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Djokovic through Captain Morgan as top seed says Root in Pliskova crashes England’s out of US Open T20 plans

FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2020

QFA, SC and Concacaf announce new partnership

DOHA THE PENINSULA– As a result of the between the SC’s Generation Cup, the collaboration will also Amazing Programme and Con- provide multiple knowledge With just over two years to go partnership, the reigning cacaf’s NextPlay Programme. sharing opportunities between until the FIFA World Cup Qatar AFC Asian Cup champions “Generation Amazing uses the organizing bodies of Qatar 2022, the Qatar Football Asso- will make their appearance the power of football to create 2022 and the FIFA World Cup ciation (QFA) and the Supreme in the Concacaf Gold Cup sustainable social development 2026, which will take place in Committee for Delivery & as a guest nation in 2021 in communities around the the Concacaf region. Legacy (SC) have formed a new world. Since it was launched as Concacaf President and FIFA strategic partnership with and 2023. part of Qatar’s bid to host the Vice-President, Victor Montag- Concacaf, the governing body World Cup, it has positively liani, commented on the Qatar for football in North America, impacted the lives of more than national team’s invitation to play Central America and the 500,000 people around the in the 2021 and 2023 Concacaf Caribbean. world. Looking to the future and Gold Cup completions. The partnership will see the the further expansion of this “In 2017 we entered into a QFA the SC play an important important legacy project, we are Memorandum of Understanding role in all levels of football and excited to announce this stra- with the Asian Football Confed- sport across the Concacaf region tegic partnership with the Con- eration which has been mutually and help deliver long-term cacaf’s own football for devel- beneficial for both regions, and football for development pro- opment programme, to ensure paved the way for this important grammes across the region. the growth of both initiatives and agreement between Concacaf, The partnership includes deliver a greater impact on the the Qatar Football Association Qatar’s participation as a guest lives of even more people, in and the Supreme Committee. nation in the region’s top football even more countries. Most “The Qatar National Team competition, the Concacaf Gold importantly, this partnership will will be a guest participant in the Cup, in both 2021 and 2023. The nation on November 21, 2022. help ensure a lasting human prepare the national team ahead help ensure a sustainable, lasting Concacaf Gold Cup, the flagship reigning AFC Asian Cup cham- The partnership also legacy for the 2022 World Cup. of their opening World Cup tournament legacy in North men’s international competition pions will make their Gold Cup includes long-term “The Concacaf Gold Cup is a match on 21 November 2022. America, Central America and in our region. We look forward debut in July of next year after involvement in the region’s prestigious tournament and “Winning the 2019 AFC the Caribbean, well after the last to welcoming them and we their second appearance as a football for development initi- we’re thrilled Qatar has been Asian Cup marked an important ball is kicked in 2022.” know that as reigning AFC Asian guest nation at the Copa atives through the SC’s flagship invited to compete in the 2021 milestone in our development Al Thawadi added, “From a Cup Champions they will America, South America’s top human and social legacy pro- and 2023 editions,” said QFA plan, and so we head into the footballing perspective, it will be provide stern opposition for our football competition, next year. gramme, Generation Amazing, President, Sheikh Hamad bin Gold Cup confident that we can great to see Qatar’s national national teams. This innovative The national team’s and the Concacaf NextPlay Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani. compete with Concacaf’s best team take on some of the world’s partnership with the QFA and appearance marks another programme. In particular, the “Qatar’s participation in the teams. We look forward to the best when they meet in the 2021 the SC includes a significant important football devel- partnership will have a signif- tournament next year takes competition.” edition of the Gold Cup, ahead football development and social opment milestone on the road icant focus on community place just 17 months before the SC Secretary-General, of their historic