Latest news with #No4
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Have Nair and Sudharsan done enough?
Mumbai: Karun Nair and B Sai Sudharsan didn't have a troubled time at the crease during most of their innings in the just concluded Anderson-Tendulkar series, but they weren't able to fully cash in on their chances either. Karun Nair in action. (AP) This English summer was just beautiful for the batters. With the groundsmen dishing out featherbeds, it became a story of runs and tons – the 7000-run mark being crossed for the first time in a five-Test series. In times like these, when runs were so plentiful, the failings become glaring. Karun Nair averaged 25.62 in the series and Sai Sudarshan 23.33, their numbers are dwarfed by Shubman Gill's 75.40, KL Rahul's 53.20, Rishabh Pant's 68.42, Washington Sundar's 47.33 and Ravindra Jadeja's 86.00. When the Indian selectors next sit down to analyse the England tour, Nair and Sudharsan's names will figure in 'not up to the mark' column. There were times in the series when both of them displayed some grit, but whether it is enough for them to keep their spots is the question. The competition for places in the India side is always intense. Ajit Agarkar & Co have to ask whether they go back to the likes of Sarfaraz Khan or Shreyas Iyer or have Nair and Sudharsan done enough to convince the selectors that they need to be given one more chance. The prolific Abhimanyu Easwaran is already in the squad, waiting for his chance. Nair's overall experience allied with the years playing in English conditions was one of the reasons Nair got the nod for the series. His form in the tour games was good as well and the selectors couldn't take a chance with the big hole that Virat Kohli's retirement had left. For the balance of the side, they needed a seasoned cricketer to fill the void, bind the side when the pressure was on. There was a doubt how the young batters would hold up. Shubman Gill was unproven as a leader and untested in the England conditions. He was tried at a new position at No 4, if he failed, Nair could fill in. It was Yashavi's first Test tour to England; Pant's form leading into the series was a concern while Sudharsan was also making his debut. Now that the young lot has exceeded expectations, Nair is on shaky ground. The main goal is to build a core for the future, the selectors may see value in adding one more young player to the line-up in place of a 33-year-old. For Nair, it was a critical series. Getting a chance after eight years, he knew he had to make it count. There were 12 hundreds from the India team, but Nair missed out, unable to build on his starts, getting out on 57, 40, 31, 26 and 20. He will be banking on his half-century in the last Test to get him a longer run. The selectors will weigh in on the quality and value of his 57, the top score in India's first innings of the final Test. SAI DEBATE From the three Tests matches he played against England, Sai Sudharsan's promise was there to see but he is not a finished product. There are areas of his game where he needs to work on after repeatedly getting out in similar manner. The selectors will have to consider whether to give the young left-handed batter the benefit of doubt as it was his first series in the hope that he will find his feet in the next series or he needs to go back to the drawing board and show them he has got more in him? One of the rare batters in the modern era who stands upright, Sudarshan needs to tighten his technique. In India, it won't affect his run scoring but when the conditions are slightly challenging and the ball is moving he can get exposed. England were dismissing him on the leg-side. Batting legend Ricky Ponting, during his commentary, pointed towards the southpaw's head position which was resulting in him falling over trying to play the fuller swinging balls on the leg-stump. The 23-year-old batter wisely didn't try to change his game during the middle of the series. When you change one aspect of your game there can be an impact on the other aspects of your game. Sudharsan has a superb off-side game with a cover drive to die for. Head position is critical in technique but he can't tinker his game without ensuring his strong points are intact. Any change has to be done with careful evaluation, have time to test it in the nets and domestic games before he tries it in the international arena. Sudharsan's knock of 61 in the first innings of the fourth Test at Old Trafford was invaluable. Some of the strokes he played were breathtaking, especially the off-side drives, highlighting his abundant potential. The selectors will need to take the call whether it would be a good idea for him to play a full Ranji season, build his game and come back. It will also depend on whether captain Shubman Gill is backing him. Gill has seen enough of him at Gujarat Titans where their opening partnership is a super success. The think-tank will be keenly watching his performances in the Duleep Trophy.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Missed call: Have Nair and Sudharsan done enough?
