THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014 SPORTS New Pietersen row reveals old tensions

LONDON: Controversy has been as much pared to resign his position should and Shane Warne. his desire to play more often in the lucra- steer a middle course. But, as former a part of ’s career as lin- Downton, James Whitaker, the new And in Mumbai in 2012 he made 186 tive Twenty20 Indian Premier League. England Mike Brearley once seed oil in an old bat, so the fact several national selector, and Alastair Cook-if he against India on a spinners’ pitch where Soon afterwards it emerged he’d sent wrote, it’s wishful to think a tortoise can British newspapers carried reports yester- retains the captaincy-insist that Pietersen most batsmen were struggling just to “provocative” texts allegedly critical of ever jump like a gazelle. And after the day of England coach Andy Flower issu- should be a part of that process,” Selvey stay at the crease. England’s desire to then England captain Andrew Strauss to Sydney thrashing, Michael Vaughan-the ing a ‘he goes or I go’ ultimatum came as wrote. There is also the question of have a captain across all three formats South African players. Pietersen was first England captain Pietersen played no great surprise. Both the 33-year-old whether Pietersen’s chronic knee injury saw the lanky shotmaker given the job in briefly dropped by England, only to be under-said: “I hope England do not take Pietersen, who finished as the tourists’ top means his best days are now behind him, 2008. But a falling-out with coach Peter recalled when Cook took following the easy way out of this mess by making scorer in the series despite managing just despite his stated desire to score 10,000 Moores-not to mention his then assistant Strauss’s retirement. Few people were Kevin Pietersen the victim for the Ashes 294 runs at a rate of 29.40, and Flower did Test runs-a goal which, if he reaches it, is Flower-meant Pietersen’s tenure lasted more admiring of Pietersen’s at whitewash.” their best to rubbish the reports in bland likely to help, not hinder, England’s barely five months before both men lost Headingley than Geoffrey Boycott, coinci- Speaking late last month, Pietersen put public statements. But it seems new prospects. their posts. Last year’s Headingley Test dentally the most controversial England his own case: “Clearly I’ve made a few mis- England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Indeed Pietersen’s maiden Test centu- against South Africa encapsulated player of his generation, although in his takes-and that’s been highlighted-but I managing director Paul Downton will ry has a claim to being England’s most Pietersen’s England career. case he faced accusations of not being a won’t change the way I play for anybody have to decide if the talented shotmaker important of the 21st so far, giv- Having produced a match-saving cen- team man on account of too because I think I’ve been pretty successful. remains ‘worth the trouble’. According to en that it secured the draw that saw tury where Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel slowly. “You take the rough with the smooth. That former England seamer Mike Selvey, the England regain the Ashes in 2005 after a were treated like club bowlers, Pietersen is what happens.” Yet successive England long-serving cricket correspondent of the 19-year gap since their last series win gave an equally stunning post-match ‘ONE-DAY CLOWNS’ teams have appeared to put as high a price Guardian, Flower’s view was clear. over Australia. On a day when conven- press conference in which he proclaimed Roll on a few months, and Boycott was on social conformity as actual playing abili- “So adamant is Flower that the pres- tional ‘bat for a draw’ tactics simply led a “it’s tough being me in this dressing calling Pietersen “a mug” and all the top ty. “They don’t want me but they want my ence of Pietersen in the dressing room is to a flurry of at the other end, room”. The comments chimed with the order “one-day clowns”. There is a case for runs,” Boycott once remarked of his detrimental to the future development of Pietersen audaciously counter-attacked idea of Pietersen the mercenary, after he saying a truly great batsman would, at England career. The same rueful ‘epitaph’ the side that he is believed to be pre- bowlers of the calibre of Glenn McGrath, clashed with England’s management over least at some point, have found a way to may yet apply to Pietersen too. —AFP

