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India eager to make amends
It will be an even contest Patel will keep wickets, says Dravid
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Open hockey campaign against Egypt
Popat enters quarterfinals
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Chennai, October 22 It was a classic case of the hunter becoming the hunted in what was billed as the ‘revenge series’ with the Kiwis very nearly turning the table on the hosts in the Mohali Test. The two-match Test series may have ended in a draw but the Indians, playing in their own backyard, were far from convincing against a team which seemed to have done their home work well to counter the Indian conditions. The home team will now be more determined to get its act together in the series. But the hosts will have to contend with the third party, the Kangaroos. For all reasons, the fans will be looking forward to the Australians for entertaining cricket. Sure, the world champions, scheduled to arrive in Delhi later tonight, will be here with a weakened bowling line-up after losing Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee to various injuries. They would also miss the services of Shane Warne who is undergoing a ban after testing positive for a diuretic before the World Cup early this year. But the presence of world record holder Mathew Hayden in the all conquering team is bound to create some hype and frenzy. Hayden has come a long way since he piled on the runs when the Australians toured the subcontinent under Steve Waugh in 2001. Hayden now holds the record for the highest Test individual score after scoring 380 against the hapless Zimbabwe in the recent Test series at home, surpassing Brian Lara’s 375 against England in 1994-95. A rematch of the World Cup final between India and Australia is what the Indian fans want at the Eden Gardens on November 18. How much Stephen Fleming and company can do to thwart those plans will be known in the coming days. The Indians, to be captained by Rahul Dravid after Sourav Ganguly has been ruled out of the first two matches, would be hoping to launch their campaign on a winning note in an opening match which could be affected by the weather. The city has been lashed by rains since the past two days and the met office has forecast thundershowers tomorrow. History, at least, is against New Zealand. In their previous visits to India, the Kiwis have not won a limited overs series. And the 5-2 series win at home last season might be evened out by India’s victory in the World Cup. But Fleming and his men would be seeking to capitalise on the psychological edge after avoiding a defeat in the Test series, a result the Kiwis had not achieved on their previous visits to India. Their players have accustomed themselves to the local conditions. The batsmen have run into form, and the bowlers have been among wickets. And, considering the fact New Zealand also managed to keep the Australians out of the final of a similar triseries last season Down Under, one should expect Fleming to be at his astute best. The teams: India: Rahul Dravid (Capt), Virender Sehwag, S. Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Hemang Badani, Yuvraj Singh, Mohd Kaif, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Parthiv Patel, A. Salvi and Murali Karthik. New Zealand:
Stephen Fleming (Capt), Lou Vincent, Chris Nevin, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Scott Styris, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Daryl Tuffey, Paul Hitchcock, Kyle Mills, Daniel Vettori, Ian Butler.
