Joe Root Equals Alastair Cook's England Record of 33 Test Centuries

Joe Root Equals Alastair Cook’s England Record of 33 Test Centuries

Joe Root, England’s talismanic batsman, has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by equaling Alastair Cook’s record of 33 Test centuries. This remarkable achievement came during the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, a hallowed ground that has witnessed countless cricketing legends.

Root’s journey to this milestone has been nothing short of extraordinary. In just 145 matches, he has matched Cook’s tally, who took 161 games to reach the same mark. This feat places Root in joint-tenth position on the all-time list of Test century-makers, alongside some of the greatest names in the sport.

What sets Root apart from his illustrious peers is his longevity and consistency. At 33 years old, he is the only active player among the top ten century-makers. This underscores his exceptional talent and his potential to further cement his place among the all-time greats.

Root’s achievement is a testament to his unwavering determination and unwavering focus. He has consistently performed at the highest level, scoring runs in all conditions and against all opposition. His ability to adapt to different situations and his mastery of all aspects of batting make him a formidable force in the world of cricket.

The list of most Test centuries is dominated by legends from the past, but Root’s presence among them is a reminder that the game continues to produce exceptional players. His achievement is a source of pride for England and inspiration for aspiring cricketers around the world.

Sakshi Malik's Memoir: An Honest Account of a Wrestling Icon's Journey

Sakshi Malik’s Memoir: An Honest Account of a Wrestling Icon’s Journey

Sakshi Malik, one of India’s most celebrated women wrestlers, is set to release her highly anticipated memoir, “Witness,” in October. Co-authored by Jonathan Selvaraj and published by Juggernaut Books, the book promises an “honest account” of Malik’s life, both on and off the mat.

From her humble beginnings in Rohtak to her historic bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Malik’s memoir chronicles her journey with raw honesty. She delves into the challenges she faced as a woman wrestler in India, including body image issues, financial struggles, and the complexities of dating.

Malik also sheds light on the inner workings of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), revealing the recent public battle that played out on the streets of New Delhi. Her insights into the world of women’s wrestling in India are both fascinating and eye-opening.

“It’s a really honest account of my life – the highs, lows, and everything in between,” Malik says of her literary venture. “I gave this book my all and I hope readers like it.”

Chiki Sarkar, publisher of Juggernaut Books, describes “Witness” as “one of the great memoirs of our time.” She adds, “Sakshi has written a no-holds barred book that not only talks about her struggles with the WFI but also brings vividly alive her childhood, the world of wrestling, and what it takes to be an Olympic medalist.”

Malik’s memoir is a testament to her resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of sports, women’s empowerment, and the human journey.

PCB Concerned Over Ihsanullah's Recovery, Questions Commitment

PCB Concerned Over Ihsanullah’s Recovery, Questions Commitment

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing concerns over the prolonged recovery of young fast bowler Ihsanullah from an elbow injury that has sidelined him for over a year. The 21-year-old’s recent behavior has raised questions about his commitment to his rehabilitation program.

According to a reliable PCB source, senior officials are frustrated with Ihsanullah’s actions, particularly his contradiction of a statement made by his father. Ihsanullah’s father had visited Lahore to request that his son continue his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) rather than in his hometown of Swat. He also informed the media that Ihsanullah preferred to continue his rehab at the NCA.

However, the next day, Ihsanullah tweeted that he was comfortable with continuing his rehabilitation in Swat and did not see the need to travel to Lahore. This directly contradicted his father’s statement.

“The board officials are worried with the sincerity and hard work Ihsan is putting into his rehab program which was designed for him by experts after he was sent to the UK for an appointment with a specialist,” the source said.

The PCB had appointed an independent medical panel to review Ihsanullah’s diagnosis and treatment. The panel recommended that he continue his rehab in Swat under the supervision of an assigned trainer.

However, with fitness tests approaching before the Champions Cup domestic event, there are growing concerns about whether Ihsanullah is taking his rehab process seriously.

Ihsanullah emerged as a promising talent for Pakistan during last year’s Pakistan Super League. He was quickly integrated into the national white-ball squad for T20 and ODI matches before suffering his elbow injury.

The handling of Ihsanullah’s injury also led to the resignation of the PCB’s head of the medical panel, Dr. Sohail Saleem.

Michael Olise Earns French National Team Call-Up After Olympic Success

Michael Olise Earns French National Team Call-Up After Olympic Success

English-born winger Michael Olise has been rewarded for his impressive performances for France at the Olympics by being called up to the full French national team for the start of their UEFA Nations League campaign next month. The 22-year-old, who was born and brought up in London to a Nigerian father and French-Algerian mother, was arguably the standout player in Thierry Henry’s France team that won the Olympic silver medal at the Paris Games earlier this month.

Olise has also recently joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace for a reported 60 million euros ($66.6m), off the back of scoring 10 goals in 19 games in the Premier League last season.

“Michael did great things with Thierry Henry’s Olympic team and he has moved up into a new category with his transfer to Bayern Munich,” coach Didier Deschamps told reporters. “It is quite logical that he should now come with us. He still has progress to make but potentially he has a lot of quality.”

