Australia Throughout the Summer If Ravi Bopara and Graham Onions Contributed Least, They Still Added Something to an Super Fred
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14 Wednesday 22nd July, 2009 Graeme Swann was around. The closer Australia got, the less freedom their lower order could have batted with. The game was won by England’s opening pair of Andrew Strauss and Alastair Flintoff will Cook, in their record-breaking partnership (for England v Australia at Lord’s) of 196, if one single factor has to be taken out of the team’s per- formance. Ricky Ponting admitted that Australia had been forced to chase the game intimidate from lunchtime on day one, when England were 126 with- out loss. Their bowlers tight- ened up thereafter but it was too late. The winning margin was 115. Australia throughout the summer If Ravi Bopara and Graham Onions contributed least, they still added something to an Super Fred. A heroic performance. exemplary team performance. England’s bowling was a col- Tremendous fast bowling. Inspiring. lective masterpiece: they were at the Australians all the time, Magnificent theatre. Yes, Andrew Flintoff’s consistent and ruthless, never taking the pressure off except spell at Lord’s on the fifth morning when Paul Collingwood filled in time before the second new was all those things and more. ball was taken on the fourth evening and England mean- by Scyld Berry Brian Statham’s, and so on. It is showmanship if you like It will have a psychological but it is also the attribute of dered. With the exception of the impact on the rest of this the elite sportsman. Inspired On this very substantial 1956 series which was won by series too. When Flintoff plays, and inspiring, Flintoff and the cake Flintoff ’s bowling was Jim Laker taking 46 wickets, Australia’s batsmen will view Lord’s crowd between them the icing. He risked arthritis every Ashes series that him as virtually unplayable. overwhelmed Australia. in his right knee for the rest of England have won since 1930 – Because he was, from the pavil- But the second Test was not his life. His retirement will not starting with Harold Larwood ion end, unplayable as he won on the fifth morning; it be entirely free of painkillers. and Bodyline – has been won pounded in and delivered at was won on the first. Flintoff He was England’s standard- by pace. And Flintoff ’s spell 90mph, jagging down the slope dotted the i’s and crossed the bearer. Now march on, was up there with his own or holding the line, and pitch- t’s with a heroic flourish, and England, after a very well bowling in 2005, and Ian ing a slightly – but crucially – saved England much anxiety. deserved rest, and please Botham’s in 1985 and 1981, and fuller length than he had done But it is inconceivable that regain the Ashes. Bob Willis’s at Headingley in Andrew Flintoff is in Australia’s first innings. Australia would have chased the latter year, and John dangerous when not And give Flintoff credit too down 522 even if Flintoff had (C) The Telegraph Group, Snow’s, and Frank Tyson’s and plaqued by injury for taking the crowd with him. not been there, provided London, 2009 All Island Under 19 Inter-School Vermeulen completes Boys’ Basketball tournament Zimbabwe rehabilitation HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - CIS edges out Batsman Mark Vermeulen has com- pleted his comeback Anandians to the Zimbabwe cricket team by by Manjula D.Phillips Punchihewa chipped in with 05 being included in Colombo International School points for Ananda College. the team to face posted an easy 62-22 victory over Forty three schools in five Bangladesh in five Ananda College,Colombo in the All groups are competing in the tour- one-day internation- Island Under 19 Basketball tourna- nament. The first round matches als next month. ment Group A match played at the will be played on a league basis and The 30-year-old Colombo International School the second round will be played Vermeulen was set Basketball court yesterday. among the two best teams from free by a Harare Mark Vermeulen At half time, CIS was leading each group. The top two teams will court on medical by 36 points while Ananda College be selected according to points grounds in January 2008 after confess- only managed to get 04 points. they score. ing to setting fire to the Zimbabwe Ananda College did not get an Asian International School will Cricket Academy pavilion and board- opportunity to make a comeback meet Nalanda College at A.I.S. room in 2006. in to the game as CIS maintained courts at 3.00p.m on July 23 (today) In May 2008, Vermeulen apologized and offered to build the academy using their momentum right up to the while St. Joseph’s College will a percentage of his earnings if he was