WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2015 SPORTS

Lehmann praises Smith for handling of Starc outburst

BRISBANE: Australia coach Darren Craig after the batsman played a love to see the aggression, it’s just going to have a word with him when I Lehmann added. “He’s had a chat to Lehmann has praised captain Steve defensive shot back to him. making sure it’s the right time.” get back down to the sheds,” Smith him and that’s done and dusted from Smith’s handling of an outburst by The ball narrowly missed Craig and Smith, who was playing his first test said. “I don’t think it was necessary at where I sit. “The way he talks to players Mitchell Starc that cost the left-arm went for four overthrows. Starc was as Australia’s permanent captain fol- the time and hopefully he can behind the scenes, there’s a lot that quick half his match fee from the first later fined about A$7,500 ($5,300) by lowing Michael Clarke’s retirement improve and get better from that.” goes on. We’ve been really impressed test against New Zealand. the International Council and after they lost the Ashes to England Lehmann added he had been with him as a coaching staff group.” Starc, frustrated at a 46-run final Lehman said he had to manage his earlier this year, had told reporters on pleased with the way Smith had han- Australia and New Zealand have a stand between Mark Craig and aggression better. “He’s got to find Monday the outburst had been disap- dled the situation. “I was very happy quick turnaround with the second Trent Boult on the fifth day of the that happy medium,” Lehmann told pointing. with the captain and the way he han- game of the three-test series in Perth opening test, hurled the ball back at reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday. “You “He’s done it a few times and I’m dled that. I know the players are,” starting on Friday. —Reuters Coyotes beat Ducks in OT

ARIZONA: Mikkel Boedker scored in went to the penalty box for holding. overtime to give the Arizona Coyotes a 4- After Lindback made a pad save on 3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on defenseman Hampus Lindholm’s slap Monday at the Honda Center. shot from the top of the slot, right Boedker secured a loose puck at cen- winger Chris Stewart converted the ter ice, went on a breakaway and rebound at 5:43 for his third goal of the deposited a backhand past goalie season. Frederik Andersen to end the Ducks’ Center Ryan Kesler scored his first goal four-game winning streak 1:18 into the at 6:49 by deflecting Vatanen’s slap shot extra period. between Lindback’s glove and the post. Anaheim center Ryan Getzlaf made Lindback, who last started Oct. 24, Boedker’s goal possible by inadvertently replaced Mike Smith in the net. Smith leaving the puck between his legs as he allowed 16 goals in his past five games was trying to set up a play from center and lost five of seven decisions since ice. Arizona’s 4-0 victory over the Ducks on The Ducks, who took a 2-0 lead in the Oct. 14. first period, forged a 3-3 tie at 11:43 of However, rookie left winger Max Domi the third period on defenseman Sami led a three-goal rally in the second peri- Vatanen’s third goal of the season. od that put the Coyotes ahead, 3-2. Left Vatanen stick-handled between two winger Anthony Duclair scored Arizona’s defenders and past a third before execut- first goal and his sixth on a slap shot dur- ing a give-and-go with center Andrew ing a power play at 2:44, 27 seconds after Cogliano. Vatanen then deflected defenseman Josh Manson received a Cogliano’s return pass from the left circle penalty for high sticking. past goalie Anders Lindback. The short-handed goal was just the Lindback finished with 33 saves. fifth allowed by the Ducks. Domi tied Andersen stopped 24 shots. The Ducks the score at 15:57 when he converted a took a 2-0 lead in the first period by scor- wrist shot in front of the crease. Then ing twice in just over a minute against with 7.2 seconds left in the second peri- Lindback, who made his second start of od, Domi skated around the right-wing AUSTRALIA : This picture taken on November 9, 2015 shows Australia’s paceman Mitchell Starc (R) throwing a ball towards New Zealand’s bats- the season. post and stuffed the puck between man Mark Craig. The International Cricket Council fined Australia paceman Mitchell Starc half of his match fee for throwing a ball dangerously Anaheim’s first goal came 41 seconds Andersen’s legs for his team-leading at New Zealand batsman Mark Craig. —AFP after Coyotes right winger Shane Doan seventh goal of the season.— Reuters

