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Thursday,
December 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Ganguly keen to set record straight Indians may find going tough Opening Test will decide tempo Fast
bowlers Kiwi strength |
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Kalam to open National Games 326 men, 203 women in Punjab squad Harvinder
takes JCT to first victory SAIL, Yamaha XI champions
Peeved SAI coaches move court Yamunanagar Union Club win Golf coaching camp at Panchkula
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Ganguly keen to set record straight Wellington, December 11 “It’s green and was a bit damp yesterday. It would provide movement to the seamers but it’s good. It gives our bowlers a chance to pick 20 wickets,” said Ganguly. The Indian captain, however, discounted any theory his batsmen could be found wanting on this pitch and reeled off figures in their defence. “It is a similar kind of conditions as in Headingley. There we won the toss, batted first and topped 600 runs. “This year, all of our top batsmen have scored centuries. Its a matter of getting your basics right,” he said. All the six top-order Indian batsmen have scored heavily this year and have scored 16 centuries between them during the period — Bangar (1), Sehwag (2), Dravid (5), Tendulkar (4), Laxman (2) and Ganguly (2). Home captain Stephen Fleming, on the otherhand, sounded a warning to the batsmen when he described the pitch as the “hardest” he has ever seen in New Zealand. “There is a great grass cover and it will the hardest for any batsman to cope with,” said Fleming as he prepared to lead his side to a possible fourth win in a row against the Indians at this venue. “I think it will be very difficult for batsmen first up. It will be very tough for the batsmen throughout no matter who is bowling.” Admitting that they were pitted against some tough opponents, Fleming said that his bowlers needed to be very disciplined against a formidable batting line-up. “We have to put balls in the right channel against what is a very good Indian batting line-up. “Their top order has some of the finest techniques in the game. They have players who should be able to adjust and adapt. We have bowlers who are experienced in these conditions but their success sometimes also depends on the opposition.” Fleming said he would leave his batsmen to their own device to tackle the beast in the pitch. “Some are instinctively attacking and some are circumspect. What I am telling them to do is to do what is best under the circumstances. “There is no secret technique we have of playing on green tops.” Both Ganguly and Fleming agreed that despite the seamer- friendly track, it would still require some intelligence and skill to exploit such conditions. “You see green, seaming wickets and all of a sudden you want to dominate. There is a certain amount of nervousness in needing to perform from having to perform,” Fleming said. “It could sometimes lead to nervousness. We need to go about our business and even forget it could be something seaming.” Ganguly said “on pitches where it is seaming, good length is vital. Bowlers tend to bowl a bit short seeing the carry.” Ganguly said the conditions prevalent in Basin Reserve were an issue no less important than the pitch on which the Test would be played. “Wind is always a factor here, especially for the bowlers. If it is going across, it doesn’t affect the bowlers. Otherwise, somebody would be running into the wind and bowling against the breeze.” Ganguly, who could bowl a few overs himself should the need arise, said a frontline bowler would have a preference of ends over him. India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Sanjay Bangar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra. New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Lou Vincent, Mark Richardson, Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Robbie Hart, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond. Umpires: Daryl Harper (Aus) and Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) PTI
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Indians
may find going tough By the time India wakes up on Thursday morning, their cricket team would have taken the field for what will be their last chance to win an away Test series this year. However, fans in India must remember that New Zealand can be a difficult place for players from the subcontinent, and by virtue of having this home advantage, New Zealand start with a sight edge. It is an edge we must make the most of because the Indian batsmen are a dangerous lot. By the time they head off to Hamilton they would have made the adjustments required to play in New Zealand and will be eager to come hard at us. The two-Test series will be an interesting contest as it pits the highly talented Indian batting line-up against a more than handy Kiwi bowling attack. Plenty has already been written about Shane Bond, the young fast bowler who will be looking to take a few prized scalps in this Indian batting line-up. Indians must not have seen much of Bond since this is the first time he will be playing against India. He is a very quick bowler who has touched 145-150 kms an hour regularly, and what really sets him apart is his ability to get the ball to swing into the batsman at that speed. He burst into the scene with a sensational debut in Australia, and has been an asset to the site ever since. Pace bowlers are charismatic figures on a cricket field and his presence adds a spring in the stride of every Black Cap. On the Indian side there is a highly respected batting line-up that will be eager to prove that they have the goods for all kinds of wickets and conditions. Wellington is extremely cold and windy at present and the conditions certainly favour the bowlers. The wicket too looks hard and green and the ball should swing around prodigiously. These are very difficult conditions for batsmen and particularly so for batsmen who were playing on the flat featherbeds of India barely three weeks ago. Thanks to the large amount of cricket they have played of late, the Indians are match fit. I’m sure they feel they would have benefited with some more practice games in New Zealand, which would have helped them acclimatize better for the Tests. They may find the going tough in the first Test and we must drive home this advantage. The Indians are a talented bunch and they will be a far more well-adjusted side in Hamilton which is why it is imperative that we exploit the conditions at Wellington.
