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Rain a threat to Chennai Test
England players pledge 50 pc match fee to Mumbai victims
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Return nothing to do with IPL: Flintoff
It’s not a worry: Cook
Thank god I don’t bowl to Tendulkar: Ishant
Series win will make India No. 2
ICC to draw anti-racism code
Federation Cup
Diwakar’s hat-trick sinks Argentina
Boxing quartet set for WC
Now a Canadian coach for Punjab basketball players
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Rain a threat to Chennai Test
Chennai, December 9 Meteorological Centre Regional Director S R Ramanan told PTI that one or two spells of rains was suppose to lash city in the next 48 hours. "For the next 48 hours, there would be one or two spells of rain and cloudy weather conditions would prevail due to activity of the North East monsoon over Tamil Nadu," he said. "There is no alert of low pressure or depression in the Bay of Bengal. This is only a normal monsoon activity. Gradual reduction of rain fall was expected from Thursday, the day that the first Test was to commence," he added. City has been experiencing intermittent rain forcing the Indian team to abandon their practice session, which was delayed from morning to the afternoon, while the England team already in the stadium also faced the same fate. England team arrived here last night to commence their short tour of India with the first Test but was denied of any practice at the Chepauk grounds so far due to constant drizzle. Reaching the stadium around 2.00 pm the English were forced to stay indoors at the stadium dressing room, while the Indian could have their sessions for over an hour and were forced to abandon it, also due to rain. In fact, the Indian team which was scheduled to have their practice session from 10.00 am rescheduled their plan to 12.30 pm this afternoon. The two-Test series was originally scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, but was shifted to Chennai and Mohali for security reasons after the Mumbai terror attacks.
— PTI |
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England players pledge 50 pc match fee to Mumbai victims
In a heart-warming gesture, Kevin Pietersen and his teammates today decided to donate 50 per cent of their match fees from the first Test to the families of the victims of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.
England batsman Alastair Cook read out a statement by the English cricket team in which the players pledged half of their match fees for the families of the victims of the Mumbai attacks. “Following a very difficult period for the last two weeks, the England cricket team would like to recognise the following reasons for returning to India for the Test series. As an open and public statement of support for the Indian people following the tragic events in Mumbai recently. “To extend our sincerest sympathies to those families that have lost loved ones in the Mumbai attacks. As cricketers, first and foremost to win a Test match series against India,” the statement read. “Finally, the England players will donate half their match fees from the first Test match to the families of those victims of the Mumbai attacks," it added. Earlier, India captain MS Dhoni had pledged match fees from both the Tests for a similar cause.
— PTI |
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Return nothing to do with IPL: Flintoff
London, December 9 Flintoff, along with Steve Harmison and Graeme Swann, had reservations about touring India after last month's Mumbai terror attacks but the talismanic all-rounder eventually joined the Test squad and the decision, he says, has nothing to do with IPL. "There was safety to consider and also whether it was right to be playing in India so soon after Mumbai. I can't vouch for other players but for me the Indian Premier League didn't come into it at all. Safety is far bigger than the IPL," Flintoff told 'The Daily Telegraph'. "I took time to ring family and think it over myself. It was just a case of digesting it and getting it straight in my mind. We needed to know how the tour was going to take place and, once that was presented to us, we could then decide," he said. Flintoff's comments came amid reports that the English cricketers shrugged off their reluctance to tour India in order to endear themselves to the IPL authorities. "One of the reasons I decided to go was for my team-mates. We didn't want to get into the position where the team was split up. Even though we got beaten during the one-day series against India, the spirit in the camp was really good and that's something we don't want to lose. So unity has played a major part," Flintoff said, justifying the decision. It took a lot of persuasion and the promise of a foolproof security arrangement to convince the English cricketers to return to India. Flintoff admitted it would feel different