8th World Title seems out of grasp for Hamilton this season amid Ferrari woes
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton exits his car at his garage as he is yet to hit strides since joining Ferrari. | AFP
Based on an Italian's perspective on Ferrari, if you cannot win a Formula 1 race in the Prancing Horse, then 'you're an idiot'. But how can that be if a seven-time World Champion is behind the wheel?
Perhaps the once revered Italian car manufacturer has lost its magic touch…and F1 prowess along with it.
We're nine races deep into the 2025 season, the year when Sir Lewis Hamilton was touted to take home his eighth World Title according to Ferrari, but still, fans only saw a glimmer of greatness in China.
It was common knowledge that Hamilton would take some time to adjust to life in red, which also includes acclimatising himself to a new car and more especially a new team.
Coming out of his relationship in Mercedes, where Toto Wolff took him as a son, Hamilton found himself surrounded by new engineers and a new voice whispering in his ear during races.
A bit of the animosity within the Ferrari camp bubbled to the surface at the Miami Grand Prix, after verbal exchange between Hamilton and his engineer Riccardo Adami grew extremely tense during the dying stages of the race that eventually cost Hamilton time.
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eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Cummins says bowler-dominated WTC final still a 'good Test'
LONDON - Australia captain Pat Cummins said the World Test Championship final against South Africa was a good advertisement for Test cricket despite hurtling towards a likely finish within three days. An astounding 28 wickets fell across the first two days at Lord's. Fast bowler Cummins played his part by taking a superb 6-28 on Thursday's second day to reach the milestone of 300 Test wickets. But as batsmen on both sides struggled for runs, an eighth-wicket partnership of 61 between Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) enabled reigning champions Australia to reach stumps on 144-8 in their second innings, a lead of 218 with two wickets standing. "It's set up pretty well," Cummins told reporters. "The mood in the changing room is pretty positive. It was a great partnership and a good way to end the day." Asked whether the bowlers' dominance detracted from the occasion of a championship final, Cummins replied: "After two days it's pretty close to 50-50. "It's a pretty good Test match. Some blokes have got themselves in and looked comfortable out there, but a lot of other guys haven't." Cummins said the rapid progress of the match was down to a combination of a tricky pitch and good bowling. "Both teams have bowled really well, really disciplined," he said. "There haven't been many half-volleys." The 32-year-old, appearing in his 68th Test, added: "The trend of the game is that the runs are coming down. It's still pretty difficult out there, but we will have to bowl well tomorrow (Friday)." - 'Durability and longevity' - Cummins was outstanding as South Africa were dismissed for 138, giving Australia a 74-run lead on first innings, with the skipper especially devastating in a potent post-lunch burst of 4-1 in 17 balls. His return on Thursday took Cummins to exactly 300 Test wickets -- something he described as "pretty cool" -- at a miserly average of 22.08. Cummins, just the eighth Australia bowler to reach the landmark, added: "There's not too many on that list. It's something I've always thought about. "It's a pretty good sign of durability and longevity." AFP | Glyn KIRK David Bedingham, who top-scored for South Africa with 45, agreed with Cummins about the standard of bowling. "It's a fairly tricky pitch, but I think when you have six quality seamers on a tricky pitch it obviously makes batting tough." Nevertheless, Bedingham said South Africa remained confident of a successful run chase, even though their target will be signficantly higher than their first-innings total. "It is an amazing chance and we are very excited about the opportunity to win," he said, with South Africa bidding for their first major global title in 28 years. "It could go either way but there is a lot of belief. "I think the pitch is slowing down a bit and maybe in the fourth innings it will go a bit straighter. Hopefully, we can get those runs." cb/jdg/jc

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Plays of the Day at Lord's as 14 wickets fall on day two of Proteas v Australia WTC final
Kagiso Rabada, seen here celebrating taking the wicket of Cameron Green, dismissed Usman Khawaja for the second time at Lord's on Thursday. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Day two saw 14 wickets fall at Lord's in the World Test Championship final between the Proteas and Australia. Ongama Gcwabe highlights the Plays of the Day... Positive intent For a side that had vowed to take the positive approach with the bat since coach Shukri Conrad took over two years ago, recording 43/4 in 22 overs on the opening day was certainly contrary. However, when Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham took to the middle on day two, they showed positive intent, taking full advantage when opportunities came. Bavuma's pull shot for six off Pat Cummins was the only six in the match, a feat that shows just how positive the Proteas batters were on day two. Game-changer After a poor performance with the ball on the opening day, Lungi Ngidi bounced back with a game-changing spell. In his spell, the quick removed Steve Smith, Beau Webster and Pat Cummins to break the game open and hand the Proteas a massive advantage. Ball There is just something special about a right-arm quick bowling around the wicket to a left-handed batter. Kagiso Rabada employed this tactic against Australia's opening batter Usman Khawaja and got the outside edge on day two, dismissing the left-hander twice in the match in the same manner. The ball pitched in the off-stump line and slightly moved away from the left-hander, taking the edge and handing the Proteas their first scalp on day two. Review Steve Smith's half-century in the first innings painted a vivid picture of just how dangerous the right-handed batter is. When Lungi Ngidi trapped him in front, it was sent upstairs, and it came out in favour of South Africa, with Australia's most dangerous batter sent back to the pavilion. No-balls Despite having done a remarkable job with the ball at Lord's, the Proteas fast bowlers have recorded 18 no-balls in the Test match. Given the low-scoring nature of the game, 18 no-balls could be a match-defining feat.

IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Lungi Ngidi lights up gloomy Lord's to provide Proteas with glimmer of hope in World Test Championship final
Lungi Ngidi was sensational for the Proteas on the Day 2 of the WTC Final at Lord's. Picture: AFP Image: Picture: AFP LONDON: The entire motivation behind the World Test Championship is for the values of the five-day game to be preserved and cherished. In its purest form that means highly skilled bowlers and batters constantly testing each other. It is understood that without one the other will cease to exist. Tell that to the capacity crowds that have been utterly enthralled on two consecutive days of this pulsating World Test Championship Final that is stuck in overdrive. Fourteen wickets fell on Wednesday's opening day. It was perfectly matched on Thursday. But it was the five that fell between tea and drinks in 14 intoxicating overs that was spellbinding. As the day's play winds down, Lungi Ngidi's impressive spell of 3 for 35 has shifted the momentum in South Africa's favour. 🔥🇿🇦 The Proteas have dominated the final session on Day 2 with the ball, making crucial breakthroughs and tightening their grip on the contest. 👏🏏 🇦🇺… — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 12, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Ridiculed from all quarters for his listless performance in the first innings, Lungi Ngidi rose like a phoenix from the ashes in the gloom of St John's Wood. With the floodlights bearing down from above the pavilions, the famed old ground was transformed into a gladiatorial-like coliseum. Australia had moved seemingly into a comfortable position at 32/2 - beefed up by a 74-run lead after earlier sending the Proteas crashing to 138 all out - with two of their most senior batters Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith at the crease. Enter Ngidi. His fast bowling partner Kagiso Rabada, who had worked his way up the list of South Africa's greatest fast bowlers list with a second five-wicket haul on Monday, had offered the sage advice on Monday evening that Ngidi should shake off his opening disappointment by having 'a good night's sleep, a nice steak, a nice milkshake, watch a movie and come back tomorrow.' Whether Ngidi indeed had the milkshake and steak is yet to be confirmed, but he certainly was a different beast that charged in from the Nursery End for nine consecutive overs. Considering Ngidi has played just two Tests in this entire WTC cycle, and had to endure Proteas pace legend Dale Steyn tweeting that his run-up 'needs serious work' and that it was in fact 'pedestrian', it was a phenomenal comeback story that yielded three crucial wickets. Ngidi certainly seized his moment, which was kickstarted by the dismissal of Australia's premier batter Steve Smith. It required the umpire's initial LBW decision to be overturned upon review, but the magnitude of the wicket was not lost on Ngidi and the Proteas. Australia extend their lead past 200 despite South Africa's strikes to leave the #WTC25 Final evenly poised 🔥#SAvAUS How the game panned out today ➡️ — ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2025 Marnus Labuschagne had already fallen to Marco Jansen for the second time in the match, which allowed Temba Bavuma's men to believe that they found a way back into this WTC final. Ngidi's two further strikes, trapping Beau Webster in front and yorking Pat Cummins, certainly fuelled the belief even further as Australia slumped to 73/7 with an overall lead of just 147 with only three wickets remaining. Australia's rapid capitulation had the Mount and Tavern Stands in raptures with the majority South African support finding their voices again after being silenced during the afternoon session when Pat Cummins had done a wrecking job on the Proteas middle-to-lower order. Independent Media's Zaahier Adams will be at Lord's for the World Test Championship bringing you all the news, videos and podcasts. Picture: Independent Media Image: Independent Media