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Experts happy with cricketers’ fitness
Harbhajan gets into war of words
Cancel NZ tour of Zimbabwe: Olonga
No govt instruction on Gibbs, Boje: SA High Commission
ECB for right to reject venue
Windies undermine landmark series
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Holland book berth for World Cup
IHF forms new selection panel
Williams, Edwards tie in 100m race
Graf back on court for a match
Anand to play for a cause
Harikrishna remains in sole lead
Jaipur to host world, Asian cycle polo tournaments
SAF Games to have
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Experts happy with cricketers’ fitness
Bangalore, July 12 Added physio John Gloster: “We are happy with the overall (fitness) standards of players.” King and Gloster, however, said a few niggles were bound to happen in a camp when the players worked hard at raising the fitness bar, but all of them were ready to go to the next level (cricket skills) camp, commencing here tomorrow. Gloster said Ashish Nehra suffered from viral infection early in the camp and would have to work harder in the next phase than others, but expressed the hope that the fast bowler would be available for selection when selectors would meet here on July 18 to pick the team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka. Asked specifically about the fitness of fast bowlers, who had earlier had an exclusive camp, the physio said: “We are lucky to have a good crop of fast bowlers. Overall, the general condition of fast bowlers has been very good. We are very happy.” Gloster said Nehra would have to work hard as he had “couple of other niggles also.” He added: “We are working on that.” He said warm-up matches had been organised during the cricket skills camp, that would run till July 19. These matches would be the best indicator on the bowlers’ fitness. It would give a better indication of where Nehra stood compared to other bowlers. Expressing satisfaction with the way the fitness and conditioning camp progressed, King said all players put in great effort. In the camp that concluded yesterday, more emphasis was given to cricket-specifics — unlike in the last year’s camp — as there was not much time before the team would leave for the island nation, he added. The interaction of acclaimed kinesiology expert Charles Krebs with the players in the camp was of much help, Gloster said. “We have learnt a lot from him,” he said. “It (Krebs’ methods) is basically a technique of getting the best out of an individual, taking them beyond what they have achieved and maintain what they have gained in another area.” Former Victoria player Ian Frazer joined the pre-season camp to share his expertise in areas of sports analysis, science and biomechanics. The 38-year-old’s services were requisitioned by new coach Greg Chappell, who had expressed earlier that he was keen to avail the services of experts in different areas. Frazer, a former left-handed batsman, is said to be a close confidant of the 56-year-old former Australian captain and the batting great. He had been working with Chappell for some years on his website. Frazer would be stationed here till at least July 22. It is time for the cricketers to take lessons on cricket skills from Chappell. A full-strength probables — 36 in all — are would assemble here for the week-long conclave. Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Dinesh Mongia and Murali Karthik, who missed the fitness action, were joining 30 others, who were already stationed here. The “special guest” would be Sachin Tendulkar, recuperating after undergoing an elbow surgery in London. The batting maestro, who would miss the triangular series, with the West Indies as the third team, commencing on July 30, was slated to be present for a few days in the camp, as per the instruction of Chappell. “Chappell wants him (Tendulkar) to be here for a few days,” BCCI Secretary S.K. Nair said. Chappell, who would interact with the 36 players for the first time after taking over as coach last month, was expected to take tuitions tomorrow and interact with them. The 56-year-old former Australian was expected to speak out his mind on a host of issues in a closed-door meeting tomorrow. The batting great had been watching video footage of India’s recent series against Pakistan and Australia and was expected to share his thoughts.
