26 Established 1961 Sports Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Australia can be surprise package at WCup: Gregan Australia has ability to score points as they have world class players

SAPPORO: Australia’s most capped player George WELSH EXAMPLE Gregan has backed the Wallabies to surprise a few He also pointed to the consistency shown by people at this year’s Rugby World Cup if they can Australia’s World Cup Pool D opponents Wales in overcome the inconsistencies that have plagued their recent winning run, which included winning the them for the last three years. Six Nations Grand Slam last month. “You have a team The Wallabies endured their worst test campaign like Wales, who have won 14 in a row... all the funda- in 60 years in 2018, winning four out of 13 matches mentals of their game are sound and together but the and slumping to sixth in the world rankings. Wallabies team haven’t had that for a while,” said However, former scrumhalf Gregan, who scored 99 Gregan. “I think they (Australia) have just been incon- points in 139 internationals, believes Michael sistent, really inconsistent. They have shown glimpses Cheika’s men can peak come tournament time in of what they can do... “The ability to score points is in September, just as they did in 2015 when they that group because they have some world class play- reached the final. ers; Will Genia, Israel Folau, Samu Kerevi is develop- “They do have time in a World Cup year, which is ing into a really good international centre. a unique year. It is about getting it right when you “You can see parts of their game improving, but get over here,” said Gregan in an interview with they haven’t put it all together at the same time for an Reuters in Sapporo. “I just see the margins now, extended period and that is what consistent, good particularly amongst the top eight teams, getting teams do.” Gregan, who won the 1999 World Cup smaller and smaller. with Australia, has seen his country reach the final on “They can flip that switch, they have that in four occasions and said they might even enjoy being them.” However, Gregan, who is in Japan in his role seen as underdogs later this year. “We like going to as ambassador for World Cup sponsor Land Rover, international competitions and especially if the warned that Cheika’s men will have to show Wallabies are a little bit under the radar then they can improvement in the reduced Rugby Championship go about their work and do a good block of training... that begins in July to then be serious contenders at then they will think why not?,” he said. “Sure, we have the right time. been inconsistent for three years but it is a seven “It’s about getting it right on the day and if you week tournament and it is a special animal, the Rugby HONG KONG: Retired Australian player George Gregan (R) in front of fans on the second day at the Hong are a little bit off, you are out. That is the Rugby World Cup.” The World Cup begins in Tokyo on Sept. Kong Sevens rugby tournament on April 6, 2019. — AFP World Cup,” the 45-year-old said. 20 when hosts Japan face Russia. — Reuters Warner continues to Cane returns from score heavily in IPL, broken neck, gets but slip costs match

All Blacks boost HYDERABAD: David Warner continued to blaze his way through the with the bat WELLINGTON: Sam Cane has been cleared to but his misfield helped Kings XI Punjab to a dramat- return to contact training after breaking a bone in ic victory over his Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday. his neck and received another boost when he was The aggressive opener scored 70 not out from 62 invited to a one-day All Blacks camp, suggesting balls for the Sunrisers, confirming his strong form the flanker is still in coach Steve Hansen’s Rugby ahead of his expected return to the Australia team World Cup thoughts. for the 50-overs World Cup in and Wales. Cane had to have an operation in South Africa It was his third half century in six matches and after sustaining the injury playing against the extended his hold at the top of the IPL run-scoring Springboks in Pretoria last October and the 27- table with 349 runs at an average of 87.25. year-old has not played since. However, his He has scored a century in addition to the three Waikato Chiefs coach Colin Cooper told reporters half centuries, indicating there is little rust in his in Hamilton that he had been cleared for contact, game despite the one-year international ban for his just in time for the All Blacks’ first ‘foundation day’ part in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal. next Monday in Wellington. The suspension ended on March 29 and the 32- The one-day camp, where the players undergo year-old is all but certain to be included in fitness testing and hold planning meetings, is