CRICKET | Page 3 NFL | Page 4 Coronavirus Brady admits to prevents play playing through at Motera concussions stadium during his career Thursday, April 9, 2020 GOLF Sha’ban 16, 1441 AH Tiger enjoys Masters GULF TIMES champions dinner ‘quarantine style’ SPORT Page 2 FOCUS England’s Stokes is named leading cricketer in the world Stokes feted for heroics during the World Cup final; Australia’s Ellyse Perry is the leading female cricketer in the world By Ali Martin The Guardian isden has named Ben Stokes as its leading cricketer in Wthe world and urged the government to ensure that at the next global event in the UK all England matches are broadcast on free-to-air television – not only the final. The 157th Almanack lands to- day in what should have been a precursor to the opening deliver- ies of the County Championship this Easter Sunday. However the sport it charts sits in stasis and so this is solely a blast of primrose sunshine from 2019. Wisden’s last 10 ‘Leading Cricketer in the World’ 2010: Sachin Tendulkar (India) 2011: Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) 2012: Michael Clarke (Australia) 2013: Dale Steyn (South Africa) 2014: Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) 2015: Kane Williamson (New Zealand) 2016: Virat Kohli (India) 2017: Virat Kohli (India) 2018: Virat Kohli (India) 2019: BEN STOKES In this July 14, 2019, picture, England’s Ben Stokes reacts after running (ENGLAND) 3 in the superover of the ICC Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand at Lord’s in London, United Kingdom. (Reuters) Stokes is duly feted for the he- roics witnessed during the World sport on the map. But others Archer is joined here by three mer – while another all-rounder, watches TV any more sounded cricket. The question is asked as why couldn’t he bowl at 95mph Cup final at Lord’s and the Head- have kept it there: Hobbs, Hut- Australian cricketers in Pat Andre Russell of West Indies, is odder than ever. When the UK to whether this was present amid on demand? It was the sort of in- ingley heist that joined the pan- ton, Compton, Botham, Flintoff, Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne the top Twenty20 cricketer. next hosts the World Cup, the the narrative of Archer’s year. quisition the injury-prone Mark theon of Ashes centuries. He is Pietersen and now Stokes. Of and Ellyse Perry, who were all The editor’s notes are par- government must insist that Booth writes: “[Jofra Archer Wood has never had to face.” the second England player to win the three modern all-rounders, instrumental in helping their ticularly forthright on the les- England’s games can be watched was] regarded in some quarters Moeen Ali’s description of him- this award in its 17-year history Stokes can be the greatest.” teams to retain the men’s and son from Sky Sports sharing the by the man and woman on the as an interloper, until he helped self as a sometime scapegoat for after Andrew Flintoff – even if Wisden’s five cricketers of the women’s Ashes on British soil. World Cup final with Channel 4, street, not just those who can af- win a World Cup, when he be- the Test team, and Adil Rashid’s Jos Buttler’s epochal breaking of year, a slice of prestige that dates Simon Harmer, the South Afri- and England becoming the na- ford the subscription.” came a national hero. Then, as sometime strained relationship the stumps at Lord’s adorns Wis- back to 1889, can only be won can who spun Essex to their sec- tion’s team again. Booth writes: As well as giving Eoin Mor- soon as his pace dropped, or he with Yorkshire, are cited as fur- den’s cover. once in a playing career and as a ond Championship title in three “The [England and Wales Cricket gan a platform to explain how struggled on heartless pitches ther possible examples, along with Writing in his notes the Wis- result England’s Jofra Archer is years, joins them. Board] calculated that almost a multiculturalism inspired his in New Zealand with the Kooka- tropes used during the playing den editor, Lawrence Booth, the sole World Cup winner to be Perry is also named the lead- third of the 15.4 million who at victorious team, and a defence burra [ball], his motivation was days of Usman Afzaal, Alex Tudor, says: “Every so often, an England included after what is hailed as ing female cricketer in the world some point tuned in to Chan- of five-day Test cricket after questioned. Devon Malcolm and Phillip De- cricketer joins the national con- “an unprecedented impact in his – like Stokes this is for perform- nel 4’s coverage were watching the suggestion it be cut to four, “Out came the stereotypes: Freitas. “In isolation, these labels versation. First among equals is first summer as an international ances across the entire calendar