SPORTS

Loved my role in time wasting row at Lord’s, Crawley

Zak Crawley says he “loved” the time-wasting row at Lord’s and reflects on England’s strong start at Old Trafford, his improved mindset, and the growing bond with fellow opener Ben Duckett. Hyderabad: England opener Zak Crawley (84), who was involved in a brilliant 166-run stand with his opening partner Ben Duckett (94), revealed that he “loved” his role in the time wasting row at Lord’s and sensed “a good chance” to rile India by playing pantomime villain after he laid the foundations for England’s strong response at Old Trafford on the second day of the fourth Test against India on Thursday. “I’ve always enjoyed that part of cricket, to be honest, especially when you’re batting,” he said. “There’s two of…

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We could have done better with the ball, says Shardul

Shardul Thakur admits India’s bowling lacked patience early on Day 2, allowing England to dominate. He also called for fair concussion substitution rules after the ongoing WTC cycle. Hyderabad: Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur admitted that the team’s bowling unit gave away too many runs in the first 10 to 12 overs of the second day, allowing England to reach 225 for two in response to India’s 358 in the ongoing fourth Test at Old Trafford on Thursday. Speaking at the end of the day’s play, Shardul said, “The ball was doing a lot more in the morning today compared to yesterday. And I felt we batted well in the morning, whatever runs we could get. With the ball, I think in…

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Stokes stars with ball, Duckett and Crawley shine as England dominate day two

Ben Stokes’ first five-for in eight years and a dominant 166-run stand between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley helped England take control against India on day two of the fourth Test Manchester: Half-centuries from Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley put England in a commanding position after skipper Ben Stokes claimed his first five-wicket haul in eight years on day two of the fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Old Trafford on Thursday. At stumps, England reached 225/2 in 46 overs, trailing India by 133 runs. Stokes’ 5-72 helped bowl India out for 358, with Rishabh Pant returning to bat despite a fractured right foot to score a courageous 54 — a knock that will be remembered for ages. Pant had retired hurt…

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Pant’s injury, if serious, will have consequences, says Sudharsan

India opener Sai Sudharsan scored a composed half-century on a tricky Old Trafford wicket in the 4th Test against England and said Rishabh Pant’s injury could have serious consequences, depending on scan results expected by Thursday. HYDERABAD: India opener Sai Sudharsan, who scored a gritty half-century on the first day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday, said there was a bit of variable bounce and the wicket was two-paced and overcast conditions. Speaking to the media at the end of the day’s play, Sudharsan said that throughout the day, it was cloud-covered. “Throughout the day, the ball was moving, doing something or the other from the wicket, I thought I played a bit tighter and took…

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AIFF shortlists three names for India men’s football team head coach

The AIFF’s Technical Committee has shortlisted Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Štefan Tarkovič for the Indian men’s football team head coach post. The Executive Committee will make the final decision. Hyderabad: The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Technical Committee (TC) met virtually on Wednesday to shortlist applicants for the Senior Men’s Indian Football Team head coach role. The TC carefully reviewed 170 applications received earlier this month and narrowed the list down to three candidates — Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovie. The TC has recommended the resumes of the three shortlisted candidates to the Executive Committee, which will take the final call on who the next Blue Tigers head coach will be.

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Kick-Boxing needs more State patronage, says Harsha who won two Senior National gold medals

Harsha a B.Tech graduate and a post-graduate diploma holder in Disaster Management, this spirited boxer is clearly fighting heavy odds off the ring as he chases bigger dreams of clinching honours on the international stage abroad HYDERABAD: He ventured into the Iskimos Kick-Boxing Academy just to stay fit in 2012. But, little did Harsha Ratnakar realise that within a decade, he would be winning a bagful of medals, including two Senior National gold and two silver in International Open championships. This, despite the sport never getting its due, though the Indian Federation has been affiliated to the world body and sending teams abroad. Ironically, the 30-year-old Harsha, now a junior assistant in Commercial Taxes Department of Telangana Government, reminds in a…

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India 264/4 as Jaiswal, Sudharsan steady ship on day one of Old Trafford Test

Put in to bat in overcast conditions, Indian openers KL Rahul (46 off 98 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (58 off 107) put on 94 runs for their highest stand of the series before Sudharsan (61 off 151) produced a dogged knock under pressure to justify his selection over Karun Nair Manchester: Sai Sudharsan made the opportunity count in his comeback game with a fifty while Rishabh Pant suffered another injury as India played the old-fashioned way to reach 264 for four at stumps on day one of the fourth Test here on Wednesday. At stumps, Ravindra Jadeja (19 batting off 37) and Shardul Thakur (19 batting off 36) were holding fort in fading light. Put in to bat in overcast conditions,…

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Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh hold firm with draws in semifinal first games

The two Indians have had a great beginning drawing with black and in the return game both will play as white in the FIDE Women’s World Cup Batumi (Georgia): Grandmaster Koneru Humpy held China’s Tingjie Lei to a comfortable draw with black pieces, while Divya Deshmukh’s solid defence frustrated former women’s world champion Zhongyi Tan in the first game of the FIDE Women’s World Cup semifinals on Tuesday, With two Indians and two Chinese making up the final four, the Asian dominance in women’s chess remains undisputed. But it’s now a battle of nerves for the final two spots. From the look of it, the two Indians have had a great beginning drawing with black and in the return game both will play as white.…

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Bumrah’s availability good news, says Bangar

Sanjay Bangar has backed Jasprit Bumrah’s return for the fourth Test as a game-changer for India. He also weighed in on key selection dilemmas involving Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, and Pant’s return, calling it a crucial stabilising factor. HYDERABAD: Former India all-rounder and JioHotstar expert Sanjay Bangar, during his talk on ‘Follow The Blues’ said that fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah playing the fourth Test was good news. “One good thing is that the itinerary is spaced out — especially when you’re playing back-to-back Test matches. The gap between the third and fourth Test is enough for any player to recover,” Bangar said. “Bumrah increases the strength of any team, especially the Indian team. Every time he has played in recent times,…

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Sindhu defeats Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki in China Open

The two-time Olympics medallist and star Indian shuttler outslugs the sixth seed 21-15, 8-21, 21-17 to reach the round of 16 Hyderabad: Two-time Olympics medallist and star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu outslugged sixth seed Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan 21-15, 8-21, 21-17 to reach the round of 16 of China Open on Wednesday. Last week, Sindhu, a former world champion, went down 15-21, 14-21 to Korea’s Sim Yu Jin in the Super 750 Japan Open, marking her fifth first-round exit this year. Sindhu, the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist, is clearly looking for a change in fortunes after her early exits this year which also includes Indonesia Open (second round), Singapore Open (second round), Malaysia Masters (first round), Asian Championships (second round), Swiss Open (first round),…

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