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Murali joins Walsh at top with 519 wkts
ICC: Zimbabwe rebels risk careers
Coming down key to Laxman’s success |
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Kalmadi joins call Pillay chorus Amandeep Johl leads in
Macau Open Basketball probables for national meet
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Murali joins Walsh at top with 519 wkts
Harare, May 6 On a momentous day, Muralitharan moved on to the 519 mark after taking six for 45 as Sri Lanka dismissed a second-string Zimbabwe for 199. Sri Lanka were 67 without loss in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings total of 199 at the close. Muralitharan(32) had gone into the match with 513 wickets, needing seven more to surpass the record held by former West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh. Murali struck first after lunch when he trapped Alester Maregwede in front for a duck, before dismissing Mluleki Nkala for two in similar fashion six overs later. Tatenda Taibu prodded the third ball of Muralitharan's 15th over to Mahela Jayawardene at silly mid-off to be out for a patient 40, and the over ended with Blessing Mahwire being bowled off his pads without scoring. Muralitharan took his fifth wicket when Prosper Utseya misjudged the flight of a full delivery and was bowled for 45. The innings ended when Muralitharan bowled Douglas Hondo round his legs for 19.
Zimbabwe had to field a makeshift team after 15 experienced players refused to make themselves available in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The rebels want binding arbitration to resolve their grievances with the ZCU, who have offered mediation, which is not binding.
— Reuters
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ICC: Zimbabwe rebels risk careers
London, May 6 ICC President Ehsan Mani also said the rebels were ill-advised if they thought that walking out on the eve of a Test match would force other Test-playing countries to interfere in Zimbabwean cricket. Sacked skipper Heath Streak, Trevor Gripper, Sean Ervine and Ray Price are the players who walked out of the team before Zimbabwe’s first Test against Sri Lanka. “I am not going to pass comment on the rights or wrongs of what has happened in this case but what is clear is that by walking out on their team-mates on the eve of a Test match, the rebels have placed Tatenda Taibu and his team in an invidious position,” said Mr Mani in a statement yesterday. “I am concerned that even if an agreement is now reached between the ZCU and the rebel players, this tactic of walking out on their team-mates could irreparably split the dressing room, making a lasting solution even more difficult to find. — UNI
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Wright likely to get extension
New Delhi, May 6 Acknowledging that the former New Zealand captain had done a “good job” since becoming the coach in November 2000, Board of Control for Cricket in India President Jagmohan Dalmiya said here today he believed in continuity. However, Dalmiya maintained that the decision regarding re-appointment of the coach would be taken by the board’s working committee. “We have no idea of saying goodbye to anybody at the moment. Wright has done a good job, but it is a decision which will be taken by the working committee at a later stage,” Dalmiya told PTI in an interview here. “May be the working committee will empower the President to take a decision. We have to wait,” he said, adding that a decision would be taken at an appropriate time. The former New Zealand opener took over the job from Kapil Dev for the home series against Zimbabwe in 2000 and his contract was extended by a year just before the TVS Cup in Dhaka last year. The BCCI chief said he had separate interactions with all the members of the support staff after the historic Pakistan tour and had drawn up a detailed programme for the forthcoming season. “I had a meeting with all of them after the Pakistan tour and my discussions with them gave me an idea of what we need to do. I told them that they had done a good job. The country is celebrating... but it is important not to get complacent. We need to keep the good work going,” he said. Dalmiya said he always believed in having regular discussions with the captain and coach and get their feedbacks on what was required to be done. “I strongly feel that cricketing decisions should be left to the people who play the game. We are administrators and need to know from the players what they need.” Dalmiya said a scientific planning and focus on physical fitness had been largely responsible for India’s splendid performance in the last couple of years. “The success is not just a fluke. It is because of the scientific planning that has gone behind and I hope India will not look back from here. “The new boys are settling down very fast and have started giving the results. The senior players are leading from the front and that augurs well for the team. But there are other important things that have been taken care by the board like stress on physical fitness and giving the juniors necessary international exposure,” he said. Dalmiya said the board’s emphasis on activating junior level programme had started the process of a “supply line” and strengthened the reserve bench of the national team. “We know that there is no dearth of talent in the country, it is a question of giving the youngsters the opportunity to play more. The frequent tours of the India ‘A’ and under-19 teams have really helped as it has given players exposure to international matches. — PTI
