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Sizzling Strauss saves English whitewash
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Chanderpaul quits as captain
Police remand for judoka’s murder accused
Kabaddi passion binds both Punjabs
Eves lose 0-6 to Japan
Tejeswini pips Anjali to win gold
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Sizzling Strauss saves English whitewash
Jamshedpur, April 12 After restricting India to 223 in 48 overs on a good batting track, England cruised to the target in 42.4 overs to reduce the margin of defeat in the seven-match series to 4-1 with one more game to go. The defeat, which brought to an end India’s golden run of eight wins on the trot, also meant the home team was unable to break the jinx of losing matches at this venue. India have now lost eight of the nine matches played at the Keenan Stadium. Chasing the modest target set by the home team, which was built around a sparkling 96 by local hero Mahendra Singh Dhoni, England were never in trouble, guided in their purpose by a 74-run knock by Andrew Strauss, leading the side in absence of Andrew Flintoff who was rested for the match. While Strauss led by example to savour a convincing win, home captain Virender Sehwag had nothing to cheer about, failing with the bat yet again After the reverses in the first four matches — the fifth was abandoned in Guwahati — England put up an inspiring performance both with the ball and the bat to make it a one-sided affair in the end. Cruising at 190 for two at stage, they lost a couple of quick wickets, but by then the fate of the match was already sealed. However, some drama was injected into the proceedings late in the England innings when Harbhajan Singh sent back Kevin Pietersen (33) and Ramesh Powar, who had hit a crucial 54 earlier in Indian innings, dismissed Liam Plunkett in quick succession. The teams would now travel to Indore for the seventh and final game of the series to be played on April 15. The highlight of England’s chase was the fine 85-ball knock by Strauss, leading England for the first time ever. The left-handed opener, who battled cramps in his innings before retiring hurt, hit ten fours and was declared man of the match. Earlier, Dhoni rescued India from an inexplicable batting collapse with a mature knock. Dhoni, promoted to open the innings, slammed 10 fours and three sixes in his 106-ball knock to lift India from a sorry-reading 79 for 5. The Jharkhand player found able support in Powar who scored his maiden half-century and shared a crucial 107-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Dhoni. Nothing seemed to go right for the hosts after Sehwag won the toss and elected to bat on a placid track. Scoreboard India Sehwag c Solanki b Anderson 4 Dhoni c Solanki b Mehmood 96 Kaif lbw Mehmood 15 Yuvraj b Plunkett 4 Raina c Prior b Plunkett 2 Rao c Prior b Anderson 10 Powar c Hoggard b Collingwood 54 Harbhajan b Pietersen 4 R. P. Singh c Blackwell b Mehmood 7 VRV Singh c Blackwell b Anderson 8 Patel not out 1 Extras
(lb-4, w-14) 18 Total (all out, 48 overs) 223 Fall of wickets:
1-4, 2-46, 3-58, 4-63, 5-79, 6-186, 7-196, 8-209, 9-216, 10-223. Bowling:
Anderson 9-2-28-3, Hoggard 8-0-59-0, Mahmood 8-0-37-3, Plunkett 5-0-22-2, Blackwell 10-0-3-0, Solanki 4-0-25-0, Petersen 1-0-4-1, Collingwood 3-0-11-1. England Strauss retired hurt 74 Bell c Dhoni b Harbhajan 46 Solanki b Powar 7 Pietersen c & b Harbhajan 33 Collingwood not out 23 Prior c VRV Singh b Harbhajan 3 Plunkett c Sehwag b Powar 0 Blackwell not out 14 Extras
(lb-11, nb-9, w-7) 27 Total (5 wickets, 42.4 overs) 227 Fall of wickets:
1-107, 2-120, 3-198, 4-207, 5-209. Bowling: R. P. Singh 8-1-48-0, Patel 7-0-36-0, VRV Singh 5-0-33-0, Harbhajan 10-0-30-3, Powar 8.4-0-44-2, Yuvraj 4-0-25-0.
