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Saturday,
March 22, 2003, Chandigarh, India   |
Aussies not invincible: Ganguly India cut Kenyans to size |
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Durban celebrates India win
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India’s pace attack poses a threat: Ponting Aussies ready for ‘perfect’ final Gilchrist fires Lee salvo Bucknor, Shepherd umpires for final Indians appear to have realised their potential India deserve to win
Cup: Latif Ganguly behind turnaround in team’s fortunes What does it feel like to play in final? ‘Career was in jeopardy before Cup’ CONTROVERSY OF THE WEEK Manavjit shoots bronze Fatehgarh Sahib in semis Athletics meet concludes
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Aussies not invincible: Ganguly Durban, March 21 Ganguly’s confidence stemmed from the belief that the defending champions had some weak links which could be exploited to India’s advantage. “Every team has a bit of weakness. The top order of Australia has scored heavily in the last six-seven months. “But if we can get them out early, it does expose the middle a bit,” Ganguly said as India crushed Kenya by 91 runs in the semifinal yesterday to book a final World Cup berth after 20 long years. Emphasising that it would be “wrong to write off India’s chances”, Ganguly said he could not wait to find out if Australia were really the best one-day team in the world. “We will find out on Sunday if Australia is the best side in the world. There is no reason why we cannot beat them,” said the Indian skipper who starred with an unbeaten 114 ball 111 in the semifinal under lights at the Kingsmead Stadium here. “We are the only side to have beaten them before and stopped their winning run in the Tests. Of course we have to play really well to beat them and similarly they need to be at the top of their game to beat us,” an upbeat Ganguly said. Ganguly said the current World Cup had dished out high quality cricket while crediting his team as well as Australia for producing better cricket than most of the other teams. “It has been a high quality tournament but India and Australia have played better cricket than the rest. “We have done well to beat most sides and it has been one -sided too. We now have won eight games in a row and it does tell about our strength,” he said. India started their campaign tentatively but rallied after a huge loss to Australia and have ever since won all their games in a comprehensive manner. Australia are unbeaten in the tournament so far. Ganguly, who has had a good World Cup with three hundreds and overall aggregate of 441 from 10 matches, admitted that his form was affected at times but attributed it to the pressures of captaincy. “There are times when I have played below potential. As a captain you could have a lot of things in the mind. If you ask captains, most would say their batting suffered a bit after they took the job. “But I am happy I have fired in this competition and struck a hundred in a World Cup semifinals,” said the stylish left-hand bat who was awarded the man-of-the-match yesterday. Ganguly also conceded he did not get much room to play his favourite off-side strokes but said he was trying to adjust to keep producing runs for his team. “A lot of bowlers do not give me much room these days. They try to aim at my body. But if you play international cricket for long, you keep on adjusting. “You have to work on your game and do better. That has probably happened to me. I was never a very fluent player off my pads but over the years I have started to play good on the onside as well.” On the match against Kenya, Ganguly said he rushed through his bowlers from the 15-over stage as he wanted at least 25 overs to be bowled, lest rain interrupted. “I did not see when there were lightning on the sky and Sachin (Tendulkar) then came forward and told me about it. So I brought on two spinners to hurry through 25 overs,” he said. Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo said he was relieved that his team’s campaign in this high-pressure World Cup had now come to an end. “In a way I am relieved as there was a lot of pressure in this tournament. But the boys handled it well,” he said. Tikolo lamented the easy runs his bowlers gave away to Indians in the final 10 overs and the fact they did not start their chase particularly well. “The Indians did get away in the last 10 overs. But then with so many wickets in hand, they could accelerate and score nearly 80 runs in the final 10 overs. We also did not get the start which we wanted,” said Tikolo, who top-scored for his side with 56.
