26 Sports Thursday, June 27, 2019 says he is among West Indies greats Always cherish two decades playing for the West Indies: Gayle

MANCHESTER: Chris Gayle says he deserves to be West Indies host India for two Tests, three ODIs considered alongside the greats of West Indies and three internationals in August and but is refusing to set a definite date for his retirement. September and Gayle believes that might be the time The swashbuckling opener is still hoping the West to bow out. “Maybe a Test match against India and Indies can sneak into the World Cup semi-finals, with definitely play the ODIs against India. I won’t play the India next in line at Old Trafford today, but the odds T20s. That’s my plan after the World Cup,” said a smil- are stacked heavily against them. ing Gayle, who last played in 2014. ’s team began the tournament with a Gayle, who has amassed more than 10,000 runs in comprehensive seven- win against Pakistan but ODIs, admitted winning the World Cup would have soon lost momentum and that remains their only victo- been the ideal end to his career. Barring a freak set of ry in six matches. Self-styled “Universe Boss” Gayle, results, the two-time champions, who have three who hit 87 in his team’s heartbreaking five-run loss to games left, will be heading home before the semi- New Zealand on Saturday, said he would always cher- finals. ish his two decades playing for the West Indies. “What I really wanted was actually to be in that “I’m definitely up there with the greats, without a play-off,” said Gayle. “What I really wanted was to be doubt. Like I say, I enjoy each and every moment play- in that final four and then to be able to get my hands ing for West Indies,” Gayle said yesterday. “It’s still not on the World Cup. We’ll see what happens.” Holder the end. I still have a few games to go. Maybe another said Gayle had been a positive influence on the series to go. Who knows? We’ll see what happens.” younger players. “I started my career with the likes of Courtney “I think he’s done a hell of a job, more so off the Walsh, Curtly Ambrose,” he added. “You watch them field and also on the field. And he’s been obviously one on TV and you realise they’re in the dressing room, it’s who holds a presence in the dressing room,” said the just a bunch of guys.” The 39-year-old had previously skipper. “And the guys really look up to him and they hinted he could retire from one-day international shared a lot of knowledge over the past couple of : West Indies’ Chris Gayle (R) and West Indies’ (L) at Old Trafford in Manchester, north- cricket after the World Cup but then prevaricated fol- weeks. He’s been firm when he had to be firm and he’s west , yesterday, ahead of their group stage match of the 2019 against India. — AFP lowing a run-filled series against England. been honest.” —AFP

good stead in the latter stages of the tournament. ’s Starc “It’s an interesting one. It’s a World Cup. I guess playing at Lord’s today, where the final is going to be, is great for us,” he said. “Obviously we are into the semi- England criticised reveals fan banter finals now so we have to make sure we play some good cricket, finish as high as we can in the group and hope- for not making inspired his fully get into that final.” Australia have two games left in the 10-team pool stage before the semi-finals begin and next up for the most of conditions England demolition leaders is a clash with fellow title contenders New Zealand on Saturday. Starc urged his team not to rest : Australia pace bowler on their laurels and use the New Zealand clash to make against Australia revealed a breakfast confrontation with a bantering fan another statement of intent. inspired his ferocious spell in Tuesday’s World Cup win “Now we’ve got to play New Zealand, which is LONDON: England’s 64-run loss to Australia against England. Starc’s wife Alyssa Healy, who plays going to be tough for us,” he said. “They have gone in the World Cup on Tuesday left their semi- for the Australia Women’s team, brought the incident to under the radar. No-one has really spoken about them final qualification hopes in the balance and light on Twitter, claiming an England supporter had too much but they keep winning games. British media outlets settled on a similar fired up her husband with his taunts at the team hotel “They are playing some fantastic cricket. Kane theme, focusing on the hosts’ lack of applica- earlier in the day. Williamson is obviously their lynch-pin and they have tion as compared to their rivals. Starc confirmed he had been targeted but insisted good bowlers who swing it. It’s another big game.” Australia (12 points) sealed the first semi- the jibes weren’t especially hurtful. “I was still half- After a third defeat in the event, hosts England are now final spot with their sixth win while England- asleep. It was some bloke in a suit, having a go at my in danger of failing to qualify for the semi-finals despite fourth with eight points and two games left- strapping tape and having a go at my . I was starting the World Cup as favourites due to their status