15 SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2020 sports

Solskjaer dismisses Van Persie criticism Nadal, Djokovic make winning start

Djokovic clinches Serbia’s• win in ATP Cup • Nadal’s Spain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks on beats Georgia during a match Reuters | Sydney AFP | London

anchester United orld number one Mmanager Ole Gun - Rafa Nadal overcame nar Solskjaer has hit back Wa temporary blip on at criticism of his manage- his way to victory at the ATP Cup ment style from former Red on Saturday, shortly after Aus- Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return against Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia Devils striker Robin Van tralian Open champion Novak Persie, saying: “I’m not in Djokovic survived a tough battle the tie for his team with a 6-3 7-5 he furiously admonished the medieval times.” against fit-again South African victory in Perth. crowd for disturbance during a The Dutchman felt Sol- Kevin Anderson. Djokovic, who defeated Nadal rally. skjaer appeared too upbeat The $15 million ATP Cup, in last year’s Australian Open “What a way to start the year,” in the aftermath of the 2-0 which features 24 nations men’s singles final for a record Djokovic said. “I started off ex- defeat to Arsenal on New competing in Perth, Brisbane seventh title at Melbourne Park, tremely well, I was 4-1 up and Year’s Day that left United and Sydney over 10 days, is a had to dig deep in his 7-6(5) had some break points but then five points behind fourth- solid platform for the world’s 7-6(6) win over Anderson and Kevin upped his game. placed Chelsea in the Pre- top players to prepare for this win the tie for Serbia in Bris - “He was on fire tonight - I Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns during his singles match against Kevin mier League. month’s Australian Open, which bane. think the quality of tennis was Anderson of South Africa Van Persie said Solskjaer starts in Melbourne from Jan. Anderson, 33, returned to quite high. I was very pleased “seems like a really nice 20. court for the first time since with the way I kind of weath- Earlier, the experienced pair The players had to negotiate guy” but that the Norwe- Nadal was broken in his first Wimbledon and played only ered the storm.” of Gael Monfils, who finished trying conditions in Sydney, gian needed to be more service game but found his five tournaments in 2019 due to World number four Dominic 2019 in the top 10, and Benoit which saw temperatures reach “mean at times” and “more groove immediately to break elbow and knee injuries. Thiem did not have a great start Paire won their singles match- 44 degrees Celsius, despite the angry” and added: “You back and another break of Geor- The runner-up at Wimbledon to his preparation for the year’s es to help France seal their tie new canopy roof over the Ken need to have fear as well gian Nikoloz Basilashvili’s serve in 2018, when he lost the final to first Grand Slam in two weeks’ against Chile in Brisbane. Rosewall Arena and air condi- for your coach.” was enough for him to win the the Serb, fell to a 4-1 deficit in time as he fell 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3 to Argentina required their dou- tioners. Solskjaer, who is also hav- opening set. the opening set but fought back Borna Coric of Croatia. bles pairing of Maximo Gonza- Japan, who are without in- ing to handle fresh specula- He broke his opponent twice brilliantly to even things out. Coric’s win over the 2019 ATP lez and Andres Molteni to step jured Kei Nishikori, had an easy tion surrounding the future to jump to a 5-2 lead in the sec- Djokovic soon lost his cool Finals runner-up was enough up to the plate to clinch the tie day in Perth with Yoshihito of star midfielder Paul Pog- ond but faced two consecutive and got into a lengthy argument for Croatia as 2014 U.S. Open against Poland after Guido Pella Nishioka and Go Soeda breezing ba, said Van Persie was not breaks on his own serve that lev- with the chair umpire after be- champion Marin Cilic earlier and Hubert Hurkacz won their through their singles matches in a position to judge his elled the set at 5-5. Nadal then ing denied an opportunity to rallied to beat Dennis Novak respective singles rubbers to against Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas methods. broke again and held on to seal challenge. On the next point 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4. level the tie at 1-1. and Martin Cuevas respectively. New Zealand on the chase India captain Kohli opposes four-day Tests after Labuschagne’s AFP | Guwahati, India ings as well as being captain “Day-night tests are another have also said the plan should of the number one Test side, step on commercializing Test be considered. double ton in Sydney ndia captain Virat Kohli on said the format should not be cricket and