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.

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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

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj on Thursday got emotional and teary-eyed when the Indian national anthem was being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground before the start of third Test’s play. Siraj, who made his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, was seen wiping his tears rolling down his face. Whereas Jasprit Bumrah was seen trying to lighten him up in what was a heartfelt moment. &nbsp;

Siraj, who lost his father around a week after Team India landed in Australia for the gruelling tour, has had a brilliant start to his Test career as he picked up five wickets in his debut match. And on Day 1 of the Sydney Test, Siraj dismissed star opener, David Warner, for cheap as he forced the Aussie opener to edge one to Cheteshwar Pujara in the slip cordon.&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>

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Playing a Test match is the pinnacle of this sport... 
 
Mohammed Siraj had to wipe away tears during the national anthem 🇮🇳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/J5z1FHDtmp">pic.twitter.com/J5z1FHDtmp</a>
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Mohammad Siraj wiping tears away during the national anthem ❤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/Az78qumI6L">pic.twitter.com/Az78qumI6L</a>
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Siraj is living his Dream. Took a wicket like Warner in different circumstances is not an easy task.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvsIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvsIND</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/siraj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#siraj</a> <a href="https://t.co/6deNEV4ONO">pic.twitter.com/6deNEV4ONO</a>
— Sujal Jaiswal (@sujal_jaiswal16) <a href="https://twitter.com/sujal_jaiswal16/status/1347014047808458754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Mohammed Siraj In Tears While Singing Indian National Anthem <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mohammadsiraj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mohammadsiraj</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianCricketTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianCricketTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/xgJihOsI8k">pic.twitter.com/xgJihOsI8k</a> <a href="https://t.co/MMozz09VPA">pic.twitter.com/MMozz09VPA</a>
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With his superb debut, Siraj became the first Indian debutant to pick five wickets in a Test match as he ended with a match haul of five wickets for 77 runs.&nbsp;

Mohammed Shami was the last Indian bowler to pick at least five wickets in Test debut in November 2013. Shami achieved the feat against West Indies in Kolkata.&nbsp;

This is not the first time Siraj got emotional during the Indian national anthem while representing India. Siraj was also seen getting emotional when he made his T20I debut for India against New Zealand in Rajkot in the year 2017. Siraj replaced Ashish Nehra in the playing XI and the youngster was seen wiping off his tears at the end of the national anthem.&nbsp;

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj on Thursday got emotional and teary-eyed when the Indian national anthem was being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground before the start of third Test’s play.

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj on Thursday got emotional and teary-eyed when the Indian national anthem was being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground before the start of third Test’s play. Siraj, who made his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, was seen wiping his tears rolling down his face. Whereas Jasprit Bumrah was seen trying to lighten him up in what was a heartfelt moment. Siraj, who lost his father around a week after Team India landed in Australia for the gruelling tour, has had a brilliant start to his Test career as he picked up five wickets in his debut match. And on Day 1 of the Sydney Test, Siraj dismissed star opener, David Warner, for cheap as he forced the Aussie opener to edge one to Cheteshwar Pujara in the slip cordon. ALSO READ: 'You have to look at his record': Tom Moody on Steve Smith bouncing back in form Playing a Test match is the pinnacle of this sport... Mohammed Siraj had to wipe away tears during the national anthem 🇮🇳#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/J5z1FHDtmp — Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) January 6, 2021 × Mohammad Siraj wiping tears away during the national anthem ❤#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Az78qumI6L — Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) January 7, 2021 × Siraj is living his Dream. Took a wicket like Warner in different circumstances is not an easy task.#AUSvsIND #siraj pic.twitter.com/6deNEV4ONO — Sujal Jaiswal (@sujal_jaiswal16) January 7, 2021 × Mohammed Siraj In Tears While Singing Indian National Anthem #AUSvIND #mohammadsiraj #TeamIndia #IndianCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/xgJihOsI8k pic.twitter.com/MMozz09VPA — iamfarhanqkhan007 (@iamfrhanqkhan21) January 7, 2021 × ALSO READ: Virat Kohli's captaincy feats against Australia unlikely to be emulated soon: Ravi Shastri With his superb debut, Siraj became the first Indian debutant to pick five wickets in a Test match as he ended with a match haul of five wickets for 77 runs. Mohammed Shami was the last Indian bowler to pick at least five wickets in Test debut in November 2013. Shami achieved the feat against West Indies in Kolkata. This is not the first time Siraj got emotional during the Indian national anthem while representing India. Siraj was also seen getting emotional when he made his T20I debut for India against New Zealand in Rajkot in the year 2017. Siraj replaced Ashish Nehra in the playing XI and the youngster was seen wiping off his tears at the end of the national anthem.

Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the playing XI for the third Test against Australia, scheduled to start from January 7 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. Mayank Agarwal has been dropped from the side with Rohit Sharma replacing the opener in the playing XI. Whereas pacer Navdeep Saini has been handed Test debut as he replaces an injured Umesh Yadav in the side.

<h2>Team India XI vs Australia for Sydney Test:&nbsp;</h2>

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja,&nbsp;Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini

Mayank Agarwal, who has looked out of form, has been replaced by veteran Rohit as he takes the place in the playing XI. Rohit will also be deputy to captain Rahane for the remaining two Test matches. Navdeep Saini, who has had a tremendous rise in world cricket, gets his Test debut in Sydney after impressing for India in the limited-overs format.

Umesh Yadav, who was ruled out of the Test series due to calf injury, was replaced by Saini in the line-up.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/icc-announces-decade-awards-from-kohli-smith-to-perry-heres-complete-list-of-winners-352996" hreflang="en">ICC announces Decade Awards: From Kohli, Smith to Perry - Here's complete list of winners</a>

"It's unfortunate that Umesh got injured, we will surely miss him and Shami. But this gives an opportunity to others. I'm really happy the way Siraj stood up in the last game," said Rahane in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

"We're all happy to have Rohit Sharma back. He brings a lot of experience to the side. He has been batting really well in the nets. He has been opening for us so he will definitely bat at the top of the order," the Indian captain added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-india-boxing-day-test-declared-possible-covid-hotspot-354763" hreflang="en">Australia-India Boxing Day Test declared possible Covid hotspot</a>

Interestingly, India will go with their third new opening pair for the Sydney Test. India opened with Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal in Adelaide, they went with Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal in Melbourne. Now, the visitors have decided to pair Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the XI.&nbsp;

India, after losing the Adelaide Test, bounced back strong in the series by winning the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by eight wickets. While India don't have a strong record in Sydney, they have come agonisingly close of winning Test matches in Sydney, only to lose out of the win by narrow margins - the latest being in 2019.

&nbsp;

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the playing XI for the third Test against Australia, scheduled to start from January 7 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the playing XI for the third Test against Australia, scheduled to start from January 7 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. Mayank Agarwal has been dropped from the side with Rohit Sharma replacing the opener in the playing XI. Whereas pacer Navdeep Saini has been handed Test debut as he replaces an injured Umesh Yadav in the side. Team India XI vs Australia for Sydney Test: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini Mayank Agarwal, who has looked out of form, has been replaced by veteran Rohit as he takes the place in the playing XI. Rohit will also be deputy to captain Rahane for the remaining two Test matches. Navdeep Saini, who has had a tremendous rise in world cricket, gets his Test debut in Sydney after impressing for India in the limited-overs format. Umesh Yadav, who was ruled out of the Test series due to calf injury, was replaced by Saini in the line-up. ALSO READ: ICC announces Decade Awards: From Kohli, Smith to Perry - Here's complete list of winners "It's unfortunate that Umesh got injured, we will surely miss him and Shami. But this gives an opportunity to others. I'm really happy the way Siraj stood up in the last game," said Rahane in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "We're all happy to have Rohit Sharma back. He brings a lot of experience to the side. He has been batting really well in the nets. He has been opening for us so he will definitely bat at the top of the order," the Indian captain added. ALSO READ: Australia-India Boxing Day Test declared possible Covid hotspot Interestingly, India will go with their third new opening pair for the Sydney Test. India opened with Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal in Adelaide, they went with Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal in Melbourne. Now, the visitors have decided to pair Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the XI. India, after losing the Adelaide Test, bounced back strong in the series by winning the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by eight wickets. While India don't have a strong record in Sydney, they have come agonisingly close of winning Test matches in Sydney, only to lose out of the win by narrow margins - the latest being in 2019.

India announce playing XI for Sydney Test vs Australia; Rohit Sharma, Navdeep Saini start

Jose Mourinho urged Tottenham to kick on after Son Heung-min fired them into the League Cup final with the decisive goal in a 2-0 win against Brentford on Tuesday.

Moussa Sissoko put Mourinho's team ahead in the semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But Tottenham were still searching for the knockout blow against spirited second tier Brentford until Son netted with 20 minutes remaining.

Tottenham will face Manchester United or holders Manchester City, who meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday, at Wembley on April 25.

It will be the club's first domestic final since losing the 2015 League Cup showpiece against Chelsea, and their first final in any competition since the 2019 Champions League defeat against Liverpool in Madrid.

"The final is now in a pocket for three months, we have to wait for the final so we have to focus on what we have coming up," Mourinho said.

"We have the FA Cup, the Premier League, the Europa league, so let's forget the final for now. But when April arrives we have to be ready and to fight for the trophy."

Mourinho, appointed in November 2019, is hoping to lead Tottenham to their first major trophy since the 2008 League Cup.

He has already won the competition four times, landing his first silverware in English football in 2005 with Chelsea, where he won it twice more before a further success at Manchester United in 2017.

Mourinho is the third manager to reach a League Cup final with three different clubs, following Ron Atkinson and Ron Saunders.

"This is a game that takes us to a final. Of course we are very, very happy with this," Mourinho said.

"We didn't play brilliantly, sometimes wrong decisions, sometimes one more touch, not with that soft control that allows you to play fast but the game is always under control against a team that will probably be in the Premier League next year."

The Tottenham boss had labelled Brentford's visit to north London as the biggest game of his reign, so it was no surprise he picked Son and Harry Kane in a team featuring five changes from Saturday's Premier League win over Leeds.

<h2>- Crucial moment -</h2>

Brentford, fourth in the Championship, had already beaten four Premier League clubs in Southampton, Newcastle, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion to reach their first domestic cup semi-final.

But Tottenham needed just 12 minutes to take the lead as Sergio Reguilon's pin-point cross from the left evaded Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock and found Sissoko, who finished his burst into the six-yard box with a powerful header into the top corner.

It was the French midfielder's first goal since December 2019, ending a barren run that had stretched to 36 matches.

Tottenham pressed hard for a second goal and Son's long-range drive forced a good save from David Raya, who had to stretch to tip away Lucas Moura's deflected header just before half-time.

Son flashed a volley just wide from Sissoko's cross, but Tottenham escaped in the 63rd minute when Ivan Toney's equaliser was disallowed by VAR.

When Pinnock's header was clawed away by Hugo Lloris, Toney stabbed in the rebound from close-range, only for the Brentford striker's celebrations to be curtailed when his knee was seen to be in an offside position.

That tight decision proved the crucial moment as Son struck in the 70th minute.

Kane fed Tanguy Ndombele and the midfielder's defence-splitting pass teed up Son, who fired high into the roof of the net for his 16th goal of the season.

Brentford's Josh Dasilva was sent off in the 84th minute for a studs-up foul on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg that left the furious Tottenham midfielder with blood running down his shin.

Jose Mourinho urged Tottenham to kick on after Son Heung-min fired them into the League Cup final with the decisive goal in a 2-0 win against Brentford on Tuesday.

Jose Mourinho urged Tottenham to kick on after Son Heung-min fired them into the League Cup final with the decisive goal in a 2-0 win against Brentford on Tuesday. Moussa Sissoko put Mourinho's team ahead in the semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But Tottenham were still searching for the knockout blow against spirited second tier Brentford until Son netted with 20 minutes remaining. Tottenham will face Manchester United or holders Manchester City, who meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday, at Wembley on April 25. It will be the club's first domestic final since losing the 2015 League Cup showpiece against Chelsea, and their first final in any competition since the 2019 Champions League defeat against Liverpool in Madrid. "The final is now in a pocket for three months, we have to wait for the final so we have to focus on what we have coming up," Mourinho said. "We have the FA Cup, the Premier League, the Europa league, so let's forget the final for now. But when April arrives we have to be ready and to fight for the trophy." Mourinho, appointed in November 2019, is hoping to lead Tottenham to their first major trophy since the 2008 League Cup. He has already won the competition four times, landing his first silverware in English football in 2005 with Chelsea, where he won it twice more before a further success at Manchester United in 2017. Mourinho is the third manager to reach a League Cup final with three different clubs, following Ron Atkinson and Ron Saunders. "This is a game that takes us to a final. Of course we are very, very happy with this," Mourinho said. "We didn't play brilliantly, sometimes wrong decisions, sometimes one more touch, not with that soft control that allows you to play fast but the game is always under control against a team that will probably be in the Premier League next year." The Tottenham boss had labelled Brentford's visit to north London as the biggest game of his reign, so it was no surprise he picked Son and Harry Kane in a team featuring five changes from Saturday's Premier League win over Leeds. - Crucial moment - Brentford, fourth in the Championship, had already beaten four Premier League clubs in Southampton, Newcastle, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion to reach their first domestic cup semi-final. But Tottenham needed just 12 minutes to take the lead as Sergio Reguilon's pin-point cross from the left evaded Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock and found Sissoko, who finished his burst into the six-yard box with a powerful header into the top corner. It was the French midfielder's first goal since December 2019, ending a barren run that had stretched to 36 matches. Tottenham pressed hard for a second goal and Son's long-range drive forced a good save from David Raya, who had to stretch to tip away Lucas Moura's deflected header just before half-time. Son flashed a volley just wide from Sissoko's cross, but Tottenham escaped in the 63rd minute when Ivan Toney's equaliser was disallowed by VAR. When Pinnock's header was clawed away by Hugo Lloris, Toney stabbed in the rebound from close-range, only for the Brentford striker's celebrations to be curtailed when his knee was seen to be in an offside position. That tight decision proved the crucial moment as Son struck in the 70th minute. Kane fed Tanguy Ndombele and the midfielder's defence-splitting pass teed up Son, who fired high into the roof of the net for his 16th goal of the season. Brentford's Josh Dasilva was sent off in the 84th minute for a studs-up foul on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg that left the furious Tottenham midfielder with blood running down his shin.