France host Italy at the Parc des Princes in Paris next Friday, September 6, before taking on Belgium three days later in Lyon.

Olise is not the only member of the Olympic squad to make the step up, with 23-year-old Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone also getting the call from Deschamps.

There is also a return to the squad for Chelsea centre-back Wesley Fofana, 23, whose only cap so far came in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar over a year ago.

Kylian Mbappe will feature for France for the first time since making his debut for new club Real Madrid.

Players who went to Euro 2024 in Germany — where France reached the semi-final — but have been left out this time, include Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard, Bayern winger Kingsley Coman, and midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The latter was a regular at the Euros but his absence from the squad is related to the fact he currently has no club after leaving Juventus when his contract expired.

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud, now playing for Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles FC, retired from international duty after the European Championship.

Les Bleus, who won the Nations League in 2021, will also play Israel in League A Group 2, with remaining matches taking place in October and November.

Federico Chiesa Joins Liverpool in 12.5 Million Pound Deal

Federico Chiesa Joins Liverpool in 12.5 Million Pound Deal

Federico Chiesa, the Italian international winger, has completed a move from Juventus to Liverpool in a deal worth a reported 12.5 million pounds ($16.5 million). The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Reds, with an initial fee of 10 million pounds and a further 2.5 million pounds contingent on the team’s performance.

Chiesa’s arrival at Anfield is a significant boost for Liverpool’s attacking options. The Italian has been one of the most promising young players in Europe since his breakout performance at Euro 2020, where he played a key role in Italy’s triumph. However, his career has been hampered by injuries, including a cruciate ligament rupture in January 2022.

Despite his injury setbacks, Chiesa remains a highly talented player with exceptional technical ability and an eye for goal. He is expected to add depth and creativity to Liverpool’s frontline, which already boasts the likes of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo.

Chiesa’s move to Liverpool comes as he enters the final year of his contract with Juventus. He was not selected for new Juventus coach Thiago Motta’s first two matches in charge, indicating that he was no longer a key part of the Italian giants’ plans.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be delighted to have secured the services of Chiesa, who brings a wealth of experience and quality to the team. The Italian’s arrival is a clear indication of Liverpool’s ambition to challenge for major trophies in the coming seasons.

Barinder Sran Announces Retirement from International and Domestic Cricket

Barinder Sran Announces Retirement from International and Domestic Cricket

Barinder Sran, the left-arm fast bowler who represented India in six ODIs and two T20Is, has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket at the age of 31.

Sran’s international career was brief but memorable. He made his ODI debut in January 2016 against Australia in Perth, taking 3 for 56. He also played in the white-ball tour of Zimbabwe in June 2016, where he made his T20I debut and took 4 for 10 in the second game in Harare.

Sran’s journey to international cricket was a remarkable one. He started out as a boxer at the Bhiwani Boxing Club in Haryana before switching to cricket after seeing a Kings XI Punjab advertisement calling youngsters to take part in a trial.

Despite not getting an IPL contract initially, Sran’s talent was evident. He was picked up by Rajasthan Royals at the 2015 IPL auction and made his ODI debut for India a year later with only eight List A matches under his belt.

Sran’s retirement marks the end of a promising career. He was a talented bowler who represented India with distinction. He will be remembered for his brief but impactful international career and his journey from village cricket to the highest level.

TNCA XI Dominate Mumbai, Secure Semifinal Berth in Buchi Babu Tournament

TNCA XI Dominate Mumbai, Secure Semifinal Berth in Buchi Babu Tournament

TNCA XI tightened their grip on the Buchi Babu tournament, piling on the misery for Mumbai in the third round match at the Sri Ramakrishna College Cricket Ground. After dismissing Mumbai for a paltry 156 in the first innings, TNCA XI piled up a mammoth 286 in their second essay, leaving Mumbai with an improbable target of 510.

Mumbai’s batting woes continued in their second innings, as they stumbled to six for no loss at stumps on day three. The home team is now on the cusp of a semifinal berth, having virtually sealed three points from this match.

TNCA XI’s dominance began with their bowlers, led by Sai Kishore’s five-wicket haul. Mumbai captain Sarfaraz Khan, who missed the second day due to illness, returned to bat at No. 10 but was dismissed by Kishore along with Divyansh Saxena (70).

Undeterred, TNCA XI opted to bat again and established a solid opening partnership of 142 runs between S.R. Athish (57) and S. Lokeshwar (73). Despite a spirited fightback from Mumbai’s tweakers Shams Mulani (four for 73) and Tanush Kotian (five for 91), the damage had already been done in the first innings.

Suryakumar Yadav, who had bowled the final over before lunch, did not field in the later part of the innings after suffering a blow to his hand while fielding in the slips.

Mumbai’s hopes now rest on a miracle, as they need a win to secure a place in the next stage. The scores at the end of day three stand as follows:

TNCA XI 379 & 286 in 79.2 overs (Athish 57, Lokeshwar 73, Mokit 52, Mulani 4/73, Kotian 5/91) vs Mumbai 156 in 63.2 overs (Divyansh 70, Sai Kishore 5/36) & 6/0 in two overs.

