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Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Shubman Gill to face ICC punishment on captaincy debut? India skipper under scanner for potential rule violation
Shubman Gill's Test captaincy debut couldn't have started on a brighter note, but it can end on a stranger one. The 25-year-old not only led India with poise at Headingley on Day 1 of the first Test against England but also etched his name in history by becoming just the fifth Indian to score a century in his maiden match as captain. India's Shubman Gill in action (Action Images via Reuters) Gill's unbeaten 127 was a knock of elegance and control, coming off 175 deliveries and featuring 14 boundaries and a six. It marked his sixth Test hundred and his first outside Asia, a significant milestone for a batter who has long been earmarked as the future of India's red-ball batting order. His previous best overseas score was the memorable 91 at the Gabba in 2021, which helped India script a historic series win. On Friday, his partnership with fellow centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) laid the foundation for India's commanding 359/3 at stumps. But even as praise poured in for Gill's composure and fluent strokeplay, an unexpected technicality may cast a shadow over his captaincy debut. Penalty for clothing violation? According to the ICC's Clothing and Equipment Regulations, Gill could be in breach of Clause 19.45 for wearing black socks, a colour explicitly disallowed in Test matches. The rule, updated in May 2023, states that players may only wear socks that are "white, cream, or light grey" in the longest format. Any deviation, if deemed deliberate, is classified as a Level 1 offence. In such a case, Gill could be fined anywhere between 10 and 20 per cent of his match fees. However, the match referee holds discretionary power. Should Gill's choice of socks be attributed to unforeseen circumstances — like wet or damaged equipment — the matter might be overlooked as an unintentional lapse. Regardless of the outcome, the opening day firmly belonged to Gill. His presence at the crease was authoritative, his strokeplay assured, and his leadership unflustered.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
England opt for Ollie Pope at No 3 over Jacob Bethell for first India Test
England's Ollie Pope will know there is a viable rival for his shirt waiting in the wings should he struggle for runs at Headlingley. England's Ollie Pope will know there is a viable rival for his shirt waiting in the wings should he struggle for runs at Headlingley. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/Reuters Ollie Pope has retained his England place and will face India in the first Test starting on Friday, the 171 he scored against Zimbabwe last month having proved enough to hold off the emerging challenge of Jacob Bethell. Bethell's success in Pope's No 3 slot during the three-match series in New Zealand over the winter, when he scored a half-century in each Test and averaged 52, appeared to have made the position his to lose. Advertisement Related: Tendulkar v Anderson: two master craftsmen who gave more than anyone to Test cricket | Andy Bull However, the 21-year-old missed the first Test of the summer because of his Indian Premier League commitments, allowing Pope – who had dropped to No 6 in New Zealand while temporarily taking on wicketkeeping duties – to return to his favoured position and enjoy the benefits of incumbency. Before the Zimbabwe game, Ben Stokes hinted that Bethell would come straight back into the side once he was available, but the England captain later insisted his comments had been deliberately misinterpreted. 'It is unfortunate that you say something and it can get twisted to suit an agenda,' he said. Though Pope's performance at Trent Bridge is likely anyway to have secured his place at least for the start of this series, that Stokes felt the need to reassure in private him that he remained an integral member of the team would also have made it harder to then drop him. 'It was all good,' Pope said of that conversation. 'It's all noise to us.' Advertisement As expected England have chosen a seam attack with hugely different levels of international red-ball experience in Brydon Carse (who has five Test caps), Josh Tongue (who has three) and Chris Woakes, who has 57, with Stokes contributing in short bursts. England team (First Test v India, Headingley) Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir. On Wednesday Carse admitted there was 'no hiding away' from the callowness of the bowling group. 'Over a number of years England have had Stuart Broad and James Anderson as the two main bowlers, so it is more inexperienced,' he said. 'But a lot of the guys that have come in and played Test cricket over the last couple of years have started off well and that will give them a level of confidence. And someone like Chris Woakes, who has played a lot of Test cricket in different conditions against different teams, he's someone who brings a level of calmness to a group of bowlers.' Advertisement The absence of Broad and Anderson has also been the subject of discussion in the India camp. 