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Next week will bring a free Animal Crossing: New Horizons update and with it will come Super Mario Bros-themed items for players to get. Nintendo announced the news during its Nintendo Direct broadcast today, also revealing a new Mario Golf game, a new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter, and more.

The new update will add fashion and furniture with themes from Super Mario Bros, a sneak peek of which was offered during the broadcast (check out the tweet below to see it). Youll be able to get the themed items from Nook Shopping starting on March 1.

If you pay attention to the end of Nintendos teaser video, youll see a quick scrolling list of the Super Mario Bros items coming to the Nook Shop, including a mushroom mural, Princess Peach dress and shoes, the Wario outfit, block flooring, Yoshis Egg rug, shells, Thwomp, the question block, and more.

In addition to being able to place these items anywhere on your island, youll also be able to acquire and place two warp pipes these will be useful as ways to quickly travel from one part of your island to another.

The new additions are in celebration of the prolonged Mario 35th anniversary, one of the multiple Mario-themed things weve seen from Nintendo in recent months. Be sure to check out Nintendos Direct for all the new announcements, as well as the timeline below for the biggest news.

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons will get Super Mario Bros items on March 1 - SlashGear

The Dark Wanderer visits Marius in the opening cutscene of Diablo 2. The doors to the prison swing open on their own, as if magic has forced the hinges to move. Its a memorable moment, one that establishes this presence of magic and power for the Dark Wanderer.

But this wasnt always the case. Pre-release marketing materials for Diablo 2 featured a warden character opening the door for the Dark Wanderer. It was the original intent that the warden exist to open the door, but that character never made it into the game. It changed the context of the scene. In the shipped version, the Dark Wanderer doesnt seem invited; they open their own path.

In Diablo 2 Resurrected, the recently announced remaster of Diablo 2, Blizzard Entertainment couldve revisited that cinematic and brought the warden back in. But no matter the original intention or what makes more sense in the scene, that goes against Blizzards philosophy for Resurrected.

Prior to BlizzConline, we spoke to Rod Fergusson, executive producer of the Diablo franchise at Blizzard, and Rob Gallerani, principal designer at Blizzards support studio, Vicarious Visions. And after working on the industrys worst-kept secret, the pair were clear on Diablo 2 Resurrected: This is the Diablo 2 you know, warts and all.

This isnt a remake, said Fergusson. Were not reverse-engineering it; were not rebuilding it and trying to make it look and sound like [Diablo 2]. This is [Diablo 2]. [...] Its right there, underneath the surface. The entire simulation, the engine for this game, that lifeblood of this game, is [Diablo 2] right underneath. So theres a toggle switch, a legacy toggle, that when you press the button, youll see behind the curtains, and there is Diablo 2 in 2D sprites running right there, and you can play the way that you played 20 years ago.

In our 30-minute chat, the pair couldnt have made the philosophy for Diablo 2 Resurrected more clear. It is because it needed to be the game players remembered. Blizzard felt that most deviations, even important quality-of-life features, would be a step too far.

Most players play with the map up while they play the game, said Gallerani. And a request we got in the play test very much from people who have never played [Diablo 2] but are used to playing more modern games will be like, I just got a quest. Wheres the dot on the map telling me where to go?

We looked into doing something like that, Gallerani continued, and youre like, Well, it doesnt doesnt break anything, right? Its not making my character overpowered or anything like that. And it totally changed the vibe of the game.

While a revamped minimap or icons showing you where to go may have made for a more modern Diablo experience, it didnt feel true to what Diablo 2 was 20 years ago. And Blizzards philosophy was that if a feature doesnt feel authentic, it gets canned.

Blizzard wants to preserve Diablo 2 for Resurrected as much as it can, because even if the game is unchanged, the world it will be released into is completely different. As with World of Warcraft Classic, the wide variety of information available on the internet nowadays, and the advent of services like Discord, makes socializing while playing a very different experience. You dont need the manual when an answer to how do I complete this quest is a Discord message or a Google search away. Blizzard is counting on that the community to help ease new players into the experience.

Diablo 2 Resurrected isnt completely unchanged from Diablo 2, though; its just that the scope of the changes is rigid and limited. Blizzard made clear improvements to the visuals, taking the game from 2D sprites to 3D models. But those models are all either based on the original games art or molded by using the original architecture. It looks and moves like Diablo 2, but in a way that makes it much easier to look at for prolonged periods of time.

There are also some unobtrusive convenience additions. One example Blizzard gave is the Shared Stash, which allows players to move items between their characters by placing the desired item in a chest. This is a major shift from the original game, where players needed to create a mule character whose sole purpose was to move items from one character to the other. We felt like this wasnt changing how you played, said Fergusson. This is just making it better.

