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Disguised Boy To Girl Wonder: India apos;s Verma Eyes World Cup Glory

2020-07-07T20:51:56Z

Eula16Z74513107:

Teenage India cricket sensation Shafali Verma stands in front of a picture of her idol Sachin Tendulkar in Rohtak Shafali Verma once disguised herself as her brother to play cricket, [https://www.algorithmictrading.wiki/wiki/Pair_Questioned_After_Qld_Blaster_Shooting https://www.algorithmictrading.wiki/wiki/Pair_Questioned_After_Qld_Blaster_Shooting] and went on to win "man of the match and series". Now the teen sensation wants to help India win the women's Twenty20 World Cup. Verma, who turned 16 on Tuesday, made her India debut last year in a Twenty20 against South Africa but turning up in her elder brother Sahil's jersey is her most cherished memory. "I told my father that I will go and play disguised as my brother (who was sick) and even had his name on my back," Verma told AFP. "I played and became man of the match and series. "Organisers complained to my dad that you made your daughter play instead of your son and he replied that 'you were lucky, if my daughter can hit so hard, imagine what my boy would have done'." Verma, an attacking opener, is now in Australia for a Twenty20 tri-series warm-up for next month's World Cup -- a trophy that has eluded India's women. But the prodigy's ambitions were almost ended by the lack of opportunities for aspiring female players where she grew up. World ambition: Shafali Verma, 16, wants to help India win next month's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia When she was nine, she decided to cut her hair short to play with the boys in her home town, Rohtak. Her cricket-obsessed father went along with the plan. "Whenever I went out to play, boys would not take a small girl in their team, fearing I would get hurt," she said. "After cutting my hair I went to play with the boys and they did not even realise that I am a girl. But they got it after a few days and felt happy." - Torn gloves, broken bat - Verma grew up in conservative northern Haryana state, where women are not encouraged to play sport. But she shared her father's mad passion for cricket and India legend Sachin Tendulkar. A visit by her idol to Lahli village near Rohtak for his final domestic Ranji Trophy match in 2013 inspired her. "That motivated me and I became serious for cricket and began to work hard to emulate my idol," Verma said as she sat in the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Lahli. But Verma found there was only one academy for girls in the region despite the sport's overwhelming popularity in India. But her prodigious talent was spotted by coaches and she was picked to play in the boys' team. There were also struggles off the field, after her father Sanjeev was conned out of all his family's money to a imposter who had promised him a job. Breaking down in tears, Sanjeev told AFP in his humble one-room house where he runs a small jewellery repair shop, that they became so poor Verma played with torn gloves and a broken bat for several months. Batting prodigy: Shafali Verma hones her skills at net practice in Rohtak The setbacks only made Verma work harder. Backed by her father, who also dreamt of being a professional cricketer, she established herself in state cricket. "My father has been a huge pillar of support. I wouldn't have been here had it been because of his efforts. He made me practise hard," Verma said. - 'Next superstar' - Last year she was picked for the Velocity team in the women's T20 Challenge, which was played alongside the men's lucrative Indian Premier League, and walked onto the field with women's cricket great Mithali Raj. She shared the dressing room with international stars including England's World Cup-winning all-rounder Danielle Wyatt, who called her the next "superstar" of Indian cricket. Verma made her India Twenty20 debut in September and became the youngest Indian to score an international half-century in her fifth outing against the West Indies -- surpassing a 30-year-old record held by Tendulkar, who was 16 when he made his maiden Test fifty. Shafali Verma, then 15 years old, warms up last year with the India team in Surat, ahead of a Twenty20 match against South Africa Her proud father -- who kept the torn gloves and broken bat as a reminder of the hardships they went through -- is confident her fearless approach will encourage others including her seven-year-old sister Nancy, who bats left-handed. "(Shafali) will take women's cricket to greater heights and get India the women's World Cup -- T20 and ODI," Sanjeev said as he watched Nancy practising her batting in the house's small verandah, which doubles up as a makeshift cricket pitch.

