In a video on Facebook, she said a leg injury made her take this decision
Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Oct-2021
Eshani Lokusuriyage – ‘I was able to achieve those things because I had a good coach, a good captain, and good team-mates. I’m really thankful to all of them’•ICC/Getty
Allrounder Eshani Lokusuriyage, who was instrumental in perhaps Sri Lanka’s greatest ODI win ever, has retired from international cricket, aged 37. In a video on Facebook, she said a leg injury had prompted her to make that decision.”I’ve decided to retire from international cricket,” Lokusuriyage said. “However, I will continue to play for my club side – Navy. I want to take this opportunity to thank the fans who’ve been with me since 2013. Please continue to support me, because I’ll still be a club cricketer.”A right-handed batter, and right-arm seamer, who made her international debut in 2005, Lokusuriyage played 89 ODIs and 68 T20 internationals. It is for her heroics during the 2013 World ODI Cup, however, for which she will be most fondly remembered. Having taken 2 wickets for 49 against England after opening the bowling, Lokusuriyage thumped 56 off 41 to revive a flagging Sri Lanka chase (their target was 239), and delivered the team to the cusp of a thrilling one-wicket victory.Having won the player of the match in one of the World Cup’s biggest upsets, Lokusuriyage also starred in a victory against India days later, when she struck 56 not out off 31 and took a wicket.”It was in 2013 that people around the world got to know who Eshani Lokusiriya is,” she said. “I was able to achieve those things because I had a good coach, a good captain, and good team-mates. I’m really thankful to all of them. I’m so grateful for all the fans, and I ask them to continue supporting women’s cricket.”All up, she struck five fifties in ODIs, with a highest score of 65, and took 49 wickets in the format. She also has 36 wickets in T20 internationals. She last played for Sri Lanka in 2018. There have been no internationals for Sri Lanka’s women’s side since early 2020 for Lokusuriyage to be eligible for.
O Vasco apresentou, nesta quarta-feira, mais um de seus onze reforços para a temporada. O volante Matheus Barbosa respondeu às perguntas dos jornalistas e revelou que admira o ex-jogador e hoje comentarista Pedrinho, que sofreu com lesões e teve uma carreira de superação. Ele também exaltou a grandeza e o peso da camisa do Cruz-Maltino.
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– Eu estou encarando como um grande desafio, mas já tive grandes desafios na minha vida. De sair cedo de casa, de estar sempre procurando dar o melhor para a minha família. Cuidar dos meus pais, irmãos. Já vivi grandes desafios e aqui no Vasco não será diferente – disse, e acrescentou:
+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Carioca
– A camisa do Vasco é pesada é só de vestir ela já é um grande desafio. Acredito que todos os jogadores foram selecionados e tem capacidade para recolocar o Vasco na Série A. Vamos trabalhar muito no dia a dia. Eu estou encarando como um grande desafio, mas já tive grandes desafios, de sair cedo de casa e procurar dar o melhor pra minha família. Sei da responsabilidade que é vestir essa camisa, é um grande desafio, mas me sinto muito preparado e espero fazer uma grande temporada – completou.
O jogador, de 27 anos, tem experiência na Série B, já que disputou a competição com as camisas de Avaí, Cuiabá e Cruzeiro. Ele disse que pode atuar como primeiro ou segundo volante dependendo da escolha do técnico Zé Ricardo. Ao responder sobre suas referências no futebol, ele citou seu irmão e revelou admirar o ex-jogador Pedrinho.
+De olho na Sociedade Anônima do Futebol, grupo americano dono do Genoa (ITA) procura o Vasco
– Eu tenho como referência meu irmão, ele também joga futebol e sempre procurou me ajudar a crescer. A história do meu irmão se identifica um pouco com a do Pedrinho, um cara que sempre admirei. Não é a mesma função, mas admiro pela qualidade técnica e pela história de vida, teve muita lesão também. Meu irmão também sofreu muito com isso, jogadores têm essas dificuldades. Também admiro o Pedrinho como comentarista, porque sabe as dificuldades dos jogadores – frisou.
