TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 10 TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 11 sports Hundred delay will ‘Homebody’ rob women’s game of momentum: Edwards Du Plessis commits to play all Reuters | London three formats for South Africa Osaka making omen’s cricket risks los- Albon denies penalised Wing momentum after the launch of The Hundred com- petition was postponed until the most of next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, former England Leclerc a virtual F1 hat-trick captain Charlotte Edwards said. Reuters | London isolation, The women’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia proved lexander Albon won a a massive success this year virtual Formula One England’s captain Charlotte Edwards with an 86,000-plus crowd celebrates after a victory (file photo) Athriller, against a field watching the hosts beat India that included England cricket- remains in the March 8 final in Mel- who led England to Twenty20 ers Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad, bourne. and one-day World Cup titles around Brazil’s Interlagos cir- The global health crisis in 2009, told BBC World Ser- cuit on Sunday to deny Charles has since halted professional vice. Leclerc an esports hat-trick. cricket and the England and “Obviously it’s the right deci- South Africa’s Faf du Plessis looks on during training (file photo) The Thai’s victory over his focused on Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last sion but it was such an impor- Ferrari rival gave Red Bull some- week decided to postpone The tant year for women’s cricket Reuters | Cape Town interview released by Cricket thing to celebrate on a day that Hundred, which was sched- on the back of the hugely suc- South Africa yesterday. should have seen the return of uled to begin in mid-July. cessful World Cup in Australia, ormer South Africa captain “I am extremely motivated Max Verstappen’s home Dutch The innovative fran - where nearly 90,000 people FFaf du Plessis has commit- and keen to play in all three Grand Prix after a 35-year ab- Olympics chise-based league includes watched the game. ted to playing for his country formats. This time away from sence. an American sports-style draft “We just really felt the mo- in all three formats of the game the game has made sure that Formula One’s 2020 season and features eight city-based mentum was with the women’s in the 2020/21 season, a boost the hunger is still there for me has yet to start due to the COV- men’s and women’s teams with game and we were also going for a test side that lacks expe- and that is a big thing for play- ID-19 pandemic that has shut names such as London Spir- to introduce contracts this rience and depth in the batting ers, to really still love what down sport worldwide, with Reuters | Tokyo el Hailey Bieber. the video to launch the official it, Manchester Originals and summer for 40 professional lineup. you do.” the postponed race at Zandvoort “My sister and I played a lot motto for the Games. Trent Rockets. cricketers, and it’s all been put The 35-year-old relin - Du Plessis says he will miss one of many casualties. ollowing a whirlwind few growing up and yes I still play Osaka understands that the “There are so many mixed on hold at the moment,” the quished the captaincy in the the captaincy but is relishing The Brazilian layout, with all years, Japanese tennis I’ve been playing and even more so now during postponement was a necessary emotions really,” Edwards, 40-year-old said. limited overs formats to Quin- a role as mentor for the new the drivers competing online star Naomi Osaka can be tennis almost every the quarantine. I can say yes, I decision. ton de Kock, and the team will generation of leaders. from the comfort of their homes, F Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon (R) speaks with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc prior to 2019 Australian GP (file photo) forgiven for taking time to reset day for as long as am a gamer,” said Osaka. “Like most athletes that had also have a new test skipper “I love captaincy, it is a part was chosen by fans because and relax as the sporting world “I had actually started playing been training I was disappoint- for their tour of West Indies, of who I am. I have captained Zandvoort does not feature in tyres at his pitstop while the even more overtaking. I can remember, goes on an indefinite pause due so it has been an much