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All-rounders Stokes and Holder to lead from the front

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“Captaincy challenge – England’s Ben Stokes. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Two of the world’s best all-rounders in Ben Stokes and Jason Holder will be cap taining their respective sides when England face the West Indies in the first Test at Southampton starting Wednesday. Holder tops the ICC’s Test all-rounder rankings, with fellow paceman Stokes in second place as international cricket resumes for the first time since March 2 following the coronavirus lockdown. They both average in the 30s with the bat, with Holder’s bowling mark of 26.37 slightly more economical…

Lara warns West Indies ‘won’t last five days’ in England Tests

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“Former West Indies captain Brian Lara. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – West Indies great Brian Lara says the Caribbean side must try and beat “overwhelming favourites” England in four days because their batting is not strong enough to last five days. The three-Test series, which marks the return of international cricket after the coronavirus shutdown, starts on Wednesday in Southampton behind closed doors. Jason Holder’s tourists boast a powerful pace attack but their batsmen have struggled to post challenging totals in recent years. “They have to be able to pounce…

Stokes to follow Root advice and captain England ‘his way’

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“Ben Stokes will lead England in the first Test against the West Indies. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Ben Stokes says he will captain England his own way in the first Test against the West Indies following advice from regular skipper Joe Root. Yorkshire batsman Root is missing the opening match of the bio-secure series starting on Wednesday — the first major international cricket fixture since March — to attend the birth of his second child. Vice-captain Stokes, who will lead the side in his absence, was asked by reporters…

England confirm Pakistan Test dates

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“Test cricket is returning in England after the coronavirus lockdown. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England cricket chiefs on Monday confirmed dates and venues for Pakistan’s three-Test tour, with the series starting at Old Trafford on August 5. International cricket returns on Wednesday following the coronavirus lockdown when England play the first match of their three-Test series against the West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, followed by two matches at Old Trafford, in Manchester. The first match of the Pakistan series will also take place at Old Trafford, with…

West Indies unleash latest ‘Fab Four’ in England

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“Past and present – Former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner in conversation with current captain Jason Holder. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – West Indies are set to field their latest fast-bowling quartet during this week’s first Test against England in Southampton, with the likes of Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, captain Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph all vying to make an impact. The Caribbean has a long and proud history of producing top-class fast bowlers. AFP Sport looks back at some previous West Indies pace attacks in England: 1980: Andy…

India cricket captain Kohli faces conflict of interest probe

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“India captain Virat Kohli faces an inquiry into a potential conflict of interest regarding two business ventures. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – India captain Virat Kohli faces an inquiry into a potential conflict of interest over his positions in two business ventures. DK Jain, ethics officer for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said late Sunday that a complaint by a state association member will be examined. Sanjeev Gupta, a member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, has alleged that Kohli’s various posts are in violation…

Ganguly credits fitness for India’s fast bowling rise

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“Leading pace bowler: India’s Mohammed Shami. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – India’s cricket chief Sourav Ganguly says improved fitness standards and a change in culture have led to the country developing one of the world’s best pace attacks. Spearheads Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are part of a battery of five formidable quick bowlers that have helped change India’s traditional reliance on spin bowling. “You know culture has changed in India that we can be good fast bowlers,” Ganguly said in a chat hosted on the Board of Control…

‘Coronavirus can spread in air’: Over 200 scientists want WHO to recognise new risk

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COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ More than 200 scientists have called for the World Health Organization and others to acknowledge that the coronavirus can spread in the air — a change that could alter some of the current measures being taken to stop the pandemic. In a letter published this week in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, two scientists from Australia and the U.S. wrote that studies have shown “beyond any reasonable doubt that viruses are released during exhalation, talking and coughing in microdroplets small enough to remain aloft in the air.”…

Justin Trudeau turns down White House invitation amid pandemic

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COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has turned down a White House invitation to celebrate the new regional free trade agreement in Washington with U.S President Donald Trump and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Trump and López Obrador are due to meet Wednesday Washington, but Trudeau spokesperson Chantal Gagnon said Monday that while Canada wishes the U.S. and Mexico well, Trudeau won’t be there. “While there were recent discussions about the possible participation of Canada, the prime minister will be in Ottawa this week for scheduled Cabinet meetings…

Facebook, others, block govt requests on Hong Kong user data

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COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram will deny law enforcement requests for user data in Hong Kong as they assess the impact of a new national security law enacted last week. Facebook and its messaging app WhatsApp said in separate statements Monday that they would freeze the review of government requests for user data in Hong Kong, “pending further assessment of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with international human rights experts.” The policy changes follow the roll out last week of laws…