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We’ll use Broad wisely: Selector
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Kumble questions BCCI age-verification process
9 Pakistan hockey players to return home
Hockey India League
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Dhoni, Jadeja’s aggression levels series
Kochi, January 15 It was a convincing and morale-boosting victory for the Indians who have struggled of late even in home conditions, losing the ODI series to arch-rivals Pakistan and the Test series against England. The hosts did well in all departments of the game, though the batting of the top order continued to be a concern with Gautam Gambhir (8) and Ajinkya Rahane (4) failing to deliver while the form of Virat Kohli remained patchy though he scored 37 today. It was Dhoni's 66-ball 72 and Jadeja's blistering unbeaten knock of 61 in just 37 balls which provided the late flourish to the Indian innings. Suresh Raina (55) and Yuvraj Singh (32), who was distinctly unlucky to be given LBW, were the other notable contributors. With the Nehru Stadium providing ample assistance to the bowlers in the second half, the Indians exploited the conditions to the hilt to bundle out the visitors with Kevin Pietersen being the top-scorer with a 58-ball 42. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/29), R Ashwin (3/39) and Jadeja (2/12) were the pick of the Indian bowlers to give the hosts a resounding victory in front of a capacity crowd. The two teams will now travel to Ranchi for the third one-dayer to be played on January 19. It was rookie Shami Ahmed who gave India an early breakthrough with the wicket of Ian Bell (1) who chased a wide ball which pitched up and swung, only to take an edge to Dhoni in the second over of the England run chase. As if taking revenge for Bell's wicket, England captain Alastair Cook punished Shami for two fours in the fourth over and Pietersen joined his skipper by carting the same bowler for three boundaries three overs later. England were scoring at a brisk pace, more than five an over, and Ishant Sharma's introduction in the 10th over did not stop the flow of runs and the pacer was greeted with two boundaries by Pietersen. Just as England looked like settling down after the initial jolt, Bhuvneshawr Kumar rocked the visitors run chase with a double strike in three deliveries. Cook (17) missed a good length delivery off Kumar, the first ball of the 11th over, and the umpire signalled the dismissal of the batsman.
— PTI Scoreboard
India Rahane b Finn 4 Gambhir b Dernbach 8 Kohli c Bell b Woakes 37 Yuvraj lbw b Tredwell 32 Raina b Finn 55 Dhoni c Root b Dernbach 72 Jadeja not out 61 Ashwin not out 1 Extras: (lb 5, w 10) 15 Total: (6 wkts; 50 overs) 285 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-71, 4-119, 5-174, 6-270 Bowling Finn 10-1-51-2 Dernbach 9-0-73-2 Woakes 9-0-60-1 Patel 10-0-43-0 Tredwell 10-0-48-1 Root 2-0-5-0 England Cook lbw b Kumar 17 Bell c Dhoni b Shami 15 Pietersen b Kumar 42 Root b Jadeja 36 Morgan c Dhoni b Kumar 0 Kieswetter c Raina b Ashwin 18 Patel not out 30 Woakes lbw b Jadeja 0 Tredwell lbw b Ashwin 1 Finn c Dhoni b Ashwin 0 Dernbach run out 2 Extras: (b 4, lb 3, w 4) 11 Total: (all out; 36 overs) 158 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-58, 3-73, 4-73, 5-110, 6-132, 7-132, 8-135, 9-135 Bowling Bhuvneshwar 10-2-29-3 Shami 4-1-24-1 Ishant 4-0-28-0 Jadeja 7-1-12-2 Yuvraj 4-0-19-0 Ashwin 7-0-39-3 Result: India win by 127 runs 127 runs is the margin of victory, the second-highest for India in ODIs against England 96 run stand between Dhoni and Jadeja came at a run-rate of 9.60 per over, the fourth-best rate for a 50-plus stand for India against England. The top 3 such stands for the sixth wicket vs England all involve Dhoni and Jadeja 158 England's score is their third-lowest all-out total in One Day Internationals against India
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We’ll use Broad wisely: Selector
Kochi, January 15 Broad, who flew home early from the Test series in India due to a heel injury last December, is yet to recover fully. And Miller feels that the selectors will have to make sure that he is used in the best possible way for English cricket. "The concern is that there have been two or three niggles that have affected his form and availability," Miller told reporters here. "Anybody with an injury is a concern to us and we've got to manage workloads as best as we can, that's why we're continually looking at other players. We will look at it and make sure he's used in the best possible way for English cricket. He knows that," he added. Although Broad is suppose to join the England squad ahead of the final two ODIs of the ongoing five-match series, he is unlikely to play either of those games. Currently he is visiting a kit specialist in Germany to be fitted with customised boots, aimed to alleviate the problem on his left heel that takes the brunt of the force during his delivery stride. Hoping that Broad would not have to contemplate over choosing one format, Miller said: "At this moment of time we're not thinking about taking him out of a format because he's got that sort of quality, but if we reached the stage where his body wasn't responding to all kinds of cricket then we're open to that. "What we have to do is react to the injury that he has at any one
