TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 SPORTS South Africa face up to their Eden Park demons

WELLINGTON: South Africa have fancied to shed their reputation as Plessis told local media in Auckland. next month. The Proteas will look to Wales in June, a tournament the Proteas arrived in New Zealand full of confi- World Cup ‘chokers’ and reach a maiden “Honestly, something like that you stretch their golden summer into have underperformed in since winning dence after replacing at the final in the global showpiece and the always carry it with you. As a team, autumn, having swept both Australia the inaugural edition in 1998. top of the one-day rankings but defeat left several players in tears. It we’ve definitely put it behind us, but and 5-0 in one-day series at “We are putting a huge amount of the Proteas will have mixed feelings was later described by as shattered the emotions of the day will always be home. South Africa also beat Steve emphasis on one-day cricket,” added about their return to Eden Park this AB De Villiers’ “greatest disap- with us. “That’s not a bad thing. Smith’s Australia 2-1 away in their test the 32-year-old. “We haven’t per- week. The three-test tour kicks off with pointment”. Although we were on the wrong side of series and returned home to sweep the formed the way we’d like in ICC tour- a international on Friday at Test and T20 captain Faf du Plessis, winning the game, it was a great game Sri Lankans 3-0 but face a New Zealand naments. “The buildup we have is the Auckland venue where South Africa who top-scored for his team in the of cricket and something that will team unbeaten at home this summer looking good. “New Zealand have a lost the 2015 World Cup semi-final to semi-final with 82, said yesterday he still always be with us.” across all formats. great energy in their team and they the hosts when Grant Elliott smashed a carried scars from the match. After the one-off T20 match, the Du Plessis said the tour would be are very competitive, especially in the six off paceman Dale Steyn on the sec- “It was a great game, but it’ll be teams play five ODI’s before the open- good preparation for the ICC fielding department, so you always ond-last ball. South Africa had been mixed feelings getting back there,” Du ing match of the test series in Dunedin Champions Trophy in England and feel their presence.” —Reuters named new England Test captain

LONDON: Joe Root has been named as the England’s programme will consist solely of new Test captain of England, the England limited overs fixtures, including June’s and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Champions Trophy one-day tournament on yesterday. Yorkshire batsman Root, previ- home soil. ously England’s vice-captain, had been the Last week, Strauss made it clear he overwhelming favourite to take from wanted Eoin Morgan to remain as Alastair Cook, who resigned as Test skipper England’s one-day international and last week after a national record 59 match- Twenty20 captain. es in charge. Root, who made his England debut under Cook, is now widely regarded ‘ADMIRABLE QUALITIES’ as England’s leading batsman. Root has an impressive Test average of “It is a huge honour to be given the nearly 53 in 53 matches. He scored the first England Test captaincy,” the 26-year-old of his 11 Test hundreds at Headingley, his Root said in an ECB statement. “I feel privi- Yorkshire home ground, in May 2013 and leged, humbled and very excited.” currently has a total of 4,594 Test runs, plac- The ECB added all-rounder Ben Stokes ing him third in the International Cricket would succeed Root as vice-captain of the Council rankings for Test batsmen. He has Test side. also become a mainstay of the England Cook, England’s all-time leading Test side in all three international formats and run-scorer, is set to continue his England concerns had been expressed about his career, with Root also able to call upon the workload even before his appointment as experience of senior fast bowlers James Test captain. Anderson and Stuart Broad, as well as But Strauss was in no doubt Root, whom coach Trevor Bayliss. “We have a very good he said had accepted “immediately” after group of players, and I’m looking forward he was asked to be England captain last to leading them out in the summer-build- week, was the right man for the job. ing on Alastair’s achievements and making “Joe has shown a number of admirable the most of our talents in the years ahead,” qualities in his Test career so far,” said HYDERABAD: Members of Indian team pose with the winning trophy after their win over in their one-off cricket test match in said Root. “The senior guys in the changing Strauss. Hyderabad, India, yesterday. India won the match by 208 runs. —AP room play a very influential role-and while “Making his debut in 2012 at the age of there’s a natural progression for me, it’s a 21 and going on to establish himself as one huge support to know that they are there of the premier batsmen in all forms of the CRICKET to help and advise.” game in such a short period of time ECB director of England cricket Andrew demonstrates his drive, determination, Strauss, himself a former England captain, cricketing intelligence and an ability to added: “Joe is the right man to be our next learn that will serve him well in his new India thrash Bangladesh Test captain and I’m thrilled that he has role. “He is universally respected by his accepted the role.” team mates, passionate about driving the Root will have several months to pre- Test team forward and extremely excited pare for his first match as captain given about the prospect of leading his country.” in warning to Aussies England’s next Test does not start until July Root became a father for the first time 6, when they face South Africa at