SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 SPORTS Lehmann backs Agar’s all-rounder claims for Test recall MELBOURNE: Coach Darren Lehmann spin-friendly SCG pitch for the “dead” give us options. He also got 10 given that opportunity. are fit and well. “Steven did a really good views as a “genuine all- third Test. Lehmann said after Friday’s in a Sheffield Shield game in Sydney. “You just have to make good deci- job for us in before he got rounder” putting him in line to be part innings and 18-run second Test series- “He’s improved, we get feedback sions, and that’s what I’m learning more injured, did a good job last year in of ’s spin tandem in Tuesday’s clinching win over in from (WA coach) Justin Langer and the each time I’m batting in first-class crick- Sydney as well. He knows he’s got to be final Test against Pakistan in Sydney. Melbourne that if Australia went into guys have been watching him, they’ve et, is the best players consistently make fit and ready to play each and every Agar, 23, is on track to play his first the final Test with two spinners the team been impressed with him,” Lehmann good decisions.” game.” Lehmann praised Lyon’s Test since his unheralded debut in the would also need an all-rounder. said. “If you play two spinners you nor- Lehmann said O’Keefe had to stay fit in the second innings of the Melbourne 2013 Ashes series in , where he Selectors have also included mally need an allrounder, so that’s what after the 32-year-old’s recent run of Test where he snared the crucial wickets scored 98 in his first Test at -born all-rounder Hilton we’re looking at.” injuries. O’Keefe injured his hamstring in of Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq batting at No.11. Cartwright in the Sydney squad, but the first Test against Sri Lanka and was and in-form No.6 Asad Shafiq to crack But the West Australian left-hander is Lehmann highlighted Agar’s all-round O’KEEFE FITNESS CHALLENGE set to replace Lyon in the third day- the game wide open. now being assessed as a “genuine” all- qualities. “He’s made Shield hundreds Agar says he sees himself as an all- night Test against in “I thought was out- rounder, impressing selectors Greg and batted well for us in that (Ashes) rounder to fit the mould Australia are Adelaide last month before succumbing standing, he bowled consistent line and Chappell and Mark Waugh and has a Test match at 11,” Lehmann told seeking. “I guess I’ve been selected in to a calf injury. length, which was up and down in the first-class batting average of 26. reporters. “He’s certainly got the talent this squad as a spinner, but I think I’m “He wouldn’t want too many more previous few Test matches,” Lehmann Agar was added to a 13-man to be a batting all-rounder or a spinning capable with bat and ball,” Agar told injuries, he’d want to make sure he’s said. “Three or four balls an over have Australia squad Friday along with fellow all-rounder, either way. reporters yesterday. playing ,” Lehmann said. “That’s been there, but today (Friday) was a lot spinner Steven O’Keefe with one of “We wanted a left-armer to go away On potentially batting at No.7, Agar the greatest thing we have now, we’ve better. “He got through the middle them likely to partner Nathan Lyon on a from all their right-handers as well to added: “I think I would be able to if I was got young players coming through who order and so I’m pleased for him.” —AFP

S Lanka’s captain ponder changes for second Test

CAPE TOWN: Sri Lankan captain Angelo and conceding 153 runs at more than five Mathews spoke about the need for his runs an over. Mathews indicated, however, team to be mentally tough when they that Chameera could be given another meet South Africa in the second Test chance. “He is coming back from injury,” starting at Newlands tomorrow-but they said Mathews. “He has not got his rhythm may need also need some changes in back but he can do better in the second personnel. Test.” Although there has been an extended In losing the first Test in Port Elizabeth period of hot, dry weather in Cape Town, by 206 runs, Sri Lanka showed weaknesses the pitch is still likely to offer more pace in both batting and bowling. While South and bounce than Port Elizabeth, although Africa seem certain to go into the match spinners could play a role later in the with an unchanged team, Mathews admit- match. An option for Sri Lanka might be to ted there would be debate in the Sri play to their traditional strength by picking Lankan camp about the composition of two spinners, with off-spinner Dilruwan their side. Perera coming into the side. Perera would Kusal Perera’s role as an attacking num- also strengthen what in Port Elizabeth ber three batsman could come in for partic- proved to be a lengthy batting “tail”. ular scrutiny. He was out for seven and six Newlands has been a fortress for the in Port Elizabeth, on both occasions playing South African team, who have won 19 of ill-judged cut shots. the 29 Tests played there since 1993, with With Perera having been compared to their only four defeats all having been Sanath Jayasuriya, on whom he has