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Friday,
April 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India
  
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Ratra likely to make Test debut
Expert comments — Michael Holding Kiwis arrive amid tight security Karnataka XI defeat
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‘Playing in World Cup biggest test’ Manav joins Gurbaaz in
lead Selection trials for
hockey academy Gopichand enters
semifinals
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Ratra likely to make Test debut Port of Spain, April 18 Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who missed the first Test due to a shoulder injury, is fit and almost certain to be back in the Indian side which will be a tremendous boost to their chances. But West Indies realised to their chagrin yesterday that their most reliable leg-spinner had sustained a hamstring injury while fielding during the first Test. Though Nagamootoo has not yet been ruled out for the match, West Indies have announced that fellow leggie Dinanath Ramnarine would replace him in case he did not report fit in time. Both developments augur well for India who have another reason to feel good about their prospects. They have won only two Tests on West Indian soil and both those victories have come at this venue. Chasing their first Test series win outside the sub-continent in 16 years, India probably could not have asked for more positives before the match. Even otherwise, the Indians would not be entirely unhappy with their performance in the rain-interrupted Georgetown Test which ended in a tame draw. Though they did concede a huge total of 501 runs including a double century from West Indian captain Carl Hooper, India were able to fight back thanks to a splendid knock from Rahul Dravid. Playing with a lot of patience and determination, Dravid once again showed why he is one of the most successful Indian batsmen on wickets abroad. His knock was also a reminder to the other Indian batsmen that once they guard against making mistakes, they too can play long innings. The West Indian bowling attack is hardly threatening. Almost all the established Indian batsmen got out to their own mistakes in the first Test, Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman suffering momentary lapses in concentration after helping themselves to good scores and captain Sourav Ganguly unable to negotiate a short-pitched delivery. There may be a change yet again in the opening slot with wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta most likely to be dropped for this game. All-rounder Sanjay Bangar will open the innings with Shiv Sunder Das in such a case while Ajay Ratra will make his Test debut. Being a regular opener for his domestic side Railways, Bangar is probably more qualified than Dasgupta for this slot but it remains to be seen how he fares at this level. Also, even though Ganguly has expressed his desire to continue to come at number three, Dravid’s knock in Guyana may just see the captain yield the spot to his teammate at least for this match. “Dravid is a very fine player and in very good nick and it makes sense to send him at number three,” Ganguly said yesterday. “In that situation, I will come at number five.” The team management also had their thinking caps on for striking the right balance in the bowling department. There was a talk of Ashish Nehra replacing Zaheer Khan or even both being included at the cost of Anil Kumble. “Zaheer was in poor rhythm on the first day (of the first Test) but he came back strongly on the second,” Ganguly said. “Nehra, of course, is a very talented bowler and from what I have seen of him on this tour, he is vastly fitter than before.” The wicket at the Queen’s Park Oval has traditionally been more favourable to spinners than any other track in the West Indies but has become inconsistent in bounce in the last few years giving an advantage to the pacemen. “We had a look at the wicket. It is pretty dry but they might water it because of heat,” Ganguly said. “If it is dampish, we might look to make our attack pace heavy and in that situation would need to choose only one spinner.” The state of the pitch has also set West Indian captain Carl Hooper thinking whether it would be better to go in with four fast bowlers. “That is a possibility. We played three frontline seamers in Guyana. We hope this wicket is going to be more conducive to seam bowling and we may have a result here,” Hooper said.
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Expert comments — Michael Holding The first Test is now over and although almost a day and a half was lost to the weather, by then, almost everyone had been resigned to the fact that it was heading for a draw. On the most docile pitch in the Caribbean, the two teams, after a few initial problems against the new ball, showed off their batting prowess, amassing almost 900 runs for the loss of just 17 wickets. The story of bowlers toiling away without much reward and batsmen preening themselves at this venue, continued as the 28th Test played at Bourda produced three more centuries, including a double, taking the total to 53 centuries scored at the centre, while the number of five-wicket hauls remained at a meagre 19. It could be and should be a different story here at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. Two days before the scheduled start, the pitch is looking a lot more bowler friendly, with a generous quantity of grass on the surface. Moreover, recent history suggests there will be a result in this second Test — the last five have produced results at this venue of which the West Indies have won only two. Both teams looked a bit tentative in the first encounter, probably just sparring at each other, trying to find weak spots in the opposition. That is usually the situation when teams are a bit low in confidence, as both teams are at the moment. The West Indies for one, haven’t been doing too well recently and although they have a much better record at home than away, they lost their last home series and certainly didn’t want to start this series off on the wrong foot. India, on the other hand, were without their match winner, Harbhajan ‘Turbanator’ Singh and don’t have an impressive away record. It is now time for attitudes to change. Both teams have potential for change as Harbhajan is now fit to regain his place and his return coinciding with the venue that India last won a Test in the Caribbean should be enough to influence a more positive outlook from Captain Sourav Ganguly. Sunil Gavaskar, one of the architects of that great victory when India chased over 400 runs in their last innings and achieved it with consummate ease, is here as part of the TV commentary team. He, no doubt, could be called in for help with India’s mental preparation. The West Indies, meanwhile, could institute a change in their bowling attack. Mahendra Nagamootoo, although only taking one wicket in Guyana, could not be considered to have failed and undeserving of his place in the final eleven but there are doubts surrounding his fitness. The bowler-friendly nature of the pitch, towards seam bowling at least, could see the West Indies going into this Test with four fast bowlers, which would mean the inclusion of Marlon Black along with Dillon, Cuffy and Sanford. That would, of course, further weaken the lower order batting but the emphasis must now be placed on bowling the opposition out, that is taking 20 wickets. The form of the batsmen in Guyana should encourage the selectors and the fact that Lara, though unfortunate, failed, should give them the confidence to go into this important Test with the aforementioned lineup. In the first Test, the toss was not that important, this one will be vital. The West Indies, if they go in with the four fast bowlers, will be desperate to win the toss and insert India. They will want to take advantage of whatever preparation moisture is left in the pitch, along with the generous quantity of grass on the surface. India, even with Harbhajan Singh back in the eleven, will remember the start Javagal Srinath gave them in Guyana and will be anxious to win the toss as well. It will be very interesting to watch the face of the losing captain when that toss is spun early Friday morning.
