Coach Tells Lanka to Beware of Proteas
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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 cricket-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 SRI Lanka 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 wickets 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.