THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015 SPORTS Vijay set to open for India in Colombo

COLOMBO: A recovering Murali Vijay is comforts he might have,” Kohli said. likely to open the innings for India in the “We will have to take a call but we are second test against Sri Lanka beginning pretty certain he is going to make it tomor- today as the beleaguered visitors chase a row.” The Indian skipper also threw his series-levelling victory. weight behind Binny whose inclusion India’s second innings implosion while might come at the expense of veteran off- pursuing a moderate 176-run victory target spinner Harbhajan Singh. in the first test has put the hosts in lead in “We got Stuart here because his bowl- the three-match series. ing gives us the balance and at number six Compounding the visitors’ problems, his batting can be handy,” Kohli, in his first opener Shikhar Dhawan- their top scorer at full series as India , said of the 31- Galle-has been ruled out of the remainder yer-old all-rounder. of the series with a fractured hand. “You can keep him for later on in the India have flown in pace- all- innings to give you control or... if the rounder Stuart Binny but Dhawan’s is helpful, with the new ball, why not? “It’s all absence is likely to force the team manage- about how you use him, as attacking option ment to ask Vijay, nursing a hamstring or as defensive option in the middle as it injury which kept him out of the Galle test, gives other bowlers rest. It really depends to partner Lokesh Rahul. on how the wicket behaves but I’m sure he “Today’s practice session is important, can do both jobs.” Kohli has struck centuries we would know if he is 100 per cent fit to in each of the four tests he has captained play,” India skipper Virat Kohli said ahead of India but is yet to taste victory as skipper. what would be Sri Lankan batting great “It’s never a nice feeling when you lose,” Kumar Sangakkara’s international swan- Kohli, 26, said. “I would rather have the team song. “His rehab is going well... Hopefully win games, than to get frustrated that as a he is fully fit. If he wants to play and is keen, batsman I am getting runs but we are not I’m sure he can go through the little dis- getting the results.” — Reuters Clarke: I want to go out on a high

LONDON: Australia captain Michael series, which they trail 3-1, had not been Clarke was in reflective mood on the eve good enough. of his final test match against England at “Australian fans expect the Australian as he plotted a consolation vic- cricket team to play better than we have tory to finish the series on a high. done throughout this series and they Clarke, 34, announced he would retire expect the leader to lead from the front at the end of the series immediately after and stand up so the criticism is certainly his side lost the fourth test at Trent warranted,” he said. Opener Chris Rogers LONDON: England’s captain Alastair Cook catches a ball during a training session at the Oval cricket ground. The fifth Test starts today. — AP Bridge last week by an innings and 78 will also make his final appearance for runs to relinquish the Ashes. Australia at The Oval. “There are no fairytales,” Clarke told “I think this team now needs some England in search of history reporters on Wednesday. “We really need fresh energy.” Clarke said. “I am really con- to show grit, determination and fident Australian cricket will continue to resilience throughout this test match and perform and continue to get better. LONDON: England may have already regained promote off-spinning all-rounder to Test. “I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a lot of dis- play a lot better than we have done in “I look forward to being able to sit on the Ashes but captain Alastair Cook is deter- open in place of the struggling to appointment amongst the group,” said Rogers, the last couple.” Clarke said he had pre- my couch now and follow the boys close- mined not to let-up when they face Australia in make space to play Rashid as well. with Australia now having lost four successive pared for the game like any of the other ly from there.” Australia fast bowler Josh the fifth and final Test at The Oval today-a match But the memory of how England gave a Ashes series in England. “We came here to win 114 tests he has played. Hazlewood, who has taken 16 in that marks rival skipper Michael Clarke’s farewell debut to left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan in the and we’ve been outplayed. It’s been a difficult “It does not feel any different at this the series, will miss the final test due to to international cricket. corresponding Ashes Test at The Oval two years week. A lot of guys have felt a bit flat, I imagine.” stage and I don’t think it will until the test niggling injury problems. Cook’s men triumphed by an innings and 78 only for the Lancashire bowler-who hasn’t “This is a big last game. Obviously it’s Michael’s match is finished,” he said. “My focus over “Josh has played six tests since the runs in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge to take an played senior international cricket since-to be retirement as well, but not only that, there’s the last week has been preparing for this West Indies tour and the last nine tests unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series after Australia, smashed for 53 in the eight overs he bowled is places up for grabs in this side. No one’s taking test and making sure my body and mind for Australia as well as playing an impor- with England paceman taking a sufficiently fresh in the memory to make it likely that for granted,” Rogers added. All-rounder are as per usual. “The boys have been tant part in the World Cup,” coach Darren stunning eight for 15, were dismissed for just 60 that Cook will lead an unchanged team. Mitchell Marsh is set to replace older brother training well and we are looking forward Lehmann told reporters. Australia could in 111 balls on the opening morning-the short- Shaun as the siblings continue to play pass the to hopefully finishing on a high.” Clarke recall the experienced Peter Siddle or Pat est completed first innings of any Test. ‘OUTPLAYED’ parcel with a Test place, while paceman Pat admitted his team’s performances in the Cummins today. — Reuters No England side has ever won four Tests in a Australia’s top-order had another miserable Cummins, restricted to a lone Test against South home Ashes series. But they are now within week as their side were nearly made to follow- Africa in November 2011 because of fitness sight of their biggest margin of victory since on by an under-strength Northamptonshire, one problems, could come in for Josh Hazlewood, Mike Brearley led England to a 5-1 success of England’s weaker counties, last weekend. struggling with shin soreness. Hamilton revved up ‘Down Under’ against an Australia side weak- Clarke, one of Australia’s greatest batsmen “I’ve been bowling for two years straight,” said ened by defections to the ‘rebel’ World Series will be desperate to finish with a flourish as Cummins. “I can’t be any more ready if I get the Cricket in 1978/79. indeed will opener Chris Rogers, who is also call-up,” added the fast bowler. Don’t tell him for a new start in Spa Taking this series 4-1 would certainly go retiring from international cricket after the fifth this is a ‘dead’ match. — AFP some way to avenging the memory of the 5-0 LONDON: The holidays are over and Formula IDEAL POINT whitewash inflicted upon England in Australia One world champion Lewis Hamilton faces a The drivers will then have to determine for some 18 months ago. new start as the second half of the season themselves the ideal point at which to release “Cooky called us all on Tuesday, to say: ‘Let’s Anderson out of revs up at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps cir- the paddles and accelerate away without trig- make sure we turn up knowing that we’re in a cuit this weekend. gering a loss of traction and wheelspin. battle and that we want to start again, Because The rules have been tweaked, meaning Rosberg, who won last season’s pole tro- I’ve got a burning desire for this to be 4-1’,” Broad final Ashes Test drivers on the starting grid can no longer be phy but has been outqualified 9-1 by said. “Certainly those of us involved in that 5-0 assisted over the radio by data-crunching Hamilton this year, can sense an opportunity. loss (in 2013-14) feel that determination to make LONDON: England fast bowler James Anderson team in a four-man pace attack with Stuart engineers to find the optimum clutch set- “There will be more variables and it will be this a good week,” he added. will not play in the final Ashes test against Broad, Steven Finn and , although tings that will ensure the quickest getaway. more difficult to predict,” he said. “I like it England have two major selection decisions Australia at The Oval due to a side strain, captain England could be tempted to play leg-spinner Hamilton, 21 points clear of Mercedes team because it gives me the opportunity to try this week-whether to recall James Anderson, Alastair Cook said yesterday. Adil Rashid yesterday. He could be a vital mate Nico Rosberg after 10 of 19 races, has and beat Lewis in that area. Until now it’s their all-time leading wicket-taker, who missed The 33-year-old, England’s leading test wicket weapon in England’s next series against had three poor starts in a row despite all been difficult because it was not really in the the fourth Test because of a side injury and taker, missed the fourth match at Trent Bridge in the but Cook said the being from pole position and the big ques- driver’s hands.” The German qualified on pole whether they should give a Test debut to leg- which the hosts won by an innings and 78 runs priority was to win the Ashes 4-1. tion is what difference the change will make. in Belgium last year but the race, on the spinner Adil Rashid. Given how well England’s to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series. “We have come into this game trying to win Another failure in Spa, where the longest circuit on the calendar, was won by pacemen, led by Broad, performed in Anderson’s “Unfortunately, he’s not going to make it,” Cook the series 4-1,” he said. “That is what we dis- Mercedes drivers started on the front row last Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo. absence, there seems little point in rushing their told reporters. “He’s gutted about it. He’s made cussed. “Clearly, Adil has been in every single year but collided on lap two, would only Hamilton, who retired while then-champi- spearhead back ahead of tours to the United really good progress from where he was at squad. The pitches have not quite suited two make the Briton’s bosses more jittery after onship leader Rosberg finished second, Arab Emirates and South Africa. Edgbaston but this is a week or so too soon. spinners so that is the reason he has not played. neither finished on the podium in Hungary in accused his team mate of hitting him on pur- , England’s Australian coach, has “He bowled in the nets yesterday but at “Adil will have to wait his chance but I think he is July. Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff pose “to prove a point” in a controversy that spoken all series of how he is prepared to play about 60-70 percent and that’s not how you go really improving as a cricketer and I think he warned this week that the team must stay proved a turning point in the season. The two spinners and Rashid would certainly come into a game. The medical team have been bril- feels a lot more comfortable in the England focused. “There is never a moment you can fired-up Briton won the next five races and into consideration against Pakistan in the UAE, liant with him but he’s still about a week away.” environment. He will probably get his chance in take your foot off the gas and Hungary ultimately his second title. where the pitches assist slow bowlers. is likely to keep his place in the Abu Dhabi.” The fifth Test starts today. — Reuters proved once again that any slip is an oppor- “It’s been good to take a break from racing There has been talk of how England could tunity our rivals will grab with both hands,” he and spend some time relaxing, training and said. After hanging out with movie and music recharging the batteries. But, of course, there’s celebrities, as well as his dogs Roscoe and always that flame in the back of your mind Coco, in Barbados, New York and The that just wants to get back out there and get S African justice minister Hamptons over the August break, Hamilton is on it,” he said ahead of his return to the raring to get back on track. Ardennes. “Spa is a great track to kick off the But he recognised after Hungary, where second part of the season...I love this track he finished only sixth while Rosberg was and I’ll be gunning for that top spot again.” blocks Pistorius parole eighth, that the championship could be Rosberg, winner of three races to Hamilton’s entering choppy waters-particularly at Spa five with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel taking the where rain is regularly a factor. other two, said everything was still to play for. JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s Oscar “I expect more unpredictable starts,” Ferrari will be in the hunt again but Williams Pistorius will not be freed on parole this Friday Hamilton said then. “I imagine it is going to also fancy their chances of returning to the because the decision to do so was made with- get worse, but that’s racing.” The key differ- podium after failing to score in Hungary. “The out the right legal basis, the justice minister ence is that the clutch ‘bite’ point, hitherto layout is normally strongly suited to the char- said yesterday, shocking the athlete’s family adjusted by engineers after assessing temper- acteristics of our car, so I head to this weekend who were preparing for his homecoming. atures and track conditions, will be fixed from looking for a strong result,” said Finland’s Pistorius was expected to be released after the moment the cars leave the pit lane. Valtteri Bottas. — Reuters serving 10 months of a five-year sentence for killing his model and law graduate girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. Justice Minister Michael Masutha said in a statement that the parole board had decided to release Pistorius on parole even before the athlete had served a sixth of his sentence, as required by law. “It is therefore clear that there is no legal basis upon which such a decision was made ... one sixth of a five years sentence is 10 months and at the time the decision was made Mr. Pistorius had served only over six months of his sentence,” Masutha said. The minister said he received a petition from the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa, opposing Pistorius’ release on parole, saying it flouted the rules. PRETORIA: In this Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014 file photo Oscar Pistorius sits in the high court for A family member said he was shocked by the fourth day of sentencing in Pretoria, South Africa. — AP the minister’s decision, adding that the family Pistorius has admitted killing Steenkamp, Pistorius’ intent to kill when he fired. had planned a “low key welcome” for Pistorius 29, by firing four shots through the locked Prosecutors want the verdict of culpable on Friday. door of a toilet cubicle, saying he believed an homicide, equivalent to manslaughter, raised “We are shocked and disappointed that intruder was hiding behind it. to murder because they argue Pistorius must Oscar won’t be home this Friday,” the family Judge Thokozile Masipa said during sen- have known when he fired that the person member, who declined to be named, told tencing the state had failed to convince her of behind the door could be killed. — Reuters Lewis Hamilton Reuters.