y
A
18
e niv rsar n
Years
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2011
sp orts
Composed Cowan raps ICC over review system MELBOURNE: Ed Cowan spent hours patiently seeing off India’s attack as he crafted a half-century on debut but was quickly on the front foot after stumps, when he told cricket’s governing body to get its house in order over the decision review system (DRS). The outspoken 29-year-old opener said the lack of replay technology cost he and Mike Hussey their wickets, and the team momentum, as Australia were confined to 277-6 by the end of the opening day of the first test at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground. “You saw the replays, you saw my reaction, you join the dots I guess,” he told reporters after his bid for a century on debut ended on 68 with a caught behind decision off Ravichandran Ashwin. “With the DRS... as someone who loves their cricket and has watched a lot of cricket, I can’t understand why it can’t be handed down by the ICC (International Cricket Council) to be uniform at all games.” “And that’s me speaking as an out-
sider, not as someone who has been in the bubble for a long time.” India’s cricket board (BCCI) vetoed the use of the technology, leaving Cowan and Hussey with no recourse and fuming as they trudged from the ground. Although disappointed, Cowan was also philosophical, saying he thought the ledger of umpiring decisions would level for both teams by the end of the four-test series. He had also delighted in his 113-run stand with former captain Ricky Ponting that helped Australia
recover after they were wobbling on 46-2 in overcast conditions after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Cowan replaced Phillip Hughes, who was dropped following repeated failures in the test series against New Zealand. He has been in career-best form in domestic competition since transferring to the island state of Tasmania after being starved for opportunities with New South Wales. Cowan’s tour diary of a strong season was turned into a book and the
opener now has enough fodder for another chapter after top-scoring at the MCG in front of a crowd of 70,000, which included a group of friends on a bucks’ party in the stands. “People (in the media) were sort of eulogising me being a journeyman... to me (being selected) felt like the start of a career, not as though something that I’ve earned and this is the end,” he added. “Hopefully I can keep scoring runs to (keep ensuring) my selection.” — Reuters
Australia fight back as review controversy rages Siddle, Haddin frustrate India
DURBAN: Sri Lanka’s batsman Mahela Jayawardene plays a stroke yesterday during the first day of the second cricket Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban. — AFP
Samaraweera, Chandimal rescue S Lanka, Mahela hits landmark DURBAN: Thilan Samaraweera and new cap Dinesh Chandimal shared a century partnership as Sri Lanka made a strong recovery on the first day of the second Test match at Kingsmead yesterday. Sri Lanka finished the day on 289 for seven, with Samaraweera (86 not out) and Chandimal (58) adding 111 for the sixth wicket after Marchant de Lange, South Africa’s new fast bowler, had ripped out three of Sri Lanka’s leading batsmen. De Lange took another wicket in the last over of the day when he had Thisara Perera caught at short leg to finish with four for 60 in his first day in Test cricket. De Lange, 21, who received a late callup after Vernon Philander was ruled out by a knee injury, had Sri Lanka in trouble at 162 for five on a good batting pitch after dismissing Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews. But De Lange’s efforts on a hot, humid day were stymied by Samaraweera and Chandimal. Samaraweera made a bright start but scored only 23 runs between lunch and tea as he settled into an anchor role. He made his 86 runs off 218 balls with ten fours. Samaraweera was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Imran Tahir when he was on 50 but gained a reprieve when Tahir was no-balled. He also survived a stumping chance to Mark Boucher off Tahir when he had 63. Chandimal, 22, justified the decision of the tour selectors to pick him as wicketkeeper ahead of Kaushal Silva because of his superior batting skills. Strong on the cut, he was not afraid to go for his shots in an 86-ball innings which included seven fours. Chandimal was also handed a reprieve when De
Lange failed to pull down a leaping catch at mid-on off Tahir when he had 25. But the second new ball was Chandimal’s undoing as he flashed wildly at a short, lifting delivery from Morne Morkel to be caught behind by Boucher. Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene became the ninth batsman and first Sri Lankan to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket when he opened his scoring with a single. The 34-year-old made 31 before he was bowled by Morkel. The tall, strongly-built De Lange had opening batsman Paranavitana caught behind by Boucher for 12 with his 12th ball in Test cricket. He followed up two balls into his next over when Sangakkara was caught behind for nought. In mid-afternoon De Lange ended a promising fifth-wicket stand of 45 between Samaraweera and Mathews when he held a sharp, right-handed return catch to dismiss Mathews for 30. Before Philander’s injury, De Lange was due to be released to play for the Titans franchise in a domestic first-class match. De Lange was brought into the attack after six overs and immediately impressed with his ability to generate pace and lift. He drew Paranavitana into a drive against a full length delivery after sending down several short balls, then forced Sangakkara into a hurried jab against a fast ball just outside his off stump. Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan backed up his decision to bat first on an even-paced pitch with some aggressive strokes at the start of the innings but was forced to become more circumspect after losing his first two partners. He made 47 off 69 balls with six fours before hitting a full toss from Tahir to Morkel at fine leg. — AFP
