SPORT Saturday 25 August 2018 PAGE | 14 PAGE | 15 Raikkonen keeps Bairstow may Ferrari on top in play as specialist Belgian GP practice batsman Qatar handball team inches closer to medal

CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA MEDAL TABLE (TOP 10) Rank Country G S B Total : Qatari handball players main- 1 China 66 46 27 139 tained their dominant run by defeating 2 Japan 29 31 43 103 Japan 24-17 to storm into the semi- 3 South Korea 23 26 29 78 finals while beach volleyball team of 4 Iran 12 11 8 31 Ahmed Janko and Cherif Samba booked a place in the quarter-finals to raise 5 Indonesia 9 9 14 32 medal hopes at the Asian Games in 6 DPR Korea 8 5 6 19 Indonesia yesterday. 7 Chinese 6 7 12 25 Qatari handball team took an early 8 India 6 5 14 25 lead in yesterday’s final group match 9 Thailand 6 4 20 30 but Japan equalised on multiple occa- 10 Uzbekistan 4 10 7 21 sions in the first half. However, the 11 3 7 24 34 deadlock was broken at 10 and Qatar 12 Mongolia 3 2 4 9 secured the lead at the half-fime whistle at 13-10. 13 2 5 12 19 In the second half, Al Annabi 14 UAE 2 3 0 5 players tightened the grip by adding 11 15 Singapore 2 1 6 9 more goals against Japan’s seven to 16 Vietnam 1 6 9 16 break the opponents’ hearts by winning 28 Afghanistan 0 0 1 1 their fifth game in a row in 28 Pakistan 0 0 1 1 Indonesia. 28 Qatar 0 0 1 1 Anis Zouaui scored six goals while Bertrand Roine was on target on five occasions. Allaedine Berrached (3), (3), Moustafa Heiba (4), (2) and Abdulrazzaq Murad (1) also made valuable additions Qatar’s Ahmed Janko and Cherif Samba in action against Kazakhstan’s Alexey to the total score. Kuleshov and Alexandr Babichev at the JSC Beach Volley Arena in Palembang, Yesterday’s win also secured the top spot for Qatar in Group 1. They had Indonesia yesterday. already made it to the semis. Japan, who were placed second in the points Kazakhstan’s Alexey Kuleshov and after their recent win at the AVC Men’s table, were badly in need of a win yes- Alexandr Babichev 21-8, 21-19 to storm Cup in Chinese Taipei, prevailed 25-16, terday as the top two teams in each into the quarter-finals. The Qatari duo 25-22, 25-18 at the end. group were offered berths in the remain unbeaten so far in the beach The win secured full points for semi-finals. volleyball competition and is one of the Qatar who finished the preliminary But the loss against Qatar made top favourites win a medal at the 2018 round as the group leaders, having won little impact as Saudi Arabia and Iraq Games. all their three matches. were involved in a rare 20-20 draw in Jenko and Cherif will be up against In the men’s 3x3 basketball prelim- the previous group match, and Japan Iranians Arash Vakili and Bahman Sale- inaries, Qatar beat Jordan 21-7 in their sealed the remaining spot in the miinjehboroun in today’s semi-final. Pool C match in the morning session semi-finals. Meanwhile, Qatari volleyball yesterday, before going down fighting Qatar will meet South Korea in the players also maintained their unbeaten to Japan 21-15 in the evening session. Qatar’s Wajdi first semi-final on Monday while Japan streak with a resounding 3-0 win Qatari female cagers did not have Sinen in action will lock horns with Group 2 leaders against Hong Kong yesterday. any luck yesterday as they lost both of during the 2018 Bahrain. The East Asian team was only able their matches in the preliminary round Asian Games in At the JSC Beach Volley Arena in to put up a strong fight in the second against Vietnam (12-6) and Malaysia . Palembang, Jenko and Cherif defeated set but Qatar, who are in stunning form (18-7). Tamimi goes down fighting in thriller

