Afghan no surprise for Hesson
Auckland: New Zealand coach Mike Hesson insisted on Monday that the high-flying Black Caps will pay Afghanistan the utmost respect having tracked the Asian minnows’ astonishing progress at close range. Hesson briefly coached Kenya in 2011 and 2012 with the African side coming up against the Afghans in second-tier events. The 40-year-old will renew his rivalry with them in the World Cup in Napier on Sunday. “They have three guys who bowl over 140km/h and they can swing it,” he said of quicks Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran and Hamid Hassan. “Generally, their batsmen don’t die wondering. It should be a good contest. We have to show them due respect and make sure we put in a good performance.”
Faulkner likely to return
Sydney: Australia all-rounder James Faulkner is likely to make a return to cricket in their World Cup game against Afghanistan on Wednesday at the WACA after recovering from a side-strain injury. The 24-year-old sustained his injury at the same venue a month ago in the final of the One-Day International (ODI) tri-Series against England. “I bowled a couple of overs (last week and was) pretty close, the difference is the intensity of an ODI. I will have a solid hit out today and hopefully I recover well and be out here (at the WACA) on Wednesday afternoon,” Faulkner was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au before Monday’s practice session.
Maxwell mocked for gesture
Sydney: Glenn Maxwell was both mocked and praised on Monday after video emerged of him making a ‘choking’ gesture just moments before Kane Williamson launched the giant six that won Saturday’s clash for New Zealand. Maxwell, dubbed ‘The Big Show’ by Australian media, was fielding in the deep when he turned to a section of the 40,000 crowd at Auckland’s Eden Park and jokingly placed his hands around his throat to suggest that the home side were about to fail chasing their modest 152-run target. But the Kiwis had the last laugh and claimed a place in the quarter-finals when, with the last pair at the wicket, Williamson sent his match-winning six high into the stands. The video clip was uploaded to Facebook by New Zealand fan Sam Holt and by Monday afternoon had attracted more than 173,000 views, liked by 65,000 people and shared 3,000 times.
Cummins to miss Afghan game
Sydney: Australia’s Pat Cummins is set to miss Wednesday’s World Cup clash against Afghanistan after the fast bowler’s latest injury setback, Cricket Australia said on Monday. Officials said Cummins had suffered a “slight side strain” and was now doubtful for Wednesday’s match against tournament debutants Afghanistan in Perth.
Kohli drops in ICC rankings
New Delhi: Indian pacer Mohammad Shami and off-spinner Ravichandaran Ashwin moved up while Virat Kohli dropped a place to fourth with 847 points in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) One-Day International (ODI) rankings released on Monday. Shami has gained 14 places and is now 11th, while Ashwin’s eight wickets to date have helped him climb six places to 16th. The batting table is still headed by South Africa captain AB de Villiers who leads second-ranked Kumar Sangakkara and Hashim Amla by 49 ratings points. De Villiers with 217 runs is sixth in the list of leading run-getters in the tournament to date. Kohli dropped to the fourth position, while his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also went down two places to be 10th.