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Get back to basics, Chappell tells seniors
News Analysis
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Ganguly should
retire: Kapil
ICC warns Haq, PCB over “unnecessary” comments
Paes advances; mixed luck for Sania
Raghunath replaces Sandeep in World Cup squad
Manavjit wins gold
CIET Rajpura swimmers shine
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Get back to basics, Chappell tells seniors
Bangalore, September 4 “I think this (the ongoing rolling camp) is an opportunity to get them back to the basics,” the former Australian captain said. “The good thing about good players like Tendulkar, (Virender) Sehwag, (Rahul) Dravid, Yuvraj (Singh) and (Mohammed) Kaif is that these guys have been around for a long time but they are prepared to revisit the basics from time to time. “There are no short-cuts, no magic formula. It is about applying the basics better than the other person. We won’t have any trouble with the senior guys because they revisit the basics all the time,” he said. On Tendulkar, Chappell said the batsman will basically ‘revisit’ the basics like what everyone is doing. “He (Tendulkar) will have an input on what he wants to do. He has a very good feel for what he needs. We — (Biomechanist Ian) Frazer and I — had a session with him up in Mumbai last week and he is working on some specifics. He is very good in understanding his own game.” On specific goals vis-a-vis the Champions Trophy, Chappell said the team would vary their goals from time to time depending upon the opposition and the conditions and try to utilise its resources to the best. “We have identified some areas in one-day cricket where all teams are finding it difficult. We also find it difficult and we are trying to get better at,” he said. Chappell said they were looking at repositioning some of the resources against different teams because of the faster bowlers they might have, so that the team could match “what our best attribute is against their best attribute at that time”. “So it could mean someone who bats down the order might bat up the order and someone who bats up the order could bat down the order. I don’t think there are any set solutions to any situation. So we need to be ready for giving our best attribute to that situation”. Chappell said hitting the stumps is a critical thing in one day cricket and if one can get one or two run-outs in one-day cricket, it does make a big difference like having an extra bowler. “So we are just trying to improve all
around," he said. “When you get a group of 15, it is very hard to get a one-on-one session but with just five players. “That was one of the reasons behind having a small group this time. We won’t have an opportunity like this again before the World Cup and it is a blessing in disguise. “Yes, we would have preferred to play on in Sri Lanka (the series was aborted) but may be this (the rolling camp) was meant to happen,” he said. On the second phase of the rolling camp which concluded today, Chappell said it has been another good camp. “We varied it a little bit this time as these guys (M. S. Dhoni, R. P. Singh, S. Sreesanth, Suresh Raina and Munaf Patel) identified fielding as an area that they wanted to work on as well. “We did some extra fielding stuff this morning. It went very well. The boys responded excellently to what we were doing in the camp. I am hopeful that the third one will go even better.” Asked about the aspects of fielding that he focussed on, the coach said it was on throwing from the deep. “We are reasonably good in the short distance, but we need to work on the longer distance throws. We are working on a few areas in their technique so that they get more power and accuracy when they throw.” ‘Sreesanth will emerge stronger’
Hoping that Sreesanth, who has been dropped for the ICC Champions Trophy, would stage a comeback and emerge stronger, coach Greg Chappell asked the Kerala speedster to convert the setback into an opportunity. “...But sometimes, what seems like a setback could be a benefit because it gives him a chance to go away and work on a few things that we have had him work on already,” Chappell said here today. “I have no doubt that he (Sreesanth) has a choice. And like I told him in the morning, he can let it (the dropping) take him down or he can let it take him up. Thankfully, he has got a very good attitude and he can only get stronger,” the former Australian captain said. “That’s what it is, just a setback. He will come back”. Chappell said it can be frustrating for the player (when he is dropped). “Whoever missed out would have been unlucky because they all have done some really good work and Sreesanth is improving all the time. His (Sreesanth’s) bowling, batting, fielding and fitness are all getting better”.
— PTI
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Sreesanth’s exclusion defies logic
Abhijit Chatterjee
The mind of a national selector is surely difficult to understand. But the selectors have been whimsical in the past and yesterday they acted in their own inexplicable way.
