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Wright foresees tough challenge from Pak
Pakistan will bounce back: Woolmer
Woolmer an overrated coach: Intikhab
Nothing wrong with Harbhajan’s action: Wright
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Rain thwarts Australia
Karthikeyan sees rainbow on F-I racing horizon
East Bengal beat local favourites JCT
Delhi, Chandigarh win
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Wright foresees tough challenge from Pak
Bangalore, March 22 Anticipating a tough challenge from Pakistan, Wright said both the previous two Tests had been tough battles and hoped that the Indian team would show the killer instinct it displayed at Kolkata. To a question, he said ‘’I never said India lacked killer instinct. What I said was that they need to learn more about killer instinct.’’ Asked if there would be any change in the team, he said the names of the 12 players would be announced tomorrow and the playing 11 on the morning of the match. On the poor batting performance of skipper Sourav Ganguly, Wright coming to his defence said ‘’Sourav is a good player and it’s unfortunate that he is not among the run getters. He is a top player. I am sure he will get runs, let it happen here.’’ Commenting on the pitch for the third Test, he said it appeared to be a good wicket. The surface seems to have more green on it.’’ Coming to the defence of the ‘Turbantor’, Wright said the team management would not stop him from bowling ‘doosra’. He justified the frustrated reaction of Harbhajan following the controversy, saying it was but natural for a player to come out with such a reaction. ‘’Harbhajan has conducted himself well during the entire situation and would continue to do so.’’ Asked whether India was planning something special for Pakistani skipper Inzamam Ul-Haq, who would be playing his 100th test in Bangalore, Wright said in a lighter vein “We will like to get him out at the earliest.’’ He was all praise for Inzamam and said he had done Pakistan proud. On the second Test, Woolmer said Pakistan lost the match to India on the third day when eight wickets crumbled for a mere 120 runs. The same pattern was seen in the second innings also. He was not satisfied with the performance of Pakistan, but exuded confidence that the team would bounce back with both bat and ball. However, he gave full credit to Kumble for his bowling. On Mohammad Sami bowling too many no balls, he said Sami had said the number had come down in the second Test and would work on it here also. Danish Kaneria could not land his leg breaks effectively in the Kolkata Test as he had suffered from dehydration. About the performance of the Indian players, Wright said he was not perturbed by the bad patch of skipper Sourav Ganguly. ‘’I am sure Sourav is going to get runs. He has been stroking the ball well. It’s unforunate he could not score big. It can happen here. He is a top player,’’ he added. Denying that India lacked killer instinct, he said they displayed it in Kolkata and took the game away from Pakistan on day three. ‘’In Mohali, we couldn’t. India should learn more about killer instinct. We finished the job in Kolkata, we have to start it again here.’’
— UNI |
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Pakistan will bounce back: Woolmer
Bangalore, March 22 Talking to reporters here after his team had a lengthy practice session, he said the wicket looked “a batting paradise.”
“This is two days before the match and I hope it stays like that.” Referring to India’s win in the second Test at Kolkata, Woolmer said India took the game away from Pakistan on the third day when it lost eight wickets for a mere 120 runs. Anil Kumble bowled extremely well. “However, that is past and we have to look at the next Test,” he added. Asked if there would be any change in the team, he said he did not want to comment before the selectors meet. On Mohammad Sami bowling a number of no balls, he said, “Though according to Sami the number of no balls had come down in the second Test when compared to the first, I have told him that if he takes a wicket in a no ball, I will chase him around Bangalore with a bat.”
