SYDNEY: Australia captain Steve Smith was heading home Wednesday in disgrace after a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa left the team feuding and fractured amid skepticism that the full story has not been told.
Smith and opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, the player caught on camera attempting to doctor the ball with a piece of tape, have been banished for their role in an incident which has dragged Australian cricket’s reputation through the mud.
Vice-captain David Warner was also sent packing, amid reports of a massive falling out between him and the team’s fast bowlers who feel they have been unfairly linked to the row.
Wicketkeeper Tim Paine will take over the captaincy for the fourth and final Test starting in Johannesburg Friday, with hosts South Africa leading a bad-tempered series 2-1.
Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns are jetting to South Africa as replacements.
But coach Darren Lehmann escaped punishment and will remain in charge, team management said in Johannesburg, with further sanctions on the three players to be announced shortly.
“I understand and share the anger and disappointment of Australian fans,” Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said of the controversy in the third Test in Cape Town last Saturday.
“On behalf of Cricket Australia, I want to apologize to all Australians that these events have taken place, especially to all the kids.”
Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Alistair Nicholson said serious mistakes had been made by Smith and his co-accused, and they understood this.
“The players are remorseful for the mistakes they have made. And they regret how their actions have represented themselves, teammates, cricket and their country,” he said.
Smith, in particular, is reportedly distraught and support is being offered to help him cope.
“The ACA is providing legal and welfare support to all players. Welfare of all players is a highly relevant consideration,” said Nicholson.
Smith had already been suspended for one Test and docked his entire match fee by the International Cricket Council, and Sutherland said further punishments “will reflect the gravity of the situation.”
Bancroft used a strip of yellow sticky tape he had covered with dirt granules to illegally scratch the rough side of the ball, in an attempt to generate more swing for Australia’s bowlers.
He was filmed not only rubbing the ball with the dirtied tape but also concealing the evidence down the front of his trousers.
Smith said after the Test that the Australians’ “leadership group” had been aware of the plan.
However, Sutherland insisted Lehmann was not aware of the plot.
“Prior knowledge of the ball tampering incident was limited to three players... No other players or support staff had prior knowledge and this includes Darren Lehmann, who despite inaccurate media reports, has not resigned from his position,” said Sutherland.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke, the man Smith succeeded in 2015, believes there is more to the story that meets the eye.
“Too many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape Town change room is a very small place!” he tweeted.
Former England Test captain Michael Vaughan was similarly unconvinced, tweeting “Only 3 people knew ... #MyArse.”
He added: “Me thinks the Hole has just got a little deeper & bigger for Cricket Australia,” while ex-England star Kevin Pietersen tweeted: “Lehmann never knew,” followed by a host of laughing emojis.
Warner, a divisive figure in the world game, has become the focus of Australian media, who blame him for the scandal.
In a front-page story, The Australian newspaper said there had been a “fierce feud” in the dressing room sparked by Warner’s alleged testimony to Cricket Australia’s integrity officers, with pace spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood reportedly livid at being implicated.
It said they felt he was willing to blame them to take the heat off himself, with emotions so raw that Warner may never be welcomed back.
The Sydney Morning Herald took a similar tack, claiming the other players had turned on Warner in the belief that he had attempted to “throw them under the bus.”
It quoted sources close to the team as saying the prominent narrative from their interviews with investigators was that the plan was devised by Warner and Bancroft and Smith agreed to it.
Australian cricket captain sent home, coach stays in place amid ball-tampering scandal
Australian cricket captain sent home, coach stays in place amid ball-tampering scandal
Letsile Tebogo says athletics saved him from life of crime
- “Sport has really helped me a lot because I think without sport ... probably I would be a criminal by now,” 21-year-old Tebogo told reporters on a video conference call
PARIS: Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo said on Wednesday he could have become a delinquent if the sport of athletics had not given him a focus.
Tebogo, who stunned the field in Paris last year to become Botswana’s first Olympic gold medalist in any sport, said he would take the lessons he learned from his childhood into his new role as a global ambassador for the Kids Athletics scheme.
“Sport has really helped me a lot because I think without sport ... probably I would be a criminal by now,” 21-year-old Tebogo told reporters on a video conference call.
“In the neighborhood where I grew up there were a lot of criminals, it was the only way to survive.
“But then with sport I knew I had to go to school and with training you are tired. You don’t have time to roam the streets and go into people’s houses,” he added.
“So once I discovered that I tried to pull in a few friends of mine ... and now they are playing football.
“We always talk about if this didn’t work out, where would we be?“
The Kids Athletics program, overseen by World Athletics and targeted at children aged four to 14, is focused on maximizing participation and enjoyment through modified games and competitions based on track and field events.
Tebogo, who after the call took part in a relay event with around 1,000 children on the same grounds in Botswana where he used to train as a boy, recalled that he initially preferred football.
“I was more of a footballer, a left-winger. The teachers at my primary school forced me into athletics,” he said.
“(Athletics) wasn’t that popular in Botswana back then, until the Commonwealth Games 2018.
