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Pathan may be fit for Mumbai Test
Sehwag — the right-handed Lara?
Laxman can stop Aussies: Cairns
Chennai half ton my lifeline: Kaif
Jayasuriya’s ton puts Lanka in command
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ICC meeting on bowling actions
Goa scrape past Tamil Nadu, Services swamp UP
Army Public School athletic meet
Eurasia Golf Cup
today
Bhupathi, Mirnyi lose in semis
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Pathan may be fit for Mumbai Test
New Delhi, October 22 Irfan
Pathan, who is shaping up as a fine all-rounder, had developed a side strain during the second Test at Chennai, and the doctors and Indian physio Andrew Leipus had advised him full rest to recover from the injury. Yashpal Sharma, a member of the Indian World Cup winning team of 1983, said the reason for persisting with Sachin Tendulkar in the team, despite his ‘tennis elbow’, was that his case was very exceptional, and he could recover from his injury any time. Yashpal said the presence of Sachin in the team was a great morale-booster for the players. The newly-appointed national selector said this at a function to release the first souvenir brought out by the Veterans’ Cricket Association of Delhi (VCAD). The VCAD honoured prominent cricketers and sports officials at the function, including Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Ashish Nehra, Amit Bhandari and former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim. Mumbai (PTI): Irfan Pathan is well on road to recovery and should be fit for the fourth and final cricket Test on November 3. “The left-arm seamer is improving from the strain on his right side which he sustained during the Chennai Test and I am confident that he will be fit for selection before the Mumbai Test,” physio Andrew Leipus said here today. “In fact, Pathan had felt the strain on the first day of the Chennai Test but insisted on bowling for the rest of the match. I have advised him to take it easy for a couple of days more and then start training gradually,” Leipus added. The Baroda youngster has been asked to concentrate on building his energy first and work out step by step before he regains full fitness. Sachin’s progress promising Coming out to practice for yet another day, batting genius Sachin Tendulkar says he is putting “a little more load” on his body each day and his progress is said to be “promising”. Tendulkar, who practised at the MIG Stadium this morning, is racing against time to be fit for the third cricket Test in Nagpur on October 26. “Till now the progress has been very good,” he told reporters after a nearly two-hour practise session with a lighter bat. “In fact, I have been putting a little more load on my body each day. Things have been going on pretty well so far. The body has been responding quite nicely. Now we just have to wait and see,” he said. However, whether Tendulkar will be able to take the field in Nagpur will depend on his passing a fitness test on Sunday. Physio Andrew
Leipus, who was at hand while Tendulkar was practising, said the batsman had made good progress. “He has come through pretty well today. He is responding well to the treatment. He is doing everything we want him to do and I might be able to give you a final say tomorrow though the deadline for announcing his fitness is Sunday,” he said. “I will be monitoring his fitness tomorrow and assess the stiffness and soreness he might be experiencing,” he added. |
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Sehwag — the right-handed Lara?
In my previous column I mentioned that Damien Martyn and Virender Sehwag had been unfairly questioned on form by some critics. Let me delve a little deeper and analyse Sehwag's career.
I decided to compare it to Brian Lara's first 25 Tests and 103 one
dayers. Lara is the current legend I choose for a Sehwag comparison because I see so many similarities between them both on and off the field albeit from a distance. Maybe then, we can judge how harsh some critics are getting in today's professional game. Professional is a word which irks me when used in certain ways. Professionalism defined is the total dedication to the eradication of error. It has nothing to do with money and nor should it. Current cricketers are fulltime cricketers but certainly no more professional than any earlier generation. In fact now that the money is good, they are probably less professional than someone who applied the same commitment for nothing in the 1920's, 30's or 40's. A downside for our current players due to their improved earning capacity is less sympathy from critics and a public who believe they have sufficient reason for calling for a player's head after a short run of poor performances. Two very laid back, cool customers are Sehwag and Lara which disguises so well the vicious power they inflict instantly. Neither are devoted to the cricketing textbooks in the way they play but both are so beautifully natural players who get by better than most with style. Minimal footwork can create batting problems if form is on the wane but can be breathtaking when in full flight and there are no better exponents than these two men in any conditions. They have periods of invincibility when the opposition merely buckle up for the ride. Boundaries at will, shots manufactured from perfect lengths like the flip pull shot Lara plays off his thigh pad with both feet off the