The Shared Stash is one of the easiest-to-swallow pills for players it just saves time, so there are no downsides. But a feature like auto gold pickup was a little too much for some.

We have other [features] like the auto gold pickup, which you would expect in a modern-day game that you have the ability just to walk over and hoover up the gold but maybe a purist doesnt want that quality of life, said Fergusson. And so weve actually made some [improvements] that are toggleable, and you can opt in or not.

The actual changes in Diablo 2 Resurrected are on that level of minutiae. If it even comes close to feeling like too much of a difference from the original game, Blizzard threw in a toggle to allow players to tailor their experience.

Many of the games major changes fit into the quality-of-life pool or the communication pool. In Diablo 2, it was easy to lose track of skill points, or assign something in a way that ruins your character. That rigidity is still there, but the game will now remind you if you havent spent your points, and tell you how to assign your abilities. Itll give you a warning that buying that skill is a permanent choice, but once you move past the warning, thats it introducing the ability to reverse that decision would be too big of a change.

These changes all work to make Diablo 2 Resurrected a more friendly experience, but not one thats so friendly it ever stops feeling like the dark, brutal, and occasionally frustrating Diablo 2 that catapulted the franchise into gaming history. And if players have concerns that Diablo 2 Resurrected will change too much, Fergusson assured us that unlike Warcraft 3: Reforged, Diablo 2 and Diablo 2 Resurrected are two separate games; one will not override or impact the other.

Diablo 2 Resurrected is scheduled to be released on consoles and Windows PC later this year, with a single-player beta available in a few months.

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Diablo 2 Resurrected is a strict and faithful remaster - Polygon

Restaurant and bar openings, closings, dining events and more for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

For this weeks super-sized restaurant and bar newsroundupwe have exciting openings in the University Town Center district, St. Armands Circle, Cortez and then a couple more in Sarasota. Lets begin with a new spot in UTC that should appeal to folks who are serious about their pizza and wings (and enjoy pairing the comfort food classics with craft beers and cocktails).

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More:Looking for romantic restaurants in Sarasota-Manatee? Here are 21 of our favorites

A Sarasota restaurant that specializes in pizza, craft beer and wings with two existing locations has opened its third inone of the areas busiest shopping districts.

Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Cafe, which has locations in Sarasotas Southside Village and Palmer Ranch, opened this week at University Town Center at 8193 Tourist Center Drive. The space formerly housed fellow pizzerias Casa di Pizza andDoughbie Brothers Pizza Co.

Owner Rami Nehme said he was not initially planninga new location so soon after the Palmer Ranch restaurantopened last year, with the original Origin on Hillview Street opening in 2016. Yet the UTC location was proposed to him,and offered a way to expand their customer base withanother thrivingcommunity.

I try to keep (the locations)far apart, and the UTC area, obviously, its growing tremendously,Nehme said. I was shocked by the amount of cars that Ive seen there; its busy all the time.

Origin is known for its classic and specialtypizzas, some of which feature Mediterranean flavors such as gyroor falafel-and-hummus pies, as well as its chicken wings, which are baked rather than fried. Nehme said a menu with a few new additions will debut this week as well, including a Middle EasternZaatar pizza and another featuring chicken and Origins popular trifecta sauce.

Unlike its other locations, OriginsUTC restaurant offers full liquor with a drink list centered on classic cocktails. It has16 taps featuringlocal craft beer options, with plans to incorporatenearby breweries like Lakewood Ranchs Naughty Monk Brewery, Nehme said.

The restaurant seats roughly 150, about 80 inside and 70 outdoors, with plans to include a sandbox for children. It also offers takeout and third-party service delivery.

University Town Centersanticipated new business openingsthis year include several other restaurants. Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushiopened last monthfor takeout and deliverywith plans to offer dine-in as well. A Jenis ice creamscoop shop, a second location for downtown Sarasotas Selva Grill, Fords Garage,Georgies Garden Cafe, and Bar George are planning to open their doors as well.

Originshours are 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 941-358-5850 or visit originpizzacafe.com.

A Florida business offering classic and modernarcade games, Cuban food, specialty drinks andcraft beer and winehas expanded to Sarasota, joining a growing number ofnew tenants on St. Armands Circle.

Arcade Monsters is now open in a two-floor building at 326 John Ringling Blvd., which formerly housed Surf Shack. The businessalso haslocations in the Orlando area and Brevard County.

