This is the first World Cup where people walking into the stadiums will have scorecards - in which you tick off runs scored - running up to 500. Teams have invested in batting depth to give their main batsmen the freedom to try to turn ODI innings into 50-over T20s. Fielding restrictions have never amounted to less. Middle overs have never been busier. Totals have never been more unsafe. Those looking for balance between bat and ball are dreading going to Taunton and Nottingham. There is one team, though, that is not getting carried away.

At least twice in the lead-up to this World Cup, India have publicly spoken about the importance of old-fashioned cricket with the bat. These are telling statements by India's captain and batting coach.

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"What makes the Indian team unique is that it's consistently playing risk-free cricket," Sanjay Bangar told Mumbai Mirror before departing for the UK. "And that's because we emphasise on the ones and the twos. As a batting group, we are not obsessed over the number of boundaries we've hit. But we discuss strike-rotation a great deal. Which is why we're able to eschew risks."

ALSO READ: 'Not obsessed with the number of boundaries we hit' - Bangar

Inherent to this batting ethos is appreciation that ODIs haven't yet become longer T20s. They find backing for that in data. Since the last World Cup, 54.22% of the runs in T20s (internationals and the big leagues) have been scored in boundaries. In ODIs, the number drops down to 45.5%. What's more the contribution of boundaries to a team total in ODIs has stayed pretty much similar for a while. Between the 2011 and 2015 world Cups, 46% of runs came through boundaries.

General wisdom suggests that sides scoring more runs through boundaries end up winning T20 matches. This is where you will see the value of boundaries rising, though. Since the last World Cup, 79.29% of T20 matches have been won by sides that have scored more runs in boundaries. The number in ODIs is marginally higher, at 79.62%. And it is a jump from the 74.5 mark it straddled for the last eight years.

India might not obsess about boundaries, but they do end up hitting them organically. In the period leading up to this World Cup, they have scored fewer boundary runs than their opposition in only 32 of the 86 matches they have played. The number for England is 29 in 88. They have won only 10 each of these matches. It is clear: whether you obsess over them or not, the role of boundaries is becoming increasingly important even in ODI cricket, especially in high-scoring venues in England.

ALSO READ: Kohli hails Archer's X-factor

If India and England score more boundary runs than their opposition, they win nine times out of 10. For Australia that number goes out to 7.5. It shows they are not able to complement the boundaries with other runs in the middle overs. India and England remain the two pre-eminent batting sides in the world, but their methods are completely different. England, on the other hand, are blessed with the coming together of wonderfully attacking batsmen who still score at a high average. Because there are so many of them - they have a possible five to eight of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes - they can afford to keep going and start sooner than most.

Rate the 50 highest run-getters in ODIs since the last World Cup by their strike rate in the first 20 balls they face, and India's first representation is at No. 14: Shikhar Dhawan. Virat Kohli is at No. 20. Indian batsmen who are quick off the blocks - Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya - haven't played enough matches to be able to make this list, but they will be there at the World Cup. Each of the top six in England's first XI is in the top 20.

And yet the top two run-getters in ODIs since the last World Cup are Indians: Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Dhawan is at No. 9. These three bat long enough and accelerate enough to make up for their slow starts. Batting approach should only be judged when teams are batting first because when they are chasing they bat according to the target. It is in judging and then getting to a par score that these two sides are different.

England race off the blocks; India take time. England's average 10-overs score batting first is 55 for 1, India's 44 for 1. India then tend to make up ground in overs 10 to 30, but here is a number: at the 30-over mark, India have gone at better than a run a ball only once in 11 innings; England do that once every four digs. They again take lead in overs 30 to 40 while the finishing kick tends to be similar.

There is a flipside to so much intent. Batting first, since the last World Cup, England have been bowled out once every three efforts. India have been dismissed only once every six matches. This is where India want pragmatism. They don't want to be over ambitious. With their uncertain middle and lower order and not much sting in their tail, they risk losing the game in the first 25 overs if they go too hard. Yet, within themselves they have started to change things up since the Champions Trophy where they lost to Sri Lanka despite score 300.

