Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Cricket pitches make road trip for US World Cup debut

These cricket pitches, which will soon host matches including the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash, were prepared in Florida and then transported via road.

Cricket pitches make road trip for US World Cup debut

The journey of ten cricket pitches from Florida to New York state for the upcoming T20 World Cup is now complete. Australian Damian Hough, curator of the Adelaide Oval, oversaw the development of these "drop-in pitches," which are currently being installed in a new stadium in Long Island.

These pitches, which will soon host matches including the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash, were prepared in Florida and then transported via 20 trailer trucks up the I-95 highway to the venue in Long Island.


Hough explained the necessity of growing the grass in Florida due to the winter conditions in New York, highlighting the meticulous care taken during transportation to protect the pitches from weather elements.

"The ones we've received so far, we couldn’t be happier, they've come through in flying colours," Hough said of the pitches' condition upon arrival.

Chris Tetley, head of events for the International Cricket Council (ICC), praised the logistical feat of moving the pitches across multiple states. He commended the meticulous planning and execution involved.

"It's been an impressive piece of logistics that has gone into moving 10 pitches, on 20 trucks, plus backup trucks, with the route planning, the timing through, I can't remember how many different states," Tetley said.

"The permissions to take out agricultural materials through different states, traffic considerations, timing over bridges and we wanted to make sure the trays are out of the ground for as short a time as possible -- extremely, extremely impressive," he added.

The temporary stadium at Eisenhower Park, with a capacity of 34,000, is already set up, including stands and hospitality areas. Hough noted the surface's suitability for T20 matches, aiming for minimal spin and seam to allow batsmen to play freely.

While the stands will be dismantled post-World Cup, the high-quality playing surface will remain, potentially benefiting the local cricket community. Tetley emphasised the legacy of providing world-class cricket facilities.

Cricket's popularity in the US, particularly among immigrant communities, is growing. Major League Cricket, launched last year near Dallas, Texas, has attracted international players. The tournament, featuring teams like Washington Freedom, continues to expand the sport's presence in the country.

The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be a 20-team event, will take place in the USA and West Indies from 1 to 29 June, 2024.

(AFP)

More For You

Cardi B shocks Paris Couture Week with live crow and bold Schiaparelli look

Cardi B poses with a live crow outside the Petit Palais in Paris

Instagram/lamodemagazine__

Cardi B shocks Paris Couture Week with live crow and bold Schiaparelli look

Quick highlights:

  • Cardi B appeared at Schiaparelli’s Autumn 2025 couture show in Paris holding a live crow on her arm.
  • Her dramatic black gown was designed by Daniel Roseberry, Schiaparelli’s creative director.
  • The surreal look paid tribute to Elsa Schiaparelli’s legacy of theatrical, boundary-pushing fashion.
  • The show marked a shift in Roseberry’s aesthetic, away from corsetry towards freer silhouettes.

Paris Couture Week opened on a dramatic note this year as Cardi B made a startling entrance at the Petit Palais wearing a black Schiaparelli gown, with a live crow perched on her arm. The rapper’s appearance outside the venue sent photographers scrambling as the bird flapped and squawked, setting the tone for a show rooted in tension, elegance, and surrealism.

The outfit, crafted by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli’s Autumn 2025 collection, featured graphic fringe and a towering beaded neckline. But it was the crow, alive, glaring, and restless, that stole the spotlight, embodying the fashion house’s long-standing obsession with the unexpected.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer is facing a Labour backbench revolt over plans to reform special needs support in schools without guaranteeing existing legal rights. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images)

Starmer faces Labour pushback over SEND reform plans

KEIR STARMER is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, after ministers stopped short of guaranteeing legal rights for parents.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government was committed to reforming the current system, which costs £12 billion a year. However, she did not confirm if legally enforceable rights, such as those provided by education, health and care plans (EHCPs), would remain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor joins growing criticism of Prada’s uncredited use of Indian design

Getty Images

Kareena Kapoor mocks Prada with her ‘OG Kolhapuri’ post as fashion giant faces backlash over copied design

Quick highlights:

  • Kareena Kapoor posted a cheeky Instagram Story flaunting Kolhapuri chappals, saying, “Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri.”
  • Her post follows outrage over Prada’s ‘toe-ring sandals’ resembling the Indian Kolhapuri design.
  • A PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court against Prada for unauthorised use of the Kolhapuri style without credit.
  • Prada acknowledged the inspiration and agreed to meet Indian artisans for dialogue.

Kareena Kapoor took a subtle yet sharp swipe at luxury fashion label Prada amid growing controversy around its recently launched ‘toe-ring sandals’, a design that closely mirrors India’s traditional Kolhapuri chappals. Without naming the brand, Kareena shared a photo of her feet in silver Kolhapuri slippers during her London vacation and captioned it: “Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri ❤️.”

The actor’s post struck a chord with many online, surfacing just days after Prada came under fire for allegedly copying the Kolhapuri design without acknowledgment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nintendo fans

The new Zelda game for Nintendo Switch 2 is already one of the most highly anticipated releases

Nintendo

Nintendo fans share hopes for new Zelda game on Switch 2

Key points

  • Fans eagerly await announcement of a new Zelda game for the Nintendo Switch 2
  • Discussions centre around combining classic elements with modern open-world gameplay
  • Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom continue to set high expectations
  • Players want improved dungeons, deeper combat, and better weapon durability
  • Some fans suggest Wind Waker-inspired visuals and enhanced performance

Anticipation builds for first new Zelda game on Nintendo Switch 2

As Nintendo Switch 2 arrives in the hands of gamers across the world, fans of The Legend of Zelda series are already looking ahead to what the console’s first original Zelda title might offer. While a new Zelda game has yet to be officially announced for the next-generation system, the fanbase is actively discussing its hopes and expectations online.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week

iStock

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London before 30°C heatwave

Key points

  • Heavy rain and thunderstorms drench London at the start of the week
  • Temperatures set to rise with highs of 31°C expected by Thursday
  • Heatwave could be declared by Friday if warm conditions persist
  • Night-time temperatures to remain high, increasing discomfort
  • UV and pollen levels forecast to be very high across the south

Thunderstorms soak London before summer heat returns

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week as heavy rain and overnight thunderstorms swept through the capital. Monday morning saw widespread downpours, leaving commuters reaching for umbrellas and Wimbledon ticket hopefuls queuing in ponchos.

The unsettled conditions followed a burst of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, prompting caution across the city. The Met Office has not issued a formal weather warning for thunderstorms, but conditions remain unstable.

Keep ReadingShow less