Founder/ownerAdrian Ravelo lives in Orlando, but has visited Lido Beach with familyfor several years,and thought there was a marketfor a business in the area that offered entertainment along with restaurant and retail.

We decided to bring something fun to the circle,Ravelo said.

Arcade Monsters offers more than a hundred games to play, including retro and contemporary console games, imported Japanese rhythm games, pinball, air hockey and more. Customers can either pay $16.99 for unlimited play under a current deal, or visit for a meal or a drink with no separate charge.

The menu centers on Cuban cuisine, with dishes like empanadas, a Cuban sandwich, pastelitos and flan. It also offers American comfort food favorites like chicken wings and pizza, and combinations of both such as a Cuban cheesesteak or garlic cilantro wings.

Its bar offers a variety of alcoholic slushies and dry ice drinks, along with canned/bottledcraft beersincluding Florida options, and wine.

The restaurant seats around 150 with outdoor seating on the ground leveland an anime-themed balcony. The interior sportsglow-in-the-dark artwork of classic and current pop culture, video game and anime characters.

Other new businesses that have opened recently on St. Armands CircleincludeVernona Gourmet, a full-service chophouse with live music and a deli convenience market, andThe Whiskey Barrel, which features a drink and food menu based aroundwhiskeys and bourbons. Siesta Key mainstay Meaneys Mini Donuts & Coffee House alsoopened aSt. Armands location.

Arcade Monsters isopen from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. For more information, visitarcademonsters.com.

A new restaurant has opened in Cortez, featuring a familiar name and space for those who know the Manatee County fishing villages dining scene.

Slickers Eatery is now open at 12012 Cortez Road W. in the former space of OShucks Raw Bar & Grilland most recentlyPig Out BBQ, which still has anotherlocation openon Manatee Avenue West. The new business is owned by Bob Slicker, who has worked at several restaurants over the years, including as general manager of Cortezs Swordfish Grill.

His daughter Molly Slicker, who is creative director for Slickers Eatery, said it was always a dream of Bobs to open his own restaurant. She described the menu as eclectic plates,drawing from a variety of cuisines and types of dishes.

Its an outlier for the Cortez area because were not mainly a seafood restaurant,Slicker said. There are a lot of those in this area, and they do a great job at that, so we are focused on really bringing fresh, different tastes to this area.

Current dishesinclude a Cuban sandwich,pork belly banh mi andblack beans and rice with mojo pork or chicken breast. There are also seafood items such as a shrimp BLT orspaghetti and an ahi tuna poke bowl, along with numerous vegan or vegetarian options like The Slicker Spread (a crudits plate with crostini, rosemaryand garlic cannellini spreadand hummus) or meatless versions of the spaghetti and poke bowl.

The drink menu offersa selection of craft cocktails, some with Manatee County-themed names such as the Coquina Dusk (Bacardi Silver, pineapple, mango puree, lime juice, triple secand Orgeat) and Cortez Swizzle (Patron, mezcal, aquavit, lemon juice and honey.) There are 10beers on draft, several from local craft breweries such as Bradentons Darwin Brewing Company and Motorworks Brewing.

Slickers Eatery offers both indoor and outdoor seating and is currently reservation-only exceptfor a few walkup tables, Slicker said, with takeout also available and plans to offer delivery in the future. The restaurant plans to be open daily.

For more information, call 941-251-9428 or visit slickerseatery.com.

A popular restaurantthat temporarily closed because of the coronavirus pandemic has reopened in a new location.

Amore, the downtownSarasota restaurantoffering Italian and Portuguese cuisinethat closed in July, hasreopenedinthe formerSilver Starspoton Lime Avenue in the Colonial Village Shopping Center. Amore originally operated on Longboat Key before taking over the sizable location in Burns Court.

Amore had originally planned to open its180 N.Lime Ave. location last month but reopened to the public Feb. 9 following a large renovation and overcoming some unforeseen circumstances,the restaurants owners noted in an email sent Feb. 2.

Like a lot of people, we are victims of COVID-19 and went from profitability to liability in the larger restaurant that had 175 seats, chef/owner Tito Vitorino told the Herald-Tribune in January.We decided to scale down and offer patio seating as well as distance seating inside and takeout if desired.

The Vitorinos have completely transformed the new restaurant into an Old World setting with distressed wood patterned flooring, tile walls and Portuguese art gracing the walls.There are 64 seats inside with plexiglass partitions between booths, and tables are socially distanced.The outdoor patio accommodates another 24 guests.

At the previous restaurant, the menu included about 25 percent Portuguese selections and 75 percent Italian.The newAmorewill be 50/50.

