After claiming his 27th five-wicket haul in Tests on Friday, Ashwin showed that he remained India’s go to spinner in home conditions.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Ravichandran Ashwin, playing his first Test match since December last year, says he badly missed playing for India in the last 10 months, so much so that the wily off-spinner stopped watching the game.

The 33-year-old, who has been playing only one format for India since July 2017, last played the Adelaide Test from December 6 to 10, the first of the four on the tour of Australia.

To his disappointment, Ashwin did not feature in the playing eleven in the following Test series against the West Indies in August-September when India only played one spinner in Ravindra Jadeja.

“To stay away from cricket itself was very tough for me. In order to substitute, I played whatever games I got. I tried and made opportunity for myself to go and play some county cricket (for Nottinghamshire). I tried and played the TNPL as much as I could, played some league cricket in Chennai,” he said.

“It was very important to tick those numbers off because that is essentially where I came from. Going back and playing there is probably the best thing that could have happened,” said Ashwin, who when asked about time away from national duty.

After claiming his 27th five-wicket haul in Tests on Friday, Ashwin showed that he remained India’s go to spinner in home conditions.

Asked how spent his time away from the spotlight, Ashwin said: “I felt like every time I watched the game on TV I felt like wanted to play the game.

“I was missing out I felt, it is very natural. I just wanted to play. Everybody goes through it. But that’s not the end. I tried different things in my life.

“My life has revolved around cricket for the last 25 years. I thought my life, my family everybody deserved a bit more of my time so I tried to spend time away from the game. I discovered other interests (reading archaeology books was one of them). I did not fret too much about the game.”

Fitness issues had sidelined him on the tour of Australia. Asked how he dealt with it, Ashwin said: “In terms of addressing injuries and why it happened, it is best for the medical staff to do it.

For me I felt like all of a sudden I wasn’t playing all formats of the game.

“I was playing 12 months a year and up and down spike in workload probably would have caused it.

That is why I went back and played wherever I got an opportunity and from my side I can tick those boxes and see how my body copes with it,” he said.

Ashwin enjoyed his county stint in England where he even dismissed South African opener Dean Elgar, who got the better of him here on Friday.

The offie said not playing regular cricket for India also made him realise how much he loves bowling.

“I am elated to be back. There is nothing like picking up a five-wicket haul for your country. This place is very special for me but I enjoyed a five-wicket haul for Nottingham too. One is not too lesser than the other,” Ashwin said.

“For me it is about playing the game and I have realised that the joy of the game has to be back in my heart. I made sure that I enjoy the game where ever I go and play. That I thought to an extent was quite visible when I played yesterday.”

Talking about South Africa’s fightback in the ongoing first Test, Ashwin said Elgar and Quinton de Kock deserves all the credit for playing the way they did.

“It is a proper Test match pitch. You expect two teams to bat well don’t you? I thought they batted really well.

Whenever the ball spun, it spun from far distances not from the normal length.

“We might have given them few too many runs in the morning session which probably gave them the momentum. You expect a good side to play the way they did. So credit has to be given where it needs to be given,” he said.

“We came back in the back half of the day. That is how Test cricket is supposed to be,” Ashwin added.

Mayank is only the fourth Indian batsman after Dilip Sardesai, Vinod Kambli and Karun Nair to have managed to convert his maiden century into a double-century.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Mayank Agarwal scored his first Test hundred and went on to convert that into a double ton as India dominated Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. Mayank first put up a mammoth 317-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma before managing 50-plus stands with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.

His individual score of 215 is thus far the highest score by any batsman in Test cricket this year, surpassing Australian star Steve Smith’s 211 which he scored in the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester in September. The other players who have managed double hundreds this year are Jason Holder (202 n.o.), Kane Williamson (200 n.o.) and Ross Taylor (200).

Mayank is only the fourth Indian batsman after Dilip Sardesai, Vinod Kambli and Karun Nair to have managed to convert his maiden century into a double-century.

He may have surpassed Smith’s highest score but it will take some remarkable consistency for him, or anyone among the Indian players to topple the former Australian captain from the top of the list of highest run-scorers in the longest format of the game this year.

Mayank with 372 runs in four innings at a remarkable average of 62 is 12th on the list. Smith, on the other hand, has played the same number of innings as Agarwal but with 774 runs at a mind numbing average of 110.57, is a fair distance away from the rest of the chasing pack.

