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Saturday, March 10, 2018
In brief
■ CRICKET
All eyes on master blaster As the cricketing nation holds its collective breath, Ross Taylor strode onto Hagley Oval to test his fitness for the deciding one-day international between New Zealand and England. Cameras, smartphones and even plain old sets of eyes were focused on him as he went through a series of drills with New Zealand team physiotherapist Tommy Simsek. Taylor’s left thigh looked to be heavily strapped. He completed a lap of the park before embarking on shuttle runs. He then expanded his repertoire into darting sideways and – in a daring manoeuvre – backwards as though he was at the non-striker’s end and the bowler was about to get a touch on a straight drive. All exercises were completed with relative ease, and he appeared comfortable throughout. The upshot is that a decision is expected to be left until to this morning as to his involvement in the final match. Taylor looked a tad sheepish with the mounting attention but that was a thimbleful compared to what he faced in his matchwinning 181 not out in the fourth ODI at Dunedin. The session lasted about 15 minutes. Coach Mike Hesson eventually emerged to join the discussion between player and physio. The three strolled off together into the pavilion.
Clearing the air Interim Wellington Phoenix boss Chris Greenacre admits his first task as manager is to give his beleaguered players, moored to the bottom of the A-League ladder, a much-needed confidence boost. Ex-Nix coach Darije Kalezic was relieved of his duties on Thursday. Greenacre said he felt more prepared for the role after his two previous stints, but admitted the past week had taken a toll on the players and staff. - NZME
“We’ve also selected a very strong group of fringe players around our current test group and this is a fantastic opportunity for them to challenge themselves against a very good international side.” Stalwart Ross Taylor has been named in the red-ball side despite aggravating a thigh issue in Wednesday’s fourth-ODI win over England. There is some overlap between the two sides, with Tom Blundell, Scott Kuggeleijn, Seth Rance, Ish Sodhi and George Worker to play on all four days. - NZME Colin Munro will be coloured-uniform only from now on. The Black Caps’ first of two tests against England will follow the week after. “There’s a number of our frontline guys in there and this is a great opportunity for them to get ready for what is a huge test series,” selector Gavin Larsen said.
Red-ball squad (March 14-15): Martin Guptill (c), Logan van Beek, Tom Blundell, Doug Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Scott Kuggeleijn, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, George Worker. Black Caps Pink-Ball Squad (March 1617): Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Henry Nicholls, Seth Rance, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, George Worker.
Bates’ century blitzes West Indies’ total A century to stalwart Suzie Bates guided the White Ferns to an eight-wicket second-ODI thumping of the West Indies on Wednesday. Set a straightforward target of 195 for victory, the Kiwis blitzed
their opponents in Lincoln, reaching 175-0 before the 30over mark. Sophie Devine fell for an impressive 80, caught off an Afy Fletcher delivery, but opening partner Bates cruised to her ton,
Cricket Australia have joined the New Zealand sports broadcasting market after Sky TV opted out of pursuing the rights to the South Africa test series. Cricket Network, a branch of the cricket.com.au website, has launched a digital subscription for New Zealand viewers for the remaining three tests for $25. Sky reportedly did not enter a bid for the four-test series, which opened the door for Cricket Network to secure the rights in New Zealand. - AAP
New Zealand Rugby general manger Neil Sorensen will resign from his position at the end of the month. The 56-year-old Sorensen, who serves as the organisation’s head of rugby, has worked at NZR for 17 years and said it was the right time to move on. “I’m excited about what might be around the corner – I love building, developing and leading teams but for now, I’m looking forward to supporting my team-mates over the next few weeks before enjoying Easter as a fan,” Sorensen said. - NZME
Munro opts out of test consideration
day warm-up matches against England in Hamilton. Taking place back to back, Martin Guptill will captain a redball side on March 14 and 15 before Tom Latham takes the reins for a pink-ball side on March 16 and 17.
Aussies trump Sky
Sorensen quits NZR
Right – Ross Taylor is a vital part of the Black Caps’ batting line-up and his fitness will be confirmed this morning.
Big-hitting Black Cap Colin Munro will no longer seek selection for test or four-day Plunket Shield cricket. The 30-year-old, one of the finest Twenty20 batsmen in the world, has played just the single test for New Zealand, against South Africa in early 2013. But he has played 39 ODIs and 45 T20 internationals. Munro said yesterday that he’d focus on white-ball cricket from now on, both with the Black Caps and the Auckland Aces. “I’m still 100 per cent committed to playing for the Black Caps and Auckland Aces in the shorter formats and have some big goals I’d like to achieve,” Munro said. “Obviously with the World Cup next year, I’d love to give myself the best chance of making that squad and that’s where my main focus is.” As such, the Durban-born Munro will sit out the New Zealand XI’s upcoming pair of two-
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scoring 101. It was the 30-yearold Bates’ ninth ODI century in 109 matches. The Ferns wrapped up the game in the 31st over. Earlier, Kiwi spinner Leigh Kasperek’s four-wicket haul helped
New Zealand bowl out the West Indies for just 194 in the 49th over. Medium pacer Lea Tahuhu finished with figures of 3-42. New Zealand are now 2-0 up in the five-ODI series. - NZME
Milan shot down Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey have given Arsenal the upper hand in their Europa League last-16 tie with AC Milan as the Gunners won 2-0 at San Siro. Mesut Ozil set up both strikes, with Armenian forward Mkhitaryan tucking away the German’s pass in the 15th minute of yesterday’s first-leg encounter in Milan, and Ramsey doubling the lead in stoppage time. - PA
New name for cup New Zealand soccer’s domestic cup competition for women has a new name – the Kate Sheppard Cup. The competition, which dates back to 1994, was previously known as the Women’s Knockout Cup. NZ Football chief executive Andy Martin says it’s fitting to have the trophy carry the name of someone who was a pioneer for New Zealand women. - NZME
Glory aiming high Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe has put the pressure on the clubs above him, saying his side is primed to make a late-season charge up the table. Glory sit four points adrift of the sixth-placed Wanderers with just five games remaining. But playing in their favour is that four of those are at home. Glory have the chance to start their late charge with victory over strugglers Central Coast at nib Stadium tonight. The Wanderers take on last-placed Wellington this weekend, before facing tough away games against Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory. - AAP