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Zak gets a lifeline, Gambhir ignored
Zak’s presence will help me, says Umesh Yadav
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Trott out of Ashes due to stress related illness
Carlsen walks away with crown and Rs 9.9 cr booty
Amit, Ravinder gearing up for Commonwealth challenge
red
rage: Ravinder Sangwan (Red) is happy that his hard work has started bearing fruit in big tournaments. — Tribune photo
Jeev to play in Japan, others on Asian Tour
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Zak gets a lifeline, Gambhir ignored
Vadodra, November 25 The 35-year-old Zaheer, who had been battling fitness issues and was even dropped from the BCCI’s list of contracted players, was chosen in the 17-member Test squad after taking 13 wickets in three Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 19.84 this season. Gambhir, however, had no such luck as the opener, who has been downgraded to group B in the list of contracted players, failed to find a place despite a healthy average of 74 plus in the ongoing Ranji season. “His name was discussed; in fact, we discussed a lot of things. Even skipper M S Dhoni was consulted and all the players were selected unanimously,” BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said after a meeting of the selection committee here. The month-long tour featuring three ODIs followed by two Tests is India’s first international assignment after the retirement of iconic batsman Sachin
Tendulkar.
Chance for Rayudu
Baroda batsman Ambati Rayudu, a seasoned domestic player, has been named in both the Test and ODI squads, while veterans like Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh continued to remain on the sidelines. The 28-year-old Rayudu, who is currently a part of the team in the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies, has played four one-dayers for India. There were no major surprises in both the squads with the selectors opting to go in for a pace-heavy bowling attack considering the conditions in South Africa. Pacer Ishant Sharma was retained in both the squads. Another fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who had been dropped due to poor form in the recent series against Australia and West Indies, has been recalled in both the Test and ODI squads largely because of his ability to bowl fast. The first Test match starts on December 18 at the New Wanderers with the ‘Boxing Day’ Test to be played at the Kingsmead in Durban from December 26. — PTI |
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Zak’s presence will help me, says Umesh Yadav
New Delhi, November 25 “Zaheer has had a great influence on youngsters with his ability to guide us through the bump and grind of international cricket. I have got a lot of valuable tips on fast bowling and there is no better exponent of reverse swing than Zak. He is like mentor to us and it is an honour to play international cricket alongside him,” the 26-year-old Vidarbha pacer said. “Zaheer’s advice in match situations are invaluable as he is a brilliant reader of opposition batsmen.” Yadav was confident that he will be selected in the Test team but to be recalled in the shorter format has been like an icing on the cake. “I had a gut feeling that I will be selected for the Test series but I had kept my fingers crossed for the ODIs. I am really happy that selectors have shown faith in me by giving me a chance in the ODI squad as well,” the fast bowler added. “Since I have the pace, my bowling is suited to conditions where the pitches offer pace and bounce. I have also played in places like Durban in the CL T20 for Delhi Daredevils. So, I have the experience of bowling in South Africa.” Yadav had last played for India in the tri-series in West Indies, after which he was dropped following some ordinary performances in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy. “I have no complaints about being dropped from the squad. If I am honest to myself, I wasn’t really bowling well during the Challenger Series and it was a fair enough decision. There were certain chinks in bowling and I needed to take corrective measures,” said Yadav. — PTI
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Trott out of Ashes due to stress related illness
Brisbane, November 25
Trott’s departure comes after coming in for criticism for his dismissals in both innings as he failed to deal with fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. “Trott will take a break from cricket for the foreseeable future and will take no further part in the tour,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said on its official Twitter account. In a statement released by the ECB on behalf of Trott, the Number Three said: “I don’t feel it’s right that I’m playing knowing that I’m not 100 percent and I cannot currently operate at the level I have done in the past. “My priority now is to take a break from cricket so that I can focus on my recovery.” The 32-year-old Trott’s departure is somewhat reminiscent of the 2006-07 series, when opener Marcus Trescothick was forced to return home from Down Under after he also suffered a stress-related illness. Trescothick took to his personal Twitter account to express his sympathy for Trott, and sent his best wishes in the hope of a quick recovery for the South-African born England batsman. Warner says went ‘too far’
Hotheaded Australia batsman David Warner concedes he overstepped the mark in sledging England, and Jonathan Trott in particular, during the first Test but made it clear his comments were strategic and intended to rattle the tourists. Warner described Trott’s dismissal as “pretty poor and weak”. England’s number three batsman was caught for nine after struggling with Mitchell Johnson’s short-pitched bowling. The comments, made at a media conference on Saturday, were condemned by Alastair Cook as “disrespectful”. “I made those comments for a reason,” he told reporters at Brisbane airport on Monday. “Look, yesterday, the bounce and pace got to them again. “It is Ashes cricket. Probably went a little bit too far with the comments, but it’s cricket and now it’s in the back of their mind.” Warner may yet face sanctioning for his comments. Vaughan apologises