NHL Results/Standings Australia promise no Arizona 4, Anaheim 3 (OT). Western Conference Ottawa 7 4 3 42 42 17 Central Division Tampa Bay 7 7 2 38 38 16 let up for N Zealand WLOTLGFGAPTS Boston 7 6 1 47 45 15 Dallas 12 3 0 54 39 24 Detroit 7 6 1 33 36 15 SYDNEY: Coach Darren Lehmann has promised Mitchell Starc, who was fined half his match fee miss out again,” he said. New Zealand, who suf- St. Louis 10 3 1 40 31 21 no complacency after Australia’s solid victory by the International Cricket Council for throwing fered the dubious dismissal of Brendon Florida 5 6 3 37 35 13 Minnesota 8 3 2 38 35 18 over New Zealand in the first Test, saying yester- a ball dangerously at New Zealand batsman McCullum in the second innings at the Gabba, Nashville 8 3 2 35 31 18 Buffalo 6 8 0 32 41 12 day that his young team needed to do it all Mark Craig. head to Perth with a question mark over pace Winnipeg 8 5 2 42 41 18 Toronto 2 8 4 29 45 8 again in Perth. Australia crushed New Zealand spearhead Tim Southee, who has a back injury. by 208 runs in the first Test at the Gabba on Unlucky to miss out His fitness will be assessed Wednesday. Chicago 8 6 1 39 38 17 Monday and now head to the WACA ground one “I was very happy with the captain and the All-rounder James Neesham has already been Colorado 4 9 1 36 42 9 Metropolitan Division up in the three-match series as the Kiwis man- way he handled that,” Lehmann said. “He’s had a ruled out of the series with back trouble. age several injuries. chat to him and that’s done and dusted from “We know that they are a good side and NY Rangers 10 2 2 42 25 22 Pacific Division Lehmann said the new-look Australian team, where I sit.” Australia had the match well in hand we’ve got to play well again in Perth and certain- Los Angeles 9 5 0 35 29 18 Washington 10 3 0 43 31 20 missing veterans such as Michael Clarke, Brad with the New Zealanders one wicket away from ly start the Test match well,” Lehmann said. For Haddin and Shane Watson, played well in defeat when Starc impetuously hurled the ball in his part, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said Vancouver 6 4 5 43 36 17 Pittsburgh 9 5 0 31 28 18 Brisbane but there was room for improvement. Craig’s direction after the Kiwi had smacked him his team needed to be more aggressive in Perth, Arizona 7 6 1 39 41 15 New Jersey 8 5 1 37 36 17 “For us now it’s about getting back to Perth... for two successive fours. Lehmann said Starc, 25, after coming to Brisbane “a bit underdone from San Jose 7 7 0 38 36 14 NY Islanders 7 5 3 40 37 17 making sure we are backing that performance had to find his “happy medium” on the field. a skill perspective”. up,” he told reporters in Brisbane. “We’ve started “They’re all great kids, they are all learning their “We need more aggressive intent with the Anaheim 5 7 3 25 37 13 Philadelphia 5 6 3 28 39 13 Calgary 5 9 1 37 59 11 well but we’ve got to back that up-that’s the way in international cricket,” he said. “You love to ball,” the Australian Associated Press reported Carolina 6 8 0 30 40 12 challenge for a young group, to back that up day see the aggression, it’s just making sure it’s at him as saying. Hesson said Southee was pro- Edmonton 5 10 0 39 47 10 Columbus 4 11 0 35 54 8 in, day out.” Lehmann said the Australians need- the right time.” gressing well but they would not risk him if he ed to improve their fielding which he said was “a Lehmann said a decision on the final team for was not ready to play. “He is a huge part of our Eastern Conference Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth little bit sloppy” as well as put more pressure on the second Test would be made after an inspec- side and leads our attack but we are not going Atlantic Division one point in the standings and are not the New Zealand openers with the new ball. tion of the pitch later yesterday. to take someone in unless he is confident he can He said he was impressed with new skipper “If it (the line-up) changes, it changes, but play for us,” Hesson said. The second Test at the Montreal 13 2 1 59 29 27 included in the loss column (L) Steve Smith and how he dealt with paceman obviously someone is going to be unlucky to WACA begins Friday.— AFP

