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ABC News
a day ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Live updates: First Nations Pasifika XV vs British and Irish Lions at Docklands stadium
The British and Irish Lions start their Melbourne Test week by taking on a First Nations Pasifika XV featuring Kurtley Beale and Taniela Tupou. Follow all the action from Docklands stadium in our live blog.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
How 'stars aligned' for the Wallaby that got away
Sione Tuipulotu didn't think he deserved to be a Wallaby when he left Melbourne six years ago but that hasn't stopped the British and Irish Lions star carrying a chip on his shoulder. So the Scottish captain, Lions centre and try-scorer on his historic night in Brisbane's 27-19 win on Saturday can appreciate the theatre ahead of his Victorian return this week. The fringe Melbourne Rebels talent, now the first Australian to play for the Lions in a Test for 115 years, can help clinch a series in his hometown. "It is kind of crazy," the 28-year-old said of the full-circle moment. "To go back to Melbourne this week and hopefully play in front of my family ... the stars have aligned for me." The Australian under-20s representative managed just a handful of games at the Rebels before an off-season move to Japan led to a new deal with Glasgow Warriors. Something clicked and, qualifying through his Scottish grandmother, he made his Test debut in 2021. Younger brother Mosese, a flag bearer at the Melbourne Test 12 years ago, shifted from the NSW Waratahs to Edinburgh and has since played for Scotland A. Also at the Waratahs, 21-year-old hooker Ottavio has represented Australia at a junior level and is on both Test nations' radars. "If you asked me when I first moved from Melbourne I'd say it is personal and I think there is still a chip on my shoulder," Tuipulotu said. "That is what has got me to this point, having that chip on my shoulder. But in terms of being bitter about Australian rugby, not at all. "I always say that I wasn't good enough to play for the Wallabies when I was in Melbourne. "It wasn't a selector problem. I wasn't good enough. "I owe everything to Scottish rugby because they made me the player I am today and now I get the chance to go back to Melbourne and play in my home city and hopefully close out a Test series." Tuipulotu won his much-hyped battle with Australian opposite Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, scoring the first try thanks to a delightful, long cut-out pass from Scottish flyhalf and Lions roommate Finn Russell. "Being around him made me not overreact to the occasion," he said of their connection. "It felt like we were playing a Scotland game together ... he threw a pretty similar pass a couple of years back against England. "When he was throwing it I thought about that." The Lions led 1-0 after Brisbane wins in their last two tours, winning 2-1 on their last visit and losing 2-1 in 2001 after both went to deciders. "All the attention is going to shift to how we can play better in this next game," Tuipulotu said. The Wallabies won the second half and the Lions only managed three points after their third try in the 42nd minute to breath life into a series that, early in the first half, looked ominously one-sided. "We left a lot of points out there in the first half and the game should have been done in 30 or 40 minutes. "I am sure (the Wallabies' fightback) will give them a lot of belief." Rob Valetini and Will Skelton will both be available after calf niggles kept them sidelined in Brisbane, while the likes of hooker Billy Pollard and scrumhalf Tate McDermott shone when injected off the bench. "I grew up with Rob Valenti and I know what he brings to the team, and guys like Will Skelton," the Scot said. "The good thing for us is that it was nowhere near our best performance and we still have a lot to work on. "We expect them to be desperate, but no more desperate than us because we are trying to close out a series."
India Gazette
24-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
VVS Laxman pays condolences to former India spinner Dilip Doshi, who passed away at 77
New Delhi [India] June 24 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman pays condolences to former India left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi, who passed away on Monday in London, aged 77. Doshi passed away due to heart issues in London, where he had lived for several decades. With a classical left-armer's action, Doshi scalped 114 Test wickets in 33 appearances, including six five-wicket hauls. VVS Laxman posted on his X handle, 'Really sad to hear about the passing of Dilip Doshi Sir. Always enjoyed talking about the game with him. Heartfelt condolences to Nayan and his entire family. May his soul rest in peace.' Former Indian veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh posted on his X handle, ' RIP Dilip Doshi sir. Condolences to the family.' Former Indian wicketkeeper/batter Parthiv Patel also posted on his X handle, 'I'm heartbroken and still in shock about Dilip uncle... he was truly special. Nayan, thinking of you all with love and strength.' In a post on X, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) condoled Doshi's demise, stating, 'The BCCI mourns the sad demise of former India spinner, Dilip Doshi, who has unfortunately passed away in London. May his soul rest in peace.' Doshi left his mark in the ODIs and finished with 22 wickets in 15 ODIs while maintaining an economy of 3.96. Doshi represented Saurashtra, Bengal, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire in first-class cricket and picked up 898 wickets in 238 appearances at 26.58. Doshi followed in the footsteps of the famous spin quartet of the 1970s and made his debut at the age of 32. At Nottinghamshire, the West Indies legend Garfield Sobers heavily influenced the left-arm spinner. He made a silent exit from international cricket in the 1980s and gave a compelling account of his cricketing days in his autobiography Spin Punch. Among his accomplished feats, Doshi played an immaculate role with his five-wicket haul in the Melbourne Test of 1981, which helped India orchestrate a memorable victory. (ANI)
