News 11 // 14 Dec 2018, 15:17 IST SHARE Cain VelasquezWhat's the story?The Ultimate Fighting Championship fight promotion is now setting up for 2019. Making their debut on their new broadcasting partner, ESPN, they already have a whole new set of responsibilities.Now, it appears that they are making sure that their event in Phoenix on the 17th of February has a scorcher of a headliner, which will be sure to attract fans.In case you didn't know...When it comes to 2019, UFC has not made the best start.Their very first UFC pay-per-view event, UFC 233, had to be postponed, due to several issues. When Dominick Cruz received an injury and his bout had to be rescheduled for the pay-per-view, it was too much for the already floundering pay-per-view. It had to be cancelled.Now, it appears UFC is doing all in their power to make sure that the rest of the events are at another level. Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya at UFC 234 is certainly a big event.The … [Read more...] about Cain Velasquez’s Next Fight Decided?
Why Rishabh Pant should focus more on wicket-keeping than sledging
Feature 32 // 14 Dec 2018, 15:12 IST SHARE On a first day Perth pitch, the Indian team selection proved to be a tactical blunder. Kohli and the Indian coaching staff completely failed to judge the nature of the pitch and went with the hype of it being an out and out fast and bouncy surface.They packed the side with four fast bowlers and left out Ravindra Jadeja from the playing eleven. By lunch, the Indian team must have realized its folly and hence, one saw Kohli throwing the ball to the part-time off-spin of Hanuma Vihari, who promptly took a wicket and has already bowled more overs on the first day itself than he was expected to bowl in the entire match!One shudders to think what if Rohit Sharma was not injured, and played this game instead of Vihari. Thanks to a quirk of fate, and not by design, the inclusion of Vihari in the team has arguably given India a semblance of control on the first day. Not to forget, his role in helping the over-rate, … [Read more...] about Why Rishabh Pant should focus more on wicket-keeping than sledging
Hampshire named number one at Wakefield for 2019
Ryan Hampshire has been handed the number one shirt at Wakefield Trinity for the 2019 season. The 23-year-old signed a one-year deal with the club earlier this year and now looks set to claim the first-choice full-back spot at the Mobile Rocket Stadium. The number one shirt was vacated by Scott Grix when he departed for Huddersfield Giants, as part of a swap deal to bring Danny Brough back to Belle Vue.Brough has taken the number seven shirt for next campaign, left free by Liam Finn, who will play for League One Newcastle Thunder next year. New signing Craig Kopczak has taken the number 15 jersey while other new arrivals, Ben Reynolds and George King have been handed the number 25 and 22 shirts, respectively. Australian Jacob Miller will captain Trinity next year while Brough has been named as vice captain . Danny Kirmond, who has been team captain for the last six and a half years, will remain as club captain. Youngsters Jack Croft and Yusuf Aydin are among those to earn a … [Read more...] about Hampshire named number one at Wakefield for 2019
Premier League transfer rumours: Mike Ashley confident of Newcastle United deal, Manchester City want Leicester defender and Manchester United considering record breaking bid
Here’s all the latest rumours from the Premier League... Newcastle owner Mike Ashley says he is confident that a new £300million deal to sell the club will be finalised in the new year. (Express) And manager Rafael Benitez has been assured he will be given money for transfers in January regardless of whether the club will be sold. (Chronicle)Manchester City are planning a bid for Leicester City full-back Ben Chilwell in January with Benjamin Mendy still out injured. (Mirror)Manchester United are considering a record-breaking bid for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, with the Italian club asking for £100million for the centre-back. (Evening Standard)Tottenham are planning to steal Barcelona man Andre Gomes from under Everton’s nose by bidding for the 25-year-old midfielder. (Sun)Arsenal boss Unai Emery says he will have to sign a new centre-back in January after the Gunners’ recent injury-hit spell. (Mail)Real Madrid want to agree a £10million … [Read more...] about Premier League transfer rumours: Mike Ashley confident of Newcastle United deal, Manchester City want Leicester defender and Manchester United considering record breaking bid
Manchester rivals London to host ATP Finals beyond 2020
London faces competition from four cities, including Manchester, to hold on to the lucrative ATP Finals when the current deal ends in 2020. The O2 has hosted the event since 2009 but must beat off challenges from Singapore, Tokyo, Turin and Manchester. More than 40 cities registered interest in hosting the event but the ATP this morning narrowed it down to a five-city shortlist, with London still a frontrunner to hold the end-of-season finale to the men’s tour. ATP executive chairman Chris Kermode said: “There’s no question that London has set a very high benchmark and, with the final shortlist announced today, we believe we will be well placed to determine the next chapter of a tournament that has come to represent the absolute pinnacle in men’s professional tennis.” The presence of Tokyo, which hosted the event’s debut in 1970, on the list makes sense, with current event sponsor Nitto having its headquarters in the Japanese capital. But the … [Read more...] about Manchester rivals London to host ATP Finals beyond 2020