The World around U

  Robert Baddeley "Bobby" Simpson was born on February 3, 1936, in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia. A right-handed batsman, part-time leg-spin bowler, and exceptional slip fielder, Simpson was one of Australia’s most influential cricketers. He not only excelled as a player but also made a significant impact as a captain and coach, shaping Australian cricket for decades. Style of Play Simpson was a patient and technically skilled batsman known for his ability to play long innings and wear down opposition bowlers. His defensive technique and adaptability made him a mainstay in the Australian lineup. As a bowler, he provided crucial breakthroughs with his leg-spin, and in the field, he was one of the finest slip fielders of his era, setting high standards in catching. Career Records Test Cricket Matches: 62 Runs: 4,869 Batting Average: 46.81 Centuries: 10 Highest Score: 311 Wickets: 71 Bowling Average: 42.27 Best Bowling: 5/57 Catches: 110 ODI C...

    Ocho Rios, often called “Ochi”, is one of Jamaica’s most famous resort towns, located on the north coast between Montego Bay and Kingston. Originally a small fishing village, Ocho Rios has grown into a major cruise and holiday destination known for its waterfalls, rainforests, beaches, and adventure activities. Unlike Montego Bay, which is focused on nightlife and large resorts, Ocho Rios is especially popular for nature-based tourism, making it ideal for travelers who enjoy outdoor experiences along with beach relaxation. Best Spots to Visit in Detail 1. Dunn’s River Falls Jamaica’s most iconic natural attraction. A 180-meter-long cascading waterfall flowing into the sea. Visitors can climb the falls with guides. Pools, shaded areas, and scenic viewpoints. 2. Mystic Mountain Adventure park overlooking Ocho Rios. Sky Explorer chairlift through rainforest. Ziplining, bobsled rides, canopy tours. Panoramic views of the coastline. 3. Turtle River Falls and Gardens Tropical bo...

  Even though Pakistan will not play against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, as announced by the Pakistan government, the national team continues to remain in fine form. Ignoring the off-field uncertainty, Pakistan completely dominated Australia in the home T20 series, winning all three matches to complete a clean sweep and boost their World Cup preparations under captain Salman Ali Agha. The biggest win came on Sunday in Lahore, where Pakistan crushed Australia by 111 runs. It was Australia’s heaviest defeat ever in T20 cricket. For the first time in seven years, Pakistan not only beat Australia in a single match but also won a full series against them. Batting first, Pakistan posted a massive 207 for 6 in 20 overs. Opener Saim Ayub continued his good form, scoring 56 off 37 balls. Fakhar Zaman and Salman Ali Agha failed to contribute in this match, but Babar Azam and Shadab Khan produced an explosive partnership to take Pakistan to a commanding total. Shadab smashed 46 off j...

  The future of two teams depended on a single match. A win for Delhi Capitals would take them into the play-offs, while a defeat would have opened the door for Mumbai Indians. In the end, Delhi kept their composure and defeated UP Warriorz in the final league match to qualify for the Women’s IPL play-offs as the third team. The result meant elimination for defending champions Mumbai Indians, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, who paid the price for their earlier loss against Gujarat and finished fourth in the group. Batting first, UP Warriorz struggled right from the start. Captain Meg Lanning was dismissed for a duck, and although opener Deepti Sharma scored 24, no other batter in the top or middle order could make a meaningful contribution. Harleen Deol, Charlie Knott and Deandra Dottin all failed, while Simran Sheikh added 22. Delhi’s bowlers dominated the innings. Shanel Henry picked up two wickets, while Marizanne Kapp claimed three. In the middle overs, Sri Charani chipped in with two...

