Sydney, Jan 8 (IANS) The fifth and final Ashes Test between Australia and England that concluded at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday scripted history as it attracted a record number of crowd to become the highest-attended SCG Test, breaking the record set in the 1946-47 Ashes.
While the 1946-47 SCG Test of the Ashes series witnessed a total of 195,253 people attending the game over the course of five days, the fifth game of the 2025-26 Ashes, held at the same venue, recorded a crowd of 211,032 till the fifth day as the hosts clinched the series 4-1.
Notably, the Aussies had won the five-game series 3-0 during England’s Ashes tour in 1946-47.
In the recently concluded Ashes series, Australia completed a dominant series victory with a five-wicket win over England in the fifth Test at the SCG, successfully chasing a target of 160 on a challenging final-day pitch.
England began the day positively after resuming on 302/8, with Matthew Potts striking a boundary off the first ball and Jacob Bethell continuing his impressive innings to reach 150. The morning session featured several DRS moments, including a successful review by Bethell, before Mitchell Starc wrapped up the innings by dismissing Bethell and Josh Tongue to finish the series with an outstanding 31 wickets.
Australia’s chase began briskly, led by Travis Head, as a 62-run opening stand laid a strong platform. England, however, remained competitive, creating drama through tight bowling, wasted reviews, and near misses, including a contentious caught-behind decision.
Josh Tongue removed both openers before lunch, and after the break, England struck again as Will Jacks bowled Steve Smith and Australia suffered a cluster of quick wickets, raising hopes of a comeback.
Despite late jitters, Cameron Green and Alex Carey steadied the innings with a crucial 40-run partnership. Carey’s boundary in the 32nd over sealed the win, completing Australia’s remarkable series triumph as Usman Khawaja capped off his farewell Test win with a memorable victory.
–IANS
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New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) Hockey India named the 65-member core probable group for the upcoming senior women’s national coaching camp to commence in SAI, Bengaluru on Sunday.
The group has been selected basis the recent performance at the 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship in Panchkula where Hockey Jharkhand lifted the title beating Hockey Haryana in a tense shootout.
While 30 players have been retained from the existing core group, players have been called-up from Assam Hockey, Hockey Chandigarh, Hockey Himachal, SAI, Hockey Bengal, UP Hockey, Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Karnataka, Manipur Hockey, Hockey Punjab, Kerala Hockey, MP Hockey, CRPF, Odisha, CBDT, Hockey Mizoram, Hockey Maharashtra and Hockey AP.
The Indian women’s team chief coach Harendra Singh was at the premier domestic national championship to witness the competition and scout new talent.
Speaking about the selection, he stated, “We saw some exceptionally talented players at the National Championships earlier this month and players have been called-up basis how they performed for their respective state teams. This camp with 65 players will give us a sense of how they can be prepared for the next level in their careers.”
“The group will be pruned down to 40 members for the next phase of FIH Hockey Pro League and from 31st March to 19th April, it will be a group of 40 players who will be in camp for the next international event. However, from 23rd to 30th April, we will be closely monitoring the larger group of 65 and basis how they fair, the list of 40 will be confirmed.”
The players retained from the existing core group includes, Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Bansari Solanki, Madhuri Kindo, Mahima Chaudhary, Nikki Pradhan, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Jyoti Chhatri, Jyoti, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Neha, Salima Tete, Manisha Chauhan, Ajmina Kujur, Sunelita Toppo, Lalremsiami, Sharmila Devi, Baljeet Kaur, Deepika Soreng, Navneet Kaur, Sangita Kumari, Vandana Katariya, Deepika, Preetu Dubey, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Deauty Dungdung and Mumtaz Khan.
The new comers called-up for the camp include, Samiksha Saxena, Komalpreet Kaur, Mahima, Kirti Deshmukh, Sapna Bhengra, Anjali Barwa, Anjna Dungdung, Meenu Rani, Niru Kullu, Kruthika Prakash, Suman Devi Thoudam, Sujata Kujur, Mahima Tete, Albela Rani Toppo, Pooja Yadav, Sakshi Shukla, Simran Singh, Nandini, Karmanpreet Kaur, Annu, Chandana Jagadish, Selestina Horo, Nikki Kullu, Kavita, Jyoti, Lotla Mary, Kajal Sadashiv Atpadkar, Rajni Bala, Aishwarya Chavan, Pinki Ekka, Dipimonika Toppo, Usha, Manju Chorsiya, Ashwini Kolekar and Hritika Singh.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Thursday heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking recognition of the Right to Sports as a Fundamental Right under Article 21A of the Constitution, with petitioner Dr Kanishka Pandey urging the court not to dilute the larger constitutional question concerning access to sport into the narrower concept of ‘physical literacy’.
During the hearing, the court observed: “This is a laudable request. This is absolutely essential. And now in this digital age, children are totally getting away from fields.”
The PIL, originally filed by Pandey, seeks constitutional recognition of sport on the premise that participation in sport is integral to the holistic development of children and citizens and should not remain dependent merely upon individual privilege, institutional discretion or competitive excellence.
After the PIL was filed, the Supreme Court appointed an Amicus Curiae to assist the court. A report was later submitted before the court in 2022. The petitioner, however, raised objections to some key aspects of the report, especially its focus on “physical literacy” instead of the broader concept of ‘sports’.
The petitioner submitted that sports, physical education and physical literacy are three different concepts and should not be treated as the same. He argued that replacing the Right to Sports with physical literacy would change the original purpose and scope of the PIL.
The petitioner also said that sports should not be viewed mainly through elite performance, medals, competition, and sporting success.
According to the petition, sport has a wider social and developmental character and can contribute to physical and mental well-being, personality development, discipline, leadership, confidence, resilience, teamwork and character building.
It can also play an important role in addressing stress, anxiety, negativity and social isolation, while creating stronger communities and encouraging social interaction, inclusion and cohesion.
Sport can therefore operate simultaneously as an instrument of education, public health, youth development, community building, social development and nation building, the petitioner submitted.
Pandey told the court that before arriving at recommendations on a matter of such far-reaching constitutional significance, it was important to first understand sport in its entirety and examine its multiple dimensions.
“The purpose of this PIL has never been limited to producing champions or winning medals. Sport is much larger than competitive excellence. It shapes individuals, strengthens communities and contributes to physical, mental and social development. Physical literacy, physical education and sport may complement each other, but they cannot substitute one another. Our humble submission before the Hon’ble Court is that before determining the constitutional place of sport, we must first understand sport in its complete social, educational and developmental context,” Pandey said.
He further said that with children increasingly moving away from playgrounds towards screens, recognising access to sport had assumed greater importance.
“At a time when children are increasingly moving away from playgrounds and towards screens, recognising access to sport assumes even greater importance. The Right to Sports is ultimately about ensuring that the opportunity to play does not become a privilege available only to a few,” he said.
The PIL seeks to initiate a larger national conversation on placing sport alongside education as an essential element in the development of children and young citizens. The matter remains under consideration before the Supreme Court.
–IANS
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