Wishlist0
0
Continue Shopping

 +91 91155 12977

Home / News (Page 3)

Category: News

Matthew Potts: On the Path to Becoming an All-Formats Bowler

Matthew Potts: On the Path to Becoming an All-Formats Bowler

By September 26, 2024 0

Matthew Potts, the rising star of English cricket, is on a mission to become an all-formats, all-conditions bowler. Currently halfway through a white-ball series against Australia, Potts is set to embark on a month-long Test tour to Pakistan, a testament to his versatility.

Potts’ journey to becoming a multi-faceted quick began with a focus on increasing his ball speed. He believes this is crucial for his success not only in England but also on overseas tours. By refining his run-up and using his front arm more efficiently, Potts aims to generate greater pace.

Despite his impressive debut season, Potts acknowledges that he may not have been ready for the challenges of Pakistan’s pitches two years ago. However, he has since worked tirelessly to improve his game, particularly his ball speed. With James Anderson, Mark Wood, and Ollie Robinson unavailable for the upcoming tour, Potts is determined to step up and fill the void.

In the ongoing ODI series, Potts has showcased his dexterity as a new-ball bowler. His control and ability to swing the ball have been impressive, with a standout wicket against Steve Smith in the second ODI. Potts’ performance has put him in contention to replace Chris Woakes in England’s white-ball plans.

Potts’ versatility extends beyond his bowling. He is also a capable batsman, as evidenced by his half-century in the first Test against Sri Lanka. This all-round ability makes him a valuable asset to any team.

As Potts prepares for the Pakistan tour, he is confident in his ability to contribute to England’s success. He is eager to prove that he can be a viable replacement for Woakes and help England rebuild their white-ball dynasty.

Categories: Cricket
Read more
Laver Cup Crowns Team Europe Champions, Raises Questions About Future

Laver Cup Crowns Team Europe Champions, Raises Questions About Future

By September 26, 2024 0

The Laver Cup, a three-day tennis extravaganza, has once again crowned Team Europe as champions, marking their fifth victory in the event’s seven-year history. This year’s edition, held in Berlin, drew praise from tennis legends Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim.

Roddick highlighted the event’s unique format, which caters to players’ needs. “It’s an easy yes for the players,” he said. “It’s three days, tiebreaker for a third set, so even if you’re playing a lot like Ben Shelton, you’re playing indoors, it’s predictable.”

Wertheim agreed, calling Laver Cup “absolutely right for disruption” and a welcome alternative to the “wreck” that Davis Cup has become. He also raised the question of whether women should compete in the event, arguing that it could improve competitive balance.

Roddick countered that women’s tennis should create its own successful event rather than relying on Laver Cup. However, both commentators recognized the standout performances of Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Ben Shelton at this year’s Cup.

Alcaraz’s victory over Botic van de Zandschulp was seen as a reassertion of his dominance after a disappointing US Open. Roddick praised Fritz as “the lunch pail guy” who consistently delivers his best effort. Shelton, meanwhile, is showing increasing confidence against top-ranked opponents.

The article also discussed the recent coaching changes in tennis, including Naomi Osaka’s split with her coach and Jannik Sinner’s addition of two members of Novak Djokovic’s team. Roddick challenged Alcaraz to boycott mandatory events to force calendar reform, hoping that other top players will follow suit.

Categories: Tennis
Read more
Coco Gauff Adds Matt Daly to Coaching Team Ahead of China Open

Coco Gauff Adds Matt Daly to Coaching Team Ahead of China Open

By September 26, 2024 0

Coco Gauff, the 20-year-old American tennis sensation, has made a significant change to her coaching team ahead of the China Open. Matt Daly, a former coach of ATP former No. 10 Denis Shapovalov, has joined Jean-Christophe “JC” Faurel as Gauff’s new coach.

Gauff’s decision to part ways with Brad Gilbert, who had been her coach for 14 months, stems from her desire to “reset” and “refresh” her game. She believes that Daly and Faurel can help her address areas that need improvement, particularly her serve.

Under Gilbert’s guidance, Gauff enjoyed a breakout summer in 2023, winning titles in Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati before capturing her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. However, her form dipped in 2024, with early exits from Wimbledon, the Summer Olympic Games, and the US Open.

Gauff’s serving woes were particularly evident at the US Open, where she struck 11 double faults in the third set of her fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro. She acknowledges that improving her serve is a top priority with her new coaches.

