WEDNESDAY MARCH 15 2017 SPORT 41 Report Henriques has doubts over quick’s Test readiness suggests HE regards Pat Cummins as a for the remainder of the tour cause quicks had to bend their pletely different kettle of fish. a Test series in India, that’s freak, but NSW cricket captain with a foot injury. backs a lot more on the grass- “There’s a number of differ- their (the selectors) call. one Aussie Moises Henriques has ques- Allrounder Henriques less wickets. ent factors when it comes into “Skill-wise, can he bowl at tioned whether the Blues pace- bowled Cummins, who played “I think Pat is a very special selecting guys to play for Aus- that level? 100 per cent he can. man is physically ready for the his only Test as an 18-year-old bowler, so in terms of skill-wise tralia in those sorts of condi- He’s a freak of nature.” team to go rigours of Test cricket in India. in 2011, primarily in six-over and if you want someone to tions. The second Test was played Cummins, who last week spells and said the paceman play cricket for Australia, I “It was only one Shield in a cauldron-type atmosphere ONE Australian Super Rugby took eight wickets in his first was in good physical condition. think Pat Cummins is your game earlier that he got ruled which strained relations be- team will be cut from next Sheffield Shield match in six However Henriques, who man,” Henriques said on Mon- out and apparently he wasn’t tween the two teams and Hen- year’s competition, according years, was called into the Aus- has played three Tests in India, day. ready to play Shield cricket for riques suggested it wouldn’t be to a South African report quot- tralian squad on the weekend said conditions there were a lot “But whether he’s ready NSW. a good idea for the Indians to ing Cheetahs boss Harold Ver- ahead of the third Test after harder on the body which physically on the back of one “Now on the back of one rile the normally good-natured ster. Mitchell Starc was ruled out tended to pull up more sore be- Shield game, that’s a com- Shield game he’s ready to play Cummins. The report on Afrikaans language website Netwerk24 claimed that SANZAAR would reduce the cumbersome five- nation competition from 18 to 16 teams — with one Austra- lian and one South African side to get the chop. Verster said the Bloemfon- TIME TO GAMBLE tein-based Cheetahs had been given assurances that they would be safe, presumably leaving the Port Elizabeth- Maxwell, Cummins tipped based Southern Kings in the firing line. The Force, Rebels and to be named for third Test Brumbies are the Australian clubs facing a nervous wait fol- BEN HORNE run-scoring lowing SANZAAR’s meeting could be perilous, in London on Friday. GLENN Maxwell and Pat Maxwell has the “All I can say is that we are Much-maligned Victorian all-rounder Cummins are set to come ability to fire off safe,” chief executive Verster Glenn Maxwell is expected to replace the into Australia’s XI to battle quick lower reportedly said. “I keep my ear injured Mitch Marsh in the Australian the pitch of doom in Ranchi. order runs that to the ground. team for the third Test against India in Injury has forced Austra- have the potential to change “There is much discussion Ranchi starting tomorrow lia into two massive changes the game. about the current series and Pictures: RAJANISH KAKADE and RYAN PIERSE for the crucial third Test, and Meanwhile, Cummins had the format and two teams of selectors look poised to un- his Indian visa ready to go a South Africa and a team of leash a side with an attacking month ago and has declared Australia (getting culled). mindset as its chief motiv- he has never been more “There was even specu- ation. Victory in Ranchi is ready for his long-awaited lation that we would return to enough to retain Australia second coming to arrive. a Super 12, but my information the Border Gavaskar trophy Cummins (pictured) admits is that we are going to be re- and for that reason there is he was surprised to be called duced from the current 18 to 16 no reason for Steve Smith’s into the side to replace the in- teams, which means the Chee- side to leave anything in the jured Mitchell Starc, but says tahs are safe.” tank. he was told weeks ago he was The report comes as chief The No.6 position vacated on standby for the tour. executives of the five Austra- by the injured Mitchell Cricket NSW has argued lian Super Rugby teams con- Marsh has been an ongoing that Cricket Australia has tinue dialogue