WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017 SPORTS Five infamous -Australia controversies NEW : Five previous flashpoints Durrani prevented Chauhan from leaving the and the reliably-partisan Indian media he had turned up a few minutes late on pur- Kumble to say that only one team was playing between India and Australia who begin a field which would have resulted in the visi- went apoplectic. The ever-gracious Tendulkar pose each time to teach the Aussies a lesson with the spirit of the game. Australia won the four-Test series in tomorrow. tors conceding the match and incurring a played down the decision, merely saying his for their rude behaviour. match and went on to take the series 2-1. suspension. Gavaskar later said he regretted dismissal was a bit disappointing. SUNNY’S ALMIGHTY STROP his “inexcusable behaviour”. ‘MONKEYGATE’ ERUPTS KOHLI SHOWS THE MIDDLE FINGER Indian suffered a GANGULY KEEPS WAUGH WAITING The 2008 New Year Test in was Four years after “Monkeygate” came massive meltdown during the 1981 TENDULKAR OUT ‘SHOULDER BEFORE’ Former India captain Sourav Ganguly so undoubtedly the lowest point in India-Australia “Fingergate” when a young and angry Virat Melbourne Test when he threatened to for- Indian fans still rage about an umpiring enraged his opposite number cricket relations. With tempers frayed because Kohli let the rowdy Sydney Test crowd get to feit the match after being given out lbw on decision during the 1999 Adelaide Test that during India’s 2001 tour Down Under that the of a string of questionable umpiring decisions him. Kohli was fielding in the deep when he 70 off Australian great . The bat- saw the great dismissed Australian skipper accused him of a “lack of and on-field altercations, the “Monkeygate” was on the receiving end of some unpleasant ting legend, nicknamed “Sunny”, was effectively for “shoulder before ”. The respect”. Waugh was furious that Ganguly scandal erupted-almost causing the tour to be chants from the famously vocal fans and adamant that the ball had hit his bat first and “Little Master”-who stands at 5ft 4in (1.65m) kept turning up late for the toss. Waugh called off. Australia all-rounder Andrew responded by flashing the middle finger. It was remonstrated with both Lillee and the — attempted to duck a Glenn McGrath wrote in his autobiography that he was Symonds accused spinner of caught on camera and Kohli, now captain, was umpire before reluctantly starting his walk bouncer, only for the ball to keep low and hit “wound up” by the left-handed batsman’s calling him a “monkey”. Singh, who denied any fined 50 percent of his match fee for bringing from the crease while shaking his head vehe- his left shoulder. Home umpire Daryl Harper “continued petulance”. Ganguly, nicknamed wrong-doing, was suspended for three match- the game into disrepute. He later defended his mently. He instructed bemused fellow open- had no hesitation in giving Tendulkar out the Prince of Kolkata for the air of superiority es for the alleged racist slur. The ban was over- response on Twitter: “I agree cricketers don’t er Chetan Chauhan to leave with him and the lbw. Some replays suggested the ball may that he carried on and off the field, initially turned when India threatened to quit the tour, have to retaliate. what (sic) when the crowd pair headed for the boundary. A swift inter- have clipped the top of the stumps but most maintained that his tardiness had been a claiming Singh had been wrongly accused. The says the worst things about your mother and vention from then Indian manager Shahid were inconclusive. Tendulkar was out for a mistake. Years later though he revealed that allegations prompted India captain Anil sister. the worst I’ve heard.” — AFP

BASEBALL Dodgers add Gutierrez to already loaded roster

GLENDALE: Although Franklin Gutierrez offi- Tampa Bay two years later, the Dodgers have cially joined the Los Angeles Dodgers on spent the bounty from their multibillion-dol- Monday afternoon, the veteran outfielder lar television deal with remarkable vigor. They had already been working out at their spring did it again during this offseason, committing training complex for two days. a combined $192 million to keep third base- The Dodgers reached a deal with him last man Justin Turner, closer Kenley Jansen and week, but they couldn’t formally announce starter Rich Hill from the team that finished his arrival because they hadn’t been able to two wins shy of the World Series. clear a spot for him on their 40-man roster The Dodgers also were deep last season, until they traded veteran left-hander Vidal and they had to be: They won 91 games and Nuno to Baltimore for a prospect on Sunday. reached the NL Championship Series despite Such is the nature of the Dodgers’ remark- setting a single-season major league record able roster depth heading into a season of by putting 28 different players on the dis- enormous expectations. The four-time abled list. They had seven starting pitchers on defending NL West champions are bursting the DL at the same time in August, and they with quality big-leaguers at every position, used 55 different players, tying a team record. ranging from seasoned veterans to blue-chip If injury problems ravage them again, the young talent, as they chase their first World Dodgers think they will be ready. If the Series title since 1988. Dodgers stay healthy, they’ll just be loaded. The Dodgers’ extraordinary depth is a lux- “You could say that we have more depth,” ury for manager Dave Roberts, but it also Roberts said Monday. “You could argue that. I means spring training is uncommonly impor- think that’s a good thing. ... The confidence tant as they begin the difficult process of that we have in our clubhouse is real. We’ve trimming this roster to a 25-man group. got some pretty good players.” For instance, Roberts