AHMEDABAD: After combining to produce the most dramatic finish ever to a Cricket World Cup, England and New Zealand will meet again this time to open the 2023 edition in India.
England was awarded its first title four years ago at Lord’s on a contentious countback against the New Zealanders after the final finished tied and a so-called Super Over also failed to separate the teams.
The tiebreaker was a heavily derided and subsequently dumped countback of boundaries, giving England the narrowest of victories as it hosted the pinnacle competition in cricket’s one-day format for the fifth time.
The defending champions and runners-up will get the six-week tournament started Thursday at the 134,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This same venue will host the highly anticipated India-Pakistan showdown on Oct. 14 and the final on Nov. 19.
Top-ranked England arrived in India aiming to be just the third team — following West Indies (1975 and ‘79) and Australia (1999, 2003 and ‘07) — to win back-to- back ODI World Cups.
Jos Buttler has taken over from 2019 skipper Eoin Morgan, but England’s attacking approach – high risk, high reward – remains the same.
Ben Stokes returned from his short-lived ODI retirement to rejoin the likes of Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes – all players who can play multiple rules, thus allowing the batting to run deep.
England is coming off a series win over New Zealand at home last month, and a four-wicket win over Bangladesh in an unofficial warmup at Guwahati on Monday.
“We had a valuable outing in terms of bowlers getting to bowl and some batters getting time in the middle,” Ali said after the win over Bangladesh. “We are ready. It’s going to be a massive game (against New Zealand) ... They’re a dangerous side.”
Stokes is back as a specialist batter. Slotting in at No. 4, Stokes scored 182 from 124 balls in the series-clinching third game against New Zealand last month at The Oval, where England won by a thumping 181 runs.
Stokes was the key player in England’s victory in the 2019 final and his return to ODI duty only bolsters his team’s chances of back-to-back titles. However, he is not certain to play against New Zealand because of a sore hip.
Buttler, speaking ahead of his side’s final training session, said: “He’s got a slight niggle with his hip, but fingers crossed that it’ll be good news for us. We’ll see.”
England is spoilt for choices in terms of batting power, with Harry Brook’s chances of breaking into the starting XI linked to Joe Root’s form. The veteran Root has been a long-term leader in the England lineup but has posted only one half-century in his last nine ODI innings.
In its last ODI outing in India, back in March 2021, England lost a three-match series 2-1. It posted totals of 251, 337-4 and 322-9 in those three games at Pune, and Buttler’s lineup will be aiming to replicate those last two scores on a regular basis in this tournament.
For New Zealand, this tournament presents a chance to go one step further, without worrying about the boundary countback.
A simpler rule has replaced it: this time tied finalists will keep contesting Super Overs until there is a clear winner. But it’s too early for the Black Caps to be thinking about that, particularly after a run of injuries.
Veteran pace bowler Tim Southee’s thumb injury is likely to keep him on the sidelines until later in the tournament.
Kane Williamson, who scored 54 and 37 in the two warmup games, also won’t play the opener against England because he needs more time to recover from a long-term knee injury.
“I’m really fortunate to be a part of this World Cup. Five months ago, that didn’t seem a possibility,” he said after New Zealand’s warmup win over Pakistan. “There is still some time to go (to full fitness), and it is great to get through some batting in the middle.”
Tom Latham will lead the Black Caps in Williamson’s absence which, in turn, will allow both Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman to feature in the game.
The middle-order duo has become a vital cog for New Zealand in ODI cricket over the last two years, as they make good use of the last 20 overs with some impressive power hitting.
New Zealand also has Devon Conway to share Williamson’s run-scoring burden. The 32-year-old left-handed opener made his ODI debut in 2021 and averages 46 in 22 matches since. Conway also has extensive experience of Indian conditions, given he is a vital batsman for the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.
New Zealand is also well rounded in the bowling department, with spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner expected to perform will in the conditions. Left-arm pacer Trent Boult is part of the mix, despite relinquishing his full national contract, and it is surely to be his last World Cup for the Black Caps.
Since 2015, New Zealand has qualified for the semifinals of every ICC white-ball tournament, and reaching the last four would again be a minimum expectation for its golden generation of cricketers.
