Author: Vividh Bharathi

BGT 2024-25: Hazlewood should return to Australia XI for Brisbane Test, opines Lee

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has thrown his support behind the veteran quick Josh Hazlewood to return for the Brisbane Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, citing his track record and impact.

Adelaide Test replacement Scott Boland delivered an impressive performance after Hazlewood was ruled out due to a side strain. Boland seized his opportunity, claiming five wickets in the match and dismantling India’s top order. However, with Hazlewood nearing fitness, he is likely to be included in the third Test.

Brett Lee believes that Hazlewood, provided he is fully fit, should return to the starting XI for the Brisbane Test. Lee acknowledged Boland’s outstanding effort but emphasised Hazlewood’s consistent performances and seniority.

“Look, it’s a tough one but you’d have to go back on form and what Josh Hazlewood has done. For me personally, Josh Hazlewood slips straight back in. If he’s fully fit he gets the new ball, or at least is definitely back in the team,” Lee told Fox Sports.

Boland’s appearance in Adelaide marked his first Test in 18 months, with his last outing coming during the third Ashes Test in 2022. Despite the long hiatus, the pacer delivered a stellar performance, taking crucial wickets of Shubman Gill and Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the first innings. He followed it up in the second innings by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Mohammad Siraj.

Boland’s five wickets came at a crucial juncture for Australia, helping them level the series at 1-1. Hazlewood had also made a strong start to the series, claiming five wickets in the opening Test at Perth, including four in India’s first innings.

“It’s unfortunate for Scott Boland because when he’s had his opportunity, he’s nailed it. I look at Scott Boland and I probably think he’s a bit like MacGill playing in the Warne era. MacGill took 200 Test wickets bowling when Shane Warne was either injured or out for other reasons. So he was a quality, quality bowler,” Lee said.

Lee further highlighted that Boland would likely be a mainstay in any other Test side around the world. “Boland could be in any team around the world. Any playing nation. But unfortunately, when you’ve got Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood, they’re still doing the business, and they’re in his way at the moment. It’s nothing against Boland because he’s bowled the house down.”

With the series locked at 1-1, Australia will look to take a lead in the five-match affair when they take field for the third Test from December 14-18 in Brisbane.

–IANS

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Harry Brook dethrones Joe Root as No. 1 Test batter

Dubai, Dec 11 (IANS) England’s rising star Harry Brook claimed the coveted No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s Test Batter Rankings. Brook’s ascent marks the first time in his career he has held the top position, dethroning his legendary teammate Joe Root.

The change in rankings comes on the back of Brook’s sensational form, highlighted by his eighth Test century against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The 25-year-old scored a sublime 123 and a quick-fire 55 in England’s commanding 323-run victory over the New Zealand, earning him a career-high rating of 898 points. Brook now edges past Root, who has 897 points, by just one point to take the top spot.

Brook’s rise to the top is significant, as it places him alongside cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, with both having achieved the equal 34th-highest rating in Test history. His consistent performances have been instrumental in England’s resurgence under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, a period marked by their aggressive “Bazball” approach to Test cricket.

While Brook and Root dominate the headlines, other batters also made significant moves in the ICC rankings. Australia’s Travis Head climbed six places to reach fifth, thanks to his brilliant form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. South African captain Temba Bavuma also made strides, jumping three spots to seventh after a stellar century against the West Indies.

Former No. 1 Marnus Labuschagne improved three places to sit at 13th, while Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal rose to 15th. South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne was the biggest mover among batters, leaping 15 places to claim the 23rd spot.

Jasprit Bumrah remains the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, but the competition is intensifying. Australian skipper Pat Cummins moved up to fourth, while New Zealand’s Matt Henry climbed to ninth following impactful performances.

Other fast bowlers also made notable progress, with Mitchell Starc rising three spots to 11th, Chris Woakes gaining two places to 15th, and England’s Gus Atkinson jumping four positions to 17th. South African spinner Keshav Maharaj re-entered the top 20, climbing to an equal 18th spot after his match-winning efforts against Sri Lanka.