Warner And Finch Among Opening Elite

2020-07-07T12:11:00Z

Eula16Z74513107:

Aaron Finch and David Warner have entered rare air as one of just eight opening partnerships to have piled on 10 or more century stands in one-day cricket. Finch and Warner's 122 runs at the top in Australia's 71-run win over New Zealand on Friday was the 10th time they have notched up triple figures together. In doing so, they became just the second Australian pair behind Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden to reach the milestone, with their average opening stand now at 51.51. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar have the record for the most with 22, while current Indian pair of Shikhar Dhawan amd Rohit Sharma are next best with 16. A clutch of Warner and Finch's century stands have come in the past year, including three in a dominant World Cup campaign in Warner's return in England. "I love batting with him," Finch said. "It's about knowing each other's personalities in games more than anything else. "I think the fact that we get along so well and spend so much time together away from the game helps as well." Finch hit 60 in Friday night's series-opening win over the Black Caps, while Warner produced 67. The pair's relationship has developed significantly since they first crossed paths in an under-15s national carnival in Bendigo as opposing batsmen almost 20 years ago. "It's come a long way since then. We've had some dust ups as youngsters on the field," Finch said. "He is someone who gives his all every time on the field, whether it's in a club team, [https://wiki.darkwind.org/index.php/User:MinnieEchols https://wiki.darkwind.org/index.php/User:MinnieEchols] IPL, Australia or NSW. "It's a unique relationship, I think every relationship Davey has is unique. He doesn't do anything by halves, the Bull." Neither of the duo were able to bat into the last 10 overs in Friday's victory, with FInch keen to see that happen in game two in Sydney on Sunday. But he at least took solace from Marnus Labuschagne batting that deep into the innings, with the team's goal to have one of the top four still in at the end. MOST CENTURY OPENING STANDS BY PARTNERS Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar (India): 21 Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma (India): 16 Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden (Australia): 16 Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes (West Indies): 15 Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar (India): 12 Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock (South Africa): 111 Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy (England): 11 Aaron Finch and David Warner (Australia) : 10

FACTBOX-Cricket-How The World Reacted To Smith Bancroft And Lehmann

2020-07-07T08:46:39Z

Eula16Z74513107:

March 29 (Reuters) - Reaction after deposed Australian captain Steve Smith, opening batsman Cameron Bancroft and coach Darren Lehmann held news conferences in the wake of last week's ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town. MATT PRIOR, former England wicketkeeper "Fair play Bancroft and Steve Smith taking it head on and fronting up. That was hard to watch and can't imagine what they're going through. People make mistakes but being able to own up and take responsibility takes guts." HERSCHELLE GIBBS, former South Africa batsman "Hard scenes watching the interviews with the 2 ozzie (sic) blokes. Having been through it all, take it on the chin and live with the consequences but remain true to yourself." MICHAEL VAUGHAN, former England captain "'Good people make mistakes'.. I honestly think Steve Smith & Cam Bancroft are decent guys who had a moment of madness.. they deserve a 2nd chance and hopefully get the right support around them now ... Takes a lot guts to do what they did today." MITCHELL JOHNSON, former Australia bowler "Tough to watch Cameron & Steve go through the 2 statements they just made. They will learn from this & be better in the future I'm sure!" MARK BUTCHER, former England batsman "Just watched Smith presser. Hope everybody has had their pound of flesh now." KEVIN PIETERSEN, former England batsman "Just seen @stevesmith49's press conference. As a parent, I'm gutted for him & his family! Shout me down if you want, but I'm speaking as a parent! It will get better mate!" MICHAEL CLARKE, former Australia captain "DEVASTATING!" HARSHA BHOGLE, Indian cricket commentator "Haven't Australia made enough of a spectacle of Steve Smith? I'm blown by what he is being put through." RYAN HARRIS, former Australia test bowler "So very hard to watch, well done Smithy and Bangas, horrible to see the pain they are in! They did wrong but will be back bigger and better! #goodyoungmen" MOHAMMAD KAIF, former India batsman "Feel the pain he (Smith) is going through. Waiting for him to come back soon and cause delight to fans across the world with his supreme batsmanship. Remember Warne served a 1 year ban for a banned substance and came back with 26 wkts in 3 tests against SL." MICHAEL DI VENUTO, former Australia batsman "Absolutely shattering watching these press conferences. Not hard to tell what type of people these guys are. Cricket Aus losing some great people through one poor choice. #human #forgive." SACHIN TENDULKAR, [http://www.eybgow.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=30295&do=profile&from=space http://www.eybgow.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=30295&do=profile&from=space] former India batsman "They are regretting and hurting and will have to live with the consequences of their act. Spare a thought for their families as they have much to endure along with the players. Time for all of us to take a step back and give them some space." SHOAIB AKHTAR, former Pakistan bowler "At least Steve Smith has the courage to admit like a man but absolutely gutted to see Steve Smith breaking down... and also the way people (are) treating him @ Airport & in Australia. It's sad, leave that poor chap alone now." (Compiled by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

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2020-07-07T08:46:29Z

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