Mumbai: Karun Nair and B Sai Sudharsan didn't have a troubled time at the crease during most of their innings in the just concluded Anderson-Tendulkar series, but they weren't able to fully cash in on their chances either. Karun Nair returns to pavilion after his dismissal on day two of the fifth Test against England. (PTI) This English summer was just beautiful for the batters. With the groundsmen dishing out featherbeds, it became a story of runs and tons – the 7000-run mark being crossed for the first time in a five-Test series. In times like these, when runs were so plentiful, the failings become glaring. Karun Nair averaged 25.62 in the series and Sai Sudarshan 23.33, their numbers are dwarfed by Shubman Gill's 75.40, KL Rahul's 53.20, Rishabh Pant's 68.42, Washington Sundar's 47.33 and Ravindra Jadeja's 86.00. When the Indian selectors next sit down to analyse the England tour, Nair and Sudharsan's names will figure in 'not up to the mark' column. There were times in the series when both of them displayed some grit, but whether it is enough for them to keep their spots is the question. The competition for places in the India side is always intense. Ajit Agarkar & Co have to ask whether they go back to the likes of Sarfaraz Khan or Shreyas Iyer or have Nair and Sudharsan done enough to convince the selectors that they need to be given one more chance. The prolific Abhimanyu Easwaran is already in the squad, waiting for his chance. Nair's overall experience allied with the years playing in English conditions was one of the reasons Nair got the nod for the series. His form in the tour games was good as well and the selectors couldn't take a chance with the big hole that Virat Kohli's retirement had left. For the balance of the side, they needed a seasoned cricketer to fill the void, bind the side when the pressure was on. There was a doubt how the young batters would hold up. Shubman Gill was unproven as a leader and untested in the England conditions. He was tried at a new position at No 4, if he failed, Nair could fill in. It was Yashavi's first Test tour to England; Pant's form leading into the series was a concern while Sudharsan was also making his debut. Now that the young lot has exceeded expectations, Nair is on shaky ground. The main goal is to build a core for the future, the selectors may see value in adding one more young player to the line-up in place of a 33-year-old. For Nair, it was a critical series. Getting a chance after eight years, he knew he had to make it count. There were 12 hundreds from the India team, but Nair missed out, unable to build on his starts, getting out on 57, 40, 31, 26 and 20. He will be banking on his half-century in the last Test to get him a longer run. The selectors will weigh in on the quality and value of his 57, the top score in India's first innings of the final Test. Sai debate From the three Tests matches he played against England, Sai Sudharsan's promise was there to see but he is not a finished product. There are areas of his game where he needs to work on after repeatedly getting out in similar manner. The selectors will have to consider whether to give the young left-handed batter the benefit of doubt as it was his first series in the hope that he will find his feet in the next series or he needs to go back to the drawing board and show them he has got more in him? One of the rare batters in the modern era who stands upright, Sudarshan needs to tighten his technique. In India, it won't affect his run scoring but when the conditions are slightly challenging and the ball is moving he can get exposed. England were dismissing him on the leg-side. Batting legend Ricky Ponting, during his commentary, pointed towards the southpaw's head position which was resulting in him falling over trying to play the fuller swinging balls on the leg-stump. The 23-year-old batter wisely didn't try to change his game during the middle of the series. When you change one aspect of your game there can be an impact on the other aspects of your game. Sudharsan has a superb off-side game with a cover drive to die for. Head position is critical in technique but he can't tinker his game without ensuring his strong points are intact. Any change has to be done with careful evaluation, have time to test it in the nets and domestic games before he tries it in the international arena. Sudharsan's knock of 61 in the first innings of the fourth Test at Old Trafford was invaluable. Some of the strokes he played were breathtaking, especially the off-side drives, highlighting his abundant potential. The selectors will need to take the call whether it would be a good idea for him to play a full Ranji season, build his game and come back. It will also depend on whether captain Shubman Gill is backing him. Gill has seen enough of him at Gujarat Titans where their opening partnership is a super success. The think-tank will be keenly watching his performances in the Duleep Trophy.