India’s Ravindra Jadeja continues to dominate the Test all-rounder rankings, with Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz moving to second following his contributions in the Caribbean.

In ODIs, West Indies players Shai Hope and Gudakesh Motie climbed the rankings, with Hope moving to eighth among batters and Motie reaching ninth among bowlers.

Pakistan also had reasons to celebrate in T20Is, as captain Mohammad Rizwan rose two places to sixth among batters. Meanwhile, their pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi made a significant leap, gaining six spots to reach 20th in the bowling rankings.

–IANS

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Aryan remains trapped in borewell in Rajasthan’s Dausa, rescue efforts on

Jaipur, Dec 11 (IANS) Five-year-old Aryan, who fell into a borewell in Kalikhad village in Rajasthan’s Dausa district on December 9, remained trapped even after continued rescue efforts on Wednesday.

The prolonged ordeal has heightened the concerns of Aryan’s family and the administrative officials.

The boy has been stuck in the borewell without food or water since 3 p.m. on Monday. The teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local authorities, have been tirelessly working to save him. Officials now anticipate that Aryan could be rescued by evening.

Aryan’s mother, Guddi Devi, is in a state of shock, and the family members have refrained from eating since the incident. The child fell into a 175-ft-deep open borewell near his house while playing with his mother. Rescue operations began immediately as the officials arrived at the site. District Collector Devendra Yadav has been continuously overseeing the rescue efforts.

Rescue teams initially attempted to retrieve Aryan by digging 20 feet away from the borewell. Efforts using an L-shaped hook to pull him out also failed. Even attempts using makeshift “desi jugaad” methods did not succeed. However, the team did manage to prevent Aryan from falling further into the borewell by deploying an umbrella beneath him.

After earlier attempts failed, authorities initiated a Plan B. A piling machine from Sawai Madhopur is being used to dig a 4-foot-wide pit just 4-5 feet from the borewell. Once the pit reaches 150 feet, NDRF personnel will create a horizontal tunnel to reach Aryan and rescue him. Officials are optimistic that this plan will be successful.

According to NDRF personnel, the piling machine is digging at a rate of 20 feet per hour. The entire excavation process is expected to take around 7-8 hours, after which the rescue team will descend into the pit and complete the tunnel. Despite the challenges, the NDRF and SDRF teams are determined to bring Aryan out safely.

The entire village is holding its breath, hoping for a positive outcome.

–IANS

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PBKS’ Shashank excited to share field with Aussie star allrounders Stonis & Maxwell

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) batter Shashank Singh, who has been retained by the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, has expressed his excitement to share the dressing room with Australia’s premier allrounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell in the league next year.

Shashank had an impressive outing with Punjab Kings in IPL 2024, scoring 354 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 164.65 and having an average of 44.25, while establishing himself as one of the most reliable finishers in the competition alongside Ashutosh Sharma, who was sold to the Delhi Capitals for 3.80 crore in the mega auction.

“It’s a huge opportunity for me; both of them are among the best all-rounders in the world, especially in white-ball cricket. Stoinis is a medium-pace all-rounder and bats lower down the order, which is quite similar to what I do. Then there’s Maxwell—everyone knows he is a match-winner for Australia,” Shashank told IANS.

PBKS spent a total of 15.20 crore to acquire the services of the star Australian all-rounder duo Marcus Stoinis (Rs 11 crore) and Glenn Maxwell (Rs 4.20 crore) at the mega auction.

“I’ll get to learn so much from him, and he is also an exceptional fielder. It will be exciting to discuss a lot of things with him since he is one of Australia’s prime all-rounders. I’m eagerly looking forward to share the dressing room with them and building a good relationship,” he added.

The 33-year-old batter further said having a ‘smart and experienced’ captain in Shreyas Iyer will be beneficial for PBKS. Former Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2024-winning captain Iyer was sold to PBKS for a whopping Rs 26.75 crore, the highest-ever bid in the history of the tournament in the IPL 2025 Auction.