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Kiwis arrive amid tight security
Karachi, April 18 “Natural apprehensions remain there, but after security assurances by Pakistan Cricket Board we hope it would be a good, trouble-free tour and players would give their best,” Dykes told a press conference here. Large numbers of police and paramilitary troops greeted the Black Caps as they were escorted from the airport to their hotel at the start of a 25-day tour. The tour had been due to take place in September and October last year, but was postponed following the September 11 attacks in the USA. “There were real security concerns when we postponed that tour but since New Zealand Cricket (NZC) remained committed to honour the commitment, we are delighted to be here,” Dykes said. Pakistani authorities have promised “foolproof” security for the tourists, who agreed to reschedule the tour only after Pakistan’s interior ministry guaranteed the visitors safe exit in the event of a security alert. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who leads the team on the heels of a tri-series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Sharjah, where they failed to reach the final, said players are well aware of all off-field issues. “We are aware of everything, including security, but we will not be bothered as we are given assurances which look satisfying,” said Fleming, a veteran of New Zealand’s last tour to Pakistan in 1996-97. The tourists will play their first match in the port city of Karachi on Sunday, where Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and executed by Islamic extremists earlier this year. The remaining two one-dayers will be played at Rawalpindi on April 24 and Lahore on April 27. The first Test will start in Lahore from May 1 while the second is scheduled at Karachi from May 8 to 12.
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Karnataka XI defeat SRC Mumbai, April 18 Chetri, who effected six saves, including three in the tie-break was the star of his team’s well earned win. In a fast-paced match, Karnataka made the first good move in the 16th minute when skipper A.K. Kavin’s push, following the second penalty corner, was deflected out by SRC custodian Sohan Singh. A minute after the half time SRC defender A. Kajur effected a goal-line save off Karnataka forward Ronald Kiran push following the third penalty corner. Earlier, in the 25th minute Sikh Regiment’s Rajpal Singh push was well saved by Chetri following the penalty corner. In the 51st minute Hari Prasad cross to centre forward John Verghese went abegging when the latter failed to trap the ball at the goal mouth. In the 60th minute Chetri effected two good saves. First he blocked Mangra Minz’s try off a Manpreet Singh pass. The rebound went to skipper Baljit Singh, whose try was also well palmed away by Chetri. Five minutes before the hooter Karnataka defender Arun Rawat’s stinging shot from the top of the box hit the cross bar and went out forcing a tie-break. In the tie-break, Karnataka’s Rawat, Kavin and Arjun Halappa were bang on target while Chetri once again rose to the occasion to save SRC’s Vinay Kumar, Sukhvinder Singh and Rajpal Singh’s tries. Karnataka got five penalty corners while SRC forced three but none could be converted. The match-winner in the Western Railway versus Hyderabad XI match came through a penalty stroke. In the 18th minute Hyderabad defender Raghu Nandan brought down Western Railway centre forward Prem Kumar Singh inside the box resulting in a stroke. Railways defender Gursevak Singh, who took the push, scooped the ball high into the net. Tomorrow CISF, Delhi, will take Western Railway in the first match of the afternoon while two local teams RCF and Bharat Petroleum will fight it out for a place in the quarterfinals in the second match.