THE PENINSULA lead before clinching his win in beat Ammar Altamimi 11-5, 11-4, Abdulla Games,” continued the teenager semi-finals and I’m very happy exactly one hour. 11-7. Al Tamimi who recently won the Malaysian with the way I played,” said DOHA: In a major upset in “It was really a tough fight Following Adnan’s win yes- national title. Nicol, who now faces Indian quarter-finals of the squash but it’s worth it because at least terday, Malaysia are in line for “It’s really a big thing getting rival for competition at the 2018 Asian there will be a medal for a triple squash medal haul in through into the top four but a place in her sixth successive Games in Indonesia yesterday, Malaysia,” said the 32-year-old Indonesia after Sivasangari now I have to reset and focus final. the reigning Malaysian Open world No.40. Subramaniam and again because I have another Top men’s seed Saurav champion, Qatar’s Abdulla Al “I feel awesome and very also pulled off major upsets in big match tomorrow.” Ghosal, bidding to become the Tamimi lost to Malaysia’s Nafi- glad to win today and contrib- the quarter-finals to secure The player she will now face first Indian gold medallist in the izwan Adnan 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, uting a medal to my beloved places in the semi-finals. in a bid to reach the final is event, had a tough quarter-final 5-11, 11-9. country, especially in this Subramaniam, a 19-year- , a 3/4 seed battle on his hands against At the at the Gelora Bung special “Merdeka” (inde- old from Kedah, scored the from India who needed four fellow countryman Harinder Pal Karno Sports Complex in pendence) month. It was a biggest win of her career when games to overcome Hong Kong Sandhu. After dropping the Jakarta, the Qatari star, who is tough match and now I am she beat second seed , left-hander 11-5, opening game, the favourite ranked career-high 28th in the looking forward to a good rest the world No.11 from Hong “She’s the second seed in 12-10, 5-11, 12-10. regained control of the match world, put up a tremendous this evening - and hopefully Kong, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 3-11, 11-5. the tournament and ranked as David kept alive her hopes to prevail 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 effort against the 2018 Com- tomorrow, I’ll do even better “I still can’t believe that I’ve high as number 11 in the world. of a record fifth gold medal after 70 minutes. monwealth Games bronze med- than today.” managed to produce a win over “I went on court just when she despatched one of the The world No.12 from allist, who went on to secure the Adnan progresses to face Annie,” the jubilant Subra- looking to play my best squash, women’s game’s rising stars Kolkata now takes on Hong semi-finals berth. Max Lee, the No.2 seed from maniam (pictured above, left, which I did and I’m just so , of Japan, Kong’s Leo Au in a bid to reach Ranked 12 places behind the Hong Kong who ended Kuwaiti in quarter-final action) told happy to get through to the 11-6, 11-4, 11-3. the final for the second time in Qatari, Adnan squandered a 2/0 interest in the event when he www.squashmad.com. semi-finals in my first Asian “It’s great to be in the a row.

Abdulla Al Tamimi (right) in action during the squash competition at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on Thursday. 14 SPORT SATURDAY 25 AUGUST 2018 Ikee takes Yesterday’s Samba leads Qatar’s medal highlights record haul REUTERS

REUTERS JAKARTA: Highlights of day hunt on Asian Games track seven of the 18th Asian Games JAKARTA: Teenager Rikako in Jakarta and Palembang ARMSTRONG VAS London Olympic Games Ikee became the first metres event. Tosin has not com- chalelnge will be led by Mohd Al yesterday: bronze medallist Nasser Al swimmer to win six gold THE PENINSULA peted in the 100 metres dash this Mannai today. medals at a single Asian Saleh Al Attiyah begins his year, but he won the silver medal High Jumper Mahamat Sun cruises to another Games on a thrilling final DOHA: will gold quest in shooting. in 60 metres event during the Hamdi will be the one Qatari fans freestyle gold night in the Jakarta pool lead Qatar’s gold quest in track Asian Indoor Championships will be looking forward to get China’s three-times Olympic which left continental powers and field events of the 18th Asian Athletes Abdalelah Haroun, held in , earlier this year. them the medal in the absanse of champion Sun Yang claimed a Japan and China with 19 gold Games in Indonesia which begins Mohamed Nasir Abbas, In the Abdalelah Barshim, while another Qatari record-equalling 