14 Thursday, August 12, 2021 Sports ENGLAND-INDIA 2ND TEST AT LORD’S FROM TODAY Whenever Pant thinks he can change the game, he will take chances: Kohli ANI LONDON INDIA skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday said wicketkeep- er-batsman Rishabh Pant will always take his chances when he feels he can change the complexion of the game with his intent and skill. The first Test between In- dia and England ended in a draw after rain played spoil- sport on the final day of the Test. The visitors looked set Bianca Andreescu of Canada reacts as she wins a point during her for victory, needing 157 runs women’s singles second round match against Harriet Dart of Britain to win on the final day, with on Day Two of the National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on Tuesday in nine wickets in hand, but the Montreal, Canada. (GETTY IMagES/AFP) weather gods had something else in mind. Pant had played a quickfire cameo in the first Andreescu makes innings, but he was not able to march ahead. “That is basically how he winning return, plays. He has the capability to carry on and play a long in- nings in that manner. It nec- Muguruza and cessarily does not have to be a very defensive role, when there is demand of the situa- Mertens upset tion, he is intelligent enough to understand. If we are look- DPA lay to cruise past 2013 finalist ing to save a game, you would BERLIN Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-2 in the not see him play those kind final match of the day. of shots. Wherever there is a India’s Rishabh Pant bats during the first Test match of the India Tour of England 2021 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on August 5, 2021.(AFP) CROWD favourite Bianca An- In other action, 15th seed 50-50 situation and he can dreescu was made to work as Coco Gauff handled Anastasija change the game, he will take Stuart Broad and James Ander- she opened her defence of the Sevastova 6-1 6-4 while her the chance,” said Kohli during son in a home Test for the first National Bank Open title she countrywoman Danielle Col- a virtual press conference. time in nearly a decade follow- won two years ago but the Ca- lins continued rolling after her “That’s how he plays and ing a double injury setback. nadian eventually prevailed in title in San Jose last week, ral- that is who he is. We want him Broad, 35, has been ruled Montreal. Andreescu defeat- lying past Jil Teichmann 4-6 to be that way. From Rishabh, out of the rest of the five-match ed Harriet Dart 6-1 3-6 6-3 in 6-1 6-3 for her 11th consecu- we expect that he plays the in- series against India after pull- just over two hours in her first tive match win. nings that changes the momen- ing up with a calf problem match since falling to Alize Two more Americans, tum of the game and take that ahead of the second Test which Cornet in the opening round Sloane Stephens and Jessica balance towards us. He is going could have marked his 150th at Wimbledon. That was the Pegula, prevailed in three to play this way,” he added. appearance in the format. latest in a disappointing string sets as well. Johanna Konta When asked about Ajinkya Meanwhile the 39-year-old of results for Andreescu, who returned to the court after Rahane’s form heading into Anderson is struggling with also departed Roland Garros missing Wimbledon and the the second Test, Kohli said: a thigh problem sustained on after one match, but the world Tokyo Olympics due to cor- “I do not think that is an area Wednesday. Broad suffered number eight got back on onavirus-related issues and of concern. Our basic focus is his injury on Tuesday. track Tuesday. advanced when Zhang Shuai not to think about where are With England set to alter “Playing at home is so, so was forced to retire up 6-4 people individually at the mo- their top-order and Moeen Ali in awesome,” Andreescu said in 2-5 with a leg injury. ment, collectively how much line for a recall as a spin-bowl- her on-court interview. Konta put a frustrating six strength they bring into the ing all-rounder, the hosts could “You guys [the fans] show weeks behind her to return to team is our focus. As a bat- make several changes to the side me so much love, especially to- action. The Briton had to with- ting unit, we are looking to that drew a rain-marred first night. I’ve never had this kind draw from Wimbledon after perform in difficult conditions Test at Trent Bridge – Broad’s of support before, so I’m so, so