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Opening
Test will decide tempo India face a stern test on this tour, and the opening Test could well decide the tempo, indeed even the outcome of their five-week visit to New Zealand. This is a two-Test series, it must be remembered, and whoever gains the advantage in the first, could well hold on to it till the end. It must also be remembered that India are seeking a series victory outside the subcontinent since 1986. Moreover, the seven-match one-day series is the last serious opportunity for the side to jell before the World Cup, so there is a lot at stake. India’s task is made that much difficult because the opening game — well underway by the time this appears in print — is being played at Wellington where the winds can get very gusty, the wicket can be greener than a billiard table top, and the ball can swing, seam or do both almost throughout the day. In the hurly-burly of modern cricket, teams get very little time for acclimatisation, and India have not been exceptional in their run-up to the Test. With a relatively inexperienced pace and spin attack, India will be under further pressure. Neither Srinath nor Kumble are here, and that counts for the experience of almost 600 Test wickets. Unless the younger set, led by Zaheer Khan, who has only just recovered from a niggling injury, shows the discipline and application to bowl a tight line and length, the New Zealand batsmen will be quick to take advantage. Even without Chris Cairns, the home team’s batting appears to have quite a lot of depth, a host of youngster supporting seasoned campaigners like skipper Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Craig, McMillan. New Zealand’s strength, however, could be in their bowling, especially the speedsters and more specifically young Shane Bond, who has regularly clocked upwards of 150 kmph this year. I think New Zealand’s strategy will be to go all out for a win in this match itself by unleashing Bond on the Indian batsmen on the most helpful track in the country. This puts the onus on the Indian batsmen to nullify this strategy, if not stymie it completely. The team’s obvious strength is in its array of gifted batsmen, and all of them have had wonderful year yet so the captain and coach John Wright will be hoping that this rich vein of runs will continue for another five weeks. With runs to back them up, the Indian bowlers have a decent chance of troubling New Zealand even of their onw wickets.
