13 WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020 sports

Stokes replaces Holder at top of all- rounder rankings England in the presence of Reuters | London ngland vice-captain Ben EStokes’ match-winning performance in the second test against West Indies Stokes’ ‘greatness’ says Root hoisted him above Wind- ies skipper Jason Holder to become the top-ranked all-rounder in the game’s Joe Root hailed longest format, the Interna- • Stokes was also a key player tional Cricket Council said ‘Mr Incredible’ Ben for England last year, pushing yesterday. Stokes after all-round them to a thrilling 50-overs Stokes followed up his 176 display in England win World Cup final win and smash- in the first innings with an ing an unbeaten century to unbeaten 78 in the second Stokes’ match haul KNOW WHAT and also picked up three • ensure victory in an Ashes test wickets in the contest to of 254 runs and three against Australia at Headingley pull off a series-levelling wickets fashioned win on Monday, earning the England’s series-levelling player-of-the-match award. victory against West the sky’s the limit for him really.” with at the moment, there’s no The 29-year-old overtook It’s one thing to identify the reason why we can’t continue to Holder in the latest rankings Indies in the second time to up the tempo but an - see such brilliant performances to become the first England test other to do that as smoothly as as we have done this week, and player to reach the top spot Stokes did in this match, with over the last 12 months really. since Andrew Flintoff in AFP | London the 29-year-old Durham star’s “I think everyone understands May 2006. natural talent now coupled to a that we are watching a player at His moving average of 497 ngland captain Joe Root heightened tactical awareness. the peak of his powers, at the rating points, the highest of said his side was in “the “To have such a complete peak of world cricket, delivering any test all-rounder since Epresence of greatness” game, and so many different time and time again. South Africa great Jacques following all-rounder Ben gears at your disposal, allows “We have to savour that, we Kallis racked up 517 in Stokes’ latest commanding dis- you the ability to keep getting have to appreciate that and un- April 2008, ended Holder’s play in yesterday’s second Test better,” said Root. derstand that we are, without 18-month reign at the top. against the West Indies at Old The past year has seen Stokes trying to pump his tyres too Stokes also climbed to a Trafford. play a key role in England’s much, in the presence of great- career-best third position Stokes laid the platform for a World Cup final win over his ness.” among test batsmen, be - 113-run victory that saw England Ben Stokes plays a shot native New Zealand at Lord’s With the finale in a behind hind India’s Virat Kohli and level the three-match series at before his staggering 135 not out closed doors campaign that Australia’s top-ranked Steve 1-1 with 176 in a first innings of were an imposing target of 312 ‘Mr Incredible’ secured a remarkable one-wick- marks international cricket’s Smith. 469-9 declared. to win. But it was paceman Stokes et victory over Australia in the return following the coronavirus Meanwhile, Stokes played Stokes was required to bat Stokes’ batting alone would who broke the stand when, dur- third Ashes Test at Headingley. lockdown starting at Old Traf- down injury concerns ahead carefully in difficult conditions, have justified the man-of- ing a typically committed stint, And Root, back skippering ford on Friday, Stokes gave Eng- of the third test at Man - a point underlined by the fact it the-match award he duly re - he produced a short ball on the England after missing West land a scare when he couldn’t chester starting on Friday, took him 255 balls to reach his ceived, but he then proved stroke of tea that Blackwood Indies’ four-wicket win in the complete the 15th over of his after he did not finish an century. his worth with the ball as could only glove to wicketkeep- first Test -- where Stokes dep- bowling spell. over when bowling late on But Stokes’ ability to adapt his well. er Jos Buttler. utised as captain -- to attend “It was just my body start - Monday. game to different situations was The West Indies, having “He’s Mr Incredible. I sup - the birth of his second child, ing to get really stiff. I’m fine,” “I felt very old this test brilliantly demonstrated during slumped to 37-4, kept the hosts pose,” Root told reporters as he forecast more of the same from Stokes insisted. match. The body started to England’s second innings when, at bay during a fifth wicket compared Stokes to the cartoon the team’s talisman. “I’ll give everything to the feel really stiff,” Stokes told promoted to open in a search for stand of exactly 100 between superhero of the same name. “If he continues to read situ- team, whatever is asked of me. the BBC. “I asked Broady quick runs, he struck 78 not out Shamarh Brooks and Jermaine “I certainly think he can keep ations the way he is, and keeps It’s a case of doing what’s need- (Stuart Broad) and he said off just 57 balls as West Indies Blackwood. performing at this level. I think the confidence that he’s playing ed at the time.” ‘Just stop’. Guardiola takes swipe at Arsenal over ‘respect’ Busaiteen crowned second AFP | London

anchester City manag- division volleyball champions Mer Pep Guardiola took a swipe at Arsenal by admitting he does not respect them off the pitch. Guardiola’s side were knocked out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage by Arse- nal on Saturday as the Gunners won 2-0 at Wembley. Guardiola was impressed by Arsenal’s play under his for- mer assistant Mikel Arteta, but he made a distinction in his thoughts about the north Lon- Arsenal’s Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta (L) bumps arms with Manchester don club when it comes to their City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) approach away from the pitch. Guardiola’s anger with Arse- opponents always deserve my of their last 16 tie on August 7. nal is thought to come from the respect and credit, and Arsenal, Guardiola’s side hold a 2-1 role they played in the group of they have it. lead from the first meeting in eight Premier League clubs per- “I have all the respect for Madrid in February. Busaiteen players with officials at the awarding ceived to have turned on City what Arsenal are on the pitch City only have two Premier during their successful appeal -- not much off the pitch, but League games to play before the TDT | Manama mun in two games, with a 3-0 Along with the second di - against a two-year Champions on the pitch a lot. visit of Zinedine Zidane’s men. (25-19, 25-15, 25-15) triumph. vision title, Busaiteen also league ban. So I congratulate them and They were well below their ahrain’s first official game The match was played at the won promotion to the first The group wrote to the Court good luck against Chelsea in best against Arsenal but Guar- Btook place last night since a Bahrain Volleyball Association division. of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the final.” diola pledged to learn from that Kingdom-wide ban of all sports (BVA) arena at Isa Sports City in The game took place with to try to ensure any attempt by Meanwhile, Guardiola says performance and is confident was implemented a few months Riffa. strict health and safety precau- City to delay their two-year ban he is “optimistic” as City pre- his team will be ready for Real. ago. BVA president Shaikh Ali bin tions in place, including social while their appeal was ongoing pare to resume their bid for “Part of the good work Arse- Busaiteen were crowned Mohammed Al Khalifa present- distancing and the wearing of was dismissed. Champions League glory nal have done, I give them a lot champions of the Bahrain ed the trophies to Busaiteen face masks amongst all those City had their ban overturned against Real Madrid. of credit for, what they did, how Second Division Volleyball players and team officials, in in attendance, temperature by CAS earlier this month, but City will host the Spanish good they defended,” Guardiola League after sweeping their the presence of other BVA of- checks at the entrance, and Guardiola told reporters: “The champions in the second leg told reporters. finals series against Al Tadha- ficials. others.