Sports – Link Punjabi

Everyone thought Ravindra Jadeja’s absence would weaken India but Axar Patel was outstanding: Andrew McDonald

Editor — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 07:42:55 +0000

HYDERABAD: Ravindra Jadeja’s absence from the T20 series was expected to weaken India but the hosts found an able replacement in “outstanding” Axar Patel, said Australia coach Andrew McDonald.
Left-arm spinner Axar, who was shoed in as a like-for-like replacement for the injured Jadeja, impressed everyone with his bowling, ending as the leading wicket-taker in the three-match series.
“Axar, in particular, had an outstanding series. With Jaddu out everyone thought that it might become a bit of a weakness for India, but they’ve found another one again, which tends to happen,” McDonald said at the post-match press conference after India clinched the series.
The Australian bowling attack, comprising the pace duo of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, was taken to the cleaners by the Indian batters.

Asked if it’s a concern heading to the World Cup, McDonald said: “Across the series the run rate was high, it was entertaining cricket from the get-go. Bat dominated the ball, so there was really no place to hide for bowling units, in particular death.
“We worked our way through some plans. We saw some good results with some of the plans that we implemented that might be able to transition to the World Cup.”
McDonald added that Australia will have reinforcements in the form of Mitchell Starc when they begin the defense of their World Cup title at home next month.

“The connection between here (India) and Australia might be slightly different, a little bit more bounce, different tactics. Mitchell Starc comes back into the picture being one of our best death bowlers. So, we feel like we’ll get reinforcements there.”
McDonald feels most of the bowling attack is “under the pump” due to the skills of the batters.
“The conversations always going to be can you get better at your death bowling? The answer to that is yes.
“We encourage our guys to make good decisions and execute them. Sometimes the batter out-executes you and we’ve seen that with Hardik (Pandya) across the series.
“Suryakumar Yadav was outstanding today and he’s gonna be dangerous in the World Cup but he showed what he can do.”
Australia were without a few of their World Cup-bound players due to injuries but the head coach feels the defending champions have enough depth to overcome the situation.
“It’s fortuitous that some of the guys got the opportunity here. We got a couple of injuries which are concerning leading into a World Cup. You don’t like to see some of your mainstay players out of the team leading in but we feel as though we’ve got some good options in depth.”
In the absence of David Warner, who was rested, Cameron Green “embraced the challenge of opening”.
The all-rounder amassed 118 runs, including two belligerent half-centuries to give Australia great starts.
“I’ve asked him to show great intent on top of the order and everything that we’re seeing so far shows that he’s doing that.
“It’s probably opportunistic the way that he’s come into the opening position with obviously David Warner not being here and a couple of other players from our World Cup 15.
“And that’s all you can do, given an opportunity… Before we came over here we thought he had the skill sets to be able to succeed there, and he’s taken on some of the best bowlers in world cricket.”

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Smriti Mandhana rises to career-best 2nd position in T20Is, ranked 7th in ODIs

Editor — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:47:12 +0000

DUBAI: Star India opener Smriti Mandhana on Tuesday achieved a career-best world number two rank in T20Is and climbed to the seventh spot in ODIs in the latest ICC Women’s Player Rankings, riding on her stupendous show against England.
The left-handed batter had aggregated 111 runs in the three-match T20I series against England. The performance helped her jump two places.
Mandhana, a former top-ranked batter in ODIs, also jumped three slots to number seven after a match-winning 91 in the first ODI against England.
Among other Indians, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has zoomed four spots to ninth place in ODIs, all-rounder Deepti Sharma gained one place to reach 32nd position and wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia jumped eight places to 37th following India’s seven-wicket win in Hove on Saturday.
Deepti also climbed six places to 12th in bowlers’ list.
For England, Emma Lamb and Sophie Ecclestone have gained three slots each and are 64th and 72nd among batters, respectively, while Charlie Dean is up to 86th in the list.
Dean is also up four places to 20th among bowlers, while Kate Cross is in the top 10 after grabbing two wickets with her seam bowling.
In the T20I rankings, Kaur (up one place to 14th among batters), new-ball bowler Renuka Singh (up three places to 10th among bowlers) and spinner Radha Yadav (up four places to 14th among bowlers) made notable gains.
All-rounders Sneha Rana and Pooja Vastrakar are in joint-41st position.
England’s Sophia Dunkley jumped 12 spots to 32nd after leading the run-aggregate with 115 runs in the T20I series, while Alice Capsey is now 20th among batters.
Zimbabwe players Sharne Mayers (up 28 places to 39th among batters), captain Mary-Anne Musonda (up 10 places to 50th among batters) and Precious Marange (up 24 places to 34th among bowlers), who are featuring in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi, have also moved up the rankings.

