SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2015 SPORTS Windies humbled by 10 wickets in Test warm-up

BRISBANE: Skipper Jason Holder said home side with just 10 runs to win. CA ward, we have been stagnant the last tion of their glory days a quarter of a left-arm quicks Mitchell Starc (injury) he expected the West Indies to be XI openers Tim Paine (6) and Jake few months. century ago and have been written off and Mitchell Johnson (retirement). heavily criticised after an alarming 10- Carder (7) needed just 17 balls to rus- “We need to pick ourselves up, look by the pundits heading into the Test And their bowling arsenal hardly wicket loss to the Cricket Australia XI tle up the required runs and inflict an ourselves in the mirror and find some- series. The once-formidable West fired a shot as the CA XI amassed 444 yesterday just days before their open- embarrassing defeat on the West thing in ourselves.” Holder admitted it Indies last won a Test in Australia in off 104.2 overs in their first innings. ing Test with Australia. Indies. would be a challenge to inspire his 1997 and last won a series here in Holder was one of the few shining In what will only add to concerns Holder was trying to put on a brave tourists ahead of the Bellerive Oval 1992-93. lights for the visitors. Apart from his about the Windies’ level of competi- face after the humiliation against a Test but urged them to bounce back. The second-ranked Australians are second innings half-century, Holder tiveness ahead of the three-Test series, cobbled-together young side, featur- “The guys just have to take ownership again expected to be too strong for thrashed 26 in their first dig and took the tourists buckled to an ignominious ing six players making their first-class sometimes,” he said. “Once we own up the eighth-rated West Indies in the 4-76 with the ball. defeat in their only warm-up game debuts. to our mistakes we have to be positive series, starting in Hobart on December There will be some soul searching ahead of next week’s first Test in “Obviously we are going to cop a and look at ways to improve. 10. The Caribbean tourists were ahead for the Windies side as they Hobart. bit of criticism but we need to “We are not looking for excuses, bowled out for 243 and 210 by a rook- look for answers to stay in the contest The tourists managed to narrowly improve no doubt about it,” Holder just ways to improve-that way we will ie CA XI attack that pales in compari- against Steve Smith’s Australians, who avoid an innings defeat with Holder told reporters. “We are at a stage now move forward faster than we are at the son to the Australian line-up waiting last week clinched a 2-0 home series scoring 65 off 99 balls to leave the where we need to make strides for- moment.” The Windies are a pale imita- for them in Tasmania, albeit without win over New Zealand. —AFP

Butt and Asif set for domestic cricket return

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Salman cup starting next month. “We have cleared Butt and Mohammad Asif will be allowed Butt and Asif to play in the one-day tourna- to return to Pakistan’s domestic cricket in ment after they’ve completed their rehab January, three months after their spot-fix- programme,” Khan told AFP. Amir has ing bans ended, officials announced yester- already competed in the premier first-class day. tournament and was also cleared to play in The disgraced pair, along with the Bangladesh Premier League. With his Mohammad Amir, were banned for five superb wicket-taking form, Amir has years following a spot-fixing scandal tied to already been tipped to return to Pakistan’s Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010, where national team soon with Khan and head they took money for deliberate no-balls in coach Waqar Younis putting their weight the Lord’s Test. Amir was allowed to feature behind the pace-man on Thursday, saying in domestic matches in April this year after his selection was considered. the International Cricket Council (ICC) Asif said he was relieved to get the relaxed certain conditions of his ban chance. “Of course, it was disappointing to through an amendment to its code of con- be in the dressing room of the WAPDA duct. team but not being able to go on the However, the Pakistan Cricket Board ground and play, but it will change as soon (PCB) directed Butt and Asif to complete a as next month,” Asif told AFP. rehabilitation programme, and despite the “I think my fortunes will change and I duo being selected by former domestic will do my best to force my way into the champions Water and Power Development national team,” said Asif, who will turn 33 Authority (WAPDA), they were not allowed later this month. At the time of his ban, to play in any of the ongoing domestic Asif was regarded as the best new ball matches. But PCB chairman Shaharyar bowler having taken 106 Tests and 46 one- Khan announced that Butt and Asif will be day wickets in a career besotted by failed allowed to feature in the national one-day dope tests and injuries.