MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015 SPORTS Windies, England seek fresh start NORTH SOUND: West Indies and England to attract almost forensic attention, both face-off in the first Test of a three-match for his leadership and form with the bat, as series on at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium England embark on an arduous campaign in Antigua today, with both sides involved of 17 Tests over a nine-month period. in reconstruction and rehabilitation follow- Rustiness will also be a concern as their ing a wretched few months. last Test was more than eight months ago Facing the wrath of the Indian authori- when they completed a 3-1 home series ties following an unprecedented abandon- demolition of a dispirited Indian side. ment of the tour there last October and Their brief build-up to this series was with several of their star players either hardly taxing as the couple of two-day overlooked by the selectors or unwilling to matches against a St Kitts Invitational XI represent the regional team, there is con- provided such a low standard of opposition siderable trepidation over the prospects of that the tourists resorted to using some of the West Indies in the opening fixture, their squad players in the home team for notwithstanding the ground’s reputation the second match. as a batting paradise. However the game unfolds, England Chris Gayle, who led the West Indies to and their army of travelling supporters are an upset 1-0 triumph the last time the anticipating at least one moment of cele- English played a Test series in the bration as experienced seam and swing Caribbean in 2009, announced his unavail- bowler James Anderson needs four wickets ability for the assignment, although he is in his 100th Test to surpass celebrated all- turning out for the Royal Challengers rounder Ian Botham’s tally of 383 — the Bangalore in the lucrative Twenty20 Indian most by an England cricketer in Tests. Premier League. Ironically, Anderson and the rest of the Dwayne Bravo, captain of the squad England pace attack are being mentored who walked out of the Indian campaign, on this tour by fast bowling coach Ottis appears to be paying the price for his role Gibson, who was surprisingly removed as in that fiasco, although the official line from head coach of the West Indies just a couple the selectors, headed by outstanding for- days before the home series against mer captain Clive Lloyd, is that they are Bangladesh last August. looking to younger players to try to take Former hard-hitting West Indies opener the team forward. Phil Simmons, previously in charge of While the West Indies were at least able Ireland, was only announced two weeks to qualify out of their preliminary group at ago as Gibson’s full-time replacement. the World Cup in Australia and New Simmons has been preparing the squad Zealand last month, England failed to at a training camp in Antigua where the CINCINNATI: St. Louis Cardinals’ Jhonny Peralta (27) is safe at home beating the tag from Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco (left) in the advance beyond the group stage, inviting continuing good form of Devendra Bishoo ninth inning of a baseball game. —AP widespread condemnation at home and at looks certain to result in the return of the the same time fuelling speculation over the leg-spinner to the Test fold three years after possible return of controversial batsman his last match against Australia in Kevin Pietersen for the Ashes series against Barbados. Cardinals end Reds’ winning streak arch-rivals Australia in three months’ time. Home captain Denesh Ramdin has spoken One batsman who is expected to make of relying on spinners to win the series for CINCINNATI: Matt Adams delivered his first plate as he tried to score from second. four and singled for his first hit. He became a return in Antigua is Jonathan Trott. him, raising the prospect of a final XI compris- home run of the season, and the St. Louis Former Yankees closer David Robertson the fifth rookie starter to make his first start Seemingly lost to the game when leaving ing both Bishoo and left-armer Sulieman Cardinals ended the Cincinnati Reds’ season- struck out the side in the ninth for his first against a reigning Cy Young Award winner the last Ashes series in Australia after strug- Benn. That would leave Kemar Roach and gling to cope with the pace of Mitchell Jerome Taylor, the destroyer of England in the opening winning streak at four with a 4-1 save with Chicago. The White Sox lost their and the fourth to earn a win. Johnson in the first Test in Brisbane, the 33- decisive