“When I serve well, I play pretty well,” Gauff said. “For me, that’s the basis for my game.”

Daly, a 45-year-old college tennis alum from Notre Dame University, brings a wealth of experience to Gauff’s team. He previously coached Shapovalov to a career-high ranking of No. 10 in the world.

Gauff is the No. 4 seed in Beijing and will play her first match against France’s Clara Burel after receiving a first-round bye. She is determined to make a strong showing in China and use the tournament as a springboard for a successful 2025 season.

Categories: Tennis
Read more
Tennis Premier League Auction: Rohan Bopanna, Sumit Nagal Bagged by Delhi Tigers, Gujarat Panthers

Tennis Premier League Auction: Rohan Bopanna, Sumit Nagal Bagged by Delhi Tigers, Gujarat Panthers

By September 26, 2024 0

The Tennis Premier League (TPL), a highly anticipated tennis tournament, has announced its player auction results, with Rohan Bopanna and Sumit Nagal emerging as key acquisitions for the Delhi Tigers and Gujarat Panthers, respectively.

The auction, held on Wednesday, saw all eight participating teams select three leading players each. The remaining roster spots will be filled in due course for the TPL, scheduled to take place at the CCI courts in Mumbai from December 3 to 8.

The TPL has attracted a star-studded lineup, including tennis legends Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza. Their presence at the auction added a touch of nostalgia and excitement to the proceedings. Bollywood celebrities Rakul Preet Singh and Sonali Bendre also graced the event, lending their glamour to the occasion.

“It was fantastic to see the tennis legends Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza gather together after so many years, to promote tennis in India and support the league,” said Kunal Thakkur, one of the organizers.

Mrunal Jain, co-founder of TPL, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, stating, “The TPL has got off to a memorable start with the auction and promises an exciting season ahead.”

The team rosters are as follows:

* Bengal Wizards: Petra Matic, Sriram Balaji, Niki Poonacha
* Hyderabad Strikers: Harriet Dart, Benjamin Lock, Vishnu Vardhan
* Chennai Smashers: Hugo Gaston, Conny Perrin, Rithvik Bollipalli
* Bengaluru SG Pipers: Max Purcell, Ankita Raina, Anirudh Chandrasekar
* Mumbai Eagles: Jaqueline Cristian, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, Karan Singh
* Gujarat Panthers: Sumit Nagal, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vijay Sundar Prashanth
* Delhi Tigers: Rohan Bopanna, Iryna Shymanovich, Aziz Dougaz
* Punjab Patriots: Elina Avanesyan, Arjun Kadhe, S Mukund

The TPL aims to provide a platform for Indian tennis players to showcase their skills and compete against international stars. The tournament is expected to generate significant interest among tennis enthusiasts and contribute to the growth of the sport in India.

Categories: Tennis
Read more
Elgar and Westley Century Stand Stuns Surrey

Elgar and Westley Century Stand Stuns Surrey

By September 26, 2024 0

Essex’s Dean Elgar and Tom Westley put on an unbeaten century stand to put the brakes on Surrey’s winning streak in the Vitality County Championship.

The champions, who had celebrated their third successive title triumph last week, were brought back down to earth as Elgar and Westley dominated the Surrey attack at Chelmsford.

Despite a delayed start due to heavy rain, Essex won the toss and elected to bat. They lost Robin Das early on, but Elgar and Westley quickly settled in and began to build a solid partnership.

Elgar, who has now passed 1000 runs for the season, was the more aggressive of the two initially, taking three boundaries off Kemar Roach early on. Westley, who also has over 1000 runs to his name this season, gradually accelerated as the partnership grew.

The pair brought up their century stand in just 26 overs, with Westley reaching his half-century shortly after. Elgar reached his fifty for the ninth time this season, while Westley’s half-century was his sixth of the year.

Surrey’s attack, which included three first-class debutants, struggled to contain the Essex batsmen. Elgar and Westley hit boundaries to all corners of the ground, putting the Surrey bowlers under pressure.

The rain returned just before lunch, forcing the players off the field. By that time, Essex had reached 116 for 1, with Elgar on 54* and Westley on 52*.

The rain continued throughout the afternoon, and play was eventually called off for the day at 2.30pm. Essex will resume their innings on day two with a strong position, looking to build on their solid start and put further pressure on Surrey.

