MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2013
S P ORTS
Swann retires from England while on Ashes tour LONDON: With the Ashes gone and an admission that his stamina might be in the same category, England spinner Graeme Swann decided to call it quits on his international and first-class cricket career yesterday. Once touted as potentially England’s greatest spinner, Swann retired with 255 wickets from 60 tests. Critics might say he retired too soon, but Swann said it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision just four days ahead of the fourth Ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground beginning Thursday. “It’s quite simple. When I came out on this trip I half expected it to be my last tour for England,” Swann told a news conference in Melbourne. “But with the Ashes gone now in those three test matches ... I think to selfishly play just to experience another Boxing Day test match, a Sydney test match, would be wrong ... wrong for the team ... wrong for me.” The 34-year-old Swann says age may have caught up with him. “My body doesn’t like playing five-day cricket anymore and I don’t feel like I can justify my spot
in the team in the last stages of a game,” Swann was quoted as saying. “As a spinner, that’s when you need to come into your own ... hanging around with a decision already made in my head wouldn’t be right.” Swann said he struggled to tell England coach Andy Flower and captain Alastair Cook of his decision on Saturday, and broke the news to the rest of the team on Sunday morning. “It should have been a very easy conversation, but it actually made it doublyhard just to sit down over a coffee and blurt it out,” Swann said. After England lost the third test in Perth last week to give Australia an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, Swann was forced to apologize for making comments on Facebook in which he compared his team losing the Ashes series with rape. “I did apologize for that, it had nothing to do with it (the retirement),” Swann said. Swann has had a terrible series by his own standards, taking just seven wickets for 560 runs in three lopsided losses. He struggled to adapt to the bouncy Australian pitches
and the lack of sideways spin. He returned 1-92 in the second innings in steamy conditions in Perth last week after taking two key wickets in the first innings. The England squad will miss
At his news conference, Swann said he wanted to be remembered primarily as someone who loved playing the game. He said since his England test debut in 2008 “I’ve treated every day like a
Graeme Swann Swann, who was distinguishable on the field because he bowled with his sunglasses on and collar turned up and who always challenged opposing batsmen to take him on.
lottery win.” “It really annoys me when people out there take it for granted and get above their station ... it’s the most privileged thing any man can do.” Swann said in hind-
sight he could have retired after England’s win in the previous Ashes series at home in August. “Why didn’t I stop then? I knew more or less that the time was coming up,” he said. “But I’d never forgive myself - we had the chance to potentially come out here and win four Ashes series on the bounce. It’s easy to wish you’d gone out taking 10-for in your last game and being hoisted on people’s shoulders.” England coach Andy Flower said Swann made an “outstanding contribution” to the team. “His commitment, competitive spirit and sense of humor have been recognized and admired by team mates and supporters alike and he has played a big part in England’s success over the last five years,” Flower said. “The dressing room will be a very different place without Graeme’s unique personality.” Australia coach Darren Lehmann said “it was a bit of a surprise, but he’s been a great cricketer for England over many years.” “It’s mid-tour, I don’t know what’s going on, but obviously he’s decided he’s had enough, so congratulations on a
great career and he’ll go home as one of the England greats,” Lehmann added. Swann played 79 limited-overs internationals, making his debut in 2000 at the age of 20 against South Africa in Bloemfontein. While some critics suggested that Swann retired because he may have been dropped for the fourth test, former England captain Michael Vaughan had nothing but positive words. “ Too soon ... for Graeme Swann 2 retire but it’s been a absolute pleasure watching him perform,” Vaughan posted on Twitter. Australia test player George Bailey says he’s always enjoyed Swann’s company, on or off the pitch. “He’ll always be considered one of the good fellows of international cricket,” said Bailey. Swann is the second England player to leave the tour. After the opening Brisbane test, batsman Jonathan Trott returned to England with a stress-related illness. Swann’s departure leaves Monty Panesar as the experienced spin option for Melbourne and for the fifth test in Sydney, which traditionally favors spin. — AP
New Zealand cruise to series win over Windies HAMILTON: New Zealand eased to an eight-wicket win over the West Indies yesterday to claim their first victory in a threeTest series in nearly eight years. The home side, needing just 122 runs to seal the series 2-0, reached their target for the loss of two wickets after the West Indies collapsed in the face of hostile New Zealand swing bowling. The rapid end to the match surprised New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum after his side trailed by 18 runs on the first innings following a mesmerising spell of spin bowling by Sunil Narine. “I certainly didn’t expect it to end up as quickly as this,” McCullum said, admitting he probably made the wrong decision to bowl first. “In hindsight we should have batted first. We misread the wicket and once we saw it turning and bouncing the way it did there was a bit of concern.” But