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Sports43 FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 Independent review to probe Hughes death SYDNEY: Cricket Australia has commis- to prevent injuries. “When this tragedy place soon after Phillip’s passing such as ing up towards the batsman’s head, sioned an independent review into the happened, I said that it was a freak acci- increasing the medical presence at all which caused the injury to Hughes. cause and circumstances of last year’s dent, but it was one freak accident too CA matches and working very closely Cricket Australia’s website said no death of test batsman Phillips Hughes in many,” Cricket Australia chief executive with our helmet supplier to investigate player or official would be obliged to a bid to prevent anything similar hap- James Sutherland said in a statement. the suitability of protective head equip- testify in front of the review. “We fully pening in the future. Australia was “This is not an exercise designed to ment offered to all players,” Sutherland recognise that undertaking a process engulfed in a wave of mourning after apportion blame on any individual for said. such as this may be a traumatic experi- Hughes, 25, died from catastrophic what took place. It is about making sure “This review will help determine ence for some and we will be as respect- injuries on Nov. 27 last year, two days that as a sport we are doing everything whether we need to implement further ful and understanding as possible after he was struck in the neck by a ball in our power to prevent an accident of measures before the 2015-16 season.” throughout that time,” Sutherland during a domestic Sheffield Shield this nature happening again.” In addi- The review will not look at the rules of added. “As such Cricket Australia and all match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. tion to looking at protective equipment, the cricket except where they pertain to states continue to make available coun- The review, which will be chaired by it will assess the level of medical sup- the issues of protective equipment and selling and support to any players and senior lawyer David Curtain, will have a port on hand during matches, the med- the management of players who suffer staff who feel they need help at any wide brief to make recommendations ical screening of contracted players and head or heart injuries. That means there time.” on the safety of matches organised by Cricket Australia’s approach to players will be no recommendations on the use The findings of the review are likely Cricket Australia, including on the who suffer head and heart injuries. by bowlers of the sort of bouncer, a to be published later this year, Cricket design and mandatory use of helmets “There were certain measures put in short delivery which sends the ball rear- Australia said. —Reuters Rangers reach conference finals with Game 7 OT win NEW YORK: The resilient New York Rangers did it the hard way once again, capping an historic comeback with a 2-1, Game Seven over- time win over the Washington Capitals to reach the NHL Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday. Derek Stepan blasted home a rebound off a blistering Dan Girardi shot at Caps goalie Braden Holtby with 8:36 left in overtime to lift the Rangers to a 4-3 series triumph and set off wild celebrations at Madison Square Garden. “It’s a special feeling,” said Stepan, who was mobbed along the boards after his series-winner. “Both teams back and forth, momen- tum swings. For most of the overtime they have the puck and we just find a way to stick with it.” The Rangers overcame a 3-1 series deficit to take their place in the Stanley Cup semi-finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the only NHL team ever to erase 3-1 playoff deficits in suc- cessive seasons. Last year, New York overtook the Pittsburgh Penguins in a deci- sive Game Seven in the second round on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals. It was a fitting end to a tight series in which every game was decided by a margin of one goal. The win gave goalie Henrik Lundqvist the sixth Game Seven vic- tory of his career in succession, tying Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy for most Game Seven victories in the NHL. Washington scored in the first period on a goal by Alex Ovechkin, who collected a perfect back- hand pass from Marcus Johansson, skated across the middle and LOUISVILLE: In this photo taken Saturday, May 2, 2015, jockey Gary Stevens (10) and Firing Line, lead even- whipped a top shelf shot over Lundqvist just inside the right post. tual winner American Pharoah, ridden by Victor Espinoza, left, during the 141st running of the Kentucky New York’s Kevin Hayes supplied a power play equalizer in the sec- Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Stevens nearly won another Derby two weeks ago ond period to make it 1-1. aboard Firing Line. —AP Swede Lundqvist stopped 35 of 36 shots to notch the victory, withstanding a barrage of chances by the Caps in the first five min- utes of sudden-death. Firing Line seeks to end “We’ve been through so many things over the last few years. You learn from it,” Lundqvist said. “In this situation we are confident in this group and how we play. —Reuters runner-up stigma in Preakness BALTIMORE: His horse has amassed nearly $1 his first foray into the Triple Crown. It’s not as if American Pharoah drew the rail and Dortmund million in earnings over six races, so owner Firing Line doesn’t know how to win. The dark will line up beside him, inside of Mr. Z at No. 3. “I Arnold Zetcher found no need to lament Firing brown colt’s two career victories are by a total of told Mr. Zetcher prior to that I’d love to have the Line’s reputation for finishing second in big 18 1/2 lengths. But, as Zetcher pointed out, outside,” jockey Gary Stevens said. “With the events. “He’s an unbelievable horse,” Zetcher Firing Line lost twice to Dortmund by a head, by way everybody else drew, with those three said. “If you take all of his seconds and add a half-length in his debut last October and in the being inside, it gives me a lot of options.” That’s them up all up, it’s one or two lengths. And the Kentucky Derby by one length. one potential advantage for Firing Line. fact he came in second in the Kentucky Derby, Another is that this will be only his second race I’m really excited about that.” Zetcher was Potential advantage since March 22. American Pharaoh ran in the wearing a broad smile Wednesday at the Maybe that bridesmaid thing will change at Arkansas Derby on April 11 and Dortmund cap- Preakness post-position draw, where Firing Saturday’s Preakness. “Always when you look tured the Santa Anita Derby on April 4. All of Line drew the outside No. 8 post and was back and you’re a close second, you kind of this is part of Callaghan’s master plan. made a 4-1 choice behind his biggest rivals, the think what if,” Callaghan said. “But I think the “For a guy that’s never been through the Bob Baffert-trained duo of American Pharoah horse has kind of progressed from race to race, Triple Crown before, Simon was sorting this and Dortmund. Coming into the Derby, Firing and his last race was his best race.” stuff out prior to (the Kentucky Derby),” NEW YORK: Evgeny Kuznetsov No 92 of the Washington Line had twice finished second behind Still, Baffert again got the best of Firing Line. Stevens said. “He knew just what he was get- Dortmund. Firing Line finally beat Dortmund at But the Hall of Fame trainer has deep respect ting into. He felt the six weeks would be to his Capitals fights for the puck against Martin St. Louis No 26 of Churchill Downs, which would have been for the horse. “He was tough to get by and is benefit. We had the freshest horse going into the New York Rangers in the third period of Game Seven of cause for celebration except that American going to be tough,” Baffert said. “A lot of quality the Derby and I think of the top three Derby the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Pharoah finished first. there, a lot of class. Dortmund and him, they’ve finishers, we may have come out of the race Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on “He just got run down by a very good horse,” had their battles. My job is to keep beating with the freshest horse going into the Wednesday in New York City. — AFP said trainer Simon Callaghan, 32, who’s making him.” Firing Line got a break at the draw. Preakness.” —AP.

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