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Trouble brewing in paradise
In Jaipur, Oz more at home than the
hosts
Sachin gets his wish of Mumbai farewell
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BCCI set to oppose two new balls rule
Higgins in second round of Indian Open Snooker
Pakistan girls fight back
Vikash through to Round 2
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Trouble brewing in paradise
Jaipur, October 15 The loss to Australia in the first ODI at Pune has set the kneejerk-reaction mill in motion. The team, fresh from fantastic victory in the Champions Trophy and then in the West Indies, is back to facing questions about its problems against the short, rising deliveries and death-over bowling.
No wonder, the generally genial India skipper MS Dhoni barely managed to keep his temper in check when asked bluntly why Indian batsmen can’t play short-pitched stuff. “Well, it’s the same team that won the Champions Trophy in England sometime back and then a tri-series in the West Indies. So, I don’t think that’s a fair criticism,” he snapped, after the loss in Pune. Virat Kohli, widely seen as Dhoni’s successor, too, sounded a little exasperated answering a question with similar connotations. “I don’t know why this is brought up again and again whenever we play against Australia, South Africa and England. One should see how many batsmen are getting out to short balls—not many as most fell edging to the slips, lbw or bowled,” he said. Despite Dhoni and Virat’s rant, there’s no denying the fact that quick, rising deliveries have more often than not troubled the Indian batsmen. But then, such deliveries bowled at bristling pace are bound to trouble even the best in the business. “Nobody likes to play genuinely fast bowlers,” Australia skipper George Bailey made a candid admission when asked if Australian batsmen too would have struggled if India had someone as quick as Mitchell Johnson. So as a result of Indian bowler lacking pace and the ability to extract sharp bounce, one always see Indian batsmen jumping like a cat on a hot tin roof against the opposition with genuine pacers. And that probably makes the problem appear unique to Indian batsmen and probably much bigger than it actually is. But whether big or small, it’s there for sure and needs to be dealt with, like so many others problems, if India are to draw level and win the series. And the team, despite parrying away the insinuations attempting to make it look a drawback unique to them alone, too seems aware of it. On the eve of the second game, in Jaipur, the Indian batsmen dedicated a fair amount of time to handling the short stuff in the nets. “All teams bowl short-pitched deliveries, but yes, the Australians have some extra pace which they used well in the last game. We are aware of it…,” said Virat. The bowlers, under fire for not bowling well at all in the last game, and for not fixing their death over showings, spent time trying to get their yorkers right. The Indian bowlers seem in control with the new ball, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar making good use of it, but start veering off in the middle overs before falling apart in the death overs. “Bhuvneshwar has been bowling well with the new ball but death bowling will need to improve,” said Dhoni, indicating bowlers will need to fix the problem sooner than later. And Jaipur is as good a place as any other for everyone lagging behind to play catch-up. Squads: 2nd ODI India: MS Dhoni (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Jaydev Unadkat and Mohd Shami. AUSTRALIA: George Bailey (captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson. LIVE ON STAR CRICKET 1.30 PM
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In Jaipur, Oz more at home than the
hosts
Jaipur, October 15 Here’s why this could happen — Shane Watson and James Faulkner, who were part of the Rajasthan Royals in IPL and the recently concluded Champions League, have played more cricket than anybody else in either team at the venue in recent time. Watson, in fact, has been with the Rajasthan Royals since the very first edition of the IPL and would hence know every blade of grass and how it behaves. And they already seem to have made their observations about the track. “Shane has a played a lot of cricket here and he is pretty familiar with the surface. Both Shane and Faulkner feel it will be a good wicket to bat on. Our (fast) bowlers have their plans and know what to do as well.” Virat, on the other hand, spared no effort to dispel the notion that Australia won’t have any advantage on that count. “They have played a lot of Twenty20 cricket here, but we have more experience of playing here in 50-overs cricket. It’s a different ball game altogether. If you make them work for their wickets in 50-50 games, it’s different. In ODIs, batsmen can delay their attack and turn it up when they want to. But yes, they will have a fair idea of the conditions here. But we have played more here in one-day cricket. So we need to use that to our advantage.” The green tinge on the wicket could assist Aussie bowlers more. — TNS |