SCOREBOARD DURBAN: Scoreboard at stumps on the first day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Kingsmead yesterday’s: Sri Lanka 1st Innings Tharanga Paranavitana c Boucher b De Lange 12 Tillakaratne Dilshan c Morkel b Tahir 47 Kumar Sangakkara c Boucher b De Lange 0 Mahela Jayawardene b Morkel 31 Thilan Samaraweera not out 86 Angelo Mathews c & b De Lange 30 Dinesh Chandimal c Boucher b Morkel 58 Thisara Perera c Amla b De Lange 12 Extras: (8lb, 5nb) 13 TOTAL: (for 7 wickets) 289 Overs: 89.3. Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-47, 3-84, 4-117, 5-162, 6-273, 7-289. Still to bat: Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando. Bowling: Dale Steyn 19-3-55-0, Morne Morkel 17-2-55-2 (3nb), Marchant de Lange 16.3-2-60-4, Imran Tahir 28-3-87-1 (2nb), Jacques Kallis 9-1-24-0. South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Rudolph, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, A.B. de Villiers, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Marchant de Lange.
Bangladesh to meet Pakistan in Cup opener DHAKA: Bangladesh will meet Pakistan in the opening match of the four-nation Asia Cup cricket tournament starting in Dhaka in March, an official said yesterday. The Sher-e-Bangla National stadium will host all the matches, including the inaugural tie on March 12 and the final on March 22, Asian Cricket Council chief executive Syed Ashraful Huq said. “All teams including India and Pakistan have confirmed their participation,” he told AFP. India won the last edi-
tion of the tournament in Dambulla in Sri Lanka in June 2010. Asia Cup schedule: March 12: Bangladesh v Pakistan March 13: India v Sri Lanka March 15: Pakistan v Sri Lanka March 16: India v Bangladesh March 18: India v Pakistan March 20: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh March 22: Final March 23: Reserve day. — AFP
MELBOURNE: Debutant Ed Cowan said the lack of a decision review system cost Australia two wickets and precious momentum after the hosts ended a controversial opening day of the first test against India on 277 for six a yesterday. The opening batsman ground out a half century before he was given out caught behind off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shortly after Mike Hussey had departed angrily when he was dismissed in a similar manner for a first-ball duck off a fiery Zaheer Khan. Australia recovered through an unbeaten 63-run stand by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and paceman Peter Siddle to give the hosts a slight edge at the close, but the outspoken 29-year-old Cowan said the chance to drive home that advantage was stolen. “ Today, momentum went against us because of it. Two of the top six (wickets)... that’s the game,” he told reporters after scoring a 68 at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground. “Of course, I was disappointed for (Hussey). It was a massive moment in the game. We thought we were half an hour away from really nailing them, driving them into the dust. “ We get through Zaheer Khan’s spell unscathed and it’s a totally different complexion on the day’s play.” India’s cricket board (BCCI) vetoed the use of the review system before the series, leaving both players fuming that they had no recourse, but the tourists were also frustrated when numerous appeals were turned down in the final session. Zaheer dismissed Hussey a ball after bowling captain Michael Clarke for 31, before Ashwin made it three wickets for the addition of nine runs to leave Australia reeling on 2146. The number six Hussey ’s dismissal by umpire Marais Erasmus left him furious and television replays appeared to show the ball missing his glove and glancing his sleeve on the way through to India skipper MS Dhoni. Amid the drama, Haddin (21) and Siddle (34) rode their luck to stumps but the Australian wicketkeeper appeared particularly fortunate when a strong lbw appeal was turned down despite it appearing plum in front on the replay. Resuming on 170-3 after the tea interval, Clarke and Cowan added a brisk 45 for the fourth wicket, before Zaheer, who had struggled for rhythm in his first test after a fourmonth injury layoff, found his line in devastating fashion. The 33-year-old beat Clarke with a sizzling rising delivery that faded away wide from off-stump, then had him chop onto his wicket with the next ball that cut back in. Following Hussey’s dismissal, Haddin flicked a single off his pads to deny Zaheer a hat-trick and briefly quell the Indian fans’ raucous cheers. Cowan displayed impressive composure as he posted his half-century and built a 113-run stand with former captain Ricky Ponting after lunch. The pair pushed Australia to 159 before tea to steady the ship after the hosts had wobbled to lunch on 68-2. Desperate to score his first century in nearly two years, Ponting was out for 62, poking at an Umesh Yadav delivery
