England men’s head coach Chris Silverwood has named a 15-player squad for the third Test match against India starting at Emerald Headingley on Wednesday, August 25.

Yorkshire batsman Dawid Malan returned to the Test squad for the first time in three years. He last played Test cricket in August 2018 in England’s victory over India at Edgbaston. He will be looking to add to his 15 caps. Lancashire seamer Saqib Mahmood is included after impressing in all formats. He has yet to make his Test debut but will be aiming to add to his England credentials, having already been capped by the senior side in ODIs and IT20s.

The 24-year-old right-arm quick is familiar with the England set-up, having toured as a reserve during England’s winter Test programmes in Sri Lanka and India. In addition, he was part of the extended squads during last summer’s behind closed doors Test series against West Indies and Pakistan and was called up as back up in the build-up to the first Test at Lord’s.

Batsmen Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley are omitted and will return to Kent and Warwickshire respectively, to spend some time playing.

Somerset spinner Jack Leach will return to Taunton, but remains on standby as back-up to Moeen Ali. The England medical team will monitor seamer Mark Wood’s injured right shoulder sustained at the end of day four during the first Test at Lord’s. It is expected that he will make a full recovery ahead of the Emerald Headingley Test.

England Men’s Head Coach, Chris Silverwood in a release said: “The Test series is beautifully poised, and we are relishing the prospect of aiming to bounce back at Emerald Headingley next week.”

“Dawid Malan deserves his opportunity in the Test arena. He has a lot of experience across all formats and, if called upon, I am confident that he can come and do well on his home ground. In the limited time he has played first-class cricket this season, he has shown what he is capable of, scoring a highly accomplished 199 for Yorkshire against Sussex at Headingley in June.”

“Zak Crawley will return to Kent to galvanise the excellent work he did last week in the nets at Lord’s with Assistant Coach Graham Thorpe. Zak is still a massive part of our plans moving forward, but we feel he would benefit from time outside the pressure of international competition to get some time working on his skills. He has a bright future and I do not doubt that his time will come again in the Test arena.”

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has rubbished the “disrespectful” media reports which suggested the Portugal striker could return to Real Madrid.

The star footballer is entering the last year of his Juventus deal and there were talks of him moving to his old club. “Anyone who knows me is aware of how focused I am on my work. Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career. However, in view of everything that’s been said and written recently, I have to set out my position,” Ronaldo said in a statement on Instagram.

“More than the disrespect for me as a man and as a player, the frivolous way that my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff.

“My story at Real Madrid has been written. It’s been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines. It’s in the Museum at the Bernabeu Stadium and it’s also in the minds of every fan of the club.

“And beyond what I achieved, I remember that in those nine years I had a relationship of deep affection and respect for ‘merengue aficion’, an affection and respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish. I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine,” he added.

The Juventus star also blasted the recent news and stories claiming that he is in talks with other clubs too.

23 year old Aditi Ashok of India qualified for the $4,500,000 total prize purse Women’s British Open Golf tournament which will be played from 19th August at Carnoustie Links in Scotland.

On the par 70 course at Panmure Golf Club, Aditi carded a superb two-under 68, to grab the second place and assure herself one of the 15 spots on offer for the Major.

In 2016 playing on the Ladies European Tour Aditi was named the Rookie of the Year and over the last 5 years her form has been on an upswing. This is the 19th Major that Aditi will be playing in, the most by any Indian golfer.

Just to put things in perspective, there are 4 Major tournaments in the Men’s Circuit and 5 in the Women’s Circuit. So to clock up this number within 6 years speaks of her consistency.

The Bengaluru born golfer was the youngest player among all participants at Rio 2016.

In her campaign at Tokyo 2020, on the Par 71 course, Aditi dropped just five shots over the four days carding rounds of 67, 66, 68 and 68. Her short game was consistent throughout, and as a player ranked 200, she ran the World Number 1 Jessica Korda and Rio 2016 Olympics Silver medalist Lydia Ko close, before finishing 4th, just outside medal contention.

Though it was not a medal winning effort at Tokyo 2020, what it did was that it got the whole country to wake up early on a Saturday morning and learn about the game as she showed great resolve to go toe to toe with the best in the world.

