14 Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Sports Pace ace Archer’s confidence excites England captain Root 2nd Ashes Test at Aussies to do without Pattinson Lord’s from today AFP LONDON ENGLAND captain Joe Root said on Tuesday that he has no qualms about launching self-assured fast bowler Jofra Archer’s Test cricket career in the cauldron of an Ashes clash at Lord’s. The 24-year-old Barbados- born quick seems certain to be handed his first Test cap on Wednesday in place of the in- jured James Anderson as the hosts look to get back on level terms with Australia after a 251-run humbling in the first encounter at Edgbaston. He (Jofra Archer) is certainly very confident and that’s great to see in a young guy, Australia head coach Justin Langer (left) with captain Tim Paine (centre) and Steve Smith during nets at as he should be after the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Tuesday. (REUTERS) World Cup. England skipper Joe Root Hazlewood could be in; Paine plays down Archer threat REUTERS bowl really well here.” If selected, Archer will be LONDON AUSTRALIA SQUAD Starc played all five Tests making his Test debut on the First 12: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, on the 2015 Ashes tour and ground where he bowled the AUSTRALIA dropped fast Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head, finished as the highest wicket- decisive Super Over that sealed bowler James Pattinson from Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (captain, wicket taker in the 50-overs World England’s World Cup final win a 12-man squad for the sec- keeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Peter Cup last month. over New Zealand last month. England’s Jofra Archer during a practice session at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Tuesday. (AFP ond Ashes Test against Eng- Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. The weather could be a “He (Archer) is certainly land starting at Lord’s on factor in who gets the nod, very confident and that’s great Wednesday, with Josh Ha- back injuries and then un- with rain possible throughout to see in a young guy, as he zlewood coming in as likely derwent surgery, and he took Wednesday. should be after the World Cup,” replacement. two wickets. “There’s not set combi- Root said at Lord’s on Tuesday. Fellow quick Mitchell “He’s available for selec- nations, we sort of come in “And, as he made very Starc, the left armer who was tion but we’ve decided to rest the morning and have a look clear, it’s his preferred format also overlooked for the first him for this game and make and go with a bit of a gut feel. so again I’m very excited to see Test won by Australia at Edg- sure that his long term future You try and make the best at the start of his journey. baston, also made the squad is in really good shape,” ex- possible decision that you “If anything, it will moti- but could end up carrying the plained Paine. can when you have a look at vate him and when he gets the drinks once the playing lineup “He’s come back off a re- the conditions you’re faced chance he will be desperate to is named at the toss. ally long layoff, a really seri- with,” said Paine. prove to everyone how good Spearhead Pat Cummins ous operation, and we want to Australia’s victory at Edg- he is. That’s what you want and Peter Siddle, who made make sure that he’s truly right baston was their first in the and he won’t shy away from up the pace trio with Pattinson for the next three or four years. opening Test of an away Ashes the challenge.” in the 251-run opening victory, The third Ashes Test series since 2005. Archer’s inclusion would retained their places. at Yorkshire’s Headingley England’s Barbados-born give England a genuine cutting Captain Tim Paine told re- ground in Leeds comes as fast bowler Jofra Archer will edge as the Sussex speedster porters Pattinson was left out a quick turnaround from be making his Test debut on can exceed 90 miles per hour as part of long-term planning, Lord’s, with play starting on Wednesday, and Paine said (145 kilometres per hour) with with the choice between Ha- August 22. Australia would be ready for the ball. zlewood and Starc. “It was always going to be whatever he delivered. But Australia’s batsmen “Whichever one of those one way or the other,” said “A lot of our guys have are used to fast bowling and England’s Jofra Archer and teammates during a team group photo before nets at Lord’s on Tuesday. (REUTERS) two we unleash tomorrow, Paine. “He would miss this seen Jofra or faced him, ob- several members of their side they are certainly ready to go,” test and be fresher for the viously it’s been in