— PTI |
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It will be an even contest Five days in Mohali left the Indians high and dry. Still, Rahul Dravid and his set of young guns wouldn’t exactly savour the wet spell, which greeted them in the capital of Tamil Nadu. The Test series over, they would be eager to set their house in order, but for that there’s must be some cricket happening in the MA Chidambaram stadium. Before I start working my way into the strengths and weakness of the three teams involved in the TVS trophy, there’s one thing troubling my mind for quite some time. Can the BCCI please explain why it chose Chennai as the venue? People in this part of the country celebrate Divali with heavy showers and this is no ‘exclusive’ information in journalistic angles. Although the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association is a hardworking bunch, the board could have spared their efforts and looked for an alternative venue. After all, neither the players nor the association would see teams reaching Gwalior with split points. I presume we are lucky enough to see some cricket under the floodlights and going on those lines, Thursday would be an even contest. Predominantly expecting batsman friendly action, New Zealand can be excused for walking with their tails up. Chris Harris’s superb unbeaten 130 on this ground way back in 1996 would not have much significance in terms of the tri-series opener but the ageing all-rounder’s presence here would be a big factor. The charismatic Chris Cairns will more than fill-in for injured Nathan Astle while in Craig McMillan, skipper Stephan Fleming, Lou Vincent and Jacob Oram, Black Caps have the arsenal to match the Indians every strike. Meanwhile, the hosts have plenty to ponder on before Dravid tosses the coin. First and foremost, there’s a problem behind the wickets. Coach John Wright realises ‘The Wall’ has developed cracks under constant pressure to perform as a responsible wicketkeeper-batsman and would not sustain the additional captaincy burden. He has only one option under these circumstances, get Parthiv to don the gloves and let Dravid ‘free’ on the field. This apart, Sachin Tendulkar has been giving some mild concerns but it’s the No 6 batsman which is unsettled. VVS Laxman is walking straight on back of his performances in the Test series while Badani is much more than mere replacement to Sourav Ganguly. A livewire on the field and a brilliant lower-order bat, the local boy would be keen to get his international career back on track. It is really a pity only one would get a look-in, unless of course, Dravid once again gives in to team’s demands. Bowling is yet another gray area but I don’t see Kumble or Harbhajan getting disturbed from the eleven. They will join Zaheer and Agarkar as the four specialist bowlers in the side with Sehwag, Yuvraj, Sachin all rolling over their arms. Australia, the third side in the tournament, is a depleted right but still commands respect. Their batting remains strong as ever, and all eyes would be on the in- form Mathew Hayden who had a fabulous tour on this soil a couple of years ago. It will be interesting to see how Ricky Ponting manages his mediocre bowling resources and still show their supremacy over the two teams. Weather permitting Chennai should set the ball rolling for witnessing some high quality cricketing action over the next few days. Happy viewing! — Dronacharya Sports Promoters Association |
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Patel will keep wickets, says Dravid Chennai, October 22 Dravid also said New Zealand would not gain any psychological advantage going into the limited overs series by managing to draw the Test series against the Indians in their own backyard. Dravid said the team management had decided not too announce the playing eleven for the match until the start of the game. "All the three teams are among the top five sides in the world...We are not going to announce any eleven at this stage. We will do that just before the game". Dravid set to rest speculation on India's wicketkeeping choice, indicating that young Parthiv Patel would don the gloves in tomorrow's day-and-night encounter. To a pointed question about him donning the gloves tomorrow, Dravid said he was not likely to keep wickets and added that "it has been decided that Parthiv Patel will be keeping wickets".
— PTI |
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PCB welcomes India’s decision ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday welcomed External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha’s announcements to restore full cricket ties and allow its cricket team to tour Pakistan next year in February. “I whole heartedly welcome India’s decision to send its team to Pakistan. We are very delighted and appreciate that Indian Government’s decision to resume bilateral cricket ties,” Chief Executive of Pakistan Cricket Board Ramiz Raja said while reacting to Sinha’s announcement. Sinha, while speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday proposed 12 confidence building measures, including full resumption of cricketing and other sporting links. Raja also hoped that the itinerary of the series would be discussed between PCB Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Tauqir Zia and BCCI President Jaghmohan Dalmiya during the ICC executive board meeting scheduled at Barbados on October 29.
— PTI |
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Harmison wrecks B’desh
Dhaka, October 22 England reached 111 without loss at the close in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of
203. Trescothick hit 13 fours and a six in a fluent unbeaten 77 with his opening partner Michael Vaughan on 30 not out after surviving three loud lbw appeals. Earlier, fast bowler Harmison recorded figures of five for 35, his best for England, as he wrapped up the Bangladesh first innings by bowling Mohammad Rafique for 32 and Mashrafe Mortaza for 11. Fellow seamer Matthew Hoggard picked up three wickets, including two in two overs when he trapped Mushfiqur Rahman (34) and captain Khaled Mahmud (four) lbw with low, swinging deliveries. Bangladesh had fought back before tea with a maiden Test fifty from former captain Khaled Mashud before he fell lbw for 51, a first Test scalp for debutant all rounder Rikki Clarke.