participation on responsibility component, to Qatar 2022 and will help coach development, which will FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Hassan Al Thawadi, commented home turf at the FIFA World Cup offering huge benefits to the further prepare the team ahead benefit thousands of young kicks off, so it will be a great on the long-term football for 2022.” game across the Concacaf of their first match as host people across the region, and opportunity to help further development partnership As hosts of the next World region,” added Montagliani. Five-star Al Sadd off to a flying start at brand new Education City Stadium WEEK 1 FIXTURES THE PENINSULA – DOHA Player of the Year and Joint-Top Scorer Akram Afif and his team-mate, Tareq Salman, the Best U-23 Player, YESTERDAY'S are honoured by the Al Sadd and Al Kharaitiyat players before the kick off of the 1st match of the season RESULTS Spanish star Santi Carzola spearheaded Al at the Education City Stadium, yesterday. Sadd's dominant show with a brace as the Al Sadd 5 - 1 Wolves defeated newly promoted Al Al Kharaitiyat Kharaitiyat 5-1 at the brand new Education Al Sailiya 1 - 1 City Stadium in the opening day of the new Al Rayyan QNB Stars League (QSL), yesterday. Al Gharafa 2 - 0 New recruit, Cazorla scored in the 27th Qatar SC and 60th minutes while Baghdad Bounedjah (54) before Mohammed Salam TODAY'S FIXTURES scored an own goal in the 71st minute. The Al Duhail vs Umm QFA Player of the Year, Akram Afif scored Salal Al Sadd's fifth in the 84th minute. (18:15, Education City Rashid Tiber Kanin scored Al Kharaiti- Stadium) yat’s goal. Al Ahli vs Al Wakrah The majestic 40,000-seat Education (18:15, Al Ahli City Stadium dubbed the ‘Diamond in the Stadium) Desert’, had only few spectators present Al Khor vs Al Arabi at the stands yesterday, but the presence (20:30, Al Ahli of plenty of top class action was there. Stadium) Following a digital launch announcing the completion of Education City Stadium in June this year, specially programmed as a tribute to frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the venue saw it's first match after the presentation of the QFA Awards to Player of the Year would rue the two dropped points in their and Joint-Top Scorer Afif and his team- bid to regain the league shield. The Lions mate, Tareq Salman who was named the had finished runners-up in the 2019-20 Best U-23 Player. QNB Stars League. Cazorla continued his good form in Al Rayyan, coached by Uruguayan Qatar, having scored on his debut for Al Diego Aguirre, lagged behind champions Sadd in their Ooredoo Cup 2-0 semi-final Al Duhail (52 points) only by one point in victory over Al Ahli few days ago. the final standings. Al Sadd, who had finished third in the Al Rayyan’s best chance in the first half recently-concluded 2019-20 season, dom- went to Abdulaziz Hazza in the 16th minute, inated the proceedings with Brazilian but his shot was saved by Al Sailiya’s much- Guilermo Torres making his debut in Qatar. experienced goalkeeper Amine Lecomte. Torres, along with South Korean star Nam Mohanad, who has previously plied his Tae-Hee, 2018 Asian Player of the Year trade in Al Duhail, took Al Sailiya ahead by Abdelkarim Hassan and Hassan Al slotting home a pass from Tiago Bezerra, Haydous unleashed shots against Al who switched to The Peregrines this season Kharaitiyat, who are back in the top flight from Al Khor. after a gap of one season. Al Rayyan were not to be denied as they The Thunders had finished at the found the equaliser not long after the bottom in the 2018-19 season and were resumption. relegated to the Second Division. Traore was on target with a bicycle kick Elsewhere, at A lGharafa Stadium, Al when the ball rebounded off the horizontal Sailiya held Al Rayyan to a 1-1 draw. following a corner kick by Yacine Brahimi, Mohanad Ali (28th minute) scored for the joint top-scorer in the previous QSL Al Sailiya, while Dame Traore (52nd season. Al Rayyan's Yacine Brahimi, winner of the Mansour Muftah Award for Joint-Top Scorer, and Best Coach, Diego Aguirre minute) was Al Rayyan’s scorer. In the third match of the day, hosts Al receiving their awards before the kick off of their first match of the season, yesterday. Possession was even and Al Rayyan Gharafa defeated Al Khor 2-0. 14 SPORT FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 Returning US Open: Djokovic through Pironkova stuns as Pliskova crashes out Muguruza

