Canberra, December 20
Virat Kohli struck a century and spinner R Ashwin captured four wickets but it was pace spearhead Zaheer Khan's form and fitness which turned out to be the main concern for the Indians on the second day of their warm-up game against CA Chairman's XI on Tuesday.

Kohli slammed 132 in a team total of 269 as his other batting colleagues, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, failed to impress.

Rohit Sharma was the only substantial contributor with 47 as the Indian innings folded around half an hour before lunch at the Manuka Oval.

Off-spinner Ashwin continued his good form from where he had left at home against the West Indies as he picked up four wickets for 52 runs from his 14 overs to put brakes on the CA Chairman's XI side which was struggling at 214/7.

The home side rode on Test hopeful Ed Cowan's 109 made from 154 balls, inclusive of 16 fours, and were still trailing by 55 runs with three wickets in hand.

Tim Ludeman was batting on 15 when stumps were drawn early due to bad light.

For India though, the main cause of concern would be the form and fitness of senior pacer Zaheer Khan, who failed to impress in his return to the Indian squad after long injury lay-off.

The 33-year-old paceman bowled 10 overs in two spells and conceded 41 runs without ever looking like picking up a wicket. Worryingly, he did not stay put in the field and left for dressing room as soon as he was through with his spell on both occasions.

In all, Zaheer must not have spent more than an hour in the field. With the first Test starting next week, the team thinktank would surely now be worried if the proven left-arm seamer would be up for the pressure of standing up to the rigours of a five-day game.

Zaheer bowled six overs on the trot after lunch, conceding 29 runs, and bowled four more overs after tea. That was all when he was seen around in the park.

With the first Test now firmly in sight, India would be worried on the count of its frontline pacers. Ishant Sharma has not bowled either in the nets or in the middle but for five-odd overs and Zaheer has not been convincing either on form or fitness.

The home side would be similarly upset as all their Test regulars -- David Warner (2), Usman Khawaja (25) and Phil Hughes (20) -- failed to get going. It was left to Cowan to thump an attractive 109 and make the most of friendly conditions.

Kohli, unbeaten on 55 last night, continued in same vein and made 132 before becoming one of the five victims of left-arm spinner Jon Holland who claimed six for 70.

Impressive medium-fast bowler Peter George set the rot in by dismissing overnight batsman Rohit Sharma (47) on a mistimed hook at fine leg but not before the young Indian batsman had put on 101 runs for the fifth wicket with Kohli.

Holland then took over, dismissing Dhoni, Ashwin (4), Kohli, Zaheer (0) and Abhimanyu Mithun (0) for morning figures of five for 33 from 9.1 overs. — PTI

India 269

CAC XI Ist Innings

Warner b Mithun 2

Cowan c Dhoni b Ashwin 109

Khawaja c Dhoni b Yadav 25

Hughes c Dhoni b Ashwin 20

Cooper lbw b Ashwin 38

Doolan c Rahane b Ashwin 0

Ludeman not out 15

Boyce b Ojha 1

Extras: (lb-1, nb-3) 4

Total: (7 wkts, 59 overs) 214

Fall of wickets: 1/3, 2/79, 3/115, 4/184, 5/188, 6/203, 7/214.

Bowling: Mithun 6-1-23-1, Yadav 5-0-29-1, Zaheer 10-0-41-0, Vinay 7-1-13-0, Ashwin 14-1-52-4, Ojha 17-0-56-1.

Canberra, December 20
India coach Duncan Fletcher has made both local media and Cricket Australia set-up paranoid ahead of the four-match Test series starting on December 26.

While Fletcher's technical expertise has forced Australian coach Mickey Arthur to order a three-day camp for his batsmen, the local media sees his remotely operated hand behind the suggestion on Monday that Indians were close to abandoning the three-day fixture against CA Chairman's XI and move to Melbourne.

Fletcher has termed Australian captain Michael Clarke as a "nicker" for his tendency to reach out to drive outside his off-stump and Arthur has no doubt he would have done similar assessment on his other batsmen.

