THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015 SPORTS N Zealand mull two spinners for second Test

WELLINGTON: New Zealand are toying with the possibili- ond Test at Seddon Park. “I think we just showed what we both seamers or replace one with Mark Craig as a second well and just hasn’t got the rewards at the moment. “We’ll ty of playing an extra spinner in the second Test against Sri are capable of doing, but now it’s time to keep that consis- spin option to back up Mitchell Santner. look at the surface and work out the combination and the Lanka starting in Hamilton tomorrow, despite their com- tency up and move forward.” “We could,” he said of the possibility of playing two dynamic we are after and then we’ll make a decision.” manding victory in the series opener. Mascarenhas rated Bracewell as “probably the best spinners. “But we haven’t seen the yet. From my Mascarenhas expected a more resolute performance from coach Dmitri Mascarenhas spiced up competi- bowler” in the first Test but without having the same suc- point of view you pick the best team to get a win in the Sri Lanka who are still bedding in a clutch of newcomers tion in the bowling ranks by suggesting the line-up could cess as Wagner who, on his recall after a year out of Test conditions.” Captain Brendon McCullum said the bowling after the retirement of several seasoned players in the past be shaken up at the expense of either Neil Wagner or , bagged the key wicket of Sri Lankan captain options remained wide open. “When (Wagner) is in your 18 months, notably Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Doug Bracewell, both of whom were impressive in the first Angelo Mathews in the second innings. team you know that you’ve got those overs when you are Sangakkara. “We saw some really good signs from their Test in Dunedin which New Zealand won by 122 runs. Wagner took five for 143 from 42 overs in the match going to be able to create some opportunities,” he said. batters. They’ve got some really talented and skilful play- “The boys bowled exceptionally well on a really flat wicket while the more miserly Bracewell bowled 10 fewer deliver- “Mark Craig comes back into calculations as well but Doug ers,” he said. “We know they’ve lost a couple of big players and it’s about time we took 20 ,” Mascarenhas said ies and finished with one for 88. Mascarenhas said a pitch Bracewell, I thought he bowled absolutely brilliantly but the ones coming in are having opportunities and tak- Wednesday, as the squad began preparations for the sec- inspection would determine whether New Zealand keep throughout the Test match and all through Australia as ing them.” — AFP Dwayne Bravo says WI board needs shake up

MELBOURNE: Out-of-favour all-rounder themselves. We don’t have proper Dwayne Bravo yesterday lamented the grounds, proper nets or a proper acade- sorry state of West Indian cricket and said my. All these things are a part of our those running the game needed to take downfall. a long hard look at themselves. Bravo “The relationship between players, was stripped of the one-day captaincy a board members and management staff-it year ago then left out of the West Indies’ needs to get stronger and tighter. They World Cup squad after the team he skip- (the board) need to have a lot more hon- pered walked out of their tour of India esty.” His remarks follow pace great last year in a row over contracts. Michael Holding on Tuesday saying the He has not been picked for one-day- West Indies Cricket Board was “dysfunc- ers since and quit this year tional, untrustworthy and not liked by the after being ignored by selectors. employees”, while Brian Lara blasted its In Australia to play for the Melbourne “bad governance”. Bravo said despite Renegades in the Big Bash wanting to play Test cricket again earlier League, Bravo said it was painful to see this year, he was now no longer interested. what had happened to the once-formi- “Until earlier this year I was still inter- dable West Indian team. ested to play Test cricket but I have yet to “Times change and I think that is one hear anything from any selector, what of our problems, we tend to hold on too their plans are for me, what my position