  Coming from behind with remarkable composure, Carlos Alcaraz continued his dream run by conquering the Australian Open and asserting his dominance on the biggest stage. At the Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic had briefly revived hopes of a historic 25th Grand Slam after taking the opening set, but those dreams were decisively shattered by the Spanish sensation. Alcaraz defeated the Serbian legend 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 to clinch his maiden Australian Open title and complete a Career Grand Slam at just 22 years of age, becoming the youngest player in history to achieve the feat. Reaching the final itself had demanded extraordinary resilience from Alcaraz. In the semifinals, he endured a gruelling five-and-a-half-hour battle against Alexander Zverev, while Djokovic’s path, particularly his win over Jannik Sinner, was comparatively less exhausting. This raised a crucial question: could the 38-year-old Djokovic still match the energy and intensity of the youthful Alcaraz in a Grand Slam f...

  South Africa won their 3 match T20I series vs West Indies at home as part of the ICC World cup 2026 preparations . Their batters looked in good form & their bowlers delivered when it mattered . The West Indies registered a consolation win in the last game .  The 1st T20I played at Paarl saw the Proteas chalk up a comfortable 9 wicket win with balls to spare . West Indies batting first was given a fast start by Brendon King's quickfire 27 but lost wickets to slump to 95/5 before Shimron Heytmer (48) & Rovman Powell (29) did a superb rescue act to take West Indies to a decent 173/7 . George Linde (3/25) was the most impressive bowler for the hosts . In reply the South Africans put up a breathtaking batting display full of scintillating strokes with Pretorius (44) , skipper Aiden Markram (86 no) & Reckleton(40*) producing superb batting displays to win with 13 balls to spare . Linde was the player of the match . The 2nd T20I played at Supersport Park was a high scor...

  Pakistan produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Australia by a massive 90-run margin in the second T20I, taking an unassailable 2–0 lead in the three-match series. As part of their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026, the hosts made full use of home conditions to outplay the visitors in every department. After winning the toss, Pakistan posted an imposing total of 198 for 5 in their 20 overs. Captain Salman Agha led from the front with a superb knock of 76 off just 40 balls, smashing eight fours and four sixes. He was well supported by Usman Khan, who scored a brisk 53 off 36 balls, registering his second half-century against Australia. The partnerships between Agha and Usman gave Pakistan complete control of the innings and set up a daunting target. In reply, Australia’s chase never really took off as they collapsed against Pakistan’s spin attack. Chasing 199, the visitors were bowled out for just 108, struggling to cope with the guile and accuracy of the home s...

  With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, Indian fans are once again dreaming of glory on home soil. The five-match T20I series against New Zealand was meant to serve as the final rehearsal. In the fifth T20I at Thiruvananthapuram, India posted a massive 271 and eventually restricted New Zealand to 225, winning the match by 46 runs and the series 4–1. While the margin looks comfortable on paper, the match itself exposed worrying signs, especially in India’s bowling. There are hardly any concerns about India’s batting. Suryakumar Yadav rediscovered his form at the right time, while Ishan Kishan produced a sensational century. However, the bowling unit told a different story. The performances of Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy failed to inspire confidence and left head coach Gautam Gambhir visibly concerned. The bowling attack that once turned matches around in the previous T20 World Cup now appears to be India’s biggest weakness. Another area of concern is Sanju Samson’...

  Graeme Smith is a former South African cricketer and captain. Born on February 1, 1981, he is renowned for being the youngest Test captain in the history of South African cricket. Smith played a pivotal role in leading the team from 2003 to 2014, contributing significantly to their success in various formats of the game. After retiring from international cricket, he has been involved in commentary and cricket administration. Graeme Smith was known for his solid and classical left-handed batting style. Here are some key aspects of his playing style: 1. **Opening Batsman:** Smith primarily batted as an opening batsman in both Test and ODI formats, providing stability at the top of the order.    2. **Technical Prowess:** His technique was sound, characterized by a strong defence and a wide array of shots, especially the drives and cuts. 3. **Resilience:** Smith exhibited great mental strength and resilience, often standing firm in challenging conditions and against quality...