one of Australia’s squad for the May 31-July 14 World Cup three the All Blacks coaches have scheduled during when it is announced this week. While Warner batted the Super Rugby season as they fine tune plans for the entire 20 overs of Hyderabad’s innings, tight the World Cup in Japan later this year. bowling and muggy conditions in Mohali meant he MOHALI: Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman David Warner (L) looks on after playing a shot as Kings XI Punjab wick- One for players based in the North Island will was required to work hard as he guided his side 150 et keeper K. L. Rahul (R) fields during the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) match between be held in Auckland on May 20, with another for for four. Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. — AFP South Island-based players in Christchurch on India opener KL Rahul’s 71 not out then led the June 3. New Zealand Rugby Head of High Kings XI to a six- victory with a ball to spare. Performance Mike Anthony said in a media Hyderabad did well to force the game into a final nine from Mohammad Nabi’s first four deliveries Punjab are third in the IPL standings with four release that the “... foundation days will provide over by taking three quick for eight runs in before Rahul hit the ball to Warner at long on. wins from six matches, trailing Kolkata and Chennai, an opportunity for All Blacks management and just 12 balls, leaving Punjab needing 11 runs from the Warner fumbled it then slipped over on the dewy who have both played only five games, on net run our leading players to start building towards what last six. surface as he went to retrieve it, allowing Rahul and rate. Hyderabad are fourth with three wins and three is a huge year ahead”. — Reuters Rahul and England all-rounder Sam Curran scored Curran to scamper through for the victory. losses. — Reuters

mer England fly-half Danny Cipriani Buttler ends ‘Mankad’ English rugby added: “Never in doubt my brother.” Wade was regarded as one of the most devastat- Consistency key ing finishers in English rugby during his row with Ashwin star Wade to club career but found opportunities to represent England at international level for dangerous WI NEW : England’s Jos Buttler has declared an end pursue NFL limited. to his showdown with Indian spinner Ravichandran Although he earned a call-up as a at World Cup: Lara Ashwin after being dismissed by a “Mankad” runout in replacement on the 2013 British and Irish the Indian Premier League. dream with Bills Lions tour of Australia, he was largely The Rajasthan Royals star had a heated exchange with ignored by various coaches, the final straw MUMBAI: West Indies are replete with match-winners but consistency the of Kings XI Punjab after being run out at the NEW YORK: Former England and Wasps coming when he was overlooked from a will be key to their success in English conditions at this year’s World Cup, non-striker’s end while backing up in an incident that wing Christian Wade has signed for the 50-man training squad for the 2015 World great Brian Lara has said. Teeming with tearaway fast bowlers sparked an international debate on the “spirit of cricket”. as he pursues his dream of Cup by then-coach Stuart Lancaster. and aggressive batsmen, West Indies were once considered invincible Buttler told the Times of India he had looked at replays forging a career in the NFL, the team Wade is aiming to follow the example of and won the opening two editions of the World Cup in 1975 and 1979. and was sure he should not have been given out, “But it’s announced on Monday. Wade shocked other English rugby players who have Their glory days, however, are long over and the twice winners had to all done now and I have moved on.” The dismissal, named English rugby last year after announcing joined NFL teams through the pathway go through a qualifying tournament to book their spot in the 10-team after former India player Vinoo Mankad, is legal but is his plans to switch sports and find a place program, notably former England Sevens tournament in England and Wales. seen by many as unsporting unless the batsman has been with a gridiron team. player Alex Gray, who is now on the books The last bilateral series win for West Indies, who are ranked ninth in warned first. The 27-year-old joined the NFL’s of the Atlanta Falcons, and Christian one-day internationals, came in 2014 but they showed signs of improve- Buttler said he did speak with Ashwin after the March International Player Pathway Program, Scotland-Williamson, the former ment against England. Jason Holder’s men drew a five-match ODI series 25 runout which even brought disapproval from the which aims to find and nurture athletic tal- Worcester Warriors player who joined the against top-ranked