Son, Sissoko send Spurs into League Cup final

Former Manchester City and England midfielder Colin Bell has died aged 74 following a short illness, the club announced Tuesday.

Bell scored 152 goals in 492 appearances for City during a 13-year career with the club after joining from Bury.

"Colin passed away peacefully this (Tuesday) afternoon after a short, non-Covid related illness, aged 74," said a club statement.

"He leaves behind wife Marie, children Jon and Dawn and grandchildren, Luke, Mark, Isla and Jack."

Bell was a member of the City side that won the old First Division title in 1967/68 and the FA Cup in 1969.

He also helped City win two trophies in the 1969/70 season -- the English League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

In addition to his City honours, Bell won 48 England caps and was in the squad for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico during a career cut short by a knee injury.

City said "few players have left such an indelible mark" on the club as Bell, nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" after one of the terraces at their former Maine Road home.

Such was the respect in which Bell was held at the club that City fans voted to name a stand at the Etihad Stadium after him in 2004.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak told the club's website: "Colin Bell will always be remembered as one of Manchester City's greatest players and the very sad news today of his passing will affect everybody connected to our club.

"I am fortunate to be able to speak regularly to his former manager and team-mates, and it's clear to me that Colin was a player held in the highest regard by all those who had the privilege of playing alongside him or seeing him play.

"The passage of time does little to erase the memories of his genius."

Meanwhile, his former City team-mate Mike Summerbee paid tribute to "a lovely, humble man".

"He was quiet, unassuming and I always believe he never knew how good he actually was," Summerbee told the club's website.

"He was just the greatest footballer we have ever had.

"Kevin De Bruyne reminds me a lot of Colin in the way he plays and the way he is as a person."

Former England international Summerbee added: "He was adored by the City fans and for our supporters to say he is the best they have ever seen, you don't get a better compliment than that, do you?"

Former Manchester City and England midfielder Colin Bell has died aged 74 following a short illness, the club announced Tuesday. Bell scored 152 goals in 492 appearances for City during a 13-year career with the club after joining from Bury.

Former Manchester City and England midfielder Colin Bell has died aged 74 following a short illness, the club announced Tuesday. Bell scored 152 goals in 492 appearances for City during a 13-year career with the club after joining from Bury. "Colin passed away peacefully this (Tuesday) afternoon after a short, non-Covid related illness, aged 74," said a club statement. "He leaves behind wife Marie, children Jon and Dawn and grandchildren, Luke, Mark, Isla and Jack." Bell was a member of the City side that won the old First Division title in 1967/68 and the FA Cup in 1969. He also helped City win two trophies in the 1969/70 season -- the English League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. In addition to his City honours, Bell won 48 England caps and was in the squad for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico during a career cut short by a knee injury. City said "few players have left such an indelible mark" on the club as Bell, nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" after one of the terraces at their former Maine Road home. Such was the respect in which Bell was held at the club that City fans voted to name a stand at the Etihad Stadium after him in 2004. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak told the club's website: "Colin Bell will always be remembered as one of Manchester City's greatest players and the very sad news today of his passing will affect everybody connected to our club. "I am fortunate to be able to speak regularly to his former manager and team-mates, and it's clear to me that Colin was a player held in the highest regard by all those who had the privilege of playing alongside him or seeing him play. "The passage of time does little to erase the memories of his genius." Meanwhile, his former City team-mate Mike Summerbee paid tribute to "a lovely, humble man". "He was quiet, unassuming and I always believe he never knew how good he actually was," Summerbee told the club's website. "He was just the greatest footballer we have ever had. "Kevin De Bruyne reminds me a lot of Colin in the way he plays and the way he is as a person." Former England international Summerbee added: "He was adored by the City fans and for our supporters to say he is the best they have ever seen, you don't get a better compliment than that, do you?"

Manchester City great Bell dies aged 74

A spectator at Australia's showpiece Boxing Day Test against India has tested positive for coronavirus, authorities said Wednesday, warning fans seated nearby that they must get tested and isolate.&nbsp;

State health authorities said the man in his thirties was not infectious while at the famed Melbourne Cricket Ground on the second day of play "but there is potential he acquired the virus while there" or at a nearby shopping centre.&nbsp;

"The MCG is being investigated as a potential source for the infection," Victoria's Department of Health said.

"We're encouraging anyone who was in The Great Southern Stand, zone 5 of the MCG between 12.30pm and 3.30pm on 27 December, to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result."&nbsp;

The Boxing Day Test is a centrepiece of Australia's sporting calendar and just under 30,000 people attended this year, well short of capacity. &nbsp;

Despite having been largely free of Covid-19, Australia is currently battling to bring a cluster of cases under control and hoping aggressive testing and contact tracing can help avoid full-scale lockdowns.&nbsp;

The news comes on the eve of the third Test between Australia and India, which has caused some controversy by being played in Sydney, the epicentre of a recent outbreak.

The number of spectators has been restricted to 25 percent of seating capacity in order to make sure it does not become a mass spreading event.&nbsp;

Authorities in New South Wales said the revelation from Melbourne was "obviously influencing our thinking" about how the Sydney Test would proceed, without elaborating.

India's tour Down Under has been beset with Covid-19 related problems.&nbsp;

Five players were criticised for seemingly breaching the team's biosecurity bubble by going out to a restaurant.&nbsp;

And there are still questions about whether the two teams will have to quarantine before the final Test in Brisbane next week.&nbsp;

A spectator at Australia's showpiece Boxing Day Test against India has tested positive for coronavirus, authorities said Wednesday, warning fans seated nearby that they must get tested and isolate.

A spectator at Australia's showpiece Boxing Day Test against India has tested positive for coronavirus, authorities said Wednesday, warning fans seated nearby that they must get tested and isolate. State health authorities said the man in his thirties was not infectious while at the famed Melbourne Cricket Ground on the second day of play "but there is potential he acquired the virus while there" or at a nearby shopping centre. "The MCG is being investigated as a potential source for the infection," Victoria's Department of Health said. "We're encouraging anyone who was in The Great Southern Stand, zone 5 of the MCG between 12.30pm and 3.30pm on 27 December, to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result." The Boxing Day Test is a centrepiece of Australia's sporting calendar and just under 30,000 people attended this year, well short of capacity. Despite having been largely free of Covid-19, Australia is currently battling to bring a cluster of cases under control and hoping aggressive testing and contact tracing can help avoid full-scale lockdowns. The news comes on the eve of the third Test between Australia and India, which has caused some controversy by being played in Sydney, the epicentre of a recent outbreak. The number of spectators has been restricted to 25 percent of seating capacity in order to make sure it does not become a mass spreading event. Authorities in New South Wales said the revelation from Melbourne was "obviously influencing our thinking" about how the Sydney Test would proceed, without elaborating. India's tour Down Under has been beset with Covid-19 related problems. Five players were criticised for seemingly breaching the team's biosecurity bubble by going out to a restaurant. And there are still questions about whether the two teams will have to quarantine before the final Test in Brisbane next week.

Australia-India Boxing Day Test declared possible Covid hotspot

Towering paceman Kyle Jamieson completed an 11-wicket match haul Wednesday as New Zealand thrashed Pakistan in the second Test to become the world's top-ranked team.&nbsp;

Jamieson was near unplayable in Pakistan's second innings, finishing with six for 48 after his five for 69 in the first innings, to give New Zealand victory by an innings and 176 runs.

The win inside four days in Christchurch, which completed a 2-0 series sweep, also confirmed New Zealand had overtaken Australia to be the world's number one Test side for the first time.

"It's hard to beat really," said victorious captain Kane Williamson, whose double century set up the win.

New Zealand batted Pakistan out of contention with a first innings 659 for six, with Williamson's masterful 238 supported by Henry Nicholls (157) and Daryl Mitchell (102 not out).

But there was still a chance Pakistan could force a draw until Jamieson took the ball.

"The most impressive thing is his attitude, his ability to run in and hit the wicket hard for long spells," Williamson said.

In his sixth Test after making his debut against India 10 months ago, Jamieson has taken 36 wickets at&nbsp;a stunning 13.27 average and with four five-wicket hauls to his credit. But he said he's far from being the finished product.

"I'm a long way off the cricketer that I want to be," he said after his man-of-the match performance.

"I'm 12 months into my international career and it's a long process and hopefully I've got another nine-10 years in this group and if that happens I've got more to come."

Pakistan captain Mohammed Rizwan was disappointed with his side's fielding and multiple dropped catches. But he said their biggest problem was Jamieson.

"He's the only difference between both teams. The conditions were fair to bowlers but the way he bowled he took too many wickets in the series," Rizwan said.

"We need to improve in all departments, especially in fielding. If you drop catches you can't win a Test match."

<h2>- Extra bounce -</h2>

Pakistan resumed the day at eight for one, needing to bat for the better part of two days to salvage a draw, but they were never in the hunt.

Trent Boult had nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas out for three in the fifth over and after that the day was mainly about Jamieson, who recorded his best match performance.

Although he is the junior member of a pace attack headed by higher-ranked veterans Tim Southee and Boult, the 26-year-old has rapidly advanced to playing a senior role.&nbsp;

After Abbas departed, Abid Ali and Azhar Ali looked to be laying the groundwork for a solid third-wicket stand and moved the score to 46 when the 2.3 metre (6ft 8in) Jamieson removed Abid for 26.

After using his height to create extra bounce and force Abid on to the back foot, Jamieson whipped up a fuller delivery and the batsman's attempt to switch to a drive was sliced to backward point where substitute Will Young took a one-handed, diving catch.

In a potent middle session, Jamieson had Haris Sohail and Azhar caught behind, and bowled Rizwan as he moved through his repertoire.&nbsp;

Sohail did not get his feet moving as he poked at a rising delivery on 15 and was caught behind.

Azhar attempted to take the fight back to Jamieson, moving into a short delivery and pulling it through mid-on for four as he advanced to 37.&nbsp;

But Azhar did not add another run as Jamieson responded with a ball that reared up towards the ribs and it was gloved to the wicketkeeper.&nbsp;

Rizwan was bowled for 10 by a full inswinger that zipped between bat and pad.&nbsp;

Boult completed the four-wicket session when he dismissed Fawad Alam for 16 and Pakistan were 134 for seven at tea.

Jamieson, Boult and Williamson shared the final three wickets.

Towering paceman Kyle Jamieson completed an 11-wicket match haul Wednesday as New Zealand thrashed Pakistan in the second Test to become the world's top-ranked team.

Towering paceman Kyle Jamieson completed an 11-wicket match haul Wednesday as New Zealand thrashed Pakistan in the second Test to become the world's top-ranked team. Jamieson was near unplayable in Pakistan's second innings, finishing with six for 48 after his five for 69 in the first innings, to give New Zealand victory by an innings and 176 runs. The win inside four days in Christchurch, which completed a 2-0 series sweep, also confirmed New Zealand had overtaken Australia to be the world's number one Test side for the first time. "It's hard to beat really," said victorious captain Kane Williamson, whose double century set up the win. New Zealand batted Pakistan out of contention with a first innings 659 for six, with Williamson's masterful 238 supported by Henry Nicholls (157) and Daryl Mitchell (102 not out). But there was still a chance Pakistan could force a draw until Jamieson took the ball. "The most impressive thing is his attitude, his ability to run in and hit the wicket hard for long spells," Williamson said. In his sixth Test after making his debut against India 10 months ago, Jamieson has taken 36 wickets at a stunning 13.27 average and with four five-wicket hauls to his credit. But he said he's far from being the finished product. "I'm a long way off the cricketer that I want to be," he said after his man-of-the match performance. "I'm 12 months into my international career and it's a long process and hopefully I've got another nine-10 years in this group and if that happens I've got more to come." Pakistan captain Mohammed Rizwan was disappointed with his side's fielding and multiple dropped catches. But he said their biggest problem was Jamieson. "He's the only difference between both teams. The conditions were fair to bowlers but the way he bowled he took too many wickets in the series," Rizwan said. "We need to improve in all departments, especially in fielding. If you drop catches you can't win a Test match." - Extra bounce - Pakistan resumed the day at eight for one, needing to bat for the better part of two days to salvage a draw, but they were never in the hunt. Trent Boult had nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas out for three in the fifth over and after that the day was mainly about Jamieson, who recorded his best match performance. Although he is the junior member of a pace attack headed by higher-ranked veterans Tim Southee and Boult, the 26-year-old has rapidly advanced to playing a senior role. After Abbas departed, Abid Ali and Azhar Ali looked to be laying the groundwork for a solid third-wicket stand and moved the score to 46 when the 2.3 metre (6ft 8in) Jamieson removed Abid for 26. After using his height to create extra bounce and force Abid on to the back foot, Jamieson whipped up a fuller delivery and the batsman's attempt to switch to a drive was sliced to backward point where substitute Will Young took a one-handed, diving catch. In a potent middle session, Jamieson had Haris Sohail and Azhar caught behind, and bowled Rizwan as he moved through his repertoire. Sohail did not get his feet moving as he poked at a rising delivery on 15 and was caught behind. Azhar attempted to take the fight back to Jamieson, moving into a short delivery and pulling it through mid-on for four as he advanced to 37. But Azhar did not add another run as Jamieson responded with a ball that reared up towards the ribs and it was gloved to the wicketkeeper. Rizwan was bowled for 10 by a full inswinger that zipped between bat and pad. Boult completed the four-wicket session when he dismissed Fawad Alam for 16 and Pakistan were 134 for seven at tea. Jamieson, Boult and Williamson shared the final three wickets.