14th medals apiece. today. Tosin Ogunode, Mahamat Haroun is expected to lead the athlete Rania Alnaji will vie for medal at the Asian Games after Three-times Olympic The athletics competition at Hamdi, Rania Alnaji and Qatari charge along with , honours in the Women’s winning the men’s 1500 metres champion Sun Yang also the Games will take place without Mohamed Al Mannai in Mohamed Nasir Abbas. Hammer Throw. freestyle final. It was a fourth completed a remarkable one of its leading lights with action at the Gelora Bung Haroun raced to victory at Meanwhile, Qatar’s London freestyle gold for Sun at the four-gold sweep and 16-year- world and double Asiad high Karno Stadium today. the London Stadium at the World Olympic Games bronze medallist Jakarta Pool this week. old Wang Jianjiahe a freestyle jump champion Qatar’s Mutaz Championships, setting a new Nasser Al Saleh Al Attiyah will be Koseki completes distance triple for China in the Essa Barshim missing out due to national record and his personal seen in the men’s Trap event in breaststroke treble 400m, while Yasuhiro Koseki an ankle injury. China’s Asian Games domi- best of 44.07 seconds. This also the shooting competition quali- Japan’s Yasuhiro Koseki won his third breaststroke In the absence of Barshim, nation is set to extend to track makes him the fastest 400 metres fying rounds today. became the second man to win gold in the 50m. Samba, currently the fastest 400 and field this week with an sprinter in Asia this season. Qatar has high hopes on their all three breaststroke events at The battle for Asian metres hurdler in the world will in-form Su Bingtian expected to According to current shooting contingent which a single Asian Games after supremacy therefore came be the one to watch when the ath- provide the gloss with his blis- standings, Abbas is ranked third includes 20 athletes. cruising to 50 metres gold. down to the final event of the letics events begin on August 25. tering pacepa in the blue riband 100 having clocked his personal best Two two-time Dakar Rally Ikee storms to record meet,meet, the men’s 4x100 metres Samba’sSamba’s event is slatedslated metresmetres rrace. of 45.15 seconds during the World champion Al Attiyah who is com- sixth gold medleymedley relayrelay which China forfor tomorrow.tomorrow. Su bbecame the first Asian- Challenge meet in Madrid, Spain peting in his sixth Asian Games Japan’s Rikako Ikee became wonwon in dramaticdramatic fashionfashion Up for grabsgrabs at born sprinterspr in June to run the in June. is one of them. the first swimmer to win six gold byby ffourour hundredthshundredths ofof a thethe GeloraGelora Bung distancedistance under 10 seconds when This means they have a The 47-year old, who has medals at a single Asian Games secondsecond to gigiveve Xu JiJiayuayu KarnoKarno StadStadiumium twice in the space of eight days golden opportunity to strike two won two gold medals in the team with victory in the women’s 50 hishis fifthfifth JakartaJakarta gold.gold. willwill bbee 48 gogoldld he recordedreco times of 9.91 to podium finishes at the 400m in skeet events at the 2002 and metres freestyle final. Japan shadedshaded meet medalsmedals - matchmatch ththe Asian record held by the Asian GamesGames.. 2010 Games and an individual Iran clinch kabaddi honourshonours withwith 52 secondsecond onlyonly to Qatar’sQatar’s FemiF Ogunode. Meanwhile,Meanwhile, tthehe 2015 Asian bbronzeronze memedaldal in double medals to China’s 50 swswimmingimming - ChinaChin and Japan have played Athletics Championship silver thethe 20022002 Iran won kabaddi gold but,but, more impor-impor- withwith tthehe men’s outout a ffierceier rivalry in the pool in medallistmedallist and double World Asiad, will medals in the men’s and tantly,tantly, willwill tatakeke marathonm arathon thethe InIndonesiando capital but the JuniorJunior championchampion hammerhammer bebe eeyingying his women’s finals to end India’s hohomeme confidenceconfidence kickingkicking ooffff tthehe former’sformer’s track and field hopes thrower Ashraf ElseifyElseify will also maidenmaiden dominant run in the event. The that their