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[ad_1] A quadriceps strain had ruled Axar Patel out of the ODI World Cup last year, despite being named in India’s initial squad. Those were difficult times for the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, but he took things in his stride, worked hard on his bowling and eventually returned to the team.On Thursday, he once again stamped his class by claiming a couple of wickets on a flat deck at the IS Bindra Punjab Cricket Association Stadium and breaking Afghanistan’s momentum. It was not easy, given the biting cold conditions, but Axar kept his cool and bowled in the right areas.“There was no help from the pitch, the weather was also very harsh. My aim was to stick to my strength and wait for the batters to go after me,” he said. And that’s how, he tricked Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz before cleaning up the seasoned Rahmat Shah. “I bowled a tight line and got the wickets as the batters took a chance. As a bowler, you can’t do much on this pitch,” Axar said with a smile.READ | MATCH REPORTBack in September last year, Axar suffered a quadriceps strain during the Asia Cup and failed to recover in time for the ODI World Cup. While Ravichandran Ashwin replaced him, bouncing back was not easy for the Nadiad-based spinner. But by his own admission, he added ‘five to 10 per cent’ to his bowling during rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.“It was an unfortunate injury, but it was not the first time I was injured. My mindset during the rehab was to ensure how I could improve my game. At the NCA, I worked a lot on my bowling. I have worked consciously to add 5 to 10 per cent in my bowling,” he said.Featuring in the T20I series against Australia shortly after the World Cup, Axar started varying his pace and used the crease. “As a left-arm spinner, you don’t have much variation, I can’t bowl googlies like a leg-spinner,” he said.“I am not thinking about the economy anymore. My mindset is how can I attack more. I have got the confidence… more about taking wickets than bowling economically,” the 29-year-old added.With a T20 World Cup lined up in June, there will be immense competition for the spin all-rounder slots, and Axar believes it is important to work on the process. Once the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan gets over on January 17, India won’t feature in any other white-ball series until the ICC event in June. Hence, a lot will depend on the performances in the Indian Premier League.ALSO READ | SL vs ZIM: Hasaranga takes 7-19 as Sri Lanka crush Zimbabwe to win ODI series“There is competition, but it depends on how you take it. It is important to focus on the process. You can’t think about the T20 World Cup from now since there are five Tests against England, followed by the IPL. So, there’s some time left for the T20 World Cup,” he said.With a long season ahead, workload often becomes the talking point. But Axar believes a lot depends on the mindset in terms of handling injuries. “Playing continuously has its challenges, but we do get breaks. Mindset is the key, and you cannot be too conscious, because then  aap aapne body ko on the line  nahin daalte ho, and that can make you even more injury prone,” he said.Having played a key role in the opener, Axar would be hoping to keep the momentum going in the remainder of the series.  [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Cold, harsh reality ready to greet Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa if they fall flat vs. the Chiefs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] When MS Dhoni rates a player highly, how can he not succeed? Shivam Dube is the latest in the long list of youngsters backed by the legendary cricketer who has gone on to make it big for India. Dube, a lanky all-rounder from Mumbai, had been on the selectors' radar since 2019 but a few indifferent outings with the bat slid him down the pecking order. The turning point came when he was picked by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL mega auction in 2022 for ₹4 crore, it was the same day when he became a father. Dube showed promise that season, scoring at a strike rate of 156.22. But the real breakthrough came next year. India's Shivam Dube celebrates his half-century during the 1st T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali on Thursday (ANI) The left-hander, known for striking big, smashed as many as 35 sixes in 16 matches for CSK in IPL 2023. His runs tally was 418 at a strike rate of 158. Dube was back in the reckoning in no time. But despite making his way back into the T20I side, the opportunities didn't come as regularly as expected. For starters, he was rarely a part of India's full-strength XI. The five matches - two in Ireland and three in the Asian Games in Hangzhou - that he played in 2023 were only because many first-XI cricketers were either unavailable or resting. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Dube was picked for the home series against Australia which followed after the World Cup but didn't get to play a single match. He was surprisingly dropped from the South Africa tour. But with India searching hard for a backup to the injured Hardik Pandya, the opportunity came again. Dube was named in India's squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan and more importantly, he got to play the first match. And boy did he make the opportunity count. The 30-year-old blasted an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls - his career-best in T20Is - to guide India to a comfortable six-wicket victory in Mohali. He was adjudged Player of the Match for his performance which included two sixes and five fours. After the match, Dube, not for the first time, credited Dhoni for guiding him. "I keep talking to Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni). He is such a big player and a legend. I keep learning from him. I observe him. He keeps telling me how to bat in different situations. He has given me a couple of tips (that has worked). He has rated me many times as a very good player. If he's rating me as a good player, then I will definitely play well. My confidence was very high," Dube said in the post-match show on Jio Cinema. ‘Rohit has assured me of giving 2-3 overs every match’: DubeThere was little doubt about Dube's batting but bowling was always a bit iffy at the highest level. But the right-arm medium pacer took a giant step towards asserting himself as a proper all-rounder on Thursday. He bowled two tight overs in the middle, giving away only nine runs and also picked up the wicket of Rahmat Shah. "As far as bowling is concerned, it didn't come overnight. I was working on it. I was waiting for the opportunity to bowl also and today when I finally got that, I made use of it," he said. Dube also said captain Rohit Sharma has assured him that would be bowling 2-3 overs regularly. "Rohit has told me that I will get to bowl 2-3 overs every match depending on the match situation. That is a big positive for me that I would get to bowl regularly," he added. When asked about his dream of making it to India's squad for the T20 World Cup slated to be played in the USA and the West Indies in June this year, Dube said he would prefer to take things slowly. "It's every cricketer's to represent the country in a World Cup. It will always be at the back of my mind but there is a long time to go so I would like to take it step-by-step." [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Staff WriterJan 11, 2024, 01:57 PM ETOhio State junior wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is declaring for the 2024 NFL draft, he announced Thursday.Harrison, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., is No. 2 overall on Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board."I would like to thank God for blessing me with the abilities and great opportunity to play the game that I love at The Ohio State University," Harrison posted on social media. ... "I want to give thanks to everyone at The Ohio State University within and outside the football program." Harrison, who won the Biletnikoff Award last season, sat out the Buckeyes' 14-3 loss to Missouri in the 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. He became the first receiver in program history to record consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons after catching 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games. His solid junior season followed a breakout sophomore campaign in which he finished with 77 receptions for 1,263 yards (sixth in FBS) and 14 touchdowns in 2022.Editor's Picks1 RelatedHe caught three touchdown passes as a freshman in the 2022 Rose Bowl Game, a 48-45 victory for Ohio State over Utah.He had indicated an open mind toward a possible return to Columbus last month, with a desire to beat Michigan and win a Big Ten championship at the front of his mind.But the projected top-five selection in April is ready to take the next step in his career."To Buckeye Nation, the love I received from you all in the Shoe and on the road will be moments I cherish forever, and I hope I left lasting memories for you on the field," Harrison wrote on X. "I appreciate the support these past three years. Buckeye for life." [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] GQEBERHA: India’s plans to bring Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back into the T20 mix has drawn mixed reactions. The duo hasn’t featured in a T20I since the 2022 World Cup and with an assembly line of youngsters pushing for a call, questions have been raised on the relevance of the veteran batters, and whether they still fit in the team. South Africa batting great AB de Villiers, however, backed the Indian superstars. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the washed out Betway SA20 opener between holders Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings, De Villiers said: “I’m very happy for Virat and Rohit. Their inclusion in the team (for the Afghanistan series) does not come as a surprise to me because you want your best team to try and win a World Cup. I understand the criticism because of the youngsters that may be missing out.” Drawing a parallel with his own international career which ended in 2018, the 39-year-old said, “I was in a similar position at the backend of my career but it did not work out for me. I’m glad it is working out for Virat and Rohit.” Having spent a decade playing alongside Kohli at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, De Villiers was appreciative of the former’s commitment towards the game. “Virat grew up with cricket in his blood, that’s probably what keeps him going. Cricket has always been his passion. I think he has a fantastic balance in his life with his family,” added De Villiers. ‘Newlands pitch looked normal’ While the ICC rated the Newlands pitch in Cape Town unsatisfactory after the shortest ever Test match – lasting 642 balls — between India and South Africa earlier in the month, De Villiers had a different take. “The Newlands pitch looked pretty normal to me. It is known for a lively first session on the opening day. If you can fight your way through, it gets a lot easier off the deck.” De Villiers pointed towards poor planning and execution by both teams. “At Newlands, you should always play positive cricket like Aiden Markram did while scoring a century. I think the game plans were wrong by both teams. Yes, it was a difficult, lively and fast pitch but I think the teams could have played better in the first innings.” Wisden picks 2023 men’s ODI team of the year, includes 7 Indians in the XISince De Villiers called time on his IPL career in 2021, there has been a growing call for him to return to RCB as a coach or mentor. ABD has dropped a subtle hint on social media too a few months back. But clearing the air, the South African said, “Nobody from RCB has contacted me. If I’m asked to be there for a day or two as mentioned by Virat (Kohli (during the World Cup) where he made a live comment, I’ll go spend some time with the team as a friend, not as a coach, mentor or in any such role. I would love to share my knowledge or experience.” With all six teams in the SA 20 owned by IPL franchises, De Villiers hoped for his former team to make a foray too. “It is sad that RCB is not a part of SA20, but maybe they will get involved one day.” !(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) function loadFBEvents(isFBCampaignActive) if (!isFBCampaignActive) return; (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) if (f.fbq) return; n = f.fbq = function() n.callMethod ? n.callMethod(...arguments) : n.queue.push(arguments); ; if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n; n.push = n; n.loaded = !0; n.version = '2.0'; n.queue = []; t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.defer = !0; t.src = v; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s); )(f, b, e, 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js', n, t, s); fbq('init', '593671331875494'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); ; function loadGtagEvents(isGoogleCampaignActive) if (!isGoogleCampaignActive) return; var id = document.getElementById('toi-plus-google-campaign'); if (id) return; (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.defer = !0; t.src = v; t.id = 'toi-plus-google-campaign'; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s); )(f, b, e, 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=AW-877820074', n, t, s); ; function loadSurvicateJs(allowedSurvicateSections = []) const section = window.location.pathname.split('/')[1] const isHomePageAllowed = window.location.pathname === '/' && allowedSurvicateSections.includes('homepage') if(allowedSurvicateSections.includes(section) window.TimesApps = window.TimesApps )( window, document, 'script', ); [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Jan. 11, 2024 will now forever be a date remembered in New England sports history: the day the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick parted ways. While the term is oftentimes overused, it is truly the end of an era, one that the NFL probably will never see the likes of again. For the bulk of Belichick's 24 seasons as the leader in Foxborough, the Patriots enjoyed unprecedented success, including all six of the franchise's Super Bowl titles. Mixed in between Lombardi Trophies and duck boat parades came some of the greatest coaching moments and decisions that the league has ever seen under Belichick. As the Patriots depart from their franchise icon, let's take a look back at some of his more memorable coaching moments/decisions in New England. Brady over BledsoeGiven that Tom Brady became the greatest player in the history of the sport, it might sound crazy that there was ever a debate to play him over someone else, but that was absolutely the case in 2001. After Drew Bledsoe was ready to return from a sheared blood vessel in his chest from that infamous hit from Mo Lewis, Belichick ultimately decided to stick with the then-second-year quarterback in Brady. That decision was as polarizing as it gets, especially considering that Bledsoe had just signed an NFL-record 10-year, $103 million contract back in March of that year. Belichick split the reps between the two quarterbacks leading up to the Week 10 matchup against the Rams -- who they'd eventually beat in Super Bowl XXXVI -- and ended up losing the game. It was after that contest Belichick decided to give the full reps to Brady, start him for the remainder of the year and the rest is history, proving to be the most pivotal decision the organization has ever seen.  End of Super Bowl XLIX  The end of Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks was a coaching masterclass by Belichick. Of course, we all know that Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson at the goal line on a play the Patriots specifically practiced leading up to that Super Bowl. That alone makes this an all-time moment during Bill Belichick's tenure, but not calling a timeout just before that iconic play was legendary.As Belichick noted in the "Do Your Job" documentary about the 2014 Patriots, he thought about taking the timeout, but something about how the Seahawks were operating on their sideline told him to keep the timeout in his pocket and not bail them out with a clock stoppage. He then told his staff to simply play goal line, Butler entered the game in the package and pulled off one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history. Playing the windBelichick always had a keen eye for the elements and how they impacted a given game. That was on full display in a 34-31 overtime win over the Denver Broncos on "Monday Night Football" at Gillette Stadium in 2013. The head coach made the unorthodox call to kick off and give the ball to Peyton Manning's offense rather than take the football with a chance to win the game after winning the coin toss. After the game, Belichick noted that he preferred to have the wind given the gusty conditions in Foxborough that day.  "The wind, it was a strong wind," Belichick said at the time, via NFL.com. "We just had to keep them out of the end zone, obviously. I just felt like the wind would be an advantage if we could keep them out of the end zone on that first drive. We were able to do that. The wind was significant in the game, it was definitely significant."Denver couldn't move the ball in those conditions, the Patriots got the football back and Stephen Gostkowski nailed a game-winning field goal. 