26 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, May 30, 2019 India’s great Gavaskar tips England for World Cup glory Second-ranked India’s chances depend to a large extent on Kohli

LONDON: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar says Eoin KOHLI CRITICISM Morgan’s England will be the team to beat at the But he has often received criticism over his captain- World Cup, with home advantage giving them a cy, with pundits saying the 30-year-old leader often vital edge over his native India. Top-ranked needs the experience of Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind England recently outplayed Pakistan 4-0 in a one- the stumps. day series to underline their supremacy in the 50- Kohli recently scored 464 runs in the Indian Premier over format. League Twenty20 tournament but his side Royal The home side, who have never won one-day Challengers Bangalore ended bottom of the eight-team cricket’s biggest prize despite making three finals, in table. “On an individual level he certainly can be as suc- 1979, 1987 and 1992, open their campaign against cessful (in England) as he was last year for sure,” said South Africa today at in London. “England, Gavaskar, who scored more than 10,000 Test runs. not India, are the favourites for this World Cup,” “But a captain is only as good as his team and Gavaskar told AFP. Dhoni’s presence takes a big load off Kohli, especially “They have been playing outstanding cricket over after the first power play,” said Gavaskar, who was the last few years and in familiar home conditions will part of India’s World Cup-winning team in 1983 under be hard to beat,” said the former India captain. Home . advantage has been a big factor in recent editions of Gavaskar, 69, also weighed in on the Indian team’s the showpiece event, with hosts India winning the much-debated number four slot, saying Lokesh Rahul 2011 trophy and Australia emerging victorious in should fill the position. He was unwilling to be drawn Melbourne in 2015. into the debate of whether India should boycott their Since the start of 2018 England, who switched to a round-robin match against Pakistan amid political ten- more aggressive brand of cricket after their humiliat- sions between the two hostile nations. ing first-round exit four years ago, have come out on Doubts were cast over the much-anticipated match top in ODI series against Australia, New Zealand, Sri in Manchester on June 16 after calls from many former Lanka and India. India players and officials to forfeit their match to their LONDON: England’s (L) and England’s captain Eoin Morgan (R) take part in a nets practice session on the eve Second-ranked India’s chances depend to a large arch-rivals. Relations between the two nuclear-armed of their opening match of the ICC against South Africa, at The Oval in London yesterday. — AFP extent on captain . Kohli, the number one South Asian countries nose-dived after a suicide batsman in Test and ODIs, last year defied critics who bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir in February questioned his poor performance on the 2014 tour of killed 40 Indian security personnel and was later itants who launch attacks on its soil but Pakistan has tions if credible evidence were provided by India. “In a England by hitting 593 runs in the 2018 Test series claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad. denied any role in the Pulwama attack, and Prime World Cup there is no option but to play all teams,” even though India lost 4-1. India has long accused Islamabad of harbouring mil- Minister offered cooperation in investiga- said a guarded Gavaskar. — AFP England launch World Cup bid Morgan says W Cup against S Africa win for hosts could LONDON: England will put four years of planning to the test when they face South Africa in the opening have huge impact on match of the 2019 World Cup at the Oval today. So embarrassing was England’s first-round exit at the 2015 English cricket edition in Australia and New Zealand it prompted a major rethink of their attitude to the white-ball game. LONDON: England captain Eoin Morgan says The transformation has been remarkable, with Eoin winning a home World Cup could do wonders for Morgan’s men climbing to the top of the one-day inter- cricket in the sport’s birthplace as he prepares to national rankings and twice setting a new record for lead his team in their tournament opener against the highest one-day international total, which now South Africa. stands at 481 for six. England are top of the one-day international Batting has been the basis of England’s ODI rejuve- rankings and favourites to lift a trophy they have nation, with , , Joe Root, never yet won in its 44-year-history-a far cry from Morgan and the dynamic among a top seven their woeful first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup who can all change the course of an innings in the blink