England Test captain Ben Stokes faces at least three months out after tearing his left hamstring during the tour of New Zealand, team management announced on Monday. Stokes, 33, had already been ruled out of next year’s Champions Trophy one-day international tournament in Pakistan and the preceding white-ball tour of India. Further assessments have since revealed the full extent of the injury, with Stokes set to undergo surgery in January, said an England and Wales Cricket Board statement. Stokes suffered the injury while bowling during the third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton last week. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 06:23 AM IST | London | AFPAustralia head coach Andrew McDonald on Tuesday defended the selection committee’s decision to drop Nathan McSweeney in middle of the series for Sam Konstas, saying the talented teenager will post a “new challenge” for India. McSweeney, a makeshift opener, was dropped because of a string of low scores in the first three Tests. Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke was very critical of the decision to sideline McSweeney. However, McDonald said tough calls have to be taken at times. “We wanted to throw a new challenge at India. We believe Nathan is good enough for the Test level. We weren’t sure about how the top order is functioning. So yeah we challenged ourselves with that decision,” said the head coach. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 06:22 AM IST | Melbourne | PTIAustralian batting great Matthew Hayden has urged Virat Kohli to draw inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar’s disciplined knock in Sydney and curb his tendency to flash outside the off-stump to regain form in the remaining two Tests of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Inconsistent Kohli Kohli, who has had an inconsistent series so far with scores of 5, 100 not out, 7, 11, and 3 in his last five innings, has amassed just 126 runs at an average of 31.50. “There could have been magnificent wins, there could have been losses, there could have been spinning conditions, I mean, you can list off a hundred different areas where Kohli, over his magnificent career, would have batted. Matthew Hayden “But in Melbourne, he’s going to have a good batting track. What he does need to do is find a way to continue staying at the crease. Flashing outside the off-stump is something that he’s going to have to resist,” Hayden told Star Sports. “And I suggest — he gets in line with the ball a bit more and looks to play down the ground a little bit more...” Hayden cited Tendulkar’s iconic 241 not out during the 2004 Sydney Test as an example of how self-restraint can turn things around. “I know he [Kohli] has a magnificent cover driver, but so did Sachin Tendulkar, and he put it away for a day. I sat in the gully licking my lips, thinking, you know what, this is magnificent, stubborn batting.” During the 2004 tour of Australia, Tendulkar, battling a lean patch, showcased remarkable self-restraint and determination by completely avoiding his trademark off-side drives for the entire 613 minutes he spent at the crease. Remember what Sachin did “I didn’t look like getting a catch that day, and yet I felt like I was in the game that entire series. So, Sachin put away the cover drive, worked his way, hit off his legs, took on the spin, and addressed the areas of concern. He put a big cross through them and said, 'Not on my watch today.’ Virat Kohli has got that personality, and I’m sure we’ll see it in Melbourne,”Hayden remarked. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 06:22 AM IST | Melbourne | PTIAustralia great Ricky Ponting believes the Indian opener Shubman Gill’s overseas record is not as strong as his performances at home, but the ex-Aussie skipper feels the right-hander can improve his fortunes in Australia with minor changes to his approach. Gill averages 23.8 across nine Tests in England, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa and Australia. In the same period, he has accumulated 1,177 runs and scored four hundreds across 17 Tests at an average of 42.03 at home. Ricky Ponting “I love watching him [Gill] play. When you’re watching him bat and bat well, he looks as good as anyone in world cricket. But the numbers don’t really stack up, do they, away from home?” Ponting said on The ICC Review. Since his impressive performance at the Gabba in 2021 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where his composed 91 helped India clinch a historic series win, Gill has scored just one Test century away from home, which came against Bangladesh in 2022. After injury forced him out of the series opener in Perth, Gill returned with scores of 31 and 28 in Adelaide and just one run in Brisbane. Ponting said the opener may be overcomplicating his approach. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 06:20 AM IST | Dubai | IANSFormer Australian cricketer Greg Chappell has heaped praise on Travis Head for his audacious and effective approach against India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. In his column for The Sydney Morning Herald, Chappell highlighted Head’s ability to not just survive against Bumrah but also counter-attack, disrupting the rhythm of one of the world’s most formidable bowlers. Chappell emphasised Head’s fearless intent and proactive mindset in his approach to tackling Bumrah. “Head’s performances against Bumrah in this series exemplify his fearless approach,” Chappell wrote. “While most batsmen struggle to survive Bumrah’s unorthodox action, sharp pace, and relentless accuracy, Head has treated him like any other bowler. By playing with intent and looking to score off Bumrah, Head has not only nullified his threat but disrupted his rhythm.