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Asia Cup: Suryakumar, Kohli star as India beat Hong Kong by 40 runs to seal Super Four spot

Editor — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:14:05 +0000

DUBAI: In the 26 balls he faced against Hong Kong on Wednesday, Suryakumar Yadav demonstrated all the right things about his T20 batting while exposing everything that is not quite right with India’s top-three. Surya walked out to bat at the end of the 13th over with the scoreboard reading 94/2 after KL Rahul went for a 39-ball 35 and Virat Kohli still striking just about run-a-ball.
When he walked off unbeaten with 68 runs to his name and Virat Kohli by his side with a 59 off 44, he had propelled India to 192/2. In doing so, Surya had put the game well beyond the spirited Hong Kong team who finished with 152/5 having cashed in on India’s two inexperienced bowlers Arshdeep Singh (1/44) and Avesh Khan (1/53). India’s head coach Rahul Dravid, wearing a particularly unamused look in the dugout, will go into the Super 4s with the same set of unresolved issues.
The pitch and Hong Kong’s inexperienced bowling looked non-conducive to the modern-day slam-bang T20 batting till the time Surya took strike. Captain Rohit Sharma’s dismissal for 21 off 13 earlier in the innings at mid-on was indicative of a double-paced pitch.
It was one of those days when the scoreboard belied the intent of the Indian batters, barringSurya. The first two balls he faced, he swept left-arm spinner Yasim Murtaza for boundaries on either side of long-leg. All of a sudden, the pitch started looking different while he was on strike.
This match was always about oiling the machinery. Virat Kohli did get to spend enough time in the middle and got the runs under his belt. But if his arduous partnership with Rahul is anything to go by, there was a heavy layer of rust on the top order.
It was bizarre till the time Rahul and Kohli batted together. The match was reduced to having a knock in the nets to get a feel of the ball. It seemed spending time in the middle was a greater priority than getting a move on. Perhaps, knowing the batting credentials of Hong Kong gave them that liberty.
The duo waited for balls to land absolutely in their zone to go for the big shots. Credit to Hong Kong bowlers, they offered very few. In his 44-ball knock, Kohli found the fence only four times. Three of those times he cleared the deep mid-wicket stand. That’s evidence of being cautious.
Surya’s innings showed it was neither the bowling nor the pitch. It was about the intent and confidence in his skills that shredded the inexperienced team.
For teams like India, matches like these are meant to flex their muscles to the extent where it looks like they are bullying the newbies. For 13 overs, Hong Kong must have believed they got away. Surya moved around the crease on his nimble foot, targeted all parts of the ground and ended up bullying them smashing four out of his six sixes in the last over medium-pacer Haroon Arshad even as Kohli looked content knocking the ball down the ground with a straight bat.
Hopefully, the time spent in the middle has shaken off the rust for Kohli and Rahul. The big teams won’t offer so much time to ease into an innings.

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Australia pick Singapore-born Tim David in T20 World Cup squad

Editor — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:05:39 +0000

Singapore-born all-rounder Tim David has been named in Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup squad, while legspinner Mitchell Swepson has been omitted, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.

