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THE HINDU THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2019 SPORT 19 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Kohli’s men look to overcome World Cup disappointment West Indies, too, will hope for a change in fortunes when the three­match ODI series begins today; Gayle’s presence a big boost for the hosts IN WI Gayle. will look to Press Trust of India continue his golden run with Providence (Guyana) the bat in the 50­over for­ mat, having caressed his way With an air of invincibility, to a record five centuries at India returns to the format the showpiece in the United that gave it a heartbreak in Kingdom. the not­too­distant past, fac­ Kohli, who also enjoyed a ing West Indies in the first of great run in the mega event, three­match ODI series here will not be short on motiva­ on Thursday. tion despite the lack of world Shikhar Dhawan makes a beaters in the opposition comeback in the format camp. The mainstay where he has been India’s is also aware that a section of third best player after skip­ former players raised ques­ per and his depu­ tion mark around his cap­ ty Rohit Sharma. taincy in the limited overs Dhawan will take his place format. at the top of the order along­ Thoroughly outplayed in side Rohit and like the initial the shortest format, West In­ matches of the World Cup, dies will hope the return of K.L. Rahul is likely to go back the talismanic Gayle bolsters to being the No. 4 it. With expect­ The squads (from): ed to come in at No. 5 or 6 India: Virat Kohli (Capt.), Rohit depending on how Rishabh Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, K.L. Pant is used as a floater, it Rahul, , Manish will be a toss up between Pandey, (wk), Ra­ Manish Pandey and Shreyas vindra Jadeja, , Iyer for the remaining mid­ , Kedar Jad­ dle­order slots. hav, , Bhuv­ With neshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed and . playing three T20 Interna­ tionals he will probably get West Indies : (Capt.), , John to cool his heels with Mo­ Campbell, , Shai hammed Shami leading the Hope, , Nicho­ attack and Navdeep Saini las Pooran, , Fa­ making his ODI debut. bian Allen, , Kohli will fancy his team’s Keemo Paul, , chances in the series, not­ and Kemar withstanding the return of Roach. Raring to go: Virat Kohli will not be short on motivation despite the lack of world beaters in the the swashbuckling Chris Match starts at 7 p.m. IST opposition camp. * AFP Third ‘Test’ on Australia’s Ashes sweep a possibility, says McGrath Rain plays razor’s edge spoilsport ‘Smith hits the ball into unconventional areas; his ways at the crease are very effective’ PRESS TRUST OF INDIA PRESS TRUST OF INDIA TAROUBA Special Correspondent BECKENHAM (UK) West Indies­A was 163 for The India under­19 team six in reply to India­A’s 201 Glenn McGrath sees a poten­ McGrath bats for Shastri was dismissed for 244 on the second day of the tial 5­0 sweep for Australia in against un­ third and final ‘Test’ here the ongoing Ashes series fol­ S. Dinakar But eventually it is for the der­19 in the tri­series on Wednesday. lowing its remarkable come­ Chennai BCCI and the panel it has match here on Wednesday. The host’s hopes rest on from­behind victory over En­ “If it ain’t broke don’t fix appointed to decide. The latter was 19 for two in opener Jeremy Solozano gland in the first Test at it,” Glenn McGrath “It’s about what they reply when a downpour who was unbeaten on 57. Edgbaston. appears to be suggesting. want from the coach, the ended the contest. Sunil Ambris contributed The Aussie pace On the issue of India and the team.” Opting to bat, skipper legend is back here at the either continuing with 43. Queried about India’s Shubhang Hegde top­ MRF Pace Foundation where or picking a Umesh (two for 29 off 16 failure to win the World scored with 69 off 97 balls he will soon be joined by the new coach, the Aussie overs) an economi­ Cup, McGrath said, “I while Sameer Rizvi made emerging players of the Aus­ pace legend said to The cal spell, picking up the thought India played well 44 off 32 deliveries, the tralian Academy team. Hindu, “The Indian team of Akim Frazer and in the competition. It lost duo reviving the af­ He said “5­0 is a possibili­ has been performing well Brandon King to reduce narrowly to New