“Winning the IPL is a huge achievement, and Shreyas won the IPL last year. Even now, the way he is leading Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy shows his smart and youthful captaincy. It’s very beneficial for a team to have an experienced captain. Ricky Ponting and Shreyas were together in Delhi when they reached the IPL final. This is a great sign for PBKS that Shreyas will be leading the team,” said Shashank.

Shashak also revealed what discussion he had with new head coach Australian great Ricky Ponting. He said, “Before the auction, I had several discussions with Ricky sir about things like the batting order I should play in and how I can contribute better to the team. He has been a very smart player and is now a smart coach as well, with 10 years of IPL experience. I’m looking forward to sharing a lot of things with him and learning from his expertise.”

With Punjab Kings yet to win an IPL title, Shashank is keen to build on the success he got in IPL 2024 and contribute to the team’s victory in the tournament.

“The team has the same expectations from me as last year. My job is to go there, perform, and help the team win. I have the same expectations for myself as well. In the next IPL, I aim to give my best and lead the team to victory,” he said.

Reflecting on his aspirations of representing Team India, Shashank concluded by saying, “We should take it match by match. Of course, the ultimate goal is to represent the Indian team and play for a long time. For that, every tournament—whether it’s the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ranji Trophy, or IPL—is important. Maintaining fitness is also crucial, and I need to keep myself fit. Sometimes, we think too far ahead, which can impact our performance. That’s why focusing on one game at a time is a better approach.”

–IANS

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Danial Shakeel Patel takes India into FIFAe World Cup quarterfinals

Riyadh, Dec 11 (IANS) It has been a bittersweet start for India at the FIFAe World Cup 2024 featuring eFootball here at the SEF Arena in Saudi Arabia.

The highlight of India’s performance in the competition has definitely been Danial Shakeel Patel, who secured himself a spot in the quarterfinals of the mobile eFootball competition with four wins, one draw, and two losses.

However, in the team competition – FIFAe World Cup ft eFootball Console, India failed to make it to the last four, as the eTigers finished eighth in a nine-team group, with six losses, one draw, and a solitary win.

Patel will now face the third team from Group B, Turkiye, represented by Yusa Haydar Gokulu, in the quarterfinals of the FIFAe World Cup ft. eFootball- Mobile on Wednesday, which will be played in a best-of-three format. The winner of this matchup will face an opponent from either Malaysia or Japan in the semifinals at midnight.

Debuting at the international arena, Patel took the world of mobile eFootball by storm on Day 1 of the competition with his explosive attacks that caught his opponents by surprise. While he began with a 7-0 drubbing of England in his first game, the 17-year-old came up against two traditional Asian powerhouses in esports in the next two match-ups — Japan and Indonesia.

Patel made short work of Japan, a 4-1 victory, followed by a closely fought 3-2 win against Indonesia. He ended Day 1 with another convincing victory, a 5-0 result against Spain.

Day 2, however, brought a different set of challenges for Patel. With 12 points in the bag, Patel produced a dominant display against yet another esports powerhouse, South Korea. Though the match may have ended in a stalemate, Patel maintained 81 percent possession throughout the game.

Things went downhill from thereon, however, as he lost his next match 1-5 against Costa Rica, followed by a 0-1 defeat against Brazil. Despite the two defeats on Day 2, Patel finished with 13 points from seven matches, which earned him the second spot in Group A, just one point behind Indonesia.

Represented by Chinmay Sahoo, Saksham Rattan, and Ibrahim Gulrez, the Indian eFootball team finished eighth in Group A of the FIFAe World Cup 2024 featuring eFootball Console.

Day 1 was a case of a few near misses for the eTigers, who began with a 0-3 loss at the hands of South Korea, followed by a 1-2 defeat against Spain. They lost 0-1 against France in their last match.

The trio had somewhat of a positive start on Day 2, a 1-1 draw against Poland, but soon succumbed to Malaysia, Netherlands, and Indonesia by margins of 2-4, 1-5, and 0-3, respectively.

