India Will Look to Continue Its WTC March
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EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE India will look to continue its WTC march Double points for away wins: Kohli du Plessis calls the system ‘complicated’ South African bowlers will have to rise to the occasion if the team has to stay afloat in the series Amol Karhadkar SA IN INDIA and give the team a chance PUNE to draw parity in the series. If cricket is far from being a Amol Karhadkar However, despite an un simple sport for a tyro, the PUNE dercooked strip, primarily World Test Championship is The last time — in fact the due to incessant rain in the even more complicated to first time — the scenic stadi leadup to the game, Kohli’s fathom even for an ardent um on the outskirts of the ci cavaliers will be confident of sports lover. ty hosted a Test match, Steve continuing their clean slate As the debate over the O’Keefe made the most of an in the World Test Champion fairness of the points system akhada (dust bowl) to roll ship (WTC). heats up as the WTC is set over India’s famed batting tling in, India captain Virat India is unlikely to tinker lineup to lead Australia to a Kohli has said that he would with its settled combination. rare win on Indian soil. The prefer an additional incen South Africa, on the other match got over in barely two tive for winning a Test hand, will be tempted to bol and half days, with India’s overseas. ster its pace department batsmen returning to the “If you would have asked with either Lungi Ngidi or dressing room quicker than me to make the points table, Anrich Nortje coming in for the zooming cars on the ad I would give double the Piedt or Vernon Philander. joining MumbaiPune points for an awayTest win. Expressway. Irrespective of the team That is something I would The meek surrender at compositions, with a thun definitely like to see, maybe Magical change: Rohit Sharma, who made a dream start as a the Maharashtra Cricket As derstorm threat looming ov after the first edition,” Kohli Test opener, gets ready for more. * VIVEK BENDRE sociation Stadium may have er the city for the rest of the said on Wednesday. taken place a little over two week, both camps — and the sional in every session that duled for mid2021. and a half years ago, but fans — will be hoping that Great for Test cricket we play. It will be much “It is complicated. Ob with the impressive run In weather doesn’t emerge the “Look, the importance of ev more demanding on the viously, shorter the Test se dia has had in white flannels manofthematch. ery game has become that players now, which is a good ries, the more points you across the globe since then, The teams (from): much more. In situations, in thing, as it will keep the stan get. You get 120 points for the defeat has turned into a India: Virat Kohli (Capt.), Rohit a threematch series, you dard of Test cricket high. ,” two wins and then you play distant memory for a major Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Che probably would have played he said. a fivematch series, then ity of cricket connoisseurs. teshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, out a draw, but teams are go While India has main you’ve to win 50 which is a On a roll: Virat Kohli will be keen to make his 50th Test at the helm a memorable one. Hanuma Vihari, Wriddihiman ing to go for wins and get tained a clean slate in its lot harder than winning Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Milestone match * VIVEK BENDRE those extra points, so, I three Tests of the WTC so far 20,” du Plessis said. However, captain Virat Kohli Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mo think it’s great for Test — two in the West Indies fol hammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, — who will lead India in his der Kohli. lience,” as referred to by inevitable. Umesh Yadav, Rishabh Pant cricket.” lowed by the first of the Holes and flaws 50th Test when he walks out But with India looking so captain Faf du Plessis — in (wk) and Shubman Gill. With India topping the Freedom Series in Visakha “But I’ve noticed with these for the toss for the second lid as ever on home turf, the the first innings, recovering Damp pitch WTC table in its early stages, patnam — South Africa had things, you’ll always find South Africa: Faf du Plessis game of the series against Proteas will have to literally after a toporder collapse to The South African bowlers (Capt.), Aiden Markram, Dean Kohli stated that the compe its first brush with the new holes and flaws. It’s never a South Africa on Thursday — play out of their skin — and put on 400plus on the would have learnt their les Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba tition has made cricketers tournament last week. perfect system. So for us, it’s will look to nail a series hope for the skies to remain board. But Mohammed Sha sons from the show of their Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), more intense. Terming the points sys just about being the first clinching win in the miles clear — to end Kohli and Co.’s mi’s sensational spell on the Indian counterparts in Vi Vernon Philander, Keshav Mah “The matches are going to tem as “complicated”, cap who is going through this tone match. 10match unbeaten streak at fifth morning virtually took sakhapatnam. With a damp araj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngi be that much more exciting tain Faf du Plessis said that journey now with the Test That loss against Australia home. all the positives away despite pitch and overcast skies, the di, Dale Piedt, Anrich Nortje is what we all feel and have not losing points at home championship. I think home in February 2017 remains In South Africa displayed a Senuran Muthusamy and visiting team’s bowlers will and Senuran Muthusamy. already experienced. will be critical for the teams games are going to be really dia’s only defeat at home un lot of character — “resi Dane Piedt delaying the expect to make early inroads Match starts at 9.30 a.m. “We have to be profes to feature in the final, sche important.” A mean machine with a heart Priya and Jemimah steer India to a facile win EXCLUSIVE South Africans fail to come to terms with the host’s slow bowlers S. Dinakar Chennai SA WOMEN IN INDIA ya, batting on 6. “When I feel good, I can do anything,” declared Kagiso Ashwin Achal Two decades Rabada. He meant what he Vadodara and counting said. India cruised to an eight The 36yearold Mithali, inci As an explosive fast bow wicket win over a shoddy dentally, has now completed ler with power and skill, who South Africa in the first One 20 years in international can crash past defences or Day International at the Re cricket. Her maiden appea knock down batsmen with liance Cricket Ground here rance came in an ODI against brutal lifters, the South Afri on Wednesday. Ireland back in June 1999. can has walked the talk. Faced with a small target After opting to bat, South Among the hottest fast of 165, India rode on fine Africa struggled to get going. men around — the 24year knocks from ODI debutante Pacers Jhulan Goswami old Rabada has 177 wickets in Lethal: Rabada has the ability to bowl unplayable deliveries. Priya Punia (75 n.o, 124b, (three for 33) and Shikha 38 Tests at 22.35 — the leader * K.R. DEEPAK 8x4) and Jemimah Rodrigues Pandey (two for 38) got of the South African pace (55, 65b, 7x4) to get the job among the wickets, while the pack in the postDale Steyn big expressive eyes or a few With Steyn retired, the ex done with 50 deliveries to spin trio of Ekta Bisht, Deep era is a bonafide gamechan words. pectations from Rabada and spare. ti Sharma and Poonam Ya ger. He explained, “It’s about his pace partners have in The openers got the home dav kept things tight. Talking exclusively to The who’s going to come out on creased. “I like to hang out side on the right track with a The batters were all at sea What a start! It was memorable debut for Priya Punia as the youngster put in a Hindu in Visakhapatnam top when up against the best. with Vernon Philander and solid 83run stand. Jemimah against the generous flight playerofthematch performance on Wednesday. * VIJAY SONEJI about the responsibility of International cricket is never Lungi Ngidi. We bounce was adventurous with her offered by the slow bowlers. leading the Proteas’ attack, easy. You put a lot of hard ideas off each other. We need strokeplay, while Priya was The visitors did not get to the SCOREBOARD Rabada said, “It is a good work in a session, an invest to step up.” happy to block. pitch of the ball, and ended SOUTH AFRICA 164. (38b, 3x4), Mithali Raj (not out) pressure. I am always chal ment, and there can be emo Ask him about the finest Jemimah could have got a up playing airy shots well Lizelle Lee lbw b Jhulan 0 (1b), FALL OF WICKETS 11 (24b, 1x4), Extras (nb1, w6, lenging myself, getting out of tional outbursts or expres contemporary batsmen and big score, but her across the away from the body.