Zealand ter a top­order collapse. ty. It will not be easy for En­ under Kohli and Shastri. West Indies­A to 36 for in the semifinal. At one stage, the In­ three. gland who are without the They get along well. Only dianswere reduced to 65 “The odd defeat can injured James Anderson, this year India won its for four with openers Pri­ happen to any team.” Gowtham scalps three such a big factor in the En­ first ever Test series in yesh Patel (8) and Tilak Solozano and Ambris glish conditions with the Australia.” McGrath’s views are in Varma (1), No. 3 Pragnesh joined hands for a 66­run Duke ball.” Glenn McGrath, seen with M. Senthilnathan and Basil Thampi, is back at the MRF Pace McGrath continued, “If tune with the emerging Kanpillewar (21) and No. 4 partnership for the fourth And then he dwelt on Foundation in Chennai. * K. PICHUMANI somebody asks me, I indications that Shastri is Shashwat Rawat (9) back in before the latter fell whose battling would say ‘why change?’. likely to keep his job. the pavilion. to Shivam Dube. Off­spin­ twin hundreds in the first but he gets the better of you. the dot balls. Smith and Che­ the comeback of the pacey After Shubhang and Sa­ ner Krishnappa Gowtham Test buried England. “The He hits the ball into uncon­ teshwar Pujara are two pre­ James Pattiinson and said, meer, Divyansh Saxena took three for 56 as the In­ English crowd was after him ventional areas. You bowl sent­day batsmen who have “He is the enforcer in this final and said, “We should Steyn, who recently retired (37) and Karan Lal (25) dian bowlers struck back. but he showed enormous outside off and he can hit loads of patience.” Australian attack. He’s got have had another Super Over from Tests, “One of the great­ made crucial contribu­ mental strength.” you behind square on the the pace, skill and presence.” or a Bowl Out. I think the est fast bowlers of all time In the India­A innings, tions, sharing a 73­run leg­side. He uses the pace on Smith and Kohli the best He called his former team­ boundaries countback rule with an outstanding strike­ skipper Hanuma Vihari (55 stand for the seventh wick­ ‘Technique is for the the ball.” McGrath said, “Smith averag­ mate and now Aussie coach was framed by a batsman!” rate.” off 139 balls) and wicket­ et to take India­A to 244. purists’ The Aussie pace predator es close to 63 after 65 Tests. Justin Langer a tough bloke Asked about Rohit Shar­ On leav­ keeper batsman Wriddhi­ Shoriful Islam, Avishek Talking about Simith’s meth­ said, “Smith is not like Mark If he maintains this average and said, “He emphasises ma’s lack of consistency in ing Test at 27 to play man Saha (62 off 66 balls) Das and Shamim Hossain ods, McGrath said, “Tech­ Waugh or Damien Martyn after 100 Tests, he will be discipline and commitment, Tests, McGrath replied, “He in the shorter formats, added 86 for the fifth wick­ took three wickets apiece. nique is for the purists. who were natural, fluent among the greatest batsmen has produced results with has the ability. I am sur­ McGrath said, “That’s a et after the visitors were in The scores: India under­19 Smith’s ways at the crease strokemakers. To me he is to have played the game. whichever team he has prised why he has not been young age to leave Tests. I a spot of bother at 48 for 244 in 49.3 overs (Shubhang are very effective.” somewhere between Steve Right now, Smith and Virat coached.” able to seal his Test place so still hope there enough peo­ four. Hegde 69, Sameer Rizvi 44, McGrath added, “Smith and Mark Waugh.” Kohli are the two best bat­ The pace ace sympathised far. He has the technique and ple who regard Divyansh Saxena 37, Karan Lal Chemar Holder (three moves across and you think Still on Smith, McGrath smen in the world.” with New Zealand’s debata­ the strokes.” as the primary form of the 25) vs Bangladesh under­19 for 47) and Frazer (three you can get him leg­before said, “Smith is not ruffled by McGrath was excited with ble defeat in the World Cup McGrath called Dale game.” 19 for two. No . for 53) were the pick of the bowlers for West Indies­A. The scores: India­A 201 ( 33, Hanuma Vihari 55, Wriddhiman Saha Thakur ties it for Thalaivas Challengers power past Paltan, enter semifinal 62, Chemar Holder three for 47, Akim Frazer three for 53) vs West Indies­A 163 for six His buzzer raid