based against Australia. his game, Mathews said he would not like The New Year Test is traditionally the to see the young left-hander abandon his biggest occasion in South African cricket attacking instincts. and the ground is sold out for the first day. But Mathews said that slashing at South Coming on the back of a series victory in Africa’s fast bowlers on pitches with pace Australia last month and a convincing win and bounce “wasn’t the right game plan”. in Port Elizabeth, South Africa will be He said he was not sure whether changes favourites to wrap up the three-match NELSON: players pose with the ODI series trophy after winning the third cricket match between New would be made but acknowledged that series. Zealand and Bangladesh at Saxton Oval in Nelson yesterday. — AFP Upul Tharanga, a more conservative left- hander, was an option. “He can bat from Teams: one to seven.” South Africa (likely): Faf du Plessis (cap- Whereas in sub-continental conditions tain), Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim NZ cruises past Bangladesh Sri Lanka usually base their bowling attack Amla, JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Quinton on spin, they opted in Port Elizabeth for de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav three pace bowlers and only one specialist Maharaj, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada. spinner in veteran Rangana Herath. Sri Lanka (from): Angelo Mathews (cap- to complete series sweep Although Suranga Lakmal bowled well, tak- tain), Dinesh Chandimal (wkt), Kusal ing five wickets in the first innings, the fast Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, bowlers seldom threatened in the second Kaushal Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Upul NELSON: New Zealand captain Kane innings, when South Africa made 406 for Tharanga, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Williamson made an unbeaten 95 and SCOREBOARD six declared. Herath, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, deployed his bowlers expertly on a slow pitch Dusmantha Chameera was disappoint- Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal, to steer the hosts to a comfortable eight-wick- NELSON, New Zealand: Complete scoreboard in the third one-day international between New Zealand and ing, taking only one in the match Vikum Sanjaya. — AFP et win over Bangladesh in the third one-day international yesterday, completing a clean Bangladesh at Saxton Oval in Nelson yesterday. sweep of the series. Bangladesh Williamson 8-1-24-1 Williamson shared a record 185-run partner- Tamim Iqbal c Broom b Neesham 59 Jennings prepared to take ship with Neil Broom (97) for the second wicket Imrul Kayes c Broom b Southee 44 New Zealand which guided New Zealand to 239-2, winning Sabbir Rahman c Ronchi b Henry 19 M. Guptill rtd hurt 6 with 8.4 overs to spare, in response to Mahmudullah c Neesham b Southee 3 T. Latham lbw Mustafizur Raham 4 on former compatriots Bangladesh’s inadequate total of 236-9. Shakib Al Hasan run out (Ronchi) 18 K. Williamson 95 Their partnership was the highest for the Mosaddek Hossain lbw Patel 11 N. Broom c Mashrafe Mortaza b Mustafizur Rahman97 Nurul Hasan c&b Henry 44 J. Neesham not out 28 : England opener Keaton 10 and be a fielder,” said Jennings, who will second wicket by New Zealand in one-day Tanveer Haider b Williamson 3 Extras (lb3, w6) 9 Jennings is not fussed about the possibility skipper the England second team squad internationals against all nations. Broom was Mashrafe Mortaza c Patel b Santner 14 Total (2 wickets; 41.2 overs) 239 of facing his fellow South Africans in a test the Lions on their tour of Sri Lanka next dropped before he had scored at first slip by Taskin Ahmed not out 4 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Latham), 1-16 (Guptill rtd hurt), 2- series next July, he told yester- month. “Just to have the opportunity to Imrul Kayes from the bowling of Mustafizur Mustafizur Rahman not out 0 day. The 24-year-old-son of former South play , whether I’m playing in my Rahman. He took full advantage of the reprieve Extras (b1, lb7, w9) 17 195 (Broom) Did not bat: Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Africa wicketkeeper -added preferred role or something slightly out of and was approaching back-to-back centuries Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 236 Tim Southee, Matt that should he be selected he is prepared the norm. “If the opportunity is there in when he gave Mustafizur belated revenge by Fall of wickets: 1-102 (Imrul Kayes), 2-127 (Sabbir Rahman), 3-133 Henry, Jeetan Patel. for a lot of attention being focused on him. July to bat at No 3 and that is what edging a ball from the young fast bowler to Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 7-0-36-0 (4w), Mustafizur captain Masrafe Mortaza at gully. (Mahmudullah), 4-141 (Tamim Iqbal), 5-168 (Shakib Al Barring a drop in form for his county (England coach) Trevor Bayliss or Cook Hasan), 6-170 (Mosaddek), Rahman 9.2-2-32-2 (1w), Durham-who have been relegated to the want me to do then I will bite their hand By that stage, New