Jamieson's first 11 humbles Pakistan as New Zealand hit number one

Pakistan suffered yet another away series defeat as New Zealand thrashed them 2-0 to complete a whitewash. The Kiwis won the second Test by an innings and 176 runs to inflict yet another heavy defeat to Pakistan.&nbsp;

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, who had earlier taken a jibe at the team for playing 'School Level Cricket', ripped into the Mohammad Rizwan-led side as he said if Pakistan continue&nbsp;to play such cricket then other teams will stop visiting inviting them for Test matches.&nbsp;

Akhtar has been pretty vocal about Pakistan and world cricket, and after the crushing defeat in Christchurch, the Rawalpindi Express questioned the defensive mind-set of the team while further asking who will take accountability for the team selection.

"Pakistan team will always perform badly when they travel abroad. They will get exposed. The question is if the Cricket Board or the media is responsible for Pakistan team's demolition? Or our selection? Or the mindset that has been going on since 2005 of playing defensively?," Akhtar said in a YouTube video.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohlis-captaincy-feats-against-australia-unlikely-to-be-emulated-soon-ravi-shastri-354856" hreflang="en">Virat Kohli's captaincy feats against Australia unlikely to be emulated soon: Ravi Shastri</a>

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Pakistan folded for a paltry 297 and 186 in first two innings respectively in response to &nbsp;New Zealand's 659/9 (decl). After was a humiliating defeat for Pakistan, Akhtar said that teams will stop inviting Pakistan for Test series due to the standards being not good.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jamiesons-first-11-humbles-pakistan-as-new-zealand-hit-number-one-354762" hreflang="en">Jamieson's first 11 humbles Pakistan as New Zealand hit number one</a>

"We are going towards a disastrous situation here where we fall down to No.8 in the rankings. I fear the world might stop inviting Pakistan for Test matches. They will say our standards are not good. This is the law of the ICC," Akhtar added.&nbsp;

Pakistan suffered yet another away series defeat as New Zealand thrashed them 2-0 to complete a whitewash. The Kiwis won the second Test by an innings and 176 runs to inflict yet another heavy defeat to Pakistan.

Pakistan suffered yet another away series defeat as New Zealand thrashed them 2-0 to complete a whitewash. The Kiwis won the second Test by an innings and 176 runs to inflict yet another heavy defeat to Pakistan. Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, who had earlier taken a jibe at the team for playing 'School Level Cricket', ripped into the Mohammad Rizwan-led side as he said if Pakistan continue to play such cricket then other teams will stop visiting inviting them for Test matches. Akhtar has been pretty vocal about Pakistan and world cricket, and after the crushing defeat in Christchurch, the Rawalpindi Express questioned the defensive mind-set of the team while further asking who will take accountability for the team selection. "Pakistan team will always perform badly when they travel abroad. They will get exposed. The question is if the Cricket Board or the media is responsible for Pakistan team's demolition? Or our selection? Or the mindset that has been going on since 2005 of playing defensively?," Akhtar said in a YouTube video. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli's captaincy feats against Australia unlikely to be emulated soon: Ravi Shastri × Pakistan folded for a paltry 297 and 186 in first two innings respectively in response to New Zealand's 659/9 (decl). After was a humiliating defeat for Pakistan, Akhtar said that teams will stop inviting Pakistan for Test series due to the standards being not good. ALSO READ: Jamieson's first 11 humbles Pakistan as New Zealand hit number one "We are going towards a disastrous situation here where we fall down to No.8 in the rankings. I fear the world might stop inviting Pakistan for Test matches. They will say our standards are not good. This is the law of the ICC," Akhtar added.

World might stop inviting Pakistan for Test matches: Shoaib Akhtar after 2-0 whitewash against New Zealand

The Indian cricket team is looking to win back-to-back Test series on Australian soil with the four-Test series against Australia firmly locked at 1-1. India, in the 2018/19 tour of Australia, became the first Asian side to defeat Australia in Australia as the Virat Kohli-led visitors won the series 2-1. In 2016/17, when Australia visited India, the hosts won the series 2-1.

The head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri has said that he can't see the feat of winning against Australia, both at home and away, by the Indian team led by Kohli emulated by any other Indian captain for a very long time.&nbsp;

India defeated Australia 2-1 after terrific batting display by the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara whereas Kohli led the side with passion and aggression to match the Aussie side on their home soil.

"The satisfaction gained in registering India's first series win in Australia after 71 years of heartbreak was immense," Shastri says in the book 'India's 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia' which is the latest in a series of publications from the Bradman Museum.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-fan-who-attended-the-ind-vs-aus-boxing-day-test-at-mcg-tests-positive-for-covid-19-354850" hreflang="en">A fan who attended the IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test at MCG, tests positive for COVID-19</a>

"I can't see Virat's feat of winning against Australia both at home and away being emulated by another Indian captain for a very long time.

"The great thing about success in Australia is that it doesn't come easily.

Shastri added that sportspersons command respect when they win the hard away while adding this is why this Indian team commands respect from the Aussies after humbling them with fast-bowling resources.

"As a professional sportsperson, you know that when you win the hard way, you command respect.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-ind-tensions-broil-over-team-india-brisbane-boycott-reports-354805" hreflang="en">AUS vs IND: Tensions broil over Team India Brisbane boycott reports</a>

"Indian teams have done well in Australia since the turn of the (21st) century, but didn't have the depth of fast-bowling resources.

"That's why this Indian team commanded respect from the hard-to-please Aussies like few others in the past."

India and Australia are set to lock horns in the third Test in Sydney, scheduled to start from January 7.

The Indian cricket team is looking to win back-to-back Test series on Australian soil with the four-Test series against Australia firmly locked at 1-1. India, in the 2018/19 tour of Australia, became the first Asian side to defeat Australia in Australia as the Virat Kohli-led visitors won the series 2-1.

The Indian cricket team is looking to win back-to-back Test series on Australian soil with the four-Test series against Australia firmly locked at 1-1. India, in the 2018/19 tour of Australia, became the first Asian side to defeat Australia in Australia as the Virat Kohli-led visitors won the series 2-1. In 2016/17, when Australia visited India, the hosts won the series 2-1. The head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri has said that he can't see the feat of winning against Australia, both at home and away, by the Indian team led by Kohli emulated by any other Indian captain for a very long time. India defeated Australia 2-1 after terrific batting display by the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara whereas Kohli led the side with passion and aggression to match the Aussie side on their home soil. "The satisfaction gained in registering India's first series win in Australia after 71 years of heartbreak was immense," Shastri says in the book 'India's 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia' which is the latest in a series of publications from the Bradman Museum. ALSO READ: A fan who attended the IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test at MCG, tests positive for COVID-19 "I can't see Virat's feat of winning against Australia both at home and away being emulated by another Indian captain for a very long time. "The great thing about success in Australia is that it doesn't come easily. Shastri added that sportspersons command respect when they win the hard away while adding this is why this Indian team commands respect from the Aussies after humbling them with fast-bowling resources. "As a professional sportsperson, you know that when you win the hard way, you command respect. ALSO READ: AUS vs IND: Tensions broil over Team India Brisbane boycott reports "Indian teams have done well in Australia since the turn of the (21st) century, but didn't have the depth of fast-bowling resources. "That's why this Indian team commanded respect from the hard-to-please Aussies like few others in the past." India and Australia are set to lock horns in the third Test in Sydney, scheduled to start from January 7.

Virat Kohli's captaincy feats against Australia unlikely to be emulated soon: Ravi Shastri

Manchester City on Wednesday confirmed that three more members of the club have tested positive for COVID-19 as the dreaded virus continues to wreak havoc in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/premier-league">Premier League</a>. Scott Carson, Cole Palmer and one member of staff were tested positive for coronavirus and will now undergo a period of self-isolation in accordance with the Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.

This takes the total tally of COVID-19 positive cases at Man City after as many as five players were unavailable to play in their Premier League match against Chelsea. Earlier, the likes of Kyle Walker, Ederson and Gabriel Jesus were found positive for the virus and missed the clash against Chelsea.

Man City had their training ground shut, albeit temporarily for a couple of days, after players and staff were found positive for the virus. However, after another round of testing other players were tested negative and were allowed to train at their training centre.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-great-bell-dies-aged-74-354765" hreflang="en">Manchester City great Bell dies aged 74</a>

With Ederson and Scott Carson out with COVID-19, Man City have only one goalkeeper fit for their next set of matches - with the latest being the League Cup semi-final against Manchester United. Goalkeeper Zak Steffen is set to continue the goalkeeping duties till Ederson is allowed to train.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Premier League confirmed 40 new COVID-19 cases after the latest round of testing - a record since the process began after Project Restart.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-covid-19-cases-double-in-a-week-with-record-40-new-cases-354670" hreflang="en">Premier League COVID-19 cases double in a week with record 40 new cases</a>

<h2>Manchester City's statement:</h2>

Manchester City FC can confirm that Scott Carson, Cole Palmer and one member of staff have tested positive for COVID-19.

Both personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.

Everyone at the Club wishes Scott, Cole and all of our other colleagues a speedy recovery ahead of their return to work, training and competition. 
&nbsp;

Manchester City on Wednesday confirmed that three more members of the club have tested positive for COVID-19 as the dreaded virus continues to wreak havoc in the Premier League.

Manchester City on Wednesday confirmed that three more members of the club have tested positive for COVID-19 as the dreaded virus continues to wreak havoc in the Premier League. Scott Carson, Cole Palmer and one member of staff were tested positive for coronavirus and will now undergo a period of self-isolation in accordance with the Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine. This takes the total tally of COVID-19 positive cases at Man City after as many as five players were unavailable to play in their Premier League match against Chelsea. Earlier, the likes of Kyle Walker, Ederson and Gabriel Jesus were found positive for the virus and missed the clash against Chelsea. Man City had their training ground shut, albeit temporarily for a couple of days, after players and staff were found positive for the virus. However, after another round of testing other players were tested negative and were allowed to train at their training centre. ALSO READ: Manchester City great Bell dies aged 74 With Ederson and Scott Carson out with COVID-19, Man City have only one goalkeeper fit for their next set of matches - with the latest being the League Cup semi-final against Manchester United. Goalkeeper Zak Steffen is set to continue the goalkeeping duties till Ederson is allowed to train. Earlier on Tuesday, the Premier League confirmed 40 new COVID-19 cases after the latest round of testing - a record since the process began after Project Restart. ALSO READ: Premier League COVID-19 cases double in a week with record 40 new cases Manchester City's statement: Manchester City FC can confirm that Scott Carson, Cole Palmer and one member of staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Both personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine. Everyone at the Club wishes Scott, Cole and all of our other colleagues a speedy recovery ahead of their return to work, training and competition.

Premier League: Manchester City confirm 3 more COVID-19 cases

Legendary pugilist and honorary captain (Retd) of 1 Guards (2 Punjab), Mehtab Singh on Wednesday passed away at the age of 73. A legendary boxer, Olympian, Asian Games medallist and Arjuna Awardee, Mehtab Singh breathed his last after years of service to India and boxing in India.&nbsp;

Final respects to Mehtab Singh will be paid to him in his home town of Isharwal in Bhiwani.

He represented India in the fifth Asian Boxing Championship in Tehran in 1971 and won the gold medal.

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>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A legendary sportsman and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianBrave?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianBrave</a> departs<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LestWeForgetIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LestWeForgetIndia</a>🇮🇳 Hony Capt Mehtab Singh, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArjunaAward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArjunaAward</a>, 1 GUARDS (2 PUNJAB) passed away earlier today, 06 January 2021, aged 73🏵️ 
Remember the outstanding sportsman and former Olympian's service to the Nation and boxing in India <a href="https://t.co/a0uW0pk3cC">pic.twitter.com/a0uW0pk3cC</a>
— LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 (@LestWeForgetIN) <a href="https://twitter.com/LestWeForgetIN/status/1346697403525578753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Singh went on to clinch gold in the International Boxing Meet between India and Berlin in Bombay in the year 1972 before winning another gold in the same event, versus Thailand in 1973. The iconic pugilist then won gold in Asian Boxing Championship, which was held in Bangkok in 1973. But his biggest win came when he bagged the silver medal in Asian Games in Tehran in the year 1974. Singh represented India in the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics and was honoured with Arjuna Award in the year 1973 for his tremendous service to Indian boxing.

 
&nbsp;

Legendary pugilist and honorary captain (Retd) of 1 Guards (2 Punjab), Mehtab Singh on Wednesday passed away at the age of 73. A legendary boxer, Olympian, Asian Games medallist and Arjuna Awardee, Mehtab Singh breathed his last after years of service to India and boxing in India.

Legendary pugilist and honorary captain (Retd) of 1 Guards (2 Punjab), Mehtab Singh on Wednesday passed away at the age of 73. A legendary boxer, Olympian, Asian Games medallist and Arjuna Awardee, Mehtab Singh breathed his last after years of service to India and boxing in India. Final respects to Mehtab Singh will be paid to him in his home town of Isharwal in Bhiwani. He represented India in the fifth Asian Boxing Championship in Tehran in 1971 and won the gold medal. ALSO READ: From Hamilton to Ronaldo: Athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 A legendary sportsman and #IndianBrave departs#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 Hony Capt Mehtab Singh, #ArjunaAward, 1 GUARDS (2 PUNJAB) passed away earlier today, 06 January 2021, aged 73🏵️ Remember the outstanding sportsman and former Olympian's service to the Nation and boxing in India pic.twitter.com/a0uW0pk3cC — LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 (@LestWeForgetIN) January 6, 2021 × Singh went on to clinch gold in the International Boxing Meet between India and Berlin in Bombay in the year 1972 before winning another gold in the same event, versus Thailand in 1973. The iconic pugilist then won gold in Asian Boxing Championship, which was held in Bangkok in 1973. But his biggest win came when he bagged the silver medal in Asian Games in Tehran in the year 1974. Singh represented India in the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics and was honoured with Arjuna Award in the year 1973 for his tremendous service to Indian boxing.