West Indies destroy New Ducks record 14th Zealand to draw series HAMILTON: The West Indies hammered their highest- trying to sweep. Fellow opener Johnson Charles was ever limited-overs total to crush New Zealand by 203 out for 31 when Nathan McCullum sent the runs in the fifth and final one-day international yester- stumps flying with a direct hit as the batsman win in 15 games day, drawing the series 2-2. Skipper and attempted a quick single. followed both scored centuries as the visitors soon after, by Kane Williamson off Corey flayed New Zealand’s attack to reach 363 for four, Anderson. ANAHEIM: Mathieu Perreault scored two goals before Nikita Miller dominated with the ball to skittle Bravo came to the crease and steadied the and Jonas Hiller made 30 saves in his 12th con- the Black Caps for 160. The mammoth total was the innings with Edwards, who smashed a six to notch his secutive victory as the Anaheim Ducks beat the highest ever posted by the West Indies in a 50-over half century. The West Indies bludgeoned 117 off the Boston Bruins 5-2 Tuesday for their 14th win in 15 match, surpassing the 360 against Sri Lanka in 1987. last 10 overs, with Bravo dismissed trying to smash games. Perreault, Corey Perry and Nick Bonino Bravo, whose team has been hit by injuries and Williamson out of the ground. New Zealand made a scored power-play goals for the NHL-leading poor form while on tour, said the stunning victory disastrous start, slumping to 65 for five after just 15 Ducks, who improved to 18-0-2 at home. Andrew showed anything was possible. “We came into this overs through a combination of rash shots and a Cogliano scored short-handed during the Ducks’ game with our backs against the wall and needed a much-improved West Indian attack. The Black Caps three-goal second period. Teemu Selanne added big win,” he said, “Everyone played a big part and openers went cheaply, with Martin Guptill out lbw for two assists in Anaheim’s eighth consecutive win played hard to represent our country.” Bravo and six and danger man Jesse Ryder (17) scooping the ball at home, matching its 8-0 streak to open the sea- Edwards came together at 143-3 and put on 211 runs, skyward going for a slog. son. Daniel Paille and Dougie Hamilton scored with Edwards finishing unbeaten on 123, his maiden Brendon McCullum failed to stop the rot coming for the Bruins, who played without forward Milan ODI century. The captain was dismissed shortly before in the middle order, offering Johnson Charles a sim- Lucic for the first time this season due to an ill- the end of the innings for 106. Opener Kieran Powell ple catch when he charged down the to a ness. Tuukka Rask stopped 15 shots, but the had launched a blistering assault at the start of the seemingly innocuous from Nikita Miller, who Atlantic Division leaders couldn’t overcome their innings, smashing 73 runs off just 44 balls with 12 finished with figures of four for 45. A luckless Luke special-teams woes in the opener of a three- fours and two sixes. Ronchi dismissed himself for 15 when he dislodged game California road trip. He plundered 18 off a single Mitchell the bails with his foot as he squared up for a shot, in a McClenaghan over, with one lucky spectator winning sign nothing was going the Black Caps’ way. “It was a PENGUINS 5, CANUCKS 4, SO NZ$100,000 ($83,000) from a beer sponsor by catch- terrible day for us,” Brendon McCullum said. “The Sidney Crosby tied the score with 55 seconds ing one of his sixes one-handed. New Zealand cap- West Indies boys certainly came out today and put in left in regulation and added the only goal in a tain Brendon McCullum brought on his brother a performance we knew they were capable of. We shootout to rally Pittsburgh past slumping Nathan to try to stem the runs and the tactic paid off weren’t able to get there today and were compre- Vancouver. Crosby and Kris