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India cut Kenyans to size IT was a match very close to Ganguly’s heart. He had the burden of chalking India’s route to the World Cup final, something that a billion people are waiting for 20 years now. He did most of the hard work, scripting a majestic hundred and in company of Tendulkar, took India to a formidable 270. A Kenyan side chasing against the mighty Indian seamers, that too under lights, it was not difficult for many to start thinking about the big final already. However, this was the World Cup semifinal and Ganguly didn’t want to take any chances. He had seen what happened to Pollock. Ganguly knew his job well and rightly pocketed the Duckworth-Lewis sheet before coming to the field, in case the threatening grey skies posed real danger. His bowlers did not let him down and the dream of playing a World Cup final fuelled them to cutting the Kenyans to size. Expecting to extend their fairytale run in the tournament by entering the final was too much to ask from this green and red outfit. However, Kenyans had their chances in the match, losing a good toss in the afternoon while their bowlers made the openers sweat for every run on a sluggish wicket. It was not until Ganguly came out in the centre that things started going India’s way. The southpaw was at ease right from the start even as a settled Tendulkar looked in some obvious discomfort at the other end. Tendulkar once again perished well in sight of a century but this was not a typical Sachin innings fans are used to watching. Nevertheless, every run of his 83 counted for the team. It was maharaja’s day at Durban on Thursday. His 22nd century in one-day international cricket could not have come at a better time. Ganguly’s counter attack on Asif Karim and Collins Obuya made the crucial difference to the match turning one-sided. The two spinners had been the strength of the Kenyan attack and that both of them bowled just half of the 20 overs allotted to them was an indication of how dominating Ganguly was. Kaif and Yuvraj played good cameos and made sure that nothing went wrong towards the end overs. Despite some excellent display of batting, Indian bowling has been the talking point of the tournament. In veteran Javagal Srinath and young turks, Zaheer and Nehra, India have found the ammunition that needed to outgun the opposition. In the semifinal too, the trio was up to the mark and never gave any chance to Kenya to raise any hopes of an upset. They were bang on target, utilised the conditions to good effect and bowled a nagging length throughout. My only bit of worry is Harbhajan, who seems rusty after not being needed to turn his arm for most part of the tournament but his spell will he crucial against the Aussies in the final. The Indians have done some good hard work that got them here in the final. One more match to go before history rewrites itself. C’mon India. |
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Durban celebrates India win
Durban, March 21 Joined by an estimated 5,000 Indian nationals, many of whom only arrived this week, the locals went into a frenzy of hooting, flag-waving and chanting through the streets, on the beachfront and at popular nightspots. With Friday a public holiday here, celebrations went on until the early hours of the morning, with many clubs and restaurants having prepared for what they were sure would be a triumph by India. “They have done us proud!” screamed Morgan Naidoo out of the van he was driving, packed with friends waving Indian flags and wearing the blue shirts of the Indian side. “Our (South African) side couldn’t make it, but Saurav and Sachin have made this World Cup worth it for all of us,” said Geeta Maharaj, who added that she was on her way to join at least 30 more family members expected to barbecue at the Blue Lagoon on the beachfront, the city’s most popular spot for Indian gatherings. By midnight, there was not a single spot to be found at the Lagoon, as loud music, impromptu cricket games and general partying filled the air. “I have been in this area for nearly 30 years and have never seen anything like this,” said restaurant owner Ismail Mohamed. Many Indian nationals, mostly working here, shared in the fun and festivity at the Lagoon, but most celebrated at bars and clubs at the hotels they are staying in.
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It is time to face big boys Australia IT is now official, Australia and India will play for the 2003 World Cup on March 23. It was quite apparent to most people which two teams would be turning up in
Johannesburg for the final from as far back as March 12. That was the day that Kenya beat Zimbabwe in the Super six game in Bloemfontein to qualify for the semifinals. Most people expected Australia to beat whoever they came up against as the winners of the Super six stage was due to play against the fourth team and of course Kenya couldn’t realistically expect to beat India as the second and
third teams did battle. India went into this game against Kenya knowing exactly what was needed. There was the threat of rain around but Ganguly’s and India’s game plan was quite obvious, bat first, get over 250 runs and that would be beyond Kenya. Tendulkar and Sehwag didn’t go blazing away in their usual manner at the top of the innings. That was partly because of the nature of the pitch, slow and not encouraging stroke-play and also because of the masterplan, wickets in hand, would guarantee a score in excess of the target of 250 easily. It may not have been the most entertaining cricket that we have seen from this Indian team but it was what was required, that has gotten them through this game and now it’s time for the final and the big boys Australia. The only time captain Ganguly showed a bit of concern was when there were still about six or seven overs to go to constitute a game of 25 overs and a few flashes of lightning lit up the sky on the north eastern part of the ground. He cajoled his forces into some hurried movements, bowled his spinners and they got there with no problem. After the 25 overs had been bowled, it was just a matter of going through the formalities. Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo refused to lie down and die without some form of resistance though and although he had not been having the happiest of World Cups with the bat, he managed to eke out a half century before his teams World Cup campaign came to a halt. The Kenyans are now going home but not before they gained a whole legion of new supporters and friends for their efforts in this 2003 World Cup. Sure they got to the semifinals and that would have endeared them to many fans but it was also the way they seemed to enjoy their game every time they took the field with either bat or ball that would have gained them the respect and adulation of many of those new fans. Let’s hope their efforts have gone a long way towards popularising the game in that part of the world.