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Coming down key to Laxman’s success
New Delhi, May 6 “I was in a dilemma. I was always a stroke player by nature and there I was trying to see the sheen off the ball. I was a bit confused. When I came lower, I could play my natural game,” he said. Laxman also said the “disappointment and hurt” that he felt when he was dropped from the World Cup squad last year would haunt him for the rest of his life. “It was a difficult time for me. A lot of negative thoughts crept in. I had a chat with my uncle. He knows my game better that anybody’s else. He analysed my shortcomings and how I could overcome them.” “The disappointment and hurt will always be there, throughout my life. I spent time with my school friends. They went out of their way to boost my morale. I went on a holiday to the USA, spent time with my friends,” said the Hyderabad player. Laxman, who has helped shape many a win for India, admitted that his running between the wickets could do with a little improvement. “I admit that I was never a natural athlete. I really had to work hard on my fitness and try and improve in that aspect of the game. Luckily now I am much better though I can still improve.” While singling out Wasim Akram as the most difficult bowler because of the variations he had in his bowling, Laxman said he had improved upon his footwork against the pacemen. “Batsmanship is an ongoing process of seeking improvement. There are aspects on which you work all the time. The more you move your feet, the more you are in control. This is something that I have worked on in the last 18 months. It is an ongoing process.” Laxman, who has scored 3584 runs in 53 Tests at an average of 46.54, also talked about the importance of shot selection in constructing an innings. “After my 281 (against Australia in Kolkata in 2000), there was a phase where I was getting out in the 20s and 30s. I tried to curb certain shots. I think a lot for a batsman depends on stroke-selection. According to different situations, I change my shot-selection.” Laxman, who has made 2049 runs in 72 one-day internationals at an avearge of 32.01, also spoke about his favourite rivals Australia against whom he has invariably come up with his best. “It is always good when you do well against the best side in the world. It gives you a lot of confidence. I enjoyed my performances in Australia. I was even more happy that they contributed to the team’s success.” On his ability to cope well with the bounce, he said, “I enjoy when the ball comes on to the bat. In Hyderabad we play a lot of cricket on matting, and can handle the bounce. I also practice with plastic balls and wet tennis balls. Laxman has played the saviour for India with aplomb on quite a few occasions and he said tough situations always bring out the best on him. “Right from my early days I have looked for such situations and tried to succeed in them. They get the best out of me. When you perform when your team needs you the most, it gives you the added satisfaction. From the time I played cricket, I always believed that performing in tough situations was essential for any player.” Laxman feels happy for Virender Sehwag who overtook his record to emerge as the highest run getter for India saying the effort of the Delhi batsman in Multan — a record 309 — was a “superb innings”. Asked how he reacted to criticism, he said, “as long as I know that I have given 100 per cent on the field, it does not bother me. People may talk. I only worry about things I can control and the only thing I can control is my performance. I do not worry about failing.” — PTI
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PCB may let off Shoaib with reprimand Islamabad, May 6 The latest indication that Shoaib may be let off with a mild reprimand or warning came following yesterday’s reported ‘peace deal’ between the bowler and PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan. “There is no doubt that he (Shoaib) is carrying an injury. But the medical commission has given its report to the Chairman after studying video-tapes of the players including Shoaib’s batting and bowling. “They also spoke to related people on the issue. They have their views on how old the injuries are,” Raja was quoted as saying by local daily ‘The News’, suggesting that Shoaib’s injuries could have been sustained much before the third and deciding cricket Test against India last month. Raja said the PCB was not upset at the team losing the series to India but it cannot accept “the lack of effort shown by many of them in the Pindi Test”. “We are not denying his (Shoaib’s) stature as a match winner. We are not questioning his cricketing skills. But one thing we want to make very clear to our players that while we can accept victory and defeat as part and parcel of the game, the sort of attitude and lack of effort shown on part of many of them during the final Test in Pindi will not be tolerated by us or the cricket loving people of this country,” he said. The PCB also acknowledged that the medical inquiry commission had submitted its report yesterday on Shoaib and four other cricketers — Shabbir Ahmad, Umar Gul, Moin Khan and Abdul Razzaq. But the report was not made public so far. However, the bonescan report on Shoaib leaked to the media said he has a stress fracture on one of his ribs.