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 06:20 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSAhead of the Boxing Day Test, India skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday dismissed fears about the knee injury he suffered during practice, saying it was fine, while keeping the suspense over his batting position. Rohit had got hit on the left knee during the training session at the MCG on Sunday and there was speculation about the seriousness of the injury. “My knee is fine,” said Rohit during a media interaction ahead of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Test here from December 26. Rohit missed the opening Test Down Under to be with his family for the birth of his second child. He was expected to reclaim the opener’s spot but KL Rahul’s impressive 77 in India’s win at Perth prompted a rejig of the batting order with the skipper moving down to No.6. The change though has not been fruitful for Rohit as he has managed 10, 3 and 6 runs in the last three innings, while Rahul has encashed on the opportunity by notching up a fine 84 in the first innings at Brisbane in the third Test. The skipper said, he would do whatever is best for the team. “Let’s not worry about who bats where. Something that we need to figure and not something I would be discussing here. We will do what is best for the team,” Rohit said. On Kohli’s form, and his supposed shortcoming outside off-stump, Rohit said, the stalwart will find a way out of the slump. “Kohli’s off stump... you only say modern day great. Modern-day greats figure out their own path,” said the skipper. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 06:19 AM IST | Melbourne | PTIIndia will play all their matches of the Champions Trophy in Dubai with the marquee clash against arch-rivals Pakistan scheduled on February 23, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday. As has been the case with ICC events, India and Pakistan have been clubbed in the same group which also have New Zealand and Bangladesh. Group B comprises South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan and England. The tournament opener will be played in Karachi on February 19 when hosts Pakistan face New Zealand and the final is scheduled for March 9. The premier 50-over event, last played in 2017, will have 15 matches with at least 10 games scheduled in Pakistan. “Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days,” said the ICC in a statement. India will open their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 before taking on Pakistan three days later. Their final league fixture will be against New Zealand on March 2. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 06:18 AM IST | Dubai | PTIFormer India cricketer Vinod Kambli, admitted to the ICU of a private hospital in Thane district, developed a fever on Tuesday, but his condition was stable, doctors treating him said on Tuesday. Kambli (52) is responding to the treatment for urinary tract infections for which he was admitted at Akruti Hospital near Bhiwandi town on Saturday (December 21), Dr Vivek Trivedi told PTI. Trivedi is heading the medical team that is supervising the former cricketer’s health. Doctors were planning to do an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) on the former India batter, but since he has developed a fever, a decision will be taken later, he said. The MRI procedure has been necessitated after a series of medical examinations conducted earlier revealed clots in his brain, Trivedi said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 06:16 AM IST | Thane | PTIThese are challenging times for Rohit Sharma. His personal form has been anything but inspiring and his fellow batters are locked in a desperate battle with their own selves as much as the opposition bowling. But if Rohit is feeling the heat, there simply is no evidence. Rohit seems cool Two days before the start of the Boxing Day Test at the sprawling Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Rohit was his jovial self during the press conference, refusing to rise to the bait on more than one occasion. He also didn’t feel the urgent need to hit the nets and face a million balls, content to follow his own preparatory schedule on Tuesday afternoon in his team’s only session on the unused practice pitches laid out by curator Matt Page. Where his top-order colleagues sought to polish the rough edges against throwdowns, their own bowling mates and a few net bowlers supplied by Cricket Australia, Rohit spent a long time in discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar once he belatedly made his way from the MCG outfield to the area housing the practice nets. Strategies were being discussed, clearly; such is the lot of any skipper that while he must look after his own self, he also is responsible for all other players in the squad and India’s is a jumbo squad reinforced by the arrival of Tanush Kotian, the off-spinning all-rounder from Mumbai who has been added to the side following the sudden retirement of R Ashwin. When he did come on to bat, Rohit faced up exclusively to throwdowns from two of the three sidearm specialists, D Raghavindraa and Dayanand Garani, travelling with the team. The focus was on the fifth-stump line which has troubled Rohit and, to a greater extent, Virat Kohli, in this series. Rohit attempted to allow as many of those to sail by as possible, earning shouts of encouragement ‘Super, Rohit’ when he refused to be sucked in by deliveries that sailed by not far away from the off-stump. A return to the middle order where he batted exclusively for five years since his debut in November 2013 hasn’t been memorable for the right reasons, but with KL Rahul striking up excellent rhythm as opener, Rohit will most likely bat in the middle-order for the two remaining Tests. Used in the last five years to setting the tempo at the top of the tree, he is just about coming to terms with the challenge of walking in when the tone has already been set. While it is true that the early part of Rohit’s international career was spent at No. 6 and thereabouts, to drop back down the order isn’t as straightforward as it might appear, especially for someone of the mindset of Rohit who likes to get out there and get on with it. His best chance? It is expected that of all the grounds so far, the MCG will throw up the best batting surface of the lot. That doesn’t mean a million runs to be had, but in a series where, Travis Head and Rahul excepted, batters have faced challenges galore, that could be just the spur Rohit needs to turn the corner. He might not show it openly, but India’s skipper is surely hurting from the developments of the last two months. Course-correction, one suspects, isn’t too far away.