once New Zealand seamers Trent Boult and Tim Southee tore through the West Indies’ second innings, scuttling the tourists for a paltr y 103, it became easy work for New Zealand to bat out the win. Hamish Rutherford, who sealed victory with a boundary to take New Zealand to 124-2, finished on 48 not out, with Ross Taylor on two. Peter Fulton was the first wicket to fall on Sunday, caught and bowled by Darren Sammy for 10, and Kane Williamson was dismissed for 56, bowled by Veerasammy Permaul. New Zealand take the series 2-0 after the first Test in Dunedin was drawn and they won the second by an innings and 73 runs in Wellington. It is the first time New Zealand have achieved back-to-back Test victories against a top-eight side since March 2006 — also against the West Indies. The Black Caps also won that three-Test series 2-0. New Zealand resumed their second innings on the fourth morning at 6-0 and although Narine, who took six wickets in the home side’s first innings, bowled
unchanged throughout the first session, he went without reward. Rutherford, who was stuck at the spinner’s end for a prolonged spell, offered a chance on 20 but Permaul did not see the ball early enough and it landed short of his grasp. When he was on 24, Rutherford was given out caught behind, but the decision was overturned on appeal with the video replay showing the sound was the bat hitting the ground. It was a remarkable change in the complexion of the match after the West Indies restricted New Zealand to 349 in their first innings, with the home side struggling to handle Narine on a turning wicket. But the tourists suffered from questionable shot selection against the swing bowling of Boult and Southee in their second innings on Saturday, leaving New Zealand with a straightforward task. “It looked like they had a plan for each and every batsman and the way their bowlers bowled on that wicket put us under a lot of pressure and we just did not have a response,” captain Darren Sammy said. “I’m most disappointed with our performance. We did not foresee what happened. We were thinking above 200 on the last day when we got spinning with the Narine factor it would be an interesting game.” Boult and Southee, along with the batting of Ross Taylor, laid the foundations for New Zealand’s success. Taylor, with 131 in the first innings, scored 495 in five innings in the series and he was only dismissed twice. From 10 Tests in the 2013 calendar year he averages 72.16. Boult (four for 23) and Southee (312) destroyed the West Indies’ second innings. Over the three Tests, Boult took 20 wickets at 15.40 and Southee claimed 18 scalps at 18.11. The sides will now play five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 fixtures before India arrive in New Zealand next month for five one-day internationals and two Tests. — AFP
JOHANNESBURG: South African batsman Faf du Plessis bats with Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind on the 5th day of a first cricket Test match between South Africa and India in Johannesburg at Wanderers Stadium yesterday. — AFP
South Africa baulk at chance to make history JOHANNESBURG: South Africa gave up on the chance to set a new world record in chasing down 458 for victory against India on day five of the first test at the Wanderers yesterday, falling eight runs short as they settled for a draw in the closing overs. The Proteas ended the match on 450 for seven, the third highest fourth innings score in test history, but played out successive maidens in the second and third last overs of the game to ensure they would not lose the match rather than go for the historic win. It was a massive anti-climax on one of the great days of test cricket as South Africa went into the final day needing 320 runs to win with eight wickets remaining. “We showed a lot of mental strength not to fade away,” South Africa captain Graeme Smith said in a television interview. “We played it beautifully until Faf got run out and after that you have to respect the decision of the guys in the middle. “Chasing it down would have been incredible. It went down to the last hour which was great for test cricket. “At the start of the day we wanted to make sure we went to Durban with a chance of winning the series.” After the loss in the morning session of Alviro Petersen (76) and Jacques Kallis (34) had put India on top, a 205-run fifth wicket stand between Du Plessis (134) and AB de Villiers (103) laid the platform for what would have been an extraordinary win.
SCOREBOARD JOHANNESBURG: Scoreboard after the first test between South Africa and India ended in a draw at the Wanderers yesterday. V. Philander not out 25 India first innings 280 D. Steyn not out 6 South Africa first innings 244 Extras: (b-2, lb-7, w-8, nb-2) 19 India second innings 421 Total (for seven wickets, 136 overs) 450 South Africa second innings (overnight 138-2) Fall of wickets: 1-108 2-118 3-143 4-197 5-402 A. Petersen b Shami 76 6-407 7-442 G. Smith run out 44 Did not bat: M. Morkel, Imran Tahir H. Amla b Shami 4 Bowling: Z. Khan 34-1-135-1, I. Sharma 29-4F. Du Plessis run out 134 91-1 (nb2, w1), M. Shami 28-5-107-3 (w1), R. J. Kallis lbw Khan 34 Ashwin 36-5-83-0 (w1), M. Vijay 1-0-3-0, MS AB de Villiers b I. Sharma 103 Dhoni 2-0-4-0, V. Kohli 8-0-18-0. JP Duminy b Shami 5 The partnership was ended when De Villiers chopped an Ishant Sharma delivery onto his stumps with 56 runs still needed, and the jitters star ted in the home dressing room as JP Duminy (five) was bowled by the impressive Mohammed Shami. Vernon Philander (25 not out) and Du Plessis took South Africa to within 16 runs of the win before the latter was run out with a direct hit by Ajinkya Rahane as he attempted a quick single. At seven wickets down South Africa decided to play for the draw, with Philander and Dale Steyn (six not out) shouldering arms in the closing overs.
