THE GLEANER, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | SPORTS B2 Lennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer THE NEWS of the passing of former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne sent shock waves throughout the cricketing world yesterday. From as far as Australia, to the tiny islands of the Caribbean, the cricket fraternity is mourning the loss of a man who revolutionised the art of spin bowling. Warne, who passed away in Thailand at the age of 52, was remembered as a man that mastered the hardest craft in the game of cricket, leg-spin bowling. His remarkable numbers for Australia or domestically for Victoria, Hampshire, Rajasthan Royals and the Melbourne Stars are second to none, with the blondhaired spin maestro still holding the record for second-most wickets in Test cricket at 708. Many would remember the effervescent right-arm leg-spinner who announced himself on the scene with a delivery dubbed the ‘Ball of the Century’ when he dismissed England’s Mike Gatting at Old Trafford back in the 1993 Ashes series. Warne’s international career started in 1992 and lasted for 15 years. He played 145 Test matches and 194 One-Day Internationals. Back home in the Caribbean, cricket fans remembered the fantastic duals which the Aussie legend had with players such as Phil Simmons, Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams andWavell Hinds. Some still remember the famous phrase from wicketkeeper Ian Healy who bellowed “Bowling Shane” on almost every Warne delivery. The news of Warne’s death was just too much to bear for close friend Lara, who tweeted “And speechless at the moment. I literally don’t know how to sum up this situation. My friend is gone!! We have lost one of the Greatest Sportsmen of all time!! My condolences go out to his family. RIP Warnie!! You will be missed.” Current West Indies coach Phil Simmons was also condolent in his remembrance of the man nicknamed ‘Warnie’. “It is a sad day for cricket. I played against him earlier in his career. He transformed bowling, especially leg-spin bowling … he had a big impact all over the cricket world. I remember him playing against us and his battles with Brian Lara, and then we can all remember ‘that ball’ when he bowled Mike Gatting in The Ashes. We also admired his commentary after he ended playing and how great he was at that as well. He was a true legend of the game,” Simmons said. FormerWest Indies captain and current director of cricket at Cricket West Indies, Jimmy Adams, is still trying to get over the sad news. However, he had nothing but high praises for the spin master. “I am very saddened by Shane’s passing. His contribution to the game of cricket has been immeasurable. His level of skill, coupled with a natural exuberance for the game made him a great player and rival over the years. He still had so much to give to cricket and the global game will that much poorer for his passing.” Former West Indies batsman and West Indies Players Association PresidentWavell Hinds remembered vividly a Test match he played against Warne back in 2006. “How he went about his craft was amazing. He was always in your face every ball and even if you were on top, he wouldn’t allow you to believe you were on top. He always played his heart out for his country and he is probably the greatest leg-spinner of all time and arguably the greatest bowler of all time,” said Hinds. Former WI players hail Warne as a giant of cricket Australia’s Shane Warne leaves the field after taking five wickets at the end of the first day of the fifth Test between England and Australia at the Oval in London, Thursday September 8, 2005. AP Daniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter THE NATIONAL Under-20 women’s team has had to deal with one injury crisis so far in their Under-20Women’s World Cup campaign. They may have to do without another key player to continue their quest in their Under-0 Concacaf Women’s Championship. The young Reggae Girlz will face Panama in their Round of 16 clash at 6:00 p.m at the San Cristobal Panamerican Stadium in the Dominican Republic, as they hope to gain one of the three qualifying spots for this year’sWorld Cup in Costa Rica this summer. Jamaica finished third in their group with four points, behind Haiti and group winners Guatemala, to dance to the last 16 for the second consecutive tournament. However, the team will have to deal with an additional injury concern if they hope to progress further. Midfielder Mia Mitchell had to be substituted in the first half of their 0-0 draw with Haiti on Wednesday, after picking up an injury, and assistant coach Tashawna Vincent was not optimistic about her availability for the game. Speaking to the RJRGLEANER Communications Group on Thursday, Vincent said that Michell’s availability will not be determined until just before the game. NOT LOOKING GOOD “It does not look good at this point and, from where I am sitting, it does not look like she will be available for Saturday,” Vincent said. “We are keeping our fingers crossed. The medical team is working assiduously to make sure that she is ready. But, if she is ready, it is going to be a last-minute decision.” The Girlz are already without midfielder Peyton McNamara who suffered a knee injury and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Additionally, they will also be without Theanna Burnett, who is suspended for the game because she got a red card in the game against Haiti. They will be facing a Panama team who placed second in their group with four points, scoring six goals in their three group games while conceding four. Defender Anabel Moore said that they will have