With the World Sailing rankings for Match Racing on hold since April 10, 2020 due to the pandemic, here are the top ranked US sailors entering the 2021 season:
Women’s Rankings (8 of these skippers are in the top 50 world-wide; rankings are among Women):
1. Nicole Breault (3 in the World)
2. Allie Blecher (13 in the World)
3. Bridget Groble (32 in the World)
4. Danielle Gallo (34 in the World)
5. Marilyn Cassedy (35 in the World)
6. Janel Zarkowsky (39 in the World)
7. Stephanie Wondolleck (46 in the World)
8. Liz Hjorth (50 in the World)
9. Giselle Camet Nyenhuis (60 in the World)
10. Morgan Wilson (102 in the World)
Open Rankings (9 of these skippers are in the top 50 world-wide):
1. Chris Poole (12 in the World)
2. Pearson Potts, Jr. (13 in the World)
3. Jack Parkin (20 in the World)
4. Taylor Canfield (21 in the World)
5. Ryan Seago (32 in the World)
6. Chris Weis (35 in the World)
7. Nicole Breault (39 in the World)
8. Peter Holz (40 in the World)
9. Chris Nesbitt (45 in the World)
10. David Wood (51 in the World)
Maple Leafs' William Nylander beats Canadiens goalie Jake Allen during a first-period power play Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Limited offence and little success at home continue to plague the Canadiens.
Montreal returned from a five-game swing through Alberta, but failed to produce a consistent effort in its 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on Wednesday night. It was the start of a four-game homestand for the Canadiens, who will meet the Leafs four times in 11 days — and potentially more if they meet in the first-round of the North Division playoffs.
William Nylander, Auston Matthews, Jake Muzzin and Adam Brooks paced the first-place Leafs (31-13-5), who won their third consecutive match, clinching a playoff berth in the process. Nick Suzuki scored the only goal for the Canadiens (21-18-9), who lost for the ninth time in 13 games.
While the Canadiens remain six points ahead of Calgary in the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot, both teams have now played 48 games.
Montreal has been held to only 29 goals in its last 15 contests and continues to struggle at home, its record now a poor 10-11-2.
It was an eventful day for the Canadiens, beginning in the morning when the organization announced winger Jonathan Drouin was taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons.
Drouin missed the three-game series at Calgary with what interim head coach Dominique Ducharme said at the time was a non COVID-related illness. Drouin’s mired in a horrific slump, with only two goals in 44 games — although he has 21 assists — last scoring Feb. 23, at Ottawa.
With Drouin being placed on the long-term injured reserve list, he’ll be compelled to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.
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Toronto Maple Leafs centre William Nylander scores a power-play goal on Montreal Canadiens' goaltender Jake Allen during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Habs right wing Cole Caufield collides with referee Marc Joannette during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Habs left wing Artturi Lehkonen plays the puck up the ice after taking a hit from Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin and left wing Nick Foligno during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Habs centre Nick Suzuki holds off Toronto Maple Leafs centre Alex Galchenyuk during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin tries to hold off Habs left wing Phillip Danault during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Habs right wing Cole Caufield plays the puck as defenseman Jon Merrill (holds back Toronto Maple Leafs centre Jason Spezza during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Both on their knees, Habs right wing Tyler Toffoli and Toronto Maple Leafs centre Alex Galchenyuk battle for the puck during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Alex Galchenyuk, left, and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman T.J. Brodie take out Habs right wing Cole Caufield as he drives for the net during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Joe Thornton celebrates as the Leafs score on Habs goaltender Jake Allen during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Maple Leafs' William Nylander beats Canadiens goalie Jake Allen during a first-period power play Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell traps the puck between his glove and pads as he shuts down Habs right wing Joel Armia's breakaway during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Despite pressure from Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl, Habs centre Nick Suzuki scores on goaltender Jack Campbell during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Habs right wing Josh Anderson drives Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly to the ice during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Wayne Simmonds pressures Habs defenseman Jeff Petry as he rounds goaltender Jake Allen's net during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Habs centre Eric Staal is in the thick of it with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman T.J. Brodie as Habs centre Jake Evans looks on during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
It gets crowded behind Habs goaltender Jake Allen's net as Habs right wing Cole Caufield, left to right, left wing Phillip Danault and defenseman Jeff Petry all get tied up by Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
Habs centre Jake Evans drives Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott to the ice after taking a big check from Dermott during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
All 17 Photos for Gallery
The Canadiens, already missing winger Paul Byron, also had to face the Leafs without winger Tomas Tatar. That meant Michael Frolik returned to the starting lineup for the first time since April 1 on an emergency recall. Frolik was playing only his third game this season.
Rookie winger Cole Caufield made his Montreal debut and, in his second NHL game, was teamed with Tyler Toffoli and Suzuki.
The visitors required only 98 seconds before opening the scoring with a power-play goal on their first shot. Toronto displayed good puck movement, ending in Nylander’s 15th goal this season.
The Leafs beat Jake Allen again on their fourth shot, at 8:44, on Matthews’s magnificent solo effort. He stole the puck from Suzuki, and then displayed excellent hand-eye co-ordination, knocking the puck from midair, then scoring on a shot that deflected off the post.
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Matthews leads the NHL in goals, with 35.
Allen had to be sharp to keep his team in the game the remainder of the period, making stops on Matthews, who was in alone, and Rasmus Sandin.
Muzzin made it 3-0 at 6:27 of the second period — his shot from the point deflecting off the stick of defenceman Jon Merrill. Veteran Joe Thornton drew an assist on the play, the 1,100th of his career.
