T20 can't survive without Tests: Hadlee

T20 can’t survive without Tests: Hadlee

Christchurch, February 28

New Zealand pace great Sir Richard Hadlee is not a fan of T20 cricket and has no qualms in asserting that the shortest format will not survive if Tests are not taken care of. “Test cricket must be preserved. It’s the foundation on which the game is based. So, we must look after the five-day game,” Hadlee said. “Certainly with the emergence of T20 cricket which is a revolution in the game, all the three formats need to live together. They can coexist but I hate to see that T20 cricket will dominate world cricket,” the 69-year-old said.

He is very sure that T20 cricket won’t be able to sustain the game if the traditional format is not taken care of. “Probably too much T20 cricket is played around the world. But I hope that the game doesn’t try to just survive through T20 cricket because T20 cricket is not real cricket. Real cricket is Test cricket,” said Hadlee, the owner of 431 Test wickets and 3124 runs from only 86 Tests.

Hadlee, however, feels that T20 has produced more skilful players even though they might not be better cricketers. “I am not saying they are better players but they are certainly more skilful. Because of different formats that they play, they have to adapt to different situations particularly in T20 which is a high risk game anyway with all the trick shots that they play,” he stated.

“The T20 generation bowlers today have at least five variations. They bowl different deliveries like knuckle ball, back-of-the-hand slower one. Back in my time, I only had two variations (inswinger and outswinger). That’s all I needed,” said the man who could move the ball in and out with no apparent change in wrist position. — PTI

Santoso to join badminton team next month as singles coach

New Delhi, February 28

Experienced Indonesian coach Agus Dwi Santoso will be assisting India’s singles badminton players, including Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu, from next month as they prepare for this year’s Tokyo Olympics. Santoso comes in after the unceremonious exit of South Korea’s Kim Ji Hyun, who left abruptly in September last year after guiding Sindhu to the World Championships gold medal. Santoso has been roped in to guide both male and female singles players ahead of the Olympics.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) wrote to the authorities to grant a visa to Santoso at the earliest after the Sports Ministry cleared his appointment on Wednesday. “I am directed to refer to SAI’s letter… to convey the approval for appointment of Mr Agus Dwi Santoso as foreign coach (singles) in the sports discipline of badminton at the salary of $8,000 pm… for a period of up to Olympics 2020,” the Sports Ministry wrote in a letter to SAI.

Badminton Association of India secretary Ajay Singhania said the visa process has started and Santoso is likely to join the Indian team in the middle of next month. Santoso began his international career with a stint in Vietnam. He then served as the singles coach in South Korea in 2016 before joining the Thailand national team in 2018. He has been instrumental in honing the skills of shuttlers such as Son Wan-ho and Sung Ji-hyun in South Korea and Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan.

Currently, South Korea’s Park Tae Sung is tasked with the responsibility of guiding Sindhu along with the men’s singles players at the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad. — PTI

Sandhu, Madappa only Indians to make cut in NZ Open

Queenstown (New Zealand): Ajeetesh Sandhu and Viraj Madappa played solid rounds of 68 each on different courses to make the halfway cut at the New Zealand Open golf tournament. Sandhu and Madappa were the only two out of the six Indians in action to get into the weekend rounds. While Sandhu shot a bogey-free 4-under 68 at the Hillbrook course to get to a 3-under total for a tied-25th spot, Madappa carded a 3-under 68 at Millbrook with four birdies in the last eight holes to reach 2-under, to be placed tied-35. Shiv Kapur (71-74), Khalin Joshi (71-79), Aman Raj (74-72) and Chiragh Kumar (74-74) missed the cut, which fell at even-par.

Atwal stumbles to 5-over 75, lies tied-120th

Palm Beach (US), February 28

Arjun Atwal ran into rough weather to end up with a disappointing 5-over 75 in the opening round of the Honda Classic. Atwal, who came through a tough Monday qualifier, dropped seven bogeys and a double-bogey against two birdies and an eagle to lie at tied-120th. He will need a solid second round to make the cut, which is likely to be around 3-over. Tom Lewis and Harris English shared the lead at the end of the first round. Both shot 4-under 66s at PGA National, while Lee Westwood was one shot back with Zach Johnson, JT Poston, Brian Stuard and Cameron Tringale.

