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Day: November 17, 2023

Sports

India holds edge in bowling department against Australia, hope Rohit scores big in final: Viswanath

With pacer Mohammed Shami in menacing form, India holds the edge in the bowling department against Australia, reckons batting great Gundappa Viswanath, who wants skipper Rohit Sharma to convert his aggressive starts to a big hundred in the World Cup final. After 10 wins in as many games, India will face Australia in the summit clash in Ahmedabad on Sunday. "Sometimes when you are not getting a break, Shami comes and straightaway gets you a wicket. Just see how many times he got first-ball wickets. Unfortunately, Hardik [Pandya] got injured and he [Shami] came and grabbed the opportunity," Viswanath told PTI. "He [Shami] hits the deck and got some pace. He skids through, that's the beauty of his bowling, so it goes a bit rapidly and surprises the batsmen. Others also, [Jasprit] Bumrah is...
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Pakistan names Wahab Riaz as head of national selection committee; Sohail Tanvir to head junior selection panel

The overhaul in Pakistan cricket’s top echelons continues after the team’s ouster from the ongoing Cricket World Cup after a fifth-place finish in the group stage. Just two days after former Test captain Mohammad Hafeez was entrusted the role of Team Director for the Pakistan men’s cricket team and Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi took over the reins of the national team from Babar Azam, the Pakistan Cricket Board picked two former Pakistan pacers to lead two crucial selection committees. While former left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz was appointed as the chief selector of the national men’s selection committee, Sohail Tanvir was named as the head of the junior selection committee. Riaz’s first assignment will be the selection of the national men’s squad for the three-match Test seri...
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World Cup 2023 IND vs NZ | It was a privilege to watch Virat Kohli’s feat, says Viv Richards 

Legend’s take: Richards picked India as the favourite as ‘they have played unblemished cricket’. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement When Sir Viv Richards doffs his hat to a modern-day batter, it is probably the greatest of all appreciations that can come their way.The legendary West Indian, who is arguably the most devastating batter of all time, was at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday, watching Virat Kohli break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries — a mark that had once seemed certain to live for eternity — during India’s victorious World Cup semifinal over New Zealand. “It was a privilege to be in the house,” Richards told The Hindu on Friday. “It just goes to show that records are there to be broken. Newer boundaries are being set [in the game]. As I said to Vi...
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No need to do anything different in final, Shastri tells Indian team

India’s skipper Rohit Sharma talks to Ravi Shastri. File. | Photo Credit: PTI India will be overwhelming favourites in the upcoming World Cup final against Australia, the team's former head coach Ravi Shastri said on November 17 while urging the hosts to stick to their game plans. On the sidelines of an event in the city, Shastri spoke on India's approach in the title clash saying they do not need to do anything different. "I think they will be relaxed. They are playing at home, and it's a very experienced side. And they don't need to do anything different. "The way they have played.... it will be around the way they had left in the last game. They should be holding that cup very soon. "India will win the World Cup. They will start as favourites in the final. They have played outstandi...
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Meg Lanning exits centre stage, but her greatness lives on

Don’t bowl short to her: Lanning has played some punishing strokes while making thousands of runs. No one in women’s cricket cuts or pulls the way she does. | Photo credit: Getty Images Franchise player: The inaugural edition of the WPL saw Delhi Capitals benefit from Lanning’s leadership qualities. She led the franchise to the final against Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians and was the leading scorer of the tournament. | Photo credit: Getty Images Jhulan Goswami remembers pausing to take a closer look at this new top-order Australian batter more than a decade ago. “The girl had huge potential, I thought,” the former India seamer tells The Hindu on phone. “I found out her name was Meg Lanning.” By the time Lanning announced her retirement from international cricket — last week, at the a...
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With family support, Tanvi Sharma finds blend between volleyball and badminton at Krishna Khaitan Memorial tournament

With her mother and coach Meena Sharma being an international volleyball player, a young Tanvi Sharma would often accompany her to the volleyball and badminton courts at the DC Complex in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. While the Punjab youngster opted to play badminton, her mother took a coaching course in badminton and started coaching her, her elder sister, as well as other students at the complex. On Friday, as the 14-year-old completed her 21-17, 21-19 win over Yashvi Bhat of Delhi in the women’s singles first round match in the Yonex Sunrise 30th Smt Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Prize Money tournament being organised by Express Shuttle Club Trust at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, the youngster was instantly reminded by her mother to have a cooling down session. “My moth...
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World Cup 2023 | Kohli’s highs, Shami’s menace and Rahul’s balance

