Sport 24 Ashburton Guardian
Friday, November 11, 2016
www.guardianonline.co.nz
In brief Smith ‘will be a great’ Former Australian cricket captain Bill Lawry has backed incumbent Steve Smith and rates David Warner as one of the best opening batsmen of his lifetime. Like Warner, Lawry was a successful and prolific left-handed test opener, but stylistically they’re polar opposites. A dour and obdurate accumulator, Lawry averaged 47.15 over 67 tests, while rapid scoring strokeplayer Warner averages 48.98 after 55 tests. “Smith will be a great captain, he’s a super young player and he’ll do well,” Lawry said. - AAP
Mennie ‘a nightmare’ Callum Ferguson has labelled paceman Joe Mennie a nightmare to face in the nets and he’s hoping his South Australian team-mate can make South Africa’s batsmen sweat in the second test starting tomorrow. The 27-year-old is due to make his test debut for Australia after Peter Siddle was ruled out with a back injury, and Ferguson has been given a working over by Mennie at Redbacks training over the years. “He’s a guy that finds movement on glass – the South Australian batsmen have had nightmares about him for years.” - AAP Tech’s Harry Jones had some joy against Allenton, taking two wickets, but it wasn’t enough to take the defending champions to victory. PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 051116-TM-0111
■ CRICKET
Tech chasing first win By James Ford
defending shield champions Tech. Tech won the toss and elected to field on a tricky surface, but Allenton were in a defiant mood. Allenton posted 153 while Tech could only muster a paltry 77 all out. Meanwhile, Lauriston held on to secure an opening day victory over Methven in last weekend’s opposite fixture.
After losing the toss, Lauriston were sent into bat in challenging conditions but openers Scott Morgan (59) and Bevan Ravenscroft’s astute batting display saw the home side through to 60 without loss at drinks. Alex Hooper also managed the surface well to record 30 not out as Lauriston eventually posted 164 for 8 from their allotted overs.
Cook stepping down? Alastair Cook has indicated the current test series against India could be his last as England captain. But the 31-year-old left-hander said that whatever his future as skipper, he would like to continue his test career purely as an opening batsman. “Deep down I don’t know how much longer I am going to carry on,” he said. “It could be two months, it could be a year.” - PA
Methven put in a determined performance with the bat as Elliot Nicholson fired 42, but an economical bowling performance and a well-drilled fielding effort saw Lauriston through as Methven recorded 149 for 7 after 45 overs. Both fixtures will begin at 12.30pm tomorrow afternoon, as Tech entertain Lauriston and Colstream host Allenton.
Warne may coach T20
Rabada a natural, says Proteas great Smith
Marsh crucial for Aussies
James.F@TheGuardian.co.nz
The Pritchard Shield will return for round two tomorrow as Tech play host to Lauriston while Coldstream begin their 2016 campaign against T20 champions Allenton and Methven have the bye. After taking T20 honours, Allenton kicked off their 45over season with a victory over
Thrust into the test cricket cauldron at a young age, former South African captain Graeme Smith admires the way new Proteas pace sensation Kagiso Rabada has handled the same challenge. Rabada stepped up magnificently when pace spearhead Dale Steyn was injured during this week’s test win over Australia in Perth. He took 5-92 off 31 overs in the second innings and seven wickets for the game to earn the man-of-the-match award. It was a fourth five wicket haul in just nine tests for the 21-year-old test speedster. He played his first senior international at 19 and like Smith has been given plenty of responsibility at a young age. Smith, who made his test debut at 21 and started his captaincy tenure in his ninth match just over a year later, described Rabada’s performance in Perth as incredible. “You don’t ever want to put that pressure on a young man but I got given the captaincy at 22 so I understand about being thrust
into the cauldron and the pressure environment,” Smith said. “He’s a black man, he’s an icon already in South African cricket. “He’s a hero to so many from all walks of life in South Africa. “Cricket South Africa have got him all on the billboards and he’s won all the awards and you keep thinking ‘when is it going to be too much for him at this young age?’ “But I think his greatest thing is he just takes it in his stride. “His demeanour, his attitude towards life and cricket I think is his greatest asset. “He just looks so natural out there.” Smith was inducted as a Bradman Honouree at The Bradman Foundation’s Gala Dinner at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday night. “Australian cricket has played a big role in my career,” Smith said. “That 05-06 tour if I look back was one of the toughest experiences of my career. “I really left that tour knowing that I needed to develop and needed to grow as a person and as a cricketer.” - AAP
Spin legend Shane Warne says that he’s still in the running to coach the Australian Twenty20 side in February next year. National team coach Darren Lehmann will be in India preparing for a test series when Australia host Sri Lanka for a threematch T20 tournament. Warne denied reports he had been ruled out of the caretaker role because he hasn’t completed a coaching pathway programme. - AAP
Josh Hazlewood has thrown his support behind allrounder Mitch Marsh, saying he is crucial to Australia’s test attack. Marsh is under immense pressure to keep his spot in the XI because of a lean batting trot, with Shane Warne saying yesterday he should be dropped for the second test in Hobart. Hazlewood says Marsh picks up key wickets and his valuable overs allow the side’s pacemen to bowl shorter, sharper spells. - AAP
McGregor ‘immortal’
Kagiso Rabada
It was impossible for Conor McGregor to stand on the historic Madison Square Garden court without taking at least one shot with a basketball. Like everything he touches these days, McGregor just can’t miss and he sunk the shot on his first try as the raucous crowd cheered in approval. After making the basket, McGregor pointed his finger in the air and with a giant grin plastered on his face he said: “I can do it all. Saturday night, I become immortal.” - NZME