However, the eTigers picked themselves up in the last game against England, winning 2-0 to condemn their opponents to the bottom spot in Group A.

–IANS

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South Korea: Assembly Speaker announces parliamentary probe into martial law declaration by Prez

Seoul, Dec 11 (IANS) South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said Wednesday he has invoked the authority to conduct a parliamentary probe into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived imposition of martial law last week.

Woo also called for the prompt formation of a special committee to handle the parliamentary investigation, Yonhap news agency reported.

Woo told reporters that a parliamentary probe is needed to secure a “public testimony” from Yoon over the December 3 imposition of martial law.

A parliamentary official said the Assembly plans to conduct the probe as swiftly as possible given the severity of the situation.

–IANS

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Dulquer Salmaan-starrer ‘Lucky Bhaskar’ inspires four kids to flee hostel in search for fortune

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Life and art imitate each other, and this could be corroborated by the recently released Dulquer Salmaan-starrer crime drama ‘Lucky Baskhar’.

As per media reports, four school going kids in Andhra Pradesh have gone missing after watching the film. It’s stated that the kids were motivated by the film to leave their homes in search of money and fortune.

The kids reportedly told their friends that they would return only after earning money and cars like the character of Bhaskar does in the film. The four kids are identified as Charan Teja, Raghu, Karthik, and Kiran Kumar who are all studying in 9th grade. They all stay at a hostel in Maharanipet in Vizag. They were amused by the film to the degree that they all decided to earn money like the way the hero does in this film. The four came up with a plan to escape from the hostel and also got successful pulling it off.

CCTV footage from the hostel captured the boys climbing over the gate and fleeing. The distraught parents approached the local police, who filed a missing persons report. Currently, the boys are being actively searched across bus terminals, railway stations, and other public locations.

‘Lucky Baskhar’ which tells the story of a banker, who is burdened by family responsibilities and financial woes. He then seizes an opportunity to exploit loopholes in the banking system. What begins as a desperate bid to make quick money evolves into a calculated involvement in a larger stock market and money laundering scheme.

As the titular character rises from rags to riches, his character transforms, exposing arrogance and ambition. However, his wife, Sumathi, serving as his moral compass, questions his choices and forces him to confront the consequences of his actions.

–IANS

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Low-calorie, low-fat snacks see growth as millets surge in India

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Low-calorie and low-fat snacks are seeing significant growth as millets are being increasingly used in India, according to a report on Wednesday.

The report by NielsenIQ (NIQ), the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, showed that low-calorie, low-fat, and gut-health-focused products dominate, with one in five snacks linked to health.

Millets and mindful snacking are on the rise, alongside health-oriented consumer tech.

It also showed a cultural influence from South Korea. Personal care and food innovations inspired by Korea have gained traction, emphasising unique flavours and textures.

The report noted a growth in demand for sustainably sourced FMCG, and energy-efficient consumer tech tailored to local needs, urbanisation has been fueling the demand for innovative, high-quality products that simplify life.

NIQ Consumer Survey reveals that 34 per cent of urban consumers prioritise new product availability and 40 per cent — especially Gen-Z and women — actively seek innovation claiming to shop for new products before the others did.

“The appetite for novelty is undeniable. For brands, this presents a strategic opportunity to capture consumer interest and drive sustained growth through meaningful and timely innovations,” said Vidya Sen, Executive Director, Customer Success – BASES, NielsenIQ​ said.

NielsenIQ also celebrated the winners of the 2024 Breakthrough Innovation Awards, at a recent event, honouring brands that have disrupted the market and captivated consumers with exceptional new product launches.

These award-winning products launched between 2022 and 2023 and have successfully navigated an ever-evolving consumer landscape.

Since 2012, more than 900 FMCG brands globally have been recognised with this prestigious honour, including about 140 innovations in India across categories like food and beverages (48 per cent) and personal and home care (52 per cent). This year, NIQ also recognised tech and durables brands in India for their groundbreaking achievements in product development and market success.

