WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016 SPORTS Records tumble in English county one-day game

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: The record books were sharing a record one-day partnership in England of Their total of 425 gave Nottinghamshire victory record in England of 318 by Sourav Ganguly and rewritten twice in an astonishing run spree at 342 from 39.2 overs. by 20 runs in a game which saw an unprecedented Rahul Dravid for India against Sri Lanka at Taunton in Nottinghamshire’s Trent Bridge ground on Monday Wessels eventually departed for a career-best 870 runs scored in the day, three more than Surrey the 1999 World Cup. which saw a record English one-day partnership and 146, from 97 balls, while Lumb went on to make 184, and Glamorgan managed in 2002. Lumb and Wessels’ English record is the third- the most aggregate runs scored in a List A match. also his best and a record for the county, as Afterwards Lumb joked: “It was a bit twitchy. highest partnership in List A games, behind the 372 By the close in the Royal London One-Day Cup Nottinghamshire posted 445 for 8, the second high- What a great game of cricket. Never in doubt. which and Marlon Samuels took off game between Notts and Northamptonshire, statis- est score for a List A match in the world. “I was surprised they took it that deep but it’s Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup. ticians were checking to see if there had ever been a The runs continued to flow when credit to them. Rory Kleinveldt was unbelievable. It The record for the highest team total is held by day like it anywhere in the world. Northamptonshire chased down what would have was an unbelievable game. I don’t think we could do Surrey, who made 496-4 against Gloucestershire The big hitting began from the start with been another record for a team second. But too much more. I’m proud of all the boys.” in 2007. List A matches are played over 40-60 Nottinghamshire’s Riki Wessels and Michael Lumb they fell short despite 128 from Rory Kleinveldt. The Nottinghamshire stand beat the previous overs. — Reuters

‘Like punching a mountain’, Gillespie stumps Indian recalls Ali bouts sponsors with

MUMBAI: Former Indian amateur boxer vegan stance Haroon Khan bubbles with excitement and bravado as he recalls his two bouts with his hero, the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali, LONDON: Yorkshire’s Australian coach blinkers on. We treat animals like s**t, three decades ago. Jason Gillespie has risked the wrath of we really do - and in my opinion there’s Khan, now 72, went along to a charity fight his English county’s sponsors by claim- no justification for that. night in India’s Mumbai in January 1980 hoping ing the “disgusting” dairy industry “It’s cruel and it’s speciesism at its merely to catch a glimpse of ‘The Greatest’ in should be shut down. very worst and I don’t want to be action. Yorkshire are sponsored by part of it. Instead, he got closer to his idol than he could Wensleydale Creamery, but that hasn’t “I hope one day the dairy industry ever have imagined, going blow for blow with dissuaded Gillespie, who is a vegan, can be shut down. “I think it’s disgust- ex-heavyweight champion Ali in the ring for from revealing his opposition to the ing and wrong on so many levels.” three rounds of three minutes each. business. As for Yorkshire’s shirt deal, he “Beforehand my dad and I were just joking The 41-year-old former Australia added: “It’s out of my control, just like but he said, ‘If you get the chance then box pace bowler, who has led his team to the fact that cricket balls are made of him,’” Khan told AFP, his eyes wide and grinning two titles, made leather. “I’ll have it out with people, I at the memory. it clear he is prepared to stand by his don’t care. There’s nothing wrong with “Then during the event Ali shouted out to the opinions in an interview with the standing up for what you believe in.” audience and said, ‘Is there anybody who will box Yorkshire Post on Tuesday. Responding to Gillespie’s remarks, a with me in India?’ “Nobody was standing up. So I Asked about any possible conflict spokesman for Wensleydale Creamery stood up, put my hand in the air and said, ‘I will with the company whose logo appears said: “That’s a very bold statement, and accept the challenge, I will box you.’” on Yorkshire’s shirts, he said: “Yes, they I need to understand a bit more about Khan, a national bantamweight champion are a sponsor. But it doesn’t mean I what he’s actually trying to say there. in 1964, had always been a massive fan of Ali, agree with what they do. “We are very proud sponsors. who died on Friday aged 74 after health prob- “My wife and I often talk about it, Our milk comes from over 40 local lems complicated by a long battle with because she’s vegan as well. “I feel like farms with very high standards of Parkinson’s disease. I’m looking through eyes without welfare.” — AFP In his tiny south Mumbai flat, Khan removes a photo album from a plastic bag that he says holds his “treasure”-photographs and newspaper reports documenting that first bout with Ali. Broad has no problems ‘AREN’T YOU SCARED OF ME?’ “When I put my hand up Ali kept saying, ‘You facing Pakistan’s Amir want to box with me? You want to box with me? Aren’t you scared of me?, Aren’t you scared of LONDON: has insisted he “It swung round corners for him.” me?” Khan explains. won’t have any issues playing against However, citing the reaction of spectators “I said, ‘No, I’m scared of Allah but I’m not Mohammad Amir should the convicted at Lord’s to England all-rounder Ben scared of you. I’m Haroon Khan, I’m from India. spot-fixer make his Test return at Lord’s Stokes’ controversial dismissal for obstruct- You’re a boxer, I’m a boxer, so let’s box.” next month. ing the field in a one-day international “Ali was fooling with me. He asked, ‘What do Lord’s was the venue six years ago against Australia last year, Broad said spec- you box, oranges or bananas? I replied that I box when left-arm quick bowler Amir and two tators at the ‘home of cricket’ may not wel- boxers and I’m ready to box you.” Pakistan team-mates were involved in the come Amir back with open arms. Khan, who now coaches youngsters and deliberate bowling of no-balls as part of a “The crowd might be a different story. keeps fit with a punchbag in his home, newspaper ‘sting’ operation to demon- “There was a lively reaction to Ben remembers thinking that because he was an strate the trio’s willingness to take part in Stokes’ dismissal last year to Mitchell amateur and Ali was a professional he must be MUMBAI: In this photograph taken on June 6, 2016, former Indian boxer Haroon Younis Khan, spot-fixing. Starc, and it looked like a nasty atmos- on his game. 72, who fought twice with his idol and boxing legend Muhammad Ali, strikes a pose like Ali A teenager at the time and one of phere for a while.” ‘ “I felt I couldn’t just joke around so I fought a after a practice session in Mumbai. Former Indian amateur boxer Haroon Khan bubbles with world cricket’s undoubted rising stars, serious fight. Ali was surprised by how good I excitement and bravado as he recalls his two bouts with his hero, the late boxing legend Amir was sent to jail by an English court RESULT DEVALUED’ was but when I punched him it felt like I was hit- Muhammad Ali, three decades ago. — AFP and banned from all cricket worldwide for As for his 2010 hundred-which sur- ting a mountain.” five years. passed the highest Test score achieved by “Nothing happened. He didn’t move at all. He ous. He was so fast. He started jabbing me and Two years later Khan saw a newspaper advert He has now served that ban and, unlike his father Chris, a former England opening just kept grinning. I wondered what sort of man within a minute-and-a-half a whole side of my saying that Ali would be the star guest at an 2010 Pakistan Salman Butt and fel- batsman-Broad does not feel it was tainted is this? How much power does he have to take face was swelling,” explains Khan, mimicking exhibition fight in the United Arab Emirates so low paceman Mohammad Asif, Amir has by the spot-fixing furore. these punches?” Ali’s moves. he went along seeking a second bout. now been included in the squad for a four- “I do look back at it, and I’m very proud Ali, a three-time heavyweight world champi- Khan said he approached Ali at a press con- Test series starting at Lord’s on July 14. of scoring a hundred at Lord’s-and beating on, was past his prime by 1980 but was still a HEARTBROKEN ference and he agreed to another three-round Team officials are optimistic the 24- my dad’s highest score.” year away from retirement. In the third round Ali displayed some of his fight. “I was better prepared this time. I knew year-old will receive his British visa in the “It’s certainly not devalued in my mind. He went easy on Khan during the first round famously quick footwork, but slipped and fell at how he boxed. I kept guard, I covered myself,” next couple of days following a special I still scored those runs and (I’m) still on of their exhibition bout, but the Indian boxer one point. A photograph in Khan’s album shows Khan proudly recalls, adding that the two of request for leniency from the Pakistan the honours board.” soon experienced the full force of Ali’s powers. him smiling, standing over Ali after the fall. them went for dinner the next day. Cricket Board. Nevertheless, he added: “I think the “After the first round people started shout- “At the end he held my arm up and praised Khan says he was heartbroken when his son That the 2010 match, which England result was devalued. We couldn’t cele- ing at him saying, ‘You’re not boxing. We want me to the crowd. ‘I like this boy, I like his guts,’ he called him on Saturday to say Ali had died. won by an innings, is now best remem- brate-we didn’t celebrate-it was all a very to see a fight.’” said. He was a gentlemen boxer. I felt so lucky, “Tears just started to stream down my bered for the spot-fixing controversy strange time. “In the second round he started to get seri- happy and proud to have boxed him.” face.” — AFP rather than Broad’s impressive 169 — his “The one-day series that followed was lone Test hundred-could rankle with the quite unpleasant, and the crowds reflected England fast-medium bowler. the bad feeling.” But Broad, speaking at an event organ- The ongoing England-Sri Lanka series ised by England sponsor Hardy’s wine on has seen Broad displaced as the world’s ICC inisist they have Monday, said: “I don’t think any feelings top-ranked Test bowler by new-ball col- will be dragged into this Test match from league James Anderson. that one. “There are only four players in Anderson’s 18 in the opening learnt from McCullum case (this) England team from then, and two matches have been central to England Pakistan had a huge change-over. “So I going 2-0 up in a three-match series ahead don’t think any ill-feeling or negativity of this week’s third Test against Sri Lanka at LONDON: The International Cricket Council said players deserve better from the ICC and that, in establish beyond doubt the actual source. from the players will have carried through.” Lord’s starting on Thursday. yesterday they had improved their procedures the future, the evidence gathering exercise has “Nevertheless, the ICC has already put strong Turning to Amir’s possible return, “It’s a lovely accolade for our partner- for handling evidence of match-fixing after com- to be much more thorough, more professional. measures in place to ensure this type of incident Broad said: “I think he’s served his time. ship that we’ve both managed to climb up ing under fire from Brendon McCullum. The for- “In my opinion a person taking a statement is never repeated.” “For quality of bowler, I don’t think there the rankings like that,” said Broad, who has mer New Zealand captain, delivering the MCC should ensure that the witness is advised about The statement added: “In 2014 (and unrelated is much doubt that he is up there with now dropped down to third place in the Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s on what may occur.” to the leak of confidential information), a compre- anyone. “I’ve not played him for six years, standings. “It’s great to have a little bit of Monday, recalled his anger that the evidence he Responding to McCullum’s address the ICC hensive review of the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit but in 2010 he was a constant threat and competition, and we are both really com- gave against his old international team-mate acknowledged his stance but insisted they had was carried out to review its processes, functions man of the series. petitive guys.” —AFP Chris Cairns in a match-fixing court case in not been the source of the leak. and resources. The review was conducted by the London last year was leaked prior to trial. “How ICC’s Integrity Working Party (IWP), which includ- can the game’s governing body expect players to ‘DISMAY’ ed independent corruption experts. cooperate with it when it is then responsible for “The ICC commended Brendon McCullum two “All the recommendations of the IWP were leaking confidential statements to the media?” years ago-and continues to do so today-for his reviewed and adopted by the ICC Board during McCullum, now playing for Lord’s-based brave, courageous and principled stand against the 2015 ICC Annual Conference in Barbados. Middlesex in English cricket’s domestic corruption in cricket,” the global governing body “Every event or incident provides an organisation competition, said Monday. said in a statement. “The ICC also understood and with opportunities to review its structures and The legal case ended with Cairns found not shared his dismay at the leak of his confidential measure its operations against best practice. This guilty and McCullum said he should have been statement, which prompted a thorough and is exactly what the ICC has done in this particular given more warning from the outset of first giv- detailed investigation by the ICC. case-it believes the outcome has been processes, ing evidence to the ICC in 2011 that he could be “While the probe proved that the origin of the procedures and resources which have been fur- called as a witness in a court action. “I think leak was not from within the ICC, it failed to ther bolstered and strengthened. “The ICC reconfirms that it is doing absolutely everything in its power to fight the threat of cor- ruption in the sport and will continue to do so. It also reaffirms its commitment to gain and retain the complete trust of cricketers, and to work in close co-operation with all stakeholders in crick- et.” The ICC were not the only cricket authority in McCullum’s sights on Monday. Hard-hitting batsman McCullum said Lou Vincent, another former New Zealand team-mate had been harsh- ly treated in receiving a life ban from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after admitting engaging in spot-fixing-deliberately under-peforming to stage a betting coup during a game-in county matches. The ECB ban was applied worldwide and McCullum said: “I struggle with the severity of this when a player has cooperated fully and accepted responsibility. “It is vital that players found guilty of offences having acknowledged wrongdoing MUMBAI: Indian cricketers Mandeep Singh (L), Dhawal Kulkarni (2L) and Jayant Yadav (R) look are shown a degree of clemency-failing which on as KL Rahul speaks during a pre-departure press conference on the eve of their tour to there seems to be very little incentive for them to LONDON: England’s Stephen Finn during a nets session at Lord’s Cricket Ground, Zimbabwe in Mumbai yesterday. — AFP come forward.” — AFP London, yesterday. — AP