'It feels so good when both of them are not there,' said their vice-captain, Rishabh Pant. 'They've been there for England for so many years, but at the same time they have enough ammunition as a bowling lineup. We've got to play our cricket and respect the bowlers and the opposition.' After the recent retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma this is a new-look India side, now captained by Shubman Gill. 'Obviously it's a new start for us. Definitely big people have left. Yes, there will be a gap,' Pant said. 'But at the same time it's an opportunity for us to build a new culture, or take the culture forward. Sharing knowledge with each other, having that care and love in the dressing room for each other, that's something we're looking forward to. The idea is very simple: look to play positive, brave cricket. You've got to keep finding ways to make your team win.' While all three of Tongue's previous Test appearances have come at home this will be Carse's first in England after a string of impressive performances over the winter was temporarily halted by an infected toe – an injury that prompted him to briefly consider amputation – that kept him out of the Zimbabwe game. 'Over the years I've watched a number of great games of Test cricket in England, and to be part of this group for the past eight or nine months has been really exciting,' he said. 'A couple of the guys have said this series is something else, that playing Test cricket in England is a different feeling. To be part of this is something I'm very excited about.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
David Coote charged by FA over foul-mouthed Jürgen Klopp comments
David Coote was sacked from his job as a Premier League referee in December and was banned by Uefa from the same post a couple of months later. David Coote was sacked from his job as a Premier League referee in December and was banned by Uefa from the same post a couple of months later. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged by the Football Association in regards to comments he made about Jürgen Klopp. Coote was suspended from his role by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) in November after a video leaked online showing him making foul-mouthed comments about Klopp. The 42-year-old was sacked the following month after a second video, published by the Sun, allegedly showed him sniffing what appeared to be white powder. Advertisement 'David Coote has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to comments that he made about Jürgen Klopp in a video recorded around July 2020 which appeared on social media in November 2024. It's alleged that the referee acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words contrary to FA Rule E3.1,' read a FA statement. 'It's further alleged that this constitutes an 'Aggravated Breach', which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality. Coote has, however, been cleared of any gambling misconduct following claims he discussed issuing a yellow card to a player before the match in question. Coote denied the allegations, describing them as 'false and defamatory'. Coote was banned by Uefa in February from officiating in European competition until 30 June 2026. The previous month he said struggles with his sexuality contributed to the 'really poor choices' that cost him his job.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Cocktails, canapés and million-pound horses set scene for Royal Ascot
FILE PHOTO: Horse Racing - Royal Ascot 2024 - Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Britain - June 22, 2024 Khaadem ridden by Oisin Murphy in action on his way to winning the 15:45 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo REUTERS FILE PHOTO: Horse Racing - Royal Ascot 2024 - Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Britain - June 22, 2024 Britain's King Charles during the Royal procession ahead of the races Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo REUTERS FILE PHOTO: Horse Racing - Royal Ascot 2024 - Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Britain - June 22, 2024 Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla during the Royal procession ahead of the races Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo REUTERS LONDON - In the gardens of a royal palace, Swiss billionaires, Qatari royals and the odd former footballer gathered on Monday night for a one-off chance to bag a racehorse ready to run at Royal Ascot the next day. Over 7.5 million pounds ($10.2 million) changed hands as bidders vied to secure one of 28 thoroughbred horses, 18 of which are due to compete this week for a chance to win a portion of Royal Ascot's 10 million pound prize pot. The Goffs London Sale, now in its 11th year, is an exclusive auction held in the grounds of Kensington Palace where