to be surrounded by commandos almost all the time but dismissed suggestions that it could be a distraction for the side. "The environment is going to be completely different when you talk about commandos and hotels being locked down, but those are the measures they feel we need to take. "That is going to be a challenge for the lads. A few of us experienced something similar here in 2002 when we had guards everywhere, but hopefully that will wear off pretty quickly," he said. According to him, everything else would take a back seat when cricket resumes tomorrow. "Once you're out in the middle bowling at Sachin Tendulkar or trying to hit Harbhajan Singh around, I don't think you'll be worrying about who might be around off the ground," he said. "I think that will happen more when you're at the hotel or mooching around," Flintoff added. With the fate of the tour hanging in balance for quite a while, England hardly had the kind of preparation they would have liked but Flintoff still was optimistic of putting up a good show in the two-match series. "Hopefully we will be inspired," he said. — PTI |
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‘Lack of practice will make it tough’
London, December 9 The England team, who were not released to play for their counties by the England and Wales Cricket Board at the end of the summer, have played only limited-overs matches since the final Test against South Africa, four months ago. Butcher identified the peculiar difficulties that the lack of practice will cause England. "In 2001 we played three warm-up games, and we still lost the first Test match. Never mind everything else that has gone on, this is going to be enormously tough for England," he was quoted as saying by the 'Guardian'. Butcher gave some tips to the team so that it could try to get things right in the middle straightway. "In India the ball does not come on to the bat, you have to be very sure about the bat face, you have to play the ball late. Getting your head around that takes more than nets, it takes time in the middle before a batsman can be confident that he has got it right. Batting-wise, it is very difficult to adjust," he said. "For bowlers, the length has to be a good yard further up than is typical in England, while for spinners it takes a very long time to figure the optimum pace to bowl at to make the ball spin. That's especially difficult if they haven't spent enough time over there to figure out what release speed to use," Butcher said. As England's three-day warm-up in Baroda was scrapped in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks, coach Peter Moores has already conceded that "preparations are going to be compromised in many ways through circumstances. |
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It’s not a worry: Cook
Chennai: Three days of nets in Abu Dhabi and no warm-up match is hardly the ideal preparation but England batsman Alastair Cook is not worried about the build-up and believes his teammates would put up a good show in the two-Test series against India.
Since returning home abandoning the last two ODIs, the English cricketers have been in a dilemma whether to tour India following the Mumbai terror attacks. With the England and Wales Cricket Board locked in hectic parleys with its Indian counterpart BCCI, all the players could manage was a three-day session in Abu Dhabi before heading straightaway into the first Test starting Thursday. Cook admits the side would have liked to turn every stone in its preparation but said the players were not losing sleep pondering over it. "Last two weeks have not been ideal but we are cricketers and we have to deal with that. We have been playing since mid-October and have been to the West Indies. We have been doing a lot of preparations and the three days in Abu Dhabi have been brilliant," Cook told reporters here today. "The preparation has not been ideal. But I have been here two years ago, having travelled half way round the world, had just one training session and played. It can be done. You don't lose your technique overnight, it's very much a mental battle," said the batsman, who scored a century in his 2006 debut Test against India. "It has been very tough and it is probably not the ideal build up but now we are here and we have a chance to play against a very good side in India. It is an exciting challenge and we are looking forward to it," he added. Cook reckoned putting up a big total in the first innings would be key in the matches and said the top order needed to fire against India. "Huge first innings total is important for winning matches on dry wickets in India," Cook said. "We have been talking as a group and especially in India, we have to make a massive score. If you get your big scores in the first innings, you really set yourself up. We saw that in Nagpur and Mumbai when we did score 400-plus. We put pressure on the opposition," he said.
