Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates may be surprised to learn the video and data analysis their coaches use was devised by scientists who used it to track the behaviour of mice, monkeys and human eye movements.

Ruben Saavedra, the Spanish CEO of Metrica Sports, says it is not a stretch to transfer the use of data to track the behaviour of mice and rats to the task of tracking "movement of players on the pitch".

Saavedra and Argentinian co-founder Bruno Dagnino -- who studied the eye movements of monkeys and humans -- found they shared more than an interest in science when they were studying for their PhDs in the Netherlands.

"We had two things in common: as Barcelona and Argentina fans, Lionel Messi was an easy link, and we were the only people on our courses who loved football," Saavedra told AFP in an interview.

"There are lots of nerds in science who do not have other hobbies and so he and I could talk football, which was nice."

The final part of the puzzle was complete with another Argentinian, Enzo Angilletta, who had a video production company.&nbsp;

Togther they developed a system that integrates data with video analysis, which had been done only manually before. By marrying data and video they created what its developers call a "workflow of football analysts".

"Presenting graphs and raw data was not enough for clubs," said&nbsp;Saavedra.

The process is unusual in that it analyses technical skills and positioning during matches, rather than simply measure distance covered.

Thus, the national teams of Portugal and Paraguay, and clubs as far afield as Melbourne Victory and Santos in Brazil have benefited from the video and data analysis product, with the top clubs paying more 100,000 euros ($122,000) a year.

Thanks to that level of income, Metrica have been able to produce a free plan, Play Basic, a version of the analysis tool which is available to download for free to anybody.&nbsp;

It has already attracted a diverse clientele from academies in Africa to amateur players and coaches from rugby union, cricket and ice hockey.

"A few years ago we had to have cameras in stadia but it has evolved," he said.

"Now we can track any game on any video with our new technology.

"We are working to automate the manual work in acquiring the data so it will be affordable for some clubs, who now can only dream of having it."

Saavedra likes to think of Metrica Sports as a 'mini-Tesla', the electric car company, beginning with a high-end expensive product which can then by used to channel funds into the development and launch of a more affordable one.

"I like saying we follow the kind of model Tesla followed even if they are a huge company compared to Metrica.

"The first clients fund investment and development of technology which benefits them and at same time allows us to develop new technologies to cut costs.

"Making this technology accessible to teams like Stockport County or academies in Vietnam was possible because we partnered with the elite clubs first."

<h2>- 'Click of a button' -</h2>

However, while the price may stay at six figures for the elite clubs and national sides, the amount of time saved on the weary eyes of their respective video analysts is immeasurable.

"It was a very manual process before and this saves them tonnes of time," said Saavedra.

"Previously, a video analyst would sit and pause the match at every instance he wanted recording, that could take four or five hours to watch the whole game.

"With Metrica Sports, they simply click a few buttons and that same work is done in two or three minutes."

Saavedra uses an example of a coach telling two defenders never to be further than a specific distance from play.

"We can write an algorithm that shows every moment when they are further away than they should be as directed by the coach.

"They can see the lines showing distance, red for further, yellow for closer, just at the click of a button."

The process is unusual in that it analyses technical skills and positioning during matches, rather than simply measure distance covered.

Saavedra's enthusiasm reflects his lack of regret at ditching neuroscience despite studying it for 14 years.

"I say football used to be my hobby and neuroscience was my job," he said.

"I flipped that and it is awesome."

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates may be surprised to learn the video and data analysis their coaches use was devised by scientists who used it to track the behaviour of mice, monkeys and human eye movements.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates may be surprised to learn the video and data analysis their coaches use was devised by scientists who used it to track the behaviour of mice, monkeys and human eye movements. Ruben Saavedra, the Spanish CEO of Metrica Sports, says it is not a stretch to transfer the use of data to track the behaviour of mice and rats to the task of tracking "movement of players on the pitch". Saavedra and Argentinian co-founder Bruno Dagnino -- who studied the eye movements of monkeys and humans -- found they shared more than an interest in science when they were studying for their PhDs in the Netherlands. "We had two things in common: as Barcelona and Argentina fans, Lionel Messi was an easy link, and we were the only people on our courses who loved football," Saavedra told AFP in an interview. "There are lots of nerds in science who do not have other hobbies and so he and I could talk football, which was nice." The final part of the puzzle was complete with another Argentinian, Enzo Angilletta, who had a video production company. Togther they developed a system that integrates data with video analysis, which had been done only manually before. By marrying data and video they created what its developers call a "workflow of football analysts". "Presenting graphs and raw data was not enough for clubs," said Saavedra. The process is unusual in that it analyses technical skills and positioning during matches, rather than simply measure distance covered. Thus, the national teams of Portugal and Paraguay, and clubs as far afield as Melbourne Victory and Santos in Brazil have benefited from the video and data analysis product, with the top clubs paying more 100,000 euros ($122,000) a year. Thanks to that level of income, Metrica have been able to produce a free plan, Play Basic, a version of the analysis tool which is available to download for free to anybody. It has already attracted a diverse clientele from academies in Africa to amateur players and coaches from rugby union, cricket and ice hockey. "A few years ago we had to have cameras in stadia but it has evolved," he said. "Now we can track any game on any video with our new technology. "We are working to automate the manual work in acquiring the data so it will be affordable for some clubs, who now can only dream of having it." Saavedra likes to think of Metrica Sports as a 'mini-Tesla', the electric car company, beginning with a high-end expensive product which can then by used to channel funds into the development and launch of a more affordable one. "I like saying we follow the kind of model Tesla followed even if they are a huge company compared to Metrica. "The first clients fund investment and development of technology which benefits them and at same time allows us to develop new technologies to cut costs. "Making this technology accessible to teams like Stockport County or academies in Vietnam was possible because we partnered with the elite clubs first." - 'Click of a button' - However, while the price may stay at six figures for the elite clubs and national sides, the amount of time saved on the weary eyes of their respective video analysts is immeasurable. "It was a very manual process before and this saves them tonnes of time," said Saavedra. "Previously, a video analyst would sit and pause the match at every instance he wanted recording, that could take four or five hours to watch the whole game. "With Metrica Sports, they simply click a few buttons and that same work is done in two or three minutes." Saavedra uses an example of a coach telling two defenders never to be further than a specific distance from play. "We can write an algorithm that shows every moment when they are further away than they should be as directed by the coach. "They can see the lines showing distance, red for further, yellow for closer, just at the click of a button." The process is unusual in that it analyses technical skills and positioning during matches, rather than simply measure distance covered. Saavedra's enthusiasm reflects his lack of regret at ditching neuroscience despite studying it for 14 years. "I say football used to be my hobby and neuroscience was my job," he said. "I flipped that and it is awesome."

Of mice and men: Keeping track of Ronaldo and co

Aston Villa were forced to close their training ground on Thursday after two rounds of testing returned multiple positive cases of coronavirus among players and staff.

"A large number of first team players and staff returned positive tests after being routinely tested on Monday and immediately went into isolation," Villa said in a statement.

"A second round of testing was carried out immediately and produced more positive results today."

The Premier League club's FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool on Friday is now at risk of being postponed.

"First team training ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup match with Liverpool was cancelled," Villa's statement added.

"Discussions are ongoing between medical representatives of the Club, the Football Association and the Premier League."

Villa are the fourth Premier League club to suffer a Covid-19 outbreak in the last two months with growing concerns over whether the English top-flight can complete the season on schedule.

Three Premier League matches were postponed last week due to outbreaks at Manchester City and Fulham.

On Tuesday, a record high of 40 positive tests were detected among Premier League players and staff in the week between December 28 and January 3.

Southampton's FA Cup trip to Shrewsbury has already been postponed due to a number of positive cases at the League One club.

Wayne Rooney's Derby will fulfil their fixture at Chorley with a youth team after nine positive tests among first-team players and staff.

Aston Villa were forced to close their training ground on Thursday after two rounds of testing returned multiple positive cases of coronavirus among players and staff.