less in recent months as I ed at first but when you realise which is still scheduled to start since the age of 13. I still look the 2019 version of the video Red Bull driver came in later for “I knew I had the penalty to the coronavirus crisis. was getting into new hobbies, the postponement is for the bet- Fritz aces ‘Stay at Home Slam’, in late July. at myself as a leader before a game. mediums. but after that it was also about Osaka, a two-time Grand opportunity to take like fashion, photography and ter of the entire world you know Du Plessis says the lack of player, so I enjoy that more It provided more changes of Leclerc picked up a three having fun, so I kept overtaking Slam winner who also became stock and reset. I spending more time outdoors the game can wait, we will come earns $1 million for charity cricket due to the COVID-19 than anything else. lead than commentators could I was shaking second penalty with 13 laps to Alex,” he added. “I really en - the first Japanese player to have been cooking a with friends … But since quaran- together in 2021 and be ready,” ‘Stay at Home Slam’, where pandemic, which has seen the “I will always miss it, but count after Stoffel Vandoorne, afterwards, I had go for exceeding track limits, joyed this race.” reach world number one, had lot, working out to tine I’m back into my old habits. Osaka said. players and celebrities faced Indian Premier League post- I do think that the time has on pole for Mercedes a day af- so much adrenalin dropping the 22-year-old Mon- The rivalry between World been preparing for another ac- stay fit, reading and “Gaming is awesome but it is “I actually have a lot of sym- off in a Nintendo tennis game poned, has reignited his de- come for me to move on to ter doing the same in a virtual in my body. I feel egasque to third at the end be- Cup-winner Stokes and test tion-packed summer including keeping in touch with nice to have a balance.” pathy for athletes, like track ath- while isolating because of the sire to stay in the international a position of growing oth - Formula E race, threw away his hind Williams’ George Russell. team mate Broad provided a her Olympics debut on home NFL stars DeAndre Hopkins letes, who work for four years coronavirus. arena. er leaders, something that advantage. more scared driving “I was shaking afterwards, I sub plot, with the former taking my sister and family the simulator than soil at Tokyo 2020. and Ryan Tannehill will also be and plan to peak at that exact Venus Williams and Naomi He will make himself avail- I feel is lacking in our Albon, who collided with six- had so much adrenalin in my bragging rights in 13th place to Instead, with the Olym - NAOMI OSAKA involved, alongside singer Seal time … Now their schedule is Osaka were among the oth- able for future One-Day In- system. times world champion Lewis I do the real thing. body. I feel more scared driving Broad’s 17th. pics postponed until 2021, the and DJ Steve Aoki. probably in turmoil.” er tennis players taking part ternational series having not “I want to make sure I can Hamilton on the penultimate The pressure was the simulator than I do the real “Me and Stu were training 22-year-old finds herself in novel ways to stay fit. “I mean Hailey and I are go- “Tennis is a little bit different from their homes, along with featured in the 50-over format create some sort of value to- lap of the real Brazilian race unbelievable thing. The pressure was unbe- together actually,” said Stokes. quarantine at her home in Los “I haven’t been able to play ing to be hard to beat! I think so I shouldn’t have to alter my models Gigi Hadid and Hailey since the 2019 World Cup in wards that, helping guys with last year while running second, lievable,” said Albon. “As soon as we knew that we ALEXANDER ALBON Angeles where she is making the tennis, however, I have been she plays a lot with (husband) preparations too much.” Beiber, while John McEnroe England. someone who is there to guide made no mistakes in a wheel-to- Leclerc said it was ‘proper were about to do the proper race most of her new-found down- speaking to my coach and fit- Justin (Bieber) so I know she’s Osaka said that when the provided commentary. “I still love playing for the them and, if they want to, to wheel race-long battle. fun’ and similar to the real scrap it just completely threw all of time. ness trainer daily and finding got game,” Osaka said. Games do finally go ahead, “I