much to the past and not focus on the is,” said 32-year-old Bravo, who has future. That has been our downfall,” he played 40 Tests. “I just decided it’s time said. “It’s painful to see the state of our to move on with my life and try to chan- cricket.” His comments come amid sting- nel my energy in different places. ing criticism about the tourists’ inept per- “I would have loved the opportunity formance in the first Test of their current to play Test cricket again but since being series against Australia, who won in dropped back in 2010 I never got the Hobart by an innings inside three days on chance and I just decided to call it a day.” Saturday. Bravo joined a host of fellow Despite this and his row with the West former greats in blaming the West Indies Indian board, he has not given up hope Cricket Board for the current malaise. of again playing the shorter forms of the CHICAGO: Artemi Panarin #72 of the controls the puck as Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche closes in at the United Center on Tuesday in Chicago, Illinois. The Avalanche defeated the Blackhawks 3-0. — AFP game at international level. ‘MORE HONESTY NEEDED’ “I’m not shutting down my opportuni- “We’ve got the players to be up there ties to represent the West Indies, I still Kane’s point streak ends at 26 with the best in the world but there’s a 100 percent want to play for the West lot of things going on,” he said. Indies in one-day internationals and “Those in charge have to look into T20s,” he said. — AFP as Avalanche blank Blackhawks

CHICAGO: Semyon Varlamov stopped 29 shots Henrik Lundqvist stopped 18 shots. Taylor Hall this season to 11-3-1. Ryan Miller gave up six for his first shutout of the season, leading the and Jordan Eberle scored for the Oilers. goals in two periods before being pulled at the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-0 victory over Chicago second intermission. on Tuesday night and snapping Blackhawks star FLYERS 4, HURRICANES 3, OT Jannik Hansen and Daniel Sedin scored for Patrick Kane’s points streak at 26 games. Matt Shayne Gostisbehere scored 1:42 into over- Vancouver, and linemate Henrik Sedin assisted on Duchene had a and an assist for the time, lifting Philadelphia past Jeff Skinner and the each one. The Canucks fell to 1-6-3 in their last 10 Avalanche, who won their third straight to cap a Carolina Hurricanes.Yakub Voracek had a goal and games away from home. Their only win in that perfect four-day road trip to Nashville, St. Louis two assists, and Brayden Schenn and Sean stretch was at Minnesota on Nov. 25. and Chicago. Zach Redmond scored in the second Couturier also scored for the Flyers, who won their period and Gabriel Landeskog added an empty- seventh in 11 games while improving to 7-6 in DEVILS 2, SABRES 0 netter with 1:57 left. Varlamov was sharp when overtime. Skinner had his second hat trick in three Cory Schneider made 25 saves to earn his sec- needed in earning his 19th career shutout and games and the third of his career for the ond shutout of the season and lead New Jersey third against Chicago. But for most of the game, Hurricanes. He has nine goals in his last six past Buffalo. Lee Stempniak and Jiri Tlusty scored Colorado limited Chicago’s chances - and Kane. games. Gostisbehere netted the game-winner for the Devils, who earned a point for the fifth Kane’s franchise-record streak was the longest after receiving a backhand pass from Voracek. time in their last six road games and improved to since Mats Sundin’s 30-game stretch in 1992 93. Gostisbehere also had the winning goal in over- 6-0-2 against Atlantic Division teams this season. The Chicago right wing had 16 goals and 24 time in Philadelphia’s 3-2 victory over Carolina on Adam Henrique returned to center the Devils’ top assists during the run, and has points in all but Nov. 23. Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia’s backup, line after missing two games with an upper body three of the Blackhawks’ 32 games. made his 14th start and third straight. He finished injury, and had an assist on Stempniak’s goal. with 29 saves while improving to 8-4-2. Mike Cammalleri also had an assist, his team-lead- STARS 5, BLUE JACKETS 1 ing 20th of the season. Linus Ullmark made 19 Tyler Seguin broke open a tight game with two FLAMES 2, PREDATORS 1, OT saves for the Sabres, who had a two-game win second-period goals 30 seconds apart in Dallas’ Kris Russell scored 1:23 into overtime and streak snapped. victory over Columbus. Kari Lehtonen improved Calgary beat Nashville for its sixth straight victory. to 11-1-0 by making 34 saves. He also notched his TJ Brodie also scored for Calgary, which opened a PANTHERS 5, ISLANDERS 1 third assist of the season on Seguin’s first goal. three-game road trip in style. The Flames Reilly Smith, Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Defensemen Johnny Oduya and Alex Goligoski improved to an NHL-best 8-1 in overtime and won Ekblad all scored in the second period to lead each scored to give the Stars one-goal leads in the for just the fourth time away from home this sea- Florida. Vincent Trochek and Jonathan Huberdeau first and second. son. Cody Hodgson scored on his first career added goals in the third period, and Roberto Scott Hartnell scored on the power play for shot for Nashville, which lost its second Luongo finished with 33 saves for the Panthers. Columbus at 4:32 of the second before Goligoski’s straight at home. Russell finished a 2-on-1 with a Florida beat New York for the second time this goal at 13:02 gave the Stars a lead they never wrister past Pekka Rinne on an assist from Johnny season, along with a shootout win at home on relinquished. Seguin’s 16th and 17th goals came Gaudreau for the defenseman’s second goal this Nov. 23. Brock Nelson had his 10th goal of the sea- at 16:26 and 16:56. Columbus rookie Joonas season. The Flames hadn’t won on the road since son for the Islanders, who snapped a five-game Korpisalo had 23 saves before Curtis McElhinney Nov. 13 when they beat Washington in overtime. home winning streak and a 10-game stretch (8-0- replaced him for the third period. McElhinney 2) without a loss in regulation. Jaroslav Halak had stopped six shots but gave up a goal to rookie WILD 6, CANUCKS 2 12 saves. Mattias Janmark. Thomas Vanek scored one of Minnesota’s three power-play goals and added three assists, leading LIGHTNING 5, MAPLE LEAFS 4, OT BLUES 4, JETS 3 the Wild to a romp over road-weary Vancouver. Vladislav Namestnikov scored 2:01 into over- Paul Stastny scored the tiebreaking goal with Mikko Koivu also scored and had three assists, time to give Tampa Bay the win. Nikita Kucherov, 3:38 left in regulation, and St. Louis fought back Zach Parise added a goal and two assists and Anton Stralman, Mike Blunden and Jonathan from a two-goal deficit to defeat Winnipeg. After backup goalie Darcy Kuemper turned in another Marchessault had Tampa Bay’s goals in regulation. Jets forward Mark Scheifele hit the post with a sharp performance for the Wild, who improved to Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots. Tyler Bozak, shot, the Blues moved the puck the other way and 5-0-3 in their last eight games. Jason Zucker James van Riemsdyk, Morgan Rielly and Daniel Vladimir Tarasenko fed a pass across to Stastny. He scored, too, giving the Koivu-centered first line Winnik scored for the Maple Leafs, who played for put a shot off the post and past rookie goalie with Vanek on left wing a nine-point night. the first time since beating New Jersey last Connor Hellebuyck. Defensemen Ryan Suter and Marco Scandella Tuesday. goalie Jonathan Bernier stopped Alexander Steen and Tarasenko each scored on tacked on the last two goals for the Wild in their 22 shots while giving up more than four goals for the power play, and Troy Brouwer also had a goal Dwayne Bravo largest output since a 6-3 victory over St. Louis the fifth straight start and remaining winless on for St. Louis. Jake Allen stopped 33 shots. Steen, last March 21. The Wild raised their home record the season (0-8-2). — AP Tarasenko and Kevin Shattenkirk had two assists Australia bring Sriram, apiece. The loss halted a three-game home win- ning streak for the Jets, who got goals from NHL results/standings Scheifele, Chris Thorburn and Drew Stafford. Hussey for World Twenty20 Hellebuyck made 22 saves. Winnipeg had a 3-1 lead in the second period before the Blues