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| Saturday, July
20, 2002, Chandigarh, India   
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Giles may employ same strategy against Tendulkar Cricketers to get
‘holidays’ on tour Waughs not in Australia’s top 28
Pak hopes pinned on Abbas
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Indian lifters clinch six medals
Indian girl wins jr golf title IA, Karnataka to clash in final Court allows
taekwondo meet Hockey player died
of electrocution
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Giles may employ same strategy against Tendulkar Southampton, July 19 “We are in the business to entertain but we are also out there to win. Bowling over the wicket you do cut down your options. People say its a negative strategy, but it can be used to attack,” Giles told PTI in an interview. Giles, who repeatedly bowled down the leg side to Tendulkar denying him the chance to play orthodox strokes during the Test series played in India earlier this year, said the ploy was successful to some extent as it slowed down the little master. “I did it to slow him down. He still scored heavily but not as quickly,” Giles confessed. The tactics came in for a lot of criticism from cricket writers and was even compared to Bodyline Series of the 1930s when England captain Douglas Jardine asked fast bowler Harold Larwood to aim at Australian batsmen’s ribs and chest, rather than the stumps, in a bid to curb the genius of late Sir Donald Bradman. More than 70 per cent of Giles’ deliveries to Tendulkar in India were pitched outside leg stump and it was extremely controversial in the final Test at Bangalore when only two of giles’ 204 balls in the first innings were bo “Bowling over the wicket you do cut down your options by not being able to get him (Tendulkar) out leg before or bowled and people say it is more of a negative option,” Giles said. “There are men around the bat to catch him. Obviously, you are trying to wear him down, stop him from scoring and wait for him to make a mistake.” The frustration appeared to get the better of Tendulkar at least in the final Test when he was stumped for the first time in his career by wicketkeeper James Foster. Tendulkar took no less than 198 balls to reach his 90 in that innings as England worked out in precision the methods to curb the genius of the little man — asking Giles to persist with his run-denying methods and setting the rule for its medium-pacers to pitch way beyond the off-stump and keep a packed offside field. The star batsman though couldn’t be curbed entirely and he still scored 307 runs from four Test innings, taking his career aggregate against England to 1282 runs from 13 Tests with five centuries at a high average of 80.13 per innings. “The left-arm spinners bowl over the wicket when there is no turn in the main part of the pitch so you can pitch it in the rough,” Giles explained. With Tendulkar’s patience driven up the wall, India struggled to post imposing totals in the series and England wore them down to the extent they came close to losing the Bangalore Test and squandering their 1-0 lead. England captain Nasser Hussain used this to get back at his critics and said it was important for him as a captain to see his side do well rather than seek the approval of experts. “If I get criticised for restricting the opposition to 200-plus totals, I would take it any day,” Hussain had declared defiantly on his tactics in India. Now Giles is ready to back his theory again even though he is not closing his options of employing more conventional methods against Tendulkar and the rest of the Indian batsmen. But the lanky left arm spinner believes Tendulkar exacted his revenge at Chester-le-Steet in a day-night NatWest triangular series match against England earlier this month. Tendulkar, in that masterly innings of 105, had stepped outside the line of his stumps to give himself room and hit Giles repeatedly over extra cover or coming inside and heaving him to the midwicket boundary. Giles has no doubt Tendulkar’s aggression was his way of getting even against him and exorcise the memory of that final Test in Bangalore. “I’m sure he got a little bit of criticism and developed some self doubts when I bowled into the rough in India,” said Giles. Giles got his revenge back quickly enough when he clean bowled Tendulkar in the final of the NatWest series at Lord’s last week as the maestro once again made room for a slash on the off-side only to see his stumps in disarray. Giles though is not closing his options and understands he needs to vary his bowling strategies to wear down Tendulkar further in the forthcoming Test series. The England bowler, in order to do so, would review the video footage of Tendulkar playing the left-arm spin of Zimbabwe’s Raymond Price who, using more conventional methods, dismissed Tendulkar three times in the two match series in India in February. “It is important we mix it up because he adapts so quickly,” said Giles. Giles has played only four of his 15 Tests in England and not quite successfully as his eight wickets in his own country have come at a high average of 50.50. As if this is not enough, he is now up against a batting line up which laps up spin bowling like nothing else in international cricket. “I’m no Shane Warne or Muthiah Muralitharan and I will have to be on top of my game,” said Giles. “My job may be slightly different, there probably would not be the long spells and probably more of a holding job,” he said. “The advantage for us on our wickets is that hopefully they will bounce a bit and seam a bit.” Giles realised besides Tendulkar, he would have to contend with Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. “Ganguly will punish you if you give him room so I should mix it up by going over and around the wicket and tighten him up.” “Sehwag is very similar to Tendulkar but not in his class. He likes the board to be ticking over so you are always in the game,” he said. “Dravid is very orthodox, a very English type of batsman who uses english options, so the plan would be similar to what I bowl normally. Laxman likes to score quickly so you always get a chance.”