T20 specialist David, who was raised in Western Australia, burst into the spotlight in the Pakistan Super League last season and has become hot property as a finishing batsman in global leagues.
“Tim continues to establish himself with some quality performances in leagues around the world, earning a place in the squad,” selector George Bailey said in a statement.

Tim David can hit a LONG ball! And captain Aaron Finch is looking forward to seeing his power showcased in the n… https://t.co/jN6QBIvKne

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 1662006540000

“He is a highly gifted, natural ball-striker who will add extra batting depth to the group which has had a lot of success in T20 cricket.”
David is the only notable inclusion in the squad for Australia’s World Cup defence on home soil starting in October.
“Mitchell Swepson was unlucky to miss out based on conditions in the UAE at the last World Cup where we planned for tired, spinning wickets compared to what we would expect are good batting conditions along with the larger grounds in Australia,” added Bailey.

World Cup squad assembled! Here’s the 15 who will represent our national men’s team at the upcoming T20 World Cup… https://t.co/X8xaS1fXGr

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) 1661987297000

The Aaron Finch-captained squad will travel to India for three T20 Internationals in September before returning home to play the West Indies, England and India leading into the World Cup.
Key batsman David Warner will miss the Indian tour as part of a “managed period of preparation”, Cricket Australia said, while Cameron Green will join the squad for the Indian T20 Series.
Australia T20 World Cup squad:
Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Kane Richardson

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India A vs New Zealand A: Mukesh Kumar impresses with three wickets as New Zealand A score 156/5 on Day 1

Editor — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 14:18:55 +0000

BENGALURU: Bengal seamer Mukesh Kumar bowled to a probing channel in all his spells as India A stifled New Zealand A to 156 for five before bad light stopped play on the opening day of the first ‘Unofficial’ Test.
Playing for a representative national side (India U-19, India U-23, India A or Senior India) for the first time, the right-arm fast-medium bowler got the ball to move both ways and finished with figures of 13-4-34-3, with a wicket in each of his three spells.
In fact, Mukesh got wickets with the new (4.3 overs), semi-new (35.3 overs) and old ball (57.4 overs), as only 61 overs of play was possible out of the maximum 90.
While two left-arm pacers Yash Dayal (13-2-35-1) and Arzan Nagwaswalla (13-2-34-1) also got a wicket apiece, Mukesh was the best bowler on the day by a fair distance.
Not only did he bowl to a probing channel but he also forced the New Zealand batters to play most of his deliveries, unlike the other two who were letting them leave quite a few.
Mukesh drew the first blood when he got one to move a shade as opener Chad Bowes (5) edged one to Ruturaj Gaikwad at first slip.
It wasn’t long before Nagwaswalla struck at the stroke of an hour when left-hander and Black Caps Test player Rachin Ravindra (12), sent to open, tried to drive a fuller length delivery, only to offer a catch to Rajat Patidar at second slip.
Dayal joined the list of wicket-takers when Abhimanyu Easwaran held on to a catch in the second slips to dismiss southpaw Mark Chapman (15), who has played T20Is as recently as the month of July.
The right-handed No. 3 Joe Carter (73 batting off 170 balls) showed a lot of composure, having come out to bat only in the fifth over. Carter has so far hit 10 fours in his innings.
When Carter and skipper Robert O’Donnell (24) seemed to have nicely settled down with a 49-run stand, India A captain Priyank Panchal brought back Mukesh for his post-lunch spell with the semi-new ball.
A fullish delivery that cut back enough found O’Donnell plumb in front to leave New Zealand A in trouble at 100 for four in the 36th over.
Wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher (13 off 66 balls) defended doggedly for close to two hours as Kuldeep Yadav (0/44 in 19 overs), in his first competitive red ball game in more than 18 months, didn’t look penetrative enough.
Mukesh, who came back for his third spell, got the old ball to break back in and found Fletcher’s pads after a 49-run stand in just over 22 overs.
Brief Scores: NZ A 1st Innings 156/5 (Joe Carter 73 batting, Mukesh Kumar 3/34, Arzan Nagwaswalla 1/34, Yash Dayal 1/35) vs India A.