— PTI |
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Harbhajan gets into war of words
London, July 12 It all started with the Indian bowling at the batsman, who went for a sweep and Surrey players were up in arms, appealing for a catch at silly point. It looked like an inside edge that hit Hardinges’ pad before landing in Scott Newman’s hands at silly point. Umpire Allan Jones was unmoved. The incident was followed by exchange of words between the bowler and the batsman. Harbhajan gave Hardinges a piece of his mind at the non-striker’s end, prompting the umpire to warn him, and both players shook hands. The incident was almost sure to be mentioned in Jones’ match report. Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson later downplayed the altercation as ‘’nothing more than a few angry words exchanged in a corridor’’. In the match against Warwickshire last month, Harabhajan had lost his temper and hurled a delivery at a batsman that soared over the wicketkeeper’s head and was declared a no-ball. Interestingly, Jones was the umpire in that match as well. Hardinges was involved in another argument with Scott Newman in the pavilion yesterday. Though Alex Gidman’s brilliant 142 salvaged a draw for Gloucestershire, it turned out to be a good outing for Harbhajan, who slammed 84 in the first innings and claimed five wickets in the match, that concluded yesterday.
— UNI |
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Cancel NZ tour of Zimbabwe: Olonga
Wellington, July 12 Olonga is visiting New Zealand as a guest of Green Party lawmakers, who have campaigned for the cancellation of the tour to Zimbabwe, due to take place in August and September. New Zealand Cricket says it has a contractual obligation to tour under the ICC’s future tours schedule and can face substantial financial penalties if it defaults. The New Zealand Government has attempted to rally international support for the tour’s cancellation, but has refused to order its cricketers to stay at home. “I personally believe the tour should not go ahead, simply because what is happening to people in Zimbabwe is just terrible,” Olonga told National Radio today. “This is a government that has consistently abused its own people. I am disappointed that the ICC has not shown more compassion with regard to what is happening in Zimbabwe.” “We believed that sports sanctions made some kind of difference when South Africa was isolated.” “We believed that people who went on rebel tours were somehow crossing a line that we did not accept; that they were showing no concern for the people who were suffering under that oppressive regime,” Olonga said. He was Zimbabwe’s first black Test cricketer, but left his homeland in 2003 to live in England, and had not returned. He and other members of the Zimbabwe team wore black armbands during World Cup matches in South Africa in 2003 to protest the “death of democracy” at home. Olonga likened the situation in Zimbabwe, in which opposition to Robert Mugabe’s government had been suppressed and thousands of homes had been bulldozed, to South Africa’s former apartheid regime. “It is immoral and the world somehow has to take a stance possibly, probably even treat this as a situation as abnormal as apartheid,” he said. Olonga would address public meetings throughout New Zealand during his stay. The former Test cricketer would meet New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden and government ministers.
— AP |
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No govt instruction on Gibbs, Boje: SA High Commission
New Delhi, July 12 Earlier yesterday, the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) announced that a letter had been sent to the High Commission, here, seeking its assistance to get the written assurance for the players who — along with the late captain Hansie Cronje and Pieter Strydom — were named in the match fixing controversy that rocked the cricketing world in 2002. Mr Thomas Cronje, First Secretary (Political), said the High Commission had not received anything from the UCBSA and made it clear that a letter from the board was not enough to initiate a move. “We cannot work on the UCBSA’s request, it has to come from the Government of the Republic of South Africa. So far, we have not been asked by our government to pursue the issue,” Mr Cronje said. “If we receive any instruction from the government, we will assess the situation before taking the step,” he added. Earlier, the UCBSA said in a press note that it had requested the High Commission to assist it a second time to get written guarantees from the police that Boje and Gibbs would not be detained for questioning regarding alleged match fixing if they toured with the team in November. In response to media queries, UCBSA CEO Gerald Majola said a letter had been sent to the High Commission in this regard. “The police refused to give these guarantees when senior representatives of the Sout African High Commission presented the request on behalf of the two players last year. This followed both players filling out a questionnaire from the Indian police going back to the tour of India in 2000,” Mr Majola recalled. Hinting that the board was not happy with the response from the Delhi police, Mr Majola said, “Representations by the Board of Control for Cricket in India also met with the same fate from the police.” “The players consequently decided not to make themselves available for the tour if they were not given the guarantees, and we accepted their decision.” Making it clear that the Board, this time too, would not pressurise the players to be part of the tour, the UCBSA chief said, “We are attempting to find whether there has been any change after yet another year going by after the matter was dealt with by the King Commission in 2001.” “Once we have an answer, it will be up to the players again to decide for themselves whether they are available for selection,” he said. Last year, Majola toured India and had announced during the Kanpur Test that Gibbs and Boje would not tour India ever if they did not get the no-nabbing assurance. Yesterday, Joint Secretary (Sports) S. Krishnan said the Sports Ministry had received queries from the South African High Commission about the state of the cases against the cricketers. According to the schedule, Graeme Smith’s team would play five one-dayers against India between November 14 and 30.
