WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016 SPORTS

Desperate Aussies roll the dice to stop rampant Proteas

ADELAIDE: Crisis-torn Australia will in what is going to be a very testing time attempt to prevent rampant South Africa for them.” from an unprecedented series clean sweep in tomorrow’s day-night third Test in SIMMERING TENSIONS Adelaide after a team shake-up of historic The reinforcements will be aiming to proportions. bolster Australia’s insipid , which Stung by two humiliating defeats in was routed for 85 by South Africa in Perth and Hobart, the Aussies have made after suffering a humiliating 10 for 86 col- six changes in a bid to stop the rot and lapse in the first innings at Perth. fight off the Proteas’ quest to become the Lehmann said it was important he and first touring team to sweep a series in fellow coaches instil confidence and posi- Australia. tivity in the new-look squad. It is a seismic selection switch in the “I’ve never seen a side so hurt after wake of last week’s sudden resignation of Hobart, an Australian side. We’ve got to chairman of selectors and inten- pick them up, get them positive,” he said. sifying pressure on the game’s top officials South Africa have problems of their own and coach . with skipper Faf du Plessis found guilty late Not since only two players from the fifth Tuesday of an ICC charge of ball tampering Test against England in August 1977 made in the Hobart Test. it into the team for the first Test against Du Plessis, who was fined 50 percent of India three months later, after World Series his match fee in 2013 for ball tampering in rebelled against the establishment, the second Test against Pakistan, was fined has there been such a clean-out of the 100 percent of his Hobart match fee but Australian side. was cleared to play in this week’s third Test. The last time there were as many as five Heightening tensions ahead of the game, changes mid-season-which is likely given South African security staff shoved an either pacemen or Chadd Australian television reporter up against a Sayers is likely to be 12th man in Adelaide glass door as he attempted to interview du — was in the 1977-78 series against India Plessis at Adelaide airport on Monday, with after an innings defeat in Sydney. the team accusing the media of “harass- Selectors, with Trevor Hohns taking over ment”. Despite this, the South Africans, with from Marsh as interim chairman, named their pace trio Vernon Philander, Kagiso three young batsmen-English-born Matt Rabada and Kyle Abbott dominating the Renshaw, and Nic Australian batting, will fancy their chances Maddinson-to make their debuts and bowling with the pink ball in swinging con- recalled Sayers, Bird and wicketkeeper ditions under lights at . It will . be only the second day-night Test in MEXICO CITY: Oakland Raiders Latavius Murray (28) eludes the tackle of Houston Texans Quintin Demps (27) during the 2016 NFL week 11 regu- It was a decisive and drastic intervention Australia after the home side thrillingly beat lar season football game on Monday at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Oakland won 27-20. — AFP by the under-fire selection panel in the New Zealand by three on only the wake of Australia’s fifth straight heavy Test third day in Adelaide last year. defeat, including the 3-0 series drubbing in last August. Teams: Carr helps Raiders rally past “I’m not for one minute going to sug- Australian (from) - , Matt gest an immediate turnaround,” Hohns said. Renshaw, , “Patience will be required but we are (capt), Peter Handscomb, , Texans 27-20 in Mexico City obviously hopeful that these players can Matthew Wade, , Josh gel together and ultimately stop the down- Hazlewood, , Jackson Bird, ward losing momentum we are currently . MEXICO CITY: Derek Carr woke up a struggling experiencing. South Africa (from) - Stephen Cook, Oakland offense by throwing two touchdown NFL results/standings “It’s no secret that our Test team has not Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf passes in the fourth quarter as the Raiders functioned or performed to the level we du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Quinton capped a successful trip to Mexico with a 27-20 Oakland 27 Houston 20. expect. “We accept that a lot of the criti- de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, victory over the Houston Texans on Monday cism that has come our way has been war- Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel. night. American Football Conference National Football Conference ranted, however, I ask that everybody take Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) and Richard Oakland had been held to 120 yards through AFC East NFC East a deep breath and get behind these blokes Kettleborough (ENG). —AFP three quarters with the running game going W L T OTL PF PA PCT Dallas 9 1 0 0 285 187 .900 nowhere and Carr finding few open receivers New England 8 2 0 0 271 180 .800 NY Giants 7 3 0 0 204 200 .700 downfield. But that suddenly changed in the Miami 6 4 0 0 218 216 .600 Washington 6 