–IANS

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Ishaan takes a dive to see the Great Barrier Reef amid Australian holiday

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Actor Ishaan Khatter, who is currently holidaying down under, shared a video of himself swimming in the water to get a glimpse of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system.

Ishaan took to Instagram stories, where he shared a mesmerising video of himself swimming over a tortoise, which can be seen closer to the coral reef.

“The great barrier reef and more friends…” he wrote as the caption.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.

Ishaan had earlier shared a video of himself petting a koala and had captioned it as “made a few friends.”

Last month, Ishaan dropped a few thirst trap pictures that showcased his ripped biceps and lean frame.

In the images, Ishaan flaunted his toned physique in white vest and jeans. Sharing the post, the ‘Dhadak’ actor emphasised the importance of staying hydrated in the caption.

He wrote, “Stay hydrated.”

Ishaan is gearing up for the release of his Netflix romance series, “The Royals.” The show boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Bhumi Pednekar, Nora Fatehi, Zeenat Aman, Dino Morea, Chunky Panday, and Milind Soman. The show is a modern-day Indian royalty rom-com series anchored by the chemistry between Bhumi and Ishaan Khatter.

Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, the series also stars Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Sumukhi Suresh, Udit Arora, Lisa Mishra and Luke Kenny.

The makers of the series on August 14 shared its teaser on Instagram, where Ishaan looked every-inch as royalty.

The post was captioned: “A royal feast for your eyes. Announcing #TheRoyals, coming soon only on Netflix.”

Produced by Pritish Nandy and created by Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy, known for their contemporary pop culture and spirited storytelling, had shared back then that ‘The Royals’ being their very first with Netflix had to be just the right blend of coming-of-age-India, Gen Z storytelling and feisty fun.

They added: “There is the inevitable romance of old royalty; monarchs without crowns, and the incredible drive of today’s startup warriors for whom crowns hold zero shine.”

–IANS

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Indian scientists develop 1st human gene therapy for Haemophilia A

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) In a significant medical feat, Indian scientists have developed the first-in-human gene therapy using lentiviral vectors for severe haemophilia A

The innovative therapy, developed by the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR) at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore — a translational unit of BRIC-inStem, and supported by the Department of Biotechnology, has demonstrated transformational results.

Early this year, scientists at the CMC-Vellore successfully conducted the country’s first human clinical trial of gene therapy for haemophilia A (FVIII deficiency).

The single-centre study, which enrolled five participants aged between 22 and 41 years, showed transformational results.

“The therapy successfully produced zero annualised bleeding rates in all five enrolled participants while enabling prolonged production of Factor VIII, eliminating the need for repeated infusions,” said the scientists, in the paper published in the peer-reviewed New England Journal of Medicine.

This effect was observed “over a cumulative follow-up of 81 months, correlating Factor VIII activity with vector copy numbers in the peripheral blood,” the team said.

Haemophilia A is a severe bleeding disorder caused by the deficiency of clotting Factor VIII. It significantly affects patients’ quality of life, leading to spontaneous bleeding episodes. Although rare, India bears the world’s second-largest burden of haemophilia, with approximately 136,000 cases.

Current treatments require frequent Factor VIII replacement therapy, which faces challenges such as high costs, venous access in children, and low patient acceptance.

The new gene therapy approach involves the use of a lentiviral vector to introduce a normal copy of the Factor VIII gene into autologous haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

These modified HSCs generate blood cells capable of producing functional Factor VIII over extended periods.

“Participants were monitored for six months following the gene therapy. Results showed a strong correlation between Factor VIII activity levels and the vector copy number in peripheral blood,” the researchers said.

“This achievement underscores the long-term efficacy and safety of the therapy, offering renewed hope for patients with severe Haemophilia A,” they added.

This pioneering study marks a transformative leap in accessible and effective treatments for resource-limited settings, unlocking new possibilities for managing previously incurable diseases. The therapy is expected to soon undergo a second phase human trial.

–IANS

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