Legendary Indian boxer Captain Mehtab Singh passes away at 73

With reports surfacing that India are discontent at the prospect of being forced into hard quarantine for the fourth Test against Australia in Brisbane, Australian captain Tim Paine reckoned that the controversial build-up could raise tensions on the field during the third Test match in Sydney.&nbsp;

Paine conceded that reports stating that India might not turn up to play at the Gabba has started to annoy some of the Aussie players and could result in a high-tension match when the third Test starts at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

"I think there`s a bit of tension starting to boil under the surface with a lot of unnamed sources coming out from their camp saying where they want to play the fourth test and where they don`t want to go," Paine said in his pre-match news conference.

"I think it`s starting to grind a few people, so we`ll see how it goes."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/quarantine-is-challenging-when-life-in-sydney-is-normal-india-captain-ajinkya-rahane-354796" hreflang="en">Quarantine is challenging when life in Sydney is normal: India captain Ajinkya Rahane</a>

India have officially made no statement about the issue and on Monday, Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley said the fourth Test is scheduled to be played in Brisbane and he has heard nothing from the Indian camp about the quarantine protocols.

However, Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday said that quarantine was "challenging" when life outside in Sydney was "normal". When asked about a potential Brisbane boycott, Rahane evaded the question and said that the "BCCI and team management" will take a final call.&nbsp;

"Quarantine life is definitely a challenge, especially we know that in Australia, in Sydney especially, the life is normal," he told reporters.

"The players are stuck in the room, which is okay. We know how to handle it, we are prepared for any kind of situation. We are not at all annoyed. We know what`s our priority here.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-announce-playing-xi-for-sydney-test-vs-australia-rohit-sharma-navdeep-saini-start-354769" hreflang="en">India announce playing XI for Sydney Test vs Australia; Rohit Sharma, Navdeep Saini start</a>

"We are here to play cricket and we just want to do that. Starting from tomorrow, start well in the test match and, as a team, as a unit, we are just focused on playing some good cricket."

On the other hand, Paine said Australia would play the fourth Test anywhere in the world, even Mumbai."When you hear things like that coming, particularly from India, who we know hold a lot of power in world cricket, it`s likely that it could happen," he said.

"But we`re not too fussed. We`re not buying into where the test is being played. As far as we`re aware it is at the Gabba, but as I said in the team meeting the other day, we couldn`t care less.

"If you rang us up and said it`s in Mumbai tomorrow, we`d get on a plane and we`d go and play it. That`s the way we are looking at it."

The four-Test series is nicely locked at 1-1 after India made a cracking comeback in the Boxing Day Test. Both India and Australia would be looking to win the Sydney Test and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series.

With reports surfacing that India are discontent at the prospect of being forced into hard quarantine for the fourth Test against Australia in Brisbane, Australian captain Tim Paine reckoned that the controversial build-up could raise tensions on the field during the third Test match in Sydney.

With reports surfacing that India are discontent at the prospect of being forced into hard quarantine for the fourth Test against Australia in Brisbane, Australian captain Tim Paine reckoned that the controversial build-up could raise tensions on the field during the third Test match in Sydney. Paine conceded that reports stating that India might not turn up to play at the Gabba has started to annoy some of the Aussie players and could result in a high-tension match when the third Test starts at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. "I think there`s a bit of tension starting to boil under the surface with a lot of unnamed sources coming out from their camp saying where they want to play the fourth test and where they don`t want to go," Paine said in his pre-match news conference. "I think it`s starting to grind a few people, so we`ll see how it goes." ALSO READ: Quarantine is challenging when life in Sydney is normal: India captain Ajinkya Rahane India have officially made no statement about the issue and on Monday, Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley said the fourth Test is scheduled to be played in Brisbane and he has heard nothing from the Indian camp about the quarantine protocols. However, Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday said that quarantine was "challenging" when life outside in Sydney was "normal". When asked about a potential Brisbane boycott, Rahane evaded the question and said that the "BCCI and team management" will take a final call. "Quarantine life is definitely a challenge, especially we know that in Australia, in Sydney especially, the life is normal," he told reporters. "The players are stuck in the room, which is okay. We know how to handle it, we are prepared for any kind of situation. We are not at all annoyed. We know what`s our priority here. ALSO READ: India announce playing XI for Sydney Test vs Australia; Rohit Sharma, Navdeep Saini start "We are here to play cricket and we just want to do that. Starting from tomorrow, start well in the test match and, as a team, as a unit, we are just focused on playing some good cricket." On the other hand, Paine said Australia would play the fourth Test anywhere in the world, even Mumbai."When you hear things like that coming, particularly from India, who we know hold a lot of power in world cricket, it`s likely that it could happen," he said. "But we`re not too fussed. We`re not buying into where the test is being played. As far as we`re aware it is at the Gabba, but as I said in the team meeting the other day, we couldn`t care less. "If you rang us up and said it`s in Mumbai tomorrow, we`d get on a plane and we`d go and play it. That`s the way we are looking at it." The four-Test series is nicely locked at 1-1 after India made a cracking comeback in the Boxing Day Test. Both India and Australia would be looking to win the Sydney Test and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series.

AUS vs IND: Tensions broil over Team India Brisbane boycott reports

Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday tried to play down the quarantine controversy as he stated that Indian contingent is "not annoyed" with the stringent bio-secure protocols but accepted that it was "challenging" to be confined to their hotel when life outside seems to be "normal".&nbsp;

There have been reports that the Indian team has been unhappy with quarantine protocols in Sydney, where they have been confined to the hotel with stricter rules set to follow ahead of the fourth Test in Brisbane.&nbsp;

"We are not at all annoyed but yes there are some challenges in quarantine as life in Sydney is completely normal. We are not at all annoyed and we know what's our priority here," the Indian captain made it clear while fielding a series of questions on the eve of the third Test on Wednesday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-announce-playing-xi-for-sydney-test-vs-australia-rohit-sharma-navdeep-saini-start-354769" hreflang="en">India announce playing XI for Sydney Test vs Australia; Rohit Sharma, Navdeep Saini start</a>

There have been unconfirmed reports that Indian team is trying to pull out of Brisbane Test and make the last match of the series played at the Sydney Cricket Ground as well. However, Rahane said that as players, they are focused on the game and the BCCI and team management will take a call on the venue of the fourth and final Test.

"We all are prepared and we want to play some good cricket. We know that life in Sydney is normal but players are stuck in their rooms which is okay. We know how to handle it and we are prepared for any kind of situation.&nbsp;

"It's about being in the moment and playing some good cricket," said India's hero of eight-wicket victory in Melbourne.&nbsp;

ÁLSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-india-boxing-day-test-declared-possible-covid-hotspot-354763" hreflang="en">Australia-India Boxing Day Test declared possible Covid hotspot</a>

"First thing first, we are not complaining about anything and we are just focussed on the game. Just want to start well.

"We as players are just focussing on this Test match and management, they will take the decision. For us, it's all about giving our best on the field. Test match is starting tomorrow and we want to do well as a team and win the Test match," said the non-controversial team leader.&nbsp;

According to reports, the BCCI and CA are in discussion on possible relaxation of quarantine protocols players can get in Queensland. A call on the fourth Test is likely to be taken during the Sydney Test, starting from January 7.

Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday tried to play down the quarantine controversy as he stated that Indian contingent is "not annoyed" with the stringent bio-secure protocols but accepted that it was "challenging" to be confined to their hotel when life outside seems to be "normal".

Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday tried to play down the quarantine controversy as he stated that Indian contingent is "not annoyed" with the stringent bio-secure protocols but accepted that it was "challenging" to be confined to their hotel when life outside seems to be "normal". There have been reports that the Indian team has been unhappy with quarantine protocols in Sydney, where they have been confined to the hotel with stricter rules set to follow ahead of the fourth Test in Brisbane. "We are not at all annoyed but yes there are some challenges in quarantine as life in Sydney is completely normal. We are not at all annoyed and we know what's our priority here," the Indian captain made it clear while fielding a series of questions on the eve of the third Test on Wednesday. ALSO READ: India announce playing XI for Sydney Test vs Australia; Rohit Sharma, Navdeep Saini start There have been unconfirmed reports that Indian team is trying to pull out of Brisbane Test and make the last match of the series played at the Sydney Cricket Ground as well. However, Rahane said that as players, they are focused on the game and the BCCI and team management will take a call on the venue of the fourth and final Test. "We all are prepared and we want to play some good cricket. We know that life in Sydney is normal but players are stuck in their rooms which is okay. We know how to handle it and we are prepared for any kind of situation. "It's about being in the moment and playing some good cricket," said India's hero of eight-wicket victory in Melbourne. ÁLSO READ: Australia-India Boxing Day Test declared possible Covid hotspot "First thing first, we are not complaining about anything and we are just focussed on the game. Just want to start well. "We as players are just focussing on this Test match and management, they will take the decision. For us, it's all about giving our best on the field. Test match is starting tomorrow and we want to do well as a team and win the Test match," said the non-controversial team leader. According to reports, the BCCI and CA are in discussion on possible relaxation of quarantine protocols players can get in Queensland. A call on the fourth Test is likely to be taken during the Sydney Test, starting from January 7.

Quarantine is challenging when life in Sydney is normal: India captain Ajinkya Rahane

Premier League football and other forms of elite professional sport in England will be allowed to continue despite new national lockdown restrictions announced by the British government on Monday.

Nearly 56 million people in England will return to a full coronavirus lockdown, possibly until mid-February, to try to cut spiralling infection rates, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a televised address.&nbsp;

The measures, which include the closure of primary and secondary schools, will come into effect Wednesday, he said after Scotland announced similar measures to come into force from midnight (0000 GMT) on Tuesday.

But a list of exemptions published by the UK government allowed "elite sportspeople (and their coaches if necessary, or parents/guardians if they are under 18) -- or those on an official elite sports pathway -- to compete and train".

One key point in determining whether a sporting competition can go ahead will be if it has, as the Premier League does, a testing regime and the provision of bio-secure bubbles in place.&nbsp;

Matches, however, will continue to be played behind closed doors.

Prior to Johnson's announcement, England Netball announced their home series with Jamaica, scheduled for late January, had been postponed because of international travel restrictions between Britain and the Caribbean island imposed as a result of the pandemic.&nbsp;

A lockdown similar to the one introduced in England in March last year as a result of a rising number of Covid-19 cases means outdoor gyms, golf courses and tennis courts will close, with amateur outdoor team sports prohibited.

Johnson's announcement followed a statement earlier on Monday by Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, that will see professional sport continuing in Scotland despite rising numbers of Covid-19 cases.

Scottish football and rugby clubs are on a Scottish government exemption list that states "those involved in professional sports, for training, coaching or competing in an event" are among the groups those allowed to leave their homes.

Scotland's new lockdown will last for at least the rest of January.&nbsp;

Sturgeon, the leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), said a new faster spreading variant of coronavirus, first identified in the UK in December had been a "massive blow" in the battle against the virus.

<h2>- Celtic row -</h2>

Sturgeon's announcement came as Britain began rolling out a new Covid-19 vaccine developed by the drug manufacturer AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

Meanwhile reigning Scottish football champions Celtic defended their controversial warm-weather training trip to Dubai by saying it had government approval.

The Hoops flew to the Middle East on Saturday following a derby defeat by Rangers that left them a huge 19 points adrift of their arch Glasgow rivals in the race for the Scottish Premiership title.

The Scottish government responded by calling for a Scottish Football Association investigation into whether Celtic had breached coronavirus exemptions. &nbsp;

But, in a series of tweets issued Monday, Celtic defended their position by saying: "If the club had not received Scottish Government approval then we would not have travelled."

Premier League football and other forms of elite professional sport in England will be allowed to continue despite new national lockdown restrictions announced by the British government on Monday.

Premier League football and other forms of elite professional sport in England will be allowed to continue despite new national lockdown restrictions announced by the British government on Monday. Nearly 56 million people in England will return to a full coronavirus lockdown, possibly until mid-February, to try to cut spiralling infection rates, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a televised address. The measures, which include the closure of primary and secondary schools, will come into effect Wednesday, he said after Scotland announced similar measures to come into force from midnight (0000 GMT) on Tuesday. But a list of exemptions published by the UK government allowed "elite sportspeople (and their coaches if necessary, or parents/guardians if they are under 18) -- or those on an official elite sports pathway -- to compete and train". One key point in determining whether a sporting competition can go ahead will be if it has, as the Premier League does, a testing regime and the provision of bio-secure bubbles in place. Matches, however, will continue to be played behind closed doors. Prior to Johnson's announcement, England Netball announced their home series with Jamaica, scheduled for late January, had been postponed because of international travel restrictions between Britain and the Caribbean island imposed as a result of the pandemic. A lockdown similar to the one introduced in England in March last year as a result of a rising number of Covid-19 cases means outdoor gyms, golf courses and tennis courts will close, with amateur outdoor team sports prohibited. Johnson's announcement followed a statement earlier on Monday by Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, that will see professional sport continuing in Scotland despite rising numbers of Covid-19 cases. Scottish football and rugby clubs are on a Scottish government exemption list that states "those involved in professional sports, for training, coaching or competing in an event" are among the groups those allowed to leave their homes. Scotland's new lockdown will last for at least the rest of January. Sturgeon, the leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), said a new faster spreading variant of coronavirus, first identified in the UK in December had been a "massive blow" in the battle against the virus. - Celtic row - Sturgeon's announcement came as Britain began rolling out a new Covid-19 vaccine developed by the drug manufacturer AstraZeneca and Oxford University. Meanwhile reigning Scottish football champions Celtic defended their controversial warm-weather training trip to Dubai by saying it had government approval. The Hoops flew to the Middle East on Saturday following a derby defeat by Rangers that left them a huge 19 points adrift of their arch Glasgow rivals in the race for the Scottish Premiership title. The Scottish government responded by calling for a Scottish Football Association investigation into whether Celtic had breached coronavirus exemptions. But, in a series of tweets issued Monday, Celtic defended their position by saying: "If the club had not received Scottish Government approval then we would not have travelled."

