SPORT Saturday 9 June 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Bad boys of Australia novices Football excite Finch ahead World Cup of World Cup Saifeldin, Ibrahim win gold for Qatar in Japan

CHINTHANA WASALA competition. Saifeldin made it to yester- add another medal to his name when THE PENINSULA day’s final after easily outplaying all his he competes in the 3000 metres steeple opponents in the heats on the opening chase final at the Nagaragawa Stadium. GIFU, JAPAN: Middle distance runner day of the Championship, clocking a There will be high hopes for another Saife Saifeldin and shot putter Moaaz time of 3:38.99. medal or two for Qatar in the 110 metres Ibrahim won gold medals for Qatar during In the boys’ shot put final, Ibrahim hurdles final in which Saoud Abdulaziz the 18th Asian Junior Athletics Champi- won Qatar’s second medal of the day Al Humaidi and Owaab Barrow will take onship at Nagaragawa Stadium in Gifu, when he cleared a distance of 18.57 part. The duo is also expected to be part Japan yesterday. metres. It was also a new personal best of the Qatari team in the boys 4x100 Saifeldin cruised to victory in the boys’ for the Qatari youngster. meters final later on. 1,500 metres final, clocking a time of South Korea’s Jinseong Yeo made Awad Bassem Mohamed will compete 3:49.30 as home favourite Reito Hanzawa 18.25 metres to secure the silver medal in the first round of boys 400 metres finished second with a time of 3:49.66. while India’s Ashish Bhalothia, with a hurdles in the morning session. Iraq’s Hussein Lafta completed the top personal best of 18.22 metres, completed Salim Mohamed and Jaber Hilal Al Qatar’s Saife Saifeldin celebrates his win in the Boys’ 1500 metres final of the three with a time of 3:49.75 in the the podium. Mmamri will take part in the boys 200 18th Asian Junior Athletics Championship in Gifu, Japan yesterday. afternoon session of the second day of the Today, Saifeldin will be looking to metres heats. Nadal crushes Del Potro, sets up Thiem final

AFP against just two losses after weathering impossible without hard work and going He suffered a worrying power cut in a big-hitting opening from 2009 US Open through tough moments. the second set, slipping to 5-0 down on PARIS: Ten-time champion winner Del Potro to win 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. “You have to be focussed and keep a double break, wasting his seventh reached his 11th final In his 24th final, Nadal your passion for the game. I never break point out of seven on the way. yesterday when he demolished Juan will face Thiem who ended Marco Cecch- dreamed in 2005 when I played my first Nadal tightened his grip, going to Martin del Potro in straight sets, setting inato’s French Open fairytale, reaching final here that I would be in another 5-1 on another double break in the third up a title showdown with , his first major final with a 7-5, 7-6 one.” set and sealed the match when Del Potro the only man to defeat him on clay in the (12/10), 6-1 victory. Thiem is the only man to beat Nadal hit a backhand long. last two years. Seventh seed Thiem is the first Aus- on clay in the last two seasons -- in “I had a lot of break points. I couldn’t Nadal, a 16-time Grand Slam trian to make a final at the majors since Madrid this year and Rome in 2017. make it,” said Del Potro. champion, claimed his 85th win in Paris Thomas Muster was champion in Paris But the Spaniard was impressive on “Rafa served well and he made me in 1995. Friday, finishing with 35 winners and 19 run a lot. The intensity was too high the “It was a very difficult first set and unforced errors to Del Potro’s analysis whole match, and I couldn’t stay there. Juan Martin had lots of opportunities. of 20 and 32. He deserved to win.” He was a little unfortunate,” said Nadal “Thiem is an amazing player. He beat World 72 Cecchinato had knocked who reeled off 14 of the last 17 games, me in Madrid, he has big power so I have out three seeded players to reach the having seen Del Potro fail to convert any to be at my best and improve,” said semi-finals, including 12-time major of his seven break points. Nadal. winner in the Nadal is now just the “But I believe I will be ready for the quarter-finals. second man to reach 11 final.” But Thiem, 24, was too strong and finals at the same World number one Nadal went into now believes he has a particularly pow- Slam, equalling Friday’s clash with a 9-5 career record erful weapon on his side for the final ’s against Del Potro, including all three -- breakfast. mark at meetings on clay. “I need to regenerate and have a Wimbledon. However, it was Del Potro who was good breakfast to keep up my good level. “It’s in the ascendancy in the rallies in the “Full power on Sunday.” first set. Thiem, who was playing in his third The fifth seed, playing in his first successive French Open semi-final, Roland Garros semi-final in nine years, admitted the second set had been a had three break points in the third game nervy encounter after needing five set and three more in the ninth. points to get through it. However, the 29-year-old was “The big key was the second set,” unable to capitalise and Nadal made him he said. pay in the 10th game when he claimed “It was a really close tiebreak and I the opener off a netted backhand. didn’t want that especially after I missed Del Potro had required the doctor an easy volley at 6/4. early in the first set after appearing to “That was not a nice feeling.” jar his ankle in the red clay. Cecchinato had never won a Grand Slam match before this year’s Roland Garros but made the semis with a string of stunning wins. FRENCH OPEN RESULTS He put out seeded players Pablo Carreno Busta and before MEN the seismic shock of knocking out 2016 SEMI-FINALS champion Djokovic in the Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Juan Martin del quarter-finals. Potro (ARG x5) 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 “Today, all day, on Philippe Chatrier, Dominic Thiem (AUT x7) bt Marco the fans said ‘Forza, Marco’, so I think Cecchinato (ITA) 7-5, 7-6 (12/10), 6-1 Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his 2018 French Open semi-final match against Argentina’s this is the best moment for me,” said Juan Martin Del Potro yesterday. Cecchinato. Verstappen tops Canada practice REUTERS qualifying, offered the promise of behind the Dutchman but in front Another Finn, Kimi Raikkonen, He got his first taste off whatwhat it something much better in Montreal, of the other Red Bull of Monaco was sixth for Ferrari in front of is like to take part in a Grandand Prix MONTREAL: Red Bull’s Max taking full advantage of an winner Australian Daniel Ricciardo. McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, who is weekend, sitting in for Sergiogio Perez Verstappen, under pressure to clean upgraded power unit to clock a pol- German former world champion entered in his landmark 300th Grand in the Force India for tthehe firstfirst up his act after a string of crashes ished one minute, 13.302 seconds Sebastian Vettel was fourth Prix. The home crowd had very little practice. and costly errors, kept his nose around the 2.7 mile (4.34 km) sun- quickest as Ferrari also used to get excited about as Williams’ The 22-year-old, wasas 19t19thh clean yesterday to clock the fastest splashed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. opening practice to break in their Lance Stroll continued his struggles, fastest ahead of only NiNicoco time in opening practice for the Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, upgraded engine. posting only the 18th best effort. Hulkenberg, who interruptedted Canadian Grand Prix. chasing a record equalling seventh Finland’s Valtteri Bottas was Right behind Stroll was fellow the session for nearly 15 Verstappen, who started from Canadian Grand Prix win, once fifth best in a Mercedes that will run Canadian Nicholas Latifi, whose minutes when his Renaultult the rear of grid at the Monaco again figured near the top of the with an old power unit that will be father recently purchased a 10 coasted to a stop with sus-s- Grand Prix after a crash in time sheets, just.088 seconds on its seventh race. percent stake in McLaren. pected gearbox problems.. Max Verstappen 18 SPORT SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2018 Rashford shines Bad boys of World Cup as England cruise AFP French midfielder Zinedine Zidane (left) past Costa Rica PARIS: From Luis Suarez’s teeth to gesturing after head- AFP Roy Keane storming out on the butting Italian defender Republic of Ireland and Toni Schu- Marco Materazzi during macher pole-axing Patrick Battiston the World Cup 2006 LEEDS: England manager Gareth Southgate in ‘82, here are 11 bad boys in World final at Berlin’s Olympic admitted Marcus Rashford had given him a Cup history: Stadium in this July 09, difficult decision to make ahead of the World 2006 file photo. Cup with a stunning strike in a 2-0 friendly TONI SCHUMACHER victory over Costa