cricket for the first time. Wisden also raises the subject he was too cold; he was too laid- might be unremarkable; together, WG Grace, because he put the cricketer”. year, not only the English sum- “The argument that no one of unconscious bias in English back; he was a natural athlete, so they grow ugly,” Booth states. FOOTBALL Italian Olympic 800m Mourinho admits error in coaching amid virus crisis finalist Sabia dies from Covid-19 By David Hytner A witness has told the follow government advice in The Guardian Guardian he saw Ndombe- order to support our heroes in Reuters le, Sánchez and Sessegnon the NHS and save lives.” Rome, Italy walking off after they had The Portuguese is under- ose Mourinho has ac- finished their workouts and stood to be adamant that he cepted he was wrong they were 20 metres apart. adhered to physical distanc- wice Olympic 800 metres finalist Donato to oversee a makeshift The players live locally. The ing when with Ndombele and Sabia has died from Covid-19 at the age of 56, training session with witness also said he saw Juan two other unidentified men Tthe Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said yes- J terday. CONI said in a statement that Sabia had been Tanguy Ndombele in north Foyth “on his own about a on the common, even if that London on Tuesday. mile down the road” and rather missed the point about in the intensive care unit of the San Carlo hospital on The Tottenham man- Serge Aurier “about a mile his being there with them in Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata, ager was pictured on Hadley after that”. There is no in- the first place. for “a few days.” Common with Ndombele – dication Foyth and Aurier Mourinho has publicly crit- Sabia finished fifth in the 800 metres at Los Angeles in breach of the government breached the guidelines. icised Ndombele since he took in 1984 and seventh in Seoul four years later. He won regulations that permit peo- Spurs were moved to re- over last November, strug- the gold medal in the same event at the European ple to exercise outdoors dur- mind their players to respect gling to hide his frustration Indoor Championships in 1984. ing the coronavirus pandemic physical distancing when at the poor fitness and erratic According to CONI, he is the first Olympic finalist in only with members of their exercising outdoors and performances of the club’s the world to die from the virus. household. Mourinho issued a statement record signing. But everybody The Italian athletics federation (FIDAL), which Elsewhere on the common yesterday. “I accept that my at Spurs has seen Ndombe- described him as “an extraordinarily talented athlete two other Spurs players – actions were not in line with le’s quality in training and it but, above all, a gentle person”, said that Sabia’s Davinson Sánchez and Ryan government protocol and we has been noted that Mour- father had also died from Covid-19 a few days earlier. Sessegnon – were pictured must only have contact with inho would have taken such “It’s a tragedy within a tragedy,” said FIDAL president running together, failing to members of our own house- a strong line with the player In this February 5, 2020, picture, Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho (right) Alfio Giomi in a statement. “Donato was a person respect the two-metre phys- hold,” the manager said. “It is only because he cares about substitutes Tanguy Ndombele during the FA Cup match against Southampton in London, who you couldn’t not love.” ical-distancing requirement. vital we all play our part and drawing the best from him. United Kingdom. (Reuters) Gulf Times 2 Thursday, April 9, 2020 SPORT F1 Pandemic forces postponement of Canadian GP Reuteres all of our energies be put together to He also extended a shutdown of to wait for the chance to race at my Montreal overcome Covid-19. We will welcome non-essential businesses for another home F1 event,” said Latifi on his you with open arms at Circuit Gilles- three weeks to May 4. website. Villeneuve as soon as it is safe to do Formula One chairman Chase “Since I’ve been competing, my he June 14 Canadian Grand so,” said Canadian Grand Prix CEO Carey said Formula One supported ambition has been to represent my Prix in Montreal joined a Francois Dumontier. the “necessary decision to ensure the country at the highest level. And I’ve growing list of Formula One The race is promoted by Octane safety of fans and F1 community. been looking forward to June’s race in Traces postponed due to the Racing Group and organisers said the “We always look forward to travel- Montreal ever since I was announced new coronavirus pandemic on Tues- decision to postpone, after regular ling to the incredible city of Montreal as a driver with Williams.