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News.com.au
17 minutes ago
- News.com.au
India look to maintain momentum against faltering England in third Test
An in-form India will continue their quest for just a fourth series win in England when the third Test at Lord's starts on Thursday. India levelled this five-match campaign at 1-1 with a 336-run rout of England in last week's second Test at Edgbaston. AFP Sport looks at several key talking points ahead of what promises to be a fascinating encounter: Will Gill still run riot? Shubman Gill has enjoyed a stunning start to his reign as India captain, with a remarkable 585 runs in his first two Tests as skipper after replacing the retired Rohit Sharma. At Edgbaston, thanks to innings of 269 and 161, the admirably composed and elegant Gill became the first batsman in Test cricket to make scores of 250 and 150 in the same match. So prolific has Gill been, he could now threaten Australia great Donald Bradman's record of 974 runs in a single Test series, after the 25-year-old also made 147 in India's five-wicket defeat in the opener at Headingley. "You've got got to give your opposition credit when it's due and for him to bang out as many runs as he has done in this game has been pretty special," said England captain Ben Stokes. One encouraging thought for Stokes, however, as he ponders how to get the better of Gill, is that Bradman's mark has stood for 95 years. Many batsmen have made blistering starts, only for the runs to dry up later on. South Africa's Graeme Smith started his captaincy reign with back-to-back double hundreds in England, at Edgbaston and Lord's, in 2003. Opening batsman Smith, however, managed just 93 more runs in the remaining three Tests of that series. Can Archer revive England's flagging attack? It has been over four years since fast bowler Jofra Archer last played a Test but the injury-blighted express quick now appears set to return at Lord's, where in 2019 he marked his debut by felling Australia's Steve Smith with a fearsome bouncer. Doubts remain over whether Archer can be the bowler he once was after such a lengthy lay-off. But England coach Brendon McCullum said: "He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket, but we all know what he's capable of achieving and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and improve on what he's been able to do already." Archer at his best would certainly give England a much-needed cutting edge. Chris Woakes has taken just three wickets at a hugely expensive average of nearly 97 apiece so far this series, despite being given the new ball. England great Geoffrey Boycott suggested the 36-year-old was now "past his sell-by date" but all-rounder Woakes has a fine record at Lord's, with 32 wickets in seven Tests at a miserly average of 12.90, as well as a batting average of 42.50. Bumrah returns Akash Deep proved a more than capable stand-in with a 10-wicket haul in Birmingham -- a return that will surely see him keep his place -- but it is hard to see how India can be anything but stronger with a refreshed Jasprit Bumrah in their side after resting the world's top-ranked Test bowler at Edgbaston. "He (Bumrah) jogs in, you will be thinking 'this will be 70 miles an hour' and it hits you at 90," former England paceman Stuart Broad told his 'For the Love of Cricket' podcast. Overseas players often raise their game at Lord's and Bumrah is unlikely to be an exception as the 31-year-old fast bowler bids to gain a coveted place on the dressing room honours board for the first time in his career.
West Australian
17 minutes ago
- West Australian
AFLW stars urge officials to take short term pain for long term gain in the face of massive losses
Melbourne premiership star Kate Hore is adamant ongoing investment in the AFLW will be worth it in the long run, insisting the elite women's competition will only improve in future years. The AFL has reportedly told clubs the women's competition is losing $50 million a year as it approaches its 10th season, which starts next month. League officials have made improving on-field performances the top priority for the AFLW, which is also facing declining crowds and television audiences. AFLW players are pushing for an expanded season, in which every team plays each of its opponents once, by 2031. But a review by league officials has reportedly showed that would come at a $200 million loss. Hore, a seven-year AFLW veteran, urged league officials and sponsors to have faith in the competition, which she believes is growing its on-field product each year. 'I'm super confident that the AFLW is an amazing competition already and we're only 10 seasons in, so I think we just need to keep investing, both as players and then more broadly as well, into the game,' Hore said. 'I compare myself as a player in my first season in 2018 and if I was that same player now I certainly wouldn't be getting a game. 'The standard and the investment from players is only growing, and the competition's only going to keep growing as the investment comes.' Hore, a three-time All-Australian and a premiership player in 2022, said the continuing influx of young players who have developed through talent pathways will lift the AFLW's standard. 'The skill levels are going to continue to grow and I've really seen that in our new girls and our draftees this year,' she said. 'They've been playing the game since they were five years old. 'I compare it to myself, I played from five until 10 (years of age) and then didn't play for 10 years. 'It's a pretty long time where I didn't get to develop my skills. 'These girls are coming through the pathways now ... it makes me really, really excited for the future.' Hore on Wednesday helped Melbourne launch a new sponsorship with Swedish automotive manufacturer Polestar, who will partner with the Demons' women's team this season. 'This partnership just shows that there's so many businesses and organisations that really want to help grow the game and support us girls,' Hore said. 'It's an investment really and the competition's growing. We're celebrating our 10th season but only nine years in, so the competition is going to continue to grow. 'Sponsorships like this show that there's real investment from organisations and businesses out there, which we really love.'