swimmingswimming competition have sufferedsuff a jolt in the absence be aimingaiming for a ggold.old. iindividualndividual men’s team put away defending programmeprogramme is on track today.today. ofof in-formin-for sprinter Xie Zhenye, ElseifyElseify has won two consec-consec- goldgold in champions India in the semi- for a goodgood showingshowing at The sprinters whowho recentlyrec pulled out with an utive World Junior ChaChampion-mpion- Palembang.Palembang. finals before recording a con- thethe 2020 willwill competecompete ankle ininjury.j ships titles in 2012 and 2014 and vincing 26-16 victory over South Olympics.Olympics. tomorrow.tomorrow. SuSu andan Xie, also a member of currentlycurrently hholdsolds thethe Junior WorldWorld Korea in the final. The women’s thethe relayrela team, were pushing RecordRecord wiwithth anan team edged India 27-24 to eacheach ootherth to new heights with impressiveimpressive avenge their 2014 Asiad final thethe latterlatte having also run under 85.57m throw.throw. defeat by the twice 10 secsecondso this season. In champions. ForFo Qatar, their fastest Decathlon,Decathlon, Jeong wins shooting mmanan Femi Ogunode is not QatarQ atar gold takingtak part but his brother South Korean shooter Jeong Abderrahman TosinTo Ogunode is expected You-jin won gold in the men’s Samba to fill his void in the 100 10m running target event. The veteran beat Pak Myong-won of TODAY'S COMPETION SCHEDULE OF QATARI ATHLETES North Korea 6-4 in the final. Event Qatar Time Discipline Athletes’ Name/Team's opponents Golden double for Lut- 1 Golf 3:00 Golf Saleh Al Kaabi, Ali Al Shahrani, Jaham Al senko, Na Kuwari, Abdelrahman Al Shahrani Kazakhstan cyclist Alexey 2 Equestrian 3:00 Dressage Ali Al Maari, Saeed Al Rashdi, Hassan Al Naimi Lutsenko won the men’s indi- vidual time trial gold medal to 3 Karate 5:00 Kata Adham Abdelnaser add to his road race win on 3 Karate 10:00 kumite Khaled Sameer Thursday. Earlier South Korea’s 4 Archery 6:10 Recurve (teams) Ibrahim Al Muhanadi, Abdelaziz Al Abady, Na Ah-reum matched Lutsenko’s Ali Salem feat by winning the women’s 5 Sailing 8:00 Laser 4.7 Abdulrahman Al Nasr individual time trial. Na won the 6 Sailing 8:00 Laser standard Waleed Al Sharshani women’s road race on 7 Basketball 12:00 5x5 basketball Qatar Vs Chinese Taipei Wednesday. 8 Weightlifting 10:00 94kg category (final) Fares Ibrahim Wang on target for China 9 Athletics 6:00 100m Mohamed Al Mannaei China’s Wang Qian won gold 10 Athletics 6:30 High jump Mohamed Hamdi in the women’s 10m air pistol 11 Athletics 6:45 Long jump Mohamed Al Mannaei with a score of 240.3 to set a 12 Athletics 7:10 400m (qualifications to semi-finals) Abdelelah Haroun, Mohamed Abbas Games record. South Korea’s Kim 13 Athletics 8:00 Shot put Mohamed Al Mannaei Min-jung won silver while India’s 14 Athletics 14:20 Hammer throw (finals) Rania Al Naji Heena Sidhu took bronze. 15 Athletics 14:50 High jump Mohamed Al Mannaei One-two for China in 16 Athletics 15:00 100m Tousin Jozef women’s singles 17 Athletics 17:20 400m Mohamed Al Mannaei Chinese tennis player Wang 18 Boxing 14:00 64kg category Hakan Esker Qiang defended her singles gold 19 Bowling 5:00 Teams Ali Al Janah, Ahmed Al Theyab, Yousef Al Jaber, GGhanemhanem Bo medal, overcoming compatriot Jassoum, Jassim Al Meraikhi, Mohamed Al Meraikhikhi Zhang Shuai 6-3 6-2 in the final. 20 Volleyball 10:00 Beach volleyball Qatar Vs Iran In the men’s doubles, India’s 21 Shooting 4:00 Women’s skeet Sarah Mohamed, Hajar Mohamed and 22 Shooting 4:30 Men’s skeet Nasser Al Attiyah, Rashed Al Athba beat Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev to 23 Shooting 4:30 10m running target Mohamed Abou Taema Abdalelah 24 Shooting 5:00 25m rapid fire pistol Mohamed Al Tamimi, Ahmed Al Shemari give India a record-extending Haroun fifth Asiad Games gold. Raikkonen keeps Ferrari on top in Belgian GP practice

Ferrari’s Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen drives during the first practice session at the Spa- Francorchamps Circuit in Spa- Francorchamps yesterday, ahead of the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix.

