TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 SPORTS

An exciting outcome in Presidents Cup, nothing more

INCHEON: The best Presidents Cup in Cup woes. Americans could take this relaxed mood player who won’t have full PGA Tour sta- putts in the Ryder Cup because they’ve 10 years revealed exactly what the It’s not going to hurt. The assistants with them to Hazeltine for the Ryder tus next season. been winning. It takes the Americans Americans need to do if they want to that US Jay Haas had with him Cup next year. That’s what prompted Couples, golf’s winning the Ryder Cup, and winning it win the Ryder Cup. Lobby for an last week were Ryder Cup captain Davis But they can’t. Or at least they version of Yogi Berra, to say, “They’re all again, to change that. And the increase in points. Love III, Fred Couples, Jim Furyk and haven’t. The Ryder Cup is different. The Americans, they were just born in a dif- Americans haven’t won consecutive The International team long believed Steve Stricker. At least three of them will stakes are higher, the scrutiny more ferent country.” But this is about more Ryder Cups since the year Jordan Spieth that playing more matches gave the be central figures at the Ryder Cup for intense. The competition is tougher. than a country, a continent or even a was born. Americans an advantage because of the rest of the decade or more. The idea Golf gets personal that week. flag. The Ryder Cup rivalry is about a The tide is shifting in the Ryder Cup. their depth, and the fact this Presidents behind that Ryder Cup Task Force was to International captain Nick Price tour. The youth movement is strong, and Cup wasn’t decided until the final match build some continuity. spoke all speak about how difficult it It’s the European Tour - “country most of it resides in America - Spieth, suggests some truth to that. It was a Even so, the Presidents Cup is more was to pull together 12 players from cousins” is the term Padraig Harrington Dustin Johnson, Fowler, Patrick Reed, petty argument. The International team like a dress rehearsal compared with seven countries on three continents once used - against the PGA Tour that is with a host of others who will make it was disappointed the matches were not opening night that is the Ryder Cup. The who spoke six languages (more consid- so rich and powerful that it’s where harder than ever to get on a team. reduced from 34 to 28, and the theater was full at the Jack Nicklaus Golf ering Anirban Lahiri also speaks Bengali most Europeans want to play. You can That ebb didn’t start Sunday in South Americans were irritated by a compro- Club Korea, and cheers resounded from and some Punjabi), and how proud he create a rivalry, but not a chip on the Korea. It won’t start until next fall in mise that reduced them to 30. This was across the course for great shots. The was of how well they bonded. What he shoulder. That’s personal. Minnesota. Among the guests last week as close as the Presidents Cup has ever players just couldn’t figure out what didn’t mention is that the flag is manu- And you can’t transfer that winning on a bone-chilling Sunday was Derek come to hard feelings. they meant. The Koreans had never seen factured, and so is the name of the feeling from one cup to the other, Sprague, the PGA of America president That’s why the two cups only the such a collection of golf stars before. team. either. They are separate events. who already is doing his part to boost look the same from the outside. One Except for Bae Sang-moon and Danny The running joke in the early days of Americans play loose and make putts in US chances by not making the Ryder contains a bone dry martini, the other a Lee, this was not a partisan crowd. the Presidents Cup was that it was the the Presidents Cup because that’s all Cup about him. Love was driving by lava flow. And that’s why the Americans During one of the early practice United States against Florida because so they’ve been doing since it started in when he saw Sprague, called him over should celebrate great golf and a great rounds, as five players were in one many were PGA Tour members. That 1994 (except for 1998 in Australia, when and said. “I’ve already some ideas for victory without thinking it was a big group and there were laughs all around, hasn’t changed. Thongchai Jaidee of a lot of them were shopping online for next year.” Sprague went over to hear step toward solving their recent Ryder one of the coaches was hopeful that the Thailand was the only International Christmas). Europe is loose and making them. “Hand warmers,” Love said.—AP ‘The Finisher’ finished? India debate on Dhoni

NEW DELHI: The “helicopter shot” has disap- peared, the boundaries are not flowing from his bat and the whisper is now growing louder that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is no more the middle-order finisher who could single-hand- edly get India over the line. Even for his ardent fans, and he is still the most popular player in the -mad coun- try, it was painful to watch Dhoni struggle in Sunday’s one-day series opener against South Africa. Time and again, he tried the big shots that once came out of his blade with amazing regu- larity and time and again he could not con- nect. Known for his penchant to seal victory with a six, exhibited famously in the final of the 2011 World Cup, Dhoni managed only one boundary in his 31-ball ordeal as the wheels came off India’s chase in the final overs in Kanpur. Not that he did not try. He stepped out against Morne Morkel, made room against Dale Steyn and ran hard between the in the scorching heat, try- ing to do with the legs what his bat could not. His laboured batting was all the more evi- Jason Holder