Chinese tech giant Huawei said on Monday it had developed a new way of making semiconductors that could get around its U.S.-enforced lack of access to the most advanced chipmaking equipment. Huawei has in recent years been at the centre of a geopolitical standoff after Washington warned its
World Tarot Day 2026: The most misunderstood tarot cards and what they actually meanPeople tarot as entertainment or fear it because of the dramatic social media readings. But tarot was never meant to work through fear; it is a symbolic tool. Updated on: May 25
From mirrors to mood lighting, these 5 budget-friendly decor tricks can make small homes look surprisingly luxuriousWant to upgrade your home into a luxurious space? Here are some budget-friendly decor ideas you can consider for a beautiful home. Published on: May 25
A Bahraini court sentenced nine defendants to life in prison and two others to three years in jail for collaborating with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out what it described as “hostile and terrorist acts” against Bahrain
Tarot vs Astrology: Which one can predict your future better? An expert breaks it downAstrology explains cosmic timing and patterns. Tarot explains your emotional experience of those patterns. One gives you the map, the other acts like a mirror. Updated on: May 25
Uneasy, unnerved, un-Smith - Australian great falters in spotlight
Steve Smith and England.
The right-hander has doggedly dominated his way through Ashes series for 15 years.
If England are going to win in Australia, Smith must be kept quiet.
Day one was exactly the start Ben Stokes' side needed - a Smith innings that stands alone for its unease.
There were so many familiar traits but Smith has never batted quite like this.
That the 24 hours before the first Test were entirely focused on Smith was completely of his own making.
Pre-planned and pre-mediated, he stepped into his captain's news conference - a job he may only fill for a week if Pat Cummins recovers from injury - to give his response to Monty Panesar.
Without being mean to Panesar here, barely anyone had noticed the former England spinner's comments about how England should make Smith feel "guilty" over his part in the 'Sandpapergate' scandal when they were first made a week ago.
Smith, who has been the target of England fans' taunts since his role in the 2018 ball-tampering incident against South Africa, saw them though.
And on the eve of the Ashes was the moment he snapped as a tit-for-tat spat played out in the media.
A day later, Smith wandered to the middle after just two deliveries, with debutant Jake Weatherald having been floored by Jofra Archer while being dismissed lbw.
He emerged, collar up and with the usual Nadalian twitches in full flow, to the tune of England fans referencing his tears on television when he resigned the captaincy in 2018 (a Panesar update is yet to make its way down under).
Smith produced the most un-Smith of innings. There were 12 plays and misses in 49 balls, including three wild swipes.
Two blows to the elbow, another to the hand. A risky single that would have had Marnus Labuschagne run out with a direct hit.
There were the lurches, waves of the gloves and points of the bat - that will never change - but a false shot percentage of 49% was his personal record high.
Smith's average for that figure in Australia is 10.9%. His previous high anywhere in the world 29%.
The great Australian, who has scored 10,494 Test runs at an average of 55.81 to sit fourth in his nation's list of top scorers, was uneasy like never before.
England's previous struggles were summed up by their former bowler Stuart Broad earlier this week when he, as the paceman to have played against Smith the most in Test cricket, said he still did not know the best plan to dismiss him.
On the first day of the 2025-26 contest in Perth, whether planned or otherwise, England bowled a unique spell to Smith.
Partly because of the bounce in the pitch, partly down to England's selection of quicker bowlers picked to hit the pitch rather than caress it, not one of the 49 deliveries to Smith would have hit his stumps - the first time England have done that in any of Smith's Ashes innings lasting 20 balls or more, and a drop from their usual figure of 11%.
There was a lurking leg slip - a hangover from the 2019 series when Smith scored 774 runs at an average of 110.57 as England flicked through from Plan A to Plan F with little success - while Jofra Archer welcomed Smith with a bouncer in another throwback to the 2019 summer of Stokes.
But England's spell targeted what is the weakness of most Test batters - the channel just outside their body.
