Page 760 - Sports
You're paid to win, not play: Smith talks of CA pressure before ball-tampering scandal
Banned former Australian captain Steve Smith Wednesday said Cricket Australia executives James Sutherland and Pat Howard played a key role in spreading the toxic "win at all costs" culture in the team that led to the infamous ball-tampering scandal. Smith is serving a one-year ban for his role in the scandal that forced a review of Australia's cricket culture. "I think back to Hobart when we lost there against South Africa (November 2016) and it was our fifth straight loss in Test cricket I think after three Tests in Sri Lanka. And I remember James Sutherland and Pat Howard coming into the rooms there and actually saying 'We don't pay you to play, we pay you to win'," the 29-year-old Smith told 'Fox Cricket' host Adam Gilchrist in an interview. "So, for me, that was I think a little bit disappointing to say. We don't go out there to try and lose games of cricket, we go out there to try and win and play the best way we can." While Sutherland resigned from his position as CA chief ...
Ponting inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Arthur 'praying' for Neymar's Barcelona return
Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo has expressed the hope that Brazil teammate Neymar will return to the Catalan club, less than 18 months after his world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Ponting formally inducted into ICC 'Hall of Fame'
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was Wednesday formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. To mark the occasion, Ponting received his commemorative cap from compatriot ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Glenn McGrath during the tea break on the opening day of the third Test against India at the MCG. Ponting was named in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame along with former India captain Rahul Dravid and England woman wicketkeeper-batter Claire Taylor during the ICC Annual Conference in Dublin in July, which Ponting could not attend. Ponting, after receiving the cap, said: "It's an incredible feeling, I think for it to happen here at the MCG is what makes the whole thing a little bit more special. I found out today I am one of 25 Australians to be inducted. "When you play one Test for Australia, you join a very elite group of players but now to part of the ICC Hall of Fame, you join an even more elite group of cricketers, so it's a pretty special day today," Ponting said. Ponting spoke .
Steyn sets record as Pakistan struggle
Dale Steyn became South Africa's leading Test wicket-taker as Pakistan struggled on the opening day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Wednesday. Pakistan were 76 for four at lunch after winning the toss and batting on a well-grassed pitch on a hot day. Steyn and fellow fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier all took wickets. Azhar Ali, one of only three Pakistanis with previous Test experience in South Africa, was unbeaten on 31 at the interval. Rabada struck first, trapping Imam-ul-Haq leg before wicket for nought with a full delivery in the second over. The batsman wasted a review of a decision from umpire Bruce Oxenford which never looked in doubt. Steyn claimed his 422nd Test wicket, going past previous record-holder Shaun Pollock, when Fakhar Zaman edged him to third slip for 12, sparking exuberant celebrations from his team-mates. Rabada lifted his new ball partner onto his shoulders as other players rushed in to congratulate him. Shan Masood, playing in place of ...
India gear up to play Oman behind closed doors
Not willing to reveal their tactics, India and Oman will play behind closed doors their final international friendly before the AFC Asian Cup, here Thursday. A day prior to the match at the Baniyas Stadium, India's head coach Stephen Constantine stressed they "haven't come here expecting to play easy games". The match is part of Blue Tigers' preparation for the forthcoming Asian Cup. Both the head coaches have decided on playing behind closed doors, the result of which there won't be any telecast of the match and the crowd and media will be missing from the stands. India begin their campaign in the Asian Cup against Thailand on January 6. Commenting on the match against Oman, Constantine stated: "It's going to be extremely hard. We have come here to play the big boys of Asia. We played against the likes of Jordan, China. We need to play these sort of games to prepare in the best possible fashion." Oman are currently ranked 82 in the FIFA rankings, while India are at 97. India last ...
Southee, Lakmal heroics leave New Zealand-Sri Lanka Test evenly poised
Suranga Lakmal and Tim Southee vied for early honours as 14 wickets fell to leave the deciding second Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka evenly poised on day one in Christchurch on Wednesday. "The first session (on Thursday) will be important for both teams," Southee said at the end of a day in which he top-scored for New Zealand with 68 and then took three quick Sri Lankan wickets. After Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl, Lakmal produced a career-best five for 54 as New Zealand crumbled and were all out for 178 in 50 overs. At stumps, Sri Lanka were 88 for four in reply with Angelo Mathews not out 27 and Roshen Silva on 15 while Southee had three for 29. "I'd say it's evenly poised," Sri Lankan bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake said, as he praised Lakmal's vital contribution. The 31-year-old right-arm quick rarely gets a chance to shine in the sub-continent where spinners dominate, but the green Hagley Oval wicket and heavy cloud cover were ripe to be exploited. "In the ...
Disappointed to miss Kohli's wicket: Head
Australia were disappointed to miss out on the prized wicket of Virat Kohli on a tough opening day of the third Test, said Travis Head, stressing on the need to make the still-hard Kookaburra ball count in the second morning. Kohli was dropped on 47 by Australian skipper Tim Paine during Mitchell Starc's brilliant over towards the end of the innings. "... the best over today was from Starc. Beating Kohli inside and outside, that new ball hopefully can come out and do that tomorrow again. It was disappointing to leave that chance but it happens," Head said on Wednesday. Australian bowlers had to toil hard as India finished at 215-2 with Kohli (47) and Cheteshwar Pujara (68) remaining unbeaten at stumps, following Mayank Agarwal's 161-ball 76 on debut early in the day. "We would have liked to have 4-5 wickets tonight, but it is a massive morning and if we can still get them down two wickets in the morning, it will be good while the ball is still reasonably hard and a couple left handers
It wasn't easy to check emotions and focus: Mayank
Mayank Agarwal had been waiting for his India debut for the past one year but when dream turned into a reality, there was such a surge of emotions that the Karnataka batsman found it difficult to focus on the job at hand. "It was a tremendous feeling to get the India Test cap. I had a lot of emotions (running through mind) when I got the cap. I will cherish it for the rest of my life. The first thought was 295 (his India cap number)," Agarwal said after his impressive 76 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. But the occasion does get better at times, especially when someone scores mountain of runs and is kept waiting for that elusive India cap. "It wasn't easy to get hold of those emotions and focus there, but it needed to be done. I just stuck to my plans and just kept telling myself, "there is a plan that I have to go through and I am just going to stick to that". Even though it was overwhelming, it was good and I am happy with the way I started," Agarwal added. Agarwal felt good .
