TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 SPORTS Test door ajar for forgotten man Bailey MELBOURNE: Nearly three years have seamlessly on home wickets against New England in the home Ashes series. passed since George Bailey was shut out of Zealand and West Indies last summer are Although a proven leader and hugely test cricket after one middling series but expected to be picked apart after being respected by team mates, Bailey has also the door has creaked ajar as Australia found out in Sri Lanka. seemed desperately unlucky at times, and searches for answers to its subcontinental David Warner, one of the few who was pushed out of Australia’s formidable malaise before a daunting tour to India. would feel comfortable about their place, one-day side for last year’s World Cup tri- Having watched the test side slump to gave Bailey a ringing endorsement while umph on home soil when making way for an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash to Sri just stopping short of nominating him for Clarke’s return from injury. Lanka, Bailey ensured there would be no the four-test tour of India. He turns 34 on Wednesday but has nev- repeat in the one-day tournament by “He’s played fantastic, he’s played unbe- er lost hope of winning a spot back on the smashing 270 runs at an average of 67.50 lievable cricket in the subcontinent,” test team and he showed the patience and to top the batting lists and drive the Warner told reporters after blasting a sound technique against Sri Lanka’s spin- tourists to a 4-1 victory. match-winning century in the final ODI in ners to mount a good case for his inclusion Bailey’s unbeaten 90 in the fourth Kandy on Sunday. “I think he’s averaging for India, according to Tasmania state match fired Australia to an unassailable 3-1 almost 70 now. He’s been a fantastic player coach Dan Marsh. lead in the series and showed the hallmark in these conditions for a while now and as “If they’re looking for someone who can composure that made the Tasmanian first I’ve said previously I’m not here to put play spin well in the subcontinent, I’m sure understudy to Michael Clarke before the names up for selection. “(The selectors) he’s got his name up there,” Marsh, the son captain’s retirement last year. Australia’s have to make hard choices ... to pick the of selectors’ chairman Rod Marsh, told woeful performance against probing spin right team come February.” Cricket Australia’s website (cricket.com.au). bowling on flat, turning wickets in the test Bailey played the last of his five test DAMBULLA: In this file photograph taken on September 1, 2016, Australian cricketers “He will just have to back this up and ... series has forced selectors to go back to matches in Jan. 2014, having scored an George Bailey (L) and Matthew Wade leave the grounds with the stumps after victory continue his good form in Shield cricket, the drawing board. underwhelming 183 runs at an average of in the fourth one day international (ODI) cricket match between Sri Lanka and as he did last year, to get his name up The top six batsmen who worked so 26.14 in Australia’s 5-0 whitewash of Australia at The Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla. — AFP there.” — Reuters hoping pressure gets to Japan: Coach

BANGKOK: Thailand’s football coach yes- Zico has won praise for driving a young terday said the pressure will be on Japan team without global stars into the last 12 in when the sides meet in with both Asia for World Cup qualification. seeking to reboot their quest for a World The Thais are arguably the surprise Cup 2018 spot after first game defeats. package of the last 12 on the road to The War Elephants host Asian giants Russia. But Japan, a regional powerhouse Japan on Tuesday evening, just days after a with several players at top European clubs, contentious late penalty saw them go are firm favourites in Bangkok, where they down 0-1 to Saudi Arabia in Group B of will also enjoy the support of a large ex- Asian qualification for Russia. patriate community. Japan are also still smarting from a 2-1 Thailand have not beaten Japan since home loss to UAE after new Arsenal signing 1997 when Zico scored two in a 3-1 victory. had a goal controversially Japan’s Bosnian coach, Vahid disallowed despite TV replays showing it Halilhodzic, said his charges were ready for crossed the line. Tuesday’s challenge and determined to rec- Both teams need to finish in the top two tify their first game loss to the UAE. “Japan of their group in third round Asian qualifi- has recovered and will go with strong char- cation to secure an automatic place in acter (into this game), looking for victory,” Russia in two years time. “Anything can he said through a translator. “Thailand are happen,” Thai coach Kiatisuk Senamuang- fast but Japan has the quality and experi- better known to fans as “Zico”-told ence. There are no easy way to qualify but reporters, adding he hoped vocal home we are playing to win.” The top two from six support could swing the game in Thailand’s in Group A and B advance to Russia. favour. “We want to put pressure on Japan. The teams that come third will face off They will have a problem if they lose a sec- in a two-legged tie, before playing an inter- ond game. If Japan are careless or cannot continental play-off for another spot in earn point, pressure will be on them.” Russia. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Australian former cricketer Ricky Ponting (C) takes a selfie with a guest during a function to promote tourism in his home state Tasmania at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi yesterday. Australia’s former World Cup-winning skipper Ricky Ponting said loads of one-day cricket may put the 50-over version in danger of losing its relevance. Speaking to the media a day after Australia consolidated their top ODI spot with a 4-1 series win against Sri Lanka, Ponting seemed underwhelmed by his country’s achievement. — AFP ‘Exciting’ England encourage Morgan

CARDIFF: England limited overs captain Eoin But they were on course for a whitewash second match, was the leading overall run-scorer Morgan said he was “excited” by his team’s when Pakistan lost two wickets in one Mark in the series with exactly 300 at an average of 60. progress in 50-over cricket despite a season-end- Wood over to be 77 for three. However, a record “The way Sarfraz batted, this whole tour he’s been ing four-wicket loss to Pakistan in Cardiff on fourth-wicket partnership of 163 between wick- exceptional,” said Pakistan one-day captain Azhar Sunday. That defeat meant England had to be et-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed (90) and Shoaib Malik Ali following a much-needed win. “He’s been posi- BANGKOK: Thailand football coach Kiatisuk Senamuang speaks at a press conference content with a 4-1 one-day international series (77) turned the match Pakistan’s way. tive and scoring good runs at number five, so prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Thailand today in win rather than a first home 5-0 whitewash. we’ve got some good performances but we just Bangkok. — AFP It also denied Morgan’s men, who back in ‘HUNGER’ need to bind it together.” June tied an ODI with Sri Lanka in Nottingham Morgan, though, remained heartened by Nevertheless, Pakistan remain ninth in the before winning that series, a maiden unbeaten England’s commitment to an aggressive ODI rankings, with the 1992 champions in dan- India court quashes season in white-ball cricket ahead of approach in ODI cricket since their World Cup ger of missing out on automatic qualification for Wednesday’s lone Twenty20 against Pakistan in debacle. “I think it’s exciting,” he said. the 2019 World Cup. Azhar has often been com- Manchester. England may still be fifth in the “The attitude and hunger to want to be better pared unfavourably to celebrated Test captain Dhoni’s ‘God’ case International Cricket Council ODI rankings but playing in that manner, I think, sums up the Misbah-ul-Haq, who has led Pakistan to the top they have made significant progress since their direction one-day international cricket is going of the ICC standings in the five-day game. NEW DELHI: India’s top court quashed drawing portraying Dhoni as Hindu god embarrassing first-round exit at last year’s World and the talent we have.” But with world number But Azhar responded to suggestions he might criminal proceedings yesterday against Vishnu, holding various products repre- Cup in Australia and New Zealand. one-ranked Australia also completing a 4-1 series resign the captaincy by indicating he intended to one-day international captain Mahendra senting his wide-ranging endorsement And with England staging both the 2017 victory away to Sri Lanka on Sunday, Morgan carry on as skipper. “I got a few 80s (against Singh Dhoni over a magazine cover deals, including a shoe. Hindu national- Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup, it is denied England-beaten on home soil in the 2013 England) so that will really help my confidence. depicting him as a Hindu god. ists lodged criminal complaints to police no longer fanciful to think they could win their final by India at Edgbaston-were favourites for Leading by example is very important. I will try The Supreme Court said a lower court against him in different parts of the reli- first major international 50-over trophy within next year’s Champions Trophy. and keep that form in the coming series. That will in southern Karnataka state had wrongly giously diverse but Hindu-majority coun- the next few years. “Australia are playing some really strong crick- help the team.” summoned Dhoni over the case, one of try, although most were later dismissed. “We’ve been outstanding,” said Morgan. “Every et... South Africa, India as well,” said the Irishman. He added: “It’s a very happy camp right now- several brought mainly by Hindu nation- The Supreme Court stayed criminal game throughout the series, we’ve come out “I know the last Champions Trophy we played because it has been a very tough tour for us in alists accusing him of hurting religious proceedings against Dhoni last year after with a hunger and determination to perform at (here), the pitches were a bit drier than we ODIs, and getting a victory at the