The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is where Scott Boland truly feels at home.
Out of his 40 Test wickets so far, the most memorable debut came at this very ground. Boland's first impression was so strong that it remains the most lasting one to date -- blowing away England with figures of 6 for 7 in the second innings during his debut, buoyed by his loyal supporters.
Now, as another Boxing Day Test approaches at the 'G', Boland is ready to step in once again for Josh Hazlewood, continuing the role of the perfect first substitute that has defined his 11-Test career.
And just like a true workhorse, his practice sessions are as regimented as they come. On Monday, during Australia's first session ahead of the fourth Test, Boland's focus was clear.
Known for hitting hard lengths, Boland practiced single-net spot bowling without any batters. His aim was to fine-tune the length ideal for the MCG track.
Boland is not a conventional swing bowler and relies more on pace and movement off the 

Scott Boland, Australia cricket team

As another Boxing Day Test approaches at the 'G', Boland is ready to step in once again for Josh Hazlewood, continuing the role of the perfect first substitute that has defined his 11-Test career.

In 2024, Indian women's cricket saw Royal Challengers Bangalore take home the Women's Premier League trophy, and Richa Ghosh's T20I milestone, but faced disappointment with a T20 World Cup exit

India women's cricket team, Harmanpreet Kaur

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of cricket for at least three months because of a torn left hamstring.
Stokes will undergo surgery on the hamstring next month, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement on Monday.
He was injured a week ago during the third test loss to New Zealand in Hamilton.
The 33-year-old allrounder had already been left out of England's squad announced on Sunday for the Champions Trophy in February and March in Pakistan.
Hamstring issues previously forced Stokes to miss the home summer series against Sri Lanka and the first test in Pakistan in October.

Ben Stokes

Stokes will undergo surgery on the hamstring next month, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement on Monday.

Kotian, currently playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Hyderabad, is expected to fly out to Australia on Tuesday

Tanush Kotian

Tanush Kotian, currently playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Hyderabad, is expected to fly out to Australia on Tuesday

Former India cricketer Vinod Kambli has been admitted to a hospital here due to deterioration in his health.
The 52-year-old was brought to the hospital by one of his fans who also owns the hospital in Bhiwandi's Kalher area in Thane district and his condition is said to be stable, even though the exact reasons for his hospitalisation could not be ascertained.
Kambli was admitted to the hospital on Saturday.
Kambli, who played 17 Tests and 104 ODIs for India between 1993-2000, had recently attended the inauguration of legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar's memorial at the Shivaji Park here.
The former India cricketer, who has been struggling with health-related issues for quite some time, appeared frail in the function which was also attended by his long-time friend Sachin Tendulkar.

Vinod Kambli

The 52-year-old was brought to the hospital by one of his fans who also owns the hospital in Bhiwandi's Kalher area in Thane district and his condition is said to be stable

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo said it was just a little cold as he posed bare-chested in the snow before taking an icy dip in a pool during a Christmas vacation in Finland's Lapland region.
The 39-year-old Portuguese international traveled with partner Georgina Rodriguez and their children, who met Santa Claus in a 10-minute video posted online by Ronaldo on Tuesday.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United great appeared to decline to ski with his family. He wished his followers  including 645 million on Instagram  a Merry Christmas in Spanish.
The Al-Nassr striker is on a winter break from the Saudi Pro League until Jan. 9.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The 39-year-old Portuguese international traveled with partner Georgina Rodriguez and their children, who met Santa Claus in a 10-minute video posted online by Ronaldo on Tuesday.

Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar is returning to his Brazilian boyhood club Sao Paulo after 14 years, which included a long spell in Chinese soccer.
Sao Paulo president Julio Casares posted photos Tuesday on his social media channels which showed him with the 33-year-old former Brazil international. Casares described the move as a super transfer."
Minutes later, Oscar thanked China's Shanghai Port, where he played for eight seasons, for his time at the Chinese Super League club.
Today I finish a cycle that marked my life forever, he said. I leave with my heart full of gratitude and pride for everything we achieved together.
Oscar joined Sao Paulo on a free transfer. Neither the Brazilian club nor the player disclosed the duration of their deal, but local media reports said he signed a three-year contract.
Oscar is returning to a club he sued to leave for another Brazilian team, Internacional, in 2010.
In 2012, Oscar joined Chelsea and won one Europa League title and two Premier Le

football

Sao Paulo president Julio Casares posted photos Tuesday on his social media channels which showed him with the 33-year-old former Brazil international. Casares described the move as a super transfer."

Pardeep Narwal entered the 1800 Raid Point club but could not stop UP Yoddhas from registering a convincing 44-30 victory over Bengaluru Bulls in a Pro-Kabaddi League match here on Tuesday.
The win also helped Yoddhas to secure the third spot in the league table, thereby confirming their Eliminator 1 berth against the sixth-placed team.
Earlier, Patna Pirates settled for fourth position in the standings.
In a tightly contested first half, the Bengaluru Bulls held a narrow 19-18 lead over UP Yoddhas.
Bulls dominated through Sushi's aggressive raiding and strong defensive work, inflicting the first ALL OUT of the match.
However, the Yoddhas mounted an impressive comeback, with their own ALL OUT reducing the deficit to 15-13.
A highlight of the first half was Narwal's historic achievement as he crossed the 1,800 Raid Points in the PKL  a feat he accomplished with a bonus point during a raid against the Yoddhas.
The momentum shifted significantly after this moment, as the UP Yoddhas

UP Yoddhas

The win also helped Yoddhas to secure the third spot in the league table, thereby confirming their Eliminator 1 berth against the sixth-placed team.

Indian archer Harvinder Singh, who won a gold at Paris Paralympics, on Tuesday alleged "discrimination" in the distribution of sports awards and questioned why the Khel Ratna honour was not bestowed on this year's medallists at the Games like the Tokyo edition.
Singh, a Tokyo Games bronze winner, claimed his maiden gold medal at Paris after defeating Lukasz Ciszek of Poland in the final 6-0.
"Discrimination in sports," Singh wrote on X.
"Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Gold medallists were awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, but what about Paris 2024 Paralympic Gold medalists? Same competition, same gold, same pride  why not the same award?"
Following India's gold-winning performance at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, shooter Avani Lekhara, javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shuttler Pramod Bhagat were honoured with the Khel Ratna along with Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
"In the year 2021, all Olympic medal winners and Paralympic gold medal winners were honoured with 

Harvinder Singh

Singh, a Tokyo Games bronze winner, claimed his maiden gold medal at Paris after defeating Lukasz Ciszek of Poland in the final 6-0

The 2020 Arjuna Awardee said that regardless of the award, she should remain motivated to win more medals for her country

Manu Bhaker

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi breathed a sigh of relief after receiving his US visa to compete in the upcoming World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York, beginning December 26.
The world No 4 Indian had appealed to the US Embassy on Friday to expedite the process of granting him the necessary visa to participate in the tournament, which will feature top players such as Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Boris Gelfand.
"I have received the US Visa! I am honestly overwhelmed and very grateful for so much positive response to my situation," Erigaisi wrote on his 'X' handle.
"Thank you to the @USAndIndia & @USAmbIndia for the quick turn around! Thank you @MEAIndia @anandmahindra @narangnitin @aicfchess @IndiaSports @FIDE_chess @USChess @QBResearch @mgd1_esports  journalists and many other well wishers who went out of their way to make this happen.
"I hope to make all of you and our country proud of my achievements. New York here I come," he added.
On ...

Arjun Erigaisi

The world No 4 Indian had appealed to the US Embassy on Friday to expedite the process of granting him the necessary visa to participate in the tournament.