(Gameplan) |
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Fast bowlers
Kiwi strength One of the bigger challenges in world cricket today is a
tour of New Zealand and coming just a few weeks ahead of the World
Cup, the Indians will surely be tested by a team which will not relent
on their opposition. Two Tests is not the ideal build-up to a series but I am sure the teams have shown their priority for the one-dayers here because of their preparations for the World Cup. By the time the Indian team comes back home, they will have only days left for the World Cup so you can see for yourself the importance of the next month. However, for the time, the emphasis of the Indians will be to win the Tests. Both India and New Zealand have done well recently and could be spoken of as underdogs in world cricket. New Zealand, in fact, play like tigers at home just as the Indians play in India and I have known many fancied teams going to New Zealand and tasting defeats there. They have a bunch of committed players who aren’t very big on names but do well as a team. So the Indians have to be careful and not get complacent. New Zealand’s main strength will be their fast bowlers. The pitches in New Zealand help seam bowlers and since their bowlers know the conditions very well, they go into the Test match with a sure-shot advantage. We know that the Indian batting did not cope up too well against Central Districts bowlers and without too many runs in that game, they go straight into the Test under pressure. Whether they are able to show their class remains to be seen but those who have seen the Indian batsmen piling on the runs this year will vouch for the fact that it should be a good contest between the bat and bowl. The selection of the Indian playing eleven should be on the expected lines. They will play three fast bowlers, plus Sanjay Bangar who can also bowl medium pacers, and Harbhajan Singh will be India’s lone spinner in New Zealand conditions. I think India cannot expect miracles out of Harbhajan but the seamers have to do the job if India fancy their chances of winning the Tests. If fit, Zaheer Khan can be hot to handle and it is time Ajit Agarkar and Ashish Nehra come good otherwise India will have to look beyond the two for future. I can tell you, this is a make-or-break series for Agarkar and Nehra. The selection for the tour could have been better, considering there are just two Tests and so many one-dayers. We know players like Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra and maybe even Tinu Youhanan and Murli Kartik will remain passengers throughout the series so why not instead give more exposure to the one-day specialists two months ahead of the World Cup. I don’t know why they didn’t send Yuvraj Singh with the side because he would have at least gained something out of the experience. Coming back to the Test, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar will be India’s best hope in the series. Both have been in great touch this year and if they can stand upto the New Zealand bowlers, India have a chance to upset the local history. |
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Kalam to open National Games Hyderabad, December 11 And now President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who dreams of India being a developed country by 2020, will also be ushering in a new chapter in sports in this state when he inaugurates the 32nd (officially) National Games beginning with a few team events tomorrow, at what is being touted as world class infrastructure. The best possible environment in terms of infrastructure to inspire the country’s sportsperson to rise to world levels include the impressive 30,000-seating capacity GMC Balayogi Athletic stadium at Gachibowli on the outskirts of the city of pearls. This has an eight-lane synthetic athletic track and a four-lane synthetic practice track and the latest high mast lighting for the day-night events. The stadium has been put up at a cost of Rs 20.09 crore. The Gachibowli campus also has an indoor badminton and basketball stadium built at a cost of Rs 11.14 crore with wooden flooring approved internationally. Four thousand spectators can watch the action in airconditioned comfort. Another facility in the Gachibowli venue is an aquatic complex for swimming, waterpolo and synchronised events with a 2000 spectator capacity and temperature controlled pools put up at a cost of Rs 9.61 crore. For volleyball and handball
competitions, a Rs 8.94-crore 2000 spectator capacity indoor stadium has been brought up with wooden flooring and lighting to international standards while another 2000 spectator capacity multipurpose stadium costing Rs.8.69 crores will be the venue for wrestling competitions. The Fateh Maidan a seven top class synthetic surface, stadium built at a cost of Rs 5.87 crores, will be the venue for tennis matches.