creating excitement But the key Board of Control ISaturday hit out at proposals altered. around it, but it can’t be tink- for Cricket in India has not yet showed plenty of fight after to cut Test matches “Day-Night Tests is the most ered with too much.” made a comment. And sever- enduring five tough sessions in from five days to that should be changed about Day-night Test were also in- al leading players have joined the field in sapping heat. four as the world Test cricket, according to me,” itially resisted by players, but Kohli in coming out against the The day belonged to Labus- body battles with Kohli said in Guwahati, ahead have become gradually accept- change. chagne, who sweated on 199 the crowded cricket of India’s T20 game on Sunday ed. Australia captain Tim Paine for 20 minutes before he thick calendar. against Sri Lanka. The ICC allowed four-day said that while four days could edged Colin de Grandhomme Reports that With four-day Tests “you Tests in 2017 and they have been be used for some Tests, the main through the vacant slips to the the International are purely only talking about tried in one-off games between games had to stay at five. ropes to bring up his double Cricket Council getting numbers in and en - South Africa and Zimbabwe and Australia’s most successful ton. could decide to tertainment, and I think the England against Ireland. off-spinner Nathan Lyon has The milestone came off 363 cut the length intent will not be right,” said But they are not allowed called the idea “ridiculous”. balls with 19 fours and a six of Test matches Kohli. in the Test world champion - “I believe you will get so many and eclipsed his previous Test from 2023 have “Then you will speak of three- ship which is led by Kohli’s more draws and day five is cru- record of 185 against Pakistan divided players day Tests. I mean, where do you India. cial,” he told the Unplayable in Brisbane last November. and nations. end,” he added. The English, Australian and Podcast before the recent Test Marnus Labuschagne plays a shot “They batted really well to Kohli, who “I don’t endorse that (change) New Zealand national associ- against New Zealand. finish the day off. I thought leads the at all. I don’t think that that is ations have indicated they are “I’m totally against it and I AFP | Sydney we bowled really well,” Labus- world Test fair to the purest format of the ready to change. Some players hope ICC aren’t even consid- chagne said. batting rank- game -- how cricket started.” like England captain Joe Root ering it.” ew Zealand made a se - “The wicket looks like it’s Virat Kohli Ncure start after a Marnus going to go a little up and down Labuschagne double century and spin a bit but we stuck to lifted Australia to a massive our guns there and hopefully 454 first innings total in the the rewards will come tomor- Senior service as Broad, Anderson give England edge third Test on Saturday. row. The rock-solid number three “It’s always a privilege to AFP | Newlands Anderson, 37, took three for reached his highest Test score play for Australia and it was 34, while 33-year-old Broad and of 215 in Sydney with the Aus- nice to get some runs today am Curran hailed the col- Sam Curran took two wickets tralians dismissed just before and when you’re batting well Slective effort of the England apiece. Ben Stokes held four tea on the second day. it’s nice if you can make them bowlers after the tourists gained catches at second slip, three of In reply, the Blackcaps gritti- count.” a significant advantage on sec- them athletic diving efforts. ly batted through the final ses- Labuschagne’s prodigious ond day of second Test against More than half of South Af- sion without losing a wicket, form has notched him a total South Africa at Newlands. rica’s runs came in a 117-run leaving skipper Tom Latham of 837 runs since November Veterans Stuart Broad and fourth wicket partnership be- on 26 and Melbourne Test cen- and he has now leapfrogged James Anderson were out - tween Dean Elgar (88) and Ras- turion Tom Blundell at 34 in the great Neil Harvey (834) standing as South Africa were sie van der Dussen (68). their team’s total of 63. for most runs scored by an reduced to 215 for eight at close. But Elgar and Van der Dus- There were a couple of Australian during a five-Test The hosts were still 54 runs sen were unable to dominate close calls -- notably a leg be- summer. behind England’s first innings as England dried up the runs, fore wicket appeal off Nathan He was also Test cricket’s total of 269 on a dry pitch which with Elgar eventually falling to leading run-getter last year Lyon and a possible edge off is likely to get more difficult for Ollie Pope dives in vain, trying to catch Dean Elgar off the bowling of Dominic a lofted drive when he tried to Pat Cummins -- but the Kiwis with 1,104 runs. batsmen later in the match. Bess lift the scoring rate.