— PTI |
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Thank god I don’t bowl to Tendulkar: Ishant
New Delhi, December 9 “Sachin Tendulkar is one batsman who is not easy to bowl to. Be it in nets or in the middle, he always bats as if he is playing a match. I am thankful to god that I play in his team. His experience is equal to my age,” Ishant said. The gangling Delhi bowler said besides Tendulkar, Ponting and Hayden were among his favourite batsman. “Other than Sachin and Ponting, my favourite batsmen are Matthew Hayden and Rahul Dravid,” he said. Ishant said he was trying to bowl fast consistently but also focusing on maintaining the right line and length to trap the batsmen. “I am trying to bowl at 100 mph but what is more important is which areas I hit. If you get that speed but the delivery is short or over-pitched and ball goes across the boundary than there is no use of it. “Instead, if I bowl at 140-145 kph and swing it, batsmen could be in trouble,” he told NDTV. “I know my limitations and try to be in my limits,” he added. The 20-year-old fast bowler also said he did not believe in experimenting in the match and relies on whatever he practised in nets. “You should try in a match only what you have practised in the nets. You should not try new things straightaway while playing for the country. “I was not a swing bowler but the one who would hit the deck and even today I try only that, but it is my good luck if ball gets movement,” he said. Ishant said he could not credit his success to one person as Zaheer Khan, Venkatesh Prasad and coach Gary Kirsten all helped him on various occasions but singled out the South African for his mature approach. “Kirsten is a very nice coach. He understands the strength of each and every member of the team,” Ishant said. “Recently in Delhi, I had dropped Michael Clarke and also could not bat as the night-watchman but Kirsten said ‘In the past one year this is your first mistake. It was your bad day. Tomorrow will be a new day’. If your coach helps you come out of the bad phase, he is a good coach,” he added.
— PTI |
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Series win will make India No. 2
Dubai, December 9 Even a 1-0 win against Kevin Pietersen's team would see India, currently third with 116 points, overtaking South Africa and recapture the second spot, a position they had briefly enjoyed after the 2-0 home series victory against Australia recently. South Africa, however, will have an immediate opportunity to reclaim the place with a three-match series in Australia on the horizon, according to an ICC statement here today. Meanwhile, a 2-0 win for England would help them overtake Sri Lanka to the fourth slot in the standings, which Australia lead with 130 points. For the four India batsmen in top 20 - Virender Sehwag (10th), VVS Laxman (14th), Sachin Tendulkar (17th) and Gautam Gambhir (18th) - it will be a good opportunity to climb up the ladder and make it to the top 10. In bowling front, spinner Harbhajan Singh (7th), who is the only Indian figuring in top 10, will certainly try to put up good shows during the series while in-form left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan (20th) also can improve his standing. — PTI
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ICC to draw anti-racism code
Cape Town, December 9 The decision to ratify the Code of Conduct was taken on Sunday at the end of ICC’s two-day Chief Executive Committee (CEC) meeting here. The ICC also informed that a draft code in this regard will be drawn up soon after receiving written comments and suggestions from all the members. The CEC members of the international body also called for stronger action against teams for slow over rates in both Tests and one-day internationals.
— PTI |
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Federation Cup Barasat, December 9 Striker Shankar Oraon netted both the goals for the Kolkata outfit, while forwards Hakkim and Kannan drew level for the Kerala side. Played as a matter of formality as Dempo Sports Club from Goa have already moved to the semi-final from this group, it turned out to be a well-contested one with all the goals coming in the first half. After this match, both United Sporting and SBT finished their group league fixture earning two points from three outings, with one defeat and two draws against their name. With medio Snehasish Chakrabarty initiating most of the moves, United Sporting went into attack early and forced an opportunity in the fifth minute but Oraon was late to posses the ball while SBT keeper Jean Christin dived down to collect the ball. But he made amends soon when Jean failed to clear a shot off Snehashish and an unmarked Oraon, lurking inside the box, tapped the ball home (1-0). Following a combined move, SBT striker Kannan headed the ball to Hakkim who drew level with an accurate shot (1-1). United forged ahead again in the 27th minute. This time Oraon, capitalising on a pass from Basudeb Mondal, beat the SBT custodian placing the ball into from an acute angle (2-1). The joy proved shortlived as SBT striker Kannan soon headed home a right flank lob to restore parity (2-2). Mumbai FC draw 1-1 with Dempo Mumbai FC held a depleted Dempo Sports Club to a 1-1 draw in the final group A league match tonight. The matches were held to complete the formality as Dempo had already moved to the semifinals, having registered two victories earlier. — PTI