'We're on to Cincinnati' The Patriots were fresh off a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs to fall to 2-2 on the season in 2014, which sparked questions about whether or not the New England dynasty had come to an end. There were even questions, with Jimmy Garoppolo sitting as the backup quarterback, if a change under center was possible, which Belichick scoffed at. Then, during Belichick's midweek press conference, he responded to essentially every big-picture question about the organization with "We're on to Cincinnati." That became a rallying cry throughout the region, especially after the Patriots proceeded to beat the Bengals 43-17 that following week and eventually win the Super Bowl. Hurry up in Super Bowl XXXVI This is one that I think Belichick doesn't get enough credit for. As masterful as Tom Brady was during the final drive of Super Bowl XXXVI, it was a gutsy call for Belichick to even allow the offense to try and push for what proved to be the game-winning field goal. Hall of Fame coach John Madden said on the broadcast that the Patriots simply should have played for overtime, but Belichick had trust in his quarterback and it ultimately resulted in the franchise's first title.Malcolm Butler's Super Bowl benching One of the most mysterious moments from Belichick's tenure that has still largely gone unanswered was Butler's benching in Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles. After his heroics in Super Bowl XLIX, Butler had become an All-Pro-caliber cornerback within Belichick's defense and had played 98% of the defensive snaps during the 2017 regular season. However, in that eventual loss to the Eagles, Butler did not play a single defensive snap, triggering questions about a potential team punishment. Neither side truly revealed the genesis of what caused the benching, but the Patriots secondary allowed Nick Foles to pass for 373 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. That led to an outcry of second-guessing around the head coach and is still one of the more talked about decisions from his tenure. Releasing Lawyer MilloyBelichick, who also served as the team's general manager, wasn't shy at making bold personnel decisions and moving off popular players. That was evident in 2003 when the Patriots cut star safety Lawyer Milloy. Instead of looking to deal with Milloy, Belichick simply cut the then-29-year-old to eliminate his salary cap hit. That decision made waves throughout New England's locker room, especially after Milloy signed with division-rival Buffalo and helped beat the Patriots in Week 1 of that season, 31-0. However, Rodney Harrison was able to come in after being acquired that offseason and proved to be a key piece in multiple championships. Fourth-and-2In today's NFL where going for it on fourth down is much more commonplace, Belichick's decision to keep his offense on the field in a 2009 matchup against the Colts in Indianapolis may not even be front-page news. However, it was a hot-button issue back then. In the final minutes of that game and leading 34-28, Belichick went for it on his own 28-yard line. Brady completed a pass to running back Kevin Faulk, but was driven backward and was ultimately short of the line to gain. Just three plays later, Peyton Manning and the Colts would score and hit the extra point to squeak a 35-34 victory away from the Patriots. Nike, the draft expert One of the more viral moments of Belichick's tenure came during the 2020 NFL Draft, which had to be conducted remotely due to the pandemic. While the league couldn't get together in person for the draft, it did lead to the public debut of Belichick's dog Nike, who the head coach made it seem like was running the draft board for New England over the weekend.  'Mona Lisa Vito' The Patriots were caught up in the Deflategate saga while also preparing for Super Bowl XLIX. The allegations that New England deflated footballs during the AFC Championship against the Colts that year took the league by storm and led to Belichick holding a press conference regarding the situation just before the team departed to Arizona. It was during that presser that Belichick inexplicably made a "My Cousin Vinny" reference while explaining that he had no idea about the alleged deflating air pressure out of the footballs for that game. "I'm not a scientist. I'm not an expert in footballs. I'm not an expert in football measurements. I'm just telling you what I know," Belichick said at the time. "I would not say I'm Mona Lisa Vito of the football world, as she was in the car-expertise area."Belichick was not personally punished for any wrongdoing in this saga, but the Patriots were forfeited multiple draft picks and fined $1 million while Tom Brady eventually served a four-game suspension. 'Candy and costumes' Who would have thought Belichick was a big Halloween guy? NFL Films followed the 2009 Patriots around for a documentary, and one of the more lighthearted moments from that came via a conversation between Belichick and receiver Randy Moss, who invited him and the rest of the coaches to a Halloween costume party. Belichick not only showed up, but dressed up as a pirate. "It's a great holiday," Belichick said. "Candy and costumes, how could you beat that?" SnapFaceIn case you didn't know, Bill Belichick is not exactly a social media savant. In fact, he outwardly despises it so much that he refuses to learn any of the platforms' names.  Back in 2011, he famously mashed MySpace and Facebook together. "I don't Twitter, I don't MyFace, I don't Yearbook," Belichick said at the time. "I don't do any of those things, so I'd probably be the last to know."That continued throughout the years with Belichick saying things like "My Face, YourFace, and InstantFace" which always drew a laugh among those, ironically, on social media. Leading up to the AFC Championship in 2016, he was asked about comments made by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin about their matchup to which he answered, "Not on SnapFace, not too worried what they put on InstaChat." 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[ad_1] Earlier this week, Assam's Riyan Parag displayed an exceptional performance with the bat, smashing 12 sixes and 11 fours to amass 155 runs from 87 balls against Chhattisgarh, securing the second-fastest century in Ranji Trophy history. However, despite his remarkable effort, it did not impact the overall outcome of the match. Chhattisgarh, having posted 327 runs in the first innings, had managed to dismiss Assam for just 159 in the first; despite Parag's century, Assam could only reach 254 runs in the second innings. Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about the Indian youngster in detail after the latter's Ranji Trophy knock(Getty) Regardless, Parag was lauded for his performance in the game and his Rajasthan Royals teammate, Ravichandran Ashwin, also recognised the youngster's trailblazing knock. Unlike in the Ranji Trophy, Parag's performances in the Indian Premier League leave much to be desired, but Ashwin stated that he is still a young player “who is getting better.” Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here “Riyan Parag is frequently criticised as an overhyped cricketer after just seeing his IPL performances. We forget that he's a youngster sometimes. He is still a young player who is getting better. Parag made useful contributions in the Syed Mushtaq Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy and slammed 155 for Assam against Chattisgarh in the first match of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season,” R Ashwin said on his official YouTube channel. “He scored 155 off 87 balls. He didn't play for the sake of playing T20 cricket. He was pushed into that situation. All the batters on the other end fell like flies, and he took charge of his own hands and played such a knock,” said Ashwin further. While Parag will hope to enter the Indian Premier League this year with strong domestic performances, Ashwin is currently on a break as he prepares for the five-Test series against England. The senior off-spinner is on the verge of a huge feat in the longest format, as he is only ten wickets away from becoming the only second Indian bowler to reach the 500-wicket mark in Tests. Only former leg-spinner Anil Kumble (619) has breached the mark so far. The series will be India's final bit of action before the IPL, following which the T20I team will fly to the United States for the start of the T20 World Cup in June. ABOUT THE AUTHOR At HT Sports Desk, passionate reporters work round the clock to provide detailed updates from the world of sports. Expect nuanced match reports, previews,reviews, technical analysis based on statistics, the latest social media trends, expert opinions on cricket, football, tennis, badminton, hockey,motorsports, wrestling, boxing, shooting, athletics and much more. ...view detail [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] The Patriots have a coaching vacancy, for the first time in 24 years. And, on paper, there should not be a search.Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Patriots "established a firm, contractual succession plan in a prior contract."The NFL has confirmed that this continues to be a legitimate tactic to eliminate the need for a search that fully complies with the Rooney Rule, which currently requires two interviews with external minority candidates."The club would need to have language in the succeeding coach’s contract that is filed with the league prior to that season," an NFL spokesperson told PFT in an email.When this fairly considerable loophole to the Rooney Rule has been used in the past (e.g., when the Seahawks made Jim Mora the head coach in 2009, when the Colts made Jim Caldwell the head coach in 2009, and when the Ravens made Eric DeCosta the G.M. in 2018), the promotion has happened automatically. In this case, however, Rapoport characterizes Mayo as simply a "strong candidate" to replace Bill Belichick, "if he is the choice."But Mayo is already the choice. The succession plan has been put in place. Mayo is the next coach.Unless he isn't.Per the NFL, if the Patriots decide not to follow through on the pre-existing commitment to elevate Mayo, that "would be an issue between the club and coach."In other words, the Patriots want to go in another direction (e.g., if they want to hire Mike Vrabel), they'll have to work it out with Mayo. They'll have to deal with whatever is in Mayo's contract, if he doesn't get the job now that the job has become open.Basically, Mayo has already been promised the job. The team can un-promise him the job, but there could be contractual ramifications. And it could be expensive for the Patriots. But if owner Robert Kraft decides to pivot from Mayo to, say, Vrabel, it would be simply a cost of doing business. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] As the Mullanpur Cricket Stadium gears up for its Indian Premier League debut this year as the home base for the Punjab Kings, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah visited the new stadium on Thursday to take stock of things.In the city to attend the first T20I between India and Afghanistan, the BCCI secretary was accompanied by the office-bearers of the Punjab Cricket Association and the Union Territory Cricket Association during the visit.ALSO READ: Ranji Trophy: Hanuma Vihari steps down as Andhra captainThe Mullanpur stadium regularly hosts BCCI-affiliated domestic tournaments, but has still not hosted any international fixtures. Though there were efforts to host the India-Afghanistan fixture, the state association decided against it as some works were still pending.However, sources in the Punjab Kings confirmed that they are looking at hosting its home matches at the Mullanpur facility, even though an official word is awaited. The franchise is currently conducting its pre-tournament camp at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, with captain Shikhar Dhawan in attendance.The Punjab Cricket Association officials are confident of finishing the remaining work well in time before the IPL 2024 begins on March 22. In the past, the PCA had planned to host international assignments at the new facility, however, it was delayed due to technical and logistical reasons.  [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Brooke Pryor, ESPN Staff WriterJan 11, 2024, 12:47 PM ETClosePreviously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and Oklahoma University for the Oklahoman.PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers' defense is in line for a significant lift with the return of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for their wild-card game against the Bills on Sunday."I think it's good anytime you get one of your best players back in the fold," Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. "He's a major communicator back there and does a lot of things for us, so I'm excited to have him back."Fitzpatrick, who said he was "feeling good" Thursday, practiced fully Wednesday for the first time since injuring his knee in Week 15. Safety Damontae Kazee will also be back on the field after serving a three-game suspension for repeated violations of player safety rules. It's a boost for a defense that will be without star pass-rusher T.J. Watt.Editor's Picks2 Related"Obviously we're upset T.J.'s not out there with us, but we still got a job to do and having most of our pieces back is big for us," Fitzpatrick said Thursday. "We get to do more, we get to be more fluid, have chemistry. And so, I think we're in a good place."Fitzpatrick was questionable for the regular-season finale against the Ravens a week ago, but he ended up being inactive."I wasn't 110 [percent], and they kind of made a decision to sit me down," Fitzpatrick said. "It is a knee [injury]. I don't want me to go out there and make it 10 times worse."I think I could have played. I always think that, but they made an executive decision to sit me down."Fitzpatrick, who was voted to the Pro Bowl, has only played in 10 games this season, battling injuries. He injured a hamstring against the Jaguars, broke a hand against the Cardinals and injured a knee against the Colts. Though he was never placed on injured reserve, Fitzpatrick missed four games with the hamstring injury and three games with the knee injury.Depleted at safety with Kazee's suspension and injuries to their other top three safeties, the Steelers utilized a combination of Eric Rowe, who went unsigned for most of the season, and cornerback-turned-safety Patrick Peterson. The duo held up over the past three games and were crucial to the Steelers' win streak. Rowe had an interception and a forced fumble in that stretch, while Peterson had an interception of his own."Pat did a lot of good things," Fitzpatrick said. "It is rare for a guy to make that move, late in his career, in the season, but he did a really good job, was communicating at a high level. He was always in the right position. And then, definitely gave us a good look at Eric Rowe to see what he could do, and he did a great job as well."With the return of FItzpatrick and Kazee, the Steelers have a logjam of talent in the secondary, but Austin anticipates using all the talent at his disposal to slow Josh Allen and his receiving corps."I think we will kind of figure that out as we go in terms of what we think is best for this game," Austin said, "but I think they're all going to play, they'll all have a role. What that role is, we'll have to wait and see that on Sunday."... I think we have four pretty good football players and making sure that we get the most out of them this week. I don't think it's going to be all coverage or all blitz or whatever in simplistic terms, but I just think we got to figure out a way to get these guys in the best positions to make plays because they've all shown that they're capable of making plays." [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] NEW DELHI: India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first against Afghanistan in the first T20 International in Mohali on Thursday.Sanju Samson, Avesh Khan and Kuldeep Yadav have been left out while Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was finalised as one of the openers along with the captain on the eve of the first game, will miss the match due to injury.Rohit said at the toss that Yashasvi "didn't pull off well". The Indian Board (BCCI) also gave an update stating Yashashvi was unavailable for the selection due to a sore right groin."We will bowl first. No particular reason, the pitch is good and it doesn't change a lot here. A lot to gain from the 3 games, we haven't had too much T20 cricket leading to the World Cup, there's IPL, but this is an international game and we'll try to achieve a few things. I had a chat with Rahul bhai regarding the combination going forward and what we need to do as a group. That's what we'll try to do, but winning is the most important thing. Sanju Samson, Avesh, Yashasvi (who didn't pull off well) and Kuldeep miss out," Rohit said after winning the toss."We wanted to bowl first as well, but it's not a big problem, we'll try and execute our plans. This is a massive opportunity to get experience ahead of the T20 World Cup. We'll try and play some positive cricket. Noor Ahamad, Sharafuddin, Saleem Saifi aren't playing, forgot the rest of the guys," Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran said at the toss.Teams:India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh KumarAfghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (capt), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.!