Messi and Rapinoe expected to take Ballon d´Or honours

Lionel Messi and Megan Rapinoe are expected to win the big prizes at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony. Photo: AFPThe biggest names in world football will descend on Paris on Monday for the 2019 Ballon d´Or ceremony, with Lionel Messi and USA women´s World Cup superstar Megan Rapinoe tipped to leave with the honours.It would be an enormous shock if Rapinoe did not depart the Chatelet Theatre with the women´s prize as she returns to the country where she was the driving force on and off the field for the United States as they retained their title.The suspense surrounds the identity of the men´s winner, 12 months after Croatia´s Luka Modric claimed the crown thanks to his exploits in dragging his country to the World Cup final and winning the Champions League with Real Madrid.That ended a decade in which Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had won the Ballon d´Or five times each, but the smart money now is on the Barcelona man claiming number six.There are 30 nominees in total for the prize, organised by France Football magazine and voted for by 180 journalists from around the world.The case for Van Dijk Among the names is Ronaldo, as well as several of the stars of the Liverpool side who won the Champions League, chief among them Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk.At one point he looked like the favourite, but Messi already pipped him to FIFA´s The Best title in September.The 32-year-old top-scored in La Liga last season with 36 goals as Barcelona won the title. He did not have a great Copa America with Argentina, but his genius is undeniable."If you give the Ballon d´Or to the best player of this generation then you should give it always to Lionel Messi. That´s how it is," admitted Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp."But if you give it to the best player of last season, then it was Virgil van Dijk. I don´t know exactly how it will work but that is how I see it."The value of individual honours in football is debatable, and the timing unsatisfactory, coming midway through the European club season.Yet surely nobody could suggest Rapinoe would not be a deserving winner of just the second women´s Ballon d´Or, an award voted for by a panel of 48 journalists.Norway´s Ada Hegerberg won it in 2018 but will not retain her title after missing the World Cup.Among the stars of that tournament to be nominated are England´s Lucy Bronze, Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema, Australia´s Sam Kerr and the USA trio of Alex Morgan, Rose Lavelle and Tobin Heath.However Rapinoe, the 34-year-old feminist icon and outspoken critic of US President Donald Trump, should add this honour to those of Golden Boot winner for top scorer and Golden Ball for best player at the World Cup.Even her supposed rivals seem to be rooting for her."She does lots of things off the pitch, but I think she is the favourite to win the Ballon d´Or mainly down to her performances during the World Cup," Bronze told France Football.

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Despite Root, Burns tons England ´disappointed´ as New Zealand hit back

England´s captain Joe Root (C) watches as team mate Ben Stokes (R) reacts after being dismissed by New Zealand´s Tim Southee (L). Photo: AFPDespite centuries to Joe Root and Rory Burns England expressed disappointment at stumps on day three of the second Test against New Zealand after losing late wickets in Hamilton on Sunday.England captain Root ended his run drought with an unbeaten 114 while Burns rode his luck to post 101.But after they took England to 201 for two, the tourists were 269 for five at stumps and still trailing New Zealand by 106."I enjoyed the fact I got it (hundred) but at the same time disappointed me and Rooty couldn´t stretch our partnership and get us deeper into the game," Burn said."We're disappointed to lose a couple of wickets at the back end as well."With only five wickets remaining and 16 overs washed out by rain in the final session, England´s vision of building a healthy lead was rapidly fading.The tempo swung away from England when Burns was run out and New Zealand followed up with the quick wickets of Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley. England batsman Rory Burns walks after being run out on day three of the second cricket Test. Photo: AFP"The run out got us going," said Tim Southee who accounted for Stokes, adding that New Zealand never gave up hope despite the 63 overs it took to break the Root-Burns partnership."We hung in there for long enough and we were able to get those rewards late in the day for all the toil we put in."If things aren't happening you keep on trying."With Root and Burns putting on 177 for the third wicket, England found the "bat-long" partnership they had been searching for in their attempt to follow the same recipe New Zealand used to win the first Test.But following the dismissal of Burns, Ben Stokes was gone for 26 while Zak Crawley made one on debut.Root was under added pressure to not only guide England to a position of strength but also to end his own run dearth amid suggestions the pressure of captaincy was affecting his form.To that end, he was in no mood to take risks as he faced 258 deliveries in six hours to reach 99, before his century came on a surprise mistiming that saw an inside edge fly past the wicketkeeper to the boundary.His 17th Test hundred was his first in 15 innings since the West Indies in February.Burns lead a charmed life on the way to his second century when he was dropped on 10 and 19 and on 87 survived a run-out opportunity when New Zealand botched the return throw.But two balls after reaching three figures he ambled through the first single when Root called for two and although he accelerated on the return leg he was a centimetre short when BJ Watling broke the stumps.Stokes strayed from the "bat-long" script when he replaced Burns and compiled a brisk 26 before Southee extracted slight movement off the wicket and found an edge for Ross Taylor to hold.Crawley´s maiden Test innings only lasted six balls when he was caught behind to give Neil Wagner his first wicket.For New Zealand, Southee has taken two for 63 while Wagner and Matt Henry have a wicket each.