يفقد فريق نادي الزمالك، 7 لاعبين من صفوفه في مباراته أمام الأهلي، التي تقام اليوم الثلاثاء، في منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
يلتقي الأهلي مع الزمالك، في إطار الجولة الأولى من عمر المرحلة الثانية (تحديد البطل) من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز للموسم الحالي.
ويغيب عن صفوف الزمالك أمام الأهلي، ناصر منسي ومصطفى شلبي ومحمود جهاد وأحمد الجفالي وأحمد حمدي وحمزة المثلوثي ومحمد عبد الشافي.
وأفاد مصدر لـ بطولات، بأن غياب ناصر منسي بسبب الإصابة في العضلة الضامة بجانب معاناته من وعكة صحية، ومصطفى شلبي بقرار انضباطي على خلفية اعتراضه على استبداله في مباراة الزمالك ومودرن سبورت.
طالع.. خاص | حقيقة تأجيل قمة الأهلي والزمالك بعد تعيين حكام مصريين للمباراة
وأضاف: “محمود جهاد يغيب بسبب عدم اكتمال جاهزيته الفنية، حيث يؤدي المراحل الأخيرة من البرنامج التأهيلي على خلفية معاناته من الإصابة في العضلة الخلفية، وأحمد الجفالي بسبب إصابته بتمزق في العضلة الخلفية، كذلك أحمد حمدي بسبب عدم جاهزيته الفنية، وحمزة المثلوثي بسبب الإصابة بقطع في الرباط الصليبي، ومحمد عبد الشافي ومهاب ياسر لوجهة نظر فنية”.
ويحتل الأهلي، المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 39 نقطة، بينما يدخل الزمالك المباراة وهو في المركز الثالث بـ 32 نقطة.
يذكر أن مباراة الدور الأول بين الأهلي والزمالك، انتهت بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لكل فريق، سجل للمارد الأحمر المغربي أشرف بن شرقي، بينما سجل للفارس الأبيض المغربي محمود بنتايج.
Ainda aguardando uma resposta de Tite, convidado pelo agora diretor técnico Abel Braga, além de buscar um vice de futebol e um diretor executivo – um nome apareceu nesta segunda-feira (15), o Internacional pode negociar um meia e trazer um centroavante. Conforme apurou o Lance!, Bruno Tabata tem chances de ser repassado a outro clube, enquanto direção vê na saída de Pedro Raul do Ceará a chance de trazer um antigo sonho da direção colorada.
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➡️Tudo sobre o Colorado agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Internacional
O Alvirrubro corre contra o tempo para montar o Departamento de Futebol e, ao mesmo tempo, reforçar o elenco e negociar alguns nomes. A reapresentação acontece no dia 3 de janeiro, com o Gauchão começando no final de semana de 10 e 11.
Inter pode negociar meia e trazer centroavante
Em meio à correria para montar o Departamento de Futebol, a direção alvirrubra cogita liberar o meia Bruno Tabata. O camisa 17, custaria em torno de 2 milhões de euros, ou R$ 12,7 milhões no câmbio atual. O valor, porém, poderia ser menor. Uma negociação serviria para diminuir a folha de pagamento, liberar espaço no grupo e ter capital de giro.
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Ao mesmo tempo, o Inter está de olho na situação de Pedro Raul, centroavante que atuou pelo Ceará nesta temporada. Com contrato com o Corinthians até dezembro de 2028, o jogador estava emprestado, com os dois clubes dividindo o salário, de cerca de R$ 700 mil. Há concorrência, contudo, da MLS e da Rússia.
Alex Brasil viria como executivo
Ex-executivo da base do Timão, clube o qual deixou há dois meses, Alex Brasil está na mira Colorada. A informação foi antecipara pelo repórter identificado Lucas Collar. O Lance! confirmou o interesse. Em conversa por telefone, o dirigente, no entanto, disse não ter recebido nenhum contato.
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– Fico lisonjeado com o interesse, mas não recebi nenhum contato do clube – afirmou em conversa com o Lance!.
عقد كارلو أنشيلوتي، المدير الفني لفريق ريال مدريد، مؤتمرًا صحفيًا فيما يخص مباراة الديربي المرتقبة ضد أتلتيكو مدريد، مساء غد الأربعاء في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويستضيف ملعب “ميتروبوليتانو” مباراة الفريقين في إياب دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2024/25.