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Sachin gets his wish of Mumbai farewell
Mumbai, October 15 The BCCI's Programmes and Fixtures committee met here today to chalk out the detailed schedule of the hastily-arranged series comprising two Tests and three one-dayers. The Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the opening clash of the series from November 6 to 10 and like Wankhede, gets an 'out-of-turn' Test match as according to the BCCI's rotational policy, it was actually Bangalore and Ahmedabad's turn. Kolkata Test too will be memorable
Kolkata: Cricket Association of Bengal president Jagmohan Dalmiya promised that CAB would make it a memorable one. “We will definitely plan things to make it memorable for the star Indian cricketer. The CAB would meet in a couple of days to chalk out the details,” Dalmiya said, without divulging the details. “It would be a great opportunity to host the 199th Test here,” Dalmiya said. “It's the biggest stadium in the country and it would be a fitting tribute to the maestro to host the farewell series here. We would have a plethora of events lined up for him to make it more memorable,” the official said. Don't know how I would react when he retires: Kohli
Jaipur: Virat Kohli still doesn't know what his reaction would be when Sachin Tendulkar walks out to bat for one last time in international cricket at the Wankhede Stadium in a month's time. “I have grown up watching him play and only wanted to bat like him. It will be a very difficult moment for me when he retires. He has been the biggest match winner for India and such a huge inspiration for all of us,” said Kohli. “For 24 years, we never thought that there could be an Indian cricket team without Sachin. I don't know how I would react when he would step out one last time and what will be the reaction of the whole team. 'Hope MP Sachin will have more time’
New Delhi: He was rarely seen in Rajya Sabha due to his busy cricket schedule but parliamentarians hope that Sachin will play an equally memorable inning as a member of Parliament after he retires from the game next month. Veteran journalist and Rajya Sabha member HK Dua, who sits close to Tendulkar in the house, hopes that he will be more active in Parliament now.” He has not shown much interest in Parliament proceedings till now. I hope that once he bids adieu to the game, he will be more active in the house. I have seen him sitting quietly in Parliament till now,” he said. — PTI |
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Jaipur, October 15 “We are happy that we could win the first game. It is good to start with a victory but it is a seven match series and you need to get better and better and it is more important to play well in the game here tomorrow,” said Haddin. The Australian wicketkeeper-batsman reckons it would be a high-scoring match and the conditions will also suit his bowlers.”The conditions here are good another high scoring game. The wicket is full of runs. Shane Watson and James Faulkner have played a lot of games recently and they were telling that it was a good wicket to bat on,” he said. “There is grass and I hope our bowlers will love bowling on it. We have won the first game but need to get better and better because there are still six more games. We had good partnerships but still we ended 20 run short. We have to work on certain areas because we lost too many wickets in the end. The technology is there now days to know about the batsmen's weaknesses and strengths and the areas to bowl,” he added. Australian bowlers had tamed the Indian batsmen with a series of bouncers during the first ODI but Haddin said there was no excessive use of short stuff. — PTI
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BCCI set to oppose two new balls rule
Mumbai, October 15 “It (the rule) is still under trial. In September, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh had opposed it. There will be a meeting (of ICC) in January, where BCCI will again oppose it,” the source said. BCCI's reservations regarding the use of two new balls is said to be due to its concern that India's spin-heavy attack will be rendered ineffective by this new ODI rule. The Indian Board had expressed its reservation on the rule in September at the ICC Chief Executives meeting. However, Australia, New Zealand and England were among those in favour of using two new balls, while West Indies and South Africa abstained from voting. For any change in the existing rule, a two-third majority vote ie required under the ICC constitution. SA tour decision likely by Oct 19
The impasse over India`s proposed tour to South Africa is likely to end by October 19, according to a top BCCI source, who hinted today that it would consist of two Tests and three ODIs in December. “By 19th (October) it will work out. We are hopeful of the series,” the source said. BCCI has put forth a proposal to play two Test matches and three one-dayers in South Africa, while CSA demanded an additional Test, which looks improbable as India wants to play a warm-up game to start the tour, the source said. “Only two Tests and three ODIs would be workable. It is not that the BCCI is not ready to accommodate but it is not possible to have more matches with the given schedule,” the source said. “They asked if the BCCI could avoid the warm-up match but we have not agreed,” the source said, adding that the Indian team also needs to get sufficient rest before the start of the New Zealand tour. — PTI |