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India’s pace attack poses a threat: Ponting
Johannesburg, March 21 Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra have shared 49 wickets in the tournament and all three impressed
yesterday as India swept past Kenya in the Durban semifinal. Ponting told Reuters: “India are a good side, their batting line-up is long and good and (Sachin) Tendulkar has had a pretty fair tournament.” “All the same, the thing that has stood out about them for me is their fast bowling and that has done some damage.” “Their bowlers are the ones who have improved a lot over the last 12 months. Nehra seems to have come from nowhere, Khan has been steady and Srinath has been doing the same thing as he always has.” Australia, though, will not be short of confidence as they look to defend the title won at Lord’s in 1999 and become the first side to win the World Cup three times, having also lifted the trophy under Allan Border in 1987. Their winning streak in one-day cricket extends to a world-record 16 games and they have won all 10 of their matches in the tournament, including an emphatic nine-wicket win over India at Centurion Park on February 15. The fast bowlers from Australia had called the tune then, with Brett Lee claiming three for 36, man-of-the-match Jason Gillespie taking three for 13 and Glenn McGrath chipping in with one for 23. Gillespie has returned home with a heel injury but Andy Bichel has stepped into his shoes so easily, taking 15 wickets at under 10 runs apiece, that Australia have barely missed a beat. Lee now has 20 wickets, terrorising opposition batting line-ups in the process, and Ponting felt he could have a crucial effect on Sunday’s match, expected to be played on a pace-friendly surface. “If Brett gets it right he could cause them some trouble,” he said. “There is bound to be some short stuff but as much as the pace it is also the length that you bowl that is important.” “We saw that when Brett got Ganguly and Sehwag with full length balls at Centurion and Shane Bond did the same to them when New Zealand played India.” Australia’s major concern is over batsman Damien Martyn’s fitness. Martyn, who has scored 235 Cup runs with three fifties in seven innings, fractured his right index finger against Kenya last week. The right-hander will face a final test during a net session tomorrow. “I am still hoping Damien comes up okay and can play and speaking to our physiotherapist Errol Alcott he believes he has a chance,” Ponting said. “He has been consistent throughout this World Cup and can play either his normal positive game or defensively if we get into early trouble.” But he added: “You can’t hide blokes in this form of the game and although I guess he would be unlikely to field at first slip he would still have to be able to throw properly.” If Martyn is passed fit, all rounder Ian Harvey is likely to miss out. Otherwise, Ponting said, Australia would almost certainly field the same side that overcame Sri Lanka in Tuesday’s rain-affected semifinal in Port Elizabeth. Andrew Symonds would bat at number five but, after his recent form which culminated in an unbeaten 91 against Sri Lanka, Ponting had no concerns. “Andrew has been one of the stand-out batsmen of the tournament as his figures show,” he said. “I think he has got 326 runs in five innings and their quick bowlers won’t hold any fears for him.” For Symonds it will be a return to the ground where he came of age as an international player, smashing 143 not out from 125 balls in Australia’s opening match against Pakistan. A repeat would go a long way to ensuring Australia became only the second side after the West Indies in 1975 and 1979 to retain the world Cup.
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Aussies ready for ‘perfect’ final
Johannesburg, March 21 “Throughout the tournament, we have made sure that the final is our perfect game,” Lehmann said. “Changes in the bowling and batting order, different things up the ground have all been intended to reserve our prime form for the final. “Everybody is ready to play the best game they can in the final,” he said. Australia have won all their matches in this tournament, extending their unbeaten run to 16 games — a world record. Lehmann, who has played an important part in Australia’s progress, said winning so many matches in a row does not necessarily mean that a loss was around the corner. “You lose a game if you
don't play well. It’s as simple as that. You don’t lose only because you have won for long,” Lehmann said but admitted that his team will have to play really well to beat a resurgent India in the final. We are world No 1 and fans expect us to win. But we have to do well to get across the line. And the key to Australia’s success would obviously depend on how they tackle the Sachin Tendulkar threat. “He is a great batter. He’s a great batter for many years — probably the best player in the world. For us we just got to hope we bowl well to him and he makes a mistake,” Lehmann said. “If he makes mistake we have got to capitalise on it. He makes runs in all conditions. We have just got to put pressure on him. In fact, not just on Sachin, but on all Indian batters — they have got some class batters. For us we have to bowl well to all the players,” Lehmann said. Lehmann conceded that the Indian fast bowlers were doing very well in this tournament but said his team had batsmen capable enough to tackle them. “We obviously would look to put some pressure on all the bowlers — not just the fifth bowler,” he said. Lehmann reckoned the Indians would be under tremendous pressure due to the huge expectations of people back home and the media.