ground. Sehwag's range on the off side is as complete as anyone's. From the finest of slices to third man, to off drives for six. Not as complete on the legside or with the short stuff as Lara, probably due to a lack of exposure, but by no means deficient. Placement of shots into gaps is a strength of both which stands to reason if you have an opposition attack resigned to waiting for a mistake you must be hurting with boundaries more than others. To further confuse and frustrate bowlers is an improving awareness of running between wickets. By no means the complete player yet, let's have a look at the career statistics of Sehwag and Lara at the same career stage. Here I bring in the distinction between Test and one
dayers, which people tend to blur and misinterpret. In Tests at this stage of Sehwag's career he has scored only 126 fewer runs at similar average to Lara (53.93 compared to Lara 55.83) with a far superior conversion rate of hundreds. Seven hundreds and six fifties compared to four and 13 for Lara. His strike rate is dynamite which may cost him some stats at times but experience already has him tempering this, in exchange for more time in the
middle. Sehwag's record isn't inflated by games against poorer teams either. Just two innings against Zimbabwe and none against Bangladesh. This start, therefore, has been remarkable and far too easily pushes behind a fortnight or so of ordinary performances. It is the one day arena where Sehwag probably has hit a wall. Hardly surprising, considering the methods he employs to produce a strike rate of nearly 95, when the white ball is at its most venomous. Sehwag is 1100 runs behind Lara after their first 100 innings and 13 1/2 average points behind. (32 compared with 45.49) This is an area of concern and one where he should be able to rectify easily. Simply trusting that if he stays longer at the crease, runs and strike rate will look pretty healthy. Batsmen like Sehwag do not need to bat too differently in the different forms of the game, yet there is pressure to do just that. Lara for example averages so by taking less early risks yet his strike rate is still superb at 77.2. A little more mental control will see Sehwag become a consistent danger to all. Both men have the appearance of being relaxed which is vital even if the stomach is churning and the brain racing. Emerging from the huge shadow of Tendulkar has been made to look a non-event by Sehwag and he has coped with excessive expectations already in his short stint. These sorts of pressures have cost Lara time out of the game and should be a warning to those responsible for all young players well being, not just the Indians. Sehwag looks like he loves what he is doing, it looks like others enjoy him and he has now officially bounced back once and quite quickly from a perceived and publicised slump.
— PTI |
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Laxman can stop Aussies: Cairns
Cairns says Laxman has been the difference between the two teams during the last two series and the stylish middle-order batsman would come back with guns blazing, having failed to click in the two Tests. "Between the two sides, his record in the last two series has been amazing and he is yet to score some runs. So, if Aussies keep him quiet, they have a good shot (to win the series). Laxman is a wonderful player," he told reporters on the sidelines of a promotional event here last night. But Cairns said it would be difficult for Indians, trailing the four-match series 1-0, to stage a fightback as the Aussies were determined to break the jinx and register their first Test series victory on Indian soil in 35 years. "It's going to be hard for the Indian team to fight back because the tourists are determined to conquer the last frontier. "So, when Aussies have the desire, goal and focus....they are very, very difficult to beat. For a few of them like Shane Warne this will be their last series as well. I can sense it means a lot to them to win. It's going to be very difficult for India." Asked for his opinion on Rahul Dravid, who is also capable of turning things around, Cairns said, "if you see the statistics, it has been Laxman who has really been the thorn for Australia in the last two series. "In the Kolkata Test, he almost single-handedly won the match for India. He seems to be the next big player (in the world). There are two Tests to go, India desperately needs his runs". But he praised Dravid in no small measure. "If Sachin Tendulkar wasn't around, Dravid would be considered a genius of his generation. But Dravid is just unlucky that Tendulkar is around.... when Rahul gets in, you can't get him out". Cairns said Tendulkar would end up as the greatest batsman of all time without doubt. "For me, the most remarkable thing about Tendulkar is the fact that when he was 16-year-old, they all said he will become the best batsman ever. He has lived up to that expectation. And to me, that's the true test of his character".
— PTI |
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Chennai half ton my lifeline: Kaif
New Delhi, October 22 Kaif hoped that he would be included in the team in the Nagpur Test but refused to comment on whether he would find a place in the team after Sachin Tendulkar is pronounced fit. The team management would decide the matter, he said. Tendulkar is likely to undergo a fitness test on Sunday ahead of the particular game. Despite not being a hundred per cent fit in the Chennai game, the lanky Uttar Pradesh bat, whose 64 runs were vital to India securing a first innings lead, said that it was one of his most precious essays as he was making a comeback in the Test team after three years. Through this innings he had proved himself, he added. But he said all this was not in his mind while going out to bat. He just tried for a big partnership and Parthiv Patel's half ton made a huge difference.
