Sports

Kolkata, June 24 (IANS) The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Ashoke Dinda and Utpal Chatterjee to spearhead its ambitious 'Vision 2028' player development programme, scheduled to commence in July 2026.

"The Cricket Association of Bengal on Wednesday announced two Bengal legends, Mr Utpal Chatterjee and Mr Ashoke Dinda, in the Vision 2028 programme starting July 2026. Mr Dinda has been named as the Head of Vision 2028 and Fast Bowling Coach. Mr Chatterjee has been named as the Spin bowling coach for Vision 2028," the CAB stated in an official release on Wednesday.

The 'Vision 2028' initiative is designed as a comprehensive blueprint to identify, promote, and elevate cricketing talent in Bengal. To ensure a unified and structured development pathways system, the apex state body has integrated the entire coaching core into the initiative.

Chatterjee played three ODIs for India in 1995, and later served as the head coach of Bengal in the 2008/09 season. Dinda, meanwhile, featured in 13 ODIs and nine T20Is for India from 2009 to 2013. Dinda is also serving as the Minister of State for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and Textiles in the West Bengal government.

According to CAB, the head coaches alongside the assistant coaches of all major state representative squads -- spanning the Under-16, Under-19, Under-23, and the senior men’s and women’s Bengal teams -- will be actively included within the operational folds of the Vision programme.

The development comes after CAB President Sourav Ganguly, Vice‑President Nitish Ranjan Dutta, and Treasurer Sanjay Das held a meeting with District Sports Association secretaries and representatives at Eden Gardens to chalk out the road map for the upcoming 2026‑27 local season, following the completion of men’s and women’s Bengal T20 leagues.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) Curtains came down at the Bharat Mandapam on a historic day for India as the 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championship, the first Continental-level competition in the sport in the country, concluded, marking a milestone in the sporting history of the country on Wednesday.

As the final echo of clashing steel faded into the evening air, the grand stage transformed into a breathtaking theatre of light, colour, and cultural majesty as the event reached its emotional crescendo with a spectacular Closing Ceremony, weaving together the fierce passion of elite sport with the timeless, welcoming warmth of Indian heritage.

Marking a monumental milestone, the six-day elite continental showcase officially drew its curtains at the iconic venue (Pragati Maidan), cementing India’s growing reputation as a global hub for world-class sports management. Under the inspiring tournament motto, "One Dream, One Blade, One Pride," the championship brought together more than 400 world-class athletes and international delegates from over 34 countries. The high-stakes tournament served as a crucial proving ground for continental fencing programs as teams chart their long roadmap toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Following six gruelling days of individual and team competition across all three weapons (Foil, Epee, and Sabre), Japan finished with the highest total medal tally of 6 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze medals, securing their status as the 2026 Championship winners. South Korea finished closely behind in second place with a total of 10 medals, dominating the Sabre team brackets, while Kazakhstan locked down third place on the strength of their historic Women’s Epee sweep with 5 medals.

For the host country, the tournament was an outstanding administrative success and a technical leap forward. Spearheaded by the Fencing Association of India (FAI), the event provided invaluable exposure to local rising stars. Top-25 finishes by India’s Prachi Lohan (Women's Épée) and Sachin (Men's Foil), alongside resilient performances from Tokyo Olympian C.A. Bhavani Devi and rising star Taniksha Khatri, showcased that India is rapidly closing the competitive gap against Asia's elite fencing systems.

The evening featured a mesmerising sequence of traditional and modern Indian cultural performances that showcased the nation's rich heritage, drawing immense applause from the visiting international contingent. The arena came alive as a vibrant tapestry of unity as athletes marched side-by-side in a beautiful parade of flags, celebrating international camaraderie.

The celebration soon dissolved into a sensory feast of rhythm and movement, featuring the thunderous beats of traditional Indian drumming paired with flawlessly synchronised choreography. Even the beloved tournament mascot, "Lakshya"—the majestic tiger whose spirit perfectly encapsulated the speed, precision, and fierce determination shown by the competitors throughout the week—joined the celebration, dancing alongside the performers.

The evening's formal proceedings featured key addresses from the leadership panel.