There has been a clear change in intent in the middle overs and especially between overs 30 and 40, just before the extra fielder is about to go out of the 30-yard ring. The last-10 overs numbers have come down, but they will hope the return of Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav will address that concern.

Most importantly, though, neither side is obsessed: neither India with individual centuries and hence slow starts nor England with bringing up the first 500. It is their assessment of what a par total is. India believe they have reason to not aim too high because of their bowling attack. England think they need to aim higher because they don't have the out-and-out wicket-takers. In the middle overs, defending a total, India take a wicket every 37 balls against England's 41, concede 5.39 an over to England's 5.89, and have superior death bowlers to boot.

India tend to go with least premeditation about what a par score should be, and are thus able to adjust their game should the pitch not be a pancake. England risk getting bowled out on slightly different surfaces - although underestimate their Plan B at your own peril - but on flatter pitches they do tend to end up with a score that wins them the match.

It is a fascinating coming together of two different extremes of batting approaches; all other teams fall somewhere in between. India have already thrown in the added mind games. Sitting next to other captains in the pre-tournament press conference, Kohli didn't want to leave any doubts as to whom he was talking about when he said: "They seem to be obsessed with getting to 500 before anyone else. They smash it from ball one and for the full 50 overs. It could be pretty high-scoring, but 260/270 is going to be as difficult to get as chasing 370, 380 in a World Cup.

"I don't see too much high-scoring in the later half of the tournament. Some teams might get on a roll, but you'll see 250 defended as well as because of the kind of pressure that comes with it. When you get closer to the knockout phases, that is going to bring greater pressure and no one is going to go gung-ho from ball one. Generally teams will find a way, but I see pressure playing a massive role."

JOHANNESBURG -- Caster Semenya has appealed against the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to uphold testosterone regulations for some female athletes in track and field.

The two-time Olympic 800-meter champion's lawyers say she has lodged an appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal, Switzerland's supreme court.

Under the IAAF's new rules, upheld by the Switzerland-based CAS this month, Semenya is not allowed to run in international races from 400 meters to one mile unless she medically lowers her natural testosterone levels.

She said after the CAS decision that she would not take medication and repeats in Wednesday's statement announcing her appeal that "the IAAF will not drug me or stop me from being who I am."

Semenya's appeal was announced by her South Africa-based lawyers. They say Semenya's appeal "focuses on fundamental human rights."

Renowned golf instructor Hank Haney apologized for insensitive comments he made about LPGA players during his SiriusXM radio show on Wednesday morning.

When Haney's co-host, Steve Johnson, asked him about the 74th U.S. Women's Open being played at the Country Club of Charleston this week, Haney joked that he was going to predict that a Korean would win and added that he couldn't name six players on the LPGA Tour, except for those with the last name Lee.

"I'm gonna predict a Korean," Haney said.

"That's a pretty safe bet," Johnson replied

"That's gonna be my prediction. I couldn't name you, like, six players on the LPGA Tour," Haney continued.

"Yeah," Johnson said.

"Nah, maybe I could," Haney said. "Well, I'd go with Lee. If I didn't have to name a first name, I'd get a bunch of them right. I don't know. ... Lexi Thompson. ... Michelle Wie's hurt. I don't know that many."

Haney's comments were quickly criticized on social media, including a pair of tweets from Wie, who isn't playing this week because of a wrist injury.

As a Korean American female golfer, these comments that @HankHaney made disappoint and anger me on so many different levels. Racism and sexism are no laughing matter Hank....shame on you. I don't ever do this, but this must be called out. https://t.co/P18JByTosN

— Michelle Wie (@themichellewie) May 29, 2019

Wie wrote in another tweet: "Too many of these girls, Korean or not, have worked countless hours and sacrificed so much to play in the US Open this week. There are so many amazing players in the field. Let's celebrate them....Not mock them. @HankHaney"

Shortly after Wie criticized Haney on social media, he issued an apology on Twitter.

"This morning I made some comments about women's golf and its players that were insensitive and that I regret," Haney wrote. "In an effort to make a point about the overwhelming success of Korean players on the tour I offended people and I am sorry. I have the highest respect for the women who have worked so hard to reach the pinnacle of their sport and I never meant to take away from their abilities and accomplishments.