Aston Villa were forced to close their training ground on Thursday after two rounds of testing returned multiple positive cases of coronavirus among players and staff. "A large number of first team players and staff returned positive tests after being routinely tested on Monday and immediately went into isolation," Villa said in a statement. "A second round of testing was carried out immediately and produced more positive results today." The Premier League club's FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool on Friday is now at risk of being postponed. "First team training ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup match with Liverpool was cancelled," Villa's statement added. "Discussions are ongoing between medical representatives of the Club, the Football Association and the Premier League." Villa are the fourth Premier League club to suffer a Covid-19 outbreak in the last two months with growing concerns over whether the English top-flight can complete the season on schedule. Three Premier League matches were postponed last week due to outbreaks at Manchester City and Fulham. On Tuesday, a record high of 40 positive tests were detected among Premier League players and staff in the week between December 28 and January 3. Southampton's FA Cup trip to Shrewsbury has already been postponed due to a number of positive cases at the League One club. Wayne Rooney's Derby will fulfil their fixture at Chorley with a youth team after nine positive tests among first-team players and staff.

Aston Villa training ground closed due to coronavirus outbreak

As violence at the US Capitol underlined deep divisions in America on Wednesday, NBA players said the incident helped renew their commitment to fight racial injustice.

Boston Celtics and Miami Heat players knelt during the national anthem before their game in Miami on Wednesday, hours after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol as legislators met to certify Joe Biden's victory in the November election.

The players issued a joint statement referring not only to the chaotic events in Washington but also to the decision on Tuesday by prosecutors in Wisconsin not to charge the white police officer who shot and paralyzed Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha last August.

Protests of Blake's shooting brought the NBA to a standstill for three days in August in a protest of racial injustice that soon spread across an array of sports.

"2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed," the Celtics and Heat players said in their statement.

"We play tonight's game with a heavy heart after yesterday's decision in Kenosha and knowing that protesters in our nation's capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on.

"The drastic difference between the way protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given to today's protesters who acted illegally just shows how much more work we have to do.

"We have decided to play tonight's game to try to bring joy into people's lives.

"But we must not forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for a more equal and just America."

In Philadelphia, 76ers coach Doc Rivers was blunt in his assessment of the scene at the Capitol.

"It's pretty disturbing and sad," he said. "I keep hearing, 'This is an attack on democracy.' It's not. Democracy will prevail. It always does.

"It shows a lot though. I'll say it because I don't think a lot of people want to -- could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming into the Capitol and what would've happened?

"It's a sad day in a lot of ways. But it's a part of what we are and so we have to solve it."

In Milwaukee, the host Bucks and the Detroit Pistons both took turnovers on their first possessions.

The Bucks won the opening tip off and NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo simply held the ball as all the players took a knee. On the ensuing Detroit possession, Pistons star Blake Griffin held the ball and all 10 players on court took a knee again.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted that it was hard to concentrate on basketball.

"I started the day thinking about how we were going to guard Lou Williams without fouling him," Kerr said. "Suddenly that didn't seem quite as important.

"Just a bizarre scene, but a pretty clear reminder that the truth matters," Kerr said.

"A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people who are leading our country in government, because we've decided to -- over the last few years -- allow lies to be told. So, this is who we are," Kerr said. "You reap what you sow."

As violence at the US Capitol underlined deep divisions in America on Wednesday, NBA players said the incident helped renew their commitment to fight racial injustice.

As violence at the US Capitol underlined deep divisions in America on Wednesday, NBA players said the incident helped renew their commitment to fight racial injustice. Boston Celtics and Miami Heat players knelt during the national anthem before their game in Miami on Wednesday, hours after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol as legislators met to certify Joe Biden's victory in the November election. The players issued a joint statement referring not only to the chaotic events in Washington but also to the decision on Tuesday by prosecutors in Wisconsin not to charge the white police officer who shot and paralyzed Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha last August. Protests of Blake's shooting brought the NBA to a standstill for three days in August in a protest of racial injustice that soon spread across an array of sports. "2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed," the Celtics and Heat players said in their statement. "We play tonight's game with a heavy heart after yesterday's decision in Kenosha and knowing that protesters in our nation's capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on. "The drastic difference between the way protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given to today's protesters who acted illegally just shows how much more work we have to do. "We have decided to play tonight's game to try to bring joy into people's lives. "But we must not forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for a more equal and just America." In Philadelphia, 76ers coach Doc Rivers was blunt in his assessment of the scene at the Capitol. "It's pretty disturbing and sad," he said. "I keep hearing, 'This is an attack on democracy.' It's not. Democracy will prevail. It always does. "It shows a lot though. I'll say it because I don't think a lot of people want to -- could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming into the Capitol and what would've happened? "It's a sad day in a lot of ways. But it's a part of what we are and so we have to solve it." In Milwaukee, the host Bucks and the Detroit Pistons both took turnovers on their first possessions. The Bucks won the opening tip off and NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo simply held the ball as all the players took a knee. On the ensuing Detroit possession, Pistons star Blake Griffin held the ball and all 10 players on court took a knee again. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted that it was hard to concentrate on basketball. "I started the day thinking about how we were going to guard Lou Williams without fouling him," Kerr said. "Suddenly that didn't seem quite as important. "Just a bizarre scene, but a pretty clear reminder that the truth matters," Kerr said. "A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people who are leading our country in government, because we've decided to -- over the last few years -- allow lies to be told. So, this is who we are," Kerr said. "You reap what you sow."

After chaos at Capitol NBA players reaffirm racial justice commitment

Renowned Indian motorcycle racer CS Santosh on Wednesday suffered a horrific crash during the ongoing Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia and was put in a medically-induced coma. He was airlifted to a hospital in Riyadh after suffering the&nbsp;terrible crash.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The 37-year-old was representing the Hero&nbsp;MotoSports in one of the biggest rallies in the world and is now under 24-hour observation. Santosh has suffered a suspected head injury. According to reports, Santosh was conscious as the paramedics rushed to the scene before being airlifted to Riyadh.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In an unfortunate incident, <a href="https://twitter.com/cs_santosh22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cs_santosh22</a> suffered a crash in Stage 4 of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dakar2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dakar2021</a> today. He has been taken to a hospital in Riyadh. In the initial assessment, he seems stable. 
Join us in wishing him a speedy recovery. <a href="https://t.co/ePbtRIsBcT">pic.twitter.com/ePbtRIsBcT</a>
— Hero MotoSports (@hero_motosports) <a href="https://twitter.com/hero_motosports/status/1346803329024761857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/was-missing-my-dad-mohammed-siraj-on-getting-emotional-during-indian-national-anthem-355142" hreflang="en">'Was missing my dad': Mohammed Siraj on getting emotional during Indian national anthem</a>

The horrific crash took place on the same stage where Hero&nbsp;MotoSports rider Paulo Goncalves died while participating in the Dakar 2020. The team withdrew from the rally after Goncalves passed away following the severe crash.&nbsp;

Santosh suffered a massive crash, around 135 km into the stage on a gravel track, and forfeited the stage. Considered the world’s toughest&nbsp;off-road motorsport event, this was Santosh’s seventh attempt at the Dakar Rally. Notably, Santosh was the first Indian to participate in Dakar Rally in 2015 and went on to compete in two more editions.&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{25934e78-b644-4682-9361-840b8f1525eb}{152}" paraid="1826545596" >Hero Motorsports has now&nbsp;provided an update on CS Santosh's health:&nbsp;</h2>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Update on <a href="https://twitter.com/cs_santosh22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cs_santosh22</a>'s recovery. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dakar2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dakar2021</a> <a href="https://t.co/UMf8oHnUiZ">pic.twitter.com/UMf8oHnUiZ</a>
— Hero MotoSports (@hero_motosports) <a href="https://twitter.com/hero_motosports/status/1347198795549851648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-hamilton-to-ronaldo-athletes-who-tested-positive-for-covid-19-in-2020-352776" hreflang="en">From Hamilton to Ronaldo: Athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020</a>

Santosh suffered burns to his neck during the 2013 Abu Dhabi desert challenge after his Suzuki MX450X caught fire.&nbsp;

Dakar Rally, taking place from January 2-16, is divided into 12 stages with participants traversing 7646 km. The longest stage of the rally spans a total of 813 km.&nbsp;

Renowned Indian motorcycle racer CS Santosh on Wednesday suffered a horrific crash during the ongoing Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia and was put in a medically-induced coma.