Iran defender Ezatolahi out of AFC Asian Cup competitions
Iran's international football defender Saeid Ezatolahi has been ruled out of the upcoming AFC Asian Cup tournament with a foot injury.
Kavita urges women athletes to give WWE talent try-out in India (IANS Interview)
Chasing her dreams despite the innumerable obstacles in her way, India's first female wrestler in WWE, Kavita Devi, has urged women athletes to take part in the WWE talent try-outs in March 2019.
India gear up to play Oman behind closed doors
A day prior to playing Oman in a football friendly match scheduled at the Baniyas Stadium here on Thursday, coach Stephen Constantine stressed "India haven't come here expecting to play easy games."
3rd Test: Mayank, Pujara fifties give India steady start on Day 1 (Roundup)
India rode on excellent half-centuries from debutant Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara to reach a commanding 215/2 at stumps on the opening day of the crucial Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Wednesday.
Melbourne Test: Pujara, Kohli take India to 215/2 at stumps
Runs were at a premium on the day one of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as India posted an impressive 215 runs with the loss two wickets here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).Swashbuckling Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari opened the innings with a solid application in the first session as a steady India managed to score 40 with no loss after 18 overs. Soon after, Pat Cummins struck first for Australia to remove Vihari with a short-ball tactic which was caught by Aaron Finch at the second slip. Following the cheap departure of Vihrai (8), Cheteshwar Pujara came out to share the crease with Agarwal, who was in brilliant form and ticking the scoreboard.India reached 57 runs with the loss of one wicket at lunch. Agarwal and Pujara held India's fort on 34 and 10 respectively.Soon after resuming the match, Agarwal gave a good account of himself, bringing up a maiden half-century on his Test debut on Australian soil. The landmark came off 95 ballswhen he walked down the ..
Real Madrid leads UEFA rankings
Real Madrid heads the rankings of the UEFA club coefficients at the end of 2018, while Spain's La Liga led the UEFA association club standings by football's governing body.
3rd Test: India off to steady start on Day 1
India posted 215/2 in their first innings at stumps on the opening day of the third cricket Test against Australia here on Wednesday.
Agarwal shines on debut, India grab advantage in Boxing Day Test
Debutant Mayank Agarwal provided the base with a confident half-century before Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Puyara steered India to a solid 215 for two on day one of the third Test against Australia, here Wednesday. Agarwal, thrusted into the squad following failure of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, responded with a 76-run knock off balls, sorting out India's opening woes to some extent. The conditions, though, were completely different from what Rahul and Vijay had countered in bowler-friendly Adelaide and Perth. The MCG pitch turned out to be docile, ideal for someone making his Test debut as the Australian pacers had to bend their back to get the Kookaburra ball to rise sharply. Make-shift opener Hanuma Vihari did not make many runs, getting just 8 off 68 balls in his 40-run stand with Agarwal but they batted out 18.5 overs, India's longest opening stand in terms of balls faced in Test cricket across Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa since December 2010. Virender Sehwag ...
Top order steers India to 215/2 at end of day 1 in Melbourne
Electing to bat, India ended day one of the third Test against Australia at 215 for two at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), here Wednesday. India lost openers Hanuma Vihari (8) and Debutant Mayank Agarwal (76) before skipper Virat Kohli (47) and Adelaide Test hero Cheteshwar Pujara (68) stitched an unbeaten 92-run stand for the third wicket. Paceman Pat Cummins took both the wickets for the hosts. Brief Scores: India 1st innings: 215 for 2 in 89 overs. (M Agarwal 76, C Pujara 68 batting, V Kohli 47 batting; Pat Cummins 2/40).
3rd Test: India 123/2 at Tea vs Australia
India were 123/2 at tea on the opening day of the third Test on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Wednesday.
Agarwal's maiden half-century drives India to 123 for 2
Debutant Mayank Agarwal produced a confident 76-run knock before falling at stroke of tea as India made a steady start to the third Test against Australia at the MCG, here on Wednesday. India did not put much runs on the board, taking tea ay 123 for two, as the batsmen largely remained cautious in the first two sessions. Agarwal, handed Test debut after KL Rahul and Murali Vijay failed in the first two matches, repaid the faith shown in him by the team management with a half-century. He fell just before the break, caught down the leg side off Pat Cummins, who had dismissed make-shift opener Hanuma Vihari in the opening session. With Cheteshwar Pujara, who was unbeaten on 33 runs, he added 83 runs for the second wicket. Post lunch, India added 66 runs in the second session as both batsmen looked to play with more positive intent. Australia concentrated on keeping runs at a minimum, with Nathan Lyon (0/39) in particular, bowling to a predominantly leg-side field. But Agarwal kept the ...