Tuesday, July 14
Arsenal missed an opportunity to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool after drawing 1-1 with Brighton. Manchester City dominated West Ham with a 4-1 win, while in-form Newcastle added to Tottenham's woes. Chelsea's struggles persisted with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.
Pakistan Cricket Board will send Saim Ayub to London for treatment after he fractured his right ankle during the second Test against South Africa. Ayub's injury has caused concern over his Champions Trophy availability. He will consult a specialist in London and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood will accompany him.
Virat Kohli interacts passionately with the crowd, especially after the dismissal of Steve Smith during the fifth Test against Australia. Kohli's antics reference the infamous 2018 sandpaper scandal, which saw Smith banned for ball-tampering. The incident tarnished Smith's image, despite his status as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation.
Prasidh Krishna’s stellar performance compensated for Jasprit Bumrah’s absence as he secured crucial wickets during Australia’s chase, notably dismissing Steve Smith. Rohit Sharma addressed retirement rumors, clarifying that he stepped aside for the SCG Test due to poor form, emphasizing the decision's sensibility. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh stepped up and delivered just as Bumrah is known to — making crucial early breakthroughs for his team.
Sanjay Manjrekar's statement, "When to retire is up to the player, but how long to play is up to the selectors," has sparked discussions about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s futures. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat, highlighting their inconsistent performances, has intensified speculation over whether they should step aside, leaving the decision to the selectors.
Australia's Steve Smith was dismissed for four runs, falling short of the 10,000 Test runs milestone during the fifth Test against India. Prasidh Krishna's delivery led to Smith's dismissal, with Yashasvi Jaiswal taking a remarkable catch. India was bowled out for 157 earlier, with Scott Boland claiming six wickets. India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, battling back spasms, was unable to bowl on Day 3.