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Diwakar’s hat-trick sinks Argentina
Buenos Aires, December 9 India had some early scares with Argentina exhibiting electric forays, unnerving the visitors' defence but they soon came to terms with the opposition stepping up their pace with flair and fluency. Diwakar scored his first goal in the ninth minute and consolidated their position just 10 minutes later through a penalty corner conversion. India led 2-0 at the lemon break. After changing sides, India increased their lead to 3-0 in 55th minute while the Argentines only reduced margins by sounding the board in the 64th and 67th minutes of the game. Earlier, India forward Jay Karan was set up by midfielder Vikas Sharma inside the striking circle before he was obstructed by Nahuel Salis. The resultant penalty corner was sunk in by Diwakar with a low dragflick past goalkeeper Ezequiel Olivero. Stung by this reversal, Argentina tried to find an equaliser and earned their first penalty corner when a breach was committed inside the crowded circle by full back Innocent Kullu. However, even though custodian Mrinal Chaubey warded off the attempt from Augustin Cabrera the umpire ruled it illegal resulting in a penalty stroke. Chaubey rose to the occasions as he foiled Santiago Montelli with precision. India continued their domination with more firepower from the flankmen Pramod Kumar and Mandip Antil being fed by midios Vivek Sharma, Manjeet Kullu and Birendra Lakra. They had their rivals caught on the wrong foot with strikers Danish Mujtaba and Amir Khan engineering crafty moves in the danger area. Another orchestrated attack got India its second penalty corner 10 minutes later with Diwakar not disappointing the Indian supporters. India maintained the same tempo upon resumption even though coach AK Bansal made rapid substitutions by trying out the greenhorns. A shaken Argentina conceded another penalty corner in the 55th minute which the Indian skipper converted clinically in the roof of the net. But thereafter complacency and over confidence appeared to have crept in. A few erroneous missed traps in the defence spurred Argentina to seize their opportunities as they scored two goals in quick succession in the 64th and 67th minutes through Alan Andino and Agustin Mazzilli.
— PTI |
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Boxing quartet set for WC
Moscow, December 9 The event was originally open to only the top eight from Beijing Olympics but pullouts forced the organisers to give wild cards. The World Cup offers not just medals but cash prizes as well with the gold medallist getting $ 10,000 and the silver medallist and the bronze medallist pocketing $ 5,000 and $ 2,500, respectively. The Olympic champions in the 51kg and 54kg categories have decided to give the tournament a miss but that does not make the draw any easy for Jitender and Akhil. Akhil can expect a face off against Veaceslav Gojan, the little-known Moldovan who went on to win a bronze in Beijing after stunning the Indian with his ultra-defensive tactics in the quarterfinals. World champion Sergey Vodopyanov, whom Akhil defeated by just one point on count-back in the second round in Beijing, will also have revenge on mind at his home turf. The presence of Olympic silver medallist Yankiel Alarcon Leon of Cuba makes the field all the more formidable for the 27-year-old Indian.
— PTI |
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Now a Canadian coach for Punjab basketball players
Chandigarh, December 9 Married to a Fijian woman of Indian origin, Seema Shivanjali Singh, David John Petroziello, has volunteered to share his coaching expertise with basketball coaches of the Punjab Sports Department as well as those of Punjab Police during his month-long stay in Punjab. Rajdeep Singh Gill, president, Punjab Basketball Association, today formally inaugurated the first camp by David John Petroziello for Punjab junior and youth teams, both of boys and girls, at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur. Since Punjab mens’ team is training at the Ludhiana Guru Nanak Indoor Basketball Stadium, David John Petroziello is expected to visit the camp regularly till the team departs for Surat for participation in the National Basketball Championship to be held there from December 31
to January 7. For the past couple of years, both the Basketball Federation of India and the Punjab Basketball Association in collaboration with the Punjab Sports Department has been inviting top class professional coaches, both from the NBA (USA) and Canada for training various teams, including sub-juniors, juniors, youth and senior teams at special orientation-cum-training camps. Punjab Basketball Association had earlier launched a special campaign to look and spot tall boys and girls for induction in special camps and basketball academies that are being run at different places in the state. According to Teja Singh Dhaliwal, secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, 30 players and seven coaches are attending the first camp at Phillaur. David John Petroziello would also be conducting a separate camp for junior teams. He will also oversee a coaching and physical fitness development programme for coaches besides imparting training to both players and coaches in latest techniques and tactic in the sport. |
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