We are serving many of the favorites from Burns Court but adding more Portuguese favorites, Vitorino said.

In addition to salads and starters, among entre options are branzino essiccato with sun-dried tomato coulis, seafood cataplana with seafood or pork and clams, and the special salted Norwegian cod fish (lagareiro).The pork loin with bifana sauce is another favorite, as well as rack of lamb andlinguini pescatore. The restaurant is also known for its desserts prepared tableside, including bananas foster and cherries jubilee.It will offerbeer plus a respectable wine list, including Italian, Portuguese and California selections.

Amore is open 5-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 941-383-1111 or visitfacebook.com/amorerestaurantlbk.

Authentic Neapolitan pizzas are the main attraction atAntonio Mancinisnew restaurant in Sarasota Commons.Atmosphere Neapolitan Pizzeria has opened in the former Atmosphere Italian Restaurant (originally Almas Kouzine) at 935 N. Beneva Road, featuring a brick oven as the centerpiece surrounded by a bar where customers may witness the owner crafting their pizzas.

The restaurant has been renovated and includes 36 seats inside and out in a casual setting with Italian artwork gracing the walls. There is also a small market area with imported oils and condiments.

A native of Italy, Mancini came to America three years ago to handle pizza making for Napule Restaurant in Sarasota.Subsequently, he opened Vesuvio Neapolitan Frozen Pizza and now has added the new pizzeria to his culinary pursuits.According to his wife, Jay Mancini, who directs the front of the restaurant, her husband has always wanted his own restaurant and is pleased to offer his hand-tossed pizzas, plus other Italian selections, desserts, beer and wines, all imported from Italy.

All our ingredients are Italian imports except daily specials which include selections which have fresh ingredients from local markets, said Jay Mancini, who added that what makes their Neapolitan pizza different is the dough resting 24 hours before being hand kneaded and baked in a wood fire oven.

This is what makes the crust light and airy rather than thick and doughy, she explained.And the toppings are authentic Italian like San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and Italian salami, which are on our popular Calabria pizza.

The traditional Margarita pizza, salami and prosciutto pizzas are other options, as well as some white versions. All pizzas are personal size, from 11 to 12 inches.Atmosphere also offers fried pizza bread with assorted toppings, fried pizza dough sandwiches, and appetizers including bruschetta and salads.

For dessert, diners may choose traditional Italian dishes such as sfogliatella,delizia al limone or ricotta and pear cake.Beer and wines from Italy are provided as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

Atmosphere Neapolitan Pizzeria is open daily from 4-9 p.m. with plans to expand hours in the future.Takeout and delivery services are available. For more information, call 941-203-8542 or visitinstagram.com/atmosphereneapolitanpizzeria.

Sarasota Deli, which opened recently in the Mobil gas station at6104 S. Tamiami Trailby the Beechwood Avenue intersection,is offering up an array of American breakfasts and lunch selections. Owner James Pressley, who has been in the restaurant field for over 20 years, saidthe new deli is a work in progress with plans to add seating inside and curbside pickup.Currently, customers may order the homemade items online, by phone or in person for takeout or delivery through Grubhub.

Customers tell me the food here isnt your typical gas station selections, said Pressley, who has long been involved in creative ways to enhance food.In fact, one day I plan to add some of my grandmothers recipes to the deli.

The chef/owner is assisted by his wife, Stephanie, and employee Sam Martinez.Meats are smoked on the premises andamong customers favorites are the brisket (taco or sandwich), pork and beef. Most recipes are American fare with a twist.I tend to go bold with seasonings, said Pressley.Our food is not typical.

The deli serves variousbreakfast selections, including favorites like croissant French toast, a breakfast burrito and biscuits with gravy.Theres also a traditional breakfast in a box anda BLT wrap.Lunch favorites include an Angus beef, pork or brisket tacos with assorted toppings. Theres alsoaburger featuring a hand-formed patty, Cuban sandwich pressed on the grill,and a ranch chicken wrap, as well assoups,salads and chili.In addition, there are sides like mac andcheese, potato salad and black bean salad.

Sarasota Deli is open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with plans to extend the hours in the future.For more information, call941-315-0868 or visit facebook.com/sarasotadeli.

P.F. Changs in downtown Sarasota is celebrating Lunar New Year with additions to the menu to mark the season.In honor of its Asian roots, the restaurant will highlight the Year of the Ox with special selections through March 30.

Lunar New Year is a rich tradition and one were proud to honor, Tana Davila, chief marketing officer, said in a statement.We look forward to adding our unique perspective to the celebration with incredible flavors and new menu items.