"I've worked in this game with men and women players from many different cultures and I look forward to continuing to do so."

Haney, 63, is mostly known for working with Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara. He also hosts the Haney Project on Golf Channel and has worked with celebrities like Charles Barkley, Ray Romano and Adam Levine.

The Boston Red Sox have put their leading home run hitter this season, first baseman Mitch Moreland, on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain.

Moreland has not played since Saturday, and the IL move is retroactive to Sunday. The 33-year-old is hitting .228 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs this season.

The Red Sox also optioned right-hander Travis Lakins to Triple-A Pawtucket. Lakins took the loss against the Indians on Tuesday when he allowed two earned runs as part of Cleveland's five-run ninth inning in the 7-5 game.

Right-hander Colten Brewer and left-hander Josh Taylor were recalled from Pawtucket. Brewer has a 5.32 ERA in 20 appearances this season; Taylor is getting his first major league call-up.

Juan Miguel Echevarria, Mike Norman, Dina Asher-Smith and Laura Muir are among the athletes in action as the Diamond League moves on to Sweden

A venue that has seen 83 world records will be hoping for more in the third Diamond League meeting of the series on Thursday, thanks in part to the appearance of Juan Miguel Echevarria.

It was here at the BAUHAUS-galan meeting in the 1912 Olympic stadium last year that the Cuban jumped a magnificent 8.83m, which was just 12cm below Mike Powell’s long-standing world record, albeit with a marginally illegal wind assistance of 2.1m/sec.

The @BAUHAUSGALAN long jump pit is now #Echevarria proof and WR ready ?#DiamondLeague #StockholmDL ??#RoadToTheFinal pic.twitter.com/JDNp6rtnak

— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) May 29, 2019

In March, he soared out to 8.92m, aided by a wind of 3.3m/sec.

Hoping to challenge him in Stockholm this year are Olympic champion Jeff Henderson, world champion Luvo Manyonga and European champion Miltiadis Tentóglou.

Mike Norman could also get close to Wayde van Niekerk’s 400m world record of 43.03 in the one-lap race, and beat his Diamond League record of 43.62, with the American having opened his season with a time of 43.45 in California last month and followed that up with a 200m PB of 19.84 in Osaka.

The 21-year-old will go up against his training partner Rai Benjamin, Bralon Taplin of Grenada and Botswana’s Baboloki Thebe.

A world-record holder goes in the 100m hurdles as Kendra Harrison, who ran a world-leading 12.47 earlier this month, goes up against Sharika Nelvis, Cindy Roleder and Nadine Visser.

The women’s 200m looks set to be an exciting affair as it features Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, Netherlands’ world champion Dafne Schippers and Britain’s triple 2018 European champion Dina Asher-Smith, who ran a 22.26 200m in Doha.

The men’s line-up includes Turkey’s world champion Ramil Guliyev, Alonso Edward of Panama and Canada’s Aaron Brown.

In the high jump, world champion Mariya Lasitskene will be hoping to stay dominant against a top field. Among them will be Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the 17-year-old who became the youngest winner of a Diamond League event in Doha, and Olympic silver medallist Mirela Demireva. The men’s pole vault includes world gold medallists champions in Sam Kendricks, Pawel Wojciechowski and Raphael Holzdeppe, plus Olympic champion Thiago Braz.

Double European outdoor champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen will highlight the men’s 1500m with brothers Henrik and Filip, plus Kenyans Timothy Cheruiyot, Elijah and George Manangoi, while Kenya’s Hellen Obiri stars in the women’s 5000m alongside Britain’s recent Vitality Westminster Mile winner Melissa Courtney and Eilish McColgan.

The Ingebrigtsens’ fellow Norwegian Karsten Warholm goes in the men’s 400m hurdles along with Britain’s Seb Rodger and Jacob Paul, while in the men’s discus, Olympic champion Christoph Harting takes on Diamond League champion Fedrick Dacres and the in-form Daniel Stahl. The women’s event sees Sandra Perkovic open her season.

