Decline and fall of Test cricket? Don’t tell West Indies or England

Decline and fall of Test cricket? Don’t tell West Indies or England
Shamar Joseph of the West Indies dismisses Josh Hazlewood of Australia, sealing a win for the West Indies during day four of the second cricket Test match between Australia and West Indies at the Gabba in Brisbane on January 28, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 29 January 2024
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Decline and fall of Test cricket? Don’t tell West Indies or England

Decline and fall of Test cricket? Don’t tell West Indies or England
  • Nail-biting finales in Brisbane, Hyderabad Test matches shows there is still life in the format
  • England’s Tom Hartley and West Indies bowler Shamar Joseph heroically bowled their teams to victories

PARIS: A few years ago, an award-winning film “Death of a Gentleman” drew attention to what appeared to be the steady decline of Test cricket as it struggled to ward off the popularity of the shorter game.

On Sunday, however, Test match cricket, which has been on the scene since Australia and England first locked horns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877, showed there is still life in the format.

An extraordinary day of twists and turns saw two gripping games in Brisbane and Hyderabad reach nail-biting finales.

They also launched two new stars, both 24, in England’s left-arm spinner Tom Hartley and West Indian fast bowler Shamar Joseph.

In Hyderabad, Hartley went from zero to hero, taking 7-62 on his Test debut to help England to a 28-run win over India.




England's Tom Hartley celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of India's Mohammed Siraj to win the first Test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India on January 28, 2024 (REUTERS)

In Brisbane, Joseph, who was working as a security guard a year ago, came back from being helped off the field after being smashed on the toe while batting, to rip through Australia’s much-vaunted batting line-up.

Playing in only his second Test, he took 7-68 as the West Indies won by just eight runs, their first win in Australia since 1997.

“I feel like we won the series. Even though it’s 1-1 I feel like we won the entire series,” Joseph told reporters.

Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite said victory was the perfect riposte to former Australia fast bowler Rodney Hogg who had described the West Indies as “pathetic and hopeless.”

“We wanted to show the world we’re not pathetic,” he said.

Test cricket has come under threat over several decades by the rise first of one-day cricket and latterly from the emergence of T20 — and even T10 — franchises that have sprung up around the world.

This month, for example, South Africa withheld its top players from a Test tour to New Zealand so that they could play instead in the domestic T20 tournament.

The money in T20, especially in the Indian Premier League is eye-watering — Australia captain Pat Cummins fetched $2.47 million for a few weeks’ work in the 2024 auction — so it is no surprise that players are attracted.

Fans enjoy the thrash, bash and smash as well as the flashing lights, bright colors and party atmosphere while television is attracted by the easier packaging of the shorter game.

For all its bells and whistles, however, T20 lacks the nuances and slow-burning drama of the kind seen in Brisbane and Hyderabad.

England trailed by 190 on first innings which would normally make an India win a formality — they had never previously lost a Test on home soil in which they held a first-innings lead of 100 runs or more.

But thanks to some fine batting from Ollie Pope, who made 196, England were able to set the home side 231 to win.

Hartley, whose first ball in Test cricket three days earlier was hit for six, found the length and enough turn to unsettle the batsmen and guide England to an improbable win late on the fourth day.

Ben Stokes described it as “our greatest triumph” since he took over as England captain in 2022.

India and England along with Australia are the three wealthiest countries in international cricket which perhaps makes Joseph’s exploits in Brisbane the more significant.

From the mid-1970s to the late 1980s the West Indies were the finest team in the world but decline set in, largely through bad management, to the point where calling them mediocre was a compliment.

The team in Australia was missing a slew of top names who had been lured away to play franchise cricket elsewhere.

There were seven uncapped players in the 15-man squad, including Joseph who had not even played a first-class game for Guyana 12 months ago.

Overwhelmed in the first Test, the West Indies bounced back in real style with Joseph epitomising a new spirit that teases the prospect of a return to former glories.

And perhaps the best news was what he said after the game when he was inevitably asked if he would be heading to the riches of the T20 circuit.
“I will always be here to play Test cricket for the West Indies,” Joseph said with some reverence.

“There will be times when T20 might come around and Test cricket will be there... but I will always be available to play for the West Indies no matter how much money comes toward me.”


