Arab Times

‘Sick of ball tampering talk’ – Paine focuses on India challenge

Men in Blue start as overwhelmi­ng favourites vs Australia

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ADELAIDE, Australia, Dec 4, (AFP): Australia skipper Tim Paine says he is sick of all the ball-tampering talk and it is time to move on and focus on halting powerhouse India from winning their first Test series Down Under.

The scandal in March has haunted Australian cricket, with Steve Smith and David Warner banned and a swathe of executives from the governing body axed or falling on their swords in the aftermath.

With the world’s number one Test nation awaiting them in Adelaide in the first of four Tests from Thursday, Paine said it was time to start looking forward.

“There has been so much talk in the last 10 months that everyone is sick of it,” he said ahead of Australia’s first home Test since “sandpaperg­ate”, where Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft tried to alter the ball in South Africa.

“There has been so much talk, it’s time for action. There are 11 guys going out and trying their best who will be so keen because of what has gone on.” The odds are stacked in

New Zealand bowler Trent Boult delivers the ball during the second day of the third and final Test cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Sheikh Zayed Internatio­nal Cricket Stadium in

Abu Dhabi on Dec 4. (AFP) In this file photo taken on Nov 29, 2018, Indian batsman Virat Kohli plays a shot on the second day of the tour match against Cricket Australia XI at

the SCG in Sydney. (AFP)

favour of the tourists – they top the Test rankings and boast the world’s best batsman in Virat Kohli, plus a high-class pace bowling attack.

Throw in Australia being without Smith and Warner, and it points to India starting as overwhelmi­ng favourites.

ABU DHABI, Dec 4, (AFP): Azhar Ali struck a fighting half century to help Pakistan recover to 139-3 at close on the second day of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

It marked a good recovery from 17-2 after Kiwi pace bowler Trent Boult ripped out openers Imam-ulHaq and Mohammed Hafeez, who later announced his retirement from Test cricket.

Azhar was unbeaten on 62 at the close having shared a dogged, unbroken fourth wicket partnershi­p of 54 with Asad Shafiq who will resume on 26.

Pakistan are still 135 runs adrift of New Zealand’s first innings total of 274 in which B.J. Watling made a gutsy and vital 77 not out.

The three-match series is tied at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first Test in Abu Dhabi by four runs before Pakistan bounced back with an innings and 16-run win in the second in Dubai.

Azhar remains key for Pakistan if they are to build any kind of first innings lead.

The 33-year-old dropped anchor The last time they met, India won an engrossing series 2-1 on home soil, with Smith hitting three centuries.

But the Indians have never won a Test series in Australia and if pace bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are firing the tourists could be in for another tough time.

In the wake of the tampering scandal, Australia vowed to overhaul their infamous win-at-all-costs attitude, tone down the sledging and be more respectful.

Paine said his message to the team was to keep their cool but also play to their strengths. And if that meant some verbal banter, then so be it.

“It’s just about picking your time and picking your moment and doing what the team requires,” he said.

Australia could give a debut to inform opener Marcus Harris, likely to partner Aaron Finch at the top of the order with Usman Khawaja appearing to be sufficient­ly recovered from knee surgery to come in at number three.

A question mark remains over whether Peter Handscomb or Travis Head will fill the vacant middle-order spot.

Previous series between the two rivals have been heated, with the combative Kohli usually front and centre.

But the Indian skipper is insisting he has grown up and will not be looking for confrontat­ions, although he added that “if they want to play a certain way we will reciprocat­e”.

“I think from last time round, I’ve become more assured of myself, I don’t really find the need to prove anything to anyone,” he told Macquarie Sports Radio at the weekend.

India suffered a huge blow ahead of the Test with young opener Prithvi Shaw ruled out after suffering ankle ligament damage during their final warm-up game against a Cricket Australia XI.

But veteran opener Murali Vijay, who was dropped following a pair in the second Test against England this year, rose to the challenge with a century in the same match and is expected to face the new ball with KL Rahul.

India’s middle order also looks in good form with Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari all making half-centuries in the CA XI game.

And they have an experience­d set of bowlers in Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwa­r Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.

“In terms of skill, in terms of experience, in terms of how we are playing, our mindset, we definitely feel we have the ability to win a series here,” said Kohli.

Tim Paine (capt), Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Parthiv Patel, Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwa­r Kumar

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