WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 SPORTS Kiwis take aim at 30-year drought against untested Aussies BRISBANE: Highly-rated New Zealand swing pair That might be easier said than done however as ‘Sense of excitement’ a sense of excitement around the group, especially Tim Southee and Trent Boult will look to put the Australia reign supreme at the Brisbane ground While Australia have a strong new-ball attack of since we’ve arrived in Brisbane,” Southee said. hosts’ new-look lineup to the sword at the where they have not lost a Test match since 1988, to , and either Josh “Everyone is looking forward to getting amongst Gabba from tomorrow as the tourists chase their ’ mighty West Indies. Hazlewood or , much will come down it. I think we’ve still got to know it’s going to be a first series win in Australia for 30 years. The Black Caps have lost six and drawn one of to whether the home side score the runs to put tough challenge. We know it’s going to be a hard- Without a series triumph in Australia since the the seven Tests in Queensland since their last win at pressure on the Kiwis. “The young blokes haven’t fought series. “If we do our things right, it goes a halcyon days of and Martin Crowe in 1985 when they went on to take the been grabbing their opportunities recently and that long way to us doing what we came here to in 1985, the Black Caps clearly sense a weakness in series 2-1. is why we have had all these 30-year-olds (Voges) achieve.” ’s untested team following a raft of But the Kiwis are much-improved under the pos- making their debut,” former Test skipper Ian retirements. The post-Ashes departures of former itive leadership of Brendon McCullum and have lost Chappell said. Teams (from): skipper Michael Clarke along with stalwarts Shane just three of their last 17 Tests, beating England by “But because of the retirements now they’ve got Australia - , , Usman Watson, , and Ryan Harris 199 runs at Headingley to square their series last to start choosing some young blokes, it is up to Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Mitchell have forced selectors to redraft Australia’s batting, June. Key to the Black Caps’ improvement has been them, they have to make the most of it. “In some Marsh, , Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, but there are questions over the replacements. the twin pace attack of Southee and Boult. ways it (retirements) may be a good thing-the , , Peter Siddle. Apart from Smith and his deputy David Warner, Southee has taken 144 in 41 Tests at young blokes are forced to do it.” New Zealand - Brendon McCullum (capt), Tom the rest of Australia’s batsmen can muster only a 31.63, while left-armer Boult has 123 wickets from Also part of the selectors’ thinking in choosing Latham, Martin Guptill, , Ross combined 29 Test appearances between Joe Burns 32 Tests at 27.12. Burns and Khawaja is that both play regularly on Taylor, Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling, Mark Craig, Tim (two), Usman Khawaja (nine), Adam Voges (seven), The Black Caps can also call on seamer Doug the Gabba pitch, something the Kiwi batsmen will Southee, Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry, Trent Boult. Peter Nevill (four) and (seven). Bracewell, who captured a match-winning six for 40 have to master. Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) That makes the Australians vulnerable, particu- in New Zealand’s thrilling seven-run win over the Southee, who took four for 63 in the first innings (ENG) larly if speedsters Southee and Boult get their act Australians at their last Test meeting in Hobart at the Gabba seven years ago, said the Black Caps TV : Sundaram Ravi (IND) together on the bouncy, seaming Gabba pitch. almost four years ago. were ready for a tough challenge. “There’s certainly Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI). — AFP Dominant S Africa seek India’s Test scalp

MOHALI: Buoyant South Africa will look to the one-day series where he scored just 89 continue their amazing nine-year unbeaten runs at an average of 17.80. run in away Test series when they begin a Amla, one of the finest batsmen of our four-match contest against ’s India times, has in the past enjoyed playing in India in Mohali from tomorrow. The Proteas, the where in six previous Tests he scored 823 runs world’s top-ranked Test side, have not lost a at an average of 102.87 with four centuries. series away from home since Ashwell Prince’s Meanwhile, India return to the comforting team suffered a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka in environs of a home Test for the first time in 2006. two years after being battered in England, They lived up to their reputation of being South Africa, Australia and New Zealand on good travellers on bilateral tours by winning recent tours. India enjoy an impressive record both the and one-day series on the on home soil where they have won 12 of the current 10-week sojourn through India. South last 17 series and lost just one-against Alastair Africa go into the Tests seeking their first Cook’s England in 2012. Kohli’s men carved series win on Indian soil in 15 years, having out a credible 2-1 win in Sri Lanka in August drawn 1-1 on their last two tours in 2008 and after losing the first Test, but South Africa will 2010. Star batsman AB de Villiers, who hit be a tougher proposition. With three spinners three centuries in the one-day series and fol- in their ranks and pace spearhead Ishant lowed that with 112 in a practice match in Sharma serving a one-Test ban for bad behav- Mumbai ahead of the first Test, was excited at iour during the last match in Sri Lanka, India the contests ahead. hope to get a turning in Mohali. “We are very hungry for success, hungry to The Indian team management was create