Pace Talent Aplenty Worldwide

It is true that during the past 30 years there have been some real pace bowling greats. But I also think it’s UNFAIR TO SAY that there are currently not as many fast bowlers with the same quality. There have been some exceptional fast bowlers in recent years and there is also a very fine crop of youngsters emerging right now.

Breaking Ground

The spectator response and the overall conduct of the matches in Pune, Ranchi and Dharamsala — all new Test venues — during the India-Australia series ARE CRITICAL for the future of the longest version of the game in India.

With Federer And Nadal Sidelined, Some See The End Of An Era

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are preparing to return in 2017. Federer will be 35 years old. Nadal will be 30, which might seem promising in an age when SO MANY VETERAN PLAYERS have thrived, if it were not for all the miles on Nadal’s fragile knees.

A Smashing Comeback

“It was such an INTOXICATING FEELING to emerge champions. I was very happy to win the Man of the Series award and it brought back fond memories of my success at the junior World Cup (2003-04) when I was the Player of the Tournament,” says SHIKHAR DHAWAN.

A Scot's Spark Lights Up the Show

Laura Muir’s magic, Ivana Spanovic’s biggie and a long jump thriller were THE HIGH POINTS of the European Indoor Championships.

Team­mates And Rivals

In the case of the Don Bradman­Bill O’Reilly rivalry, religion is said to have played a role with the Protestant Bradman coming up against the Irish Catholics in his team, O’Reilly, Jack Fingleton, and Stan McCabe.

Why Worry Over The VAR?

The Video Assistant Referee System, the officials say, is to provide ‘minimum intervention and maximum benefit’. However, many star players and managers are sceptical about it.

Still A Top Draw!

Well, it continues to be one of the top three most prestigious events after the Olympics and the World championships.

Pre And Post 1980!

With the 2018 All­England Championship set to commence on March 14, Prakash Padukone and Gopi Chand, the only Indians to have won the tournament, recall what they call their defining moment.

The Will To Win Is Paramount

Bengaluru FC is always looking to compete for titles in India and Asia, and the fact that it has won a major trophy every year since its inception in 2013, says everything you need to know about the team’s ambitions.

Chennaiyin's Imprints Of Happiness

The players kick­started the initiative to paint Corporation schools in Chennai recently. Veteran Spanish defender Inigo Calderon, who has impressed both on and off the pitch, said he was enjoying taking part in the outreach programmes organised by the club.

Learning To Run The Rack

“Aggression is a strong point of Shrikrishna. He plays an attacking game, is very intuitive and comes out as a natural player.”

The Batra Mantra!

Manika Batra reflects on her golden journey in Gold Coast.

Be A Sport, Tell Me What Is A Sport

There is an argument for recognising pursuits involving physical activity, specialised skill and competition as “sports”, and those that do not as “games”. Soccer, tennis, cricket are thus sports, while snakes­and­ladders and monopoly are games.

Man City Reaches Magical 100

Pep Guardiola’s City, which pocketed the title with five games to spare, won against Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium, becoming the first Premier League side to accumulate 100 points in a season.

A Family's Fine Football Tradition

Young Albert Gudmundsson, just 20, has scored 37 goals in 57 matches for his club, PSV Eindhoven’s reserves, and is a product and child of Iceland’s football revolution in the 1990s.

The Underlings' Turn To Shine

Age is just a number for these young talented stars. Russia 2018 will see a plethora of youngsters lining up to steal the sunshine from their more experienced brethren.

Pythagoras In Boots

On paper, Holland’s centre­forward Johan Cruyff was not restricted in any way on the pitch, his roaming complemented by the movement of the players around him, nearly all of them his team­mates at Ajax.

England's All­-Action Hero

Bobby Charlton was at the peak of his powers during the 1966 World Cup, and England coach Alf Ramsey settled on a system that best­suited his style of play.

Back To Business

After two years out of the IPL, CSK has seamlessly returned to previous seasons’ consistency and success even as its old soldiers have rolled back the years.

The Aussie Spin Scholars

In Dubai, at the ICC Academy, where the Australian team went for a higher learning of spin, not only sharp turners, but also pitches that were flatter and slightly lower in bounce were provided for practice. S. Sriram, hired as SPIN CONSULTANT for tours to the subcontinent, was also present in Dubai, lending valuable insight into the bowling and playing of spin on helpful surfaces. ANAND VASU dwells on the implications of the sojourn.

Exemplary Cricketers They Were

Rajinder Goel and Padmakar Shivalkar are the recipients of the C. K. Nayudu AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT in cricket. Shantha Rangaswamy, Ramakant Desai and V. V. Kumar also received special awards. They were all absolutely wonderful cricketers.

Ego-bruising Exclusions!

At the annual IPL Player Auction in Bengaluru recently, Ishant — the most capped player in India’s Test contingent — had no takers. While it was a first of sorts for Ishant — who was one of the HIGHEST PAID INDIAN CRICKETERS in the T20 extravaganza ever since its inception in 2008 — Cheteshwar Pujara for the third time in succession remained unsold in the auction. AMOL KARHADKAR explores the reasons.

CAC And The Cackle!

While the CAC insists that they took Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli into confidence and that all STAKEHOLDERS were on board before the new set-up was formalised, it is difficult to believe that such harmonious and spontaneous consensus either exists, or is likely to last.

Inconsistency, It Rankles!

To become a great player takes hard work, commitment and experience. The current set of YOUNG SRI LANKAN PLAYERS don’t have these three factors at the moment and that is why you see the team performing inconsistently at the international level across all formats.

The Thrill-A-Second Rush

If athletics is the quintessential Olympic sport, then the sprints are the piece de resistance of the track and field programme. From Jesse Owens down to Carl Lewis, even the greatest of all-round athletes have found themselves celebrated principally for their skills over the shortest of racing distances. An OFF-BEAT LOOK at why sprints are so fascinating.

I Have Two Years And Four Fights Left In Me

In a free-flowing interview with DEREK ABRAHAM, boxer Amir Khan talks about his latest business venture, his MEMORABLE CHILDHOOD, success, family, fatherhood, legacy, Islam, friends and lots more...

Now, Arjun Ha(A)s A F1 Bow!

Arjun Maini is going places. Haas has picked him as a development driver and the Bengaluru lad CELEBRATED the appointment with a GP3 race triumph in Barcelona.

Brilliant Lewis

To be seven-tenths ahead of your team-mate on one of the shortest laps is just a SUPERLATIVE performance.

On The Right Track

Things are surely LOOKING UP FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL and it’s key that all of us support the cause, and keep the momentum going.