—UNI |
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Jayasuriya’s ton puts Lanka in command
Faisalabad, October 22 The 35-year-old reached his hundred in style in the final session by lofting leg spinner Danish Kaneria for a big six over mid-wicket. Having survived a caught behind off a no-ball from Shoaib Akhtar when he was on nine, Jayasuriya had added 69 with Thilan Samaraweera (15) at the close. His 100 came from 164 balls in 278 minutes with 13 fours and a six. In the final session in which the Lankans added exactly 100, Mahela Jayawardene was out caught behind for 57 after getting a faint edge to
Kaneria. Jayasuriya, who struggled for a brief period as he neared his century, was savage afterwards hitting Abdul Razzaq for three fours in one over. Sri Lanka had started their second innings badly with skipper Marvan Atapattu collecting a pair when Shoaib again trapped him leg before. But after losing
Atapattu, the Sri Lankans showed more resilience after being bowled out for 243 in the first innings. Pakistan in reply could manage 264 losing their last two wickets on Friday for eight to enjoy only a 21-run advantage. On a pitch that is offering some encouragement to the slow bowlers, Jayasuriya had partnerships of 98 with Kumar Sangakkara (59) and 118 with
Jayawardene. Pakistan’s highest successful run chase remains 314 against Australia in Karachi in 1994. They are bidding to win their first home series against the Lankans since 1995-96. Scoreboard Sri Lanka (1st innings): 243 Pakistan (1st innings): Hameed c Mubarak Farhat c Mubarak b Malinga 11 Kamal c Jayawardene Inzamam c Malinga b Herath 32 Youhana c Kalu b Herath 17 Malik run out 48 Razzaq c Jayawardene b Vaas 39 Moin b Jayasuriya 5 Sami not out 5 Akhtar lbw b Herath 9 Kaneria run out 1 Extras
(b6, lb4, nb12) 22 Total (all out, 84.1 overs) 264 Fall of wickets:
1-28, 2-94, 3-109, 4-134, 5-188, 6-227, 7-246, 8-248, 9-262. Bowling:
Vaas 26-5-62-1, Malinga 10-1-50-1, Fernando 16-0-65-2, Herath 27.1-5-68-3, Samaraweera 1-0-5-0, Jayasuriya 4-1-4-1. Sri Lanka (2nd innings): Atapattu lbw b Akhtar 0 Jayasuriya batting 131 Sangakkara c Moin b Akhtar 59 Jayawardene c Moin Samaraweera batting 15 Extras (4b, 1lb, 2w, 11nb, 5pen) 23 Total
(3 wkts, 70 overs) 285 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-98, 3-216 Bowling:
Akhtar 13-1-61-2, Sami 12-1-48-0, Razzaq 18-7-61-0, Kaneria 23-1-87-1, Malik 4-0-18-0.
— Reuters |
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Vettori spins Kiwis to win
Dhaka, October 22 Bangladesh, trailing by 225 runs, were bundled out for 126 in their second innings on the fourth afternoon to suffer their 28th defeat in 31 matches since gaining Test status four years ago. The remaining three matches were drawn. Bangladesh (1st innings): 177 New Zealand (1st innings): 402 Bangladesh (2nd innings): Iqbal run out 49 Omar c McCullum b Vettori 14 Sarkar c and b Vettori 1 Saleh c McCullum b Vettori 0 Ashraful c Styris b Vettori 26 Kapali c McCullum b Wiseman 0 Mashud c Styris b Wiseman 2 Rana c Richardson b Vettori 1 Rafique c Fleming b Wiseman 24 Aziz lbw b Vettori 0 Baisya not out 0 Extras
(b6, nb3) 9 Total (all out in 54.5 overs) 126 FoW:
1-27, 2-33, 3-41, 4-87, 5-88, 6-92, 7-101, 8-112, 9-122. Bowling:
Oram 7-4-6-0, Franklin 5-1-14-0, Butler 4-1-8-0, Vettori 22-13-28-6, Wiseman 16.5-1-64-3.
—AFP |
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ICC meeting on bowling actions
FAISALABAD: The International Cricket Council has convened a meeting of experts in Dubai on October 25 and 26 to review its process of dealing with suspect bowling action reports.
The meeting comes a week after Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik joined a growing list of international bowlers being reported. A sub-committee on bowling actions will consider research documents and hold discussions with other
biomechanic experts and then submit recommendations to the ICC Cricket Committee which meets in November. “Former Test player Aravinda de Silva of Sri Lanka, Angus Fraser and Tony Lewis of England, West Indian Michael Holding, and Australian Tim May will join the ICC’s general manager, David Richardson, and a panel of human movement specialists for the (Dubai) meeting,’’ said the ICC. Earlier this year Sri Lanka’s off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was reported over his action.