The women’s 800m features Americans Ajee Wilson and Raevyn Rogers, plus Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu, Kenya’s Nelly Jepkosgei and Britain’s Lynsey Sharp. Following the introduction of the IAAF’s new rules on female classification, the field is missing two-time Olympic and three-time world 800m champion Caster Semenya, who is set to race 2000m at the Montreuil Meet on June 11.

Looking ahead to the Stockholm 800m, 2012 European champion Sharp said: “It’s a bit of a different field than we have had over the last couple of years so it will be interesting to see how it’s run, whether people have different tactics or whether people are a bit nervous because they might have to lead which they haven’t had to do for a few years. So I think it will be a really interesting race and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Interview with Lynsey Sharp in Stockholm as she speaks to @stuartweir about tomorrow’s @BAUHAUSGALAN 800m and her coaching switch to David Harmer in Loughborough. @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/9iIkkw8op8

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 29, 2019

Non-Diamond League events include the women’s 1500m, where British record-holder Laura Muir returns to track action after her third place at the Westminster Mile on Sunday.

She will be joined by four fellow Britons – Jemma Reekie, Sarah McDonald, Amy Griffiths and Kerry McAngus.

A timetable and entry lists can be found here.

Gloucester have extended head coach Johan Ackermann's contract just days after their Premiership semi-final defeat by Saracens.

Ackermann has just completed his second season at Kingsholm, guiding the Cherry and Whites to third place in the table.

And they have moved quickly to tie the 48-year-old down on a "long-term basis" despite losing in the play-offs.

"We've made progress, but the job is far from complete," said the former South Africa lock.

Ackermann is now contracted to the club for the next three seasons.

"We are only a certain way along the journey and I'm confident that, if we all pull together, work hard and remain true to our beliefs, we can do great things for the club, its supporters and the city of Gloucester."

Ackermann, who spent a brief period at Northampton Saints during his playing career, previously coached the Lions Super Rugby side for four seasons.

He joined Gloucester in 2017 and led them to the European Challenge Cup final in his first season.

The exact length of his new deal with the club has not been disclosed.

Owen Farrell arrived at Saracens as a 14-year-old chip off the old rugby block. He had followed his father Andy - a superstar cross-code recruit - to a club starved of silverware.

It was the 2005-06 season and Sarries, big names and all, finished third from bottom in the Premiership.

Now, 14 years later, England co-captain Farrell is the embodiment of how Saracens have built unparalleled success on homegrown talent over the past decade.

The club that started May by collecting a third European Champions Cup trophy are looking to win their fifth Premiership title in nine years when they face Exeter at Twickenham on Saturday.

Farrell, Jamie George, Jackson Wray and George Kruis, all Saracens academy players in 2008, have played a part in each of those seven triumphs.

"It is a good group that has constantly egged each other on to get better," Farrell, 27, told BBC Sport.

"No one year is ever the same here and that is the brilliant thing about it; our culture is forever evolving because we are constantly growing."

'Bonkers' success

Will Fraser was among that glory-harvesting 'class of 08' until injury forced him into retirement in 2017 aged just 27. He says the quartet have achieved "remarkable" things together before any of them have turned 30.

"Looking back, it's absolutely bonkers," Fraser told BBC Sport. "But at the same time, it's completely unsurprising.

"It is bonkers because of where they have come from and unsurprising because all of those guys are absolutely everything good about the club.

"Faz [Farrell] - with his mentality, his drive, his loyalty - you will never meet a more honest, humble, hard working or disciplined man in your life. They are literally the four club values.

"He is everything that is 'the Saracens way' in the same way that Jamie George, George Kruis and Jackson Wray also are."

These are just four players defined by those three words - 'the Saracens way' - by which the club lives.

A total of 43 'homegrown' players have featured for Saracens in the Premiership since 2008.

Some were cast in a Saracens mould as a teenager, the way north London's own Maro Itoje was. Some were polished to a black and red sheen as young professionals such as Mako Vunipola who arrived from Bristol as an under-20 England international in 2011.

While not all established themselves as regulars, 11 have gone on to play for England and four - including Farrell, Kruis and George - have earned British and Irish Lions caps in that time.