was more nervous there Proteas. I still see myself add- have someone they can talk to Leclerc, winner of the last two nam, traded the lead on almost he had in Austria with Verstap- that out of the window and we “I know that the quarantine ways to keep my body fit and “I heard we have Steve Aoki they could be a beacon of hope than in any of my real match- ing huge value,” he said in an within the team.” virtual races in China and Viet- every lap but opted for the hard pen, only with “less contact and were both very, very nervous.” initiatives are so important so I ready for when the tour re - and Kei in the first round which at the end of the battle against USA’s Taylor Fritz reacts during a es,” Fritz said, according to the am using this time to really be a sumes,” she said. is kind of an all-Japan clash so COVID-19, which has killed over match (file photo) ATP site. “This was so much homebody, something a tennis “It’s a new normal but I am let’s see what those guys bring.” 218,000 people worldwide. fun. Addison absolutely car- player on tour can never be,” adjusting.” “I know so many people (in- AFP | Los Angeles ried the team.” Osaka told Reuters via email. Osaka has kept her compet- Tokyo Olympics cluding close friends) that have Fritz and Rae will donate Australia’s Labuschagne wants to flourish across formats “I’ve been playing tennis al- itive juices flowing by prepar- Whilst Sunday’s virtual tour- worked so hard on the Games, merica’s Taylor Fritz out- their prize money to No Kid most every day for as long as I ing for Sunday’s Mario Tennis nament, which will be streamed and I know how difficult this Ashone Serena Williams Hungry, which fights child Reuters | Melbourne four centuries in five tests, in- in the innings, the boundary op- play T20 cricket for Australia,” can remember, so it has been an Aces tournament, where she live on Facebook, will be fun, has been for people in Japan and Maria Sharapova to win hunger in the US. All partici- cluding a maiden double hun- tions at the back-end of a one- Labuschagne said. opportunity to take stock and will compete with the likes of Osaka is itching to get back on as well … So it has been tough,” a star-studded online tennis pants received $25,000 for a ustralia’s Marnus Labus- dred in Sydney earlier this year. day game. “...it doesn’t look like there reset. I have been cooking a lot, real-life rivals Serena and Venus the court and preparing for the she said. tournament, earning $1 mil- charity of their choice. Achagne wants to enhance The South Africa-born bats- “Batting at four in that one- might be too many other oppor- working out to stay fit, reading Williams and compatriot Kei rearranged Olympics Games “But of course it is the right lion for hungry children in the Fritz faced down five break his power-hitting ability in one- man made his one-day debut day lineup, that’s definitely tunities but, for me, it’s about and keeping in touch with my Nishikori in the virtual com- next year. decision, which has my full United States. points while serving for the day internationals as he seeks to in India earlier this year and something I’m going to need to scoring runs in one-day and test sister and family.” petition. Osaka, who was born to a backing. I’m really hopeful that Fritz, the world number 24, championship at 5-4, hitting establish himself as an all-format smashed his maiden century in continue to improve at.” cricket and if I get opportunities Although unable to get on the Osaka admits she is a bit of a Haitian father and Japanese the Olympics will now be a mas- and social media star Addison an ace every time, and he player, the 25-year-old said. this format against the country Australia’s chairman of selec- down the road then make sure I court with her coach Wim Fis- gamer and fancies her chances mother, was set to be the face sive celebration for the world at Rae beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori fired a final ace to wrap up Labuschagne has been a reve- of his birth in March. tors Trevor Hohns has said they take them.” sette, Osaka has been finding alongside doubles partner, mod- of Tokyo 2020 and starred in the other end of this pandemic.” and DJ Steve Aoki to win the the match. lation in test cricket since step- “There’s heaps to improve on, do not want to “overburden” Labuschagne knows oppo- ping up as Steve Smith’s concus- that’s for sure,” the top order Labuschagne at this stage with nents