Tour of duty suits Vince

JAMES VINCE believes the military drills he was put through in a pre-tour visit to Sandhurst helped him make a fine start to his Twenty20 career in Dubai. Vince played two important innings from No 3 as Eoin Morgan’s side won back-toback matches at the Dubai International Stadium to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead against Pakistan. The 24-year-old Hampshire captain will stay, after today’s final match of England’s twomonth stay in the United Arab Emirates, to captain the Lions against Pakistan A — having impressed as leadership material already in a trip to the Royal Military Academy. There, in an England and Wales Cricket Board initiative to develop young players’ lives as well as their sporting skills, Vince and several other rising talents who will play under him for the Lions were assigned tasks to test their capabilities. He said: ‘It was a bit uncomfortable at times, but I think everyone enjoyed it and got something out of it. We had a few activities to do, a bit of problem-solving out in the woods — and had to rescue a ‘hostage’ at one point.’ On the pitch, Vince had an immediate examination of his resilience when he was run out for two in England’s warm-up match, but he prospered with innings of 41 and 38 in the series proper. ‘It’s been nice to make some contributions,’ he said. AUSTRALIA wrapped up a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand, winning the first day-night Test by three wickets in Adelaide. Josh Hazlewood completed career-best figures of six for 70 as Australia bowled out New Zealand in the first session of the third day. Australia needed 187 for victory and Peter Siddle struck the winning runs.