Otherwise, how can they explain the exclusion of Kerala’s S. Sreesanth from the squad for the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in India next month, and the decision to include Uttar Pradesh’s Rudra Pratap Singh in his place? Even if the last tour of India to the West Indies is taken as the performance yardstick (no games could be played in the tournament in Sri Lanka due to incessant rain) then the Kerala paceman was miles better than his Uttar Pradesh counterpart. True, the selectors acted along predictable lines when they decided to retain the same 15 (and decided not to have a fresh look at deposed captain Sourav Ganguly and the injured Anil Kumble) they had selected for the washed out triangular series in Sri Lanka (later reduced to a one to one series after South Africa left rather hurriedly after a bomb blast in the island nation). But the exclusion of Sreesanth from the squad for the Champions Trophy definitely defies cricketing logic. Today, the Kerala speedster is not only the fastest in the land but his combative spirit in his short international career has been remarkable. His role in the tour of the West Indies has been really outstanding and his exclusion (never mind the sugary pill handed out by the chairman of the selection committee) could well see him dropping his shoulders. It was last year in Mohali that the tearaway Kerala speedster made headlines with a haul of seven wickets for 149 runs in the Challenger series. This effort, which included the scalps of players like Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman, not only earned him the man of the series award but also brought him into national reckoning. His first Test was against England at home tour in March this year and since then he has played a total of five Tests during in which he has claimed a total of 19 wickets at an average of 29.78, a good effort by any standard specially since he started his international career on staid domestic pitches. He played a stellar role in the historic Test win at Sabina Park, Kingston, where India wrapped up a series win in the West Indies for the first time since 1970-71. In one-day cricket, in which he made his debut shortly after the end of the Challenger series, his performance has been good with a haul of 24 wickets in 18 games at an average of 36.20. Maybe he was a little expensive in the shorter version of the game but his performance in the games in the West Indies had been wonderful. And it must be remembered that given his age (he is only 22) he has still along way to go. Rudra Pratap Singh, who made his international debut in 2005, should consider himself lucky to have made the cut ahead of Sreesanth as during the tour of the West Indies his performance had been lacklustre. He played in just one ODI, bowling seven overs for 45 runs and failing to claim a wicket. Before that he had played in three games against England but again went wicketless. In the 15 one-day matches that the Uttar Pradesh fast bowler has figured in, he has claimed 19 wickets at an average of 29.52, just marginally better that Sreesanth’s. Of course, Rudra Pratap Singh did have his moments of glory while playing for India but on current performance it should have been Sreesanth who should have got the nod for the Champions Trophy. The suggestion that Rudra Pratap Singh, who is two years senior to Sreesanth, has been selected ahead of the Kerala youngster because he bowls left-handed and would add variety to the Indian attack does not cut much ice since the selectors could have then inducted the experienced Zaheer Khan who is doing reasonably well in the English county circuit into the squad.
— TNS
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Ganguly should
retire: Kapil
New Delhi: Former Indian captain Kapil Dev said Sourav Ganguly’s was a shut and closed case, and he should now take ‘sanyas’ from international cricket. “Sourav should have quit international cricket one year ago.
Otherwise, one should have the motivation and resilience like Mohinder Amarnath to return to the national team by fighting one’s way through”, Kapil said at the sidelines of a book launch function here on Monday. He said if Ganguly wanted to get back into the Indian team, he should play positive cricket, and reclaim his place in the team.
— OSR |
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ICC warns Haq, PCB over “unnecessary” comments
Dubai, September 4 ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said he was disappointed by some of the comments that had appeared in the media and would not hesitate to “lay charge” if further comments were made ahead of the disciplinary hearing of the Pakistan skipper later this month. Speed said the Pakistani team management had breached the ICC Code of Conduct which bars public criticism of a match related incident or official. Warning to take action if such comments were not stopped immediately, he said: “the acute international diplomatic and political sensitivity of this issue has persuaded me not to lay a charge to date but despite the exceptional circumstances I will not hesitate to lay a charge should further inappropriate public comments be made ahead of the hearing.” “There will be plenty of opportunity for Pakistan to put its side of the story in the fair environment of the Code of Conduct hearing.,” he added. Haq hearing on Sep 27, 28
Karachi: The disciplinary hearing of Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq over charges of ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute would be held in London on September 27 and 28. Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said ICC officials had conveyed to them the dates in course of discussions on whether Inzamam could be picked in the Pakistan team pending the hearing. “ICC has disclosed that Inzamam’s hearing will take place on September 27 and 28 in London under the supervision of adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka,” sources told PTI. The twin charges carry a maximum ban from playing eight one-day internationals or four Test matches.
— PTI
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Agassi bows out, for good
New York, September 4 Betrayed by a creaky body that needed four injections this week, Agassi’s spirit never waned.