"He's a fantastic technician. He will try to unpick the Australian players' techniques, he is very good at that, and he will present a team that's very well prepared," said Arthur.

Arthur believes that Fletcher would plot a swing-led attack against his batsmen and hence he wants them to be fully prepared for what lies ahead in the four-match Test series.

The local media similarly went to town about the suggestion from a Canberra groundsman on Monday that Fletcher could have been behind the alleged Indian move to leave Canberra for Melbourne in order to avoid the falling rain in Australian capital.

Fletcher was the England coach when Australian were beaten in that historic Ashes series of 2005.

He found himself embroiled in more than one controversy with the Australians.

His mischievous wink at Ricky Ponting from the balcony at Trent Bridge after the batsman was run out by substitute fielder Gary Pratt saw the then Australian skipper go ballast at the English dressing room.

During the 2009 Ashes series, Fletcher wrote a newspaper column lashing out at Ponting over Australian concerns regarding perceived gamesmanship from the hosts in the closing minutes of a thrilling draw in Cardiff.

Fletcher and Arthur themselves fell out during the 2006 Champions Trophy in India over access to nets for their respective sides of England and South Africa. Interestingly, they also worked together for the South African team, leading up to the World Cup this year.

"We had a little bit of a falling out in India many years ago, but since he came back and worked with me, we have become very good mates," Arthur was quoted as saying in a newspaper.

"He's tough and uncompromising and he won't expect anything less. I guess Duncan doesn't trust easily which is why he is a little bit abrasive with the media at times, but I have the utmost respect for him," Arthur added.

"His focus is definitely going to be resilience. He is tough and he doesn't allow his players to get complacent."

Arthur, a South African and the first foreign coach for Australia, himself is said to be a good technician with marvellous skills in man-management.

He is already being given credit by the latest Australian batting sensation David Warner for improving his batting technique.

"I don't think many people would have noticed this at all, but in the second innings in the (Hobart) Test I actually changed my stance," Warner said on Sydney radio. — PTI

Mumbai, December 20
The upcoming four-Test rubber against Australia is India's best opportunity to win a series Down Under, feels former Australia skipper Ian Chappell. "The Indian players should think that this is their best chance to win in Australia. They (Australian) are very young. The Australian team may have good days, but they are very inconsistent," he said during a panel discussion at the Raj Singh Dungarpur World Cricket Summit on Monday.

Former England captain Mike Brearley and Indian cricketers -- Kapil Dev, Sanjay Manjrekar and Ajay Jadeja -- were among others, who were part of the discussion.

Chappell named flamboyant Indian opener Virender Sehwag and experienced seamer Zaheer Khan as the players, who could play a critical role for India in the series.

"Sehwag is the sort of player, who would keep the opposition bowlers awake at night. He scores quickly and makes big runs. Zaheer has the habit of taking early wickets and taking five-wicket hauls. Both give their team maximum time to win a Test," he said.

The noted cricket commentator said, the major worry for Australia was the injuries to key players.

"One of the main concerns for Australia is injuries. Their players have suffered ridiculous number of injuries. Shaun Marsh (who has a back injury), has not played in the last seven weeks," he said.

All-rounder Shane Watson, left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson, young sensation Pat Cummins are among several important Aussie players, who have injury concerns.

He was also of the view that former skipper Ricky Ponting should soon take a decision on his retirement, before the selectors are forced to drop him.

"Ricky is struggling. He may still make runs, he is a fine player. He knows how to survive. If he gets over 20-30 runs, he will make a big score, but not as consistently as he did earlier. It also doesn't help having a former skipper in the team, though I must say, he has handled himself very well and let Michael Clarke do the decision making.

"If Australia has 2-3 good young players, he might be gone. I would like to see Ricky make that decision himself. I would hate to see him getting dropped. One of the selectors should tell him that its time to go," he added.