will be better prepared sion substitute at Lord’s in last batsman said in a video confer- another format but the batsman against him when internation- year’s Ashes series in England. ence. harbours Twenty20 dreams. al cricket resumes after the In the subsequent series “Personally, in one-day crick- “By no means do I want to lim- COVID-19 shutdown and the against Pakistan and New Zea- et, an area I want to continue to it myself to those two formats, I right-hander is preparing for ‘Nobody wins’ if Premier League loses money: Palace chairman Parish land, the right-hander smashed get better at is that later stages Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne in action during a match (file photo) definitely have the ambition to that challenge. Reuters | London not be ignored when making a lead to collective losses of up to decision to return. one billion euros and that foot- remier League clubs “We should all care about the ball was an “economic engine” are bleeding money and money. I’ll tell you why. Nobody that had to be reactivated. SUDOKU CROSSWORD Ptheir finances would be wins if the Premier League re- Parish said he agreed with Across Yesterday’s solution entering “uncharted waters” if ceives less money,” Parish wrote Tebas and said it was time to 1- Match up; 5- Perched on; 9- Tip, as a hat; 13- Stead; 14- New Hampshire’s state the season that was suspended in a column for the Sunday contemplate if it was possible to Yesterday’s solution flower; 16- Switch back?; 17- Mimic; 18- Merrily; 19- Extremely; 20- Vivacious; 21- Gra- nada gold; 22- Linen location; 24- Gillette brand; 26- Got off; 27- Burning; 29- Pretext; due to the COVID-19 pandem- Times. return, even if it meant playing 33- Ring; 34- Entrance; 35- Seemingly forever; 36- “... ___ the cows come home”; ic is not finished, Crystal Pal- “We are already facing losses at neutral venues without fans 37- Scapegoat; 38- Penlight battery; 39- Scandinavian capital city; 41- Confirmation, ace chairman Steve Parish has no one can quantify - and if we in attendance. e.g.; 42- First prime minister of India; 44- Doesn’t stay on topic; 46- Suckle; 47- New Orleans is The Big ___; 48- City in Western Nevada; 49- Third sign of the zodiac; said. don’t finish the season we are “Football is just another in- 52- Morning moisture; 53- Adroit; 57- Golfer Aoki; 58- Failed to; 60- Robert of “The The loss in revenue has forced entering uncharted waters. dustry trying to get back to Sopranos”; 61- ___ accompli; 62- Sister of Thalia; 63- Roman emperor; 64- Ike’s ex; 65- Tatum’s dad; 66- Fellow; some clubs to furlough their “Football is one of the most work... However we do it, and Down employees while others have efficient tax-generating indus- whenever we do it, football 1- Hit with an open hand; 2- Holy moly!; 3- ___-do-well; 4- Drape; 5- “Earth in the agreed wage cuts with their tries in Britain... Overall we pay cannot return the same,” Parish Balance” author; 6- Ornamental coronet; 7- Mixed bag; 8- Close friend; 9- Follower; players. about 3.3 billion pounds ($4.13 added. 10- Minerals; 11- Golfer’s “watch out!”; 12- Four-time Indy 500 winner; 15- Shop that sells two-wheelers; 23- On; 25- Song syllable; 26- “______by any other name…”; 27- Parish said he was convinced billion) in tax every year and “As Tebas observed: if impor- Spring up; 28- Gal’s guy; 29- Annie of “Designing Women”; 30- ___ Ark; 31- Capture; 32- the proposals laid out for the it is the Premier League that tant economic sectors cannot How to play Son of Isaac and Rebekah; 33- Molecular component; 34- Pyramid category; 37- Act Place a number in the empty boxes in such as chairperson; 40- The tiniest bit; 42- “Sister Act” extra; 43- Wearing; 45- Rockers restart would protect players, largely funds the whole football restart, in a safe and controlled a way that each row across, each column Steely ___; 46- Unit of force; 48- Oscar de la ___; 49- Present; 50- Morales of “NYPD staff and officials and that the fi- pyramid.” manner, they could end up dis- down and each 9-box square contains all Blue”; 51- Chief; 52- June 6, 1944; 54- Gen. Robert ___; 55- Frond plant; 56- Horse’s nancial plight of clubs across the La Liga chief Javier Tebas said appearing. That could happen to of the numbers from one to nine. gait; 59- Like some vbs.; country was a factor that could Crystal Palace players during a training session (file photo) not finishing the season would professional football.”