time.” — PTI |
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I read the track wrong, admits skipper Dhoni
Kochi, January 15 “It seemed like a wicket that may flatten, we thought it will dry up and spinners may not get much turn. Good that I was wrong and our spinners got turn,” he said after the match. Dhoni said the pitch assisted the fast bowlers when India began batting and commended Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh for their 53-run third-wicket partnership which he felt had helped the home side pass through that tough phase. "Initially when there was something for the fast bowlers, it is important to see that phase off. We didn't get a good start, openers were finding it difficult, Yuvraj and Kohli gave us the platform," the Indian captain said. Terming the Kochi strip as a 'perfect' wicket, Dhoni said it had all the ingredients of a great wicket for Test cricket. "I think the wicket was a perfect Test wicket, something for the fast bowlers and plenty of turn for the spinners, which is what we are looking for," he said. Meanwhile, England captain Alastair Cook attributed his team's loss to the poor bowling performance at the death overs which saw England giving away 108 runs in the last 10 overs. "Last 10 overs, we gave over 100 runs. They cost us the game. I think 240-250 on this wicket was a gettable score," he said. Cook conceded that England were outplayed by the Indians on the field and lamented over not capitalising the good start given by his bowlers. "It spun a little more in the second innings, but you cannot use that as an excuse. We were out skilled and outplayed today. Those first 10 overs we had a chance to get three four wickets, we did no quite do that. (Steven) Finn bowled well. Credit to India they put us under pressure," he said.
— PTI |
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Kumble questions BCCI age-verification process
New Delhi, January 15 However it was reliably learnt that BCCI president N Srinivasan was not on the same page with India's highest wicket-taker in international cricket. Kumble raised his objections at the board's Working Committee meeting today about the BCCI's prescribed 'bone density' tests for determining the age of the U-16, U-19 cricketers as there have been cases of age-fudging in the past. "Anil raised the issue at the working committee meeting. His contention was that the bone density test which is carried out is not foolproof. There are a lot of discrepancies and he asked the president to think about an alternative. However, the president informed that the existing system was good enough and doesn't need any change," a senior BCCI official, who was present at the meeting, informed PTI. "I don't want to comment on this issue," was Kumble's terse reply when contacted for a reaction. Early last year, the Mumbai U-16 team had 11 out of its 16 players reported for over-age after Tanner-Whitehouse3(TW3) test, which determines skeletal maturity, was conducted. While the TW3 test was recommended by Dr Vece Paes during his association with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), it has recently been done away with as the BCCI reverted back to its old method of bone density test. Kumble has been one of the vocal members of the BCCI as he has been raising various issues during the Working Committee meetings. — PTI |
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Ranji: Saurashtra host Punjab, Mumbai vs Services
Rajkot, January 15 Punjab captain Harbhajan Singh said he was hoping the team would continue to play good cricket. "We have done well and therefore we are in the semifinal of the Ranji Trophy and I am hoping that the team will once again play good cricket against Saurashtra," Harbhajan said. In the league match, Punjab had defeated Saurashtra but the Punjab skipper said he would not be taking the hosts lightly. "We had done well in the previous match but Saurashtra too is a good side having reached the semifinal," he said. Punjab batting would revolve around Jivan Jyot Singh, Mandeep Singh and Taruvar Kohli while Harbhajan Singh, Sandip Sharma, Manpreet Singh and Bipul Sharma would spearhead the bowling attack. While Saurashtra will have the advantage of playing at home, they will miss the Services of Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteswar Pujara as the two are serving for the national side. Saurashtra will miss Jadeja and Pujara who had done well in the league matches but players like Arpit Vasavada, Sheldon Jackson and Kamlesh Makwana are in good form. Vasavada and Jackson alongwith Sagar Jogiyani and seasoned Sithanshu Kotak would shoulder the batting responsibility, while pacers Siddharth Trivedi and Jaydev Unadkat would be spearheading the bowling department.
