SPORTS

Novak Djokovic defeated an ailing Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 on Friday to become the second oldest men's finalist in French Open history and close in on a record 23rd Grand Slam title. Djokovic, a two-time Roland Garros champion, will break the record he shares with Rafael Nadal for the most men's Grand Slam titles if he beats Casper Ruud or Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final. The 36-year-old Serb can also eclipse Nadal as the tournament's oldest winner and regain the number one ranking from Alcaraz, who was severely limited by cramp in the last two sets.

Australian batter Travis Head has said the outcome of a selection process is often beyond his influence but hoping he doesn't get dropped too much in the future after his impressive batting display against India on Day 1 of the World Test Championship Final at the Oval. Head came out all guns blazing on Wednesday, registering the score of an unbeaten 146 off 156 balls, laced with 22 fours and a six, to score his first overseas century as well as the first-ever hundred in the short history of the mega finale.

With his unbeaten 146, the Australian batter has now scored 1354 runs in this WTC at an average of 58.86 and a strike rate of 81.91.

Travis Head along with Steve Smith drove Australia to 170/3 at Tea on Day 1 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India at The Oval. The pair have added over 90 runs for the fourth wicket, with Travis Head also slamming a 60-ball half-century. Earlier, Mohammed Shami gave India a perfect start in the second session, getting rid of Marnus Labuschagne (26) in his first ball. Australia had resumed the session from 73/2. Meanwhile, India had started the day on a strong note as Mohammed Siraj packed Usman Khawaja for 0. David Warner and Labuschagne then held fort and added 69 runs for the second wicket, before Warner fell for 43(60).

Ahead of his side's ICC World Test Championship final match against India from June 7, Australia skipper Pat Cummins admitted that his side is not affected in any way by their poor Test record at The Oval, where it has won only two Tests in the last fifty years.

In an event ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final against India, which will start at The Oval, Cummins discussed the WTC Final, Test cricket, the Indian team, etc. Out of their 38 matches at The Oval, Australia has won only seven, lost 17 and drawn 14. With a win percentage of 18.42, this is one of Australia's worst-performing venues across the world. In the last fifty years, they have won two (in 2001 and 2015).

The ICC is mulling over shifting the venue of the 2024 T20 World Cup from the West Indies and USA to England owing to the lack of infrastructure development in the USA. As per a report in News18 CricketNext, USA is facing an uphill task of getting the venues ready for the marquee event and ICC is not happy where they stand as hosts today. The apex body has reportedly requested England, who will be the co-host for the T20 World Cup 2030, to stage the 2024 edition of the World T20.