Renowned Indian motorcycle racer CS Santosh on Wednesday suffered a horrific crash during the ongoing Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia and was put in a medically-induced coma. He was airlifted to a hospital in Riyadh after suffering the terrible crash. The 37-year-old was representing the Hero MotoSports in one of the biggest rallies in the world and is now under 24-hour observation. Santosh has suffered a suspected head injury. According to reports, Santosh was conscious as the paramedics rushed to the scene before being airlifted to Riyadh. In an unfortunate incident, @cs_santosh22 suffered a crash in Stage 4 of #Dakar2021 today. He has been taken to a hospital in Riyadh. In the initial assessment, he seems stable. Join us in wishing him a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/ePbtRIsBcT — Hero MotoSports (@hero_motosports) January 6, 2021 × ALSO READ: 'Was missing my dad': Mohammed Siraj on getting emotional during Indian national anthem The horrific crash took place on the same stage where Hero MotoSports rider Paulo Goncalves died while participating in the Dakar 2020. The team withdrew from the rally after Goncalves passed away following the severe crash. Santosh suffered a massive crash, around 135 km into the stage on a gravel track, and forfeited the stage. Considered the world’s toughest off-road motorsport event, this was Santosh’s seventh attempt at the Dakar Rally. Notably, Santosh was the first Indian to participate in Dakar Rally in 2015 and went on to compete in two more editions. Hero Motorsports has now provided an update on CS Santosh's health: Update on @cs_santosh22's recovery. #Dakar2021 pic.twitter.com/UMf8oHnUiZ — Hero MotoSports (@hero_motosports) January 7, 2021 × ALSO READ: From Hamilton to Ronaldo: Athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 Santosh suffered burns to his neck during the 2013 Abu Dhabi desert challenge after his Suzuki MX450X caught fire. Dakar Rally, taking place from January 2-16, is divided into 12 stages with participants traversing 7646 km. The longest stage of the rally spans a total of 813 km.

Indian racer CS Santosh put into medically-induced coma after horrific crash in Dakar Rally

Liverpool are unlikely to bolster their injury-hit defence this month due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, manager Jurgen Klopp revealed on Thursday.

The English champions are expected to be without Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez for the rest of the season, while Joel Matip is also currently sidelined leaving Klopp without a senior recognised centre-back.

Midfielder Fabinho has deputised in central defence for most the season, while youngsters Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have had to be drafted in.

Despite the closure of stadiums to fans due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Reds spent a reported £70 million in the summer transfer window on Konstantinos Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota, all of whom have also had spells out due to injury.

"I cannot say definitely we will not do it, it's just not likely because of the situation in the world," said Klopp ahead of his side's trip to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Friday. "It's not the best situation for the whole planet, so why should it be for a football club."

The German led Liverpool to winning the Champions League in 2018/19 and followed that up with the club's first league title for 30 years in 2020.

However, the financial springboard expected from that success has not materialised with the growing possibility of a full season with supporters through the gates.

"This club, with these owners, will always be very responsible with the things we do," added Klopp.

"If the world would be a normal place, everything would be fine, we won the league, won the Champions League, the club is in the best possible situation, then you have three senior centre-halves all injured - is that a situation where usually we would do something?

"Yes, definitely, but we are not in that situation so I don't know if something will happen or not.

"We have to deal with the situation like we did it so far and we have to get through this."

Liverpool still top the Premier League, but the injury toll has shown in recent weeks as they have failed to win in three league games for the first time since 2018 to see their advantage at the top of the table whittled away.

Manchester United are level on points with Klopp's men and have a game in hand to come at Burnley on Tuesday before the top two face off at Anfield on January 17.

Liverpool are unlikely to bolster their injury-hit defence this month due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, manager Jurgen Klopp revealed on Thursday.

Liverpool are unlikely to bolster their injury-hit defence this month due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, manager Jurgen Klopp revealed on Thursday. The English champions are expected to be without Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez for the rest of the season, while Joel Matip is also currently sidelined leaving Klopp without a senior recognised centre-back. Midfielder Fabinho has deputised in central defence for most the season, while youngsters Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have had to be drafted in. Despite the closure of stadiums to fans due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Reds spent a reported £70 million in the summer transfer window on Konstantinos Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota, all of whom have also had spells out due to injury. "I cannot say definitely we will not do it, it's just not likely because of the situation in the world," said Klopp ahead of his side's trip to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Friday. "It's not the best situation for the whole planet, so why should it be for a football club." The German led Liverpool to winning the Champions League in 2018/19 and followed that up with the club's first league title for 30 years in 2020. However, the financial springboard expected from that success has not materialised with the growing possibility of a full season with supporters through the gates. "This club, with these owners, will always be very responsible with the things we do," added Klopp. "If the world would be a normal place, everything would be fine, we won the league, won the Champions League, the club is in the best possible situation, then you have three senior centre-halves all injured - is that a situation where usually we would do something? "Yes, definitely, but we are not in that situation so I don't know if something will happen or not. "We have to deal with the situation like we did it so far and we have to get through this." Liverpool still top the Premier League, but the injury toll has shown in recent weeks as they have failed to win in three league games for the first time since 2018 to see their advantage at the top of the table whittled away. Manchester United are level on points with Klopp's men and have a game in hand to come at Burnley on Tuesday before the top two face off at Anfield on January 17.

Klopp blames Covid crisis for lack of transfer funds at Liverpool

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League</a>’s governing council has kept the deadline for the retained players on January 21 while the trading window for the franchise is set to close on February 4. &nbsp;

IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the development after the members of IPL GC and Patel had virtual meeting earlier this week as they planned about the IPL 2021 at length.&nbsp;

"We will have the players' retention till January 21 and the trading window for the franchises closes on February 4," Patel, the former India Test batsman told PTI while informing that the date of the auction is yet to be finalised.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-ind-bcci-formally-writes-to-cricket-australia-about-brisbanes-hard-quarantine-355179" hreflang="en">AUS vs IND: BCCI formally writes to Cricket Australia about Brisbane's hard quarantine</a>

According to the PTI report, it is expected that the mini auction for IPL 2021 will be held in the second or third week of February. Patel also confirmed that there will be “no increase of purse” for the 2021 auction.&nbsp;

The report says that Chennai Super Kings, which has the lowest purse among all the eight teams (INR 15 lakh), is set to release big salaried players in Kedar Jadhav and Piyush Chawla in a bid to increase their purse value.&nbsp;

Whereas Mumbai Indians are expected to retain most of its players to continue with a set team. They may release a few players to increase their purse value from INR 1.95 crore.Rajasthan Royals have the maximum purse 14.75 crore, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (10.1 crore), Delhi Capitals (9 crore), Kolkata Knight Riders (8.5 crore), Royal Challengers Bangalore (6.4 crore).&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-player-approached-by-delhi-nurse-for-inside-information-during-ipl-2020-report-354615" hreflang="en">Indian player approached by Delhi nurse for 'inside information' during IPL 2020: Report</a>

The report further say that the governing council will wait for a month before locking whether IPL 2021 will be held in India or outside.&nbsp;

"The BCCI will wait for a month to see how the COVID-19 situation is in India before finalising the schedule. Everyone wants it to be held in India but we still need to wait for some more time before taking a call," a BCCI source said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Indian Premier League’s governing council has kept the deadline for the retained players on January 21 while the trading window for the franchise is set to close on February 4.

