England must learn – Gough

CRICKET: Darren Gough believes England must “find a way” to thrive on unresponsive surfaces, pointing out Tim Southee and Trent Boult have done so in New Zealand despite their status as swing bowlers.

Movement in the air or off the pitch has been peculiarly absent for England in Whangarei, where their bowlers found little encouragement in the two warm-up matches ahead of next week’s first Test against the Black Caps.

It is anticipated conditions at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui will be similarly batsman-friendly but Gough, whose brief consultancy role with England’s pacemen ends after this week, says the team needs to learn.

“It’s finding a way to suit your type of bowling in all conditions,” he said. “It’s not easy but you find a way to attack, even on flat pitches.”

ATHLETICS: Kayleigh Haggo and Gavin Drysdale provided a golden finish to Great Britain’s World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.

Haggo and Drysdale claimed gold medals in the women’s and men’s 100m RR3 (race running) respectively as the event made its debut in the championships.

Haggo set a world record of 18.32secs to lead home a British one-two, with Ellie Simpson 0.45s adrift in second.

Drysdale also set a new world mark of 16.72secs for his gold, with Rafi Solaiman claiming silver to take the team’s total to 29.

RUGBY UNION: Wales have announced former internationals Byron Hayward and Sam Warburton will join Wayne Pivac’s coaching team.

Former Wales Under-20 boss Hayward has been appointed defence coach while Warburton, who skippered his country more times than anyone else, will be technical advisor breakdown/ defence.