Kiren Rijiju, Hon'ble Minister for Parliamentary Affairs & Minority Affairs (Government of India), attended as the Chief Guest, congratulating all the participants and highlighting the rapid, inspiring rise of fencing infrastructure across the country.

He said, "Fencing is a highly strategic, stylish sport with a significant number of Olympic medals up for grabs, offering India a tremendous opportunity to excel on the global stage. I am delighted to see it growing so rapidly among our youth, and I reiterate my firm commitment to fully support and extend all necessary assistance to promote it further. It is truly encouraging to see more than 30 nations and over 400 fencers participating as India proudly hosts this magnificent Asian Fencing Championship here in New Delhi. My heartfelt congratulations to all the medal winners, and my compliments to every participant for demonstrating the true essence of sportsmanship."

Representing the global governing body, Anthony JR. Donald, Vice-President & Member of the Executive Committee of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), highly commended New Delhi’s spectacular organisational excellence and warm hospitality.

"On behalf of the International Fencing Federation, I express our sincere gratitude to the Fencing Federation of India and the people of New Delhi for their warm hospitality and excellent organisation, making this championship truly unforgettable. Athletes from across Asia have demonstrated remarkable skill and determination, beautifully reflecting the core values of fencing: respect, fairness, and unity. As fencing continues to grow globally towards LA 2028, I invite the fencers of all nations to carry this incredible spirit forward to next year's championship in Abu Dhabi. May the spirit of fencing continue to inspire us all," he said.

Concluding the addresses, Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Confederation of Asia & Fencing Association of India, addressed the gathering and extended a heartfelt vote of thanks. "As Secretary General of the Fencing Association of India and the Fencing Confederation of Asia, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the FIE, FCA, and all 27 participating nations for making this championship a monumental success.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have successfully hosted our esteemed guests and athletes here in New Delhi. My deepest thanks go to our Chief Guest, Shri Kiren Rijiju, for his unwavering encouragement and commitment to elevating Indian fencing. We are also immensely grateful to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for their invaluable, constant support. Together, our collective efforts have paved the way for an unforgettable tournament," he said.

The grand closing was further elevated by the distinguished presence of key dignitaries on the dais, including Dr. Henriette Tamas (VP of FIE & Secretary General of the Hungarian Fencing Federation), Yuko Kato (Vice President of FCA & Event Manager of FIE), Wang Haibin (Member of the Executive Committee of FIE), Gargi Mehta (Joint Secretary, FAI), and Debendra Sahoo (Treasurer, FAI). Special felicitations were gracefully led by Hari Ranjan Rao (Secretary, Sports & Director General - Sports Authority of India) and Dr. Shipra Verma (Secretary General - Delhi Association of Fencing).

Beyond the cultural brilliance, international delegates and officials highly praised New Delhi's flawless execution, noting that the introduction of advanced AI video referrals had set a new benchmark for continental tournament management.

The formal proceedings drew to a close with the official extinguishing of the tournament flame and the symbolic lowering and handing over of the Fencing Confederation of Asia (FCA) flag to the hosts of the next edition, signalling the end of an unforgettable chapter in Asian sports history.

--IANS

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Mysuru, June 24 (IANS) Bengaluru Blasters defeated Coastal Kings Mangaluru by 20 runs in the first match of the day at the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 to stay at the top of the table with six points from four matches. For Coastal Kings, it was their first defeat in three matches, and they slipped to third with three points.

It was another run fest as, batting first, the Blasters raced to 226 for six with useful contributions from almost all the top and middle-order batters.

The Coastal Kings, in reply, made a poor start, losing opener Nikin Jose in the first over, and, more crucially, captain Karun Nair also fell soon for a mere 10, reducing them to 23-2 in 3.3 overs. They slipped further to 97-5 in the 12th over.

When it looked all over, Suraj Ahuja single-handedly waged a spirited battle that turned the match into a thrilling affair.

The 26-year-old scored a whirlwind 96 not out in 38 balls with five fours and eight sixes. He fell short of a deserving century while C.A. Karthik remained unbeaten on 49 off 27 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes). The pair added 109 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket off just 51 balls.

Shubhang Hegde was the pick of the Blasters' attack with figures of 2-31.

Earlier, it was wicket-keeper batsman KL Shrijith who motored the innings for the Blasters with 59 runs in 33 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes. Shrijith added a 26-ball 55 with opener Rohan Patil (30 off 14) for the second wicket and a 33-ball 49 with Samit Dravid for the third.

