SLEDGED WARNER WALKS OFF THE FIELD, HITS TON

SYDNEY: Disgraced Australian opener David Warner walked off the field mid-innings after being sledged during a Sydney grade game on Saturday, reports said. The former Test vice-captain, who is serving a 12-month ban from international and state cricket for his role in a ball-tampering scandal, was batting for his club Randwick-petersham at the time. He had moved into the 30s when the incident unfolded, news.com.au reported. The left-hander was apparently not happy with a jibe from an opposition player and told an umpire he was removing himself from the game. According to reports, a number of his teammates talked him into returning and he agreed after several minutes, going on to smash a century.

Australia drop Paine, name Finch ODI captain SYDNEY: Australia have dropped Test skipper Tim Paine from their one-day squad for next month’s series against South Africa and named opening batsman Aaron Finch as captain in his place. Finch, who led his country’s T20 side to a 11-run defeat to Pakistan in Dubai on Friday to go 2-0 down in the series, will be supported by two vice captains in Josh Hazlewood and Alex Carey, echoing the test structure.

Stokes wants to put court case behind him

LONDON: Ben Stokes hopes his on-field performances are what he will be remembered for by the cricket public rather than a late-night street brawl last year. “Look, it’s all about looking forward now,” Stokes told the BBC. “We’ve got a huge summer coming up with the Ashes and the World Cup so I’m fully focused on that.”