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Asia Cup 2022, India vs Hong Kong: Best Fantasy playing XI, possible playing XIs, full squads and more

Editor — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 07:32:59 +0000

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It’s time for India’s second match at the ongoing 2022 Asia Cup. The Men in Blue will play Hong Kong this evening in Dubai, who beat the UAE to qualify for the tournament.
Overall India and Hong Kong have played two matches at the Asia Cup and both were played in the 50 over format. In June 2008, India thrashed Hong Kong by a record 256 runs in Karachi. This remains the largest margin of victory in terms of runs by any team at the Asia Cup.
Then in 2018, Hong Kong pushed India hard, eventually falling short of the target by less than 30 runs. India won that match in Dubai by 26 runs.
India are the defending champions, having beaten Bangladesh in the last edition’s final in 2018 by 3 wickets.
In T20I cricket, the two teams will be playing each other for the first time. Match will begin at 7:30 PM IST in Dubai.
India are the Number 1 ranked T20I team in the world, while Hong Kong are ranked 20th.
If you are an avid fantasy cricket player you must be wondering who to pick in your playing XI tonight.
Here’s a quick look at a possible fantasy playing XI combination that you might consider:
Fantasy playing XI: Possible combination –
Top order batters: Rohit Sharma, Babar Hayat, KL Rahul
Middle order batters: Suryakumar Yadav & Kinchit Shah
Wicket-keeper: Scott McKechnie
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya (c) & Nizakat Khan
Pacers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh
Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal
Possible Playing XIs for India and Hong Kong:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal & Arshdeep Singh
Hong Kong: Yasim Murtaza, Nizakat Khan(c), Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Scott Mckechnie (wk), Zeeshan Ali, Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Ayush Shukla
Full squads of India and Hong Kong at the Asia Cup 2022:
India: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan
Standby Players: Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar.
Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan (c), Kinchit Shah (vc), Aftab Hussain, Aizaz Khan, Ateeq Iqbal, Babar Hayat, Dhananjay Rao, Ehsan Khan, Haroon Arshad, Scott McKechnie (wk), Mohammad Ghazanfar, Mohammad Waheed, Ayush Shukla, Ahan Trivedi, Wajid Shah, Yasim Murtaza, Zeeshan Ali
Pitch:
The pitch in the first two games did a lot. Bowlers are likely to dominate
Weather Conditions:
Oppressive playing conditions will prevail with temperatures in the high 30s and humidity in the mid 40s
Where to watch and follow Asia Cup 2022 matches:
You can follow live match commentary, updates, latest stats, toss results, player analysis and more on: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports
TV: All Asia Cup matches will be telecast on the Star Sports channels – Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD (English), Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 Hindi HD (Hindi)
Live Streaming: On the Disney+ Hotstar website and the app

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Asia Cup 2022: I was mentally ready to bat at number four, says Ravindra Jadeja

Editor — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 01:31:16 +0000

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DUBAI: His promotion to number four in the batting order was a masterstroke from the team management and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who made a crucial 29-ball 35 in India’s tense win over arch-rivals Pakistan, on Tuesday said he was “mentally ready” for the challenge.
Against Pakistan, Jadeja came out to bat after opener KL Rahul and captain Rohit Sharma got out for nought and 12 respectively. He shared 52 runs with Hardik Pandya (33 not out) for the fifth wicket before the latter took India past the target of 149.
“Of course (I knew it was coming)… I knew such a situation would come after seeing their playing XI. I was mentally ready. Luckily, I scored those crucial runs for the team,” Jadeja said of India’s famous five-wicket win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup opener on Sunday.