But the Canadiens finally ended Jack Campbell’s shutout bid at 15:15. Suzuki came down the left side, his quick release through a screen beating Campbell high to the stick side. It was the centre’s second goal in three games and 10th this season, and might have provided Montreal with some momentum entering the third period.
But instead it was Brooks, playing only his sixth game this season, who scored at 8:15 of the period after Allen turned the puck over behind his net to Jason Spezza, who fed Brooks in front.
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For the first time since 2017, Zimbabwe have the chance to play Test cricket against a side other than Afghanistan or Bangladesh. While that might be welcome in itself, the home side showed enough against Pakistan in the shorter formats to aspire to more than just a participation trophy in the upcoming two-match series.
Zimbabwe play this format so exceedingly sparingly against top Test sides it's difficult to know what to expect, and easy to empathise with a side that gets such few opportunities to make coherent plans across matches, series and seasons. The last time they played against a top eight side, for instance, came against South Africa in 2017; just two of the 11 who lined up for that game are part of the squad that takes on Pakistan. But to search for real inspiration against the visitors, the coaching staff might be reminding them of the last time this particular opposition played Test cricket on Zimbabwean soil.
Eight years ago, a Pakistan Test side captained by Misbah-ul-Haq famously fell to a 24-run defeat in Harare, allowing the hosts to square the series; arguably their most impressive Test achievement in the past two decades. Only one player from each side who played that Test will feature again in Harare on Thursday (Brendan Taylor and Azhar Ali), but there is little doubt the discussions in the Zimbabwean dressing room will repeatedly revert back to that afternoon as a reminder this side doesn't intend to merely make up the numbers.
Pakistan, meanwhile, are in the odd position of having won all three white-ball series on this tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe without managing to appease nearly any of their fan base. Misbah, intent on shutting out that fateful 2013 Test from his memory, will be aware of the lose-lose situation this series throws up for Pakistan. Anything besides two resounding victories will be looked upon as failure, even if the Pakistan head coach has the experience and wisdom to know away Test wins can never quite be taken for granted.
Pakistan's mid-table ranking in this format is well earned; under the current coaching set-up, they continue to win games against opposition they might be expected to beat - especially at home - without seriously challenging the top sides away. Pakistan's away record has been especially miserable over the past three years, with nine losses in the past eleven Tests and no wins; the two draws came in rain-affected games against England last summer. This series represents a golden opportunity to reverse that trend. This Pakistan Test side may be a flawed one - a fact that won't change regardless of this series' outcome - but they will feel they possess the quality to do something they haven't since West Indies in 2017: return home with a Test series trophy in their luggage.
Form guide
(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WWLLD Zimbabwe LWLDL
In the spotlight
Regis Chakabva scored a match-winning 164 for the Eagles in the Logan Cup earlier this month, but evidence of an ability to translate that domestic prowess into international prolificacy has been scant. It was a similar case in the T20s, where strong showings in the domestic cup were followed by 21 runs across three innings against Pakistan. In Test cricket, the wicketkeeper has managed just one half-century in his last 21 innings, and at 33, will be acutely aware his chances in future might be numbered. In the first T20 in particular, his wicketkeeping left something to be desired, and with Brendan Taylor also part of the side, it's unlikely he will feel no pressure on his place. Zimbabwe will hope he manages to prove the point he sorely needs to at some point in the next two Tests.
Should Abid Ali get a game, this series may be his final chance at establishing himself as Pakistan's first-choice opener for now. Following a lightning start against Sri Lanka, the opener has faded away badly, managing just one half-century since his first two Tests, and averaging only 17.71. He was dismissed without scoring against Bangladesh, was unconvincing in England, uncomfortable in New Zealand and downright clueless against South Africa in Pakistan earlier this year. A few big scores might buy him some time at the top just yet, especially since Shan Masood continues to be out of favour, and his opening partner Imran Butt is even less established in the side.
Team news
Luke Jongwe's impressive T20I series puts him in pole position for a Test debut, while Craig Ervine and Sikander Raza's absences mean there are places in the middle order for grabs. Roy Kaia, whose only international game was a rained-off contest in Lahore in 2015, looks set to earn a Test debut.
Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Prince Masvaure, 2 Kevin Kasuza, 3 Sean Williams (capt), 4 Tarisai Musakanda, 5 Brendan Taylor, 6 Regis Chakabva (wk), 7 Luke Jongwe, 8 Wellington Masakadza, 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Victor Nyauchi.
Yasir Shah's absence will allow Zahid Mehmood a Test debut, but the core of the side remains the same as the one that won a home series against South Africa in January.
Showers are forecast on the weekend, but persistent wet weather is unlikely. The surface in Harare tends to be slow, with little bounce, with spinners growing into the game as the Test wears on.
Stats that matter
Zimbabwe have won more Tests against Pakistan than any other side except Bangladesh, with three wins in 17 matches.
Shaheen Afridi is two wickets away from 50 Test scalps, while Hasan Ali needs seven to reach that number in four fewer Tests than his team-mate.
Quotes
"We would like to carry on the same winning momentum we got from the series we played at home against South Africa. The conditions are difficult here but we've adjusted." Pakistan captain Babar Azam wants to draw on the positive memories of the series win against South Africa in January
"We are pretty excited for the Tests. The wickets look extremely good for that and a new bunch of players will join the team and start their training." Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams on their playing against Pakistan
Danyal Rasool is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @Danny61000
