38 SPORT FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 2018 Warne backs tested Finch Lankan refugee gets SHANE Warne has called on Australia selectors to stick with Aaron Finch and believes his fellow Victorian should be seen as a future Test captain. Finch scored 62 and 49 in his maiden two Test innings a grip on hitting it big against Pakistan this week after being drafted into the side at the age of 31 to bolster a bat- JOSH SPASARO final against Punjabi Kings at role in Tracy Village winning “When I hit the Trojon ting line-up missing the vastly Wanguri Oval on Sunday. the 2018 Darwin D-grade board I got my first bit of rec- experienced Steve Smith and DINESH Shanthakumar was What is also amazing is premiership, his team beating ognition,” he said. David Warner. first spotted playing cricket on Shanthakumar’s background, Palmerston by 106 runs in the “I was determined to show- Warne said the team boasts the beach in thongs – and he and this is why he plays cricket final on September 16. case more of what I can do this the weakest batting line-up he could not afford a bat with a on minimal sleep after working Shanmugham believes his year.” can remember less than a year grip on it. such long hours. friend is good enough to play Tracy Village coach Tony out from the defence of the A few years later and he is The Sri Lankan Tamil – A or B-grade, if he did not Judd said Shanthakumar was a Ashes in England. still doing it tough, working a who does not yet speak fluent have to work on Saturdays in valued member of his club, as Smith, Warner and Camer- jaw-dropping 80-plus hours a English – fled his war-torn order to build the large funds were the majority of D-graders on Bancroft will be eligible for week, but is proving to be a home country in fear for his required to pay his lawyer in with similar backgrounds in selection after their suspen- revelation in Top End compe- life on a boat as a refugee and Dinesh Shanthakumar his quest for residency status. that team. sions for the Cricket World titions. spent time in detention camps Shanthakumar first made “If they were able to play on Cup and the Ashes and Warne Shanthakumar smashed an on Christmas Island and the traffic in the alleyways. They’d himself known after blasting Saturdays, a lot of them would expects all three to walk astonishing 188 from just 73 Curtin facility. play with taped-up tennis balls 165 from 149 balls for Tracy be good A-grade cricketers,” straight back into the side. balls for Darwin Warriors Shanthakumar – still wait- because they couldn’t afford Village’s C-grade team against Judd said. “We need them,” Warne against Bengal Royals in his ing on a visa residency clear- hard cricket balls,” said his University last year. “Dinesh works hard and told BBC Radio 5 Live on Wed- team’s recent 185-run win in ance – learnt cricket on busy friend Suriya Shanmugham, He picked up a well-earned contributes well to the com- nesday. the Asia Cup tournament in streets back in Sri Lanka. who was the first to spot him bonus of $3200 for hitting the munity. We hope they can stay Darwin. “They’d play in bare feet playing at Dinah Beach Oval. Trojon sign at Tracy Village in the community and keep His team will contest a semi- and thongs and have to dodge Shanthakumar played a big Oval with one of his six sixes. playing for our club.” Heat signs wonderboy BRISBANE Heat has pulled off a coup by signing one of the world’s most intriguing crick- eters – and he’s just 17. Afghanistan wonderboy Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been recruited for this summer’s Big Bash and will bring a bag of tricks which will make his every delivery captivating. Mujeeb is so talented he can bowl wrist spin and finger spin. His two favourite balls are great slow bowling weapons, the wrong‘un bowled by wrist spin- ners and the carrom ball de- livered out of the front of the hand. Few bowlers can master both because they require vast- ly different skill sets. Mujeeb became the first male player born in the 21st century to play international cricket when he made his sen- ior debut for Afghanistan last year and has since represented his country at Test, ODI and T20 level. Young guns in NSW hope NSW has named three potential debutants in the squad for its Sheffield Shield opener at Adelaide Oval. Australia’s Under-19 cap- tain Jason Sangha, batsman Jack Edwards and allrounder Australian opener Usman Khawaja played one of the best knocks of his Test career when he hit 131 off 301 balls against Pakistan in Dubai yesterday. It helped Australia Daniel Sams have been in- pull off a draw against the odds to finish on 8-362 Picture: GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP) cluded in NSW’s 12-man squad for the clash with South Aus- tralia which starts on Tuesday. Edwards, who is 18 years Khawaja’s coming of age boosts Aussies old, and Sams impressed in the recent one-day tournament. Edwards scored 116 against BEN HORNE impressive performances of a whether they had a title next draw as the visitors finished on batsman in this revamped Queensland, becoming the Test career that is finally to their name, and Khawaja 8-362. Australian side. youngest batsman to post a JUST weeks after Usman reaching some sort of fruition. has sent a powerful message to Khawaja has shed 7kg in Langer entrusted Khawaja century in one-day domestic Khawaja failed to make the The fact Queensland cap- teammates with his actions in the past few months in a sacri- to address the left-handed cricket in Australia. shortlist for the Australian tain Khawaja, perhaps the Dubai. fice that showed Langer he batsmen including Head after Sangha, 19, celebrated his vice-captaincy, he has sud- most established batsman in Confronted with the mis- meant business. the first innings failure, in a maiden first-class ton while denly morphed into an instant the Australian top order sion impossible task of leading And now under the pres- telling indication of where he playing for a Cricket Australia team leader. wasn’t even nominated by his Australia through 140 overs to sure of his history of failure in stands. XI during last year’s Ashes tour Khawaja last night pro- peers for leadership positions save the first Test against Pak- spinning Asian conditions, “We just spoke with Uz. He game in Townsville. vided further evidence that he within the side was a surpris- istan in Dubai, Khawaja (131 Khawaja has stood up to be played beautifully, and it was a Indian icon Sachin Ten- could have a new career as an ing revelation. off 302 balls), Travis Head (75 counted. In the moment of lot about realising the work dulkar is the only batsman to opening batsman as he pros- But coach Justin Langer’s off 175 balls) and captain Tim reckoning in the first Test we’ve done over the last have scored a first-class cen- pered for the second straight mandate was for players to Paine (61no off 198 balls) com- since sandpapergate, Khawaja month, backing our plans,” tury against England at a innings with one of the most stand up and lead regardless of bined to pull off a stunning has shown he is now the best said Head. younger age than Sangha. NTNE01Z01MA - V1.