(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) function loadFBEvents(isFBCampaignActive) if (!isFBCampaignActive) return; (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) if (f.fbq) return; n = f.fbq = function() n.callMethod ? n.callMethod(...arguments) : n.queue.push(arguments); ; if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n; n.push = n; n.loaded = !0; n.version = '2.0'; n.queue = []; t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.defer = !0; t.src = v; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s); )(f, b, e, 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js', n, t, s); fbq('init', '593671331875494'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); ; function loadGtagEvents(isGoogleCampaignActive) if (!isGoogleCampaignActive) return; var id = document.getElementById('toi-plus-google-campaign'); if (id) return; (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.defer = !0; t.src = v; t.id = 'toi-plus-google-campaign'; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s); )(f, b, e, 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=AW-877820074', n, t, s); ; function loadSurvicateJs(allowedSurvicateSections = []) isHomePageAllowed) (function(w) var s = document.createElement('script'); s.src="https://survey.survicate.com/workspaces/0be6ae9845d14a7c8ff08a7a00bd9b21/web_surveys.js"; s.async = true; var e = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; e.parentNode.insertBefore(s, e); )(window); window.TimesApps = window.TimesApps )( window, document, 'script', ); [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] One of the greatest runs in NFL history has come to an end. After 24 seasons with the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick is no longer the coach of the franchise he helped lead to six Super Bowl victories. The 71-year-old Belichick is without question the best coach of the 21st century. He has won three times as many Vince Lombardi Trophies this century than any other head coach. Belichick showed that dynasties can still exist in the free agency/salary cap era. Nothing lasts forever, however, and Belichick's run came to an end on Thursday. Belichick and Kraft agreed to amicably part ways after New England suffered a third losing season in four years. Given Thursday's news, we decided to rank the top-10 coaches in NFL history, a list that will surely continue to include Belichick's name for many years to come. The criteria when making this list includes total wins, winning percentage, championships won, overall success in the postseason, and impact on the game. 10. Curly Lambeau The first coach in Packers history, Lambeau, who was also a tailback/fullback for the Packers during his first nine seasons as coach, led Green Bay to six NFL championships that included three straight titles from 1929-31 (before to the NFL instituted a championship game to determine its champion in 1933). Lambeau's 1929 team was the first NFL team that did not suffer a loss, going 12-0-1. In all, Lambeau's Packers went 34-5-2 during that span while becoming the first team in league history to win three straight titles. From 1936-44, Lambeau led the Packers to five NFL Championship Games, winning three of those games. In 29 seasons with the Packers, Lambeau compiled a 212-106-21 record. After leaving the Packers after a 2-10 campaign in 1949, Lambeau spent two seasons apiece with the Cardinals and Redskins, posting a 17-28-1 record during that span. Getty Images 9. Joe Gibbs Gibbs spent his entire 16-year as an NFL head coach in Washington, leading the Redskins to four Super Bowls and three Super Bowl victories from 1982-1991. Gibbs is the only coach in NFL history to win three Super Bowls with three different starting quarterbacks in Joe Theisman, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien. Overall, Gibbs posted a 154-94 regular season record and a 17- 7 postseason record. Despite playing in the ultra-competitive NFC during the 1980s/early '90s, no team played in more Super Bowls than Gibbs' Redskins during their 10-year run. The only team that matched Washington's level of success during that time was the 49ers, who also appeared in four Super Bowls during that span. The Redskins were also able to defeat some of the greatest teams in league history. Washington defeated the 49ers in the 1983 NFC title game, and three years later, they defeated the defending champion Bears in the divisional round of the playoffs. Gibbs' Redskins also blew out John Elway's Broncos and Marv Levy's Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl competition. Gibbs was able to win two of his championships during seasons that were impacted by NFL strikes. The '82 Redskins, who went 8-1 during the regular season, won four playoff games behind the legs of Hall of Fame running back John Riggins and an offensive line that was nicknamed "The Hogs." Five years later, the Redskins went 3-0 with a roster filled with replacements after players went on strike during the season. Washington ended up winning the Super Bowl that season, scoring a record 35 points in the second quarter of its 42-10 win over Denver. The biggest black eye on Gibbs' resume is Super Bowl XVIII, when the defending champion Redskins were blown out by the Raiders, 38-9. Gibbs' second stint in Washington (from 2004-07) was also underwhelming, as the Redskins went 30-34 with one playoff win during that span. Getty Images 8. Tom Landry Fourth all time in wins by an NFL head coach, Landry patrolled the sideline in Dallas during the Cowboys' first 29 seasons. Landry's teams posted a winning record for 20 consecutive seasons while making the playoffs 18 times during that span. After losing two NFC title games to the Packers as well as the team's first Super Bowl appearance in 1970, Landry's Cowboys finally got over the hump in 1971, holding Shula's Dolphins to just three points in Dallas' win over Miami in Super Bowl VI. During the 1970s, the Cowboys would appear in five Super Bowls, defeating the Broncos in Super Bowl XII and losing to the Steelers -- both times by four points -- in Super Bowls X and XIII. Landry's Cowboys would remain competitive for most of the 1980s, with three straight NFC title game appearances from 1980-82. Landry was an innovative coach on both sides of the ball. His Flex 4-3 defense wreaked havoc over opposing offenses, while his shotgun-oriented offense, led by Roger Staubach, was far ahead of its time.  Landry's 20-16 playoff record and 2-3 record in the Super Bowl are among the reasons why he isn't higher on this list. Getty Images 7. Bill Walsh One of just two coaches on this list that did not win 100 career regular season games, Walsh left a lasting impact on the game despite a relatively short 10-year run as an NFL head coach. The innovator of the West Coast offense, Walsh's 49ers, with Joe Montana under center, won three Super Bowls during the 1980s while demonstrating a new, efficient way to move the ball down the field. Today, over 30 years since his final game as 49ers head coach, NFL teams still run a variation of Walsh's offense. Walsh's 1984 team is one of the greatest in NFL history. The first team to win 15 regular season games, the 49ers overwhelmed Dan Marino and the Dolphins' record-setting offense in Super Bowl XIX, picking off Marino twice while shutting out Miami's offense during the second half of San Francisco's 38-16 victory. Four years later, Montana's brilliant execution of Walsh's offense during the closing moments of Super Bowl XXIII resulted in Montana's game-winning touchdown pass to John Taylor with less than a minute remaining. Walsh, who retired after his team's second Super Bowl win over the Bengals, moved into the front office the following season, when the 49ers became the fourth NFL franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowls. While Walsh's legacy within the NFL is secure, his lack of longevity as well as the 49ers' lackluster playoff showing against the Giants in 1986 and the Vikings in 1987 prevents him from being higher on this list. Getty Images 6. Chuck Noll One of the main architects of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty, Noll turned a perennial losing franchise