Premier League to continue during new English lockdown

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool are suffering a "rusty moment" after a 1-0 defeat at Southampton extended the defending champions' winless run in the Premier League to three games.

Danny Ings's stunning second-minute goal earned three points which moved Southampton into sixth and led to Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl breaking into tears of joy on the final whistle.

Liverpool remain top of the table on goal difference over Manchester United, but have now played a game more than the Red Devils, who they face in their next league game at Anfield on January 17.

"That's a rusty moment we have to admit it," said Klopp, whose side last failed to win in three straight Premier League games back in May 2018.

"Only if you know the problem can you solve the problem, we are not blind. We have to fight and play through this."

A first league defeat in three months may hasten Liverpool's search for a centre-back in the January transfer window.

Without the injured Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, Klopp started two of his first-choice midfielders from their title-winning campaign, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, together at the heart of his defence.

Southampton had not scored in their last three games to temper their hopes of a push for European football, but took just two minutes to break the deadlock in style through former Liverpool striker Ings.

Trent Alexander-Arnold did not deal with James Ward-Prowse's angled free-kick into the box and Ings perfectly hooked his shot over Alisson Becker into the far corner.

"It's not only the slow start, but the slow start made life massively difficult tonight," added Klopp.

Southampton had key absentees themselves with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy missing due to a positive test for coronavirus, while Oriol Romeu, Jannik Vestergaard and Che Adams were out injured.

Fraser Forster was making his first Saints appearance since May 2019, but the former England international was rarely tested to earn his clean sheet.

<h2>'Perfect gameplan'</h2>

The visitors could easily have found themselves 2-0 down before the break when Southampton substitute Nathan Tella was inches away from his first senior goal.

If Klopp's men were too passive in the first-half, they started the second-half with the intensity they have made their trademark in recent seasons as Southampton were pinned inside their own half.

Sadio Mane was the visitors' biggest threat on his return to St Mary's as Jack Stephens made a last-ditch challenge to block his route to goal before Kyle Walker-Peters was lucky to escape without conceding a penalty for obstructing another burst from the Senegalese into the box.

Thiago Alcantara was making just his second Liverpool start since a much-anticipated move from Bayern Munich, but even the Spaniard's range of passing could not cut through Southampton's determined defence.

"I started believing we can do it in the 92nd minute, not earlier," said Hasenhuttl. "They are so strong in front you always believe something can happen.

"We had to have a perfect gameplan today and luck. Without luck against such a team you cannot win."

Mane had Liverpool's only shot on target 15 minutes from time when his tame effort was easily held by Forster low to his left.

Southampton could have sealed a huge win moments later when Alisson was caught well off his line by Yan Valery, whose shot lacked the power to beat Henderson in a race to the goal line.

Liverpool so often dug themselves out of problems with late goals in romping to the title last season, but have failed to do so over the festive period, also dropping points against struggling West Brom and Newcastle.

United and Manchester City now hold the upper hand in the title race as they can both move ahead of Liverpool should they win their games in hand.

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool are suffering a "rusty moment" after a 1-0 defeat at Southampton extended the defending champions' winless run in the Premier League to three games.

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool are suffering a "rusty moment" after a 1-0 defeat at Southampton extended the defending champions' winless run in the Premier League to three games. Danny Ings's stunning second-minute goal earned three points which moved Southampton into sixth and led to Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl breaking into tears of joy on the final whistle. Liverpool remain top of the table on goal difference over Manchester United, but have now played a game more than the Red Devils, who they face in their next league game at Anfield on January 17. "That's a rusty moment we have to admit it," said Klopp, whose side last failed to win in three straight Premier League games back in May 2018. "Only if you know the problem can you solve the problem, we are not blind. We have to fight and play through this." A first league defeat in three months may hasten Liverpool's search for a centre-back in the January transfer window. Without the injured Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, Klopp started two of his first-choice midfielders from their title-winning campaign, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, together at the heart of his defence. Southampton had not scored in their last three games to temper their hopes of a push for European football, but took just two minutes to break the deadlock in style through former Liverpool striker Ings. Trent Alexander-Arnold did not deal with James Ward-Prowse's angled free-kick into the box and Ings perfectly hooked his shot over Alisson Becker into the far corner. "It's not only the slow start, but the slow start made life massively difficult tonight," added Klopp. Southampton had key absentees themselves with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy missing due to a positive test for coronavirus, while Oriol Romeu, Jannik Vestergaard and Che Adams were out injured. Fraser Forster was making his first Saints appearance since May 2019, but the former England international was rarely tested to earn his clean sheet. 'Perfect gameplan' The visitors could easily have found themselves 2-0 down before the break when Southampton substitute Nathan Tella was inches away from his first senior goal. If Klopp's men were too passive in the first-half, they started the second-half with the intensity they have made their trademark in recent seasons as Southampton were pinned inside their own half. Sadio Mane was the visitors' biggest threat on his return to St Mary's as Jack Stephens made a last-ditch challenge to block his route to goal before Kyle Walker-Peters was lucky to escape without conceding a penalty for obstructing another burst from the Senegalese into the box. Thiago Alcantara was making just his second Liverpool start since a much-anticipated move from Bayern Munich, but even the Spaniard's range of passing could not cut through Southampton's determined defence. "I started believing we can do it in the 92nd minute, not earlier," said Hasenhuttl. "They are so strong in front you always believe something can happen. "We had to have a perfect gameplan today and luck. Without luck against such a team you cannot win." Mane had Liverpool's only shot on target 15 minutes from time when his tame effort was easily held by Forster low to his left. Southampton could have sealed a huge win moments later when Alisson was caught well off his line by Yan Valery, whose shot lacked the power to beat Henderson in a race to the goal line. Liverpool so often dug themselves out of problems with late goals in romping to the title last season, but have failed to do so over the festive period, also dropping points against struggling West Brom and Newcastle. United and Manchester City now hold the upper hand in the title race as they can both move ahead of Liverpool should they win their games in hand.

'Rusty' Liverpool stumble again in Southampton defeat

Australia and India resume their "arm-wrestle" Test series at 1-1 Thursday after a build-up marred by a coronavirus outbreak in Sydney and concerns over a potential biosecurity breach by the Indian team.

The four-Test series is finely poised after India, crushed by eight wickets in Adelaide -- where they fell for their record low of 36 -- emphatically bounced back in Melbourne.

Spearheaded by stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who is deputising during Virat Kohli's paternity leave, they levelled the series with their own eight-wicket win.

"The first two Tests have been tough cricket, it's 1-1 and that probably shows how close the series is," said Australia coach Justin Langer, describing the series as an "arm-wrestle".

"We are very, very determined to get out of the blocks hard on Thursday."

The series has also been eventful off the field with Sydney, which has raced to contain a new Covid-19 cluster, only confirmed as host of the third Test after the Melbourne game.

The Sydney Cricket Ground has slashed its available capacity from 50 to 25 percent -- about 10,000 fans -- after a public backlash over the potential health risks.

Separately, five Indian players were spotted dining inside a Melbourne restaurant, in apparent contravention of biosecurity protocols.

Australian officials have also played down reports claiming India are not keen on having the final Test in Brisbane, due to stricter quarantine arrangements there.

<h2>- Warner set for return -</h2>

The weather could affect plans for both teams, with showers forecast for Thursday and Friday.

Run-shy Australia are set to make at least one change, with David Warner expected to return after missing the first two Tests with a groin strain, while fellow opener Joe Burns has been dumped.

Warner's opening partner is still unknown. Will Pucovski has been given the all-clear from a concussion and could make his debut, although Marcus Harris is also waiting in the wings.

If either play, Matthew Wade would drop back to number five with Travis Head facing the axe.

"There's loyalty to all our players. And whatever way we go -- the hardest thing is... it's so hard to fit seven or eight into six," said Langer, when asked about Head.

But he stressed his batsmen must start putting more runs on the board, with the team failing to go past 200 during the series.

"We're addressing the issues. I think we got 200 in that second innings (in Melbourne), but any time you're not scoring over 200, you're looking at ways to improve." &nbsp;

<h2>- 'Five good days' -</h2>

After Melbourne, India coach Ravi Shastri hailed the team's turnaround as one of the great comebacks of all time, but the euphoria was short-lived.

Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini were all seen dining in a Melbourne restaurant, in what looked like a biosecurity breach.

But India's cricket board has taken no action so far, and after the entire touring party tested negative for the coronavirus on Sunday, the five seem to be clear to play.

That would see Gill, who was highly impressive on debut in Melbourne, pad up again, while the explosive Pant will once more keep wicket.

Sharma only joined the team last week after a late injury-enforced arrival. But he was immediately made vice-captain, suggesting he too will play, potentially in place of the under-performing Mayank Agarwal.

There will be a new-look attack with Umesh Yadav out of the series after hurting his calf and T. Natarajan called up as a replacement. India were already without injured regulars Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma.

Despite this, Shastri said last week they planned to stick with a five-bowler strategy.

He added that the key to their comeback in Melbourne was forgetting what happened in Adelaide, a trait they will take into Sydney.

"To beat a team like Australia, especially in Australia, there is no point having one good day or two good days," he said.

"You have got to have five good days if you have to beat them, as simple as that."

Australia and India resume their "arm-wrestle" Test series at 1-1 Thursday after a build-up marred by a coronavirus outbreak in Sydney and concerns over a potential biosecurity breach by the Indian team.

Australia and India resume their "arm-wrestle" Test series at 1-1 Thursday after a build-up marred by a coronavirus outbreak in Sydney and concerns over a potential biosecurity breach by the Indian team. The four-Test series is finely poised after India, crushed by eight wickets in Adelaide -- where they fell for their record low of 36 -- emphatically bounced back in Melbourne. Spearheaded by stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who is deputising during Virat Kohli's paternity leave, they levelled the series with their own eight-wicket win. "The first two Tests have been tough cricket, it's 1-1 and that probably shows how close the series is," said Australia coach Justin Langer, describing the series as an "arm-wrestle". "We are very, very determined to get out of the blocks hard on Thursday." The series has also been eventful off the field with Sydney, which has raced to contain a new Covid-19 cluster, only confirmed as host of the third Test after the Melbourne game. The Sydney Cricket Ground has slashed its available capacity from 50 to 25 percent -- about 10,000 fans -- after a public backlash over the potential health risks. Separately, five Indian players were spotted dining inside a Melbourne restaurant, in apparent contravention of biosecurity protocols. Australian officials have also played down reports claiming India are not keen on having the final Test in Brisbane, due to stricter quarantine arrangements there. - Warner set for return - The weather could affect plans for both teams, with showers forecast for Thursday and Friday. Run-shy Australia are set to make at least one change, with David Warner expected to return after missing the first two Tests with a groin strain, while fellow opener Joe Burns has been dumped. Warner's opening partner is still unknown. Will Pucovski has been given the all-clear from a concussion and could make his debut, although Marcus Harris is also waiting in the wings. If either play, Matthew Wade would drop back to number five with Travis Head facing the axe. "There's loyalty to all our players. And whatever way we go -- the hardest thing is... it's so hard to fit seven or eight into six," said Langer, when asked about Head. But he stressed his batsmen must start putting more runs on the board, with the team failing to go past 200 during the series. "We're addressing the issues. I think we got 200 in that second innings (in Melbourne), but any time you're not scoring over 200, you're looking at ways to improve." - 'Five good days' - After Melbourne, India coach Ravi Shastri hailed the team's turnaround as one of the great comebacks of all time, but the euphoria was short-lived. Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini were all seen dining in a Melbourne restaurant, in what looked like a biosecurity breach. But India's cricket board has taken no action so far, and after the entire touring party tested negative for the coronavirus on Sunday, the five seem to be clear to play. That would see Gill, who was highly impressive on debut in Melbourne, pad up again, while the explosive Pant will once more keep wicket. Sharma only joined the team last week after a late injury-enforced arrival. But he was immediately made vice-captain, suggesting he too will play, potentially in place of the under-performing Mayank Agarwal. There will be a new-look attack with Umesh Yadav out of the series after hurting his calf and T. Natarajan called up as a replacement. India were already without injured regulars Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. Despite this, Shastri said last week they planned to stick with a five-bowler strategy. He added that the key to their comeback in Melbourne was forgetting what happened in Adelaide, a trait they will take into Sydney. "To beat a team like Australia, especially in Australia, there is no point having one good day or two good days," he said. "You have got to have five good days if you have to beat them, as simple as that."

Australia, India resume 'arm-wrestle' as Covid dominates Test build-up

Milwaukee's two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 43 points Monday, powering the Bucks to a 125-115 NBA victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Antetokounmpo connected on 17 of 24 shots from the field. He made a brace of three pointers and was simply unstoppable in the paint.

His was just one of the outstanding performances on a night that featured a 40-point outburst from Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and a triple-double for Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks.

Antetokounmpo set the tone early in Milwaukee, scoring 30 of the Bucks' 67 first-half points.

