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India’s Tour of England James Anderson (R) celebrates the wicket of MS Dhoni at The Oval in London, on Sunday. — AFP
English math puzzling Tendulkar? |
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Sunny: No rocket-science
SL look for consolation win against Aussies
I had unfinished business at No. 3: Bell
Balavijay, Selvarajan canter to win
Mean Machines: The FLGB Swift Cars race in progress at Chennai on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
Mixed reaction on Waqar’s resignation
‘All for youngsters in national side’
‘Playing for England a waste’
I will not quit, says Wenger
Lee-Hesh upset Bryan brothers
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India’s Tour of England
London, August 21 Tendulkar and Amit Mishra were at the crease as India lost Sehwag, Dravid and Laxman, with Swann picking up two of those wickets. Earlier, Rahul Dravid became the third Indian batsman to bat throughout a test innings on Sunday with an epic unbeaten 146. Opening in place of Gautam Gambhir, who sustained mild concussion while fielding on Friday, Dravid batted for more than six hours in India's first innings of 300 all out to emulate Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag who also carried their bat. His third century of the series and the 35th of his test career was still not enough to get India close to avoiding the follow-on mark after England had amassed 591 for six and the home team predictably enforced the follow-on. At tea India, who already trail England 3-0 in the series, were 25 for no wicket in their second innings, a deficit of 266.
Apart from Dravid, the only Indian to reach a century in the series, no batsman exceeded 50 with Amit Mishra the second top scorer with an enterprising 43.
Scoreboard
India 2nd innings
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English math puzzling
Tendulkar?
London, August 21
"We feed into the simulator information about pitches and the 22 players who might play, and it plays the game a number of times and tells us likely outcomes." Leamon was quoted as saying in a British newspaper. England believe Tendulkar largely gets his runs on the onside until he has made 50 and they have denied him the advantage completely. Of the 261 balls bowled to Tendulkar by England's fast bowlers till the Edgbaston Test, 254 have pitched outside his off-stump, six have been in the line of the stump and just one beyond leg-stump. Tendulkar, world's greatest run-maker ever and on the cusp of his 100th international hundred, has so far got 34,12, 16, 56, 1, 40 and 23 from seven innings for a combined total of 182 from the series at an average of 26.00. Leamon, nicknamed "Numbers" by England players, breaks down the target area of the pitch into 20 blocks, each 100cm x15cm, in his software and bowlers begin to get a better idea of where to aim against a particular opponent. The software records how many times a ball is pitched in each block and the resulting shot. This data is then used by England bowlers to work out the best areas to bowl to exploit each batsman's weakness. On the basis of this data, Leamon helps England's coach and captain, Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss, to see clearly which players might do best to a certain ball in a certain situation. "It helps us in strategy and selection. I've checked the program against more than 300 Tests and it is accurate to within 4-5 per cent." Leamon apparently has chronicled every ball bowled in Test cricket for the past five years, dissecting to the last detail how each pitch and player perform in different circumstances and situations. Leamon, a former Cambridge mathematician, does use video data but he makes greater use of Hawk-Eye ball-tracking system. "It's all about asking the right questions, which can be short cut to six months of work. A lot of the old ways of looking at the technique of opponents leads to guesswork-feet position, how they hold the bat. Hawk-eye enables you to come up with answers. "We classify balls in certain ways nad how opposing batsmen deal with each type. It is unusual for anyone not to have an area in which they don't have some sort of weakness. If the bowlers can hit the right block twice an over, it markedly increases the chance of success," Leamon said. "Of all the Indian players, we have executed our plans best to Tendulkar. We have bowled brilliantly at him," he added. — PTI
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Sunny: No rocket-science
London, August 21 "Tendulkar, if you notice, has a round top grip. It gives him a natural advantage on the onside. So that becomes your preferred mode of run-making," Gavaskar, arguably the greatest technician the game has known, said his uncle and former Indian player Madhav Mantri, who was much respected for his insight into the game, used to say a look at a batsman's grip would give a clear idea on his style of batting. "So it's no rocket science. I'm glad it took the world to discover Tendulkar's style after he has nearly 15,000 Test runs under his belt." — PTI |
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SL look for consolation win against Aussies
Colombo, August 21 But for that to happen, the Lankans will have to score runs. Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan have chipped in at times during the series without ever changing a match. The middle order has been woeful, from Angelo Mathews throwing his wicket away to a serious lack of form from Chamara Silva, Dinesh Chandimal and Jeevan Mendis. The only highlight has been Upul Tharanga's century in the third match which Sri Lanka won. For Australia, winning the series has been an admirable result given their recent form and the off-field drama at home with the release of the Argus report. The key has been a fine bowling performance from every member of the attack. Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Brett Lee and Xavier Doherty have all starred at times during the series, and have given their batsmen small enough totals to chase without too much trouble. Australia would love to make it 4-1, especially with eight members of the ODI squad staying for the Tests. There's nothing like a winning mindset. — Agencies
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I had unfinished business at No. 3: Bell
