THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015 SPORTS N Zealand mull two spinners for second Test WELLINGTON: New Zealand are toying with the possibili- ond Test at Seddon Park. “I think we just showed what we both seamers or replace one with Mark Craig as a second well and just hasn’t got the rewards at the moment. “We’ll ty of playing an extra spinner in the second Test against Sri are capable of doing, but now it’s time to keep that consis- spin option to back up Mitchell Santner. look at the surface and work out the combination and the Lanka starting in Hamilton tomorrow, despite their com- tency up and move forward.” “We could,” he said of the possibility of playing two dynamic we are after and then we’ll make a decision.” manding victory in the series opener. Mascarenhas rated Bracewell as “probably the best spinners. “But we haven’t seen the wicket yet. From my Mascarenhas expected a more resolute performance from Bowling coach Dmitri Mascarenhas spiced up competi- bowler” in the first Test but without having the same suc- point of view you pick the best team to get a win in the Sri Lanka who are still bedding in a clutch of newcomers tion in the bowling ranks by suggesting the line-up could cess as Wagner who, on his recall after a year out of Test conditions.” Captain Brendon McCullum said the bowling after the retirement of several seasoned players in the past be shaken up at the expense of either Neil Wagner or cricket, bagged the key wicket of Sri Lankan captain options remained wide open. “When (Wagner) is in your 18 months, notably Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Doug Bracewell, both of whom were impressive in the first Angelo Mathews in the second innings. team you know that you’ve got those overs when you are Sangakkara. “We saw some really good signs from their Test in Dunedin which New Zealand won by 122 runs. Wagner took five for 143 from 42 overs in the match going to be able to create some opportunities,” he said. batters. They’ve got some really talented and skilful play- “The boys bowled exceptionally well on a really flat wicket while the more miserly Bracewell bowled 10 fewer deliver- “Mark Craig comes back into calculations as well but Doug ers,” he said. “We know they’ve lost a couple of big players and it’s about time we took 20 wickets,” Mascarenhas said ies and finished with one for 88. Mascarenhas said a pitch Bracewell, I thought he bowled absolutely brilliantly but the ones coming in are having opportunities and tak- Wednesday, as the squad began preparations for the sec- inspection would determine whether New Zealand keep throughout the Test match and all through Australia as ing them.” — AFP Dwayne Bravo says WI board needs shake up MELBOURNE: Out-of-favour all-rounder themselves. We don’t have proper Dwayne Bravo yesterday lamented the grounds, proper nets or a proper acade- sorry state of West Indian cricket and said my. All these things are a part of our those running the game needed to take downfall. a long hard look at themselves. Bravo “The relationship between players, was stripped of the one-day captaincy a board members and management staff-it year ago then left out of the West Indies’ needs to get stronger and tighter. They World Cup squad after the team he skip- (the board) need to have a lot more hon- pered walked out of their tour of India esty.” His remarks follow pace great last year in a row over contracts. Michael Holding on Tuesday saying the He has not been picked for one-day- West Indies Cricket Board was “dysfunc- ers since and quit Test cricket this year tional, untrustworthy and not liked by the after being ignored by selectors. employees”, while Brian Lara blasted its In Australia to play for the Melbourne “bad governance”. Bravo said despite Renegades in the Twenty20 Big Bash wanting to play Test cricket again earlier League, Bravo said it was painful to see this year, he was now no longer interested. what had happened to the once-formi- “Until earlier this year I was still inter- dable West Indian team. ested to play Test cricket but I have yet to “Times change and I think that is one hear anything from any selector, what of our problems, we tend to hold on too their plans are for me, what my position much to the past and not focus on the is,” said 32-year-old Bravo, who has future. That has been our downfall,” he played 40 Tests. “I just decided it’s time said. “It’s painful to see the state of our to move on with my life and try to chan- cricket.” His comments