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High stakes in Pune as New Zealand take shot at history
Conditions were a much-talked-about aspect in the first Test of the series in Bengaluru. Following Rohit Sharma’s misreading of the pitch and the overheads, New Zealand made better use of what suited them. In Pune, that could still be a point of contention as New Zealand gets in with a shot at history. They could be met with a lot drier conditions in Pune, and the challenge now would be to try and beat India in different ways.
If there isn’t much assistance for the pacers, can they still find ways of breaking through and putting India under pressure? Can their spinners step up after having a lacklustre outing in not-so-favourable conditions in Bengaluru? With the three Tests coming with little turnaround time, New Zealand may have an edge as they look to carry that confidence forward. They’d managed that win despite the lack of runs from senior batters such as Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell, and would be hoping that the duo strengthen their fold by chipping in.
India were floating in a similar boat till after that dreaded first-innings in Bengaluru, but with fifties for both Rohit and Virat Kohli, some of those nerves ought to have eased. They’ve shown a keenness to embrace an aggressive batting approach, and some part of that approach contributed to their 46 all out. While they still want to stick to that philosophy largely, there is also a pushback towards doing it at the right times.
“There’s a balance that needs to be struck and it’s something we work on all the time with the players and it’s something that they’re aware of as well,” said Ryan ten Doeschate, the assistant coach. The approach from teams across the world is also influenced by the World Test Championship believed Doeschate. “I think the nature of the WTC where draws are worth nothing essentially, four points compared to 12. So always in the back of the mind, you’re trying to push the game forward and it takes a bit of bravery to do that and some teams are doing it very successfully. We want to make sure that our guys are equipped to do that when needed as well.”
If India were to lose the Pune Test, they’d need to win four of their six remaining Tests until the WTC final, to make sure they get there without relying on other results. With five of them in Australia, they’d be happier if they tried and get as many in the bank at home
Teams
India:There would be selection headaches for the Indian team after Sarfaraz Khan’s 150 in the first Test. Additionally, the injury concerns over Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have ended and both are set to feature in the playing eleven. This could leave KL Rahul’s position in jeopardy. On the bowling front, the addition of Washington Sundar and the thought of using him against left-handers could mean Kuldeep Yadav might miss out if he comes in. Similarly, with Mohammed Siraj’s middling returns, there is a possibility of resting him and being replaced by Akash Deep.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj/Akash Deep
New Zealand:Like India, New Zealand too could suffer a few selection headaches. They were spared of one of them with Kane Williamson being ruled out, allowing Will Young to stay put. But with drier conditions at play in Pune, they could be toying with the thought of an extra spinner even though all three of their pacers played crucial parts in that win in Bengaluru. Who sits out if they are to add a spinner to the eleven will be the big question on their minds.
Probable XI: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel
[Cricibuzz]
European leaders, including in France and Germany, have announced they are working on a plan in the event the United States follows through on its threat to take over Greenland as tensions soar.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio on Wednesday that while nations want to act if the US moves to seize Greenland from an ally, Denmark, they want to do so “together with our European partners”.
“I myself was on the phone with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday. He discarded the idea that what just happened in Venezuela could happen in Greenland,” Barrot said.
On Saturday, the United States – using fighter jets, attack helicopters, and special forces – abducted Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, bringing him to New York City to be tried for alleged drug trafficking.
US President Donald Trump’s decision to greenlight the abduction of Maduro led to widespread condemnation and fear that Greenland, which the president has previously said should be part of Washington’s security apparatus, could be forcibly taken.
But since then, European allies have rallied behind Greenland’s sovereignty, saying the country belongs to its people.
Johannes Koskinen, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Finland’s parliament, called for the issue to be raised within NATO.
“[Allies should] address whether something needs to be done and whether the United States should be brought into line in the sense that it cannot disregard jointly agreed plans in order to pursue its own power ambitions,” he said.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, requested an urgent meeting with Rubio to discuss the situation.
“We would like to add some nuance to the conversation,” Rasmussen wrote in a social media post. “The shouting match must be replaced by a more sensible dialogue. Now.”
Denmark has warned that any move to take Greenland by force would mean “everything would stop”, including NATO and 80 years of close security links.
Greenland’s government will join a meeting between Rubio and Danish officials next week following renewed US claims on the Arctic island, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.
The European Union will support Greenland and Denmark when needed and will not accept violations of international law no matter where they occur, European Council President Antonio Costa said.
“On Greenland, allow me to be clear: Greenland belongs to its people. Nothing can be decided about Denmark and about Greenland without Denmark or without Greenland,” Costa said in a speech.
“The European Union cannot accept violations of international law – whether in Cyprus, Latin America, Greenland, Ukraine, or Gaza. Europe will remain a firm and unwavering champion of international law and multilateralism.”
Greenland – the world’s largest island, with a population of 57,000 people – is located between Europe and North America. Since 2019, during Trump’s first term, the president has raised the idea of controlling Greenland, saying it would benifit US security.
So far, Trump has not ruled out using force to take the island.
Rubio told reporters on Wednesday that Trump’s intention is to buy Greenland. “That’s always been the president’s intent from the very beginning.”
House US House Speaker Mike Johnson said he hasn’t heard talk of sending the military into Greenland and the US is “looking at diplomatic channels”.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump and his national security team have “actively discussed” the option of buying Greenland.
“He views it in the best interest of the United States to deter Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic region. And so that’s why his team is currently talking about what a potential purchase would look like,” Leavitt told reporters.
Neither Leavitt nor Rubio ruled out the use of force. But Leavitt said, “The president’s first option, always, has been diplomacy.”
[Aljazeera]
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]
Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.
Greenland allies vow action if Trump moves to seize world’s largest island
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
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