— UNI |
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ECB for right to reject venue
Lahore, July 12 The ECB has already refused to play a Test in Karachi and instead will play a one-dayer in the port city. ‘The News’, quoting anonymous sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said after a series of meetings between the officials of the two boards, the ECB had put a clause in the memorandum of understanding, that allowed them to ask for a change in venues at the last moment during the tour itself. ‘’The ECB has informed the PCB that the association representing the English players has expressed certain reservations, citing security and safety concerns, over playing in Pakistan,’’ the source was quoted as saying. ‘’Some of the players have apparently told their board to have an understanding with the Pakistan board, that will allow them to refuse to play at any venue if they have any concerns about playing there,’’ the source added. He said if the clause was finalised, it would mean that the ECB would have the right to refuse to play in any city at the last moment if they had any concerns about playing in that particular city. The source said this was the main reason for the presence of players’ association representative Richard Bevan in Pakistan recently and at the meeting held between ECB Director Operations John Carr and PCB officials here.
— UNI |
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Windies undermine landmark series
Colombo, July 12 The sponsorship row between the cricketers and officials has robbed the West Indies of almost all their big players, including the world’s top-ranked batsman Brian Lara, for the two-Test series. Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, a veteran of 86 Tests, is the only one in the 14-man touring party to have played more than 10 Tests. Six of them are absolute rookies. Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu admitted the absence of Lara and other regulars would dampen the excitement. The first Test here will not only be Sri Lanka’s 150th match, but also launch Tom Moody as national coach and mark Muttiah Muralitharan’s return after 11 months from a shoulder injury.
— AFP |
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Holland book berth for World Cup
Belfast, July 12 The Dutch completed a qualifying quintet, that also comprised Bermuda, Canada, Ireland and Scotland. Holland shrugged off the initial poor show and bounced back with two emphatic victories to seal the final place in the Caribbean in 2007. Holland defeated Denmark by 89 runs on Saturday to reach yesterday’s play-off and proved far too strong for the UAE under a cloudless sky to claim a victory that would see them compete in the second consecutive World Cup and third overall.
— UNI |
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IHF forms new selection panel
Patiala, July 12 The committee, which will be headed by IHF President K.P.S. Gill, will have IHF Secretary Jyothikumaran as its convener. The other members are Moscow Olympian Surinder Sodhi, former captain Gurbax Singh and former Olympian Aslam Sher Khan, with the skipper of the 1975 World Cup winning team, Ajit Pal Singh, as the government observer. The coach of the squad, Rajinder Singh (Junior), who is at present in Patiala training the probables, too will be involved in the deliberations. The committee members and Rajinder will meet at Gill’s Delhi residence on July 14 to select the probables for the next phase of the senior camp, slated to commence at Chandigarh
on July 20. Rajinder Singh (Junior) has confirmed that he has recommended to the IHF to hold the next camp at the astroturf of the Sector 42 stadium in Chandigarh. According to experts, the patchwork on the astroturf there has proved an impediment in the smooth training of the probables. The patches, which are at the top of the striking circles at both ends, have meant that the training for taking penalty corners cannot be held properly. All three penalty corner experts at the camp here — Dilip Tirkey, Deedar Singh and Raghunath — have had to do without practising the all-important penalties to avoid the risk of injuries. Rajinder has confirmed that the IHF is considering an increase in the number of probables for the camp at Chandigarh. Although he has not specified the names, players expected to be called are fullbacks Sandeep Singh and William Xalco, left-out Tushar Khandekar, midfielder V.S. Vinay and goalkeeper Adrin D Souza. The coach has put to rest speculation that the team has too many injured players. He has added that the sports sciences faculty of the NIS has carried out various tests on all probables. He has declined to report on the results of the tests, but has added that everything is going in the right direction. Rajinder Singh (junior), who has been appointed by the IHF till the 2006 World Cup, to be held in Germany, has scotched rumours that he has had to with a suspect half-line. He has admitted that there are some grey areas in the half-line, evident in the Azlan Shah tournament, but has added that Bimal Lakra, Ignace Tirkey, Devinder Pal Singh and Prabhdeep Singh are shaping up well. The camp will conclude tomorrow and the probables, after going to their homes, will regroup at Chandigarh on July 20. |