—AFP France captain Thierry retires from test rugby NEW DELHI: India’s captain Virat Kohli, right’ bats as South Africa’s wicket keeper Dane Vilason watches on the third day of the fourth test crick- PARIS: France captain Thierry Dusautoir of sports daily L’Equipe. “Actually, I think it’s et match between India and South Africa in New Delhi, India, yesterday. — AP has announced his retirement from inter- the wisest choice. My character has always national rugby, bringing to an end a test been to give my all for France and for my career which saw him captain his country a club before thinking about myself,” record 56 times in 80 appearances and Dusautoir added.” Even if I’m proud and Kohli, Rahane help India where he distinguished himself as one of ambitious, I think I’m also someone honest the best tacklers in the modern game. and (to continue) would not have corre- Dusatoir, one of ’s best sponded to the person I am and the way flankers over the past decade, led France I’ve conducted my career.” inflate 403 runs lead against the odds to the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, scoring a try against New Zealand World Cup record in an 8-7 defeat. Dusautoir scored the first of his six inter- NEW DELHI: An unbroken stand of 133 In October, his final appearance ended national tries on his test debut against between captain Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane with an unwanted record, crushed 62-13 by Romania in 2006, and fast earned a reputa- inflated India’s lead to 403 against South Africa New Zealand in the World Cup quarterfi- tion for his incredibly tough, relentless and on the third day yesterday of the fourth and nals: the biggest ever defeat in the knock- fearless tackling. In the 2007 World Cup final test. out stages, and most points any France side quarterfinal against New Zealand, which Kohli was unbeaten on 83 and Rahane on 52 has conceded. That loss left him devastated, France won 20-18 in a stirring second-half in moving India’s second innings from a rela- and he said last month that he was unde- comeback, he set a World Cup record with tively troubling 57-4 to 190-4 at stumps. cided about his international future. After an astonishing 38 tackles in that match - a The first century stand of the low-scoring meeting new coach Guy Noves on Friday record which still stands. Four years later, his series has India in prime position to finish the morning, Dusuatoir made his decision to impressive performances in the 2011 World series 3-0 victors and compound South Africa’s walk away before the start of next year’s Six Cup - when he even out-performed famed first away series loss in nine years. Nations Championship, which begins in All Blacks flanker Richie McCaw in the final - Kohli led the charge with his 12th test half- February. “We reached the same conclu- saw him named the best player in the world century playing some fine drives and deft shots sions. That’s why I’m certain my choice is that year. France’s run to the 2011 final was down the leg side on a slow pitch with low based on reason ... if I’d tried to carry on in large part thanks to Dusautoir, who bounce. playing, forced things, it would have been became the team’s undisputed talisman more proof of vanity than anything else,” amid a massive fallout between senior play- Rahane, who got the first century of the the 34-year-old Dusautoir said in an inter- ers and beleaguered coach Marc series with a resolute 127 in the first innings, view to be published in Saturday’s edition Lievremont.