Categories: Cricket
Read more
Sussex Tighten Grip, Yorkshire Edge Closer to Promotion in County Championship Washout

Sussex Tighten Grip, Yorkshire Edge Closer to Promotion in County Championship Washout

By September 26, 2024 0

Sussex’s dominance in Division Two of the County Championship continued as the final round of fixtures commenced with a complete washout on the opening day. Despite the lack of play, the standings remained largely unchanged, with Sussex maintaining their commanding lead and Yorkshire edging closer to promotion.

With promotion already secured and a substantial 20-point advantage, Sussex only need to avoid defeat against Middlesex to return to the top flight as champions. However, the washout at Hove proved detrimental to Middlesex’s hopes, leaving them with just three days to force a victory and overcome their 15-point deficit.

Yorkshire’s promotion push also suffered a setback as their home fixture against Northamptonshire was abandoned due to persistent rain. Despite the disappointment, Yorkshire remain in a strong position, needing just 10 points to guarantee their return to the top flight. Their recent form has been impressive, with five wins in their last six games.

Jonny Bairstow, who has been instrumental in Yorkshire’s promotion push, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. “It’s been a pretty disappointing summer for obvious reasons, but I’ve been happy with my form,” he said. “I’ll do what I can with this group, and the first thing is to get promotion.”

In the event of a tie between Yorkshire and Middlesex, the tiebreakers of most wins, fewest losses, and head-to-head record would come into play. Both teams are currently level on most wins and fewest losses, but Middlesex holds the advantage on head-to-head.

The washout also affected the other two Division Two fixtures, with no play possible in Leicestershire versus Derbyshire and Glamorgan versus Gloucestershire. Derbyshire, 19 points adrift, are almost certain to finish bottom of the table.

Categories: Cricket
Read more
Sinner Fights Back to Defend China Open Title

Sinner Fights Back to Defend China Open Title

By September 26, 2024 0

World number one Jannik Sinner overcame a spirited challenge from Nicolas Jarry to launch the defense of his China Open title with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory on Thursday.

Sinner, fresh from his triumph at the US Open, faced a stern test from the 28th-ranked Chilean, who broke the Italian’s serve in the first set to take an early lead. However, Sinner regrouped in the second set, breaking Jarry’s serve twice to level the match.

The deciding set was all Sinner’s as he broke Jarry’s serve early and never looked back. The Italian’s powerful groundstrokes and relentless defense proved too much for Jarry, who struggled to find his rhythm.

“In the first set, I was struggling to return his serve and he broke me,” Sinner said. “I just tried to stay there mentally. The first round at any tournament is never easy and playing against him is very tough.”

“But I am happy about the performance and how I ended the match.”

Sinner’s victory sets up a second-round clash with either three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka or Russia’s Roman Safiullin. The Italian is aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the China Open title since Novak Djokovic in 2015.

Sinner’s main rivals in Beijing include four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz and the Russian duo of Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev. Djokovic is not competing in the tournament, which is being held alongside a WTA 1000 event.

Categories: Tennis
Read more
Joe Root Poised to Challenge Sachin Tendulkar's Test Runs Record

Joe Root Poised to Challenge Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Runs Record

By September 26, 2024 0

Despite retiring in 2013, Sachin Tendulkar remains the undisputed king of Test cricket, holding the record for most runs scored in the format. With 15,921 runs to his name, Tendulkar’s legacy continues to inspire aspiring cricketers worldwide.

Among active players, India’s Virat Kohli, Australia’s Steve Smith, and England’s Joe Root stand as the top three batters with the most Test runs. Root leads the pack with 12,402 runs, followed by Smith (9685 runs) and Kohli (8871 runs).

Kohli, Smith, and Root have been hailed as potential successors to Tendulkar’s throne, with many experts predicting they could break his record. However, Smith and Kohli have recently experienced a significant dip in form.

Former Australian star Brad Hogg has expressed doubts about Kohli’s ability to reach Tendulkar’s heights. “I just don’t think Virat is going to get there,” Hogg said. “He’s lost his momentum, and he needs to turn it around in the next 10 Test matches or he’s going to drop off.”

In contrast, Hogg believes Root has the potential to surpass Tendulkar’s record. “Joe Root has 146 Test matches with 12,000 runs,” Hogg said. “Sachin Tendulkar made nearly 16,000 runs in 200 Test matches. That’s 4,000 runs in 66 Tests. I think Joe Root can go close to toppling that.”

Root’s consistent performance in Test cricket has earned him widespread admiration. “Watch out, Joe Root is on the move to beat Sachin Tendulkar,” Hogg added. “I think quietly he’ll have that in the back of his mind to try and topple that little unique stat.”

Categories: Cricket
Read more
Srikanth Advances to Macau Open Quarterfinals, Lone Indian in Singles

Srikanth Advances to Macau Open Quarterfinals, Lone Indian in Singles

By September 26, 2024 0

Star Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth made a strong return to competitive badminton, advancing to the men’s singles quarterfinals of the Macau Open Super 300 tournament on Thursday. The sixth-seeded Srikanth, who was playing his first competition since recovering from an injury sustained in May, outclassed compatriot Ayush Shetty in straight games 21-13, 21-18.

Srikanth, the 2021 World Championship silver medallist, will next face Hong Kong’s second seed Ng Ka Long Angus, with whom he shares an even 4-4 head-to-head record in their last eight encounters.

In women’s doubles, the pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also reached the quarterfinals, securing a solid 22-20, 21-11 win over Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chih-Chun and Teng Chun Hsun in just 38 minutes.

However, former world junior number one Tasnim Mir’s run in women’s singles came to an end in the second round. Mir put up a commendable fight against fourth seed and 2022 World junior champion Tomoka Miyazaki from Japan, stretching the match to three games before ultimately losing 17-21, 21-13, 10-21.

In mixed doubles, the team of B Sumeeth Reddy and N Sikki Reddy bowed out of the tournament after falling 17-21, 14-21 to the Malaysian duo of Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien in the second round.

Srikanth, the former world number one, took 37 minutes to defeat Ayush, who initially held a brief 5-3 lead in the opening game. However, Srikanth quickly regained control, moving to an 11-8 advantage at the break and ultimately securing the first game.

In the second game, Ayush showcased a stronger performance, building a 9-6 lead after a competitive start and later extending it to 15-10. Despite this promising position, he couldn’t maintain his momentum as Srikanth surged ahead, winning nine of the next ten points to reach 19-16 before closing out the match.

Categories: Badminton
Read more
Test Cricket's Future Threatened by Soaring Ticket Prices

Test Cricket’s Future Threatened by Soaring Ticket Prices

By September 26, 2024 0

Test Cricket’s Future in Jeopardy as Ticket Prices Soar

Former England cricketer and commentator David Lloyd has raised concerns about the future of Test cricket, citing the exorbitant ticket prices for the upcoming third Test between England and India at Lord’s next July.

Ticket prices have skyrocketed, with the most expensive seats reaching an astonishing £175 (Rs 19,557). Even the most affordable seats available for the first three days come at a steep price of £90 (around Rs 10,000), and these seats offer limited visibility of the event.

Lloyd expressed his dismay in a Daily Mail article, stating, “Paying that much for a seat where you can’t see the entire field is ridiculous. What might you miss? The batsman? A catch down at fine leg?”

He emphasized that Test cricket is in danger of becoming an event only for the elite, excluding regular fans who cannot afford such high prices. “Sure, it’s fun to spot celebrities in the crowd, but cricket needs to cater to everyone, not just the rich,” he said.

Lloyd believes that Lord’s is setting a trend for other cricket venues. If ticket prices at Lord’s range from £120 – £175 (around Rs 13,000 -Rs 19,000), it could lead to similar pricing strategies being adopted by other grounds.

He questioned the rationale behind the pricing, asking, “Who sets these prices? Who decides that £175 is fair? I’d love to know the answer.”

Lloyd highlighted the disparity between the luxurious experience at Lord’s and the more affordable atmosphere at other grounds. “At Lord’s, stewards collect champagne corks after every over. But, at places like Headingley, try throwing a can of Tetley’s over the boundary and see what happens!”

He concluded by expressing his concern for the everyday fan, who may be priced out of attending Test matches. “I’m speaking for the everyday fan. The kind who enjoys a football match with a pie and Bovril. For us, paying £120-£175 (for one day of cricket is outrageous. It feels like the MCC knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing. They’re risking losing the connection between this great England team and the public.”

Categories: Cricket
Read more
Main Menu
Home
Shop
Wishlist0
Back to Top

Search For Products

Product has been added to your cart