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Williams, Edwards tie in 100m race
Zagreb, July 12 South America record holder Redelen dos Santos of Brazil won a close finish in the 110 metres, squeezing ahead of Jamaica’s Maurice Wignall by a hundredth of a second in 13.46. Fellow Brazilian Anselmo Da Silva was third. Australia’s Daniel Batman won the 200 metres in 20.60, outpacing Jamaica’s Omar Brown, who timed 20.62, and Gambian Saisy Ndure Jysuma, on 20.65. Jamaica’s Kemel Thompson won the men’s 400 metres hurdles in 49.16. Czech Jiri Muzik was second, .04 seconds behind, while Hadi Soua’an Al Somaily of Saudi Arabia was placed third, .11 seconds off the lead. In the 3,000 metres, Uganda’s Moses Kipsiro won in 7 minutes, 44.57 seconds, outpacing Ethiopia’s second-placed Bado Worku on 7:44.83. Kenya’s Pius Muli was third. Olympic and world champion Dwight Phillips easily won the long jump, lunging 8.14 metres. World silver medallist James Beckford of Jamaica was second with 7.92. In women’s high jump, Sweden’s Kajsa Bergqvist won with her fourth two-metre jump of the season since returning from injury. In the 100 metres hurdles, Anjanette Kirkland, the surprise winner of the Golden Gala in Rome last week with a season best of 12.57, clocked 12.67 to lead an American first-second sweep with Danielle Carruthers. Italy’s Manuela Levorato won the 100 metres in 11.43, surprising Jamaica’s Aileen Bailey by .06 seconds, and third-placed Nevmerzhitskaya Alena of Belarus by .07 seconds. Levorato almost won the 200 metres as well, finishing second to Ukraine’s Marina Mindarieva, who won by four hundredths of a second in 22.97 seconds. Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak, the Olympic 800 bronze medallist, squeezed out victory in the 1,000 metres despite a nagging Achilles injury, timing 2:36.33 seconds. Ukraine’s Nelya Neporadna was second in 2:36.34, while Jennifer Toomey of the USA was third in 2:36.46. Sarah Schwald led an American 1-2-3 podium sweep in the 1,500, finishing first in 4:07.86. Amy Mortimer was second and Jenlle Deatherage third. Manuela Montebrun of France won her fifth of six competitions in the hammer throw this year, beating world champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba by 78 centimetres
with a throw of 74.66 metres. — AP |
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Graf back on court for a match
Houston, July 12 “It is hard for me to call it a comeback,” Graf said in a telephone interview. “It is too early to say if there will be more. It is hard with all the schedules. If it works out, maybe there is another one.” Today’s match is Graf’s only one this season as a member of the Wranglers. Houston will take on the Sacramento Capitals, led by Anna Kournikova, at Houston’s Westside Tennis Club. Much has changed in the 36-year-old Graf’s life since she retired in August, 1999, as the third-ranked player in the world. She married Andre Agassi and had two children, a boy in 2001 and a girl in 2003. “Time is a big factor,” Graf said. “For a few years, I barely played. It is not easy with my husband still on tour. It has been a challenge to stay in shape.” Graf, who won 107 career singles titles, said juggling the demands of motherhood and her charity work made it difficult to establish a strict training regimen. “This year, I just picked up the racket more frequently than I have in the last five years,” she said. “I have practised quite a bit in the past two weeks, but before that, it was very sporadic.” Graf acknowledged being “very nervous” about the match, but also excited about her return. “It is huge that she is putting her toe in the water,” said Ilana Kloss, WTT chief executive officer and commissioner. “I think she is going to see how she feels. But we are absolutely thrilled to have her.” Graf said the generosity that Wranglers owners Jim and Linda McIngvale had shown to her and Agassi’s foundations over the years was a major factor in her decision to play again. Graf played an exhibition match last year in Germany against Gabriela Sabatini. Graf said she had been trying to strengthen her knees and back after suffering several injuries during her playing career. She was looking forward to playing in front of a crowd in the fan-friendly format of the WTT, but she cautioned against high expectations. “How can I be the same?” she said. “I live a different lifestyle in general. I think they will see that I am a little more relaxed than I used to be”. The WTT league is made up of 12 teams and plays a three-week season, ending on July 24. The two top teams from each of two conferences advance to the finals on September 16 and 17 in Sacramento. The coed league, co-founded by Billie Jean King, is in its 30th season.
