14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, March 22, 2018 Captains Du Plessis and Smith clash over Rabada decision Australia to field an unchanged team for eighth Test in a row

CAPE TOWN: South African captain Faf du Plessis Town with the series locked at 1-1. “He wasn’t charged. yesterday hit back at his Australian counterpart Steve If he was charged he probably would (have been) Smith’s criticism of the decision to overturn a ban on asked. KG (Rabada) was charged, he was defending South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Rabada’s himself and the judge has to decide if he sees that it punishment of three demerit points for deliberate phys- was intentional.” ical contact with Smith in the second Test in Port Elizabeth was reduced to one point, overturning a two- ‘CONTACT WAS HARDER THAN IT LOOKED’ match ban that would have Asked whether he thought seen him ruled out of the Rabada had made deliberate series. Smith claimed in an contact, Smith said: “It’s not overnight interview with my place to make that judg- Australian journalists that the I don’t see a ment. It’s been handed down contact with Rabada in the now and it is what it is. “I second Test in Port Elizabeth problem with said yesterday the contact had been “a little bit harder was harder than it actually than it actually looked on the having a fair system looked on the TV, whether it footage”. The Australian was intentional or not is not captain said he was sur- for me to decide.” Smith prised he had not been asked denied there was a deliber- his opinion before the ruling ate attempt to goad Rabada was made and also claimed as had been suggested in that a “line in the sand” had been drawn regarding reports of a pre-tour interview he had given in physical contact. Australia. “For us it is about playing the game the way “The ICC have set the standard, haven’t they? There we’ve always played it,” he said. “We’ll speak out in the was clearly contact out in the middle,” said Smith. “I middle, we won’t do anything I guess to antagonise him certainly won’t be telling my bowlers to go out there into making the sorts of mistakes he’s been (making). and after you take a go and get in their space. I That’s up to him if he wants to make those errors.” don’t think that is on and part of the game. But the Smith said Australia would field an unchanged team standard has been set.” for the eighth Test in a row and said both Mitchell Starc Du Plessis, though, praised the appeal process, say- and Mitchell Marsh had overcome injury concerns with ing it was good for . “I don’t see a problem with a “good hit-out” at practice on Tuesday. Du Plessis having a fair system where a neutral guy sits and listens said two positions were being debated in the South to both parties,” he said. African camp with a fit-again Temba Bavuma challeng- “I was there and I said to our people that even if we ing for a batting place ahead of Theunis de Bruyn and didn’t win the case I was very impressed with the judge fast bowler Morne Morkel possibly replacing Lungi and how he listened to both sides. He was very fair with Ngidi, who had a “toe niggle”. the questions he asked. I think that process is really Both captains said they had discussed with new PORT ELIZABETH: File photo shows Australia’s captain Steve Smith (C) leads his team including David Warner good.” Du Plessis dismissed Smith’s comment about not match referee Andy Pycroft about the spirit in which (R), off the field after their defeat on the fourth day of the second match between South Africa in Port being called to testify, ahead of the third Test in Cape the game should be played. — AFP Elizabeth. —AFP

