Sports Friday, June 28, 2019 13

Cup Talk India and Pakistan clash NZ games draws 229mn TV Coach tells Lanka to ‘quarter-finals’ viewers in India MUMBAI: The June 16 clash for England, between neighbours India and Pakistan attracted 229 mil- says Root lion television viewers in India, accounting for over 60% of the beware of Proteas REUTERS screen audience for the first LONDON three weeks of the World Cup in the -crazy nation. 1996 champions FOURTH-PLACED England The first 27 matches in the 10- will be playing two virtual team quadrennial tournament, aim for improved “quarter-finals” at the Cricket which is being played in Eng- batting to keep World Cup when they face In- land and Wales, attracted 381 dia and New Zealand in their million viewers, according to semis hopes alive last two round robin matches Broadcast Audience Research as they look to seal a semi-final Council of India. AFP spot, batsman Joe Root has The Virat Kohli-led side had CHESTER-LE-STREET said. England’s 64-run loss to four matches – including the Australia on Tuesday left their washout against New Zealand coach Chandika qualification hopes in the bal- – slotted in during that period, Hathurusingha has warned ance with Bangladesh, Paki- drawing a combined total of that misfiring South Africa stan (both one point behind) 321 million viewers. The rain- could still be dangerous after Being alert and Sri Lanka (two points hit, stop-start World Cup match his side revived their World When you have no pressure behind with a game in hand) at Old Trafford, Manchester, Cup hopes with a shock victory breathing down their necks. between the political rivals drew against England. of qualifying, they can England have not beaten a massive global audience The Sri Lankans, the 1996 come and play without any India or New Zealand in seven and organisers received nearly champions, had a miserable pressure, fearless cricket attempts at the World Cup 800,000 applications for tickets start to the tournament in and that can get them since 1992 but Root is confi- at the 23,000-capacity stadium. England and Wales, with just going, so at the same time dent they can still reach the Official broadcaster Star India one win from their first five knockout stages. is showing the World Cup in six games, during which they suf- they can turn up and just “We’ll see these two games languages, including English. fered two washouts. want to go home, so you as quarter-finals... which in a The broadcaster’s live streaming But last week’s win against never know. way when it comes round to the platform Hotstar saw 100 mil- the hosts and England’s sub- knockout stage should serve lion daily active users during the sequent defeat at the hands Sri Lanka coach Chandika you well,” Root told reporters. India-Pakistan match, making it of Australia has thrown the Hathurusingha on South Africa “We believe we’re still more the highest-ever single day reach World Cup wide open. than capable of qualifying for for the platform. (REUTERS) Hathurusingha said South we didn’t play our best cricket Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Thirimanne takes part in a training session at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, the semi-finals and when that Africa still posed a threat in to win the game in terms of England, on Thursday, ahead of their 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match against South Africa. (AFP) happens, it doesn’t really mat- Friday’s match, even though batting. ter how you got there because Shirzad to they will be heading home af- “And I think we had a Duminy ‘ashamed’ of South Africa World Cup flop that’s when the tournament re- replace Alam in ter the group phase. perfect bowling display, de- ally starts to kick in. Afghanistan team “When you have no pres- fending that target (232-9). I CHESTER-LE-STREET: JP Duminy has apologised to South Africa fans after the country’s “dismal” “I personally think we’ve sure of qualifying, they can mean, cricket is a funny game. showing at the World Cup. Faf du Plessis’s men have beaten only win-less Afghanistan in their got to be very calm about how AFGHANISTAN’S Sayed Ahmad come and play without any “You can lose so many opening seven games, meaning they cannot mathematically reach the last four. we approach the next couple of Shirzad has been approved as pressure, fearless cricket and games and win the one that is “It’s been pretty dismal from our part,” said Duminy, who will retire from the 50-over game after the games. The games themselves fellow paceman Aftab Alam’s that can get them going, so at the most important, it is this tournament in England and Wales. “We obviously want to apologise to the public and the South Afri- might get quite emotional, replacement for the remainder the same time they can turn up next game. I think we have can fans for letting them down. You know when you represent your country it is always a proud mo- especially the atmosphere at of the World Cup, the Interna- and just want to go home, so enough talent and the skill- ment and you understand that you represent 50, 60 million people, that is a proud moment in itself. Edgbaston against India.” Root tional Cricket Council (ICC) said you never know,” he said. set to compete with them to- And when you put in