The Indian Premier League’s governing council has kept the deadline for the retained players on January 21 while the trading window for the franchise is set to close on February 4. IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the development after the members of IPL GC and Patel had virtual meeting earlier this week as they planned about the IPL 2021 at length. "We will have the players' retention till January 21 and the trading window for the franchises closes on February 4," Patel, the former India Test batsman told PTI while informing that the date of the auction is yet to be finalised. ALSO READ: AUS vs IND: BCCI formally writes to Cricket Australia about Brisbane's hard quarantine According to the PTI report, it is expected that the mini auction for IPL 2021 will be held in the second or third week of February. Patel also confirmed that there will be “no increase of purse” for the 2021 auction. The report says that Chennai Super Kings, which has the lowest purse among all the eight teams (INR 15 lakh), is set to release big salaried players in Kedar Jadhav and Piyush Chawla in a bid to increase their purse value. Whereas Mumbai Indians are expected to retain most of its players to continue with a set team. They may release a few players to increase their purse value from INR 1.95 crore.Rajasthan Royals have the maximum purse 14.75 crore, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (10.1 crore), Delhi Capitals (9 crore), Kolkata Knight Riders (8.5 crore), Royal Challengers Bangalore (6.4 crore). ALSO READ: Indian player approached by Delhi nurse for 'inside information' during IPL 2020: Report The report further say that the governing council will wait for a month before locking whether IPL 2021 will be held in India or outside. "The BCCI will wait for a month to see how the COVID-19 situation is in India before finalising the schedule. Everyone wants it to be held in India but we still need to wait for some more time before taking a call," a BCCI source said.

IPL 2021: Deadline for player retention and trading window revealed!

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday wrote to Cricket Australia (CA) as the Indian cricket board look for relaxation in hard quarantine protocols of Brisbane for the fourth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. &nbsp;

BCCI reminded the Australian board that they are done with strict isolation. According to a PTI report, a top BCCI executive has written to CA head Earl Eddings as the board reminded him of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two board on the modalities of the tour which never had a specification of two hard quarantine in separate cities.&nbsp;

The Brisbane Test is scheduled to start on January 15 and the strict quarantine rules, as of now, will restrict the players to just their hotel rooms after the end of day’s play.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/was-missing-my-dad-mohammed-siraj-on-getting-emotional-during-indian-national-anthem-355142" hreflang="en">'Was missing my dad': Mohammed Siraj on getting emotional during Indian national anthem</a>

"The discussions are still on but today BCCI has formally sent a letter seeking relaxation of hard quarantine for its players if they are to have the match in Brisbane," a senior BCCI official told PTI.&nbsp;

"The MoU that was signed never mentioned about two hard quarantines. India have done one hard quarantine in Sydney (practice and back to hotel room)," he added.&nbsp;

The BCCI has made a simple demand that players want to be with each other inside the hotel bio-bubble as they did in the IPL.&nbsp;

"The BCCI's demand is simple. The players want to mingle with each other inside the hotel bio-bubble like they did in the IPL. They want to have their meals together inside the hotel and also have team meetings together. That's not a big demand," he informed.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-am-absolutely-fine-sourav-ganguly-discharged-from-hospital-after-treatment-for-cardiac-arrest-355097" hreflang="en">'I am absolutely fine': Sourav Ganguly discharged from hospital after treatment for cardiac arrest</a>

Cricket Australia’s communication has stated that players can be with each other but only those residing on the same floor. Hence, players from two different floors cannot come in contact with each other.&nbsp;

"The BCCI has told CA that the relaxation of the quarantine rules should be given in writing. During India's hard quarantine in Sydney after reaching from UAE, there used to be police personnel in each floor ensuring that there is no breach of bio-safety protocols.&nbsp;

"Hopefully, nothing of that sort will happen if the team travels to Brisbane. All we want is IPL style bio-bubble."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, if the Queensland authorities don’t ease down the quarantine rules, the fourth Test could be played in Sydney.&nbsp;

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday wrote to Cricket Australia (CA) as the Indian cricket board look for relaxation in hard quarantine protocols of Brisbane for the fourth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday wrote to Cricket Australia (CA) as the Indian cricket board look for relaxation in hard quarantine protocols of Brisbane for the fourth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. BCCI reminded the Australian board that they are done with strict isolation. According to a PTI report, a top BCCI executive has written to CA head Earl Eddings as the board reminded him of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two board on the modalities of the tour which never had a specification of two hard quarantine in separate cities. The Brisbane Test is scheduled to start on January 15 and the strict quarantine rules, as of now, will restrict the players to just their hotel rooms after the end of day’s play. ALSO READ: 'Was missing my dad': Mohammed Siraj on getting emotional during Indian national anthem "The discussions are still on but today BCCI has formally sent a letter seeking relaxation of hard quarantine for its players if they are to have the match in Brisbane," a senior BCCI official told PTI. "The MoU that was signed never mentioned about two hard quarantines. India have done one hard quarantine in Sydney (practice and back to hotel room)," he added. The BCCI has made a simple demand that players want to be with each other inside the hotel bio-bubble as they did in the IPL. "The BCCI's demand is simple. The players want to mingle with each other inside the hotel bio-bubble like they did in the IPL. They want to have their meals together inside the hotel and also have team meetings together. That's not a big demand," he informed. ALSO READ: 'I am absolutely fine': Sourav Ganguly discharged from hospital after treatment for cardiac arrest Cricket Australia’s communication has stated that players can be with each other but only those residing on the same floor. Hence, players from two different floors cannot come in contact with each other. "The BCCI has told CA that the relaxation of the quarantine rules should be given in writing. During India's hard quarantine in Sydney after reaching from UAE, there used to be police personnel in each floor ensuring that there is no breach of bio-safety protocols. "Hopefully, nothing of that sort will happen if the team travels to Brisbane. All we want is IPL style bio-bubble." Meanwhile, if the Queensland authorities don’t ease down the quarantine rules, the fourth Test could be played in Sydney.

AUS vs IND: BCCI formally writes to Cricket Australia about Brisbane's hard quarantine

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that&nbsp;England Women will tour Pakistan in October, taking part in two T20Is and three ODIs.

Heather Knight's team will be making their first-ever trip to Pakistan, and will be alongside the England Men's white-ball team, with the two IT20s played as double-headers in Karachi on 14 and 15 October.

England Women will then stay in Karachi to compete in three ODIs&nbsp;on 18, 20 and 22 October.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/was-missing-my-dad-mohammed-siraj-on-getting-emotional-during-indian-national-anthem-355142" hreflang="en">'Was missing my dad': Mohammed Siraj on getting emotional during Indian national anthem</a>

ECB Managing Director of Women's Cricket, Clare Connor, said:&nbsp;“We are absolutely delighted to be making this historic announcement today. The England Women’s cricket team has never toured Pakistan before so this is another important step in our history and journey.

"Not only will this be a cricket tour that provides valuable competitive opportunity to both teams, it should also serve as another powerful and positive message as we drive forward our equality ambitions for more women and girls to derive empowerment through the sport.

"I was in Pakistan last year and I know the impact that a women’s tour such as this can have and how memorable an experience it will be for our players and staff.”

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/that-was-loose-shot-mark-waugh-unimpressed-in-the-way-warner-got-out-in-third-test-355140" hreflang="en">'That was loose shot': Mark Waugh unimpressed in the way Warner got out in third Test</a>

PCB Chief Executive, Wasim Khan, said: “World champions England accompanying their men’s side for their first-ever tour to Karachi is an extremely powerful and strong announcement for Pakistan, our women’s cricketers as well as for the global sport.

“This announcement reflects the confidence, trust and relationship the PCB enjoys with the England and Wales Cricket Board, and is an acknowledgement for the successful delivery of international and domestic cricket in the challenging and difficult 2020.

“Women’s T20Is taking place before the men’s matches at the iconic National Stadium will mean more eyeballs will follow these matches than ever before. While this presents a great opportunity for the PCB to showcase the image and profile of women’s cricket, it is a chance for the women cricketers to demonstrate their talent and skills, and play their part in attracting, inspiring and motivating the next generation of women cricketers so that they can also fall in love with this great sport.

“The three ODIs against the world champions will assist the Pakistan women’s side to access, gauge and fine-tune their ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 preparations as they aim to produce improved performances than in the past.

“Like the England men’s side, I am confident the women’s tour will open up opportunities for their future tours that will further contribute in promoting women’s cricket in Pakistan and helping our national side to narrow the gap with the leading nations.”