in Australia and New Zealand. Television coverage of an eye. “It’s an exciting feeling being in this team as LONDON: South Africa’s (C) and teammates take part in a training session on the eve of their open- of cricket in Britain has been largely hidden behind you have world-class players all around you and the ing match of the ICC Cricket World Cup against England, at The Oval in London yesterday. —AFP a paywall since England won the 2005 Ashes but opposition might get 370, but there’s a belief in the Morgan believes a World Cup win would break dressing room we can chase it down,” said England years there is a sense the Proteas are going under the best way to start, because it gives us a real sense of through to a new audience. leg-spinner . radar this time around. South Africa coach Ottis Gibson where we are and what we need to do going forward. “It would mean a huge amount. The World Cup “There is no hesitation or someone going ‘I don’t is convinced the pressure is all on the tournament hosts “But you don’t have to be number one to win the alone raises the profile of the game and is a plat- know about this’. We all have that belief and confidence and cited comments by England quicks tournament and sometimes you can win the tournament form for every young kid in this country to have a we can do it,” added Rashid, whose ability to take and James Anderson-both of whom no longer play ODI and you don’t even go to number one.” South Africa, hero or have the inspiration to pick up a ball or a at key stages has also been an important part cricket-as an example. captained by , are without retired star bat,” Morgan told reporters at the Oval yesterday. of England’s white-ball revival. “I heard somewhere that my two very good friends batsman AB de Villiers but their top order includes the “To go on and win it, I couldn’t imagine what that “We will hopefully stick to what we’ve been doing Broad and Anderson have said that England will have talented . They will be without Dale would do,” the former Ireland batsman added. the past four years and hopefully the World Cup will to do something really bad not to win this World Cup,” Steyn today as the outstanding fast bowler nurses a work out well for us.” recalled Gibson, who knows the pair well from his time shoulder injury but South Africa have become used to ‘BRILLIANT’ SOUTHGATE as England bowling coach. his absence in recent times. Of arguably greater impor- The England cricket squad and backroom staff SOUTH AFRICA PAIN “As far as they are concerned England have won it tance for Thursday’s match is that , have spent time with England football manager South Africa have suffered plenty of World Cup already.” Former West Indies fast bowler Gibson arguably the leading paceman in world cricket today, Gareth Southgate, whose side revitalised interest heartache but having been losing semi-finalists four added: “To play the hosts, the number one team, is the has been passed fit following a back injury. — AFP and affection in the national team on their way to the semi-finals of last year’s soccer World Cup in Russia. “We did do a session with Gareth, it was bril- liant,” recalled Morgan. “He got up and talked edition saw Australia vanquishing arch-rivals England by nament when it was announced that Warne had failed about his journey with the team in and around the Cricket World Cup: seven runs in the final at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. a drugs test but they were so strong that his absence World Cup, but in the build-up, as well, and how England appeared to be on course to reach a target of made little difference. Main hosts South Africa suffered they built bigger expectations and came together 254 until captain tried to reverse sweep yet more heartache when they bowed out in bizarre more as a group. A potted history Australia captain Allan , an occasional spinner, fashion during a rain-hit match against Sri Lanka. They “I think everybody within the room listening only to give -keeper Greg Dyer a simple catch. LONDON: The Cricket World Cup starts in England thought they had won but in fact they needed one who has been involved with our team over the last today with 10 teams vying to be crowned champions in more run by the time the match was stopped. The final four years recognised that-we started exactly 1992: Pakistan roar where they did. Recognised what had happened in the 12th edition of the tournament. AFP Sports takes a at Johannesburg’s Wanderers ground was dominated A World Cup in Australia and New Zealand marked the past, drawn a line under it, tried to do things look back at the history of one-day showpiece. by Ponting’s majestic unbeaten 140 as Australia beat the first appearance in the competition of South Africa India by 125 runs. differently and move forward and enjoyed the chal- after decades of apartheid-enforced isolation. Pakistan, lenge of that.” But the