— PTI, UNI |
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New Delhi:
Regular captain Rahul Dravid will be back in the side for the seventh ODI against England while stumper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been rested with Dinesh Kaarthick as his replacement for the last of the seven-match series.
BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement on Wednesday that two changes had been made in the squad for the Indore match with Dravid replacing Ajit Agarkar while the selection committee has decided to rest Dhoni and induct Kaarthick in his place.
— UNI
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I need rest, says Sehwag
Jamshedpur, April 12 Sehwag, who has not scored a century in more than a year and had scores of 7, 26, 15, and 26 in the four innings against England in this series, made just four runs today in the sixth ODI in which he was captaining India. At the post-match press conference, he faced a barrage of questions on his form. While refusing to take the entire blame for India’s defeat on his own failure, Sehwag said “It is everybody’s
responsibility but it would be unfair to pin the blame on any one player.” Asked whether he himself needed a rest, “yes, of course, I need rest. Dravid will be the captain in the next match and it is for him to decide whether to rest me or Kaif or someone else.” To an aggressive query as to how long he could continue with such inconsistent form, Sehwag said, “we are winning and winning combination is hardly changed.” Sehwag has scored 281 runs at an average of 31.22 in his last 10 innings. Sehwag blamed the lack of good partnerships for today’s defeat which brought to an end India’s golden run of eight wins in a row. However, he did not agree that India were short of one batsman as they went in with five specialist bowlers. “We have done this before also and then people like Raina had clicked and formed good partnerships. So I don't think that is the reason. “Had any one batsman, be it Kaif, or Yuvraj, or anyone else, formed a good partnership with Dhoni, the story would have been different.” He also defended the team management’s decision to pack the side with youngsters. “Experiment is good for the youngsters and we have already won the series. We should give chance to each and everyone.” Asked if the team regretted that they could not snap the losing streak at the Keenan stadium, the acting skipper said “yes, this regret will be there. The next time we come back, we will try to break this.” Sehwag also had a word of praise for Ramesh Powar who notched up his maiden half-century in India’s innings and then picked two key wickets. “Whenever he has been given a chance, he has delivered. It was because of his 50 that we crossed 200 (mark).” Sehwag also felt India missed the services of experienced players but denied complacency as a factor for the defeat. But the Delhi batsman denied that the team took the match lightly after wrapping up the series 4-0 in Kochi. “We were totally focussed in the game and were not complacent at all,” he said. “We have one more match in the series and two more in Abu Dhabi. I am confident of getting into form before long.” Rival skipper for the day, Andrew Strauss credited the victory to the good performance of his seamers who contained the Indian batsmen on a flat wicket. “James Anderson, Sajid Mehmood and Liam Plunkett set the game up for us,” he said. The Middlesex player said keeping wickets in hand was important while chasing the runs. “A good start with Ian Bell was very helpful. I am also happy to get into runs after a run of cheap dismissals,” he added.
