SUNDAY DECEMBER 11 2016 SPORT 57 can roll out all-pace attack if spin star fails to recover

PAKISTAN’S quicks have Regardless of the side’s “How your attitude and Riaz has regularly pushed soon as I get used to it then I He is complemented by So- vowed to fight fire with fire in make-up, – wide- body language is – that matters 150km/h since being recalled put more force into my body.” hail Khan who takes the ball the upcoming Test series ly regarded as Pakistan’s a lot.” to the Test team early last year. Meanwhile, strike bowler away from the right-handed against . quickest bowler – said his team Renowned for their spin- “You do feel better when is back from batsman, while The visitors could go with a will take an aggressive ap- ning prowess in recent you bowl fast,” he said. his five-year spot-fixing ban and – who has taken four-pronged pace attack for proach to the Australians. years, Pakistan’s current “That’s what everyone is ex- with a vengeance. in the team’s warm- the first Test this week if star “We know how the Austra- batch of Test quicks are the pecting from me and that’s Renowned for tailing the up match against a legspinner fails to lians play,” Riaz said. “They best the country has seen why I am here. I take my time a ball back in late, he is one of Australia XI in Cairns – will overcome injury, with part- love to attack but it’s how you since the days of Wasim bit. I try to just hit my lengths the best exponents of reverse fight it out for the final spot if timer potentially left counter-attack them and how Akram and in on the when I come swing in the world and still coach goes for as the first-choice spinner. you really play. the late 1990s. into bowl the first overs and as bowls with raw pace. four pacemen.

Peter Handscomb on debut for Australia during the Red-hot third Test against at Picture: RICK RYCROFT Warner ‘revved’ for Test

GREG BUCKLE hit the ball as well as you (pictured) will can,” said go into Thursday’s Gabba Test Warner, whose against Pakistan on the back of only Test ton the second-hottest six-game this year was scoring streak in one-day back in January against a weak international cricket. West Indies side in Sydney. Australia’s star opener “You’ve got to start fresh added a second in suc- every game. It’s about trying to cessive matches on Friday as get into my innings and doing the home side embarrassed the best for the team. Handscomb by claiming a 117- “I’m happy where my game Handscomb run at the MCG. is at the moment and I’m doing The victory handed Steve everything I can every time I looks forward Smith’s side a three-nil sweep walk out there.” looks forward of the series and gave the Aus- Although grieving over the tralians some much-needed loss of his childhood to challenge confidence after their five-nil coach Laurie Heil, who died on to challenge series loss in a one-day tour of Thursday, Warner was happy South Africa followed by a to reveal the reason for his of Brisbane Test-series loss at home to the bizarre celebration for his of Brisbane Proteas. century. Warner was named player The batsman held out his of the series after leading all bat as if speaking into a IT’S enough to send a shudder However, Handscomb – a Shah was forced to miss from the crushing 2-0 series scorers with 299 runs at 99.66. microphone. down any batsman’s spine. noted player of spin – is Pakistan’s sole warm-up loss in which Shah took 12 The 30-year-old’s past six “The guys call me the ‘The Legspinner Yasir Shah on a keeping his fingers crossed match against a Cricket wickets at 17.25. It was Shah’s one-day international innings Bull’ and they’ve now called juicy Gabba deck – with a pink Shah will prove his fitness. Australia XI in Cairns this debut Test series. of 117, 6, 173, 24, 119 and 156 add me ‘The Reverend’,” said ball – under lights. “He’s a world-class bowler,” week due to injury. But Handscomb is full of up to 595 runs, beaten only by Warner, the doting father of But Australian newcomer said Handscomb who arrived And 17-year old spinner confidence after a half-century ’s Virat Kohli who hit 617 two daughters who’s no longer Peter Handscomb admits he is in Brisbane yesterday with the Mohammad Asghar has been on debut for Australia in their in six innings in 2012. the bad boy of Australian looking forward to challenging Australian team ahead of the added to Pakistan’s squad for convincing third Test win over Warner is the leading scorer cricket. himself against the Pakistan first Test. the Test series as back-up. South Africa in Adelaide. in one-day international crick- “They reckon ‘The Bull’ has leggie in the day-night first “Personally, I am looking Shah should not expect any “I have never faced him et this summer with 1388 runs been tamed a little bit.” Test starting on Thursday in forward to getting out there “get well” cards from the before but I am sure he will be at 63.09. Brisbane. and seeing what it is like to face surviving batsmen of difficult and hard to pick with His seven centuries in a cal- Australia might yet dodge a him. I haven’t seen a great deal Australia’s last Test series the pink ball,” Handscomb said endar year is bettered only by “You’ve got to bullet at with Shah of him. But I would dare say he against Pakistan in October of Shah. India’s Sachin Tendulkar who in doubt for their three-Test would be able to use the 2014 in the UAE. David “I am going to enjoy the scored nine in 1998. start fresh series opener with a back bounce at the Gabba and turn Warner and are challenge of getting out there “You try to stay in form as injury. the ball as well.” the only batsmen still standing and seeing what happens.” much as you can and you try to every game” Mercedes eye Rosberg replacement Iron Lady leaves Seebohm short of gold MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff confirm Lewis Hamilton’s new “Maybe we need to make a THE “Iron Lady” of swimming mainly to the dominance of world record 56.67 – to rel- insists the world champions teammate before Christmas brave decision in the same way is showing no signs of rust at Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu. egate Seebohm (57.97) to silver. are ready to make a “brave de- after Rosberg’s sudden retire- Nico (did).” the world short course titles in Dubbed the Iron Lady for Remarkably, it was Hoss- cision” when picking Nico ment left a “very big gap”. The “brave decision” re- Canada – much to Australian the sheer number of events she zu’s fifth gold of the meet. Rosberg’s replacement. As Wolff said: “Clearly, with ferred to would appear to be Emily Seebohm’s frustration. contests Hosszu was again Seebohm added the silver to And the Austrian has heap- Nico taking the decision quite promoting 22-year-old Wehr- Seebohm has taken on a Seebohm’s nemesis yesterday the 200m backstroke bronze ed praise on reserve driver Pas- late we are in a bit of a compro- lein despite his lack of experi- marathon nine-event program when she pipped her for 100m she claimed on Friday. cal Wehrlein and Williams’ mised situation because if we ence, with Wolff adamant at the six-day titles in Windsor. individual medley gold. Seebohm will again go head Valtteri Bottas, the current fav- had known three months ago Mercedes will “respect con- However, the triple Olym- The reigning FINA female to head with Hosszu today in ourites for the role. there (would have been) more tractual relationships” in pian is yet to break through for swimmer of the year clocked the 50m backstroke final and The Silver Arrows hope to options available. their search. a gold medal by day four due 57.24 sec – just short of her the 200m IM.

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