3rd Test: ‘Your job was to try and stay at the crease’, says Gavaskar on Jaiswal’s dismissal

London, Dec 14 (IANS) Thomas Tuchel, England’s manager confirmed that Harry Kane would continue as country’s captain, putting to rest any speculation about leadership changes under his reign. The Bayern Munich striker, who has been a cornerstone of England’s recent successes, has retained Tuchel’s trust.

The German tactician, who was unveiled as Gareth Southgate’s successor in October, addressed the media on Friday following the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw. England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in Group K, with their campaign starting in March.

There is at the moment no need to think about change,” Tuchel told the reporters. “Harry was always a top captain for England. So why do you even think about it at the moment?”

“You cross the river when you cross the river. First, come January, we will be in touch with everyone and get the feeling for St George’s Park and also the players. And until March, there’s still a lot of football to be played, and then we will try to find the best group for the games that await.”

Tuchel, however, hinted at a holistic approach, suggesting that while Kane’s captaincy remains secure, all players will be given a clean slate when he assumes full responsibility. He emphasized the importance of independent decision-making, separate from Southgate’s era.

One player Tuchel is keen to reach out to is Arsenal defender Ben White, who last played for England during the 2022 FIFA World Cup but left the squad midway for personal reasons. White’s future with the national team has been clouded by rumors of a fallout with Southgate’s staff, which were later denied.

Tuchel appeared open to reintegrating the 26-year-old into the fold. “I will reach out to him,” Tuchel said. “It should be a clean start and a clear narrative. From January, I’ll be watching games and will try to speak to everyone, including Ben.”

With the qualifiers just 15 months before the 2026 World Cup in North America, Tuchel’s England project begins in earnest. The fixtures’ condensed schedule, starting in March, gives the new manager limited time to assess his squad.

Tuchel intends to begin his role by attending Premier League games in January, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the player pool. “It starts from January. I will be in the stadiums from January. I will also not distract the players, and they should just know, ‘Okay, the boss is there from January’,” Tuchel added.

“Then I will, of course, try to speak to them but also be respectful to the schedule that they have, because the schedule is busy in January, especially in the Premier League.”

Acknowledging the hectic domestic schedule, particularly in January, Tuchel pledged to respect the demands on players while building relationships.

Tuchel spoke enthusiastically about starting his England journey in conjunction with the World Cup qualifiers. He believes this framework provides a clear focus for the squad and ensures all energies are directed toward building a cohesive team for the long-term goal of global success.

“I like the framework, the narrative. I like it to start when the World Cup qualification starts, to have it as you kick off and go from there,” Tuchel explained. “It gives clarity in the selection process and in how we speak to each other and where we want to go.”

England’s draw offers a relatively straightforward path to qualification. Serbia, the group’s toughest opponent, will pose a challenge, but matches against Albania, Latvia, and Andorra provide an opportunity for England to fine-tune their systems. The five-team group also offers fewer fixtures, allowing Tuchel to focus on immediate and long-term improvements.

–IANS

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Sydney, Dec 11 (IANS) Sydney Thunder have strengthened their squad for Women’s Big Bash League season 11 with the signings of experienced batter Laura Harris and young gun Hasrat Gill.

Harris arrives in Western Sydney following ten seasons with the Brisbane Heat and Gill joins from the Melbourne Stars. Head Coach Lisa Keightley said both players were key targets in Thunder’s plan to build on their third-place finish in WBBL 10.

Harris, renowned for her explosive power-hitting and match-winning ability, brings a wealth of experience to Thunder. The 32-year-old boasts an impressive WBBL record, having played 123 matches, claimed two titles, and amassed 1,275 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 159.17.

“This opportunity with Sydney Thunder felt like the right step to reinvigorate my love for the game,” Harris said in the club statement.

“I’ve watched Sydney Thunder from afar, and there’s so much talent in the group. Players like Phoebe Litchfield have been really inspiring to watch – they just play with so much freedom.

“There’s also a lot of exciting young talent in the Thunder squad, and I’m looking forward to bringing a bit of calmness and experience to help everyone back themselves and play their own game.”