“I was the only lefty in the top-seven, sometimes when left-arm spinners and leg-spinners are bowling, it’s easy for a left hander to take chances.
“I just play according to the situation whenever I go out there. In T20, you don’t have much time to think, you just go out there and express yourself. I just have to score runs while batting and give breakthroughs when it’s needed.”
Asked if it (his batting at No. 4) is the way forward, Jadeja said: “It depends on the situation and the opponent’s bowlers.”
Jadeja was promoted to negate the spin duo of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz as both of them turned the ball away from a right-hander. The move paid off as Jadeja took India out of trouble after they lost Rohit and Virat Kohli (35) for the addition of just three runs to be 53/3 inside 10 overs.

Jadeja consolidated India’s chase with a 36-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav (18) in the middle overs before he and Hardik put on the match-winning 52-run partnership.
Asked what he and Hardik discussed while batting, he said: “India-Pakistan matches are always high pressure games. You have high expectations.
“I don’t think there was anything much to discuss, such things happen in T20 format. Everyone contributed in batting, bowling and catches. There was not much to discuss and dissect.”
While bowling, both he (2-0-11-0) and Yuzvendra Chahal (4-0-32-0) returned wicketless but Jadeja said they did well to check the run flow.

“Spinners also did well, sometimes you do well but don’t get wickets. The T20 format is like that. As a bowling unit, we did well.
“It was a collective effort. Spinners didn’t get any wicket but they restricted the run flow. Those 15-20 runs were crucial in the end,” he said.
Asked about the concluding group match against qualifiers Hong Kong on Wednesday, Jadeja said: “We are going to play against Hong Kong with a positive mindset and we will not take them lightly.
“On a given day, anything can happen in T20Is. We will give our best and play positively,” he said.

Getting Match Ready! #TeamIndia | #AsiaCup2022 | #INDvHK https://t.co/DuPwgatgQc

— BCCI (@BCCI) 1661869273000

Jadeja had a forgettable IPL for Chennai Super Kings and there was talk about whether he will be selected for the T20 World Cup in Australia or not.
Asked how he dealt with such rumours, Jadeja said: “Beech mein toh khabar aayi thi ki main mar gaya hoon! Ish se badi khabar toh ho hi nahi sakti… (There was a rumour in between that I’m dead — can it be anything bigger).”
He was referring to the news of the death of 61-year-old former Saurashtra cricketer Rajendra Jadeja in May when the India all-rounder fell victim to the “fake news” on social media.
“As I said, I don’t think much. I just have to go out there and perform. I practice hard and improve on my weaknesses, that helps in actual match situations. That’s all I do, day in and day out — bowling, batting and fielding,” he concluded.

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Asia Cup 2022, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Highlights: Spinners, Najibullah Zadran take Afghanistan to Super 4s

Editor — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 18:57:51 +0000

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SHARJAH: A fine performance from the spinners and an impactful cameo from Najibullah Zadran helped Afghanistan record a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup here on Tuesday.
Afghanistan’s star spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3/16) and Rashid Khan (3/22) ran through a reckless Bangladesh batting line-up to restrict the opposition to 127.
Bangladesh stifled Afghanistan in the run chase before Najibullah’s belligerent 43 not out off 17 balls, comprising six sixes, got his team over the line in 18.3 overs.
As it happened
Ibrahim Zadran also contributed with 42 off 41 balls as he shared an unbeaten 69-run stand off 36 balls with Najibullah.