Diksha tied-2nd

Dubbo, (Australia): Diksha Dagar shot a solid 4-under 68 on the back of three birdies and an eagle in the second round of the Women’s New South Wales Open golf tournament. Dagar carded a 69 in the first round and at a 7-under 137 she is tied-2nd, two shots behind the leader, Manon De Roey, who shot a 64 on Day 2. Aditi Ashok recovered from her first round 73 to shoot a 68 and rise to tied-11 at the end of the second round. Tvesa Malik (79-73), Gaurika Bishnoi (74-78), Astha Madan (78-77) and Ridhima Dilawari (81-78) all missed the cut, which fell at 2-over.

England register 42-run win over Pak, SA maul Thailand by 113 runs

Canberra, February 28

Skipper Heather Knight blasted a fluent fifty before spin twins Sarah Glenn and Sophie Ecclestone shared five wickets as England registered a 42-run win over Pakistan to strengthen their semifinals bid at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Invited to bat, Heather Knight (62) and Nat Sciver (36) continued their fine form as England posted 158/7. They returned to dismiss Pakistan for 116 for their second successive win.

Glenn (3/15) and Ecclestone (2/12) exercised unrelenting control over the Pakistan run-chase as Bismah Maroof’s side failed to back up their opening win over West Indies.

In another match, South Africa mauled minnows Thailand by 113 runs to go top of the group, riding on a 60-ball 101 by opener Lizelle Lee. Electing to bat, South Africa posted 195/3 with Lee punishing the inexperienced Thai attack for 16 boundaries and three massive sixes. Sune Luus chipped in with a 41-ball 61, which was studded with five hits to the fence and two sixes. Shabnim Ismail (3/8) and Luus (3/15) then wreaked havoc on Thailand’s batting line-up as South Africa bowled them out for 82 in 19.1 overs. Only Onnicha Kamchomphu (26) and Chanida Sutthiruang (13) could reach double figures.

Brief Scores

England 158/7 (Heather Knight 62, Nat Sciver 36; Aiman Anwar 3/30); Pakistan: 116 (Aliya Riaz 41; Sarah Glenn 3/15, Anya Shrubsole 3/25)

South Africa: 195/3 (Lizelle Lee 101, Sune Luus 61*; Ratanporn Padunglerd 1/19); Thailand: 82 (Onnicha Kamchomphu 26; Shabnim Ismail 3/8, Sune Luus 3/15)

Bengal up against Karnataka, eye first Ranji final in 13 years

Kolkata, February 28

Bolstered by KL Rahul’s availability, heavyweights Karnataka will stand in the way of Bengal’s bid to reach their first Ranji Trophy final in 13 years when they meet in their last-4 clash starting here tomorrow. Bengal have not made the Ranji Trophy final since 2006-07 when the Deep Dasgupta-led side finished runners-up for the second consecutive season. Their last title came way back in 1989-90, which was also Sourav Ganguly’s debut First-Class season. On the other hand, eight-time winners Karnataka have remained consistent and are appearing in their third semifinals on the trot. Under coach Arun Lal, Bengal have done well collectively and will look to exploit the home advantage over the next few days. They won back-to-back away matches against Rajasthan and Punjab to seal a last-8 berth, where they edged out Odisha in Cuttack.

Gujarat take on Saurashtra

Rajkot: The bowling strengths of hosts Saurashtra and Gujarat will be put to test on what is likely to be a flat track when the two sides battle it out in their semifinal starting here tomorrow.

London

Wood to miss Sri Lanka tour with injury

Fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of England’s Test tour of Sri Lanka next month with a side strain. Wood picked up the injury at the end of the South Africa tour earlier this month and underwent scans in London, which confirmed a small tear to his left side. Injuries have restricted Wood to 15 Test appearances since his international debut in 2015, but he impressed in South Africa, claiming 12 wickets in two Tests as England secured a 3-1 series win. Wood also featured in all three games of England’s 2-1 T20I series win.