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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Watch: Karun Nair set to make Test comeback after eight years, says 'I am back' ahead of England series
Karun Nair is poised for an Indian team comeback after eight years, fueled by unwavering determination to play Test cricket again. Despite years away from the spotlight since his last Test in 2017, his ambition never faded. Nair aims to rewrite his unfinished chapter, crediting mental growth and enjoying familiar faces like KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna for support. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Krun Nair is set to make a comeback into the Indian team after eight long years. For the Karnataka batter, waking up every morning in this morning was about purpose.'My first thought every day was, 'I want to play Test cricket for India again.' That belief kept me going,' Nair said in a heartfelt video shared by the BCCI ahead of the first Test against middle order batter, who last played a Test match in 2017 against Australia, has spent years away from the spotlight. However, his ambition and hunger kept him going. 'There were times when I was just watching everyone on TV, wondering when I'd get my chance again. So when I walked into the dressing room and saw everyone for the first time, that's when it hit me — I'm back.'Nair, who scored a triple century against England in 2016 in a home series, was also a part of the Indian squad to England in 2018 but did not get a single seven years later, he's back and once again, India are touring England. The setting may have changed, but the hunger remains the same. For Nair, it's more than a comeback; it's a chance to finally rewrite a chapter that remained credits his mental growth for his resurgence. 'I've become more patient and forgiving of myself. I've learned to enjoy the small things and stay true to who I am.'Playing alongside state teammates KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna adds a layer of comfort. 'We've grown up playing together. It's nice to have familiar faces on this journey.'Nair signed off with determination. 'Hi, this is Karun Nair and I'm ready to go."
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Joyce-Butchers defends TikTok dance after heavy defeat
Jasmine Joyce-Butchers has defended her involvement in a post-match TikTok dance after Wales' heavy Six Nations defeat by Red Roses ran in 11 tries in front of a record Principality Stadium crowd of over 21,000 on prop Sarah Bern and Wales full-back Joyce-Butchers joined BBC Sport pundits for a live post-match interview and together performed a had done something similar with England fans after last weekend's win against Italy in York which went Joyce-Butchers' participation sparked backlash on social media after Wales had just lost by 55 points to their arch-rivals on home turf, with some calling it embarrassing and questioning the player's the three-time Olympian was quick to defend her actions."If we don't love what we do, then why do it?" she said on her Instagram."Yes I am upset, gutted, sad and disappointed with the result, but that doesn't mean I can't be happy, excited and smiling to see such an amazing crowd supporting us."Remember to be kind people and put your energy and effort into people who want and accept you for who you are." 'She doesn't need to sit in a dark room' Former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap was involved in the dance and said she did not have a problem with it as it was more about celebrating the occasion."We've got to let people be themselves and be the personalities they are," she told the Scrum V podcast."I feel for Jaz, I think some of the abuse that she's getting is not very nice and not really called for."She doesn't need to sit in a dark room. We're seeing a personality, she's obviously friends with Sarah Bern, they play in Bristol together."Everyone is entitled to their opinion. What we've always got to remember is women are different to men first and foremost and everyone processes their emotions differently and reacts in different ways."Rachel Taylor, another former Wales captain, said the dance was a "difficult one" to assess."It's just a bit of a strange response after a loss, but I just think their group mentality was to enjoy the day at the Principality and that's the sort of mood that they were in, but it's probably a strange one for some rugby fans," Taylor told BBC Radio Wales."The women's fans of the game are quite unique and quite different at times because of that relationship they have with the players, so it's probably a little bit more unusual from how the men's and women's rugby engage their fans."In the women's game the players have a unique opportunity to engage with the fans a lot closer and they really do share everything, they are so open on social media in terms of their personal lives and how they work." Another former Wales captain, Ellis Jenkins, also weighed in on the discussion on Scrum V."My first thought was 'I'm not sure how I feel about that' because it's not something I would have done when I was playing," he said."You've just lost an international game, but I am also a big believer that rugby in general almost struggles to grow because it hangs on to these old school 'values'."If rugby in general is going to grow as a sport you have to celebrate these individuals... you look at Marcus Smith, Finn Russell, Louis Rees-Zammit and they all come with loads of haters."Jenkins cited Ilona Maher's impact during her three-month stint at Bristol Bears, with one game having to move to Ashton Gate to accommodate demand for tickets to see the American superstar. "She's probably not amongst the best players in the world either, but her profile is what grows the game," Jenkins said."The women's game and the men's game is different."When I actually thought about it [the dance], it doesn't change the outcome of the game. As long as all the players are going hammer and tongs in the game and are taking it seriously."
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Australia thrashed in final ODI before Champions Trophy
Second one-day international, Colombo Sri Lanka 281-4 (50 overs): K Mendis 101, Asalanka 78Australia 107 (24.2 overs): Smith 29; Wellalage 4-35, Hasaranga 3-23Sri Lanka won by 174 runs; won series 2-0 Scorecard Australia were thrashed by 174 runs by Sri Lanka in their final one-day international before their Champions Trophy opener against injury-hit world champions were bowled out for 107 in pursuit of 281 in Colombo, sealing a sorry 2-0 series defeat against a side who did not qualify for the tournament in Pakistan and the United Arab Travis Head, Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk fell to seamer Asitha Fernando inside seven overs, Australia reached 79-3 before losing their final seven wickets for 28 runs - all to Sri Lanka's spinners on a slow, turning spinner Dunith Wellalage initiated the collapse by bowling Josh Inglis for 22 and ended with figures of Aaron Hardie was caught at slip off leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga for a four-ball duck in the next over and Glenn Maxwell was bowled for one by a turning Wellalage five balls added the wicket of Australia captain Steve Smith, lbw for 29, and finished with 3-23. Only a final-wicket partnership of 13 between Adam Zampa and Tanveer Sangha ensured Australia reached three figures. It was Australia's heaviest defeat against Sri Lanka in terms of runs and their fifth-heaviest against any Mendis hit 101 from 115 runs and Charith Asalanka 78 not out from 66 in Sri Lanka's 281-4."We have been outplayed but used a lot of players and got a lot out of it," said Smith, who is standing in as skipper for injured bowler Pat Cummins."It was a fine bowling performance by Sri Lanka and not a great batting performance."We will keep moving forward. Credit to Sri Lanka."Australia's build-up for the Champions Trophy has been hit by injuries to Cummins, bowler Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, plus Marcus Stoinis' retirement and Mitchell Starc opting to miss the first match is against England, who go into the match on the back of their 3-0 series defeat by India, on 22 Africa and Afghanistan are also in the four-team group.