Letang scored 16 sec- almost immediately when Powell was out lbw for 73, hensively beaten.” —AFP onds apart late in the third period to tie it for Pittsburgh after the Canucks grabbed a 4-2 lead. Evgeni Malkin and Brian Gibbons also scored for SCOREBOARD the Penguins. Jussi Jokinen added two assists, and Crosby had one of his own. Marc-Andre Fleury HAMILTON, New Zealand: Completed scoreboard in the fifth and final one-day internation- made 22 saves for the win. Chris Higgins, Zack al between New Zealand and the West Indies in Hamilton yesterday: Kassian and Christopher Tanev each had a goal West Indies K. Williamson lbw Holder 16 and an assist for Vancouver, which lost its fifth in a K. Powell lbw N.McCullum 73 R. Taylor c Ramdin b Miller 9 row. Jason Garrison also scored and Eddie Lack J. Charles (N.McCullum) 31 B McCullum c Charles b Miller 6 made 31 saves. Vancouver appeared to be on its K. Edwards 123 C. Anderson c Bravo b Russell 29 way to a victory when Higgins beat Fleury L. Simmons c Williamson b Anderson 9 L. Ronchi hit wicket b Miller 15 through the legs on a breakaway with 6:53 left in D. Bravo c N.McCullum b Williamson 106 N.McCullum c Ramdin b Russell 18 regulation and Kassian batted down a puck off the A. Russell not out 6 K.Mills run out (Holder) 26 rush and swatted it past the goalie 17 seconds lat- Extras: (lb4, w11) 15 T.Southee c Bravo b Miller 9 er. Total: 4 wickets; 50 overs) 363 M.McClenaghan not out 0 Fall of wickets: 1-95 (Powell), 2-116 (Charles), Extras: lb6, w3) 9 WILD 2, KINGS 1, SO 3-143 (Simmons), 4-354 (Bravo) Total: (all out; 29.5 overs) 160 Nino Niederreiter scored the tying goal early in Did not bat: C. Walton, D. Ramdin, S. Narine, Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Guptill), 2-37 (Ryder), 3- the third period and netted the only goal in a four- EDMONTON: Boyd Gordon No 27 of the Edmonton Oilers checks Derek Roy No 12 of J.Holder, N. Miller 45 (Williamson), 4-50 (Taylor), 5-65 round shootout to lead Minnesota over Los the St Louis Blues during an NHL game at Rexall Place on January 7, 2014 in : Southee 10-0-64-0, McClenaghan 8- (B.McCullum), 6-94 (Anderson), 7-123 Angeles. The Wild, playing their first game since Edmonton, Canada. —AFP 0-64-0, N. McCullum 10-0-64-1, Anderson 10- (N.McCullum), 8-125 leading scorer Mikko Koivu broke his ankle 1-77-1, Mills 8-0-60-0, Williamson 4-0-30-1 (Ronchi), 9-151 (Southee), 10-160 (Mills) Saturday at Washington, have won three straight FLYERS 3, DEVILS 2, OT Oilers, who have lost five of six games and 11 of 14. Bowling: Holder 5-0-35-2, Bravo 5-0-12-1, for the first time since Nov 1-5. Koivu underwent Brayden Schenn scored at 1:50 of overtime as Blues forward TJ Oshie had to be helped off the ice New Zealand Miller 10-1-45-4, Narine 5.5-0-31-0, Russell 4- surgery Monday and is expected to miss at least the Flyers beat the Devils after giving up a late short- late in the third period after a knee-on-knee collision M. Guptill b Bravo 6 0-31-2 four weeks. Darcy Kuemper made 17 of his 39 handed goal that forced the extra session. Claude with Edmonton’s Taylor Hall. Berglund sealed the J. Ryder c Simmons b Holder 17 Series: Series is drawn 2-2. saves during the first period in his third appear- Giroux and Scott Hartnell also scored for win with an empty-net goal in the final minute. ance this season and fifth NHL start. Jarret Stoll Philadelphia, which ended a six-game road trip with scored for the Kings, and Jonathan Quick made 16 a 5-1 record. Ray Emery made 31 saves and won for ISLANDERS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 3 saves in his second straight start after missing 24 the eighth time in nine games. Michael Ryder tied it Frans Nielsen, Calvin De Haan and Cal Bowlers give Sri Lanka games because of a groin injury. at 2 on a short-handed goal with 30 seconds left in Clutterbuck scored third-period goals to lead the regulation. It came on a great feed from defense- Islanders to the victory. New York kicked off a six- an edge over Pakistan PREDATORS 3, SHARKS 2 man Marek Zidlicky, with goalie Martin Brodeur on game road trip with their second win in two nights DUBAI: Sri Lanka owed it to their bowlers for taking the