Among offerings debuting for Lunar New Year are a Fire & Ice dessert and Red Lantern cocktail.According to P.F. Changs director of culinary operations, these items allow the restaurant to further expand their elevated menu offerings and provide guests with an immersive dining experience.The Red Lantern cocktail, available for a limited time, blends Reyka vodka, Solerno liqueur, blood orange, pineapple and lemon and is enhanced with a red lantern stirrer in an illuminated glass.

The Fire & Ice dessert combines bread pudding with vanilla ice cream encased in a chocolate shell, served flaming tableside. In addition to the spirited dessert and cocktail, holiday selections, which will remain on the menu, include Korean bulgogi lettuce wraps, miso butter lobster dumplings, Peking duck and the Rising Dragon cocktail, which are available for dine-in or takeout.

P.F. Changs dining concept includes wok cooking, plus hand-rolled dim sum, hand chopped ingredients and scratch sauces.There are more than 300 restaurants in 25 countries.

Located at 766 S.Osprey Ave., P.F. Changs in Sarasota is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.For more information, call941-296-6002 or visit pfchangs.com.

More: 10 best waterfront restaurants for outdoor dining in Sarasota

More: Looking for outdoor dining near the beach? 7 best waterfront restaurants in Englewood

For the latest Sarasota-Manatee restaurant and bar news visitheraldtribune.com/entertainment/dining. Email restaurant news items to ticket@heraldtribune.com.

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Whats new on the Sarasota-Manatee dining scene? Heres our weekly restaurant and bar roundup - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

News

IPL-bound players might miss a part or the whole of the home games against Bangladesh too

New Zealand Cricket will allow its cricketers to participate in the 2021 edition for as long as they need to, even if it means that some of them miss the end of the New Zealand home season and the first Test of the tour of England, at Lord's.

The dates for the IPL aren't out yet - likely to be in April-May - but the Lord's Test is scheduled to start on June 2, and it could be that a few major all-format players, like captain Kane Williamson and Trent Boult, fail to join the team in time if their teams make the IPL playoffs.

The situation won't be any different from England, whose leading multi-format cricketers, including Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler, might all miss that two-Test series.

Speaking to Stuff.co.nz NZC chief executive David White said, "NZC will take a pragmatic approach as these fixtures are a late addition to the schedule. We will work through the decision in conjunction with the players." The Tests in question - the second one is in Southampton - were announced only last month, and don't count towards the World Test Championship final, which New Zealand have already qualified for. That match will be played from June 18.

There's also a chance that, depending on when the IPL-bound players are asked to link up with their franchises, they miss the home white-ball series against Bangladesh, which run from March 20 to April 1. "We are still awaiting advice as to when the IPL will start and what the MIQ protocols will be - but will take a pragmatic approach in the event of any clash," White said.

As such, no New Zealand cricketer has ever missed a Test match because of the IPL, and there might not be a direct dates' clash in this case either, but things could get tricky because of the Covid-19 situation.

Apart from Williamson and Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner and Tim Seifert all have teams in the IPL already, and 20 other New Zealand cricketers have put their names in the hat for the auction, to be held in Chennai on Thursday. Keeping in mind travel restrictions, New Zealand will follow the new norm of sending an expanded squad to England in any case.

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IPL or Lord's Test? New Zealand Cricket to take 'pragmatic approach' with its players - ESPNcricinfo

News

Yadav has to undergo a fitness assessment before linking up with his team-mates

Umesh Yadav has been drafted into India's Test squad for the Ahmedabad leg of the England series, replacing Shardul Thakur, who has been released to play for Mumbai in the domestic 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy. Yadav, who will undergo a fitness assessment at the NCA before linking up with the Virat Kohli-led squad, is returning to competitive cricket after recovering from the calf injury he picked up during the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

If cleared, Yadav will join the fast-bowling group comprising Ishant Sharma, who is one short of 100 Test appearances, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill's presence in the squad might serve as an indication that the forearm injury that didn't allow him to take the field on the fourth day of the second Test isn't too serious. As such, India have a stand-by in the form of Mayank Agarwal, who is the third opener. And KL Rahul, who was drafted in for the second Test as a batting reserve, has retained his place.

Two members in India's squad - Bumrah and Axar Patel - could potentially feature in front of their home supporters at the revamped Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera. A third Gujarat cricketer, Priyank Panchal, who was part of the reserves, has been released to play in the domestic 50-over competition alongside fellow opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and Thakur. Quicks Sandeep Warrier, Avesh Khan and Ankit Rajpoot, and spin twins K Gowtham and Saurabh Kumar now complete the net-bowlers' contingent, while wicketkeeper KS Bharat and legspinner Rahul Chahar are stand-bys.