Britannia advance in America’s Cup while American Magic stay alive

Britannia advance in America’s Cup while American Magic stay alive
Updated 19 September 2024
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Britannia advance in America’s Cup while American Magic stay alive

Britannia advance in America’s Cup while American Magic stay alive
  • The Americans won both races to cut Luna Rossa’s lead to 4-3 in the first-to-five playoff series
  • Alinghi Red Bull Racing cut their deficit against INEOS Britannia to 4-2 by winning their first race, but the British triumphed in the second race to qualify for the Louis Vuitton Cup final that will begin on Sept. 26

BARCELONA: INEOS Britannia advanced to the final of the America’s Cup playoffs on Wednesday, while NYYC American Magic took advantage of a mid-race failure on the boat of Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli to keep alive their hopes of pulling off an unexpected comeback in the semifinals.

The Americans won both races to cut Luna Rossa’s lead to 4-3 in the first-to-five playoff series. American Magic had been on the verge of elimination after going down 4-0, and now they can advance with a pair of victories on Thursday.

The Americans won the final race of the day on Wednesday after a gear failure on Luna Rossa’s boat took it out of contention. The Italian boat had to start cruising immediately after a loud pop was heard.

“You’re always going to get a few curveballs that come your way, but champion teams can deal with that, and we’ve certainly got a champion team,” Luna Rossa skipper Jimmy Spithill said. “We have a fantastic team ashore and there’s no doubt in my mind that we will be back. I’ll make a bet and I’ll put the farm on it that we’ll be out there tomorrow.”

Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing — who also trailed 4-0 — earlier Wednesday cut their deficit against INEOS Britannia to 4-2 by winning their first race, but the British triumphed in the second race to qualify for the Louis Vuitton Cup final that will begin on Sept. 26.

“It was a tough final couple of days in the lighter conditions, hats off to Alinghi Red Bull Racing, they really pushed us hard in those lighter conditions and it was a rough day today where the wind was up and down a lot, a nasty sea state,” Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie said. “A tough test for all of the teams, but I’m delighted for our team, for all the hard work and effort to get us this point.”

Alinghi skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis said they started sailing well “too late” in the playoffs.

“The boat performed well, but we missed some opportunities on the sailing side,” he said.

The winner will challenge defending champion Team Emirates New Zealand in the America’s Cup final next month.


Hidden talent: French Olympic star Marchand opts for disguise

Hidden talent: French Olympic star Marchand opts for disguise
Updated 19 September 2024
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Hidden talent: French Olympic star Marchand opts for disguise

Hidden talent: French Olympic star Marchand opts for disguise
  • Marchand: I need to organize myself a little more. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little
  • Marchand said that the Paris Olympics, which were widely praised for their smooth organization, had sparked a wave of optimism in the country

TOULOUSE: French Olympic swimming hero Leon Marchand said Wednesday his record-breaking exploits in the Paris pool have changed his life so much that he often needs to don a disguise to evade attention.

The 22-year-old won all four of his individual races at the Games — the 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke and 200m-400m medley double.

It thrust him into elite company as the first male swimmer to do so at a singles Games since American legend Michael Phelps in 2008.

However, fame has its occasional downside.

“I’m going to lose a little freedom and spontaneity because I can’t go out to restaurants like I used to anymore,” Marchand said as Toulouse feted its new Olympic star.

“I need to organize myself a little more. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little.

“But when people do stop me in the street, it’s to say ‘thank you’. That’s kind and I take it to my heart.”

He added: “I have got used to it quite quickly even if the first weeks were difficult, because it’s a fairly radical change in status.”

Marchand said that the Paris Olympics, which were widely praised for their smooth organization, had sparked a wave of optimism in the country.

“France has changed and I hope it will last,” said Marchand.

“Sport is something quite special. It conveys an emotion that you can’t have anywhere else and the French realized this. We must continue to celebrate athletes, try to put more resources into infrastructure, more sport in schools.”


