46 Friday Sports Friday, March 30, 2018 Australia cricket coach quits, captain breaks down in tears Smith’s fall from grace has been dramatic and fast JOHANNESBURG: Australia cricket coach Dar- Australian cricket team,” Lehmann, who also had himself to controversy, offered the trio an olive ren Lehmann said yesterday he would quit after tears in his eyes, said. “Saying goodbye to the branch despite days of the Australian public the final match of the scandal-tainted Test series players was the toughest thing I have ever had baying for blood. in South Africa after the team’s former captain to do.” “What the public wants to see is change. Steve Smith broke down in tears and accepted Lehmann said “the feeling is that Australian They want to see you be a better person,” he complete responsibility for the ball-tampering cricket needs to move forward and this is the wrote in a column for the Sydney Daily Tele- incident. right thing to do”. Even Prime Minister Malcolm graph. “They’ll support you if they see that, and Smith was deeply emotional as the man at the Turnbull has condemned the team, describing they’ll forgive you.” centre of a storm that has rocked world cricket fielder Cameron Bancroft’s attempts to tamper arrived back in Sydney from Johannesburg after with the ball by using sandpaper as a “shocking WARNER: ‘STAIN ON THE GAME’ being banned for a year affront to Australia”. Warner, a divisive figure who was charged from the sport. “I take Roughing up one side of with developing the plot and instructing Ban- full responsibility, I the ball would have given croft to carry it out, also broke his silence to say made a serious error of Ball-tampering Australian bowlers an sorry and admitted his actions had been “a stain judgement and I under- affair had advantage by producing on the game”. stand the consequences. more swing. “Mistakes have been made which have dam- It was a failure of lead- been an aged cricket,” he told his 1.6 million Instagram ership,” Smith said, ‘eye-opener’ FALL FROM GRACE followers. “I apologise for my part and take re- choking back tears as he Cricket Australia have sponsibility for it.” In handing out their tough was comforted by his fa- banned Smith and vice- punishment, Australian cricket chiefs bowed to ther Peter. captain David Warner uproar at home where sportsmen and women JOHANNESBURG: Darren Lehmann speaks to the “I know I will regret from all international and are held in high esteem and expected to act in press as he announces he will resign as Aus- this for the rest of my life. I am absolutely gutted. domestic cricket for a year while Bancroft was the best interests of the game. tralian cricket coach after the coming Test match Cricket is my life and I hope it can be again. I’m exiled for nine months. Smith’s fall from grace CA’s response wasn’t enough to save an esti- yesterday, in Johannesburg. — AFP sorry. I’m absolutely devastated.” Within hours, has been dramatic, and fast. mated Aus$20 million (US$15 million) partner- Lehmann said he was standing down despite He was jeered as he made his way through ship with naming rights sponsor Magellan which Cricket Australia saying he had had no knowl- Johannesburg airport on Wednesday sur- tore up its three-year contract Thursday after ending its relationship with Warner and Bancroft. edge of the plot to alter the condition of the ball rounded by police and media with concerns over barely seven months. Electronics giant LG axed Warner on Wednes- in the third Test in Cape Town. his mental state in the current heated climate. The financial cost for the players is also day, while Weet-Bix and Commonwealth Bank “This will be my last Test as head coach of the Former Australia great Shane Warne, no stranger growing with sporting goods company ASICS dumped Smith. — AFP Cup final against Sevilla on April 21 before earning Messi fitness a seven day rest before their next league game. Barca have failed to win on two of their last three visits to Sevilla’s famously atmospheric Sanchez doubts worry Pizjuan stadium, however, and will be keen to ex- England drop Moeen, tend their 36-game unbeaten record in the league. They are targeting the Liga record of 38 games Barca ahead of unbeaten, held by Real Sociedad from the Woakes for 2nd Test 1979/80 season. Valverde said on Wednesday he Sevilla visit was not overly concerned about Messi’s fitness and laughed off suggestions his forward would be against New Zealand affected by Argentina’s humiliating 6-1 defeat to CHRISTCHURCH: England have axed Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes for the second BARCELONA: Barcelona must decide whether to Spain on Tuesday. and final Test against New Zealand starting today at Christchurch. All-rounder Moeen field Lionel Messi as they resume their bid for the Messi left his seat at the Wanda Metropolitano scored 28 runs in two innings in the first Test and failed to take a wicket as New Liga title away to Sevilla tomorrow amid doubts stadium immediately after the sixth goal went in. Zealand marched to an innings and 49-run victory. about their talisman’s fitness at the start of a gru- “Messi has a bit of discomfort but we think it’s The 30-year-old also struggled in England’s 4-0 Ashes loss in Australia late last elling period of seven games in 22 days. nothing important. We’re relaxed,” Valverde said. year, scoring 179 runs at 19.88 and claiming just five wickets at an average of 115. Som- Messi missed Argentina’s friendlies against Italy “Argentina only lost a friendly. The World Cup erset spinner Jack Leach is expected to make his Test debut at Hagley Oval. Batsman and Spain due to a muscle problem sustained after hasn’t started yet and not all our players will be able James Vince and fast bowler Mark Wood have also been included in the 12-man squad Barca’s last Liga outing against Athletic Bilbao and to win it.” Barca are still missing midfield anchor but Lancashire captain Liam Livingstone misses out. only completed half of a training session yesterday. Sergio Busquets with a toe problem, while left back The fitness of Ben Stokes remains an issue. The all-rounder did not bowl in the first He is the top scorer in La Liga with 25 goals and Lucas Digne is out for three weeks with a muscle test due to a back problem and could play again as a specialist batsman ahead of has featured in all but one of Barca’s league games injury sustained on international duty with France. Vince. “There’s obviously a couple of choices we have but it’s exciting there are people this campaign, only sitting out the match against Sevilla host runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern pushing and making strong cases for themselves,” England captain Joe Root told re- Malaga following the birth of his third son. The trip Munich in the first leg of their Champions League porters. “That attention to detail and the way we approach training is, I think, really to Sevilla is likely to be Barca’s hardest away game quarter-final tie on Tuesday and will be without important leading into this game so hopefully we can be ready for what’s going to be left this season although their 11-point lead over suspended midfielder Pablo Sarabia against Barca a big five days.“I’m very frustrated in terms of the results and how that side of things nearest challengers Atletico Madrid gives coach as well as veteran Jesus Navas, who is injured. has gone. We’ve played really good cricket for three days, which doesn’t win you Test Ernesto Valverde wiggle room in their bid to re- On Sunday second-placed Atletico host strug- matches.” England have lost 10 of their last 12 overseas tests. claim the title. gling Deportivo La Coruna, who are still without a Team: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Alastair Barca have the first leg of their Champions win under coach Clarence Seedorf, while champi- Cook, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James League quarter-final tie against AS Roma on ons Real, four points behind their city rivals in third, Vince, Mark Wood. — Reuters Wednesday and five more games, culminating in the visit 18th-placed Las Palmas. — Reuters.