Lukaku Returns to Italy with Napoli Move

Lukaku Returns to Italy with Napoli Move

Romelu Lukaku Returns to Italy with Napoli Move

Romelu Lukaku’s tumultuous spell at Chelsea has come to an end, with the Belgian striker joining Napoli on a three-year contract. The Serie A club announced the deal on Thursday, ending Lukaku’s extended period of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge.

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed the move on social media, welcoming Lukaku with a photo of him signing his contract. The transfer is reportedly worth 30 million euros ($33.2 million).

Lukaku’s move to Napoli marks his third club in Italy in as many years, following loan spells at Inter Milan and Roma. The 31-year-old enjoyed a successful stint at Inter, firing them to the Serie A title in 2021 under current Napoli coach Antonio Conte.

However, Lukaku’s return to Chelsea in the summer of 2021 proved to be a disaster. The massive transfer fee of over 100 million euros weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he struggled to replicate his form from Inter.

Lukaku’s poor performances led to him being loaned back to Inter for the 2022/23 season. However, injuries and a lack of playing time hampered his impact. A potential permanent move to Inter fell through last summer due to Lukaku’s alleged interest in rivals AC Milan and Juventus.

With Chelsea unwilling to lower their valuation, Lukaku was left in limbo. Roma eventually agreed to a loan deal, but they were not interested in signing him permanently. This paved the way for Napoli to reunite Lukaku with Conte, who is eager to revive the striker’s career.

Despite his recent struggles, Lukaku remains Belgium’s all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 119 appearances. Napoli will be hoping that he can rediscover his goalscoring touch and help them challenge for the Serie A title.

Sai Kishore Sharpens Red-Ball Skills for India-B Opportunity

Sai Kishore Sharpens Red-Ball Skills for India-B Opportunity

R. Sai Kishore, the left-arm spinner from Tamil Nadu, is determined to enhance his red-ball skills to seize opportunities that come his way. His impressive performances in the previous Ranji Trophy (53 wickets) and the ongoing Buchi Babu tournament (14 wickets so far) are a testament to his dedication and talent.

Sai Kishore believes that being prepared will increase his chances of selection. “If I am ready for something, the opportunity will come my way. In terms of confidence, I think that I am ready. I consider myself a tool, the tool is doing its best to be ready. If there is an opportunity somewhere, they could call me,” he said after the third day’s play against Mumbai in the Buchi Babu tournament.

The Tamil Nadu player will have a significant role in the upcoming Duleep Trophy for India-B, as fellow left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja will not be participating. Sai Kishore expressed his satisfaction with his decision to play in the Buchi Babu tournament before the more challenging assignments.

“There was an option to go to the NCA in Bengaluru for a spinners camp. I felt ‘if I cannot handle the pressure in Buchi Babu, how will I handle it in Duleep Trophy’. So I looked at Buchi Babu as a good preparation. No practice is equal to playing a match. Luckily, it has panned out very well,” he said.

Sai Kishore’s determination and hard work are paying off. He is eager to prove his worth and contribute to his team’s success. With his impressive performances and unwavering focus, he is well-positioned to make a mark in the upcoming Duleep Trophy and beyond.

Deandra Dottin Returns to West Indies Squad for T20 World Cup

Deandra Dottin Returns to West Indies Squad for T20 World Cup

Deandra Dottin, the West Indies’ explosive all-rounder, has made a sensational return to the national team after a two-year hiatus. Dottin, who holds the record for the fastest century in women’s T20Is, had abruptly announced her retirement in 2022, citing a challenging environment within the West Indies setup.

However, the 32-year-old has now reversed her decision, with her sights set on the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Dottin’s return is a major boost for the West Indies, who are looking to regain their status as one of the top teams in the world.

Dottin’s decision to retire had come as a shock to many, as she was at the peak of her powers. She had been a key member of the West Indies team that won the T20 World Cup in 2016 and had also played a starring role in the team’s run to the final of the 2018 tournament.

However, Dottin had been vocal about her frustrations with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and had accused the board of not providing adequate support to the women’s team. She had also criticized the WICB for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had led to the cancellation of several women’s tournaments.

Dottin’s return to the West Indies team is a sign that the WICB is taking steps to address the concerns of its female players. The board has recently appointed a new director of women’s cricket, and it is hoped that this will lead to improved communication and support for the women’s team.

Dottin’s return is also a major boost for the West Indies’ chances of success at the upcoming T20 World Cup. The tournament will be held in the UAE from February 10 to 26, and the West Indies will be looking to make a strong impression.

With Dottin back in the fold, the West Indies will have one of the most dangerous batting lineups in the tournament. Dottin is a powerful hitter who can clear the boundary with ease, and she will be a major threat to opposing bowlers.

The West Indies will also be hoping that Dottin can contribute with the ball. She is a handy off-spinner who can bowl at a good pace, and she will be a valuable asset to the team’s bowling attack.

Dottin’s return is a major boost for the West Indies, and it will be interesting to see how she performs in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

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