— AP |
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Anand to play for a cause
Chennai, July 12 According to a press note, a unique fund-raising programme called “Vishy vs Chennai” is being organised at a city hotel on Saturday, the proceeds of which will fund purchase of wheelchairs and orthotic aids. Anand will play against opponents (one for each of 64 squares on the chess board), each of whom will have donated Rs 5,000 to the cause. Buyers (a couple) of the Rs 5,000 tickets will also be entitled to dine with Anand. Ten tickets have been sold on the Internet. Apart from this, he will play on the Internet and over 1,500 euros have been
collected from this venture.
— PTI |
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Harikrishna remains in sole lead
Taiyuan (China), July 12 With his third win on the trot, Harikrishna made sure that no one could catch up with him and he remained half a point clear of nearest contender Tigran Petrosian of Armenia, who accounted for tailender Woman Grandmaster Zhoa Xhu of China in a one-sided affair. With eight rounds still remaining in the category-15 round-robin event, Chinese duo of Dubai open champion Wang Hao and Bu Xiangzhi, once the youngest Grandmaster of the world, were in joint third spot on 2 points each. Following them with 1.5 points was former Russian champion Alexander Motylev, with an extra game in hand. McShane, along with Wang Yue of China, was next in line, also on 1.5 points, albeit from three games. For the second time in the tournament, black pieces reigned supreme, with as many as five games ending in the favour of slightly unfaourvable colour. Petrosian was in his element in defeating former world junior girls champion Xue, who did not know what hit her soon in the middle game arising out of a Tarrasch defence. With a thematic exchange sacrifice, Petrosian gained a direct attack against the king and romped home in 44 moves. Wang Hao got the better of his higher-rated compatriot Zhang Zhong in a keenly contested game. Playing the black side of a relatively less played variation in the French defence, Hao capitalised on an endgame mistake to register victory in 49 moves. Chinese Zhang Pengxiang fell victim to some exquisite play by top seed Motylev in a Scotch opening game. Playing black, Motylev simply outclassed his rival in the endgame to register his first victory. The other decisive game of the day was played between Ukrainian Sergey Karjakin and Bu Xiangzhi, in which the latter scored in 54 moves. In the lone draw of the day, Ni Hua failed to impress compatriot Wang Yue.
— PTI |
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Jaipur to host world, Asian cycle polo tournaments
Jaipur, July 12 He said polo players from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Maldives would participate in the Asian Championship, while teams from the USA, England, France, Canada and Mexico would play in the World Championship, besides the Asian teams. The sixth cycle polo match between India and Pakistan was played here yesterday. India won to wrap up the series 6-0. |
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SAF Games to have women’s kabaddi
Hyderabad, July 12 “Women’s kabaddi will be included in the ensuing SAF Games,” Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India President, Janardhan Singh Gehlot told reporters here today while releasing the calendar for 2006.
— PTI |
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