Azam reached his 11th ODI hundred in his 71st innings while Kohli took 82 innings to get there.

KARACHI: Star Pakistan batsman Babar Azam on Monday went past India captain Virat Kohli to become the third fastest to 11 ODI hundreds after slamming 115 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka here.

Azam reached his 11th ODI hundred in his 71st innings while Kohli took 82 innings to get there.

Batting first, Pakistan rode Azam’s 115 off 105 deliveries (4×8, 6×4) to post 305/7 in the allotted 50 overs. The first ODI was washed out without a ball being bowled at the same venue on Friday.

South Africa’s Hashim Amla is the quickest to 11 ODI tons, racing there in 64 innings. Another South Africa cricketer, Quinton de Kock, is second in the list, taking 65 innings to reach the milestone.

The eight-seeded Indian lost 10-21, 17-21 to World No. 8 in just 44 minutes at the Olympic Sports Center Xincheng Gymnasium. It was her second consecutive defeat against the Thai shuttler.

CHANGZHOU: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal was knocked out of the ongoing China Open World Tour Super 1000 tournament on Wednesday after suffering a crushing defeat to Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the opening round.

The eight-seeded Indian lost 10-21, 17-21 to World No. 8 in just 44 minutes at the Olympic Sports Center Xincheng Gymnasium. It was her second consecutive defeat against the Thai shuttler.

China Open has been one tournament where Saina has had a decent outing in the past. The 29-year-old triumphed Changzhou in 2014 and went on to reach the final the very next year, where she fell to 2012 Olympic champion Li Xuerui.

However, on Wednesday, the London Olympic bronze medallist didn’t seem to be in any sort of rhythm as out of the 69 points played, she could only manage to win 27 while the remaining 42 went to Busanan’s way.

2019 hasn’t been a great year for the former World No.1. Ever since her comeback from injury, things haven’t panned out the way she would have liked. Having played the New Zealand Open in May, she was forced to stay away from the court for more than two months due to fitness issues.

When she made a return at the Thailand Open, Saina, who was only the second Indian to be World No. 1 after Prakash Padukone till then in 2015, managed to win just one match before bowing out to Sayaka Takahashi.

At the World Championships held in Basel, Switzerland, she made a second-round exit as she went down to Mia Blichfeldt.

The only competition she won was the Indonesia Masters in January where she defeated Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin, who was forced to retire in the summit clash.

Recently crowned World Champion P.V. Sindhu has been suggested for the Padma Bhushan Award.

NEW DELHI: Ace Indian boxer Mary Kom’s name has been suggested for the prestigious Padma Vibhushan Award, country’s second highest civilian award. The Sports Ministry is also discussing eight other female athletes for the Padma Awards.

Recently crowned World Champion P.V. Sindhu has been suggested for the Padma Bhushan Award.

The other seven athletes — ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Indian women’s cricket team T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the women’s hockey team Rani Rampal, shooter Suma Shirur, ace peddler Manika Batra and mountaineer twin sisters, Tashi and Nungshi Malik — have been suggested for the Padma Shri Award.

Sources in the Ministry have told IANS that these names have not yet been approved by Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. Once approved, the names will be sent to the Padma Awards Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“The names are being discussed and the final approval awaits,” the source informed.

The names of the select awardees will be announced on the eve of the Republic Day next year.

Mary was honoured with Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards in 2013 and 2006, respectively. In 2003, she was awarded with the Arjuna Award as well.

Whereas Sindhu recently became the world champion after she defeated Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 in the final of the championships held in Basel, Switzerland. Sindhu, who was overlooked for the Padma Bhushan honour in 2017, was awarded with the Padma Shri in 2015.

New York: Rafael Nadal captured his 19th career Grand Slam title in thrilling fashion on Sunday by winning the US Open final, outlasting Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 to seize his fourth crown in New York.

The 33-year-old Spanish left-hander moved one shy of Roger Federer’s all-time men’s record 20 Grand Slam triumphs and became the second-oldest New York champion in the Open era after Ken Rosewall in 1970 at age 35.

“Has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career,” Nadal said.

World number two Nadal took the top prize of 3.85 million at Arthur Ashe Stadium and added to his US Open trophy haul from 2010, 2013 and 2017.

Nadal, who was in his fifth US Open championship match and 27th Grand Slam final, is the first man to claim five major titles after turning 30.