AGENCIES – NEW YORK AFP – NEW YORK 6-1 win. The world number seven traded 24 aces with 10 Spanish 10th seed Garbine Muguruza was Novak Djokovic overcame an double faults against a player bundled out of the US Open second round early scare to move into the ranked 223 inside an empty yesterday, losing in straight sets to the third round of the US Open but and humid Louis Arm- returning Tsvetana Pironkova. Wednesday but top women’s strong Stadium to move into Pironkova, who made a comeback to seed Karolina Pliskova round three. tennis this year after a three-year break crashed out in the tourna- “I was sweating through following the birth of her son, stunned ment’s first shock. my shoes, which is unusual,” two-time Grand Slam singles winner Djokovic extended an said Zverev, explaining a Muguruza 7-5, 6-3 in 1hr 25min. undefeated run in 2020 to 25 footwear change during Pironkova, who does not have a world matches as Pliskova was the match. “I needed to go ranking due to her long absence from the stunned in straight sets by from the dry tires to the circuit, will now face Croatian 18th seed France’s Caroline Garcia, the wet tires a little bit.” Donna Vekic in the third round. world number 50. Belgian seventh seed Vekic advanced to the last 32 on World number one David Goffin also Thursday with a 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Roma- Djokovic dropped the first nia’s Patricia Maria Tig. against Britain’s Kyle Edmund Prior to this week, Pironkova, 32, had but rallied to progress 6-7 not played in a Grand Slam or any event (5/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 inside a since her appearance at Wimbledon in subdued, spectator-free 2017, when she lost in the second round Arthur Ashe Stadium at of a tournament eventually won by Flushing Meadows. Muguruza. “I’m really glad having an Thursday’s victory marks only the early kind of tough match second time that Pironkova has reached because it kind of serves me the third round of the US Open in 12 better I think for the rest of the appearances stretching back to 2005. tournament,” said Djokovic. progressed as the top seeds Pironkova’s best performance in a The Serbian superstar is continue to dominate at the Grand Slam came in 2010, when she looking to close the gap on Billie Jean King National reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon. Roger Federer and Rafael Tennis Center. Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas Nadal, both absent from In the women’s draw, weathered a serve-volleying storm from Flushing Meadows, in the race 2018 champion Naomi Osaka Maxime Cressy before grinding the for the all-time men’s Slam sailed into the third round, American wildcard down 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 singles title record. dismantling Italy’s Camila to reach the third round. Novak Djokovic of The 33-year-old -- who Giorgi 6-1, 6-2 in just 1hr In a slow-burning contest of short, Serbia hits a backhand won an eighth Australian 9min. sharp points, fourth seed Tsitsipas had to against Kyle Edmund Open title in February -- is on Sixth seed Petra Kvitova fight off a set point against the French- 17, with Nadal on 19 and vanquished Kateryna Kozlova of the United Kingdom born Cressy, who fired 21 aces and rushed Federer on 20. of Ukraine 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 while (not pictured) during the net 92 times on a muggy night at Pliskova -- the 28-year- Germany’s Angelique Kerber their US Open second Arthur Ashe Stadium. old world number three from beat compatriot Anna-Lena round match on "My experience in playing in Arthur the Czech Republic -- suffered Friedsam in straight sets. Wednesday. Ashe was one of the best," he said gener- a miserable 1-6, 6-7 exit to a The 17th seed won 6-3, 7-6 ously in his on-court interview. confident Garcia who rushed (8/6) in one hour 40 minutes to a 5-0 lead in the first set. inside Louis Armstrong Elsewhere, in the men’s Stadium. Naomi Osaka of draw Wednesday, fourth seed Also in the women’s event, Japan hits the ball Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece unseeded Russian Varvara Mask after mask, Osaka brings against Camila Giorgi defeated American Maxime Gracheva dumped out French of Italy at USTA Billie Cressy 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 in his 30th seed Kristina Mladenovic protest to international audience Jean King National first runout on the famous 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0. Tennis Center, on Ashe court. Mladenovic’s exit came Wednesday. Earlier, fifth seed Alex- after a remarkable collapse. REUTERS – NEW YORK put out there compared to, like, George ander Zverev