that bounced savagely and glanced the bat before giving VVS Laxman a simple catch in the slips. Ponting’s wicket was Yadav’s third and the rangy 24-year-old had the day’s best bowling figures of 3-96 in just his third test, though Ishant Sharma was unlucky to miss out on a wicket after a tight afternoon spell. Yadav earlier had Shaun Marsh out for a
MELBOURNE: Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni (L) appeals successfully for a caught behind decision from Australian batsman Ed Cowan (R) on the first day of the first Test match between Australian and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP
SCOREBOARD MELBOURNE: Scorecard at the close of the opening day of the first Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday: Australia 1st innings E. Cowan c Dhoni b Ashwin D. Warner c Dhoni b Yadav S. Marsh c Kohli b Yadav R. Ponting c Laxman b Yadav M. Clarke b Zaheer Khan M. Hussey c Dhoni b Zaheer Khan B. Haddin not out P. Siddle not out Extras (lb21 w2 nb1) Total (for 6 wickets; 89 overs)
Riaz, Akmal return for Pakistan vs England ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket selectors yesterday recalled fast bowler Wahab Riaz and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal for next month’s three-test series against England. Former captain Shoaib Malik was dropped from the 16-man squad after he failed to impress in the last three one -day series against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. He scored only 35 runs and took five wickets in his last eight ODIs. Riaz, the left arm paceman, last played against the West Indies earlier this year. Akmal also did not feature in the test series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh due to poor form, but returns to face the topranked test team. Pakistan has performed well despite the loss of three key players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who were given prison sentences for their part in a spot-fixing scandal. Under the captaincy of Misbahul-Haq, Pakistan has won three test series and drew 1-1 against the West Indies since reaching the semifinals of the World Cup this year. While it defeated Sri Lanka 1-0 in the United
duck when the number three spooned a simple catch to Virat Kohli at gully, before ending Twenty20 specialist David Warner’s innings after a quickfire 37 ended with a miscued hook caught behind by Dhoni. Yadav declined to buy into the review system debate. “If it’s a bad decision or a good decision, it’s part of the game,” he said, with an awkward smile. — Reuters
Arab Emirates, the other two wins came against lowly ranked teams Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Chief selector Mohammad Ilyas said that the series against England will be tough, but hoped Pakistan would keep its winning momentum going. “It’s a very tough competition,” he said. “But we will give you good surprise.” Pakistan has been forced to play its home series mainly in the United Arab Emirates since gunmen attacked a Sri Lanka team bus at Lahore in 2009, killing six police officials and a van driver. Dubai will host the first and third tests starting on Jan. 17 and Feb. 3, respectively, while Abu Dhabi will host the second starting on Jan. 25.Ilyas said the Pakistan team for the five-match one-day series and three Twenty20 matches against England will be named after the second test. Test squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal, Azhar Ali, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan (subject to fitness). — AP
68 37 0 62 31 0 21 34 24 277
Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Warner), 2-46 (Marsh), 3-159 (Ponting), 4-205 (Clarke), 5-205 (Hussey), 6-214 (Cowan) Bowling: Zaheer Khan 23-5-49-2 (1w, 1nb), Sharma 20-6-40-0, Yadav 20-4-96-3 (1w), Ashwin 26-2-71-1. India: Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (capt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.
Messi says Argentina can win World Cup BUENOS AIRES: Barcelona star Lionel Messi says he is convinced he can lift the World Cup with Argentina, the forward said in an interview published yesterday with the Argentina Football Association. Messi has won a host of top honours with Barca but has yet to taste major honours with the albiceleste, who are without a top title since 1993 and who flopped at the Copa America on home soil in July with many observers puzzled as to why his club form rarely appears at international level. “I still have this dream and that is to be a world champion and lift the Copa America with the national side. And I know I’ll do it, I am convinced I shall,” insisted Messi. “I don’t have to demonstrate anything to anybody. I would love to win a title with the national team but I am just another one in the group who wants to do the best for Argentine football, nothing more,” added Messi. Under new coach Alejandro Sabella, Argentina got off to a mediocre start to their World Cup qualifiers with an embarrassing loss to Venezuela but their recent win over Colombia put them on a more even keel and they are now level on points with regional group leaders Uruguay - albeit having played a game more - and Venezuela. “The group are doing fine. But we needed a win like that to strengthen ourselves. It has revitalised us,” Messi said, recognising that ‘sometimes we don’t quite get up to the mark either in terms of performance or the result. We are aware of that.” On the difference between playing for his country and Barca, with whom he has just won the world club title, Messi said: “ They are two different things. Barcelona are the best team in the world - even non-fans admit as much. That is the result of years of hard work with the same teammates. — AFP