But it took a supreme effort from the Spanish maestro, who nearly became the first player to drop the final after leading by two sets since Ted Schroeder in 1949.

“This victory means a lot,” Nadal said.

“And the way it happened. It was hard to control the nerves. The nerves were so high after having the match almost under control.” Nadal, who rose to 22-12 in five-set matches, only lost once at a Slam when up two sets, to Italy’s Fabio Fognini in the 2015 US Open third round.

“I more or less had the match under control,” Nadal said.

“The way he was able to fight, to change the rhythm of the match, was incredible.”

At four hours and 50 minutes, the match finished four minutes short of equaling the longest final in US Open history from Mats Wilander’s 1988 win and Andy Murray’s 2012 title.

It was the second Slam title of the year for Nadal after taking his 12th French Open crown in June.

In addition to reaching the brink of Federer’s mark, Nadal moved one shy of the Open era record five US Open titles won by Federer, Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras.

“A 19th Grand Slam title is something unbelievable, outrageous,” Medvedev said.

Nadal, who won his only prior meeting with Medvedev in last month’s Montreal final, stretched his win streak over Russians to 20 matches since losing to Nikolay Davydenko in the 2011 Doha semi-finals.

Fifth seed Medvedev, 23, would have been the youngest men’s Grand Slam champion since Juan Martin del Potro at the 2009 US Open.

Medvedev, who will rise to a career-best fourth in the rankings, was a champion at Cincinnati and runner-up at Montreal, Washington and the Open. “His summer was one of the best summers I ever saw,” Nadal said.

“People saw why he is already number four in the world.” Medvedev, who saw his career-best 12-match win streak snapped, would have been the first Russian to win a Grand Slam title since Marat Safin at the 2005 Australian Open and the first Russian to win the US Open since Safin in 2000.

– Electric fifth set –

On a knife’s edge at 5-5 in the third set, Medvedev reeled off eight of the last nine points to force a fourth, breaking Nadal in the 12th game with a backhand winner.

“To be honest in my mind, I was already thinking, ‘What do I say in the speech, it’s going to be in 20 minutes,” Medvedev said. “I was like I have to fight for every ball, and it went further but it didn’t go my way.” Nadal was broken in the 10th game of the fourth set to force a fifth when Medvedev blasted a sterling backhand return winner.

Nadal rescued three Medvedev break chances to hold in the second game of the fifth set, fired a backhand volley winner to break Medvedev in the fifth game and seized a 5-2 edge when Medvedev hit an overhead smash long. Serving for the match, Nadal was broken when umpire Ali Nili issued Nadal a time violation for his first serve and the Spaniard sent his second long, the crowd booing Nili for his call.

Nadal squandered two break and match points in the ninth game as the drama intensified. Again serving for the match, Nadal rescued a break point then hit a forehand drop volley for his third match point chance and Medvedev sent a forehand return long to end matters.

Nadal screamed and fell to the court on his back in joy and exhaustion.

Part of the credit for Bumrah’s hat-trick go to skipper Kohli, who insisted on a review after Roston Chase, his third victim, was initially given not out by the on-field umpire Paul Reiffel.

KINGSTON: Part of the credit for Bumrah’s hat-trick go to skipper Kohli, who insisted on a review after Roston Chase, his third victim, was initially given not out by the on-field umpire Paul Reiffel.

“I owe my hat-trick to the captain,” Jasprit Bumrah told an enamoured Virat Kohli after blowing away the West Indies with his heady cocktail of line and length, pace and bounce.

Known as much for his infectious energy as for his incredible batting, Kohli was caught on the stump mic saying, “What a bowler, man! What a bowler”, after Bumrah removed one the West Indies batsmen.

The review was correct as Bumrah became only the third Indian to claim a hat-trick in Test cricket.ADVERTISING

“Actually I didn’t know, I was not very sure of the appeal, I thought it was bat so I didn’t appeal so much, but it was a good review in the end. So, I think, I owe that hat-trick to the captain,” Bumrah said as Kohli held the mic for ‘BCCI TV’ during an interaction.

I owe my hat-trick to you – Bumrah tells @imVkohli @Jaspritbumrah93 became the third Indian to take a Test hat-trick. Hear it from the two men who made it possible

It is not easy to sweep Kohli off his feet, but Bumrah has done that a few times in recent times, and the second day of the second Test against the West Indies was one of those moments.