REUTERS Hamilton was 0.168 seconds off the to make the short trip across the border, reporters. Both Vettel and Hamilton will prix weekend debut in the morning, taking pace, with Finnish team mate Valtteri was second and fourth respectively in the have upgraded engines, with Mercedes Fernando Alonso’s McLaren for the session, SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM: Spa Bottas -- who will start the race from the two sessions. saying the Briton had a new turbocharger, with the 18-year-old team reserve lapping veteran Kimi Raikkonen kept Ferrari on back of the grid because of engine pen- Hamilton, last year’s winner in the engine and MGU-H and MGU-K motor gen- faster than under-pressure Belgian race top of the Belgian Grand Prix practice alties -- third fastest. Ardennes forests from pole position, had erator units in his car. regular Stoffel Vandoorne. timesheets yesterday, just ahead of Raikkonen’s team mate Sebastian been third in the morning. Those parts were within his allocation Norris, who is also chasing the Formula Formula One world championship leader Vettel had been top in the morning session Vettel expressed optimism on for the season but team mate Bottas Two title, lapped in 1:47.364, against Van- Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. -- the first since the three-week August Thursday that Hamilton could be reeled in incurred penalties after being given a com- doorne’s 1:47.452. Finnish driver Raikkonen, four times a break -- in 1:44.358. The German, 24 points over the remaining races, some of which pletely new power unit that exceeded his Vandoorne drove only 13 laps com- winner at one of the most exhilarating and behind fellow four times champion Ham- should favour Ferrari more than allowance. pared with Norris’s 26, however, kept in daunting tracks on the calendar and ilton with nine of 21 races remaining, was Mercedes. Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg will also the garage as the team investigated a pos- chasing the 100th podium finish of his fifth in the afternoon. “Points-wise we know that we are a start from the back of the grid for the same sible leak on the car. The Belgian was career tomorrow, produced a time of 1 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with tens little bit behind but I don’t think it’s any- reason. slowest in the afternoon, with Alonso minute 43.355 seconds under leaden skies. of thousands of his Dutch fans expected thing that we can’t do,” the German told Britain’s Lando Norris made his grand returning to post the 16th best time. SATURDAY 25 AUGUST 2018 SPORT 15

Wenger receives Liberia’s highest honor REUTERS

MONROVIA: Liberian Pres- ident and former football star George Weah awarded ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with the country’s highest honor in a ceremony yesterday for services to African football that included launching Weah’s own acclaimed career. Wenger found Weah playing for Cameroon’s Ton- nerre Yaounde and brought him to French side Monaco in 1988, paving the way for a career playing striker at some of Europe’s top clubs, including AC Milan, Paris St Germain and Chelsea. In 1995 Weah was named World Footballer of the Year and won the Ballon d’Or, still Strike threat leaves cloud over La Liga the only African to win either award. AFP persuade league chiefs to change LA LIGA FIXTURES For now, the two great indi- to face Girona -- who beat them “You proved yourself as their minds at a meeting next viduals of the last decade con- in this fixture last season -- with a teacher when you revolu- Fixtures (all times GMT) MADRID: The prospect of a month, with strike action tinue to be compared with one Thibaut Courtois still waiting to tionized forever the approach Saturday player strike hangs over Spanish promised if they do not get the another, even with Ronaldo make his debut in goal following of scouting young talents all Alaves vs Betis (1615), Atletico Madrid vs Rayo football heading into the second outcome they are hoping for. having left for Juventus. his arrival from Chelsea. over the planet, particularly Vallecano (1815), Valladolid vs Barcelona (2015) week of the season, as Barcelona “We are worried for sup- “People rarely mention one Atletico have been tipped to throughout Africa,” Weah Sunday Espanyol vs Valencia (1615), Girona vs and Real Madrid look to build on porters. We see football in a dif- Real Madrid, Sevilla vs Villarreal (both 2015) without mentioning the other,” make a serious push for the title said of Wenger during a cer- winning starts to the campaign. ferent way. Going to the United Monday Levante vs Celta Vigo (1815), Athletic Valverde said in an interview this season, and they started with emony in the capital Mon-

