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Lara becomes leading Test run-scorer
Chappell’s “finger” episode nothing new
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Unusual pitch suited South Africa more
Sachin back among top 10 in rankings
Dalmiya happy after meeting Krishnamurthy
Cold war on between Indian, English eves
Joginder, Rana fashion Haryana win
British group takes controlling stake in Formula One
Former rally champion Richard Burns is dead
CRPF emerge champs
Patiala boy wins ticket to Champions Trophy
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Lara becomes leading Test run-scorer
Adelaide, November 26 The veteran opener, back after missing the opening two Tests with a fractured rib, was stalled on 99 for 20 minutes before he was out just short of his 23rd Test century. The crestfallen left-hander was caught off the glove down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off speedster Fidel Edwards. At stumps, Australia were 229 for three in reply to the tourists’ first-innings total of 405 to trail by 176 runs with three days left. New number four batsman Brad Hodge was not out on 13 with Mike Hussey not yet off the mark. The Australians had secured the Frank Worrell Trophy, but boosted by Lara’s record-breaking 226, the tourists realised their only highly competitive first-innings total of the series after scoring 210 and 149 in the previous Tests. It was Lara’s red-letter day as he became the greatest run-scorer in Tests when he reached 214 in his epic knock. The Australians lost skipper Ricky Ponting for 56, leg before wicket to Dwayne Bravo, after putting on 114 runs for the second wicket with Langer. Opener Matthew Hayden was snapped at short cover low down by Shivnarine Chanderpaul off Bravo for 47, just three runs short of a century opening partnership. Earlier Lara, 12 runs off the record on his overnight score of 202, swept past Allan Border’s world-record aggregate of 11,174 runs 20 minutes into the second day. Lara’s 405-minute vigil finally ended when he was bowled by Glenn McGrath, leaving him with a Test aggregate of 11,187 runs at an average of 54.04 in his 121st Test. Lara went into cricket folklore when he flicked a McGrath delivery off his hip to fine leg. He was finally out playing well away from his stumps to execute a cut shot and lost his off-stump some 42 minutes into play. Lara boosted the struggling West Indians to a powerful total of 405 in his 298-ball knock with 22 boundaries. The rest of his team contributed just 162 or 40 per cent towards the total. But the Australian bowlers had to work hard to remove the normally brittle lower order. Daren Powell, dropped on three by McGrath late on the opening day, lasted 77 minutes for his 14, before falling leg before wicket to McGrath. Fidel Edwards occupied the crease for 53 minutes for his 10 before he presented leg-spinner Shane Warne with his only wicket of the innings, caught by Hayden. Number 11 Corey Collymore lasted 34 minutes for his five not out. McGrath finished with 3 for 106 off 30 overs and new-ball partner Brett Lee captured 3 for 111 off 28 overs. Warne captured 1 for 77 off 19.2 overs while leg-spin partner Stuart MacGill had 2 for 60 off 18 overs. Scoreboard West Indies (1st innings) Hinds c Hayden b Lee 10 Smith c Hayden b Lee 7 Sarwan c Symonds b Lee 16 Lara b McGrath 226 Chanderpaul c Gilchrist Bravo c Ponting b MacGill 34 Smith c Symonds b MacGill 14 Ramdin lbw b McGrath 27 Powell lbw b McGrath 14 Edwards c Hayden b Warne 10 Collymore not out 5 Extras
(b-2, lb-5, nb-9, w-1) 17 Total (all out, 111.2 overs) 405 Fall of wickets:
1-16, 2-19, 3-53, 4-121, 5-237, 6-263, 7-333, 8-381, 9-388. Bowling:
McGrath 30-3-106-3, Lee 28-3-111-3, Symonds 16-5-44-1, Warne 19.2-2-77-1, MacGill 18-3-60-2. Australia (1st innings) Langer c Ramdin b Edwards 99 Hayden c Chanderpaul Ponting lbw b Bravo 56 Hodge not out 13 Hussey not out 0 Extras
(lb-2, nb-11, w-1) 14 Total (3 wkts, 61 overs) 229 Fall of wickets:
1-97, 2-211, 3-228. Bowling: Edwards 10-1-63-1, Powell 11-0-46-0, Collymore 16-1-43-0, Bravo 13-3-42-2, Smith 7-1-25-0, Hinds 4-1-8-0.