mount- New Jersey 2, Buffalo 0; Florida 5, NY Islanders 1; NY Rangers 4, Edmonton 2; Philadelphia 4, SYDNEY: Australia have recruited former Howard said in a news release. ed their comeback. Carolina 3 (OT); Tampa Bay 5, Toronto 4 (OT); San Jose 3, Montreal 1; Calgary 2, Nashville 1 (OT); India player Sridharan Sriram to help their “Mike has been one of our most success- Minnesota 6, Vancouver 2; St. Louis 4, Winnipeg 3; Colorado 3, Chicago 0; Dallas 5, Columbus 1. team prepare for the conditions they will ful players at transitioning between the dif- SHARKS 3, CANADIENS 1 Western Conference Detroit 16 9 6 79 79 38 face in the World Twenty20 in India early ferent formats and his advice and support Joe Pavelski scored once and added an assist Central Division next year, Cricket Australia said yesterday. in this area will be of great benefit to the Ottawa 16 10 5 97 93 37 as San Jose beat Montreal to snap a six-game skid. W L OTL GF GA PTS Sriram, an all-rounder who played eight players who have played a large amount of Boston 16 9 4 93 80 36 Patrick Marleau and Dainius Zubrus also scored Dallas 23 6 2 107 80 48 ODIs for India between 2000 and 2004, test and ODI cricket in the last 12 months.” Tampa Bay 16 13 3 78 73 35 for the Sharks. Martin Jones made 26 saves for his St. Louis 18 10 4 82 78 40 worked with Australia A on their tour of Australia have played just one Twenty20 Florida 15 12 4 81 75 34 13th victory of the season. Dale Weise had the Minnesota 16 7 6 79 68 38 India earlier this year and was slated to international in 2015, with the triumphant Buffalo 13 16 3 74 86 29 goal for Montreal. Chicago 17 11 4 85 78 38 travel with the test side to Bangladesh in 50-over World Cup campaign and test Dustin Tokarski, making his third consecutive Nashville 15 10 6 81 81 36 Toronto 10 13 6 68 81 26 October before the trip was postponed. cricket taking priority. The World Twenty20 start, stopped nine of 12 shots before being Colorado 15 16 1 88 88 31 Metropolitan Division The 39-year-old will work with the is the one major international prize that has pulled midway through the second period. Mike Winnipeg 14 15 2 85 95 30 Washington 21 6 2 89 63 44 Australia side during their three warm-up eluded Australia, whose players in the past Condon stopped all six shots he faced in relief. Pacific Division NY Rangers 19 9 4 94 74 42 matches against South Africa prior to their have struggled to combat spin bowling on San Jose, which earned its first victory in Los Angeles 19 9 2 78 66 40 NY Islanders 18 9 5 90 77 41 arrival in India for the March 8-April 3 tour- the slow decks of the subcontinent. December, is 12-0 when leading after two periods. San Jose 15 14 1 78 79 31 nament. “As a proud Australian cricketer I am New Jersey 16 11 4 76 75 36 Arizona 14 14 2 81 95 30 Former Australia batsman Mike Hussey delighted to be involved in Australia’s cam- Pittsburgh 15 11 3 68 71 33 RANGERS 4, OILERS 2 Calgary 14 14 2 80 104 30 will also work with the side for two weeks paign for the World T20 title,” said Hussey. Philadelphia 13 12 6 66 86 32 Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello each had a goal Edmonton 14 16 2 87 96 30 of the tournament, bringing to bear his “I’m really looking forward to working with Carolina 12 14 5 77 96 29 and an assist as New York ended Edmonton’s six- Vancouver 11 13 8 81 92 30 experience of playing on the subcontinent the boys and assisting in any way possible Columbus 11 19 3 76 100 25 game winning streak. Anaheim 11 13 5 56 73 27 in the India Premier League competition. with their preparation and match day Dylan McIlrath scored his first NHL goal and Eastern Conference Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one “Sriram’s focus will be on getting the plans.” Australia play New Zealand in Jesper Fast added an empty-netter in the final Atlantic Division point in the standings and are not included in players as prepared as possible for what Dharamsala on March 18 in their opening seconds to help the Rangers snap a three-game Montreal 20 9 3 101 73 43 the loss column (L). they will face in India,” Cricket Australia’s Pat match of the tournament. — Reuters slide. Keith Yandle finished with two assists, and