<h2 data-ogsc="rgb(85, 85, 85)">England Women vs Pakistan Women - Series schedule</h2>

14 October: 1st&nbsp;T20I, National Stadium, Karachi

15 October: 2nd&nbsp;T20I, National Stadium, Karachi

18 October: 1st&nbsp;ODI, National Stadium, Karachi

20 October: 2nd&nbsp;ODI, National Stadium, Karachi

22 October: 3rd&nbsp;ODI, National Stadium, Karachi

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that England Women will tour Pakistan in October, taking part in two T20Is and three ODIs.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that England Women will tour Pakistan in October, taking part in two T20Is and three ODIs. Heather Knight's team will be making their first-ever trip to Pakistan, and will be alongside the England Men's white-ball team, with the two IT20s played as double-headers in Karachi on 14 and 15 October. England Women will then stay in Karachi to compete in three ODIs on 18, 20 and 22 October. ALSO READ: 'Was missing my dad': Mohammed Siraj on getting emotional during Indian national anthem ECB Managing Director of Women's Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be making this historic announcement today. The England Women’s cricket team has never toured Pakistan before so this is another important step in our history and journey. "Not only will this be a cricket tour that provides valuable competitive opportunity to both teams, it should also serve as another powerful and positive message as we drive forward our equality ambitions for more women and girls to derive empowerment through the sport. "I was in Pakistan last year and I know the impact that a women’s tour such as this can have and how memorable an experience it will be for our players and staff.” ALSO READ: 'That was loose shot': Mark Waugh unimpressed in the way Warner got out in third Test PCB Chief Executive, Wasim Khan, said: “World champions England accompanying their men’s side for their first-ever tour to Karachi is an extremely powerful and strong announcement for Pakistan, our women’s cricketers as well as for the global sport. “This announcement reflects the confidence, trust and relationship the PCB enjoys with the England and Wales Cricket Board, and is an acknowledgement for the successful delivery of international and domestic cricket in the challenging and difficult 2020. “Women’s T20Is taking place before the men’s matches at the iconic National Stadium will mean more eyeballs will follow these matches than ever before. While this presents a great opportunity for the PCB to showcase the image and profile of women’s cricket, it is a chance for the women cricketers to demonstrate their talent and skills, and play their part in attracting, inspiring and motivating the next generation of women cricketers so that they can also fall in love with this great sport. “The three ODIs against the world champions will assist the Pakistan women’s side to access, gauge and fine-tune their ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 preparations as they aim to produce improved performances than in the past. “Like the England men’s side, I am confident the women’s tour will open up opportunities for their future tours that will further contribute in promoting women’s cricket in Pakistan and helping our national side to narrow the gap with the leading nations.” England Women vs Pakistan Women - Series schedule 14 October: 1st T20I, National Stadium, Karachi 15 October: 2nd T20I, National Stadium, Karachi 18 October: 1st ODI, National Stadium, Karachi 20 October: 2nd ODI, National Stadium, Karachi 22 October: 3rd ODI, National Stadium, Karachi

England Women to tour Pakistan for first time in October

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj on Thursday got emotional as the Indian national anthem boomed at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground ahead of the third Test. Siraj was seen wiping off his tears as both the teams lined up for their respective national anthem. After the end of day’s play, Siraj revealed why he got emotional as he said that he was missing his father, who had passed away around a week after the Indian team landed in Australia. &nbsp;

Siraj, who had the option of heading home to be with his family, stayed with the team in a bid to serve his nation, which was his father’s dream as well. Siraj, who made his debut in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, said his father always wanted me to play Test cricket and would have been proud today.&nbsp;

“I was missing my dad during the national anthem. My dad always wanted me to play Test cricket and he would have been really proud to see me in whites for India,” Siraj told reporters in a virtual press conference after the end of Day 1’s play in Sydney.&nbsp;

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Mohammed Siraj on why he got so emotional while the National Anthem was being played at the SCG.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/zo0Wc8h14A">pic.twitter.com/zo0Wc8h14A</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1347121794264678400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/labuschagne-pucovski-half-centuries-give-australia-edge-on-day-1-of-sydney-test-355087" hreflang="en">Labuschagne, Pucovski half-centuries give Australia edge on Day 1 of Sydney Test</a>

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Even if there's little or no crowd to cheer you on, no better motivation than playing for India. As a legend once said "You don't play for the crowd, you play for the country." 🇮🇳 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/qAwIyiUrSI">pic.twitter.com/qAwIyiUrSI</a>
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) <a href="https://twitter.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1346980790974877696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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I just want certain people to remember this picture. He is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SirajMohammed?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SirajMohammed</a> and this is what the national anthem means to him <a href="https://t.co/eJi9Xeww8E">pic.twitter.com/eJi9Xeww8E</a>
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadKaif/status/1347071717630377984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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India on Thursday toiled hard against Australia in what was Day 1 of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. On a flat track, the Indian bowlers kept their bowling tight but Australia ended up with 166/2 at stumps. &nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-mohammed-siraj-gets-teary-eyed-during-national-anthem-before-sydney-test-355074" hreflang="en">Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test</a>

Navdeep Saini made his Test debut for India and Siraj, who was placed at mid-on, was seen talking to the debutant despite being just one Test old. The bonding shows the unity in the Indian team.&nbsp;

“Navdeep Saini and I have played a lot for India A. I was just telling him to focus on his bowling just like India A days and bowl consistent line and lengths,” Siraj said. &nbsp;

Rishabh Pant dropped two catches, both of Will Pucovski, which proved costly as the Aussie Test debutant went on to register a half-century. However, Siraj was not focusing on dropped chances and rather said that they, as a team know how to move quickly from an incident.&nbsp;

“Dropped catches are part of cricket. Obviously, a bowler gets irked after dropped catches but we are a team and know how to move on from an incident quickly,” Siraj said.&nbsp;

When asked what will be India’s plan on Day 2 of the Sydney Test, Siraj said the bowling unit is focusing on putting pressure on the Aussies by bowling tight. &nbsp;

“We are trying to build pressure by bowling consistent line and lenghts. If we can bowl tight and build presure with dot balls then it can help us,” Siraj said.&nbsp;

The Day 2 of India vs Australia third Test will start early at 4:30 AM IST.&nbsp;

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj on Thursday got emotional as the Indian national anthem boomed at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground ahead of the third Test. Siraj was seen wiping off his tears as both the teams lined up for their respective national anthem.

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj on Thursday got emotional as the Indian national anthem boomed at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground ahead of the third Test. Siraj was seen wiping off his tears as both the teams lined up for their respective national anthem. After the end of day’s play, Siraj revealed why he got emotional as he said that he was missing his father, who had passed away around a week after the Indian team landed in Australia. Siraj, who had the option of heading home to be with his family, stayed with the team in a bid to serve his nation, which was his father’s dream as well. Siraj, who made his debut in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, said his father always wanted me to play Test cricket and would have been proud today. “I was missing my dad during the national anthem. My dad always wanted me to play Test cricket and he would have been really proud to see me in whites for India,” Siraj told reporters in a virtual press conference after the end of Day 1’s play in Sydney. Mohammed Siraj on why he got so emotional while the National Anthem was being played at the SCG.#TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zo0Wc8h14A — BCCI (@BCCI) January 7, 2021 × ALSO READ: Labuschagne, Pucovski half-centuries give Australia edge on Day 1 of Sydney Test Even if there's little or no crowd to cheer you on, no better motivation than playing for India. As a legend once said "You don't play for the crowd, you play for the country." 🇮🇳 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/qAwIyiUrSI — Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 7, 2021 × I just want certain people to remember this picture. He is #SirajMohammed and this is what the national anthem means to him pic.twitter.com/eJi9Xeww8E — Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 7, 2021 × India on Thursday toiled hard against Australia in what was Day 1 of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. On a flat track, the Indian bowlers kept their bowling tight but Australia ended up with 166/2 at stumps. ALSO READ: Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test Navdeep Saini made his Test debut for India and Siraj, who was placed at mid-on, was seen talking to the debutant despite being just one Test old. The bonding shows the unity in the Indian team. “Navdeep Saini and I have played a lot for India A. I was just telling him to focus on his bowling just like India A days and bowl consistent line and lengths,” Siraj said. Rishabh Pant dropped two catches, both of Will Pucovski, which proved costly as the Aussie Test debutant went on to register a half-century. However, Siraj was not focusing on dropped chances and rather said that they, as a team know how to move quickly from an incident. “Dropped catches are part of cricket. Obviously, a bowler gets irked after dropped catches but we are a team and know how to move on from an incident quickly,” Siraj said. When asked what will be India’s plan on Day 2 of the Sydney Test, Siraj said the bowling unit is focusing on putting pressure on the Aussies by bowling tight. “We are trying to build pressure by bowling consistent line and lenghts. If we can bowl tight and build presure with dot balls then it can help us,” Siraj said. The Day 2 of India vs Australia third Test will start early at 4:30 AM IST.

