Sport 16
Ashburton Guardian
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
www.guardianonline.co.nz
In brief
■ CRICKET
Guptill to miss second ODI New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill will miss the second one-day cricket international of the Chappell-Hadlee series in Napier, after feeling tightness in his hamstring during the opening match in Auckland on Monday. Coach Mike Hesson said it was a minor strain but, as a precaution, Guptill won’t be considered for selection. “Martin felt tightness in his left hamstring while fielding yesterday and, after being monitored over the last 24 hours, it’s become apparent he won’t be ready for Napier. “He’ll remain with the team and we’ll continue to monitor him ahead of the third ODI in Hamilton.” Guptill’s innings of 61 from 73 balls proved a key building block in New Zealand’s opening six-run win against Australia. He has been pivotal to New Zealand’s chances in Chappell-Hadlee contests since last summer, aver-
aging 62 from seven innings with a strike rate of 101 and never scoring less than 31. The injury is not understood to be an aggravation of the strain he suffered to the same hamstring during the third one-day international against Bangladesh on New Year’s Eve. Northern Districts batsman Dean Brownlie has been recalled and joined the team yesterday afternoon. He has scored 203 runs from five innings at an average of 50.75 and strike rate of 70 for Northern Districts in the Ford Trophy. Brownlie looks set to open the batting with Tom Latham, unless the New Zealanders opt for a juryrig by pushing an all-rounder like Jimmy Neesham or Colin Munro up the order and bringing big-hitting Colin de Grandhomme into the XI. Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Neil Broom are expected to remain at Nos 3, 4 and 5. - NZME
New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson has reflected on the difficulties defending Eden Park’s small dimensions, but felt his bowlers’ pain was a fair compromise for beating the world’s No.1 one-day international side. Marcus Stoinis’ 146 not out from 117 balls brought Australia within seven runs of victory chasing 287 in the opening match after they slumped to 67 for six in the 19th over. Hesson was asked whether there were concerns about the strength of his side’s bowling line-up in the wake of Stoinis’ antics. “We’ve just beaten the No.1 side in the world, so I think we’re
going okay,” Hesson quipped. “Eden Park is a difficult ground to defend. “If you want 100 runs off 10 overs anywhere in the world, it’s probably Eden Park. We certainly got hit to areas we didn’t want to, but [second match venue] McLean Park is different again, so it comes down to our ability to adapt. “It’s difficult to have a perfect performance against the No.1 side in the world, so to get a result is pleasing. “We had to fight a few times, especially with the bat, to get a score which took experience, craft and skill at the end. “It wasn’t a complete performance, but it was a workable one.”
A thumb injury will rule White Ferns allrounder Sophie Devine out of the coming home and away cricket series against Australia. The bighitting Devine suffered the injury while playing for Adelaide Strikers in the women’s Big Bash League. She did not require surgery and it had been hoped she would play against the world champions but she will now have her hand in a splint for four to six weeks to allow the joint to recover. - NZME
Windies will be back New West Indies coach Stuart Law says his young side is committed to becoming a test cricket force despite the attraction of lucrative T20 contracts. “These young guys, they’re desperate. They want to play test cricket first,” Law said yesterday. “Obviously, the T20 dollar will attract their attention at time-to-time. But if they have a pretty decent international career, well that T20 dollar mark for them goes up extensively.” - AAP
Confidence booster Martin Guptill’s run-scoring efforts will be missed at Napier.
Hesson happy with Black Caps’ bowling attack By Andrew Alderson
Devine out of series
Mike Hesson Before the first ODI, Stoinis averaged 25.45 with one century and a strike rate of 70 in 38 List A
matches. That Clark Kent record then morphed. “I don’t think anyone expected him to play like Superman,” Hesson said. “He hadn’t had any significant innings of international cricket, and he didn’t have a great Big Bash. “We knew what he was capable of from the IPL [Indian Premier League] and the BBL, but perhaps not to that degree. “He controlled the innings and had it there for the taking at one point. “At a ground like that when you’ve got power you can hit anywhere. “My heart rate went up towards the end, but you’re never ahead of the game at Eden Park.” - NZME
In the wake of the Australian Marcus Stoinis’ batting blitz, it’s easy to forget two recent selection elements helped orchestrate New Zealand’s opening six-run victory in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. Tom Latham delivered a proactive display as wicketkeeper and Neil Broom’s resurgence continued as a middle order batsman. When Australia slumped to 67 for six in the 19th over, Latham had featured in the previous four dismissals. Those will have afforded him confidence in his first ODI as gloveman since 2013. - NZME
Underarm coincidence New Zealand cricket fans finally have reason to feel good about a transTasman ODI ending with an underarm. Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson came up with the crucial dismissal that ended Monday’s thriller in Auckland, running out Josh Hazlewood at the non-striker’s end. Notably it was the same margin that Australia defeated New Zealand by at the MCG in 1981, when Greg Chappell instructed brother Trevor to underarm the final ball of the ODI. - AAP
Selection ‘hunches’
Australian debutante learns from NZ icon By roB ForsAith One of New Zealand’s favourite sons has helped fast-track the development of Australia’s latest cricket debutant Sam Heazlett. Heazlett scored four on ODI debut at Eden Park on Monday. The 21-year-old, who was
capped at international level prior to playing a one- day game for home state Queensland, is expected to be dropped if Matthew Wade passes a fitness test prior to Thursday’s clash in Napier. The talented batsman will have the advice of coach Darren Lehmann on his mind, but also
that of New Zealand icon Brendon McCullum. Heat skipper McCullum, who ended a productive international career last year, was a mentor for Heazlett during the Big Bash. “Playing under him at the Heat was amazing,” Heazlett said. “He instilled that confidence in
you, to back your abilities and go out there and take risks because you’re good enough. “He said the same message to the whole team and I can take that into the next few series that I play, because it worked well and I think it’s a good way to go about cricket.” - NZME
Australian cricket is set for a troubled future if selectors continue to ignore the domestic competitions, veteran Cameron White says. The Sheffield Shield season resumes today after a two-month break which allowed players to compete in the Big Bash League. White, who will stand in as Victorian captain in Matthew Wade’s absence, believes national selectors are increasingly picking players based on a “hunch” rather than on past form. - AAP
Umpire under fire
RESULTS ■ Golf Ashburton Golf Club January 28 and 31 Women’s Section - LGU and 1st Round Tucker Trophy Silver – Wendy Parr - 69, Sally Lemon – 72 on countback from Vicki Moore, Bronze I – Alison Grant – 64, Bronze II – Dee Simmons – 65, Bronze III – Janice
Dunlop - 63 Nearest the Pins: No 4 Gabites: Kath Read, Somerset Grocer 2nd shot – Judy McKeown, No 8 House of Travel: Dee Simmons, No 12 Lynn’s small Salon: Wendy Parr, No 14 Todds of Ashburton: Alison Grant Twos – No 8 – Dee Simmons, No 12 - Daphne Hinton, Wendy Parr, No 14 – Alison Grant, Nicky Gill, Shirley Elliott, Kathryn Green January 26 9 Holes – Opening Day Daphne Smallbone Trophy - Greensome – Wendy Smith and Mary Buckland - 31.
DRAWS ■ Golf Tinwald Golf Club February 7 Women’s Division - LGU 1st Burrows Cup, Maree Moore trophy (M P) No 1 9.00 D. Lowe J. van der Heide M. Bennett 9.05 J. Smith S. Newman P. Smith J. Peacock
No 4 9.00 D. Boon B. Cochrane S. Gutsell 9.05 M. Moore K. Young D. Wellman V. Cartney No 10 9.00 T. Clarke P. Bell D. Bell 9.05 J. Undy J. Bruhns K. McAuliffe 9.10 H. Argyle M. Kennedy C. Linney No 13 9.00 I. Divers V. Prendergast M. Smith 9.05 C. Shanks B. Jackson L. Bird 9 holes Combined Stableford No 10 9.20 Starters C. Linney, I. Divers, Cards D. Lowe, T. Clarke Tea duty J. Smith, Draw Steward J. Bruhns.
England will complain about umpire Chettithody Shamshuddin to the match referee after the Indian official dismissed Joe Root for lbw off an inside edge in the series-levelling Twenty20 defeat in Nagpur. Shamshuddin was not originally listed to stand in the match, as per the ICC’s schedule, but found himself in the eye of the storm when he gave an incredulous Root out with just eight runs needed from the final over. - PA