Manu, Anish sweep senior, junior National titles

Bhopal, December 24

Commonwealth Games champions Manu Bhaker and Anish Bhanwala swept the senior and junior gold medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and men’s 25m rapid fire pistol events at the National Shooting Championships. The 17-year-old Bhaker, representing Haryana, clinched four gold medals (individual and team events in senior and junior) to add to her two won earlier in the competition and also equalled the qualification national record en-route a facile victory. Anish, 17, won both the individual and team gold medals in the senior and junior men’s categories of his event to stamp his dominance.

Bhaker, who has also won India one of the 15 Tokyo Olympics quota berths, shot 588 to top qualifications and equal the record set by Annu Raj Singh in the South Asian Games. She then shot a 243 to emerge triumphant in the eight-women final. Devanshi Dhama was way back with 237.8 and another Tokyo quota winner Yashaswini Singh Deswal won bronze with 217.7.

Bhanwala shot 28 in the rapid fire final to leave behind Bhavesh Shekhawat of Rajasthan who ended with 26 while Chandigarh’s Vijayveer Sidhu came third with 22 hits. Bhanwala had also topped the qualifying with a score of 582. PTI

Open to discussions with ICC over BCCI proposal of four-nation tournament: ECB

London, December 24

The England and Wales Cricket Board acknowledged discussions with their Indian counterpart over a proposed four-nation tournament, which is seen as an attempt to stop ICC from hosting a major event every year. The annual tournament, proposed by BCCI, will involve the Big Three — India, England and Australia — besides a fourth team. “We meet regularly with other leaders from the major cricketing nations to share learnings and discuss topics that impact our sport,” the ECB said in a statement. “A four-nation tournament was raised at a meeting with BCCI in December and we are open to discussions with other ICC members to see if this concept can develop.”

The proposed event, to be hosted by the Big Three on rotational basis from 2021, has divided opinions as it is likely to increase revenue of the boards involved. The ICC does not approve tournaments involving more than three teams, which are not part of their own multilateral roster. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has already spoken about the tournament, the ECB too has acknowledged the discussion that took place earlier this month but Cricket Australia is yet to comment on the subject. If the plan goes through, it will make the calendar more crowded, something Australia head coach Justin Langer alluded to on Tuesday. “We all understand the schedule in world cricket is really tight, so I am sure there will be lots of negotiation and there are people, that’s their role to negotiate and get that right. But we all know it is a tight schedule,” Langer

New Zealand look to Boult in rare Boxing Day Test

Melbourne, December 24

New Zealand are hopeful of having pace spearhead Trent Boult back to help halt a rampant Australia in the Black Caps’ first Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in more than 30 years. The veteran, suffering a side strain, was badly missed during the opening Test in Perth, when the visitors were thrashed by 296 runs in stifling conditions. But he has been toiling in the nets and expects to be ready for a rare appearance by his country on one of the best-known dates of the cricket calendar. “I want to really embrace it and appreciate that stage for what it is,” the left-armer told reporters of the special atmosphere that comes with a Boxing Day Test in the 100,000-capacity arena.

“This is the stage that a lot of people dream of being on so to get this opportunity in my career, it’s definitely something that I’m looking forward to. If I can tick all the right boxes with my body and get myself fit, then I can’t wait to get out there,” he added.

A big crowd is expected with New Zealand fans snapping up thousands of tickets to witness the December 26 appearance by their team at one of cricket’s most famous grounds. Extra flights were reportedly scheduled between Auckland and Melbourne to cater for demand. The last time New Zealand faced Australia in a Boxing Day Test was 1987, before many of the current squad were born, with the home side holding on for a draw despite blistering bowling from legendary quick Richard Hadlee.

What sort of wicket they find on Thursday is the great unknown. Only a fortnight ago, play was abandoned during a domestic Sheffield Shield game at the ground due to a dangerous pitch, with erratic bounce seeing balls rise sharply and unexpectedly to pummel the batsmen.

Australia go into the second of three Tests without bowling kingpin Josh Hazlewood who was injured in Perth. James Pattinson is set to replace him as the third quick alongside Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who has been lethal this summer.

Australia coach Justin Langer confirmed David Warner, who was struck on the hand during a net session and needed treatment, would be fit. — AFP

5 Australia’s World Test ranking. New Zealand are currently the No. 2-ranked team in the world

3 Times Australia and New Zealand have squared-off against each other in Melbourne. In 1973, Australia won by an innings and 25 runs. In 1980 and 1987, both times the match ended in a draw was quoted as saying in the Australia media.

Girlfriend said we can buy more toys for dog: Cummins on IPL windfall

Pat Cummins became the most expensive foreign buy at the 2020 Indian Premier League auctions earlier this month. Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for Rs 15.5 crore, which surpassed the amount that Rising Pune Supergiant paid for England all rounder Ben Stokes in the 2017 IPL auctions. Cummins, however, is determined to remain grounded despite the windfall. The Australian, who is the No. 1-ranked Test bowler in the world, said that he doesn’t really know what to do with the money. “I don’t know what to do with the money,” he said. “My girlfriend… the first thing she said was ‘we can buy the dog a couple more toys now’. She has got her priorities sorted. I will try my best not to change. Lucky, I have got good people around me. The boys in the team are great but also my family and friends. I still play cricket because I love it. I am really fortunate and grateful for everything that has happened,” he added. — IANS