Morgan confident TEC defeat MACE, AECK and KEA win KUWAIT: The 18th Prof. Ramachandran Memorial Govind (38 off 22 balls - man of the match) got from the openers and none of the other batsmen with new saftey gear Cricket Tournament (RMC) conducted by College good support from Renju (18) to take KEA to 70 too could offer much resistance to the experi- of Engineering Trivandrum Alumni Association by the 8th over. Presoon (14 no) and Arjun (10 no) enced KEA attack. CET folded up for 52 in their 12 (CETAA) continued on 6th Nov at the Fahaheel then scored a crucial unbeaten 26 runs for the 9th overs to leave KEA comfortable winners by 54 ABU DHABI: England captain Eoin Australia). I got hit on the neck at Cricket Ground with a match between TEC and wicket to put KEA firmly in control. KEA finally runs. For KEA, Syam and Govind took 2 Morgan said yesterday he believed Lord’s and wasn’t wearing a neck MACE in Pool B. reached 106 for 8 wickets in their 12 overs. CET’s each while Nithin, Nikhilesh and Arjun took a that new gear and renewed confi- guard, I changed to a new helmet. Opting to bat first, TEC showed their aggres- bowling and fielding stood out. Arun Davidson, wicket each. Nov 13th is a rest day and matches dence will help him negotiate short- “It’s a personal opinion, I feel more sive intent from the very beginning. In spite of Daniel, Zameer and Prashanth took 2 wickets will resume on 20th Nov with (1) TKM vs TEC at pitched bowling after being hit by protected with the neck guard that loosing Girish (run out) in the 2nd over, the other each, but could not quite contain KEA’s fire power. 7.30 am, (2) NSS vs MACE at 9.30 am, and AECK vs Australian paceman Mitchell Starc they have, so I went for the full hel- batsmen came into their Suresh (18), Dinto (27) In reply, CET could not get their expected start KEA at 11.30 am. two months ago. met. I’ve had scans on my head to and Shajeer (23 - man of the match) scored at a Morgan, 29, suffered concussion have a mould for my own helmet, fast pace TEC in command. And when Sunil (18 after the blow during the fifth and which I’m wearing now, so I’ve come no) and Ramesh (11 no) put the finishing touches final one-day match at Manchester with that.” Morgan said he has prac- with their power hitting, TEC had a match win- which also cut short his county sea- ticed to counter short-pitched balls. ning total of 114 runs for 4 wickets in their 12 overs with 74 runs coming in the last 6 overs. son. But a refreshed Morgan said he “I’ve done a lot of short-ball practice Akshay, Saju and Tinu got a wicket each for MACE will wear a protective helmet with a since then. I’m quite confident going but could not stem the flow of runs. Chasing a neck guard in the four-match series into this series that I’ve progressed. daunting task, only Tinu (12) and Jose (10) which starts in Abu Dhabi today-his “It’s worrying, to be honest, showed some resistance and MACE finished on a first match since the incident. because the feeling of concussion is disappointing 60 for 7 wickets in their 12 overs Morgan said the blow was a hard something I’ve never had before.” leaving TEC convincing winners by 54 runs. For one. “At the time, it was quite con- Morgan said England, the only top TEC, Shajeer and Dinto (2 wickets each), Sandeep cerning,” said Morgan of the incident. team which failed to qualify for the and Sreekumar (1 each) made sure there were no “The ball hit me quite hard. It was quarter-finals in the 2015 World Cup, alarms in the chase. quite a good . I’ve watched it has progressed well since then, beat- In the 2nd match, batting 1St NIT were pegged back a number of times. “But I still ing New Zealand 3-2 and losing to down by the persistence of the AECK attack and only Geo (16) could make any headway. NIT fin- look back at it now - and hats off, it Australia by the same margin. “That’s ished on a moderate 56 rut for 7 wickets in their was a pretty good delivery.” one thing we’ve gained over the last 12 overs. Irshad (man of the match) and Renjith The cricket world was rocked by six months. We’ve created an atmos- took 2 wickets while Shabeer and Shameer took a the death of Australian batsman phere in which learning becomes wicket each for AECK to contain NIT. With their Philip Hughes after being hit on the very easy for our young guys coming strong batting line up 56 was not a challenging head by a bouncer in a first-class in. “Probably, no one would have giv- score and AECK got home in the 8 over for the match in Sydney in November last en us a hope in hell against Australia loss of only 2 wickets. Melvin (23) and Subin Vasu year. and New Zealand. But they were two (19 no) made merry while Arun and Ajay took a The sad incident increased safety very competitive series, and we man- wicket each for NIT to lessen the margin of defeat. demands for batsmen with the intro- aged to turn over New Zealand. duction of new helmets which also The remaining matches will be Under pressure In the last match of the day, hosts CET won the protect the back of the neck. Morgan played in Abu Dhabi (November 13), toss and put last year’s champs KEA in to bat. The said he will be using one of the Sharjah (Nov 17) and Dubai (Nov 20). move seemed to pay off as star Ajin and Nitin redesigned helmets. “I did change it The two teams will also play three were removed early to put KEA under pressure. (helmet) during the series (against internationals. —AFP Skipper Tibish and Binu too departed by the 6th over with the score reading 42. But opener