A T-ROO Ton-derful Joe hits
EASTMOND’S A WASP ‘BAD’ BYRNE ON TOP
WASPS have siged England international Kyle Eastmond.
The former Bath centre, 27, missed out on the World Cup in 2015 and was overlooked for England’s subsequent tour to Australia and will hope his move can help him add to his six caps.
Eastmond, who started his career in rugby league with St Helens, said: “I’ve been impressed with the style of rugby and the way the club has developed in recent seasons and I’m really looking forward to the new challenge at Wasps.
“When you look at the talented players already at the club it’s hard not to be excited about the possibilities and I feel I am joining a highly ambitious team.”
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young added: “We like to play expansive, attacking rugby and Kyle is a player who can add a lot to that.” from RICHARD SYDENHAM at Old Trafford nightwatchman Rahat Ali, while Ben Stokes snared Younus Khan before the close to strengthen England’s position.
Man of the moment Root said: “It was very pleasing to go big and make a hundred count like that.
“My dismissals at Lord’s were poor and I worked hard this week to nullify them from my game.
“When I got in I wanted to make it count. That’s why I was so revved up when I got to 200.
“Then the bowlers were outstanding. We have a really good opportunity tomorrow morning to take some more wickets and have good session.”
Pakistan dominated at Lord’s after a kamikaze shot from Root opened the door, before leg-spinner Yasir Shah took 10 wickets in the match.
Here, new world No.1-ranked bowler Yasir toiled. His one wicket cost a whopping 213 runs off his 54 overs – the most runs ever conceded by a bowler in a Test innings at Old Trafford.
England’s batsmen have not yet mastered Yasir but Root and Co at least tamed him. Root’s 10th and highest Test hundred was the standout performance. Yesterday, Woakes and Jonny Bairstow both made 58 and returning all-rounder Ben Stokes plundered 34.
The first hour belonged to Woakes. His upper cut for six over third man off Mohammad Amir to go to 27 demonstrated his growing confidence.
Root was able to cruise serenely to his fifth Test match 150, with a single off Wahab Riaz. He had a SHANE BYRNE fired a ‘catch me if you can’ warning to his rivals for the MCE British Superbike crown with a blistering record-breaking lap of Thruxton ahead of this afternoon’s sixth round.
The Be Wiser Ducati rider grabbed pole with a flying time of 1min 14.315secs but then reckoned it was a rubbish lap.
He said: “It really was a bad lap, the bike dropped into neutral when at full throttle but I got it let-off on 155 when Khan dropped him at slip but it was a tough chance.
Woakes eventually became Yasir’s only wicket as he got a leading edge back to the bowler.
Stokes, back in the team after a knee injury, then added a further 57 runs with Root before he was controversially given out, caught down the leg side off Wahab.
Third umpire Joel Wilson took an age to see the faintest of touches on his glove and Stokes and Root were both furious when he was sent on his way.
Bairstow joined his fellow Yorkshireman Root and they added a further 106, pressing the accelerator after tea, smashing 56 runs in six overs.
Root was on course to surpass Tom Graveney’s 258, the highest score by an England No.3 but fell agonisingly short. His 10-hour stint was also the third-highest Test score at Old Trafford.
He perished when he skied an attempted slog over midwicket but was caught by a diving Hafeez, off Wahab. Bairstow was the eighth wicket to fall when he unselfishly holed out, sparking Cook’s declaration and Pakistan’s late batting struggle.
Hafeez survived James Anderson and Stuart Broad before edging Woakes to second slip where Root pouched his 50th Test catch.
Azhar jabbed at Woakes only to be caught and bowled and Younus was caught down the leg side off Stokes. Then Rahat fended a Woakes bouncer to Gary Ballance at short-leg.
And that summed up both teams’ fortunes on a contrasting day. Only opener Shan Masood remained unbeaten on 30. back together. It was a bit of a rubbish lap but good enough.”
Local rider Tommy Bridewell, on the Bennetts Suzuki, and Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot complete the front row, 0.279secs down on Byrne who is aiming to extend his slender four-point lead over Leon Haslam in the overall standings.
Haslam faces an uphill struggle to challenge four-time title winner Byrne as he starts his JG Speedfit Kawasaki from the fifth row.