— PTI |
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Bridgetown, May 6 Chasing a target of 262 from 50 overs, England achieved a series-levelling victory off the second ball of the 48th over when Paul Collingwood cut Ricardo Powell through backward point for two. Trescothick hit 12 fours and one six in the top score of 82 from 57 balls that earned him the man-of-the- match award and made him a shoe-in for the man-of-the-series. Strauss supported with 66 from 86 balls to anchor England to the total. Ramnaresh Sarwan scored his second one-day hundred when he smote 13 fours in an undefeated 104 from 106 balls that paced West Indies to 261 for six, after the home team were sent in to bat. England were looking to avoid a ODI series defeat for the first time on Caribbean soil, after the hosts entered the match with a 2-1 series lead following comfortable victories in back-to-back contests at Gros Islet last weekend. In an array of breathtaking strokes, England went on the rampage early on with Trescothick the main aggressor. After captain Michael Vaughan was caught behind off Ravi Rampaul for 14 in the sixth over, Trescothick and Strauss added 87 for the second wicket to put the visitors squarely on the road to victory. Left-hander Trescothick was stumped down the leg-side off Chris Gayle in the 18th over to leave England 123 for two, but Strauss rallied with the rest of the top order to keep his side on course. West Indies: Gayle b Anderson 41 Chanderpaul c Anderson
b Harmison 3 Powell run out (Flintoff) 9 Sarwan not out 104 Lara c Read b Clarke 8 Smith lbw b Gough 39 Bravo b Flintoff 11 Jacobs not out 32 Extras
(lb-6, w-5, nb-3) 14 Total (6
wkts, 50 overs) 261 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-57, 3-57, 4-90, 5-159, 6-193. Bowling:
Gough 10-1-45-1, Harmison 10-0-51-1, Flintoff 10-1-45-1, Anderson 8-0-42-1, Clarke 9-0-50-1, Batty 3-0-22-0.
England Trescothick st Jacobs b Gayle 82 Vaughan c Jacobs b Rampaul 14 Strauss b Bradshaw 66 Clarke c Smith b Bradshaw
9 Flintoff c and b Sarwan 11 Collingwood not out 46 Read not out 23 Extras
(lb-5, w-6) 11 Total (5
wkts, 47.2 overs) 262 Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-123, 3-146, 4-169, 5-218. Bowling:
Dillon 9-0-67-0, Rampaul 4-0-32-1, Powell 6.2-0-35-0, Gayle 8-0-28-1, Bradshaw 10-0-46-2, Sarwan 9-0-38-1, Chanderpaul 1-0-11-0.