Rica on Thursday. (WEST GERMANY) In England’s last match before their tour- Battiston lost two teeth, cracked nament opener against Tunisia in 11 days time, three ribs and was left unconscious Manchester United’s Rashford was the star of after Schumacher’s hip smashed into a much-changed side in Leeds. his face in the semi-final of the 1982 Danny Welbeck was also on target as tournament in Spain. England extended their unbeaten run to 10 The German, who to this day games, stretching back nearly a year. insists he was going for the ball and is Rashford made the most of the absence still an unpopular name in , of England captain Harry Kane as he started escaped a booking and showed no up front alongside Jamie Vardy, and showed remorse as West Germany won the what he is capable of with a fiercely struck match 5-4 on penalties, as it had fin- shot from 25 yards that dipped perfectly into ished 3-3 after extra-time. the top corner. Rashford endured a difficult end to the KHALID BOULAHROUZ season at United, scoring just four times in (NETHERLANDS) 2018 at club level, and suffering some stinging A record four red and 16 yellow criticism from Jose Mourinho. cards were shown during ‘the Battle However, Southgate insisted the 20-year- of Nuremberg’ when Portugal beat the old needs to express himself and feel the Netherlands 1-0 in the Round of 16 at freedom to make mistakes. the 2006 World Cup. Rashford caught the eye from the off with Boulahrouz was booked for a studs a sublime piece of skill down the left that up tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo, which differ as to what Materazzi actually the first time in his career, but the after scoring against Greece was forced a corner from which his United team- forced the Portugal superstar off, and said that triggered the attack and saw replays showed Blanc had barely repeatedly shown after it was dis- mate Phil Jones saw a looping header turned was sent off for a second yellow in the the French legend sent off on 110 touched Bilic. covered he had taken a stimulant. onto the bar by Keylor Navas. second half. minutes in his last international ‘Les Bleus’ held on with 10 men to Real Madrid goalkeeper Navas was com- Amidst the carnage, Giovanni van appearance. win, but despite clear evidence, FIFA LUIS SUAREZ (URUGUAY) pletely caught out moments later, though, as Bronckhorst, plus Portugal’s Deco and Italy won the final 5-3 on penalties refused to lift Blanc’s suspension for Sent off for a deliberate handball Rashford unleashed a powerful drive from 25 Costinha all received double yellow after the match finished 1-1 as Zidane’s the World Cup final in Paris which in Uruguay’s quarter-final win over yards for his third international goal. cards while Luis Figo was booked for seventh-minute penalty was cancelled France won 3-0 against Brazil. Ghana in South Africa 2010, Suarez Navas was Costa Rica’s hero of an head butting Marc van Bommel. out by Materazzi’s first-half header. was banned for four months for biting incredible run to the World Cup quarter-finals ROY KEANE Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the four years ago in Brazil, helping to knock NIGEL DE JONG (NETHERLANDS) DAVID BECKHAM (ENGLAND) (REPUBLIC OF IRELAND) shoulder four years later in Brazil. England out of the group stages on the way. De Jong’s flying kick landed on Beckham was sent off for a pet- Issues with the equipment and With the Italians protesting to the However, there was a gulf in class even Xabi Alonso’s chest in the 2010 World ulant kick aimed at Argentina captain pitch at Ireland’s pre-World Cup referee for not penalising Suarez, between Southgate’s largely second string Cup final, dubbed the ‘Battle of Johan- Diego Simeone, who had just clattered training camp in Saipan saw the Uruguay won a corner and scored to line-up and the Central Americans as England nesburg’, earned the Dutchman a England’s midfield ace, early in the tough-tackling Manchester United boil eliminate Italy with a 1-0 victory in dominated. yellow card and warning from English second-half of the quarter-final defeat over with rage as Keane stormed out the group stages. FIFA’s Disciplinary Navas kept his side in the game by denying ref Howard Webb in another bad-tem- in the 1998 finals. on the Irish before the 2002 finals Committee handed Suarez a nine- Vardy from point-blank range as he latched pered display by the ‘Oranje’. It finished 2-2 after extra time even started. A foul-mouthed tirade match ban, ruling him