Agassi announced this summer that his 21st consecutive US Open would be his final event. It seemed unimaginable that he could win seven matches to take the title, but after two inspiring victories, fans began to hope and wonder. Instead, the end came with Agassi looking like what he’d become — a 36-year-old man with a bad back, ready for retirement. “I just credit the doctors that I was able to play out there today,” he said. “I didn’t expect a whole lot physically. And sure enough, it was real early when I wasn’t feeling so good.” The 25-year-old Becker started strong, showing few nerves, and closed out the match with a 133 mph (214 kph) ace. Moments later, Agassi teared up on the blue court as he addressed a crowd that showed up early at Arthur Ashe Stadium and tried to spur him all afternoon. “The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn’t say is what it is I’ve found,” Agassi said, his voice cracking with emotion. “Over the last 21 years, I’ve found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I have found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed sometimes even in my lowest moments.” German qualifier Becker applauded as Agassi spoke. Agassi’s wife, Steffi Graf, and their two children looked on. “He was my idol growing up,” said Becker, no relation to Boris — never even met him. He joined the crowd for a four-minute, loud standing ovation saluting Agassi, who stared out at the crowd from his chair, wiping tears from his eyes. Agassi was greeted by another big cheer from fellow players when he walked into the locker room. Toward the end of that tribute, Becker entered. Becker advanced to play 2003 US Open champ Andy Roddick, who defeated Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2. Elsewhere, two-time defending champion Roger Federer easily
dismissed Vince Spadea of the United States 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 and next meets Marc Gicquel of France, who eliminated 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio 6-0, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3). In third-round action, unseeded two-time Open champion Serena Williams won her second consecutive match against a seeded player, beating No 16 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-4 to set up a showdown today against No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, and 1998 champ Lindsay Davenport erased two match points in defeating Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Li Na of China upset 2005 runner-up Mary Pierce 4-6, 6-0, 6-0, advancing to a fourth-round match against No. 3 Maria Sharapova, who dispatched fellow Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-2. On the men’s side, second-seeded Rafael Nadal reached the Open’s fourth round for the first time, and others to advance included 2001 Open champion Lleyton Hewitt, fifth-seeded James Blake, British teen Andy Murray, Belgium’s Olivier Rochus, Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny, Spain’s Tommy Robredo, the Czech Republic’s Jiri Novak, and France’s Richard Gasquet. —
AP
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Paes advances; mixed luck for Sania
New York, September 4 Paes and his Czech partner Martin Damm got the better of Alexander Peya of Austria and Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-3, 7-6 (4) in their second round encounter at Flushing Meadows yesterday. The sixth-seeded Indo-Czech pair bagged the first set in convincing fashion but was given a run for its money in the second set which went into a tie-breaker. Paes and Damm held their nerves to emerge victorious over their unseeded opponents and will now meet Jarkko Nieminen of Finland and Graydon Oliver of the United States, who upset 11th seeds Austrian pair of Julian Knowles and Jurgen Melzer 7-6 (5), 6-2. In women’s doubles, the 11th-seeded combination of Sania and South African Liezel Huber trounced Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France and Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-0, 6-3 to move into the quarterfinals. They next face sixth-seeded Czech Kveta Peschke and Francesca Schiavone of Italy, who beat Ukranians Alona Bondarenko and Kateryna Bondarenko 7-5, 6-1. However, Sania had disappointment in store in the mixed doubles as she and Czech Republic’s Pavel Vizner went down fighting to Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia Montenegro 2-6, 6-3, 10-7 in the first round. After conceding the first set rather easily, the Indo-Czech combine fought back to level the match. However, they fell just short in the deciding super tie-breaker. Sixth-seeded Sanam Singh was shown the door by unseeded Yoann Re of Canada in the first round of boys’ singles. The Canadian had a cake walk as Sanam surrendered meekly 1-6, 1-6. Another Indian Rupesh Roy also lost his first round boys’ singles match to Gastao Elias of Portugal 6-4, 5-7, 0-6.
— PTI
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Raghunath replaces Sandeep in World Cup squad
New Delhi, September 4 Raghunath pipped two others — Vikramjit Singh and Jugraj Singh — who were in contention to fill up Sandeep’s spot in the Indian team. Indian Hockey Federation Secretary K. Jothikumaran said Raghunath was preferred over the experienced Jugraj and Vikramjit because of his recent consistent performances. “Raghunath has been selected as the replacement for Sandeep for the World Cup. The coaches preferred him over the other two because he played well in junior tournaments and South Asian Games. Also, he scored in the practice game against Japan (which India won 3-1) two days back,” Jothikumaran told PTI today. The Indian team received a jolt days before taking off for Germany for their World Cup campaign when Sandeep was shot in an accidental firing while travelling to Delhi in Kalka Shatabdi Express to join the rest of the national squad. IHF selected three penalty corner specialists who were flown in to Germany and were fielded in some practice matches to assess their form and fitness.
— PTI
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Manavjit wins gold
New Delhi, September 4 Manavjit totalled 141 out of a maximum of 150 (120 in the five rounds and 21 in the final) to pip Mansher Singh (120+20) by one point in a close contest. Anwer Sultan (119+19) was a further two points behind and had to settle for bronze. The Indian trio also won the team gold with a new Asian clay record of 359 points out of a possible 375. China was a distant second with 340 while Chinese Taipei claimed the bronze medal with 338. Going into the day, Anwer was in the lead but Manavjit was in his elements today. “I am thrilled to win the gold medal. I am confident if I can continue like this, people are going to get the right corporate support as well,” Manavjit said. “In terms of scores, it was not the best perhaps. What was important was to win the gold for myself after the team effort. Shooting has become high profile and we have again proved we are progressing well.” Mansher Singh, who missed the gold medal by a whisker, said “I am happy with my own performance. I made a good recovery after trailing yesterday. I am on the right track for the Asian Games and we can do well in the team event as well.” The secretary-general of the IOA, Raja Randhir Singh, congratulated the shooters and said he had high hopes from them at the Doha Asian Games in December.
— PTI
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CIET Rajpura swimmers shine
Ropar, September 4 Other winners include Kunwar Walia of IET Bhaddal who won gold in 200m free style and Amanjot Kaur of the college who won gold in 100m backstroke. The swimming championship organised by IET Bhaddal was inaugurated by the SSP, Ropar, Mr Kapil Dev, this morning.
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