وحقق ريال مدريد فوزًا بهدفين مقابل هدف في مباراة الذهاب على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.
وقال أنشيلوتي، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “ندخل هذه البطولة في حالة جيدة، حماس كما هو الحال دائمًا، ستكون مباراة صعبة، نحن نعلم ذلك، لكننا واثقون من قدرتنا على الاستمرار في هذه البطولة، التي تعد خاصة جدًا بالنسبة لنا”.
وأضاف: “إنها مباراة تسمح لنا باستكمال الحلم في هذه البطولة، مثلما فعلنا في السنوات السابقة، هذا العام الأمر أكثر تعقيدًا ولكننا لا نزال نتمتع بنفس الثقة للقتال حتى المباراة الأخيرة”.
وواصل: “أتذكر كافة المباريات التي خضناها ضد أتلتيكو مدريد، كانت متقاربة، في بعض الأحيان فزنا، وأحيان أخرى تعادلنا، وأخرى خسرنا، غدًا سيكون الأمر متشابهًا، التفاصيل الصغيرة ستحسم نتيجة المباراة”.
وأردف: “لدي أكثر من 11 لاعبًا لخوض هذه المباراة، من لا يلعب ويشارك كبديل سيساهم، إنها مباراة حيث التغيير الجيد سيحدث الفارق”.
وفيما يخص تحذير اللاعبين، قال: “إذا ركضت كثيرًا فقد تتعادل، ولكن إذا أحدثت الفارق فمن المحتمل أن تفوز بالمباراة، الهدف هو أننا نريد خوض ربع النهائي بغض النظر عن هوية لاعبينا”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. تشواميني: لا أركز مع الانتقادات.. ومبابي سعيد في ريال مدريد
واسترسل: “التدرب على ركلات الجزاء أمر صعب، لكننا لا نفكر في ذلك في الوقت الحالي، نحن نفكر في كيفية التعامل مع المباراة بشكل جيد”
وشدد: “اللاعبون مسؤولون عن الفوز، أما عن الهزيمة فأنت تعلم ما يحدث، إنها ليست مشكلة ريال مدريد بل هي مشكلة المدرب، إنه المسؤول الوحيد، هذا معروف منذ فترة طويلة”.
واسترسل: “إنه أمر جيد بالنسبة لي لأنني في وظيفة تحظى بشعبية كبيرة، وبما أنني في وظيفة أحب القيام بها ويحبها الكثير من الناس، فيجب أن أتحمل هذه المسؤولية”.
وأثنى أنشيلوتي على دييجو سيميوني مدرب أتلتيكو مدريد، حيث قال: “أعتبره مدربًا عظيمًا، لدينا فكر متشابه جدًا، كيف سيلعب أتلتيكو غدًا؟ أستطيع محاولة تخمين ما قد يحدث، لكنني أفضل التركيز على فريقي للتحضير للضغط والخروج من منطقة الخطر، يمكن لأتلتيكو أن يلعب بعدة طرق، تمامًا كما يمكن لنا أن نفعل”.
ومن جديد، تطرق أنشيلوتي للحديث عن ركلات الترجيح وكيفية الاستعداد لها، حيث قال: “يمكنك أن ترى من هو اللاعب الذي يسدد أفضل ركلة جزاء، عندما نعد قائمة الركلات الترجيحية نأخذ في الاعتبار ما نراه في التدريبات، إذا كان أحدهم أكثر دقة، إذا نظر إلى حارس المرمى أم لا”.
وأوضح: “عندما نعد هذه القائمة لا نأخذ في الاعتبار الجانب الذهني، كان لدي لاعبون سددوا تسديدات جيدة للغاية لكنهم لم يكن لديهم الشعور بتسديدها في ركلات الترجيح”.
وأكد: “إذا كان علي أن أختار منفذي ركلات الترجيح، فإن الجانب الذهني أكثر أهمية من الجانب الفني، لقد فزت بدوري أبطال أوروبا مع مدافعين سجلوا من الركلات، ليس من السيء أن تقول إنك لا تستطيع تسديدها، عليك أن تتحمل المسؤولية عندما تكون في حالة جيدة”.
