SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Proteas, Black Caps shootout for Test honours CENTURION: South Africa and go South Africa in August, almost two months before not do. That was the major consideration when into a one-match shootout for series honours when the usual start of the season. Preparing grounds for switching to winter turf.” they meet in the second and final Test starting at winter conditions has been a challenge - which With virtually no rain falling on the South SuperSport Park in Centurion today. Durban failed to meet after re-seeding the outfield African Highveld during winter and no rain pre- The Proteas can nudge up one place to sixth in only two months before the match. Following dicted during the Test - Du Preez is confident that the International Council (ICC) Test rankings reports from the match referees, the outfields in conditions will be suitable for . He said if they win, while the Black Caps will remain fifth Durban and Port of Spain were condemned as more time had been necessary to prepare the irrespective of the . “poor” by the ICC. pitch because cool conditions meant it took But the reputation of Test cricket is at much at Centurion groundsman Rudolph du Preez had longer to dry out after watering. Du Preez said he stake as rankings points after a farcical first Test in the advantage of planting winter grass much earlier did not expect uneven bounce to be as much of a Durban where less than 100 overs of cricket were than Durban, with work starting in April, almost factor as it has been in the later stages of matches played before a wet, soft outfield prevented any immediately after the 2015-16 season. He said it in recent seasons. play on the last three days. There was even less was necessary to plant winter grass because fielders “It might not deteriorate as we are used to. It cricket in a Test match between the West Indies struggled on dry, dormant summer grass when the might be a little bit slower, it might be holding back a and in Port of Spain, also because of outfield same two countries met in a one-day international bit more,” he said. Centurion has been a fortress for conditions. in August last year. “The players are used to sliding South Africa in Test cricket, with the home side hav- It is the first time Test cricket has been played in in to stop the ball, which on dormant turf you can- ing won 16 of the 21 Tests at the ground. —AFP

Wood glad to be back firing for SOUTHAMPTON: Mark Wood was delighted to give England a taste of what they had been missing for nearly a year after topping the 92mph mark on his return to international duty. Durham fast bowler Wood was back in England action during Wednesday’s 44-run rain- marred win in the first one-day international against at Southampton. Persistent ankle problems meant this was the 26-year-old Wood’s first England appearance since a Test against Pakistan in Dubai in October last year. His figures of one for 57 in 10 overs were good, if not outstanding, but of potentially greater long-term significance was the sight of Wood beating Pakistan batsmen with sheer pace. Significantly, his lone Wednesday came courtesy of a top- edged pull by Sharjeel Khan through to England wicket-keeper . Wood, if he can stay fit, has the ability to provide England with an out-and-out express fast bowler that they have lacked in his absence. But while others get excited by the speed Wood generates, for the bowler himself it’s just all part of the job. “The analyst gets quite worked up when I come in and he says ‘you’re at 92’, he always lets me know,” Wood said. “But when I’m bowling I’m not thinking about how quick I’m trying to bowl, I’m just thinking about either a plan or trying to knock some- one’s head off or something. “It’s not that specific about trying to bowl as fast as I can, I just give it everything I’ve got and if it’s that fast that’s brilliant.” DAMBULLA: Sri Lankan cricketer plays a shot during a practice session at The Rangiri ‘DESPERATE TO PLAY’ Dambulla International Cricket stadium in Dambulla yesterday. Australia and will play their third Wood, however, believes he can be quicker still. “When you get one-day international match tomorrow in Dambulla. —AFP that rhythm and match fitness back. I’ve been rushed back through to get some game time having missed the first half of the sum- mer,” he said. “And I’ve been desperate to play so I’ve not really had that time Ranatunga bemoans Sri where I’ve been getting used to bowling and bowling again. “I’ve only played two Championship games, and in one of those I only bowled 14 overs. So if I get that match fitness back up hopefully I can bowl even quicker.” —AFP Lanka reliance on spin

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s heavy reliance success would not work beyond the will be a major challenge for a team on its spin bowlers threatens to under- Indian sub-continent where pitches are who failed to win any of their nine mine their chances at the next cricket much less conducive to spin. “We internationals in all formats on a recent World Cup on the faster pitches of need to build our all rounders and fast tour of England. England, according to former skipper bowlers. Spin alone is not enough to The dearth of speedsters has . Ranatunga, who play in conditions like in England. If we already been acknowledged as a prob- led Sri Lanka to their first and so far are preparing for the next World Cup in lem by Sri Lanka’s board, which recent- only World Cup triumph in 1996, told England, spin alone won’t do,” he told ly tasked its most successful pace reporters he had been heartened by Sri Sri Lanka’s Foreign Correspondents bowler Chaminda Vaas with identify- Lanka’s recent whitewashing of Association in late Thursday. ing talent across the Australia in a home Test series and “I am not putting down their achieve- island. Ranatunga, who is now a gov- their strong showing at the start of the ment (in beating Australia), but they ernment minister, had warm praise for subsequent ODIs. need to go out (of the sub continent) the current skipper . But the recent success has been and prove themselves. At the moment “Even if you fail once or twice, you largely due to the performances of we are depending entirely on spin- need to be able to pick yourself up and spinners such as the veteran Rangana ners.” remain focused,” Ranatunga said in ref- Herath and the left-armer Amila Sri Lanka’s reputation as one-day erence to the England tour. Aponso, who took 4-18 as Sri Lanka specialists, which was first earned dur- “I have a lot of faith in Mathews. I LONDON: England’s jumps to control the won the second ODI on Wednesday. ing Ranatunga’s era, has grown over think he will end up being the best ball during a friendly warm-up soccer match with Ranatunga, himself a medium-pace the years after they reached two of the Sri Lanka ever produced. He , left, during a nets session at Lord’s, bowler as well as a powerful middle last three World Cup finals. has huge potential. He is able to keep London, yesterday. —AP order batsman, said such a formula for But the next tournament in 2019 the players together as a team. —AFP