Cricket World Cup picks up where it left off, with England against New Zealand
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Cricket World Cup picks up where it left off, with England against New Zealand
- New Zealand and England were part of the most dramatic finish ever to a cricket World Cup final in 2019
- Both sides will face each other on Thursday at the 134,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
World’s best pool players arrive in Jeddah for $1m World Nineball Tour event
- $250,000 first prize, total pool biggest in event’s history
- Top Saudis in draw alongside world No. 1 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz
JEDDAH: The world’s best billiards players arrived in Jeddah on Sunday to compete for $1 million in prizes at the Saudi Arabia World Pool Championship 2024.
This is the first time the Kingdom has hosted a World Nineball Tour event and the $250,000 first prize and total pool are the biggest in its history.
A total of 128 players will compete in the event, which runs from Monday to Saturday at the Green Halls.
“The World Nineball Tour is a global professional pool tour committed to staging world-class international sporting events,” Emily Frazer, managing director of Matchroom Multi Sport, said on Sunday.
“We are delighted to announce our partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation. We are incredibly grateful … for this unique opportunity. We believe this landmark 10-year deal will provide the catalyst to developing the stars for tomorrow from this country.”
She added that the inaugural Saudi Junior Championship would run alongside the elite event, from Monday to Friday, at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal City Sports Hall in Jeddah.
Nasser Saab Al-Shammari, president of the SABSF, said: “This is a historical moment for Saudi Arabia as we are hosting this elite tournament for the next 10 years and we welcome world class talents to play live in front of our fans here.
“This is really extremely special for us to host the top stars but also we are very happy to see the best 13 local Saudi players take part in this international tournament, which will give them the experience of a lifetime.”
World Nineball Tour No. 1 and reigning champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz said: “The world championship in Saudi Arabia marks a historic moment for pool and I am really looking forward to defending my title among the world’s best in Jeddah.”
The Spaniard said that while he had been in the Kingdom he had also been able to watch the King’s Cup football final and see his favorite player, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Also in this week’s field are five-time US Open champion and 2022 world champion Shane Van Boening, 2018 world champion Joshua Filler and Europe’s No. 1 Jayson Shaw.
The field comprises the top 100 from the World Nineball Tour rankings and 28 wildcards, including Germany’s Pia Filler — the only woman in the event — and several Saudi players. Among the locals are Saad Aldress, Ahmed Al-Jabar, Khalid Alotaibi, Ahmed Fairaq, Khalid Al-Ghamdi, Hussain Mustafa, Ahmed Al-Ahmadi, Fahad Alharbi, Nawaf Shamardal and Othman Alzahrani.
The Kingdom’s No. 1, Al-Jabar, said he was delighted to be able to compete against the best pool players in the world.
“First of all, I am honored to represent my country in this elite tournament along with my other Saudi players and glad to have the opportunity to compete directly and experience a world-leading tournament right in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Fans of nine-ball pool can watch the tournament via Matchrooom’s broadcast partners, Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, and Saudi Sports Center.
Kylian Mbappe signs with Real Madrid for upcoming season
MADRID: Kylian Mbappe has signed every document completing his transfer to the LaLiga club Real Madrid next season, according to noted Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano on X.
The French striker made his decision in February to leave Paris Saint-Germain after seven years of playing for them. His contract was set to expire this summer making him a free agent.
Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid, HERE WE GO! Every document has been signed, sealed and completed.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 2, 2024
Real Madrid, set to announce Mbappé as new signing next week after winning the Champions League.
Mbappé made his decision in February; he can now be considered new Real player. pic.twitter.com/MMqEp1C0pK
Mbappe’s stint with Paris Saint-Germain has won him six Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups, two League Cups and a record five Player of the Year awards.
Real Madrid celebrated a record-extending 15th Champions League title on Saturday after defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley Stadium.
Madrid’s latest triumph came without a recognized striker after club icon Karim Benzema departed last year. The gap was filled by English midfielder Jude Bellingham, but by next season Ancelotti will have more fire power to call upon.
Mbappe is the name most wanted by Madrid fans after a decade-long pursuit of the man many believe to be the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s greatest player.
No marathon this time as Swiatek sprints into French Open quarterfinals
- Defending champion dismisses Anastasia Potapova in just 40 minutes with a crushing 6-0, 6-0 win
- Swiatek remains on course for her third consecutive French Open title and fourth overall
PARIS: After the French Open marathon came the sprint.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek swept into the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in just 40 minutes after a crushing 6-0, 6-0 win against Anastasia Potapova.