25 December,2024 06:15 AM IST | Melbourne | R KaushikA superlative batting display helped India seal the three-game ODI series with a massive 115-run win over West Indies in the second match here on Tuesday. Opting to bat, India produced a solid batting show with Harleen Deol (115) hitting a century and Smriti Mandhana (53), Pratika Rawal (76) and Jemimah Rodrigues (52) scoring fifties to take India to 358 for five. In reply, WI folded for 243 in 46.2 overs with Hayley Matthews making a 109-ball 106 at the top. Also Read: "We want to break it down to just Melbourne now": Rohit Sharma Priya Mishra snapped three wickets, while Deepti Sharma (2/40), Titas Sadhu (2/42) and Rawal (2/37) accounted for two wickets each. Brief Scores: India: 358 of 5 in 50 overs (Harleen Doel 115; Pratika Rawal 76; Afy Fletcher 1/38). West Indies: 243 all out in 46.2 overs (Hayley Matthews 106; Priya Mishra 3/49). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
24 December,2024 09:32 PM IST | Vadodara | PTIAhead of the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday said that they are currently focussing only on the upcoming Test match and are looking forward to displaying a strong performance at Melbourne. Ahead of the fourth Test match against Australia, Team India skipper Rohit Sharma said that they are currently focusing only on the upcoming Test match in Melbourne and are looking to display a strong performance. The five-match Test series between India and Australia is currently tied at 1-1. The third match ended in a draw and the fourth game is set to kick start on December 26. Also Read: "We need two spinners playing...": Rohit Sharma on Tanush Kotian's selection Team India started the series on a high note with a 295-run win in the first match. Later, they suffered a 10-wicket loss in the second match. The Gabba Test ended in a draw as the rain played the spoilsport. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Rohit said that India played "some really good cricket" at the Perth Test of the ongoing BGT series. "We played some really good cricket, we've been fortunate as well, when we won that test match, when you get bowled out for 150 runs, you feel that you are under pressure a little bit, and then the attitude from the boys, how they turned up and got Australia bowled out for 100 runs, shows that there is an attitude where nobody wants to give it up until the last day of the test match, or the last over of the test match is bowled, and that is the attitude we've been carrying for a long time now when you tour abroad, you know that you have to put in that extra effort, have that extra bit of attitude within the team, and that is something that we showed in that test match," Rohit said. He added that Team India was a little bit behind in the game at the Adelaide Test and didn't play well. The India skipper further said that both sides have displayed "solid cricket" in the ongoing BGT series "And then obviously in Adelaide, we were a little bit behind in the game, we didn't play well, which I admitted to. And then Brisbane obviously, there wasn't much, only 180 or 190 overs were bowled, so after three test matches, if I had to look at it being one-all, it's a fair reflection of how both teams have played, there's been solid cricket being played by both teams, and obviously now these two test matches are going to be so important for both teams, but we want to break it down to just Melbourne now and focus on what we can achieve here, get our things right, play well, bat well, bowl well, and take some good catches as well," he added. India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar. (With ANI Inputs)
24 December,2024 09:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
