Category: Sports

  • New Zealand Shocks England with 423-Run Win in Tim Southee’s Final Test

    New Zealand Shocks England with 423-Run Win in Tim Southee’s Final Test


    Team New Zealand celebrated a big win over England by 423 runs on Tuesday. This match was special for Tim Southee, who played his last test at home. The victory gave New Zealand some joy after losing the first two matches of the series.

    Coming fresh from a stunning 3-0 victory in India, New Zealand struggled in their previous games. But at Seddon Park in Hamilton, they found their rhythm, making this win their largest ever by runs and showing England how to play on familiar ground.

    Mitchell Santner, who came back to the team, shone brightly. He took seven wickets and scored 76 and 49 runs, earning him the title of Player of the Match. Other players also contributed, with captain Kane Williamson scoring an impressive 156 runs.

    “It’s great to finish like this,” said New Zealand captain Tom Latham. He added that the team learned from their earlier performances.

    England, despite performing well in the first two tests, struggled to chase down a huge target of 658 runs, falling to 234 all out by lunch on day four. The team’s captain, Ben Stokes, couldn’t bat due to a hamstring injury, which added to their troubles. They collapsed quickly, losing their last three wickets for just 3 runs.

    Southee finished his career with 391 test wickets, making him one of New Zealand’s great bowlers. Latham praised him as a legend and mentioned that he has a bright future ahead.

    One bright spot for England was Jacob Bethell, who scored 76 runs, and Joe Root, who made 54. However, Harry Brook, a star in previous matches, struggled, scoring just 1 run and getting out quickly.

    Despite the defeat, England had reasons to be hopeful, with new players like Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson showing potential. “We want to win every game,” said Stokes, acknowledging the team’s letdown but focusing on their earlier successes in the series.

  • D. Gukesh: Youngest Chess Champion’s Fearless Bungee Jump Adventure

    D. Gukesh: Youngest Chess Champion’s Fearless Bungee Jump Adventure

    Young Chess World Champion D. Gukesh made a promise to his coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, and went bungee jumping in Singapore right after he won his title against Ding Liren. At just 18 years old, Gukesh had promised to face his fear of heights if he became the world champion.

    On Monday, he shared a video of himself bungee jumping in Singapore. Gukesh told a funny story about how his coach convinced him to take on this thrilling challenge. After winning the championship, he explained, “On our day off, we saw two people bungee jumping. I’ve always been scared of heights. My coach, Gaje, said, ‘If you win, we’ll go bungee jumping.’ I don’t know why I promised, but I said I would join him. Now, I’m excited to jump off a bridge!”

    Gukesh returned home to a huge celebration at the airport in Chennai, just a few days after becoming the youngest player to achieve this amazing goal. Many fans came to cheer him on, along with state officials, including Dr. Atulya Misra, who welcomed him warmly. The Tamil Nadu government also announced a cash reward of Rs five crore for Gukesh’s great achievement.

  • Josh Hazlewood Injured: Australia Faces a Tough Challenge Against India

    Josh Hazlewood Injured: Australia Faces a Tough Challenge Against India

    On Day 4 of the third Test match between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane, the Australian team faced a tough situation. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood had to leave the field after bowling just one over because he felt discomfort in his calf. An Australian team spokesperson said he needed scans to check how serious the injury was. This raises concerns about whether he can continue playing in the Test.

    Before the match, Hazlewood talked with doctors and coach Andrew McDonald. However, he seemed to struggle when he bowled his first delivery, which was too short and clocked at 128 kilometers per hour. After finishing his over, he spoke with captain Pat Cummins, vice-captain Steve Smith, and physiotherapist Nick Jones during a drinks break.

    There were worries about his fitness since he missed the previous Test due to a side injury. Australia had said he was ready to play, and he seemed fine when he bowled five overs on the rain-impacted third day, even getting the important wicket of Virat Kohli. But on the fourth day, he was only able to bowl one more over before leaving.

    Nathan Lyon, speaking to the media during a break, mentioned that Hazlewood’s side was okay, although he hadn’t spoken to him directly during the break. Some former cricketers, including the famous Sunil Gavaskar, speculated that Hazlewood’s injury might have been a consequence of his comments about the batting performance after Australia lost the first Test.

    Despite earlier doubts about Hazlewood’s ability to play, the Australian team chose to include him in the Brisbane Test, which paid off as he bowled effectively. In his limited overs, he gave away 22 runs and took the key wicket of ‘Chase Master’ Virat Kohli. With Hazlewood now uncertain to continue, Cummins will need to re-adjust his bowling strategy as India tries to recover in this Test.

  • Anil Kumble Denounces Fake Quotes During Border-Gavaskar Trophy

    Anil Kumble Denounces Fake Quotes During Border-Gavaskar Trophy

    Former Indian cricket captain Anil Kumble is unhappy about people misusing his name and picture on social media. This issue has come up during the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Some false quotes were shared online that made it seem like Kumble was criticizing famous players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. These fake statements led to a lot of noise and anger among fans.