  Elena Rybakina claimed her maiden Australian Open title and the second Grand Slam crown of her career, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling women’s singles final. The Kazakh star prevailed 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 in a pulsating contest that lasted 2 hours and 18 minutes, marking her first major triumph in Melbourne and her first Grand Slam victory in nearly three and a half years. The decisive moment came in the third set, when Rybakina found herself trailing 0–3. Showing remarkable composure and mental resilience, she responded with a stunning run of five consecutive games with breathtaking returns , completely turning the momentum in her favour. From that point on, she barely allowed Sabalenka a foothold in the match, sealing the title with a display of fearless and controlled tennis. Although Sabalenka looked slightly subdued in the closing stages, she had been superb in the 2nd set . The Belarusian actually led Rybakina in key serving statistics, registering more aces, ...

  The Asvakranta Temple (also spelled Ashwaklanta Temple) is a historic Vaishnavite shrine located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River in North Guwahati, Assam. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, worshipped here as Ashwakranta Vishnu, the temple is one of the most ancient and sacred Vishnu temples in Northeast India. The temple is especially renowned for its association with Lord Krishna’s visit to Assam and its serene riverside setting, making it both a spiritual and scenic destination. History (In Detail) Mythological Origins According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna visited this place while journeying to defeat the demon Narakasura, the king of Pragjyotishapura (ancient Assam). It is believed that Krishna’s horse (Ashwa) rested here and showed signs of exhaustion (Kranta), giving the temple its name: Ashwa (horse) + Kranta (tired) = Asvakranta. Historical Development The temple finds mention in ancient texts like the Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra, which describe it as a sacr...

  Gujarat Giants registered a crucial win over Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League, defeating them by 11 runs in a high-scoring encounter. Batting first, Gujarat posted a competitive 167 for 4, riding on strong performances from their middle order. In reply, Mumbai fell short at 156 for 7, despite a valiant knock from captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Gujarat had an early setback when opener Beth Mooney was dismissed for just 5. The innings was steadied by Sophie Devine and Anushka Sharma. Devine scored 25 off 21 balls, while Anushka contributed a handy 33 from 31 deliveries. The real momentum, however, came through a crucial 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Ashley Gardner and Georgia Wareham. Gardner smashed 46 off 28 balls, including seven fours and a six, while Wareham remained unbeaten on 44 off 26 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes. Bharti Fulmali stayed not out on 5 as Gujarat finished on 167 for 4. For Mumbai, Amelia Kerr was the most successful bo...

  Novak Djokovic stormed into the final of the Australian Open after defeating Jannik Sinner in a gripping five-set semifinal. The Serbian legend won the match 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 and will now face top seed Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final. This is Djokovic’s first appearance in a Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2024. Those who thought they had predicted the result after the second game of the match were in for a surprise. Few expected the 38-year-old Djokovic to endure a battle lasting more than four hours. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was broken in his very first service game, raising fresh questions about whether he could still compete with the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz. When Sinner took the opening set 6–3, Djokovic’s critics felt their doubts were justified. Djokovic’s relationship with tennis crowds has always been complicated, and once again he responded to some mid-match taunts from the stands. But on court, he made the 14-years-younger Sinner work hard, forcing h...

  Carlos Alcaraz has finally crossed the last remaining Grand Slam hurdle in his career by reaching his maiden Australian Open final. After failing to go beyond the quarterfinals in his previous four attempts, the Spaniard will compete for the title for the first time on Sunday. Although Alcaraz has already won the other three Grand Slams twice each, he had never even reached the semifinals in Melbourne before this year. On Friday, he had to dig deep in a marathon encounter, lasting five hours and 27 minutes, to defeat third seed Alexander Zverev of Germany 6–4, 7–6 (7–5), 6–7 (3–7), 6–7 (4–7), 7–5. Alcaraz made his Australian Open debut in 2021, losing in the second round. He exited in the third round in 2022, did not play in 2023, and was knocked out in the quarterfinals over the last two years. This season, however, he finally managed to go all the way to the final. It was evident from his movement that Alcaraz was struggling with an injury. After winning the first two sets, he ...