out for the rest onto Leicester team-mate Harry Maguire’s The kung-fu kick set the tone for before England lost 4-3 on penalties, at the Republic’s manager Mick of the tournament and the 2-0 defeat knockdown. a brutal final as the Dutch earned nine but for Beckham the ordeal was just McCarthy was his parting shot as to Colombia in the Round of 16. Costa Rica face tournament favourites yellow cards, including a pair shown beginning. Keane-less Ireland went onto to lose Brazil as well as Serbia and Switzerland in to John Heitinga, who was sent off in The Manchester United star bore to Spain in the last 16. JURGEN KLINSMANN Group E, and will need to show far more extra time. The Spanish, themselves the brunt of a national outcry on his (WEST GERMANY) ambition once they get to Russia if they are to no angels with five yellow cards, took return to England and “God Forgives DIEGO MARADONA (ARGENTINA) Klinsmann had earned his repu- replicate their heroics of four years ago. the trophy when Andres Iniesta Even David Beckham” appeared on a The midfield maestro made World tation for diving, but his most outra- Southgate held off making any changes slammed home the extra-time winner. poster outside a church in Nottingham, Cup folklore with his ‘Hand of God’ geous tumble came in the final of Italy until the hour mark and left Kane in reserve appealing for clemency on his behalf. goal against England in the last eight 1990 when he threw himself over for the full 90 minutes as his side continued ZINEDINE ZIDANE (FRANCE), of the 1986 finals, then moments later Pedro Monzon’s tackle and convulsed to control the game after the break. MARCO MATERAZZI (ITALY) SLAVEN BILIC (CROATIA) beat five defenders on a mazy run for on the floor, earning the Argentinian England’s rhythm was then stunted by five The key moment of the 2006 Hosts France were 2-1 up against his second as Argentina went onto win a straight red card on 65 minutes. quickfire substitutions, including a debut for World Cup final came in extra time Croatia in the semi-final of the 1998 the title. However, Maradona finished Replays showed it was a blatant Burnley’s Nick Pope in goal. when Zidane’s sudden head butt tournament, when Bilic theatrically his World Cup career in disgrace after dive and playing against 10 men, the However, Welbeck also justified his floored Materazzi. went down clutching his head after a failing a drugs test in the 1994 finals Germans won the final in Rome when inclusion in Southgate’s squad by coming off Zidane was apparently retaliating scuffle with Laurent Blanc in the area. held in the USA. His primal scream into Andreas Brehme converted a penalty the bench to seal the win 14 minutes from time for a verbal provocation. But reports The Frenchman was sent off, for the television cameras, eyes bulging, five minutes from time. as he headed home Dele Alli’s cross. Uruguay cruise to 3-0 win over Uzbekistan

REUTERS

MONTEVIDEO: Uruguay will head to the World Cup on a winning note after beating Uzbekistan 3-0 in a chilly warmup in front of their own fans on Thursday. Portuguese forward Goncalo Guedes (second left) celebrates The win, against a side with team-mates after scoring a goal during their friendly ranked 81 places below them match against Algeria at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on Thursday. at 95th in the world, was the third in a row for the South Americans and they have lost just once in their last nine Portugal beat Algeria games. Uruguay got the break- through after 31 minutes in final warm-up when Giorgian De Arrascaeta fired home from 15 meters AP following good work from in the 18th minute with a shot Edinson Cavani and Luis from inside the area by Goncalo Suarez. LISBON: With Cristiano Guedes after a nice head-pass Suarez doubled their lead Ronaldo back in action, by Bernardo Silva. Bruno Fern- eight minutes into the second Portugal cruised to a 3-0 win andes added to the lead in the half when he slotted home a over Algeria in its final warmup 37th with a close-range header penalty and Jose Maria match before traveling to after a well-placed left-footed Gimenez headed home a Russia for the World Cup. cross by Ronaldo, and Guedes corner in 72 minutes to make Ronaldo, who hadn’t played netted his second goal early in it 3-0. since leading Real Madrid to a the second half with a header Uzbekistan were then third straight Champions after a cross by Raphael Guer- reduced to 10 men when League title last month, set up reiro from the