Hardik Pandya, who hasn't played Tests since September 2018, is slowly progressing to bowling at full tilt after recovering from a shoulder surgery, which has forced him play much of his cricket in recent times as a specialist batsman.

The four-Test series is currently tied at 1-1 after two games, both in Chennai. England won the first Test by 227 runs, and India bounced back to win the second by 317 runs.

The result of the next two Tests are of great significance not just for the ongoing series, but the race to take on New Zealand in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship at Lord's in June. Both the teams are trying to get past Australia's points percentage of 69.17. India need to win the series, by any margin, so a win and a draw (or two wins) serve them fine. The loss in the second Test, meanwhile, has hurt England, because they can only make the final if they won both the remaining Tests. Australia are in with a shot too - they would be hoping England don't win both the remaining Tests; a 1-1 or 2-2 draw or a 2-1 England win work great for them.

The third Test of the ongoing series, a pink-ball affair, will start on February 24, and the final one on March 4.

Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

Continued here:
Umesh Yadav to replace Shardul Thakur for Ahmedabad Tests against England - ESPNcricinfo

The IPL 2021 auction is set to take place on February 18. This will not be a mega auction, which means franchises will largely look to plug gaps, some larger than others. In this, the second of a two-part preview, we look at the requirements for the Mumbai Indians, the Rajasthan Royals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Part 1 of the preview

With seven slots left and a small purse of INR 15.35 crore, defending champions Mumbai Indians must play their cards smartly at the auction table.

There are three gaps Mumbai would want to plug more than any other. First, get at least one, if not two, overseas fast bowlers. Having released James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mumbai only have one overseas quick in Trent Boult. In addition, they could also look for a back-up allrounder for Kieron Pollard. Mumbai are also likely to be on the lookout for a back-up wristspinner to Rahul Chahar, who struggled in IPL 2020 and wasn't in the playing XI for the final.

First XI: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Quinton de Kock, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Ishan Kishan, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Krunal Pandya, 7 Kieron Pollard, 8 Rahul Chahar, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 An overseas fast bowler.

Key gaps: At least one overseas fast bowler

Potential picks: Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, Jason Behrendoff, Kyle Jamieson, Nathan-Coulter Nile, Arjun Tendulkar

Back-up wristspinner/fingerspinner Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh, Khrievitso Kense

Back-up allrounder for Kieron Pollard: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Shivam Dube

Kumar Sangakkara, the new team director of the Royals, has his task cut out. The Royals, who last made the playoffs in 2018, would be on the lookout for one fast bowler, one specialist batsman, and one allrounder. The weak link for the Royals has been a good support cast for Jofra Archer as well as a middle-order batsman who can play the finisher's role. Both Steven Smith and Robin Uthappa struggled in those roles in IPL 2020. It will not be a surprise if the Royals buy back Smith cheap as experience always helps, but with a strong purse of over INR 34 crore, the franchise can't be shy about raising the paddle to top price if they believe a name is worth it.

Current first XI: 1 Sanju Samson, 2 Ben Stokes, 3 Jos Buttler, 4 David Miller, 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Mahipal Lomror, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Shreyas Gopal, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Kartik Tyagi

Key gaps: One fast bowler, one allrounder, one batsman

Potential picks: Steven Smith, Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Alex Hales

Back-up allrounder: Shivam Dube, Glenn Maxwell, Chris Morris, Moeen Ali

Back-up overseas fast bowler: Naveen ul Haq, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Kyle Jamieson

The side led by Virat Kohli has an urgent need to fill up more than one vacant spot in the first XI. After releasing the likes of Chris Morris, Aaron Finch and Moeen Ali, the Royal Challengers' focus will be on finding batsmen and allrounders for their top and middle order. That has been a long-standing problem for the franchise, for which they have tried to find remedies over several seasons, usually without much success.

They will once again look for a solution to reduce the dependency on their two best batsmen: AB de Villiers and Kohli. With the second-highest purse in the 2021 auction (INR 35.9 crore), the Royal Challengers could target a few big names, including Glenn Maxwell and Shakib Al Hasan, in addition to finding an Indian batsman who can play the role of a finisher in the middle order. This should be a busy auction for the franchise.

Current first XI: 1 Devdutt Padikkal, 2 Josh Philippe, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Shahbaz Ahmed, 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Daniel Sams, 8 Navdeep Saini, 9 Mohammed Siraj, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Yuzuvender Chahal.