  Hugh Joseph Tayfield, popularly known as “Huge” Tayfield, was one of South Africa’s greatest cricketers and is widely regarded as among the finest off-spin bowlers in the history of Test cricket. At a time when fast bowling dominated world cricket, Tayfield proved that high-quality spin bowling could be equally lethal. Through discipline, stamina and remarkable consistency, he built a reputation as a bowler who could break the strongest batting line-ups by sheer persistence and control. Date of Birth and Early Life Hugh Tayfield was born on 15 July 1929 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He grew up in an era when cricket was deeply rooted in traditional values, and he developed his game through strong domestic performances before earning selection for the national side. He passed away on 24 February 1994 at the age of 65. Style of Play – Bowling Tayfield was a classical right-arm off-spin bowler whose greatest strength was accuracy rather than extravagant turn. He relied on subtle va...

  After losing two matches in a row, Royal Challengers Bangalore bounced back in style to secure a place in the Women’s Premier League final. In their final group match, RCB defeated UP Warriorz convincingly, with Smriti Mandhana leading from the front. Batting first, UP Warriorz were restricted to 143 for 8 in 20 overs. In reply, Bangalore chased down the target in just 13.1 overs, winning by eight wickets. Both Grace Harris and Mandhana scored half-centuries, playing key roles in the victory. Having won their first five matches, RCB needed just one more win from their last three games to qualify for the final. However, defeats in the previous two matches had delayed their progress. On Thursday, they finally returned to winning ways, with Grace Harris emerging as the standout performer with both bat and ball. She took two wickets and then smashed 75 runs in the chase. UP started well with the bat. With Phoebe Litchfield ruled out due to injury, captain Meg Lanning opened alongside...

  Pakistan registered their first T20 victory over Australia since 2018, ending a long losing streak with a convincing 22-run win in Lahore on Thursday. One match between the two sides was washed out in 2019, but in the seven games played since then, Pakistan had lost all seven. Despite ongoing uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming World Cup, this victory marked an important start to their preparations for the global tournament. Spinners dominated the opening match on the slow Lahore surface, claiming 10 of the 16 wickets to fall. Two dismissals came via run-outs, while only four wickets were taken by fast bowlers. Notably, none of Pakistan’s pacers picked up a wicket, as all their breakthroughs came through spin. Batting first, Pakistan posted 168 for 8 in their 20 overs. Opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a first-ball duck, but fellow opener Saim Ayub provided early momentum with a brisk 40 off 22 balls, the highest strike rate among Pakistan’s batters....

  Three years ago, Aryna Sabalenka captured her maiden Grand Slam title by defeating Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final. This Saturday, the two heavyweights of women’s tennis will meet once again on the biggest stage in Melbourne, with Sabalenka seeking to extend her dominance and Rybakina eager for revenge. The world No. 1 from Belarus will take on the fifth-seeded Kazakh in what promises to be a thrilling, high-intensity title showdown. Sabalenka arrives in the final in imperious form, having won her last 13 Grand Slam matches with remarkable authority. Not only has she been winning consistently, she has been overwhelming opponents with sheer power and precision. On Thursday at Rod Laver Arena, few anticipated such a one-sided semi-final as she brushed aside Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in straight sets, 6–2, 6–3. Given Svitolina’s impressive quarter-final win over Poland’s Iga Świątek, many had expected a far sterner test. Instead, Sabalenka once again demonstrated that wh...

Everything seemed to be going in India’s favour ahead of the fourth T20I. While there were no major concerns, some questions still lingered around Sanju Samson. Naturally, the wicketkeeper-batter was under the spotlight in Visakhapatnam. But once again, Sanju failed as an opener. He was not alone though. A careless performance from the top order left Team India struggling, and despite Shubman Dube’s lone fight, India could not recover. New Zealand defeated India by 50 runs in the fourth T20I. After winning the toss for the fourth consecutive time, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav opted to field first. However, New Zealand made full use of the conditions. Their batters put the Indian bowlers under pressure and posted a strong total of 215 for 7 in 20 overs. It all started with a blazing 100 runs opening partnership in just 8 overs by Davon Conway(44) & Tim Seifert (62) as both executed scintillating shots . It was a fiece onslaught on the Indian bowling . After Conway departed , Ravi...