with the conundrum for Australia for pushed Cummins’ return too Australian Rugby Union. years now, but a difficult, dry quickly, but the 23-year-old The Perth-based Force deck that may only last three believes staying home for would be the easiest team for days has brought game- Sheffield Shield cricket might the Australian Rugby Union to changer Maxwell firmly into have been even tougher on axe, given that they currently the box seat. his body than the short-sharp own and operate them. Maxwell has not played a spells he will deliver this The Force have never made Test since November 2014 in week in Ranchi. the playoffs but are showing the UAE, and if he gets across “I knew I was on standby some signs of life this season the line it would complete a for the tour a couple of under bright new coach Dave remarkable return from what months ago but really, I Wessels. was a turbulent summer. thought the bowlers weren’t The Canberra-based Brum- Marcus Stoinis only ar- going to bowl too many bies have had off-field troubles rived in India late last night overs, so I hoped they weren’t in recent times but on the park giving him just two days to going to get injured,” he said. they are Australia’s most suc- prepare, whereas Maxwell “I hadn’t really thought cessful franchise and have won has been on tour from day about coming over at all. two Super Rugby titles. one and spent crucial time “They’re not great, bow- The privately owned preparing in Dubai. ler-friendly wickets for Rebels, meanwhile, have made Usman Khawaja is also on quicks which actually means an atrocious start to the 2017 tour, but his struggles on the I won’t bowl too many overs. season, suffering humiliating sub-continent in the past “From that point of view it losses to the Blues and Hurri- could see the left-hander was always going to be a plan canes. struggle against Indian spin- that was pretty comfortable The Rebels have also never ner Ravi Ashwin. along with playing some made the playoffs. On a difficult pitch where Shield games.” Genia could make early Reds return Jones wary of praise from Hansen WILL Genia could be set for an earlier would hold appeal, Genia remains EDDIE Jones compares the praise En- international fixture list, the game’s top than expected return to the Reds fol- passionate about the Reds and would gland have received from New Zealand two teams are being kept apart until lowing the shock merger between Pari- strongly consider an offer. A return to coach Steve Hansen to the fairytale of autumn 2018 when a seismic show- sian powerhouses Stade Francais and the Reds would be a major coup for Little Red Riding Hood being deceived down is to be staged at Twickenham. Racing 92. Australian rugby, on the back of Wasps by the wolf. Jones is wary of Hansen’s approval, Genia, the Wallabies halfback, is star Kurtley Beale signing with the Hansen congratulated the Six Na- however, as the rival coaches exchange contracted to Stade Francais for the Waratahs and Wallabies through till tions champions for retaining their title words for the first time since England’s 2017-18 Top 14 season but player con- the 2019 Rugby World Cup. by downing Scotland 61-21, despite see- rise as a genuine threat to New Zea- tracts from both French clubs are now Genia is in Brisbane this week after ing the All Blacks’ record of 18 success- land’s global dominance. up in the air after yesterday’s dramatic being given time off by his French club. ive Test wins equalled at Twickenham. “It’s a bit like Red Riding Hood and announcementt. Fringe Wallabies halfback Nick The mastermind of the 2015 World the wolf when the wolf comes dressed Genia, 29, had previously expressed Frisby is signed with the Reds through Cup triumph insisted England are fi- up as the grandmother,” Jones said. a desire to return home to Queensland till 2019 but his form has been patchy nally fulfilling their potential, playing If Ireland are toppled in Dublin on at some stage but the merger could see so far this season. It’s understood that the “sort of rugby people want to see,” Sunday, as well eclipsing the All Blacks’ that happen as soon as next year. Stade Francais and Racing 92 players and offered Jones the message of “well 18-Test milestone Dylan Hartley’s men While pairing up with Racing 92 will enter discussions with the players’ done, champ. It’s thoroughly deserved, will become only the sixth team to Will Genia playmaker Dan Carter next season union in France this week.