Patil (30 off 14, 5 fours, 1 six) and Dravid (39 off 21, 3 fours, 2 sixes) were equally fluent and at times more aggressive than Shrijith.

The good work continued through captain Shubhang Hegde (34 off 18, 4 sixes) and Praveen Dubey (45* off 21, 6 fours, 2 sixes), adding 47 runs in 24 balls for the fifth wicket on the way to a formidable score. C A Karthik (3-49) was the most successful bowler for Coastal Kings.

Brief scores:

Bengaluru Blasters 226-6 in 20 overs (Rohan Patil 30, KL Shrijith 59, Samit Dravid 39, Shubhang Hegde 34, Praveen Dubey 45 not out; CA Karthik 3-49) bt Coastal Kings Mangaluru 206 all out in 20 overs (Suraj Ahuja 96 not out, C A Karthik 49 not out; Shubhang Hegde 2-31) by 20 runs.

--IANS

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Manchester, June 24 (IANS) Asserting that she now considers herself a complete all-rounder, opener Shafali Verma said she is ready to raise her hand and deliver in any situation as India look to put their semifinal aspirations on track when they take the field for a crucial 2026 Women's T20 World Cup Group A match against Bangladesh.

Shafali had impressive figures of 1-22 in her four overs against South Africa at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground, though India lost by six wickets and got their first defeat in the 12-team competition. A win over Bangladesh on Thursday will help them be in contention for entering the semi-finals.

“Yes, I would say I am an all-rounder now. In domestic cricket, playing for Haryana, I have always tried to bowl, as a captain too, and used to think about what I could do if I got a chance to bowl for the Indian team. I had prepared for it and worked hard. That is why I could execute well. As a player, I would like to put my hand up and serve the team in a given situation,” said Shafali in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

She also credited her family for encouraging her to bowl in her formative years. “My brother is a leg-spinner, and he said I too should bowl. My father now is happy and tells me it was good that I bowled in those days.”

Acknowledging that the morale of the squad took a hit after the defeat to the Proteas, Shafali stated that the team has regrouped to keep their semifinal hopes alive. "Whenever there is a bad day as a team, we know that the morale of the entire team will be down. But the next day, everyone knows that we need to come together and motivate each other.

“So yesterday, we spoke about it in the huddle - we know it's a crucial game, but we will back each other. We will give our best in preparation over the next two days. We will take it day by day. We can’t take any team lightly. They also came here to play good cricket. We will go game by game and try to play our best cricket and try to win that game,” she concluded.

--IANS

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Belfast, June 24 (IANS) Cricket Ireland has confirmed that teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be provided with a separate dressing room arrangement during India's two-match T20I series in Ireland, starting at the Civil Service Cricket Ground in Stormont on Friday.

The move ensures that strict compliance with mandatory child safeguarding policies and UK law is maintained for 15-year-old Sooryavanshi. "The Indian team has been given three separate rooms in the pavilion, and safeguarding laws have been advised.

“We’ll check all obligations have been met, but the BCCI will manage things in accordance with UK law, etc. Our procedures and policies are in line with best practice in the UK," a Cricket Ireland spokesperson told IANS on Wednesday.

The protocol means Sooryavanshi is fully permitted inside the main Indian team dressing room for tactical team meetings, strategy discussions, and match-day interactions, but he must utilise a separate dressing room for changing his clothes.

The development comes after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had said that Sooryavanshi will have separate changing room facilities for the subsequent five-match T20I series in England, commencing in Durham on July 1.

“This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction. A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may (in some circumstances) be managed by the ICC. In addition to this, the ECB Safe Hands policy applies at all times," the ECB was quoted as saying in 'The Guardian'.

“The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the Team Liaison Officer (TLO) for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK,” it further added.

To provide an additional layer of care, Sooryavanshi’s parents are accompanying him throughout the United Kingdom tour and staying in the official team hotels, with their trip funded entirely by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements (specifically changing room environments) are understood and adhered to. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments.

“It is our understanding that the player’s parents will be travelling with him at all times. They are staying in the same hotel, which is outside of usual protocol, but agreed on this occasion due to his age. This additional measure provides us with further confidence that he has family members who can provide the additional level of support and care,” further said the ECB.