The image of a smiling D Gukesh standing with outstretched hands will forever be embossed in the memory of a nation of billions.
The moment, which came right after his victory over Ding Liren of China in the World Chess Championship in Singapore, was a bold signature on India's rise as a true global chess super power in the post Viswanathan Anand era.
Year 2024 was a story of resurgence in Indian chess, crafted by Anand himself.
The fearless and ambitious teenagers or "Vishy's children" as Garry Kasparov calls them, now have a role model to emulate -- an 18-year-old from Chennai, the youngest ever world champion in the long history of chess.
But the genesis of that success was during the FIDE Candidates tournament in April.
He emerged as the youngest ever winner of that tournament, setting up a title clash with 32-year-old defending champion Liren.
The Gukesh moment
==============
Gukesh was viewed as the favourite going into the title matches, consisting of 14 rounds. That tag

D Gukesh, Gukesh

The image of a smiling D Gukesh standing with outstretched hands will forever be embossed in the memory of a nation of billions.

In their previous encounter, UP Yoddhas dominated the Bulls with a 21-point victory (57-36). Although the Bulls have had a tough season, they will be eager to conclude PKL 11 with a win.

Pro Kabaddi League 2024

Despite clinching two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics 2024, Manu Bhaker's exclusion from the Khel Ratna recommendation list has sparked outrage and questions about the selection process.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is expected to be out for many weeks with a hamstring injury, manager Mikel Arteta said Monday.
Saka limped off during the first half of Arsenal's 5-1 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday and was pictured leaving the stadium on crutches after the match.
It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks, Arteta told a news conference ahead of Thursday's home game against Ipswich. I cannot be too specific because I don't know, but it will be many weeks.
Arsenal is third in the Premier League heading into the busy Christmas schedule, with a home game against Manchester United in the FA Cup and the League Cup semifinals against Newcastle also on the horizon in January.
Making matters worse for Arsenal is that fellow right winger Raheem Sterling will also be out for weeks with a knee injury, Arteta said.
(Sterling) needs some further testing tomorrow to understand the extent of the injury, Arteta said. It's his knee and we have to wait 

Bukayo Saka

Saka limped off during the first half of Arsenal's 5-1 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday and was pictured leaving the stadium on crutches after the match.

NorthEast United FC came from two goals behind to secure a 5-2 victory against Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Monday.
Hyderabad FC, who had conceded six goals post the 60th minute mark this season prior to this match, added three more to that tally as NorthEast United FC struck thrice in the final 30-odd minutes.
Hyderabad FC pressed on the offensive from the beginning, as Edmilson Correia took the onus with a solo effort in the fifth minute. He dazzled into the box from the left flank and beat challenges from Dinesh Singh and Asheer Akhtar with some quick footwork to drill the ball into the bottom left corner to get an early lead.
Seven minutes later, Cy Goddard controlled the ball impeccably in a pocket of space down the middle outside of the 18-yard box. He played a pass for Sourav K on the right flank and his perfectly weighted cross was met on the bounce by Correia before he dispatched it into the bottom right corner to notch his brace.
While the home si

NorthEast United FC came from two goals behind to secure a 5-2 victory against Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Monday.

The world soccer players' union disagreed with FIFA's temporary changes to transfer rules on Monday following the landmark Lassana Diarra judgement.
Former France international Diarra challenged FIFA 's rules due to a dispute with a club dating to 2014, and the European Court of Justice ruled in October that some rules were contrary to European Union law because they restricted freedom of movement and were anti-competitive.
FIFA then opened a global dialogue and on Monday published interim amendments which take effect in time for the January transfer window. They strike a balanced compromise, FIFA said in a statement.
But global players' union FIFPRO was against the changes, and accused FIFA of failing to reach consensus.
Following Lassana Diarra's successful challenge against the legality of Article 17 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, FIFPRO informed FIFA of the conditions under which it could negotiate the amendments to the regulations to reflect the

Former France international Diarra challenged FIFA 's rules due to a dispute with a club dating to 2014.