— AP was slower but as solid in the second innings. South Africa pace bowler Morne Morkel grabbed three wickets but Kohli and Rahane ground down the bowlers with a partnership Champs romp to that was 12 runs more than South Africa’s first- innings total. “Our total in the first innings (334) put us in a Dubai Sevens title good position and our batsmen have now con- solidated on that,” India spinner Ravindra Jadeja DUBAI: World champions Fiji won the Dubai the Olympics in Rio next year. For Fiji coach said. “The pitch will only deteriorate further Sevens for the second time in three years , a former England boss, it was a yesterday with a 28-17 victory over England fourth Dubai triumph in six years as he saw from now on and make batting difficult.” in the final. his side sweep through the tournament. Kohli, who has struck 10 fours off 154 deliv- Fiji scored all of their points in the first They defeated Australia 19-12 in their quar- eries so far, was adjudged caught behind off half after falling behind to an early Tom ter-finals with tries from Kotanibau, captain Imran Tahir on 5 but batted on after replays Bowen try. , Jasa and Rawaca. That was fol- showed the delivery was a no-ball. Veremalua, , who had suffered a lowed up by a 19-5 win against New Zealand bout of food poisoning overnight and had in the semi-finals thanks to scores from EIGHTH HALF-CENTURY been on a drip before Saturday’s action, and , Pio Tuwai and Veremalua. Rahane has hit five fours off 152 balls in his Isake Katonibau grabbed Fiji’s four tries for a “England are a tough side so we are happy to eighth half-century. 28-7 lead at the break. England, the 2010 come through as winners,” said Kolinisau, Morkel relentlessly picked a fine line around and 2013 champions, rallied with late second playing in his 43rd World Sevens event. “It off stump to finish the day on 3-29 off 17 overs. half tries through Phil Burgess and a second keeps us on a roll for the next round in South He bowled a productive spell of seven overs score for Bowen. The series moves on to Africa.” South Africa won the Plate, France with the new ball, making India struggle at the Cape Town next week with Fiji remaining the took the Bowl and the Shield went to start of its second innings in the morning with a team to beat ahead of the sport’s debut at Canada. — AFP first-innings lead of 213 runs. He dismissed opener Murali Vijay for 3 and Rohit Sharma for a duck in quick succession before Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan forged a 45-run partnership that took India to 51-2 at lunch after a slow first session. Morkel had Vijay caught behind off a vicious bouncer that was taken one-handed high up by wicketkeeper Dane Vilas. However, replays sug- NEW DELHI: South African bowler Morne Morkel unsuccessfully appeals against Indian bats- gested the ball grazed Vijay’s arm-guard and man Ajinkya Rahane on the third day of the fourth test cricket match between India and the batsman, too, indicated it hit him there. South Africa in New Delhi. — AP Morkel was on a hat trick after dismissing Vijay off the last ball of his third over and bowl- ing Rohit first ball of his fourth. Rohit, promoted SCOREBOARD up the order to No. 3, missed a good-length delivery that kept low as India fell to 8-2. NEW DELHI: Scores at stumps on the third day of the fourth and final Test between India and Morkel also came back to dismiss left-hand- South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi yesterday: ed opener Shikhar Dhawan for 21 with a yorker. “That yorker was a bit of an out-of-the-box India 1st innings: 334 (A. Rahane 127, R. Ashwin 56; C. Pujara b Tahir 28 thing,” Morkel’s new-ball partner Kyle Abbott Abbott 5-40, Piedt 4-117) V. Kohli not out 83 South Africa 1st innings: 121 (de Villiers 42; R. Jadeja A. Rahane not out 52 said. 5-30) Extras: (lb2, nb1) 3 “Sometimes you’ve got to do that in these Total: (for 4 wkts, 81 overs) 190 DUBAI: Fiji’s Jerry Tuwai (R) is tackled by England’s Richard de Carpentier during situations, where pitches are not helping you India 2nd innings: Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Vijay), 2-8 (Sharma), 3-53 (Dhawan), their rugby final match of the Dubai leg, the first leg of the IRB’s 10-leg World Rugby much.” With legspinner Tahir bowling Pujara for M. Vijay c Vilas b Morkel 3 4-57 (Pujara) Sevens Series, yesterday in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. World champions Fiji won the 28, the damage was repaired by Kohli and S. Dhawan b Morkel 21 Bowling: Morkel 17-6-29-3, Abbott 17-6-38-0, Piedt 18- R. Sharma b Morkel 0 1-53-0, Tahir 21-4-49-1 (nb1), Elgar 8-1-19-0. Dubai Sevens with a 28-17 victory over England. — AFP Rahane. —AP