— PTI |
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Sachin to play key role in World Cup, says Chappell
London, April 12 “I have no doubt that Sachin will come back refreshed, like he did after his elbow injury last year. Just how, when and where is yet to be seen and it will depend on his body and on his mind,” Chappell was quoted as saying in The
Times today. “Knowing when to stop is a much more difficult decision for the modern player. When the money was not there, it was much easier to move on. But Sachin won’t need anyone to tell him when to go. “He still has a role, especially as a mentor. Over the past few months he has been very helpful that way. We want to get everything from him in whatever time he has left. I know the World Cup is a target,” the former Australian captain said. “That is why he had the operation when he did, and it was just as well because the problem was more serious than we thought. In the meantime, it has given us a chance to look at Suresh Raina, which just shows the silver linings you find.” Since Chappell took over in June last year, India have won 21 out of 30 one-day internationals, including a record 15 in succession batting second. Chappell said blooding in youngsters was key to India’s turnaround. “From experience, I know you ignore youth at your peril,” Chappell was quoted as saying. “A team can become too fixed and individuals become stale. I am not a selector, but I know the way I want to go. If I worked it out I would probably know nine or 10 of the side for the World Cup, but I don’t want to think like that and get ideas embedded in my mind.” Under Chappell, the team had also seen Irfan Pathan develop as an all-rounder, Mahendra Singh Dhoni usurp Tendulkar as the poster boy, Yuvraj Singh mature into one of the best limited overs batsmen in the world, the newspaper noted. “We identified the players we thought could become all-rounders. So while Yuvraj has worked on areas of his batting, his bowling has also come on.” “Pathan was another with that ability to offer more. Now he is in serious danger of being a good batsman as well as our opening bowler.” Chappell said Dhoni, when fully mature, could be India’s answer to Aussie finisher Michael Bevan. “He has a unique style of play and we don’t want to lose that, but he can also knock the ball around when he needs. By the time we get to the World Cup we think we can have a batsman there a bit like Michael Bevan of Australia.” Chappell also said the players were learning to balance their off-field commitments with their game. “All cricketers nowadays have to make sure they don’t overdo the commercial side. The difference is that no other country has a billion people supporting them,” he said. “The money is huge and it is great on the one hand but dangerous on the other. Like any era, it is all relative and the better players will cope.”
— PTI |
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Ponting, Hayden lead Aussie charge
Fatullah, April 12 Ponting was batting on 72 at stumps on the fourth day with first-innings centurion Adam Gilchrist on six as Australia reached 212-4, 95 short of a win. The tourists lost three wickets towards the end of the day’s play after Hayden (72) had ensured a steady start but Ponting was immoveable. His innings has so far lasted 169 balls, during which he hit seven fours. Despite conceding a shock 158-run first innings lead, the Aussies showed the mettle of the world’s top team. They struck back by dismissing the home side for a meagre second-innings 148 and then batted sensibly in their final innings. Hayden played a vital role, adding 64 with the other left-hander Michael Hussey (37) and then figuring in a crucial 109-run stand with Ponting. He struck eight fours and a straight six off left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique during his 152-ball knock and also went for some quick singles in a bid to keep the pressure on the fielders. In the end, it was one such single to mid-on that ended Hayden’s innings as Enamul Haque made a direct throw to the bowler’s end. Ponting continued to graft for his runs even as Damien Martyn (seven) and Michael Clarke (nine) went cheaply against a probing bowling attack led by Rafique, who got both scalps. Australia, who have won both their previous Tests against Bangladesh by innings margins, had bounced back from their first innings deficit to reduce Bangladesh to 124-5 on the third day. Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie dismissed the remaining batsmen for just 24 runs this morning. Paceman Gillespie struck the first blow when Khaled Mashud (zero) was bowled offering no stroke to a ball that nipped back sharply. Gillespie also dismissed the other overnight batsman Rajin Saleh (33) with leg-spinner Warne grabbing three quick scalps after going wicketless in the match so far. Warne had revenge on Rafique, trapping the left-hander leg-before after being whacked for three fours in the previous over, and then bowled Mashrafe Mortaza with his next ball. Last man Haque (zero) was also trapped leg-before by the world’s leading wicket-taker as the home side lost the initiative with an all-too familiar second-innings collapse. Warne and Gillespie finished with three wickets each, Gillespie conceding just two runs for his two wickets this morning. Scoreboard Bangladesh (1st innings) 427 Australia (1st innings) 269 Bangladesh (2nd innings) Omar c Gilchrist b Gillespie 18 Nafees b Lee 33 Bashar run out 7 Saleh c Hayden b Gillespie 33 Ashraful lbw Clark 4 Ahmed lbw MacGill 17 Mashud b Gillespie 0 Rafique lbw Warne 14 Mortaza b Warne 0 Hossain not out 1 Haque lbw Warne 0 Extras
(b-10, lb-7, nb-4) 21 Total (in 50 overs) 148 Fall of wickets:
1-48, 2-58, 3-66, 4-77, 5-124, 6-128, 7-147, 8-147, 9-147. Bowling:
Lee 8-0-47-1, Gillespie 11-4-18-3, MacGill 13-4-30-1, Clark 4-2-8-1, Warne 13-4-28-3, Clarke 1-1-0-0. Australia (2nd innings) Hayden run out 72 Hussey b Haque 37 Ponting batting 72 Martyn b Rafique 7 Clarke c Mashud b Rafique 9 Gilchrist batting 6 Extras
(b-4, lb-4, nb-1) 9 Total (four wkts, 74 overs) 212 Fall of wickets:
1-64, 2-173, 3-183, 4-205. Bowling: Mortaza 13-4-27-0, Hossain 15-5-48-0, Rafique 25-3-68-2, Haque 21-4-61-1.