“From my side I just wanted to see where it would take me. Athletics was just a part-time thing for me.”
His switch of sports paid off handsomely at the Olympics when he crossed the line at the Stade de France in an African record of 19.46sec, leaving Kenny Bednarek of the US second and 100m champion Noah Lyles in the bronze-medal position.
Tebogo called Lyles “arrogant” after that race and suggested the cameras would always prefer the brash American.
He clarified those remarks on Wednesday, saying: “When you get onto the track, it’s all about business.”
“When we finish, you can be friends, life goes on. “But the ‘arrogance’ (of Lyles)... he is good to sell our sport. But with me, I’ll always shy away from doing that because that’s me.”
Tebogo came second in a rare outing at 400m in Melbourne last weekend and will run a 200m race at a meeting in Botswana next week as he sharpens his speed before heading to the Diamond League meetings in Xiamen and Shanghai on April 26 and May 3 respectively.
‘I’ll be back’ vows Haaland after injury blow
- The Norway star had missed a penalty and scored his 30th goal of the season
- Haaland wrote on Instagram: “I’ll be back,” accompanied by a flexed biceps emoji
LONDON: Erling Haaland promised “I’ll be back” after the Manchester City striker learned he will be sidelined for seven weeks with an ankle injury.
Haaland limped off during the second half of City’s 2-1 win at Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.
The Norway star had missed a penalty and scored his 30th goal of the season before being hurt in a challenge with Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook.
City boss Pep Guardiola on Tuesday revealed Haaland would miss the majority of the remainder of the season, saying: “The doctors told me between five and seven weeks, so hopefully for the end of the season and the Club World Cup he will be ready.”
Haaland responded to his injury blow on Instagram on Wednesday, posting a message that read: “I’ll be back” — a quote made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the Terminator movies — accompanied by a flexed biceps emoji.
The post also featured a photo of the 24-year-old with his left foot in a protective boot and each arm raised holding up a crutch.
Haaland’s absence is a major setback to City’s hopes of securing qualification for the Champions League.
Haaland will miss Sunday’s derby at Manchester United in the Premier League, as well as the FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest on April 26 or 27.
The FA Cup final takes place on May 17, a day short of seven weeks after he suffered the injury.
City’s final Premier League game is at Fulham on May 25, with their first match in the Club World Cup against Wydad Casablanca being played on June 18.
Bundesliga to open additional transfer window for Club World Cup
- The 32-team Club World Cup in the United States runs from June 14 to July 13
BERLIN: The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 will have an additional transfer window running from June 1-10 ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, the German soccer league (DFL) said on Tuesday.
World soccer’s governing body has given member associations of participating clubs the option of opening an “exceptional registration window” in June before the Club World Cup begins to sign players.
The 32-team Club World Cup in the United States runs from June 14 to July 13, with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich the two Bundesliga teams taking part.
Second ‘Derby Week’ set to have major impact on SPL outcomes
- Al-Hilal host Al-Nassr on Friday, while Al-Ahli welcome Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah clash with Ettifaq the following day
LONDON: The Saudi Pro League returns from the international break with the biggest of possible bangs. It is “Derby Week.” In Riyadh on Friday, Al-Hilal will no doubt warmly welcome their close rivals Al-Nassr, while 24 hours later, the focus of the country’s fans moves west to Jeddah with Al-Ahli hosting Al-Ittihad in what is known as “The Sea Derby.” There is also the small matter of “The Eastern Derby.”
These meetings are big enough in their own right but they will also have a major impact on the title race. As things stand, with 25 out of 34 games played, it is like this: Al-Ittihad are first with 61 points, then comes Al-Hilal with 57, Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah have 51 each with Al-Ahli back in fifth with three points fewer.
If Al-Hilal win then they really put the pressure on the leaders. It would not be a surprise given that the last time Nassr won a league clash between the two Riyadh giants was back in 2021. Yet Al-Hilal are on a relatively poor run of just five wins from their last 10 games. That has even led to talk of Jorge Jesus, the coach who delivered the world record-winning streak of 34 games last year, being under pressure. Yet, the Portuguese boss has even been named a contender to take the Brazil job with the South Americans in shock after a 4-1 loss to Argentina last week that led to the firing of Dorival Junior.
Whatever happens with Jesus — and it would be quite something if a coach left an SPL club to take over the most successful national team in the world — there is some good news in the short term. OK, he is without his compatriot and right-back Joao Cancelo, who has impressed since his move from Manchester City but is not quite recovered from a hamstring injury, but others are returning. At the back Yasser Al-Shahrani is ready to come back after a lengthy playoff and Renan Lodi is also available.
Further up the pitch, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic should be fit as should Mohamed Kanno, injured while on recent international duty. And then there is the long-awaited return of Aleksander Mitrovic. The Serbian striker scored 13 goals in 14 league games before his injury and his absence since December has been an issue. Fit and raring to go, he could just make the difference. For sure, Al-Nassr will not be too happy to see him.