club as well as with the A team and from that Mattias Ekholm’s first NHL goal proved to be the bench for an extra skater. Adam Henrique also with backup Kevin Poulin in goal. Poulin relieved the opening day honors against Pakistan in the sec- experience I well today.” Opener Khurram the game winner as Nashville beat San Jose for its scored for New Jersey, which is 0-2-1 in its last three injured starter Evgeni Nabokov on Monday and ond Test in Dubai yesterday. A three-pronged pace Manzoor top-scored with 73 in an otherwise insipid first victory in four games. David Legwand also games. Schenn’s game-winner was set up by a great backstopped the Islanders’ 7-3 win over Dallas. and one-man spin attack helped Sri Lanka bowl out batting display. Manzoor termed the seam movement had a goal and an assist, and Shea Weber added back-door pass by defenseman Nicklas Grossman Poulin made 23 saves against the Maple Leafs. It Pakistan for just 165 after Angelo Mathews won the as difficult to handle. “It wasn’t easy out there, toss was two assists for the Predators, who have earned from the left point. was another frustrating loss for Toronto, which out- toss and opted to bowl on a seaming Dubai stadium vital because pitch is helping seam bowlers,” said points in five of six games. Joe Pavelski and Patrick shot the Islanders 26-25 in its first game since being pitch. Paceman Nuwan Pradeep finished with a career- Manzoor. “Whoever plays positive will score runs. Sri Marleau scored for San Jose, which has lost two of BLUES 5, OILERS 2 beaten 7-1 at home by the New York Rangers on best 3-62 while spinner Rangan Herath took 3-26. Fast Lankans really bowled very well and the first hour on three. The Predators took control against the Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and an assist, and Saturday night. Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner bowlers Shaminda Eranga (2-25) and Suranga Lakmal Thursday will be important for us.” Sri Lankan pacemen Sharks by scoring three goals in the second peri- the Blues won their season-high sixth straight game. also scored for the Islanders, and John Tavares (2-45) were also useful in the second session. By the had little success in the first session and their hard od. Nashville is undefeated in regulation this sea- Chris Stewart, Maxim Lapierre, David Backes and added three assists after registering five points close Sri Lanka had knocked off 57 runs for the loss of work was also spoiled by sloppy fielding. son when scoring at least three times. San Jose Patrick Berglund also scored for the Blues, who are against Dallas. Tyler Bozak, Mason Raymond and opener Dimuth Karunaratne, out leg-before to Junaid Mathews floored Shehzad in the slips off Lakmal played without forward Logan Couture, who is 11-1-2 in their last 14 games. They are two points Joffrey Lupul scored for Toronto. Khan for 32. Kaushal Silva and were with the batsman still to get off the mark, but the scheduled for surgery yesterday for what is behind Central Division-leading Chicago. Nail each on 12 as Sri Lanka now trail Pakistan by 108 wuns lapse did not prove costly. Mahela Jayawardene believed to be a hand injury. Yakupov and Mark Arcobello had goals for the LIGHTNING 4, JETS 2 Martin St Louis scored the tiebreaking goal in with nine wickets intact on a day dominated by the dropped Hafeez off the first ball he faced from the third period and added an empty-netter to help bowlers. Pradeep, but the paceman had the last laugh when NHL results/standings Tampa Bay get the win in the penalty-filled game. But initially it looked as if Sri Lanka had miscalculat- he bowled Hafeez through the gate soon after lunch. Valtteri Filppula and Ondrej Palat also scored for the ed in bowling first as Ahmed Shehzad, trapped leg- Pakistan had pinned their hopes on Younis Khan and before by Pradeep in the tenth over for three, was the Misbah-ul Haq but they lost their last eight wickets for NY Islanders 5, Toronto 3; Philadelphia 3, New Jersey 2 (OT); Nashville 3, San Jose 2; Tampa Bay 4, Lightning, who won for the sixth time in seven road only man out by lunch, but five wickets fell for 71 runs 58 runs. Eranga took the prized