Latest news with #Devils
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
50 years later: how the World Cup launched cricket into mainstream consciousness
Just mention World Cup and instantaneously football chimes into memory. It is an organic mental reflex, as this quadrennial championship is perhaps the biggest draw in sport and on a par with the Olympics. But, equally, in those countries that were a part of the British Empire of the past, World Cup also means the one linked with cricket. And today (June 21) marks a special moment in the cricket World Cup's journey, as exactly 50 years ago, the West Indies won the inaugural trophy after defeating Australia by 17 runs at Lord's. Much water has flowed down the Thames since then while the willow game's premier tournament continues to evolve. Diverse notes Cricket as a whole has found its diverse notes in the permanence of Tests, fluidity of ODIs and hyper-kinetic blitz of T20Is. Still, the conventional World Cup consisting of ODIs has maintained its unique appeal over five decades. Back in 1975, Clive Lloyd's men, all muscle and mayhem, were the rockstars. It almost seemed pre-ordained that the stars from the Caribbean would seize the title. The same tournament, in the initial stages, also revealed a tentative approach from some teams. The first World Cup fixture, which pitted host England against India, witnessed Sunil Gavaskar remaining unbeaten on 36 from 174 balls. It was just that the classical Test opener got trapped in his shell. Years later, in a 1987 World Cup match at Nagpur, Gavaskar hammered an unbeaten 103 off a mere 88 deliveries against a stunned New Zealand. It was the Little Master's life coming full circle in ODIs. In the 1975 edition, cricket witnessed one of its greatest superstars make his presence felt. More than his batting, it was Vivian Richards the fielder who soared with his panache. He effected three run-outs in the final as the Aussies lost their breath. As the years rolled by, Richards, powerful shots and steely gaze, proved why he would always be seen as one of the greatest ever batters. The all-rounder element was also reiterated by him, as his off-spin was a handy option within a team that often relied on its speed merchants. The West Indies made it two-in-a-row by claiming the title in 1979, Richards pulverising the England attack with his unbeaten 138. Test matches, as a consequence of their five-day structure, often expose flaws and widen the gap between teams. ODIs, in contrast, shrink those spaces and allow even a David to dream about tripping a Goliath. Bowlers having a fixed number of overs often means batters are never subjected to the scrutiny that happens in a Test. Tipping point The tipping point was 1983, when Kapil's Devils turned the world upside down with their ecstatic victory over Lloyd's men in the summit clash at Lord's. A paltry 183 was defended, Kapil plucked an incredible catch to dismiss Richards, and for many, Balwinder Singh Sandhu castling Gordon Greenidge, while the opener shouldered arms, remains a nostalgic highlight. It was also a championship which featured one of the greatest ODI knocks, an innings that has acquired a mythical allure. Kapil's 175 not out against Zimbabwe, and this after his team was reduced to 17 for five, has been resigned to being embalmed in a few newspaper pictures because the BBC crew inexplicably never covered this game! When Kapil held aloft the World Cup at Lord's, it also launched a change in the power structure of cricket. It galvanised a new audience, expanded the market and soon commercial heft was vested in India, and to this day it remains that way. But beyond the financial pulls and pressures, Kapil's team stressed the value of quality all-rounders, and it is these players who gave him multiple winning options through the tournament. Historically, the World Cup has added layers to cricket and the way we interpret it. In the 1987 edition in India and Pakistan, Allan Border used the championship as a crucible to forge a strong Aussie unit. He held the cup at Eden Gardens, and it marked a decisive shift in Australia's fortunes which remain in the ascendant even today. Dean Jones propagated this adrenaline-thumping mix of frenetic batting, sharp fielding and some acerbic words at the opposition. It was a template that many players, including Virat Kohli, have adopted. Cut to the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and cricket found another dimension. New Zealand captain Martin Crowe promoted the concept of the pinch-hitter atop the