Detroit managed to trim the deficit to 118-110 with 2:38 left to play, but Antetokounmpo stopped their momentum with a block of a driving Sekou Doumbouya shot, then grabbed the rebound of teammate Donte DiVincenzo's miss for a put-back basket that effectively ended the Pistons' comeback bid.

"The blocked shot and the put-back was big," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said, adding that he wouldn't have liked to see the deficit whittled further.

Detroit, playing without star Blake Griffin, also saw rookie Killian Hayes go down in the third quarter with a hip injury that kept him out the rest of the game.

Boston's Tatum scored 21 of his season-best 40 in the second quarter as the Celtics rallied from an early deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 126-114.

Tatum connected on 11 of 19 shots from the field and was a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line as he fell one point shy of matching his career best.

The first meeting of the teams since Boston eliminated Toronto in the second round of the playoffs in September was in Tampa, Florida, where the Raptors are based, amid continuing coronavirus restrictions on travel to Canada.

The Dallas Mavericks won a Texas tussle with the Rockets in Houston on the back of Doncic's first triple-double of the season.

Doncic, who sat out Sunday with a quadriceps contusion, returned with a vengeance with 33 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists as Dallas held off a late Rockets push for a 113-100 victory.

The Slovenian star, still just 21, notched his 26th career triple-double. Tim Hardway Jr. added 30 points off the bench for Dallas, who led by as many as 16 in the third quarter.

The Rockets, with 23 points from Christian Wood and 21 from James Harden, tied it up with 10 minutes remaining, but the Mavericks relentlessly pulled away again.

While Mavs coach Rick Carlisle conceded that Doncic came into the season "behind the curve" on his conditioning, he said his young star is clearly going in the right direction.

"You can tell on the floor," Carlisle said. "You can see that he's getting better and better as each day goes by."

The Philadelphia 76ers improved their league-leading record to 6-1 with a 118-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Tobias Harris scored 22 points to lead seven Sixers players in double figures in the wire-to-wire win.

Joel Embiid added 14 points and 11 rebounds, Danny Green contributed 13 points, and Ben Simmons had 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Philadelphia.

<h2>- Knicks find a way -</h2>

New York's Julius Randle scored 28 points and pulled down 17 rebounds and Austin Rivers drilled a late three-pointer that helped the Knicks erase a 15-point third-quarter deficit in a 113-108 victory over the Hawks in Atlanta.

In a back-and-forth battle, the Knicks seized an early double-digit lead only for Atlanta to take a four-point lead into halftime.

The Hawks pushed their lead to 15 with less than five minutes left in the third, but they couldn't hang on.

"We didn't play great but we found a way to win," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Indiana's Malcolm Brogdon delivered the game-winner as the Pacers broke the New Orleans Pelicans' hearts 118-116 in overtime, having rallied from six points down with less than a minute remaining in regulation.

There was no such drama for Golden State as Stephen Curry followed up Sunday's 62-point outburst with 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the Warriors' 137-106 romp over the Sacramento Kings.

Milwaukee's two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 43 points Monday, powering the Bucks to a 125-115 NBA victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Milwaukee's two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 43 points Monday, powering the Bucks to a 125-115 NBA victory over the Detroit Pistons. Antetokounmpo connected on 17 of 24 shots from the field. He made a brace of three pointers and was simply unstoppable in the paint. His was just one of the outstanding performances on a night that featured a 40-point outburst from Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and a triple-double for Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Antetokounmpo set the tone early in Milwaukee, scoring 30 of the Bucks' 67 first-half points. Detroit managed to trim the deficit to 118-110 with 2:38 left to play, but Antetokounmpo stopped their momentum with a block of a driving Sekou Doumbouya shot, then grabbed the rebound of teammate Donte DiVincenzo's miss for a put-back basket that effectively ended the Pistons' comeback bid. "The blocked shot and the put-back was big," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said, adding that he wouldn't have liked to see the deficit whittled further. Detroit, playing without star Blake Griffin, also saw rookie Killian Hayes go down in the third quarter with a hip injury that kept him out the rest of the game. Boston's Tatum scored 21 of his season-best 40 in the second quarter as the Celtics rallied from an early deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 126-114. Tatum connected on 11 of 19 shots from the field and was a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line as he fell one point shy of matching his career best. The first meeting of the teams since Boston eliminated Toronto in the second round of the playoffs in September was in Tampa, Florida, where the Raptors are based, amid continuing coronavirus restrictions on travel to Canada. The Dallas Mavericks won a Texas tussle with the Rockets in Houston on the back of Doncic's first triple-double of the season. Doncic, who sat out Sunday with a quadriceps contusion, returned with a vengeance with 33 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists as Dallas held off a late Rockets push for a 113-100 victory. The Slovenian star, still just 21, notched his 26th career triple-double. Tim Hardway Jr. added 30 points off the bench for Dallas, who led by as many as 16 in the third quarter. The Rockets, with 23 points from Christian Wood and 21 from James Harden, tied it up with 10 minutes remaining, but the Mavericks relentlessly pulled away again. While Mavs coach Rick Carlisle conceded that Doncic came into the season "behind the curve" on his conditioning, he said his young star is clearly going in the right direction. "You can tell on the floor," Carlisle said. "You can see that he's getting better and better as each day goes by." The Philadelphia 76ers improved their league-leading record to 6-1 with a 118-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Tobias Harris scored 22 points to lead seven Sixers players in double figures in the wire-to-wire win. Joel Embiid added 14 points and 11 rebounds, Danny Green contributed 13 points, and Ben Simmons had 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Philadelphia. - Knicks find a way - New York's Julius Randle scored 28 points and pulled down 17 rebounds and Austin Rivers drilled a late three-pointer that helped the Knicks erase a 15-point third-quarter deficit in a 113-108 victory over the Hawks in Atlanta. In a back-and-forth battle, the Knicks seized an early double-digit lead only for Atlanta to take a four-point lead into halftime. The Hawks pushed their lead to 15 with less than five minutes left in the third, but they couldn't hang on. "We didn't play great but we found a way to win," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. Indiana's Malcolm Brogdon delivered the game-winner as the Pacers broke the New Orleans Pelicans' hearts 118-116 in overtime, having rallied from six points down with less than a minute remaining in regulation. There was no such drama for Golden State as Stephen Curry followed up Sunday's 62-point outburst with 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the Warriors' 137-106 romp over the Sacramento Kings.

Antetokounmpo's 43 points fuel Bucks, Tatum scores 40 in Celtics win

Australian Open organisers were forced to find new quarantine accommodation for players Tuesday after a hotel pulled out, reportedly because of concerns from residents.

Organisers of the year's first tennis grand slam confirmed they had secured new hotel accommodation after Melbourne's The Westin cancelled plans to house tennis players during two weeks of quarantine ahead of the tournament.

"Several hotels in Melbourne have already been secured, including a replacement for the Westin, to safely accommodate the international playing group," organisers said in a statement.

Local media reported that a legal threat from several permanent residents in the luxury hotel had scuppered the plan to host players there.

The news comes 10 days before the first players are expected to arrive in the city.

The start of the opening Grand Slam of 2021 has already been delayed until February 8, to allow players to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine imposed on all overseas arrivals before taking part in a week of warm-up tournaments.

Melbourne only emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19, complicating planning for the Grand Slam.

Australia has largely contained the coronavirus, although fresh outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne have forced authorities to reintroduce some restrictions, including state border closures.&nbsp;

Australian Open organisers were forced to find new quarantine accommodation for players Tuesday after a hotel pulled out, reportedly because of concerns from residents.

Australian Open organisers were forced to find new quarantine accommodation for players Tuesday after a hotel pulled out, reportedly because of concerns from residents. Organisers of the year's first tennis grand slam confirmed they had secured new hotel accommodation after Melbourne's The Westin cancelled plans to house tennis players during two weeks of quarantine ahead of the tournament. "Several hotels in Melbourne have already been secured, including a replacement for the Westin, to safely accommodate the international playing group," organisers said in a statement. Local media reported that a legal threat from several permanent residents in the luxury hotel had scuppered the plan to host players there. The news comes 10 days before the first players are expected to arrive in the city. The start of the opening Grand Slam of 2021 has already been delayed until February 8, to allow players to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine imposed on all overseas arrivals before taking part in a week of warm-up tournaments. Melbourne only emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19, complicating planning for the Grand Slam. Australia has largely contained the coronavirus, although fresh outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne have forced authorities to reintroduce some restrictions, including state border closures.

Australian Open forced to switch player quarantine hotel

Kane Williamson underscored his ranking as the world's premier batsman with a masterful double century on a landmark Tuesday as New Zealand took control of the second Test against Pakistan.&nbsp;

In between the showers at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Williamson was in classic form, batting for nine hours 33 minutes for his 238 and leading New Zealand to an imposing 659 for six declared to lead Pakistan by 362.&nbsp;

At stumps, the tourists were already in trouble at one down for eight, with Kyle Jamieson adding to his five-wicket haul in the first innings by removing Shan Masood for a duck.&nbsp;

Should New Zealand win the Test it will confirm their ranking as the number one side in the world for the first time -- to go with Williamson's promotion as the number one batsman -- and keep alive their chance of making the World Test Championship final.&nbsp;

It was a relentless performance from Williamson who became only the second New Zealander after Brendon McCullum to score four double centuries.&nbsp;

He should have been out for 177 on the first ball after the first of two rain stoppages, but as has happened several times in the Test the chance was put down -- this time by Azhar Ali, who earlier in the day had dropped Henry Nicholls short of his century.&nbsp;

Williamson and Nicholls had rebuilt the innings after New Zealand were reduced to 71 for three on Monday's second day.&nbsp;

By the time Nicholls was dismissed early in the afternoon session for 157, the pair had put on 369, the third-best all-time partnership for New Zealand and a record for the fourth wicket.&nbsp;

The day resumed with New Zealand 286 for three, 11 runs in arrears and with conditions favourable for the bowlers who had cloud cover and a ball only five overs old.&nbsp;

But for every plan Pakistan set to dismiss Williamson, he had an answer -- with a range of strokes from silky touches to powerful drives.&nbsp;

Along the way he followed Ross Taylor and Stephen Fleming to become only the third New Zealander to pass 7,000 runs.&nbsp;

The end came for Williamson three overs before tea when he skied a short ball from Faheem Ashraf and was caught in the deep by Masood.&nbsp;

In four innings from three Tests in the past month Williamson has scored 251, 129, 21 and 238.&nbsp;

Nicholls, dropped on 92 and 133, was hampered by a calf strain which left him hobbling between the wickets.&nbsp;

But he was still able to attack, with boundaries producing 48 of his 68 runs on day three, before he top-edged a short ball from Mohammad Abbas and was caught at deep fine leg.&nbsp;

Daryl Mitchell clobbered 102 off 112 balls with Williamson delaying the declaration until the all-rounder posted his maiden century.

Kane Williamson underscored his ranking as the world's premier batsman with a masterful double century on a landmark Tuesday as New Zealand took control of the second Test against Pakistan.

Kane Williamson underscored his ranking as the world's premier batsman with a masterful double century on a landmark Tuesday as New Zealand took control of the second Test against Pakistan. In between the showers at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Williamson was in classic form, batting for nine hours 33 minutes for his 238 and leading New Zealand to an imposing 659 for six declared to lead Pakistan by 362. At stumps, the tourists were already in trouble at one down for eight, with Kyle Jamieson adding to his five-wicket haul in the first innings by removing Shan Masood for a duck. Should New Zealand win the Test it will confirm their ranking as the number one side in the world for the first time -- to go with Williamson's promotion as the number one batsman -- and keep alive their chance of making the World Test Championship final. It was a relentless performance from Williamson who became only the second New Zealander after Brendon McCullum to score four double centuries. He should have been out for 177 on the first ball after the first of two rain stoppages, but as has happened several times in the Test the chance was put down -- this time by Azhar Ali, who earlier in the day had dropped Henry Nicholls short of his century. Williamson and Nicholls had rebuilt the innings after New Zealand were reduced to 71 for three on Monday's second day. By the time Nicholls was dismissed early in the afternoon session for 157, the pair had put on 369, the third-best all-time partnership for New Zealand and a record for the fourth wicket. The day resumed with New Zealand 286 for three, 11 runs in arrears and with conditions favourable for the bowlers who had cloud cover and a ball only five overs old. But for every plan Pakistan set to dismiss Williamson, he had an answer -- with a range of strokes from silky touches to powerful drives. Along the way he followed Ross Taylor and Stephen Fleming to become only the third New Zealander to pass 7,000 runs. The end came for Williamson three overs before tea when he skied a short ball from Faheem Ashraf and was caught in the deep by Masood. In four innings from three Tests in the past month Williamson has scored 251, 129, 21 and 238. Nicholls, dropped on 92 and 133, was hampered by a calf strain which left him hobbling between the wickets. But he was still able to attack, with boundaries producing 48 of his 68 runs on day three, before he top-edged a short ball from Mohammad Abbas and was caught at deep fine leg. Daryl Mitchell clobbered 102 off 112 balls with Williamson delaying the declaration until the all-rounder posted his maiden century.

Pakistan in trouble after Williamson's 238 gives New Zealand huge lead

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/premier-league">Premier League</a> on Tuesday confirmed as many as 40 new COVID-19 cases among players and staff as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in the United Kingdom. The Premier League tested players and staff twice per week between December 28 and December 31 - out of which 28 new positive cases were found. A total of 12 new cases were found between January 1 and January 3 as England's top-flight continues with its rigorous testing policy.

As many as 1311 players and club staff were tested in the last three days of December 2019 and another 984 players were tested between January 1 and January 3, out of which 40 players and staff were confirmed positive for the virus.