left side. Komilov Akromjon was sent one of Portugal’s goals at the Portugal scored another off. Stadium of Light. He also had goal near the end but it was Uruguay, who won the one disallowed for offside called off by video review World Cup in 1930 and 1950, before being substituted in the because of a hand-ball by kick off their World Cup cam- 75th minute. Guedes. paign on June 15 against Ronaldo joined Portugal’s Portugal, which will travel Egypt, play Saudi Arabia five squad on Monday, later than the to Russia today, had already days later before rounding rest of the squad, because of the played two other warm-up out their Group A fixtures Champions League final. matches, drawing Tunisia 2-2 against hosts Russia. Portugal opened the scoring and Belgium 0-0. SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2018 SPORT 19

Fury wants NHL: Capitals edge Knights to to be mental health capture first Stanley Cup title champion AFP AFP we fight through it and we get teams in the late 1960s. “They’re results.” The title ends decades disappointed and dejected,” said LONDON: Britain’s Tyson LAS VEGAS: The Washington of heartbreak not only for the Vegas coach Gerard Gallant. Fury returns to the ring today Capitals ended 44 years of NHL team but for the city of “We had an outstanding year, hoping his boxing comeback playoff frustration on Thursday, Washington, as it had been over but it doesn’t feel like it right can inspire other people who beating the expansion Vegas 26 years since a major sports now. Obviously, we’ll get to that have been suffering from Golden Knights 4-3 to claim team from the US capital had in a few days’ time.” Czech mental health problems. their first Stanley Cup title in won a championship. forward Jakub Vrana had the The unbeaten former franchise history. “You can never imagine how other Capitals goal as he opened world heavyweight champion Lars Eller and Devante this feels. This is one of the best the scoring in a five-goal second takes on Albania’s Sefer Seferi Smith-Pelly scored third period feelings ever,” said American period after the teams failed to in Manchester today. goals just 2:31 apart as the Cap- forward TJ Oshie. It also marks produce a goal in a tight- Fury outweighs Seferi by itals came from behind to win the first Stanley Cup title for checking first period. more than four stone, a point the National Hockey League Russian star Ovechkin, who Denmark’s Eller scored the he jokingly emphasised at championship series in five scored his 15th playoff goal in winning goal with 7:37 left in the Friday’s weigh-in by picking games -- and end the fairy-tale the second period and was third period in front of a crowd of up his opponent and cradling run of the Golden Knights’ first named Most Valuable Player of 18,500 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile him in his arms. season. the 2018 playoffs. Ovechkin was Arena. “It is amazing,” said Cap- But Fury’s time away “It means everything. I think the league-leader in goals itals goaltender Braden Holtby, away from boxing has been this moment, we waiting a long, during the playoffs and finished who finished with 28 saves. “We far from a laughing matter. long time,” said forward Alex second overall in scoring with have a lot of different personal- He hasn’t fought since Ovechkin. “This organization 27 points. ities on this team but we meshed a shock defeat of Wladimir wanted it so bad. The Capitals won their 10th like crazy.” Capitals coach Barry Klitschko in November “It’s nice to be part of it. It’s game on the road in the posts- Trotz said they had the right 2015 saw Fury win the nice to be in this organization eason to equal the league record combination of skill, toughness world title. all 13, 14 years, whatever. It just which had been set four times and desire to get the job done. Since then, though, his was a joy. Was tough time, but previously, most recently by the You can get pushed out of a career started to unravel and 2012 Los Angeles Kings. series if you have skill and you Fury was stripped of his Washington, who entered don’t have the will,” said Trotz. boxing licence as he contested the league as an expansion team “You got to have the heart and a ban over a failed drugs test. in 1974, ended the miraculous will first and once that base is Meanwhile, the Briton It means everything. season of the Knights, who are there the skill comes out. gained weight at an alarming I think this moment, just the third NHL team in “This team