must now keep one eye on other results with just hungry,” he said after taking four in as the world’s top-ranked ODI side. Bangladesh and breathing down Australia’s 64-run win over their old rivals at Lord’s. Starc doesn’t believe the comfortable nature of Australia’s success doesn’t mean England should be their necks. “He was just having a laugh at my strapping tape and written off just yet. “England are a heck of a side and I England great called what I was eating. I had a few poached eggs, three I Mitchell Starc think they are still definitely favourites, but they’ve got their batsmen “one-dimensional” and “flat- think. “It’s all been good fun throughout the tour around the crowds and at the hotel. It’s just part and some work to do,” he said. track bullies” and that was evident from some parcel of a World Cup.” Starc had plenty to do with England’s downfall as he watching that game against Sri Lanka he nearly got of their dismissals by bowlers Jason Starc believes the holders’ comprehensive win was ripped the heart out of their line-up, with an them home with that 80-odd he scored,” Starc said. Behrendorff (5-44) and Mitchell Starc (4-43), the perfect preparation for the World Cup knockout assist from , who grabbed his first “We knew while he was batting we couldn’t rest up who thrived in seam-friendly conditions. stages after ’s side sealed a place in the five-wicket ODI haul. The decisive blow came when and cruise. We had to keep taking wickets. Fortunately “England have simply been unable to deal semi-finals. Australia dominated from start to finish Starc produced a stunning yorker to bowl , I got one through the gate. “I’ve said it for a while, with surfaces that have not allowed them to against one of their main rivals for the title and Starc effectively removing England’s last line of resistence. execution is a big part of this bowling group and me play their go-to explosive and aggressive expects the impressive performance to stand them in “He’s a fantastic player one of their key batters, personally as well.” —AFP game,” former cricketer wrote in . “(Eoin) Morgan said afterwards that it would have been a ‘horrific’ decision to bat first... in these conditions, but from now on should he consider batting first? That is How can England Brumbies’ Powell three losses chasing now.” Although England won the toss and elected to bowl at an overcast Lord’s, Morgan was let rescue faltering keen to show up down by his bowlers as Australia’s patient 123-run opening stand gave them a platform World Cup bid? mentor Cubelli to set a competitive total. By contrast, England were stumbling at LONDON: England are in grave danger of leaving their own in Super semi 26-3 with , and party early after slumping to a third defeat at the World Cup, Morgan back in the pavilion by the end of raising serious questions over their ability to cope with the BUENOS AIRES: ACT Brumbies scrumhalf Joe Powell has the sixth over. pressure. The hosts have become the undisputed top dogs in more than just a place in the Super Rugby final to motivate “England were guilty of bowling too short one-day cricket since an embarrassingly limp display at the him when the Australians meet the Jaguares in the semi- 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. But beating in seam-friendly conditions as Aaron Finch final tomorrow. teams in bilateral series is one thing-doing it on the biggest (100) and (53) made headway He also has a mentor to upstage. The Brumbies have stage of all at a World Cup in your own country is a different in an opening stand... their third ton-plus made the long trip from to Buenos Aires for the level of challenge entirely. AFP Sport looks at what England of the tournament,” David Ruse semi-final at Jose Amalfitani stadium, with the winner due need to do to get their campaign back on track. wrote on Sky Sports. to face the Canterbury Crusaders or Wellington “Australia were 44 for no loss after their Hurricanes next week. FIRST OF ALL, PRAY The 25-year-old Powell made his Super Rugby debut in first 10 overs as they dealt with the short Specifically for a miracle recovery for injury-hit Jason 2015 after being signed as a short-term replacement for stuff, England were reduced to 39-3 after Roy. When he limped off the field with a torn hamstring LONDON: England’s Ben Stokes reacts after his dis- the injured Nic White but then joined the squad full-time their initial 10 as they floundered against the against the West Indies, alarm bells did not ring too loudly. missal during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage the next season. pitched-up deliveries.” The in-form opener is a major weapon at the top of the match between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Powell, however, spent much of 2016 warming the Former English order but England were flying high and that day cruised to Ground in London. — AFP bench behind Tomas Cubelli, the Argentina scrumhalf who was particularly critical of Vince, who he gave an easy win in the sunshine. But for all of he is likely to face tomorrow. With five years of