Furthermore, three fixtures have already been affected due to outbreak of coronavirus in some clubs. However, the Premier League continues to trusts its testing policy and is set to be continued, after solid backing by the UK government.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-southampton-boss-ralph-hasenhuttl-cries-tears-of-joy-as-saints-defeat-liverpool-354575" hreflang="en">Watch: Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl cries tears of joy as Saints defeat Liverpool</a>

<h2>Premier League statement on COVID-19 tests:&nbsp;</h2>

The Premier League is now testing players and club staff twice per week and can today confirm that between Monday 28 December and Thursday 31 December, 1,311 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19.

Of these, there were 28 new positive tests.

Between Friday 1 January and Sunday 3 January, 984 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19 and of these, there were 12 new positives.

During this time period, three fixtures were postponed following an increased number of positive tests at two clubs. These matches will be rearranged as soon as possible.

With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the League continues to have confidence in its COVID-19 protocols, fully backed by the Government, to enable fixtures to be played as scheduled.

Players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days.

The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency.

No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public after each round of testing.

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<h2>Premier League COVID-19 results:&nbsp;</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Round 1: Aug 31-Sep 6 - 1,605 tested, with three testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 2: Sep 7-13 - 2,131 tested, with four testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 3: Sep 14-20- 1,574 tested, with three testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 4: Sep 21-27 - 1,595 tested, with 10 testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 5: Sep 28-Oct 4 - 1,587 tested, with nine testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 6: Oct 5-11 - 1,128 tested, with five testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 7: Oct 12-18 - 1,575 tested, with eight testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 8: Oct 19-25 - 1,609 tested, with two testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 9: Oct 26-Nov 1 - 1,446 tested, with four testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 10: Nov 2-8 - 1,646 tested, with four testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 11: Nov 9-15 - 1,207 tested, with 16 testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 12: Nov 16-22 - 1,530 tested, with eight testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 13: Nov 23-29 - 1,381 tested, with 10 testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 14: Nov 30-Dec 6 - 1,483 tested, with 14 testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 15: Dec 7-13 - 1,549 tested, with six testing positive.</li>
	<li>Round 16: Dec 14-20 - 1,569 tested, with seven testing positive&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Round 17: Dec 21-27 - 1,479 tested, with 18 testing positive&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Round 18: Dec 28-Jan 3 - 2,295 tested, with 40 testing positive&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Premier League on Tuesday confirmed as many as 40 new COVID-19 cases among players and staff as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in the United Kingdom. The Premier League tested players and staff twice per week between December 28 and December 31 - out of which 28 new positive cases were found.

Premier League on Tuesday confirmed as many as 40 new COVID-19 cases among players and staff as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in the United Kingdom. The Premier League tested players and staff twice per week between December 28 and December 31 - out of which 28 new positive cases were found. A total of 12 new cases were found between January 1 and January 3 as England's top-flight continues with its rigorous testing policy. As many as 1311 players and club staff were tested in the last three days of December 2019 and another 984 players were tested between January 1 and January 3, out of which 40 players and staff were confirmed positive for the virus. Furthermore, three fixtures have already been affected due to outbreak of coronavirus in some clubs. However, the Premier League continues to trusts its testing policy and is set to be continued, after solid backing by the UK government. ALSO READ: Watch: Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl cries tears of joy as Saints defeat Liverpool Premier League statement on COVID-19 tests: The Premier League is now testing players and club staff twice per week and can today confirm that between Monday 28 December and Thursday 31 December, 1,311 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, there were 28 new positive tests. Between Friday 1 January and Sunday 3 January, 984 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19 and of these, there were 12 new positives. During this time period, three fixtures were postponed following an increased number of positive tests at two clubs. These matches will be rearranged as soon as possible. With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the League continues to have confidence in its COVID-19 protocols, fully backed by the Government, to enable fixtures to be played as scheduled. Players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days. The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency. No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public after each round of testing. ALSO READ: 'Rusty' Liverpool stumble again in Southampton defeat Premier League COVID-19 results: Round 1: Aug 31-Sep 6 - 1,605 tested, with three testing positive. Round 2: Sep 7-13 - 2,131 tested, with four testing positive. Round 3: Sep 14-20- 1,574 tested, with three testing positive. Round 4: Sep 21-27 - 1,595 tested, with 10 testing positive. Round 5: Sep 28-Oct 4 - 1,587 tested, with nine testing positive. Round 6: Oct 5-11 - 1,128 tested, with five testing positive. Round 7: Oct 12-18 - 1,575 tested, with eight testing positive. Round 8: Oct 19-25 - 1,609 tested, with two testing positive. Round 9: Oct 26-Nov 1 - 1,446 tested, with four testing positive. Round 10: Nov 2-8 - 1,646 tested, with four testing positive. Round 11: Nov 9-15 - 1,207 tested, with 16 testing positive. Round 12: Nov 16-22 - 1,530 tested, with eight testing positive. Round 13: Nov 23-29 - 1,381 tested, with 10 testing positive. Round 14: Nov 30-Dec 6 - 1,483 tested, with 14 testing positive. Round 15: Dec 7-13 - 1,549 tested, with six testing positive. Round 16: Dec 14-20 - 1,569 tested, with seven testing positive Round 17: Dec 21-27 - 1,479 tested, with 18 testing positive Round 18: Dec 28-Jan 3 - 2,295 tested, with 40 testing positive

Premier League COVID-19 cases double in a week with record 40 new cases

Australia coach Justin Langer on Tuesday said David Warner was "very, very, very likely" to play the third Test against India, with Will Pucovski shaping as his opening partner after being given the all-clear from a concussion.

Warner missed the first two Tests with a groin injury, but looks almost certain to return for Thursday's crucial clash in Sydney, with the four-Test series locked at 1-1.

"He looks like he's moving pretty well. He's very determined to play," said Langer. "I'd say he's looking very, very, very likely to play the Test match."

But he added: "He's going to be playing through pain though. It's not so much in the muscle but in the tendon area."

Joe Burns opened with Matthew Wade in the opening two Tests in Adelaide and Melbourne, but after a run of poor scores has been axed.

It opens the door for Pucovski to make his debut after Langer said an independent neurologist had cleared him of any lingering damage after the latest in a series of concussions.

"Will has still got a few boxes to tick today then we weigh up whether this Test match is right, or the next Test match is right. Time will tell," said Langer.

Pucovski, 21, has a long history of being hit on the helmet, and has also dealt with mental health issues.

But Langer said his mind has been put at ease by the neurologists' all-clear on Monday.

"The real heartening thing for him is that while he's had a few concussions in the past ... it's not necessarily going to have any long-term impact on him," he said.&nbsp;

"And I think when you can put your mind at rest with that then that's a real positive for him.

"He's in a great frame of mind, he's incredibly positive about playing cricket, he's trained hard this week and, as he and I have discussed a number of times, the only way to get back on the horse is to get back on the horse," he added.

If Pucovski plays, Wade will almost certainly drop back to his more accustomed number five position with allrounder Cameron Green retained at six.

That would likely see Travis Head dropped.

Australia coach Justin Langer on Tuesday said David Warner was "very, very, very likely" to play the third Test against India, with Will Pucovski shaping as his opening partner after being given the all-clear from a concussion.

Australia coach Justin Langer on Tuesday said David Warner was "very, very, very likely" to play the third Test against India, with Will Pucovski shaping as his opening partner after being given the all-clear from a concussion. Warner missed the first two Tests with a groin injury, but looks almost certain to return for Thursday's crucial clash in Sydney, with the four-Test series locked at 1-1. "He looks like he's moving pretty well. He's very determined to play," said Langer. "I'd say he's looking very, very, very likely to play the Test match." But he added: "He's going to be playing through pain though. It's not so much in the muscle but in the tendon area." Joe Burns opened with Matthew Wade in the opening two Tests in Adelaide and Melbourne, but after a run of poor scores has been axed. It opens the door for Pucovski to make his debut after Langer said an independent neurologist had cleared him of any lingering damage after the latest in a series of concussions. "Will has still got a few boxes to tick today then we weigh up whether this Test match is right, or the next Test match is right. Time will tell," said Langer. Pucovski, 21, has a long history of being hit on the helmet, and has also dealt with mental health issues. But Langer said his mind has been put at ease by the neurologists' all-clear on Monday. "The real heartening thing for him is that while he's had a few concussions in the past ... it's not necessarily going to have any long-term impact on him," he said. "And I think when you can put your mind at rest with that then that's a real positive for him. "He's in a great frame of mind, he's incredibly positive about playing cricket, he's trained hard this week and, as he and I have discussed a number of times, the only way to get back on the horse is to get back on the horse," he added. If Pucovski plays, Wade will almost certainly drop back to his more accustomed number five position with allrounder Cameron Green retained at six. That would likely see Travis Head dropped.

Langer says Warner 'very likely' to play through pain

McLaren driver Lando Norris has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating after reassuring fans that he has only shown mild symptoms. Norris becomes the fourth Formula 1 driver after Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll to test positive for the dreaded coronavirus.&nbsp;

Norris, aged 21, is currently in Dubai on holiday ahead of their planned training camp. He took a test for the virus on Monday after recognising loss of taste and smell, which is one of the symptoms for COVID-19.

Norris has informed his team and everyone he had been in touch with recently about the result of his coronavirus test.

McLaren confirmed the development as they released a statement: "McLaren can confirm that Lando Norris tested positive for covid-199 yesterday in Dubai, where he is currently on holiday ahead of a planned training camp. After recognising a loss of taste and smell, he was tested immediately and informed the team.&nbsp;

"In line with local regulation, he is now self-isolating at his hotel for 14 days. He is currently feeling well and reports no other symptoms."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hamilton-contract-top-of-the-agenda-now-f1-season-is-done-349887" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/hamilton-contract-top-of-the-agenda-now-f1-season-is-done-349887&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwitzI_1iIXuAhWkxDgGHcjSBm0QFjAGegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw09HRAhef8eynHcUy0r5gtR" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hamilton-contract-top-of-the-agenda-now-f1-season-is-done-349887" target="_blank">Hamilton&nbsp;contract top of the agenda now F1 season is done</a>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/s5fypbYNjx">pic.twitter.com/s5fypbYNjx</a>
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) <a href="https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/1346458645614243840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Even Norris took to social media platforms to confirm the development as he said that he has no other symptoms other than loss of taste and smell.

"Hi everyone, hope you are keeping well. Yesterday I lost my sense of taste and smell so immediately self isolated and took a test. It's come back as positive, so I've told everyone that I've been in contact with and will be self isolating for the next 14 days. I feel alright and have no other symptoms but I just wanted to let you all know. Take Care," Norris tweeted.

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>

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— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) <a href="https://twitter.com/LandoNorris/status/1346458552769146880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Norris is set to be partnered by ex-Renault and Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo for the upcoming 2021 season. 
&nbsp;

McLaren driver Lando Norris has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating after reassuring fans that he has only shown mild symptoms. Norris becomes the fourth Formula 1 driver after Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll to test positive for the dreaded coronavirus.

McLaren driver Lando Norris has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating after reassuring fans that he has only shown mild symptoms. Norris becomes the fourth Formula 1 driver after Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll to test positive for the dreaded coronavirus. Norris, aged 21, is currently in Dubai on holiday ahead of their planned training camp. He took a test for the virus on Monday after recognising loss of taste and smell, which is one of the symptoms for COVID-19. Norris has informed his team and everyone he had been in touch with recently about the result of his coronavirus test. McLaren confirmed the development as they released a statement: "McLaren can confirm that Lando Norris tested positive for covid-199 yesterday in Dubai, where he is currently on holiday ahead of a planned training camp. After recognising a loss of taste and smell, he was tested immediately and informed the team. "In line with local regulation, he is now self-isolating at his hotel for 14 days. He is currently feeling well and reports no other symptoms." ALSO READ: Hamilton contract top of the agenda now F1 season is done pic.twitter.com/s5fypbYNjx — McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 5, 2021 × Even Norris took to social media platforms to confirm the development as he said that he has no other symptoms other than loss of taste and smell. "Hi everyone, hope you are keeping well. Yesterday I lost my sense of taste and smell so immediately self isolated and took a test. It's come back as positive, so I've told everyone that I've been in contact with and will be self isolating for the next 14 days. I feel alright and have no other symptoms but I just wanted to let you all know. Take Care," Norris tweeted. ALSO READ: From Hamilton to Ronaldo: Athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 pic.twitter.com/PG46RCvz3j — Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) January 5, 2021 × Meanwhile, Norris is set to be partnered by ex-Renault and Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo for the upcoming 2021 season.

Formula One: McLaren's Lando Norris tests positive for COVID-19

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is free to negotiate with other clubs after stalling contract talks with the Los Merengues. Ramos, who is out of contract in summer, can negotiate terms and contracts with other clubs and leave the Spanish giants for free after the expiry of his contract.&nbsp;

Paris Saint-Germain, who recently appointed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, is looking to sign the Spanish international with reports stating that PSG are eyeing a scoop by signing Ramos along with Barcelona megastar Lionel Messi - both on free transfers.

After letting go&nbsp;Thiago Silva, PSG are in need of an experienced defender and Ramos would fit the bill perfectly. However, the biggest surprise is that Ramos, during contract negotiations with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, said that PSG are trying to sign him with Messi.&nbsp;

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Spanish publication El Chiringuito TV reported that Ramos has told Real Madrid president Florentino Perez: "At PSG they have told me that they will make a team with me and with Messi."