England 2-2 at home recently, in a timely boost before MCC, the arbiter of the game’s rules. “I just asked him if ent from around the world and groom them Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018. the May 30-July 14 showpiece event. he really wishes to play the game that way. Whether he for the NFL. The Bills announced yester- The 23-year-old Holmes is listed as a The likes of opening batsman Chris Gayle, all-rounder Andre Russell thought it was the right thing to do,” Buttler said. “And he day that Wade had been assigned to the running back/wide receiver/kick returner and spinner Sunil Narine are also much in demand in Twenty20 leagues obviously thought it was, in his opinion.” Ashwin, who has team’s squad as a running back for the for the Jets. Holmes, of Townsville, repre- across the globe. “Look at the Indian Premier League, look at the been unrepentant of his act, seemed to have waited for 2019 season. sented Australia at the 2017 Rugby World leagues around the world, we have got players that are the most want- Buttler to leave his crease before clipping off the bails. The Bills, and three other teams from Cup, scoring 11 tries in the quarter-finals ed in the world,” Lara, 49, told reporters in Mumbai at a promotional Buttler, who was a victim of a Mankad dismissal by Sri the AFC East, would get a roster exemp- and semi-finals. event last week. Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake in 2014, said he “will make tion to account for Wade’s inclusion, allow- Holmes, who will take a pay cut from his “We have got match-winners, but we are going to need a little more sure it doesn’t happen again”. ing them to have 91 players on the roster NRL days to join the Jets, participated in a than match-winners in English conditions to win the World Cup. We need With minds already turning to the World Cup which instead of 90. Valentine Holmes, a former “pro day” in Florida last week in front of a team that can create consistency. “If we can get to the knock-out starts Mmay 30 soon after the IPL ends, Buttler said the professional Australian rugby player, will league scouts and ran a 4.5 secs 40-yard stages, we can knock out any team. We have seen that in the past. But title was an open race. “We are one of the favourites. join the New York Jets; Jakob Johnson, a dash. Four players took part in the NFL consistency is going to take us right through to the finals.” Traditionally, in World Cup, India and Australia are up former German Football League player will Pathway Program in 2018 - Moritz Former West Indies captain Lara, considered one of the very best the there as well,” the hard-hitting batsman-wicketkeeper join the Super Bowl Champion New Boehringer (Cincinnati Bengals), Caribbean islands have ever produced, retired after the 2007 World Cup said. “We are playing some really good cricket. But World England Patriots and Durval Neto a former Christopher Ezeala (Baltimore Ravens), at home with over 10,000 runs in ODIs. He also scored close to 12,000 Cup tournaments, knockout tournaments are always high player in Brazil will join Tigie Sankoh (Cleveland Browns) and runs in tests. pressure situations,” he said of the tournament. Buttler has the Miami Dolphins. Scotland-Williamson (Steelers). Lara credited franchise leagues like the IPL for creating interest been in good form for Rajasthan, scoring 176 runs in five Wade reacted with news of his signing Neither of the four saw action last sea- among kids in the West Indies and giving young players a platform to T20 matches including two half-centuries. by the Bills on Instagram. “I’m a lost for son as the Pathway players become mem- showcase their talent before they graduate to international cricket. Buttler’s English teammates in Jonny Bairstow, for word right now,” Wade wrote. “Give god bers of the club’s practice roster and are West Indies suffered 2-0 losses both in India and Bangladesh late last Sunrisers Hyderabad, and young all-rounder Sam Curran, thanks.” Several England and Wasps rugby not eligible to play in games. It gives them year but staged a spectacular turnaround in a 2-1 series win against for Punjab, have also shone in the IPL. “Since the time internationals congratulated Wade beneath a chance to learn a new sport without the England earlier this year. The test success augurs well for the side, who more England players have started playing in the IPL, the post. fear of being cut. The AFC East teams were are now graduating to a level where they can be competitive against top selectors have been taking note of performances in the “Proud of you brahhh,” England and all chosen to receive the players in a ran- sides at least at home, said Lara. — Reuters league,” said Buttler. — AFP Saracens lock Maro Itoje wrote while for- dom draw. — AFP