end. Virosh Dharmadasa scored 16 meet Amal International School at Bradley Wiggins allowed to play for Zimbabwe again. points for CIS while Chamara the same venue at 4.30p.m. SION, Switzerland (AP) - After climb- tains, Wiggins has gained the respect of his Later in the year, Zimbabwe Cricket ing to third place overall, former track rivals. (ZC) unconditionally gave him the cycling specialist Bradley Wiggins has “You just earn that respect in the race selection greenlight, allowing him to emerged as the biggest surprise of this that you’re a contender, that you’re there tour Namibia with the Zimbabwe “A” Pienaar picked as flyhalf year’s Tour de France. and people become confident in your abili- side in February. The 29-year-old Briton, a three-time ty,” Wiggins said. “And that’s something Vermeulen, who played eight Tests Olympic gold medalist who rides for you can build.” and 32 ODIs for Zimbabwe, returns to for Springboks American team Garmin-Slipstream, has Cadel Evans, a two-time runner-up in the international fold after last playing transformed into one of the best climbers the Tour, has said Wiggins has the poten- BLOEMFONTEIN, South rugby.” in a home series against Sri Lanka in in the world this season and is in strong tial to win the race because of his time- Africa (AP) - Ruan Pienaar was Fourie’s place on the bench has 2004. contention for a podium finish in Paris trial skills. picked as South Africa’s flyhalf been taken by Wynand Olivier, He has been included in a 19-men Tuesday for this weekend’s Tri- called in to the squad on Monday as next Sunday. Contador squad alongside fellow batsman Nations opener against New cover for the injured Jacobs. “I’m not so also praised Charles Coventry, who quit the team in Zealand. With openside flanker Schalk much surprised the Briton, and Pienaar, who is being Burger serving an eight- with myself,” called him one 2005 following disagreements with for- Wiggins eyeing mer coach Kevin Curran. groomed into the position week ban for eye-gouging Wiggins said at of his main from his regular spot at during the second test a news confer- rivals for the There was no place in the squad scrumhalf, was picked against the Lions, Heinrich ence at his hotel title. for former captain Tatenda Taibu, who instead of Morne Steyn, Brussow gets an extended on Monday’s podium finish at “I still have has been suspended for 10 matches who kicked South Africa to run in the starting lineup rest day. a small gap after accusations of assaulting the victory in the series-clinch- and his form and ball-win- “Perhaps in with him, (and) board’s finance manager Esther ing second test against the ning exploits at the break- terms of posi- he’s one of my Lupepe over a payment dispute. British and Irish Lions last down may make it difficult tion, yeah. ... Tour de France biggest com- The wicketkeeper was acquitted by month. for Burger to return. But in terms of petitors now,” a Harare magistrate in April. “It was a difficult deci- The Springbok selec- performance, I the 2007 win- “An internal disciplinary team sion to choose between tors have also opted to go thought I was capable of climbing well ner said. “I think in the time-trial, he will made up of three retired magistrates Ruan and Morne, you without a specialist loose- here. I did believe I had the physical capa- be very dangerous. So maybe I’ll try to take however found him guilty,” ZC always have difficult deci- head prop on the bench, Ruan Pienaar bility to go top 15.” some more time on him beforehand, we’ll spokesman Shingai Rhuhwaya told sions as a coach,” said preferring to pick Jannie After sticking with the certified see.” The Associated Press. “He has there- Springbok coach Peter de du Plessis as front row climbers through the Pyrenees, Wiggins The next time-trial is on Thursday in Villiers. “In rugby, you can’t look cover for both captain John Smit fore been suspended for 10 matches. He finished fifth in Sunday’s first Alpine Annecy, after two more stages through the too far ahead, so I will say that if and loosehead Tendai Mtawarira. will however be eligible to play for his stage, just 1 minute, 6 seconds behind win- Alps. injury hits, we will consider start- province.” ner Alberto Contador of Spain. Overall, “It’s a fast time-trial, it’s great for me,” ing Steyn at flyhalf.” Squad: Francois Steyn, J.P. The squad contains two uncapped Wiggins trails the Spaniard by 1:46 - and is Wiggins said. “It’s mainly flat but the climb Center Jaque Fourie returns to Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de players in Trevor Garwe and Admire the run-on 15, replacing the injured Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan only nine seconds behind second-placed is pretty hard toward the end.