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326 men, 203 women in Punjab squad Chandigarh, December 11 The rowing events have been delayed by two days as the lanes were not ready. The shooting range was also not complete and would become functional in the next two days. Punjab will participate beach volleyball, triathlon, roller skating for the first time. The squad: archery men (4), athletics men (20), women (20), basketball men (12); women (12), boxing men (12), women (12), canoeing and kayaking men (17); Cycling men (11), equestrian men (9), fencing men (13), women (10), football men (20), gymnastics men (7), women (10), handball men (16), women (16); hockey-men (16), women (16), judo-men (8), women (8), kabaddi-men (14), women (13), kho-kho-women (12), netball-men (12), roller skating-men (10), women (10), rowing-men (17), women (8), shooting-men (21), women (12), swimming-men (10), women (8), waterpolo-men (13), table tennis-men (7), women (5), taekwon-do-men (8), triathlon-men (3), women (2), beach volleyball-men (3), women (12), weightlifting-men (14), women (7), yachting-men (9), women (3). |
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Harvinder
takes JCT to first victory Ludhiana, December 11 Just when it seemed that the two teams were destined to go home with honours shared having scored one goal each in the first half, the untiring Harvinder (junior) turned the tables on a fighting Indian Bank with an acrobatic volley from close range which beat Felix Edward under the bank men’s bar all ends up. Harvinder’s feat also made him richer by Rs 5,000 as he was adjudged ‘man of the match’. The victory, incidentally the first for JCT in six outings, boosted their tally to five points while Indian Bank’s tally remains unchanged at seven points. The match was off to an explosive start with JCT taking the lead in the fourth minute. Hardworking medio Hardip Saini relayed the ball forward from the left flank and the entire Indian Bank defence was caught off guard. The ploy to lay the off-side trap having failed, the Chennai outfit’s defence watched in dismay as JCT’s Ghanian recruit Kwabena Yeboah put the ball past Felix Edward but the goal that followed came in dramatic fashion. The ball first struck the left upright and then the right pole as the JCT camp waited with baited breath but luckily before Edward could get his hands to it, it crossed the goal-line (1-0). Indian Bank, ably assisted by Sri Lankan recruits Imran Mohammed and Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya besides dashing forward Syed Sabir Pasha, kept up pressure despite the setback and six minutes managed to score the equaliser off a swerving flag kick by Harish. As the ball curved in, Mohamed Qizar standing inside the box rose high to connect and his glancing header sailed into the far corner as Arvind Kumar looked on helplessly (1-1). Thereafter JCT initiated some good moves mainly through striker Hardip Gill and Yeboah and on at least two occasions, the ball sailed over missing the target by inches. Internationals IM Vijayan and Joe Paul Ancheri, though tightly marked, also managed to create openings. Immediately on resumption, a move by Yeboah who put Harvinder (junior) in possession afforded Vijayan a good opportunity but his well-taken header was slightly off the mark. JCT effected a couple of substitutions in the second session with dashing winger Jaswinder replacing Yeboah and medio Ram Pal coming in place of Vijayan. The move paid dividends as the JCT attacks became thrustful. JCT could have scored midway into the second half when Jaswinder initiated an excellent move putting Gill in possession. Gill’s cross for substitute Kuldip beat the rival defence but the latter’s piledriver sailed past the upright. Earlier, a free kick by Ancheri after Gill was brought down also missed the target by inches. Indian Bank hit back with a counter attack and Sabir Pasha’s attempt from close range brought out the best in JCT custodian Arvind Kumar, who dived acrobatically to punch the ball away. With the match stretching in extra time, JCT mounted tremendous pressure with Jaswinder orchestrating a dangerous move on the right . As he centred from the corner, Harvinder (junior) , who incidentally scored two goals against Mohun Bagan at Kolkata on November 30, kept his nerves to shoot home from close range sending a wave of joy in the mill men’s camp (2-1). This was the second defeat for the bank men in the league after they were beaten by Vasco last week. However, coach VP Sathyan, himself a former international, praised his boys for the good fightback even as JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh heaved a sigh of relief after the maiden victory. JCT will now meet Tollygunge Agragami in their second home match here on December 21 while Indian Bank will square off with Salgaocar at Chennai on December 19. |
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Ban for India Kuala Lumpur, December 11 AFC general secretary Peter Velappan said the body was “seriously upset” that Indian officials had not made a report on a punch-up between players from Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan and Brazilian side
Palmeiras. AFP |
