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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 SPORTS Hughes’ death unites in grief

LONDON: Cricket confronted tragedy in 2014 with the death of Phillip Hughes after the Australia batsman was hit by a bouncer in a domestic first-class match. Several batsmen had previously been killed in similar incidents, albeit at lower levels of the game, and two days after Hughes’ death Israeli umpire Hillel Oscar died after a ball ricocheted off the stumps. But the fact Hughes, 25, had scored three Test hundreds and was wearing a helmet, although the ball hit him on an unprotected area of the skull, contributed to a huge sense of shock throughout the cricket world. Australia Michael Clarke, in a moving eulogy at Hughes’ funeral, recalled walking out to the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground- where his friend died-for the first time follow- ing his former team-mate’s passing. “I swear he was with me... Telling me we just needed to dig in,” Clarke said, before adding: “We must play on.” Following a short delay to Australia’s ongoing Test series at home to India, that is what happened with no great reduction in bouncer use. Indeed New South Wales quick Sean Abbott, who received much sympathy after ABU DHABI: This photograph taken on December 19, 2014, shows Pathan spectators delivering the ball that killed Hughes, bowled in traditional headgear during the fifth and final day-night international match a bouncer in his first over following the fatal between Pakistan and New Zealand. —AFP accident on his way to a remarkable haul of COLOMBO: In this file picture taken on September 19, 2011, Australian batsman Phillip six for 14 against Queensland at the SCG. Hughes raises his bat and helmet in celebration after scoring a century (100 runs) during the Clarke made a hundred in the first Test win fourth day of the third and final Test match against Sri Lanka. —AFP Pathans find solace over India but was sidelined soon afterwards ming from last year’s . and nine sixes. However, this could not dis- with a career-threatening hamstring injury. However, Srinivasan was exonerated of guise the one-day world champions ongoing in Afridi’s Pakistan That fast is central to much cricket match-fixing by the court in November. poor Test record away from home, with India success was emphasised when Australia’s West Indies, long plagued by poor results, losing series in both New Zealand and DUBAI: For 59-year-old taxi driver Kamal aggression and passion on the field. They Mitchell Johnson won the International suffered a new low when a players’ revolt over England. Khan, cricket is war without the shooting. come in large numbers to watch sixes and Cricket Council player of the year award. pay saw October’s tour of India cut short, a Victory over India was a rare highlight for Like most Pathans, known for their tough, boundaries in a or a one-day Left-arm quick Johnson led Australia’s move that risked financial ruin for Caribbean England, who spent much of 2014 dealing battle-hardened nature, defeat is unaccept- international. attack during a 5-0 Ashes sweep of England in cricket. with the fall-out from batsman Kevin able. And that is the reason that star all- 2013/14 and then starred in a 2-1 series win On the field, captain Brendon McCullum Pietersen’s sacking and the bitter recrimina- They may not know all the rules of the rounder , who hails from the over South Africa while collecting 59 Test became the first New Zealand batsman to tions in his autobiography. game, like the Barmy Army fans of England Khyber Agency, is the star attraction even from August 2013 to September 2014. score a Test triple hundred with 302 against Amid the controversy, England captain or India’s Swami Army but Pathans watch after 18 years in the game. The end of the South Africa-Australia series India in Wellington in February. ended the year having failed to cricket out of passion for the sport and for “We just come to watch Afridi,” said Taif saw the retirement of Proteas captain Graeme Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq defied a score an international century in his last 59 the love of Pakistan. Khan, who drives a taxi in Sharjah. “I got my Smith. Thrust into the leadership aged just 22, reputation for slow scoring and his 40 years of attempts spanning both Tests and one-day- Kamal, like most of his fellow Pathans, money’s worth when I watched the third Smith captained in a world record 109 Tests, age with a 56-ball century against Australia in ers. Sri Lanka, however, enjoyed a successful often skips his taxi-driving duties to watch one-dayer (against New Zealand) last while overseeing notable series wins in both Abu Dhabi in November that equalled West 2014 that included winning both the World cricket in the United Arab Emirates, the Friday because Afridi got a fifty.” Australia and England as well as scoring more Indies great Vivian Richards’ record for the Twenty20 and their first Test series in England neutral venue where Pakistan have been Afridi hit a 25-ball 55 to help Pakistan forced to play since 2009’s terror attacks on reach 364-7 and went on to win the match than 9,000 Test runs, including 27 hundreds. fastest Test hundred. Misbah’s innings helped as they began a long farewell to stars the visiting Sri Lanka team back home. by 147 runs. New Zealand, however, took That the non-white , a practising seal a 2-0 series win, Pakistan’s first over Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene A 30-dirham ticket ($8) gives fans a com- the five-match series 3-2. Muslim, became Smith’s successor as South Australia in 20 years. This victory was all the set to