come amid sting- nel my energy in different places. ing criticism about the tourists’ inept per- “I would have loved the opportunity formance in the first Test of their current to play Test cricket again but since being series against Australia, who won in dropped back in 2010 I never got the Hobart by an innings inside three days on chance and I just decided to call it a day.” Saturday. Bravo joined a host of fellow Despite this and his row with the West former greats in blaming the West Indies Indian board, he has not given up hope Cricket Board for the current malaise. of again playing the shorter forms of the CHICAGO: Artemi Panarin #72 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck as Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche closes in at the United Center on Tuesday in Chicago, Illinois. The Avalanche defeated the Blackhawks 3-0. — AFP game at international level. ‘MORE HONESTY NEEDED’ “I’m not shutting down my opportuni- “We’ve got the players to be up there ties to represent the West Indies, I still Kane’s point streak ends at 26 with the best in the world but there’s a 100 percent want to play for the West lot of things going on,” he said. Indies in one-day internationals and “Those in charge have to look into T20s,” he said. — AFP as Avalanche blank Blackhawks CHICAGO: Semyon Varlamov stopped 29 shots Henrik Lundqvist stopped 18 shots. Taylor Hall this season to 11-3-1. Ryan Miller gave up six for his first shutout of the season, leading the and Jordan Eberle scored for the Oilers. goals in two periods before being pulled at the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-0 victory over Chicago second intermission. on Tuesday night and snapping Blackhawks star FLYERS 4, HURRICANES 3, OT Jannik Hansen and Daniel Sedin scored for Patrick Kane’s points streak at 26 games. Matt Shayne Gostisbehere scored 1:42 into over- Vancouver, and linemate Henrik Sedin assisted on Duchene had a goal and an assist for the time, lifting Philadelphia past Jeff Skinner and the each one. The Canucks fell to 1-6-3 in their last 10 Avalanche, who won their third straight to cap a Carolina Hurricanes.Yakub Voracek had a goal and games away from home. Their only win in that perfect four-day road trip to Nashville, St. Louis two assists, and Brayden Schenn and Sean stretch was at Minnesota on Nov. 25. and Chicago. Zach Redmond scored in the second Couturier also scored for the Flyers, who won their period and Gabriel Landeskog added an empty- seventh in 11 games while improving to 7-6 in DEVILS 2, SABRES 0 netter with 1:57 left. Varlamov was sharp when overtime. Skinner had his second hat trick in three Cory Schneider made 25 saves to earn his sec- needed in earning his 19th career shutout and games and the third of his career for the ond shutout of the season and lead New Jersey third against Chicago. But for most of the game, Hurricanes. He has nine goals in his last six past Buffalo. Lee Stempniak and Jiri Tlusty scored Colorado limited Chicago’s chances - and Kane. games. Gostisbehere netted the game-winner for the Devils, who earned a point for the fifth Kane’s franchise-record streak was the longest after receiving a backhand pass from Voracek. time in their last six road games and improved to since Mats Sundin’s 30-game stretch in 1992 93. Gostisbehere also had the winning goal in over- 6-0-2 against Atlantic Division teams this season. The Chicago right wing had 16 goals and 24 time in Philadelphia’s 3-2 victory over Carolina on Adam Henrique returned to center the Devils’ top assists during the run, and has points in all but Nov. 23. Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia’s backup, line after missing two games with an upper body three of the Blackhawks’ 32 games. made his 14th start and third straight. He finished injury, and had an assist on Stempniak’s goal. with 29 saves while improving to 8-4-2. Mike Cammalleri also had an assist, his team-lead- STARS 5, BLUE JACKETS 1 ing 20th of the season. Linus Ullmark made 19 Tyler Seguin broke open a tight game with two FLAMES 2, PREDATORS 1, OT saves for the Sabres, who had a two-game win second-period goals 30 seconds apart in Dallas’ Kris Russell scored 1:23 into overtime and streak snapped. victory over Columbus. Kari Lehtonen improved Calgary beat Nashville for its sixth straight victory. to 11-1-0 by making 34 saves. He also notched his TJ Brodie also scored for Calgary, which opened a PANTHERS 5, ISLANDERS 1 third assist of the season on Seguin’s first goal.