Rafique also bludgeoned three sixes off spinners Gareth Batty and Ashley Giles in his 32.
Scoreboard Bangladesh
(Ist innings): Sarkar b Hoggard 20 Omar c Clarke b Harmison 3 Bashar c
Trescothick
Saleh c Read b Harmison 11 Kapali b Batty 28 Rahman lbw b Hoggard
34 Mashud lbw b Clarke 51 Mahmud lbw b Hoggard 4 Rafique b Harmison
32 Mortaza b Harmison 11 Haque Jnr. not out 0 Extras: (b-2 lb-3 nb-2) 7 Total: (all out, 83.5 overs) 203 Fall of wickets:
1-12, 2-24, 3-38, 4-40, 5-72, 6-132, 7-148, 8-182, 9-198. Bowling: Hoggard 23-6-55-3, Harmison 21.5-9-35-5, Clarke 6-1-18-1, Batty 21-6-43-1, Giles 12-1-47-0. England
(Ist innings): Trescothick not out 77 Vaughan not out 30 Extras:
(lb-1 w-1 nb-2) 4 Total: (no
wkt, 31 overs) 111 Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 9-2-20-0, Mushfiqur Rahman 5-2-23-0, Khaled Mahmud 6-4-11-0, Mohammad Rafique 8-0-33-0, Enamul Haque
Jnr. 3-0-23-0. — Reuters |
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India get off to rousing start
Hyderabad, October 22 Veteran striker I.M. Vijayan put the hosts ahead in the 12th minute while defender Muttath Suresh increased the margin nine minutes after the break and substitute Asim Biswas sealed the issue with a fine goal in the 79th minute. At half-time India led 1-0. For the Rwandans, who arrived here with a junior squad, Balinda Aziz scored the consolation goal in the 61st minute. Playing on the water logged turf, Indians capitalised on the absence of eight star players of Rwandan team that qualified for the 2004 African Cup of Nations as they dominated the proceedings exhibiting good all-round football. The Rwandans, mostly comprising U-20 players drawn from local clubs, did try their best to score, but the Indian defence put up a sterling performance denying the tiny African nation any chance to cause an upset. Earlier, much to the relief of the organisers and the sparse crowd, sun shone for the first time since yesterday as the players trooped on to the wet ground, which was declared fit for play just hours before the start. Vijayan, who had announced his decision to retire from international football at the end of this meet earlier this week, had the privilege to become the first goal scorer of the Afro-Asian Games as he found the target with a right-footer off a cross from Tomba Singh. Though the organisers cleared the ground fit for play at around 1 p.m., players had difficulty in controlling the ball and several times the ball stopped during play. And whenever they slipped on the soggy field, they sent water splashing. India skipper Baichung Bhutia did not get much opportunity throughout the 90 minutes and was hardly seen in possession of ball as the Rwandans marked him well. Tomba Singh and Renedy Singh on either flanks did a wonderful job. The defence was spearheaded by Satish Bharti, who came up with several clearances. Goalkeeper Sangram Mukerjee also held his nerve at crucial times. Chief coach Stephen Constantine described the win as a good one to start with, but said “we should not be carried away.”
— PTI |
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Open hockey campaign against Egypt
Hyderabad, October 22 Though upbeat after their maiden Asia Cup title win in Kuala Lumpur last month, India, pitted in the Pool ‘B’, are not taking their African opponents lightly in the absence of Pillay, Baljit Singh Saini and Baljit Singh Dhillon as tomorrow’s match will set the tone for the matches ahead with the hosts set to clash against top sides, including arch-rivals Pakistan.