England guarded over Ben bowling in Test comeback

AUCKLAND: England were guarded over whether injury-hit Ben Stokes would bowl against New Zealand when he makes his Test comeback from suspension today. Speaking yesterday, ahead of the first day-night Test to be held in New Zealand, captain Joe Root said the all-rounder would “play a part” but would not discuss what role he would fill. “There’s still stuff that needs to come out of today to be very sure of that,” Root said, when asked whether Stokes, 26, had recovered suffi- ciently from a back strain to bowl normally. “But I’m quite happy that Ben will play a part in the game.” Stokes, suspended after a nightclub Girls’ training incident last September which left him facing a charge of affray, was sorely missed by England in their 4-0 trouncing by Australia in the Ashes series. centers project He returned to international cricket in the recent limited-overs series against New Zealand, to get a boost which England won 3-2, but has been hampered by back stiffness. Meanwhile, New Zealand cap- tain Kane Williamson said senior batsman Ross Taylor, who has a Test average of 48.04, had By Abdellatif Sharaa been passed fit after recovering from a groin injury and stomach bug. KUWAIT: The girls sports festival basketball and table “He’s good to go so that’s great news for us,” tennis concluded under the patronage of Public Williamson said. “Roscoe has played beautifully Authority for Sports (PAS) in the presence of its every time he’s walked out to the crease, the calm- Director General Dr Humoud Fulateh and Director of ness at the crease, the confidence. “It’s reflected in Clubs Department at PAS Suad Hakem, and other offi- how much success he’s had this year. It’s important cials at the Falat Sports Club. for us as a team that he’s there.” Dr Fulaiteh said it is good that clubs and schools from various governorates participate in the festival ‘DEFINITELY SOME UNKNOWNS’ and wished that the participation be in more games. He The clash at Auckland’s Eden Park will be the said this gives girls a chance to spend their energy, as ninth day-night Test but the first to be played in he appealed to the finance ministry to increase the New Zealand. Williamson described it as a “slightly budget to include all schools and centers, so a true rise unique and an exciting opportunity”, but was in girls sports can be achieved. aware the teams were heading into the unknown. Dr Fulaiteh thanked the education ministry for its “There is probably a danger of over complicating cooperation and the success of the girls training cen- some of the finer parts of the pink-ball game,” he ters project. said, pointing to variable characteristics at different Supervisor General of Training Center Dr Yusra Al- stages of the ball and times of day. Otair said the education ministry was keen on sports to “There’s definitely some unknowns. There’s a lot discover talents, adding that the idea behind the train- physical education and support for the girls sporting centers and hope such centers increase in number of talk about the evening session and the condition ing centers project that is organized by PAS in cooper- club. Director of Clubs Department at PAS Suad Hakem adding that she appreciated the efforts made during the of the ball in that time. “There’s heaps of different ation with the ministry as a supporting activity for said she was happy with the success of sports training project and look for more projects to come. stats but there’s still unknowns. The sample size of pink-ball cricket is fairly small but it’s important that you adapt as a change of conditions may hap- pen coming into different stages of the day.” New track and field, bowling and bocce. The special four matches will be registered under the official FIFA Zealand are likely to make two changes from their Kuwait wins Olympics IX MENA Games and Special Olympics calendar, underlined the official, and will provide last Test, against the West Indies. World Games Abu Dhabi 2018 are part of the UAE’s Kuwait’s national side with points under FIFA’s global Williamson said Todd Astle would replace National Vision 2021 that highlights full integration of world rankings. as the spinner in the side and BJ silver in Bocce people of determination into everyday society. Regarding player selection, he said the national Watling would return as wicketkeeper. Watling has • Meanwhile, Kuwait will face Jordan in their first squad would include a 23-man combination of older recovered from the hip injury which sidelined him competition competitive football match, after a two-year interna- and young players, mentioning the importance of the from the West Indies’ Tests in December. tional ban was lifted by world governing body, FIFA, new generation’s need to gain international experience. New Zealand have played only one pink-ball late last year. The friendlies will offer all players the opportunity to Test, when they lost the inaugural day-nighter ABU DHABI: Kuwaiti athletes with intellectual disabili- The FIFA-appointed “normalisation committee”, make their mark ahead of selecting a final squad as the against Australia in 2015. England have played ties added a silver medal to their tally at the Special tasked with running Kuwait Football Authority affairs, nation looks to build a team ready to compete on the under lights twice in the past year, beating the Olympics IX MENA Games Abu Dhabi 2018. Kuwaiti made sure to arrange the first match - a friendly - with global stage after a two-year absence, he added. West Indies at Edgbaston before losing to athletes Abdulalh Al-Hajri and Hamad Al-Shegy won a neighbouring Arab nation, the committee’s chief The Serb head coach of local outfit Al-Tahamon, Australia in Adelaide. “Having experienced both the silver medal in the double Bocce competition. Mishal Al-Rabeea told KUNA. The Amman-hosted Radi, has been placed in charge of the national side for sides of it I think we’re a better side for it,” Root This takes Kuwait’s total tally in the competition up clash will be followed by another three friendlies, the upcoming fixtures. The squad arrived in Amman on said. “We know generally what to expect to 20 medals: eight gold, four silver and eight bronze. including a home game with Cameroon next week, and Monday and is currently training at the King Abdullah throughout the five days at different times Kuwait is represented in the event by 50 athletes com- an away fixture with Palestine in the occupied territo- Sports City ahead of their anticipated encounter at the throughout each day.” — AFP peting in football, basketball, table tennis, swimming, ries and a home encounter with Egypt, both in May. All facility’s main stadium. — KUNA