culminate at next year’s World Cup in fortable seat in the stands or a place on the “Our cricket begins and ends with Afridi,” Africa captain was significant in a country still more creditable as Pakistan, who have not Australia and New Zealand. mound and the rest is enjoyment. “Cricket said Wahid Khan, a trader from Miranshah grappling with post-apartheid ‘transforma- played a Zimbabwe upset the odds in in is the only entertainment for us in this in North Waziristan Agency in the Federally tion’. The ongoing problem of cricket corrup- major match on their own soil since an August when they beat Australia in a one-day country,” Kamal, who has been driving a Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. tion was highlighted when former New armed attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in international, just their second victory in cab in Abu Dhabi for 13 years, told AFP. “I lost millions in the recent operation in Zealand batsman Lou Vincent was banned for Lahore in 2009, were without star spinner meetings between the countries since the The 9/11 attacks on the United States, Miranshah,” said Wahid, referring to the mil- life in July after being found guilty of match- Saeed Ajmal, one of several bowlers suspend- Africans’ equally stunning success in the inau- and the ensuing war in Afghanistan and itary operations by the Pakistan army fixing in English one-day county matches. ed in 2014 as the ICC cracked down on illegal gural clash at the 1983 World Cup in England. around Pakistan’s north-west Khyber aimed at clearing the area of militants. Meanwhile Narayanaswami Srinivasan actions. But come the year’s end, Zimbabwe had been Pakhtunkhwa province, forced hundreds of Those military sweeps resulted in his headed up the ICC, controversially revamped ’s 264 against Sri Lanka in whitewashed in both Test and one-day series Pathans to move to the Gulf in search of a shops being razed. Wahid now lives in Abu in favour of the ‘Big Three’ of India, Australia last month obliterated compatriot away to fellow minnows Bangladesh, with more lucrative and peaceful way of life. Dhabi and finds solace in cricket.”Cricket is and England, despite India’s Supreme Court Virender Sehwag’s 219 as thd highest individ- home left-arm spinner Taijul Islam becoming A taxi driver like Kamal earns 4,000 a way of forgetting our pains,” he said. “By suspending him as president of the Indian ual one-day international score. the first cricketer to claim a hat-trick on his dirhams to 7,000 dirhams (around $1,100 default we are watching our players here board following corruption allegations stem- Sharma’s 173-ball innings featured 33 fours ODI debut. —AFP to $1,900) a month but the 24/7 job takes and it’s great entertainment.” its toll. “Most of the taxi drivers have kidney Afridi acknowledges the support he stones because they don’t drink much receives. “They love me very much,” admit- water to avoid going to the toilet,” said ted the 34-year-old Afridi. “Most of them Kamal. “Life is tough and there was no drive taxis and whenever I get time I meet India call up Patel to enjoyment but since cricket arrived here them. It’s their love and affection that we are very happy that we can watch our drives me. “It is good that we provide them players.” with some amazement in an otherwise Needless to say, the Pathans demand labored life.” —AFP replace injured Jadeja

NEW DELHI: Rookie all-rounder Akshar Patel ing 364 in the opening Adelaide Test. “It’s exciting to see the youngsters putting Boxing Day test of India will replace the injured Ravindra Jadeja in While India have been in contention in in a fight. It’s just a matter of time. It will turn India’s squad for the remaining two Test both Tests, the Australians have won the key out to be a very consistent side.” matches in Australia, the Indian cricket board moments to turn around the contests. The Dhoni said it was important for his team to MELBOURNE: With all hope of a first series suggesting Burns could slot in anywhere in announced yesterday. Patel, who turns 21 in Brisbane loss was India’s fifth straight away fight it out to the end of their Test matches, triumph in Australia gone after defeats in the top six. January, is a left-arm spinner and useful left- defeat and their 15th in the last 18, with only irrespective of their situation in the contest. the first two tests, India need to draw on Against that instability, there is the their reserves of pride and motivation to sparkling form of stand-in skipper Steve hand batsman like Jadeja. He has taken 14 one win. “It’s important that you fight it out with the avoid a seventh straight test loss on Smith and the mercurial menace of pace- wickets in nine one-day internationals, but India were thumped 3-1 in England this opposition and then whatever the result is, Australian soil this week. man Mitchell Johnson, whose performanc- has yet to play a Test. year and trail Australia 2-0 in the four-match you accept it,” he said. If the tourists can retain the fighting es with bat and ball turned the Gabba test. Jadeja has a shoulder injury and will return Border-Gavaskar series, but Dhoni is unde- “At the same time, you don’t throw in the spirit that has made the Adelaide and Fast bowler Ryan Harris has recovered from home to undergo a rehabilitation pro- terred. “There’s plenty of areas we’re showing towel. It was quite good to see our fast Brisbane tests anything but one-sided con- a thigh strain and should return in place of gramme, the board said in a statement. improvement, but we’re still not crossing the bowlers still running in, giving 100 percent. tests, however, they could record a victory left-arm quick Mitch Starc alongside It remained unclear if Jadeja, who did not line,” Dhoni said. “We have seen the execution power of our of some significance at the Melbourne Johnson and , who took 5- play in the first two Tests, will be available for “We need to give it a bit more time. Once fast bowlers has increased. Cricket Ground (MCG). 