first Test in Jamaica in 2009, as the win on Saturday. first four games. Left-hander Zach Duke (1-0) Kershaw (0-1) lasted 6 1-3 innings and year-old South African-born player looks twin spearheads of a bowling attack that will Kolten Wong had a sacrifice fly, Jhonny worked a scoreless eighth for the win. gave up 10 hits, including Paul Goldschmidt’s set to open the batting in his 50th Test with be seeking to exploit and magnify any self- Peralta and Yadier Molina added ninth- two-run homer in the seventh. Goldschmidt captain Alastair Cook. doubt among opponents who inevitably inning run-scoring singles and Michael PHILLIES 3, NATIONALS 2 has home runs in four straight games against Without a century for his country in have one eye on their impending home duel Wacha pitched into the seventh inning to get Odubel Herrera doubled home the win- the Dodgers dating to last season. Kershaw more than a year-and-a-half, Cook is likely with the Australians. —AFP the win in his first appearance of the season. ning run in the 10th inning with his first did not allow 10 or more hits in any regular- Wacha (1-0) shook off Todd Frazier’s first- major league hit. Carlos Ruiz led off the season game in 2014. inning home run to go 6 1-3 innings, allow- inning with a single off Tanner Roark (0-1). ing five hits and one run with a walk and two He advanced on a deep flyout and scored ROYALS 6, ANGELS 4 Gillespie joy over Pujara strikeouts. when Herrera doubled down the right-field Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez Adams’ homer is the only earned run line. Wilson Ramos hit a solo homer for the homered during a five-run fourth inning a sign of county change allowed by Reds starter Johnny Cueto in 14 Nationals, who wasted a strong outing by against Jered Weaver (0-2), and AL champion innings this season - a 0.64 ERA. Cueto (0-1) Doug Fister. Dustin McGowan (1-0) pitched a Kansas City improved to 5-0. LONDON: There was a time when the Australian seamers Ben Hilfenhaus gave up four hits and two runs in seven scoreless 10th. Jeremy Guthrie (1-0) threw 94 pitches in notion of an Australian coach of Yorkshire (Nottinghamshire) and Jackson Bird innings. his season debut, allowing four runs and six getting excited by the arrival of an Indian (Hampshire) will hope for late call-ups into batsman at Headingley would have been the Ashes squad in England after being left ORIOLES 7, BLUE JAYS 1 hits in seven innings as he began a $25 mil- unthinkable. out of the original tour party. TIGERS 9, INDIANS 6 Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0) struck out eight and lion, three-year contract. It was his first start For most of their proud history, the Surrey fans can look forward to the sight Ian Kinsler hit an RBI single and Yoenis allowed one single over seven innings, and that mattered since he took the loss in World White Rose club-the most successful side in of Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara and Cespedes doubled in two runs during Jonathan Schoop hit a grand slam. Ulejandro Series Game 7 against San Francisco. the 125 years of England’s first-class County Kevin Pietersen batting together as they Detroit’s four-run ninth as the Tigers stayed De Aza and Chris Davis also homered for the Greg Holland followed Wade Davis out of Championship with 31 titles-insisted upon bid for promotion from the Second unbeaten with a win over the Indians. Orioles, who rebounded from a 12-5 loss to the bullpen and pitched a perfect ninth selecting only players born in Yorkshire. But Division. Kinsler’s fourth hit - a single off closer Toronto in their home opener Friday. inning for his third save. The Royals and that policy was finally done away with in England exile Pietersen will be desper- Cody Allen (0-1) - broke a 5-all tie and helped After Tommy Hunter worked a hitless Atlanta are the only big league teams whose 1992 when they signed India great Sachin ate for the runs he must score to have any the Tigers improve to 5-0 for the first time eighth, Zach Britton gave up a double to relievers have not allowed a run. Weaver Tendulkar. Now Yorkshire, the reigning chance of a Test recall following the old since 2006. The Tigers had to rally twice after Steve Tolleson and an RBI single to Edwin threw 85 pitches in 4 1-3 innings and was county champions, are about to begin the regime at Lord’s decision to ditch him in Cleveland’s Jerry Sands delivered a pair of Encarnacion in the ninth. charged with six runs, seven hits and four defence of their First Division title away to 2014 following an Ashes whitewash loss in clutch doubles.