Key gaps: Top order overseas batsman/batting allrounder

Potential picks: Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Shakib Al Hasan, Fabian Allen, Dawid Malan

Domestic batsman/allrounder: Shahrukh Khan, Kedhar Jadhav, K Gowtham

Along with the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Sunrisers have the smallest purse (INR 10.75 crore) in this auction. But they do not have too many gaps to fill. An overseas player is among three main vacancies. They can either look to replace Billy Stanlake, who can also act as a back-up for Jason Holder. One potential pick is likely to be buying back Shakib Al Hasan, who was with the franchise until he was banned by the ICC two years ago.

Current first XI: 1 David Warner, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Priyam Garg, 5 Vijay Shankar, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Sandeep Sharma, 10 T Natarajan, 11 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Key gap: Back-up overseas fast bowler

Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor at ESPNcricinfo

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IPL 2021 auction: Who will Mumbai Indians, the Royals, the Royal Challengers and the Sunrisers Hyderabad target? - ESPNcricinfo

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All you need to know about the Australian quick, who was signed by Punjab Kings for INR 14 crore at the IPL 2021 auction

Jhye Richardson, the 24-year-old Australian fast bowler, has been one of the hottest properties at this year's IPL auction. Here is his backstory.

Tearaway teenagerRichardson hails from Perth in Western Australia and despite his small frame he developed a reputation for producing express pace as a teenager when playing for Fremantle Cricket Club, the home of the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, and Ashton Turner. He made his List A and first-class debuts at 19 for Western Australia and played one game in the BBL in 2015-16 for the Perth Scorchers. But he announced himself the following season when he was Player of the Match in the BBL final as the Scorchers claimed their third BBL title under coach Justin Langer.

International debutLater that summer, in February 2017, Langer was seconded to stand in as coach for Australia's three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka while full-time coach Darren Lehmann and the Test squad headed to India. With a number of first-choice players away there was an opportunity for some of the best performers in the BBL to get their international breaks and Richardson played in two of the three games, debuting in a nail-biter at Geelong.

The following summer he consistently took wickets in all formats but bowled superbly in a Sheffield Shield fixture for Western Australia against a full-strength New South Wales side that featured the then Australia captain Steven Smith. Richardson took six wickets in the match, including David Warner in the second innings, and bowled a lot to Smith during his second-innings century.

That performance led to his ODI debut, and he was later selected for his first Test squad, on Australia's infamous Test tour of South Africa in 2018. He had played just five first-class games before going on that tour.

Fresh face in a new eraWhen Langer took over as coach of Australia following the South Africa tour, Richardson was part of a new team of fresh faces for Langer's first assignment, a five-match ODI tour of England. He was part of the attack that gave up a world-record ODI score at Trent Bridge.

He went on Australia's subsequent T20I tour of Zimbabwe and played in all five games but he was not selected for the Test or T20I tour of the UAE in October of 2018. Instead, he went back and dominated for Western Australia taking 27 wickets in the first five Sheffield Shield games including a career-best 8 for 47 against New South Wales.

He returned to the ODI team in January 2019 and took 4 for 26 in game one against India including the prize scalp of Virat Kohli. Just two weeks later he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in the absence of Josh Hazlewood. He took five wickets for the match and gave Australia's much-vaunted Test attack some more variety. It looked, at the time, as though he may become a permanent fixture in all three formats for Australia heading into the Ashes and the World Cup.

Injury setbackRichardson dislocated his right shoulder while diving in the field during at ODI against Pakistan in Sharjah in the lead-up to the World Cup. The injury ruled him out of the World Cup and the subsequent Ashes series. He made a quiet return to domestic cricket later in 2019 but didn't immediately reach the pace he previously had and also struggled to throw in the field.

He had a solid BBL09 campaign and got better as the tournament progressed, which led to his selection for Australia's limited-overs tour of South Africa in early 2020. He made his international return in the third ODI at Potchefstroom when Mitchell Starc flew home to watch his wife Alyssa Healy play in the T20 World Cup final in Melbourne.

Second surgeryWhen the Covid-19 pandemic put a halt to international cricket, Richardson elected to have further surgery to stabilise his troublesome shoulder.

He missed the first part of the Sheffield Shield season later in the summer as he was still building up to a full return. That decision paid dividends for the Scorchers in the BBL where he starred as the tournament's leading wicket-taker, producing devastating spells in the Powerplay and Power Surge which caught the eye of IPL owners and Australia's selectors. He also played some excellent cameos with the bat, proving to be an inventive strokemaker in the death overs coming in at No. 8.

