BLOW FOR OZ AS HAZLEWOOD OUT OF ODI SERIES AGAINST ENGLAND
SYDNEY: Australia have been further weakened for next month’s ODI series in England following the withdrawal of leading paceman Josh Hazlewood, Cricket Australia said on Monday. Hazlewood, who was the most experienced fast bowler in the one-day squad after injuries to Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, has been replaced by uncapped Michael Neser. Hazlewood was ruled out of the touring party with back trouble. “Josh has been managing some low-level bone stress in his lumbar spine for a short period,” CA physiotherapist David Beakley said in a statement. “He had a repeat scan and although it has not progressed to a fracture he is starting to experience some lower back pain. But Chennai Super Kings are different. MS Dhoni is their de-facto cricketing boss. I have heard from Dhoni that no one from corporate side influences any cricketing calls. You can argue that it cuts both ways that since CSK have played record seven finals there is every reason for Dhoni to be given a free hand.
PURE FORM OF CRICKET
This year CSK’S average age was around 34. They were called Dad’s Army. If I am CSK I’d embrace that sobriquet. After all on Sunday, one dad showed how to win a final. Shane Watson’s innings typified that age doesn’t kill any passion. He is 36 and true to his game was still scoring in the V. Out of 117 that he scored, 91 came in front of the wicket. He was smart enough not to let Rashid Khan or Bhuvneshwar Kumar dominate. This ploy gave