expectations surrounding 1975: Windies wonders who had been on the brink of elimination, rode their luck England’s men’s football and cricket teams are A West Indies side including several players who had 2007: Woolmer death overshadows World Cup before finding their form late on under the inspirational wide apart, with Morgan saying his side had experience of limited-overs competitions in county The tournament was overshadowed by the death of captaincy of Imran Khan, who had urged his players to received a very different reaction when they were cricket swept all before them in England before beating Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer. India made an early exit “fight like cornered tigers”. All-rounder Imran topscored beaten by Pakistan in the 2017 semi-finals of the Australia in the final at a sun-drenched Lord’s. Clive during a tournament at which Australia were rarely chal- for Pakistan in the final with 72 in a total of 249 for six lenged. Nothing summed up their dominance quite like one-day Champions Trophy in Cardiff. Lloyd, the West Indies captain, led from the front with a against England, who were dismissed for 227. “It’s amazing. He (Southgate) did brilliantly. Got brilliant 102 and despite a rearguard action from Adam Gilchrist’s dashing hundred during the final against Sri Lanka in Barbados. to the semi-final and everybody says it’s great. We Australia, the Caribbean side completed a 17-run victory. 1996: Sri Lanka come of age got knocked out of the Champions Trophy semi- Sri Lanka changed the face of the of the game even 2011: Tendulkar triumphs at last final, and we’re crap,” added Morgan to laughter 1979: West Indies dominance before they won this World Cup as openers Sanath As the tournament returned to the subcontinent, from the assembled media. — AFP West Indies were arguably even more formidable than Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana capitalised on the question on the minds of many India fans was: four years previously, with the Caribbean side fielding a fielding restrictions with their aggressive strokeplay. But Could Sachin Tendulkar win the World Cup at the fast-bowling attack of , , the tournament was also notable for boycotts and riots, Sri and . made a com- Lanka winning two matches without bowling a ball when sixth time of asking? India beat Australia in the quar- manding 138 in the final against hosts England, although it both Australia and West Indies refused to play on the ter-finals and Pakistan in the semi-finals. The final was was Collis King who initially upped the tempo with a blis- island because of security concerns. In the final, Sri Lanka played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, tering 86. England, set 287 for victory, lost by 92 runs. held Australia to a total of 241 and Aravinda de Silva hit a Tendulkar’s home ground. Sri Lanka’s Mahela superb century as his side won by seven wickets. Jayawardene scored a majestic hundred in a total of 1983: India shock the world 274 and there were gasps when Tendulkar, the World Few were betting against Lloyd’s men making it three 1999: Australia hold their nerve Cup’s all-time leading run-scorer, was out for just 18. in a row ahead of the 1983 World Cup and even fewer Australia came through several tense matches to win But Gautam Gambhir’s composed 97 and a captain’s would have backed India to be the side to dethrone a second World Cup as hosts England exited early. innings of 91 from MS Dhoni, that ended with them. India had beaten the West Indies in a group game Australia met South Africa in a semi-final that ended in a a straight six, saw India to a six-wicket win. but their chance of victory in a Lord’s final seemed to remarkable tie when South Africa’s was run have disappeared when they were dismissed for just 183. out with two balls remaining. The result meant Australia 2015: Australia back on top But captain Kapil Dev made the decisive contribution went through to the final because of their better net run- A tournament staged in Australia and New Zealand when he held a brilliant catch to dismiss Richards and rate in the Super Six. The final was a let-down as a con- saw both co-hosts make it into the final. Australia had send the West Indies spiralling to a 43-run defeat. test, with Australia thrashing Pakistan by eight wickets at made their intentions clear from the start with a 111-run Lord’s as leg-spin great Shane Warne took four wickets. thrashing of England. New Zealand’s bold play won them 1987: Australia star in Asia many admirers but a total of 183 in the final never looked The first World Cup in the subcontinent looked like it 2003: Australia triumph despite Warne drama like winning a final and their near-neighbours cantered Eoin Morgan could produce an India-Pakistan final but instead this Australia suffered a setback on the eve of the tour- to victory by seven wickets. — AFP