition's highest run-scorer with 590 runs at 73.35, including a staggering 278 against NSW Blues at North Sydney Oval.However, Maxwell's ODI form has been inconsistent in the last one year."What we have wanted from him is more consistency but in his past 20 matches in this format he has averaged 22 and we need more than that from a player in the side's batting engine room," Hohns added."Glenn is still absolutely in our thoughts but for this series we have decided .
Awadhe pip Ahmedabad in PBL
Awadhe Warriors got the better of Ahmedabad Smash Masters with a 4-3 victory in a Premier Badminton League (PBL) contest here on Tuesday.
It was like winning World Cup: Chennai coach
Having scripted the biggest upset of the I-League season by shocking Mohun Bagan 1-2, Chennai City FC coach V Soundararajan today said the victory was like winning the "World Cup". "This was the best match; beating Mohun Bagan feels like being a champion of a World Cup. It was pretty decent to beat them with ten members; it is a wonderful moment in my life, Soundararajan said after Chennai City posted a remarkable result despite being down to 10 players inside 34 minutes. Soundararajan, who was Sanjoy Sen's team-mate at the Railways, said Mohun Bagan were an organised side. "They are very organised in each and every department they are far better than us. I felt a 1-1 draw was coming but the team went forward and scored the goal. This is the greatest achievement for us because we are just two years old (in the I-League). It was a historic match and a result." Chinks in Mohun Bagan's armour were exposed as they missed their star Haitian striker Sony Norde badly. "They ...
Federer cruises towards Australian Open with another win
Roger Federer took another impressive step towards his Australian Open title defence today with a straight-sets win over Russian Karen Khachanov at the mixed teams Hopman Cup, as many of his main rivals faltered due to injury. Around the time Federer was warming up for his match with the 45th-ranked Russian, Andy Murray announced he was pulling out of the Brisbane International, while Novak Djokovic a few days earlier withdrew from his season opener in Abu Dhabi. Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori are also under injury clouds, while world number eight Jack Sock succumbed to a hip problem earlier in the day in Perth, forcing him to retire from his singles match. But there were no such dramas for the elder statesman Federer, who 12 months ago stunned the tennis world by ending an almost four-year Grand Slam drought with a victory at the Australian Open, after also preparing at the Hopman Cup. The 36-year-old was too good for Khachanov, making it two
Prannoy sends Srikanth packing; Tai Tzu beats Saina
World No.10 H.S Prannoy began his new year in style as he registered a stunning victory over World No. 3 Kidambi Srikanth 15-8, 15-11 in the Vodafone Premier Badminton League here today. Prannoy, who is unbeaten in the PBL since last season, has now recorded his 10th successive win in the league, while Srikanth crashed to his second consecutive loss of the season. Ahmedabad Smash Masters are currently level with Awadhe Warriors 3-3 in the tie with one match remaining. Prannoy, who had beaten his country-mate to clinch his first national championship last year, looked to be in stellar form and blitzed his way to an 8-2 lead at the break. Srikanth did try to stay in the match but could not muster enough and went down meekly in the opening game. In the second game, the Denmark Open winner tried to get going in the match but Prannoy was clearly the better player on the court and raced to the victory in convincing manner. In the marquee clash of the day, World No.1 Tai Tzu Ying
Wenger charged by FA over West Brom outburst
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged by the Football Association (FA) over his conduct following the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday English football's governing body announced today. The 68-year-old Frenchman reacted furiously to referee Mike Dean's decision to award a penalty to West Brom in the 89th minute for handball by Calum Chambers. The FA said the charge against Wenger was for his conduct in the match officials' dressing room after the final whistle -- he has till 1800GMT on Friday to respond to the charge. Wenger did not sound repentant earlier on Tuesday at his press conference on the eve of their game with Chelsea. "It was very disappointing," Wenger said. "What is more frustrating for me is it happened many times this season -- at Stoke, Watford, Man City, now West Brom. "It is a concerning coincidence for me. "That is why as well I was not at all happy with the movement the referee made as to why he gave the penalty. It did not ...
Fans spit on me: Mohun Bagan coach Sen
The Maidan's unruly crowd behaviour once again came to fore as Mohun Bagan fans allegedly spit on their coach Sanjoy Sen who quit minutes after the club suffered a shock loss to minnows Chennai City FC in an I- League football fixture here today. Chennai City FC, who were reduced to 10 players in the 34th minute, sprang the biggest upset of the I-League this season, securing a 2-1 win over Mohun Bagan. Their first loss of the season came in front of a near capacity crowd of about 15,000 at the Mohun Bagan ground. Minutes after Veniamin Shumeyko headed home the winner in the 71st minute, the crowd started shouting slogans of 'go back Sanjoy Sen' and the coach claimed that fans spit on him while he was going through the tunnel. "Mohun Bagan fans did spit on me while I was going through the tunnel," he said, as the crowd even tried to disrupt the post-match press conference by hurling missiles. He, however, refused to blamed the unruly crowd and said: "I do not know whether .
Jeevan stands out as he and Bopanna beat Paes-Raja pair
Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan's remarkable progress as a doubles player came to fore as he and Rohan Bopanna began the defence of their title by knocking out Leander Paes and Purav Raja at the Tata Open Maharashtra here tonight. The left-hander from Chennai, the youngest of all four at 29, came out firing on all cylinders as they beat their unseeded rivals 6-3 6-2 to progress to the quarterfinals. Jeevan, now ranked 102, stood out with his well- calculated lobs and precise strokeplay, making a huge difference to the outcome of the match. In the second set he lost only one point on his serve. In contrast, Raja could not hold his serve even once in the entire match while Paes did his bit but that was never enough. The pressure was straightaway on Paes-Raja pair as the latter dropped serve in the fourth game. However, they got the break back when Bopanna served in the next. Paes netted the backhand on the first chance and Bopanna served well on the second but Raja found an overhead