SPORTS MANIA

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source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/india-vs-australia-3rd-test-live-cricket-score-updates-from-indore/liveblog/98321058.cms

New Zealand's sensational 1 run win vs England on Day 5 of the Wellington Test has not just made fans across the world sit up and say wow, it has also equaled the record for the smallest margin of victory in a Men's Test match, in terms of runs. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/walk-down-memory-lane-the-3-narrowest-wins-by-runs-in-mens-tests/articleshow/98298994.cms

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After risky shot-making cost them dearly in the previous match, Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith said their batsmen will aim to slow things down at the crease in the third Test against India in Indore starting on Wednesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/3rd-test-australia-batsmen-will-aim-to-slow-things-down-in-indore-says-steve-smith/articleshow/98295795.cms

The Mumbai Cricket Association is coming up with a 'special gift' for cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who will celebrate his 50th birthday on April 24 this year. In a unique gesture, the MCA will erect a life-size statue of Tendulkar inside the iconic Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/coming-soon-at-wankhede-a-life-size-sachin-tendulkar-statue/articleshow/98290600.cms

After a grim eternity of waiting, the Test career of Rohit Sharma, India's captain and opening batsman, is finally about seeking perfection instead of a mere spot. Having re-energized his red-ball prospects by moving up the order and opening from October 2019 on, it seems Rohit, now 35, is in serious hurry to cement some legacy. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/india-vs-australia-rohit-sharmas-red-ball-resolve/articleshow/98289315.cms

If Australian batters follow what they trained for on Monday ahead of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India in Indore beginning March 1, it can be said that the Australians have done away with their tactics of sweeping everything bowled at them by the Indian spinners in this four-match series. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/3rd-test-orthodox-cricket-seems-to-be-australias-mantra-for-comeback/articleshow/98271114.cms

It will be difficult for KL Rahul to avoid scathing criticism for his protracted poor run because of the enormous expectations attached with the job, especially when past cricketers have set high standards, says former India skipper Sourav Ganguly. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/sourav-ganguly-on-kl-rahul-if-you-dont-score-in-india-you-will-get-flak/articleshow/98269863.cms

Record-breaker Kane Williamson stroked a superb century Monday to steer New Zealand to 483 all out in their second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test in Wellington. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/nz-vs-eng-2nd-test-kane-williamson-century-sees-new-zealand-set-england-258-run-target/articleshow/98267990.cms

Kane Williamson has surpassed Ross Taylor to become New Zealand's leading run-scorer in Test cricket source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/web-stories/williamson-now-nzs-top-test-run-gette/photostory/98269464.cms

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Australia's predetermined sweep ploy in the first two Tests against India backfired heavily and that has led to Pat Cummins and co. conceding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the hosts taking an unassailable 2-0 lead after winning the Nagpur and Delhi Tests. Joining the list of critics, former Australia captain Ian Chappell slammed the sweep tactic, saying that sweeping regularly is not the answer on Indian tracks and one has to have good footwork while playing spin in sub-continent conditions. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/ian-chappell-slams-australias-sweep-ploy-says-rohit-sharma-showed-the-way/articleshow/98251778.cms

Australian opener David Warner has been enduring a lean patch in Test cricket and also failed to make any impact in the opening two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy before being ruled out of the remaining two matches due to a concussion and elbow fracture. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/taylor-urges-australian-selectors-to-take-a-call-on-warners-test-future-before-ashes/articleshow/98250397.cms

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Five wickets fell in a final over for the ages as Tasmania pulled off an incredible victory over South Australia to claim the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) title here. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/five-wickets-fall-in-last-over-in-australian-womens-domestic-league-final/articleshow/98248920.cms

New Zealand were 202 for three in their second innings at stumps, needing only 24 runs to make England bat again at the Basin Reserve. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/2nd-test-new-zealand-frustrate-england-on-day-3-after-following-on/articleshow/98246480.cms

Up against five-time champions, hosts South Africa will have their task cut out when they take on mighty Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup final in Cape Town on Sunday. Australia romped into their seventh successive final on Thursday and a day later the Proteas women scripted history, stunning England in a thriller by 6 runs. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/womens-t20-world-cup-can-first-time-finalists-south-africa-stop-invincible-australia/articleshow/98232191.cms

