54 SPORT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 QUARTER BY QUARTER@quartermaing [email protected]

SHEEPISH HOGG NOT FLORIN DOWN UNDER BLAMELESS A BOUNCER from Transylvania football and futsal and won by police who considered his ’S two-Test who became an overnight global championships in both codes as a bat a weapon. whitewash of Pakistan was sensation playing in this year’s player and coach. “We are not allowed to carry mild-mannered compared to European Cricket League has been During one NFL practice, he weapons and when I explained is the tempestuous past. honing his bowling craft in Perth. noticed some Indian cricketers not weapon is cricket bat they said March marked the 40-year Pavel Florin, whose bowling playing on an adjacent field and ‘what is cricket bat?’” he said. anniversary of a fiery action has been described as a asked them for a try out. Romania is ranked No. 38 in the two-Test series between “couple of hesitant steps” followed “I was curious and I ask to let me world in cricket and No.9 in Europe Australia and Pakistan at the by a “grenade-like lob”, took 1-28 off hit a ball. They said I was good, I but there are only about 100 MCG and WACA Ground. four overs last weekend and also could be future of national registered players from a population The Tests were marred by executed a stunning run-out team. It was a lie. But I like this lie of 20 million. three incidents, the first when playing for Subiaco Marist, a WA so I go for it,” he said. The good news for Florin’s fans is Pakistan seamer Sarfraz Suburban Turf Cricket Association Florin is aware of his limitations Romania is now an internationally Nawaz successfully appealed club based at Newman College. on the field, but is serious about recognised T20 country — so can for handling the ball against Florin’s trip followed a guest stint “This is my style. Nobody do growing cricket in his homeland qualify for the World Cup — and . with Surrey Hills in this, I do this ... I try to use some and frustrated by a lack of his local club has again won the This came just hours after where he appeared on Channel tricks to be competitive. International Cricket Council right to play in the second ECL, set the visitor’s No.11 Sikander Seven’s Front Bar and bowled to “I need to improvise. My bowling support. for La Manga, Spain, from May 31 Bakht was ‘Mankaded’ (run West Indian legend Brian Lara. is not beautiful, but I don’t care “It is not enough to say ‘Bravo to June 7 next year. It will be out) by , without The 40-year-old from because I love cricket.” Pavel’. In my country after I was broadcast live on Fox/Kayo. warning. Tempers rose even Cluj-Napoca, Romania’s Florin is yet to memorise all the internet sensation, nobody came to West Australian Vin Sandhu, further when Australian second-biggest city which is located fielding positions. say ‘I help you with this’,” he said. former Subiaco-Floreat grade paceman in the Transylvania region, became “I say to every captain, with me Cricket fields are so rare in player, met Florin during a stint as smashed his stumps after an instant cult hero after clips of his it is very easy just raise your hand Romania, Florin has to drive 500km commentator for the ECL and being dismissed when he bowling with Cluj Cricket Club in and say right, left, back or forward to play and practice. While driving sponsored his visit to Perth. walked down the pitch to do the T10 ECL in July went viral. and I run in that position you say to one session he was pulled over “He is a very relatable cricket some “gardening” and Javed Florin, who flies out of Perth stop, I stop,” he said. story. Club cricketers in particular Miandad removed his bails. today, said his unwieldy bowling A sports lover, Florin estimates can relate to having to travel to a In a recent interview with action might even give him an he has watched “more than 200 game, the bond you have with the Sunday Herald Sun’s Jon advantage. games of Aussie Rules” on TV, but your teammates and the ups Anderson, Hogg sheepishly “Nobody bowls like this to you in doesn’t barrack for a particular club. and downs of it and the fact admitted to throwing a bucket the nets. First time it would be a Growing up in Romania, he you are blessed with a of water from the sixth floor surprise for you,” he said. wasn’t interested in his country’s certain amount of ability of a hotel in Perth on to “I bowl straight. I don’t bowl no- national sport, Oina, which is a but the reason you play is Imran Khan and Miandad balls and wides, because this is a big mixture of cricket and baseball, but you love the game,” when the pair were going out problem. instead tried his hand at American Sandhu said. to dinner. “That did happen, but as to who did it, I will borrow a Jack Dyer quote which runs along the lines of, ‘I’m not Romanian ‘rocket’: going to say anything in case I Pavel Florin and, say something’,” Hogg said. inset, with . Main picture: Michael Wilson

NORBERT’S ROCKETS JORDAN-BLAZE Lightbourn, pictured, has a name made for an athletics career. The born-to-run 15-year-old is blazing a trail on the athletics circuit, snaring a medal collection so vast he has lost count of the number of medals. ‘JB’, and fellow athletes at St Norbert College face the HARMAN SPLITS DIFFERENCE best young athletes from FOURSOME schools across Australia at this A TABtouch customer WA’S Nic Harman is one step Australia for times “He’s still a way off that weekend’s 2019 Australian All placed a $1 mystery First 4 closer to a Tokyo Olympic this year. Australia will take qualifying time but the thing Schools Championships and bet on the Winterbottom berth after an impressive three men to Tokyo for the with Nic is he’s young and his Nitro Schools National Final Stakes at Ascot. showing in last Sunday’s Olympic marathon. Harman improvement curve is huge,” at the WA Athletics Stadium. The computer spat out Fukuoka Marathon in Japan. sits behind Harman’s coach Raf Baugh JB, a 200m sprinter and Hey Doc to win, Vital Silver Harman, 24, recorded a (2:10.55), Jack Rayner (2:11.06) said. long-jumper who joined Little to finish second with negative split in only his and Liam Adams (2:11.36). Harman ran his first Athletics six years ago, hopes Trekking and Rock Magic to second marathon, the Harman will look to run marathon on the Gold Coast to beat his personal best jump fill the minor placings. The second half in 66.29min after under the Olympic qualifying this year when he recorded a of 6.44m. “This is one of the customer collected half of an opening 67.35. time of 2:11.30 in Hamburg, time of 2:22 despite a virus in most talented group of the First 4 dividend, His time of 2hr 14.04min Germany next April and has the lead up. He also had close athletes that has represented pocketing $7042.10. put him in 13th place overall registered for the world half second places in the Perth and Rising star: WA’S Nic Harman. St Norbert College,” head of and a ranking of four in marathon in Poland in March. Melbourne half . Picture: Michael Wilson sport Luke Ford said.