Man City and Inter Milan draw 0-0 in goal-shy Champions League. PSG score late to beat Girona

Man City and Inter Milan draw 0-0 in goal-shy Champions League. PSG score late to beat Girona
Updated 19 September 2024
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Man City and Inter Milan draw 0-0 in goal-shy Champions League. PSG score late to beat Girona

Man City and Inter Milan draw 0-0 in goal-shy Champions League. PSG score late to beat Girona
  • Just 13 were scored in six games one day after 28 were fired on Tuesday, including nine by Bayern Munich alone
  • A rare Thursday slate of Champions League games will see Barcelona go to Monaco, Atalanta host Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen visit Feyenoord

GENEVA: Where did all the goals go?

The 0-0 draws between Manchester City and Inter Milan in their rematch of the 2023 final, after Bologna and Shakhtar Donetsk also could not find a goal, capped an untypically goal-shy evening for the Champions League on Wednesday.

Just 13 were scored in six games one day after 28 were fired on Tuesday, including nine by Bayern Munich alone.

How unusual was this? Two 0-0 draws after just 12 of 144 games to be played in the new league phase is already halfway to the total of four in 96 games one year ago in the group-stage format that is now abolished. The entire competition averaged three goals per game last season.

Paris Saint-Germain and Girona also were heading for a blank until a horrible 90th-minute error by the Spanish debutant’s goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga — spilling a cross by Nuno Mendes through his own legs — gifted a 1-0 win.

“We won’t get to where we want to overnight,” Girona coach Míchel said. “It requires hard work.”

Borussia Dortmund needed late goals from substitutes Jamie Gittens, twice, and Serhou Guirassy with a stoppage-time penalty to win 3-0 at Club Brugge.

The new format has welcomed new faces and long-absent friends in European soccer’s marquee competition.

Sparta Prague rose to the challenge of their first game for 19 years at this stage of the Champions League by beating Salzburg 3-0.

Bologna waited 60 years to return and deserved more for their attacking ambition against Champions League veteran Shakhtar. The Ukrainian champion had a penalty saved in the fourth minute by Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.

Slovan Bratislava was overmatched in their first game since 1992-93, the first season of the Champions League rebrand from the old European Cup, and with Georgia defender Guram Kashia making his competition debut at age 37.

They could not keep out Celtic, who won 5-1 in Glasgow. Ireland internationals Liam Scales and Adam Idah, Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda, and Arne Engels of Belgium scored for the champion of Scotland.

“The quality of the goals was sensational,” Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers said after just a fourth win in 33 Champions League games for the 1967 European Cup winner.

A rare Thursday slate of Champions League games will see Barcelona go to Monaco, Atalanta host Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen visit Feyenoord.

Six games on each of three straight nights are launching the new format. Now, 36 teams each play eight different opponents through January and are ranked in a single league table to decide which teams advance to the knockout phase.

Man City held in rare home shutout

There was nothing to separate the champions of England and Italy, 15 months after Man City beat Inter 1-0 in Istanbul to lift the European Cup trophy for the first time.

Ilkay Gundogan wasted two late chances for manager Pep Guardiola’s team, failing to convert two headed chances.

It was the first time City had failed to score at home in Europe’s elite tournament since being held 0-0 by Sporting Lisbon in March 2022, and just the second time at home in all competitions since then. The other was a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League in March.

But the result saw City extend their six-year unbeaten home run in European games to 32, dating to a 2-1 loss to Lyon.

“I’m pleased with our performance, I liked everything,” Guardiola said.

Dortmund keep clean sheet, again, somehow

Dortmund’s defense had a Champions League-best six clean sheets last season on its way to the final, where Real Madrid found two late goals to take the title.

Somehow, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel kept out Brugge despite 18 goal attempts including a close-range shot by Hugo Vetlesen that rattled the cross bar in the 12th minute. Vetlesen’s effort ended a manic series of four shots in a matter of seconds from a corner including a diving save by Kobel.

The Switzerland ‘keeper’s five saves meant Dortmund did not pay for its own wastefulness in front of goal until taking the lead in the 76th from a Gittens shot that deflected off two defenders before looping past Simon Mignolet into the Brugge net.

Salzburg’s heavy load

Few clubs will play more international games this season than Salzburg, under their new coach Pep Lijnders, the former long-time assistant to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Salzburg had to advance through two Champions League qualifying rounds in August — because their 10-year title run in Austria was ended by Sturm Graz — and will play at least three more games in June at the Club World Cup in the United States.