end and finish- sentiments. he appealed against the case in the our best.” England fell short of what they wanted thought, and brought in sub-continent teams. “I ing on a high is really good. “A few guys we have “(We) quash the proceedings includ- Karnataka High Court lodged by an in making 302 for nine in Cardiff, with opener don’t think, this far out, you can label anybody as seen on this tour have really stepped up-they are ing the summoning order against the activist — before the top court quashed Jason Roy top-scoring with 87 and all-rounder favourites.” Man-of-the-match Ahmed, who also young guys, and if they can play good consistent accused... we have taken note of the the proceedings yesterday. Ben Stokes contributing an ODI-best 75. scored Pakistan’s first ODI hundred at Lord’s in the cricket we are looking at a bright future.” — AFP complaint and the offence alleged while The top court also stayed in January passing this order,” a bench headed by an arrest warrant issued for Dhoni by a Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, according to lower court in southern Andhra Pradesh the Press Trust of India. state for failing to answer repeated sum- China looking for Korea The controversy dates back to 2013 mons to appear there over the same when Business Today magazine ran a issue. — AFP bounce against Iran

BEIJING: China are hoping to reproduce the teams go into a play-off series. “Iran are stronger straight away, but maybe become aware of the form that gave South Korea palpitations last than us,” said Huang. “But we are playing at fact that they have to make more of an effort,” week as they take on heavyweights Iran in home, so I hope we can deliver.” Honda said, according to Japan’s Kyodo News. another big World Cup qualifying test today. China’s first task will be to avoid conceding “I want to give them the opportunity to China fought back from 3-0 down to make it 3-2 after Zheng Zhi’s own goal, followed by strikes change their mindset. I have to pull the team with 14 minutes left in Seoul, ensuring a tense from Lee Chung-Yong and Koo Ja-Cheol, gave forward when it needs pulling, and it’s not just finale to a game which South Korea had looked them a mountain to climb in Seoul. me. There are a number of experienced players like wrapping up with ease. Carlos Queiroz’s Iran are Asia’s top-ranked on this team that feel the same way.” Meanwhile While China started the final round of Asian side at 39th in the world, and they started the the UAE can seize the initiative in Group B when qualifying with a defeat, they are taking heart qualifying round with a 2-0 victory over Qatar in they host Australia looking for their second big from the performance ahead of today’s home Tehran-although both goals came in injury time. scalp after beating Japan last week. game against Iran in Shenyang. “It’s going to be very tough... We come from Asian champions Australia were tentative in “I don’t think we have much pressure,” said different results in the first games, but the situa- last week’s 2-0 win over Iraq in Perth, and home Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Huang tion is reversed now that China will play at conditions will suit UAE with free entry expected Bowen, according to the Global Times. “I just home,” Queiroz said, according to the Global at Abu Dhabi’s 42,000-capacity Mohammed bin hope we can play the way we did in the last 15 Times. Zayed Stadium. UAE playmaker Omar minutes against South Korea.” Abdulrahman urged fans to come out in force, China are bidding to reach only the second RIOT ACT warning that the game “won’t be easy at all”. World Cup in their history in a tough Group A In Bangkok, Japan desperately need a win “We have to win for the second successive which also brackets 2022 hosts Qatar, after their shock loss to UAE, but it won’t be easy time, which will help us at the end of our jour- Uzbekistan and Syria. They are not the only for the four-time Asian champions at a steamy ney,” he told The National newspaper. “But we team needing a positive result with Japan, still . need our stadium to be full, with more than smarting from a disallowed goal in their 2-1 Outspoken AC Milan forward Keisuke Honda 40,000 Emiratis to come and support their defeat to UAE, facing a tricky away trip to read his younger team-mates the riot act after national team.” KINSHASA: Central African Republic’s Vianney Mabide (C) vies with Democratic Thailand. last week’s defeat, telling them they need to Elsewhere, war-torn Syria play their ‘home’ Republic of the Congo’s Yannick Yala Bolasie (L) during the 2017 African Cup of The top two teams from both of the six- work harder. “A surprising number of players fixture against South Korea in Malaysia, which Nations qualifying football match between Democratic Republic of the Congo and strong Asian groups will earn spots at the 2018 watch and read the news so they know what I is also hosting Iraq’s game against Saudi Central African Republic on Sunday at the Martyrs stadium, in Kinshasa. — AFP World Cup in Russia, while the third-placed say. I don’t think they are going to change Arabia. — AFP