can choose among The Dodgers entered spring training with 10 legitimate big-league starters for his five- a roster so deep that they couldn’t immedi- man rotation. The club also must make tough ately announce the signing of Gutierrez or calls from the bullpen to the outfield, and the the return of Chase Utley. The well-liked vet- process takes another step forward Tuesday eran infielder is likely to play a utility role this with the first full-squad workout. season because Los Angeles already “We’re going to have a lot of competition improved its infield by acquiring second around here, and someone is not going to be baseman Logan Forsythe from Tampa Bay in a COLOMBO: Members of the Indian cricket team pose for photographs with the winners trophy after defeating South Africa in their ICC Women’s happy,” ace Clayton Kershaw said. “But it’s trade for pitching prospect Jose De Leon. World Cup Qualifier final one-day international cricket match in Colombo, Sri Lanka, yesterday. — AP going to be good for us in the long run.” “There’s a lot of great players in this Since the deep-pocketed Guggenheim room,” Utley said. “There’s not a ton of spots, CRICKET Baseball Management ownership group took but there’s a ton of good guys. Hopefully we over the team in 2012 and hired top baseball can stay healthy and everybody can per- executive Andrew Friedman away from form well.” — AP India wins Women’s WCup qualifying final

COLOMBO: Hamanpreet Kaur hit a six and ran team qualifying event. They and Sri Lanka and appeared to lose its way later, dropping to 223-8 briskly for two runs during the last two balls to Pakistan will join , Australia, New Zealand, in the 46th over and 237-9 to start the last over, steal a tense one-wicket win for India over South and the West Indies in the Women’s World Cup in but Kaur held her nerve to see her team through Africa in the final of the Women’s Cricket World June in England. to victory. and Ayabonga Khaka Cup qualifiers yesterday. Deepti Sharma top-scored for India with 71 off took two each for South Africa, whose top Kaur scored a run-a-ball 41 in India’s 245-9 in 89 balls including eight boundaries. Her 124-run eight batswomen hit double figures. Mignon de 50 overs in reply to South Africa’s 244 all out in its stand for the second wicket with opener Mona Preez top-scored for South Africa with 40. For final over. India was the pre-tournament Meshram (59) set up the successful run chase. India, Rajeshwari Gayakwad took three wickets favourite, followed by South Africa, in the 10- Meshram hit seven boundaries and a six. India and Shika Pandey two. — AP Australia renew rivalry with top dogs India CHRISTCHURCH: South Africa’s Farhaan Behardien kicks a ball during a practice ses- sion at Hagley Park, Christchurch, New Zealand, yesterday. South Africa plays New PUNE: ’s Australia have the chance of confrontation, has warned his teammates not to humbling at the hands of an unfancied Sri Lanka is Zealand in a one day cricket international here today. — AP halting India’s Test juggernaut in a series between wind up Kohli. “ is one of those players, if likely to weigh heavily on their minds. the world’s top two sides starting this week which you niggle at him, it either makes him better or if Much will depend on whether the spinners promises to be yet another feisty encounter you get under his skin, he’ll probably get even bet- and Steve O’Keefe can have an between the arch rivals. ter,” said Warner. Nevertheless, Smith wants his impact. They claimed four and three wickets India v Australia: After India stretched their unbeaten run to 19 players to get in the face of the Indians, telling respectively in the tourists’ only warm-up match in Tests this month, several former stars are even dar- reporters: “If they want to get into a battle verbally Mumbai are expected to play in Pune. five talking points ing to predict another whitewash against Australia then, if that gets the best out of them, go for it”. India are expected to stick with the line-up that who have a miserable recent record on the sub- Ever since Harbhajan was accused of calling comprehensively beat Bangladesh in Hyderabad NEW DELHI: Five talking points ahead of Indies, New Zealand and England during continent. Australia meanwhile have been unusual- a “monkey” in the 2008 Sydney earlier this month. the four-match series between the their unbeaten streak leading coach Anil ly respectful of their opponents in the build-up but Test, matches between the sides have never been world’s number one Test side India and Kumble to say his side have the potential Smith expects his team to greet India with a bar- far from boiling point. Harbhajan showed he has Squads second-ranked Australia which begins in to become the best ever. The hosts have rage of when the contest begins in Pune lost none of his abililty to stir things up by dismiss- India: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Pune tomorrow. won 15 of their last 19 matches but still tomorrow. “The guys are in a great frame of mind, ing the 2017 vintage as a pale comparison to its Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, have some way to go to be bracketed we’re ready to go. We’re pumped,” vice-captain predecessors. Wriddhiman Saha, , Ravindra LET’S GO SLEDGING with the best of all time: the dominant said after Australia drew a weekend Jadeja, , Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Former Australia batsman Mike Hussey West Indies of the 1980s won 40 out of warm-up against India A. ‘WEAKEST EVER TOURISTS’ Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, warned the visitors that winding up India 69 Tests, while Australia triumphed in 72 Australia have a chance of knocking India off “In my opinion, looking at the composition, this Abhinav Mukund, Hardik Pandya. captain Virat Kohli would only