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Hamzah Sheeraz wins WBO European Super Welter title

Hamzah Sheeraz (R) in action against Ryan Kelly (L).British boxer Hamzah Sheeraz on Saturday TKO'ed compatriot Ryan Kelly in Birmingham to clinch the vacant World Boxing Organisation (WBO) European Super Welter title.Sheeraz, 20, stopped his opponent in the sixth round of the bout, and improved his career record to 10-0.The 6'1 pugilist from Slough, who is managed by fame boxing promoter Frank Warren, has a 60 per cent knock out ratio across his first 10 fights.Before following in the footsteps of his idol Amir Khan and turning pro in 2017, Sheeraz had a successful amateur career, winning 70 of his 80 fights. 

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Fast bowler Usman Shinwari reveals he had challenged Yasir Shah to show batting skills

Shinwari said that before the spin ace's departure for Australia, he had challenged him to stay on wicket for longer during the Test series. Photo — Author Fast bowler Usman Shinwari on Sunday revealed that he had challenged his friend and leg-spinner Yasir Shah to display his batting prowess in Australia when both faced each other in a domestic match before the Test series Down Under.Yasir, batting at number eight, smashed 113 off 213 deliveries in Adelaide on Sunday to help Pakistan post a half decent total of 302 after they were reeling on 89-6 at one stage.Shinwari, a good friend of Yasir, said that before the spin ace's departure for Australia, he had challenged him to stay on wicket for longer during the Test series.“It happened during one of our Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches against Balochistan in Quetta,” recalled Shinwari, who plays for Khyber Pakhtunkhua in domestic circuit.“Yasir was aiming to play a longer innings when I went to him and said that 'I will accept you as a batsman only when you will be able to stay at the crease in Australia, where you will face bowlers at speed of 150. I am happy that today he has done it,” the southpaw pacer said. Yasir Shah celebrates scoring his century against Australia. Photo: AFPUsman, who has played some useful knocks as a tail-ender, said that runs scored by tail are always important for the team.Talking about Pakistan team’s bowling performance in the Test series against Australia, Usman said that the bowlers did not bowl in the right areas, which is why they could not get success.The 25-year-old fast bowler further said that domestic cricket is a “learning institute” for players where they can learn all aspects of the game.Shinwari also said that he is willing to play all three formats for Pakistan. “I am always ready for all types of cricket. I am playing four-day cricket regularly which shows that I am ready for Test cricket as well," he said. When asked about the inconsistency in his own performance, Usman explained that he tries to bowl aggressively in each match and "when you’re bowling aggressively then there is always a chance that you could be smashed as well."“I do not get satisfied with bowling figures of like four overs, 24 runs, two wickets. I want to give match-winning performances. I try to give my 100 per cent in every match, be it for Pakistan or franchise,” he said.Moreover, Shinwari said that the new domestic structure would help Pakistan bowlers improve and results will be fruitful when they are playing international cricket.“Using Kookaburra balls will help bowlers in international cricket. Before this season, bowlers were easily getting 50 to 60 wickets but now they will have to give extra effort to take wickets, which will eventually help them in international cricket,” Usman concluded.