    Kumble wants to make it clear that he has nothing to do with these quotes or the accounts spreading them. He wrote a message on social media saying, “I want to deny any connection with these fake quotes and accounts. The things being said are not my thoughts or opinions.” He also reminded everyone to be careful and not believe everything they read online. “Please check if the information is real before sharing. My official accounts are the only places where you can find my real views,” he added.

    His statement came while India was struggling in the third Test match against Australia, trailing with a score of 51/4 after Day 3, while Australia scored 445 runs.

    Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has also faced the same problem as Kumble. He recently found a fake article published under his name and reacted quickly by calling it a lie. Gavaskar threatened to take legal action, similar to Kumble’s advice for fans to think critically about the information they see online.

  • Pujara’s Key Advice to Jaiswal for Facing Starc in Test Cricket

    Pujara’s Key Advice to Jaiswal for Facing Starc in Test Cricket

    Veteran Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has shared some thoughts about Yashasvi Jaiswal’s batting after he got out early in the first innings of the third Test match in Brisbane. Jaiswal, known for his remarkable century in the second innings at Perth, struggled recently, getting dismissed by Mitchell Starc twice in just three innings.

    In the last match, Jaiswal faced only two balls before getting out for four runs. He tried to hit a ball straight into the air, which Mitchell Marsh caught easily. Pujara, who has a lot of experience batting in Australia, advised Jaiswal to learn from his teammate, KL Rahul. He mentioned that it’s not smart to try to drive the new ball, and Jaiswal needs to wait for balls that are closer to his body to hit.

    Pujara said, “You cannot drive the new ball in Australia. Jaiswal is looking for full deliveries to drive, but it’s really tough to do that. He should only play drives when the ball is close.” He also suggested that Jaiswal should change his mindset and be okay with defending some balls in Test cricket.

    Jaiswal and Starc had some light-hearted moments during the Perth Test, but Starc has since gotten the better of him. Pujara praised Starc’s improved control with the ball, making it hard for left-handed batsmen like Jaiswal to play against him.

    Pujara added that he would prefer KL Rahul to face Starc at the start of the next innings. He believes that if Jaiswal keeps facing Starc first, he might be in trouble again.

  • India’s World Test Championship Hopes at Risk: Gabba Challenge Awaits!

    India’s World Test Championship Hopes at Risk: Gabba Challenge Awaits!

    India is in a bit of trouble during the Day 3 play at the Gabba, and it’s not looking good for them. Australia’s fast bowlers have made it tough for the Indian batsmen, leaving them at 4 wickets down for just 51 runs by the end of the day. If India gets out for less than 246 runs, it would be their worst performance in 13 years. Adding to their worries, rainy weather could stop the game, allowing a draw, which wouldn’t help India either.

    India needs to win this Test match to keep their hopes alive for the World Test Championship final. They started off strong with a big win in the first Test in Perth but lost in Adelaide. South Africa’s strong performance at home pushed India down to third place in the points table.

    What if India loses?

    If India loses this Test match, they could be out of the running for the final for the third time in a row. Even if they win the next two matches in Melbourne and Sydney, the most points they can get is 58.8 percent. Australia, in second place, could go up to 60.5 percent if they beat Sri Lanka at home. This means India would need Sri Lanka to do really well against Australia to have any chance of qualifying for the final.

    What if there’s a draw?

    With rain expected for the next two days, India’s best chance is to finish the game in a draw. However, that still wouldn’t be enough for them. They would then need to win in Melbourne and Sydney. If they lose even one of those matches, finishing the series 2-2, they will need Sri Lanka to win at least one match against Australia to qualify. This would leave India at 55.3 percent and Australia at 53.5 percent, enabling India to secure their spot in the final.

  • Rashid Khan Returns to Tests: Afghanistan Faces Zimbabwe in Series!

    Rashid Khan Returns to Tests: Afghanistan Faces Zimbabwe in Series!

    New Delhi,India – Rashid Khan, the famous leg-spinner from Afghanistan, is ready to play in his first Test match since March 2021. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has announced the team that will play two Test matches against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, starting on December 26.

    Rashid, who is only 26 years old, hasn’t played red-ball cricket for Afghanistan since a match against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi over two years ago. This time, he will face Zimbabwe again. He is part of an 18-player squad for the upcoming series.

    Although Rashid has played more than 200 one-day and T20 matches for Afghanistan, he has played only five Test matches, taking 34 wickets at an impressive average of 22.35. His return to the Test team is a big boost as it includes seven new players who are eager to earn their first Test caps in Africa.

    Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, the interim chief selector, is excited to have Rashid back in the team. He believes that the players are well-prepared to compete strongly against Zimbabwe.

    “We are happy to see Rashid back, which is good news for our red-ball cricket. The team has trained well in Nangarhar province, and we have picked some new players who did well in the recent tournament,” Ahmad Shah said.

    Series Schedule:
    – First Test: December 26-30, Bulawayo.
    – Second Test: January 2-6, Bulawayo.