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Double wicket
tourney Patiala, April 18 |
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PCA camps from May Chandigarh, April 18 He said 80 to 100 promising fast bowlers, off spinners and wicketkeepers would be imparted training by experienced coaches in the first phase of the camp. The second phase will have spinners, middle order batsmen and wicketkeepers. Punjab senior men’s team will visit Kenya in July end for an exchange programme. Kenyan cricketers will visit Punjab, who will play against the national team of Kenya. |
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‘Playing in World Cup biggest test’ Manchester, April 18 The England captain, pilloried for getting sent off at France 98, expects to play in this year’s tournament in South Korea and Japan. “I’ve had a few tests so far...(but) this is probably the biggest mental test of my career,” the Manchester United midfielder told MUTV in his first interview since suffering the injury. “I haven’t had a bad injury before. This is the first one. It’s difficult but I have to get on with it. I can’t sit back and sulk.” Beckham broke the second metatarsal bone in his left foot under a challenge from Argentine Aldo Duscher during United’s Champions League quarter-final victory over Deportivo Coruna a week ago. The 26-year-old admits he is unlikely to play for United again this season, even though — should they beat Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinals — Beckham’s team mates will have a Champions League final to look forward to on May 15. He is, however, determined to be fit for England’s first match of the finals, against Sweden on June 2. The London-born player has had an oxygen tent installed at his home to aid his recovery, which has been estimated at between six to eight weeks. “I am having treatment and they are giving me different things to do and it’s just a case of seeing how the bone heals, and if it knits back together,” he said. “Hopefully I will be up and running in six weeks and kicking a ball and that’s a realistic target. “I think the World Cup is a possibility and unless something goes wrong I will get there. “The World Cup is motivating more than anything...the World Cup is the light at the end of the tunnel. “If (United) get through to the European Cup final I would love to be fit for that but realistically that isn’t going to happen.” Beckham dismisses media talk that Duscher’s tackle was a pre-meditated attempt to rule him out of the World Cup finals. Argentina face England in group F at the World Cup, with the two countries meeting on June 7. “No I don’t blame (Duscher),” Beckham said. “I think it was a bad tackle and I knew that at the time. “People have been saying things about whether it’s a coincidence with him being an Argentine...but it’s one of those things and I have to accept it. “To be fair to the player, he (phoned) me and apologised and said he didn’t mean to put me out of games or hurt me. It happens and I accept his apology. For him to ring up and apologise is something.” Beckham said he realised a bone had broken as soon as he tried to return to the action during the Champions League game at Old Trafford, and at the time feared he would be unable to play in the World Cup. “I went into the tackle...and I felt the pain,” he said. “As soon as...I put my foot back down I felt it crack. That’s when I knew it was broken. “Everything runs through your mind at that point and it did with me. I started thinking about United matches and then I thought, ‘God this could be a World Cup’.” Beckham admits he is frustrated about missing out on United’s run-in as well as fearing for his World Cup chances. “Everyone is mentioning England but I’m also missing a Champions League semifinal and that for me at the moment is the upsetting thing,” he said.
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Manav joins Gurbaaz in lead Bangalore, April 18 At the end of the penultimate round, seven golfers were within the striking distance of the coveted trophy, with only five strokes separating them. Recovering from a triple bogey on the seventh and second holes, Manav fired three birdies in the last seven holes for recording the only sub-par round of the day. Mann had a par score of 72 to maintain his lead. Mann had a commanding lead today after nine holes when he was two under-par and well ahead of the pack. However, two bogeys in the last four holes cost him the lead. First day leaders Keshav Mishra and Gagan Verma of New Delhi also scored a par 72 to finished a stroke behind the leaders at 219. Harinder Gupta of Chandigarh also accounted for a par 72 score to finish with a tally of 221 from three rounds and is placed third. Following the top scores of the third round:
Gurbaaz Mann, Chandigarh (71,75,72) 218, Manav Das, Ambala (75,72,71) 218, Keshav Mishra, New Delhi (71,76,72) 219, Gagan Verma, New Delhi (71,76,72) 219, Harinder Gupta, Chandigarh (74,75,72) 221, Simarjeet Singh, Noida (74,73,75) 222, Dinesh Kumar, Chandigarh (72,75,76) 223, Jasjeet Singh, Noida (77,73,76) 226, Vikram Rana, New Delhi (77,75,78) 230, Anitya Chand, New Delhi (77,75,76) 231.
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Selection trials for
hockey academy Chandigarh, April 18 The trial will be held on May 24 and 25 at War heroes stadium, Ambala for, Haryana on May 28 and 29 at
Government College, Mandi for HP on June 3 and 4 on hockey stadium, Sector 18 for all those who for any reason are unable to appear at any of the above trials. The final selection will be made from June 10 to 12 at hockey stadium, Sector 18.
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Gopichand enters
semifinals Kanpur, April 18 Gopichand won 7-3, 8-6, 7-2 in 30 minutes to set up a semifinal clash with Arvind Bhatt of Karnataka. Bhatt defeated C.M. Sashidharan of Andhra Pradesh 4-7, 7-2, 7-4 8-6 in another quarter-final. The second semifinal will see a clash between Siddharth Jain of PSCB and Sachin Ratti of Railways. Siddharth defeated Thomas Kurien of Kerala 7-3, 5-7, 7-3, 7-4 in 45 minutes while Ratti took just over half an hour to beat Chetan Anand 7-2, 7-2, 7-4. In the women’s section, P.V.V. Laxmi of PSCB defeated Poonam Tiwari (Rly) 7-0, 7-0, 7-1. Gopi had registered a 7-1, 7-1, 7-1 victory against Nement Duggal of Railways to move into the quarterfinals.
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