SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017

Australia get pace boost for ICC Champions Trophy SYDNEY: Fast bowlers Trophy with Starc, Pattinson and John . “Our medical strong option should he be selected.” and were Thursday Hastings joining and staff will continue to monitor Mitchell But Tasmanian all-rounder James named in Australia’s 15-man squad for . “Both James and John and Chris’ recovery from their respec- Faulkner was omitted from the side, next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in have made very good returns from tive injuries but we are hopeful they with Hohns describing him as an England and Wales. injury and are well for their will be fit in time for the team’s depar- “unlucky omission” after other players Starc has recovered from a stress respective teams... as well as both con- ture on May 18,” Hohns said. returned to fitness. fracture in his right foot which sent tributing well with the bat,” chief selec- all- The selected players who are in him home from Australia’s Test series tor Trevor Hohns said. “When you also rounder Moises Henriques has also Australia will depart for England on May in India last month, while Pattinson is add Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood been recalled to the side having last 18 with the remaining players in the IPL fit again after serious shin and back and Pat Cummins to the played for the national one-day squad to join as their teams finish in the tour- injuries. Pattinson is currently playing artillery it becomes a very exciting against Sri Lanka in August last year. nament. Australia - (capt), for Nottinghamshire in English cricket proposition for Australian cricket.” “Moises finished off the domestic , Pat Cummins, Aaron after taking part in Victoria’s Sheffield Big-hitting Queensland batsman season very well and has had a great Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Shield championship victory in the Chris Lynn has also been named in the start in the IPL,” Hohns said. , Moises Henriques, Chris recently finished domestic season. squad as he returns from a third shoul- “We believe Moises’ batting has Lynn, , James Pattinson, Selectors have boosted Australia’s der injury inside two years, while play- improved significantly in the past six Mitchell Starc, , Matthew fast-bowling stocks for the Champions ing for the in the months and he will provide us with a Wade, .— AFP

CRICKET NHL India,s opener Rahul set to miss Champions Trophy MUMBAI: India opener Lokesh Rahul is set to miss the Champions Trophy in June after undergoing operation on his injured shoulder earlier this month, the 25-year-old has said. Rahul hurt his left shoulder while batting during the opening test against Australia in Pune but played through pain during the four-match series, scoring six half-centuries. The right-handed batsman is not playing the ongoing Indian Premier League Twenty20 and had a surgery in England. The Champions Trophy, to be played between the top eight ODI sides of the world, starts from June 1 in England. Defending champions India are in Group B with neighbours and arch-rivals Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka. “I will just have to wait and see but the chances are very, very slim,” Rahul was quoted as saying by the Times of India newspaper. “I had torn my labrum (a ring of fibrocartilage). I couldn’t get into a few positions because my shoulder kept dislocating - popped out and popped back in. “That’s why I couldn’t play a lot of shots, had to restrict myself. I played with a lot of medication and taping. Surgery was to fix it on the inside.” Rahul played in all three matches for India in their last ODI series in January against England at home and has scored one hundred and one fifty in the 50-over format. “They said it will take anywhere close to two to three months,” he added. “But again, it depends, each body is differ- ent, you don’t know how the body recovers. “It is totally up to me and how I well I take care of myself in the rehab phase. For now, it is just two-three weeks of relaxing and not doing anything and after that maybe I will start physio- therapy and my rehab phase will start from there.” The NASHVILLE: Artem Anisimov #15 of the Chicago Blackhawks takes a shot on goalie Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Bengaluru-based batsman has missed quite a few matches due Predators during the second period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley to injury since his 2014 India debut in the Boxing Day test Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee. — AFP against Australia in . “It is frustrating for a young man who is new to internation- al cricket - it’s been two-and-a-half years now,” he said. “I’ve Predators beat Blackhawks already been injured twice or thrice. It makes me think about what I am doing wrong. “I can’t see any reason why I keep get- ting injured because I am disciplined with my fitness and my 4-1 to complete sweep diet and I look after my body. Now is the time to see what I can change in training. “To be injury-free is wishful thinking NASHVILLE: Roman Josi scored twice, Viktor Arvidsson and overtime period to send New York over Montreal at the for a sportsman. To be fit and minimise injuries will be my Colton Sissons each added a goal and an assist, and Pekka Bell Centre. The Rangers now lead the series 3-2 with a goal once I get back.” — Reuters Rinne bagged 30 saves as the Nashville Predators eliminated chance to clinch on Saturday night in New York. Artturi the Chicago Blackhawks from the Western Conference first Lehkonen and Brendan Gallagher scored in regulation for round with a 4-1 victory at a raucous Bridgestone Arena. the Canadiens. Jesper Fast and Brady Skjei replied for the Rangers. PENGUINS 5, BLUE JACKETS 2 Pittsburgh beat Columbus at PPG Paints Arena to win a OILERS 4, SHARKS 3 (OT) first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, four games to David Desharnais set up Oscar Klefbom’s game-tying one. The Penguins built a 3-0 lead through the early part of goal late in the third period, then scored the winner at the second period on a goal by Phil Kessel and two from Bryan 18:15 of overtime as Edmonton beat the San Jose in Game Rust. The Blue Jackets responded with goals from William 5 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Karlsson and Boone Jenner to pull to within 3-2 before the end The Oilers lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. of the second period. Sidney Crosby scored on a one-timer Edmonton outshot San Jose 48-30, including 14-2 in from Evgeni Malkin for a power-play goal and some breathing overtime. Oilers goalie Cam Talbot made 27 saves for the room at 5:31 of the third before Scott Wilson scored 51 sec- win, while San Jose’s Martin Jones topped 44 shots. With onds later on a backward tip to give the Penguins an insur- 2:46 left in the third, a blast from Klefbom caromed off the mountable lead. post and went in. Patrick Maroon and Mark Letestu also scored for RANGERS 3, CANADIENS 2 (OVERTIME) Edmonton, while San Jose got goals from Mikkel Boedker, Lokesh Rahul Mika Zibanejad scored the winner at 14:22 of the first Patrick Marleau and David Schlemko. — Reuters