— AFP |
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Chappell’s “finger” episode nothing new
New Delhi, November 26 In the most disgusting and unsporting action, he asked his brother Trevor to bowl underarm in a one-day game to save his team from going down. When captain Greg Chappell’s Australia lost to England 0-3 in 1977, it was Australia’s heaviest loss in England since 1886. He resigned from captaincy after sustaining defeat in the fourth Test at Leeds. Chappell’s resignation from captaincy coincided with the initiation of Kerry Packer’s controversial World Series Cricket. Shockingly, Chappell defected to the Packer circus. He was promptly barred from playing “established cricket” by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB). When Chappell was moving from South Australia to Queensland, he was invited to lunch by Sir Donald Bradman. The conversation was confidential but he made it public. Throughout his cricketing career, Greg Chappell was not favourably inclined towards ACB. In his interview in the book Howzat:by Keith Butler, he said: “.... People say it’s great to play for your country, what more do you want? But over 10 years, you sacrifice a hell of a lot. After you have played 10 or 12 Tests, the emotional side wears off.There are more tangible things than just the honour and glory of playing for your country. How can you justify yourself to your family after being away from home for nine months and coming back with around $ 10,000 or $15,000”. In Kolkata it was not the first time Greg was caught in the “finger” episode. Years back, he was hauled up for similar gesture. His brother, Ian, however defended him. In his book: “Cricket In Our Blood”, Ian said: “Greg had almost held an impossible catch and while we were standing in the slips, Greg told me what had happened, explaining with his fingers. Up in the press box our friend saw this conversation and interpreted Greg’s explanatory motions with his hands as a rude, fingers-up gesture at me”. Through his talking and actions since his arrival as a coach, Chappell may not have endeared himself to Indians, particularly to Kolkatans, but he was considered one of the three best batsmen in world cricket at one time. He played 51 Tests, including 17 as a captain. He scored 4,057 runs (average 53.2) with 14 centuries. He took 32 Test wickets (average 43.6). |
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Unusual pitch suited South Africa more
Matters, not of bat or ball, have made headlines from Kolkata. It does become a result foretold if the coin does not land up your side.
Everything else is taken care of by uneven conditions in two halves of the day. Dew is the king and you do his majesty’s bidding. Toss is a matter of luck and not skills and we all know which ingredient should be deciding a game. I remember a final in Mumbai in the 1990s when after just a look at the wicket, we knew without the toss, we were doomed. It was not dew as much, but the sheer state of wicket which forewarned the perils of batting second on a crumbling pitch. It was a sight to see Venkatesh Prasad resort to bowling leg spin and slower ones which were rearing and sailing over batsmen’s heads! It brings to question the very issue of day-night games. Such matches have a social value in Australia or in South Africa, where families can hop on to their bandwagons and head for cricket stadiums for their evenings out, especially on weekends. That, in essence, has been the spirit of day-night games. We, too, are inconvenienced at times like in South Africa in March-April, especially in up-country, where winter sets in early. It gets dark there early and if you are playing Australia, in March-April, it knots you up. But possibly, there is no need to package one-day games in the subcontinent. A hundred thousand are going to turn up at the turnstiles anyway. The only concern should be that they get a good game, an equal game. Hold a day game, start it early in case you still want a day-night game or make it 25-overs each for two sides in two innings, so they get equal conditions. But I guess the authorities have been busy dressing up the one-day games in power play and super subs of late to worry about such inconveniences. Then it was the wicket. It was a very un-Indian kind of strip and I was very surprised. Indians do not play their cricket on such kind of wickets, they prefer the flatter types, where spinners come into business and even fast bowlers are conditioned to bowl in a certain style. But this one was right up South Africa’s alley. Shaun Pollock must have been licking his lips and offering words of gratitude to the groundsman. If indeed it was Kolkata’s way of showing anger at the omission of its most beloved son from the squad, it was strange and sad. A region or a country should not lose purpose or the bigger goal and must plan accordingly. It was also uncharacteristic to see so full-throated support to the South Africans on an Indian ground. Feelings do run deep in this part of the world. The footnote of cricket still must be recorded. The Indians needed to adjust to play in conditions which did not suit them. It should have been a slow start upfront, where you do not try to do too much, but they preferred to walk up to the trouble straight up. Guys like Sachin Tendulkar should have chosen to adjust. Graeme Smith’s century also cannot be glossed over. It was one of his finest and he was unbelievably clinical. He is an exceptional batsman. I have little doubt that he will end up as one of the top three batsmen ever we have produced. He is certainly heading that way. He played positively and put fast bowlers under some early pressure. Indian fast bowlers also did not bowl particularly well and Ajit Agarkar could not get his line right. Rahul Dravid was expecting his seamers to get them in early, but Smith settled it in the first 20 minutes. Charl Langeveldt, too, is making a good pitch for himself in our one-day plans. He had a good tour to the West Indies this year and had continued to work his way up. He is a good seam and swing bowler, who is prepared to pitch fuller and run the risk of being hit for fours. His speed is in the 130s, which is just enough on any surface and certainly, a handful on a deck like the one at Eden Gardens. It is a moment to savour if you walk away with a 10-wicket win in front of 80,000 fans away from home. They cannot lose the series. Mumbai can give them a historic triumph. That is, if the matter of toss is negotiated well there, too.