Smith averaged 54.5 against balls in that area at his peak between 2010-21 but that drops to 22 runs per dismissal this year.
While the conundrum is far from cracked, England can focus on simplicity going forward.
Smith, who still has nine chances to add to his bulging Ashes legacy, should do the same after a day of uncharacteristic talk.
In Perth, he was uneasy, perhaps unnerved in the spotlight.
Most of all it was just very un-Smith.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Orioles left-hander Rogers leaves start at Toronto after 5 innings because of sore toe Right Way To Teach Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominated tennis – but who had the better 2025 UPI dominated retail digital payments with 81% share in FY25 How Tejashwi Is Facing A Challenge Beyond Yadav Dominated Belts Taylor Swift and KPop stars dominated music in 2025 Protests break out in Shia dominated areas in Kashmir How Flick's reshaped Barca dominated La Liga again Rafale F-3 Dominated Op Sindoor List Of Viral Videos And MMS Leaks That Dominated Headlines
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2026 examinations scheduled for May 28 in both shifts following a change in the Bakrid holiday date. The agency said revised examination dates for the affected candidates will be announced
1 days ago
President Nikos Christodoulides present, Cyprus positions itself as Europe gateway for HT Labs, other Indian AI firmsRepresenting HT Labs, the innovation and technology arm of HT Media Group, Avinash Mudaliar, Co-Founder and CEO, participated in discussions. Updated on: May 25
1 days ago
The Delhi Gymkhana Club has moved the High Court against the Union government’s order directing it to hand over its 27.3-acre premises by June 5, Live Law reported on Monday. The matter was mentioned before Justice Avneesh Jhingan on Monday by advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi
1 days ago
Strains of the old "Glory, Glory" anthem echoed inside the giant stadium as Tottenham Hotspur stepped back from the precipice of the most humiliating relegation in Premier League history. Spurs players and supporters were in unison at last as they could finally look forward to next season as a
1 days ago
Australian cricketer Megan Schutt will conclude her international career after the 2026 T20 World Cup. The seasoned bowler aims for a strong finish in her final major ICC campaign. Schutt, a veteran of many successful tournaments, wants to pass the baton to the next generation of players
1 days ago
The Japanese fruit ‘sando’ is becoming India’s favourite summer dessert; take a look With fluffy milk bread, clouds of whipped cream, and jewel-like slices of fresh fruit tucked inside, the Japanese sando has become India’s go-to dessert Updated on: May 25
1 days ago
Madhuri Dixit serves ‘a little bit of drama’ as she gives classic white saree a modern twist with chic jacketMadhuri Dixit proves age is just a number as she stuns in ivory saree with floral prints, layered with a sleek jacket, blending elegance with modern drama. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
Stolen Baby: The Murder of Heidi Broussard: Where is slain mom's family now? What to know as crime drama streamsThe release of Stolen Baby: The Murder of Heidi Broussard on Netflix has brought the 2019 murder case in focus again. Know where the slain mom's family is. May 25, 2026
1 days ago
Crude oil prices plunge after US and Iran have shared significant signals on the progress in talks to end the war, however both sides are still at loggerheads on certain issues. Global oil prices have plunged over 5.5% after US and Iran have indicated that there is significant progress in their
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.From office work to AI tasks: The best Asus ExpertBook P3 and Snapdragon PCs to consider in 2026AI laptops are everywhere in 2026, but only a few actually improve daily work
1 days ago
LeBron James has spent more than two decades rewriting NBA history. On Sunday, though, one of his most remarkable streaks finally came to an end. For the first time since his rookie season in 2003-04, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was not named to an All-NBA team
1 days ago
Priyadarshan on Paresh Rawal's exit from Hera Pheri 3: ‘Not aware’Hera Pheri 3 faces turbulence as Paresh Rawal reportedly leaves the film, returning his signing fee. May 25, 2026, 13:38:45 IST Written by Vibha Maru Share via Copy link The controversy around Hera Pheri 3 doesn’t seem to end