Such distinct arrangements are a staple in European football for underage athletes, such as Arsenal's Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri, who used separate changing facilities until turning 16. Sooryavanshi, meanwhile, has previously shared senior dressing rooms with Bihar in domestic cricket, Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, and India A.

An international debut on trips to Ireland and England will see him surpass the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record of 16 years and 205 days to become India's youngest men's international cricket debutant.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 24 (IANS) Extraordinary performances by three talented athletes---pole vaulter Dev Meena, teenage hammer thrower Anuskha Yadav, and sprinter-cum-hurdler Jyothi Yarraji---further brightened Bhubaneswar’s floodlit Kalinga Stadium on the opening day of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships on Wednesday.

The three extraordinary performances were the highlights of the evening session of the meet, which started on an exciting note, as several athletes achieved qualification marks in their respective events for the 2026 Asian Games to be held at Aichi–Nagoya in Japan.

Dev Meena, representing Madhya Pradesh, raised the bar to 5.46m, which was better than his own national record, jointly held with training partner Kuldeep Kumar. His Wednesday’s performance was also better than the Asian Games qualification mark of 5.45m.

It is good to improve the national record before going to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, says the newly crowned champion. “The competition was challenging; nonetheless, I’m excited to have enhanced my profile,” says the pole vaulter from Madhya Pradesh.

The top three pole vaulters also improved the meet record of 5.20m set by M Gowtham in 2025.

At the throwing arena, 18-year-old Anushka Yadav was the cynosure of all eyes as she erased the national and meet record. On her way to winning gold, she also booked a berth for the 2026 Asian Games.

Anushka Yadav’s winning throw of 67.02m was better than the National record of 65.25m set by Sarita A Singh in 2017. The meet record of 65.03m was set by Rachna in 2023.

“I’m thankful to my family for all the support as I was on the injured list earlier in March,” jubilant Anushka says of setting the senior national record. “I can’t express my happiness of booking a berth to board a flight to the Japan Asian Games,” says the promising thrower from Uttar Pradesh.

Asian Games silver medallist and national record holder in women’s 100m hurdles, Jyoti Yarraji, was emotional about making a big impression on her comeback after a long hiatus due to injury. “It's sheer Irony that I got injured on June 24 last year, and after 12 long agonising months of rehab, I’m making a comeback—that too with sub-13 seconds for the 100m hurdles,” says Jyothi Yarraji of winning the women's 100m hurdles title on Wednesday.

Jyothi Yarraji had bettered the Asian Games qualification mark of 13.34 seconds in the heats, and her gold-medal-winning time was 12.99 seconds.

Nandhini K of Tamil Nadu won silver with a time of 13.22 secs and was the second hurdler to achieve the Asian Games qualification mark.

Tamil Nadu’s triple jumper Lasha Ilango won the gold medal with a leap of 13.89m, improving the meet record and bettering the Asian Games qualification mark of 13.34m.

Earlier, in the morning session, star distance runner Gulveer Singh was a comfortable winner of the men’s 5,000m track race. In the men’s 800m heats, more than ten athletes improved the Asian Games qualification mark of 1:48.80 seconds.

Results:

Men: 5,000m (Asian Games Qualification Time 13:39.18 secs): Gulveer Singh (Uttar Pradesh) 13:52.92 secs, Abhishek Pal (Uttar Pradesh) 13:54.18 secs, Harmanjot Singh (Punjab) 13:54.60 secs.

Pole vault (AG Q Mark 5.45m): Dev Meena (Madhya Pradesh) 5.46m (NR improves his own national record 5.45m), Reegan G (Tamil Nadu) 5.30m, Kuldeep Kumar (Madhya Pradesh) 5.20m.

Women:

5,000m (AG Q Time 15:36.58 secs): Seema (Himachal Pradesh) 16:11.04 secs, Bharti (Haryana) 16:17.10 secs, Ravina Gayakwad (Maharashtra)16:32.92 secs.

Triple jump (AG Q Mark 13:34m): Lasha Ilango (Tamil Nadu) 13.89m, Niharika Vashisht (Punjab) 13.22m, Mallala Anusha (Andhra Pradesh) 13.13m.

