Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015
Milne wins battle for World Cup spot
WELLINGTON: Fast bowler Adam Milne won the battle for the final pace bowling spot in New Zealand’s cricket World Cup squad named yesterday. Milne’s selection in the final 15-man squad had been signalled during New Zealand’s second test against Sri Lanka in Wellington when he joined the team for sessions with bowling coach Shane Bond. With head coach Mike Hesson already determining the squad would need five pace bowlers, the 22-year-old Milne pipped Canterbury’s Matt Henry for what many considered the final deci- sion in the squad’s composition. Both bowlers were impressive during New Zealand’s series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last month but Milne’s ability to deliver at more than 150 kph probably swung the decision in his favor. Selectors sprung something of a surprise, however, by picking 35-year-old all- rounder Grant Elliott, who has not played for the one-day side for over a year, at the expense of Jimmy Neesham. “Our batting unit has good depth and Grant’s inclusion assures us strong cover in the middle order,” Hesson said in a statement. “He brings a lot of experience and his record in New Zealand and Australia conditions is excellent.” Veteran Kyle Mills also made the cut after recovering suffi- ciently from a groin strain he sustained during the Pakistan series. Test opener Tom Latham was also included in the squad, though he is expected to be used mostly in the middle order with captain Brendon McCullum already confirming he would open the bat- ting during the Feb. 14-March 29 tournament. Latham will also be the backup wicketkeeper behind Luke Ronchi. Former captain Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum will be the front line spin- ners, with top-order batsman Kane Williamson to provide a part- time option. With Corey Anderson another recognised all-rounder in the SYDNEY: Teammates come running toward Australia’s Nathan Lyon (left) after he bowled out Indiaís Rohit Sharma squad, the team has impressive depth in their batting lineup with players like Vettori, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee and Mills all (fourth right) for 53 runs on the third day of their cricket Test match. — AP capable of scoring quick runs at the bottom of the order. New Zealand open the tournament against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Feb. 14. Kohli, Rahul slam tons, but Squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle spidercam gets into the act Mills, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne. — Reuters SYDNEY: Skipper Virat Kohli and Lokesh Rahul carved out centuries to share the stage SCOREBOARD West Indies look with “spidercam” as India clawed back on the third day of the final Test against Australia SYDNEY: Scoreboard at the close on the third day of the fourth Test between yesterday. Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday: to turn tables Kohli joined Australian counterpart Steve Smith with four tons in the series, while Australia 1st innings 572 for 7 (S. Smith Extras (b1, lb6, w1, nb4) 12 CAPE TOWN: Outplayed in a Test series, the West Indies will seek Rahul rode his luck including some help from 117, D. Warner 101; M. Shami 5-112) Total (5 wickets, 115 overs) 342 to turn the tables on South Africa in a three-match Twenty20 spidercam, to raise his maiden ton in only his Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Vijay), 2-97 international series which starts at Newlands today. second Test. India 1st innings (overnight 71 for 1) (Sharma), 3-238 (Rahul), 4-292 While South Africa have rested several key players, the West Chasing Australia’s 572 for seven M. Vijay c Haddin b Starc 0 (Rahane), 5-292 (Raina) Indies T20 squad boasts more experience than the Test squad declared, the tourists were 342 for five at the L. Rahul c and b Starc 110 Bowling: Starc 21-4-77-2, Harris 23-6- which was beaten 2-0 in a three-match Test series. close with Kohli posting his 10th Test hun- R. Sharma b Lyon 53 63-0 (2nb), Hazlewood 20-5-45-0 (1w), Proven campaigners such as Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, dred to be unbeaten on 140 with V. Kohli not out 140 Lyon 32-7-91-1 (1nb), Watson 15-4-42- Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith and captain Darren Wriddhiman Saha not out 14. A. Rahane lbw b Watson 13 2 (1nb), Smith 4-0-17-0. Sammy have joined the touring party for the short-form match- In the process Kohli surpassed Rahul S. Raina c Haddin b Watson 0 To bat: R. Ashwin, M. Shami, U. Yadav, es. Pollard starred for the Cape Cobras, who won South Africa’s Dravid (619) as the highest-scoring Indian W. Saha not out 14 B. Kumar. domestic T20 competition this season, while Gayle, Russell, Bravo batsmen in a series in Australia with 639 runs and Sammy all played for South African franchises. at an average of 106.50. South Africa, on the other hand, will be missing star players The home attack kept the lid on the “It was good. It was only the captain the ball may have brushed a glove and off such as AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn and Morne Indian scoring on a flat, lifeless Sydney today, wasn’t it?” coach Darren Lehmann the thigh guard to Burns. But Rahul was final- Morkel, who are being rested ahead of a one-day series and next Cricket Ground pitch with all the runs hard- quipped about his team’s ongoing catching ly out in the 87th over when he skied an month’s Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. JP earned but helped along by some ragged malaise. “Disappointing. A couple of tough attempted pull shot and was caught by Starc Duminy, one of South Africa’s most consistent T20 performers, Australian fielding. chances, but you still have to take those on a off his own bowling for 110 off 262 balls with was named in the host country’s squad but his return from a Smith put down two chances, one when wicket that will deteriorate on days four and 13 fours and one six. knee injury has been put back again. Originally expected to Kohli was on 59 and the other off Rahul, five. “We needed to speed up the game Rahul put on 141 runs for the third wicket appear during the Test series he is now only expected to play in which was tinged with controversy over the today, so a little bit disappointing. We need- with Kohli. “I’d say I’m more relieved than the one-day internationals which start on January 16. Justin positioning of the spidercam television cam- ed to take those chances and that’s now two proud of myself,” Rahul said of his ton. “It Ontong has been added to the squad. Captain Faf du Plessis and era hovering above the ground. Rahul gave Test matches in a row. But there’s still a lot of was a nightmare debut (in third Test in seam bowler Kyle Abbott are the only South African players who chances on 41, 42 and 46 but the final oppor- time in this game.” Melbourne) and it didn’t make my life easier appeared in the Test series, while Test captain Denesh Ramdin, tunity was the day’s major talking point with Rahul also had a lucky escape on 42 when coming here. Suleiman Benn, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder and Marlon Smith appearing to blame spidercam for put- he charged down the pitch for a run and was “I just kept telling myself the only way Samuels played for the West Indies in the Test matches. ting down the skied catch. sent back by Kohli only to tumble to the from here is up. I feel batting up the order Smith was seen to mouth “fucking wire” ground and lose his bat. gave me, I feel, a little more time for myself.” Squads: to team-mates, suggesting he might have Yet he still managed to scramble to safety There was late excitement for the home South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Farhaan been distracted by the cables suspending and beat Brad Haddin’s delayed throw to the crowd when Shane Watson was on a hat- Behardien, Marchant de Lange, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, spidercam in losing the trajectory of the ball. non-striker’s end. Exasperated skipper Smith trick after trapping Ajinkya Rahane leg David Miller, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Cricket Australia and the Nine Network later stood glaring at Haddin with his arms out- before wicket for 13 and then Suresh Raina Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Morne van Wyk, David Wiese. confirmed in a joint statement that Smith stretched at the farcical blunder as India had was out next ball to a diving Haddin catch. West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Sulieman Benn, Carlos had been “distracted by one of the wires in a big let-off. Rahul survived another scare Saha saw out the hat-trick attempt. Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, his eyeline”. earlier in the morning session when the Rohit Sharma was out in the morning ses- Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Denesh It got no better for Smith nearing tea Australians appealed for a catch by Joe Burns sion attempting to sweep Lyon only to get a Ramdin (wkt), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, when he bungled a two-handed chance over at bat-pad off spinner Nathan Lyon but bottom edge on to his stumps for 53 off 133 Dwayne Smith. —AFP his head from Kohli, who was on 59, at sec- umpire Richard Kettleborough was balls, ending a stubborn 97-run partnership ond slip off Mitchell Starc. unmoved. Infrared television replays showed with Rahul.— AFP