Category: SPORTS

Handed a chance to open the innings for India in the T20I series against the West Indies, KL Rahul said he is looking to make the most of the opportunities but doesn’t want to worry about sealing his T20 World Cup berth.The India team is continuing its preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia with the three-match series and many players, whose places are not yet secured, are trying to impress the selectors with their performances against the West Indies. Rahul, who was promoted as an opener in…

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Former world number one Tiger Woods said he had turned down offers to play in the Saudi International golf tournament, but defended the right of players to participate in the event.Speaking on the eve of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods said he had rejected approaches to play in Saudi Arabia despite appearance fees reportedly in the region of 3 million (2.7 million euros).”I just don’t want to go over there,” Woods told ESPN. “It’s a long way.”Golfers participating in the Saudi International faced criticism at the inaugural…

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Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting is in awe of India’s “fantastic” pace attack but feels their spinners tend to struggle Down Under, making his country’s bowling unit a stronger force here. Helped by an impressive battery of fast bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma, India have risen to the pinnacle of Test rankings. The trio also played an instrumental role in the breakthrough series win in Australia last summer. Ponting said even though India currently boast of a strong bowling attack, their spinners tend to struggle…

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Nathan Lyon had never taken a five-wicket haul against Pakistan. The veteran off-spinner hadn’t taken a wicket in the day-night test until the fourth day.Then they tumbled. He took two wickets in the first session Monday and three in the second before Australia finished off a victory by an innings and 48 runs under lights to complete a two-test series sweep with more than a day to spare.The 32-year-old Lyon (5-69) now has 50 test wickets at the Adelaide Oval, where he’d worked as a curator before making the national…

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David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne both plundered back-to-back centuries as Australia stamped their authority on the opening day of the day-night second Test in Adelaide Friday.At the close on a rain-interrupted day, the home team were a dominant 302 for one with the pair building an ominous 294-run partnership, leaving Pakistan with a huge battle to stay in touch.Warner was not out 166 and Labuschagne unbeaten on 126, following on from their 154 and 185 respectively in the first Test at Brisbane. Their Adelaide partnership was the highest ever in…

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He is the quintessential ‘Captain Cool’ on the cricket field but at home, Mahendra Singh Shoni says it’s his wife Sakshi who calls the shots and he never comes in the way as “I know I can be happy only if she is happy”. Speaking at an event here, the 38-year-old former captain, who led India to two world titles and is currently on a sabbatical, joked about marriage and love. He married Sakshi in 2010. “All men are like lions until they get married,” he said much to the…

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New Zealand Cricket has ordered increased security at the second Test against England in Hamilton after a crowd member racially abused visiting paceman Jofra Archer during the opening match in Mount Maunganui. Black Caps captain Kane Williamson described the taunt as “horrific”, while NZC said the culprit would be reported to the police and barred from cricket grounds if he was identified from the venue’s CCTV footage. “We’re incredibly disappointed, it’s just not acceptable and we won’t tolerate it,” NZC chief executive David White told Newstalk ZB radio. Barbados-born Archer…

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Australia captain Tim Paine says his team have room to improve after crushing Pakistan in their opening Test, hailing the quality of his batsmen and bowlers. The home side comfortably won the first of their two Tests by an innings and five runs inside four days at the Gabba on Sunday, set up by dismissing Pakistan for 240 in the first innings then smacking 580 in reply. They now head to Adelaide for a day-night Test starting Friday, with Australia having ominously won all five pink-ball matches they have played.…

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An untested pink ball was not able to reduce the glaring gulf between the two teams as India bulldozed Bangladesh by an innings and 46 runs in their first ever day-night Test to record their 12th home series win in a row.With Bangladesh resuming their second innings at 152 for six on day three and trailing India by 89 runs, it was simply a matter of time for the home team to complete formalities.The Virat Kohli-led side eventually completed the job in less than 50 minutes for their fourth straight…

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Cristiano Ronaldo conceded he is not ‘100 percent’ despite his goal spree for Portugal but always ready to play as injury-hit Juventus head to Atalanta on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run this season to stay top of Serie A. Juventus visit fifth-placed Atalanta before hosting Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next week.Maurizio Sarri’s side are just one point ahead of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan after 12 matches, with Lazio and Cagliari eight points adrift of the leaders in joint third.Atalanta have gone three league games without a…

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