The writer is a Sports Broadcaster who has worked on assignments for leading sports networks in India & Abroad

Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy feels every team will have to go through India if they want to progress in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

India will face Pakistan in their opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium on October 24. India, champions in the inaugural edition played in South Africa in 2007 and finalists in 2014, will also have Afghanistan, New Zealand, and two qualifiers from Round 1 to contend with in Group 2 while Group 1 comprises England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies and two qualifiers from Round 1. “India is the team to beat. We have heard Dinesh Karthik talk about it — the experience, their T20 players come into the international cricket with, whether it is from India’s domestic T20 cricket or the IPL, you see all the countries go there and get the experience,” said Sammy on Star Sports show Game Plan.

“Apart from the World Cup, I think this is if not, the most pressure situation (tournament), where the players will be under and India has that formula. In 2016, when we left our homes, me, the coach and all the guys said — in order to win this tournament, you will have to go through India. Whatever stage it is, you will have to go through India, whether it is the final, the semi-final,” he added.

The mega event might have been shifted to UAE but Sammy feels India still has an upper hand since the hosts’ players would feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 before going into the World Cup.

“Yes, it (the tournament) has shifted to the UAE, but don’t forget, before that, all the Indian players would have completed the IPL and got used to these conditions,” said Sammy.

“It is not surprising to me that the Indian cricket board chose this place, at this time, to complete the IPL and it will also benefit the other teams. But you will have to go through India in any tournament.

“As you have seen in the last few ICC tournaments, whether it is the Test Championship or ODI, you will have to go through India in order to win,” he added.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman will get underway from October 17, with the final to be played in Dubai on November 14.

After a lengthy break in sports, Goa was host to a sporting event that was refreshingly different. “Enthu Cutlets”, the World’s largest social networking group of badminton enthusiasts, in collaboration with Panjim Badminton Club, an affiliated unit of Goa Badminton Association, organised their annual Get-together cum badminton event at multipurpose stadium, Peddem, Mapusa, where Badminton players (35+ and above) competed in a League team format. The event sponsored by Adidas Badminton witnessed some scintillating badminton with many national medalists such as Sandhya Melasheemi, Ashutosh Pednekar, S Banu, Bibhash Chatterjee, Sandeep Kanji, Kamlesh Kanji, Dr Satish Kudchadkar and Parimelazhagan P J competing in a round robin League Team format, followed by Finals and third place play-off. The “Adidas Enthu Badminton league” featured 8 Teams, namely Atomic Blasters, Baddie Squad, Birdie Hunters, Darklords, Mischievous Mammoths, Ninja Smashers, Power Maulers and Royal Lions, with 7 doubles matches in each tie, played in relay format. After 3 days of intense competitive action, Darklords, led by Goa’s Kamlesh Kanji, emerged champions of the event, edging out Mischievous Mammoths 147 -140 in a pulsating contest. The third place match was won by Atomic Blasters who defeated Royal Lions with a similar 147 -140 scoreline. Prizes worth Rs 1.2 lakhs were presented to various winners of the four day event. “Matches were exciting and engaging, all of us were looking forward to squaring off on the courts once again after missing out on the action for many months”, stated Bibhash Chatterjee, the Founder of Enthu Cutlets group.

“The entire organising committee has worked very hard to make it a seamless and fun tournament. And it can be seen in the smiles of the participants,” added Bibhash, who is a National medalist in the Men’s 50+ category.

New Zealand men’s cricket team on Tuesday added Shane Bond as a fourth coach for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE and the following three-game T20I series against India.

The former fast bowler is no stranger to the team following a three-year tenure as bowling coach (2012-15) and helped out as recently as 2019 in a T20 series against England, along with stints leading New Zealand A. Since stepping back as Sydney Thunder coach earlier this year, Bond has been assisting the men’s winter training squads at Lincoln and also helped the White Ferns prepare for their tour of England.

The 46-year-old will next month resume his role as bowling coach with the Mumbai Indians as IPL 2021 restarts in the UAE, before linking up with the BLACKCAPS T20 World Cup squad.

Head coach Gary Stead said it was great to add someone of Bond’s experience to the group.

“Shane’s been in our environment before and understands what we’re about. Being in the UAE (with the IPL) immediately prior to the world cup … he’ll hopefully bring some tactical insight into what’s been happening in the competition,” said Stead in an official release.

“He’ll be an extra set of hands especially around the bowlers, working with the spin and the pace bowlers and developing their plans in a tournament that moves pretty quick – so we need to be one step ahead of other teams,” he added.