وعن عدم تواجد لوكا مودريتش في التشكيل الأساسي مرتين متتاليتين، قال: “إنها مصادفة، لا أهتم بالإحصائيات عندما أختار تشكيلتي الأساسية، لا ينبغي لمودريتش أن يقلق، فأنا لا أهتم بهذه الأشياء”.
Afghanistan, with their fabulous net run rate, will replace Pakistan at the top of Group 2 with a win here
Danyal Rasool28-Oct-2021
The last time these two faced off in an ICC tournament, news was made both on and off the field•Getty Images
Big pictureThe rich tapestry of historical connection that tangles Pakistan and Afghanistan is impossible to do justice to in a game preview. As the sub-head suggests, there really is a far more significant big picture to any Afghanistan-Pakistan contest, especially at a World Cup. Pakistan’s assistance to Afghanistan in the early stages of their development played its part in helping an unlikely cricketing destination rise to Full Member in double-quick time, however Afghanistan-Pakistan relations have gone south since.It is the one thing that has remained consistently stable in the country in the past two decades. Despite domestic troubles, their men’s cricket team has found a way to ensure its progress isn’t stunted. New talent keeps coming forth to the extent that Afghanistan’s presence at major ICC events, like this one, is almost beginning to be taken for granted.A clash against Pakistan at this time, though, arguably has as deep and complex a subtext as an India-Pakistan game (of course without the on-field history), but for all that has divided these two nations, they stand side-by-side in one aspect this tournament. Both are unbeaten and both are in the top two of Group 2. Pakistan crushed India, then took down New Zealand while Afghanistan have routed Scotland with a massive net run-rate that might end up being crucial later on.They have, however, played only one T20I against each other – nearly eight years ago – and it’s a pair of recent ODI clashes that provide much of the needle that spices this contest up. Pakistan triumphed twice in the final over, once at the Asia Cup in 2018, and then at the ODI World Cup in 2019, the second of which saw significant crowd trouble.A win here for either side would be a colossal step towards the final four. Pakistan’s victory would effectively put them there, with clashes against Namibia and Scotland upcoming. An Afghanistan triumph would see them leapfrog Pakistan, and with that huge net run-rate lead they’ve sprung out to, possibly only need a win against Namibia to have one foot in their first ICC World Cup knockout round. But while both sides have a point to prove, and two to gain, the bragging rights, though, will be as much a driving factor.Related
How far can Afghanistan's six-centric approach take them?
Form guideAfghanistan: WWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first) Pakistan: WWWLLIn the spotlightNo man personifies that flashing red-light – that is Afghanistan in T20Is – quite as conspicuously for Pakistan as Hazratullah Zazai. Zazai put bowlers in the PSL to the sword, with 212 runs at a strike rate of 185.96 in only five innings. These performances came in the run-shy UAE, against many of the bowlers who he will come up against on Friday. A 35-ball 56 in a warm-up against West Indies was followed up by 44 off 30 in a thumping win over Scotland.While Shoaib Malik was happy, and experienced enough, to play second fiddle to Asif Ali at the death against New Zealand on Tuesday, he might expect himself pressed into more of a leading role against spin-heavy Afghanistan. Malik’s reputation against spin will be put to the test, and the game could well come down to which side negotiates the others’ slower bowlers better. At nearly 40, he does have positive experiences from the past to take inspiration from, particularly the famous Asia Cup contest against Afghanistan that he, and Pakistan, won in the final over.File photo: Imad Wasim is the only injury concern for Pakistan, but is likely to be fit for the contest•AFP/Getty Images
Team newsAfghanistan are expected to keep the same XI.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 3 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 4 Najibullah Zadran, 5 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 6 Asghar Afghan 7, Gulbadin Naib, 8 Karim Jannat, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Mujeeb Ur RahmanIf Imad Wasim recovers from the blow to the knee he sustained while batting against New Zealand, Pakistan should be unchanged too.Pakistan: (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Asif Ali, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Shaheen Shah AfridiStats and trivia These two sides have only ever played one T20I against each other – in December 2013. Pakistan won with one ball to spare. Tim Southee dismissed Babar Azam for his 100th T20I wicket earlier this week. Rashid Khan now has the chance to make his 100th T20I scalp a Pakistani too; the legspinner is on 99.Quotes”This is a request to all the fans… I hope they remain cool and calm and just focus on enjoying the game. This game is all about enjoyment and bringing nations together and people together.”