7NEWS
19 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Michael Voss responds after receiving vile death threats: ‘You don't belong here'
A reflective Michael Voss has issued an impassioned and detailed response after it emerged he received death threats from vile AFL fans who are frustrated with Carlton's form. The Blues slumped to 6-10 and effectively had their finals hopes dashed with a 56-point drubbing at the hands of arch-enemy Collingwood last Friday night, making it two consecutive 50-point losses in a row. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Michael Voss issues impassioned response to heinous death threats. The loss accelerated widespread criticism of Voss who, despite having a year to run on his contract, is under pressure to keep his job beyond 2025. And while some criticism of the 50-year-old is warranted, given their declining performances dating back to late last year, it was taken too far in recent days when trolls threatened a brutal end to his life. Asked about it at his weekly press conference on Wednesday, Voss reflected on how 'passion' for the game could ever get to this, and where motivation for the game more broadly should be coming from. After sharing a childhood story about his inspiration for the game coming from a Sherrin football he was gifted as a four-year-old by the captain of his father's old local club, Voss then juxtaposed his experience with 'the dark side of football'. 'I just used to smell it and always have it in my hands. It really inspired me ultimately to follow my dreams, and that was really impactful on me,' Voss said of his first brand new football, as part of a long monologue that lasted several minutes. 'And then I've also seen the dark side of football as well where we blame, we become victims, and it's sort of this environment where it's quite toxic, and we think showing passion is about anger, and it's not about that at all. 'So when you see both, it's what you choose. 'When I turn up, and I turn up for football and I turn up on the weekend, I look at that four-year-old and think about what families are and about communities and how we bring people together and what we want our environment to be. And that's what it's supposed to be about; it's supposed to be about bringing people together. And so, that is extremely important to me. 'And it's also about the 12-year-old who you want to inspire that next generation. So, when I look across the fence, I see the 12-year-olds and I see the 14-year-olds that have aspirations to be able to do this. 'So, when you turn up on the weekend and I do what I do, I do that for Carlton, I do that for the next kid that's going to be playing in the Carlton Football Club jumper. I do it so our football club can have this sustained success that we're all craving. 'But there's a way we need to behave and there's a way that we need to go about it, and when things are tough, you've got to show that support the right way, not the wrong way. 'Now, if that's a measure for some people on what it should look like, then I'm sorry, you don't belong here. 'And we'll move on and we'll make sure that we continue to bring a supporter base that will support in the good times, and it will support in the bad, and we'll continue to support our people to be able to do that.' Voss said he brushed the threats off when he first received them, but soon realised the wider impact they would have. 'I was dismissive at first, but there's a flow-on effect,' he said. 'The first thing you always think about is the person beside you or the family member or the team. 'Because as a result of what I do, you appreciate there's an element of scrutiny that comes with that, but then there's a part that's completely unacceptable, and I think we can all agree that that part is unacceptable, and we don't tolerate that as an industry. 'We leave that with the AFL integrity (unit) at the moment and I expect a pretty forthright response. 'But this is the current nature that we need to consider within the AFL environment, and we all have responsibilities; I have responsibilities, you guys have responsibilities here about what you write and your opinions you're able to create — and you've got to understand that the ripple effect is beyond just what your opinion is. It reaches deeper.' After showing patience with several questions on the subject to begin the presser, Voss then declared an end to the discussion on that topic, sternly asking reporters to move on. 'I am more interested in tomorrow,' he said. 'If you have questions about tomorrow I'd love to hear them. And I appreciate after four or five questions, it's probably enough. 'So, let's focus in on now what happens on the grass, that's what I'm really more concerned about, 24 hours out. 'It will get dealt with, we'll have those conversations that we need to behind the scenes, the support's been incredible — so we just move on to what happens on the grass now. 'And I know you'll respect my position on that and you won't go one more, right? So, let's just... you've got your answers, so let's move on.' The Blues play Brisbane at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night to kick off Round 18.