PTI |
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Gilchrist fires Lee salvo
Johannesburg, March 21 The fair-haired Lee, with 20 tournament wickets, terrorised the India top-order in the group phase as they lost by nine wickets. ‘’He rattled the Indians at Centurion Park,’’ Gilchrist told Reuters. ‘’It was a tactical move by Ricky to give Brett the new ball, as usually we had seen (Glenn) McGrath and (Jason) Gillespie share it, but he decided to take them on with pace straight away. ‘’Brett came through and so it will be on their minds for sure and they will also remember they had to face him when he first came into international cricket and was bowling with real pace then as well.’’ India lost that game by nine wickets but are unbeaten since. With a host of top-class batsmen in their line-up, Gilchrist said pace had to be laced with control. ‘’It is one element playing on the batsmen’s minds but it doesn’t necessarily equal wickets. You have still got the execute well.’’ Lee has done that superbly during the tournament and was at his brutal best against Sri Lanka in Tuesday’s semifinal. Then, he captured three for 35, but Gilchrist argued the way Lee took his wickets was also significant. ‘’If he knocks the stumps right out of the ground against a player like (Marvan) Atapattu (as he did on Tuesday), that can have a devastating effect on the psyche of the opposition.’’ Lee again touched 160 kph (99.42 mph) on Tuesday, but Gilchrist was sceptical. ‘’I’m not 100 per cent convinced about the speed guns because there are days when I take a delivery and think it has to be one of the quickest he has bowled and it only registers at 140kph,’’ he said. ‘’At other times he bowls a ball that shows up as 158 or 160 and it might not seem as quick, but what I can say is he is consistently bowling balls that I am taking and thinking it is extremely quick.’’ That consistent pace tells Gilchrist that Lee is returning to the sort of form he showed when he broke into the Australia side in 1999-2000. ‘’He has bowled with a lot of fire and aggression and he seems to have been doing that a lot more regularly in recent times,’’ he said. ‘’It is almost like he is back to the way he was when he first came into international cricket. Then, his pace levels were up in the high 140s and low 150s regularly in every spell and now he is doing it again.’’ Lee’s international career began with a wicket in his first over and 42 victims in seven Tests. Problems followed, however, with a stress reaction in his back in December 2000, swiftly followed by a broken elbow requiring surgery. He was back in action less than six months later but, although occasionally showing glimpses of his previous pace and control, the next year proved a struggle. At the start of the current season Lee was dropped for three Tests but returned in December 2002. Gilchrist put Lee’s renaissance down to two factors. ‘’It’s not been a conscious thing to get his pace back but he has done a lot of work to reach the very top fitness level and that has given him the confidence and the ability to bowl fast. ‘’I am pretty sure that ability fell away with his previous worries over fitness issues and injury worries. ‘’On top of that, he had to take on a role as leader of the bowling attack when (Glenn) McGrath was injured in the tri-series at home and now (Jason) Gillespie is out of the World Cup. ‘’I think he has really enjoyed that and taken it as a challenge, and what it has done is bring out the best in him on a consistent basis.’’
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Bucknor, Shepherd umpires for final Durban, March 21 For the third time, veteran umpires Steve Bucknor of the West Indies and David Shepherd have been chosen to officiate during the final of cricket’s mega event.