— AFP |
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Chanderpaul quits as captain
Port of Spain, April 12 Chanderpaul, who took over from Brian Lara in March last year, informed about his decision to give up the job in a letter to the West Indies Cricket Board. “This will give me an opportunity to focus on my batting and other areas of my cricket,” said the 31-year-old. “I have served my time as the captain and would like to pass the mantle on to another person,” he said. Chanderpaul, who led the beleaguered team to one win and three draws in 14 Tests, also said he would “fully support” his replacement and work towards the good of the team. The WICB said it planned to name a replacement soon for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe and India. Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was tipped as the favourite to take over the unenviable job. Chanderpaul, who led the team to 2 wins from 16 matches in one-dayers, took over the job when WICB dropped seven players, including the then captain Lara following a sponsorship row. West Indies are scheduled to play a seven-match series against Zimbabwe starting on April 29 while India are slated to tour from May 12 for four Tests and five one-dayers.
— PTI |
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I am fit to play: Tirkey
New Delhi, April 12 The 18-member Indian squad led by Gagan Ajit Singh is slated to leave here for Germany tonight. Meanwhile, former captain Dilip Tirkey, whose inclusion in the Indian hockey squad for the upcoming tournament in Germany threatens to rake up a controversy, today said he was fit and ready for the rigours of an international assignment. Tirkey, who last appeared in the Premier Hockey League in January-February and had been nursing an ankle injury, said he had recovered and was ready for the big league once again. “I have recovered now. I was called up as the other three main defenders — William Xalxo, Kanwalpreet Singh and Harpal Singh are unfit,” Dilip told PTI. A section of the Press has claimed Tirkey was roped in to the squad despite being not fully fit. However, the ace defender said, “I will do whatever the team management wants me to do.” Tirkey comes in place of full-back Kanwalpreet Singh, who picked an injury during the camp at Gurgaon near here on Monday. Bhaskaran, who will set off tonight for Monchelgladdach, venue of the four-nation tournament in Germany, along with the team for his first international assignment, was furious when asked about Dilip’s fitness. “How can you say that he is unfit?” he fumed. IHF Secretary K Jyothikumaran also defended the decision to include Dilip. “William Xalxo was nursing an ankle injury and unfortunately Kanwalpreet Singh also got injured during the camp, so we called Dilip to know if he would be able to make it and he said ‘yes’,” he said. “The coach yesterday saw him practising and he is satisfied,” he said. He also said Dilip was an experienced campaigner and could overcome the lack of match practice in no time. “He is an experienced player so he can adjust quickly.” When asked whether there would be any change in leadership after Dilip’s comeback, Jyothikumaran said there was no need for it. “The captain has already been announced so there is no need for a change in captaincy for a four-nation tournament.” Forward Gagan Ajit Singh, who is currently playing in Dutch league, will lead the Indian team in the April 15-17 tournament and will directly join the team in Germany. The Indian team will play three league games in Germany where the champions will be decided on Kanwalpreet disappointed
Jalandhar: Defender Kanwalpreet Singh is disappointed, as he will be missing the Four-Nation International Hockey Tournament to be held in Germany from April 15 to 18. With his right thumb in plaster, a dejected Kanwalpreet Singh said, “I have been advised four-week rest after I sustained fracture during practice in the national coaching camp in Gurgaon last Saturday.” Kanwalpreet returned home last night from Delhi. “When I was hit by the ball, it started bleeding. However, I continued to practice. It might have further aggravated my injury though I applied ice after the practice. I never realised that I have sustained fracture on my left thumb. It was only during midnight when I felt severe pain and noticed my thumb had swollen,” said Kanwalpreet. The dependable Indian defender was taken to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. After the fracture was diagnosed, the doctors put his right palm in plaster and advised him four-week rest which cost him the Four-Nation Tournament prior to the Azlan Shah Tournament in Malaysia in June this year. Moving his fingers without any problem, Kanwalpreet Singh of Punjab Police, who has been manning the defence with stubborn determination since his recall after the Indian Hockey Federation had lifted the ban, was confident that he would fully recover before the coaching camp next month in preparations for the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. Kanwalpreet said he will follow his fitness schedule strictly to keep himself fit.