Salzburg qualified among 12 European teams going to the relaunched FIFA club event because of its consistent results in the past four Champions League seasons, but was upstaged in Prague.

“A few of our players were playing their first game for the club,” Lijnders said. “It’s a new team we need to build it.”

Sparta came through three qualifying rounds, and six games already, to reach this stage and made a sharp start Wednesday scoring within two minutes to set the tone for an easy win.


Tottenham mounts late comeback to beat Coventry 2-1 in the English League Cup

Tottenham mounts late comeback to beat Coventry 2-1 in the English League Cup
Updated 19 September 2024
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Tottenham mounts late comeback to beat Coventry 2-1 in the English League Cup

Tottenham mounts late comeback to beat Coventry 2-1 in the English League Cup
  • Brennan Johnson completed Spurs’ comeback with the winner in the second minute of stoppage time

COVENTRY, England: Tottenham avoided a shock defeat in the third round of the English League Cup after scoring two late goals to beat second-division Coventry 2-1 on Wednesday.
Djed Spence evened the score in the 88th minute at Coventry Arena after Brandon Thomas-Asante had fired the home team ahead in the 63rd.
Brennan Johnson completed Spurs’ comeback with the winner in the second minute of stoppage time.
Coventry had come agonizingly close to upsetting Manchester United in the semifinal of the FA Cup last season — losing on penalties after a 3-3 draw at Wembley.
And it was another heartbreak against Premier League opposition after Tottenham’s late rescue act.
“Coventry were outstanding with the energy they brought, we had to dig deep today and we found what we needed to win the game,” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said.
Elsewhere, Wolverhampton’s troubled start to the season continued with a 3-2 loss at Brighton that saw it eliminated from the competition.
Carlos Baleba and Simon Adingra gave Brighton a 2-0 lead at Amex Stadium and Goncalo Guedes pulled one back for Wolves before halftime.
Ferdi Kadioglu made it 3-1 in the 85th and Tommy Doyle scored a consolation for Wolves in the 90th.


Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr appoint former AC Milan boss Pioli

Saudi club Al-Nassr announced Wednesday the appointment of Stefano Pioli as coach of the side headed up by Ronaldo.
Saudi club Al-Nassr announced Wednesday the appointment of Stefano Pioli as coach of the side headed up by Ronaldo.
Updated 18 September 2024
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Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr appoint former AC Milan boss Pioli

Saudi club Al-Nassr announced Wednesday the appointment of Stefano Pioli as coach of the side headed up by Ronaldo.
  • The Italian replaces Luis Castro, who parted ways with the club on Tuesday after a slow start to the season, both domestically and in the AFC Champions League
  • “Pioli is Nassrawi,” Al Nassr said a statement on social media platform X

RIYADH: Saudi club Al-Nassr announced Wednesday the appointment of Stefano Pioli as coach of the side headed up by Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Italian replaces Luis Castro, who parted ways with the club on Tuesday after a slow start to the season, both domestically and in the AFC Champions League.
“Pioli is Nassrawi,” Al-Nassr said a statement on social media platform X.
“We welcome Stefano Pioli as our new coach.”

 

The 58-year-old was AC Milan boss from October 2019 to May 2024, and oversaw the club’s Serie A title-winning campaign in 2022.
Prior to his near five-year stint at the Rossoneri, Pioli coached Italian sides including Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Lazio and Bologna.
He started his managerial career in 2003 with Salernitana and had worked exclusively in his native Italy up until his appointment by Al-Nassr.
His Portuguese predecessor Castro was the third coach to depart Al-Nassr since Ronaldo’s groundbreaking arrival in early 2023 on a contract that was said to net him 400 million euros over two-and-a-half years.

 


The highly decorated Ronaldo is yet to win a Saudi trophy with the Riyadh club, with his sole silverware so far being last year’s Arab Club Champions Cup.
Al-Nassr, who finished a distant second in the last Saudi Pro League season, have drawn twice in three matches at the start of the new campaign and on Monday drew 1-1 with Iraq’s Al-Shorta in their AFC Champions League Elite opener.