test expe- 1/10 in his player ratings in The Telegraph, England’s much-vaunted batting strength, the powerful Roy rience behind him with the Pumas, Cubelli was more than has been badly missed. His replacement, James Vince, has approach even though it has brought them so much success after ’s replacement failed for the willing to pass on tips to Powell during his two-year tenure done nothing to silence his detractors in his three innings in recent years. The team made a conscious decision to third time and fell for a in the second in Canberra. “He was the starting halfback in my first year and former England Test captain Michael Vaughan believes keep attacking at all costs and it has paid off spectacularly. ball of the innings. of professional rugby, and he really helped me out and he should be dropped for the India game on Sunday. It’s in But when it goes wrong it can go badly wrong. England had “England have a decision to make. No definitely it’ll be enjoyable to play against him this week- the lap of the gods and England need to seek divine inter- the chance to construct a measured reply against Sri Lanka point continuing to play him (Vince) after end,” Powell said in comments published by Rugby vention in the hope that Roy will be ready in time. Their last week but slumped to 212 all out. They found themselves three failures,” Vaughan wrote. “How is he Australia’s website (rugby.com.au). ultimate decision could depend on how the World Cup in deep trouble against Australia but rather than taking time “His ability to back himself and his running game, that’s going to suddenly turn it on against India in table looks on the morning of the match. to regroup, Morgan and holed out. If something he really taught me. “Just to have a go, back a game when if they lose they could be out England are going to reach the semi-finals, they might need yourself and see what you can do.” Powell, capped four (of) the World Cup when he has no form BAT FIRST to learn to play with a bit more patience. times for the Wallabies, stepped into the starting role in behind him? Should England have batted first against Australia at 2017 when Cubelli spent four months on the sidelines with “They will have to wheel out Jason Roy or, Lord’s despite the heavy skies and a bit of dampness in the REWRITE HISTORY a knee injury then returned to his native Argentina the fol- if not, promote or to air? England’s attack made it tricky for Aaron Finch and England’s last two matches are against India and New lowing season. David Warner in the early overs but the opening batsmen Zealand, neither of whom they have beaten at a World Cup open. Neither options are ideal but they can’t Cubelli did not play in the match last season in survived and established a good platform for Australia. since 1992. They will probably need to win one, and maybe do any worse.” Canberra, while Powell was a second-half substitute when Morgan’s side have looked comfortable chasing big totals even both, of those games to go through. If they are not up to England’s final two matches are against the sides clashed earlier this term, the Jaguares clinching a in the past but they have now lost three of the four matches the task, Morgan’s side, currently clinging on to fourth spot, are the two remaining unbeaten sides in the 20-15 victory. That week 11 loss for the Brumbies saw at the World Cup in which they have batted second. Only at risk of being caught by Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh. tournament-India and New Zealand. They them slump to 12th on the table and in danger of missing Bangladesh have successfully chased more than 250 to win are two teams England have not beaten in out on the playoffs for the second successive year. a match, despite the expectations that bat would dominate RELAX The Brumbies are undefeated since and their 38-13 vic- seven attempts at the World Cup since ball at the tournament. If England bat first they would be For all their struggles, England can look back to the 1992 tory over the Sharks 38-13 in Canberra last week was their 1992, prompting another former captain able to build an innings at their own pace without “score- and 1999 World Cups for inspiration. In both of those tour- seventh win in succession. Powell said Dan McKellar’s side Mike Atherton to borrow a phrase made board pressure”, relying on their formidable bowlers to naments, eventual winners Pakistan (1992) and Australia had shown in the second half of the season how tough they famous by former Manchester United complete the job. (1999) made sluggish starts before finding their form later in were to beat when the players were all on the same page. boss Alex Ferguson. “It is squeaky bum the tournament. If England can rediscover their verve they “We had few tough times early in the year and learned a time now.” — Reuters BE FLEXIBLE have the talent in both batting and bowling to become cham- lot about how we play the game and react under pres- England have been criticised for their one-dimensional pions on home soil. But the pressure is mounting. — AFP sure,” he said.—Reuters