Kapil said India would have to show a lot of commitment to do well in Australia. — PTI

New Delhi, December 20
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider the decision to allow the Dow Chemicals’ sponsorship of the 2012 London Olympics. The IOA Annual General Body, at its meeting held here last Thursday, had lodged a strong protest with the IOC over Dow's controversial sponsorship of the Games.

In a letter to IOC president Jacques Rogge, a copy of which has also been sent to London Olympic Games Chairman Sebastian Coe, IOA Acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra has said that “a false campaign has been launched by Dow Chemicals” that the matter has been settled.

“It is not correct. The case is still pending in court and no final compensation has been made,” Malhotra noted in his letter to Rogge. Malhotra said it was the IOA’s considered opinion that Dow Chemicals should be removed as the sponsors of the London Olympics. He urged the IOC to urgently take up this matter with the organisers of the Games and “convey our concerns to them”.

Malhotra mentioned that there were media reports that Dow had agreed to remove its logo from the London Olympic stadium. It has also reported to have waived its sponsorship rights to place its brand on a controversial wrap for the stadium, which was considered objectionable.

However, the IOA has so far not received any communication from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) in this regard. “We are trying to ascertain the facts,” Malhotra added. He hoped that the matter would be sorted out amicably, keeping in view the sentiments of millions of people in India.

The IOA has also informed Sports Minister Ajay Maken about the letter sent to IOC and the LOCOG. Malhotra has also sought the Government's views on this subject.

“We will like to hear from you about the Government’s stand on this issue. It will be in the interest of Indian sports if the Government and the IOA are on the same page and speak in one voice on this sensitive matter,” the letter stated.

Chandigarh, December 20
Thirty sixth edition of the Liberals All-India hockey tournament will be held at Nabha from December 24 at the newly-laid turf of Punjab Public School Nabha. Liberals Hockey Tournament is the oldest national level hockey tournament of Punjab which has been successfully held annually for the last 35 years without a break.

It has been recognized as a Grade-A hockey tournament by the Indian Hockey Fedration/Hockey India and continues to attract top hockey teams of the country for the last 35 years.

Teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh have also participated in this tournament during the previous years and a couple of teams from Pakistan were keen to take part this year also but could not come due to visa problems.

As in the past many olympians and international hockey stars are expected to display their skill during the week-long tournament in which 20 prominent teams will lock horns to lift the trophy.

Besides last years champions Punjab & Sind Bank Delhi and runners-up Western Railway Mumbai, the teams that have confirmed their entry in the tournament are Punjab Police, BSF, ITBP, Corps of Signals, EME from Jalandhar, CISF, Rock Rovers & Haryana XI from Chandigarh, Air Force, Northern Railway & CRPF from New Delhi, J & K Police Jammu, Hawks Ropar, Sports Hostel Lucknow , Sikh Regimental centre Ramgarh Cantt (Jharkhand), North West academy Dhudike, PSEB Patiala and Western Central Railway Jabalpur.

Mumbai, December 20
Former England skipper Mike Brearley feels that the constant talk around his 100th international century has made Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar jittery. "It is not easy analysing anyone sitting faraway. But he does look as if he is jittered," he said during a panel discussion at the Raj Singh Dungarpur World Cricket Summit here last night.

Brearley, who is also a psycho-analyst, was replying to a query on whether the hype surrounding his long awaited century of centuries has affected him. Brearley, who led England to a then record of 18 Test wins, also recalled India's 2006 tour to England when Tendulkar was going through a lean patch. — PTI

BRIEFLY

MPHA wins national hockey
Rajnandgaon: Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy (MPHA) defeated Haryana 2-1 to lift Hockey India's Sub-Junior Girls National Championship title here today. MPHA scored through Nusrat Khatun (6th minute) and Karishma Yadav (21st min), while Mamta reduced the margin for Haryana (65th min). MPHA, which led 2-0 at half time, were dominant for most part of the match and earned as many as seven penalty corners as against their opponent's three. — PTI