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Wtc Final With Dukes Ball Swinging And Cold English Conditions Hadlee Favours Kiwis To Lift The Cup

WTC Final: With Dukes ball, swinging and cold English conditions, Hadlee favours Kiwis to lift the cup

The World Test Championship Final is less than a month away and many former greats have given their predictions regarding the winner. India and New Zealand would be fighting it out in the neutral venue of Rose Bowl, Southampton in England. New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee believes that the Kiwis have an edge over the Indian side because of their swing trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson.

“It all comes down to who is better prepared and who adapts better to the English conditions the quickest. The weather may also play a part and if it is cold, that will favour New Zealand,’ Hadlee said. He then went on to add how the Duke ball swing is favourable for the Blackcaps bowlers.

“The Duke ball will suit both team's fast bowlers, especially the genuine swing bowlers, and the Kiwis are well-served in that department with Southee, Boult and Jamieson,” said the all-rounder who was known for his deadly swing and who took quite a lot of his 1490 First-Class wickets in English conditions. “If the ball seams around off the pitch, batsmen in both teams will be challenged,” he added.

Talking about the magnanimity of the WTC Final, Hadlee said that it is obviously not as big as a World Cup, but the teams that have reached here truly deserved it. “The Test Championship is a one-off game. Yes, it is a final, but I don't think either team will be too fazed about it. It is a neutral ground with no home advantage. It is something to look forward to. Both teams deserve to be contesting the final because of their consistency over a set period,” he said.

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Cricket needs India: Richard Hadlee

New Zealand legend Sir Richard Hadlee believes that Indian cricket at the moment is the financial core of the game all around. The great all-rounder feels that it is not only just the financial aspect, but the South Asian nation’s contribution as a whole is noteworthy for the past few decades. “There is no doubt India produces a lot of revenue for cricket. Without India, the face of world cricket would be very different, therefore cricket needs India,” Hadlee was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz. Talking about Virat Kohli’s men contribution to Test cricket, Hadlee pointed out the team’s fightback in Australia this summer. “India has also made an outstanding contribution to Test cricket - like in all formats,” he said. “Their Test performances in Australia were outstanding despite that 36 all-out blip. They bounced back superbly, and Test cricket came alive again,” added arguably the best Test all-rounder with 431 wickets and 3124 runs to his kitty. The 69-year-old also appreciated the depth in the Indian set up saying, “So many youngsters came into the team and performed. It showed the great depth of talented players India have in all formats.” The Christchurch born, on being asked about Indian skipper Kohli’s aggressive approach, said that all sports at the highest level are about competing. But then Hadlee went on to suggest that there is a fine line between gamesmanship and being boorish. “There will always be a fine line as to whether gamesmanship from a player or a team goes too far. I quite like seeing any player expressing himself towards the opposition by having a real presence - it is a form of intimidation that can be unsettling,” he said. “I see Virat as being a very passionate and competitive cricketer with a strong desire for himself and the team to succeed,” added the legend with a batting average of 27.16 and bowling average of 22.29 in Test cricket.

Kohli goes hard at any batsman batting against him, was happy that he sledged me: SKY

A photo of India skipper Virat Kohli and the new recruit Suryakumar Yadav during the IPL 2020 had gone viral. During the match between RCB and MI, Kohli was seen sledging Surya. Recalling the incident during a recent Instagram live session with Mumbai Indians, SKY said that he felt good about the face-off. “It's not just me, he goes hard at any batsman batting against him. I was happy that he sledged me. It means even Kohli knew that if I bat on, we will win the match and if they got my wicket, then maybe they could slow us down and create a chance to win,” Suryakumar said. The right-handed batsman further added that he is generally a calm and cool customer while he is out there in the middle. “I am a cool and calm customer on the pitch, so I don't get into these rivalries. But there was that moment in Abu Dhabi, so I guess that can go down as one,” he added. Surya made his debut for the Indian team during the T20I series against England at home earlier this year. He began his international career with authority after scoring a fifty on his debut. While Kohli is now with the Indian team that will travel to the UK for the WTC final against New Zealand and the Test series against the English team, SKY is likely to be a part of the other Indian side that will fly to Sri Lanka for limited-overs fixtures. The team for the Sri Lanka tour is yet to be announced by the selectors.

Eden Gardens to provide shelter to ground staff during Cyclone Yaas

Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stadium will serve as the shelter for the ground staff as the approaching cyclone Yaas strikes the city. The had made the announcement on Monday that the space under the Eden Gardens’ galleries will be used for the purpose. There are sports clubs and institutions who have tents in Maidan and come under a highly vulnerable zone. "There are many sports clubs and institutions which have their tents in the Maidan which could be vulnerable and prone to high risk due to the cyclonic activity,” a release from CAB said. "Therefore as a precautionary measure, the CAB has decided to make a shelter arrangement along with provision for food and other amenities in the under galleries of Eden Gardens from Tuesday evening to Thursday morning," the statement added. The cyclone is expected to hit Kolkata on Wednesday evening with a wind speed of 150kph-plus which might result in heavy rainfall for the next few days in the city. The office bearers have therefore decided to make the arrangements including the provision of food and other requirements from May 25th to 28th morning. “Groundsmen form an integral part of our system and we must ensure their safety in this hour of crisis,” said CAB President Avishek Dalmiya.

PSL 6: Naseem Shah released from PSL for non-compliant RT-PCR result

Pakistan and Quetta Gladiators fast-bowler Naseem Shah has been released from the remaining games of the Pakistan Super League’s sixth edition. The young bowler came to the designated hotel in Lahore with a non-compliant RT-PCR result and thus forced the PSL authority to have no choice but release him. As per the Covid-19 protocols for the remaining HBL Pakistan Super League 6, all the players were asked to assemble at the hotel with an RT PCR negative report for Covid-19. The report needed to be at most 48 hours old, however, Naseem presented a PCR report from a test that was conducted on 18 May. Reacting to the sequence of events, Babar Hamid, Director – Commercial and head of HBL PSL 6 said, “The PCB doesn’t take any pride in releasing a young fast bowler from its marquee event but if we will ignore this breach, then we will potentially put at risk the entire event.” “We appreciate Quetta Gladiators for accepting this decision as it confirms we are all aligned to strictly following and implementing the protocols,” he added. Naseem, who was part of the Gladiators pace attack alongside Mohammad Hasnain and Usman Shinwari has so far played nine Tests and 14 T20s. PCB further went on to assure all that no compromise with health and Covid-19 would be tolerated. “This decision will also send out a loud and clear message to all involved in the remaining matches that the PCB will not compromise on any violations and will expel the player or player support personnel irrespective of his stature and standing in the game if they are found to be flouting the prescribed protocols or regulations,” Hamid said. For the remaining 20 matches of the PSL that would be conducted at the Shiekh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Pakistani players would leave for the destination on May 26 in charter flights.