US forces expect Soleimani anniversary attacks
American troops in the Middle East are braced for violent reprisals after the Iranian regime declared a ‘‘day of martyrdom’’ and vowed to avenge the killing of one of its senior military commanders by a United States drone strike last year.
Special forces troops and armoured vehicles have been sent to reinforce Baghdad’s ‘‘Green Zone’’, which contains the US embassy, before the anniversary of Revolutionary Guard General Qasem Soleimani’s death on January 3.
The heavily fortified area has been regularly targeted by rocket attacks, most recently on December 23. Washington has blamed the attacks on Iraqi militia groups loyal to Iran.
Two B-52 heavy bombers flew a long-range mission to the Persian Gulf from North Dakota on Thursday in what US officials said was a message of deterrence to Tehran.
The top Revolutionary Guard commander said yesterday his country was fully prepared to respond to any US military pressure. ‘‘We will give our final words to our enemies on the battlefield,’’ General Hossein Salami said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry tweeted that Iran would not rest until the perpetrators of Soleimani’s killing were brought to justice.–
and still lost by seven wickets. Still, the wicket and history suggests NZ may go with four genuine pace bowling options, which would mean a 13th test for Matt Henry and either Daryl Mitchell or Mitchell Santner would carry the drinks, with the other slotting in at No 7 and providing the fifth bowling option.
BABAR AZAM
Pakistan’s talisman did not play in the first test (or the T20 series) due to a fractured thumb and his availability for the second test had been the subject of much conjecture. He was officially ruled out late yesterday, which is a massive blow for the tourists. Azam is a class act with the bat and the only player ranked in the world’s top five in all formats of the game. In fact, his very respectable test average of 45 pales in comparison to his white ball averages (50 in T20s and 55 in ODIs), but even so you wonder what difference his presence might have made to the result in Mt Maunganui, and what it could have done in Christchurch. We’ll never know.
WEATHER
There is always a strong chance the weather will spoil play across a five-day test in Christchurch. Had Hagley Oval been hosting the Boxing Day test it would have been a disaster, but incredibly not a drop of precipitation is forecast for any of the five days of the New Year’s test.