3 1 0 254 233 .650 fourth quarter to give the Raiders (8-2) their Buffalo 5 5 0 0 253 215 .500 Philadelphia 5 5 0 1 241 186 .500 fourth straight win for the first time since 2002 . NY Jets 3 7 0 0 179 244 .300 NFC North With star receiver Amari Cooper lined up in AFC North Detroit 6 4 0 0 231 225 .600 Baltimore 5 5 0 0 199 187 .500 the backfield, Carr found fullback Jamize Minnesota 6 4 0 1 205 176 .600 Pittsburgh 5 5 0 0 238 215 .500 Olawale open for a 75-yard catch and run that Green Bay 4 6 0 0 247 276 .400 Cincinnati 3 6 1 0 199 226 .350 tied Houston (6-4) at 20. Then Oakland took Chicago 2 8 0 0 157 237 .200 Cleveland 0 11 0 1 184 325 0 advantage on two questionable spots by the NFC South AFC South officials to take over on downs at the 15 and Atlanta 6 4 0 1 320 283 .600 drove 85 yards in five plays to take the lead on a Houston 6 4 0 0 181 215 .600 Indianapolis 5 5 0 1 263 273 .500 Tampa Bay 5 5 0 1 235 259 .500 35-yard pass to Cooper . New Orleans 4 6 0 0 285 286 .400 That set off loud celebrations from the pro- Tennessee 5 6 0 0 281 275 .455 Carolina 4 6 0 0 244 246 .400 Raiders crowd of 76,743 in the second regular Jacksonville 2 8 0 0 193 265 .200 NFC West season game ever played in Mexico. What was AFC West originally scheduled as an Oakland home game Oakland 8 2 0 0 272 243 .800 Seattle 7 2 1 0 219 173 .750 featured Raiders music during stoppages, Kansas City 7 3 0 0 222 187 .700 Arizona 4 5 1 0 226 190 .450 Tommie Smith lighting the Al Davis torch in a Denver 7 3 0 0 239 189 .700 Los Angeles 4 6 0 0 149 187 .400 memorable return to Mexico City nearly a half- San Diego 4 6 0 1 292 278 .400 San Francisco 1 9 0 0 204 313 .100 after his Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics and frequent “RAI-DERS!” chants. challenge. straight passes without an interception before While the atmosphere was electric, the field LASER SHOW: Houston QB Brock Osweiler getting picked by A.J. Bouye on a deep ball on was a bit slippery leading to some falls and the had to deal with an unusual distraction during the first play from scrimmage in the second half. high elevation 7,380 feet above sea level played the game as a fan with a green laser frequently It was Carr’s fourth interception of the season a factor. The Raiders needed to use a timeout on shined it on the Houston quarterback as he and the first since Kansas City’s Marcus Peters defense at one point in the fourth to catch their dropped back to pass in an act more familiar in got one Oct. 16. breath and receiver Michael Crabtree was seen soccer games played here than in NFL games. INTERNATIONAL SCORER: With his extra point gasping for breath at one point. That wasn’t the only soccer tradition imported in the second quarter, Oakland’s Sebastian CLOSE SPOTS: The Texans were upset on two for this game. Fans also used a homophobic Janikowski scored a point in his third country, spots on the fourth-quarter drive before chant on kickoffs. Mexico’s soccer federation has having previously done it in the United States SYDNEY: This file photo taken on January 2, 2016 shows Australian cricket selector Oakland went ahead. On third-and-2, Lamar been punished by FIFA in the past for the chant and United Kingdom. Joe Nedney is the only Trevor Hohns (L) speaking with team Steve Smith (C) and chief coach Darren Miller was stopped just short of the first down during World Cup qualifiers. Fans threw paper other player to score in Mexico, the US and the Lehmann during a training session in Sydney. Crisis-torn Australia will attempt to even though Houston believed he got it. Coach airplanes on the field in the third quarter with UK Five other players have scored in Canada, the prevent rampant South Africa from an unprecedented series clean sweep in the Bill O’Brien went for it on fourth down but Oakland’s Sean Smith taking a turn throwing UK and the US: running back Steven Jackson and upcoming day-night third Test in Adelaide. —AFP Akeem Hunt was stopped about an inch short one that reached the field during a break. kickers Robbie Gould, Matt Bryant, Dan on fourth down and the play stood after a replay STREAK BROKEN: Carr had thrown 170 Carpenter and Jay Feely. —AP England set to pick Buttler in place of Duckett in Mohali Klinsmann fired as head MUMBAI: England are set to recall Jos around playing against a red ball - that he Buttler as a specialist batsman in their team can’t do the same and put the pressure for the third Test against India in Mohali back on the opposition.” The 26-year-old coach of US men’s team with Ben Duckett facing the axe after his right-hander has not had much opportuni- struggles against off-spinner Ravichandran ty to practise for the longer format with the Ashwin in the first two matches. lack of warm-up fixtures in India. NEW YORK: Juergen Klinsmann has been fired of a 2-1 loss to Mexico, has them sitting dead an announcement could come as early as The left-handed Duckett scored 56 in “He’s certainly hitting the ball very well as head coach of the US men’s national team last in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Tuesday. During