Messi is also available on a free transfer in summer and the Argentine has already said he will think about his future after the season ends.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-to-continue-during-new-english-lockdown-354549" hreflang="en">Premier League to continue during new English lockdown</a>

Both Messi and Ramos, despite being free transfers, will demand monumental wages - which could be a worry for the French giants with COVID-19 pandemic inflicting major financial damages to every club in the world.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is free to negotiate with other clubs after stalling contract talks with the Los Merengues. Ramos, who is out of contract in summer, can negotiate terms and contracts with other clubs and leave the Spanish giants for free after the expiry of his contract.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is free to negotiate with other clubs after stalling contract talks with the Los Merengues. Ramos, who is out of contract in summer, can negotiate terms and contracts with other clubs and leave the Spanish giants for free after the expiry of his contract. Paris Saint-Germain, who recently appointed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, is looking to sign the Spanish international with reports stating that PSG are eyeing a scoop by signing Ramos along with Barcelona megastar Lionel Messi - both on free transfers. After letting go Thiago Silva, PSG are in need of an experienced defender and Ramos would fit the bill perfectly. However, the biggest surprise is that Ramos, during contract negotiations with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, said that PSG are trying to sign him with Messi. ALSO READ: Watch: Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl cries tears of joy as Saints defeat Liverpool Spanish publication El Chiringuito TV reported that Ramos has told Real Madrid president Florentino Perez: "At PSG they have told me that they will make a team with me and with Messi." Messi is also available on a free transfer in summer and the Argentine has already said he will think about his future after the season ends. ALSO READ: Premier League to continue during new English lockdown Both Messi and Ramos, despite being free transfers, will demand monumental wages - which could be a worry for the French giants with COVID-19 pandemic inflicting major financial damages to every club in the world.

Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos to join PSG? Real Madrid star makes stunning revelation

The Indian cricket board, the world`s wealthiest of the game, was worth a colossal Rs 14,489.80 crore at the end of financial year 2018-19, having added Rs 2,597.19 crore to its financial might. This is as per the latest balance sheet available, accessed by IANS. 
 
More than half of the Rs 4,017.11 crore the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) earned under "income" during the year came from the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) -- Rs 2,407.46 --&nbsp;as per the balance sheet that is still not in public domain while the accounts of 2019-20 are still not ready.

However, it is pertinent to note that the BCCI is involved in several high-profile litigation cases, with Income Tax department, erstwhile IPL Kochi and Deccan Chargers franchises, Sahara, Neo Sports, and the World Sports Group etc. If all these cases/arbitrations go against the BCCI, it will be in deep trouble and may end up paying through its nose. 
 
During FY 2018-19, the second biggest income of BCCI came from grant of media rights of the Indian team -- Rs 828 crore. At the same time, the BCCI incurred an expenditure of Rs 1,592.12 crore during the year.

The BCCI`s net worth was Rs 5,438.61 crore at the end of FY 2014-15, and at close of 2015-16, the financial year during which it earned a massive Rs 2,408.46 crore, its net worth rose to Rs 7,847.07 crore. Then, the board breached the Rs 8,000-crore mark in 2016-17, taking its net worth to Rs 8,431.86 crore. And in 2017-18, the board added a colossal Rs 3,460.75 crore in just one year to take its worth to Rs 11,892.61 crore. And, now, after the finalisation of the 2018-19 balance sheet, the worth has shot up to Rs 14,889.80 crore. 
 
"As per the Societies Act, under which the BCCI is registered, it should submit its balance sheet within six months of the end of each financial year, besides sharing it with its members (state associations), and the International Cricket Council. Without submitting its balance sheet with the ICC, the BCCI will not get its share of distributions from the world body," a source told IANS. 
 
The BCCI`s net worth includes, amongst other heads, its bank balance, fixed deposits, and fixed assets etc. Of the BCCI`s Rs 14,489.80 crore net worth, as on March 31, 2019, the main sources include general fund that stands at Rs 3,906.88 crore and earmarked funds, which are Rs 3,243.41 crore. 
 
Apart from the IPL, the other main sources of income in 2018-19, according the balance sheet, were the men`s senior international tours/tournaments hosted in India (Rs 446.26 crore), interest from the banks (Rs 290.73 crore), and income from the ICC/Asian Cricket Council (Rs 25.03 crore).

Over the last few years, the BCCI`s income has gone up chiefly because of the sale of the media rights of the Indian team -- bilateral Tests, ODIs, and T20 matches played at home -- the IPL media rights, national team (jersey) sponsor; and series sponsor. 
 
The BCCI`s broadcast rights holder, STAR India, pays Rs 43.20 crore per international match played in India. During FY 2018-19, the BCCI hosted 22 international matches,&nbsp;seven Tests, 10 ODIs, and five T20s ? which makes it Rs 950.40 crore. 
 
STAR India also owns the IPL media rights having made a historic bid of Rs 16,347.50 crore for five years (2019-2022), and this translates into Rs 54.50 crore per match. 
 
The BCCI has a total of seven sponsors -- STAR Sports (broadcaster), Byju`s (team sponsor), PayTm (title sponsor), Dream11, Hyundai, and Ambuja Cement (partners), and kit sponsor (MPL Sports). 
 
Series sponsor PayTM gives Rs 2.42 crore per match; national team jersey sponsor Oppo furnishes Rs 4.61 crore per match, before Byju`s took over (September 5, 2019, to March 31, 2022). 
 
As is evident from the above, the BCCI draws its financial might from players and their performances as a team. India, led by Virat Kohli, have a glamorous team and that too is a big attraction for sponsors, despite the market sentiment down at the moment due to Covid pandemic. 
 
At times, however, the BCCI has struggled to find sponsors. The most recent case is of the kit sponsorship deal with Nike that ended after almost 14 years in September last year. There were not many takers for the vacant premium slot. The board eventually entered into a three-year deal with MPL Sports at a much discounted per-match rate.

The Indian cricket board, the world`s wealthiest of the game, was worth a colossal Rs 14,489.80 crore at the end of financial year 2018-19, having added Rs 2,597.

The Indian cricket board, the world`s wealthiest of the game, was worth a colossal Rs 14,489.80 crore at the end of financial year 2018-19, having added Rs 2,597.19 crore to its financial might. This is as per the latest balance sheet available, accessed by IANS. More than half of the Rs 4,017.11 crore the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) earned under "income" during the year came from the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) -- Rs 2,407.46 -- as per the balance sheet that is still not in public domain while the accounts of 2019-20 are still not ready. However, it is pertinent to note that the BCCI is involved in several high-profile litigation cases, with Income Tax department, erstwhile IPL Kochi and Deccan Chargers franchises, Sahara, Neo Sports, and the World Sports Group etc. If all these cases/arbitrations go against the BCCI, it will be in deep trouble and may end up paying through its nose. During FY 2018-19, the second biggest income of BCCI came from grant of media rights of the Indian team -- Rs 828 crore. At the same time, the BCCI incurred an expenditure of Rs 1,592.12 crore during the year. The BCCI`s net worth was Rs 5,438.61 crore at the end of FY 2014-15, and at close of 2015-16, the financial year during which it earned a massive Rs 2,408.46 crore, its net worth rose to Rs 7,847.07 crore. Then, the board breached the Rs 8,000-crore mark in 2016-17, taking its net worth to Rs 8,431.86 crore. And in 2017-18, the board added a colossal Rs 3,460.75 crore in just one year to take its worth to Rs 11,892.61 crore. And, now, after the finalisation of the 2018-19 balance sheet, the worth has shot up to Rs 14,889.80 crore. "As per the Societies Act, under which the BCCI is registered, it should submit its balance sheet within six months of the end of each financial year, besides sharing it with its members (state associations), and the International Cricket Council. Without submitting its balance sheet with the ICC, the BCCI will not get its share of distributions from the world body," a source told IANS. The BCCI`s net worth includes, amongst other heads, its bank balance, fixed deposits, and fixed assets etc. Of the BCCI`s Rs 14,489.80 crore net worth, as on March 31, 2019, the main sources include general fund that stands at Rs 3,906.88 crore and earmarked funds, which are Rs 3,243.41 crore. Apart from the IPL, the other main sources of income in 2018-19, according the balance sheet, were the men`s senior international tours/tournaments hosted in India (Rs 446.26 crore), interest from the banks (Rs 290.73 crore), and income from the ICC/Asian Cricket Council (Rs 25.03 crore). Over the last few years, the BCCI`s income has gone up chiefly because of the sale of the media rights of the Indian team -- bilateral Tests, ODIs, and T20 matches played at home -- the IPL media rights, national team (jersey) sponsor; and series sponsor. The BCCI`s broadcast rights holder, STAR India, pays Rs 43.20 crore per international match played in India. During FY 2018-19, the BCCI hosted 22 international matches, seven Tests, 10 ODIs, and five T20s ? which makes it Rs 950.40 crore. STAR India also owns the IPL media rights having made a historic bid of Rs 16,347.50 crore for five years (2019-2022), and this translates into Rs 54.50 crore per match. The BCCI has a total of seven sponsors -- STAR Sports (broadcaster), Byju`s (team sponsor), PayTm (title sponsor), Dream11, Hyundai, and Ambuja Cement (partners), and kit sponsor (MPL Sports). Series sponsor PayTM gives Rs 2.42 crore per match; national team jersey sponsor Oppo furnishes Rs 4.61 crore per match, before Byju`s took over (September 5, 2019, to March 31, 2022). As is evident from the above, the BCCI draws its financial might from players and their performances as a team. India, led by Virat Kohli, have a glamorous team and that too is a big attraction for sponsors, despite the market sentiment down at the moment due to Covid pandemic. At times, however, the BCCI has struggled to find sponsors. The most recent case is of the kit sponsorship deal with Nike that ended after almost 14 years in September last year. There were not many takers for the vacant premium slot. The board eventually entered into a three-year deal with MPL Sports at a much discounted per-match rate.

BCCI now worth a colossal INR 14,489 crore

South Africa completed a sweep of their two match series against Sri Lanka as they strolled to a 10-wicket win on the third day of the second test on Tuesday.

South Africa knocked off a target of 67 runs without loss as openers Dean Elgar (31 not out) and Aiden Markram (36 not out) saw them to victory at the Wanderers Stadium – with two and a half days of the contest still remaining.

Success in Johannesburg followed a convincing innings and 45-run triumph in the first test in Pretoria last week and turns around a poor run of test form over the last year.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 211 in their second innings, surviving only 95 minutes of Tuesday’s morning session. They resumed their second innings at 150-4 overnight with a tenuous five-run lead but with captain Dimuth Karunaratne not out on 91 and hoping to set the home side an imposing target to chase in the fourth innings.

Karunaratne reached his 10th test century off 123 balls as the visitors began in aggressive fashion, but a misjudged pull shot saw the Sri Lanka skipper top edge Anrich Nortje to be caught by Wiaan Mulder in a major blow to their hopes, just 20 minutes into the day’s play. He was dismissed for 103.

“We wanted to turn the pressure over onto South Africa but unfortunately they bowled really well,” Karunaratne said afterwards.

Niroshan Dickwella, who scored 36, followed in the next over as Lungi Ngidi (4-44) took another crucial wicket, setting off an end to the resistance among the lower order.

Lutho Sipamla cleaned up the tail with three wickets in 12 balls, including bowling Wanindu Hasaranga for 16, to finish with figures of 3-40.

Sri Lanka, who won the toss and elected to bat, scored 157 in their first innings and South Africa replied with 302, with Elgar top scoring on 127.

“We wanted to get the new year off to a good start, and it was good to see our experienced batsmen among the runs as well as our young bowling line-up putting up their hands,” said winning captain Quinton de Kock.

South Africa now look ahead to their first visit in 14 years to Pakistan, where they will play two tests and three Twenty20 internationals later this month, while Sri Lanka return home to host England in two tests in Galle. The first starts on Jan. 14.

South Africa completed a sweep of their two match series against Sri Lanka as they strolled to a 10-wicket win on the third day of the second test on Tuesday. South Africa knocked off a target of 67 runs without loss as openers Dean Elgar (31 not out) and Aiden Markram (36 not out) saw them to victory at the Wanderers Stadium – with two and a half days of the contest still remaining.

South Africa completed a sweep of their two match series against Sri Lanka as they strolled to a 10-wicket win on the third day of the second test on Tuesday. South Africa knocked off a target of 67 runs without loss as openers Dean Elgar (31 not out) and Aiden Markram (36 not out) saw them to victory at the Wanderers Stadium – with two and a half days of the contest still remaining. Success in Johannesburg followed a convincing innings and 45-run triumph in the first test in Pretoria last week and turns around a poor run of test form over the last year. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 211 in their second innings, surviving only 95 minutes of Tuesday’s morning session. They resumed their second innings at 150-4 overnight with a tenuous five-run lead but with captain Dimuth Karunaratne not out on 91 and hoping to set the home side an imposing target to chase in the fourth innings. Karunaratne reached his 10th test century off 123 balls as the visitors began in aggressive fashion, but a misjudged pull shot saw the Sri Lanka skipper top edge Anrich Nortje to be caught by Wiaan Mulder in a major blow to their hopes, just 20 minutes into the day’s play. He was dismissed for 103. “We wanted to turn the pressure over onto South Africa but unfortunately they bowled really well,” Karunaratne said afterwards. Niroshan Dickwella, who scored 36, followed in the next over as Lungi Ngidi (4-44) took another crucial wicket, setting off an end to the resistance among the lower order. Lutho Sipamla cleaned up the tail with three wickets in 12 balls, including bowling Wanindu Hasaranga for 16, to finish with figures of 3-40. Sri Lanka, who won the toss and elected to bat, scored 157 in their first innings and South Africa replied with 302, with Elgar top scoring on 127. “We wanted to get the new year off to a good start, and it was good to see our experienced batsmen among the runs as well as our young bowling line-up putting up their hands,” said winning captain Quinton de Kock. South Africa now look ahead to their first visit in 14 years to Pakistan, where they will play two tests and three Twenty20 internationals later this month, while Sri Lanka return home to host England in two tests in Galle. The first starts on Jan. 14.

South Africa win second test for 2-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka

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