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Indians appear to have realised their potential THE Indians have made a habit of registering convincing victories. With eight consecutive wins in the World Cup and a place in Sunday’s final against Australia, the team appears to have realised their true potential. The greatest gain is their growing belief in their abilities. Prior to their semifinal match, there were apprehensions that Kenya, having gathered some momentum, might upset India, but it was not to be. Former India all-rounder and Kenya coach Sandeep Patil had also said that his team would encash on some of the negative aspects of the Indians, but Saurav Ganguly and his boys just didn’t give them any opportunity to get on top. The best part about the way the Indians played their semifinal was that they performed at their level rather than going to Kenya’s level. Experts had opined that the toss would be vital in a day-and-night match in Durban. In view of the rain and moisture, bowlers would certainly get some initial help, but Ganguly proved them wrong by winning the toss and electing to bat. He was prepared to take the risk of handling the Kenyan bowlers on moist pitches, especially knowing how well they had bowled against Australia and Zimbabwe. The confidence that skipper Ganguly has displayed in himself as well as his team-mates as the Cup has progressed has put him much above the rest of the captains. The captain leading from the front gives a tremendous boost to the team and the determination to do well. And unlike the Super Six match, where the Kenyans put up a tough fight, the Indians had planned their overall attack and went well at implementing it. Batting first, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar ensured that the team did not lose an early wicket. Even though the Kenyan bowlers had some good spells and the Indian run rate was not as high some would have expected, the solid foundation pushed the co-hosts on the backfoot. Sehwag, who was looking good, again played a bad shot just as when things were started to look easier and better. Having done the hard work initially, he should have encashed on the
opportunity to get a big score in Tendulkar’s company. In fact, this was one more big opportunity squandered by the opener before the all-important final on Sunday. The Indians will surely need a better start in the finals and no more soft dismissals. It is, however, heartening to see that the Indians have realised the importance of building partnerships. They also seem to have understood the pattern of scoring runs on South African pitches. Unlike other one-day internationals, the Indians played slow in the first 15 overs keeping their wickets intact and then going after the Kenyan bowlers in the middle and slog overs. The team played a patient game, not looking in a hurry at all, while all the time building on their partnership. It was a delight to see Tendulkar and Ganguly come together for another fantastic partnership. The two chose the bowlers they wanted to attack and went well for their runs. Tendulkar and Ganguly rotated the strike well to unsettle the rival bowlers and played some quality shots to stamp their class. But, unfortunately, Tendulkar missed yet another century. The kind of shot he played has not been witnessed by many in the past. He always found gaps on good deliveries but for this long hop and that too so close to his century. Only one thing cold have kept him away from getting his hundred and that was the team’s interest to get as many runs in the shortest possible time, especially with plenty of wickets in hand. On the other hand, Ganguly played a captain’s knock and ensured he stayed till the end. Even though the skipper has got his hundreds against the so-called minnows, these innings would certainly have given him the confidence to fight it out against the Australians. After quite a good opening spell, the Kenyan bowling was made to look very ordinary with runs flowing from both sides of the wicket as the overs went by. Both Ganguly and Mohd Kaif had a couple of run out chances and will have to be more careful against the Aussies, who are a far better fielding side than the Kenyans. Coming to the Kenyan batting, none of the players except captain Steve Tikolo showed any determination to take the fight to the Indians. There was nothing wrong with their shot selection, but most of them were tested and failed to negotiate the attack of the pace trio. Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra bowled well within their limits and Ganguly used his resources in the most optimum manner. In the midst of some fine bowling that made life miserable for the Kenyans, Tikolo fought a lone battle only to get out to a Tendulkar variation. It is great to see the new-look Indian attack, which aims at striking rather than defending. The pace bowlers have established themselves as strike bowlers and are ably supported by the others. The fielding too looks agile and the best part is the change in attitude. They should remember that they constantly need to adapt to win.
Don't delay the end - given an opportunity just finish the opponents.
UNI |
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India deserve to win
Cup: Latif Johannesburg, March 21 “The general perception is that Australia deserve to win the final (on Sunday). Yes, Australia have played some excellent cricket in this World Cup, but one cannot forget the way India have fought back after their dismal performance against the Aussies at Centurion five weeks ago. “Their transformation has been remarkable, and purely on the basis of springing back from that debacle, I think the Indians deserve to win the World Cup,” Latif wrote in the International Cricket Council’s official website. “Not too many teams in the world have the ability to come back from such a situation.” Latif was all praise for Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly for his faith in his men and the way he had made them give their best.
