MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015 SPORTS Strauss faces biggest test as Ashes loom

LONDON: England cricket director Andrew have many other decisions to make to find Strauss faces a frenetic start to his reign as a team capable of mixing it with the pow- he looks to appoint a new coach to gal- erful Australians. vanise a struggling team for the home Strauss may be tempted to appoint an Ashes series against . Australian coach with Jason Gillespie and The highly respected former captain Justin Langer among the favourites for the moved quickly to end Peter Moore’s unhap- role. py year in charge of the side and the identi- Former fast bowler Gillespie, 40, has ty of his replacement will dominate enjoyed success as coach of English county Strauss’s agenda in the coming weeks. Yorkshire and is reportedly keen to step up Whether or not Moores was badly treat- to international level. ed by the England and Wales Cricket Board The 44-year-old Langer formed a prolific will be debated long and hard but the cold opening partnership with Matthew Hayden reality is that, having taken over following and knows Strauss well after they played the humbling 5-0 defeat in the last Ashes together for Middlesex but he has strong series, he failed to improve the team. family ties to his native Western Australia. A depressing World Cup this year in Langer famously once said that he took which England were eliminated at the his baggy green cap to bed with him group stage after playing a turgid and out- because he loved it so much and it is hard dated style of cricket was followed by a to envisage such a proud Australian trying frustrating drawn test series against a mod- to plot the downfall of his beloved fellow est West Indies side. countrymen. Paul Farbrace will lead Moores decided to recall Jonathan Trott England in the two-match series against as an opener and the experiment was an New Zealand starting on May 21, giving unmitigated failure, the 34-year-old retiring Strauss a short window in which to find the from international cricket after admitting right man for the job long-term. he was no longer up to coping with the As captain of two Ashes-winning teams, demands of test cricket. Strauss knows what it takes to beat the old Trott followed Graeme Swann, Kevin enemy and he may care to think back to a Pietersen and Matt Prior out of the England famous day in Brisbane in November, 2010 fold, leaving captain Alastair Cook with just to find inspiration. FLORIDA: John Senden of Australia plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the final round of The Players Championship at the four other players who have experienced Having scored a typically compact and TPC Sawgrass Stadium course. —AFP Ashes success. stylish 110 in the first test, Strauss watched James Anderson and Stuart Broad Cook and Trott share an unbroken second- should still form a potent opening bowling wicket partnership of 329 to lift the touring Kirk nudges in front at Players partnership, particularly in home condi- side to an extraordinary total of 517 for one tions, and Ian Bell and Joe Root are proven declared. FLORIDA: Kevin Na dropped his club and Maltbie of NBC, who said to him, “You gave up 68, leaving him one shot behind along with test batsman. Surveying that surreal scorecard at the placed his hands on his hips as he watched his on it.” “No I didn’t,” Na said. “I hit it fat. And then I Kevin Kisner (67) and Bill Haas (68). Justin With Gary Ballance established at num- close of play, Strauss could little have imag- tee shot, certain that it was going to come up saw it fly and thought, ‘You know, this might get Thomas was tied for the lead, but that was ber three in the order, the batting looks in ined the situation he finds himself in less short of the island. Disappointment gave way to there.’” “Never let them see you sweat, pal,” before the leaders teed off. The 22-year-old reasonable shape, but the new coach will than five years later. —Reuters an embarrassed smile when he saw the ball set- Maltbie replied. rookie set a Stadium Course record with 10 tle 6 feet next to the flag. There could be plenty of sweating late yes- birdies in his round of 65 and was two behind, That one shot summed up a warm and wild terday in a championship that is up for grabs. “It along with Sergio Garcia (67), Scott Brown (69), Pakistan proposes India afternoon Saturday at The Players seems like half the tour has a chance to win this David Heard (70), Jerry Kelly (72) and Na. Woods Championship. For most players, nothing was thing,” McIlroy said after a 70 put him four shots at least was in good company. ever as bad as it seemed. behind. He was part of an All-Star cast at the bottom Test series in December Or as good. Chris Kirk felt his round slipping Tiger Woods was part of the other half. He of the leaderboard. The last 10 players have away when he missed a short birdie putt and made the wrong kind of history Saturday by combined for 153 wins on the PGA Tour and 27 NEW DELHI: Pakistan wants to host the But they continue to meet in multi- followed that with two straight bogeys to fall making two double bogeys on par 5s for the majors. The top 10 have combined for 23 tour first bilateral Test tour by India in eight nation tournaments like the World Cup or out of the top 10. Three consecutive birdies lat- first time in his career, leading to a 75 that wins and no majors. Adding to the dynamic is years in the United Arab Emirates in the Champions Trophy. Dalmiya said he er, he was on his way to a 4-under 68 and a one- matched his worst score at the TPC Sawgrass. that three players within two shots of the lead December, the country’s cricket chief was hopeful the series will go ahead-pro- shot lead going into the final round. Woods was 13 shots behind and chose not to are at The Players for the first time. “We had a Shaharyar Khan said yesterday. vided the government gave the green sig- But that’s like having no lead at all. Not with share his thoughts on the day. little survey of the first-timers - ‘Who do you The tour, comprising three Tests, five nal. two dozen players - Rory McIlroy, among them - Na missed the birdie putt on 17, and then he pick besides yourself to win?’ - and I picked Ben one-dayers and two Twenty20 games is “We are very hopeful of reviving the within four shots of the lead. three-putted for a double bogey on No. 18 for a Martin,” Kisner said. part of a Memorandum of Understanding series,” he said. “But a few things need to be Na was never too far from the lead, and he 72 that dropped him from a tie for the lead to a “No, man, everybody talks about pressure (MOU) signed between the two boards last sorted out. Without the support of the fed- was tied when he was on the tee at the par-3 tie for fifth, another example of how volatile in and nerves and all that, but we’ve been through year to play five series in the next eight eral home ministry and the government, 17th and hit slightly behind the ball, took up the leaderboard looked all day. it all. If we’ve gotten here, we’ve done tour years. “We want to resume India-Pakistan we can’t go forward.” more of the earth than he intended and What made Saturday so unpredictable was school, we’ve won tournaments. Just because series in the UAE,” Khan, the chairman of The Board of Control for Cricket in India thought to himself, “Oh, boy.” neither the Stadium Course nor the variety of it’s a bigger stage doesn’t mean we’re going to the Pakistan Cricket Board, told reporters said in a statement that it was “desirable to He was waiting for a splash. Instead, he shots, rather a leaderboard crammed with so (stink) all of a sudden. We’ll see what happens after a meeting with Indian cricket chief recommence cricket contact” with Pakistan. heard a cheer. And then he gave what was many players that it was hard to keep track who tomorrow.” It starts with Kirk because he’s the Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata yesterday. “After proactive discussions, since there believed to be the first interview while going to was coming and who was going. Ben Martin fell 54-hole leader at 10-under 206. Then again, it “Preparations are in full swing. We have to are certain matters that need to be the island green. He chased down Roger out of the lead with a bogey on the 18th for a might not. —AP overcome the final hurdle because an addressed and considered, it was decided to India-Pakistan series is more important take appropriate steps,” the statement said. than any series in world cricket.” “The two boards would be in regular touch The reluctance of the Indian govern- and review the situation.” No Test-playing Widnes beat ment to clear bilateral cricket matches team has toured Pakistan since militants against Pakistan due to political tensions attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore has meant the two nations have not con- in March 2009, leaving eight people dead leaders tested a Test series since 2007. and seven visiting players injured. —AFP LONDON: Aaron Heremaia’s late try rounded off a superb performance for Widnes as they defeated table-toppers Leeds 38-24 yesterday for their first win over the Rhinos since returning to the in 2012. In a thrilling match, the Vikings worked themselves into a 22-14 lead after 54 minutes through tries from Chris Clarkson, , , Danny Galea and Manase Manuokafoa. But Leeds refused to give up, and a second try from , plus Jimmy Keinhorst’s effort, narrowed the gap to four points-, and Watkins having all scored first-half tries. But the hosts held on, with Chris Dean and Heremaia tries ensuring a fifth win of the season for third-bottom Widnes. Elsewhere yesterday, Marc Sneyd’s last-minute KANSAS CITY: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, and Crew Chief drop-goal gave Hull a 27-26 win against Tony Smith’s Chad Knaus celebrate in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Warrington. race. —AFP Late tries for and had pulled the visitors level going into the closing stages Johnson wins Sprint Cup race after Warrington, who had seen Australian Joe Monaghan and cross before the break, hit back in the second-half with Monaghan and Gene KANSAS CITY: Jimmie Johnson pulled into between us that we didn’t have enough laps victory lane after his late-race gamble paid off to get around them,” Harvick said. “It’s hard to Ormsby (2) crossing. to win the rain-delayed Sprint Cup race at know what’s right and what’s wrong. You But Hull were awarded a penalty and Sneyd, who was Kansas Speedway, then pulled out his cell- know half of them are going to come in and also on the try sheet along with Jordan Thompson and phone and tried to dial his wife in the first few half are going to stay out.” Setaimata Sa, held his nerve. minutes of Mother’s Day. Harvick still extended his points lead over On Saturday, champions St Helens suffered their fifth “Then I caught her on FaceTime,” Johnson Truex heading into next week’s All-Star race defeat of the season as Zeb Taia’s late try helped Catalans said, “and she was NOT so happy to be on at Charlotte. Johnson is third in the standings Dragons to a 33-26 win. FaceTime with all those people around. I think as he chases another title. Adam Swift’s fourth try of the night inside the final the signal went out - or she hung up on me.” “In some ways we fought really hard to get ten minutes looked to have earned a draw for the visitors There’s a good chance Chandra will forgive to victory lane, but it’s also fun to win gam- but Taia had other thoughts, running over from 40 him. bling,” Johnson said. “We haven’t really gam- DONGGUAN: Li Xuerui of China returns to Karin Schnaase of Germany during their metres out for his second try of the match. Johnson, so dominant on mile-and-a-half bled to win one.” women’s singles match of the 2015 Sudirman Cup world badminton champi- A conversion and last-minute drop-goal from Scott tracks, held off Kevin Harvick as the clock Truex led a race-high 95 laps, but his pit onships. —AFP Dureau added the gloss for the Dragons, with the French struck midnight heading into Sunday. They decision proved costly. Without fresh tires, club having earlier seen Benjamin Garcia cross twice were chased across the line by Johnson’s one of the strongest cars in the field faded on together with Morgan Escare. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale the final restart and finished ninth. Lee roars back from Wigan moved into second place after beating Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon after a dramatic “Really hate when it comes down to fuel for their fifth straight win. Castleford won 42- final few laps. mileage. It seems like I’m always at the wrong Most of the leaders had been conserving end of that deal,” he said. “It would have been 14 when the teams met in March but failed to post a sin- doping ban with big win fuel after pitting with 58 to go, right on the fun to see whether we had anything for him.” gle score in a 28-0 defeat on Friday. upper end of the pit window, when Ricky Joey Logano stormed to a top-five finish DONGGUAN: Former world number one point. Lee’s ranking has plunged to 45 dur- scored the first try before the interval and Stenhouse Jr. got into the wall with 12 laps despite two pit-road penalties. The first came Lee Chong Wei made an emphatic return ing his absence since testing positive for a efforts in the closing stages from Michael McIlorum, Dan left. Johnson was among those who pressed just before a band of rain passed through, from a doping ban as he demolished South banned anti-inflammatory at last year’s Sarginson and completed the win. It their luck by staying on the track, while dousing the track and forcing a delay of 2 Korea’s Lee Dong-Keun 21-12, 21-10 at the world championships. was another feisty affair between and Harvick went in for right-side tires and fuel, hours, 16 minutes. The other came when Sudirman Cup yesterday. He received an eight-month, backdated saw the latter win 19-0. and Martin Truex Jr. got a splash of gas. Logano entered pit road with it closed, drop- The Malaysian, returning after he ban on April 27, after the Badminton World The Red Devils won the earlier encounter last month “It just dawned on me: We’ve won two ping him from sixth to the back of the line received a backdated ban two weeks ago, Federation accepted his explanation that after which received a seven-match ban for races, we’re locked in the Chase, points don’t with 83 laps left. Matt Kenseth was next in overcame a slow start to win comfortably he ingested the substance accidentally. a dangerous tackle on Huddersfield’s . matter. We’re going for the win,” Johnson said. sixth, followed by Brad Keselowski and Kurt in 45 minutes on day one of the mixed- Earlier, Olympic title-holders Lin Dan Tempers flared again on Friday with and “It was just sort of a gut feeling, split-second.” Busch. Ryan Newman rounded out the top 10 teams tournament. and Li Xuerui also stamped their authority Weller Hauraki both sin-binned after clashing over the Johnson built a lead on the restart with six with interim crew chief Todd Parrott calling It helped Malaysia to a narrow 3-2 victo- as they shone in a 5-0 victory over dead-ball line amid a shower of plastic beer glasses. laps left, but Harvick sped around Earnhardt the shots. ry over South Korea sealed by Chan Peng Germany for hosts and defending title- The star of the show was who kicked on his fresh tires down the front stretch, set- Richard Childress Racing learned this week Soon and Goh Liu Ying’s 23-21, 21-13 mixed holders China. seven points, set up ’s try and then contributed ting his sights on the lead. “They had the that its final appeal of penalties for altering doubles triumph against Kim Ha-Na and Ko “Super Dan” pasted Marc Zwiebler 21- to Kyle Wood’s score. most raw speed,” said Johnson’s crew chief, tires during a race at California had been Sung-Hyun. 11, 21-11 and Li beat Karin Schnaase 21-17, Elsewhere returned from injury to help Chad Knaus. upheld, and that Newman would be without Lee had not played since last year’s 21-8 as the nine-time champions saw off Harvick bobbled just slightly at one point usual chief Luke Lambert and two other crew Hull KR rack up 10 tries in a 54-6 rout of Wakefield on Asian Games and it showed in a tepid start Germany without dropping a game in their on the back stretch, though, giving Johnson a members for a six-race period beginning with when he trailed his South Korean rival, the five matches. Thursday. The skipper had a hand in tries for Kris little more space. The six-time series champi- Kansas. world number 34, in the opening game. Kento Momota led Japan to a 4-1 win Welham, and Kieran on maintained it the rest of the way to win for One of the bright spots all night was the But any concerns were quickly allayed as over Russia, trouncing Vladimir Malkov 21- Dixon while , , , John the third time this season and his third race at heady driving of 18-year-old Erik Jones, who he raced to a commanding position and 15, 21-9, and Denmark also beat England 4- Boudebza, Tyrone McCarthy also touched down along- Kansas Speedway. made his first Sprint Cup start in the No. 18 even had time for some light showboating 1 in the remaining level one ties on the first side further efforts for Dixon and Matellato. Joe Arundel “The 48 and 88 didn’t have the speed, and while Kyle Busch continues his recovery from as he took the victory on the first match day. —AFP scored Wakefield’s only try. —AFP they gambled and had enough cars in a broken leg.—AP