Sri lankan cricket team arrive in Kolkata
Kolkata: Dinesh Chandimal-led Sri lankan squad on Wednesday arrived for their six-week tour of India, which starts here with the first of the three-Test series, beginning on November 16. Sri lanka will play three Tests, three ODIs and three T20 Internationals against Virat Kohli's India. The 15-member squad will hit the nets from tomorrow ahead of their two-day practice game against a third-string Board President's XI at the JU (2nd Campus ground), starting November 11. "They will take rest today and hit the nets tomorrow afternoon," the local manager added. The last time Sri lanka played Test matches in India was seven years back in 2009, a three-match series that they lost 0-2.
Malan shines as England struggle against CA XI
Adelaide: Top scorer Dawid Malan boosted his Test claims as England struggled to 278 for eight on the opening day of their four-day tour match against a Cricket Australia XI here on Wednesday. The Middlesex left-hander hit 63 in a disciplined 128- ball innings before a rare rush of blood cost him his wicket, attempting to cut through point only to be caught at slip in the final over of the pink ball day/night match. But Malan has probably done enough to cement his place at number five for the Ashes opener in Brisbane later this month after his second half-century in consecutive innings. Opener Mark Stoneman (61) and skipper Joe Root (58) made good starts but former captain Alastair Cook failed again with just 15. Malan helped revive the innings after the tourists had slumped to 195 for five following Jonny Bairstow's dismissal for nine in the 62nd over.
Injured Finn out of Ashes tour, replaced by Curran
Adelaide: England fast bowler Steven Finn will miss the Ashes series in Australia after medical scans revealed torn cartilage in his left knee. Finn was injured in practice last week in Perth shortly after the squad arrived in Australia and had already been ruled out of England's first two tour matches. Replacement bowler Tom Curran, who has played Twenty20 and One-day International cricket for England, was preparing to leave for Australia on Wednesday. A tall fast bowler, Finn has taken 125 wickets in 36 tests but has played only two of those matches in Australia, both in 2010. The Ashes series starts Nov. 23 at the Gabba in Brisbane. England has two more warmup games, including a four-day pink ball match in Adelaide starting Wednesday, to prepare for its Ashes defense.
India thrash Turkmenistan 3-0 in AFC U-19 campaign
Dammam (Saudi Arabia): India blanked Turkmenistan 3-0 in the last Group D match to end their campaign in the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers on a rousing note here on Wednesday. Skipper Amarjit Singh opened the scoring in the 74th minute, Abhishek Halder doubled the lead in the 80th and Edmund completed the tally with a strike in the 92nd as India dominated the proceedings for the better part of the game. The crowd that gathered at the Prince Mohammad bin Fahad Stadium chanted 'India! India!' as luis Norton de Matos' players registered their first win of the tournament. Dominating possession and making frequent forays into the rival citadel, the Indians created innumerable scoring chances in the first half but were somehow not able to break the deadlock. India's domination continued in the second half and even as Turkmenistan rarely threatened the opposition citadel.
SC to hear AIFF's plea on November 10
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on Friday a plea by All India Football Federation (AIFF) challenging the Delhi High Court verdict setting aside the election of NCP leader Praful Patel as the president of the sports body. AIFF's counsel mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Justices J Chelameswar and S Abdul Nazeer and sought a stay on the high court's October 31 order, which had also appointed former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi as the administrator-cum-returning officer to conduct fresh polls to the sport body. The counsel sought urgent listing of the matter contending that AIFF has to bid for hosting the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the last date to submit the bid was November 14.