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Higgins in second round of Indian Open Snooker
New Delhi, October 15 The 38-year-old Higgins hardly broke a sweat in blowing away the challenge of 19-year-old Walker, who committed far too many errors. The world number 10 Scot showed his class and treated the crowd some quality snooker. “It's the best table that I have played on all year. I was lucky today. It was Joel's first match on the TV and he gave me a lot of chances,” Higgins, who had breaks of 76 and 61 in the third and fourth frames, said after the match. “I have not been playing well of late because I was tinkering with the cue that I changed a few times, tried different sizes. But now, I am happy with my cueing and hopefully, win a few matches. I capitalised on my breaks as the best-of-seven-frames is a difficult format,” he said. The second day of the 300,000 pound event saw Scotland's Anthony McGill snatching a 4-1 win over England's Barry Hawkins who lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final of the World Championship earlier this year. McGill, who is ranked 47th, gave a fine exhibition of his talent as he recorded two century breaks of 123 and 103 in the second and fifth frames against world number seven Hawkins. The 2004 world junior champion Gary Wilson from England scored an upset 4-0 win over compatriot Dominic Dale, ranked 21st in the world, with a run of 125 in the third frame. The 28-year-old Wilson played a consistent game as he also crafted two half-century breaks of 66 in the first and 72 in the fourth. Scotland's world number five Steven Maguire defeated Paul Davison from England 4-1 in his first round. — PTI
Walsh is new chief hockey coach New Delhi, October 15
HI secretary general Narinder Batra said that the appointment of Walsh is an important step to ensure an appropriate programme is in place for the men's team. “2014 is an important year for Indian Hockey. The team will be participating in three very important events — FIH World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games," said Batra. “Terry will provide the adequate guidance and motivation to the team. He not only has the experience but also has a vision to develop senior men's hockey team as a well-knit professional unit." Walsh is also excited to work with eight-time Olympic champions India. “The opportunity to head the Indian coaching team is extremely humbling. Coaching India must be regarded as the greatest challenge in the hockey world,” he said. — PTI Walsh facts * As a player, he represented Australia in four World Cups and three Olympics * He retired after Australia’s World Cup win in 1986 where he scored one of Australia’s two goals in the final * He has coached Malaysia from 1990 to 1993 and Australia from 1997 to 2000 * Under him the Australian team won bronze at the 2000 Olympics
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Pakistan girls fight back
Jalandhar, October 15 After a terrible performance in the first match, which they lost 7-2, the women from across the border improved their game today, especially in defence, and stifled the Indian girls for a tight 2-2 draw. In the 23th minute, wonder girl Sukhjit Kaur, who scored four goals in the previous match, opened the account for the home team. But the lead didn’t last and in the next minute the visitors equalised through Asma Ashraf. Two minutes into the second half, Navjit kaur again put the Indian women ahead, but the visitors struck within five minutes through Asma Ashraf to take the series into the decider, which will be played on 17th October.
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Almaty, October 15 The reigning national champion, the lone Indian in action today, prevailed over Mamakeev 3-0 to enter the second round where he will be up against Poland’s Dawid Michelus on October 20. Michelus got a first-round bye. Vikash, who was a pre-quarterfinalist at the Asian Championships in June, was trailing in the opening round when the individual scores handed out under the new 10-point system, which evaluates the boxer not just on the number of punches connected but also his overall ring-craft. However, he roared back in the next two rounds, impressing the judges, who were unanimous in picking him the winner. Mandeep Jangra (69kg) will take on Selemani Kidunda on Wednesday. — PTI
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Mumbai, October 15
Putting up a tough fight against the roaring Punjab XI (India), Punjab XI (Pakistan), on Tuesday, twice came from behind to draw the second match of the three match series in the ongoing 30th Servo Indian Oil Surjit Hockey Tournament at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium.
The Australian, a silver medallist in the 1976 Montreal Games, comes with a vast experience of coaching and has also represented Australia in three Olympics.