history,” he said. “We love travelling annoyed at being presented with a run-laden abroad and that’s where our team spirit kicks pitch for the deciding one-dayer in Mumbai in and plays a role. “It was an incredible last month, where South Africa won by 214 achievement by us to win both the limited- runs after piling up a massive 438-4. overs series and there is no reason we can’t India’s chief grounds inspector Daljit win the Test series. But we know a lot of hard Singh, asked about the likely nature of pitches work lies ahead. for the Tests, responded: “We are working on “India will want to come back harder and result-oriented wickets with the element of stronger, and we know they have the ability home advantage.” to do that, but we will be up for it.” South India (from): Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Africa will rely on de Villiers and Test skipper Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya to score heavily on dry wickets Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, that are expected to be tailor-made for India’s Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar spinners. De Villiers and Amla have scored 44 Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, SHARJAH: Pakistan’s (R) and run between wickets during the third day of the third Test match between Test centuries between them-more than the Lokesh Rahul, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron. entire young Indian team under Kohli has South Africa (from): Hashim Amla (capt), Pakistan and England in the Gulf Emirate of Sharjah yesterday. — AFP managed in their short careers so far. AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer, Imran Home comforts Tahir, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dane Hafeez leads Pakistan’s While de Villiers is in stupendous form, Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Amla will seek to overcome a lean streak in Zyl, . — AFP fightback in final Test

SHARJAH: Opener Mohammad Hafeez notched a brilliant 97 under pressure to help Pakistan stage a comeback in the third and final Test SCOREBOARD against England in Sharjah yesterday. The 35- year-old was just three runs away from his ninth SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: Scoreboard yesterday at stumps on the third day of the third Test hundred as he took Pakistan to 146-3 at the test between Pakistan and England at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. close on the third day at Sharjah stadium, leading by 74 runs with seven wickets intact. Pakistan 1st Innings: 234 36-3-99-3, 20-5-33-0 (3nb), Nightwatchman Rahat Ali was the other not England 1st Innings(Overnight 222-4) Zulfiqar Babar 37-6-80-1, 9.5-3- out batsman on nought as Pakistan lost the key c Azhar Ali b Shah 49 33-4, Azhar Ali 2-0-7-0. wicket of Younis Khan for 14, trapped leg-before c Younis Khan b Malik 14 by fast bowler with just two overs to st Ahmed b Shah 40 Pakistan 2nd Innings go in the day. But Hafeez held the innings Joe Root c Ahmed b Rahat Ali 4 Mohammad Hafeez 97 together well, smashing nine boundaries and James Taylor c Ahmed b Rahat Ali 76 Azhar Ali 34 three sixes during his aggressive 155-ball knock Jonny Bairstow b Babar 43 Shoaib Malik lbw b Anderson 0 as Pakistan seek to avoid squandering a 1-0 lead Samit Patel b Shah 42 Younis Khan lbw b Broad 14 in the three-match series. Pakistan won the sec- Adil Rashid c Azhar Ali b Malik 8 Rahat Ali not out 0 ond Test in Dubai while the first Test ended in a Stuart Broad not out 13 Extras: (1lb) 1 draw in Abu Dhabi. Earlier, off-spinner Shoaib James Anderson b Malik 7 TOTAL: (for 3 wickets) 146 MOHALI: India’s spin bowlers Ravindra Jadeja (L), Ravichandran Ashwin (C) and Amit Malik took a career best 4-33 as England were b Malik 0 Overs: 53. Mishra bowl in the nets during a training session on the eve of the first Test match bowled out for 306 in their first innings, taking a Extras: (6lb, 4nb) 10 Still to bat: Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz between India and South Africa at The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in 72-run lead over Pakistan’s total of 234. TOTAL: (all out) 306 Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, , Zulfiqar Babar. Mohali yesterday. — AFP James Taylor top-scored with 76. Pakistan Overs: 126.5. Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-105, 3-146 were lucky not to lose Hafeez after Australian Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-90, 3-97, 4-139, 5-228, 6- : James Anderson 14-5-36-1, Stuart umpire Bruce Oxenford gave him caught behind 245, 7-285, 8-287, 9-296, 10-306. Broad 12-4-19-1, Samit Patel 11-0-40-0, Moeen Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik off paceman James Anderson in the fifth over of Bowling: Rahat Ali 22-12-48-2 (1nb), Yasir Shah Ali 6-1-25-0, Adil Rashid 10-2-25-0. the innings with the score on four. But Hafeez, retires from Tests then on two, challenged the decision and got away on referral as television replays showed increase England’s lead. When England resumed, Taylor’s 226-minute vigil had six fours and he SHARJAH: Former Pakistan Shoaib formances. I want to preserve my energy for the there was a gap between ball and bat, much to on their overnight score of 222-4, their hopes of a added 89 for the fifth wicket with Bairstow who Malik announced his retirement from Test crick- World Cup because I have played only in one,” the relief of the Pakistan camp. Hafeez said he big lead rested on the shoulders of Taylor and also didn’t last long. Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar et after he failed in the second innings of the said Malik, who played the 2007 World Cup in was happy to lead the fightback. Bairstow but Rahat broke through in the fifth Babar claimed Bairstow with a sharp third Test against England in Sharjah yesterday. the West Indies. over of the day, forcing an edge off Taylor to which came with the arm as the batsman failed The 33-year-old only made a comeback in Malik also briefly led Pakistan in Tests, losing Invaluable wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed. to connect a cut and was bowled. — AFP the longer format of the game after five years in two and drawing the other in 2007. Malik said “We needed a good start and I am happy that the first Test against England in Abu Dhabi, not playing in Tests from 2010 to 2015 was a dis- Ali and I gave that,” said Hafeez. “We need to bat smashing a career-best 245. But since then he appointment. “I didn’t play for five like this tomorrow as well to post a challenging has made nought, two, seven, 38 and nought in years and those were the years when I wanted target for England and I am hopeful that we will Zimbabwe shrug the remaining five innings of the series, prompt- to play Tests and that is the only disappoint- do that.” Pakistan were off to a confident start of ing him to call it a day. ment,” said Malik. — AFP 101 — only their second 50-plus opening stand “I am retiring from Test cricket after this off Bangladesh in Sharjah-with Hafeez earning the lead by hit- match,” Malik told reorters. “The reason of my leaving Tests is not because of slump in form but ting spinner Samit Patel for a four and then tak- security concerns it’s because I want to give more time to my fami- ing three runs. He completed his 13th Test half- ly and concentrate on the 2019 World Cup.” with another boundary off Patel and Malik was married to Indian tennis star Sania then hoisted James Anderson for a six and four DHAKA: Zimbabwe have shrugged off secu- since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team Mirza in 2010, a wedding widely publicised to post the 100-mark. rity fears in Bangladesh that have forced other bus during a 2009 Test match in Lahore. across Pakistan and India. “I realised today that Azhar Ali was unfortunate to be run out for 34, cricket teams to cancel their tours and were Tension rose in Bangladesh after an Italian this is the right time to leave the place for as he drove spinner Adil Rashid to extra cover focused on winning, the captain and coach aid worker and a Japanese farmer were mur- youngsters and Pakistan have many talented and saw Hafeez scampering for a single. Ali react- said yesterday. dered last month in attacks claimed by the players who can fill in,” said Malik, who made his ed late and was run out at the non-striker’s end. The Zimbabweans arrived in the Islamic State. The government says the Test debut against Bangladesh in in Malik, who scored a brilliant 245 in the first Test, Bangladesh capital on Monday to play three jihadist group has no presence in the country. 2001. In all, he played 35 Tests, scoring 1,898 was caught napping by a sharp inswinger from one-day internationals and two Twenty20 Apart from the Australian men, the South runs with three centuries and eight half-cen- Anderson which struck him right in front of the matches against the hosts. Zimbabwe agreed African women also cancelled their trip, just a turies. He has so far taken 29 wickets, with his wicket, continuing his slide in form. to bring forward the series from January 2016 day before they were due to arrive yesterday. best figures of 4-33 coming on Tuesday against Earlier, it was Malik’s off-breaks which derailed after Australia cancelled their tour in late Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore, who England in Sharjah, a figure to which he can pos- England who lost their last six wickets on either September over official warnings that mili- coached the Bangladesh team from 2004-07, sibly add a few in England’s second innings. side of lunch. Rashid helped Patel add an invalu- tants might attack Western interests. said his players have no issue with security. Malik said he was thinking of the retirement “We will play cricket and those who are “They (Zimbabwe Cricket) will never put us even before he scored the double hundred. “I able 40 for the seventh wicket before England qualified to look at these things (security in a situation where we are compromised,” could have played more but this is the right time lost their last four wickets for 21. and I think our Test team is established and Patel, playing his first Test in three years, hit six issues) will do their job. They have given us Whatmore said. Whatmore praised his former there are a few youngsters like , well-timed fours to frustrate Pakistan before he the go-ahead to play here,” captain Elton charges, saying the series will be challenging Babar Azam, and Mohammad was bowled by leg-spinner Yasir Shah who fin- Chigumbura told reporters. for fellow minnows Zimbabwe. Rizwan who are very talented and can fill in. ished with 3-99. Malik then had the wickets of Zimbabwe is the first international team to “Bangladesh had a good World Cup, mak- “Even when I scored the double hundred and Anderson (seven) and Ben Stokes (nought) to arrive in Bangladesh since South Africa in ing it to the quarterfinal. They have followed it before that I had thought about leaving Tests. improve on his previous best of 4-42 he took August. Bangladesh is desperate to avoid the up with some memorable wins here,” said It’s with satisfaction that I am leaving Test crick- against South Africa in Lahore in 2003. fate of Pakistan which has had to host nearly Whatmore. “We know who we are up against. et,” said Malik. “I will continue to play one-day Stokes, who suffered a shoulder injury on all of its home matches at neutral venues They are a good side.” — AFP and Twenty20 and would like to give good per- Shoaib Malik Sunday, batted at number 11 in an attempt to