In a lethal opening spell, Bumrah (6/16) rattled the West Indies by picking up the first five wickets, three of which came in successive balls in the ninth over.

“Sometimes when there is so much of help in the wicket, we saw in the previous inning as well there was a lot of bounce they were getting a lot of bounce, they were getting late movement as well.

“So, sometimes, when there is so much of help you can get greedy, you can go for wickets, you can try to be over-aggressive, that time you have to keep things simple, just try and bowl good balls and create pressure.

That was the thing that was going on in my head,” Bumrah said.

The leader of the team asked the leader of the pace pack about understanding among the fast bowlers.

“Understanding is very good with other pacers. There is a lot of communication that goes on and off the field as well. When I am getting wickets, somebody else’ job at that time is to create pressure, when somebody else is getting wickets my job is to create pressure.

“So a lot of communication goes — when there is no help what we can do — Ishant has played more than 90 Test matches, Shami has played a lot of Tests.

“So lot of ideas come in and then we try to help each other if things are not going well, push each other. So that’s a good relation going on and hopefully we will continue,” Bumrah said.

New Delhi, Aug 28: Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have put his international retirement on hold but he is unlikely to be selected for India’s three-match T20 home series against South Africa starting September 15 in Dharamsala.

The team for the series is expected to be picked on September 4. The remaining two games will be played at Mohali (September 18) and Bengaluru (September 22).

In all likelihood, the squad that blanked West Indies 3-0 is likely to be retained (subject to fitness) and the selection committee wants to continue building towards World T20 in Australia in October 2020.

“There are only 22 T20 Internationals before India play their first World T20 game and selectors are clear in their vision that it’s time to move forward,” a senior BCCI official privy to developments in selection committee told PTI on Wednesday.

“They are planning on getting a pool of three keepers ready for limited overs, especially T20s,” he added.

It is still not clear whether the BCCI brass or the selection committee will speak to Dhoni to enquire about his plans like they did before the West Indies tour when the former captain informed that he would be taking a break to serve his regiment in Territorial Army.

“Retirement is an individual decision and selectors or for that matter, no one has any right to decide on that front. But they have every right to decide the roadmap for the 2020 World T20 and that’s to give Rishabh Pant maximum chances,” the official explained.

It is learnt that the second and third option for the selection committee is Sanju Samson, whose batting is considered to be on par with Pant and India A regular Ishan Kishan. 

While Pant remains the first choice across formats, the selectors are also factoring in the fitness and workload management.

A few members of the selection committee will be in Thiruvananthapuram for the A series and Samson’s performance will be keenly watched as he has made the squad for the last two List A games.

As far as batting is concerned, the selection committee believes that Samson is ready for top level cricket but his wicket-keeping is still work in progress.

“Pant scored a fifty in the last T20 that he played. Ishan Kishan is in the A set-up. Do we even have an option of looking back when we need consistent big hitters on big Australian grounds?” the official questioned.

After two near misses & two bronze, the on-court vivisection of Japanese Okuhara in 37 minutes for maiden World C’ship gold heralds a new dawn for Sindhu

CHENNAI : Thirty-seven minutes of mayhem, destruction, and sheer, unbridled power in its most visceral form. Thirty seven minutes of PV Sindhu reminding the world why she considers BWF World Championships her playground. Thirty seven minutes of Sindhu’s greatest hits being played on a loop as she scripted history by becoming the first Indian world champion in the sport.

It was so one-sided — a final scoreline of 21-7, 21-7 — that Sindhu could have played the majority of the final with one hand tied behind her back. Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, World No 4 with a medal haul to rival Sindhu, didn’t stand a chance.  If the 2017 final between these two went down in history because of the brilliance and endurance of both (it finished 21-19, 20-22, 22-20 in Okuhara’s favour), this will be remembered for the way Sindhu dismantled Okuhara. The match ended the only way it could: Okuhara on all fours, Sindhu standing tall. 

Her constant peppering of Okuhara’s body with smashes was reminiscent of a fast-bowler torturing a tail-ender with chin music. And the way she moved the Japanese from flank to flank was like watching a master puppeteer at work. What really did work in the Indian’s favour was her ability to keep plugging away without taking her foot off the gas.

