Cardinals Debating Resting Molina More Behind Plate
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SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2017 Ponting predicts Australia will struggle in India MELBOURNE: Australia will struggle on their tour of India where they will play four tests against the world’s top-ranked side in spin-friendly conditions, former captain Ricky Ponting has predicted. Steve Smith’s men will travel to India next month having been beaten 4-0 four years ago. They were also whitewashed 3-0 in Sri Lanka last August in similar conditions prompting Ponting to issue a grim outlook for the team. “I think they’ll struggle,” the 42-year-old, who played 168 tests for Australia told Sky Sports Radio. “Every team that goes there struggles. “It’s become harder and harder for visiting teams to go to India. They probably make wickets to suit them more than ever before.” The last time India lost a test at home was against England at the end of 2012 and Virat Kohli’s side have won their last five series to climb to the top of the test rankings. South Africa, New Zealand and England have all lost series in India in the last 15 months and Australia’s last success in the country was in 2004 when they won a four-test series 2-1. “I went there for a lot of tours and we obviously played in some tough conditions,” added Ponting. “But the wickets were good for the first couple of days of the game and then they started to turn. “But now, even looking at what hap- pened in Sri Lanka, whenever the Australian team tours any- where on the subcontinent you can guarantee the wicket is going to turn, and turn quite a bit, from day one of the game.” Following the 3-0 drubbing in Sri Lanka, Australia’s test team plunged into a crisis with successive home defeats to South Africa. After a national outcry forced wholesale changes, they recovered by winning the final test against South Africa in Adelaide before beating Pakistan 3-0. “The challenges are going to be there for the Aussie team,” Ponting said. “Unlike what happened in Sri Lanka, as long as they can find a way to be competitive in the test series. “Even if we don’t win, I don’t think it’d be that big of a deal. “It’s a real learning curve for our guys now to find a balance between playing the Australian way but (also) adapting that to Indian conditions.” The first test starts in Pune on Feb. 23 and is followed by matches in Bangalore, Ranchi and Dharamsala. — Reuters CHICAGO: In this Sept 24, 2016, file photo, St Louis Cardinals’ Yadier Molina hits a two-run double against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game. — AP Wade replaces Cardinals debating resting injured Smith SYDNEY: Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade has assumed captaincy duties for the upcoming New Molina more behind plate Zealand tour after injury ruled out Steve Smith, with youngster Sam Heazlett called up as his replacement, Cricket Australia said yesterday. ST LOUIS: The offseason discussion surrounding Yadier times I felt good, and it just made no sense. And for whatever Smith’s deputy David Warner was already due to be Molina has long centered on whether the St Louis catcher reason, sometimes you can feel a lot of pressure of the outside rested for the three one-day games in New Zealand start- should rest more during the season. After Molina played in influences saying that you shouldn’t be playing.” Mozeliak’s ing Monday. Smith was fielding in the fifth one-day inter- a career-high 147 games last year, that consideration is in comments about resting Molina more weren’t his first on the national against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval on the forefront more than ever for the 34-year-old winner of topic. However, his interest has likely taken on more of a big- Thursday when he injured his left ankle, CA said. “He eight Gold Gloves. So is the awareness that his time as one picture feel as the five-year contract extension Molina signed came off the field and had his ankle strapped and was of the dominant backstops in baseball might soon start in 2012 nears its end. able to return to the field for the remainder of the winding down. The catcher is under contract for $14 million in 2017, and match,” sports science and sports medicine manager The discussion about Molina’s playing time hasn’t been there is a $15 million mutual option for 2018, with a $2 million Alex Kountouris said in a statement. limited to only fans, with Cardinals general manager John buyout. Molina has said in the past he prefers to remain in St. “Following further assessment this morning we Mozeliak recently saying he feels Molina would be “better off” Louis for the remainder of his career, and the idea of him in believe Steve has sustained a medial ligament injury to with more rest. This after a season in which the Puerto Rican another team’s uniform is upsetting for many fans. For his ankle. He will return to Sydney today to undergo star didn’t win the Gold Glove for the first time since 2007. It’s Mozeliak, it’s about balancing what Molina is now with what scans to confirm the diagnosis. “Early indications suggest not an opinion shared by St. Louis manager Mike Matheny. he hopes to be in the years to come. this will likely take seven to 10 days to recover, meaning “My job description is to win games,” Matheny said. “And if “I do feel like, from a general manager’s seat, that you Steve will be unable to (participate) in the Qantas Tour of I’ve got a player I feel is going to help us win games, and that I would want to balance that and try to protect him better New Zealand.” feel is able to answer the bell, he’s going to be in the lineup.” than we have,” Mozeliak said. “But, the guy loves to play. He Wade said he was surprised but “very excited” to be Matheny knows more than most about the grueling demands trains extremely hard to prepare himself in the offseason for chosen as Australia’s 24th ODI captain by the national of catching over the course of a 162-game season, having won that 162 (games), and he’s not an easy guy to talk to get out selection panel. “With Steve Smith and David Warner four Gold Gloves of his own for his work behind the plate. of that lineup.” absent it’s an opportunity for me to captain the side for He’s managed Molina since 2012, during which time the Despite turning 34 during the middle of last season, Molina three matches,” Wade said. “But I’m not about to change catcher - who has been a part of nine playoff appearances and was at his best offensively over the last few months of the sea- too much and it’s a case of trying to continue the disci- two World Series titles since debuting in 2004 - has played in son. He hit .365 after the All-Star break, and his .307 batting plines that have earned us success in the recent past.” an average of 133 games per season. And while Matheny average for the season was the third best in his career. Heazlett, 21, is a left-handed batsman who has played understands the long-term concerns about Molina’s ability to Matheny said Molina is better than most about telling him for Brisbane Heat in this season’s Twenty20 Big Bash continue playing at a high level, he’s also aware that last sea- when he needs a day off to rest, and the manager said he League. “Sam showed last summer what a talented play- son was the first time the Cardinals have missed the playoffs plans to continue watching the catcher for signs of wear and er he is by averaging over 40 in his debut season at first- over that stretch - with much of the prior success coming in tear. All the while, though, he’s well aware there’s only one class level,” CA interim selector Trevor Hohns said. “He large part to Molina. Yadier Molina behind the plate. “There’s a shelf life to this gig impressed again when playing for the National and eventually there’s going to be a finger to point of why Performance Squad against A teams from Australia, Big-picture feel this, that or the other, but right now this guy works really South Africa and India in Townsville and Mackay during “It’s frustrating, frustrating for me because I remember the hard to continue to answer the bell,” Matheny said. “And he’s this past winter.” — AFP years when I was able to play a lot,” Matheny said. “There were doing it well.” — AP .