London, August 21 “I feel form-wise at the minute that I’m as good as I’ve been in my career. I always believed I had some unfinished business at (number) three. At times when I was up the order there before, I don’t think I was mature enough and ready,” Sky Sports quoted Bell, as saying. “I believe I’m a much better cricketer now than the last time I did it. I’ve learned a lot batting at five, and I’ve really enjoyed the challenge in this series against a good bowling attack to get up there and show people what I can do at three,” he added. Bell had also played a key role in England’s the second Test victory at Trent Bridge, where he scored 159 runs off 206 balls. — ANI |
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Balavijay, Selvarajan canter to win
Chennai, August 21 The furiously driven cars were literally spinning off the track and slipping in the grass in the opening race of the day - Indian Junior Touring Cars due to the heavy rain in the city during last night. The day actually began with a huge level of excitement amongst all and every turn led the spectators to skip a beat looking at the mere difference of inches between the young drivers that prevented an unwanted crash of their cars. But once again the race was taken away by the hometown lad B Balavijay, who came in front to win the race in a stellar fashion. The Moto Rev India driver completed the Madras Motor Sports Club track in a total time of 02:10:342. The category saw all the same winners like that of yesterday’s fifth round but with much more competition and a very insane overtaking all through. Coimbatore’s Digvijay, who was leading in the first three laps finished second. “Balavijay caught me easily and took the lead, and thereafter I just could not overtake him,” said LCT Sigaram’s driver. The most exciting of all was the FLBG Swift Cars racing that ended up with a 1-2-3 win for Team TVS Girling, as all the its Chennai drivers finished the race on the podium. The bunch of 21 drivers began with a zoom leaving behind the complete atmospheric pressure and putting forward an unbeatable excitement for every single second of the race. With every turn came in further more momentum, each of the cars chasing the other till its tail and every turn of the track burning to exhale flames of smoke and spark bearing the kinetic beauty of all. And the speed literally got uncontrollable mid distance when the second leader banged in the fences, slipped and turned and back on the track. The folks could hardly take a step back from this bang for it was just a matter of a microsecond and up! Action came in the last lap wherein the cars came out of the chicken screaming to first cross the chequered flag. Karthik Krishna did it with a timing of 20:05:416 and his team mate Narendran S and Sandeep Kumar finished second and third, respectively. “It was my first win and I am very excited to have won in this happy weather and good track,” said Karthik. “Throughout the race, I was watching in the rear mirror to see the thrilling fight happening right behind me.” More or less it seemed as if Narendran was shielding his teammate to win. “We have won, it doesn’t matter Karthik or I, because at the end, it’s our team. So I am very happy today.” The last race of the Indian Touring Cars (Super Saloons) saw Rad Racing driver Radha Selvarajan win with a timing of 18:41:421. His teammate Leela Krishnan stood second leaving behind Performance Racing’s Siddharth Kishore at third. Sanjay Sharma, Head, JK Motorsports, said on the occasion, “weather is never worse for a race. It’s in fact the best part in motorsports and not a hurdle. So the drivers took it very positively even today and presented an electrifying show at the track.” This was an initiative by JK Tyre motorsports to promote this action based game in the country just ahead of the upcoming Formula one race at the capital. Young drivers will now meet for the fourth round of this championship to be held next month.
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Mixed reaction on Waqar’s resignation
Lahore, August 21 "I am in fact surprised that Waqar lasted for so long under Butt. Because no one has got a chance to complete his tenure by the board chairman since he took over in October 2008 and has either been sent packing or been forced to go himself," added Sohail. The former Test captain was referring to instances where Butt sacked Australian coach, Geoff Lawson before his contract had completed and also removed Intikhab Alam as coach last year and appointed him manager. Butt also forced changes in the selection committee several times in the last three years with Abdul Qadir and Iqbal Qasim resigning as chief selectors in 2009 and 2010. Interestingly, even Sohail resigned after differences with Butt while working as head of game development in the board. During Butt's tenure, there has also been a merry go round of captains with Malik, Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq holding the captaincy reigns at different times in the last three years. Sohail said that perhaps Waqar wanted an extension of his contract knowing Butt might go after completing his tenure in October this year. "Whatever the reason, it is not good for Pakistan cricket," said Sohail. ‘Foreign coach only solution’
Karachi: Discarded Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal believes that only a foreign coach can turn the national team into a fighting unit and world beaters after the sudden resignation of Waqar Younis. Akmal, who guided his domestic team National bank to the Ramazan Twenty20 Cup trophy last night, told PTI he was surprised to learn that Waqar had resigned from the coaching post citing personal reasons. "It came as a total surprise for many people including myself. But I think now the solution is a foreign coach. I have played under Bob Woolmer and Geoff Lawson and I can vouch that a foreign coach is the best possible option for the national team," said Akmal, who fell out of favour with the PCB and national selectors after the World Cup. "Woolmer did a great job with the team and communicated well with all the players. During his tenure, Pakistan was among the top three Test and one-day international teams," he added. The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it will soon start deliberations on appointing a new coach as there is still two months time before the series against Sri Lanka in the UAE. The board has not ruled out the option of a foreign coach but due to security conditions in the country, foreign teams and coaches have been reluctant to remain in Pakistan. — PTI |
