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ICC World T20 2014: Australia still not on top of spin in subcontinental conditions

March 30, 2014
ICC_World_T20Mar 30: Australia need a miracle to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh and the early exit that is likely is further indication the Australian batsmen are still incompetent in handling the spinning ball.
In the past 12 months, Australia have been humiliated in the Test series in India, lost a close fought One-Day International (ODI) on the best batting wickets the world has ever seen and now come up short in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) having been undone by the Pakistan and West Indies spinners.
But Darren Lehmann thinks otherwise and stated it was ‘match awareness” that the players needed to improve on. But losing 8/64 against Pakistan is also an issue of adjusting to the slow nature of the pitches.
Spooning catches to short mid-wickets is a result of being beaten in the air, leaving a gap between bat and pad, overbalancing to forward prod, trying to play the cut shot to balls too full are flaws in batting techniques.

It is even more of a concern when George Bailey admits “We have been undone by the lack of turn rather than the turn”. While few bowlers have spun the ball, it has certainly not turned according to Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. “The wicket has been slow. Can’t say the ball has been gripping and turning sharply.”
Ashwin who let the rout in the 4–0 whitewash refused to admit Australia have failed to improve against spin bowling but did have few wise words, “Mostly what is going on in world cricket now is that everybody play to their strengths and are not prepared to test others’ waters. They need to come out here and play more spinners, which is the way forward but in saying that I don’t want to comment on Australia’s planning. That is for their coaching staff to decide.”
Furthermore, it is certain opposition countries are likely to present wickets that will negate the strength of Australia’s bowling and expose the Australian batting. The Port Elizabeth Test match was a perfect example.
The T20 format was golden opportunity for Australia to overcome their spin bowling deficiencies. Stating reasons such as lack of awareness is fair enough but the issues are lot deeper than just awareness.
Even though the World T20 still hasn’t garnered the prestige Tests or ODI World Cups have over the years, still this tournament was a perfect platform for Australia to take another step to being on top of the cricketing world. Their next assignment is the Test series in UAE against Pakistan in October, so they have ample amount of time to get their game right. If they fail it will be back to square one.

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Agencies
January 9,2020

Jeddah, Jan 9: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde criticised the new Supercopa format and said that "football has become a business and as a business it looks for income".

"The bottom line is football has become a business and as a business it looks for income. That's the reason we are all here," Goal.com quoted Valverde as saying ahead of Barca's semi-final against Atletico.

"It's a completely different format to what we're used to. It was always the first title and the opener of the season and to me, that seemed fine," he added.

The Supercopa was traditionally a two-legged affair played between the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey at the beginning of the season, but following last term's one-off meeting between Barca and Sevilla in Tangier, Morocco, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) went ahead with a full revamp.

Instead of just two teams being involved, the Supercopa has been expanded to also include the runners-up from La Liga and the Copa - meaning Barca and Valencia are joined by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. It is also set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia for the next three editions.

"It's been changed and let's see, it will be judged once it has happened. It's interesting, with four good teams, but from a sporting point of view, I'm not sure," Valverde said.

"We must bear in mind that the football we are involved in is an industry, sources of income are sought and in the same way that there are special connotations in this country, there are also in Morocco, where we played last year," he added.

Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in the semifinal of the Supercopa at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on January 10.

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News Network
February 29,2020

Feb 29: India were all out for 242 in their first innings following a stunning battling collapse, triggered by paceman Kyle Jamieson on the opening day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval, here on Saturday.

India were steady at 194 for five at tea but lost wickets in quick succession after the play resumed. Jamieson returned figures of 14-3-45-5.

Hanuma Vihari top-scored for India with his combative 55 while Prithvi Shaw (54) and Cheteshwar Pujara (54) hit contrasting half-centuries.

Virat Kohli's (3) poor run continued while his deputy Ajikya Rahane (7) also fell cheaply.

India lost last five wickets for 48 runs, of which 26 were contributed by last-wicket pair of Mohammed Shami (16) and Jasprit Bumrah (10).

Brief Scores:

India 1st innings: 242 all out in 63 overs. (H Vihari 55, P Shaw 54, C Pujara 54 batting; Kyle Jamieson 5/45, Tim Southee 2/38, ).

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Agencies
January 9,2020

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 9: BWF World Championships defending champion PV Sindhu on Thursday cruised to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters after winning a second-round match.

The 24-year-old had the upper hand in the clash and thrashed Japan's Aya Ohori in straight games 21-10, 21-15 that lasted for 34-minute. The world number six will now play in her quarterfinal match on January 10.

Earlier in the day, Saina Nehwal defeated South Korea's An Se Young 25-23, 21-12 in 38 minutes. The first game saw back and forth action between both shuttlers. In the end, Nehwal kept her cool to win the match.

On Wednesday, the 29-year-old had outclassed Belgium's Lianne Tan 21-15, 21-17 to progress to the pre-quarterfinals.

Shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth crashed out of the tournament after losing their matches to Japan's Kento Momota and Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei respectively. 

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