This Australian attack makes you work hard for every run, says Joe Denly

Agencies
September 15, 2019

London, Sept 15: After scoring 94 runs in the second innings of the fifth and final Ashes test, England opening batsman Joe Denly praised Australian bowling attack, saying "they make you work hard for every run".

"Whenever you open the batting, there is an expectation to score runs and do well. It's been frustrating to get starts and not be able to capitalise. I felt very good today. It's a very good bowling attack we're coming up against. This Australian attack is certainly up there and makes you work hard for every run," International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted Denly as saying.

"It would have been nice to get to that milestone today, having worked so hard, but England is in a good position. Hopefully, I have impressed the selectors," he added.

The opening batter said that playing for England is a privilege and added that he is not in a position to demand a particular batting position.

"Wherever Joe Root asks me to bat, I don't think I am in a position to demand where I want to bat. To be playing for England is a privilege, certainly at my age. I did not think I will be here a couple of years ago, so to get the opportunity is very special. And if that opportunity to open presents itself again in the future, then I'd be happy to do it," Denly said.

England ended day three of the final Test in a strong position after extending their lead to 382.

Resuming day three at 9/0, England openers Rory Burns and Joe Denly were able to put up the first fifty-wicket opening stand in the entire series. However, soon after, Nathan Lyon ended their 54-run stand, as he sent Burns (20) back to the pavilion.

Skipper Joe Root (21) was also not able to put up a big score and Lyon had him caught at the hands of Steve Smith, reducing England to 87/2.

All-rounder Ben Stokes then joined Denly in the middle and the duo put up a 127-run stand, which saw both batsmen bringing up their half-centuries. Both batsmen ensured England keeps scoring at a brisk pace to further extend their lead.

Stokes (67) was finally sent back to the pavilion by Lyon to restrict the side to 214/3. Denly (94) was also dismissed within the span of eight runs by Peter Siddle to reduce England to 222/4.

Jonny Bairstow (14), Sam Curran (17) and Chris Woakes (6) all failed to put up big scores, but wicket-keeper batsmen Jos Buttler ensured England's lead goes past 350-run mark.

Buttler played a knock of 47 runs and was finally sent back to the pavilion by Siddle.

Jofra Archer and Jack Leach ensured that the Three Lions does not lose any more wickets before the close of play. England ended day three at 313/8, with a lead of 382 runs.

England had scored 294 runs in their first innings, and bundled out Australia for 225, gaining a lead of 69.

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Agencies
February 12,2020

Mumbai, Feb 12: Former Indian greats Kapil Dev and Mohammad Azharuddin have been left disappointed by the behaviour of the Under-19 team after the World Cup final where they were involved in an altercation with their Bangladeshi counterparts.

After Bangladesh won the final beating India by three wickets (via DLS) at the Senwes Park on Sunday, the players of the two teams were seen engaging in an exchange of words and even some pushing and shoving on the field.

"I would like to see the board (BCCI) take some strict action against the players to set an example. Cricket is not about abusing the opponent. I am sure there is enough reason for these youngsters to be dealt with firmly by BCCI," Kapil was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

"I welcome aggression, nothing wrong in it. But it has to be controlled aggression. You can't cross the line of decency in the name of being competitive. I would say it was unacceptable that youngsters put up such an obnoxious display on the cricket field," he added.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sanctioned five players, including three from Bangladesh -- Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan --and two from India --Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi for the scuffle.

Azharuddin also reiterated what Kapil said, insisting that players need to be disciplined.

"I would take action against the errant Under 19 players, but I also want to know what role has the support staff played in educating these youngsters. Act now before it is too late. The players have to be disciplined," Azharuddin said.

Earlier, Bishan Singh Bedi has lashed out at the Priyam Garg-led team, saying their behaviour was disgusting and disgraceful.

"You bat, bowl and field badly�happens, but there's no excuse for behaving badly. The behaviour was disgusting and most disgraceful. The innocence of that age was not visible at all," Bedi told Mid Day.

Bedi, who represented India in 67 Tests and 10 ODIs, said the behaviour of the Bangladesh cricketers is not our problem.

"Look, what Bangladesh do is their problem, what our boys do is our problem. You could see that there was abusive language used," he said.

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News Network
January 8,2020

Indore, Jan 8: Skipper Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 30 as India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international in Indore on Tuesday.

The hosts rode a 71-run opening stand between KL Rahul, who hit 45, and Shikhar Dhawan, who made 32, to chase down their target of 143 in 17.3 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first match was rained off.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took the wickets of the Indian openers but Shreyas Iyer, who scored 34 before falling to paceman Lahiru Kumara, and Kohli, who hit the winning six, got the team home.

The third match is on Friday in Pune.

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News Network
February 19,2020

New Delhi, Feb 19: An Indian wrestler whose family story was immortalised by Bollywood is hoping to create a blockbuster of her own by becoming her country's first world champion in the high-octane sport of mixed martial arts.

Ritu Phogat, who initially followed her father and two elder sisters into wrestling, is now charting a new path after making an explosive MMA debut in November.

Phogat's father Mahavir, and her sisters Geeta and Babita were the subject of 2016 movie "Dangal", telling the story of the wrestling coach who raised his daughters to become Commonwealth champions.

But Ritu, 25, is forging a different career. After winning her first MMA fight in less than three minutes, she will face China's Wu Chiao Chen at this month's ONE Championship fight night in Singapore, which will be held behind closed doors because of the coronavirus.

The youngest Phogat daughter is trading an attempt at an Olympic medal to tackle MMA, but she said she was attracted by the lure of making history in her new sport.

"I got a chance to train with the best in Singapore and there was no looking back," she told AFP during a promotional event in New Delhi.

"There was the 2020 Olympic Games but I thought that I would do well in mixed martial arts. I have come with an aim of becoming the first girl from India to become a world champion in mixed martial art."

The nimble but strongly built Phogat said wrestlers were a good fit for the fast-growing contact sport, which is yet to take off in India.

"Top seven champions in mixed martial arts are wrestlers, so I believe that wrestlers have an edge in this sport with their ability to take down the opponent," she said.

"It is all a matter of skill. You just have to practise hard. I think MMA is not much different from wrestling in terms of preparation.

"One has to take risks to do something new and as an athlete I am ready to embrace every challenge."

She added: "Without the support of my father and sisters I would not have been where I am. My father always taught me to be far-sighted, hard-working and with strong resolve. Three traits will take you a long way."

Phogat won 48kg gold at the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship and followed it up with a silver in the under-23 world championships the next year.

"She used to watch a lot MMA and one day told me that I will win a gold in this game. So we all backed her and the result is there for everyone to see," he said.

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