into an NFL powerhouse within three years of coming to Pittsburgh. After going 1-13 during his first season, Noll's Steelers won their first-ever division title in 1972. Two years later, Pittsburgh won the first of four Super Bowl titles over a six-year span. Noll's Steelers, who went 4-0 in Super Bowl competition, are still the only team to win back-to-back Super Bowls twice. The '79 Steelers are the last Super Bowl championship team that was comprised of only homegrown talent. Noll's fundamentally sound teams became the standard by which future NFL champions would be measured. But what was equally important to Pittsburgh's success during that era was what they were able to accomplish during the draft. In 1974, the Steelers drafted four future Hall of Famers in Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster. Donnie Shell, an undrafted rookie that season, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year. Previous drafts also produced Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Terry Bradshaw, Mel Blount, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, and many other players that would help make up arguably the greatest team of the Super Bowl era. While still competitive, Noll's Steelers were unable to sustain their level of success during the 1980s, as Pittsburgh advanced to just one AFC title game during Noll's final 12 seasons as coach. But the overall legacy Noll left behind in Pittsburgh, a legacy of winning and building tough, blue collar teams that symbolizes the city that it plays in, remains in tact to this day. 5. Paul Brown The sixth-winningest coach in NFL history, Brown had already won championships at the high school and college levels before helping create the Browns in 1946. Cleveland was an immediate success under Brown, winning four consecutive All-American Football Conference titles before Cleveland joined the NFL in 1950. Despite playing against better competition, the Browns continued to dominate, winning the NFL title that season while posting a 12-2 overall record. Cleveland would then win back-to-back NFL titles in 1954 and '55 while becoming the decade's premier team. Brown's time in Cleveland ended on unceremonious terms, however, as he was relieved of his duties after the 1962 season (the Browns would win their fourth and most recent NFL title in 1964). Brown returned to the sidelines as head coach of the expansion Cincinnati Bengals in 1968, guiding the Bengals to three playoff appearances from 1970-75. In many ways, Brown was a trailblazer. He is credited with helping lay down the foundation for how coaches conduct their schedule as it relates to weekly preparation. Brown also served as a mentor for Bill Walsh, who served as his offensive coordinator in Cincinnati before going on his run of success in San Francisco. 4. George Halas No. 3 on the all-time wins list, Halas is the only NFL coach that has won an NFL title in four different decades. After winning his first NFL title in 1921, Halas won his last championship in 1963, an example of his ability to adapt to the ever-changing climate that is professional football. In all, Halas, who was also a player from 1920-29, won eight NFL titles while posting a career record of 318-151-31. Halas is credited as being the first coach to conduct daily practice sessions that included film study of the opposing team. With Halas in charge, the Bears are also credited as being the first pro football team to publish a team newspaper and to broadcast their games on the radio. Why is Halas not higher on this list? His 1934 team, the first team to go 13-0 during the regular season, was unable to complete their perfect season, falling to the Giants in the championship game. He was also unable to lead the Bears to the postseason during the final years of his coaching career despite the selections of Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers in the 1965 draft. Getty Images 3. Don Shula Shula's 328 regular-season wins and 347 total wins remain all-time records. In 33 seasons as an NFL head coach, Shula posted a whopping 31 winning seasons. His 1972 Dolphins team remains the only team in NFL history to finish the season with a perfect record. After leading the Colts to a 13-1 record en route to a Super Bowl appearance in 1968, Shula inherited a Dolphins team in 1970 that had won just 15 games in their first four years of existence. During Shula's first six seasons in Miami, the Dolphins posted a 75-19-1 record that included three AFC titles and back-to-back Super Bowl titles. During that span, Miami became the first franchise to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls. During the '72 and '73 seasons, the Dolphins went a combined 32-2 while joining the 1960s Packers as the only two-time Super Bowl champions. Shula's Dolphins continued to be a force to be reckoned with heading into the 1980s, as Miami represented the AFC in Super Bowls XVII and XIX. And after primarily winning using a punishing rushing attack during the early '70s, Shula unleashed a prolific passing attack in the '80s, led by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Shula is credited with helping modernize the game. In 1978, as head of the NFL's Competition Committee, Shula inspired several rule changes that helped make it easier for offenses to have success in the passing game. The result was a higher scoring, more entertaining brand of football that helped pro football replace baseball as America's No. 1 pastime heading into the 1980s. While there aren't many black marks on Shula's resume, the Colts' shocking upset loss to Joe Namath and the Jets in Super Bowl III, along with his inability to win a Super Bowl with Marino, are two things Shula would have surely loved to change as it relates to his Hall of Fame career. 2. Vince Lombardi  Getty Images 2. Vince Lombardi While his career as a head coach was relatively short, Lombardi left an enduring mark on pro football during his nine seasons as the Green Bay Packers' head coach. The only coach to win five titles in a seven-year span, Lombardi's Packers are also the last team to win three straight NFL titles that included the first two Super Bowl games. The master of motivating his players, Lombardi was also a meticulous planner, as the Packers were seemingly ready for anything the opposition ran at them. Lombardi was also a pioneer as it related to the draft, as he was the first coach to draft African American players in the first round. Along with boasting a gaudy .738 regular season winning percentage, Lombardi posted an even more impressive 9-1 postseason record, with the Packers posting impressive postseason wins over Jim Brown and the Cleveland Browns, Tom Landry's Cowboys (twice) and Hank Stram's talented Chiefs team in Super Bowl I. Lombardi's impact on the NFL was so immense that the NFL decided to name the Super Bowl championship trophy in his honor shortly after his death in 1970. 1. Bill Belichick  Getty Images No. 2 all time in career wins, Belichick is the only coach in NFL history to win nine conference titles and six Super Bowls. Under Belichick's watch, the Patriots posted 19 consecutive winning seasons, 17 straight playoff seasons and 17 division titles.Belichick, who has mastered the art of fielding perennially competitive rosters in the modern era of free agency, averaged nearly 12 regular-season wins a season from 2001-19. His .705 postseason winning percentage is the highest amongst the top-25 coaches in league history in terms of regular-season games won. From 2010-18, the Patriots secured either the AFC's No. 1 or No. 2 seed while making eight straight appearances in the AFC championship game. The second team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span from 2001-04, the Patriots won three more Super Bowls over a five-year span from 2014-18 while solidifying their place as the greatest franchise in pro sports during the 21st century.A two-time Super Bowl-winning assistant coach with the New York Giants, Belichick also helped build a competitive team in Cleveland in the early 1990s. The Browns' win over Bill Parcells and the Patriots in the 1994 playoffs stood as the franchise's most recent postseason victory until January of 2021. Belichick came extremely close to joining Shula as the only coach to preside over a perfect team in 2007. The Patriots' recent struggles under Belichick has done little to impact his legacy. No coach is perfect, and that includes the greatest coach of all time.  