— AFP |
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Kalmadi joins call Pillay chorus
New Delhi, May 6 Kalmadi said in a press note here that he made a strong plea for inclusion of Pillay during a talk with Indian Hockey Federation K.P.S. Gill a couple of days back. The IOA chief said the Indian hockey team was “good and youthful” but some experienced players were needed for it to win an Olympic medal. “I have requested Mr Gill to reconsider the decision and if necessary take a fitness test of Pillay at the earliest,” he added. Long distance runner Sunita Rani also joined in the chorus and said “he (Pillay) is such a great player with vast experience. He sould be picked immediately so that he can concentrate on the Olympics, which are just a few months away”. “If the IHF can do such things to a player of his stature, what can one say about the condition of other sportspersons in the country,” Rani told PTI and urged sportspersons from all the disciplines to join hands to support Pillay at this juncture. RANCHI: Olympians Sylvanus Dung Dung and Manohar Toppno urged the IHF to include Dhanraj Pillay in the tentative squad for the Athen Olympics as he commands respect of the best of defenders in world hockey. “Mere presence of Pillay attracts at least two players of the opposing team to mark him, leaving a gap to other forwards to exploit,” Toppno, who played the Los Angles Olympics, observed and urged Mr Gill not to compromise with experience in team selection. “Pillay is as fit as others in the probable list and is capable to score any time during the 70 minutes of play, besides creating chances for others,” Toppno added. With just 99 days remaining to the inauguration of Athens Olympics, Dung Dung appealed to the IHF not to make any ‘harakiri’ and “go for the gold which we have last won in the 1980 Moscow Olympics with a mixture of youths and experience.” The former defender, who was part of the Moscow gold medal winning team, thinks besides his magical stick work, Pillay will also be an inspiration to the younger ones. “We should bury the past bitterness and go ahead with a positive frame of mind,” Dung Dung added. Many Olympians, including Ashok Kumar, Zafar Iqbal and Pargat Singh, have vented their anger over the exclusion of Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon from the list of probables for the Athens Olympics. —PTI
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Amandeep Johl leads in Macau Open Macau, May 6 The 35-year-old from Chandigarh also upstaged Irish Ryder Cup star Padraig Harrington, who was left disappointed after he could only muster what he called a “boring” two-under-par 69 in perfect conditions. Johl, who is chasing his first victory on the Asian Tour after 10 fruitless years on the circuit, leads by one from South African Nico Van Rensburg, who shot an eight-under-par 63, with Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant on seven under. America’s Jason Knutzon and Taiwanese duo Wang Ter-chang and Lin Wen-tang are a further shot back after carding six-under-par 65s, one clear of eight players tied on five under. Johl’s scintillating display further underscored the growing strength of Indian golf, following rookie Rahil Gangjee’s triumph at the Volkswagen Masters in Beijing last week. The Indian veteran attributed today’s dream first round to clear thinking, revealing that two-hour sessions of yoga everyday had strengthened his powers of concentration. — AFP
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Basketball probables for national meet Ludhiana, May 6 The probables: Girls:
Aastha, Saloni, Rishma, Sarabjit and Ramandeep (Jalandhar); Rajanpal, Anu and Palwinder (Kapurthala); Jagroop, Ankita, Harpreet, Rupinder and Ranjeet Kaur (Amritsar); Kamaljeet and Amandeep (Bathinda); Gurdeep Kaur (Muktsar); Harvinder (Hoshiarpur); Karamveer Kaur (Gurdaspur); Manjot Kaur, Mehak Dhillon and Nampreet Kaur (Faridkot); Taranjeet Kaur,Amadneep Kaur, Rajinder, Simran, Baljit Kaur and Rajinder Kaur (Ludhiana); Harminder Kaur, Vijya Lakshmi, Kiranpreet Kaur, Prabhjot Kaur, Princy Dhaliwal and Pooja (Baba Lodhiana Academy). Boys:
Jagdeep Singh, Yadwinder singh, Sahiljit Singh, Nikhil Chopra, Vijay Kumar, Akash Kumar, Gurbej Singh, Yadwinder Jr, Sukhbir Dhillon, Bharat Deep and Supreet Singh (Baba Lodhiana Academy); Sweet Pal (Bathinda); Mandeep and Bhupinder (Gurdaspur); Bharat Vashisht and Karan Kumar (Kapurthala); Sukhpal (Faridkot); Talwinder, Ajay Parkash and Ramesh Kumar (Ludhiana); Amandeep (Mansa) and Manavdeep (Patiala). |
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New Delhi, May 6
AHMEDABAD: