Sports
“Found Kryptonite To Bazball”: Nasser Hussain Hails Pakistan’s Spinners On Win Against England
Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain lauded Pakistan for a remarkable turnaround in fortunes to record a 2-1 series win against Three Lions at home, saying that the team found a “kryptonite” to England’s ‘Bazball’ approach to cricket. England’s attacking and positive brand of ‘Bazball’ cricket faced yet another setback as they once again succumbed to spinners in the subcontinent, with spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan shined with stunning bowling spells to hand Three Lions a nine-wicket loss in the third Test at Rawalpindi to secure a 2-1 series win.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Nasser lauded the team for removing batter Babar Azam and star pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah after their poor performances in the second Test and praised their spinners for being of “highest quality”. He also said that England players were not very good at playing or bowling spin.
“Congratulations to Pakistan for making that change, they lost six Tests in a row, the fans and supporters were not happy. Different pitches and selectors and they found the kryptonite to Bazball,” said Nasser.
“They have spinners of the highest quality and they have players that play spin really well. It is exposed to England when the ball does spin. When it spins and it is gripping, England does not play spin or bowl spin as good as Pakistan,” he added.
Hussain also questioned England’s ability to play well on any other surface than a flat deck and said that discrepancies in England’s scores were a huge concern.
“There should be a discrepancy because the pitches have been so different from the first Test to the second and third. There is no doubt that scores should go down and spinners should go up. But, the discrepancy in the England side is a concern,” said Hussain.
“It should not be so drastic that you play so well on flat pitches and you can hit through the line but the moment it grips you cannot play like that and so then you are lost,” he added.
Coming to the match, England opted to bat first. After being reduced to 118/6, it was a counter-attacking century stand between Jamie Smith (89 in 119 balls, with five fours and six sixes) and Gus Atkinson (39 in 71 balls, with five fours) that took England to 267.
Sajid (6/128) and Noman (3/88) were the top wicket-takers for Pakistan.
Thanks to a brilliant century from Saud Shakeel (134 in 223 balls, with five fours) and lower-order contributions from Noman (45) and Sajid (48), Pakistan reached a score of 344 and gained a 77-run lead.
Rehan Ahmed (4/66) and Shoaib Bashir (3/129) were the top wicket-takers for England.
England could not build a healthy lead for themselves, skittling out for 112 runs in their second innings with Joe Root (33) and Harry Brook (26) top-scoring. They could only gain a 35-run lead.
Sajid (4/69) and Noman (6/42) were the top bowlers for Pakistan, who chased down the 36-run target effortlessly to win the series 2-1.
Shakeel was given the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his century.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Sports
Alexander Zverev Outclasses Ugo Humbert To Clinch Paris Masters Title
Germany’s Alexander Zverev won the Paris Masters on Sunday by defeating home hope Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 in a dominant display by the new world number two. Zverev, 27, now boasts seven ATP 1000-level titles over the course of his career, following two wins in Rome and Madrid, as well as victories in Montreal and Cincinnati. It was a happy return to Paris for Zverev, after he lost the French Open final in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in June. Four years ago he lost the 2020 Paris Masters championship match to Daniil Medvedev. “I knew I had to play like this to win today,” said Zverev, who opened his victory speech by apologising to the crowd at Paris’ Bercy Arena.
“I want to congratulate Ugo on an incredible week, (he’s an) incredible player. If you continue like this, you’ll be able to lift trophies like this. This is not your last chance, Ugo.”
Zverev’s victory in Saturday’s semi-final meant the current world number three will overtake Spain’s Alcaraz in the new updated rankings.
The German will next play the ATP Finals in Turin from November 10-17, where he will seek to emulate his past successes in 2018 and 2021 at the season-ending showpiece.
Zverev will head into the event as the player with the most wins this year as Sunday’s victory in the French capital was his 66th in 2024, taking him one ahead of world number one Jannik Sinner.
For 26-year-old Humbert it was a chastening experience at the end of a week that will live long in his memory as he reached his career-first Masters final on home soil.
The world number 18 stunned four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz in the last 16 as he delighted the vocal home crowds on his way to becoming the first French finalist at the indoor event in 13 years.
“I want to congratulate Sascha (Zverev) for the quality of the tennis he has played all this week, and season,” said Humbert.
“I came as a kid to watch matches here (at the Paris Masters) and it made me want to do what I do, so I’m very happy to have reached the final.”