— PTI |
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Sachin back among top 10 in rankings
Dubai, November 26 Indian captain Rahul Dravid and vice-captain Virender Sehwag have slipped one place each to be fourth and fifth, respectively, on the ladder. Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has climbed five steps to be third in the list after his superb twin hundreds in the Faisalabad Test against England. South African Jacques Kallis and Australian captain Ricky Ponting have maintained their first and second positions, respectively. England’s Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell have also made upward movements in the ranking order. England’s top-order struggles during the Faisalabad Test are reflected in the fact that Marcus Trescothick (eighth), Andrew Strauss (17th) and captain Michael Vaughan (32nd) have all slipped down. Mathew Hayden, with his fourth hundred in successive Tests, continues his move back up the rankings and he now lies in sixth spot to be only the second Australian among the top 10. Among bowlers, paceman Irfan Pathan continues to be ninth while Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar has moved up one place to seventh and England’s Mathew Hoggard has slipped out of the top 10. Glenn McGrath’s impressive effort with the ball in Hobart has made him return to the number one spot in the bowling list while his team-mate Shane Warne slips from that position to third, behind McGrath and Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.
— PTI |
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Dalmiya happy after meeting Krishnamurthy
Kolkata, November 26 Following the meeting Mr Dalmiya told newspersons, “I am very happy after meeting Mr Krishnamurthy. He gave us a very patient hearing and looked quite calm and composed.’’ “We had a meeting with Krishnamurthy and we placed our papers before him. We also explained our case to the former Election Commissioner regarding a few guidelines which he had set over the past two days,’’ he said. Asked why did cricket historian Boria Mazumdar accompanied the BCCI representation he said, “Boria is a reputed cricket historian not only in the country but also abroad. We took him along with us to present our case and explain to Mr Krishnamurthy the history of guidelines of Indian cricket like how Bihar was not a valid candidate as Jharkhand was.’’ He further said, “He is a nice man and gave us a patient hearing and we will meet again tomorrow.’’ Krishnamurthy had said day before yesterday that granting recognition to Jharkhand in place of Bihar at a special meeting last year was “flawed’’. He cancelled Jharkhand’s voting right and ruled Bihar as eligible. He added that the Delhi and District Cricket Association and Kolkata’s National Cricket Club have not held AGMs in the recent years and their representatives to the BCCI meeting will have to produce proper “authorisation from competent persons’’. He also said following disputes over membership Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh would have to bring to its notice their representations on Sunday. All these units named here are known to be pro-Dalmiya. In another blow to that camp, Krishnamurthy had ruled that the chairman of the AGM can vote only in case of a tie. In addition, he said that the challenger for the post of president should be from West Zone and his name must be proposed and seconded by representatives from the same region. Mr Dalmiya said, “I tried to give explanation for what happened and not accuse others. This is not there in my upbringing.’’ Asked about the Chappell incident, he said, “I am not sure what he did. But it seems that the TV camera had shown it. The matter will be looked into.’’ He said that he would give a written submission if necessary to Mr Krishnamurty tomorrow in favour of their case.
— UNI |
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Cold war on between Indian, English eves
New Delhi, November 26 Edwards’ above said comments, which appeared in her tour diary for a cricket website three weeks back, did not go down well with the hosts and drew flak from Indian players. However, as the Delhi Test began, bitterness seemed to have allowed rivalry to take the centerstage until last night when rumours about the “bad blood” between the squads resurfaced with the England players, except the officials, distanced themselves from a function to honour the Indian team in the capital citing “tiredness”. Putting forth the official version, the team’s manager Charlotte Dickenson — one of the four officials, including the coach, who attended the function — said, “The girls are cooling their heels after a hard fought match and couldn’t turn up.” She also admired the camaraderie between the two teams and said English and Indian eves were “fierce competitors in the middle while very friendly off the field.” However, sources said, it was controversy which brewed from Edwards’ comments that prevented the visitors from attending the function. “Fatigue is the alibi they (English team) are giving for the absence. But the real reason may be cockroaches,” a source on the condition of anonymity revealed. Indian officials were tight-lipped and tried to downplay the issue. The two teams had, on Sunday, attended a party thrown by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
The England team now takes on India in the first one-day of the five match series tomorrow at Faridabad.
