ISL Kolkata side to unveil team on July 7
Kolkata: They were the first team to unveil Atletico de Kolkata among the eight ISL franchises, and now the newest city outfit is all set to announce the name of their marquee player and manager here on July 7. The team partners – Atletico Madrid – are finalising the deal with a top European player and manager to fill up the two top positions, while they are also in the process of roping in two of the seven international players before the June 30 deadline. The team’s unveiling will take place in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and it is also learnt that top officials of the Spanish giants, including coach Diego Simeone, could be present on the occasion. (PTI)
Dhoni-led Indian team leaves for Eng
Mumbai: An 18-member Indian team led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni left for England on Sunday to compete in the five-match Test series, starting at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on July 9. The England tour commences on June 26 with a three-day game in Leicester. The visitors are to play one more warm-up three-day game against Derbyshire (July 1-3) before the first Test begins from July 9. The remaining Tests are to be played at Lord’s (July 17-21), The Rose Bowl in Southampton (July 27-31), Old Trafford (August 7-11) and The Oval (August 15-19). The Test series will be followed by a five-match ODI series and a Twenty20 International from August 25 to September 7. Test Squad: MS Dhoni (Capt), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Ishwar Pandey, Ishant Sharma, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Wriddhiman Saha, Pankaj Singh. (PTI)
Lankans steady after dismissing England
LEEDS: Sri Lanka’s bowlers needed just one hour to rip through England’s tail on day three of the second Test at Headingley on Sunday, bowling the hosts out for 365 before reaching 22 for no wicket in reply, a deficit of 86 runs. Resuming on 320/6, a lead of 63, England managed to add just 45 runs to their overnight score as captain Angelo Mathews took a Test-best 4-44 and Shaminda Eranga chipped in with 4-93. Dimuth Karunaratne (16 not out) and Kaushal Silva (six not out) were to resume after lunch. Sam Robson scored his maiden Test century as England dominated for much of day two but a Sri Lankan fight back, claiming four late wickets on Saturday, halted the hosts’ progress as they looked to build a commanding lead. (Reuters)
NZ spinner reported for suspect action
Wellington: New Zealand part-time spinner Kane Williamson has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action and ordered by the International Cricket Council to undergo official scrutiny within 21 days. Williamson was reported following New Zealand’s 10-wicket defeat in the second Test to the West Indies in Trinidad, the ICC said in a statement. Match referee Chris Broad has handed New Zealand officials a copy of the umpires’ report citing concerns over a number of deliveries they considered to be suspect, and saying they believed that his action needed to be tested. Under cricket’s rules, a bowler is allowed no more than 15 degrees of flex in the elbow during delivery. (AFP)
Former champ Wade slams Murray’s Mauresmo move
London: Virginia Wade has slammed Wimbledon champion Andy Murray’s decision to hire Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo as a joke. Murray rocked the tennis world earlier this month when he announced Mauresmo would succeed Ivan Lendl as his coach initially for the grass-court season. Former world number one Mauresmo is one of the only female coaches to work with a leading male player and Wade, who won Wimbledon women’s crown in 1977, is unconvinced the move will prove a success. The Scot will begin the defence of his Wimbledon title on Monday, the first British singles player to do so since Wade in 1978. “It’s hard to read him. Mauresmo was a total shock, I thought they were all fooling around. I think again he’s maybe trying to mess with everybody. I don’t know,” Wade said on Saturday. “You like to try to get behind people’s thinking but I can’t really with this one. You try to see what somebody’s going to offer that player. (AFP)