Hilal need the win to keep pressure up at the top but the Yellows are in a battle for third and a place in the AFC Champions Elite with Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ahli. A victory for Al-Nassr, after three defeats and three draws since their last league win, would also be meaningful for coach Stefano Pioli as the Italian has yet to show he can produce a title-winning team.
As ever there will be plenty of attention, on and off the pitch, on Cristiano Ronaldo. The league’s top scorer with 19 goals will be keen to add to his haul — and renew his rivalry with Ali Al-Bulaihi if the defender is fit — as well as continue his partnership with Jhon Duran. At the back, Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte looks to have recovered from injury. Al-Nassr have the faintest of title hopes and a win keeps those alive and will do plenty of damage to those of their biggest rival.
Laurent Blanc would love for that to happen even if Al-Ittihad have failed to take advantage of the relative stumbles of Hilal, drawing three of their last four games. The four-point gap could be crucial, however, especially as Hilal are still very much in the running for the Asian Champions League and could face three games in the space of 10 days from the end of April to early May.
Heading into the “Sea Derby,” a 60,000 sellout, coach Blanc is going to be without Mario Mitaj for some time as the Albanian defender is injured, but the Tigers will be on a high after their dramatic 3-2 win over Al-Shabab in the semifinal of the King’s Cup on Tuesday.
Al-Ahli would also love to damage the title chances of their Jeddah rivals but for the Greens, it is also about getting into next season’s Champions League. Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney have been in excellent form of late and are capable of winning any match.
And, not to be forgotten, is the Eastern Derby. Al-Qadsiah are enjoying themselves after promotion and a fine season would become even better if they can beat their local rivals Ettifaq and gain some ground in the race for third, and even second. Fourteen wins from 16 league games from October to February had them near the title race before just one win from the last four.
Ettifaq have been on a decent run since the departure of Steven Gerrard in January and have climbed into seventh. It will not be an easy game for Al-Qadsiah but then, this is “Derby Week” after all.
Jokic scores career-high 61 points, plays nearly 53 minutes in 140-139 double-OT loss to Wolves
- Nikola Jokic’s scoring spree was the most by a player in the NBA this season
- Jokic’s previous career best was 56 points in a loss at Washington on Dec. 7
DENVER: Michael Malone called him Superman. At the moment, Nikola Jokic’s just super-tired.
The Denver Nuggets big man can’t wait to get some sleep after a career-best 61-point performance in which he played nearly 53 minutes. He didn’t leave the court after halftime of a 140-139 double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
His scoring spree was the most by a player in the NBA this season. Jokic also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists, notching the third 60-point triple-double in NBA history. Luka Doncic did it on Dec. 27, 2022 and James Harden did it on Jan. 30, 2018.
“The guy’s Superman,” Nuggets coach Malone said. “He’s on a whole other level, man. People say he’s not athletic, but not many guys can do what he does.”
Jokic’s previous career best was 56 points in a loss at Washington on Dec. 7. The franchise mark is held by David Thompson, who had 73 points at Detroit on April 9, 1978.
On Tuesday, Jokic attempted 24 free throws – making 19 – to match the team mark held by Carmelo Anthony. For all his exploits, Jokic had just one over-riding emotion: “Tired,” he said. “It was an exhausting game.”
Anthony Edwards gave the three-time NBA MVP major props. Jokic’s in a heated race for another MVP award with Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Nikola Jokic, he might be the best basketball player that I have ever seen close up, besides myself,” cracked Edwards, who had 34 points and 10 rebounds. “He is incredible. The MVP race is tough. I don’t know. He had 60. That is crazy.”
Of course, this game – a sixth straight loss to Minnesota, including playoffs – will be remembered by Nuggets fans for Jokic’s exploits on the court. But it will also be remembered for a wild finish.
Leading 139-138 with around 14 seconds left, Russell Westbrook stole the ball and dished it over to Christian Braun who then sent it right back to Westbrook for a layup. But Westbrook’s layup clanked off the rim and started a break the other way.
Westbrook ran down the court and fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the corner with 0.1 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves guard hit two of three free throws to steal the victory.
“Obviously, I feel awful for Russ,” Malone said. “That last play we get the turnover, we don’t convert, and then the foul. It was not from a lack of effort or care.
“Sometimes it goes like that, and that’s why we’ve just got to be strong. We’ve got to be resilient.”
The big question: Should the Nuggets have not attempted the layup and pulled the ball back out to run down the clock?
“It’s tough. You’ve got a two-on-one break,” Malone said. “As a coach, am I up on the sideline yelling, ‘Don’t go?’ We’ve got a layup. But it’s easy to say that (pull the ball out) in hindsight, because we missed a layup. ... He (Westbrook) is a tough kid, and I think he knows that everybody in that locker room’s got his back.”
For Jokic, there’s not much time for rest. The Nuggets play Wednesday night against San Antonio. All he said he needs was a little break.
“I think we’re so used to this,” Jokic said. “Tomorrow, I’m not going to remember I played so many minutes.”