white ball have played against Archer faced him in Australia where real threat and we’re going to and can change the game with he said. third Test or he has this one af- cricket, but we’ve faced him at the recent World Cup or in conditions suit fast bowling.” have to weather that.” bat and ball,” said Root. Hazlewood is seen as the ter the long break and doesn’t in Australia where conditions Twenty20 franchise cricket. “We’ve seen him at his Root said left-arm seamer “His record is fantastic likeliest replacement based play in the third. really suit fast bowling. I think “A lot of our guys have fastest, they know what to ex- Sam Curran could feature at and he has had a huge impact on performances in a tour “I think if you look at we’ve seen him at his fastest,” seen Jofra or faced him, which pect, they know how skilful he Lord’s after Moeen Ali was in most of the games he has match against Worcester- Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazle- he said. is a plus,” said Australia cap- is and how good he is. dropped, although the England played and is a promising shire last week. wood’s records at Lord’s, it’s a “There’s times where tain Tim Paine. “Like most bowlers that skipper stopped short of nam- young talent who I’m sure Edgbaston was Pattin- good venue for one of those to he’s going to be a real threat “It’s been in white-ball play Test cricket there will be ing his XI a day in advance. will play a huge amount of son’s first Test in three and come in and play and be con- and we’re going to have to cricket but we’ve actually times where he’s going to be a “Sam is a brilliant talent Test cricket.” a half years, after he suffered fident in the fact that they can weather that.” Women’s SA name three Kiwis eye top Test ranking in Sri Lanka T20 added to uncapped players AFP South Africa,” said New Zea- 2022 C’Wealth GALLE (SRI LANKA) land coach Gary Stead. Games NEW Zealand have a chance Tough choices REUTERS for India’s Test tour of securing the top spot in Test But Sri Lanka have some LONDON cricket when they take on Sri tough choices, and in all de- REUTERS SA SQUADS Lanka in a two-match series partments. CRICKET is set to return to CAPE TOWN from Wednesday, exactly a The hosts have dumped the Commonwealth Games FOR TESTS: month after their cruel World head coach Chandika Hathurus- after a 24-year absence SOUTH Africa have named Faf du Plessis (Titans, capt), Temba Bavuma Cup defeat to England. ingha halfway through his three- with organisers confirming (Highveld Lions, vice-capt), Theunis de Bruyn three uncapped players in (Titans), Quinton de Kock (Titans), Dean Elgar New Zealand, with 109 year tenure, with former fast on Tuesday that the pro- their Test squad for the three- (Titans), Zubayr Hamza (Cape Cobras), Keshav points in Test cricket, are bowler Rumesh Ratnayake now gramme for Birmingham match tour of India in early Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), ranked behind India on 113 filling in on an interim basis. 2022 would include a wom- October as they begin life Senuran Muthusamy (Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), points, but a 2-0 series win When they trounced South en’s Twenty20 tournament. Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Vernon Philander (Cape without retired veterans Dale Cobras), Dane Piedt (Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada in Sri Lanka will see the Ki- Africa five months ago, rookie The T20 event is one Steyn and Hashim Amla. (Highveld Lions), Rudi Second (Warriors). wis leapfrog the Asian heavy- New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (right) and his Sri Lankan Oshada Fernando played a key of three new events added Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, weights. counterpart Dimuth Karunaratne pose during a press conference at role posting an unbeaten 75 in to the next edition of the wicketkeeper/batsman Rudi TWENTY20: Test rankings have added the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on Tuesday. (AFP) Port Elizabeth in what was his Games, alongside beach vol- Quinton de Kock (Titans, capt), Rassie van der Second and spin bowling all- Dussen (Highveld Lions, vice-capt), Temba Bavuma relevance with the new, two- second Test match. leyball and para table tennis, rounder Senuran Muthusamy (Highveld Lions), Junior Dala (Titans), Bjorn Fortuin year ICC World Test Champi- EAMS to stick to two seamers with all- He became an instant hero but there was no room on have been included in the 15- (Highveld Lions), Beuran Hendricks (Highveld Lions), onship now under way, culmi- T rounder Colin de Grandhomme and his subsequent snubbing the schedule for shooting.