Sports43 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 Kohli urges India to ‘leave its mark’

CHENNAI: India’s talismanic captain Virat Kohli yesterday urged his in-form teammates to “leave a mark on world crick- et” by going on to become one of the greatest sides ever. Kohli’s India are bidding to extend their 17-game unbeaten run in the dead rubber fifth and final Test against England, which starts in the southern city of Chennai on Friday. The hosts, who have already clinched the series 3-0, will become the first Indian team to go 18 matches without a loss if they avoid defeat against Alastair Cook’s struggling tourists. Kohli called on his players to build on recent successes and become a team that can be mentioned in the same breath as Don Bradman’s Australian “Invincibles” and the legendary West Indies side of the 1980s. “We still understand we got to play a lot of cricket every- where in the world. It’s not only about this one period we are going through,” the 28-year-old told reporters. “As I said it’s an ongoing process which needs to be sustained for the next five, seven or eight years for us to become a top quality side and leave a mark on world cricket-maybe known as one of the best teams to have assembled on the field,” Kohli added. The batsman, who is in the form of his life after striking his third double century of the year, has already become the first Indian captain to win five successive series, including a 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand in October. India sit comfortably at the top of the world rankings but Kohli insisted his side were taking nothing for granted going into the Chennai Test. “We don’t feel invincible to be honest, we respect every opposi- tion, we admit every time we are put under pressure, and we know teams are going to put us under pressure,” he said. Kohli leads the series’ batting chart with 640 runs, way ahead of England batsman Joe Root, who has 397 for the four matches. England skipper Cook said after the huge innings and 36-run loss in the third Test in Mumbai that Root was “ready” to succeed him as captain, without saying when he would eventually step down. Kohli agrees that Root has what it takes to move up from his role of vice-captain. — AFP

BRISBANE: Australia’s batsman Steven Smith plays a shot as Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (L) looks on during Cook shrugs off the first day-night cricket Test between Australia and Pakistan at Gabba stadium. — AFP captaincy critics Another Smith ton puts CHENNAI: England’s Alastair Cook yesterday shrugged off criticism of his captaincy ahead of the fifth and final Test against India in Chennai, saying one has to live and die by the decisions made. The tourists, who lost the series 3-0 Australia in command trail after the fourth Test loss in Mumbai, started off with a strong performance in the first drawn Test in Rajkot but could not keep pace with top-ranked India. BRISBANE: Skipper scored clutching his right knee after a misfield. Wahab struck. “I’m just enjoying it and Cook’s role as a leader has been brought into question a hundred and rookies Matt Renshaw Amir jarred his knee after his right trying to go out there and play with a after the three consecutive defeats but he insisted that it is and Peter Handscomb half-centuries as leg dug into the turf as the ball ran on smile on my face because it’s doing all part of the job. “You get judged on your results as a Australia took an early grip on the to the boundary rope. He was ferried off something I love, playing for my coun- captain don’t you? And when you lose games of cricket pink-ball first Test against Pakistan in the ground by a medi-cab, but remark- try,” Renshaw said. “Everyone is disap- you are under fire, it happens to everyone,” Cook said. Brisbane yesterday. Smith, dropped on ably returned to the field 30 minutes pointed when they get out, but I got 71, “When Virat (Kohli) loses games of cricket he’ll get criti- 53, showed the way as the Australians later and went on to finish the session it’s my best innings in and I cized, when I lose games of cricket I get criticized. That’s built the foundations for a sturdy first bowling with the second new ball. It was excited to get to 71.” part and parcel of the job. “Look at Dylan Hartley the innings after winning the toss. was a huge relief for the tourists after it It was reward for Wahab, who was England rugby captain. He wins games of rugby and it’s all At the close before a first day Gabba conjured up memories of England fast Pakistan’s best performing bowler, flying and obviously an incident last week (when he hit an crowd of more than 26,000, the home bowler Simon Jones rupturing an ante- maintaining a tight line and conceding opponent in the face) he gets criticized,” added Cook. side were 288 for three with Smith on rior cruciate ligament in a similar field- few runs. Pakistan struck with two Cook admitted reading the pitch wrong in the Mohali Test 110 and Handscomb, playing in only his ing mishap at the Gabba in 2002. quick in the first session after and also regretted using just two spinners in Mumbai. “When second Test match, on 64. openers Warner and Renshaw gave you’re part of the leadership group you live and die by those Smith raised his 16th Test century with ‘Disappointing end’ Australia a solid start. Amir had Warner decisions and when it’s going well everybody thinks you’re a driven four off Mohammad Amir with “His knee went into the ground and leg before for 32 after the brilliant and when you’re doing badly everybody thinks three overs left in the day. It came off we all feared that he might be worse, Australian vice-captain was struck on you’re terrible,” he said. Cook insisted England’s effort could 184 balls with 15 fours. but thank God he recovered quickly the pad on leg stump in the 24th over. not be criticized as they search for a consolation win. The pair put on an unbroken stand and he came back,” team-mate Azhar Warner was given out by English of 137 runs for the fourth wicket after Ali said. “He’s feeling much better and umpire Ian Gould and did not seek a ‘No regrets’ 20-year-old opener Renshaw chipped in the good thing is that he came on and review, ending an opening stand of 70. “We’ve put everything into this tour. I’ll have no regrets with an impressive 71 also playing in his bowled with the second new ball, Amir is in the first year of his return to on the effort and clearly we’d rather not be 3-0 down. “One second Test. Smith was put down on 53 which is a good sign.” Australia lost the international cricket following a five- thing you can’t fault us on is how hard we’ve fought as a nearing the dinner break when an edge wicket of Renshaw in the middle ses- year ban over spot-fixing, a scandal side and I’m proud of how we’ve stuck together,” Cook told off spinner went in and out of sion after the dismissals of David which almost ended his burgeoning reporters. Cook, who has said that Joe Root is “ready” for wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed’s gloves. Warner and in the career. Khawaja, coming off his man-of- the captain’s job, was again asked about his likely succes- Smith and Handscomb batted opening session. the-match 145 in last month’s day-night sor. “The moment he got off the plane in India in 2012 as a through the entire final session when Renshaw did not put a foot wrong in third Test in Adelaide against South very young-looking Joe Root you knew he was ready for most wickets statistically tumble in an assured innings until the 44th over Africa, lasted just six balls before he was international cricket - you knew. “Everything you knew-his pink-ball Tests under the lights to put when he was caught behind off Wahab out to a false stroke to leg-spinner Yasir mind, his game-was ready. Every challenge that’s been Australia in a strong position. Pakistan for 71 off 125 balls with nine fours. The Shah. Khawaja advanced down the thrown at him he’s handled. So I don’t think anything over feared they might have lost their star youngster looked at ease in his home wicket but hit straight into Misbah-ul- the next few years will faze him,” said Cook. — AFP pace bowler Mohammad Amir after he ground Test match and was on course Haq’s midriff at short midwicket and fell to the ground in the final session for his maiden Test century before was on his way for four. — AFP