anyone, providing they have a minimum 150,000 pound credit clearance, can bid for front-row access to one of the world's most prestigious sporting events. "You could be standing in the grounds of Kensington Palace at six o'clock and by two o'clock the next day, you could be at the parade ring alongside the British Royal Family with your own runner and your own colours," Henry Beeby, chief executive at the 160-year-old Goffs auction house, told Reuters. Top lot Ghostwriter, who holds an entry for the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday, went for 2 million pounds to football agent Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing while the second most expensive horse, Woodshauna, sold for 625,000 pounds to John Stewart of Resolute Racing - two of the biggest buyers in the sport. Joorabchian, who is known to be a big spender after dropping over 24 million pounds at a single sale last year, said his son had picked out the horse and that it had a good chance in the Hardwicke Stakes, a prestigious Group 2 race held at Royal Ascot. Danish entrepreneur and hotelier John Christensen said he bought Super Soldier for 390,000 pounds so his friends would have something to cheer on at the races on Tuesday. Last year's sale turned over almost 8.5 million pounds ($11.54 million) though Beeby conceded that was an exceptional year. Most years the London sale raises 3–6 million pounds, he said. Horses bought at the sale have some history of success at Ascot, though this is by no means guaranteed. The last time a graduate of the London ring won at Royal Ascot was in 2021 when Oxted won the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes while others, like Givemethebeatboys, sold in 2023, have been well-placed. JACKPOTS The most expensive horse ever sold there was the French mare, Sparkling Plenty, who had won a Group 1 in Chantilly just days before. She was sold outside the ring in 2024 for 5 million pounds, beating the previous top price of 1.3 million pounds. The sale acts as an unofficial curtain raiser for Royal Ascot where trainers and top horses from around the world will compete over five days in races worth up to a million pounds. Highlights include the marathon two-and-a-half-mile Gold Cup on Thursday as well as numerous top-grade races featuring some of the world's best racehorses. Horseracing may contribute 4.1 billion pounds to the British economy annually, but it's often a game of risk and chance. While jackpots, - like the 9,000-euro ($10,402) colt, Kodi Bear, who returned 500,000 euro when sold again around 9 months later - do happen, for most buyers, owning a racehorse is a luxury. And it can go badly wrong. An American-bred horse, St James Square, was sold for $2.4 million in 2018 and never finished better than sixth in five starts. "We're dealing in luxury items, nobody needs to have a racehorse," Beeby said. Like all commodity markets, thoroughbred sales are not immune to global trade headwinds and tariffs. And like many trading houses, Goffs is navigating trade tensions with the United States – Goffs' trade with the United States was around 10 million euro worth of horses last year --and the fallout from Brexit, which ended a tripartite agreement on the free trade of horses between Britain, France and Ireland. "We are indelibly linked to the worldwide economy but by the same token, this is an extraordinarily resilient global business," he said. "We could do without [tariffs], we're hoping they're a distraction rather than a barrier." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sierralta sees red as Chile's World Cup hopes end
Francisco Sierralta looks as Argentina's Leonardo Balerdi beats Arturo Vidal in the air during Chile's World Cup qualifying defeat last week (Image: Action Images) Francisco Sierralta was sent off only nine minutes after coming off the bench as Chile's World Cup qualifying hopes ended with a 2-0 defeat in Bolivia. The Watford defender was introduced at the start of the second half as Chile trailed to Miguelito's fifth-minute opener, but with a man advantage after Lucas Chavez saw red on 19 minutes after a high boot on the chest of Fabian Hormazabal was upgraded by VAR. Advertisement Francisco Sierralta looks as Argentina's Leonardo Balerdi beats Arturo Vidal in the air during Chile's World Cup qualifying defeat last week (Image: Action Images) Within 10 minutes of entering the fray though, Sierralta was heading back off the pitch after being sent off by referee Esteban Ostojich for a scything knee-high challenge on Robson Matheus. Chile's misery was compounded in injury time when substitute Enzo Monteiro capitalised after Miguelito's shot was spilt by goalkeeper Brayan Cortes. The defeat means Chile remain bottom of the CONEMBOL qualification table with just two wins and 10 points from their 16 qualifiers to date. The 28-year-old, who played the full 90 minutes in Chile's 1-0 qualifying loss to Argentina last Thursday, is now expected to return to Europe to complete his move to Auxerre.
