Lehmann happy that batsmen backed up bowlers
CHRISTCHURCH: Australia coach Darren Lehmann has praised his team’s refurbished batting order for taking the pressure off a depleted bowling attack by scoring big totals in the Test series sweep over New Zealand. Lehmann’s revamped team wrapped up an emphatic 2-0 victory with their seven-wicket win in Christchurch onWednesday, which also secured the top ranking in Test cricket. Australia has weathered six retirements since last year’s Ashes series, including opening batsman Chris Rogers, former captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, and their replacements all played parts in felling the hosts. Four of their top five batsmen scored centuries in New Zealand, setting up 500-run totals in both Australia’s first innings in Wellington and Christchurch. New opener Joe Burns was named man-of-the-match for setting up the Christchurch win with scores of 170 and 65, while the re-instated Usman Khawaja capped his golden summer at number three with a knock of 140 in Wellington, his fourth Test century in five matches. “We’ve lost a big chunk of our side in one hit. But they changed around pretty quickly, we took a punt on a couple of players and they did well,” Lehmann told reporters. “We’ve probably got the better of the conditions battingwise, but that’s the way it goes in this game sometimes. “I’m pleased we’ve made big runs in the first innings. That helps, it certainly gives you more time in the game. “Australia’s pace bowling stocks, weakened by the loss of spearhead Mitchell Starc to injury before the series, were further tested with injuries to James Pattinson and his first-test replacement Peter Siddle. But the makeshift attack led by Josh Hazlewood limited New Zealand to a highest innings score of 370. Siddle and Pattinson both made important cameos while Jackson Bird, recalled inWellington for his first Test in two and a half years, recovered from a slow start to capture his best innings figures of 5-59 in Christchurch.—Reuters
Man United must learn to ignore critics, says LVG
MANCHESTER: Manchester United must learn to ignore their critics as their performances may have been affected by the intense scrutiny the team have been under throughout the campaign, manager Louis van Gaal said on Wednesday. Knocked out of the Champions League and six points behind Manchester City who are fourth in the Premier League, United’s fans turned on them last week after the 2-1 first-leg Europa League defeat by Danish team FC Midtjylland. “Maybe it can be an influence. There is a lot of criticism. They have to use their tools to ignore it. You have to prepare yourself properly and it should not be an influencing subject,” Van Gaal told reporters. However, midfielder Juan Mata insisted he was not influenced by the criticism, but he understood the frustrations of the supporters. “I am not bothered. I was very sad and frustrated because of the result and the fans, and not with the criticism,” Mata said on the eve of the second leg against Midtjylland at Old Trafford. “We feel their frustration because it is our frustration,” he added. With breaking into the top-four in the league looking less likely by the week for United, Mata wants to qualify for the Champions League next season by winning the Europa League. “Hopefully we can lift the trophy. It has a double meaning. The first time for the club and also win the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League,” the Spain international said. —Reuters
Former sprinter Fredericks heads IOC commission for 2024
BERLIN: Namibian former Olympic sprinter Frankie Fredericks will head the evaluation commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2024 summer Games bids, the IOC said on Wednesday. Fredericks, an IOC member since 2012 and four-time Olympic silver medallist, will lead the 14-member commission tasked with evaluating the four bids from Los Angeles, Budapest, Rome and Paris ahead of the vote in 2017. The evaluation commission will stage working visits to each of the four cities in early 2017 to review bid plans before delivering a final report to the Olympic body ahead of the decision at its session in Lima, Peru in September. The IOC also said it had appointed Russian Olympic Committee chief Alexander Zhukov as head of the coordination commission, overseeing the delivery of the 2022 winter Olympics in Beijing. Zhukov was head of the evaluation commission of the 2022 bids with Beijing getting the nod in August last year.—Reuters
ICC names umpires, match referees for World T20
DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday named 31 match officials for the ICC World T20, to be played in India from March 8 to April 3. Pakistan’s Aleem Dar is among the prominent umpires named for the event. The strong line up includes all the seven and twelve members of ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, respectively, as well as twelve other umpires. Match referees include David Boon, Chris Broad, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath. The umpires’ panel also includes two female umpires, New Zealand’s Kathleen Cross and Australia’s Claire Polosak. The two were also involved in the ICCWomen’sWorld T20 qualifier in Thailand. Cross is set to make history during Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh on March 16 when she will become the first female umpire to officiate in an ICC World T20 match. — APP
Ibrahim top seed in Pak Bahria Open
By our correspondent KARACHI: Ibrahim Iltifat is the top seed for men’s singles in the 1st Pak Bahria Open Ranking Tennis Championship, which commences from Friday. Talha Suhail is the top seed in juniors under-17 and Hania Naveed in girls singles. Inter-collegiate team events for boys and girls will also be played in the championship. Meanwhile, seven tennis players from Hyderabad have entered their names in the tournament. Pakistan Navy is the sponsor of this event to be held at the NPT & SC Karsaz.
Essa Laboratory Golf Tournament from tomorrow
KARACHI: The first Essa Laboratory Golf Tournament will be played here at the picturesque Karachi Golf Club on Saturday (tomorrow) and Sunday. Around 350 golfers are expected to feature in the event. Juniors, ladies, seniors and veterans will play on Saturday and the main amateur category will be played on Sunday. —PPI