— PTI, UNI |
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Police remand for judoka’s murder accused
Hisar, April 12 Dharmender and Vinod were presented in the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sukarm Pal, here today. The police had sought remand of the accused stating that their blood-stained clothes had to be seized. |
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Kabaddi passion binds both Punjabs
Jalandhar, April 12 The fact that Punjabis from both sides are also settled abroad in countries like USA and Canada, the viewership there is also tremendous, say Joint Secretary of the Pak Kabaddi Federation-cum- manager of the team Arbab Nasir Ahmed Khan and coach Muzaffar Ahmed Bhatti who are here with their team. The parallels with the team may be many but the love and passion are the same, they say, “In Pakistan, the national style kabaddi is the circle style kabaddi, which is the Punjab style kabaddi on both sides of the border, while in India it is the Asian style or national style — kabaddi which is played at the national level and the circle style kabaddi is limited to Punjab only. Despite the fact that the rustic game of kabaddi as a whole and circle style in particular is limited to the state of Punjab, the players here get more international exposure as the Indians in the power lobbies of countries like USA and Canada have taken the game to a new high as they keep inviting the teams there and major tournaments are held. The viewership of the circle style kabaddi is greater there as Punjabis from both sides settled there love the game. The politicians of Indian origin keep inviting the teams for major tournaments as a result 400 to 500 players go there every year. On the other hand, lack of international exposure makes only 10 to 20 Pak players reach international competitions, says Khan. On the plus side the Pak kabaddi players enjoy secure careers as there are proper teams of the armed forces, electricity boards and those of the states. In India, though, the game is played in the rural sports melas but the cash prizes and the cars given away as prizes make the game popular in India. In Pakistan the prizes given are horses and gold jewellery. Khan feels that the game in Pakistan calls for more attention in terms of funds and international exposure and there should be more tournaments played between the two countries to help them bond better. |
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Eves lose 0-6 to Japan
Kuala Lumpur, April 12 India had lost 0-11 and 0-14 to South Korea and North Korea, respectively, in their earlier matches and were at the bottom of the group. For the winners, Mei Sato and Yuki Nagasato scored two goals each, while Nodoka Hosaka and Aya Sameshima scored one each. With today’s third straight win, Japan topped the group and sealed a place in the semifinals of the competition. They had earlier defeated North Korea 3-0 and South Korea 2-1.
— UNI
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Tejeswini pips Anjali to win gold
Jalandhar, April 12 The two Maharashtra shooters finished with identical total of 397/400 at the end of regular round and to break the deadlock, shoot out was applied in which Tejeswini prevailed as she shot 100/100 while Anjali posted 99/100. Another Olympian Suma Shirur (Railways) claimed third position with an aggregate total of 396, while Avneet Kaur Sidhu (IA) finished fourth with 396. In the men’s section, Army shooters maintained their supremacy as Pemba Tamang claimed gold in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol. Tamang relegated his teammate and Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vijay Kumar to second place. Both the shooters were tied with an identical score of 574. However, in the shoot out Pemba hit 47/50 for the top place while Vijay shot 46. Harpreet Singh (Navy) claimed bronze with 563.
— UNI |
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