What a win! Things went right down to the wire but AfghanAtalan led by the Zadran duo of @iamnajibzadran 43* (17… https://t.co/lf7IJo0mmt

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) 1661880241000

With their second win in as many games, Afghanistan also became the first team to qualify for the Super 4s.
Like Bangladesh, Afghanistan too found it hard to push the scoring rate.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan opened the bowling for Bangladesh and returned with impressive figures of 1 for 13 in four overs. The other bowlers too were accurate with Afghanistan batters not able to put them away.
After the fall of openers Hazratullah Zazai (23) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (11), Afghanistan found themselves needing 80 off the last 10 overs.
With the batters struggling to find the big hits, it seemed the game would go down to the wire. However, a barrage of sixes from Najibullah quickly change the course of the game.
It was only fitting that the left-hander finished the game with a six.
Earlier, Mossadek Hossain (48 not out off 31 balls) was the sole Bangladesh batter who played smartly and saved Bangladesh the blushes.
It was the pacers who rocked Sri Lanka in Afghanistan’s earlier match but the team’s traditional strength, the spin, wreaked havoc here as Mujeeb and Rashid shared three wickets each.
The spinners had a clear plan to target the stumps and Bangladesh batters chose to play cross-batted strokes against them, leading to their downfall.
Mujeeb broke the backbone of Bangladesh batting by striking thrice in the powerplay. He used the slider effectively to get through left-handed Mohammad Naim’s (6) stumps before Anamul Haque (5) went for the slog sweep only to be trapped in front of the stumps.
Mujeeb’s third scalp was of opposition skipper Shakib Al Hasan (11) who played a poor shot to see his stumps dislodged.
Number one spinner Rashid then joined the party by removing the seasoned Mushfiqur Rahim (1) with a googly. He got rid of left-handed Afif Hussain (12 off 15 balls) with a leg-break, leaving Bangladesh in dire straits at 53 for five. The quick pace both the spinners bowl at did not give the batters time to free their arms.
The experienced Mahmudullah (25) and Hossain tried to stabilise the innings but the damage was already done.
Medium pacer Azamatullah Omarzai was brought into the attack in the 20th over in which he did well to concede just seven runs.

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Nobody can fill Jhulan Goswami’s shoes, her passion for cricket is unmatched: Harmanpreet Kaur

Editor — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:30:48 +0000

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BENGALURU: India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur on Tuesday paid a glowing tribute to Jhulan Goswami, saying the veteran pacer’s passion for the sport is unmatched and “nobody can fill her shoes”.
The 39-year-old, who is leading wicket-taker in international cricket in a career spanning more than two decades, is set to retire after the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s on September 24.
“She goes to every game with the same kind of passion which is unmatched, nobody can beat that,” Harmanpreet said in a media interaction here on the eve of their departure for their white-ball series in England.
Having made her debut under the captaincy of Jhulan in a match against Pakistan in the 2009 World Cup, Harmanpreet has some vivid memories of the legendary Indian pacer who has a world record 252 wickets to her name from 201 ODIs — the only bowler with more than 200 wickets in the format.
“When I made my debut she was the captain, it’s a great opportunity for me that I would be leading the side when she would be playing her last ODI. When I entered the team, she was the one who was leading from the front. I’ve learnt a lot from her. Nobody can fill in her shoes.
“She’s someone who always puts in the same kind of effort, bowling two-three hours She still puts in the same kind of hard work she used to during her early days… I’ve never seen her make any changes to her practice regimen.”
“You hardly see any bowler doing like that, or even at the nets while batting… Nobody can bring that passion she has for cricket.
“As a cricketer and a person, I’ve learnt a lot from her. She’s a great example for all of us. There are many back home who have grown up watching her and then took up the sport.”
Jhulan last played for India during the ODI World Cup in New Zealand in March this year before sustaining a side strain ahead of India’s final group game against South Africa and missed the Sri Lanka tour in July.
Having made her International debut in 2002, Jhulan called it quits from T20s in 2018, and played her last Test match in October 2021.
Overall, Jhulan has played 12 Tests, 68 T20 Internationals and 201 ODIs including six World Cup appearances.
Fresh from their silver medal winning show at Commonwealth Games Birmingham, India will begin their tour with three T20s starting from September 9.
Thereafter India will play three ODIs at Hove (September 18), Canterbury (September 21) before the marquee ODI at the Lord’s, their first at the hallowed venue since their 2017 Cricket World Cup final defeat.
Harmanpreet said they would do their best to make it a special occasion for her.
“We are talking about it being her last tournament. It would be very special for her and for us. We would try to create some great moments for her so she can go back with some special memories.”