Swiatek won without even facing a game point against her. The match ended when Potapova hit a forehand into the net on the first match point.
“I was just really focused and in the zone,” Swiatek said. “It went pretty quickly, pretty weird.”
Their match started at around 11 a.m.
That’s just eight hours after men’s defending champion Novak Djokovic finished his five-set, 4 1/2-hour marathon against Lorenzo Musetti at just after 3 a.m. in the latest finish in tournament history.
Swiatek remains on course for her third consecutive French Open title and fourth overall. The top-ranked Pole will play Wimbleon champion Marketa Vondrousova after the fifth-seeded Czech beat unseeded Serb Olga Danilovic 6-4, 6-2.
They played on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the only other court with a roof. After five consecutive days with rain delays, play on the other roofless courts got underway on time.
Later Sunday, third-seeded American Coco Gauff took on unseeded Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and two-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz were in men’s fourth-round action.
Second-seeded Sinner faced Frenchman Corentin Moutet and third-seeded Alcaraz played No. 21-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Pakistan will look to be positive in T20 World Cup— skipper Babar Azam
- Pakistan, T20 world champions in 2009, reached semifinal and final stages in 2021, 2022
- Their preparation for this year’s World Cup includes losses against Ireland and England
Pakistan captain Babar Azam called on his side to stay in high spirits as they begin their Twenty20 World Cup campaign off the back of a poor run of form.
Pakistan, T20 World Cup champions in 2009, have performed well in the past two editions of the competition, reaching the semifinals in 2021 and losing to England in the final in 2022.
However, their preparations for this year’s tournament in the United States and West Indies has been far from ideal, with a sobering defeat by Ireland in an eventual 2-1 series victory followed by a 2-0 defeat by England in a rain-affected series.
“Effort is in our hands, but results, we do not know,” Babar said in an episode of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast released on Sunday.
“How we present ourselves on the ground, our body language and how we communicate with each other will matter. We must be positive, so results will come... Conditions in the USA may pose challenges as we are going there as a national side for the first time.
“We are in the process of collating various cricket and match-related information from players who have played there, which can help and assist us in our preparations.”
Pakistan are in Group A of the World Cup and begin their campaign against hosts US on June 6. They will then take on arch-rivals India in one of the event’s highly-anticipated matches three days later.
Pakistan and India have faced each other seven times at the T20 World Cup, with Pakistan winning just once.
“An India-Pakistan match is always the most talked about; it is discussed too much wherever you go in the world,” Babar said.
“The players get different vibes and excitement. What will happen is that everyone supports their country, so the focus is on that match. The whole world is focused on the day when the India-Pakistan match is held.
“Naturally, there will be nerves, but we need to keep our focus, stick to the basics and play easy cricket. It is always a pressure game; the more you keep cool and calm, believe in your skills and hard work, then things get easier.”
Turkish club Fenerbahce announces Jose Mourinho as its new coach
- Former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will be unveiled as the new coach of Fenerbahce soccer club, the club said
ISTANBUL: Former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will be unveiled as the new coach of Fenerbahce soccer club later Sunday, the club said.
Following days of strong indications that Mourinho was to take charge of the Istanbul club, it said in a post on social media platform X early Sunday that the Portuguese manager was to attend a ceremony at its Sukru Saracoglu ground.
“Saracoglu is waiting for its new coach Jose Mourinho and its great fans at 19.00!”
On Saturday night Fenerbahce had posted a video message from Mourinho, 61, in which he told Fenerbahce fans he would “see you tomorrow in Kadikoy and let’s start our journey together.”
It’s Mourinho’s first job since he left Roma in January after two and a half years marked by winning the Europa Conference League in 2022 and a series of disputes with referees.
The Portuguese has not worked outside of the top five European leagues since 2004, when he left Porto after winning the Champions League and joined Chelsea, which was on the rise under then-owner Roman Abramovich.
Since then he has also coached Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham in a career filled with trophies and off-field controversy.
Fenerbahce finished second to fierce rival Galatasaray in the Turkish league this season and clashed with the Turkish soccer authorities, including by taking its team off the field in the Turkish Super Cup game in protest.