After failing to sign a replacement for Max Kilman in the summer transfer window and paying the price ever since, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly made their first move in the race to sign a young central defender.
Wolves transfer news
Whilst they’ve been able to fall back on the excuse of the toughest set of fixtures to open the Premier League campaign, Wolves have more than enough quality to avoid the winless run that they found themselves in after eight games. It’s been the most frustrating start for Gary O’Neil, who has seen his side pushed aside by Brentford and Chelsea but narrowly beaten by Liverpool and Manchester City.
Their defensive struggle is something that those in the Midlands should have seen coming after sanctioning Kilman’s exit to West Ham United and then failing to replace their star centre-back. Left short on options ever since Yerson Mosquera’s long-term injury to compile their misery, Wolves simply must act in 2025 if they are to avoid shock Premier League relegation.
According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Wolves have sent scouts to watch Nathan Zeze ahead of joining the race to sign the Nantes centre-back in 2025. One for the future at just 19 years old, O’Neil could offer the defender the ultimate learning curve in England’s top flight with promise of game time Wolves’ only selling point ahead of clubs like Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea.
O'Neil must sell Wolves dud who earns 400% more than Ait Nouri
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Standing at 6 foot 3, Zeze has enjoyed an excellent start to the Ligue 1 campaign despite his age, keeping three clean sheets in just six starts. Such interest in his signature should come as no surprise, especially given the success that William Saliba has enjoyed since swapping French football for the Premier League.
"Strong" Zeze can replace Kilman
In the long term, signing Zeze to replace Kilman would prove to be excellent business. Zeze is a far younger and cheaper option who may eventually make Wolves even more profit than the £40m fee they received for Kilman in the summer. The Frenchman wouldn’t be coming in to sit on the bench necessarily either, perhaps instead stepping in ahead of the ageing Craig Dawson.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Nathan Zeze
Max Kilman
Starts
6
8
Progressive Passes
19
38
Tackles Won
10
5
Ball Recoveries
23
39
Although the numbers show that Zeze has improvements to make on the ball, his defensive ability off the ball is there in abundance. Also described as “strong” in the air by analyst Ben Mattinson, the teenager certainly ticks plenty of boxes for Wolves.
By the time 2025 arrives of course, the hope from a Wolves perspective will be that their incredibly slow start has well and truly been forgotten and they’ve pushed back to the level that they showed under O’Neil in the last campaign. Whether that’s when they decide to target Zeze or they wait until the summer remains to be seen, however.
Depois de conseguir a sua primeira vitória no Campeonato Catarinense no último fim de semana, os próximos dias prometem ser de mais boas notícias pelos lados do Avaí.
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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS
Isso porque o Leão da Ressacada estaria verbalmente acertado com o lateral-esquerdo Bruno Cortez, jogador de 34 anos de idade que teve, entre 2017 e 2021, uma passagem bastante vitoriosa com a camisa do Grêmio. Foram 228 partidas com dois gols, nove assistências e seis títulos entre Gauchão, Libertadores e Recopa Sul-Americana.
Como Cortez não estava ligado a nenhuma equipe desde sua saída do clube de Porto Alegre em dezembro do ano passado, a negociação com o Avaí se limitou a questões contratuais entre as partes, não tendo a necessidade do pagamento de taxa de transferência.
Diante do avanço das tratativas, a tendência é que o jogador com passagens também por Botafogo, São Paul, Benfica-POR e futebol japonês chegue em breve a capital catarinense para a realização dos tradicionais exames médicos e a devida assinatura contratual antes de ser oficializado.
وافق الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم رسميًا، على تعيين حكام أجانب لإدارة مباراة الزمالك مع سيراميكا كليوباترا، المقرر لها الجمعة المقبل، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس مصر.
ويواجه الزمالك نظيره سيراميكا كليوباترا، في دور نصف نهائي بطولة كأس مصر، في تمام الساعة 09:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.