— UNI |
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Woolmer an overrated coach: Intikhab
Mohali, March 22 Alam, who played 47 Test matches for Pakistan, in which he took 125 wickets and scored 1493 runs, including a century, was speaking to mediapersons after arriving here from Mumbai. The Punjab team, coached by Alam, landed here after winning the semi-final match against Mumbai in Mumbai. Giving the reasoning for Woolmer’s ineffectiveness, Alam said, “May be the players and the coach are facing a language problem as some players cannot understand the instructions given by their coach”. “There are a lot of flaws in the technique of Pakistani batsmen as they lack patience, sound defence techniques and footwork skills”, asserted Alam, who looked dejected with the performance of the Pakistan team. A fan of Rahul Dravid’s batting techniques, particularly his footwork, Alam exhorted the Pakistani players to learn batting techniques by watching him. In the next Test, scheduled to start from in Bangalore from March 24, he did not see a ray of hope for the Pakistanis. |
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Nothing wrong with Harbhajan’s action: Wright
Bangalore, March 22 "Not at all. No," Wright said when asked if the team management had asked Harbhajan to change his bowling action in the wake of the bowler having been reported for
suspect action for his 'doosra'. "We expect Harbhajan to carry on with the way he had been bowling in the last 40-odd Tests," Wright told a press conference. "Doosra is an important part of his (Harbhajan's) bowling. I am sure that it's going to be just as effective in this Test match as well," he said. Rallying in Harbhajan's support, Wright said he saw nothing wrong in the off-spinner's reaction to him being reported for suspect bowling action. "He (Harbhajan) has carried himself well
throughout this situation and continues to do so. Anyone in such a situation will make a bit of a reaction, and that's natural. Players are passionate about what they do. I have no problems with his reaction," he said. Wright also said that he was "surprised" that Harbhajan was reported for suspect action. Harbhajan yesterday expressed disappointment with the way the ICC was handling his case and insisted that there was nothing wrong with his action.
— PTI |
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Pak ex-selector praises Dravid
Lahore, March 22 “Hats off to Dravid who played such wonderful knocks. He made the difference between the two teams. He showed how destructive the combination of technique, patience and skill can be,’’ Ahmed said.
Dravid scored 110 and 135 to win the man of the match award as India took a 1-0 lead by winning the Kolkata Test.
“Our batsmen came good but could not show the same consistency as shown by Dravid. But I am confident our batsmen must have learnt a great deal from Dravid and also from Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 52 each in both innings,’’ he added. He also praised the effort of Asim Kamal, who showed a lot of fighting qualities in the two Tests. “Asim once again showed that he is a great asset and a jewel in the Pakistan crown. Let us hope that the imported coach does not preserve him in cold storage, as he did prior to this tour,’’ he said. Ahmed, however, had no sweet words for the coach, saying, “Woolmer is best at giving excuses and blaming everyone except himself. Let us see what he has to say after the Kolkata defeat,” he stated.
— UNI |
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Rain thwarts Australia
Wellington, March 22 Michael Kasprowicz captured his 100th Test wicket as Australia, harassed by intermittent showers, made a futile attempt to push New Zealand to an innings defeat and take a 2-0 lead in the three-Test series. Rain plagued the match, washing out the first day and costing time on every other day. The heaviest and most persistent cycle of showers washed out play shortly after lunch. Only 73 minutes of play were possible on the final day and New Zealand’s second innings was in the early stages of decline at 48-3 when steady rain brought the match to an end. New Zealand earned a draw and were able to keep the series tenuously alive ahead of the third Test, starting in Auckland on Saturday. Scoreboard Australia (first innings): 570-8 decl New Zealand (first innings):244 New Zealand (second innings): Cumming not out 10 Fleming lbw McGrath 1 Marshall lbw McGrath 0 Vincent b Kasprowicz 24 Astle not out 4 Extras:
(b-3, lb-5, nb-1) 9 Total: (3 wkts, 19.2 overs) 48 Fall of wickets:
1-3, 2-3, 3-37. Bowling: McGrath 6-3-10-2, Gillespie 5-2-5-0, Warne 3.2-0-14-0, Kasprowicz 3-0-11-1. —
AP, AFP |
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Haryana in Ranji Plate final