performances like that, you know, you in a way almost feel ashamed of that.” also said that England have not on Thursday. The ICC said Alam, Sri Lanka lost their One- morrow.” Reports have emerged that coach Ottis Gibson will be in the firing line after the tournament, with adapted to the slow pitches at who had taken four Day International series ear- The coach talked about the Cricket South Africa (CSA) president Chris Nenzani promising that “heads will roll”. the tournament, having played in three matches during the lier this year in South Africa importance of putting partner- All-rounder Duminy, who has not featured in the past four matches, said the players, not the coach- on batsman-friendly surfaces tournament, had been replaced 5-0 but Hathurusingha said ships together and the need to es, should take responsibility for a dismal campaign. “It’s always a difficult one when they bear the at the same grounds during under “under exceptional cir- the team were confident af- “click as a batting group”. most brunt of our performances,” he added, speaking ahead of South Africa’s match penultimate One-Day International bilater- cumstances” without providing ter their 20-run win against “We have been practising a match against Sri Lanka on Friday. (AFP) al series played in the buildup details. Shirzad has played only England. lot of power-hitting with vari- to the World Cup. The hosts one ODI in his career but is in “We think that we have a ous ways of using the net fa- were criticised for not making line to feature in Afghanistan’s good chance because we are cilities we have,” he said. from the last game. We know Sri Lanka have six points peting teams have all played most of the conditions against remaining two games against coming off two wins (they also “The good thing that what what they can produce and after six matches, one behind seven games. Australia despite winning the Pakistan on Saturday and West beat Afghanistan earlier in the has worked for us is that the we still back them to do that Bangladesh and Pakistan and The top four sides from the toss while their “one-dimen- Indies on July 4. (REUTERS) tournament) and a very good top order, we had two good so hopefully in the next few two behind fourth-placed 10-team round-robin phase sional” approach to batting win against England, although partnerships at the start, apart games they come off.” England. Those three com- progress to the semi-finals. has been slammed by pundits.

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS: WIMBLEDON 2019 Serena arrives, seeks return to form REUTERS jury, a limited playing sched- tle bit of confidence.” Healthy LONDON ule and an increased standard legs are key to any player’s of women’s tennis over the game but perhaps even more SERENA Williams will bring past few years have left many vital for someone like Wil- her quest for a record-equal- to question whether she can liams who relies heavily on her ling 24th Grand Slam title to again triumph in one of tennis’ physicality and court coverage Wimbledon next week where blue riband events. to set up big shots. she will try to shake off a nag- Williams has been unable ging knee injury and show the Two steps slower to deliver her trademark big tennis world that her window Williams won the most recent serves on a consistent basis of of opportunity is still open. of her Grand Slam titles at the late but will likely take comfort Rafael Nadal takes a break during a training session at the All England Williams has been stuck on 2017 Australian Open when in the friendly confines of the Championships in Wimbledon, London, on Wednesday. (EPA-EFE) 23 Grand Slam titles, one be- she was in the early stages All England Club given she is hind the all-time record held of her pregnancy, which led most effective on grass. by Margaret Court, for over to her taking a year off from But unlike in her prime, two years and has shown little competition. Williams’ rivals know she is Wary of past pain, evidence of late that she will Serena Williams of USA arrives for a training session at the All England She came back with a bang not the same player she once be able to snap that drought at Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, on Wednesday. The in 2018 and despite not play- was and do not walk onto the the All England Club. tournament will be held from July 1 to July 14. (EPA-EFE) ing at her best managed to court nearly as intimated as Nadal eyes 3rd title “As long as she’s play- reach the final at both Wim- they once were when facing ing, she’s going to be a threat to a handful of matches since seven-times winner. bledon and the U.S. Open. one of the game’s all-time REUTERS ment is tempered by a lit- to win anything,” ESPN ten- the Australian Open in Janu- “I hope so. I’m still work- “It’s hard for me to bet greats. LONDON tle trepidation every time nis analyst and former world ary due in part to a knee injury ing on it and working on get- against Serena. Look what hap- “There’s so many things he heads to his most erratic number one John McEnroe that kept her from competing ting there,” said Williams. “So pened last year: Two finals in that may be going against Ser- RAFA Nadal received a degree Grand Slam and why there is told a conference call. in a tune-up event ahead of I