coming into close contact with so that we are in winning posi- England’s players take part in a net session during training ahead of the second Test against India at home ground – last week. grateful.” a positive case of Covid-19 and tions and someone is going to Lord’s cricket ground in London on Wednesday. (AFP) “England seamer Stuart While Andreescu was subsequently contracted the put their hand up every game.” Broad has sustained a tear able to navigate a challenging virus herself to miss the Olym- “Last match, KL Rahul, going to contribute every now Shardul Thakur is not to choose from. to his right calf and has been opener, three other seeded pic Games in Tokyo. Jadeja, Bumrah, Rishabh with and then. You need to under- available for the second Test. ruled out of the Test series players were not as fortunate. In a strange twist of fate, the cameo, they were out- stand as a side, what is the best Skipper Kohli said that the England to miss against India,” said an Eng- Katerina Siniakova downed Konta was back on the court standing. Rohit gave us a solid batting outfit you can present side would not be concerned a Broad, Anderson land and Wales Cricket Board fifth seed Garbine Muguruza against Zhang, the same op- start as well so look people are on the park,” he added. lot as there are enough options England could be without both statement. 6-2 0-6 6-3, while Camila ponent she last played in the Giorgi ousted ninth seed Elise final of the Nottingham Open Mertens 6-3 7-5 and Liudmila in June. Samsonova defeated 12th seed While the former world Elena Rybakina 6-4 5-7 6-4. number four lost the first set Chris Cairns serious Rossi targets Le Mans 24 Hours Having a better time of it 4-6, she was ahead 5-2 in the were seventh-seeded Petra second when Zhang retired Kvitova, the 2012 tournament due to a left leg injury. but stable, confirms after MotoGP, will race ‘to win’ champion, and number 10 Next up for Konta is a last- seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenk- 32 meeting with Elina Svitoli- DPA ova, who won by identical 6-4 na and she is joined in the next Sydney hospital BERLIN 6-4 scorelines against French- round by fellow Briton Harriet women Fiona Ferro and Caro- Dart after she which a tear occurs in the in- VALENTINO Rossi, who is lina Garcia, respectively. defeated Leylah Fernandez ner layer of the body’s main retiring from MotoGP after Eighth-seeded Victoria 7-5 7-6 (4) to book a clash with artery, reported stuff.co.nz. 26 seasons in professional Azarenka waited out a rain de- Andreescu. Ever since then, the former motorcycling, says he will not all-rounder has undergone be racing just for fun when he several operations but hasn’t switches to four wheels at the responded to treatment. Le Mans 24 Hours and other Cairns was transferred to St events. Nadal, Serena withdraw Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney The 42-year-old, who won on Tuesday. nine motorcycling world titles from Cincinnatti “Mr. Cairns is in a seri- before announcing last week ous but stable condition in he will quit at the end of the AGENCIES in a final-set tie-break before intensive care at St Vincent’s season, famously tested for OHIO (USA) losing against South African Hospital Sydney after being and almost joined Ferrari in Lloyd Harris in three sets in transferred from Canberra”, 2007 but his future in the car RAFAEL Nadal has with- the third round. A file photo shows New Zealand stuff.co.nz quoted a hospital lies away from Formula One. drawn from next week’s West- all-rounder Chris Cairns. Cairns, spokesperson as saying. “I don’t know my level, I ern and Southern Open due Serena to focus on rehab 51, one of the world’s top all- Cairns played 62 Tests, 215 mean it’s not the same as mo- Yamaha-SRT Italian rider Valentino Rossi arrives for the third free to his ongoing left foot injury, Serena Williams withdrew from rounders in the early 2000s, is ODIs, and two T20Is for New torcycles, but you never race practice session ahead of the Styrian Motorcycle Grand Prix at the the tournament announced on the Western & Southern Open fighting for his life. (AFP) Zealand between 1989 and just for fun - if you are a real Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on August 7. (AFP) Wednesday. in Cincinnati in order to focus 2006. rider or driver, you race to The Spanish superstar on on her recovery from the leg in- ANI The veteran all-rounder be strong and to win and to have to wait until 2022.