68 in his first innings in . India the World Cup that opens in Australia and they start crossing that line, once they har- “ is the leader of the pack. He Since they triumphed in Perth in look the more settled of the two sides, New Zealand on February 14. Australia lead ness that aggression in the right channel is someone who can consistently now bowl in January 2008, neither side has won a test though, with the fast bowlers working as the four-Test series 2-0. The third Test starts in you’ll see plenty of good results from this one area. “Varun Aaron is still raw. He does go match in the other’s country with Australia unit and taking wickets, while the top six Melbourne on December 26 and the fourth side.” for runs, but it’s exciting to see somebody suffering 2-0, 2-0 and 4-0 defeats on the batsmen have all got into the runs at some will be played in Sydney from January 6. India Dhoni, lining up for his 90th Test match as from India bowling at a good pace and using sub-continent and India losing all four tests stage of the series. are also due to take part in a triangular one- a player and 60th as captain in the third Test the bouncer to get the opposition out. on their 2011-12 tour. Just how long the unrest caused by day series with Australia and England ahead in Melbourne on Boxing Day, said it is impor- “We were able to get a few wickets in There have been signs too that opener ’s decision not to of the World Cup. tant for India to compete against the Australia’s second innings and that helps the Australia, for all the confidence that back- bat on day four in Brisbane after injuring Meanwhile, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Australians in what is the toughest tour for youngsters learn that to get another 50, 60, 70 to-back test victories will bring to any side, his arm in the nets continues to unsettle said India have the pace threat and aggres- overseas teams. runs it can really matter. Especially, when it have a fragility to their batting order that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s dressing room sion to win Tests away from home and it’s just “The exciting thing is we have competed. comes to Australia and a fifth-day .” India’s pace attack can exploit. remains to be seen. a matter of time before results go their way. What’s really important is it can turn at any India have not beaten Australia at the Prolific opener David Warner has a But if Dhoni, who has been criticised for bruised thumb that could hamper him if he appearing less than convinced of the The Indians lost by four wickets to Australia point of time,” he said. “The competition has Melbourne Cricket Ground in 33 years and is passed fit to play, veterans importance of the longest form of the in Saturday’s second Test in Brisbane after been good, though the results have not been have lost their last five Tests there by big mar- and Brad Haddin are in poor form, while game, can lead his team to victory, he going down all guns blazing by 48 runs chas- in our favor. gins. —AFP injured all-rounder Mitch Marsh has been could make a considerable addition to his replaced by the uncapped Joe Burns. legacy as skipper. Quite how Australia will line up when His predecessor rated the the test starts in front of the traditional 72-run victory at the WACA in 2008, when bumper crowd on Friday is matter of some India were also 2-0 down in the series, the conjecture with coach Darren Lehmann best of his 132-test career. —Reuters South Africa call up new boy Rossouw

JOHANNESBURG: Left-handed batsman Bavuma was on the field throughout both Rilee Rossouw was named on Sunday to West Indian innings in Centurion following replace injured wicketkeeper-batsman De Kock’s injury. The selection of Rossouw in South Africa’s squad for means that AB de Villiers, who took over as the remaining two Test matches against wicketkeeper in Centurion, will keep the the West Indies. gloves for the remaining Tests, starting in De Kock was ruled out of the Tests and Port Elizabeth on December 26 and Cape limited overs matches of the West Indian Town on January 2. tour after tearing ankle ligaments during Meanwhile, Windward Islands left-arm the first Test at Centurion, which South seamer Kenroy Peters will replace fast bowler Africa won by an innings and 220 runs on Kemar Roach in the West Indies squad. Saturday. Rossouw, 25, made his one-day Roach suffered an ankle injury while bowling international debut earlier this year and has in the first Test. Peters, 32, was the leading been a prolific scorer for the fran- wicket-taker in the West Indian domestic chise and South Africa A. four-day competition in 2013/14. Peters will He hit 231 for South Africa A against be the second replacement in the touring Australia A in Townsville in August, sharing squad. It was announced on Saturday that LAHORE: This combination photograph shows Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal delivering a ball during the One Day match with the visiting a of 343 with Temba Bavuma Narsingh Deonarine will replace injured bats- Kenyan team at the Gaddafi Cricket stadium. Ace Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal on December 19 said he is confident of a comeback at interna- (162), who is also in the Test squad. man Assad Fudadin. —AFP tional level after bowling for the first time with a remodelled action, three months after his suspension.—AFP