If Humbert had any nerves at the start of his first 1000-level title match, he did not show them as he held serve in the opening game with a sublime forehand passing shot at full stretch.
But the sheer power of the German soon wore him down as Zverev forced a break point in the third game, which he converted as Humbert netted.
A second consecutive break for Zverev handed him a 4-1 lead and with that the first set.
Zverev was firmly in control of the match, making just four unforced errors to his opponent’s 17 in the opener.
And as if to compound this, Humbert started the second set with a double fault as Zverev immediately moved into a 1-0 lead.
Zverev continued to grind his opponent down with his big serve and punishing groundstrokes, despite the efforts of the partisan crowd to boost Humbert.
But the Frenchman could make no headway on the German’s service games, winning only four points on return in the second set, and did not manage to hold one of his own until the fifth game.
Zverev then served out to claim his second Masters trophy of the season, after victory on the clay of Rome in May.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Max Verstappen Wins Brazilian Grand Prix, Lando Norris Finishes Sixth
Max Verstappen wins Brazilian Grand Prix© AFP
Max Verstappen won a chaotic, rain-lashed Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, roaring back from 17th on the grid to reignite his push for a fourth successive world title.
The Red Bull driver came home ahead of Alpine duo Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who benefitted when the race was earlier red-flagged, with title rival and pole-sitter Lando Norris only managing a sixth-place finish in his McLaren.
Victory was Verstappen’s first in a grand prix since Spain in June and he now boasts a 62-point lead in the championship with three races left in the season.
“You know what that is? Simply lovely,” said Verstappen on the team radio as he crossed the finish line.
George Russell was fourth in a Mercedes with Charles Leclerc fifth in a Ferrari while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was seventh.
Yuki Tsunoda of RB Racing was eighth with teammate Liam Lawson in ninth and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton filling out the top 10.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Manchester United Held 1-1 By Chelsea In First Premier League Game Since Erik Ten Hag Sacking
Moises Caicedo’s strike denied Manchester United victory in their first Premier League game since sacking Erik ten Hag as Chelsea claimed a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will be replaced by Ruben Amorim later his month, sprinted down the touchline in celebration after Bruno Fernandes put United in front from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time. Caicedo quickly replied for the Blues, who edge above Arsenal on goal different into fourth. A point leaves United still down in 13th, six points off the top four. Amorim was not in attendance as he prepares to take charge of Sporting Lisbon for the one of the final times against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
United were far more competitive than in 3-0 demolitions by Liverpool and Tottenham at home this season, but showed many of the same flaws that cost Ten Hag his job.
Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a 5-2 demolition of an under-strength Leicester in his first match in charge to reach the League Cup quarter-finals in midweek.
Still a hero among the United fans from his days as a prolific striker, the Dutchman’s name was chanted in a buoyant pre-match atmosphere.
However, a Chelsea side that have lost once in nine Premier League games, provided a much stiffer test for a United side still short on confidence.
Noni Madueke came closest to opening the scoring for Chelsea in the first-half when he headed Cole Palmer’s corner off the post.
It took United time to find their feet as an attacking force but they were unfortunate not to go in front just before half-time.
Marcus Rashford hit the crossbar with a cushioned volley in the last action of a disappointing first 45 minutes from both sides.
Pedro Neto’s burst of pace nearly gave Chelsea a dream start to the second period but the Portuguese winger’s shot flew just past the far post.
The Blues remain overly reliant on Palmer for inspiration.
The boyhood United fan, who began his career at Manchester City before joining Chelsea last year, was kept quiet by Van Nistelrooy’s pairing of Casemiro alongside Manuel Ugarte in midfield.
Before kick-off only Southampton had scored fewer than United’s eight Premier League goals in nine games this season.
The lack of efficiency in front of goal that Ten Hag often bemoaned was in evidence again.
Garnacho wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring from Fernandes’ cut-back with a tame effort that looped into the arms of Sanchez.
United were gifted the chance to break the deadlock when Robert Sanchez clipped Rasmus Hojlund inside the box.
Fernandes kept his cool to send the Spanish international goalkeeper the wrong way and spark wild celebrations from Van Nistelrooy.
United’s joy was short-lived as Chelsea hit back within four minutes.
A corner was only cleared to the edge of the box, where Caicedo connected a sweet strike to fire into the bottom corner.
Chelsea should have struck again moments later when substitute Enzo Fernandez spooned over with Andre Onana stranded.
It was United who came closest in a frantic finale when Garnacho’s acrobatic effort flew just over.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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