— PTI Squads Saurashtra: Jaydev Shah (captain), Sagar Jogiyani, Sitanshu Kotak, Sheldon Jackson, Arpit Vasavada, Rahul Dave, Kamlesh Makwana, Jaydev Unadkat, Siddharth Trivedi, Saurya Sanandiya, Dharmendra Jadeja, Sandip Maniar, Vishal Joshi, Chirag Pathak and Harsh Anghan Punjab: Harbhajan Singh (captain), Mandeep Singh, Jivan jyot Singh, Ravi Inder Singh, Taruvar Kohli, Imitozz Singh, Gurkeet Mann, Uday Kaul, Siddharth Kaul, Sandip Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Sarabjeet Singh, RajVinder Singh, Karan Goel, Bipul Sharma
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Spotlight on Tendulkar
New Delhi, January 15 Ajit Agarkar-led side start as overwhelming favourites but one can't count the institutional side out after their five-wicket victory over UP. On paper, Services are no match for Mumbai, whose line-up boasts of names like Tendulkar, domestic run-machine Wasim Jaffer, all-rounder Abhishek Nayar apart from two in-form youngsters in Hiken Shah and Kaustubh Pawar. "I don't know about overwhelming but we are favourites. It might sound arrogant but we have played at this level so many times that it has become like this," skipper Agarkar told the mediapersons after the team's training session. Tendulkar faced a lot of throw downs after a delivery from left-arm spinner Vishal Dabholkar kept really low in the practice net and then he asked former India manager and SSCB secretary Air Commander Baladitya to increase the height of the sightscreen. "Obviously, when you have a player of Sachin's calibre, it makes a lot of difference. Wasim has been our best batsmen for a few years now and our man for the season has been Abhishek Nayar. It's also good to find that new boys like Hiken and Kaustubh are doing well," the skipper added. For the Services side, playing a Ranji Trophy semi-final after more than five decades is a big achievement but Wing Commander Deepak Bhaskar, who is also team manager, said that boys are not overawed by the occasion. "They might have a lot of cricketing exposure but our boys are also battle-hardened professionals. They have garnered experience about life from their experiences in the defence. We are not overawed by Tendulkar's presence. In any case, we are the underdogs," Wing Commander Bhaskar said.
— PTI |
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Somdev spanks world No. 78 Phau
Devvarman, whose ranking has plummeted to 551, defeated Phau, who is ranked 78, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in a match that lasted close to two hour. The 27-year-old Indian will next take on the winner of the match between Simone Bolelli of Italy and Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz. Devvarman converted two of the three break point chances that came his way and also hit a couple of aces to comfortably move ahead in the opening set which lasted for 31 minutes. In the second set, the Indian double faulted once but won two of the four break point chances. Devvarman took another 35 minutes to wrap up the match as he broke the German twice. Elsewhere, Serena Williams refused to let a painful tumble divert her from her quest for a sixth title here even as Roger Federer and Andy Murray progressed almost untroubled towards their goals. Williams picked herself up to complete a resounding 6-0, 6-0 victory over Edina Gallovits-Hall, a ruthless dominance that world number one and defending champion Victoria Azarenka was unable to replicate as she progressed to the second round. Swiss Federer beat Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 to embark on his campaign for an 18th major title after Briton Murray had steadied his grand slam nerves with a controlled 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Robin Haase. After an underwhelming opening day of the tournament on Monday, the sheer wealth of talent on display on the show courts almost ensured a better day two under the sunny skies at Melbourne Park. There is no bigger personality in tennis than Williams, who is chasing a third successive grand slam title after wins at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and the American almost inevitably hogged the spotlight. Rampaging towards victory, the 31-year-old turned her ankle after hitting a forehand and lay prone on the court for a couple of dramatic minutes — immediately recalling her fall at Brisbane last year that ultimately ended her 2012 Melbourne campaign. “It was definitely a lot of pain,” she said. “Also a little bit of the memory.” She was soon back up, ankle strapped, to complete the rout and said nothing would stop her from taking to court for her second round tie against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza. While Williams is pursuing her 16th grand slam title, Murray is hoping to bag his second after his triumph at the U.S. Open last year and he made short work of Dutchman Haase. “There’s nerves in the build-up,” the third seed said. “You just got to try and focus and play solid, not make too many silly mistakes. I did a good job of that today.” Federer, four times a champion here, easily negotiated what had been billed as potentially difficult tie against Paire. “I’m obviously very happy with this first-round match, so total control,” he said. “He can be a tricky opponent but I guess his playing style doesn’t disturb me that much overall.” He remained on a third-round collision course with Australian Bernard Tomic, who delighted the home crowd with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 win over Leonardo Mayer. Women’s top seed Azarenka was forced to come back from 3-0 down in the second set in her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Romania’s Monica Niculescu.