Keightley said Harris adds valuable experience and flexibility to the team.

“We’re thrilled to have Laura Harris join our squad,” said Keightley.

“She’s an explosive player who can take games away from the opposition with her power-hitting. Her experience and versatility will be a real asset to us, particularly in those high-pressure moments towards the back end of the innings.

“She gives us options and flexibility, whether it’s during a surge or in the death overs. We can use her strategically to make an impact wherever the game demands.

“Her flexibility is key—she can bat in various positions, depending on the game’s context. That adaptability makes her a valuable asset for us.”

Gill, an Indian-born leg-spinner, is one of Australian cricket’s brightest young talents. The 19-year-old has already demonstrated her potential, representing Australia at the underage level and starring in the inaugural T20 Spring Challenge earlier this year.

Keightley said Gill fills a crucial gap in Thunder’s squad. “We’re very excited to bring a leg-spin option into the squad for WBBL 11. Leg-spinners have been making a significant impact across the competition, and this is an area we identified as a gap in our team,” said Keightley.

“She’s an up-and-coming player who impressed us during the Spring Challenge. We’re eager to give her the opportunity to develop and make an impact for Sydney Thunder during the season.”

General Manager Trent Copeland echoed Keightley’s sentiments.

“Since I took on the role in March, one of our key focuses has been building a young core of players who can develop together and potentially represent Australia. A gap we identified in our skills matrix was a leg-spinner, and Hasrat Gill absolutely fits that mould,” said Copeland.

“She’s not just a talented leg-spinner; she can also bat exceptionally well. We’ve seen her dominate at the under-19 level, and she impressed us during the Spring Challenge. Everything I’ve heard about her – her work ethic, love for the game, and commitment – makes me confident she’ll be a fantastic addition to our squad.”

–IANS

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Coimbatore, Dec 19 (IANS) The Yuva Kabaddi Series Division 3 delivered a mix of nail-biting finishes and dominant performances on Day 5 at the Karpagam Academy of Higher Education.

Table-toppers Himalayan Tahrs made a strong comeback to seal a narrow 27-26 victory over the Dehradun Dynamos to continue their domination on top the standings.

The Dynamos led for most of the game, but a clutch tackle by Lovepreet Saini in the final minute turned the tide in favour of the Tahrs. Lal Singh led the raiding effort for the Tahrs with nine raid points, while Deepak Lohan scored nine raid points for the Dynamos but lacked support.

Ranchi Rangers registered their first win of the season with a dominant 58-44 triumph over Chambal Challengers. Prince Kumar Roy was unstoppable, racking up a staggering 21 raid points, while Rahul Gope added 17 raid points to the Rangers’ tally. Despite brilliant performances by the Challengers’ Ajay Maravi and Abhishek Kumar, who scored 19 and 16 raid points, respectively, their team couldn’t keep up with the Rangers’ relentless attack

The day began with an exhilarating match as the Ladakh Wolves clinched a hard-fought 41-36 victory over the Dehradun Dynamos. The game was evenly poised until the final 10 minutes, but the Wolves pulled ahead with a commanding finish. Anil Kumar’s Super 10 and Rajan Singh Manhas’ stellar all-round show, contributing seven tackle points and four raid points, sealed the win for the Wolves.

Despite Subham Deshwal’s Super 10 and Pankaj Sharma’s nine tackle points for the Dynamos, they fell short in the final moments.

Another game of the day saw Vasco Vipers secure a commanding 45-35 win over the Indore Invincibles. Prince shone for the Vipers with a phenomenal 17 raid points, while Prianshu and Sachin achieved High 5s in defense. Indore’s Ritin managed a Super 10, but the lack of defensive support left them struggling to keep up.

In the final match of the day, Tadoba Tigers roared their way to a 43-38 victory over Konark Kings, climbing to the second position in the standings. Shrikant Raut led the charge with 15 raid points, while Aniket Gawande registered a High 5.

Suraj Pawar’s impactful all-round display added to the Tigers’ dominance. Despite Super 10s from the Kings’ Rajesh Dehury and Niroj Kumar Sethi, they couldn’t prevent their team from slipping to defeat.

–IANS

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