Hong Kong cricket coach blasts team and threatens changes after humbling loss to Kuwait
Advertisement
The Englishman said he was 'frustrated at players and the team making the same mistakes and not learning quickly enough'. Willis also questioned whether it was 'maybe time to change some things'.
'We have shown faith in players for a long period of time … and they don't win enough matches for Hong Kong,' he added.
The first chance for new faces could come as early as Thursday, when Hong Kong play Qatar – who lost to Nepal by eight wickets on Wednesday – in their second match of the quadrangular T20 series.
Against Kuwait, a breezy 76 from opener Anshy Rath formed the cornerstone of Hong Kong's 175 for five, a total Willis said was '10 runs light, but enough to be in the game' at the compact Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.
Advertisement
Seeking a morale-boosting victory after the disappointment of February's poor Challenge League campaign, Hong Kong struggled to contain Kuwaiti opener Ravija Sandaruwan, who struck three sixes and five boundaries in his 49.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
27-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong turn to ex-Sri Lanka Test player Kaushal Silva after trio of Malaysia thrashings
Former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper batsman Kaushal Silva has been appointed as the new head coach of Hong Kong's cricket team, the sport's governing body in the city said on Monday. The 39-year-old, who played 39 Tests and scored three hundreds between 2011 and 2018, is expected to start his new job sometime next month, once his visa has come through. After a short coaching stint in England, Silva has been working in Australia since 2019, most recently at the Superkings Cricket Academy, but will now make the step up to associate cricket as Simon Willis' replacement. Silva said he was excited at the prospect of coaching the team and 'looked forward to working with the talented group of players'. His first significant challenge, other than improving an underperforming side, will be the Asia Cup, which will return to its T20 format and be held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9th to September 28th. Kaushal Silva has been coaching at the Superkings Cricket Academy in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia. Photo: Handout While India and Pakistan have been thrown together alongside the hosts and Oman in Group A, Hong Kong face Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Group B. The top two sides in each group will progress to the semi-finals.
RTHK
19-07-2025
- RTHK
Scheffler on brink of Open glory, leads Li by 4 shots
Scheffler on brink of Open glory, leads Li by 4 shots Scheffler is 18 holes away from clinching his maiden victory at the Open Championship. Photo: Reuters It may be Rory McIlroy's homeland, but it's once again shaping up to be Scottie Scheffler's week. Scheffler is one round away from his fourth major championship in four years after opening up a four-stroke lead at the Open Championship on Saturday in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Scheffler posted a workmanlike 4-under-par 67 at Royal Portrush to get to 14-under 199, with China's Li Haotong (69) his closest pursuer at 10 under. On a day where the majority of the field shot under par -- and six of the top eight players made at least one eagle -- Scheffler kept his round bogey-free to remain in the driver's seat. "I think the card could look stress-free, but I had two really nice par saves on the back nine that were key," Scheffler said. "I made a nice 8-ish footer on 11, another one on 14, so two really important putts I felt like. I think anytime you can keep a clean card around a major championship, you're going to be having a pretty good day." Matt Fitzpatrick played in the final pairing with Scheffler and hung with him for much of the front nine before settling for an even-par 71. He's alone in third at 9 under, and he and Tyrrell Hatton (8 under) hold outside chances at being the first Englishman to win the Open since 1992. The fans in Northern Ireland would rather see their native son McIlroy charge from six back to capture an emotional major triumph. McIlroy's eventful day featured a bizarre shot that unearthed another golf ball buried in the rough; he buried a 56-foot eagle putt one hole later on his way to a 66. Tied with McIlroy and Hatton (68) at 8 under are Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup and Harris English, each of whom shot 68 Saturday. Defending Open champion Xander Schauffele carded two eagles in a round of 66 and sits in eighth at seven-under. Li, a 29-year-old with four wins on the DP World Tour, has only one top-10 major finish in his career -- third place at the 2017 Open. He will be the first man from China to play in the final Sunday pairing at a major, and he'll do so alongside the undisputed best golfer in the world. "I'm actually quite looking forward to it," Li said. "Four shots behind, kind of like play for second, especially play with world No. 1. I just try to play my best out there and hopefully make something happen." Scheffler has held the 54-hole lead at a major three times. He converted those leads into victories at all three. "This is why we work so hard is to have opportunities like this, and I'm excited for the challenge of tomorrow," he said. "Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I've put myself in a good position. Going into tomorrow I'm going to step up there on the first tee and I'm going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I'm going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There's not really too much else going on." (Reuters)
RTHK
30-06-2025
- RTHK
Bayern Munich advances past Flamengo with Kane brace
Bayern Munich advances past Flamengo with Kane brace Bayern Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring their fourth goal to seal a 4-2 win over Flamengo. Photo: Reuters Harry Kane scored his second and third goals of the Fifa Club World Cup to power Bayern Munich into the quarterfinals with a 4-2 victory over Flamengo in an entertaining Round of 16 clash on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Bayern also scored through an early own goal and through Leon Goretzka just before halftime to seal a meeting with reigning UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, who defeated Inter Miami 4-0 earlier Sunday. Gerson and Jorginho scored for Flamengo, which became the second of four Brazilian teams eliminated after Botafogo lost in extra time to domestic rivals Palmeiras on Saturday. After defeating Chelsea 3-1 in Group D play, the Rio de Janeiro side were resilient after going behind by two early. But Kane's second goal in the 73rd minute ultimately sealed Bayern's passage and Flamengo's first defeat in 11 matches across all competitions. Joshua Kimmich fed Kane just above the penalty arc following a sloppy Flamengo giveaway. The Englishman turned slickly, then fired a low, right-footed effort into the bottom right corner for his 41st goal in all club competitions this season. An early second-half penalty brought Flamengo back into the game. Referee Michael Oliver pointed immediately to the spot after a Flamengo cross from the right struck Michael Olise's outstretched arm. Jorginho powered in a confident penalty to rouse the majority of the crowd supporting one of Brazil's most decorated clubs. Bayern started brightly and were quickly 2-0 in front. In the sixth minute, Kimmich's in-swinging corner from the right skimmed off the head of defender Erick Pulgar, who couldn't get high enough in traffic to clear the ball and instead redirected accidentally inside the far post. Three minutes later, Dayot Upamecano's excellent challenge forced Giorgian de Arrascaeta into a turnover. Kane picked up the ball, drove briefly toward goal then unleashed a low shot from 22 yards that took a deflection on its way into the bottom left corner. Flamengo responded in the 33rd minute, with Gerson reaching Luiz Araujo's layoff and powering a first-time half volley past Manuel Neuer. But Goretzka restored Bayern's two-goal advantage eight minutes later when he guided his finish from beyond the box through traffic into the bottom left corner. (Reuters)