    Afghanistan Test Squad:
    – Hashmatullah Shahidi
    – Rahmat Shah
    – Ikram Alikhail
    – Afsar Zazai
    – Riaz Hassan
    – Sediqullah Atal
    – Abdul Malik
    – Baheer Shah Mahboob
    – Ismat Alam
    – Azmatullah Omarzai
    – Zahir Khan
    – Zia Ur Rehman Akbar
    – Zahir Shehzad
    – Rashid Khan
    – Yamin Ahmadzai
    – Bashir Ahmad Afghan
    – Naveed Zadran
    – Fareed Ahmad Malik

    Reserves:
    – Nasir Jamal
    – Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
    – Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai

  • India Faces Top Order Collapse Against Australia – Match Highlights

    India Faces Top Order Collapse Against Australia – Match Highlights

    Team India faced another difficult day at the GABBA, Brisbane, during the third Test against Australia. On Day 3, they found themselves in trouble at 51 runs with 4 players out after just 17 overs, and the game was often delayed by rain.

    Pacer Mitchell Starc got things rolling by taking two quick wickets, and Josh Hazlewood took one more. India was in a tough spot at 22 runs for 3 wickets before lunch, while Australia had scored a massive 445 in their first innings.

    Starc removed Yashasvi Jaiswal right away on the second ball of India’s innings. Shubman Gill followed him shortly after, caught brilliantly by Mitchell Marsh in the slips. Virat Kohli, who has struggled lately, chased a wide ball and ended up giving a catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

    Rishabh Pant was also dismissed cheaply, caught behind off Pat Cummins while trying to play a risky shot. KL Rahul was the last hope, batting on 33 not out, but Rohit Sharma is yet to score as he remains not out at zero.

    Earlier, Australia scored 445 all out thanks to great centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey chipped in with a quick 70 runs before he was out. Jasprit Bumrah had a good day with the ball, taking 6 wickets for 76 runs.

  • Exciting Race for World Test Championship: India’s Path to Glory!

    Exciting Race for World Test Championship: India’s Path to Glory!

    The competition to grab the two spots in the World Test Championship (WTC) final is getting more thrilling! Four teams are still in the mix: South Africa, India, Australia, and Sri Lanka. Right now, South Africa is leading the WTC table, with Australia and India right behind them in second and third place.

    India and Australia are currently in a five-match series, and the score is tied at 1-1 after two matches. Meanwhile, South Africa has two upcoming Tests against Pakistan starting on December 26. Australia will also play two more Tests against Sri Lanka soon.

    On Day 3 of the current Test between India and Australia, the weather wasn’t great! Just 34 overs were played because of rain. Australia scored 445 runs and got all out. In response, India struggled and lost four wickets, leaving them at 51 runs in only 17 overs. The rain forecast isn’t promising, so this match might also end in a draw.

    If the match ends without a winner, the series will be tied, with two games left in Melbourne and Sydney. Here’s how India can still qualify for the WTC finals, even if the Brisbane Test ends in a draw:

    – For India to qualify without worrying about other teams, they need to win the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

    – If India only wins the series 2-1, then Sri Lanka must not lose all their matches against Australia.

    – If India draws the series 2-2, then Sri Lanka needs to win at least one match against Australia.

    – If India draws the series 1-1, Sri Lanka must also draw or win against Australia.

    But if India loses the series, they will be out of the race!

  • Suryansh Shedge’s Incredible 36s: A Rising Star in T20 Cricket!

    Suryansh Shedge’s Incredible 36s: A Rising Star in T20 Cricket!

    Suryansh Shedge, a 21-year-old cricketer from Mumbai, is making a name for himself in the world of cricket. Recently, he scored two amazing runs of 36 in just five days during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

    His first 36 runs came on December 11 against Vidarbha. Mumbai needed 65 runs to win with only 29 balls left. Shedge hit four huge shots—three sixes and one four—making it much easier for his team.

    Then, in the final against Madhya Pradesh, he scored another 36 runs, this time in just 15 balls. With 46 runs needed in 34 balls, Shedge stayed calm. He hit two sixes off Venkatesh Iyer and finished off with 4, 6, and 6 against Tripuresh Singh, leading his team to victory.

    Being a finisher in T20 cricket can be very stressful, but Shedge handled the pressure like a champ. “I knew I’d be batting at number 5 or 6, so I practiced setting goals for hitting certain runs in six balls,” he shared. This way, he prepared himself to be ready when the match got tough.

    Shedge believes it’s crucial to stay cool and not think too much before hitting the ball. He said, “I don’t think about shots until the bowler starts running. If I hesitate, I might miss, but when I commit, I usually connect.”

    He admires big hitters like Hardik Pandya and Ben Stokes for their powerful batting skills. Shedge also embraces competition and pressure because it pushes him to improve. He calms his nerves with breathing exercises before each match.

    His captain, Shreyas Iyer, has confidence in him too. “I’ve seen him work hard and improve. His talent and his dedication to the game are amazing,” said Iyer.

    Shedge faced a tough year in 2023 when he had a serious back injury and missed a chance to join the Lucknow Super Giants. It was hard for him, but with support from his family and coaches, he got through it.

    Besides playing, Shedge loves watching cricket videos on YouTube to learn and grow. He believes that cricket will eventually return all the love he has for the game.