helps the side finish level with Yoddha Amalraj the star for the Goa side; Archana stuns Winter (Jeremy Solozano 57 batting, DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Sunil Ambris 43, Krishnappa UTT DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Gowtham three for 56). B Paltan needed to win by at Rakesh Rao least a seven­point margin to catch up with Goa at 34 points and advance PCB not to Goa Challengers got its cam­ B Goa, determined to make paign back on track, knock­ renew Arthur’s amends for its shock 11­4 ing out last­placed Puneri loss to U Mumba, proved Paltan 11­4 and sealing a sem­ too hot to handle contract ifinal berth in the Ultimate DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Table Tennis league here on Agence France-Presse Wednesday. Desai a consolation game, Karachi Paltan needed to win by at bouncing back from 8­10 to Pakistan’s cricket board least a seven­point margin to win the ‘golden point’. axed coach Mickey Arthur catch up with Goa at 34 In the final singles, Archa­ on Wednesday after the points and advance on the na played way above her team failed to get out of its basis of the head­to­head re­ World ranking of 139 to up­ group in a disappointing sult of this encounter. But stage the 58th­ranked Sabine World Cup. Goa, determined to make 2­1. Indeed, with Goa as­ Arthur’s contract ex­ amends for its shock 11­4 loss In the thick of it: Amalraj was in his element, winning both sured of a big win, the young pired after the World Cup Slipping away: Ajay Thakur provided the final touch for Thalaivas. * RANJEET KUMAR to U Mumba, proved too hot matches. * COURTESY UTT Indian played without pres­ and he had asked for a two­ to handle. sure while it was difficult for year extension. PKL tra Indoor Stadium here on before Yoddha’s defence It was Archana Kamath After World No. 9 Cheng I­ er India­Chinese Taipei pair Sabine to keep herself But Pakistan Cricket Wednesday. held firm and the team went who stunned Sabine Winter Ching expectedly blanked of Ayhika Mukherjee and motivated. The results: Goa Challengers Board chief Ehsan Mani SPORTS BUREAU Ajay ‘Iceman’ Thakur into the break with a 16­11 ad­ 2­1 to provide the finishing the 122nd­ranked Ayhika Chuang Chih­Yuan 2­1. But bt Puneri Paltan 11­4 (Cheng I­ said Arthur and his assis­ PATNA lived up to his name, scoring vantage. touches. Mukherjee, the reigning the former National cham­ tant coaches Grant Flower in the crucial buzzer raid to Successive super tackles Commonwealth champion, pion was not done yet. Ching bt Ayhika Mukherjee 11­8, and Azhar Mahmood had U.P. Yoddha was involved in help Thalaivas share the ho­ opened up a 23­17 lead for Desai drubbed 3­0 to give Goa a flying start, Amalraj, easily the quick­ 11­1, 11­5; Alvaro Robles lost to Chuang Chih­Yuan 9­11. 11­10, 5­ all been shown the door. its second tie of the season nours. Yoddha before the spirited The hero of Goa’s big win Alvaro Robles’ 2­1 loss to the est player on the Indian cir­ 11; A. Amalraj & I­Ching bt Chih­ Reports say Arthur has after a thrilling end to its The contest began with was A. Amalraj who handed fancied Chaung Ching­Yuan cuit, produced several close­ Thalaivas fought back to fin­ Yuan & Ayhika 11­7, 9­11, 11­7; been shortlisted as the next match against Tamil Thalai­ Thalaivas getting on the sco­ ish level. out a 3­0 drubbing to the re­ kept Paltan alive. to­the­table whipped returns Amalraj bt Harmeet Desai 11­7, England coach after Trevor vas. reboard first, but Yoddha The results: U.P. Yoddha tied cently­crowned Common­ What followed was the on both flanks to keep the 11­7, 11­10; Archana Kamath bt Bayliss departs following The seesaw battle bet­ didn’t wait too long for its with Tamil Thalaivas 28­28. wealth champion Harmeet ‘Amalraj show’. Along with crowd enthralled. Even after Sabine Winter 8­11, 11­6, 11­9). the ongoing Ashes Test ween the two ended in a 28­ opening point too. It was 3­3 Patna Pirates 26 lost to Ha­ Desai and gave his team the Cheng, Amalraj consolidated winning the first two games Thursday’s fixture: Chennai series. 28 stalemate at the Patlipu­ after the first five minutes ryana Steelers 35. winning lead. Goa’s lead by beating anoth­ comfortably, he did not offer Lions v Dabang Delhi (7 p.m.).

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