Picture of poise: India will look to Rahul to emulate his own heroics against Australia in their first match of this World Cup. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B Long-drawn championships like the cricket World Cup, for instance, march to their own unique beat. Teams can gain or lose momentum, personnel can struggle or soar with form and fitness issues, and the two best units that have withstood these vagaries usually meet in the final. Obviously, the Men in Blue have kept that sporting cliche ‘law of averages’ at bay so far, registering 10 consecutive wins. Australia, meanwhile, lost to India and South Africa, and when pushed to the wall, roared back with grit and gumption to quell varied rivals. Pat Cummins and his men have now qualified for another tilt at a Cup that their predecess...
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India holds edge in bowling department, hope Rohit Sharma scores big in World Cup final: Gundappa Viswanath | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: With pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Momammed Siraj firing in unison and spinners providing them perfect support, batting great Gundappa Viswanath feels India holds edge over Australia in the bowling department ahead of the World Cup final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Rohit Sharma too has been leading the way with the bat, giving the team rapid starts but Viswanath wants the skipper to score a big hundred in the summit clash. After 10 wins in as many games, Rohit-led side now has its eyes set on a third World Cup title."Sometimes when you are not getting a break, Shami comes and straightaway gets you a wicket. Just see how many times he got first-ball wickets. Unfortunately, Hardik (Pandya) got injured and he (Shami) came and grabbed the opportunity," Viswanath tol...
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Badminton: PV Sindhu’s quest for Paris glory will have a helping hand from Prakash Padukone in Bengaluru

India’s superlative shuttler PV Sindhu is looking to make Bangalore an extended training base under Prakash Padukone at his academy in the run-up to the Paris Olympics.“I’ll be training in Bangalore with the whole set-up of support system – physio and trainer. Everybody needs to be together in one place and whenever time permits, I’ll be going and training in Bangalore,” she told the Indian Express. Shot selection, variations, and bringing accuracy to her attack are on the agenda. A double Olympic and five-time Worlds medallist who became World champion in 2019, Sindhu had struggled with injury and loss of form since last August. But she has shown small signs of resurgence in the European swing. For now, she is stepping off the tournament treadmill with a left knee niggle. Padukone reck...
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World Cup 2023 | Rachin Ravindra is the breakout star of the World Cup, says Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor, third from right, says that New Zealand cricket team will be going through a transition phase soon. | Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor highlighted Rachin Ravindra’s calmness while batting, at the official launch and jersey unveiling of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) franchise Southern Superstars here on Friday.On Ravindra’s outstanding World Cup campaign, he said: “Rachin is the star of the show, I think. He was the breakout star the way he batted and showed that he can bowl as well. “The way he played spin, his calmness in the way he went about it (his batting); as a 23-year-old, he just showed a lot of class. But New Zealand need him to perform for a long period of time in the years to come. He’s got a level head and I think that bod...
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World Cup 2023 SA vs AUS | Choke or curse, the tragic tale continues for South Africa at World Cup

Perennial underachievers: Cummins commiserates with his counterpart Bavuma as the Aussies once again proved to be South Africa’s bogey.  | Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR Some things are certain. Such as the rain in monsoon, the melody in an A.R. Rahman album, the rise of Indian chess... and South Africa’s exit from a cricket World Cup. Temba Bavuma’s men on Thursday night kept South Africa’s reputation intact, with the three-wicket defeat to Australia in the semifinal at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. When Gerald Coetzee cleaned up the stubborn Josh Inglis, South Africa must have hoped to beat history, though Australia now needed only 20 with three wickets in hand. At this World Cup, Pat Cummins is proving to be Australia’s wall in the lower-order; along with Mitchell Starc, the skipper took the tea...
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World Cup 2023 Final IND vs AUS | For Australia to win, Steve Smith has to score big: Michael Bevan

Jersey launch: Bevan, second from left, will coach Southern Superstars, the new team joining the Legends League.  | Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran Former Australian cricketer Michael Bevan feels Steve Smith will need to take a leaf out of Virat Kohli’s book if the five-time champion hopes to beat India in the World Cup final on Sunday. Speaking at the jersey launch of the Southern Superstars, the new team joining the Legends League Cricket 2023, Bevan said, “For Australia to win, Steve Smith has to score big. He has the skills and temperament to bat through the middle overs. He is very good against the spinners. If he bats till the 35th or 40th over, that’s when Australia has a real chance. “They have players who can get quick runs at the start and end, but are missing the flexibility a...
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Watch: Shan Masood avoids serious injury ahead of Australia tour | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's new Test captain Shan Masood on Friday escaped a serious injury after an on-field collision with teammate Sarfaraz Ahmed during a domestic match.The injury could have jeopardised Shan's availability for the upcoming crucial tour of Australia starting next month.The incident took place during a List-A semi-final match between Karachi and Multan at the Rawalpindi stadium.Shan and Sarfaraz, playing for Karachi, ran to take a catch from opposite directions near mid-off and ended up in a nasty collision, with the former unable to get up immediately as the latter retrieved the ball.The impact of the collision led to Sarfaraz also spilling the catch of batter Sohaib Maqsood.The match was also halted for a few minutes as Shan walked off the field with assistance from suppo...
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Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough named on-field umpires for World Cup final