She did not allow Okuhara to breathe. A prime example of that was the way Sindhu reacted whenever Okuhara committed an unforced error. She would rush to the net, pick up the shuttle and be ready to serve. In the 2017 and 2018 finals, she let her opponents come to the net and send the shuttle to her side of the court — a common badminton etiquette.

Another slight tweak was her ability to shorten points. Whenever rallies were threatening to develop, she used her height to snufff them out. Significantly, not a single rally went beyond 30 shots, a far cry from the 73-shot one these two played in the 2017 final. In all, they played 56 rallies, with Sindhu winning 42. 

Each winner was a dagger that pierced Okuhara usually resolute defense. The last, a smash to the left of Okuhara that made her fall to her knees, signalled the dawn of a new era. It’s been a long time coming — bronze in 2013, another in 2014, and then two silver in 2017 and 2018. This gold, completes the set. Once the supporting cast for four years, and now the lead actor in just 37 minutes.

The 318-run victory in the series-opener was India’s biggest-ever away win by runs in Test cricket.

NORTH SOUND: India inflicted a humiliating 318-run defeat on the West Indies in the first Test as Jasprit Bumrah dismantled the hosts with a five wicket haul after Ajinkya Rahane found his first century in two years, here on Sunday.

West Indies were chasing a stiff 419-run target but Indian pacers, led by Bumrah demolished the hosts, who were all out for just 100 in 26.5 overs in the final session of the fourth day.

It was a Bumrah show in perfect weather conditions as he sent the wickets cart-wheeling thrice during a sensational eight-over spell in which he conceded just seven runs. Playing his 10th Test, he also became the fastest bowler to take 50 Test wickets.

Bumrah swung the ball both ways to torment the home batsmen while Ishant Sharma (3/31) and Mohammed Shami (2/13) too contributed in India’s resounding victory which gave them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Kemar Roach (38), Miguel Cummins (19 not out) and Roston Chase (12) were the only batsmen who managed double-digit mark. Roach added 50 runs for the last wicket with Cummins but it just delayed the inevitable.

No top-order batsman could resist the furious spell from Bumrah, who first dismissed openers Kraigge Brathwaite (1) and John Campbell (7) and later saw the back of Darren Barvo (2), Shai Hope (2) and Jason Holder to complete his five-wicket haul.

It is India’s fourth-biggest Test win but biggest in away Tests as winning by 336 runs against South Africa in Delhi in 2015-16 remains their best ever.

The result gave Virat Kohli the joint-most number of victories as India captain, tying for 27 wins with MS Dhoni.

He has also gone past Saurav Ganguly (11) for most away wins as India captain.

After resuming the day at 185 for three, Rahane scored a patient 102-run knock but young batsman Hanuma Vihari (93) missed out on his maiden Test ton by just seven runs.

India declared their second innings at 343 for seven, the moment Vihari was dismissed. They raised a 135-run partnership for the fifth wicket after India lost skipper Virat Kohli (51) early during the fourth day’s play.

Kohli’s scalp did not help West Indies much as Rahane and Vihari gradually took the game away from the hosts with their confident yet contrasting batting.

It was Rahane’s first Test hundred since his 132 against Sri Lanka in August 2017 while Vihari threw away a golden opportunity to get his maiden hundred in only his fifth match.

Rahane’s patient knock came off 242 balls with just five shots to the fence but Vihari paced his innings nicely. The Hyderabad batsman hit 10 fours and a six in his 128-ball knock with an impressive strike rate of 72.65.

However, in an attempt to get some quick runs, he pulled Holder but could not connect the ball and the under-edge was easily taken by Hope.

Before that Rahane too fell while trying to score quickly, getting caught by Holder off Shannon Gabriel.

Off-spinner Chase (4/132) was the most successful bowler for the hosts as he got rid of Rishabh Pant (7) after dismissing Kohli (51).

India lost Kohli in the opening session of the fourth day when his leading edge off Chase flew to John Campbell, who took the catch on second attempt.

That ended the fourth-wicket partnership between Kohli and Rahane that yielded 106 runs for India.

The other overnight batsman Rahane was joined by Vihari, who easily worked the ball around in gaps to keep the scoreboard ticking.

As soon as the new ball was available, pacers Roach and Gabriel operated in tandem but before that West Indies part-timers had bowled 41 overs in this innings alone.

While Roach and Gabriel bowled a few testing deliveries, it largely remained an untroubled stay for both Rahane and Vihari.