THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q TUESDAY Q APRIL 27, 2021 11

Some Aussies feel safer in IPL bio- RCB look bounce back against NEW DELHI, APRIL own opinions on it and dif- 26: While many Australian ferent situations for them. I cricketers have opted out of was surprised to see AJ go the ongoing Indian Premier home, and then Zamps and DC in battle of equals League (IPL) 2021, Mum- Richo, but when you speak bai Indians all-rounder to them, you definitely un- NEW DELHI, APRIL Nathan Coulter-Nile said derstand where they're 26: Seeing the loss in their he is planning to stay with coming from," said Coul- previous game as a blip, Vi- rat Kohli-led Royal Chal- his team as coronavirus ter-Nile."I spoke to Zamps a lengers Bangalore will have continues to rage. little while ago and he to be at their best to beat a Royal Challengers Banga- made a very compelling ar- formidable lore (RCB) on Monday con- gument for going home. unit in their IPL match in firmed that two Australian But for me, I feel like it's Ahmedabad on Tuesday. players -- Adam Zampa and safer for me to stay in the While RCB will have to -- will be bubble than try and get shrug off their 69-run heading back for personal home at the moment." in the day, and then one at lows them -- that's the hard- thrashing at the hands of reasons. "Especially with all the night as well. And that's for est bit, there's a lot of mov- in their This comes after Ra- Australian and New everyone -- players, staff, ing parts -- but if everyone last game and start afresh, jasthan Royals pacer An- Zealand players in the the people who do laundry, does the right thing, we Delhi's confidence would be drew Tye opted out of the same boat as me at the mo- cleaners, everyone," should be fine," Coulter- boosted by their thrilling Su- ongoing tournament on .com.au quoted Nile added. ment, I feel like something's per Over win against Sun- Sunday. But Coulter-Nile is Coulter-Nile as saying. The all- got to give for getting Risers Hyderabad on Sun- confident of staying in the "In terms of testing, they rounder was surprised to home." day. bio-secure bubble and as- are pretty onto it. I'm as see his Australian team- "I'm just going to wait Up against Delhi Capitals, serted that all 'protocols confident (in the bubble) as mates going home. Coul- and see how that plays out. RCB will need to address Australian Maxwell did place of either Navdeep vices of ace off-spinner and measures' are being fol- you can be. All the protocols ter-Nile said it's safer for Worst comes to worst, we'll their middle-order woes, to justify his high price tag in Saini or Dan Christian, as Ravichandran Ashwin, who lowed to keep everyone safe and measures are in place, him to stay in the bubble have to quarantine in Dubai return to winning ways, in the first few matches and the track could be conducive has taken a break from the in the tournament. I can't think of anything than depart for Australia for a couple of weeks before what could be touted as a would be raring to go once for the spinners. IPL this season to support "We have a rapid re- more we could be doing," he amid the rising COVID-19 we can fly home. But I'm battle of equals. again. For Delhi, their opener his family in their fight sponse test in the morning stressed. cases. sure it will get sorted," he For the RCB, it will be im- The RCB bowlers will and the tournament's lead- against COVID-19. ahead of another test later "As long as everyone fol- "Everyone's got their added. portant that openers -- the have to forget the hammer- ing run-scorer Shikhar In his absence, left-arm in-form ing received at the hands of Dhawan (259 runs), would spinner Axar Patel and ex- (171 runs) and Kohli (151 the CSK batters, especially be eager to carry forward his perienced leg-spinner Amit runs) -- continue to provide league's leading - fine form, while his opening Mishra, who had wreaked Despite COVID-19 fears, BCCI a solid start at the Narendra taker , who partner Prithvi Shaw (166 havoc against Mumbai Indi- Modi stadium. was taken apart by Ravindra runs), would be looking to ans, will need to shoulder But the opening duo Jadeja, as he conceded 37 get more runs under his belt. greater responsibility. would need the much- runs in his final over. DC boast of a strong mid- Delhi is unlikely to tinker says IPL will go on Pacers dle-order comprising skip- with their pace attack, as needed support from the NEW DELHI, APRIL such Kane Williamson and middle-order, which crum- and will have per Rishabh Pant (125 runs), Avesh Khan, with 11 26: Anxiety pierced Trent Boult, are expected to bled against CSK. to step up and deliver while Australians and from five games has been through IPL's bio-secure leave early in any case as The likes of Glenn spinners and Shim- impressive and South bubble, on Monday, with they have a Test series Maxwell (198 runs), Ab de and Washington Sundar, ron Hetmyer, who can be African Kagiso Rabada can leading Indian off-spinner against England starting Villiers (129 runs), and the will also have to bowl tightly highly destructive on their do the damage early. Ravichandran Ashwin and June 2. They will have to misfiring all-rounder Wash- to contain a strong DC bat- day. The team management some Australian