09/08/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | AUG 9, 2025

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Whitewash! Aussie bowling great McGrath makes bold Ashes prediction G LENN MCGRATH has made his obliga tory prediction ahead of the Ashes, once again forecasting a 5-0 whitewash by Australia.

Vaughan slams Bethell call against India Ű BY LAWRENCE OSTLERE

“Jacob Bethell this year has

faced 67 balls in red-ball cricket, he’s scored 32 runs. I know you have to have players there for concussion nowadays, so you need a spare bat ter at the ground in case someone gets hit on the head. “But surely, if you’re trying to develop a young cricketer, you’ve got to give him time to go and play cricket; so if it does come that he has to kid, who’s 21, out at the Oval in front of 27,000 when the series is on the line on a pitch which is doing plenty, against Siraj – I thought it was diabolical. I thought that it was unfair on the player.” – The Independent play, at least he’s had a bit of game time. “To throw a

MICHAEL VAUGHA N has criticised England’s “diabolical” decision to pick young batter Jacob Bethell in the fifth Test of their drawn series against India. Bethell, considered one of the most promising talents in world cricket, barely played this year as he travelled around with the England squad as a back-up bat ter. The 21-year-old was eventually thrown into the action in the fifth and final Test after Ben Stokes suffered a shoulder injury, replacing the captain at No. 6, but scored 11 runs across the two innings and looked tentative throughout. Head coach Brendon McCullum defended the decision to include Bethell in the squad when he could have spent time playing for Warwickshire, insisting it was beneficial to be part of the England setup even when he wasn’t playing. But Vaughan said Bethell needed to play more cricket and build his red-ball experience. “I felt sorry for him,” the former England captain said, speaking on The Overlap and Stick to Cricket show along side Phil Tuffnell, David Lloyd and Alastair Cook. “He’s 21 years of age. I don’t care who you are; when Cooky was 21 you’d have got probably four or five first-class hun dreds by then. You’d probably got your first Test hundred by then, but you played a lot of cricket.

by fast bowlers Matt Henry (five for 40) and debutant Zakary Foulkes (four for 38) at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. New Zealand finished the first day 49 runs ahead, reaching 174 for one at the close. Devon Conway (79 not out) and Will Young (74) put on 162 for the first wicket before Young was bowled off an inside edge by Trevor Gwandu shortly before the close. Taylor, 39, was banned for three-and-a-half years in January 2022 for breaching the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code as well as a drugs offence. He had not played Test cricket since captaining Zimbabwe against Bangladesh in Harare in July 2021 in a match in which he scored 81 and 92. Pakistan batsman under investigation for rape B AT S MA N Haider Ali is being investigated by Greater Manchester Police after he was arrested following an incident during the Pakistan A team’s tour of England, officials said yesterday. When contacted by Reuters about the criminal investigation into Haider, the Greater Manchester Police said in an email: “After receiving a report on Aug 4 2025 of a rape, we have arrested a 24-year old man. “It’s alleged that the incident occurred on July 23 2025 at a premises in Manchester. “The man has since been bailed pending further enquiries. The victim is being supported by officers.” “I’d like to see a bit more accountability and the mental side of the game, just them switched on a bit more. It’s exciting.” – The Independent/ Agencies interesting to see if they can win a Test.” England have arguably the best middle order in Test cricket, with Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 in the batting. And McGrath sees their battle with the experienced Australian bowling attack as key to the outcome. “This series will be a big one for Root,” said McGrath. “He’s never really done that well in Australia, he’s not even got a 100 over there, so he’ll be keen to get out there. He’s in fine form. “Brook’s the one that I’ve enjoyed watching. He just goes out there, plays his game, and takes it on. The Australians will need to get on him pretty early. “Ben Duckett is such an aggressive opener. Zak Crawley would be keen to score a few more runs than he has previously. “It’s the top order or top and middle order of England against the Australian fast bowlers and Lyon. That’s going to be a big match-up.” England have won 25 of their 41 Tests under head coach Brendon McCullum but are yet to win a five-match Test series, most recently drawing 2-2 with India. McGrath, 55, was full of admiration for England’s style under McCullum but challenged them to be more mentally “switched on”. “I love seeing sports people go out there and play without fear,” he said. “That’s what Baz is looking to bring into this England team – play without fear.

McGrath’s bold prediction has become part of Ashes tradition, although it is rarely an accurate one – Australia have not won all five Tests since 2013/14. But England have not won any Test match in Australia since 2011, and the bowling great is

convinced that trend will continue when the rivals meet over November, December and January.

“It’s very rare for me to make a prediction, isn’t it?” McGrath joked, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Liv e. “And I can’t make a different one: five-nil. “I’m very confident with

our team. When you’ve got Pat Cumm i n s , Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon firing in their

home conditions, it’s going to be pretty tough. “Plus, that track record England have had, it’d be

Ben Stokes. – REUTERSPIC

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Time to move on, says Rabada S OUTH AFRICA’ S leading paceman Kagiso Rabada says it is time to move on from the euphoria of beating Australia in the World Test Championship final while admitting a belated major trophy success has come as a relief to his team. Rabada will lead South Africa’s attack as they take on Australia in three Twenty20 clashes and three one-day Internationals starting in Darwin tomorrow. “I think it was special, and I’ve done so many interviews on that since,” Rabada said of South Africa’s victory over Australia at Lord’s in June. “I think it’s time to move on. I don’t think we’ll forget about that ever as a team, and South Africa won’t ever (forget), but time to move on now.” he told a press conference yesterday.

NOTIS MENCARI IBU DAN BAPA KANDUNG

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The five-wicket win in the WTC final followed several frustrating near misses for South Africa in limited-overs World Cups. “It was kind of like a relief. But the show moves on, and moving toward the T20 World Cup, I guess the

approach will be a bit different. Now, you know, there’s no fear of anything.” Kiwis dominate Zimbabwe FORMER Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor top-scored in his first Test match after a lengthy ban but could not prevent New Zealand dominating the first day of the second Test yesterday. Taylor made 44 as Zimbabwe were bundled out for 125

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Haider has been provisionally suspended for the duration of the criminal investigation. “The PCB has decided to place Haider Ali under provisional suspension, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation,” the PCB said in a statement.

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TEL: 012-628 2844 FAX: 06-764 2051 JOHOR BAHRU MS. Anne Lim TEL: 013-770 6699 FAX: 07-355 5549

TEL: 012-628 2844 FAX: 06-764 2051 JOHOR BAHRU MS. Anne Lim TEL: 013-770 6699 FAX: 07-355 5549

Brendan Taylor. – REUTERSPIC

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