just had a rate while battling depression league history to reach the finals calmness about it. I don’t think and made a series of highly we waiting a long, in their inaugural campaign. I have ever been so calm controversial, and to some long time. This They join the Toronto throughout a playoff run. We offensive, statements about organization wanted Arenas and St. Louis Blues, but had pretty good clarity about social issues. it so bad. Was tough the Golden Knights had a much how we wanted to play.” The But the 29-year-old is more difficult road to get there. Capitals had never won the confident he is now in good Alex Ovechkin (8) of the Washington Capitals poses with his team- time, but we fight The Arenas did it in the Stanley Cup but made it to the shape, both mentally and mates for the team photo after their 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden through it and we get league’s first ever postseason final once before, in 1998, and physically, as he looks to Knights to win the Stanley Cup in Game Five at T-Mobile Arena in results: Ovechkin and Blues were part of a division lost to the Detroit Red Wings in regain the world heavyweight comprised of all expansion four straight games. Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday. crown. Woods to play with World Power shoots 5-under 65 No. 1 and 2 at US Open for opening lead at St Jude AP AP with President Donald Trump ST JUDE CLASSIC SCORES in a bogey-free round on the day after Thanksgiving last Leading first-round scores on Thursday in the Thursday and capped his day (pictured) MIAMI: Tiger Woods year. MEMPHIS: Phil Mickelson got US PGA Tour FedEx St. Jude Classic in Mem- chipping in from 34 feet for his will play the opening two rounds Woods and Thomas have the strong finish he wanted. phis, Tennessee (USA unless noted, par-70): fourth birdie. He has two top-25 of the US Open with Justin played together only once in Steve Stricker is having too finishes in seven tournaments 65 - Seamus Power (IRL) Thomas and Dustin Johnson, competition, at Riviera in the much fun to just stick to the on the PGA Tour this season, and 66 - Troy Merritt, Wesley Bryan, Fabián Gómez which feels like a grouping of Genesis Open, the only cut senior circuit. Stricker said he wants to show Nos. 1-2-3 in the world ranking. Woods has missed this year. But Mickelson and Stricker shot (ARG), BrooksaKoepka, Phil Mickelson, Chris he can finish off an event. Except that Woods is No. 80. they play occasionally at home 4-under 66 on Thursday in the Kirk, Michael Kim, Brandon Harkins, Steve “I still feel like I should play The USGA released its tee in south Florida. St. Jude Classic, leaving them in Stricker, Mackenzie Hughes (CAN), Stuart Ap- out here. I belong out here. I’m times on Thursday for the US Mickelson gets his third an 11-player tie for second - a pleby (AUS) trying to stick with that,” said Open next week at Shinnecock crack at Shinnecock Hills, where stroke behind Seamus Power of 67 - Matt Jones (AUS), C.T. Pan (TPE), An Stricker, a two-time winner this Hills, and it offered two stacked he was in position to win in 1995 Ireland. Mickelson matched his Byeong-hun (KOR), Chez Reavie, Dustin John- year on the PGA Tour

groups for the morning and and in 2004. In his first best opening round in relation son, Dominic Bozzelli, Scott Stallings, Retief Champions. afternoon. appearance, Mickelson played to par this season. Goosen (RSA), Ryan Blaum, Andrew Putnam Koepka is preparing for his Phil Mickelson, Jordan for most of the past two years the par-5 16th in 6 over for the “Oh, it was a great start for US Open title defense next week Spieth and Rory McIlroy tee off recovering from back surgeries, week and finished four shots me,” Mickelson said. at Shinnecock Hills. together in the morning of the and his world ranking fell as low behind Corey Pavin. The next “I ended up finishing off the his final hole for the lead over Second-ranked Dustin first round. Woods, Johnson and as No. 1,199 until returning to time, he briefly had a one-shot round. I had a nice little stretch Mickelson, Stricker, US Open Johnson was at 67 with Retief Thomas are together in the competition last December. In lead with two holes to play when there in the middle where I went champion Brooks Koepka and Goosen, Scott Stallings and afternoon. nine PGA Tour events, he has a he made double bogey on the birdie, eagle, and I was able to others. He went to No. 18 tied seven others. This is the 10-year anni- pair of