Page 757 - Sports
All three results possible in third Test: Finch
Australian opener Aaron Finch Thursday said the MCG pitch is deteriorating quicker than anticipated and all three results are possible in the third Test despite a slow Indian first innings that finished at 443 for seven. The hosts were eight for no loss at stumps in response. "It's not your traditional Australian wicket where you have three slips and a gully all day and you bang away, and the ball seams and carries like we saw in Perth. There, a lot of dismissals were behind the wicket," Finch said. At the end of day's play, he added, "On such pitches, I think you've just got to adapt your gameplan and regardless of what the wicket is, you've got to be good enough to adapt and change your plans and execute on the day." Cheteshwar Pujara struck a classy century and combined with captain Virat Kohli (82) to put India in control on the second day. Finch said, "This wicket is probably deteriorating more than we thought it would. Even tonight it was skidding through, there were a couple ...
India announces 23-member squad for AFC Asian Cup
Indian football team coach Stephen Constantine on Thursday announced the final 23-member squad for AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019."It was very important to keep on the continuity. It will be silly of me to completely change the way we do things. Most of these boys are with us for some time now," the coach said."The other five boys (from the earlier list of 28) will also stay with us until January 2, 2019. In case of an injury or anything else happens, these five boys will need to step up. We are looking forward to the massive tournament. We hope these 23 boys will do a good job for us," he added.Following are the 23-member squad for the upcoming prestigious tournament:Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith, Amrinder SinghDefenders: Pritam Kotal, Sarthak Golui, Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika, Salam Ranjan Singh, Subhashish Bose, Narayan DasMidfielders: Udanta Singh, Jackichand Singh, Germanpreet Singh, Pronay Halder, Anirudh Thapa, Vinit Rai, Rowllin Borges, Ashique Kuruniyan, ...
Sharma the star of stellar 2018 for Indian golf
Shubhankar Sharma was without doubt the biggest star but wasn't the only winner that Indian golf celebrated in a stellar year, which also featured strong performances by amateurs and the ladies. The calendar year 2018 saw six professional wins for the country's golfers. Five of them were on the Asian Tour and two of them co-sanctioned by Europe and another by Japan. A sixth title came from Rahil Gangjee, who took 14 years to register an Asian Tour win, and then added a second title on the Asian Development Tour in Bengaluru. The Indians continued to be a huge force on home soil and won two of the three Asian Tour events in India and an additional ADT title, too. The 22-year-old Sharma turned pro when he was still a few months away from his 17th birthday in 2013 but showed that he had it in him to make it big. Criss-crossing the world, Sharma, after his monumental success in winning the Joburg Open in December 2017, added the Maybank Championships in February this year. Then he juggled
Manchester City drop to third after losing to Leicester
Manchester City dropped to third place after suffering a 1-2 defeat to Leicester City in the English Premier League.
LA Galaxy near deal for former Boca Juniors boss Schelotto
LA Galaxy are close to securing former Boca Juniors manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto as their head coach, according to reports.
Alyssa Healy returns to form in WBBL
Australia and Sydney Sixers wicket-keeper batter Alyssa Healy blazed an unbeaten 70 runs, which helped her side to a seven-wicket victory over the Melbourne Renegades at the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.The 28-year-old, who was adjudged Player of the Match, whacked 70 runs off just 42 balls, which included nine boundaries and two massive sixes.Healy had also smashed 70 runs in the first game of the tournament but has reached the double figures only twice in her six innings so far.The Queensland-born player had a memorable T20 World Cup in the Caribbean as she was crowned with the Player of the Tournament for scoring 225 runs at an average of 56.25, which included two fifties and a couple of forties.With the win, Sixers have moved into the second spot on the WBBL ladder behind the leaders Sydney Thunder, while the Renegades are stranded at the seventh place with just two wins.
Local boy Kadhe gets wild card for Tata Open Maharashtra
The organisers of the Tata Open Maharashtra badminton tournament announced on Thursday that local lad Arjun Kadhe has been handed a wild card entry into the men's singles draw.
Ronaldo rescues Juventus against Atalanta
A late goal by Portugal superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo maintained Juventus' undefeated run with a 2-2 stalemate against host Atalanta at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia.
Chelsea ride Hazard brace
Eden Hazard scored a brace to give Chelsea a 2-1 victory against Watford and lift the former champions back into the top four of the English Premier League (EPL) at the mid-point of the 2018-2019 season.
Inter edge past Napoli
Lautaro Martinez's goal in the 92nd minute was what Inter Milan needed in a contest between the second and third placed clubs in Serie A.
Melbourne Test: India lead Australia by 435 at stumps
India declared their first innings on 443 runs for the loss of seven on the second day of the third Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.Top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli strengthened the third-wicket partnership stand to power India to 277/2 at lunch. The morning session was highly successful for the visitors as India amassed 62 runs for no loss. Australian pacers comprising Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and off-spinner Nathan Lyon failed to strike in the first session.Kohli, who was stranded at 47 runs on the first day, completed his 20th Test fifty in 110 balls, while Pujara brought up his 17th Test hundred in 280 balls. It looked like another long session, as the Kohli-Pujara duo took the partnership to 160 runs.The hosts Australia got their much-needed breakthrough as Starc's short delivery sent Kohli back to the pavilion after making 82 runs off 204 balls, ending his partnership with ...
3rd Test: Pujara, Kohli, Rohit put India in driver's seat on Day 2 (Roundup)
Australian openers survived the early jitters to post 8/0 at stumps on Day 2 of the third Test after India declared their first innings at a mammoth 443/7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Thursday.