Former England captain Michael Vaughan went on Twitter to apologise. “I do feel guilty for criticising Trott this week,” he said. “I wasn’t to know what he was going through and I can only comment on what I see...” Vaughan added: “I’m desperately sorry for him, he’s made exactly the right decision. “I think the hardest thing is that it’s not visual. I don’t know how long it’s been going on but I criticised him in the second innings and you look back and I wish I hadn’t now, I wish I’d have known he was going through troubles.” — Agencies Clarke fined 20% of his match fee
Michael Clarke has been fined 20 percent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test at Gabba . Clarke during the last day of the match on Sunday was found to have breached Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match.” The incident happened when Clarke made inappropriate gestures and directed obscenity towards James Anderson that was picked up by the stump microphone. |
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Carlsen walks away with crown and Rs 9.9 cr booty
Chennai, November 25
“I would like to take some responsibility for his mistakes that’s for sure. People crack under pressure even in the World Championship. That’s what the history shows. The blunders that he made are not the mistakes he usually makes. This is what I really wanted to do, make him sit at the board and play for a long time,” Carlsen revealed his strategy that gave him a 6.5-3.5 victory over the defending champion. Carlsen, the current world number one, said he was delighted to win the title and become the first Western champion since 1975. “It feels good. It’s been tough both here and in London (where Carlsen won the candidates to qualify here). I have been treated very well here in India. In general at some point I settled in and got the match to where I could play to my strength,” he said. Speaking about the last game when he tormented Anand for a long time before a draw was reached, Carlsen said it was a worthy end to the championship. “I was just trying to play solidly in the opening. I am pretty happy with what I got — a very solid position and no weaknesses.”
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Amit, Ravinder gearing up for Commonwealth challenge
Patiala, November 25 Speaking to The Tribune, Amit, who defended his gold medal from the 2012 National Championship, said his main focus was to stay consistent. “I have been working hard and it’s good to see the efforts bearing fruit. I have my eyes on the goal and it’s heartening to see that there is so much support coming our way as we prepare.” Amit added that his ultimate goal was a medal in the 2016 Olympic Games. “Without a doubt, that is the aim. The Olympics are a massive stage for any sportsperson. You get to test yourself out against the best in the world. It challenges you to push your limits and outdo yourself. When you fight for the nation, you fight the hardest.” For Ravinder, who won gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Championships, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from December 5 to 7, would present a good test for the Indian wrestlers. “The Commonwealth Championships will be a good way to judge how much we have improved and what areas still need strengthening. Wrestling has been on an upward swing in the past few years. Of course, there is a lot of hard work behind it. A lot of focus and determination has gone into getting the sport to where it is now.” Ravinder said that things were getting better for athletes on the whole. “Things are looking up, in terms of the diet we get and the facilities we are provided with. There is still scope for some improvement, but that will always be the case.”
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Jeev to play in Japan, others on Asian Tour
“This is my last tournament in Japan and my game is good so I am playing to win as I need to keep my card in Japan,” added Jeev. He will then play the European Tours Hong Kong Open and the Thailand Golf Championship. Meanwhile, the other Indian professionals will play the US $700,000 Indonesian Open on the Asian Tour. Jyoti Ranadhawa, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri will be all looking to win this week. “There are a couple of things that have been holding me back from getting another win. I made a few swing changes and I wasn’t feeling confident under pressure. However, I am feeling very good with my swing so hopefully I can hold it until the end of the season,” said Jyoti, the first Indian to win the Order of Merit in 2002. SSP Chowrasia is also in excellent form, coming off a runner-up finish at the Indian Open earlier this month, as is Chiragh Kumar. Daniel Chopra, Himmat Rai, Sujjan Singh, Rahil Gangjee, Ajeetesh Sandhu, Abhinav Lohan will be just some of the professionals to watch as they tee it up alongside Asian Tour regulars like Thingchai Jaidee, Liang wen Chong and Scott Hend.
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Vadodra, November 25
As the India camp for the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships gets underway at the SAI centre in Sonepat, wrestlers Amit Dhankhar and Ravinder Sangwan, fresh from their ‘golden’ exploits at the National Championship, are all set to try and extend their winning run.
Umesh Yadav is relieved that he is back in the scheme of things, but the bigger reason for his happiness is that senior pro Zaheer Khan will be around during India’s upcoming tour of South Africa to guide the junior bowlers.
Chandigarh, November 25