La Liga bosses dropped a States is madness,” Aganzo with Barcelona club media. a 1-1 draw at Valencia, despite rovia. Wenger was named a Bilbao vs Huesca (2000) bombshell on the eve of the cam- added. “A lot of people are inter- Angel Correa giving them the Knight Grand High Com- paign when they announced The AFE have also said that ested, me too, to see how it will lead. mander of the Humane Order their intention to stage top-flight match scheduling is a concern, at the Camp Nou, with Lionel affect Real Madrid’s football and Diego Simeone’s side have a of African Redemption, the matches in the United States, with Valencia’s opening Messi scoring a brace, including what they might do in the derby at home to newly-pro- highest rank in Liberia’s starting from this season. weekend draw with Atletico a superb free-kick. “Finding a transfer market, and also moted Rayo Vallecano on Sat- Order of Distinction. Fellow However, a move announced Madrid one of two games played way to stop Messi is practically knowing that Ronaldo is at urday evening and come into the coach Claude Le Roy, who as part of attempts to improve on Monday night. impossible,” said Valladolid another club and what that might game with winger Vitolo having first told Wenger about the Spanish league’s global pop- Matches that do not finish coach Sergio Gonzalez. mean for La Liga and the Cham- been ruled out for several weeks Weah’s talent, also received ularity has this week been until after midnight are also a “We will try to ensure that pions League too.” - with a knee injury. the award on Friday. attacked by the country’s players feature of the start of the new he touches the ball as little as The early signs for Real are Rayo look set to welcome Thousands of spectators union, AFE. season, with champions Barce- possible. That is great in theory, that Gareth Bale will step back striker Raul de Tomas on clapped and cheered as “Footballers are not for sale. lona’s match at Valladolid one but the important thing is to stay forward, after he scored one goal loan from Real Madrid, with Wenger received his medal We don’t only think about such game this weekend. focused.” While Messi looked as and made another against Getafe media reports saying he has in a hall at the national money,” said AFE president Ernesto Valverde’s side face brilliant as ever against Alaves, to give new coach Julen agreed to return to the club for stadium adorned with the David Aganzo, once a striker on their newly promoted opponents Real began life in La Liga without Lopetegui his first win at the whom he netted 24 times on loan national red, white and blue. Madrid’s books. fresh from starting their title Cristiano Ronaldo by beating helm. The European champions during their run to promotion Thousands more listened to The union say they hope to defence by beating Alaves 3-0 Getafe 2-0. go to Catalonia on Sunday night last season. the ceremony on the radio in the stadium, once a shelter for people displaced by a civil war that ended fifteen years ago. Guardiola won’t hunt for Weah’s footballing suc- cesses helped launch his political career back home. His unlikely rise, from kicking keeper after Bravo blow a ball on the dusty streets of a Monrovia slum to world AFP short of goalkeeping understood to be an option, would sign a free agent, fame, won him support in one back-up, having sold Angus while Stuart Taylor, a one- Guardiola said: “No. From the of the world’s poorest coun- MANCHESTER: Manchester Gunn to Southampton in July time City back-up, was beginning, Aro was our tries where development has City manager Pep Guardiola and Joe Hart to Burnley in another. option. been hobbled by the 14-year (pictured) has decided not to August. However, Guardiola has “We know him and he civil war that ended in 2003 sign an out-of-contract goal- With the English deadline decided that 19-year-old trained with us all last and an Ebola outbreak which keeper after losing Claudio for incoming transfers having Muric and 20-year-old season. We loaned him out killed thousands from Bravo to a long-term Achilles passed on August 9, City were Daniel Grimshaw can act as because second-team 2013-16. He succeeded Nobel tendon injury. not in a position to bring in a cover for Ederson, despite football