PTI |
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Ganguly behind turnaround in team’s fortunes THERE is a feisty left hander at the top of the Indian batting order who proved it’s possible for an Indian batsman other than Sachin Tendulkar to play the kind of destructive innings that settles one-day matches. His name is Saurav Chandi Ganguly. Just a few weeks ago, the whimsical world of willow fortunes seemed to have deserted him while it smiled on the unknown and the unheralded. And Ganguly kept going up and down the order like a yo-yo, uncertain where he would find the kind of form that would renew his self-belief. With three centuries in this World Cup behind him, Ganguly should be in a better frame of mind to take on the Australians on Sunday. They are the cricketers who seem to get his goat every time and no wonder he is no great admirer of the World Cup champion side. It is well known Ganguly has a problem in standing up to express pace. It is not as if he is stepping on the square leg umpire’s toes as Indian batsmen of a much earlier generation used to. It is just that he has technical weaknesses against the short ball and he struggles to cope early with balls bowled at great speed. Of all the centuries he has scored in one-day internationals in the matter of collecting which he is second only to Tendulkar, the Indian skipper may rate many as great knocks. But the ones he should remember most fondly are the two hundreds in the Carlton & United series down under in 2000. The first came against McGrath and Brett Lee and when it ended in a run out there was a riot at the SCG. That innings led soon to a second masterpiece which was the 141 he made against Wasim Akram and
Shoaib Akhtar at Adelaide. There was good reason to believe it was one of the finest centuries crafted in one-day cricket against bowlers of express pace. In fact, Wasim Akram said so after being taken for 55 in his 10 overs, most of them by Ganguly. The Indian skipper has run into that kind of form wherein he can hope to survive the onslaught planned specifically for him in an Aussie pace blitzkrieg. And if he is still there through the end overs, he can step up run getting to a scorching pace. The start is the key and Sachin and Sehwag will be doing their team a great service if they don’t expose Ganguly to the new, hard ball. The longer Ganguly stays at the crease, the valuable his presence becomes in the matter of acceleration. The slow outfield at Kingsmead was no handicap for Ganguly because he kept hitting all those sixes. Balls wearing out earlier on scruffy pitches as the long South African season draws to a close have not been easy to hit. But Ganguly has had no problem timing his strokes, his penchant for the big sixes off spinners playing a decisive role. It is remarkable that Ganguly has brought about an extraordinary turnaround in his team’s fortunes while tending to his own poor form and correcting it with a mere matter of three centuries. For him, it is a fact of life that Tendulkar missing centuries may be considered more newsworthy. Right through the days when he was winning as many one-day matches with his bat as his opening partner Sachin, Ganguly has been forced to lump certain prejudices. His spunky, combative nature has enabled him to fight and win many a battle. He may have enjoyed most the one involving his captaincy that he has made his own and can keep for as long as he wants after becoming only the second Indian to take his team to the final of a World Cup. Who would have believed that after
India's nightmarish tour of New Zealand in which Ganguly and his men limped from disaster to disaster? India’s most successful Test captain abroad in terms of number of wins, Ganguly had more faith in himself and in his wards ahead of the World Cup than was generally the case in the public mind. His record as a batsman in Test and one-dayers, despite his problems with the short ball, suggests he has been India’s best left-handed batsman at the international level. No one compares even remotely, not even Ajit Wadekar who had the good fortune to lead India in the West Indies and England in 1971. Ganguly thrives on success and the turning point may have come in the England game in which India fired as a team once again and has not looked back since. The unwavering faith he placed in his young players, many of whom owe their constant presence in the team to Ganguly’s persistent and persuasive ways with selectors, has been repaid. And he has never feared to take on his critics, be it Ian Chappell or Steve Waugh. Ganguly has been his own man to the point of becoming stubborn. But then he has proved so much in rebuilding a cricket team over three years that he deserves every plaudit coming his way. He built this campaign from the depths of despair in New Zealand to which he and his team had descended. Ricky Ponting inherited this world champion one-day side from Steve Waugh. Ganguly has had to build his own. Is there any argument over who has been the skipper of this World Cup? There is only one nominee and he is a feisty left hander.
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What does it feel like to play in final?
Johannesburg, March 21 The Wanderers Stadium, reverberating with thousands of throaty fans, and a lifetime occasion of a World Cup final are certainly enough to unnerve the best but the Indian side, playing in the World Cup final for the first time in 20 years, is keen to overcome all odds and upset the applecart of Australia in the title clash on Sunday. Ganguly has exhorted his men to show spirit and a do-or-die approach but a World Cup final could still bring a few nerves to the fore, more so when nobody going into the Sunday’s game would have the experience of a stage as big as that. Sachin Tendulkar and Javagal Srinath are the only two of the Indian eleven who have come closest to such a feeling, having taken part in the semifinals against Sri Lanka in Kolkata during the 1996 World Cup. But such a curriculum vitae means little when compared to the Australians, who have as many as six players with the experience of playing in the finals. Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Bevan, all played key roles while Damien Martyn was little-used by Steve Waugh during Australia’s 1999 World Cup winning campaign in England. Australian coach John Buchanan believes experience could play an important role in his team’s quest for the title as well as the ability to relax before a big game. “It is nice to have experience of finals but the special thing is to enjoy and soak up the atmosphere and not to hide from it,” he said. “It is a special time but there could be a churning over that one,” said Buchanan. The Indian team also understands the importance of relaxing before a big game and on two occasions the team members have been given breaks of two days at a stretch to get away from cricket. The Indians have religiously followed the practice of having no nets on the day after a match and there has not been any change in the plan even when they are faced with final now. The Indian team was at complete liberty after the final league game against Pakistan and the third and last Super Six tie against New Zealand before re-focussing their attention on cricket. The Indian cricketers also flock to a volleyball game before each practice session and coach John Wright says it has improved bonding within the team. “All the boys look forward to a game of volleyball before the nets,” said Wright. “Since the team enjoys it and it builds camaraderie, we hold it regularly.” Buchanan also is all for a relaxed approach and would rather have players relish the atmosphere of a final rather than lock themselves away in a hotel room and brood over the big game. Unbeaten in 10 matches in this tournament and buoyed by a world-record 16 straight one-day international victories, the Australians’ relaxed approach has been pivotal in their winning surge. “I think that has been one part of it. It is certainly part of what we have been trying to do — to play each game, deal with it and then get over with. “Then come back and train and prepare for the next, and really try to treat one game at a time,” Buchanan said. This approach is in direct contrast to the stance South Africa adopted. The hosts went into a private pre-tournament camp and were on the edge throughout their ill-fated campaign. “The more people that you talk to who were associated with them, either from hotels to security people and so on, they were not a very happy bunch,” Buchanan said. “They were quite a non-relaxed group, so obviously there were lots of issues going on within the side, that are just coming out now, that would have made very difficult for a team to be relaxed,” he said.