IOL News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Eben Etzebeth not done yet: Springboks' enforcer still burning to wear No 4
Still standing tall: Eben Etzebeth is determined to keep his place in the Bok engine room despite rising pressure from younger rivals. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The bad news for the Springboks' chief rivals is that Eben Etzebeth's competitive fire burns brighter than ever — and he is determined to hang onto his iconic No 4 jersey for as long as possible. With the Rugby Championship just a month away, the towering lock has issued a timely warning: he feels fresh, fit, and hungry. 'I want to wear that No 4 jersey in the green and gold as many times as possible,' the 133-Test veteran told Rapport. 'The competitive spirit is still strong in me — I'm not giving up my place. I want to be in the team for as long as possible.' 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 ✕ Most players of Etzebeth's vintage would be tempted toward the pipe and slippers after a career's worth of bruising battles, but the 33-year-old insists he's far from done. 'I'm not thinking about playing until a certain year — I'm just going to keep pushing. The key is staying fit and avoiding injury, because recovery is harder as you get older. 'The curtain falls for everyone. It came early for Steven Kitshoff, but that was due to injury — it could have happened when he was 24.' Etzebeth admits he keeps a close eye on the younger crop coming through, and while he mentors them, their rise fuels his own fire. 'Every year the younger guys are just bigger, better, and faster,' he said. 'Players like Salmaan Moerat and Ruan Nortje are already world-class. They push me to improve — and that's the way it should be.' This year, Etzebeth has battled concussion issues and barely featured for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship. Yet the enforced lay-off may have been a blessing in disguise. 'I haven't played a lot this year. The body feels good. I feel fresh. I'm ready to get a good couple of games under the belt and perform. 'I struggled with concussions, which kept me out for a few months. It wasn't great for me or the Sharks, but in hindsight, the body was able to rest up a bit. 'When there is an injury, I always try to see the positive in it. You get time away from rugby and spend time with your family, which is always good. 'I played four games this year for the Sharks, so that's not a lot. I played just over 40 minutes against Italy in the first Test (and against Georgia). That's not a lot of match minutes for the year so far, so I feel good.' Etzebeth is part of a core group of Springboks on the wrong side of 30 and under growing scrutiny as the build-up to the 2027 World Cup in Australia begins. Names like Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, and Faf de Klerk all face similar questions. But for Etzebeth, the approach is simple: take it one season at a time. 'I don't think the guys are setting goals for themselves to make it this year or that year. We're going year by year, trying to keep performing and be a part of the Bok set-up. 'I try to keep pushing myself and not fall behind when it comes to fitness or running. I try to stay as fit as possible. 'The challenging thing is to keep your body injury-free because when you get older, the recovery is a bit harder — but we're trying hard to keep being in the mix.'
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Hall of Famer Rex White passes away at 95
We remember the life of Rex White, 1960 NASCAR premier series champion and iconic driver of the No. 4 car.
Irish Independent
06-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Fix it up: Historic Horace Plunkett home in Dublin's Foxrock is hungry for a big revamp
Depending on how you look at it, the house at 4 Kilteragh Pines in Westminister Road, Foxrock, D18 is either a three-storey house or a sort of huge, multi-level 'apartment'. Either which way, it is one-sixth (or thereabouts) of the historic home of Sir Horace Plunkett, the founder of the agricultural cooperative movement and a subject of every Irish school history book. Tell me more... Kilteragh Pines was attacked and burned during the War of Independence and rebuilt in 1923, when presumably it was refashioned in its current 'international modern' style and divided into six residences. Number 4 got the original grand entrance and comes with six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a hallway, drawing room, dining room, kitchen, pantry and study area, as well as a substantial roof terrace and courtyard. The bad news? These days, it's quite tired and run-down and by the looks of things has not been decorated since the 1980s or thereabouts. By the looks of the fuse box, this will definitely need a rewire and most likely, replumbing. It will need a kitchen fit-out and complete redecoration, and possibly a new heating system. Any other issues will be subject to a proper survey being carried out. There is an annual service charge of €2,200 per annum. And the good news? The service charge includes the maintenance of a substantial and very well-kept communal garden, entrance and driveway. The house itself is large, at not much short of 3,000 sq ft, and is BER exempt. There is a separate lock-up garage and it comes with its own private lawned garden in addition to the communal space. Its orientation and generous fenestration make it a bright prospect inside. How much to buy it? Offers in the region of €1.275m. And to fix it up? If you've got pockets deep enough to bid, you've more than likely got access to the minimum of €200,000 (and up to €500,000) more required to bring this historical pad into the 21st century. What will I end up with? A six-bedroom home in the affluent suburb of Foxrock with both private and communal gardens. You're also buying into some serious cultural capital too, not only with the architectural style, but also through the Plunkett history. This time machine also has connections to HG Wells and George Bernard Shaw, both of whom are said to have been visitors to Plunkett's home when he lived there. Who should I talk to? You can co-op Paul Aherne of DNG Stillorgan (01 283 2700) to show you around No4's very generous facilities.