defeated The Frenchwoman led 6-1, 5-1 Floyd or Breonna Taylor. For me, today American wildcard Brandon and failed to convert four Naomi Osaka stepped into the Arthur was very special in the way that I Nakashima in a far from match points as Gracheva Ashe Stadium wearing a mask that read wanted to represent him very well,” smooth 7-5, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, came roaring back to win. “Elijah McClain” ahead of her second- she said. round U. Open victory on Wednesday, The fourth-seeded Osaka, who has harnessing tennis’s global appeal in her seen her platform grow with her fight for racial justice. success on the court, sent shockwaves The 22-year-old’s mask honored through her sport when she announced McClain, the 23-year-old Black man last week that she would forego her Osaka receives emoji who died after a violent encounter with Western & Southern Open semifinal in Aurora, Colorado, police officers in protest of police brutality and racial advice from mother 2019. injustice in the United States. “I think tennis - people watch it all “I feel like the platform I have right REUTERS – NEW YORK around the world,” she said in a tele- now is something I used to take for vised interview after her match. granted,” she said. Naomi Osaka received plenty of encouragement and advice from “Things that we think (are) common her mother Tamaki after her second round victory at the US Open names (are) probably not common Naomi Osaka on Wednesday, although it came in the form of emojis printed on overseas.” She had previously worn a wearing a mask a sheet of paper. mask honoring Breonna Taylor, a Black with the name Shortly after defeating Italian Camila Giorgi 6-1, 6-2, 2018 woman killed by police officers who Elijah McClain champion Osaka was led to a courtside big screen to take a video burst into her apartment in March, at on Wednesday. call from her mother in Florida, which momentarily caught the her first-round match on Monday, and McClain was 22-year-old off guard. said she had seven different masks with killed by police What followed was a slightly awkward exchange between her at the tournament. in Aurora, mother and daughter amid audio connection issues, before Tamaki “When I heard about his story it Colorado. held up a sheet of paper with her message. was very hurtful,” Osaka later told “There were four lines. Thumbs up fire, which is like ‘good reporters, when asked about McClain. job’. There was like a Twitter bird, whatever. She was saying ‘don’t In a lawsuit filed last month against the go on social media, get some sleep’. Then ‘drink a lot of green city of Aurora and its police, McClain’s juice, get some rest’. And ‘I love you’. “... It was kind of a tech issue family alleged he was tackled by police because normally I’m able to talk to her quite soundly. It would officers during an encounter despite be kind of bad if all our conversations ended up like that. Defi- presenting no physical threat. nitely was a tech issue.” “I still don’t think his name is very Braves beat Red Sox 7-5 to complete sweep Nets hire Hall AGENCIES – BOSTON MLB RESULTS of Famer Nash Indians 5, Royals 0 Dodgers 3, Diamondbacks 2 The visiting Atlanta Braves got a three- Blue Jays 2, Marlins 1 Phillies 3, Nationals 0 as head coach homer performance for the second Rays 5, Yankees 2 Twins 8, White Sox 1 AFP – NEW YORK straight night, this time by Adam Duvall Astros 2, Rangers 1 Brewers 8, Tigers 5 in a 7-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Cubs 8, Pirates 2 Mets 9, Orioles 4 Wednesday. Rockies 9, Giants 6 Reds 4, Cardinals 3 Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve The result gave Atlanta a three-game Nash was named coach of the Brooklyn sweep of Boston, the first time the Braves Nets yesterday, taking charge of a team with swept three from the Red Sox since 2002. All-Star playmakers Kevin Durant and Duvall matched the three-homer Kyrie Irving. effort by Marcell Ozuna on Tuesday, when Nash takes on his first coaching job after he became the first National League five years as player development coordi- player to hit three home runs in a game nator for the Golden State Warriors, serving at Fenway Park. Duvall and Ozuna as a consultant for a team that won two became the first pair of Atlanta players NBA crowns and made four consecutive with three-plus-homer games in the same trips to the NBA Finals. season since Bob Horner and Ken Griffey “Coaching is something I knew I wanted Sr. did it in 1986. to pursue when the time was right and I’m Atlanta starter Robbie Erlin