Category: SPORTS

It was a special moment for England captain Joe Root as he received a cap from team-mate Ben Stokes for featuring in his milestone 100th Test in the first match of the series against India here. The stylish right-hander was handed the special cap by star all-rounder Stokes prior to the start of the Test at the M A Chidambaram stadium. He was also presented a special cap by England national selector Ed Smith on the occasion. Root had made his debut against India in the 2012-13 tour and also…

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As India and England gear up for an important Test series, international cricket is set to return to the country after a gap of almost one year. Both sides are fighting for a place in the World Test Championship final, to be played at the Lord’s in June later this year. With vital Test championship points at stake, it is important  that the weather demons do not come to halt the play. Chennai’s famous MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as Chepauk, will host the first two matches of the four-Test series — with…

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New Zealand’s talismanic captain Kane Williamson has hailed India’s “truly remarkable” triumph in Australia, coming in the backdrop of a disastrous Test series opener and injuries to innumerable players. Shot out for a record low 36 in the second innings of the first Test, which they lost in two and half days, India staged an incredible turnaround to clinch the four-match rubber 2-1 for one of their biggest wins of all time. The cricket fraternity took note of India’s achievement and Williamson, a giant of the game, was no exception.…

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 “You don’t get left-arm wrist spinners everyday,” former pacer Irfan Pathan said, firmly backing Kuldeep Yadav and hoped that there will be place for him in the Indian team for the Test-series against England. Yadav has been warming the bench for more than three months now but Pathan said he is a “unique bowler” who would do well in the upcoming Test assignment, starting February 5 in Chennai. “It is very important from the team management point of view, how they keep mind-set of a player, who is not playing.…

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 Lionel Messi showed his worth yet again, scoring on a beautiful free kick to lead Barcelona to a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league. The 650th goal in his Barcelona career came amid the noise prompted by Spanish newspaper El Mundo’s report that his contract is worth 555 million euros ( 673 million). The Catalan club, mired in debt and political turmoil, had to quickly deny its involvement in the leak. Antoine Griezmann also scored for Barcelona, which won its fifth in a row in the league…

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There are times when balls faced matter a lot more than runs scored and the recent tour of Australia was all about that for India’s Test batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara, who finds the “strike-rate talk” overrated. Pujara had collected a lot more runs (521 at 41.41 strike rate and three hundreds) in his player of the series performance to ensure a historic triumph in Australia two seasons ago but considering the “extraordinary circumstances” of the recent showdown that just went by, he rates his effort (271 at 29.20 and three…

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The last group of quarantined players in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open and a week of tune-up tournaments was set to leave their hotels at midnight Saturday night, ending a mammoth two-week effort to reduce the chance of any international arrivals bringing the coronavirus Down Under. More than 1,000 players and officials went into a two-week quarantine from January 14 when the first of 17 flights chartered by Tennis Australia landed in Melbourne and Adelaide. Three of those charters contained players or entourages with COVID-19, meaning that 72 players…

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Already out of contention for the knockouts, World champion P V Sindhu ended her campaign with a consolation win at the BWF World Tour Finals but Kidambi Srikanth had a disappointing finish after yet another close defeat, here on Friday. Sindhu, the Olympic silver medallist, notched up a 21-18 21-15 win over world number 13 Pornpawee Chochuwong in her third and final match after suffering defeats in the first two days. “Well I think it was a good finish. Actually until yesterday I still had a chance. Unfortunately the match…

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England batsman Jonny Bairstow admits it is “tricky” to miss the first two Tests against India next month but says there is no other slot to take a break and he will be “raring to go” when he comes back to the side later in the tour. Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark Wood were rested by the national selectors for the first two Tests beginning in Chennai on February 5, a decision which was criticised by former England skippers Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen. The England tour of India comprises…

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A scream from Andy Robertson was a forlorn attempt to distract Mason Greenwood beginning Manchester United’s comeback. The defender won’t be the only one shrieking at Liverpool after going out of the FA Cup. Not that everything went wrong for Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice. The Liverpool striker’s opener was canceled out by Greenwood and he leveled after Marcus Rashford put United in front. But Bruno Fernandes bent in a free kick in the 78th minute to send United into the fifth round with a 3-2 victory on Sunday.…

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