make him of 93 Tests from 1999 to 2007. the top of the Test rankings but Virat Kohli’s men is the weakest Australian side to tour India. I don’t Australia: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, more dangerous but skipper Steve Smith have won their last six series and are overwhelm- think this team has the wherewithal to cope with a Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh has given the green light for sledging. “It’s HOW TO TAME ing favourites to continue that run. quality Indian side in the Indian conditions. It can Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell all about us making sure that as individu- ‘ BRADMAN’ Australia’s last tour of India in 2013 under captain again be 4-0,” Harbhajan told the Press Trust of Marsh, , , Steve O’Keefe, als we’re in the right mindset to go out Former captain Steve Waugh warned Michael Clarke was a disaster as they went down 4-0 India. The last series between the two sides ended Matthew Renshaw, , Mitchell and succeed and if guys want to get in that Australia would only beat India if and four of the team were sent home after refusing in a 2-0 victory for Australia Down Under but their Swepson, Matthew Wade. — AFP those kind of battles then go for it,” they could tame the rampant to do homework set by coach Mickey Arthur. Team declared Smith in his first press confer- Ravichandran Ashwin, terming him “the spirit has recovered under Smith’s captaincy, but ence in India. No one, however, will want a Bradman of bowling”. It won’t be easy: they were thrashed 3-0 last year in Sri Lanka when Bangladesh recall Mustafizur repeat of the 2008 “Monkeygate” scandal the record-breaking spinner this month their shortcomings against spin were exposed along at Sydney which almost led to India’s tour became the fastest to claim 250 Test vic- with their lack of a match-winning slow bowler. for Sri Lanka Tests Down Under being called off. tims in his 45th match, surpassing While their former paceman Glenn McGrath used to Dennis Lillee’s 48-Test mark. And Ashwin be notorious for getting up the opposition’s nose by DHAKA: Bangladesh yesterday recalled their of the tour, which wraps up on April 6. The UNDERDOG AUSSIES DARE TO DREAM has dismissed no less than 61 batsmen forecasting clean sweeps, Australia have been get- left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman in a 16- selectors also handed fast bowler Rubel Though ranked second in the world, in India’s last three series. ting a taste of their own medicine. man squad for the upcoming two-Test series in Hossain a recall after he was ignored for Australia will face a super-confident top- India’s ex-captain Sourav Ganguly has predicted Sri Lanka after his prolonged injury lay-off. The Bangladesh’s recent defeat in a one-off Test ranked India team who are unbeaten in STARC REALITY FOR KOHLI a 4-0 win for the hosts while veteran spinner 21-year-old has not played a Test since his against India, meaning there are five pacemen debut series against South Africa in 2015 after in the squad. “We think we would require an 19 Tests stetching across six consecutive ‘King’ Kohli will stride to the crease in Harbhajan Singh has called Smith’s team the weak- suffering a series of injuries. He underwent sur- extra pacer in testing conditions in Sri Lanka,” series wins. The visitors haven’t won a Pune as the world’s top-ranked batsman est ever Australian squad. gery on his shoulder last year. said chief selector Minhajul Abedin. Test in India since they took the 2004 and the first to score double hundreds in While he made a brief return to the limited- Opening batsman Imrul Kayes was not series 2-1 but that hasn’t stopped the four successive series. His duel with ‘BRADMAN OF BOWLING’ Indian confidence is largely founded on the overs side against New Zealand at the turn of named in the squad after he failed to recover underdogs dreaming of a massive upset. strike bowler Mitchell Starc is likely to be the year, he was not deemed fit enough to sufficiently from a thigh injury picked up in form of skipper Kohli who has hit four double cen- “We know that if we can pull something a key battle. withstand the rigours of a five-day Test match. India. But Abedin said he could be called up for turies since July. They also possess the current best off and win a series here, we will look “I think Starc is a brilliant bowler for Bangladesh are due to play two Tests against the second Test if he regains fitness. back in 10 to 20 years and it will be some the sub-continental conditions. He bowls bowler in the world in Ravichandran Ashwin whom the Sri Lankans-one in Galle from March 7-11 Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Tamim Iqbal, of the best times of our lives,” said Smith. at a genuine pace, can swing the new McGrath’s old captain Steve Waugh recently brand- and another in the capital Colombo which Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah ball and is an excellent exponent of ed the “Bradman of Bowling”, the ultimate compli- starts on March 15 and will be their 100th Test Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Liton UNBEATABLE INDIA EYE GREATNESS reverse swing. I am sure he will challenge ment by an Australian. Kohli’s recent form has also match. They are then scheduled to play three Das, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam, India have enjoyed comprehensive Kohli throughout the series,” Hussey told drawn comparisons with the late Donald Bradman, 50-over ODIs before facing off for two Mustafizur Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Mosaddek series wins against South Africa, West the Press Trust of India. — AFP who averaged 99.94 in Tests, but never played in international matches at the tailend Hossain, Subashis Roy and Rubel Hossain. — AFP India. And Warner, not one to shirk from an onfield