— Reuters
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Goa scrape past Tamil Nadu, Services swamp UP
New Delhi, October 22 The sparse holiday gathering expected something better than what Goa dished out, with the match-winner coming only in the 29th minute of the second half. Climax Lawrence, perhaps living upto his name, brought some life to an otherwise indifferent display by Goa, by netting the match-winner, off a pass from Alvito D’Cunha. There were very few constructive moves in the first half, and hardly any attempt at either end. The action picked up momentum only after Goa slotted in the only goal. Goa and Tamil Nadu forced a few scoring chances, but their forwards failed in utilising them. Climax Lawrence expectedly won the man of the match award and a cash prize of Rs 5000. Sparks flew thick and fast when Services and Uttar Pradesh clashed. Umpteen chances were squandered, though in the end Services managed to record an impressive win. Services were often baulked by the versatile UP custodian Naseem Akhtar, who was a member of the Indian team, with his sure-footed approach. In fact, Services scored the goals not off moves they should have scored, but off surprise raids. Services forged ahead in the 12th minute when Vijay Thapa volleyed in a rebound, after Saroj Gurung’s angular shot came off the post, with Naseem blocking the angle. Though Services wove short, crisp passes to invade the Uttar Pradesh box, they could not add to their tally, as the forwards, particularly Thapliyal and Vijay Thapa, muffed virtual sitters. Uttar Pradesh also kept their attacking machine moving, but their attempts at the Services goal came unstuck. As the match looked headed for a thin win for Services, referee Benjamin Silve blew the whistle for a penalty kick. A spot kick for Dhirendra Yadav's unintended tackle on Shaji D’Silva looked somewhat harsh as both the players were chasing the ball. M Reghu Kumar shot home the penalty with a carpet drive to fox Nazeem under the bar (2-0), in the 41st minute. Three minutes later — in fact, during injury time — Shaji D’Silva fully capitalised on the confusion between UP defenders Ajay Kumar and Shakir Ali to lob the ball in, over the head of the custodian,to net the third goal (3-0). Services triumphed because they could sustain the pressure till the end while the UP players looked drained in the last quarter. This handsome victory may stand Services in good stead as they are grouped with former champions Bengal. M Reghu Kumar was adjudged the IOC man of the match. Kerala will meet hosts Delhi in the first match tomorrow while holders Manipur will clash with Sikkim in the second tie.
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Army Public School athletic meet
Solan, October 22 A number of sporting events, including gymnastics, karate, yoga and aerobic display, were organised. Brig
T.K.Chadda, chief guest of the occasion while addressing the students dwelt on the significance of discipline. He urged the students to excel in sports as well as academics for overall development of personality. He stressed upon mental, physical and spiritual development of a student. He congratulated the winners and gave away cash prizes to the best sportsperson and the students who had exhibited valour in karate. The principal Col (Retd) N.S.Rawat read out the school report. Rakesh Dahiya of Tagore House was adjusted the Best Athlete in senior boys and Shaki Rupa of Nehru House was declared the Best Girl Athlete. Vijay Joon of Patel House won the Best Athlete award in middle boys level while Dharwinder of Tagore House was adjusted the best athlete in junior boys category. Neha Minhas of Tagore House bagged the Best Athlete award in the junior girls category. |
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Eurasia Golf Cup
today
Chandigarh, October 22 Teams from Chandigarh and Mumbai are expected to do well at this annual event. Senior Manager Capt H.S. Gill says Eurasia lays strong emphasis on quality of life for its’ seafarers and holding Eurasia Golf Cup is one such way. The tournament leads up to Eurasia’s annual Leadership Development Programme being conducted at the same venue over the next two days. |
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Bhupathi, Mirnyi lose in semis
New Delhi, October 22Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi went out of the 2.4-million euro ATP Tennis Masters in Spain after losing to top seeds Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor in the doubles semifinals today.
It was another closely fought doubles tie where the fifth seeded Indo-Belarusian pair put up strong challenge before going down to the reigning US Open champions 4-6, 6-7 (3/7), according to information received here. Earlier, Bhupathi and Mirnyi had defeated Domnik Hrbaty of Slovakia and Germany’s Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals yesterday.
— PTI |
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New Delhi, October 22
In my previous column I mentioned that Damien Martyn and Virender Sehwag had been unfairly questioned on form by some critics. Let me delve a little deeper and analyse Sehwag's career.
In video: Aussies night out in Mumbai.
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New Delhi, October 22
Bangalore, October 22