pitched humbled to be able to work with the out- four innings and allowed five runs on six standing group of players and staff we have hits. The winning pitcher was Tyler here in Brooklyn,” Nash said. Matzek (3-2), who struck out three in 1 “I am as excited about the prospects of 1/3 scoreless innings. Boston’s opener the team on the court as I am about moving was Robinson Leyer, who worked one to Brooklyn with my family and becoming shutout inning. The losing pitcher was impactful members of this community.” Andrew Triggs (0-1), who allowed three Minnesota Twins first baseman Miguel Sano (left) catches a ball to force out Chicago White The 46-year-old Canadian will try and runs, including two homers, in three Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada at first base in the first inning at Target Field on Wednesday. revive a Nets team that has won only one innings. playoff series since 2007. FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 SPORT 15 QMMF signs deal with Ten Kate Racing for bike upgrades

THE PENINSULA - DOHA new season,” Al experience Ten Al Hamad said yesterday: “It Hamad said. Kate Racing is with great pride we announce QMMF has signed an agreement Ten Kate gains by com- that we will cooperate with Ten with Dutch bike handlers Ten Racing said in a peting in the top Kate Racing and get their fine- Kate Racing for upgrading 12 statement of the World tuned race bikes. This team has pedigree Yamaha YZF 600 released by Series is shared many years of proven expe- bikes which will become the QMMF: “First of straight to the rience and this has been evident official ride for the Superstock all we wish to race in their long dominance of the 600 class in the 2021 QSTK express that we department of sport. They are the pioneers in season. are honoured, Ten Kate Racing the field of preparing winning The upgraded bikes will excited and Products in race bikes.” replace the Kawasaki 600 bikes highly moti- Nieuwleusen. He added: “Moving from the that were used in the previous vated to be This is where Kawasaki bikes to the new Ten years. partner of this the Ten Kate Kate YZF R-6 bikes will step up The riders in Superstock project for Yamaha race- the level of competition in the used to finish the local season QMMF. It is bikes and Superstock class. Riders in the on Kawasaki bikes and then go great to be engines for cus- class used to end the season on to the Spanish Championship involved in this tomers are Kawasakis and then move to to race on Yamaha bikes which QMMF sup- prepared.” the Spanish Championship became a challenge for the ported Superstock series to The statement added: “With racing on Yamaha YZF R-6 riders, a top QMMF official said prepare the TKRP (Ten Kate the outstanding performance of which would force any rider to yesterday. Racing Products) Yamaha the Yamaha YZF-R6 using the make major adjustments. “After more than four YZF-R6 race bikes, but also to Yamaha R-series DNA and the "Now the Qatar National months communicating with support and further develop the valuable Ten Kate experience Championship will be a various teams around the world upcoming Qatar racing talent combined in one package, the shakedown for the riders and it and satisfying the bidding com- on the track as well.” ultimate QMMF Yamaha would be natural to them once mittee regulations, we have “Ten Kate Racing has a long YZF-R6 Superstock bike for the they move from local season to finalised a deal with Ten Kate and successful history in both QMMF Superstock series is pre- international competitions. Racing,” Amro Al Hamad (pic- World SSP and SBK champion- pared as a winner. We like to “Ten Kate will not only tured), the QMMF Executive ships. Today Ten Kate Racing thank QMMF for their trust and supply us with the bikes but also TEN KATE RACING WILL UPGRADE 12 PEDIGREE Director, said yesterday. participates a full line up in giving us the opportunity to take cooperate with spare parts and YAMAHA YZF 600 BIKES WHICH WILL BECOME “The upgraded bikes are WordSSP300 (Glenn van part of this project. Of course accord surplus strategies during THE OFFICIAL RIDE FOR THE SUPERSTOCK 600 expected to arrive in Doha Straalen), WorldSSP600 (Steven we are looking forward for the our regular season.” Al Hamad CLASS IN THE 2021 QSTK SEASON around mid-November or at the Odendaal) and WorldSBK (Loris first roll out on Losail track later added. "It is going to be an beginning of December for the Baz) series. The knowledge and this year.” exciting time for the riders." Kazakh Lutsenko ITINERARY Ponting wants run penalties