Zealand was 195-2 and 7-179 (Tanveer Haider), 8-212 (Mashrafe Mortaza), 9-229 Taskin Ahmed 7-0-41-0 (1w), Shakib Al Hasan 8-0-55-0, second tier after being bailed-out by the off.” Jennings, who qualified for England well on the way to victory against a (Nurul Hasan) Tanveer Haider 2-0-20-0, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) — through the old four year residency rule, Bangladesh team that was again undone by a Bowling: Southee 10-2-45-1 (2w), Patel 10-0-40-1 (1w), Sabbir Rahman 3-0-20-0, Mosaddek Hossain 4-0-26-0, he should be selected after making a cen- admitted he had been taken aback by middle-order collapse, as it was in the previous Henry 8-0-53-2 (4w), Mahmudullah 1-0-6-0 tury on his debut in the recent fourth Test some of the reaction to his agreeing to rep- game. The visitors were 102-0 after winning Neesham 4-0-28-1 (1w), Santner 10-0-38-2 (1w), Result: New Zealand won by eight wickets. against and a half century in the fifth resent England and not the Proteas. the toss and batting, with Tamim Iqbal (59) and and final Test. His performances were a “I think social media gives people an Imrual Kayes (44) sharing a century opening rare highlight in the series which England opportunity to voice opinions that I don’t stand. But the top order crumbled to 170-6. lost 4-0 and cast doubt on whether his really want to read,” he said. “Social media is Bangladesh’s bowlers applied early pres- opening partner Alistair Cook will remain great but people voice their opinions in the sure, dismissing opener Tom Latham for 4 and as captain. wrong way sometimes. There was a back- then seeing Martin Guptill retire hurt with a “I don’t think it will feel weird playing lash to my background but mostly I have hamstring strain, leaving the home team effec- against South Africa, but I know that the had a lot of support.” tively two wickets down with 16 runs scored. intensity around that will be heightened,” Jennings protests that it is not South Had Broom’s chance to slip been taken, New said Jennings, who will probably also face Africa which he considers his home but Zealand would have been hard-pressed to some old team-mates from the Durham. “South Africa isn’t home any more stave off its first-ever loss to Bangladesh in a Province side whom he played for in 2011 actually,” said Jennings, who is also study- one-day international in New Zealand. Instead, and in the same year skippered the South ing for an accountancy degree. Broom came within three runs of back-to-back Africa Under-19 side on a tour of England. “My mum and dad said the other day centuries following his 109 not out in the sec- “There will be all the chat again about about me ‘going back to the UK’ and I cor- ond match; celebrating his recall to the one- my nationality. And if I do play I will have to rected them. ‘No. I am going home, that’s day team after a six-year absence. make sure I handle that and be calm, set- my home,’ I said. “The northeast of England Williamson had a chance to score his ninth tled and focused.” Jennings, who is playing is where I have bought property and where one-day international century but allowed for his ‘home county’ as his mother hails my local pub is and I have my usual order in Broom, and then James Neesham (28 from 23 from Sunderland in the north east of the local pub and I know my way around. balls) to take the scoring initiative late. “We England, said he is prepared to drop down “When I come back to South Africa now, improved throughout each match and today the order should his services not be I drive round using GPS because I don’t was far more the complete performance that required to open. “I’d be happy to bat at No know my way.” — AFP we were after,” Williamson said. “That’s a lot of credit to our boys in the way they were smart on the surface but a lot of credit to Bangladesh. “Coming over here in conditions they’re not entirely used to they put up a good fight and put us under pressure.” Bangladesh failed to capitalize on a strong start after winning the toss and batting. The century opening stand seemed to have set up the tourists for a big score but the visi- tors rapidly lost the next six wickets. Williamson again deployed his bowlers well on a Saxton Oval pitch which was too slow to allow confident shot-making. He handed the new ball to the 36-year-old off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who was playing his first one-day inter- national since 2009, and gave 28 of the 50 overs to slow bowlers, personally taking 1-24 from eight overs of off-spin. “There were some good individual perform- ances but as a team we couldn’t go through with it,” Mortaza said. “After five years coming to play in New Zealand we’re improving lots. NELSON: Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan (R) is run out by a throw from New Zealand’s keeper There are some issues but we have to prove as Luke Ronchi (C) as Jeetan Patel (L) celebrates during the third one day international cricket a team we’re a lot better.” — AP match match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Saxton Oval in Nelson yesterday. — AFP