1 days ago
BJD Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray has resigned from the party. He cited systematic belittlement as the reason for his departure. This follows similar exits by other Rajya Sabha MPs. Samantaray expressed gratitude to party chief Naveen Patnaik for past opportunities
1 days ago
Prashant Kishor to finally contest an election himself? Jan Suraaj Party targets Bankipur, via an ashramKishor is bullish on Bankipur, and claimed that only the Jan Suraaj Party can defeat the BJP there. "We just need to field a strong candidate," he said. Updated on: May 25
1 days ago
It’s been almost five months since Ranveer Singh’s exit from Don 3 sparked controversy. Now, as the dispute between Farhan Akhtar and the actor continues, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has finally intervened, announcing that its decision on the matter will be revealed
1 days ago
Even George Russell’s biggest critics would probably admit one thing right now: the Briton’s luck this season has been brutal. And standing beside his stricken Mercedes in Montreal on Sunday night, Russell looked completely drained by it all. After opening the season with victory in Shanghai
1 days ago
Turn a classic, creamy tiramisu into a refreshing summer treat by swapping coffee for juicy mango and layering it with fresh fruit and light mascarpone cream. This mango‑infused version keeps the dessert’s rich, custard‑like texture but adds a bright
1 days ago
As Cannes Film Festival closes, which are the acclaimed films from this year's crop that could be heading for Academy Award nominations? If you want to know which films are going to be nominated for Oscars, it's worth looking at what premiered at the Cannes Film Festival the previous May
1 days ago
Delhi Capitals' IPL journey concluded with a sixth-place finish. Coach Hemang Badani cited inconsistent play and missed opportunities as reasons for the team's failure to reach the playoffs. Crucial losses, dropped catches, and batting collapses hampered their campaign
1 days ago
3 elephant calves die within 17 days in Chhattisgarh’s DharamjaigarhEight elephant calves have died in Dharamjaigarh forest division over the past five months due to drowning, getting trapped in marshland, etc Published on: May 25, 2026 1:27 PM IST By Ritesh Mishra Share via Copy link Three
1 days ago
The Canadian Grand Prix was the race in which the Formula 1 title battle finally came alive this year. It was also, however, the race in which it took a potentially decisive turn, putting a huge dent in George Russell's hopes of beating his 19-year-old Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to the
1 days ago
CBSE Class 12 answer sheet scanned copies application window ends today, direct link hereCBSE Class 12 answer sheet scanned copies application window will close today, May 25, 2026. The direct link to apply is given here. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
Microsoft techie couple in Noida breaks down ₹1.6 lakh monthly expenses, says city feels balanced despite rising costsA Microsoft couple in Noida revealed they spent around ₹1.6 lakh monthly while balancing work, lifestyle and family needs. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
A CBSE Class 12 student has raised serious concerns over the board’s re-evaluation process after claiming the Physics answer sheet uploaded under his roll number does not belong to him. The student shared comparisons of multiple answer sheets and demanded an urgent investigation into the alleged
1 days ago
Thyroid disorder cases have been gradually rising over the past few years, especially in younger adults and the younger working generations. Even though genes and autoimmune disorders play a role, the way we live our lives is becoming a reason for thyroid problems. We speak to Dr Aravind Badiger
1 days ago
Sandhu finishes T-63, Sterne wins after gap of 13 yearsSandhu finishes T-63, Sterne wins after gap of 13 years Published on: May 25, 2026 1:47 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Rinkven , Indian golfer Yuvraj Sandhu endured a difficult final day to finish T-63 at the Soudal Open here
1 days ago
Cardiologist reveals the real cause of heart attacks that most people overlook and it’s not just ‘bad cholesterol’Could your gut health be affecting your heart? A cardiologist explains how inflammation, poor sleep, stress, and unhealthy habits may raise heart attack risk. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