From 'absolute rubbish' to 'phenomenal'

They are brought up through 'the Saracens way', which covers things such as 'culture' and 'care' to 'principles' and 'pillars' and has everything to do with one of the greatest transformations seen in English rugby union.

"Take away the rugby and essentially 'the Saracens way' is a programme which looks at how we have gone from being one of the lowest performing organisations in our industry to being one of the top performing in our industry, by focusing on people," added Fraser.

"Ten years ago, when we were quite frankly an absolute rubbish rugby club, we could afford to focus almost exclusively on the cultural aspect, and now 10 years on we are a phenomenal rugby club who are expected, externally and internally, to be fighting for silverware every year."

But to make it happen required upheaval. At Saracens, they know it as 'the revolution'.

For the youngsters of 2008 who have gone on to thrive, they first had to survive. More than a dozen players were culled before the 2009-10 season - the highest profile of which was former New Zealand international Chris Jack.

At the time it was dressed up as dealing with "economic realities" of the time, but for head coach Brendan Venter it was a necessary purge to usher in a new age.

'Black Monday'

Fraser remained, receiving the good news while playing on loan in South Africa, while Farrell also lived through it, although he only recalls being at school that particular day.

Just months later Alex Goode, an academy graduate and recently named European player of the season, was signed to a long-term contract - a deal likened to driving a "giant stake in the ground" to underpin the club's future.

Former Saracens centre Adam Powell, who rose through club ranks having first joined as a 13-year-old, now works as academy coach and says the all-conquering side of today can be traced back to the "Black Monday" in February 2009 of that squad cull.

"A strong culture breeds success," said Powell.

"We didn't have an identity back then, no. We weren't the worst example in the world, we got to Premiership and European semi-finals, but blew hot and cold.

"It was a weird experience but when you are young and don't have anything to worry about it's not actually that bad.

"We weren't doing too well so I was going to buy into whatever was coming next. For me personally it was good and for the club, as it has shown over the past 10 years, it was a big day for us.

"We are now reaping the benefits of an a very ingrained culture.

"The reason we are now consistent in terms of developing players and putting together performances is because we know fundamentally what we are about.

"The guys that are coaching in the academy, be it the 14s or 18s or whoever, they all have an idea of what a Saracens player should be like."

An "academy first" approach to recruitment means chances are given by Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall, but this is not a one-stop-shop player factory, as star names are still lured to London.

Wales winger Liam Williams is "a world-class" example, with England and British and Irish Lions back Elliot Daly moving to the capital from Wasps next season.

"It is down to Mark McCall at the top; he has a belief in bringing these lads through and wants to give them opportunities and the benefit of doubt," said Powell.

"Without him or someone at the top with that mentality, it can grind to a halt."

The future is now

The rise of some has been more seamless than others.

Nick Tompkins, a junior England international schooled by Sarries from a young age, marked his 100th first-team appearance for the club with a semi-final hat-trick against Gloucester on Saturday after replacing injured captain Brad Barritt.

A week earlier, scrum-half Tom Whiteley, a player released by Harlequins for being too small, contributed 19 points in a narrow 31-29 defeat for a largely second-string Saracens team against Worcester in their final regular league fixture.

This season, 22-year-old Whiteley has done it all, from filling in as waterboy when they won the pre-season Sevens tournament to making his first Premiership start and lifting the Premiership Shield.

"I knew coming to Saracens was my last chance, I had universities lined up and was thinking of playing Sunday league football. That was five years ago," Whiteley said.

"Before I got here, I never knew what Sarries were about.

"It is unbelievably welcoming. The academy is not treated as being separate - it is a family within a family.

"I've learned more out there on the training pitch than I have on any rugby field purely because I've been training with the best team in Europe for five years."

In a season in which 27 'homegrown' players have featured for Saracens' first team as they have gone the distance both domestically and in Europe, the club's trust in those that have passed through the academy is clear.

"We are all part of this," said Farrell.

"The only way you play well at the weekend is if you prepare well, and preparing well can be a lot down to the people who are not playing.

"All the lads know they are a big part of whether we win or not at the weekend. It makes us all feel as one rather than two separate teams - the academy are not just about the future, they are about the now."