14 SPORTS
Friday, 13 June, 2014
Tamim confidenT of reTurn To form DHAkA
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Agencies
AMIM Iqbal cannot help but end almost every sentence of his the same way. "I believe strongly that sooner or later I will be back to my best," is the gist of what he is saying. By his fourth such mention in ten minutes, you can see just how convinced he is of breaking free of the poor run that has dogged him since the start of this year. The Bangladesh opener has now played 13 innings in 2014, averaging 12.53 and has not made more than 31 in any of them.His last fifty came in the second ODI against New Zealand last October. He was just as poor in the World T20 at home, scoring just 83 runs from seven innings; a fruitless run which eventually led to his place in the line-up being questioned at least once. Five years ago when he went through 25 inningswithout scoring a fifty, there were very few people who doubted Tamim's ability. A comeback was not anticipated as he kept giving good starts with the bat, enough to keep everyone satisfied. In his current run, however, he has had just three scores of 30 and above. In what turned out to be his highest innings in 2014 so far, Tamim was looking in control in the second Test
against Sri Lanka when part-time legspinner Kithuruwan Vithanage snuck one through his bat and pad after continuously drawing him out for expansive drives. The two other 30s were made with a neck injury against Sri Lanka and against Nepal, where he threw his wicket away. Tamim got out of his biggest rut with a Test century against West Indies, which flowed right up to his best year, 2010, when he produced tons against England both home and away. The innings in Lord's and Manchester in particular stand out. Tamim does not talk about such highs now, but said he is doing exactly the same thing he did during his last long dry spellto punch above his weight. "I used to bat a lot back then [200809] and I am doing the same now. I mean, I am batting a lot," Tamim said. "If it was something that could be fixed off the field, I would have done it by now. But it has to be done inside the field. I am preparing myself in every way, and trying above my capability. I believe strongly that sooner or later I will be back to form." When asked if his place in the team being questioned riled him, Tamim was adamant that he would not let the criticism get the better of him. "I don't think I should answer this question," he said. "Those who are questioning my po-
sition, they can tell you whether questioning my position is right or wrong. People can say what they like, I don't get bothered. I have to accept it positively. I won't come out in the media and ask people why they are writing such and such." Tamim's first innings of the year was a mess. Sri Lanka strangled him for 40 minutes before he hooked Shaminda Eranga down at fine leg for just 6. In the second innings, he couldn't resist having a swipe at Rangana Herath late in the third day, and was caught after toeing the ball. He would be caught six more times afterwards, either slogging (twice), driving straight to mid-off (twice) or giving catches to deep point and slip. He had also been bowled four times- on one occasion even losing his off-stump to littleknown Tanwir Afzal of Hong Kong while trying to chop down to third-man- and was trapped lbw once. Tamim insisted that he had not made any big technical changes to his batting, hinting that his current slump had perhaps more to do with the fact that batsmen get lesser time to recover in T20s as opposed to ODIs. "I have not made any technical batting changes, and I have performed well with it. It is also not right to change everything just because I haven't scored in four to six games.
FIELDS RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SportS DESk Jodie Fields, the Australia captain, has announced her retirement from international cricket at the age of 29. Fields, who led her country to the 2013 Women's World Cup and the 2012 Women's World T20 titles, will finish her career having captained Australia in 58 international matches - equal second on the all-time list
with Karen Rolton, behind Belinda Clark on 113. Fields succeeded Rolton as captain in 2009 and in her first Test match in charge, she scored her maiden Test hundred, 139 against England. She will leave the game with 1162 runs at 28.34 and 76 wicketkeeping dismissals from her 67 one-day internationals, as well as 249 runs at 22.63 and 40 dismissals from her 37 T20 internationals.
KALLIS SIGNS UP WITH SYDNEY THUNDER SyDNEy Agencies
However, her career was interrupted by injury when she tore her hamstring off the bone while batting a domestic match in 2010. After a lengthy recovery period her hopes of returning for the World T20 in the West Indies that year were thwarted by another unfortunate injury, this time when she slipped on wet concrete, and she was unable to take part in Australia's successful campaign. "It has been a tremendous honour and privilege to represent my country," Fields said. "I feel that this is the right time for me to retire from international cricket. I've been really lucky and proud to be able to represent Australia for as long as I have and to have been a part of some amazing and successful teams. "There is nothing I loved more than pulling on my Australian jersey and running onto the field with my teammates. The friendships and memories will stay with me forever. No doubt the highlights of my international career were captaining the side to two World Cup wins within the space of six months and I particularly enjoyed the challenges of Test cricket. "Cricket has changed a lot since I first played for Australia. The women's game is bigger and better than it has ever been and I hope that more and more girls continue to take up the game. Fields made her international debut in February 2006, having first played for Queensland in the WNCL in November 2001, at the age of 17. She intends to play on for Queensland despite stepping down from international duties. "I'd like to congratulate Jodie on a successful international career and thank her for her immense contribution to women's cricket at all levels of the game," the Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said. "Jodie has been a passionate and committed member of the Southern Stars for eight years, and as a dual World Cup winning captain, she sits in elite company in the history of Australian cricket. "Two of my highlights as CA chairman have been watching Jodie lead team to the 2013 Women's World Cup in India and 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. Jodie's on-field achievements are a testament to her exemplary work ethic off the field and the Southern Stars' sustained success over the years, which have inspired many talented young females across the country to watch and play cricket."
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Jacques Kallis has signed up with Sydney Thunder for the next two seasons of Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition, the Big Bash League. Kallis, who has been part of the two IPL titleswinning Kolkata Knight Riders side, said he was looking forward to playing in Australia. "I will be playing against a few guys who I have played against most of my career, guys like Huss [Michael Hussey], now I am looking forward to play with these guys," Kallis said. Kallis, who retired from Tests in December last year, has scored 3673 runs and taken 95 wickets in 143 T20 matches. He will join England's Eoin Morgan and Chris Woakes, and Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan and Ajantha Mendis in the Thunder team, captained by Michael Clarke. "Signing a player of Jacques' quality and experience is phenomenal news for Thunder fans," Nick Cummins, the Sydney Thunder general manager, said. "He is one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game and apart from his experience and leadership, he is still a brilliant allrounder who will give the side a quality top-order batsman and versatile bowling option. "Just having a player of his stature around the group will be great for our young players and he will bring big match temperament and a winning attitude to our squad."
DHONI ONLY CRICKETER ON FORBES' HIGH-EARNERS' LIST NEW DELHI Agencies
MS Dhoni, the India captain, is the only cricketer on the list of 100 highest-paid athletes in the world. He is also, obvi-
ously, the only Indian on the list. At 22, he has fallen six places from the list released in 2013, although it is still better than his 31st rank in 2012. He still ended up making more money than the likes of Wayne Rooney, Usain Bolt and basketball player Dwayne Wade. Dhoni's total earnings, according to the magazine, have come down from US$31.5 million in 2013 to $30 million. The most striking part of Dhoni's presence in this list is the money he has made through endorsements. According to Forbes, $26 million of his earnings have come through endorsements. Only seven athletes have made more endorsement money in the period of July 2013 to May 2014. Roger Federer - with $52 million made through endorsements and only $4.5 million through salary and winnings - and Bolt - with $23 million in endorsements and $300,000 in winnings - lead those with a stark endorsement-to-earnings ratio. Stunningly, boxer Floyd Mayweather earned the most in the qualifying period $105 million - without any endorsements. He has risen from No. 14 to No. 1 this year. Footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi follow Mayweather at the top, sandwiching basketball player LeBron James at No. 3. Tiger Woods has gone down from No. 1 to 6, and Federer from 2 to 7.