Lord’s. last month but flew out days after the birth England will be looking to bounce back of his son Alfred to join England on their after a difficult 2016 in , with ODI tour of India. HYDERABAD: India issued a battle cry to Cook resigning following a 4-0 series defeat He is due to travel again next week Australia yesterday after wrapping up a compre- SCOREBOARD in India at the end of last year. when England head to the West Indies for a hensive 208-run victory over Bangladesh with a Prior to the South Africa series, three-match ODI series. —AFP devastating display of spin by HYDERABAD, India: Scoreboard yesterday at the end of the one-off test between India and Bangladesh at Rajiv Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Gandhi International Stadium: Chasing 459 for victory on the final day of India, 1st Innings 687-6 dec. Mehedi Hasan Miraz c Saha b Jadeja 23 their first Test on Indian soil, Bangladesh were Bangladesh, 1st Innings 388 Kamrul Islam Rabbi 3 bowled out for 250 in an extended afternoon India, 2nd Innings: 159-4 dec. Taijul Islam c Rahul b Jadeja 6 session after stubborn resistance from their low- Bangladesh, 2nd Innings: Taskin Ahmed lbw b Ashwin 1 er order. Ashwin and Jadeja shared eight second (Overnight 103-3) Extras: (4b, 7lb, 3nb) 14 innings to help India extend their record Tamim Iqbal c Kohli b Ashwin 3 Total: (all out) 250 unbeaten run to 19 Tests, leaving them in prime Soumya Sarkar c Rahane b Jadeja 42 Overs: 100.3. form for a series against arch rivals Australia later Mominul Haque c Rahane b Ashwin 27 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-71, 3-75, 4-106, 5-162, 6-213, 7- this month. Mahmudullah c Kumar b Sharma 64 225, 8-242, 9-249, 10-250. Indian skipper Virat Kohli, man of the match Shakib Al Hasan c Pujara b Jadeja 22 Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 8-4-15-0, Ravichandran for his 204 in the first innings, paid tribute to Mushfiqur Rahim c Jadeja b Ashwin 23 Ashwin 30.3-10-73-4, Ishant Sharma 13-3-40-2 (3nb), Bangladesh for their fighting performance but Sabbir Rahman lbw b Sharma 22 Umesh Yadav 12-2-33-0, Ravindra Jadeja 37-15-78-4. made clear that thoughts had already turned to Australia. “Everyone’s minds and hearts are on that series and we are keen to start the first Test,” said he was “really proud” of his side and hoped The result meant India maintained their said Kohli after seeing off Bangladesh in that “we can learn from this”. unbeaten record against the minnows and now Hyderabad. “Everyone is raring to go ... It’s a very “Our bowlers need to learn how to bowl in have seven wins and two draws in nine encoun- big series for us.” Australia, currently number two partnerships and that can create chances. But it ters. The Australia series begins on February 23, in the Test rankings, land in Mumbai on Monday gives us a lot of belief after playing the number with the first Test in Pune followed by matches in for a four-Test series against Kohli’s top-ranked one Test side,” he said. Bangalore, Ranchi and Dharamsala. — AFP team. Despite the comprehensive nature of the result, Bangladesh emerged with some credit for taking the one-off contest into the afternoon of the final day and Kohli said India would need to T20 blitz puts Hong be more ruthless in future. “Closing off games is very important. Especially in Test cricket you don’t want to give oppositions any chance to get Kong on the map into the game and that’s something we need to CHENNAI: This is a Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 file photo of England’s Joe Root during keep repeating,” Kohli told reporters. Kohli, sec- the second day of the fifth cricket Test match against India in Chennai, India, Dec. 17, HONG KONG: A burgeoning Twenty20 tour- England’s Tymal Mills and New Zealand bats- ond only to Australian skipper in the 2016. Joe Root was been appointed England test cricket captain yesterday. —AP nament and growing interest from abroad is man Jesse Ryder. rankings, will go into the series in red- turning Hong Kong into one of Asia’s fastest- “To have that talent playing alongside local hot form after hitting his fourth double rising cricketing destinations-and could help players, you can’t buy that kind of experience,” since July. the sport make inroads into mainland China. said Cutler. “We’re the only associate (second- The Indian skipper said he had been making Hong Kong’s T20 Blitz is approaching only tier ICC member) to launch a franchise-based Coach Langer backs Shaun sure that he does “not get ahead of myself” and its second edition but already it is attracting a T20. There are lots of envious cricket federa- said the team’s recent run was about more than number of well-known players, including tions around the world.” Marsh to bat at six in India just his batting. “I don’t think it’s because of me Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq and hard- ... We are playing as a team and that’s been the hitting all-rounder Shahid Afridi. SWINGING INTO CHINA difference in this side,” he said. The densely populated city has also been Despite their lack of resources, Hong Kong MELBOURNE: Shaun Marsh has valuable Associated Press. “If they go the traditional proposed as a possible venue for Australia’s have cricketing pedigree, after rising as high experience in the subcontinent and should XI you’d pick Shaun because of his record in DAUNTING TOTAL successful Big Bash League, which boasts as 10th in the T20 rankings and beating slot into the vacant number six spot in not only the subcontinent but for Australia. Yesterday’s result had appeared in little doubt bumper crowds and TV ratings. Bangladesh in Chittagong at the 2014 World Australia’s for the upcoming “He deserves to play, Shaun deserves to after Bangladesh had been set such a massive It