30
7DAYS
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2009
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Cricket
“Being number one does mean a lot to us” - Ricky Ponting and Co
might have to get used to saying the same thing about being No.2 after
their series against South Africa...
Bollinger and Co
backed to fizz
against Proteas
Baggy Greens coach wants youngsters to
step up in must-win series in South Africa
TIM NIELSEN has challenged pressure,” Nielsen said. leg-spinner Bryce McGain.
Australia’s young guns to “That’s what we see the The quintet have played a
shoot down the Proteas in great players do. That’s combined 24 Tests including
the much-anticipated Test what South Africa were able Johnson’s 18.
series that starts next week. to do in the Tests in Australia As if to illustrate the size of the
The Baggy Greens have been and with that they were able task facing the tourists, skipper
rocked by consecutive series to win the series.” Ricky Ponting is one of only
defeats; away to India and at The Proteas’ JP Duminy stole two players in the 14-man
home to South Africa and are the show when the South squad to have played Test
currently in a rebuilding phase Africans beat the Aussies 2-1 cricket in South Africa,
after a host of legends - most last month, the 24-year-old alongside middle-order
recently Matt Hayden - retired. hitting a match-winning 166 in batsman Mike Hussey.
Many observers rank them as the Melbourne Test. Should the hosts beat the
outsiders to beat Graeme And Nielsen wants a similarly Aussies, the pair will swap
Smith’s side for the return explosive series from his places in the rankings with BRING IT ON: Tim Nielsen and Ricky Ponting have challenged the Baggy Greens’ young guns
series in South Africa, but the young guns. South Africa hitting top spot for
Australia coach says the likes But that is a big ask for the first time ever.
of opener Phil Hughes and players without much But Ponting is confident that
pace ace Doug experience at Test level, won’t happen. 2011 WORLD CUP NOT STUMPED
Bollinger (pictured particularly the “We’ve been good enough
right) can rise to Aussie attack. over a long period of time to THE 2011 cricket World wary of playing in violence- is still a long way away.
the occasion and Twenty-year-old hang on to this trophy (for all Cup will go ahead as hit Pakistan for security “It is too early to be
help create a side opener Hughes but five months since the ICC scheduled in South Asia, reasons, raising many concerned but we are
capable of stunning faces a tough Test Championship began in despite growing political doubts over the fate of the monitoring the situation
the hosts over the next introduction on May 2001),” Ponting said. tensions between co-hosts 2011 World Cup. on a regular basis.”
few weeks. his expected “It does mean a lot to us. India and Pakistan, the ICC But ICC chief executive Representatives from all
“Our challenge at the debut as We’ve never taken our success announced yesterday. Haroon Lorgat hit four host nations - India,
moment is to try to get our Hayden’s for granted or not worked The Indian government rubbished rumours that the Pakistan, Sri Lanka and
younger players identifying successor in the first harder than any other team. cancelled a scheduled Test tournament was in trouble Bangladesh - attended
the critical moments in the Test in Johannesburg, “That’s what I think has made tour of Pakistan in January- of not happening. the meeting.
games and when they starting next Thursday. us stand out from a lot of other February in the wake of the “We are committed to The ICC has already taken
identify them, having the The bowling attack will cricket teams around the world November Mumbai attacks staging the World Cup in this year’s Champions
courage and the likely be led by Mitchell over the last six or seven years. that New Delhi partly Asia,” he said after a Trophy, the second-biggest
confidence to put Johnson and “We have been recognised as blames on Pakistan. meeting of the World Cup cricket tournament after
themselves out there and supported by Bollinger, number one but we’ve tried to On top of this, several organising committee. the World Cup, away
play their best cricket Peter Siddle, all-rounder train and prepare as if we’re teams, most notably “I am aware of the current from Pakistan due to
under that sort of Andrew McDonald and number two.” Australia, have also been situation but the World Cup security concerns.
A REAL BOOST TO BE BACK
GOOD TIMES:
Winning the 2007
World Cup on Invasor
THE UAE’S victory on Sheikh Hamdan’s my confidence. It has been a real learning
was the highpoint of
racing scene is Invasor in the 2007 Dubai In fact, I actually went back experience and riding Jebel
my career so far.
now at full World Cup. Having also to Panama to race and it Ali racecourse was a real
pelt, with the won the previous season’s has been a long road back. shock - that finishing hill is
world’s top Breeders’ Cup Classic on But then I was approached unlike anything I had seen
jockeys, horses the same horse, it really by Doug (Watson) about on any other track!
and trainers already was a high-point in my spending this season in Ironically, I won on Tri
whipping up a treat for fans short career - I was only 19 Dubai and I literally jumped Another Cat in the first race
during the Dubai International when I won the World Cup. at the chance, having I contested there and now
Racing Carnival. I suppose you could say all enjoyed one of my finest actually have more winners
As the sport’s finest continue jockeys have short careers! moments at Nad Al Sheba there than I have had at
the build-up to the biggest But racing has a cruel habit almost two years ago. Nad Al Sheba.
night of the calendar, the Dubai of knocking you down It has been a great decision Purebred Arabians were a
World Cup at Nad Al Sheba on when on top and I suffered for me and Doug and all the new experience and I finally
March 28, 7DAYS is getting its a huge blow when I team at Red Stables have won on one last week.
nose in front to get the inside fractured my collarbone in been great and helped me Being a Real Madrid
track on 2007 World Cup-winning November that year. settle in straight away.
supporter, however,
jockey Fernando Jara. I returned to my native It is nice to be part of
Manchester United fans in
Panama to recuperate and the team and to be leading
the yard and the weighing
I’m thrilled to be back in spent some time with my the jockeys’ title race
room have been ribbing me
Dubai and at Nad Al Sheba, family, but it really took me is unbelievable.
all week - the horse was
which has had a special a long time to get back in I am not thinking about that
called Wayne Rooney…
place in my heart after my the saddle and restore now, though. Interview with Charlie Oatway
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