not Australia vs England ‘Mankads’ for ‘cheating’ batsmen wins Tour de France Sep 04: England vs Australia, 1st T20I I just think that we have got to The Rose Bowl, Southampton find a way around trying to stop stage six as Yates Sep 06: England vs Australia, 2nd T20I the batsman cheating. We have The Rose Bowl, Southampton had this conversation already. I don’t want to see anyone running retains yellow jersey Sep 08: England vs Australia, 3rd T20I two or three yards down the wicket. The Rose Bowl, Southampton I think there should be some sort of a run penalty. If you are to get to the top of your REUTERS - MONT AIGOUAL, FRANCE Sep 11: England vs Australia, 1st ODI bowling action and stop, and it shows that the Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester batsman is cheating and is out of his crease, I Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko claimed his maiden victory on the Tour de think put a run penalty on them. France when he won the sixth stage, a 191-km trek from Le Teil Sep 13: England vs Australia, 2nd ODI And do it right from the start, because that yesterday as the top guns again delayed the fight for the general clas- Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester sification. will stop him right away. Imagine taking 10 runs Astana rider Lutsenko, a former Under-23 world champion, pre- Sep 16: England vs Australia, 3rd ODI off a team total because you have taken yards. vailed from an eight-man breakaway at the top of Mont Aigoual to add Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester Those sort of things need to be looked at. to his 2017 Vuelta stage win. Spain’s Jesus Herrada took second place, 55 seconds behind with Belgian Greg van Avermaet in third, 2:15 off the pace. Briton Adam Yates retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after staying tucked in the main peloton, which crossed the line with a deficit Cricket: England, Australia of 2:53. “We talked about it in the team bus this morning and we agreed that it was a stage that suited me,” said Lutsenko, who broke clear in renew rivalry in T20 series the punishing ascent to the Col de la Lusette, a 11.7km climb at an average gradient of 7.3%. Behind him, the main favourites did not use the ascent to test each AP - LONDON in Southampton, starting today, pumped to be playing interna- Banton will have to drop other, leaving defending champion Egan Bernal’s Ineos team to set a and will be special because it tional cricket again.” down the order if he is to start moderate pace. Denied a Twenty20 World Cup is being played without spec- Having won both of their Test against Australia, with England “We knew that this climb was tricky, it was a pretty bad surface. I this year because of the coro- tators in accordance with series - against the West Indies captain Eoin Morgan saying think we climbed at our own speed and saved energy, we just tried to navirus outbreak, cricket fans COVID-19 restrictions. and Pakistan - England’s focus is Thursday that Buttler will open stay safe,” said Ineos domestique Michal Kwiatkowski. might have the next best thing Then again, that’s nothing totally on the white ball now. the batting with Jonny “Everyone is keeping their powder dry and is saving energy for the in the upcoming days. new particularly for the A 1-1 draw with Pakistan in Bairstow. next days,” said Yates, who was never threatened throughout the stage. A series between England English, who have managed to a three-match T20 series was Australia has a tried-and- Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who is third overall, suffered an untimely and Australia. fit in a full international a good way to prepare for the tested T20 lineup that has lifted puncture in the climb up to the Col de la Lusette but managed to regain They are the top two teams summer of cricket in all Australians, and England will the team atop the ICC rankings his place in the peloton easily, thanks to the bunch’s slow pace. in the T20 world rankings - formats against the West have a stronger squad at its dis- in the format, so batsman The only sparkle came in the final metres, when Frenchman Julian Australia is No. 1 - and their Indies, Ireland and Pakistan posal now the likes of Jos Marnus Labuschagne will likely Alaphilippe produced a brief attack to regain one second after losing fierce sporting rivalry is deep- despite the pandemic. Buttler, Jofra Archer and Mark need to wait for his debut the yellow jersey to Yates following a 20-second penalty for illegal rooted. They also have some of Australia