In the women’s section, India will start their campaign against South Africa as the organisers made wholesome changes to the schedule following last moment withdrawal of some countries. Though all the other six teams in fray will start their campaign tomorrow with Pakistan playing against Nigeria, who replaced Zimbabwe at the last moment, all the eyes here will be fixed on the India-Egypt match which the hosts are expected to win rather easily. “We are not taking Egypt lightly because they are an upcoming side. They are hosting at least two international meets every year and have fair bit of exposure at the highest level,” India’s goalkeeping coach Subbaiah told PTI here this afternoon after the team’s practice session at the Gachibowli stadium. In the absence of the seven players who were part of the team that won the Asia Cup, Subbaiah said the team management would be banking on the experience of captain Dilip Tirkey and the youngsters to come up with a creditable performance. “The team is quite confident and all are raring to go. We will no doubt come up with our best possible performance in the tournament. “We can’t say whether we will win the gold or silver, but we will leave no stone unturned and play our best,” he said. Tomorrow’s other matches will see Pakistan starting as favourtites to beat Nigeria while the Koreans are expected to steamroll African minnows Ghana who have too little firepower to rattle their fancied opponents. The Pakistanis, who arrived in Hyderabad amidst tight security, have been accommodated at the Indian School of Business near the Gachibowli stadium, where all the hockey teams are staying. The 16-member Pakistan team is without ace penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas and a few senior players who were rested by the Pakistan Hockey Federation keeping an eye on the upcoming major international meets, including the Azlan Shah Cup in January and the Olympic qualifiers in March. The day’s other match will be between Malaysia and South Africa.
— PTI  |
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Punjab eves overcome Chandigarh to win hockey title
Jalandhar, October 22 The hosts managed to sustain the euphoria generated yesterday when they pocketed the handball title by winning the hockey championship today-their second title win in as many days. In a pulsating encounter, Chandigarh women rallied twice to take the match into the tie-breaker, which ultimately went the hosts way. The decision of the Punjab coach, Rajwinder Kaur, to break normal convention and go in for a five-player frontline, paid dividends when the hosts earned two penalty strokes in the first quarter of the match itself. The first stroke, which was awarded when the Chandigarh custodian Neha sat on a goal-bound ball, was neatly converted by Manpreet Kaur. The hosts were soon leading by a two-goal margin when attacker Meena Kashyap was fouled in the danger area and the resultant stroke was easily netted by Meena herself. However, plucky Chandigarh girls started threading their moves from the wings and this counter-offensive yielded the desired results. First Parkash, in a superb effort, swept the ball past the bewildered goalkeeper while minutes later Harjit Kaur sounded the board off a penalty corner to bring up the equaliser. There was plenty of action in the second half too as both teams dished out more attacking hockey. Hosts’ skipper Amandeep Kaur (Sr) launched a brilliant run down the right flank and after side-stepping an onrushing defender passed the ball on to an unmarked Niti, who beat the custodian for the hosts third goal. Determined to stage a comeback, the Chandigarh girls started exerting pressure while the hosts started devoting more time to retain the slender one-goal lead. This proved to be their undoing and winger Sadhana sent in the equaliser through a penalty corner, sending the match into the tie-breaker in which Punjab converted four of their chances while their rivals could manage only two. Earlier in the semifinals, Punjab downed Delhi 4-0 while Chandigarh trounced Orissa 5-3. The match to decide the third place team was won by Orissa, who walloped Delhi 5-0. In tennis, Parul Goswami won the individual title while Dipanta Chakravarty stood second. The third place went to Vishakha Chetri while the doubles title was bagged by Parul Goswami and Vishakha Chetri. Harsimran Kaur and Simmar took the second spot. The prizes were distributed by MP Mr Balbir Singh. |
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Popat enters quarterfinals Jaipur, October 22 Wei, who is ranked No 24 in the world, virtually had a cakewalk over India’s Sanave Thomas 15-2, 15-5. He was just brilliant as Thomas could not offer any resistance against his agile opponent. Wei will now take on Sachin Ratti. Earlier, Ratti posted an almost one-sided victory against C.M. Shashidhar 15-6, 15-2.
— UNI |
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