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SAIL, Yamaha XI champions Mandi, December 11 Signals boys earned a penalty corner in the 22nd minute of the game but failed to net the ball. SAIL lads also wanted an opportunity to score in the 34th minute. The game witnessed excellent team work from both the teams. At half time both the teams were goalless. S.K. Tinga of Signals and Jaswant of SAIL were shown the yellow cards by the umpire. Signals boys lost a golden opportunity in the 38th minute when they failed to convert a penalty corner. The match was forced to decide through penalty shootouts. The score remained same even after. Then the SAIL emerged winners on points basis. The women’s final also had a similar finish where Sports Hostel Dharamsala managed to steal the show in the penalty shootout against Yahama XI. Girls of both the teams displayed a lot of confidence. In the 26th minute Dimple of Sport Hostel found the net and took a 1-0 lead for her team. At half time the score was 1-0. Immediately after the half time Yamaha XI girls shocked their rival when Neeta powered two goals in the 37th and 42nd minutes, respectively taking a 2-1 lead. Hostel girls missed a chance to equalise the score in 52nd minute and they failed to convert a penalty corner. But Premlata in the 64th minute, netted the ball for an equaliser. |
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Peeved SAI coaches move court Patiala, December 11 Under the ACP scheme, SAI employees were assured of financial upgradation after every 12 and 24 years of service, respectively. However, the coaches are peeved over pick and choose policy adopted by the SAI which, under the APS scheme, has given promotions to scores of employees working in the administrative wing, while at the same time the department has totally ignored the coaching cadre. The 16 coaches, including two Chandigarh-based women coaches, who have already put in more than 16 years of service and who have moved the CAT are Ranjit Singh and Ms Kanta Bhatti (handball), Satpal Rana (judo), G.S Sangha and Hargobind Singh (wrestling), Bir Inder Singh and Jaiveer Singh (hockey), Gurcharanjit Singh and Hardeep Singh (swimming), Prem Singh (gymnastics), Ms Paramjit Kaur (volleyball), Harbhajan Singh and Parminder Singh (athletics), Jaspal Singh (weightlifting), Ms Amra Chauhan (volleyball) and Ms Triptjit Kaur
(kho-kho), the last two named women coaches being based at Chandigarh. The coaches, on April 22 last year, had served a legal notice on the DG (SAI) and the Regional Director (northern centre), Chandigarh in which they had pleaded for promotions under the ACP scheme since all of them had put in more than 16 years of service. Since they got no response, the coaches filed a civil petition on June 7 last year and Mr Justice G.C Garg and Mr Justice Mr G.S Maingi of the CAT had directed the DG to dispose of the legal notice within a period of six months. Meanwhile, the RD (northern centre) moved an application before the CAT on January 16 this year asking for two month’s more time on the plea “that the case of the coaches for promotion under the ACP scheme was already under submission for approval of competent authorities of SAI.” However, on January 25 this year, the Chandigarh Bench of the CAT dismissed the RD’s plea for grant of two months more time. Subsequently, the main petitioner, Ranjit Singh, on November 20 this year again filed a civil contempt petition under Section 5 of the contempt of court (CAT) rules, 1992 in which he has prayed against “ the willful disobedience of the June 7, 2001 orders of CAT.” The CAT has fixed the next date of hearing on January 8, 2003. This move of the coaches is bound to affect the career’s of 460 SAI coaches who have been serving in the department for more than 12 years without getting the benefits of promotion under the APS scheme. |
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Yamunanagar
Union Club win Yamunanagar, December 11 Union Club relied on long passes while Kamptee club relied on controlled short passes. Sohan of Union Club missed a brilliant chance in the 25th minute as he beat the entire defence but could not find the net. The match was goal-less till the end of regular time. In the tie-breaker Union Club held their nerves to advance to the next round. In the second match Switch Gear, Phagwara, defeated Local City Club, Yamunanagar 1-0. The Punjab Club players came up with a beautiful move from left flank in the 43rd minute. Kashmira scored the only goal of the match from a controlled cross from Rakesh. The city player had a chance in the 70th minute to equalise when Phagwara goalkeeper failed to collect the ball clearly, but city players failed to convert the chance into a goal. |
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Golf coaching camp at Panchkula Chandigarh, December 11 Daily coaching of two hours will be imparted by known professionals in the field of golf. The coaching camp, Mr Johl said, would be held soon after the inauguration of the golf course. The newly laid out course is scheduled to be inaugurated towards the end of December. The Haryana Golf Association has been since its inception holding various golfing activities in the state. Talks are being held to tie up with the Haryana Urban development Authority (HUDA) for holding many more such events to initiate activities at the golf course at Panchkula with an aim of promotion of the game of golf in Haryana. |
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