Have Mercy, Plead World Cup's Battered Bowlers
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Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015 45 Wily Vettori weaving spells for magic W Cup finale NAPIER: The influence of Daniel Vettori on that. It allows us to hang off then come of their songs to Vettori, labelling him New Zealand cricket. New Zealand’s World Cup chances was nev- back and strike at the right time.” ‘Harry Potter in disguise’. He has played the most test match- er more evident than in his bowling in a Vettori’s ability to tie up an end will be The bespectacled Vettori once bore es (113), most ODIs (290) and taken the tense trans-Tasman clash with Australia at a crucial to his side’s chances on the small a resemblance to the eponymous boy most ODI wickets (298). Across all heaving Eden Park last Saturday. New Zealand grounds. wizard played by actor Daniel Radcliffe teams, he is the most prolific number Australia’s top order were threatening to A stress fracture in his back more than a in the eight films based on JK Rowling’s eight batsman in tests, having scored bat New Zealand out of the match before decade ago has nullified any torque he books. 2227 runs with four centuries at an the first 10 overs were bowled. once had in his delivery stride and he is no Vettori abandoned a potential average of just under 40 there. On a hunch, McCullum turned to left- longer a big turner of the ball. career as a pharmacist shortly after he Achilles tendon and back injuries in arm spinner Vettori in the seventh over with But it is his ability to change flight, pace became the youngest man to represent recent years ended his hopes to sur- Michael Clarke’s side 51 for one. The 36- and trajectory with different arm angles New Zealand at test cricket in 1997. pass Richard Hadlee (431) as New year-old abruptly put the brakes on the that keeps the best batsmen in the world As a child prodigy with glasses, Zealand’s highest test wicket taker. Australians and took two wickets before guessing and often content to push for capable of casting spells over batsmen- However, he proved in the last six Trent Boult returned with a devastating whatever singles they can before attacking and with more than a passing interest months he could stand up to the five-over spell that netted five wickets, at the other end. in potions-little wonder the Barmy rigours of international cricket and was three maidens and only three runs. That kind of accuracy and parsimony Army made the connection. even called into the test side against Australia were dismissed for 151. creates scoreboard pressure, making him a A frustrated medium pace bowler at Pakistan in UAE late last year. “Dan came and did his own thing and key component in McCullum’s side and a high school, Vettori switched to spin at Now playing in his fourth World Cup really tied it up,” Boult said after the nervous player opposing teams are wary of. the age of 15 and made his test debut after two trips to the semi-finals, one-wicket win. “He has been doing it for just three years later. A newspaper Vettori is hoping there is one more years now. Harry Potter headline screamed: “BUT HE’S ONLY record he can help his team to-their “He’s a massive part of our team and is a Such is his influence, England’s trav- 18”. first world title. His type of magic will pleasure to watch when he does things like elling ‘Barmy Army’ fans dedicated one He has since set a swag of records in be needed. —Reuters Weather threatens S Africa, Pakistan World Cup clash AUCKLAND: The weather may play a role in the out- come of tomorrow’s Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Pakistan in Auckland, with New Zealand’s MetService predicting some heavy rain showers during the afternoon. Should the worst happen and the day-night game is washed out, Pakistan might be glad to accept a point given South Africa’s recent form. In each of the last two games, against the West Indies and Ireland, South Africa has scored more than 400 runs and won by more than 200. Pakistan’s form has been far less assured. After losing their first two games against India and the West Indies, the 1992 champions have got their cam- paign back on track with wins over Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates. There’s been only one washout in the tournament so far, the match between four-time champion HOBART: Ireland cricketer Peter Chase runs in to bowl during a training session at the Bellerive Oval ground Australia and Bangladesh in Brisbane. But as the ahead of the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool B match between Ireland and Zimbabwe in Hobart yesterday. —AFP World Cup progresses into the Southern Hemisphere autumn, it could become more of a concern. South Africa coach Russell Domingo said his Have mercy, plead World squad needs to be ready for anything against Pakistan. “We know that they can beat anybody on their Cup’s battered bowlers day,” he said. “We need to prepare really well and we need to make sure we respect the opposition and SYDNEY: With three 400-plus totals piled-up at Under current rules, five fielders must be rate in the last 10 overs of World Cup games has make sure we go through our processes really well the World Cup in just six days, bruised and bat- inside the 30-yard circle at all times with only gone from 7.64 to 10.81,” Hughes tweeted on over the next couple of days because their strength tered bowlers yesterday pleaded for mercy as two men outside it for the first 10 overs. @theanalyst. lies in the predictability of their unpredictability.” the record books were being hastily rewritten. Furthermore, only three fielders can be out- Recent events bear him out from around the He said it would be nice to bat second and chase Many in the game fear the tournament has side the circle during the five ‘powerplay’ overs grounds of Australia and New Zealand. a total, noting that Pakistan has had difficulty chas- been transformed into a free pass for the world’s which have to be taken by the batting team Australia’s total on Wednesday went past the ing down runs at the tournament. muscular batsman, armed with ever bigger, before 40 overs are completed. “People want to previous World Cup best of 413-5 made by India Domingo said he was taking a cautious approach more powerful bats exploiting meaner fielding see big sixes and all that and that’s why the rules against Bermuda in 2007. restrictions. Australia were the latest team to and laws have been changed,” added Waqar. regarding the fitness of bowler Vernon Philander. feast when David Warner smashed 178 in his “The wickets have become really flatter, and the ‘300 beckons for batsman’ “We need to just make sure Vernon is 100 percent team’s World Cup record total of 417-6 against batsmen are a lot fitter and the bats are thicker. It was the third 400-plus total in six days after ready to go because, a hamstring strain, we need to Afghanistan at the WACA in Perth on So there are a lot of things going in the batters’ South Africa twice went through the barrier — be careful about that with the important stage of the Wednesday as the four-time champions raced to favour. I guess it’s a crowd pull thing. But for me, 408-5 against the West Indies and 411-4 in the competition still to come.” a 275-run win, the biggest margin in tournament I believe it should be an even contest.” game with Ireland. Domingo said allrounder J.P. Duminy should be fit history. Bowlers at the competition would have Former English county seamer Simon On February 24, Chris Gayle smashed the to play, and added that he wasn’t concerned about felt for seamers Dawlat Zadran, whose 10 overs Hughes, who now works as an international highest ever individual World Cup score of 215 in returned 2-101, Shapoor Zadran’s 2-89 and spin- match analyst and commentator, watched the Canberra against Zimbabwe, clubbing a record- Quinton de Kock’s run of low scores, saying he was a ner Mohammad Nabi’s 0-84. carnage unfurl at the WACA and argued that equalling 16 sixes as he bettered South African match winner and runs would likely come soon. “It is a little unfair to faster bowlers, you don’t under the new regulations run rates have been Gary Kirsten’s previous highest tournament Yesterday was sunny and warm in Auckland. —AP really know which way to bowl,” said Pakistan boosted by around a third. score of 188 not out against the UAE in coach and former star fast bowler Waqar Younis. “Since the new fielding restrictions, the run Rawalpindi in 1996. —AFP.