100m hurdles (AG Q Time 13.34 secs): Jyothi Yarraji (Andhra Pradesh) 12.99 seconds, Nandhini K (Tamil Nadu) 13.22 secs, Pragyan P Sahu (Odisha) 13.48 secs.

Hammer Throw (AG Q Mark 61.72m): Anushka Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) 67.02m, Tanya Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) 61.70m, Harshita Sehrawat (Delhi) 60.92m.

--IANS

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Panaji (Goa), June 24 (IANS) Host nation India secured their first knockout milestone on Wednesday at the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championships 2026, as the women’s team sealed its place in Friday’s semifinals at the Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon in Panaji.

There was more good news for the host nation as India B surged to the top of the Seniors table with a commanding lead, while India A remained in contention across multiple divisions as the tournament, held under the recognition of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), heads into its final qualifying rounds.

The Women’s double round robin concluded with China finishing at the top of the table on 127.61 Victory Points (VPs), followed by Indonesia on 108.23 VPs, India A on 105.30 VPs, and Japan on 89.14 VPs. These four teams will contest the semifinals on Friday. India B finished its campaign in ninth place with 69.98 VPs.

In the Seniors division, India B dominated the field with 144.67 VPs, holding an 11.48 VP cushion over second-placed Australia on 133.19 VPs. Chinese Taipei followed in third with 127.44 VPs. Japan sits fourth on 113.82 VPs, but India A is close behind in fifth with 109.94 VPs, trailing by fewer than 4 VPs. Thailand on 108.41 VPs and Bangladesh on 107.12 VPs remain in contention, setting up a tense finish with three rounds left tomorrow.

The Open (Men’s) division saw regional heavyweights China (163.93 VPs) and Hong Kong China A (159.81 VPs) secure their semi-final tickets. India A is strongly positioned in third with 154.10 VPs and is considered odds-on to qualify. Bangladesh B currently holds fourth with 146.47 VPs, closely chased by India B on 140.03 VPs and Japan on 124.32 VPs. With two matches remaining, the final berth remains undecided.

The Mixed division is the most volatile, with China A (152.68 VPs), China B (152.05 VPs), and Hong Kong China A (140.37 VPs) already qualified. The fourth spot is still open, with Singapore holding 115.14 VPs, closely pursued by Thailand on 111.21 VPs, India A on 110.85 VPs, and Australia B on 104.97 VPs.

The qualification rounds conclude on Thursday, finalising the semifinalists in each division. Knockout play and Pairs Qualifying Series begin Friday, culminating in the Grand Finals and closing ceremony on Saturday (June 27).

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 24 (IANS) Teenager Anushka Yadav stole the spotlight on the opening day of the 56th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 in Bhubaneswar, shattering the women's hammer throw national record and securing qualification for the 2026 Asian Games with a sensational performance at the Kalinga Stadium on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old produced a series of impressive throws. She started with 62.07m, easily surpassing the Asian Games qualifying mark of 61.72m. She then improved to 65.64m before achieving the best throw of her career on her final attempt, sending the hammer to 67.02m.

This effort broke the long-standing national record of 65.25m set by Sarita Singh nine years ago and made Anushka the new national record holder for India. Her remarkable performance also highlighted her as one of the nation's most exciting young talents in field events.

The day also saw another national record in the men’s pole vault. Dev Kumar Meena continued his impressive rise by clearing 5.46m. This mark improved the national record he had shared with Kuldeep Kumar at 5.45m and met the Asian Games qualification standard. It was Dev's second consecutive performance breaking the national record, showcasing the rapid growth of Indian pole vaulting.

This achievement for Dev Meena came just a month after he shared the national record with Kuldeep Kumar at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, where both athletes cleared 5.45m. By going one centimetre higher in Bhubaneswar, Dev now holds the national record alone.

This accomplishment marks Dev's second consecutive national record-breaking performance. It also showcases the impressive progress in Indian men's pole vault. Notably, the national record has been improved five times in less than two years, showing the increasing depth and competitiveness in this event.

Dev showed impressive consistency throughout the competition, successfully clearing the bar at 5.46m. This not only rewrote the record books but also strengthened his standing ahead of important international events.