PTI Southampton (England), July 19 Das, who seems to have hit a prolonged bad patch after faring badly on the tour of the West Indies, got out cheaply in both innings of the three-day match against West Indies ‘A’ that ended at Arundel yesterday. The exclusion of Das means all-rounder Sanjay Bangar would be asked to open the innings with Wasim Jaffer. Bangar did not have a particularly impressive performance with the bat against West Indies ‘A’, managing a nought and 27 in the two innings, but he is almost certain to play the first Test. Bangar bowled beautifully at Arundel, swinging the ball both ways, even though he picked just one wicket. He would certainly lend more solidity to the line-up if he comes good as an opener in this match. The match will also see the return of the big three -skipper Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid -who were given a break from the previous game, as Indians are expected to field their expected Test eleven. Unlike in the match against West Indies ‘A’, the Indians have decided to go in with just one specialist wicketkeeper and have preferred Ajay Ratra over Parthiv Patel even though the latter gave glimpses of his tremendous talent at Arundel.
PTI London, July 19 Tudor will be out for at least two more weeks with tendinitis in his shins and follows Marcus Trescothick (broken thumb) and Andy Caddick (rib) on the sidelines. Selectors were forced to postpone yesterday’s scheduled announcement of the Test squad by two days because of injury problems to several players. There are still doubts over premier strike bowler Darren Gough as has yet to play anything more than one-day cricket this summer after recovering from knee surgery. And Mark Butcher — expected to open next week in Trescothick’s absence — only return to action today for the first time since knee surgery a month ago. Providing he suffers no reaction during Surrey’s county game against Kent, Butcher looks certain to be Michael Vaughan’s opening partner for the Lord’s Test, beginning July 25.
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Cricketers to get ‘holidays’ on tour Southampton (England), July 19 It would be complete break for the players as they would not only be rested during a match by rotation, they would also be exempt from reporting for practice and coming to the ground. “Often cricketers are given breaks by not being picked in the playing eleven but they are still a part of the entourage and the drill for them to come to the ground and take part in practice routines doesn’t cease,” said team’s communications manager Amrit Mathur. “There is so much of cricket being played these days that players sometimes need to get away from it completely. They need complete break from the loop of cricketing engagements and do whatever else they could do rather than be attached to cricket all the time,” Mathur said. The first experiment with this policy was witnessed during the just-concluded three-day game against West Indies ‘A’ at Arundel when the top three batsmen — skipper Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid — were allowed to stay back in London rather than travel with the team. Tendulkar and Ganguly lapped up the break and by all accounts had a great time in London with their families. Dravid, a bachelor, however, showed how unaccustomed he was to a life beyond cricket when he turned up at Arundel on the final day of the match yesterday. Dravid’s case, notwithstanding, the Indians are all set to go ahead with the plan. “Such a policy will only help the team because it would allow players to come back fresh and make a more substantial contribution to the team’s performance,” Mathur said.
PTI |
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Waughs not in Australia’s top 28 Sydney, July 19 The 37-year-old twins, dropped from the national side earlier this year, failed to make Australia’s top 28 one-day players after failing to make it into the Australia A one-day side to play seven
one-dayers against South Africa A in September. The 14-man national side is the same as that which took on Pakistan in three
one-dayers last month with the addition of Queensland spinner Nathan
Hauritz. The 14-man A team has its share of experienced players including Justin Langer, Greg
Blewett, Ian Harvey, Andrew Symonds and Simon Katich. The fact the Waughs weren’t included is a clear pointer to their future in limited overs cricket. Adam Gilchrist, vice-captain to Waugh in the Test side and deputy to Ricky Ponting in the one-day side, was surprised the twins weren’t in one of the teams. “It is a bit odd,” Gilchrist said on Friday. “Obviously ... the Waughs could easily slot into any team and still do well.” Langer, who played his last
one-dayer for Australia five years ago, will captain the A side. He refused to discount Steve Waugh’s chances of a recall to the national side but figured it unlikely. “There is no doubt he has got the ability to, (it is) whether the opportunity comes up for him to,” Langer said. “Having spoken to him recently, he still has the desire to do it and, if any person could do it against all the odds that are probably stacked against him to do it and make a return, he could.” National selection chairman Trevor Hohns said he was “very, very comfortable” with the two sides, including an A side which included newcomers in 21-year-old NSW all-rounder Michael Clarke and Tasmanian pace bowler Damien Wright.
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Putting problems for Woods Muirfield (Scotland), July 19 Playing together after an early tee-off, the 21-year-old Rose and the 32-year-old Maruyama both moved ahead of Woods with birdies at the second hole and they kept the world No 1 at bay to card three-under par 68s. Their efforts on a day when ideal playing conditions presaged a bunch of low scores put them into a share of the lead with “golden oldies” Des Smyth and Sandy Lyle. Thomas Bjorn of Denmark joined them on three-under shortly after. Woods struggled all day with the putter missing a succession of birdie chances and had to settle for a one-under par 70. But he said although the putts failed to fall, he was far from unhappy with his score. “I am very pleased with being under par in a major championship especially on a course like this,” said Woods. “I hit the putts well, but they were just not going in. It was frustrating but what can you do.” Woods’ hopes of completing the third leg of an historic Grand Slam remained intact, but he will need more success on the greens if his dream is to be realised. Smyth, only nine months away from joining the seniors tour, and Lyle both came in with early 68’s which brought back memories of their glory days. Smyth strained a leg muscle on Monday afternoon and has been taking anti-inflammatory pain killing tablets. But there was little sick looking about his round. Only a bogey at the tough opening hole blotted his scorecard. It was an equally impressive round from the 44-year-old Lyle, coming back from a disastrous start to the year. In the five tournaments he has played in the USA this year he has missed the cut four times and in the fifth could do no better than 40th.