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‘All for youngsters in national side’
Karachi, August 21 "If you don't find replacements at the right time than you face the problems that India is now facing. If you look at India's case they have not inducted youngsters at the right time and they are in a bad state in England," Younis said. India are staring a whitewash against England in the four-Test series, having lost the first three Tests by big margins as most of their senior players have struggled in English conditions. Younis said since Zimbabwe are a comparatively weaker opposition and it's a short tour, it was best time to give opportunities to new players and try them out. "Unfortunately we are not getting any international cricket at home and teams are not coming here so how do you try out your new players specially those who have performed well in domestic cricket," he said. The former fast bowler said there will always be criticism on some issue but one had to think ahead and give confidence to the new and young players. — PTI
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London, August 21 "We have our football culture in this country based on the traditional power player and I don't see us competing seriously for a major tournament for at least 10 years. I'm afraid we still have a lot of catching up to do. We are heading in the right direction. "But I feel almost sorry for the England players coming through now because they are caught between these massive expectations and the reality of being good, sometimes very good, but probably not of tournament-winning quality." Neville, who made his England debut in 1995 and played under five national coaches, also says he shed no tears when the old Wembley Stadium was knocked down in 2000. "I was delighted when the tired old ground, with its crap facilities and its pockets of bitter fans got smashed into little pieces. I never mourned the Twin Towers, not for a second." He says he was regularly abused by groups of supporters at Wembley while "running up and down the touchline, playing my guts out for my country," adding: "There have been times I have reflected on my international career and just thought 'Well that was a massive waste of time'. "Sorry for sounding sour but my best mate David Beckham got butchered after the World Cup in 1998 and then my brother Phil after Euro 2000. Playing for England was one long roller-coaster: some ups and downs, but also quite a few moments when you're not really sure if you're enjoying the ride. "It should be fantastic, the best moments of your life. But there is no doubt that too many players spend too much time fearing the consequence of failure when they pull on an England shirt." — Reuters
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I will not quit, says Wenger
London, August 21 Dein had earlier urged the club’s fans to show respect for Wenger or risk losing the manager as he comes under increasing pressure at the Emirates. “That’s always an option open to him because it could come to a stage when he will say: ‘Well, I have had enough’. At least that’s how I feel and I feel the fans should feel that. They should at least give him the respect that he deserves for what he’s done,” Dein had said. — ANI |
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Cincinnati, August 21 This was Paes and Bhupathi's first win in three meetings against the Bryan brothers this season, after falling to the world number one pair in the Australian Open and AEGON Championships finals. Paes and Bhupathi will take on Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic in the summit clash as they gun for their third title of the season. They had won the titles at Sony Ericsson Open and Chennai Open. Tough opener for Sania Mirza
Dallas: Sania Mirza needs a super performance if she has to bring her singles campaign back on track as she has drawn world number 22 German Sabine Lisicki as her first round opponent in the Texas Tennis Open here. Sania has not moved beyond first rounds and qualifiers in the four tournaments she has played after making a comeback to the circuit post Wimbledon break. She fell in first round of Washington DC and Carlsbad events and then lost in the qualifiers of Toronto and Cincinnati events. Lisicki, seeded fifth in the USD 220,000 WTA event, is in top form these days as she reached the semifinals of the Wimbledon and Stanford events apart from reaching quarter-finals of Carlsbad. She though had lost in the first round at Cincinnati. Sania and Lisicki are one-one this season in head-to-head record with the Indian emerging winner at Charleston and the German at Auckland. Lisicki was place as low as 170 at the start of the season but is now close to enter in top-20. — PTI |
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India, almost predictably, were faced with the prospect of an inning defeat in the fourth and final Test as they ended another poor day in the field at The Oval. Rahul Dravid’s heroics notwithstanding, India after being shot out for 300 in the first
innings
London, August 21
The sun today was overtaken by rain-filled clouds to present yet another challenge for the young drivers vying for the podium finish on the sixth race of the third round of the 14th JK Tyre - FMSCI National Championship taking place here.
Former Pakistan cricketers expressed their mixed reaction over the resignation of Waqar Younis as head coach of the national team and felt that health cannot be the only reason behind his sudden announcement.
Waqar, who took over as head coach from Intikhab Alam in March last year, called it quits yesterday citing health grounds for his inability to continue. "I don't know what happened but it is not a surprise to me because no one has ever completed his tenure under Ijaz Butt (chairman of the PCB)," said former Test captain, Aamir
Sohail.
England have no chance of winning a major soccer tournament for at least 10 years because the country does not produce enough good players, former international defender Gary Neville has said. Neville, who retired last season after more than 600 games for Manchester United and 85 for England, says in his autobiography "Red" being serialised in the Mail on Sunday newspaper that his own international career was "a waste of time".
Cincinnati, August 21
London:
Sialkot: