20 Sunday, December 24, 2017 SPORTS NZ beat Joe Root (file pic) Root must step up Windies, and be a leader London Ponting was quoted as saying ngland skipper Joe Root by the British media. has been more like a little “Everything about it is more boyE than a leader under the intense than anything else immense pressure of the you play... I know he is not Ashes series and must step up, (naturally) too forthright or too former Australia captain Ricky on the front foot, but the way take Ponting has said. he addressed things last week... Australia have I think they need him to step comprehensively defeated up big time. England in the first three tests “The way he answered a of the five-match series to win lot of the questions after the back the urn and would aim game last week, and almost to complete a whitewash with the Brisbane game as well, he victories in Melbourne and seemed almost like a little boy. Sydney. You need to be more than that Trent Boult series Ponting believes Root is as a leader, especially when too soft spoken and urged the things aren’t going well.” 26-year-old to shed his shyness Ponting said that Root’s and galvanize the squad. poor showing with the bat Christchurch opening batsmen Chris Gayle, Nurse was Boult’s 100th “Joe seems like he is under during the series, in which he rent Boult took a career- who withdrew from the match BRIEF SCORE wicket in ODIs, enabling him the sort of extreme pressure has managed to score just 176 best 7-34 after Henry with an unspecified illness, the to become just the fifth New that he has never felt before, runs, is another indication of NichollsT had smashed an West Indies were immediately New Zealand 325 for 6 (Nicholls Zealander to take 200 wickets which is what you would the skipper’s mental struggles. unbeaten 83 as New Zealand in trouble when Boult ripped 83*, Worker 58, Taylor 57, Cottrell in tests and 100 wickets in expect in an Ashes contest,” (Reuters) thrashed the West Indies by through the top order. 3-62) beat West Indies 121 (Shai ODIs. 204 runs yesterday to win the He bowled Kyle Hope (4) Hope 23, Boult 7-34) by 204 runs If I could pin it down to second one-day international with a ball that straightened anything it was a little bit of Cricket enters new era and clinch their three-match and hit off stump then Powell (0) with consecutive movement in the first spell series with a game still to play. removed the other opener deliveries, then the West with the new ball,” Boult said. Lockie Ferguson chipped in Evin Lewis (10), caught at Indies captain Jason Holder “But to go out and get seven with four-day test with 3-17 as New Zealand’s backward square leg. Boult (13), the last of the recognized was something I wasn’t really fast bowlers skittled the West then dismissed Shimron batsmen. expecting. Cape Town campaigners back in action. Indies for just 121 after the Hetmyer (2), caught at second Boult returned after his “Today I just tried to keep ricket will venture into Zimbabwe coach Heath home side had posted an slip, then removed Shai Hope six over opening spell to it as simple as possible, try to new territory when South Streak believes cutting a day imposing total of 325-6, with (23) with a high top edge to quickly polish off the innings, remain aggressive and bowl a AfricaC tackle Zimbabwe in the from the game will force teams three batsmen posting half- wicketkeeper Tom Latham. removing Sheldon Cottrell few short balls and to get a few first official four-day test match to score quicker, and that centuries at Hagley Oval. Ferguson got rid of Jason (8), Ashley Nurse (27) and wickets was very satisfying.” to be played at St George’s Park means taking more risks, which Already missing star Mohammed (18) and Rovman Shannon Gabriel (no score). (AP) in Port Elizabeth starting on could play into the hands of Tuesday. so-called minnow nations. It is an experiment, which “In terms of higher and will also be played with a pink lower ranked (teams), it is ball as a day/night encounter, much harder to bat a team out Ben Stokes ends Canterbury stint that has been met with more (of the game) because in doing Canterbury enthusiasm in Zimbabwe than so you might make it harder to en Stokes is to return to the UK “for family reasons” their hosts, who will have a win the test,” Streak said this following a month-long spell with New Zealand side number of their experienced week. (Reuters) Canterbury,B the club has said. In a statement, Stokes said he had “thoroughly enjoyed” training and playing with the side, and that everyone had “gone out of their way to make me feel at home”. Australia must manage Canterbury’s chief executive Jez Curwin said: “Ben has been great around the club, the team, and the staff. “We can’t fault his attitude or his all-round contribution in Mitchell Starc with care his time with us and we are sorry that he couldn’t stay with us Melbourne coming up. for longer, but Ben knows that he will always find a welcome ustralia will have to manage “It’s a funny kind of injury,” here should the opportunity arise for him to return.” Mitchell Starc’s heel pace bowler Cummins said Stokes signed as an overseas player at the end of November problemA properly or risk losing on Saturday. “It’s not super and made his debut for Canterbury against Otago in New their in-form pace spearhead to common, but if it’s not treated Zealand’s 50-over Ford Trophy. a long-term injury, team mate well it can drag on for a very Stokes played in six matches for Canterbury – in both the Pat Cummins said yesterday. long time. “It’s a bruise pretty 50 over Ford Trophy and T20 Super Smash competitions. Starc is a big doubt for the much where you’ve got to After opening his account with a disappointing two fourth test against England with walk all day and bowl. I’m sure against Otago on December 3, and going 49 without a wicket a bruised heel and although they’ll come to an agreement with the ball, he hit 34 against Auckland three days later. scans have cleared the pacer and if he knows he’s not right, His top score during his spell in New Zealand was 93 in of serious injury, the selectors he’ll put his hand up.” the T20 game against Otago in Christchurch, which followed will take a cautious approach Starc bowled with the heel the 26-year-old being run out for a duck against Northern with the Ashes won and the problem in the third test at the Districts. (PA Sport) Ben Stokes four-test tour of South Africa WACA. (Reuters).