SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014 All Blacks set for bruising Springboks test WELLINGTON: The world’s top two opening two matches before blowing has talked of an “unconventional” we know if we go out there, play the rugby sides, New Zealand and South a nine-point lead with 15 minutes to approach to attacking rugby on way we can and play the way we Africa, acknowledged each other as go last week to lose 23-24 to Australia. Saturday, underscored by his selec- want to, there will be opportunities,” bitter rivals yesterday as they prepare The All Blacks also head most of the tion of 20-year-old Handre Pollard at Matfield said. to meet in a crucial fourth-round championship statistics columns this fly-half with 21-year-old Jan Although the forecast is for rain, Rugby Championship clash. year, including scoring five more tries Serfontein at outside centre. McCaw played that down after his A win for the All Blacks today would than their nearest rivals South Africa, McCaw said the All Blacks planned side scored four tries in greasy condi- put them on the cusp of claiming the making the most clean breaks and to make life uneasy for Pollard who tions when they beat Argentina 28-9 southern hemisphere championship most tackles, but McCaw is taking has played only three Tests. last week. for a third successive year. A South nothing for granted. “You do that by starving him of “We’ve got to back ourselves to African victory in Wellington would “They are number two in the world. ball and making sure the ball they get get our skills right, and in reality it will hand the Springboks the initiative It’s always a hell of a Test match,” he is not real easy for him,” McCaw said. come down to the contact area,” he with two rounds remaining. said on the eve of the Test. “These are “That’s about getting the start of the said. “Even if it’s wet, if you can win As All Blacks Richie McCaw the games you really get excited game right and not letting him set- that it makes it a damn sight easier.” reflected yesterday on facing his arch about and tomorrow’s got that feel- tle.” The All Blacks have not been beat- rival 21 times in his 130-Test career- ing. Springboks vice-captain and veter- en on home soil in 33 Tests since they with a record of 16 wins and five “I’ve never had one (against South an lock Victor Matfield described the lost to South Africa in 2009, a year in defeats-he rated playing the Africa) that you walk off and say ‘that All Blacks as “the biggest challenge which the Springboks also won twice Springboks as “the Test”. was pretty straight forward’. They’ve out there” and said the Springboks at home against the visiting New The odds are in favour of the New always been a hard day out.” would have to lift their game consid- Zealanders for a rare 3-0 shut-out. In Zealanders-unbeaten so far in the erably to match the hosts. the five years since, the All Blacks championship-after South Africa ‘Unconventional’ approach “We know it’s not going to be easy. have won eight of nine matches struggled to defeat Argentina in their Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer We know it’s a huge, huge task but against the Springboks. —AFP Ajmal ban rouses to action on ‘chucking’

KARACHI: The ban slapped on star spinner Saeed Ajmal has left Pakistan’s chiefs frantically trying to take action on “chuck- ers”, including dusting off expensive biomechanical testing kit that had laid unused for years. Ajmal, who turns 37 next month, was suspended from interna- tional cricket on Tuesday after biomechanical analysis found his action, reported during the Galle Test against MUMBAI: Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan (R) jokingly inter- last month, to be illegal. He must now undergo remedial work on acts with his brother during the launch his action, and (PCB) chairman Shaharyar event for the Cricket Academy of Pathans in Mumbai on Khan acknowledged chucking was rife in the domestic game. Thursday. The Pathan brothers announced their plans to “I was informed 25 suspected bowlers had been playing in our open their cricket academy with tie up in schools across domestic cricket and now the number has increased up to 35 — the country starting with Vadodara to coach and nurture that means every team has at least two suspected bowlers,” said cricketing talent among children. — AFP Khan. Former captain and ex-PCB director of National Cricket Academy (NCA) Aamir Sohail said there were warning signs for Ajmal, who has bowled more balls than any other international NZ’s Cairns to fight bowler in the last three years. “I had warned in February this year that Ajmal will be suspend- perjury charge ed because his action was deteriorating with age, but no one heeded. I had recommended his action be checked every year,” WELLINGTON: New Zealand cricketing great Chris Cairns