— Agencies |
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9 Pakistan hockey players to return home New Delhi, January 15 After protests by Shiv Sena and other right-wing organisations disrupted the training and the first match of the league, Hockey India took the decision to send back the Pakistani players considering the “extraordinary circumstances”. “After discussion with all the stakeholders, the Hockey India and Pakistan Hockey Federation have mutually decided to send them (Pakistan players) back due to an extra-ordinary situation which has arisen,” Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra told reporters here. “We kept all stakeholders the franchises, PHF and HI in the loop during these discussions. We took all on board before making this decision. All have approved this decision. The contract money for 2013 will be paid in full to the Pakistani players and HI stands committed in guaranteeing the same. "We and PHF have mutually decided to release the players so that they do not feel the mental stress and their performance is not affected," Batra added. Batra said that the franchises, who had to release the Pakistani players, were free to seek their replacements."We will give the right to franchises for replacements. They can select from the reserve pool," Batra said. HI had initially decided to send back the Pakistani players of Mumbai Magicians franchise only but fearing that the league could be affected by disruptions, it took the decision to send back all the players. The nine players who would be sent back are Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Tousiq, Imran Butt (Mumbai Magicians), Mohammed Rizwan Sr. and Mohammad Rizwan Jr. (Delhi Waveriders), Kashif Shah (Jaypee Punjab Warriors) and Muhammed Irfan and Shafqat Rasool (Ranchi Rhinos). The league ran into rough weather after the killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistan Army on January 8. ICC to take call on World Cup venue for Pakistan women players: BCCI Fearing trouble due to Pakistani players' presence in the upcoming Women's World Cup in the city, the BCCI has left it on the International Cricket Council to take a final call on the venues for the team from across the border. The matter was discussed at the Board's all-powerful Working Committee and it was decided to convey to the ICC the situation prevailing in the country. BCCI President N Srinivasan said the issue was now for the ICC to decide. "We have informed the ICC about it. They will have to examine and take a view," he said after the meeting. Rising tension The eight-team Women's World Cup is scheduled to be held entirely in Mumbai between January 31 and February 17. — PTI
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Hockey India League
Chandigarh, January 15 “The week-long training session was good but it’s the matches that provide a team with confidence,” said skipper Jamie Dwyer. “Though we lost, it was a good lesson to learn and hopefully we’ll start our wining campaign on our home ground.” On the team goalkeeper’s performance, he stated, “Japp Stockmann played well... I’m happy that he is in form and well prepared.” Ranchi Rhinos will mainly bank on skipper Moritz Fuerste, Ashley Jackson, Austin Smith, Francisco Cortes and Birendra Lakra. “We followed the opening game and are ready with our strategies,” said Fuerste. Elsewhere, Delhi Waveriders, after a victorious start in the tournament, would strive hard for another win against Mumbai Magicians in New Delhi. The team earned five points from their 2-1 win against Punjab Warriors, but they are aware that it was a tough contest. The rival forwards failed to cash in on their chances, while Delhi goalkeeper Nicolas Jacobi did a fine job to ensure the win. Team mentor Ajitpal Sinhgh and coach Ajay Kumar Bansal were all praise for the way captain Sardar Singh marshalled his forces, though he himself played a rather subdued game. — TNS |
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Melbourne, January 15