think it will be, I think it be Grand Slams,” said ESPN ten- ena, and she thrives on that, of sympathy this week when he a sense of unfinished business. “But it’s just now there’s Wimbledon, where action be- enough time. We’ll see, but nis analyst and 18-times Grand and she loves that, and that’s questioned a Wimbledon seed- After backing up his 2008 more things that can go wrong, gins on July 1. I definitely hope so.” When Slam champion Chris Evert. when she comes through,” ings formula that relegated him triumph by beating Tomas I suppose, like more days After losing in the third Williams was at the peak of “The one difference that said Evert. down to third in this year’s draw Berdych in the 2010 final and where she might not have it round at the French Open, her career, she was so far I see in Serena is since she’s “I would have said in Jan- despite a world ranking of two. reaching the final again in 2011 – and other days where players Williams did not exactly sound above the competition that she come back, she’s been one or uary, if there was any Grand After all, he has been Nadal then went five visits with- won’t give in as easily. So that her confident self when asked could barrel her way through a two steps slower than normal. Slam she was going to win, it champion there twice, is bang out going past the fourth round. just makes it more difficult.” if she would have enough time Grand Slam draw even if she I think that’s a little bit of fit- would probably be Wimbledon in form after a record-stretch- Those dismissing his grass- The 37-year-old American’s to get in optimal shape for was having an off day. ness. I think it’s a little bit of ... and if her serve is on, she’s ing 12th French Open, is injury court prowess were forced to eat time on court has been limited Wimbledon, where she is a But the combination of in- match play. I think it’s a lit- going to be tough to beat.” free and last year was a whisker humble pie last year when Nad- away from reaching the final. al roared through to the semi-fi- Despite that, the 33-year- nals when he lost 8-6 in the fifth old would be the first to admit set to Novak Djokovic in one that despite twice lifting the of the highest-quality matches Don’t care-Kyrgios the hottest ticket in town trophy the All England Club’s ever seen on Centre Court. lawns have not always been a Nadal has again opted to REUTERS ous” (as in “you cannot be”, his to win Grand Slams. player” but with a “sick obses- happy hunting ground. play no competitive grass- LONDON most famous outburst of all). The problem appears to be sion with wanting to be liked”) While his 2008 defeat of court matches in the build-up The main difference be- that Kyrgios doesn’t seem to and Nadal (“super salty” and Roger Federer in a final for to Wimbledon, preferring in- PERHAPS, in years to come, tween the two, of course, is care about it and has never gone “gracious only when he wins”). the ages stands as one of his stead to practise in Mallorca tennis fans will yearn for the that McEnroe won titles - 77 of beyond the quarter-finals in a He says he does not care greatest days, shock losses at and then take part in the As- days of “characters like Nick them, including seven Grand major. Still only 24, his career about fans when he tanks or the hands of Steve Darcis, Lu- pall Classic exhibition event at Kyrgios”, just as they do for Slam singles crowns, and loved is littered with fines and penal- is ejected from a tournament cas Rozol, Dustin Brown and the swanky Hurlingham Club John McEnroe, the one-time the game. Kyrgios would ap- Nick Kyrgios of Australia. ties, particularly for “tanking” as he was at this year’s Italian Gilles Muller represent some where on Wednesday he was Superbrat everyone loved to pear to have more in common – not trying – which he often Open for throwing a chair. of his darkest moments. soundly beaten by Marin Cilic. hate who is now embraced with Andre Agassi, who also Big Three. His head-to-head does when anything gets under He boasts of the millions he Wimbledon’s low bounc- “I love to play on grass,” he as a lovable rogue from the achieved greatness on court record against them is impres- his skin. He serves under-arm, has in the bank and uses those ing lawns also provide the ul- said shortly after claiming his golden age. despite, he later revealed in his sive (2-0 against Novak Djok- argues with and abuses officials riches to justify not needing to timate test of the creaky knees 18th Grand Slam title by defeat- Maybe the Australian will autobiography, hating almost ovic, 3-3 against Rafa Nadal, and fans, and shows scant re- try. He pulled out of this year’s that disrupted Nadal’s season ing Dominic Thiem in Paris. publish an autobiography ti- every minute of his career. but 1-5 against Roger Federer) spect for opponents. French Open citing illness, this year and forced him to “Honestly, the last two years tled “Bothered” (as in not), just Kyrgios should be chal- and it seems to be generally In a recent interview he days after saying the tourna- withdraw from Miami. that I played in Wimbledon, I as McEnroe did with “Seri- lenging the dominance of the accepted that he has the talent ripped into Djokovic (“super ment “absolutely sucks”. It is why Nadal’s excite- felt close again.”