وجاءت موافقة الاتحاد بناء على الطلب المقدم من نادي سيراميكا كليوباترا قبل المباراة بـ أسبوعين وتسديده لنفقات استقدام الطاقم الأجنبي.
طالع أيضاً.. بأسيست صلاح.. زيزو يسجل هدف منتخب مصر الثاني أمام إثيوبيا في تصفيات كأس العالم (فيديو)
وكلف الاتحاد أوسكار رويز رئيس لجنة الحكام الرئيسية باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لتنفيذ الطلب الذي جاء قبل أسبوع كامل من إقامة المباراة وإيداع المتقدم بالطلب تكاليف استقدامه لدى الاتحاد.
وكان الزمالك قد تأهل إلى دور نصف نهائي بعد الفوز على سموحة برباعية مقابل هدفين، في مباراة قوية، حسمها أبناء ميت عقبة من أجل استكمال مشوارهم في كأس مصر.
بينما حسم سيراميكا كليوباترا تأهله بعدما تخطى عقبة الجونة بالفوز بنتيجة 3-1.
Says India’s last-minute rejig of their batting order may have done them more harm than good
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-202110:52
Jayawardene: Role clarity and team construction lacking in Indian team
India have fallen behind in the race to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, and according to Mumbai Indians’ head coach and former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, they may have contributed to their own downfall a little bit by fiddling with a settled batting order.Rohit Sharma was pulled out of his usual position at the top of the order in the game against New Zealand and made to bat at No. 3. While that was in response to an injury – Suryakumar Yadav – and the replacement’s – Ishan Kishan – best chance of success being at the top, it left too many players dealing with unfamiliar roles. In the end a rejigged line-up could only post 110 for 7 and was soundly beaten.”You can be flexible. But not with your top-three batters,” Jayawardene said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out. “I think most teams if you take, you don’t have too much flexibility in that top three. They are settled. They are the ones who are going to give you that initial tempo, who are going to go about things. And then you have that guy at No. 3 who is going to glue things together and bat in both halves of the innings and the rest of the guys are the ones who will probably get floated in and around.”Jayawardene, in his tenure as Mumbai Indians coach, has seen a lot of India’s players up close and he believed that the team would have been better served if Rohit had stayed at the top of the order.”That’s his role he plays in T20 cricket and Virat Kohli is either an opener or No. 3. I think KL Rahul would have been able to play that No. 4 role because he has that ability to change and adapt.”In an ideal scenario, if India had a good start and had a settled thing, even Rishabh Pant could have batted No. 4 – given they [New Zealand] had a left-arm spinner [Mitchell Santner] and a legspinner [Ish Sodhi], he would have got more licence to then play knowing that he had two-three batters behind him.”So rather than making all those changes they should have done just that subtle change – one in, one out – and then maybe one batter changing positions, rather than three batters changing their slots, would have made a bit more sense. Especially going against a very good New Zealand new-ball attack because it was always going to do a little bit in those three-four overs.”Related
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Jayawardene found it odd that India would ask their players to adapt to new responsibilities in the middle of a World Cup. “If you batted them in those correct positions, they are familiar with those roles and they would have executed,” he said. “If they had failed in those roles, then that’s a question you can always ask. But if you are pulling guys away from those particular roles where they are quite familiar with, then it’s always going to be a tough one.”Especially when you are going into a World Cup, you should have a steady, stable, settled set-up where everyone understands where if someone fails, that’s my role, to go in, consolidate and then kick on, get the tempo going again. I think that’s where India struggled. Especially having lost to Pakistan and then going into another big match, once you unsettle that, the fear of failure and all those thought processes creep into your game.”With back-to-back losses, India’s chances of making the semi-finals are complicated. But Jayawardene is not writing them off. “They still have an opportunity. Anything can happen. And if they sneak through to those semi-final spots they are a force to reckon with. But if they don’t have a successful T20 World Cup, there’s another one coming pretty soon [in Australia in late 2022] and obviously it’s an opportunity for them to look at some of the other options that they have.”We see a lot of young Indian players coming through, we’ve seen it in the IPL as well, in the big stage, playing with fearlessness. They bat just the situation, they don’t bat anything other than that. So that’s something you need in T20 cricket. Bit of experience and bit of fearlessness to guide you through those tough situations.”