wickets of Younis and Winnipeg 2; Phoenix 6, Calgary 0; St. Louis 5, Edmonton 2; Pittsburgh 5, Vancouver 4 (SO); games. They handed the Jets their fourth consecu- tive loss overall. Olli Jokinen and Dustin Byfuglien as Pakistan slumped from 57-1 to 128-6 at tea. Pradeep Misbah in the space of seven balls. Younis, who made Anaheim 5, Boston 2; Minnesota 2, Los Angeles 1 (SO). scored for Winnipeg, and goalie Ondrej Pavelec had said his hard work paid off. “I came into the team after 13, tried to cut a delivery while Misbah was Western Conference Eastern Conference an assist. The Jets were outshot by a wide margin a long time,” said Pradeep who played his last Test in squared up on a moving delivery on one-both caught for most of the game but still went into the third January last year. “During that period I worked hard in behind. —AFP Pacific Division Atlantic Division Boston 28 13 2 126 94 58 tied at 2. They scored two power-play goals and W L OTL GF GA PTS Tampa Bay 26 13 4 123 102 56 had managed to kill off four of the chances they Anaheim 32 8 5 151 113 69 Montreal 25 14 5 114 103 55 handed Tampa Bay until St. Louis tipped in Victor SCOREBOARD San Jose 27 11 6 144 114 60 Detroit 19 14 10 114 121 48 Hedman’s point shot at 8:39 on a fifth power play. Toronto 21 18 5 122 132 47 DUBAI: Scoreboard at close on the opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and Los Angeles 26 13 5 114 91 57 COYOTES 6, FLAMES 0 Ottawa 19 18 7 126 141 45 Sri Lanka at Dubai stadium yesterday: Vancouver 23 13 9 121 113 55 Thomas Greiss stopped 27 shots, Lauri Florida 16 21 6 102 136 38 Pakistan 1st innings (Manzoor), 6-127 (Shafiq), 7-129 (Sarfraz), 8- Korpikoski had a goal and two assists, and Phoenix Phoenix 21 12 9 129 127 51 Buffalo 12 26 4 74 118 28 Khurram Manzoor c Prasanna b Lakmal 73 151 (Ajmal), 9-151 (Ali) Calgary 15 22 6 100 137 36 rolled to the way. Coming off a disappointing loss Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Pradeep 3 Bowling: Lakmal 21-6-45-2, Eranga 14-4-25- to Philadelphia, Phoenix took control of what was a Edmonton 14 27 5 119 161 33 Metropolitan Division Mohammad Hafeez b Pradeep 21 2, Pradeep 18-2-62-3, Herath 10.5-3-26-3 tight-checking game with three goals in the second Younis Khan c Prasanna b Eranga 13 Sri Lanka Ist innings Pittsburgh 32 12 1 147 107 65 period. Unlike Saturday, when they blew a pair of Philadelphia 22 17 4 114 118 48 Misbah-ul Haq c Prasanna b Eranga 1 D. Karunaratne lbw b Junaid 32 Central Division two-goal leads, the Coyotes kept pushing behind Asad Shafiq c Silva b Lakmal 6 K. Silva not out 12 Washington 20 16 6 128 128 46 Greiss’ second career shutout to win in regulation Chicago 29 7 9 167 124 67 Carolina 18 16 9 105 124 45 Sarfraz Ahmed c Prasanna b Pradeep 7 K. Sangakkara not out 12 for the first time since beating the Islanders on Dec Bilawal Bhatti not out 24 Extras: (lb1) 1 St. Louis 30 7 5 155 97 65 NY Rangers 21 20 3 108 119 45 12. Mikkel Boedker, Shane Doan, Martin Hanzal and Saeed Ajmal c Silva b Herath 8 Total: (for one wkt; 16 overs) 57 New Jersey 17 18 9 103 113 43 Colorado 26 12 4 123 108 56 Michael Stone each had a goal and an assist for Rahat Ali lbw b Herath 0 To bat: K. Sangakkara, M. Jayawardene, D. Columbus 19 20 4 117 126 42 Minnesota 23 17 5 108 114 51 Phoenix. Rob Klinkhammer also scored, and Mike Junaid Khan lbw b Herath 2 Chandmial, A. Mathews, P. Jayawardene, S. NY Islanders 16 22 7 124 149 39 Ribeiro and Radim Vrbata each had two assists. Dallas 20 15 7 123 131 47 Extras: (lb7) 7 Lakmal, S. Eranga, R. Herath, N. Pradeep. Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one Reto Berra allowed at least five goals for the third Total: (all out; 63.5 overs) 165 Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Karunaratne) Nashville 19 19 6 105 131 44 point in the standings and are not included in time this season, and the Flames were shut out for Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Shehzad), 2-78 (Hafeez), Bowling: Junaid 7-1-26-1, Ali 7-1-28-0, Ajmal Winnipeg 19 22 5 125 139 43 the loss column (L). the fourth time in six games. Calgary has lost nine 3-107 (Younis), 4-109 (Misbah), 5-118 1-1-0-0, Bhatti 1-0-2-0. of 11. —AP