players head back in last week of ington Sundar (25 runs), ting-line, full of hard-hitters. In case the openers fail, can play Lalit Yadav, who withdrawing from the May to be available for it be- will have to perform in uni- RCB could also be the onus will be on Pant and bowls off-spin and can also league amid the escalating cause of quarantine rules. son against a strong Delhi tempted to play left-arm Smith to steer the innings. bat, in place of Ashwin, in- tweaker Shahbaz Ahmed in Delhi will miss the ser- stead of going in for a pacer. COVID-19 crisis in India The IPL final is scheduled attack. even as the BCCI insisted to be held on May 30 in that the glitzy league will go Ahmedabad. on. Australia, it is learnt, I am getting tired of coming second The 34-year-old Ashwin, might arrange a chartered competing for Delhi Capi- flight for its IPL cricketers tals, decided to take a break once their engagement is saying that his family is cur- While Zampa and official said on conditions of over. in Super Overs: Williamson rently 'putting up a fight Richardson have not yet anonymity. As many as 14 Australian NEW DELHI, APRIL However, barring Jonny against COVID-19' and he spoken about their 'per- Several England and New players now remain in the 26: Be it in the World Cup or Bairstow's 38 at the top of wants to support them. He sonal reasons' for leaving, Zealand players are also event, including stars such IPL, Kane Williamson is the order, Williamson did hopes to return to the side Tye said he feared getting competing in the event but 'getting tired' of finishing not get any support from the 'if things go in the right di- locked out of his own coun- haven't yet spoken about as Steve Smith (DC), (SunRisers Hyder- second in Super Overs. other end until Jagadeesha rection'. try owing to mounting their concerns. The New Zealander's lat- Suchith came in a smashed However, Andrew Tye quarantine cases from India "We continue to monitor abad) and (Kolkata Knight Riders), as est tryst with the Super Over a six-ball 14 to help tie the (Rajastan Royals) and the in his hometown . and work with the players came on Sunday night when game. well as coaches Ricky duo of Kane Richardson The BCCI, on its part, in- on an individual basis. Our his team Sunrisers Hyder- Williamson said, "It was Ponting (DC) and Simon and Adam Zampa (both sisted that the event will thoughts are with the peo- abad failed to achieve the de- nice to be there at the end, it Katich (RCB). Royal Challengers Banga- continue and it wouldn't ple of India during these sired result in its IPL match would have been a lot nicer lore) withdrew as appre- come in the way of those difficult times," a Commentators Matthew against Delhi Capitals. if I was there at the end and hension set in after a couple wanting to leave. spokesperson of the Eng- Hayden, Brett Lee, Michael "I am getting tired of com- we were at the right side of of weeks went by smoothly "As of now, IPL is going land and Wales Cricket Slater and Lisa Sthalekar ing second in the Super the result." for the league being held in ahead. Obviously, if anyone Board said. are also among the Aus- Overs," Williamson said. 2019 World Cup final, which being honest, we just want to "You know there were a lot front of empty stands across wants to leave, that's per- The players from New tralians involved with the "Throughout the game, England won on boundary- do different aspects of our of valuable partnerships in six venues. fectly fine," a senior Board Zealand, including stars league right now. whenever there is a Super countback rule. game a bit better. This game, the innings and we lacked a Over, as a batting side chas- Against DC in Chennai, if you are able to do it, then bit of momentum because ing a score that was very SRH equalled their oppo- the result can change quite that was the nature of the competitive, there are a lot of nents' score of 159 but the quickly." surface." Zampa, Richardson, Tye leave IPL positives to take out of it." duo of Williamson and "I suppose when it ends in "We got very close, some NEW DELHI, APRIL in 'regular contact' with Aus- "It is really uncanny in David Warner could only a tie, you can look at the one positives to build on. We do 26:Royal Challengers leg- tralian players, coaches and game of cricket that things make seven runs in the en- run throughout the whole not know how the surfaces spinner Adam Zampa and commentators at the IPL. can end in a tie but I suppose suing Super Over, which did innings. I think on the will be in Delhi." fast bowler Kane Richard- 'We will continue to listen it is very, very exciting. A lot not prove to enough for vic- whole, a lot of positives." are son have joined Rajasthan to feedback from those on of positives, we move on re- tory. Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh currently placed seventh in Royals fast bowler Andrew the ground in India and the ally quickly to Delhi," he In the regulation match, Pant scored 53 and 37 re- the standings with 2 points Tye in cutting short their In- advice of the Australian gov- added. Williamson struck an un- spectively to help Delhi Cap- from 5 matches. They will dian Premier League season ernment,' the bodies said in a Williamson has been a beaten 66 off 51 balls. itals set SRH a challenging next take on Chennai Super and heading home as India joint statement. part of few Super Overs, with "It is a game of very small target on a difficult Chepauk Kings in Delhi on Wednes- struggles with a massive Former Australia the most famous being the margins and I think, if we are pitch. day. surge in COVID-19 cases. Ricky Ponting, who coaches Tye flew to Sydney on the IPL's Delhi Capitals, sug- Sunday via Mumbai and gested he would not be Doha, citing the 'stress of among those to pull out of Manchester City win record-equalling bubble life' and concerns the league. about borders closing in 'Even with the country be- Australia. ing in a situation that it is, I fourth straight League Cup 'I just thought I should try think cricket can still bring a NEW DELHI, APRIL 26: Man- also join Liverpool with the most nal was played in front of the biggest and get on the front foot and lot of joy to people,' Ponting chester City claimed a record- League Cup wins on eight. crowd since Britain went into a first get home before I got locked suit, with RCB on Monday and across the country are said. equalling fourth successive League Tottenham, who had rookie man- COVID-19 lockdown last March -- out of the country,' he told saying they were unavail- turning away patients after 'So it is important for us to Cup triumph as Aymeric Laporte's late ager Ryan Mason on the touchline af- one of the government's test events Australian radio station able for the rest of the IPL running out of medical oxy- be doing what we can as header sealed a deserved 1-0 victory ter Jose Mourinho's sacking last to get fans safely back into venues as SEN. season and were returning gen and beds. cricketers and as coaches over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. week, produced a disappointing per- restrictions ease. 'I think I've had 11 days at to Australia for 'personal Australia said last week it and as a franchise to putting Spurs had soaked up intense City formance and their wait for a first "It's not full, but it was a great home and out of the bubble reasons'. would cut flights from India on the best show as possible pressure for most of the game to some- trophy since winning the 2008 noise," said Guardiola, who now has since August. There's defi- 'Royal Challengers Banga- and reduce the number of its to give the people something how stay in contention at Wembley League Cup continues. won 30 trophies as a manager since nitely concerns,' Tye added. lore management respects citizens able to return from that they'd like to see.' Stadium. After City's FA Cup semi-final loss taking over at Barcelona in 2008. 'A lot of guys have been in their decision and offers other red-zone countries to Delhi Capitals off-spinner But City finally made the break- to Chelsea last weekend, they "Today we are incredibly happy touch today once they've re- them complete support,' the contain the risk of more viru- Ravichandran Ashwin has through in the 82nd minute from an chalked off the first part of what they that we have four in a row in this alised I was leaving.' franchise said on Twitter. lent strains of COVID-19 also pulled out of the IPL to unlikely source as defender Laporte hope will be a treble, with the Pre- competition. We tried to win the 'Some of the guys are very A number of Australia's spreading. support his family. met Kevin de Bruyne's free kick and mier League title almost in the bag game, created a lot of chances. They interested in what route I top cricketers remain in In- Australia has largely elim- Organisers have said they headed past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. and a Champions League semi-final had some chances on the counter but took home and how I ap- dia, including batsmen inated COVID-19 by closing will push on with the tour- A combination of Lloris, last-ditch to come against Paris St Germain. in general we had a good game." proached it.' Steve Smith and David its borders and installing nament amid growing criti- defending and some poor City finish- While the League Cup is lower City's permitted 2,000 fans sere- 'I'm not sure if I'll be the Warner, and paceman Pat snap lockdowns when cases cism. An IPL governing ing had kept the 8,000 crowd on ten- down Guardiola's priorities there naded their team at the end with the only one (returning), but Cummins. of community transmission council member told terhooks but in the end Pep Guardi- was no disguising his joy as he be- club's Blue Moon anthem although that's too early for me to say,' India reported 349,691 occur. Reuters on Sunday the ola's side got their reward. came the first manager to win the they would have had a more relaxing Tye said. new cases on Sunday, the Governing body Cricket league provided a "much- They have now matched Liver- League Cup in four successive sea- afternoon in the sunshine had their Zampa and Richardson fourth straight day of record Australia and the Australian needed distraction from all pool's feat of winning the competi- sons. team turned their overwhelming have now decided to follow peaks. Hospitals in Delhi players union said they were the doom and gloom". tion for four seasons in a row, and It had added significance as the fi- first-half dominance into goals.