to be mindful of their discipline when facing Panama but believes that they have what it takes to make history for this group. “I think we should calm down, play smart, play our game. Be careful with the cards that we are on and the injuries that we have. Continue to work hard, get ourselves organised and I think that we will be great,”Moore said after the Haiti game. “We have a lot of fight and spirit within us. We obviously came here to keep going, andwe intend to keep going.” Thewinnerswill faceeither Guatemala or Bermuda in the quarter-finals. Jamaica’s best finish at the tournament was their fourthplace showing in 2006. daniel. wheeler@ gleanerjm. com Young Girlz sweating over Mitchell’s fitness ahead of Panama clash Assistant coach Tashawna Vincent FILE ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA (CMC): KEACY CARTY impressed again but missed out on his second half-century of the game as CWI President’s XI staved off defeat to draw with England in their four-day tour match here yesterday. Set an improbable 367 for victory at Coolidge Cricket Ground after the tourists declared their second innings on 164 for four in their second innings, the President’s XI recovered from the peril of 52 for five to end on 123 for seven. Carty (49) played a key role in the rescue effort, anchoring a 40-run sixth-wicket stand with left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano (32) before putting on a further 31 for the seventh with first innings century-maker Raymon Reifer (10 not out). The partnerships took precious time out of the game and by the time Carty guided leftarm spinner Jack Leach (2-25) to Zak Crawley at slip deep in the final session, neither team seemed keen on carrying on. All told, the right-handed Carty faced 96 balls in just under two hours and struck eight fours while Solozano counted half-dozen boundaries in a patient innings spanning 116 deliveries. England had earlier got 48 fromDan Lawrence and 43 fromwicketkeeper Ben Foakes as they gathered crucial runs after resuming the morning on 77 for three. Lawrence, on 12 at the start, lashed four fours and a six in a breezy 41-ball knock while Foakes, yet to face a ball on resumption, punched five fours off 60 deliveries, the pair adding 70 for the fourth wicket. The declaration was followed by a tumble of wickets as Shayne Moseley (seven) and Devon Thomas (zero) perished in the 11th over to seamer Craig Overton, followed by Alick Athanaze (one) and captain Shane Dowrich (2) in successive overs from fast bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes. Left-hander Moseley played away from his body and inside-edged on to his stumps while Thomas drove a firm return catch to Overton to signal lunch at 15 for two. Athanaze played back and was lbw in the third over after the interval and Stokes struck again in his second over, bowling Dowrich with one that straightened late and hit off-stump. Tottering on 23 for four, the President’s XI were steadied by a 29-run, fifth-wicket stand between Solozano and Shamar Springer who struck three fours in 15 before clipping seamer Chris Woakes to Overton at short midwicket. Carty helps President’s XI stave off defeat Ben Foakes FILE Robert Bailey/Gleaner Writer DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Excelsior High are on course to retain their Corporate Area Track and Field Championships girls’ title heading into today’s final day of the twoday meet at the National Stadium. Jamaica College (JC) hold a narrow sevenpoint lead over defending champions Kingston College (KC) in the race for the boys’ title. Excelsior lead the girls’ section with 100.50 points ahead of Immaculate High 54.50, Wolmer’s Girls 46.50 and Camperdown High 30. They are followed by St Andrew High and Convent of Mercy Academy ‘Alpha’ (28), Campion College (21) andThe Queen’s School (20.50). Michael Vassell, head coach of Excelsior, said they are oozing with confidence going into today’s final day of the championships. “It is really just a matter of keeping the scoreboard running,” said Vassell. “We had some good performances today because there were a lot of personal best times and so the message for the final day is to stay relaxed, stay focused and just enjoy the day,” he said. “I think we are definitely going to do it because we are in a lot of finals. But I think that the only thing that we worried about and every coach would is the relays, knowing that you have to get the baton around,” said the veteran coach. On the boys’ side, JC lead the table with 68 points ahead of KC 61. They are followed by Calabar High (34), Wolmer’s Boys (10) and Excelsior on (five). JC’s J’Voughnn Blake was in splendid form as he smashed the Class One boys’ 1500m record with a time of three minutes 54.76 seconds. He erased the previous time of 3:56.13 which was set by Calabar’s Rivaldo Marshall in 2019. Blake’s teammate Roban Handal, who took home silver, also dipped below the record clocking 3:54.76. KC’s Gianni Henry was third in 3:57.84. KC’s Altwayne Bedward captured the boys’ Class One discus with a 56.31m in front of Calabar’s Kobe Lawrence (56.23m) and Shamar Reid of JC (54.56m). Excelsior’s Gabriella Gordon won the girls’ equivalent in 5:30.47 ahead of Jahmeli McCarthy of Wolmer’s 6:23.41. Kayla Brown, also of Excelsior, was third in 7:05.85. Wolmer’s Girls’Malai Cunningham captured the Class One high jumpwith amark of 1.70m, comfortably ahead of St Andrew High’s Jo-Anna Pinnock (1.60m) and Chenssa Davis of Excelsior, 1.55m. Corporate Area Champs: Excelsior set to retain girls’ crown, JC, KC in close battle J’Voughnn Blake of Jamaica College FILE
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