in action in this file photo. dent seen against centurion Rohit Sharma’s effortless strokemaking at the other end dur- Sri Lanka and West Indies ing their 55-run stand. “Dhoni used to be great when the ball was pitched up to him,” former captain K. Srikkanth told yesterday Times of face off with young guns India newspaper. “But bowlers ... have understood that the GALLE: Sri Lanka and the West Indies will look fielding side in Asia”. key is not to give him any room to manoeuvre to offload past baggage and begin a new era He refused to take victory for granted and Dhoni would not be the same player with fresh young talent when a two-Test series against the young touring side. “I would like to (again). “Dhoni can still be an accumulator but starts in Galle tomorrow. believe that we have a better chance of getting I don’t think we are going to see the same dev- Sri Lanka are rebuilding following the retire- back to winning ways, but I definitely won’t astating MSD in the days to come.” ment of their batting greats, Mahela underestimate them,” he said. Only two players Going through a lean patch, Dhoni has also Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, within the from either side have played more than 50 baffled many by wishing to bat higher in the space of a year. Tests-Mathews and Rangana Herath for Sri order, having rejected the same suggestion for The West Indies, already hit by the reluc- Lanka and batsman Marlon Samuels and the large part of his career. Former captain Anil tance of senior pros like Chris Gayle and Ramdin for the West Indies. Kumble is part of the fast-dwindling tribe still Dwayne Bravo to play , faced further Herath, the 37-year-old left-arm spinner, convinced that Dhoni remains India’s best “fin- turmoil when coach Phil Simmons was stood could prove to be the difference when the first isher”. down for the tour for speaking out against his Test starts at the picturesque Galle International “I don’t think his role has changed. I don’t board’s selection policies. Stadium, a venue that traditionally favours spin. think he should be pushed at number four to Former fast bowler and selector Eldine Herath took seven for 48 against India in play a different role. He is still a good finisher,” KANPUR: India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni miscues a shot to get out while playing Baptiste, who will serve as interim coach for the August, helping Sri Lanka bounce back to win said Kumble. “One hit (in Sunday’s match) and against South Africa in this file photo. —AP tour, will try to ease newly-appointed Test cap- that Test by 63 runs. In June Pakistani spin twins we would have been talking differently. His Park Stadium and rued how unforgiving the I’m somebody who has to finish the job for the tain Jason Holder into the role. Yasir Shar and Zulfiqar Babar combined to grab strike rate has obviously come down and the fans are. “It’s not an easy job, it does not always team. “When you finish a lot of many games, Holder, a 23-year-old all-rounder who has 13 wickets between them as Sri Lanka suffered pitch did not help either.” work your way,” he said after the loss. “It’s a people always remember the ones you have played just eight Tests, was a surprise choice to a 10- defeat at the same venue. Dhoni also blamed the low-bounce at Green gamble but of course that’s my job in the side. not finished.” —Reuters replace the seasoned Denesh Ramdin as cap- In the absence of star spinner Sunil Narine, tain. “We have a very young team and a young who was not picked for the Tests, the West captain,” Baptiste said. “My job is to keep the Indies will rely on leg-break bowler Devendra team focused for the Test matches.” The West Bishoo, who has claimed 50 wickets in 13 Tests Pakistan get Yasir scare, Finn out for England Indies are searching for their maiden Test win so far. Sri Lanka’s batting in the absence of ABU DHABI: Pakistan’s chances of defeating ners who played in the warm-up game in England skipper Alastair Cook admitted on Sri Lankan soil, where they have played nine Jayawardene and Sangakkara will revolve England in today’s opening Test match in Abu Sharjah.” Shah’s loss could be crucial for Pakistan. “You matches since 1993 — losing five and drawing around skipper Mathews, who hit three cen- Dhabi suffered a blow yesterday when key leg- Pakistan are already without key batsman never know with these things,” said Cook. “Of the other four. turies in the home Tests against Pakistan and spinner Yasir Shah suffered a back spasm during Azhar Ali, ruled out of the match with a foot course it would be a loss for them. As always, the Both teams will look to bounce back after a India. practice. infection. His place is likely to go to Shoaib day before a big series we’re concentrating on lacklustre year. The West Indians lost to South Sri Lanka (from) - Angelo Mathews (capt), The 29-year-old Shah stumbled in his follow- Malik, who has not played a Test for five years. matters which are important to us.” Africa and Australia, while the home series Lahiru Thirmanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal through and apparently hurt his back. “Yasir’s Azhar’s absence will put more pressure on “He is clearly a fantastic bowler who not against England was drawn 1-1. Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Rangana Herath, injury is a concern and could be a jolt,” skipper Younis Khan, Misbah and Sarfraz Ahmed to many of us have faced. He’s had a good start to Angelo Mathews’ Sri Lanka crashed to a 2-0 Dhammika Prasad, Kusal Perera, Dushmantha Misbah-ul-Haq told a press conference yester- shoulder the batting. Younis amassed 468 runs his Test career,” said Cook of Shah. series defeat in New Zealand and lost home Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Tharindu Kaushal, day. “We are looking into it and hope that he is against Australia and hit a match-winning 171 England were also hit by injury to paceman series to Pakistan and India by identical 2-1 mar- Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Milinda okay by tomorrow morning.” in Pakistan’s last Test in Sri Lanka, leaving Steven Finn, who took four wickets in the sec- gins. Like their rivals, Sri Lanka too have an inter- Siriwardena, Kusal Mendis. Pakistan are relying heavily on Shah and fel- him just 19 behind Pakistan’s highest tally of ond warm-up game, also in Sharjah. “It’s a bitter im coach in Jerome Jayaratne, who was given West Indies (from) - Jason Holder (capt), low left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar to win the 8,832 set by Javed Miandad. blow for him, he bowled really well in that charge of the team after Marvan Atapattu Kraig Brathwaite, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos three-match series in the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan have been forced to play in the UAE warm-up match,” said Cook. “Over the last 12 resigned in the wake of the defeat against India. Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Shah took 24 wickets in Pakistan’s 2-1 win in the due to security fears at home but have never lost months he’s made huge strides back to where Jayaratne, who did not play international Rajendra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Tests in Sri Lanka in July and was seen as the a series here, winning four and drawing three. we would like him to be.” England’s answer to cricket but made his mark as head of the Sri Gabriel, Shai Hope, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar dangerman for England, who were routed 3-0 by Misbah admitted England are more prepared Pakistan’s spin challenge will likely be under- Lankan board’s coaching department, has Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Jomel spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman here in this time.”I think they are more prepared and whelming. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid is set to already described Mathews’ boys as the “worst Warrican.—AFP 2012. know what mistakes they committed the last make his Test debut, six years after playing his “Obviously he (Shah) is a key player for us but time so we need to also focus and improve our first one-day international. we are hoping for the best,” said Misbah. “We are performance. We have to be at our best to be up Moeen Ali is favourite to play as opener in a NZ’s Anderson ruled out of looking into calling one of the two left-arm spin- there.” makeshift arrangement, with additional duties of off-spin, despite never having Australia tour with injury opened the innings even in a first-class match. WELLINGTON: All-rounder Corey Anderson was included for their series against If that happens, Moeen will be Cook’s seventh has been ruled out of New Zealand’s tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa but had to with- partner since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012. Joe Australia with a back injury and been draw with a broken thumb. Root and Ben Stokes-England’s leading perform- replaced by Mitchell Santner, the team said “Mitch (is) an all-rounder who can bat at ers with the bat-will be tested against quality yesterday. number six or seven and he’s also a front-line spin. Dubai will host the second Test (October The 24-year-old Anderson suffered the bowler,” Larsen added. “It’s a good opportuni- 22-26), with the final match in Sharjah injury on New Zealand’s tour of England and ty for him. We believe his left-arm spin will (November 1-5). had not recovered sufficiently to shoulder a add some variety to our options and his bat- bowling workload, selector Gavin Larsen said ting is well-suited to the conditions expected Squads (from): in a statement. “Corey hasn’t been able to across the Tasman.” Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Ahmed recover as quickly as we hoped and we’ve New Zealand will play three tests in Shehzad, Shan Masood, Mohammad Hafeez, chosen not to try to rush him back,” said Australia, including the first twilight match in Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Larsen. “We’ve always said there were a num- Adelaide, where a pink ball will be used. The Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, ber of checkpoints for him to meet before our first test in Brisbane begins on Nov. 5. The Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Rahat Ali, Junaid Khan. departure date, and we’re now in a position side had an intra-squad trial match in England: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, to confirm he’s not ready. Hamilton last week under lights with a pink James Anderson, Samit Patel, Jonny Bairstow, Ian “With that in mind, it’s better for him to ball. Off-spinner Mark Craig said there was lit- Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Liam continue his rehabilitation.” The 23-year-old tle difference between the pink ball and the Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Santner, who bowls left-arm spin as opposed white ball used for limited overs matches, but James Taylor, Mark Wood. to the brisk medium pace of the burly the trial had been good to become accus- Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) and Paul Anderson, impressed in the limited overs por- tomed to what to expect under differing con- Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi (IND) tion of New Zealand’s tour of England and ditions.—Reuters Yasir Shah : Andy Pycroft (ZIM). —AFP