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14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, January 11, 2018 Rabada set to wait for opening chance despite rapid rise Steyn’s injury means burden will be greater on Rabada CAPE TOWN: The world’s top Test bowler Kagiso 39.2 that is better than veterans Dale Steyn, Vernon Rabada says it is his ambition to open the bowling for Philander and Morne Morkel. Despite his form, Rabada South Africa, but he will likely have to wait for his was the fourth bowler used by South African captain chance ahead of the second Test against India starting Faf du Plessis in the first innings against India, a bow to in Pretoria on Saturday. his team mates’ seniority. Rabada’s thrilling display of fast bowling helped The 22-year-old has long been thought of as a spe- South Africa to a 72-run victory in the first Test at cial talent, particularly in his homeland where the desire Newlands, and catapulted the young firebrand to the for role-models for young black cricketers burns summit of the International Cricket Council’s Test rank- strong. But few thought he would deliver so much, so ings. He dislodged England’s soon. There are many who Jimmy Anderson, a man 13 believe he can still get quick- years his senior, with match er, adding further to his con- figures of 5-75 that only tell siderable weaponry. “I don’t half the story of a display Our bowling know how fast I can get. brimming with pace, aggres- Sometimes I don’t think the sion and control. attack is speed gun is telling the truth “Our bowling attack is to be honest. I can feel when very skilled, as we have seen very skilled I’m bowling quick and when in the past and in the last I’m not,” he added. game. It feels great to be The loss of Steyn to playing alongside these vet- another injury setback means erans,” Rabada told the burden will be greater on reporters yesterday. Rabada this season, with two more home Tests to come “I just bowl wherever the team wants me to bowl, against India and then four Tests against the visiting but obviously I would like to open. “It is very tough at Australians. the moment, though, because there are two very good “I need to do more, I am always striving for perfec- bowlers doing that. I just like to do whatever the team tion, even though you will never reach it,” he said. requires me to do and set my own aspirations aside.” “There is always something else you can work on and CAPE TOWN: File photo shows South Africa bowler Kagiso Rabada celebrates dismissing India bowler Since the start of 2016 he has taken 108 Test wickets that is what I have done in my career so far. There is Wriddhiman Saha during day four of the First Test between South Africa and India in Cape Town. — AFP at an average of 21.34 and has a career strike-rate of always a problem!” — Reuters Root likely Irish to host to be fit for giants India opening ODI in T20 matches MELBOURNE: England Test captain Joe Root is expected to be fit for Sunday’s one-day series opener against Australia in Melbourne as he continues to DUBLIN: Ireland will play 2007 World Twenty20 recover from the illness that saw him treated in hospital champions India in two T20 internationals in during the fifth Ashes Test. Dublin in June, Cricket Ireland announced yester- The 27-year-old returned to training yesterday after day. Both games will be played in the Dublin sub- receiving treatment for gastroenteritis, which forced urb of Malahide, with the first encounter scheduled him to retire hurt on the final day in the Sydney defeat for June 27 and the second match two days later on that gave Australia a 4-0 test series triumph. Friday, June 29. “He’s obviously a lot better than he was on Monday,” It will be the first time that the sides have met on England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler was quoted saying by Irish soil since they played an ODI in Belfast back the Australian Associated Press. “He’s up and about so I in 2007. The games will be the first T20 interna- think a few more days and his bug should have gone. tionals for Ireland head coach Graham Ford, and He’s a huge part of our side so we’re desperate for him the South African is relishing the prospect of pit- to be fit and well. I’m sure he will rest up and try and ting his wits against such high profile opposition. get his energy back.” “It’s fantastic news for the lads and fans alike,” Ahead of a busy international schedule, including said Ford, who only took the reins of the Irish side home Test matches against India and Pakistan, England last month. “The matches will of course be a huge coach Trevor Bayliss has urged Root to skip the 2018 SYDNEY: File photo of England batsman Joe Root drives a ball from Australia’s attack on the final day of challenge for the team, but what an opportunity for Indian Premier League. Root, however, remains keen to the fifth Ashes cricket Test match at the SCG in Sydney. — AFP everyone to showcase their talents in front of a play in limited overs competitions to prepare himself huge audience, both at the games and live on tele- for the next year’s 50-over World Cup in England. vision,” added the 57-year-old former South Africa “We had that discussion a few days ago, I suggested head coach. to him that he shouldn’t play, that he should have a He wants to play in 50-over World Cups and T20 sions to make.” England are scheduled to play five one- Ford, who has also coached Sri Lanka, said break,” Bayliss was quoted as saying by British media World Cups. “He thinks if he keeps missing all the T20 day internationals against Australia followed by a there was a potentially rich reward awaiting anyone on Tuesday. “He feels that whenever he’s had a break in cricket he’s just going to fall behind and not be up to Twenty20 tri-series with the hosts and New Zealand who impressed. “I’m sure the players will respond the last couple of years, it’s always been a T20 series. speed when those come along. There are difficult deci- which starts on Feb. 3. — Reuters positively to the occasion with the added incentive of knowing eye-catching displays could result in a possible IPL contract,” said Ford. “We haven’t played our best cricket in the for- mat in recent years which is reflected in the rank- Focused Patriots ings, but what better time to start climbing the lad- der again. “We have a number of players ideally ‘ignore the noise’ suited to the short-form and on home soil it’s a great opportunity to cause a shock or two,” added Ford. — AFP ahead of Titans clash LOS ANGELES: The New England Patriots are no stranger to controversy and on Tuesday the players said they would not let a reports of internal turmoil Pakistan recall within the organization distract them from their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Shehzad, ignore A report last week said there was a rift between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft but tight end Rob Gronkowski Kamran for NZ T20 said he and team mates were not losing any sleep over it ahead of their playoff opener on Saturday. KARACH: Pakistan yesterday recalled Ahmed Shehzad for “The reputation that coach tries to get us to have is their three-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand just ignore the noise. Ignore the noise from the outside later this month, but selectors ignored Kamran Akmal and I feel like that’s what myself, a lot of other players despite his recent form in domestic matches. have been doing,” tight end Rob Gronkowski told The 26-year-old Shehzad was dropped for the third reporters. and final Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in Lahore late last “You’ve just got to keep ignoring the noise and just November, but his recent form and youth helped him keep our focus on what we’ve been doing all year and regain his place. But Kamran, 35, was not so lucky, despite that’s preparing hard, studying our opponent, getting being the highest run scorer in National Twenty20 with ready mentally and physically for the big game.” 432 runs last November. He smashed a double century in a Brady, Belichick and Kraft later issued a joint state- domestic One-Day Cup match last week. ment flatly denying the ESPN report. The Patriots, who All-rounder Imad Wasim, who missed the current one- last year won their second Super Bowl title in three day international (ODI) series against New Zealand, will seasons, had a first-round bye after finishing atop the also miss the T20s due to a knee injury, said chief selector AFC and will host the Tennessee Titans on Saturday in Inzamam-ul-Haq. “Wasim has yet to recover from his knee the divisional round of the playoffs. injury, and was told to continue his rehabilitation at the “The intensity has been high every single week all FOXBORO: File photo shows LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball against the New academy in Lahore. Sohaib Maqsood was not considered year long,” said Gronkowski.

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