Recalling his chat with Ajinkya Rahane, Australia's middle-order batter Peter Handscomb said that the former India vice-captain helped him combat spin bowling in the sub-continent. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/when-ajinkya-rahane-told-peter-handscomb-how-to-play-spin-in-india/articleshow/98231116.cms

Backing himself to play shots, Travis Head said he will continue with his aggressive approach against the Indian spinners in the third Test beginning in Indore on March 1. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/3rd-test-travis-head-to-continue-with-his-aggressive-approach-against-indian-spinners-in-indore/articleshow/98230384.cms

Joe Root scored an unbeaten century and star pacer James Anderson bagged three wickets as England were in commanding position at the end of rain-trucated Day 2 of the second Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Saturday. England, who had won the opening Test by 267 runs, are leading the two-match series 1-0. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/new-zealand-vs-england-2nd-test-joe-root-shines-before-nz-collapse-on-day-2/articleshow/98228682.cms

India's star batsman Virat Kohli ended a long wait for his first hundred in close to three years with a century in the Asia Cup T20 tournament in September. Virat on Saturday said Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the only person who reached out to him when he was going through a lean patch. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/ms-dhoni-was-the-only-one-who-reached-out-to-me-virat-kohli-recalls-his-lean-patch/articleshow/98228249.cms

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Over the past decade, the BCCI has played musical chairs with successive chief coaches of the women's cricket team. Since 2014, when former skipper Purnima Rau was brought in, three others — Tushar Arothe, WV Raman and Ramesh Powar – have also coached the side. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/musical-chairs-with-indian-womens-cricket-team-coaches/articleshow/98224709.cms

In Cape Town on Thursday, the Indian women cricketers walked out onto the field with the intent of halting defending champions Australia's stranglehold on the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/womens-t20-world-cup-back-to-the-drawing-board-for-india-women-cricketers/articleshow/98224090.cms

Ash Gardner feels Australia's supreme fielding was the point of difference in the Women's T20 World semifinal clash against India at the Newlands cricket ground in Cape Town on Friday. Australia defeated India by five runs to enter the final. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/womens-t20-world-cup-australias-fielding-the-difference-vs-india-says-ash-gardner/articleshow/98202316.cms

Australia captain Pat Cummins will miss the third Test against India, Cricket Australia said on Friday. Cummins returned home after Australia suffered their second successive defeat in the four-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. India, who won the Delhi Test by 6 wickets, have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/pat-cummins-to-miss-third-test-in-indore/articleshow/98200752.cms

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The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will invite applications for members of the Cricket Improvement Committee. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/mca-to-invite-applications-for-post-of-cic/articleshow/98195214.cms

The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the national capital were rated as 'average' by the ICC match referee on Thursday. Both the India vs Australia Tests at the respective venues finished inside three days as Rohit Sharma and co. retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/nagpur-and-delhi-pitches-given-average-rating-by-icc-match-referee/articleshow/98188465.cms

Returning to competitive cricket after a three-month gap, Glenn Maxwell is struggling to get that "mental application" back and is leaving no stone unturned in "building match intensity" to be ready for the crucial ODI series against India, which will also host the World Cup later this year. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/maxwell-working-on-mental-application-marsh-to-play-only-as-batter-in-india/articleshow/98174781.cms

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New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner wants to bring some cheer to the victims of Cyclone Gabrielle by helping the Black Caps win the second Test against England, starting Friday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/new-zealands-blair-tickner-eager-to-beat-england-to-cheer-cyclone-victims/articleshow/98170930.cms

In less than three weeks, Smriti Mandhana will captain Australian duo Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham will be Harleen Deol's teammates at Gujarat Giants. Likewise, Meg Lanning will join forces with Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Shikha Pandey at Delhi Capitals. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/womens-t20-world-cup-can-india-crack-the-australia-code/articleshow/98166292.cms

The answer to the 'what next' question posed to the newly-retired Sania Mirza lay in her latest signing - mentor to the Royal Challengers Bangalore outfit for the inaugural Women's Premier League, starting in Mumbai on March 4. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/wpl/sania-mirza-looking-forward-to-rcb-stint-in-wpl/articleshow/98167655.cms