  Iga Swiatek’s dream of completing a career Grand Slam remained unfulfilled as she crashed out of the Australian Open quarterfinals on Wednesday. The second seed was outplayed by fifth seed Elena Rybakina, whose power-packed tennis proved too much for the Polish star in Melbourne. Swiatek, already a three-time Grand Slam champion at just 24, went down 7-5, 6-1 to the former Wimbledon winner. The Australian Open was the only major missing from her collection. After she conquered grass at Wimbledon last year—traditionally her weakest surface—there was widespread belief that she could create history in Melbourne. Instead, she missed the chance to become only the sixth woman to win all four Grand Slam titles. Before the tournament, Swiatek had openly spoken about how special a career Grand Slam would be for her. However, her performances in the first four rounds never quite suggested that she was on course to achieve the rare feat this year. Her serve struggled throughout the quarterf...

  Gujarat Giants pulled off a dramatic three-run victory over Delhi Capitals in a nail-biting Women’s Premier League clash, sealing the match on the very last ball. All-rounder Sophie Devine emerged as the hero for Gujarat, picking up two crucial wickets in the final over to script a memorable win. Despite a valiant late assault from Niki Prasad, Delhi fell agonisingly short. Batting first, Gujarat Giants posted a competitive total of 174 for 9. Their innings got off to a shaky start as opener Sophie Devine was dismissed early for 13. However, Beth Mooney and Anushka Sharma steadied the innings with a vital partnership. Mooney played a fluent knock of 58 off 46 balls, hitting seven boundaries, while Anushka, batting at No. 3, struck an impressive 39 off just 25 deliveries, laced with eight fours. Lower down the order, Tanusha Kanwar provided a late boost with a brisk cameo, scoring 21 off 11 balls with three fours and a six. For Delhi Capitals, spinner Sri Charani was the standout ...

  Third seed Coco Gauff’s dream of winning her third Grand Slam title came to an end on Tuesday as she suffered a straight-sets defeat against Ukraine’s 12th seed Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. The American star was comprehensively beaten 1–6, 2–6 at the Rod Laver Arena. While Gauff bowed out, Svitolina booked her place in the semi-finals for the first time in Melbourne, continuing her impressive comeback to top-level tennis. At 31, the Ukrainian is now chasing her maiden Grand Slam title. Gauff struggled badly with her serve throughout the match, committing five double faults in the opening set alone. Svitolina broke her serve four times in that set, taking full advantage of the American’s errors and sealing it quickly. Despite changing her racquet several times, Gauff failed to find rhythm, and Svitolina broke again early in the second set to go 3–0 up. From there, Gauff never recovered and eventually walked off the court visibly disappointed. Svito...

  Daniel Luca Vettori was born on 27 January 1979 in Auckland, New Zealand. Widely regarded as one of the greatest spin-bowling all-rounders of the modern era, Vettori became the face of New Zealand cricket for over a decade. Renowned for his intelligence, consistency, and leadership, he was not just a bowler or a batsman — he was a complete cricketing thinker. Style of Play Bowling Vettori was a left-arm orthodox spin bowler, relying more on: Accuracy and control Subtle variations in pace and flight Tactical bowling to specific field settings He was not a big turner of the ball like Shane Warne or Muttiah Muralitharan, but his greatest strength was discipline. He built pressure through long, miserly spells and forced batsmen into mistakes. Batting Originally a tail-ender, Vettori evolved into a genuine all-rounder, especially in Test cricket. Left-handed batsman Solid defensive technique Known for gritty rearguard innings under pressure Fielding An outstanding slip and close-in fi...