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Bianca Andreescu shrugs off wardrobe malfunction in US Open win

Editor — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:38:45 +0000

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NEW YORK: A hasty change of outfit worked wonders for Bianca Andreescu as she powered into the second round of the US Open on Monday.
The 22-year-old Canadian star, winner of the US Open crown in 2019, overcame Harmony Tan 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 to keep alive her dream of a second Grand Slam title.
However the victory was not without drama as a flustered Andreescu scrambled to change her clothing.
The former world number four arrived on court in a navy blue skirt, but with gusts of wind blowing her outfit around, she pleaded with the chair umpire to make a change.
“It’s not my fault, it’s Nike’s fault, this dress is so bad,” Andreescu could be heard complaining. “I need to go. This is so bad.”
She quickly returned to the court wearing shorts and a white top and set about navigating her way past Tan, who made headlines in June when she beat Serena Williams at Wimbledon.
Andreescu later explained her change of outfit after securing victory.
“It was just bothering me on some forehands. I just felt like it was kind of coming up a bit. Obviously the wind didn’t help,” she said.
She said she had pleaded with the umpire not to dock her a bathroom break — which he agreed to — and said she had not intended to criticise kit manufacturer Nike.
“He was very nice to say it was totally okay,” she said. “I could have definitely used a different choice of wording.
“So I apologize to anyone I disrespected. I love Nike and I hope I can be with them for the rest of my life.”

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

US Open 2022: Serena Williams says ‘staying vague’ on retirement plans

Editor — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:35:05 +0000

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NEW YORK: Serena Williams said she is “staying vague” over her expected retirement from tennis after reaching the US Open second round on Monday.
“I have been pretty vague about it, right? I’m going to stay vague because you never know,” said the 40-year-old after beating Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam title winner, said earlier this month that she was “evolving away” from tennis and that “the countdown” was on for her retirement after 27 years as a professional.
Before Monday, the former world number one had won just one match on tour all year and seen her ranking slip to 605.
That kind of form prompted her to reveal that she was on the brink of retirement and hinting that this US Open would be her farewell.
However, the guessing game over her concrete plans over her future continued Monday with mixed messages delivered on court and then in her post-match news conference.
“It was such a hard decision,” Williams told her on-court interviewer when asked about her original announcement revealed in a essay for Vogue magazine.
“I think when you are passionate about something it is always hard to walk away,” she said.
“I have been trying to decide what to do. I love this game.
She added: “I think now’s the time. I have a family and there’s other chapters in life. I call it evolution.”
“It’s like Serena 2.0. I will still be crazy, I’ll still be intense. I’ll still be around. But I look forward to waking up and not having to run onto a tennis court.”
On Monday, Williams, who arrived on court in a diamond-encrusted black dress and jacket which sparkled under the lights, overcame a nervy first game for a hold of serve.
The American star brought the crowd to their feet with a break for 2-0, chasing down a net cord to hit a winner.
Kovinic, the world number 80, has enjoyed a solid year at the Slams, reaching the third round of the Australian and French Opens.
The 27-year-old hit back with a break of her own and edged ahead for 3-2.
However, Williams buried the error count — she served up six double faults in the opener — levelled and then raced away with the next three games to take the first set.
Another break for 3-2 arrived in the second set on the back of crunching drives from the back of the court.
A love service game gave the American a 5-3 lead and a final break of the night gave her victory.
She celebrated with a little jig on the baseline and a broad smile, much to the delight of a crowd which included the likes of tennis legend Martina Navratilova, ex-world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and former US president Bill Clinton.
The crowd held up cards to spell out “Serena, we love you”.
Next up for Williams is second round clash against No.2 seed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia on Wednesday.

News Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com