Chandigarh, March 22 The heavy rain a day before had left the ground waterlogged at several places. Though the ground staff made sincere efforts to flush out the rainwater, muddy patches still remained on the ground. After consultations with captains of both teams around the tea break, the umpires called off the last day’s play. Complete day’s play yesterday also was lost to rain. Sunny Singh’s 137, M.S. Dhoni’s scintillating knock of 109 studded with 13 fours and six towering sixes and six-wicket haul by leg-spinner Amit Mishra were the highlights of the play. Haryana, who entered the final by virtue of the 145-run first innings lead, would clash with Services from March 30 to decide the title winners. |
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Toss of coin favours Servicesin Ranji Plate semis Dharamsala, March 22
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Prasad hangs his boots Bangalore, March 22
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Karthikeyan sees rainbow on F-I racing horizon
New Delhi, March 22 Narain raced into the exclusive club of Formula-I drivers when he debuted in Melbourne, finishing a creditable 15th. He then moved on to the taxing tracks of Sepang in Kuala Lumpur, and did still better, taking the 11th slot, three positions shy of the point bracket. And he has put Formula I racing on a high in India, where not many sports fans knew what F-I race was all about, till recently. Narain Karthikeyan now sees a rainbow in the F-I racing horizon in the country, which, he feels, will get brighter and brighter as the season hots up. No wonder, flash blubs blinked ceaselessly, lensmen clicked away furiously and almost non-stop when Narain Karthikeyan walked in briskly to address a video teleconference with reporters from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata at a hotel here today. The hall was packed to brim to greet the new icon of Indian sports. Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, Narain's former trainer Akbar Ebrahim, former ace driver Chandhok and the new kids on the fast lane--Karun Chandhok, Armaan Ebrahim and Paarth Ghorpade--and JK Industries vice-chairman and managing director Raghupati Singhania (Narain's first sponsors) were at hand to hail the speed king's homecoming. Looking dapper in a blue blue suit, grey shirt and blue and white tie, Narain looked like an investment banker, not a man courting danger on the fast tracks of thrills and spills. (Narain, incidentally, is a Business Administration graduate from the UK). But the speed king was ironically "slowed down" by a Kisan Rally on Parliament Street on way to the media conference, which delayed his arrival by a few minutes. Narain said he was satisfied with his outings in the two Formula-I Grand Prix races at Melbourne and Sepang. "I am so happy to be back after two great races. It was ought to be impossible, but I made it possible", he said modestly. Narain said there was pressure when he made his debut at Melbourne, where the track played easy in comparison to Sepang, which was quite tough. "Given the circumstances, Sepang was much harder and a better race than Melbourne, though there was no pressure. The first one is always the hardest", he said softly. "I coped up with the tough conditions in Sepang where the cockpit temperature was 50 degrees celsius, and my car was not the best in the world", he rewinded his fast track experience. And after the two F-I races, his body weight has dipped from 65kg to 60.1 kg. He said the first two races have gone "extremely well" and was looking forward to getting better and better "if I keep up the momentum". But his greatest satisfaction has been giving motor sports a big boost in the country. "Motor sports has gone to another level. I have opened the (F-I) gate. It's now upto the juniors to make use of the break", he noted. When Narain held forth, the new kids on the block--and Narain's possible successors--22-year-old Karun Chandhok, 15-year-old Armaan Ebrahim and ten-year-old Parth Ghorpade--listened in rapt attention. Narain said he was not in a hurry to speed through his career, to overtake anyone as he felt that his F-I forays have been encouraging so far. "We have to take race by race. When the opportunity comes, we will garner points", he reasoned. Narain said his team Jordan's cars were very reliable and they have set a "very realistic goal". "We didn't have much time to test, but we have come out better", he explained. Narain is now much more confident, particularly after the "most dangerous" and blistering drive at Sepang, in searing heat, as he did not feel tired after completing 56 laps. He is now eagerly looking forward to his next F-I race at Bahrain, which has a comparatively easy track. He said the Formula I outings have also made him very conscious about his fitness. "Physical fitness is something you have to work on", he said. He now runs 16 to 17kms daily to keep himself fit and trim. Narain said even if his team Jordan managed to equal the three points they earned last year, it would be an achievement in itself. He said he has been getting extremely warm reception from the Indian diaspora wherever he races,and nearly 4000 school kids turned up to greet him when he visited Bahrain recently. Narain said he was delighted to hear the