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‘Career was in jeopardy before Cup’
Johannesburg, March 21 The 27-year-old Symonds saved two of his best innings to resurrect Australia’s innings in vital World Cup matches and his own international career. He hit his maiden one-day hundred - 143 off 139 balls - against Pakistan at the Wanderers in Australia’s opening match, followed by an unbeaten 91 in the semifinal against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. “I didn’t expect to be here,” said Symonds. “I thought I would have to play two good years of cricket to be a chance and then I would be 28 or 29. It was a surprise but I suppose I have been given a chance and things have gone quite well.” But he put his success down to an unknown force on the eve of the Pakistan match that kick-started his career. Australia suffered the biggest setback on the eve of its opening World Cup game when legspinner Shane Warne revealed he’d tested positive for a banned diuretic and had to withdraw from the tournament. “I didn’t know how I felt about Warnie and the night he explained to us what had happened. I don’t know whether that made me more determined.” “I know (I) was very hot. I was quite wild in my room that night. I didn’t know whether I was angry with him or angry at them for going so hard at him because he was Warnie. I didn’t know what it was.” Symonds said maybe he took some of his rage at the Warne incident to the crease. And he had hardly any recollection of his first hundred, saying it was all a blur. “It was as nervous as I have ever seen an Australian dressing room,” Symonds said. “I have played a lot of cricket with them but I haven’t seen us like that before. “There was a real tense feeling in the dressing room. We were still enjoying ourselves. It was the first game of the World Cup. Everyone had nervous energy.” Symonds said his two years in the selection wilderness had made him a better cricketer, with the ability to assess a situation calmly as opposed to going haywire. Before finding his new maturity, Symonds said, “I would have tried to hit someone out of the attack or do something like that.” “(Now) I accumulate and hit the bad balls,” he said. “I’ve been more controlled. I haven’t been swinging out there or trying to thrash and bash my way out of trouble.” Symonds’ recall for the World Cup was a shock selection and he didn’t do himself any favors when he scored 12 runs in the five tri-series matches that followed, and claimed a solitary wicket at 82 runs. The 62-match veteran has now scored 1,088 runs, boasting a strike rate of 94 runs per 100 balls. Ricky Ponting “has been very supportive of me and showed a lot of faith in me. It’s nice to repay him,” he said. Not living up to potential in the past “has been frustrating, but probably more frustrating for people watching me I think”.