'Was missing my dad': Mohammed Siraj on getting emotional during Indian national anthem

The COVID-19 pandemic ended up putting the entire sporting world to a screeching halt. While the year 2020 was supposed to be the busiest year when it comes to sports events, players, coaches and everyone associated with sports were confined to their respective homes as almost the entire world witnessed strict lockdowns to curb the spread of the dreaded virus.&nbsp;

As dreams, aspirations and training regimes of sportspersons came to an unprecedented pause due to the pandemic, Naval Tata Hockey Academy in Odisha continued training despite various challenges.&nbsp;

The Odisha centre, which is training girls in hockey, bolstered their facilities in a bid to include both indoor and outdoor training drills as well as technical skills development alongside a special emphasis on mental and nutrition training.&nbsp;

Former Netherlands hockey player, Floris Jan Bovelander helped the Naval Tata Hockey Academy in developing the program with everyone coming together to ensure safety protocols were met during tough times.

When asked how challenging was it to train youngsters and provide them with drills during the lockdown, Bovelander said that the rural areas in Odisha, with ample spaces, helped youngsters do some physical work at home while explaining the importance of physical exercises.

<img alt="Hockey 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8b4ae352-28c1-43ad-9016-8a2e1d1728d2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Hockey%202.JPG" />

"It is important for everyone to do some physical work during the day. It not only has an impact on the body of youngsters but also for the elderly it is very important that they keep on doing physical exercises. But for the youngsters, yes definitely, it was a big shock to come into a lockdown. But what we gave the young players some physical exercises and some Hockey drills through videos by the local trainers and in the written form.

"Luckily, the girls and boys live in rural areas in Odisha so they have some space and room to do these exercises and drills at the playgrounds at home. The lockdown has definitely had a lot of impact, but to the players’ benefit, they could do some physical work at home," Bovelander told WION in an exclusive interview.

Bovelander further explained the importance of training effectively rather than spending long hours. Courtesy Bovelander, trainers from the Netherlands joined virtually and spend time with Indian trainers as they shared their knowledge about hockey.&nbsp;

<img alt="Hockey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9582c420-b6a3-414f-a26b-34fa15f9b056" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Hockey%201.JPG" />

"For me, Hockey is being together and playing together as well. Hockey is also about tactics, the game plan, and playing as a team. With a better understanding of Indian hockey, we have realized the importance of focusing on the tactics and giving the players more experience in competitive play – which are built into their training programs.

"Along with gameplay and physical fitness sessions – rest and recovery are equally important. As well as developing life skills and education. Indians tend to over train – and frankly, as compared to the Netherlands, the number&nbsp;of hours of training given to young athletes in India is very high. Better play fewer hours but these hours must be highly effective, with good passion and dedication. Good coaching for every level is essential.

"What I really liked is that we could connect to some girls and boys in rural areas via virtual modes of interactions. In the end, we managed to connect our trainers in the Netherlands with the trainers in these areas - which is kind of amazing that we have a connection between Holland and the rural areas of India," Bovelander added.

Bovelander praised infrastructure at the Naval Tata Hockey Academy in Odisha as he went through the challenges faced by everyone associated in the program during the lockdown.&nbsp;

"The good thing about the Naval Tata Hockey Academy is that the infrastructure at Kalinga stadium is designed such that the players can live in a bio bubble. Their hostel is next to the pitch and the have food prepared in the canteen, which is also within the Kalinga stadium and managed by the Tata’s so we can control the hygiene factor. So during the coronavirus period, the female players were allowed to come to Bhubaneshwar, get tested, and live in the bubble and play Hockey.

"The infrastructure in Bhubaneshwar is superb for these players we have selected. Training on the pitch and living in the stadium complex where the World Cup and all the international matches are played is very inspiring for them. You can see it their eyes and it reflects in their body language. Especially when they come here for the first time or when they are selected, they get really inspired and motivated by the infrastructure," the Olympic gold medallist said.

Young players often don't have the necessary knowledge about mental health and nutrition. As COVID-19 pandemic continues to teach humans a revamped way of living, Bovelander feels it was the perfect time to educate young athletes about the importance of nutrition and mental health.

"For our hockey program, we already have an experienced nutritionist and a mental trainer on board. The diet is prescribed by the nutritionist, after taking into consideration the individual needs based on regular health checkups and after observing the performance on the field. The nutritionist also conducts regular workshops with the cooks on the right kind of preparation needed to give required nutrition to the girls. She also conducts workshops for the girls to make them understand the importance of healthy eating habits," Neelam Babardesai – Head of Sports, Tata Trusts told WION.

"Just like we have a strength and conditioning expert - who is generally termed as a Physical trainer - one who is responsible to keep one's body fit and strong, we have a mental trainer who is responsible for the player’s mental wellbeing and improving their mental strength. Just as regular exercises and drills are required to be physically fit, it’s important to regularly do some mental exercises to improve mental strength. This is a practice which we have to inculcate from a young age. It may range from breathing techniques to yoga. We believe that if we regularly work on the mental training of the players to improve their confidence and make them more responsible for themselves, we will be able to extract better performances. A sports psychologist is generally only required at a later elite stage - when the athlete may have to address performance-related issues.

"The mental trainer conducts regular sessions with the girls in our academy to assess the personality of the children, map their fears and apprehensions and help them develop more confidence. Since our current trainer is well versed with the Odia language, it was easier for her to gain the trust and thus connect with them. With tutors helping the children to improve their learning levels, the trainer also counsels them on different career options, preparing them for a future beyond being a player," she added.

<img alt="Hockey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3f6e1da8-0ad3-4d46-a4c3-5ec8734d056f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Hockey%203.JPG" />

Setting up a programme and to carry it without a hitch amid a pandemic and lockdown has its own set of challenges.&nbsp;

"First and foremost is to find centres which have the basic infrastructure to run the programme – and then to collaborate with the local bodies to get permission to run the centres there. The centres also needed to be monitored, so the accessibility of these centres also needed to be looked at. The biggest challenge, however, is to find the right kind of coaches, locally, to teach in the programme and also to manage it. However strong a program we have, ultimately the children will improve their quality of play only if they get good coaches," Babardesai said.

"We were very clear that we wanted to give career opportunities to the erstwhile players from the region – who may or may not have played competitively – but really had a passion towards the sport. So having a strong coach development program was imperative to the success of the program. At times the local players did have the basic skills right, but the communication skills required to teach the children was what needed developing. Majority of the tribal people are very shy and soft-spoken, so we really had to work hard with them to get them to open up on the field. We also supported them with travel allowances in case they had to travel long distances to reach the centres," she added.

<img alt="Hockey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3ebd5942-f8d0-4df7-8614-02e4371f4fbf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Hockey4.JPG" />

When asked about the risks of players picking up injuries after getting less or no physical exercise during the lockdown, Babardesai said that a full-time physiotherapist helped in cutting down the number of injuries by focusing on prevention of niggles.&nbsp;

"The full-time physiotherapist not only helps post injuries but also focusses on prevention of injuries – by ensuring that their bodies are strong and that form of the exercises is correct. Based on physical tests and fitness assessments, an exercise schedule is defined detailing the kind of exercises and the repetitions along with an emphasis on the right amount of recovery. Even during the course of the pandemic, when in-person training was not possible, the children followed their exercise schedules diligently, which helped prepare the bodies correctly to resume the training without any injuries. The right kind of diet was also maintained throughout which also worked in preventing injuries and helped them get back to play," she explained.

