Neser Earns Recall As Australia Announce 14-player Squad For New Zealand Test Series

Neser Earns Recall As Australia Announce 14-player Squad For New Zealand Test...

by Swati Sucharita

Melbourne [Australia], Feb 9: Australia announced a 14-player squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand, with experienced pacer Michael Neser returning to the red-ball setup.

The current World Test Championship (WTC) holders will travel to the inaugural WTC winner New Zealand to engage in a two-match red ball cricket affair. Keeping New Zealand's seam-friendly pitches in mind, Australia have decided to go for an extra pacer while the rest of the squad resembles to the one that drew a two-match Test series against West Indies earlier this year.

Pat Cummins will return to lead the side for the series which will kick off in Wellington on February 29. Along with the skipper, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon will form a strong bowling pair.

Read more Sports News

Cummins deputy Steve Smith is expected to continue with his new opening role along with Usman Khawaja. Neser's inclusion provides Australia with a strong bowling backup but he will be behind the likes of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Scott Boland.

However, Australia chief selector George Bailey believes that having an additional pacer would be important if it suits the surface condition.

"It's great to see Michael Neser get another opportunity in the squad following his ever-consistent performances over a long period of time and the conditions we expect," Bailey said as quoted from ICC.

"As we know every Test match provides vital opportunities to obtain valuable WTC points and we expect this tour will be a tough challenge against a very strong side who have been so consistent at home for a long period of time," Bailey added.

After the conclusion of the first Test, both teams will travel to Christchurch to play the second Test on March 8.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc.

(ANI)

Severe heatwave in gangetic West Bengal and Odisha; red alert issued: IMD

by Utkalika Mohanty

New Delhi, Apr 27: The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) on Saturday said that it has issued a red alert for Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal due to severe heatwave conditions in this part.

Soma Sen Roy, senior scientist at IMD, said that severe heatwave conditions have been prevailing in Gangetic West Bengal for many days and hence a red alert has been issued.

"Severe heatwave conditions are also being faced in Odisha, especially in North Odisha, although not like in West Bengal but severe enough for many days and hence a red alert has been issued for this part too," she said.

She further added that currently the temperature is very elevated and above normal in eastern and peninsular India.

Heatwave conditions are also prevailing in east India, South Peninsular India, and northern parts of Kerala. IMD has issued Orange alert for East India, like Bihar and Jharkhand, and a Yellow alert for Eastern Uttar Pradesh and northern parts of Kerala
Speaking about the sudden change in the weather in the northern parts of the country, the IMD scientists said that there were a lot of thunderstorms in some parts, including Delhi.

"Yesterday there was a lot of thunderstorm activity but today we are not expecting so much weather over the North Indian Plains.

Mainly, in the Western Himalayan region, thunderstorms, as well as heavy rains, are likely to continue over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh; hence, an orange alert has been issued there. A yellow alert is issued for Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, etc. We are expecting thunderstorm activity to again enhance, especially over North-West India, from the day after tomorrow, which is April 29, 2024," she informed.

Soma Sen Roy further added that there will be no effect of western disturbances in East India and heatwave conditions will continue to be in the eastern region.

(ANI)

Read Weather News

Gurucharan Singh from 'TMKOC' missing: Delhi Police going over CCTV footage, family clueless

by Manisha Das

New Delhi, April 27: Fans and well-wishers of popular television actor Gurucharan Singh, known for his role as Sodhi in the series 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,' are concerned with his mysterious disappearance over the past few days.

Singh, who is believed to have been visiting his parents in Delhi, was expected to return to Mumbai but has not been heard from since April 22.

Rohit Meena, DCP South West Delhi, told ANI, "Gurucharan's family registered a complaint that he has been missing since April 22. He was supposed to go to Mumbai, but he didn't. We have registered a case under Section 365 of the IPC. We have put together a team to probe the matter and our technical team is also working on the case. We are in the process of going over the CCTV footage where he is seen walking by himself."

The actor's father, deeply distressed, filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, detailing his son's sudden disappearance since his departure for Mumbai.

Despite efforts, Singh, aged 50, has neither reached Mumbai, where he works for a living, nor returned home. His phone remains unreachable, exacerbating the worries of his family.

Assuring a prompt and time-bound inquiry, a Delhi Police officer said, "We are looking into the matter and a probe was instituted since we received a complaint."

Asserting that his son wasn't in a state of mental distress, Gurucharan's father said couldn't explain his disappearance.

Gurucharan, who became a household name with his comic turns in 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,' bid adieu to the show a few years ago.

(ANI)

Heatwave Continues In Odisha; Jharsuguda Boils At 41.4°C By 11:30 Am

by Utkalika Mohanty

Odisha Sizzles In Heat, Jharsuguda Boils At 41.4°C By 11:30 Am

Bhubaneswar, Apr 27: Odisha continued to reel under intense heat wave, with Jharsuguda the hottest at 41.4 degree Celsius by 11:30 Am.

While Bhubaneswar is the second hottest city at 41.2 degree Celsius. Keonjhar and Balasore registered 40.6 and 40.1 degree Celsius.

Similarly, Sambalpur recorded 40 degree Celsius. Chandbali recorded 39.6 degree Celsius, Hirakud 39 and Rourkela 38.6 degrees Celsius.

Severe heat wave conditions are likely to prevail over the state for the next four days. A heatwave warning has been issued for north Odisha and western Odisha.