In the women's triple jump, I. Isha Elango achieved a personal-best leap of 13.89m to assert her dominance in the event. She had already exceeded the Asian Games qualifying standard of 13.34m with a jump of 13.67m earlier in the competition. Elango's best effort placed her third on India's all-time list and made her the fourth-best performer in Asia this season.

Earlier, India's hurdles queen Jyothi Yarraji wasted no time in making a mark on her return after a lengthy injury layoff as she achieved the qualifying standard for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 with a controlled run in the opening heats of the women's 100m.

The 26-year-old, who hails from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, clocked a competitive 3.14 seconds in her first race of the season.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, June 24 (IANS) Bengaluru Bravehearts defeated Kolkata Banga Tigers 26-21 in a league match in Season 2 of the Rugby Premier League and qualified for the semifinals on the ninth day of the competition at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Gachibowli in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Bengaluru Bravehearts made a flying start as Jonas Mikalcius crossed over within minutes, but Kolkata Banga Tigers responded immediately through Vuiviwa Naduvalo on the left wing. Ngarohi McGarvey restored Bengaluru's advantage before Naduvalo struck again to level the scores. Mikalcius then broke through the Tigers' defence to give the Bravehearts the lead at half-time.

Kolkata looked to fight back after the break, but a loose pass was intercepted by Shilton van Wyk, who extended Bengaluru's advantage. The Bravehearts maintained their defensive intensity and kept the Tigers at bay, although Naduvalo completed his hat-trick with a brilliant individual effort. Bengaluru controlled possession in the closing stages to secure a hard-fought 26-21 victory.

Later in the day, Delhi Redz are set to take on the Mumbai Dreamers, while Chennai Bulls will face the Hyderabad Heroes in the last match of the day.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bengaluru Bravehearts dominated from the outset as Zain Davids and Akuila Rokolisoa gave them an early lead in the men's section. Shilton van Wyk, Ngarohi McGarvey, Ganesh Majhi, and Magomederassul Magomedov added further tries, while Ben Lasike and Guillaume Bouche replied for Mumbai Dreamers in a comfortable Bravehearts victory.

Hyderabad Heroes made a bright start with Diego Ardao finishing off a flowing move to open the scoring. Patrick Odongo attempted to respond for Delhi Redz but was forced off injured, before Elias Hancock levelled the scores.

Taitaifono Tavita restored the Heroes' lead before half-time, and a clever kick allowed Ravuama Seruvakula to extend the advantage after the break. Wolfram Hacker added another try as Hyderabad took control. Late scores from Lennox Wiese and Alasio Naduva brought Delhi back into the contest, but the Heroes held on for victory.

--IANS

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Nottingham, June 24 (IANS) New Zealand captain Tom Latham has urged his side to summon ‘old‑school grit’ as they chase a Test series triumph against England, when they take the field for the third Test starting at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

The Blackcaps bounced back remarkably well from the sudden retirement of talismanic batter Kane Williamson just days after the 115-run defeat in the first game at Lord’s by sealing an emphatic 253-run victory in the second match at The Oval to level the three-match series 1-1.

"Any series you step into, the end goal is to be there at the end with the results that you want. What's important for us is the work we do leading up to that point, and trying to stick to the things that we do well and stick to our style as best we can.

"It was a really good example of how we operated last week (which) was maybe slightly different to what the modern generation of Test cricket is, and how it's been played. It was a little bit more old-school, and trying to do things for long periods of time and keep being a threat for long periods of time.

"If it's required throughout this week to do something similar, then we'll obviously be looking to do that. We've got better and better throughout the series, and hopefully we can keep improving on those performances," Latham told reporters in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

The visitors will be forced to alter their playing combination as pacer Kyle Jamieson has been rested to manage his workload following a long rehabilitation from a back stress fracture.

His absence opens the door for left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who could spearhead a frontline spin attack for the first time in the series, after recovering from a shoulder injury and is also aided by the ongoing heatwave in the United Kingdom.

"He's certainly not injured; there's nothing there to worry about. It was always the plan for him to get through two Test matches. For Mitch to get himself ready for this tour… was testament to the work that he put in. He's someone that spins the ball on many different surfaces. If we do go down that line, then we certainly know he'll be a threat throughout the five days," added Latham.

--IANS

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