SPORTS Thursday, November 23, 2017 23

The battle for one of cricket’s most coveted prizes gets underway in the 70th Ashes series – currently hold the famous , and have won four of last five series Kubica, Sirotkin to

Australia captain hoping to win back Ashes Steven Smith The Gabba, Brisbane test with Williams Cap: 42,000 season tire test at the Yas Marina opportunity to assess the new tires across olish driver Robert Kubica circuit. such an interesting range of drivers,” the Cricket will test for Williams again The test is aimed at evaluating team said in a statement. Ground, 48,000 Pin Abu Dhabi next week as 2018 tires for Pirelli but also “Lance, as confirmed race driver for WACA he presses for a Formula One gives Williams another chance 2018, Robert with his huge experience, and Ground, Adelaide comeback with the former world to assess Kubica before making Sergey as a very promising young talent in Perth Oval champions. a final decision on a replacement Formula One.” 20,000 53,000 The British- for retiring Brazilian Felipe Sirotkin, 22, is currently a development MATCH SCHEDULE Bellerive based team said Massa driver for the Renault team and has Nov 23 1st Test Brisbane Oval, Cricket the 32-year-old “Williams is been backed by Russian billionaire Boris Dec 2 2nd Test Adelaide Hobart Ground 19,500 would join excited to Rotenberg. Dec 14 3rd Test Perth 100,000 Russian Sergey have this Kubica will drive the FW40 in the Dec 26 4th Test Melbourne Test match: Longest form Sirotkin and morning of the first day before handing Jan 4 5th Test Sydney of cricket, played over five days race regular over to Stroll. Sirotkin will be in the car on Jan 14 1st ODI Melbourne ODI: One Day International Lance Stroll the second day with Kubica wrapping up Limited to 50 overs at a two- the session in the late afternoon. Jan 19 2nd ODI Brisbane T20I: Twenty20 International Jan 21 3rd ODI Sydney Shortest form, limited to 20 overs day The Pole is seen as the favourite to take post- Massa’s place but Williams denied on Jan 26 4th ODI Adelaide Feb 7 1st T20I Hobart Tuesday that any deal was Jan 28 5th ODI Venue TBC Feb 10 2nd T20I Melbourne done. Source: Cricinfo Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS Kubica, a race winner with BMW-Sauber in 2008, partially severed his MATCHDAY 5: NOV 23 right forearm in an horrific Maccabi Tel-Aviv ISR Astana KAZ 2011 crash during a rally A Slavia Prague CZE Villarreal ESP he entered for fun before B Partizan SRB Skenderbeu ALB the start of that year’s Young Boys SUI Dynamo Kyiv UKR Formula One season. Ludogorets BUL Sporting Braga POR He has twice tested a C Basaksehir TUR Hoffenheim GER 2014 Williams car this year AEK Athens GRE AC Milan ITA Robert Kubica of Poland D Rijeka CRO Austria Vienna AUT after failing to secure a seat Olympique Lyon FRA Everton ENG at Renault. (Reuters) E Apollon Limassol CYP Atalanta ITA Lokomotiv RUS Sheriff Tiraspol MDA F FC Copenhagen DEN Fastav Zlin CZE Viktoria Plzen CZE Lugano SUI G Steaua Bucharest ROM Hap. Beer-Sheva ISR War of words by Ashes captains H Koln GER BATE Borisov BLR Brisbane as captain Steve vice-captain, opener and best Australia’s captain Steve Smith Arsenal ENG Red Star Belgrade SRB he war of words that Smith and his England batsman, remained in doubt holds a replica of urn Red Bull Salzburg AUT Konyaspor TUR has added spice to the counterpart Joe Root paused for the test as he battles to I Viktoria POR Marseille FRA with England’s captain Joe Root lead-upT to cricket’s oldest for photos under a blinding recover from a neck strain. Athletic Bilbao ESP Ostersunds SWE J Hertha Berlin GER Zorya Luhansk UKR enduring test series will give blue sky at the Brisbane As to how Australia would Lazio ITA Nice FRA way to genuine hostilities on stadium, but both captains deal with such a hammer K Vitesse NED Zulte Waregem BEL Thursday when bitter Ashes have been looking to land a blow as Warner’s absence, Rosenborg NOR Zenit RUS rivals Australia and England psychological blow on the Smith gave no answer. L Real Sociedad ESP Vardar MKD march out in front of a eve of the first test. It took the national board FUTURE MATCHDAYS packed crowd at the Gabba. The customary photo to clarify the situation, 6. Dec 7 Last 32 draw: Dec 11 The war of words that has opportunity may have been with Cricket Australia later Willian José Real Sociedad striker added spice to the lead-up the only chance to get a clear revealing that all-rounder netted four-goal haul in victory over Vardar to cricket’s oldest enduring image from the entire day, Glenn Maxwell had been KEEP BALL: Real Sociedad, who last reached QUALIFIED TEAMS test series will give way with smoke and mirrors rushed to Brisbane in knock-out stages of a European competition Five teams already to genuine hostilities on employed liberally by the readiness to slot in if Warner in 2004, will guarantee Last 32 berth through to Last 32 Thursday when bitter Ashes captains during the pre- failed to prove his fitness. with draw at Rosenborg Dynamo Kyiv rivals Australia and England match media conferences. Whether bluff or brewing Sociedad Possession: 68% Passes: 2,698 Steaua Bucharest Nice 56% 2,673 Arsenal march out in front of a While Root steadfastly crisis, Root was having none Arsenal 60% 2,099 Lazio packed crowd at the Gabba. declined to name his team, of it and said it would do A temporary ceasefire Smith threw a curve-ball by nothing to change his team’s Milan 59% 2,022 Zenit St. Petersburg Sources: UEFA, Gracenote Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS was called on Wednesday saying David Warner, his preparations. (Reuters) Monaco crash out of Champions League Monaco down in the first half an hour points from five games, with ast year’s semi-finalists following a Fabinho own goal Leipzig on seven, level with Monaco crashed out of and two goals by Timo Werner. second-placed Porto. theL Champions League in the Radamel Falcao reduced the Besiktas top the Group with group stages when they were arrears, only for Naby Keita to 11 points after their 1-1 home beaten at home 4-1 by Leipzig put the visitors 4-1 up on the draw with Porto. on Tuesday. stroke of halftime. The defeat means Monaco The principality side never The result left Monaco will not even play in the Europa Leipzig wins 4-1 against Monaco recovered from going 3-0 bottom of Group G on two League this season. (Reuters)