Such was Richardson's form, he was talked about as a possible inclusion in Australia's Test squad to South Africa but his lack of red-ball cricket over the previous 12 months meant that he was instead selected for Australia's five-match T20I tour of New Zealand, which begins on Monday.

Expert eye"He's been magnificent for us. He bowls all the tough overs. He bowls up front, he's bowling in every power surge and he's often got one at the death as well. Not only is he the leading wicket-taker, but I think he's also got one of the better economy rates in the competition."Perth Scorchers coach Adam Voges

Alex Malcolm is a freelance writer based in Melbourne

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The lowdown on Jhye Richardson, the latest millionaire in the Punjab Kings ranks - ESPNcricinfo

There are no concrete details about the plot yet, but much like how the first two seasons corresponded with the first and second books in the trilogy, the third season of A Discovery of Witches will follow the plot of The Book of Life, the final book in the All Souls series of novels by Deborah Harkness.

With Diana finding out that she was pregnant near the end of the show's second season, the couple will be dealing with a lot when they return to the present day. In addition to having their hands full with the pregnancy and impending parenthood, they'll also be facing off against Knox, who still wants Ashmole 782. Meanwhile, there is still a threat from the Congregation, which is made up of witches, vampires, and daemons, as it still forbids mingling between the three kinds of supernatural creatures. Something tells us they won't be too happy to find out that Diana is carrying a child created by a witch and a vampire.

As if that isn't enough drama already, new enemies will also make themselves known, and the subject of Matthew's vampire blood rage, a major plot point in the third novel, should receive significant attention in the final season, especially after Domenico survived an attack from a blood-rage vampire at the end of season 2.

It's a lot to fit into a single season, but after the success of the first two, there's no reason to believe the writers won't be able to make it all work.

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A Discovery Of Witches Season 3 Release Date, Cast And Plot - What We Know So Far - Looper

We're waking up to sunshine to get the weekend started right as much of our state finally gets out of the deep freeze zone but many of us still have concerns.

HOUSTON As the sun comes up across Texas and we come out of yet another hard freeze from overnight, a lot of us will be cautiously with anxiety looking over the walls and floors around our home for water where it shouldn't be.

That's because we have all seen the reports of thousands of water pipe breaks in homes and businesses after the 2021 arctic blast swept through the state earlier this week.

The wintry weather dropped Southeast Texas into near-historic low temperatures and left snow and ice that stayed for days statewide. It also knocked out power for millions, which left homes colder than usual, allowing more pipes to freeze.

How do you know if you have a problem with your pipes after a freeze?

Pipes break during wintry weather because the water freezes and expands inside the pipe, similar to putting a bottle of water or a can of soda in the freezer and watching it expand outward.

Often the pipes can't take the stress, and they break. This could happen inside your home's walls, in the attic, under your home or on the pipes outside your home.

Your best option ahead of a freeze: shut off your pipes

When freezing temperatures are predicted, especially temperatures below 30, there are ways you can protect your home's pipes and water system beyond just a drip or opening cabinets.

...before you go to sleep, go out and turn that main turn off, turn some faucets on so your pipes can drain. They cant burst if theres no water in them to freeze," Director of Public Works for the City of Houston Carol Haddock says.

Master plumber Even Villasana says that is what he does "I would not take a chance."

Im going to be draining the system down at my house," he said.

The best option is to shut off the citys valve at your curb, its usually in a covered box. Simply turn the handle to where it's perpendicular to the pipe. If you cant get to that one, the valve on the side of your house will also work. But before you do that, Villasana says theres something you should do first.

What people should do is while they have their water on if you have accessible water. Go ahead and fill up your bathtubs, if you have buckets to have some water supply to be able to flush toilets," he said.

Its better to be without water for 10 to 12 hours than it is for 10 to 12 days. Say a pipe bursts and you are waiting for insurance and the adjusters and all that," Villasana said.

You can turn the water back on once temperatures get above freezing, but make sure you open your faucets and do it slowly. Plumbers suggest using a clock and turning a little more water on each minute for five minutes and make sure to have someone inside watching for any leaks.

Busted pipes are keeping Texas plumbers and hardware stores busy

The Home Depot off the Gulf Freeway and the Beltway 8 in southeast Houston was pretty busy Thursday morning. People were there for one thing: plumbing supplies.

The manager said theyve also been busy with people looking for materials to fix their walls and lights that might have been damaged by the water from broken pipes. Read more here.

Continued here:
How do you know if your home's pipes burst during the freezing weather? Here's what to check for - KHOU.com

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2021 Insights into the Global Led Indoor Lighting Market by Market Research Store The Courier - The Courier