Englishmen Richard Kettlebourough and Richard Illingworth are the on-field umpires in the World Cup summit clash between India and Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Englishmen Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough will stand as on-field umpires in the World Cup summit clash between India and Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19. This will be the second outing for Kettleborough, who also stood in the final of the 2015 World Cup. His partner on that occasion was Kumar Dharmasena. More than 93,000 spectators watched the 2015 final at the MCG. However, that number will be trumped as a three-figure crowd is expected on Sunday as the host nation will look to replicate their 2011 triumph on home soil. For Illingworth, too, this will be a second...
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World Cup 2023 Final Umpires: ICC names Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough as on-field umpires | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough are set to officiate as on-field umpires for the highly anticipated ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad.This marks Kettleborough's second stint in the pivotal role, having previously officiated in the 2015 final alongside Kumar Dharmasena, witnessing Australia's victory over New Zealand at the MCG in front of over 93,000 spectators. Both Illingworth and Kettleborough, who ascended to the ICC International List on the same day in November 2009, served as on-field umpires during this week’s gripping semi-finals. Illingworth oversaw India’s win against New Zealand, while Kettleborough officiated Australia’s thrilling victory over South Africa.For Sunday's final, Joel Wilson will join the pa...
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How Adam Zampa played a key role in turning Australia’s fortunes round at the World Cup

Bowling against India in Chennai at the start of the tournament, Adam Zampa looked like a bowler who was short on confidence. The legspinner conceded 53 runs from eight overs after the pacers did the job of picking up three early wickets defending a small total. He struggled to keep the pressure through the middle overs.For someone who had a decent record against India, he looked like a shadow of himself. However, things might be different this time in Ahmedabad as the leg-spinner has grown strength to strength as the tournament has gone on. When Ashton Agar was injured and the fitness of Travis Head was up in the air, Australia decided to stick with the latter and not try and replace Agar with another spinner in the squad. The decision meant that Adam Zampa would be the frontline spinn...
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Eye-specialist visit, widening feet, fluent bat-swing, opening-stance: How Shreyas Iyer overhauled his game in preparation for the World Cup

On the day the Indian team reached Mumbai ahead of the league game against Sri Lanka, former Mumbai all-rounder-turned-coach Abhishek Nayar received a phone call from Shreyas Iyer.Next morning, Pravin Amre texted Iyer that he is coming down to Wankhede stadium to be there. The two Mumbai old hands, with whom Iyer has worked at various phases, were swooping in to offer some emotional cover in vulnerable times. Follow all the action from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on our special World Cup section. You can also find the latest stats, like the top scorer and the highest wicket-taker of the current edition, upcoming World Cup fixtures and the points table on the site. When the number flashed on the screen, Nayar knew it was a distress call from India’s current No 4. “I usually get calls fr...
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Wahab Riaz named Pakistan’s new chief selector – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday appointed former pacer Wahab Riaz as the new chief selector after Inzamam-ul-Haq stepped down from the post following allegations of a conflict of interests. Legendary batter and ex-captain Inzamam had resigned as the chairman of the national selection committee on October 30 in the middle of the World Cup. Inzamam's resignation came after the PCB initiated an inquiry to probe if his association with a company that manages a number of national team players amounted to conflict of interest.The 38-year-old Riaz's first assignment will be to select the squads for the Test tour of Australia and the T20I rubber in New Zealand.Pakistan will play their Test series in Australia from 14 December to 7 January and a five-match T20I away series agains...
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World Cup final: ICC pitch consultant Atkinson back home as BCCI curators monitor preparations

Groundsmen prepare the pitch ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia, in Ahmedabad on November 17, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI What will be ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson's future was a question floating around as the burly New Zealander was nowhere to be seen during pitch preparation 48 hours ahead of the World Cup final between India and Australia. It is learnt that Atkinson had already left the country as his assignment is already over. "Andy's assignment is over and he has gone back. Don't try to find controversy where there is none. Nowhere it is written that ICC's pitch consultant need to be present before final," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. Atkinson exactly isn't a favourite with BCCI brass after accusing the host nation...
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Pakistan Cricket Board names Wahab Riaz as new chief selector

File photo of Wahab Riaz. | Photo Credit: AP The Pakistan Cricket Board on November 17 named the country's former fast bowler Wahab Riaz as their new chief selector, a week after accepting the resignation of legendary batter and ex-captain Inzamam ul Haq. Inzamam had on October 30 resigned as the chairman of the national selection committee after the PCB initiated an inquiry to probe if his association with a company that manages a number of national team players amounted to conflict of interest. The 38-year-old Riaz's first assignment will be to select the squads for the Test tour of Australia and the T20I rubber in New Zealand. Pakistan will play their Test series in Australia from 14 December to 7 January and a five-match T20I away series against New Zealand from January 12 to 21. ...