3rd Test: Australia trail by 435 runs on Day 2
Australia were 8/0 in their first innings, trailing India by 435 runs at stumps on the second day of the third cricket Test here on Thursday.
Australia 8/0 at stumps on day 2, India declare at 443/7
Australia were eight for no loss at stumps in reply to India's first-innings total of 443/7 declared on the second day of the third Test against India here Thursday. Openers Marcus Harris (5) and Aaron Finch (3) were at the crease at close of play. Brief scores: India 1st innings: 443/7 declared in 169.4 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 106, Virat Kohli 82, Mayan Agarwal 76, Rohit Sharma not out 63; Pat Cummins 3/72) Australia 1st innings: 8 for no loss in 6 overs.
Paine continues chatter behind stumps, Rohit offers smile
His banter with Virat Kohli became a talking point in the Perth Test and Australian captain Tim Paine was at it again from behind the stumps with Rohit Sharma at the receiving end here. Paine was caught on the stump microphone telling team-mate Aaron Finch that he would join Mumbai Indians IPL team if the stylish Indian hits a six at the MCG, during the post-tea session of the third Test's second day. "It has been a toss up for me between Royals and Indians. If Rohit hits a six here, I am changing to Mumbai," Paine said to Finch who was the close-in fielder. Paine's comments behind the stumps went on for a few overs with Rohit, the Mumbai Indians captain, breaking into a smile every now and then. "Too many Poms at the Royals," Paine said, referring to Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler playing for the Rajasthan franchise. "You've nearly played for every team now," Paine continued. "Except Bangalore," Finch replied. "Except Bangalore?" Paine questioned. In the Perth Test, Paine was involved in
Kerry O'Keeffe apologises for 'railway canteen' jibe at Agarwal
Former Australian cricketer Kerry O'Keeffe has apologised for ridiculing Indian batsman Mayank Agarwal's first-class career while commentating during the ongoing third Test here, saying he did not intend to demean the debutant. The former spinner, while commentating for 'Fox Cricket', was quoted as saying that Agarwal's maiden first-class triple century came against "Railways canteen staff". O'Keeffe was criticised on social media for the comment and the cricketer, who played 24 Tests for Australia, apologised on Thursday for comment on Agarwal, who scored 76 in his maiden Test appearance. "I was mentioning the runs Agarwal got in first class cricket in India and there's been a reaction," he was quoted as saying by the local media here. "There was no way I was demeaning the standard, it was tongue in cheek. There are lots of runs scored so apologies if anyone out there took offence," he added. The 27-year-old Agarwal plays for Karnataka in the Indian domestic circuit and averages ...
3rd Test: India declare on 443/7
India declared their first innings after scoring a mammoth 443/7 to leave Australia with just seven overs to bat on Day 2 of the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Thursday.
Scoreboard on the second day of the third Test between India and Australia here
Scoreboard on the second day of the third Test between India and Australia here Thursday. India 1st Innings Hanuma Vihari c Finch b Cummins 8 Mayank Agarwal c Paine b Cummins 76 Cheteshwar Pujara b Cummins 106 Virat Kohli c Finch b Starc 82 Ajinkya Rahane lbw b Lyon 34 Rohit Sharma batting 63 Rishabh Pant c Khawaja b Starc 39 Ravindra Jadeja c Paine b Hazlewood 4 Extras: (B-15 LB-14 W-1 NB-1) 31 Total: (For 7 wkts in 169.4 overs) 443 decl Fall of Wickets: 1/40 2/123 3/293 4/299 5/361 6/437 7/443 Bowling: Mitchell Starc 28-7-87-2, Josh Hazlewood 31.4-10-86-1, Nathan Lyon 48-7-110-1, Pat Cummins 34-10-72-3, Mitchell Marsh 26-4-51-0, Aaron Finch 2-0-8-0.
Boult sublime, runs flow as New Zealand take control
A sublime six-wicket haul by Trent Boult and half centuries from Tom Latham and Jeet Raval gave New Zealand a vice-like grip on the second Test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch on Thursday. At the close of the second day, New Zealand were 231 for two, holding a commanding 305-run lead in their second innings with eight wickets in hand. Sri Lanka's hopes of taking the series-deciding Test were severely dented in a 15-ball masterclass of swing bowling from Boult when he took six wickets for four runs. It gave New Zealand a 74-run first-innings lead, which Latham and Raval extended to 195 with a century opening stand. Kane Williamson and Latham added a further 68 for the second wicket until Williamson played a lazy shot to Lahiru Kumara and was caught at first slip for 48. At the close of the second day, Latham was on 74 with Ross Taylor on 25. Latham, who starred in the first Test with an unbeaten double century, has faced 213 deliveries. He received a life on 32 when he top-edged ...
Smith turned blind eye to ball-tampering plan, should've had more control: Lehmann
Darren Lehmann, the Australia coach during the infamous ball-tampering scandal, feels then captain Steve Smith shouldn't have turned a "blind eye" to the ill-fated plan in Cape Town. Lehmann stepped down as coach after Smith and his deputy David Warner were handed one-year bans by Cricket Australia in exemplary punishment for their role in the scandal in March that shook the game. Cameron Bancroft, who actually committed the offence, was banned for nine months. His ban ends on Saturday, while Smith and Warner will have to wait until March. "Steve decided to turn a blind eye. He was captain of the country and he should have more control of that," Lehmann told 'Macquarie Sports Radio'. "I still can't understand the pressures of captaining your country, it's quite high you would think." Lehmaan said Bancroft should have approached the support staff when he was asked to tamper the ball. "Yeah, he (Bancroft) could have and should have come to us," he said. "A severe mistake made by the ...