here is not a real Peace Prize winner Ellen Guardiola has recalled goalkeeper from another their lack of experience. competition, you know my Johnson Sirleaf as president Montenegro Under-21 inter- club, although they could Grimshaw has never opinion on that. after a landslide election national Aro Muric from a have signed a free agent and played a senior game, while “We want to see him play victory in December last year. loan spell with Dutch club then asked the Premier Muric’s only first-team every weekend but after “I think Wenger deserves NAC Breda to provide cover League for permission to reg- exposure was the one Dutch what happened with Claudio, it. If he had not spotted for first-choice Ederson, ister him. league match he played for the first option was bring him ambassador Weah in those having considered other Former Liverpool and NAC before his loan was cut back, because the window days, he would not have options. Crystal Palace goalkeeper short. was closed, so we had no reached this level,” said uni- Bravo’s injury leaves City Diego Cavalieri was Asked yesterday if he other option. versity student Cynthia Kollie. Bairstow may play as specialist batsman REUTERS wicketkeeper-batsman Jos series. Meanwhile, England Test time there. “There’s an oppor- England’s Jonny Bairstow Buttler could once again take captain Joe Root has signed a tunity for myself now to put in leaves the pitch after LONDON: England wicket- over behind the stumps if contract with the Sydney some strong performances and sustaining an injury to keeper Jonny Bairstow could Bairstow cannot recover in time. Thunder to play in Australia’s help Sydney Thunder go on and his finger whilst fielding play as a specialist batsman in Bayliss said Bairstow could ‘Big Bash’ Twenty20 league to do some special things this year.” in the Third Test against the fourth Test against India if also be asked to give up keeping sharpen his game in the format. Root’s England team mate India at theTrent Bridge, he is cleared to return from a duties completely after his injury Root, who will play in an Jos Buttler, who scored his first Nottingham, Britain on broken finger, head coach has fully healed, to help him overseas Twenty20 league for Test century against India this Thursday. Trevor Bayliss said. focus on his batting higher up the the first time, was snubbed by week, has also returned to the Bairstow fractured his left order. Indian Premier League teams side for the competition. middle finger after being struck “That’ll be the hard thing, this year and also dropped from “It’s brilliant for the club to by the ball while keeping on day trying to convince Jonny,” the England side for a match get two players of their quality three of England’s third Test Bayliss added. “That will be a against India in July. to join us,” Thunder head coach defeat at Trent Bridge on decision that is taken from the Root had expressed fears he Shane Bond said. Monday, putting his partici- team point of view. He is a could be “left behind” in the “Everybody knows Jos is one pation in the match in South- world-class batter, we know format if he did not play it more. of the best T20 players in the ampton starting on August 30 in that, one of the difficult things He has played just 28 T20 inter- world. They bring leadership to doubt. might be convincing Jonny of nationals in six years, with six of our team and you couldn’t ask “We have got to check with that. those games at the World T20 in for two better players.” the medical guys in the next few “If that was the way we 2016. “I want to gain as much Root, 27, is not expected days. They’re suggesting he may went, it would certainly be a experience as possible in T20 to be available for the entire not be able to keep but might be deep conversation. Jonny’s a cricket,” Root said in a statement tournament, with England’s able to bat. We’ll have to see how reasonable bloke... we know he on the Sydney Thunder’s website tour of Sri Lanka ending in it responds,” Bayliss told the wants to keep but there would yesterday. late November before their British media. be a lot of explaining and “I’m sure there will be some tour of West Indies begins in England called up Hamp- chatting.” India’s victory at Trent mixed emotions for the fans January. shire batsman James Vince as Bridge saw them cut the hosts’ (with me signing) but hopefully Australia’s Big Bash runs cover on Thursday and lead to 2-1 in the five-match I can win them over through the from December 19-February 17.