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Pak hopes pinned on Abbas Karachi, July 19 The 23-year-old is the main weapon of the triple Olympic and four-time world champions, and has inspired the team to its number four ranking at international level. “Whatever I do is for the team and I shall do my best to lift the team to gold in the Commonwealth Games,” Abbas said before leaving for Spain last week. Pakistan are competing against Spain in a four-match series before heading to Manchester. Pakistan failed miserably at the last Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 when they failed to reach the semifinals. Pakistan outlasted Kenya 5-4, drew 3-3 with Canada and 1-1 with Malaysia but lost 3-2 to England to cap a miserable performance that year, when they also lost their Asian title to arch rival India. “We have to compensate for the last Games’ miserable show and do our best to finish first,” Abbas told AFP. The nephew of former international Safdar Abbas, Sohail Abbas has emerged as the team’s leading scorer, helping Pakistan to qualify for the Sydney Olympics in the pre-Olympics qualifying event in Japan in 2000 with 12 goals. He also played a key role in Pakistan’s win in the Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia in 1999 and a 3-2 win in the five-match series against India the same year. Pakistan lost the semifinals to South Korea when Abbas’ attempts were thwarted in the pre-final of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Abbas finished as second top scorer with eight goals in the 2000 Olympics. He became Pakistan’s goal-churning machine creating two world records — scoring the most goals in a
calendar year (60 in 1999) and the fastest century of goals (two years, six months and 18 days). With a tally of 162 goals he surpassed legendary center forward Hasan Sardar’s national record of 150 goals.
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Indian lifters clinch six medals New Delhi, July 19 The team, comprising four girls and a boy, claimed two silver and four bronze medals, according to information received here. Renu Bala was the toast of the contingent as she picked up two silver medals in the 58 kg weight category. She lifted 92.5 kg in clean and jerk and 167.5 in total. N. Thoini Devi won three bronze medals in 48 kg category with an effort of 65 kg in snatch, 87.5 kg in clean and jerk and 152.5 kg total. Though Shubhangi Karande could not get any position in 53 kg category, she won a bronze medal in clean and jerk lifting 85 kg. She was given the bronze because of having a lighter body weight than Thailand’s Wipawan Udomdech who won the overall bronze.
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Indian girl wins jr golf title New Delhi, July 19 Tanya, coached by David Ledbetter, posted a winning tally of 15-under 162, a record in her age group, in which she was the youngest. The tournament was held at the par-58 Singing Hills Golf Course, Pine Glen, USA. It is considered as a stepping stone up the golfing hierarchy in USA. Among the previous winners in the 9-10 age category in the “men’s” section was the now legendary Tiger Woods. Tiger returned back-to-back wins in 1984 and 1985. Nine-year-old Tanya, belonging to New Delhi, and currently receiving coaching at the David Ledbetter Academy in Florida, returned scores of 52, 54 and 56 in three rounds to beat Kline Mackinzie of Encintas, California by a whopping seven strokes.
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IA, Karnataka to clash in final Chennai, July 19 Karnataka managed to get the better of ONGC, New Delhi, 2-1 in the other semi-final. While Amarjeet Singh put ONGC in the lead, Sandeep Machael and Somanna scored for Karnataka. IA were up by two goals through Mohd Riaz and Vinay. Kamlesh Kumar reduced the margin for Indian Oil while Virender Singh, who was off colour today, finally slammed in the third for IA. Indian Airines, boasting of top players like Mukesh Kumar, Dhanraj Pillai, Virender Singh in the forward line and a strong defence, spearheaded by Dilip Tirkey were made to work hard by Indian Oil players, especially by Prabhjot Singh, Deepak Kumar, Inderjeet Singh in the attack.
PTI |
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Court allows
taekwondo meet Chandigarh, July 19 The orders were pronounced in the open court by the bench comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Kiran Anand Lall, on a petition filed by Punjab Taekwondo Association. |
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Hockey player died
of electrocution Patiala, July 19 Mehtab (18) was electrocuted when he was tinkering with his room cooler late on Wednesday evening. Mehtab was a trainee of SAI sponsored STC Centre at Patiala. A case of negligence under section 304 IPC has already been registered at the civil lines police station against Mr M.C Sharma, Assistant Director of SAI and in charge of the STC centre here. After the ‘poison’ theory started doing the rounds, the father of the deceased Mr Ramesh Kumar and brother Sanjeev got agitated and had even threatened to stage a dharna in front of the office of the Chief Minister and other high ranking police officials. |
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Southampton, July 19