order, through Mark Greatbatch, and was equally adept at slowing down things by employing spinner Dipak Patel when the opposition stepped out to bat. It was a championship which Imran Khan wrested for Pakistan even as he talked up young Inzamam-ul-Haq as the next great batter. The 1992 edition also had an aesthetic twist. The players donned coloured clothing. By this time, the World Cup was also seen as this springboard for teams, perceived as the lesser ones, to stun the critics. And 1996 was Sri Lanka's turn, as Arjuna Ranatunga's men upset the Aussies in the final at Lahore. In Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan, Ranatunga had three aces who could outwit any rival. The Big Three forms The next three championships (1999, 2003 and 2007) belonged to Australia, as Steve Waugh first and Ricky Ponting twice held the cup. Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath proved their mettle, and the Aussie conveyor belt brooked no opposition. The tide turned when India won the 2011 edition at home, with Captain Cool M.S. Dhoni lending his finishing touch even if it was Yuvraj Singh who set the entire base for India's bull run in that event. That Sachin Tendulkar, who first turned out for India in 1989, rates this triumph as the finest in his career is an indicator of how relevant the World Cup still is, both for emotional recall and as a behemoth among sporting brands. As the years went past, with the exception of England in 2019, it was normal service all over again, as Australia prevailed in 2015 and 2023, with the last being a heart-break for Rohit Sharma and Company at Ahmedabad. Through its continuing journey, the World Cup holds infinite value among players and followers. It is a truism that cannot be denied even in this age of the Indian Premier League and other T20 indulgences. It also throws up fresh heroes like Ben Stokes and Travis Head, to name a few. That a Kohli and a Rohit are perhaps stretching their ODI careers towards a hopeful swansong in the 2027 edition is further validation of the magnetic appeal of the World Cup. Even Javed Miandad dragged his career on until a tragic run-out in the 1996 World Cup quarterfinal against India in Bengaluru ended it. While bilateral ODIs and T20Is shrink and cricket veers towards franchise T20 leagues, the World Cup will remain this vital destination that determines a player's halo. And gratitude is owed to Lloyd's champions — those buccaneering men, elastic on the field and forever enduring in their appeal. That a Kohli and a Rohit are perhaps stretching their ODI careers towards a hopeful swansong in the 2027 edition is further validation of the magnetic appeal of the World Cup.
Hans India
a day ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Shubman Gill set to lead through tough transition
A new captain, a headstrong coach, a few from the old guard and some fresh faces will be determined to create a compelling narrative during the next 45 days when an in-transition India takes on an equally combustible England in a five-Test series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy starting here on Friday. That only three Indian teams -- Ajit Wadekar's batch of 1971, Kapil's Devils in 1986 and Rahul Dravid's sprightly bunch in 2007 -- have won a Test series in Old Blighty in the past nine decades doesn't make for a rosy picture. Neither does the fact that India's most devoted long-format cricketer of the past decade, Virat Kohli, has walked into Test sunset making the batting line-up look slightly thin on experience. For the 25-year-old Shubman Gill, this series will be nothing short of baptism by fire against an England side, which has changed the conventions of Test match batting under Brendon McCullum's coaching and Ben Stokes' captaincy. Gill's selection as India's 37th Test captain was more about what one could expect of him rather than what he has done as a batter and a leader in the traditional format. The 'Prince' does have his plate full and has a lot to prove. An unusually warm Leeds (maximum temperature on Friday could be 29 degree celsius) and the 8mm grass laden 22-yard surface at the Headingley isn't exactly a paradise for England's proverbial 'Bazballers' but this series will be about which batting unit blinks first under pressure. England's batting with Joe Root, owner of 13,000 plus Test runs including 36 hundreds, looks superior on paper compared to India as the visiting team's most experienced batter is KL Rahul (58 Tests, 3257 runs). But the presence of a peerless Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian bowling unit puts the visitors on even keel. This despite the pace spearhead being available for only three Tests. Despite the absence of Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who played his best Test cricket in the 2021 series, this could be India's best chance to put pressure on an English bowling line-up that wouldn't have the quality that James Anderson and Stuart Broad brought for two decades. While Karun Nair's comeback seems to be a given if one went by slip cordon's composition during practice, where he was stationed at first slip, there will be one more batting slot that needs to be fretted upon. Then there is the lure of playing Kuldeep Yadav, who can turn the ball irrespective of surfaces, but Ravindra Jadeja despite his shortcomings as a left-arm spinner in SENA countries is still a solid No. 7 batter.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Erik Haula returns to Nashville as Predators' rebuild for title defense
The Nashville Predators have brought back veteran forward Erik Haula , trading for him today from the New Jersey Devils . Haula joins the Predators in exchange for defense prospect Jeremy Hanzel and Nashville's fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft . Haula, 34, returns to Nashville four years after spending the 2020–21 season with the team. He had journeyed through several teams after that, including Boston and New Jersey. This deal reunites him with the Predators' system. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New mobile air conditioner requires no installation (search now) Air Condition | Search Ads Search Now Undo Last season with the Devils (2024–25), Haula scored 11 goals and 21 points in 69 games. He also added an assist in five playoff games. His contract has a $3.15 million cap hit and one year remaining. Live Events Haula brings a wealth of experience. Over 759 NHL games, he has scored 153 goals and 337 points while playing for teams including Minnesota, Vegas, Florida, Boston, New Jersey, and Nashville. He also appeared in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final with Vegas. Nashville's General Manager Barry Trotz said Haula adds both depth and experience. 'He brings great flexibility to our roster,' Trotz remarked, noting that Haula can play in multiple roles. For the Devils, acquiring Jeremy Hanzel, a 22-year-old defense prospect, provides future potential. Hanzel spent most of last season between the AHL and ECHL, posting 22 points in 61 ECHL games. He was originally a sixth-round pick in 2023 by Colorado. Along with Hanzel, New Jersey also gains Nashville's 2025 fourth-round draft choice. Analysts consider the trade a low-risk move for Nashville. Retaining veterans while adding more veteran firepower indicates a push for playoff contention. The Devils gain salary cap space and a young asset.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
2025-26 Stanley Cup odds: What the market says about the Rangers, Islanders, Devils
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The Florida Panthers are still celebrating their second consecutive Stanley Cup, but we're already looking ahead to next season around these parts. As is tradition, the betting odds for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup are already up at sportsbooks around the country, giving us an early snapshot of what to expect when October comes rolling around. There are no surprises at the top of the board, with the Carolina Hurricanes, Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche sitting neck and neck. Things get interesting in the middle tier as the Ottawa Senators (31/1) and Utah Mammoth (35/1) seem to be getting some love, while the Toronto Maple Leafs (24/1) are heading in the wrong direction after being priced as one of the favorites for the last five years. It's also a bit jarring to see the Boston Bruins (110/1) and Pittsburgh Penguins (280/1) so far down the board. 