Kylian Mbapp added to his scoring streak with a superb strike in Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Sevilla in the Spanish league to finish the year on a positive note after hitting what he called "rock bottom in early December.
Mbapp sent a right-footed shot into the upper corner 10 minutes into the match for his fourth goal in as many games with Madrid in all competitions. It was Mbapp's sixth goal in his last eight matches with Madrid.
He struggled early on with his new club, and Mbapp said his lowest point came when he missed a penalty kick in the team's 2-1 league loss at Athletic Bilbao on Dec. 4.
I know I have a lot more to give, Mbapp said Sunday. The last few games I've played better, I took a lot of positives from the Bilbao game, when I hit rock bottom.
The France star said that made him realize "I have to give my all for this jersey and play with personality.
Mbapp said he feels his period of adjustment with the club is finally over.
I think we now know each other better," he

Mbappe and Vinicius

He struggled early on with his new club, and Mbapp said his lowest point came when he missed a penalty kick in the team's 2-1 league loss at Athletic Bilbao on Dec. 4.

Kambli was admitted to the hospital on Saturday evening after experiencing muscle cramps and dizziness at home

India and Australia will face each other in Melbourne Cricket Ground with hopes of taking a 2-1 lead in the ongoing 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy

IND vs AUS at MCG

The live toss for the India vs Australia 4th test will take place at 4:30 AM IST. The AUS vs IND 4th test will begin at 5:00 AM IST in Melbourne.

India vs Australia 4th Test Playing 11

Head, who had suffered a minor quad strain while batting in the Brisbane Test, underwent a rigorous fitness test on Christmas Day.

Australia

With an investment of Rs 850 crore in energy and e-mobility, Lauritz Knudsen strengthens its role in India's sustainable growth, says Deepak Sharma, MD & CEO of Schneider Electric India

Deepak Sharma, Zone President, Greater India, MD & CEO of Schneider Electric India with Mahela Jayawardene, Head Coach, Mumbai Indians.

Global transportation company Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) has signed a multi-year agreement to become the principal sponsor and official logistics partner for the IPL team Chennai Super Kings, the company said.
Besides the IPL Team in India, the company would also be the principal sponsor for the professional Twenty20 cricket team Johannesburg Super Kings in South Africa, FedEx Airline, said Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer (International) Richard Smith.
The association with the Super Kings further strengthens FedEx's ties to high-profile sports, blending the excitement of cricket with the company's hallmark values of trust and reliability, the statement issued on Friday added.
"Sports transcend borders, uniting communities through passion, resilience, and shared experiences. Cricket is the heart and soul of India, a strategic market for FedEx, and this collaboration reflects our dedication to energising the growth and prosperity of businesses and people .

Chennai Super Kings

Besides the IPL Team in India, the company would also be the principal sponsor for the professional Twenty20 cricket team Johannesburg Super Kings in South Africa

As the team's principal partner, Lauritz Knudsen's logo will feature prominently on the front of the MI's official jersey and training gear starting in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

Mahela Jayawardene, Head Coach, Mumbai Indians along with Lauritz Knudsen leadership unveils the logo that will feature on Mumbai Indians jersey

Veteran Indian seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood have expressed their excitement at returning to Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the next edition of IPL.
Both players were picked by RCB at the mega auction last month in Riyadh.
Bhuvneshwar, who began his IPL journey with RCB in 2009, is looking forward to shoulder the team's bowling responsibilities for the first time since he started playing in the league.
"Really happy to be part of RCB, it's where I started in 2009. I want to thank RCB management for considering me and a big shout out to the RCB fans for showing so much love. Looking forward to a great season," said Bhuvneshwar in a release.
For Hazlewood, his previous stint with RCB was during the COVID pandemic, when matches were not played in Bangalore.
Despite this, he left a lasting impression, taking 23 wickets in 15 games at an economy of 8.26.
Reflecting on his return, Hazlewood said, "We've got the best fans in the competition, every ga

Bhuvneshwar Kumar leaves the field after getting his hamstring pulled. Photo: Reuters

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar, who began his IPL journey with RCB in 2009, is looking forward to shoulder the team's bowling responsibilities for the first time since he started playing in the league

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