is a surprising scenario for Hong Kong, Twenty20. Last year, Hong Kong also agreed tour of India, his state coach play in the test match. Even before his total in their second innings and the tourists given that it has few cricket grounds, only 795 with China, South Korea and Japan to hold a has said. Marsh has not played since break- injury, he deserved to play.” Shaun Marsh, began the final day on 103-3. registered senior male players and scant inter- biennial East Asia Cup, with the first edition ing a finger as an opening batsman in the who has an average of 40.15 from 19 tests Mahmudullah (64) shrugged off poor form to est in the sport among its ethnic Chinese played in November. first test against South Africa in November in a career blighted by injury, has never register his 13th Test 50 while young spinner majority population. “It’s about carving a niche for us in East but the 33-year-old was named in the 16- toured India with the test side but has Mehedi Hasan made a gutsy 61-ball 23 to delay But the former British colony could now Asia,” Cutler said. The big prize for Hong Kong, man squad for the four-test series against scored two centuries in Sri Lanka, including the inevitable against the world’s number Test make itself a centre in East Asia for Twenty20 and the International Cricket Council, lies in India, which starts in Pune on Feb. 23. his 130 in the third test in Colombo in side. But the match ended when Ashwin, who in cricket, which has already spawned the popu- mainland China, whose only cricket ground All-rounder , Shaun’s August. Langer, seen as heir apparent to his 45th Test had become the fastest bowler to lar Big Bash, Indian Premier League and similar sits not far across the border in the sprawling younger brother, played at number six in head coach , will coach claim 250 Test wickets on Sunday, trapped Taskin competitions elsewhere. city of Guangzhou. The ICC describes the the same match against the Proteas but Australia’s Twenty20 team in a three-match Ahmed lbw to finish with figures of four for 73. Tim Cutler, Cricket Hong Kong’s 34-year-old Asian giant as a “strategic priority” and says it was dropped for the second test in favour series against Sri Lanka starting in There was some drama after the umpire origi- CEO, takes inspiration from rugby’s Hong is working with the China Cricket Association of a specialist batsman and then over- Melbourne on Friday. The T20 squad is nally turned down his appeal but had to change Kong Sevens, whose success helped the sport on ways to “achieve sustainable growth in one looked for the rest of the home summer. without several first-choice players includ- his mind after the decision was reviewed by the return to the Olympics last year. of the most complex and competitive sports “Look at the Hong Kong Sevens,” Cutler told markets in the world”. The spot has become something of a ing captain Steve Smith, batsman David Indian team. Ashwin also dismissed first innings AFP. “Hong Kong is not known for its sporting China has 52 teams, according to the Asian headache for selectors, who churned Warner and paceman , who centurion Mushfiqur Rahim (23) in the morning prowess but it can run international events. It’s Cricket Council, and the ICC puts current par- through , Nic Maddinson are all in camp preparing for India. That has session to scupper Bangladesh’s only real hope an easy place to get things done. Outside, ticipation figures at 80,285, including 36,000 and all-rounder during allowed a fairytale selection for 36-year-old of saving the match, while Jadeja accounted for people are thinking, ‘How can we be part of women and girls. series against South Africa and Pakistan, batsman , star batsman Shakib Al Hasan (22). that?’” Former Australia captain Michael Clarke chief executive Syed with none of the three able to cement their who has grafted at state level for nearly Mahmudullah then put on fighting partnerships came out of retirement to be the sole star Ashraful Haque has said global revenues for place. With rookie Matt Renshaw likely to two decades and is in line for his first inter- with their captain Rahim and Sabbir Rahman to player at last year’s inaugural T20 Blitz, but he the sport could increase by 30-40 percent if be retained as opening batsman after national cap after an outstanding tourna- resist the Indian attack on what still seemed to seems to have blazed a trail for Misbah, Afridi China became an established cricketing impressing in his four tests over the sum- ment for the in the domes- be a decent batting track. and others. nation. Cutler said: “If China were to take up mer, Shaun Marsh is in a battle with his tic T20 ‘Big Bash’. “I’d be amazed if he is not India had bowled out Bangladesh for 388 in The next edition from March 8-12 will also cricket, if it picked up by just one percent, brother and hard-hitting all-rounder Glenn in the first XI,” Langer said of Klinger. their second innings and decided to build on feature the West Indies’ two-time World you’re talking about a potentially huge mar- Maxwell for the middle order position. “It “If you look at his numbers, the system their 299-run lead after not enforcing the follow- Twenty20-winning captain Darren Sammy, Sri ket. “The T20 gives us the potential of growing depends on which balance they go for, we use in Western Australia, he and Aaron on. Ninth-ranked Bangladesh were always left Lanka legends and our audience in China and beyond, expanding how Australia wants to line up,” Western Finch are easily the two leading players in playing catch-up after the hosts posted a mam- Tillakeratne Dilshan, India’s , into China and acting as a go-between.”—AFP Australia coach Langer told Australian Australian T20 in that squad.” — Reuters moth 687-6 declared in their first innings. Rahim