The COVID-19 pandemic ended up putting the entire sporting world to a screeching halt. While the year 2020 was supposed to be the busiest year when it comes to sports events, players, coaches and everyone associated with sports were confined to their respective homes as almost the entire world witnessed strict lockdowns to curb the spread of the dreaded virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic ended up putting the entire sporting world to a screeching halt. While the year 2020 was supposed to be the busiest year when it comes to sports events, players, coaches and everyone associated with sports were confined to their respective homes as almost the entire world witnessed strict lockdowns to curb the spread of the dreaded virus. As dreams, aspirations and training regimes of sportspersons came to an unprecedented pause due to the pandemic, Naval Tata Hockey Academy in Odisha continued training despite various challenges. The Odisha centre, which is training girls in hockey, bolstered their facilities in a bid to include both indoor and outdoor training drills as well as technical skills development alongside a special emphasis on mental and nutrition training. Former Netherlands hockey player, Floris Jan Bovelander helped the Naval Tata Hockey Academy in developing the program with everyone coming together to ensure safety protocols were met during tough times. When asked how challenging was it to train youngsters and provide them with drills during the lockdown, Bovelander said that the rural areas in Odisha, with ample spaces, helped youngsters do some physical work at home while explaining the importance of physical exercises. "It is important for everyone to do some physical work during the day. It not only has an impact on the body of youngsters but also for the elderly it is very important that they keep on doing physical exercises. But for the youngsters, yes definitely, it was a big shock to come into a lockdown. But what we gave the young players some physical exercises and some Hockey drills through videos by the local trainers and in the written form. "Luckily, the girls and boys live in rural areas in Odisha so they have some space and room to do these exercises and drills at the playgrounds at home. The lockdown has definitely had a lot of impact, but to the players’ benefit, they could do some physical work at home," Bovelander told WION in an exclusive interview. Bovelander further explained the importance of training effectively rather than spending long hours. Courtesy Bovelander, trainers from the Netherlands joined virtually and spend time with Indian trainers as they shared their knowledge about hockey. "For me, Hockey is being together and playing together as well. Hockey is also about tactics, the game plan, and playing as a team. With a better understanding of Indian hockey, we have realized the importance of focusing on the tactics and giving the players more experience in competitive play – which are built into their training programs. "Along with gameplay and physical fitness sessions – rest and recovery are equally important. As well as developing life skills and education. Indians tend to over train – and frankly, as compared to the Netherlands, the number of hours of training given to young athletes in India is very high. Better play fewer hours but these hours must be highly effective, with good passion and dedication. Good coaching for every level is essential. "What I really liked is that we could connect to some girls and boys in rural areas via virtual modes of interactions. In the end, we managed to connect our trainers in the Netherlands with the trainers in these areas - which is kind of amazing that we have a connection between Holland and the rural areas of India," Bovelander added. Bovelander praised infrastructure at the Naval Tata Hockey Academy in Odisha as he went through the challenges faced by everyone associated in the program during the lockdown. "The good thing about the Naval Tata Hockey Academy is that the infrastructure at Kalinga stadium is designed such that the players can live in a bio bubble. Their hostel is next to the pitch and the have food prepared in the canteen, which is also within the Kalinga stadium and managed by the Tata’s so we can control the hygiene factor. So during the coronavirus period, the female players were allowed to come to Bhubaneshwar, get tested, and live in the bubble and play Hockey. "The infrastructure in Bhubaneshwar is superb for these players we have selected. Training on the pitch and living in the stadium complex where the World Cup and all the international matches are played is very inspiring for them. You can see it their eyes and it reflects in their body language. Especially when they come here for the first time or when they are selected, they get really inspired and motivated by the infrastructure," the Olympic gold medallist said. Young players often don't have the necessary knowledge about mental health and nutrition. As COVID-19 pandemic continues to teach humans a revamped way of living, Bovelander feels it was the perfect time to educate young athletes about the importance of nutrition and mental health. "For our hockey program, we already have an experienced nutritionist and a mental trainer on board. The diet is prescribed by the nutritionist, after taking into consideration the individual needs based on regular health checkups and after observing the performance on the field. The nutritionist also conducts regular workshops with the cooks on the right kind of preparation needed to give required nutrition to the girls. She also conducts workshops for the girls to make them understand the importance of healthy eating habits," Neelam Babardesai – Head of Sports, Tata Trusts told WION. "Just like we have a strength and conditioning expert - who is generally termed as a Physical trainer - one who is responsible to keep one's body fit and strong, we have a mental trainer who is responsible for the player’s mental wellbeing and improving their mental strength. Just as regular exercises and drills are required to be physically fit, it’s important to regularly do some mental exercises to improve mental strength. This is a practice which we have to inculcate from a young age. It may range from breathing techniques to yoga. We believe that if we regularly work on the mental training of the players to improve their confidence and make them more responsible for themselves, we will be able to extract better performances. A sports psychologist is generally only required at a later elite stage - when the athlete may have to address performance-related issues. "The mental trainer conducts regular sessions with the girls in our academy to assess the personality of the children, map their fears and apprehensions and help them develop more confidence. Since our current trainer is well versed with the Odia language, it was easier for her to gain the trust and thus connect with them. With tutors helping the children to improve their learning levels, the trainer also counsels them on different career options, preparing them for a future beyond being a player," she added. Setting up a programme and to carry it without a hitch amid a pandemic and lockdown has its own set of challenges. "First and foremost is to find centres which have the basic infrastructure to run the programme – and then to collaborate with the local bodies to get permission to run the centres there. The centres also needed to be monitored, so the accessibility of these centres also needed to be looked at. The biggest challenge, however, is to find the right kind of coaches, locally, to teach in the programme and also to manage it. However strong a program we have, ultimately the children will improve their quality of play only if they get good coaches," Babardesai said. "We were very clear that we wanted to give career opportunities to the erstwhile players from the region – who may or may not have played competitively – but really had a passion towards the sport. So having a strong coach development program was imperative to the success of the program. At times the local players did have the basic skills right, but the communication skills required to teach the children was what needed developing. Majority of the tribal people are very shy and soft-spoken, so we really had to work hard with them to get them to open up on the field. We also supported them with travel allowances in case they had to travel long distances to reach the centres," she added. When asked about the risks of players picking up injuries after getting less or no physical exercise during the lockdown, Babardesai said that a full-time physiotherapist helped in cutting down the number of injuries by focusing on prevention of niggles. "The full-time physiotherapist not only helps post injuries but also focusses on prevention of injuries – by ensuring that their bodies are strong and that form of the exercises is correct. Based on physical tests and fitness assessments, an exercise schedule is defined detailing the kind of exercises and the repetitions along with an emphasis on the right amount of recovery. Even during the course of the pandemic, when in-person training was not possible, the children followed their exercise schedules diligently, which helped prepare the bodies correctly to resume the training without any injuries. The right kind of diet was also maintained throughout which also worked in preventing injuries and helped them get back to play," she explained.

Floris Jan Bovelander: Trying to produce next-gen Indian hockey stars

The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and former India captain Sourav Ganguly was discharged from the Woodlands hospital in Kolkata on Thursday. Ganguly, who was admitted to the hospital after suffering a mild cardiac arrest walked out while being accompanied by his wife Dona. &nbsp;

Hundreds of youths gathered outside the hospital as Ganguly addressed the crowd by saying he is absolutely fine and will resume work soon. &nbsp;

"I am absolutely fine and hope that I will resume my work soon," the Board of Control for Cricket in India president and the former national captain told reporters.&nbsp;

"I also hope to fly soon," he added.&nbsp;

<h2>WATCH: Sourav Ganguly addresses a crowd outside the hospital after getting discharged</h2>

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | "I thank the doctors at the hospital for the treatment. I am absolutely fine," says BCCI President Sourav Ganguly after being discharged from Kolkata's Woodlands Hospital. <a href="https://t.co/BUwsz5h1FQ">pic.twitter.com/BUwsz5h1FQ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1347050802767040514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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We've got some good news. 
 
The BCCI President Mr <a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SGanguly99</a> has been discharged from the hospital in Kolkata. 
 