he told AFP. Former opening batsman Sohail, who played 47 vowed yesterday he would clear his name shortly before Tests and 156 ODIs for Pakistan, said there had been a total lack of British prosecutors confirmed they would charge him with interest in dealing with bowlers with suspect actions. perjury over match-fixing allegations. “We are ourselves to blame,” Sohail told AFP. “We have a bio- Former all-rounder Cairns has acknowledged previously mechanic lab in NCA which I activated and gave a list of bowlers that he is under investigation by British authorities for alleged to test there, but the lab remained ineffective for years.” fixing, but vehemently denied any wrong-doing. The NCA has equipment to test bowlers to check they are not The 44-year-old confirmed prosecutors had told him they straightening their arm more than the permitted 15 degrees in intend to charge him with perjury and he would travel to delivering the ball. Britain later this month to prove his innocence, New Zealand But the $440,000 kit, which includes 18 cameras supporting media reported. apparatus and computer software, has gathered dust since it was “I’m obviously extremely disappointed, however, at least bought in 2009 as successive PCB chiefs dismissed the need for it. there will now be an opportunity to face my accusers in an LAHORE: This file photo taken on August 14, 2014 shows open forum, with some rigour and proper process around Hammer blow Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal delivering the ball. The ban that, so that I can clear my name once and for all,” he said in a Cleared of chucking due to a congenital defect of his elbow in slapped on star spinner Saeed Ajmal has left Pakistan’s statement cited by Fairfax Media and TVNZ. 2009, Ajmal came under suspicion again this year when England cricket chiefs frantically trying to take action on “chuck- Later yesterday, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed paceman and former captain ers”, including dusting off expensive biomechanical test- Cairns would face one count of perjury in relation to a libel queried his action while the Pakistani was taking at will in ing kit that had laid unused for years. — AFP action he brought two years ago. county cricket. In June the International Cricket Council’s cricket forming and ageing Zulfiqar Babar-both left-arm “We can confirm that we have authorised police to charge committee recommended a stricter approach on illegal actions. spinners-who have spent the last few years in Ajmal’s shadow. Chris Cairns with one count of perjury, which arises from a That snared Sri Lanka’s Sachitra Senanayake and New The team management has also summoned off-spinners from libel trial held in the UK in March 2012,” a CPS spokeswoman Zealand’s Kane Williamson-both suspended in July-and then the domestic circuit, with prolific -takers Atif Maqbool and said. attention turned to Ajmal. His ban is a huge blow for Pakistan as Adnan Rasool seen as front-runners. In 2012, Cairns won £90,000 ($146,000) in a libel action he has led the team’s attack almost single-handedly across all But even these players have had questions over their bowling against former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi in three formats and was seen as key to their chances in next year’s actions at domestic level-indeed Rasool modelled his on Ajmal’s. London over a tweet alleging he was involved in match-fixing World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Mohammad Akram, head coach at NCA, said the process of while playing for the Chandigarh Lions in the now disbanded Head coach faces a daunting task in finding a eliminating bowlers with suspect actions would take time. The . replacement for one of the world’s best bowlers. fact Ajmal has been the team’s pre-eminent bowler for some time The CPS have also charged London-based lawyer Andrew The ban comes at a particularly difficult moment, with makes matters even more difficult. Fitch-Holland, a friend of Cairns who appeared as a witness at Pakistan facing a tough series against Australia in the United Arab “Youngsters used to model their actions on Wasim (Akram) the libel trial, with one count of perverting the course of jus- Emirates next month. “Of course, it’s a blow,” Waqar told AFP. and Waqar in 1990s, but now they model their actions on Ajmal,” tice. Fitch-Holland was involved in a case against the England “The timing is unfortunate but life goes on and we have to find a said Akram. “We have to take steps to help youngsters get clean and Wales Cricket Board when they banned players who had replacement as quickly as possible or hope Ajmal gets back after actions.” For Pakistan cricket’s future, actions are now far more appeared in the ICL in 2008.—AFP getting cleared.” Possible replacements include the under-per- important than words. — AFP