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Centurion Yasir Shah reveals the longer he batted, the easier it became

Pakistan batsman Yasir Shah celebrates scoring his century against Australia. Photo: AFPPakistan’s unlikely centurion Yasir Shah on Sunday revealed why he was able to score big against Australia in the first innings of the second Test.Where his teammates fell like a pack of cards, Yasir, a leg-spinner by trade, saw his willow produce an unexpected flow of runs, scoring 113 off 213 runs.In his post-play interview, Yasir said that the presence of Babar Azam at the other end as well as his own patience helped him produce the knock.“When I took the field, my goal was to support the recognised batsman and bat for the entire day. And the way Babar Azam was playing in the morning, it made batting easier for me,” he said. Yasir Shah prays after scoring his century. Photo: AFP “I tried to stay at the crease, and the longer I batted, the easier it became. Of course, Australian bowlers are world class and scoring a century against them is not easy but I tried and succeeded.”Yasir also said that even though batting on Australian pitches is as difficult as they say, it eventually gets easier once you have weathered the early storm.“In Australia, as a batsman you have to survive the first 15-20 overs. After that, the pink ball does not swing that much. You need to spend some more time on the wicket,” he said. 

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Pakistan bowled out for 302, Australia enforces follow-on

ADELAIDE: Yasir Shah smacked a maiden Test century Sunday and Babar Azam made 97 as a stubborn Pakistan kept their slim hopes alive in the second Test against Australia Sunday despite six wickets to Mitchell Starc.The visitors resumed on an overcast day teetering at 96 for six in reply to Australia's first innings 589 for three declared, built on the back of David Warner's monumental 335 not out.They were finally out for 302 on day three of the pink-ball Test, 287 runs adrift, with a dogged Yasir the last man to go for 113.Australia immediately enforced the follow on, leaving Pakistan to face a difficult evening session.Better known as a spin bowler than a batsmen, Yasir had never gone better than 42 in his previous 36 Tests, making his effort against one of the world´s most fearsome pace attack's even more remarkable.In a scintillating spell under lights on Sunday night, left-armer Starc snapped up four quick wickets and the omens for Pakistan did not look good.But the gloomy conditions at Adelaide Oval offered little movement to the bowlers on Sunday and Azam and Yasir took advantage.They put on a disciplined 105-run stand with Azam looking destined for a third Test century until Starc pounced again, with the 25-year-old edging an attempted drive to Tim Paine behind the stumps on 97.Azam — who scored a century in the first Test at Brisbane and is rapidly emerging as his country's top batsmen — left the field dejected but to a standing ovation.The very next ball Starc grabbed his sixth, with Shaheen Afridi plumb lbw before Abbas fended off the hat-trick ball.He finished with 6-66 — his 12th five-wicket Test haul.Mohammad Abbas joined Yasir at the crease and made a gutsy 29 before he was undone by a Pat Cummins bouncer, caught at gully by Warner.At the other end, Yasir showed composure to compile his first-ever ton, bringing up the milestone off 192 balls, clattering 12 fours and kissing the turf in celebration.He had a near-miss off the bowling of Marnus Labuschagne on 33. Steve Smith believed he caught him at slip and made a big appeal, but replays showed the ball fell just short of his fingertips.Yasir was then dropped by Labuschagne off his own bowling on 43.He was finally out hooking a Cummins delivery to Nathan Lyon.

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Pak vs Aus: Yasir Shah hailed for fighting maiden Test century against Australia

ADELAIDE: Yasir Shah scored a fighting maiden Test century on Sunday as Pakistan battled back against Australia in the day-night second Test in Adelaide.Best-known as a spin bowler, the 33-year-old’s highest score in his previous 36 Tests was just 42.But after playing second fiddle to Babar Azam in a 105-run partnership, Yasir took charge when his countryman was out for 97.He raced to a first-ever 50 then, supported by Mohammad Abbas, brought up his hundred off 192 balls, clattering 12 fours and kissing the turf after reaching the milestone.He had a near-miss off the bowling of Marnus Labuschagne on 33. Steve Smith believed he caught him at slip and made a big appeal, but replays showed the ball fell just short of his fingertips.Yasir was then dropped by Labuschagne off his own bowling on 43.Here's how Twitter reacted to Yasir Shah's heroics:

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