is the latest nation Wood are out of the Test despite impressing in both the feeding on Wednesday. the most explosive batsmen to fly to England and stay in bubble. The hosts are missing Test and ODI teams over the Today’s seventh stage is a 168-km ride from Millau to Lavaur, which and fastest bowlers in world what is termed a “bio-secure key players in all-rounder Ben past year and hitting a century is expected to favour the sprint specialists. cricket. bubble,” essentially meaning Stokes, who is unavailable for in a warmup game this week. What more could you ask its players have done no more selection following his return “We are pretty settled on for? than practice and spend time to New Zealand to be with his the way that we structure up Team Mitchelton rider “I hope it’s a preview for in a hotel since they arrived 11 father who has cancer, and our T20 side at the moment,” Great Britain’s Adam the final,” Australia captain days ago. opener Jason Roy, who has a Finch said, in the only selection Yates celebrates his Aaron Finch said yesterday, After a few intra-squad left side strain. hint he gave in a pre-match overall leader yellow referring to the next T20 World matches, their players are Joe Root, the Test captain, video call. “He (Labuschagne) jersey on the podium Cup that will now take place in itching for the real thing - has been left out of the T20 played nicely the other day but at the end of during India in October-November something they haven’t had squad but is in the ODI squad I think he might have to wait a the 6th stage of the 2021. since mid-March when the for the three-match series little bit longer in T20 cricket.” 107th edition of the “The England-Australia scheduled ODI series against starting Sept. 11. Morgan said Australia was Tour de France cycling rivalry is always huge,” he New Zealand was One exciting newcomer to “probably” the favourite to win race, 191 km between added, “regardless of who you abandoned. the team is Tom Banton, a tall the series. Le Teil and Mont are playing in front of and “The way the players have opening batsmen who is a 360- “They have their strongest where you are playing. You Aigoual, yesterday. hit the ground running has hitter and likes to go on the squad here,” he said, “so they’ll could play in a street and it been really exciting,” Finch attack immediately. be putting out their best XI. So would still be there.” said. He scored 71, 20 and 46 in if you’re to go on that, I’d This three-match series is “I know not just me but the recent games against probably say they’re just taking place at the Rose Bowl everyone is just absolutely Pakistan. favourites.” Morgan says Root in England’s T20 plans

REUTERS - LONDON Morgan added that the team lacks a middle-order batsman Joe Root has a future in England’s Twenty20 setup but he was who can help accelerate the run rate, especially in the absence left out for the three-match series against Australia as his spot of all-rounder Ben Stokes, who skipped the last two Tests in the playing 11 was not guaranteed, captain Eoin Morgan said against Pakistan to visit his father, who has brain cancer, in yesterday. New Zealand. Test captain Root was included in England’s one-day inter- “There are periods where... guys will have opportunities national squad but Morgan said the 29-year-old was better to bat in their normal position or elsewhere,” Morgan added. off returning to Yorkshire to play county cricket rather than “One of the challenges we do have down the line is trying staying with the squad. to find a lower-order batter that can come in and play in an “We’ve spoken to Joe and he certainly does have a future,” aggressive manner from ball one.” Morgan told reporters ahead of today’s series opener in Australia are the world number one side in T20s and Southampton. Morgan said the tourists would be favourites going into the “The conversation was surrounding Joe not getting into series, which is being played without spectators due to the the best 11 at the moment, but also we didn’t want to carry him COVID-19 pandemic. around and not play any cricket. “They have their strongest squad here and so will probably “Joe wants to play T20 cricket and put his best case forward, be putting in their best 11,” Morgan said, adding that the lack particularly when he doesn’t have a lot of opportunity to go of fans would not affect them in any way. back to Yorkshire and play T20 cricket. We felt this was a really “I don’t think it bothers them. Some guys really enjoy good opportunity to do that.” playing away from home.”