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CONTROVERSY OF THE WEEK JOHANNESBURG: Now that cricket officials and business bigwigs are descending on the town in anticipation of the final, politics is rearing its ugly head again. If reports are to be believed, Sahara’s plans to bring the team back on a chartered flight is as good as shelved. Sahara are sponsors of the Indian team and they not only announced cash and other material benefits on India’s stupendous run, but also promised to bring boys back home. It surely is not on now. The word from the group initially suggested the prospect of US-Iraq war made them reconsider their move. Now the official version is that the External Affairs Ministry has not given clearance. Insiders suggest Sahara beat a hasty retreat after the board put its foot down, suggesting the Indian team is solely its own’s preserve and a sponsor should remain what it is-just a sponsor. It also reportedly took exception to Sahara’s move to have the team introduced to the President and Prime Minister on return. Be that as it may, it’s a big dampener for those who were looking to rub shoulders with business tycoons and Bollywood bigwigs. Sahara’s flight reportedly promised to bring stars such as Amitabh Bachchan and
Aishwarya Rai aboard but it all would have to wait, it seems. The only Bollywood celebrity visible at Kingsmead during India-Kenya semifinal was Shilpa Shetty, ensconced in a giant glass box with liquor baron Vijay
Maliya and a host of other business and political entities. Another controversy which would surely dog the game after the World Cup is the contracts issue. It would appear there is no meeting point between the stand adopted by the Indian board and the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the matter will now be decided by a arbitration court. The ICC will surely demand damages for breach of contract and the board would try to hold its ground. There could be a situation where the board’s hands would be forced on the amount issue. Whatever happens the cricketers would like to receive the money they deserve-and beware anyone who tries to put it on a freeze. In all likelihood, the players association after the world cup will be strengthened. A strong players body will pit it against the board-if nothing at least it would make them wary of each other. Almost surely the players gradation contract with the board will come into force. Players will be offered incentives on good performance-but they would also be penalized for performing poorly. It’s an incentive-based contract and one which is practiced worldwide. Saurav Ganguly and John Wright can now be sure of longer run at the helm. Wright didn’t have much chance to stay as coach after the disastrous New Zealand tour. Now he would be a coach at least for the next two years. The same applies for “Maharaj” Ganguly who not only saved himself as a captain but also as batsman in this World Cup by slamming three centuries, all of them unbeaten. |
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Manavjit shoots bronze New Delhi, March 21 Manavjit, who shot 23, 24, 25 to have a total of 72 points after the first round yesterday, was found lacking in touch in the remaining 50 shots of the qualifying round in the morning as he could shoot only 23 and 23 birds. Though he did rather well in the final round, shooting 23 out of 25, he messed up his chances due to his poor performance in the morning. Lan Peel of Britain took the gold with an overall total of 146 while Adam Vella of Australia took the silver medal. Indian hopes of clinching a quota place in the skeet event too failed to fructify as the three Indians in the fray—Amardeep Singh Rai, Naveen Jindal and Rao Inderjit Singh — could not even qualify for the final round. Christian Eleuteri of Italy won the gold with a perfect final round of 25 and an overall tally of 148 while George Achilleds, who shot 23 in the final round and had a total of 147, clinched the silver. Tind Wenzel of Germany took the bronze. The Indian trio of Manavjit Singh, Mansher Singh and Anwer Sultan, however, clinched the team gold in trap, to earn the Grand Prix title. They had an overall tally of 348. |
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Fatehgarh Sahib in semis Chandigarh, March 21 Earlier, Patiala rallied to down Hoshiarpur 3-2; Ropar prevailed over Sangrur 2-0 while Kapurthala defeated Jalandhar in sudden death to book berths in the last four. The semifinals will be played tomorrow. Fatehgarh Sahib will meet Kapurthala at 3 p.m., according to Mr Rajeshpal Singh Lalli, chief patron of the organising committee. |
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Athletics meet concludes Kalka, March 21 The meet was inaugurated by Mr O.P. Singhan, Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Panchkula, while Mr Ranbir Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Panchkula, was the chief guest on the occasion. Ms S. Malhotra, Principal of the college, read out the annual report of the college. Results: 100 m (girls)
— Shikha Bedi 1, Rajni 2, Monika 3; 200 m — Shikha 1, Ranji 2, and Shivani 3;
800 m — Shikha 1, Rajni 2, and Sonia 3; three-leg race — Suman-Bimlesh 1, Monika-Sonia 2, Shikha-Shivani 3;
shot put — Shikha 1, Shivani 2, Anjana 3; discus throw — Shikha 1, Shivani 2, Anjana 3;
discuss throw — Shikha 1, Shivani 2, Suman 3; long jump — Shikha 1, Monika 2, Shivani 3;
high jump — Shivani 1, Ranji 2, Monika 3. Boys: 100 m race
— Munish Rao 1, Mandeep 2, Ashish 3; 200 m — Munish 1, Mandeep 2, Rohit 3;
400 m — Major Singh 1, Rohit 2, Munish 3; 800 m — Major Singh 1, Mandeep 2, Rajiv Kumar 3;
1500 m — Mandeep 1, Rajiv 2, Baldev 3; three-leg race — Yad Ram-Rakesh 1, Varinder-Rajiv 2, Palminder-Mandeep 3;
shot put — Major Singh 1, Munish Rao 2, Sajjan Singh 3; discus throw — Major Singh 1, Sajjan 2, Munish 3;
long jump — Munish Rao 1, Balwinder 2, Gurnam 3; high jump — Balwinder 1, Munish 2, Major Singh 3. |
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Trials Phagwara, March 21 |
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Durban, March 21
India
beat Kenya to enter the World Cup final after 20 years. 
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Cricket
fans in Varanasi pray for their team to win the World Cup. 