nice words spoken about him by seven-time champion Michael Schumachar of Ferrari. "Schumi is my hero. When he says I have done a good job, I feel proud to be a sportsman, and an Indian". Narain said he was confident that he would get into points "but not very often this season. It's not very easy to finish among the top eight often". And luck plays a major role in F-I racing. "Anything can go wrong any time. F-I is very tough", he added. Narain said he was delighted to display the tri-colour on his helmet. He felt that the recent ruling against sporting the tri-colour by players on helmets was intended for the cricketers. "I will continue to wear the tri-colour. It's not exactly the Indian flag, but I will get away with it when it comes to that", he said cheekily. |
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East Bengal beat local favourites JCT
Ludhiana, March 22 Handicapped by the absence of star striker Baichung Bhutia, who had two yellow card bookings, and Brazilian recruit Douglas Da Silva, both of whom played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s destiny last year, East Bengal displayed discipline in ample measure to quell the mill men’s challenge. Their superiority was seldom in doubt and excellent ball control, coupled with neat, effective tackling saw the red and gold brigade consolidating their position on top in the high-profile league. Today’s victory boosted East Bengal’s tally to 27 points and brought them closer to scripting another golden chapter in India’s football history. JCT Mills did make a couple of close calls, but failed to beat the agile Sangram Mukherjee under the East Bengal bar. Not once did Sangram fumble in collecting, using his height to full advantage. Though basically a team effort, one man definitely stood out in East Bengal’s victory. Rightly chosen man of the match, the diminutive Alvito D’ Cunha toiled hard in the midfield and attack, setting up many a brilliant move. The ovation which he received after being substituted in the second half and coach Subhas Bhowmick’s words of encouragement were a clear affirmation of faith reposed in the Goanese, who had also been the livewire of the Indian attack in the international arena. Putting behind the unhappy experience in the AFC Cup in Turkmenistan, where East Bengal lost 2-3 to Nebichi FC last week, the Kolkata outfit, ranked fifth in Asia, took time to settle down. After thwarting an early JCT onslaught off a corner and later checking a Ram Pal-Sukhjinder move, East Bengal started dictating terms. In the 39th minute, Alvito D’ Cunha raced down the middle, outpacing a JCT defender, but his power-packed shot brought out the best in Mansuru Mohammed under the mill men’s bar, who leapt high to punch the ball over for a flag kick. The JCT citadel ultimately fell two minutes before the lemon break. Climax Lawrence sent a quick pass to S. Malsawmtluanga after getting the better of JCT’s stopper back K.V. Dhanesh. Malsawmtluanga relayed the ball to E.C. Jeremiah, formerly of EverReady, who booted home from close range even as JCT players mildly protested, taking it to be an off-side. The second half saw JCT effecting a couple of substitutions, with Jaswinder Singh being brought in to bolster the attack. A few minutes into the second session, JCT had a golden chance when Harvinder Singh put Alexander Jebba in possession inside the box, but Jebba failed to trap the ball despite an open goal in front and the ball rolled towards the goalkeeper after striking his leg. Jaswinder also made a close call when he missed the far corner after managing to beat a defender with a fine body swerve inside the box. He again made a valiant attempt from the right corner, but failed to find the net. East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick, making optimum utilisation of his bench strength, effected substitutions at regular intervals. First Alvito D’ Cunha was replaced by Debjit Ghosh and then Bijen Singh was brought in place of Malsawmtluanga. Even in injury time, the Kolkata outfit effected a substitution, bringing in Sandip Das in place of Chandan Das. JCT did get some chances at the fag end, but two flag kicks by Surjeet Singh and Jaswinder Singh proved to be of no avail. This was the second defeat for the mill men at the hands of East Bengal in the current league. In the away match at Kolkata, JCT had lost 0-2. |
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Delhi, Chandigarh win
Hyderabad, March 22 In other morning-session matches, Delhi swept past Mizoram 9-4, Chandigarh registered an impressive 7-3 win over Pondicherry and Jharkhand routed Gujarat 7-1. M. Parkash continued to be in fine nick and his hat-trick (22nd, 25th, 30th) helped Chandigarh humble Pondicherry 7-3. Leading 5-2 at half time, Gurtej Singh scored a brace for the Chandigarh while M. Harikishen, S. Chandrasekar and Senthil Kumar netted for Pondicherry. Results:- Indian Airlines bt Bihar 11-1; Chandigarh bt Pondicherry 7-3.
— PTI |
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