Stoneman rues England’s ‘sloppy’ dismissals in second Ashes warm-up
Mark Stoneman admitted a succession of “sloppy” dismissals added up to a disappointing first day for England in their pink-ball match against a Cricket Australia XI.
The opener was one of three batsmen – captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan were the others – to pass 50 yet get no further than 63 in a total of 278 for eight at the Adelaide Oval. He did not absolve himself from criticism after being caught at midwicket off a fulltoss from rookie leg-spinner Daniel Fallins, who finished with figures of four for 71.
England then lost three late wickets to the second new ball under lights in the second fixture of their Ashes tour, and Stoneman said: “We’re a fraction disappointed.
“Some of the dismissals we had today were a touch on the sloppy side, so it was a little bit frustrating more than anything that we didn’t kick on and probably have a couple of hundreds scored out there today.
“Everyone got a bit of time in the middle, so that was encouraging – but we also need to be scoring hundreds, and big hundreds.
“So there are lessons to be learned from today.”
A young home team therefore remain in contention, and Stoneman, pictured, added: “Credit to [them] – they’ve got themselves back in the game. Obviously there’s been a progression from the opposition we faced in Perth... it was a step up.” Theopener,whoagain saw Alastair Cook dismissed cheaply at the other end, posted his second successive 50 but rued his own error when a bigger score was there for the taking.
“The bat twisted a little bit in my hand, and I clothed it to midwicket – so it was pretty disappointing,” he said. “There was a chance there to go on and make a really big score, and really get myself into the tour.”
He is not concerned about Cook’s lack of runs in two innings so far, though.
“He’s had a couple of decent balls early, up front,” he said.
“That’s the nature of opening the batting... but I think the feeling between us is quite good, and there’s a decent level of chemistry.
“His record speaks for itself.” Lewis Hamilton insists he has not been distracted and that his “core values” remain intact as he offered his first response to allegations of tax avoidance.
The BBC reported that the “Paradise Papers” documents showed Hamilton was given a £3.3million VAT refund on his £16.5m private jet after the aircraft was imported into the Isle of Man in 2013.
A spokesman for the 32-year-old Mercedes driver said that the deal was “above board” and that “the matter is now in the hands of his lawyers”.
“Obviously right now there is a bit of a storm surrounding me,” said Hamilton shortly after arriving in Sao Paulo for this week’s penultimate round of the season in Brazil.
“There are many different stories around, but I don’t have anything to add. It doesn’t distract me from my core values, and also what I am here to do which is to try to win the Brazilian Grand Prix for a second time in my life.”
Hamilton surpassed Sir Jackie Stewart to become the first British driver in history to win the world championship on more than three occasions after he sealed his fourth title in Mexico last month.
But the Englishman, who celebrated his triumph with trips to Miami, the Caribbean and Peru before touching down in Brazil on Wednesday, has seen his achievement somewhat overshadowed by the latest claims in the Paradise Papers documents.
“I have just come back from an eight-day holiday with close family and friends, and had the best time ever,” Hamilton added. “It was just amazing to be able to share this great experience of winning the world championship with these people who have been a part of my life.
“So, I come here with this greatest feeling, amazing energy, and want to absorb that positive energy and try to shine my light as bright as I can here in Brazil.
“I have had this huge wave of positive energy and nothing can really dent that. I am solely focused on trying to win the race this weekend.”