— UNI |
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Joginder, Rana fashion Haryana win
Kanpur, November 26 Chasing a modest 145 for victory, the Uttar Pradesh batsmen were sent packing for just 104 by the duo of Joginder and Rana, who took five wickets each. Haryana gained four points from this win. Uttar Pradesh started on a disastrous note and were soon reduced to 46 for 5, Joginder causing the bulk of the damage. Rohit Prakash, Arish Alam and Praveen Kumar fell to his immaculate line and length. Captain Jyoti Yadav and veteran Gyanendra Pandey stemmed the rot, adding 30 for the sixth wicket. But after their stand was broken, there was not much resistance from the lower order and the innings folded 36 minutes after tea.
— PTI |
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British group takes controlling stake in Formula One
Frankfurt, November 26 CVC said it planned to keep Bernie Ecclestone, longtime commercial head of Formula One, as chief executive. The London-based group said it formed Alpha Prema, which would acquire the stake in Formula One held by Munich-based Bayerische Landesbank and the Ecclestone family trust company, or Bambino Holdings. Ecclestone’s family trust holds 25 per cent stake in SLEC Holdings, which owns companies running Formula One. The remaining 75 per cent in SLEC is held by Bayerische Landesbank, which has 48 per cent, along with JP Morgan and Lehman Brothers. The deal will give Alpha Prema 73 per cent of Formula One and majority control. The acquisition is not expected to change the way Formula One operates on the track. The price of the deal, subject to regulatory approval, was not disclosed. A spokeswoman for CVC, Deborah Fairbrass, said it was likely to be wrapped up in 2006. Alpha Prema would have as shareholders CVC, Bambino, Ecclestone and the Formula One management team. Gerhard Gribkowsky, chairman of SLEC, and Donald McKenzie of CVC would also be part of Alpha Prema’s board, along with a representative of Bambino. Ecclestone (75) had been with Formula One for 26 years, amassing a fortune estimated at $ 3.7 billion. “We are delighted to have CVC as a shareholder, whose strategies and vision will provide stability,” he said. “They are knowledgeable about motor sport and make an ideal partner for Formula One,” he added. CVC owns 38 companies in Europe and operates 12 offices, including the Madrid-based marketing company Dorna Sports SA, which stages the annual MotoGP motor cycle world championship. CVC is also the majority shareholder of the Automobile Association in Great Britain. “CVC has given support to discussions between Formula One, the teams and manufacturers to enable a successful extension of the Concorde Agreement,” McKenzie said. The move was partly aimed at blunting a rival of Ecclestone — the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association — which had been threatening to start a rival series or take over Formula One, beginning 2008. The GPMA is made up of the five major manufacturers in Formula One — BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Renault, Toyota and Honda — and wants control of the sport. The GPMA and most of the teams, with the exception of Ferrari, have called for more financial transparency in the sport and want the power of the FIA limited. The breakaway group wants appeals to be taken to the independent Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, rather than the FIA’s own court.
It wants special veto rules granted to Ferrari rescinded.
The president of the FIA is Max Mosley, a long-time friend of Ecclestone and his former lawyer.
— AP |
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Former rally champion Richard Burns is dead
London, November 26 His last race was in 2003 while leading the world championship. He was forced to stop racing after fainting at the wheel of his car while travelling to the Wales Rally GB. “From the outset Richard knew that the odds were heavily against him and yet he fought his illness with bravery and good humour,” the statement said. “Having undergone both chemotherapy and radiotherapy he was able to leave hospital in summer 2004. “For a while his health showed signs of improvement but then after six months it once again began to decline. “Determined not to give up, he opted for surgery earlier this year. This alleviated some of the symptoms of his illness and enabled him to remain active. “At Castle Combe in August he attended a parade of the rally cars that he drove throughout his career and was touched by the warmth of the reception he received.
“However there was to be no miracle and in recent days he lapsed into a coma.
“The date of a memorial service will be announced shortly.” — AFP |
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CRPF emerge champs
New Delhi, November 26 Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF), by collecting 20 medals and 143 points each, were declared joint second. Jagdish Basak of BSF became the fastest man of the meet when he clocked 10.71 secs in the 100m dash on the concluding day. Manjinder Singh of Punjab Police and Jorawar Singh of CRPF claimed the silver and bronze, respectively. In the 20km walk, Gurmeet Singh of Punjab Police posted a time of 1:30.01.1 secs to win the gold. M.S. Vittal and Bikramjit Singh of CRPF claimed the silver and bronze, respectively. Deepika Biswas of CRPF emerged the winner in the women’s 1500m race. Geeta of UP and Beani Kaur of Punjab Police won the silver and bronze, respectively. |
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Patiala boy wins ticket to Champions Trophy Patiala, November 26 Mukhpal Singh, a 16-year-old protege of SAI coach Poonam Bala, has played in many sub-junior national championships. The two-day penalty shootout competition was held on a synthetic surface. Fifty youngsters from Punjabi University, the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology and the SAI Training Centre participated in the contest.
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