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[ad_1] Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has handpicked India's frontline spinner for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the lead-up to the three-match series against Afghanistan. With India meeting Afghanistan in its final T20I assignment before the T20 World Cup, a host of Indian Premier League (IPL) stars are set to provide a selection dilemma in the series opener at Mohali on Thursday. Virat Kohli's exit from the series opener due to personal reasons has also paved the way for Rohit Sharma and Co. to accommodate a youngster in its playing XI. Gavaskar has picked India's frontline spinner for the T20 World Cup(AP-PTI) Returning to the shortest format for the curtain-raiser against Afghanistan in 14 months, skipper Rohit will open the innings with youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal at Mohali. Former India skipper Kohli is expected to get replaced by Shubman Gill at No.3, while Sanju Samson and Jeetesh Sharma are set to jostle for the vacant wicketkeeper spot. India's spin-bowling attack can be spearheaded by the likes of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, although the hosts also have Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi at their disposal. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here ALSO READ: ‘If Rohit and Kohli have ordinary IPL…’: BCCI receives Sunil Gavaskar's ‘out-of-box suggestion’ for T20 World Cup Gavaskar snubs Kuldeep to pick India's frontline spinnerClimbing the ranks after a series of impressive performances, spinner Bishnoi has strengthened his selection case in the T20 World Cup year. Talking about India's spin-bowling lineup for the T20 World Cup, former skipper Gavaskar explained why youngster Bishnoi has an edge over his contemporaries. "Ravi Bishnoi for me because apart from bowling, he is a very good fielder. He is a better fielder than Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal," Gavaskar told Star Sports. Gavaskar also asserted that Bishnoi could also chip in crucial cameos with the willow as a lower-order batter for Team India. "He can bat as well, the way he applied his brains and won his side the match with his calmness in the last IPL," He continued. "I feel he and Avesh Khan had won their side the match against RCB. So Ravi Bishnoi for me," Gavaskar added. Kuldeep vs BishnoiSenior spinner Kuldeep bagged 15 wickets for India at the 2023 World Cup. After the World Cup, spinner Bishnoi was instrumental in India's series win over Australia. The young spinner was named the Player of the Series at the time. Earlier, Bishnoi's ouster was questioned by Gautam Gambhir when India met South Africa in the 3rd T20I. The 23-year-old has picked up 34 wickets in 21 matches for the 2007 world champions. Spinner Kuldeep has 58 wickets to his name in 34 T20Is. ABOUT THE AUTHOR At HT Sports Desk, passionate reporters work round the clock to provide detailed updates from the world of sports. Expect nuanced match reports, previews,reviews, technical analysis based on statistics, the latest social media trends, expert opinions on cricket, football, tennis, badminton, hockey,motorsports, wrestling, boxing, shooting, athletics and much more. ...view detail [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] What Robert Kraft is looking for in next Patriots head coach originally appeared on NBC Sports BostonAs the Bill Belichick era comes to a close in New England, the focus shifts to who will succeed the greatest head coach in NFL history.While addressing Belichick's departure on Thursday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft declined to delve deep into what the future holds for the franchise. However, toward the end of his press conference, he briefly touched on what he'll prioritize during his search for a new head coach."We're looking for someone who can help us get back to the playoffs and win," Kraft said. "Believe me, after my family, this is really one of the two most important assets in my life. So I promise you I'll be focused to do the best I can do to make sure we're putting ourselves in the best long-term position to win for many years."With a 4-13 record in 2023, the Patriots failed to clinch a playoff berth for the third time in four years. That was the final straw for Kraft, who acknowledged the recent struggles while explaining the decision to move on from Belichick."The last three years have been pretty tough," he said. "What's gone on here the last three, four years isn't what we want. We have a responsibility to fix it to the best of our ability."As far as potential candidates to replace Belichick, our Phil Perry reports linebackers coach Jerod Mayo "remains the favorite" for the position. If the Kraft family has a change of heart, they could opt for the more experienced Mike Vrabel, who was relieved of his duties as Tennessee Titans head coach after six seasons (three postseason appearances). Kraft expressed his desire to act "very quickly" in naming Belichick's successor.Belichick ends his Patriots career with six Super Bowl victories (nine appearances), 17 AFC East titles, a 266-120 regular-season record, and a 30-12 postseason record in 24 seasons. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is too young to vote, drive, open a savings account by himself or get into a legal contract. But when it comes to opening the batting for the Bihar Ranji Trophy team, he is considered old enough. At 12 years, 284 days, Vaibhav is easily the youngest cricketer to have made his Ranji Trophy debut in the last four decades. Ashutosh Aman, Vaibhav’s captain against Mumbai last week, has 25 years on him. His opening partner Sharman Nigrodh is 18, the average age of the Mumbai’s bowling attack is 28, but that didn’t deter Vaibhav from taking them on with a flurry of boundaries. PREMIUM Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with Wasim Jaffer(HT) “He was never afraid of playing with boys much older than him,” said his father Sanjeev from Samastipur district’s Tajpur. “When he was nine or 10, I used to make him face the local fast bowlers. And he always went behind the ball and hooked or pulled it. By God’s grace, he has never been hit or injured. But he was also very fearless. Even against Mumbai, he told me ‘Papa I was out but I wasn’t afraid.” Scores of 19 or 12 on Ranji debut barely tell anything about a batter but the fact that it came against a champion side like Mumbai probably means something. “Both times he was caught at the boundary because he tried to be too aggressive, I guess. There was a fair bit of crowd, so he was probably a bit nervous too,” said Sanjeev. “He probably didn’t factor in the height of Shivam Dube, who is six feet four,” said Manoj Ojha, Vaibhav’s first professional coach. “But it’s okay. He has enough time to consolidate, learn and improve,” said Ojha, himself a former Bihar and Jharkhand Ranji player. Vaibhav was around seven when Sanjeev brought him to Ojha’s academy in Patna. “He was little but his technique was impressive. He had a very natural batting flow, the basics were sorted. There was potential,” said Ojha. The initial trigger, as is the case with almost every Indian cricketer, came from Vaibhav’s father. “I used to play at the district level. So in the back of my mind, I always wanted one of my sons to be a cricketer. At five, Vaibhav (his younger son) used to play with my bat so I thought why not.” What followed is more or less the story with every cricketing aspiration in India. Vaibhav was a regular at school till class 3. But after his father decided he must play the game at a more serious level, Vaibhav goes to school only to write his exams. Dreams of playing for India, along with an IPL contract perhaps, drove Sanjeev to take Vaibhav to Patna for better training. The returns have been more than encouraging. In the Hayman Trophy — a state level tournament — Vaibhav aggregated 620 runs. In the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Vaibhav scored 393 runs in five innings, including a hundred against Haryana. Promising skills at the U-19 Challenger Trophy held in Assam last October encouraged selectors to pick him for the U-19 Quadrangular series (involving Bangladesh, England and Australia) in November, where he had scores of 53, 75, 0, 41, 0 and 8. “That is where he really impressed Wasim Jaffer (who was coaching Bangladesh) and VVS Laxman (head of the NCA),” said Sanjeev. “Laxman sir said he will keep an eye out for him for the next (World Cup) cycle so let’s see.” Such is the competition for a place in the national setup that a first-class debut at 12, preceded by a couple of promising innings at the U-19 level still may not result in anything fruitful. But having started so young, Vaibhav has the kind of head start very few cricketers get in India. His task, according to Ojha, is cut out. “Bihar are underdogs but they play strong teams like Mumbai, UP and Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. So, bat well against them and you will be recognised. This is where IPL scouts come. Deodhar, Duleep Trophy selections happen here. So, Vaibhav must perform every day,” he said. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Pete Thamel, ESPNJan 11, 2024, 12:58 PM ETMichigan star junior linebacker Junior Colson told ESPN he is leaving school early for the NFL draft.Colson is a 6-foot-3, 247-pound linebacker who'll bring elite speed and high-end productivity into this year's draft class. Rated as the No. 3 linebacker by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and the No. 2 linebacker by ESPN's Field Yates, Colson projects as a top-50 pick, according to NFL scouts."Just to be able to finish it off strong and go out on a strong note," Colson told ESPN in a phone interview. "I've been talking to family and my coaches the last few weeks about it. I feel it's time. I've played a lot of college football and showed what I could do at a high level. I feel like it's the right time and opportunity for a little kid from Haiti to go out."Editor's Picks2 RelatedColson, a third-year junior, finished with a team-leading 95 tackles this season, 30 more than the next-closest Wolverine. He won the Lott Award for contributions on and off the field and is a rare three-year contributor who started in the College Football Playoff all three seasons, including against Georgia as a true freshman.Colson finished his career with a dynamic flourish, as he had a team-high 11 tackles against Ohio State, 10 tackles in the Rose Bowl against Alabama and six in the Wolverines' national title win over Washington.Colson will be in competition for the top linebacker picked in the draft and said he's excited to showcase his speed in the pre-draft process, as he's expected to run somewhere in the 4.4 range in the 40-yard dash.Colson won the award for Michigan's toughest player, playing essentially the final two months of the season with a wrap on his hand that he broke against Purdue on Nov. 4. He did not come out of the game after suffering the injury.As for other traits he'll bring to the NFL, Colson mentioned speed, coverage ability and versatility as hallmarks."Just to be able to go out there and show that I'm that true sideline-to-sideline linebacker," he said. "I do have every tool in the box -- a big wingspan and everything that a team is looking for."I do see myself as the best backer in this draft."Colson said he's spent the days after the national title game grasping significance of the victory, all while heading to Dallas to begin training. He will return to Ann Arbor for the parade Saturday."I've truly just been processing it," Colson said. "Just a true processing that we truly just won the national championship. You never truly understand how great it would feel, being able to win and go out and do that. It's amazing. It's on a whole different level."For Colson personally, the step to the NFL draft marks another impressive life milestone in a remarkable journey. He was born in Haiti and adopted from an orphanage at age 9, when he moved to the Nashville, Tennessee, area.Considering his humble beginnings, Colson has cherished every opportunity and is relishing this next step."Oh huge, huge," he said. "Being form a third-world country, every opportunity that I've gotten, it has been special. I've been blessed beyond belief in everything that I do. I'm so blessed. A lot of people in my shoes never get to this point. Being here at this moment and stage in my life is just phenomenal."Colson thanked his family for their support, including his parents, Steve and Melanie Colson."I have a huge appreciation and love for them," he said. "They are my parents, they are my people. They've been with me every step of this journey. They've been my biggest supporters. I'm happy to share this moment and this opportunity with them."Colson said he's appreciative of his three seasons at Michigan and all the staff did for him."I think M was able to turn me from a little kid from Nashville, Tennessee, to become a household name," he said. "They helped turn me into a gentleman, and a man my parents would be proud of." [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] In a game where Virat Kohli was unavailable, captain Rohit Sharma got run out off the second ball of the innings and local favourite Shubman Gill went back to the dressing room inside four overs, Shivam Dube (40-ball 60*) and Jitesh Sharma (31 off 20) came to the fore to help India chase down a target of 159 in 17.3 overs in the first T20I at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Thursday. India's six-wicket win in biting cold conditions helps them take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh celebrate their partnership during the 1st T20I against Afghanistan at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali (ANI) Known for their quality spin bowlers, Afghanistan toiled hard to defend the total but couldn't stop the Indian batters from achieving the target with relative ease. India's chase got off to a disappointing start due to a mix-up between Sharma and Gill in the very first over of the run chase. Off Fazalhaq Farooqi's bowling, Rohit hit the ball to mid-off and ran to the non-striker's end, only to find Gill ball-watching and not responding to the skipper's call. A livid Rohit let his disappointment known before trudging back to the dressing room. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Gill went on to hit five fours but couldn't stay long enough to make amends for his mistake. In the fourth over, he was stumped by Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Mujeeb Ur Rahman. At this stage, Afghanistan seemed to have a firm grip on the proceedings, but Dube and Tilak Varma did not allow the opposition bowlers to dominate during their brisk 44-run partnership for the third wicket. Dube's first big shot came in the seventh over against off-spinner Mohammad Nabi, slog-sweeping a ball that was in his arc powerfully over the deep midwicket boundary. In the same over, Tilak charged down the track for an inside-out drive to the right of long off for four. With 14 runs coming off the next over by Naveen-ul-Haq, the momentum was clearly in India's favour. It took a stunning catch by Gulbadin Naib to send Tilak back and reduce India to 72/3. In came Jitesh Sharma, who looked in complete control alongside Dube to take India to the cusp of victory. With Sanju Samson on the bench and uncertainty surrounding Ishan Kishan's position in the team, this was an ideal opportunity for Jitesh to make an impression. He made it count, smashing a 20-ball 31 that took the pressure off Dube during their partnership of 45 runs for the fourth wicket. With star spinner Rashid Khan ruled out of this series, it was Mujeeb who was the pick of the Afghanistan bowlers. Having dismissed Gill early on, Mujeeb came back to get the better of Jitesh too. In his four overs, he picked two wickets while conceding just 21 runs and squeezing in a maiden. Dube, however, ensured that he stayed through to the end, notching up his second half-century in T20Is to seal a comfortable victory for India. His innings included five fours and two sixes. Rinku Singh also chipped in with a useful cameo at the end, remaining unbeaten on 16 off nine deliveries. Earlier, Rohit won the toss and chose to bowl. Afghanistan had a sluggish start with the bat, reaching 50/2 in 8.2 overs with openers Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran back in the dugout. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel was the most successful bowler for India with two wickets in four overs while giving away 23 runs. It was an important outing for Axar after he was omitted for the T20 series in South Africa. While Axar bowled Gurbaz, Dube got rid of Zadran. If Afghanistan still managed to get 158, they have Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai to thank. Omarzai, who was sold for ₹50 lakh to Gujarat Titans in last month's IPL auction, contributed a 22-ball 29 at No. 3 while Nabi brought all his experience into play by hammering a 27-ball 42. “A lot of positives, especially with the ball. Wasn't the easiest of conditions but our spinners bowled particularly well. Shivam Dube, the way Jitesh batted, Tilak as well and obviously Rinku. Want to try a few things in the next game. Want to make the bowlers do a few different things. Like how Washy bowled the 19th today. Keeping those things in mind, we'll try to do different things," Rohit said at the post-match presentation. The second T20I will be played in Indore on Sunday. [ad_2] Source link