top 10s and had missed 71st hole and lost by two shots finish it off with some pars after with seven others atop the lea- Two-time defending champ versary of the USGA first putting the cut only one time. to Retief Goosen. some poor tee shots. derboard and took the lead Daniel Berger bogeyed three of together the Nos. 1-2-3 players It will be the first time The U.S. Open is the only “It’s a good start. It’s not like himself with his second birdie his first five holes and finished in the world at Torrey Pines - Woods and Johnson have played major Mickelson lacks for the you’re trying to win the tour- over his final three holes. with five bogeys and five birdies Woods, Mickelson and Adam together in a major, and their career Grand Slam. McIlroy and nament on Thursday. But it’s The 51-year-old Stricker had for a 70. Mickelson won in Scott. first time in the same group Spieth also have three legs of the nice not to put myself too far a long day on Monday qualifying March in Mexico for his 43rd Woods is playing the US since the opening two rounds of career Slam, with McIlroy behind so I’m playing catch-up. nearby for the US Open. He career victory, and he has tied Open for the first time since he Torrey Pines in 2017 when both missing the Masters and Spieth So another good round played only six holes on Tuesday for second at the TPC Southwind missed the cut at Chambers Bay missed the cut. That doesn’t lacking the PGA tomorrow will put me right in it and a nine-hole pro-am twice with a tie for third since in 2015. He has been out of golf include the round they played Championship. for the weekend.” Power birdied Wednesday to rest up. He turned 2013. Australia novices excite Finch ahead of World Cup AFP since a controversial tour of World Cup final but it is England great over the last 18 months to South Africa, which ended with who are now number one in the two years, so who knows, if we LONDON: Aaron Finch a 3-1 Test series loss. men’s ODI standings. By con- give these young guys a few (pictured) believes a new-look More significant, however, trast, Australia have lost their opportunities, they can do some Australia have everything to was the ball-tampering scandal last three bilateral ODI series -- wonderful things,” he explained. gain and little to lose when they during the third Test in Cape against New Zealand, India and Meanwhile, Finch said that face 2019 World Cup hosts Town. England -- as well as suffering while Justin Langer, on his first England in an upcoming Former Australia captain an early exit from last year’s tour as Australia coach, may one-day international series. Steve Smith and his deputy 50-over Champions Trophy ODI have been all smiles as he joked The opening batsman made David Warner received year- tournament. about being “sledged” by his a solid 78 as Australia were long bans for their roles in one But opening batsman Finch, daughter at Lord’s earlier this forced to work hard before of Australian cricket’s most a veteran of 88 ODIs and now week, the former Test opener beating Sussex by 57 runs in humiliating episodes, while vice-captain in the absence of was not a man to be crossed. their tour opener at Hove, one Cameron Bancroft -- who frontline fast-bowling trio of their first or second tour, it Warner, believes the injection “You don’t want to be in his of two warm-up fixtures before applied sandpaper to the ball in Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and brings a lot of energy around the of fresh talent such as bowlers glare!”, said Finch. “I’ve been the reigning world champions a clear breach of cricket’s Josh Hazlewood, as well as side- group,” Finch told reporters at Jhye Richardson and Kane Rich- there before, not on this tour. face England in a five-match rulebook -- was suspended for lined all-rounder Mitchell Lord’s on Friday ahead of their ardson can only do Australia “There were some easy ODI contest that gets underway nine months. Marsh. warm-up match at the ‘home of good ahead of the 2019 World comments you could make to at The Oval on Wednesday. In addition to Smith and “There’s a lot of excitement cricket’ against Middlesex on Cup. him when he was coach of The Sussex match was Aus- Warner, Australia have arrived around, any time you bring Saturday. - Langer’s ‘glare’ - “Our Western Australia. It was easy tralia’s first as a national team in England without their injured young guys into the squad for Australia won the 2015 one-day cricket hadn’t been that to wind him up,” he added.