"I thank the doctors at the hospital for the treatment. I am absolutely fine. Hopefully, I will be ready to fly soon," he said 😊😊 <a href="https://t.co/iNkmsjdeGS">pic.twitter.com/iNkmsjdeGS</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1347062661972783105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/labuschagne-pucovski-half-centuries-give-australia-edge-on-day-1-of-sydney-test-355087" hreflang="en">Labuschagne, Pucovski half-centuries give Australia edge on Day 1 of Sydney Test</a>

Ganguly suffered a heart attack while working out in his regular gym session on Saturday and was rushed to the Woodlands hospital in Kolkata. The BCCI chief underwent an angioplasty operation. &nbsp;

"His heart today is as strong as it was when Sourav was 20 years old," cardiac surgeon Devi Shetty told reporters.&nbsp;

"Sourav can participate in a marathon, fly a plane, or even get back to cricket if he wants without this event being any setback."&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-mohammed-siraj-gets-teary-eyed-during-national-anthem-before-sydney-test-355074" hreflang="en">Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test</a>

However, Ganguly’s cardiac arrest was followed by a series of event on social media platforms as many accused an oil brand of which Ganguly is a brand ambassador of making false claims about healthy heart through a cricket icon. The oil advertisements were pulled off the air because of the incident. &nbsp;

The company said it was "a very unfortunate incident and can happen with anyone" as they confirmed a halt in the commercials.&nbsp;

Ganguly retired from Test cricket in 2008 having scored 7,212 runs including 16 centuries. He also scored 11,363 runs in 311 one-day internationals. The former Indian captain is now the president of BCCI. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and former India captain Sourav Ganguly was discharged from the Woodlands hospital in Kolkata on Thursday.

The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and former India captain Sourav Ganguly was discharged from the Woodlands hospital in Kolkata on Thursday. Ganguly, who was admitted to the hospital after suffering a mild cardiac arrest walked out while being accompanied by his wife Dona. Hundreds of youths gathered outside the hospital as Ganguly addressed the crowd by saying he is absolutely fine and will resume work soon. "I am absolutely fine and hope that I will resume my work soon," the Board of Control for Cricket in India president and the former national captain told reporters. "I also hope to fly soon," he added. WATCH: Sourav Ganguly addresses a crowd outside the hospital after getting discharged #WATCH | "I thank the doctors at the hospital for the treatment. I am absolutely fine," says BCCI President Sourav Ganguly after being discharged from Kolkata's Woodlands Hospital. pic.twitter.com/BUwsz5h1FQ — ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2021 × We've got some good news. The BCCI President Mr @SGanguly99 has been discharged from the hospital in Kolkata. "I thank the doctors at the hospital for the treatment. I am absolutely fine. Hopefully, I will be ready to fly soon," he said 😊😊 pic.twitter.com/iNkmsjdeGS — BCCI (@BCCI) January 7, 2021 × ALSO READ: Labuschagne, Pucovski half-centuries give Australia edge on Day 1 of Sydney Test Ganguly suffered a heart attack while working out in his regular gym session on Saturday and was rushed to the Woodlands hospital in Kolkata. The BCCI chief underwent an angioplasty operation. "His heart today is as strong as it was when Sourav was 20 years old," cardiac surgeon Devi Shetty told reporters. "Sourav can participate in a marathon, fly a plane, or even get back to cricket if he wants without this event being any setback." ALSO READ: Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test However, Ganguly’s cardiac arrest was followed by a series of event on social media platforms as many accused an oil brand of which Ganguly is a brand ambassador of making false claims about healthy heart through a cricket icon. The oil advertisements were pulled off the air because of the incident. The company said it was "a very unfortunate incident and can happen with anyone" as they confirmed a halt in the commercials. Ganguly retired from Test cricket in 2008 having scored 7,212 runs including 16 centuries. He also scored 11,363 runs in 311 one-day internationals. The former Indian captain is now the president of BCCI.

'I am absolutely fine': Sourav Ganguly discharged from hospital after treatment for cardiac arrest

Australia on Thursday ended Day 1 of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on high as the hosts posted 166/2 with star batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne well settled&nbsp;at the crease.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In what was a rain-hit start to the first day of the Sydney Test, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. The Sydney pitch, which has a tinge of grass, looked great for batting but also assisted the seamers early on.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Continuing his great start in the Test arena, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who made his Test debut in Melbourne,&nbsp;dismissed Aussie opener, David Warner, for five as the southpaw edged one straight to&nbsp;Cheteshwar&nbsp;Pujara in the slip cordon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-mohammed-siraj-gets-teary-eyed-during-national-anthem-before-sydney-test-355074" hreflang="en">Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test</a>

However, as the pitch settled, it became easier for the batsmen with debutant Will&nbsp;Pucovski&nbsp;and Marnus Labuschagne stitching a 100-run stand for the hosts. While&nbsp;Pucovski&nbsp;was dropped twice by Rishabh Pant, the elegant batsman went on to register his maiden half-century to become the 82nd&nbsp;Australian to score a fifty in Test debut. The youngster was trapped plumb by another debutant Navdeep Saini as the quick, angled-in delivery did the job for the visitors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Steve Smith, who is going through a lean patch, played with intent and ended the day on 31 with Labuschagne scoring an unbeaten 67 to end the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-have-to-look-at-his-record-tom-moody-on-steve-smith-bouncing-back-in-form-354910" hreflang="en">'You have to look at his record': Tom Moody on Steve Smith bouncing back in form</a>

Indian bowlers bowled well but the dropped catches and a flat and&nbsp;slowish&nbsp;Sydney track didn’t help their case much.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I'm good, nice to spend a bit of time out there, nice to stitch in a partnership with Marnus. I wanted to put him (Ashwin) under a little bit of pressure which I haven't done this series. Was just trying to hold the grip a bit tighter, I've been struggling, so I was getting into good positions today. Was good to get a couple of boundaries early. Marnus played well, hopefully, we go along well tomorrow,” said Smith at the end of Day 1 in Sydney.&nbsp;

With an early start set for Friday, India would be looking to pick some quick wickets and put pressure on the Aussies. Whereas Australia would be hoping that Smith and Labuschagne&nbsp;register a big partnership.&nbsp;

Australia on Thursday ended Day 1 of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on high as the hosts posted 166/2 with star batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne well settled at the crease.

Australia on Thursday ended Day 1 of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on high as the hosts posted 166/2 with star batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne well settled at the crease. In what was a rain-hit start to the first day of the Sydney Test, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. The Sydney pitch, which has a tinge of grass, looked great for batting but also assisted the seamers early on. Continuing his great start in the Test arena, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who made his Test debut in Melbourne, dismissed Aussie opener, David Warner, for five as the southpaw edged one straight to Cheteshwar Pujara in the slip cordon. ALSO READ: Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test However, as the pitch settled, it became easier for the batsmen with debutant Will Pucovski and Marnus Labuschagne stitching a 100-run stand for the hosts. While Pucovski was dropped twice by Rishabh Pant, the elegant batsman went on to register his maiden half-century to become the 82nd Australian to score a fifty in Test debut. The youngster was trapped plumb by another debutant Navdeep Saini as the quick, angled-in delivery did the job for the visitors. Steve Smith, who is going through a lean patch, played with intent and ended the day on 31 with Labuschagne scoring an unbeaten 67 to end the day. ALSO READ: 'You have to look at his record': Tom Moody on Steve Smith bouncing back in form Indian bowlers bowled well but the dropped catches and a flat and slowish Sydney track didn’t help their case much. “I'm good, nice to spend a bit of time out there, nice to stitch in a partnership with Marnus. I wanted to put him (Ashwin) under a little bit of pressure which I haven't done this series. Was just trying to hold the grip a bit tighter, I've been struggling, so I was getting into good positions today. Was good to get a couple of boundaries early. Marnus played well, hopefully, we go along well tomorrow,” said Smith at the end of Day 1 in Sydney. With an early start set for Friday, India would be looking to pick some quick wickets and put pressure on the Aussies. Whereas Australia would be hoping that Smith and Labuschagne register a big partnership.

Labuschagne, Pucovski half-centuries give Australia edge on Day 1 of Sydney Test

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