|
Captain David Warner and incoming batsman Usman Khawaja will both be searching for a turnaround in their personal fortunes even as Australia aim to seal the ODI series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Wednesday. Australia enter the fourth match of the five-game series with a 2-1 lead and a win, though far from making up for their humiliation in the Test series, would at least allow them to lift some sort of trophy on this trip.Khawaja will come into the XI for the first time in this series, after Shaun Marsh was ruled out of the remainder of the tour having broken a finger while fielding during Australias win on Sunday. The recall provides an opportunity for Khawaja to regain some pride after he was axed for the final Test of the Sri Lanka series, following scores of 26, 18, 11 and 0 in the first two Tests.It was a difficult time for everyone, not just Usman himself, Warner told reporters in Dambulla on Tuesday. We all have to have a bit of a reality check sometimes in regards to the way we play our game. Its such a tough environment to be over here. Unfortunately he did get dropped from the Test series. He took that very, very well. Hes been training his backside off in the nets.Hes been doing everything he can to put his hand up for selection. He accepts that he didnt have the runs on the board and hes been doing everything he can to get back in the team. Im really looking forward to seeing him come out and play the way he does. He scored a lovely 90 in the Caribbean and he played fantastic there, Im hoping he can come out here and do the same thing tomorrow.Khawaja is expected to be Australias third No. 3 this series, after captain Steven Smith filled the role for the first two games but then flew home for a break and was replaced by Marsh. Warner and Aaron Finch have been the opening combination all series but Warner is yet to make a contribution with the bat, with scores of 8, 1 and 10 in the first three games.If you can find the answer, Ill take it, Warner said when asked how he could turn his form around. Thats just what happens with cricket. Sometimes youre in form, sometimes youre not. I feel like Im hitting the ball well. Ive had some good dismissals, Ive had a couple of poor shots here and there.But thats the challenge you face over here in these conditions. You always have to back your game plan and back your skills. Every time Ive gone out there, Ive done that. Unfortunately I havent got the runs on the board that are necessary. Ill be aiming to come out here and play my role as I normally do, try and have that intent from ball one.Despite his own lack of runs, Warner captained Australia effectively on Sunday in his first match in charge, juggling his bowlers well and showing an attacking mindset in the field. He said one of the challenges was to keep on top of the over rate given Australias reliance on fast bowlers, but that he had loved the experience of leading his country.I loved every minute of it, Warner said. I feel that the guys have taken it on board very, very well. You always have the respect from your peers, which is always fantastic. And I felt that the guys did everything I asked of them in the last game, and everything Ive asked of them at training. Theyve done everything Ive asked for, and I couldnt be any more pleased.The fourth ODI will be played on the same Dambulla surface as Sundays match, meaning it could be slow and dry right from the outset. Offspinner Nathan Lyon is likely to come under strong consideration after being left out of the previous game. .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. World No. 3 Rory McIlroy has survived a three-man sudden death playoff to secure the US PGA Tour Championship and with it the season-long FedEx Cup and a $US11.53 million ($A15.15 million) payday.McIlroy outlasted Americans Ryan Moore and Kevin Chappell for the Tour Championship title, taking the US$US10million ($A13 million) bonus out of the hands of world No.2 Dustin Johnson in the process.Johnson gave up his grip on both with an implosion on Sunday.The playoff lasted four holes before McIlroy made birdie on the par-4 16th hole to win it all.Earlier McIlroy and Moore both fired impressive six-under-64s on Sunday to get to 12 under for the championship.Chappell managed a 66 to join them.Both Moore and Chappell had birdie putts on the 18th hole in regulation to win the tournament but couldnt make them fall, Moores from just seven-feet lipped out.McIlroy had a six-foot eagle try on the first attempt down the 18th in sudden death but also lipped out the putt.Moore matched his birdie while Chappell was eliminated with a par.Both McIlroy and Moore made pars on the second attempt down 18, sending them back to the 15th, a tough par-3 over water where they matched pars once more.Moore made a clutch 17-foot par save on the fourthh playoff hole to force the issue, but McIlroy buried his birdie putt from 14-feet to win it all.dddddddddddd Johnson, who took the overnight lead into Sunday, finished with a 73 to drop back to five under and a tie for sixth.Australias only hope Adam Scott fired a 65 to finish at four under, tied eighth.It was nice to finish birdie, eagle. I played such a great round today and kind of left everything out there.But it all came in a hurry at the last two holes. Its a nice way to finish the year, Scott said.Unfortunately, I wasnt up there contending this week. Thats disappointing because I started in such great position in the FedEx, but lots of positives to take from this year, and lots of good ideas to work on the next year. Hopefully, a little rest before some more golf the rest of this year.Paul Casey (64) finished fourth at nine under.McIlroy now has four wins in FedEx Cup playoff events in his career, the most of any player in FedEx Cup Playoffs history.He has now won multiple World Golf Championships events, multiple Major Championships, four Playoff events and the FedExCup in his career. ' ' '
|
