International
Ashes: Hameed must know his defence is not standing up to Test cricket, says Lloyd
Former England cricketer David Lloyd said on Monday that opener Haseeb Hameed must be aware his defence isn’t standing up to the rigours of Test cricket. He added that his opener partner Zak Crawley was impressive in the fourth Ashes Test but has got areas to improve upon.
England hung around to force a draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday, denying Australia a clean sweep of the Ashes. After making 25 and 27 in the first Test at Brisbane, Hameed registered scores of 6,0,0,7,6 and 9 in the next three Tests. “I’d compare Haseeb Hameed’s situation now to an elite golfer dismantling his swing and starting again. Hameed must know his defence is not standing up to Test cricket and he hasn’t got enough scoring areas,” wrote Lloyd in his column for Daily Mail.
“My view is there’s no room for a monumental blocker in the modern game. Hameed’s strike-rate in Test cricket is 28 – Geoffrey Boycott was a rock solid opener against some of the best bowlers the game has seen and his strike-rate, with 22 centuries, was 35. Hameed needs to go back to Notts and start again. It’s not working,” added Lloyd, who coached England from 1996 to 1999.
Crawley, on the other hand, earned praise from many experts for his 77 in the second innings. Lloyd liked his knock but pointed out areas of improvement for him. “That was superb from Zak Crawley and, with that double hundred against Pakistan, is clearly a real talent. But he has to look at a couple of things. Don’t defend balls outside off-stump you don’t need to play at.”
“And the rule of thumb with front foot drives for a right-hander is they should beat mid-off on the right-hand side and mid-on on the left. Greg Chappell was the master. There’s evidence Crawley’s drives are not quite straight enough.”
Lloyd went on to say that it will be a huge shame if Jonny Bairstow is not fit enough to play in the fifth Test at Hobart, especially after Jos Buttler is flying back home due to a broken finger. “Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the last Test and it would be a huge shame if that damaged thumb stops Jonny Bairstow playing in Hobart and replacing him behind the stumps.”
“It’s usually a belter in Tasmania and you want to roll up the pitch as a batter and take it around with you. Jonny won’t want to miss it but, looking at the replays, his thumb was knocked sideways and backwards. He did very well to bat on.”
Lloyd praised England for holding on to draw the match. “England stopped the Ashes bleeding and put a plaster on their wounds but the fact is they were never in the game at any stage. Certainly they were never in with a chance of winning it. But it was a fighting effort and it was much better from England after being absolutely spannered in the first three Tests.”
He signed off by saying Australia’s declaration in second innings was ‘fearful’. “But that was a very negative declaration on the fourth evening from Australia. Pat Cummins could easily have dangled a carrot in front of England they’re batting all over the place in this series because they could still have controlled the game on that pitch. It was almost fearful! But they have dominated almost every session throughout the series.”
International
₹136 Crore Per Year To Luxury Suite At Training Ground: All About Kylian Mbappe’s Bumper Deal At Real Madrid
In a move that has captivated football enthusiasts worldwide, Kylian Mbappe has officially transferred from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid as of Tuesday.
This long-anticipated switch concludes months of speculation and excitement among fans.
Real Madrid’s Exciting Acquisition
Real Madrid announced on Monday that they had secured a deal with the French superstar for the next five seasons, merging one of football’s brightest talents with its most illustrious club.
This deal follows years of interest from Madrid, eager to bring in the player seen as the heir to Lionel Messi’s throne in the sport.
Financial Details of Mbappe’s Move
The 25-year-old Parisian will reportedly earn 15 million Euros net per season at Real Madrid, translating to over ₹136 crores annually. This figure breaks down to an impressive ₹2.6 crore per week.
While this is a significant reduction from the €75 million net per year he received at PSG, the shortfall will be offset by a massive signing bonus. The bonus, around €150 million, will be disbursed over the course of his contract.
Perks and Anticipated Debuts
Aside from his substantial salary, Mbappe will enjoy a private luxury suite at Real Madrid’s training facility and will sport the iconic No.9 jersey, previously worn by legendary striker Karim Benzema.
His anticipated debut for Real Madrid will occur during the preseason, with their first friendly against AC Milan at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 31.
His competitive debut is expected in the UEFA Super Cup, where Real Madrid will take on Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland, on August 14.
Mbappe’s Stellar PSG Legacy
Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 for €180 million and has since become the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Throughout his seven-year tenure in Paris, he consistently demonstrated his scoring prowess, netting at least 30 goals in six of those seasons. His move to Real Madrid marks the next chapter in an already illustrious career, as he aims to further his legacy at one of the world’s most storied football clubs.
International
ENG vs ESP, Euro 2024 Final: Spain Become The 1st Four-Time Champions Of Europe After Beating England 2-1 In Berlin
Match Result:
Spain triumphed over England with a 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 final, held in Berlin, becoming the first team to win the championship four times.
The match saw a tense first half ending goalless, but Spain took the lead shortly after the break. Williams Jr. netted the opener in the 47th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by England.
England fought back, with Palmer leveling the score in the 73rd minute, igniting hopes for the Three Lions. However, Spain maintained their pressure, and in the 86th minute, Oyarzabal clinched the winner with a decisive strike.
This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.
This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.
Preview of Euro 2024 Cup final:
A strong Spanish outfit will meet a pesky England side in the final of Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Spain battled France and defeated them by 2-1 in the semi-final, while England overcame the Netherlands by the same margin.
However, it wasn’t without a contentious penalty call that went in England’s favour. Despite not starting the contest as favourites, England’s ability to hang in there could work against Spain, who are seeking a 4th Euro title. By contrast, England are yet to lift the trophy.
A crucial stat which is in favour of England is the head to head battle, which the former lead by 13-10 against Spain in 27 outings.
International
Violent Clash Erupts Between Rival Supporters During Argentina vs Brazil 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has been marred in controversy as the match between Brazil and Argentina saw violent clashes between rival supporters before the start of it. The high-profile fixture had to be delayed by 30 minutes as the Marcana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro witnessed ugly scenes, with disturbing visuals emerging on social media.
With the Brazilian and Argentinian players lining up for national anthems, the camera turned towards the stands as a section of rival fans exchanged blows. The local police officials could be seen beating up a section of Argentinian fans with batons and it did not go well with the tourists. By pointing at the violent scenes, Messi and co. decided to walk off the pitch.
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