United News of India
24-06-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
Dilip Doshi passes away in London
London/New Delhi, June 24 (UNI) Veteran Indian cricketer and former left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi passed away in London on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest. He was 77. The news of Doshi's demise has sent a wave of grief across the cricketing community. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed deep condolences, remembering him as a cricketer who defied conventions and left a lasting mark on Indian spin bowling. Doshi, who made his Test debut at the relatively late age of 32, went on to claim 114 wickets in 33 Test matches. He also played 15 One Day Internationals (ODIs), taking 22 wickets. Known for his classical left-arm orthodox bowling, Doshi was part of India's celebrated spin tradition during the early 1980s. One of the highlights of his career came in the 1981 Melbourne Test, where his disciplined bowling played a key role in India's historic victory against Australia. His accuracy and flight troubled even top-order batsmen. Domestically, Doshi represented Bengal and Saurashtra with distinction. He also had successful stints in English county cricket with Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire, where he further honed his craft under the influence of greats like Garry Sobers. After retiring from cricket in the mid-1980s, Doshi maintained a low profile but later chronicled his journey in a candid autobiography titled Spin Punch, offering insights into Indian cricket and his personal evolution. He is survived by his wife Kalindi, son Nayan—who also played first-class cricket—and daughter Vishakha. The Indian cricket fraternity has mourned the loss of a gentleman cricketer whose late entry into international cricket became an enduring story of perseverance and excellence. UNI BDN ARN
India Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Where does Virat Kohli, India's greatest, stand among the best Test captains?
Virat Kohli has arguably built a legacy that extends beyond Indian cricket and into the global game. He made his mark both as a batter and as a captain, before bringing his Test career to a close with an Instagram post on rise to the captaincy wasn't part of a carefully laid plan. He assumed the role unexpectedly when MS Dhoni stepped down after the Melbourne Test during the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Kohli had already had a taste of captaincy when he led the team in the Adelaide Test, with Dhoni sidelined due to injury. From that point onwards, Kohli never looked back. He went on to become the most successful captain of India in whites and one of the greatest leaders to have played red-ball cricket. In 2019, when India defeated the West Indies 2–0, Kohli surpassed Dhoni to become India's most successful Test stepped down from the Test captaincy after India's 1–2 series defeat in South Africa in 2022. Despite this, he remains India's most successful Test captain and ranks amongst the greatest in world cricket. He stands fourth on the all-time list, alongside legends like Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve the 18 captains who have led their teams in 50 or more Tests, Kohli boasts the highest win percentage (58.82), trailing only Steve Waugh and Ricky of Test captains with the highest win percentage Amongst Indian captains, Kohli stands head and shoulders above the rest. It will take a Herculean effort for future skippers to even approach, let alone surpass, Kohli's tally. In the list of most wins as Indian captain, Dhoni leads, followed by Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Rohit of most successful Indian captains India rising in SENAIndia began showcasing their class in overseas Tests under Sourav Ganguly, particularly in countries like South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and England—collectively known as SENA. Dhoni then took charge, but it was under Kohli that India truly started dominating in the challenging conditions of these the 2018–19 series, Kohli became the first Indian captain to win a Test series on Australian soil, with India securing a 2-1 victory in the four-match series. Out of the 24 matches Kohli led in SENA countries, India won seven, the most by any Indian captain. Dhoni and Pataudi each won three shining in SENAadvertisementVirat Kohli thrives under pressure, particularly in challenging conditions, and ranks as the third-highest run-scorer in SENA countries amongst Asian 48 matches in these regions, he has amassed 3,781 runs in 24 Tests at an average of 41.54, including 12 centuries and 14 first century in SENA conditions came in 2012 at the Adelaide Oval, while his most recent—his 12th—was scored in November last year at Perth Stadium. That innings helped India secure a 295-run victory over Australia, their largest win by runs in fact, Kohli holds the record for the most runs by an Asian batter in a bilateral Test series in SENA countries. He amassed 692 runs in just four matches during the 2014–15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring four centuries in the of top run-scorers amongst Asian batters in SENA countries advertisementKohli paves his way through adversityVirat Kohli learnt the rigours of Test cricket the hard way, managing just 76 runs at an average of 15.20 in his debut series. He was dismissed three times by the slingy Fidel Edwards, while Daren Sammy and Ravi Rampaul got him once struggles continued during the 2014 tour of England, where he averaged a disappointing 13.40, scoring only 134 runs with a highest score of past five years have also been challenging for the 36-year-old, as he has averaged just 32.09 across his last 37 Kohli was synonymous with faith. Even during lean phases, opponents knew they couldn't afford to give him the slightest opportunity to bounce back. His very presence on the field inspired belief and Kohli has faced his share of failures at various stages of his career, he consistently fought through adversity to establish himself not just as a world-class batter, but also as one of the most charismatic and influential captains in the history of Test InMust Watch