2025-26 Stanley Cup odds Team Odds Carolina Hurricanes +700 Florida Panthers +750 Edmonton Oilers +750 Dallas Stars +850 Colorado Avalanche +850 Vegas Golden Knights 12/1 Tampa Bay Lightning 16/1 Los Angeles Kings 19/1 New Jersey Devils 19/1 Winnipeg Jets 23/1 Toronto Maple Leafs 24/1 Washington Capitals 28/1 New York Rangers 29/1 Ottawa Senators 31/1 Minnesota Wild 34/1 Utah Mammoth 35/1 St. Louis Blues 40/1 Vancouver Canucks 50/1 New York Islanders 65/1 Philadelphia Flyers 80/1 Columbus Blue Jackets 85/1 Calgary Flames 85/1 Nashville Predators 85/1 Detroit Red Wings 100/1 Anaheim Ducks 100/1 Montreal Canadiens 100/1 Boston Bruins 110/1 Buffalo Sabres 140/1 Pittsburgh Penguins 280/1 Seattle Kraken 310/1 Chicago Blackhawks 500/1 San Jose Sharks 500/1 Odds via FanDuel Here's the picture that the betting market paints about the three local teams before the offseason kicks into gear: 3 Jack Hughes will be back in time for training camp. Bill Kostroun The lukewarm Devils (19/1) New Jersey was a trendy favorite going into the 2024-25 season, but another injury to Jack Hughes and a dismal showing down the stretch and in the playoffs has caused the market to cool on the Devils. They own 19/1 odds to win the Stanley Cup at FanDuel, making them the eighth-favorite. The Devils were thought to be 'a goalie away' from turning into a legitimate contender last summer, but a pedestrian second half showed there were more issues on this roster than just in the blue paint. They were left scrapping for offense after Hughes went down, exposing a lack of scoring depth on Sheldon Keefe's roster. Betting on the NHL? The good news for next season is that Hughes will be ready for camp, plus the Devils are all set on the blueline and in goal, allowing general manager Tom Fitzgerald to focus on finding more productive players to fill out the middle-six spots up front. As far as roster flaws go, the Devils really don't have a lot to worry about, which makes them an appealing bounce-back option. At the same time,though, it's hard to bet on them at this price until they find some support for Hughes. A swing for a player like Nikolaj Ehlers could cause the market to shift considerably. 3 Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers celebrates a goal with teammates. Robert Sabo for NY Post Which way will the Rangers (29/1) go? It seems like oddsmakers are hedging their bets on the Rangers right now. While 29/1 seems like a tempting price, considering where this team was 14 months ago, the Blueshirts have undergone a ton of change in the last calendar year and the dust hasn't settled yet. General manager Chris Drury freed up more cap space by trading away Chris Kreider, and he could create more flexibility by moving K'Andre Miller, but there are now more holes in this lineup than there have been in a long time. The defense looks suspect behind Adam Fox and Braden Schneider, and the middle six could use some serious work. That puts bettors in an interesting position. Do you wait and see if the Blueshirts can add what they need during the summer and risk losing out on this price? Or do you act now, hoping that Drury is aggressive in the offseason and has the Blueshirts among the favorites in the East by the time we hit October? 3 Mathieu Darche replaced Lou Lamoriello as general of the New York Islanders in May. NHLI via Getty Images Same ol' Islanders (65/1)? The only team that's listed at 65/1, the Islanders are between the Canucks (50/1) and Flyers (80/1), suggesting that they're not an also-ran, but not close to being a contender. In other words: More of the same from the Isles. It's easy to see why the bookies feel this way about the Islanders. They've averaged 88.25 points over the last four seasons, and they've not made any significant improvements to the roster — at least not yet. If you're looking for reasons for optimism, the Islanders were bit by some rotten injury luck last season (Mat Barzal played 30 games), so a healthier team should lead to natural improvement. Additionally, the Isles do own the No. 1 overall pick, and new general manager Mathieu Darche should have ownership's blessing to get creative in the offseason. Even if Darche is able to work some magic, it's hard to envision a world where bettors are rushing to back the Islanders before the puck drops. You can wait this one out. Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardiff Devils re-sign familiar trio
Mark Richardson, Ben Bowns and Ben Davies helped Great Britain win World Championship Division I Group A gold in May 2025 and with it promotion to the top flight of the Ice Hockey World Championship [James Assinder] Cardiff Devils have re-signed three more familiar faces for the 2025-26 season. Defenceman Mark Richardson will be back for an 18th season having last season topped 1,000 matches for Devils. Ben Davies and Ben Bowns have also signed fresh deals. Advertisement As a penalty specialist, Welshman Davies is a favourite among home fans and is now looking forward to a 12th Devils campaign. Netminder Bowns will be playing his 10th season in the Welsh capital, where he produced his career-best 92.73% save percentage in 2024-25.