his tenure with the US team, the second innings against Bangladesh in in the nets,” Bayliss said. “Yes, we would in the wake of consecutive losses during the Should they rally and earn one of this Arena led the squad to the quarter-finals at the Dhaka but has accumulated just 54 runs in have liked him to have a hit-out at some qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup, round’s three automatic qualification slots for 2002 World Cup, their best result in the tourna- six innings since. stage, but it is what it is these days. “We’ve US Soccer said on Monday. Russia 2018, the United States would become ment since 1930. Ashwin, the world’s top-ranked bowler, no time to fit one in. If he does come in I Klinsmann was under contract through the first team in CONCACAF history to finish in “While we remain confident that we have dismissed him three times in Rajkot and think he’ll give it his best shot.” 2018 but his future with the team had been in the top three of Hexagonal play after opening quality players to help us advance to Russia Visakhapatnam and the 22-year-old Fast bowler , who has doubt after a pair of recent losses this month with two losses. 2018, the form and growth of the team up to appears to have technical flaws in his injured his right foot, could make way for left their hopes of qualifying for the next With their next World Cup qualifier not until this point left us convinced that we need to go defence against spinners. “I think he’s got a the return of in Mohali. World Cup in serious peril. a March 17 game against Honduras, in a different direction,” said Gulati. special talent,” England coach England must also decide if they want to Klinsmann’s successor was not named but Klinsmann’s replacement will have plenty of “With the next qualifying match in late said after the side lost by 246 runs on persist with left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari, multiple reports suggest Bruce Arena of Major time to take stock of the program and evaluate March, we have several months to refocus the Monday to go 1-0 down in the series. who has taken five wickets in three tests, or League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy, who pre- players. Arena, who won three MLS Cups as group and determine the best way forward to “Whether he plays the next match or replace him either with off-spinner Gareth viously coached the U.S. team from 1998-2006, coach of the Galaxy and two with D.C. United, ensure a successful journey to qualify for our not, I think he’ll play a lot more for England. Batty or seamer . — Reuters is in line to take over. is reportedly in negotiations to take over and eighth-consecutive World Cup.” —Reuters “Every level you get to, you go up. It gets “Today we made the difficult decision of harder and harder, and the step is bigger. parting ways with Juergen Klinsmann, our Ben’s working harder than anyone in the head coach of the US Men’s National Team and nets to try to fix things up, getting himself Matches on TV technical director,” US Soccer president Sunil into a position that he is confident enough (Local Timings) Gulati said in a statement. “We want to thank to score runs.” England have two batting Juergen for his hard work and commitment options in their squad - Gary Ballance and UEFA Champions League during these last five years. Buttler - to replace Duckett. But Ballance Rostov v Bayern Munich 20:00 “He took pride in having the responsibility was also dropped after aggregating 24 in beIN SPORTS 2 HD of steering the program, and there were con- four innings during the 1-1 drawn series in Besiktas v Benfica 20:45 siderable achievements along the way.” Bangladesh. beIN SPORTS The 52-year-old former Germany national Buttler, who boats the three fastest ODI Arsenal v Paris Saint 22:45 team coach and World Cup-winning striker hundreds for England, has a modest record beIN SPORTS 2 HD had been in charge of the US team since 2011 in tests. The wicketkeeper-batsman aver- Ludogorets Razgrad v Basel 22:45 when he replaced Bob Bradley and was sup- ages 30 in 15 matches, the last of which beIN SPORTS 7 HD posed to usher in transformative changes. was 13 months ago against Pakistan in Napoli v Dynamo 22:45 While Klinsmann’s run with the US team did Dubai. beIN SPORTS 4 HD indeed include some worthy highlights he was “The one thing with Jos is that if he Borussia v Man City 22:45 also criticised often for tactical shortcomings plays the same way as he does in one-day beIN SPORTS 5 HD while some reports suggested the players cricket, I think that’s the way ahead for him; Celtic v Barcelona 22:45 tuned him out and failed to fully buy into his red ball or white ball,” Bayliss said. “He’s in beIN SPORTS 1 HD system. The United States can still qualify for the top echelon of destructive batters Atletico Madrid v Eindhoven 22:45 the 2018 World Cup in Russia but a stunning 4- when it comes to white-ball cricket, and beIN SPORTS 6 HD 0 loss to Costa Rica, which came on the heels Juergen Klinsmann there’s no reason - if he can get his head