Some of India's white-ball specialists, including vice-captain Hardik Pandya, have been summoned for a fitness and skill camp at the National Cricket Academy ahead of the three-match ODI series against Australia. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/white-ball-specialists-will-have-short-skills-camp-at-nca-before-australia-odis/articleshow/98160448.cms

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UP Warriorz had bought Healy for Rs 70 lakhs at the WPL Player Auctions in Mumbai on February 13 in Mumbai, and the star Australia batter has now been appointed the skipper of the side. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/wpl/alyssa-healy-to-captain-up-warriorz-in-womens-premier-league/articleshow/98148510.cms

There will be no room for errors when India take on nemesis Australia in the first semifinal of the Women's T20 World Cup at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/womens-t20-world-cup-india-eye-improved-performance-against-nemesis-australia/articleshow/98146947.cms

Australia spinner Ashton Agar was released from the Test squad touring India and has flown home to play cricket for Western Australia in the closing stages of the domestic season, national selector Tony Dodemaide said on Wednesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/australia-spinner-ashton-agar-released-from-test-squad/articleshow/98144399.cms

England and South Africa qualified to meet in the Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals after both teams won their final group matches at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/womens-t20-world-cup-england-and-south-africa-set-up-semi-final-clash/articleshow/98139166.cms

New Zealand will "throw some punches" when they face an attacking England in the second Test starting on Friday in Wellington, as the hosts bid to rescue the two-match series. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/2nd-test-new-zealand-primed-to-throw-some-punches-at-confident-england/articleshow/98138875.cms

The decision to strip Rahul of vice-captaincy duties for the third Test clearly indicates that the 30-year-old is treading thin ice. The fact that Shubman Gill has been in red-hot form leading up to the Australia series and has been still made to wait has added to the clamour for Rahul’s head. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/can-kl-rahuls-test-career-survive-this-latest-lean-patch/articleshow/98136649.cms

Fifteen women cricketers got a chance to interact with and learn from former India captain MS Dhoni in a cricket clinic held in Mumbai under the mentorship of one of India's greatest leaders. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ms-dhoni-mentors-u-19-women-players-at-cricket-clinic-msd-in-mumbai/articleshow/98119046.cms

Pat Cummins, who had faced just one defeat as captain before coming to India, was the sole quick in the Australian playing XI in the six-wicket loss in Delhi. He bowled just 13 overs in the first innings and didn't bowl at all in India's second essay. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/pat-cummins-grossly-under-bowled-himself-in-delhi-test-allan-border/articleshow/98118191.cms

Australia opener David Warner will return home from India and miss the last two Tests of the Border Gavaskar Trophy after an elbow fracture and concussion, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/injured-david-warner-ruled-out-of-border-gavaskar-trophy-as-australia-problems-grow/articleshow/98116667.cms

Ravindra Jadeja's return to the Indian Test team from injury keeps getting better, as showcased by the latest highlight of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, where the all-rounder took 7 for 42 to deflate Australia and lay the foundation of India's six-wicket win in the second Test in Delhi. But what Jadeja's comeback has also done is that it has limited fellow left-armer Axar Patel's visits to the bowling crease. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/when-axar-patel-told-ravindra-jadeja-meri-toh-bowling-hi-nahi-aa-rahi-this-is-how-jaddu-replied/articleshow/98110005.cms

India made it to the semifinals of the Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa on the back of a five-run win over Ireland in their rain-hit last group game, which has raised the confidence of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur leading up to a likely semifinal against defending champoins Australia. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/womens-t20-world-cup-india-ready-for-likely-semifinal-against-australia-says-harmanpreet-kaur/articleshow/98108579.cms

Star opener Smriti Mandhana on Monday described the match-winning 87-run knock against Ireland as one of her toughest innings due to the difficult conditions at St George's Park. Thanks to Mandhana's career-best knock, India posted 155 for six after opting to bat first in their last group match of the Women's T20 World Cup. In their run chase, Ireland were 54 for two in 8.2 overs, when heavy rains stopped play. The DLS par score after 8.2 overs was 59, and Ireland were five runs short of that total. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-womens-t20-world-cup/one-of-the-toughest-innings-i-have-played-smriti-mandhana/articleshow/98102475.cms