SCOREBOARD
Pakistan beat S Lanka in third one-dayer HAMILTON: New Zealand celebrate their series win over the West Indies in the third cricket test, at Seddon Park, in Hamilton, New Zealand, yesterday. — AP
SCOREBOARD HAMILTON, New Zealand: Completed scoreboard on day four of the third Test between New Zealand and the West Indies at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday: H. Rutherford not out 48 West Indies 1st innings 367 (S. Chanderpaul 122 K. Williamson b Permaul 56 not out, D. Ramdin 107, K. R. Taylor not out 2 Brathwaite 45; T. Southee 4-79, C. Anderson 3-47) Extras: (b7, nb 1) 8 New Zealand 1st innings 349 (R. Taylor 131, K. Total: (2 wickets, 40.4 overs) 124 Williamson 58; S. Narine 6-91. D. Sammy 2-69) Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Fulton), 2-116 (Williamson) West Indies 2nd innings 103 (D. Sammy 24; T. Bowling: Best 7-3-22-0, Narine 16-6-39-0, Sammy Boult 4-23, T. Southee 3-12) 9-3-21-1 (1nb), V. Permaul 7-1-29-1, Deonarine 1.4-0-6-0 New Zealand 2nd innings (overnight 0-6) Result: New Zealand won by eight wickets. P. Fulton c & b Sammy 10
SHARJAH: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by a convincing 113-run margin in the third day-night international in Sharjah yesterday. Mohammad Hafeez notched a career best 140 not out for his eighth one -day hundred to help Pakistan to 326-5 in 50 overs before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 213 in 44.4 overs. Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 59 while skipper Angelo Mathews made 44. The win gave Pakistan a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The remaining two matches will be played in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Friday. — AFP
Steyn lofted the final deliver of the match over the boundary for six to howls of disapproval from the Wanderers crowd, who could scarcely believe their side had baulked at the opportunity to make history. There was history of sorts made earlier in the day though, when India paceman Zaheer Khan claimed his 300th test wicket with the scalp of Kallis. Zaheer became the fourth Indian bowler to claim 300 test wickets behind Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (413). The second test of the two-match series starts in Durban on Dec 26. —Reuters
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: Complete scoreboard in the third day-night international between Pakistan and Sri Lanka played at Sharjah stadium yesterday:
SHARJAH: Pakistan batsman Sharjeel Khan plays a shot during the third one day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at The Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah yesterday. — AFP
Pakistan Sharjeel Khan b Kulasekara 2 Ahmed Shehzad run out 81 Mohammad Hafeez not out 140 S Maqsood c Senanayake b Thisara 21 Misbah-ul Haq c Karuna b Thisara 40 Shahid Afridi b Malinga 2 Umar Akmal not out 23 Extras: (lb 10, w 7) 17 Total: (for five wkts; 50 overs) 326 Fall of wickets 1-2 (Sharjeel), 2-162 (Shehzad), 3-200 (Maqsood), 4-275 (Misbah), 5-281 (Afridi) Bowling: Kulasekara 10-1-67-1, Malinga 10-0-58-1 (1w), Senanayake 10-0-58-0 (3w), Thisara 8-0-58-2 (2w), Prasanna 8-046-0, Mathews 4-0-29-0 (1w),
D. Karunaratne c Akmal b Gul K. Sangakkara c Maqsood b Junaid D. Chandimal c Maqsood b Hafeez
0 14 36
A. Mathews c Akmal b Ajmal
44
N. Kulasekara c Akmal b Ajmal
1
S. Prasanna c Ajmal b Hafeez
22
T. Perera c Afridi b Junaid
2
S. Senanayake not out
4
L. Malinga b Gul
19
Extras: (lb2 w 3)
5
Total: (all out; 44.4 overs)
13
Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Perera), 2-17 (Karunaratne), 3-44 (Sangakkara), 4-103 (Dilshan), 5-132 (Chandimal), 6-136 (Kulasekara), 7-163 (Prasanna), 8-187 ( Thisara), 9-192 (Mathews) Bowling: Junaid 9-0-40-2(1w), Gul 5.4-0-19-3, Afridi
Sri Lanka K. Perera c Shehzad b Gul T. Dilshan b Afridi
9-0-41-1(1w), Bhatti 6-0-39-0(1w), Ajmal 7 59
10-1-37-2, Hafeez 5-0-35-2. Result: Pakistan won by 113 runs.
