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‘My time, my terms’
Flawed genius
SA coach hits back at critics
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ICC clears Shabbir
Bagan, Churchill in last eight
Irina, Parnita for Ladies Classic golf
Bopanna, Sharan enter semis
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‘My time, my terms’
Melbourne, December 21 The talismanic leg-spinner, who mesmerised batsmen the world over but did not enjoy a high success rate against the Indians, formally announced his decision to quit Test cricket at a press conference here today. “I just know it’s my time. I would like to go out on top. I would like to go out on my terms...,” an emotional Warne, regarded as one of the greatest spinners in the history of the game, said. “It’s been unbelievable — my journey and my ride in international cricket has been phenomenal.” Warne, who has 699 wickets from 143 Tests, is expected to reach the 700-milestone when he bids farewell to an army of hometown Melbourne fans at the fourth Ashes Test to be held early next week. The Sydney Test (Jan 2-6) will be the swansong to his illustrious Test career. Warne, however, said that he would continue to play for English county side Hampshire for the remaining two years of his contract. The charismatic Australian said it was time to go after playing a pivotal role in regaining the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead last week after a shock loss in England last year. “I’m a very happy man. I probably would have retired after the 2005 Ashes had we won, but that was not to be. There was unfinished business.” “For me, it was a mission to get that urn back,” Warne said. “My time is now. I don’t think I could have written the script any better,” the 37-year-old spin wizard said. Warne said he had discussed his decision to retire with captain Ricky Ponting after the Perth Test. He said that he wanted to leave the game at the height of powers and go “on my terms”. As for his future, he said he would consider it over some “quiet beers and a few smokes”. “I don’t know what the future holds ... there are a lot of things I would like to do. I’ve got two Test matches to play, then I will sit back.” Warne, the only current player to be included in Wisden's top five cricketers of the 20th century, also said that when he told his children of his plans, they became concerned that his departure from the game included their games of backyard cricket and he had to assure them otherwise. Warne said this month’s stunning fifth-day comeback victory over England in the second Test at Adelaide helped him leave cricket while on the top of his game. “Adelaide did that — I think that is the best Test match I’ve ever played in,” he said. “I don’t think I could have given any more to Australian cricket. I’ve given everything to the game.” To end his career at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the venue for his Test debut in 1991-92, would be a great feeling, Warne said. “To have an opportunity to walk off in Sydney where it all began a long time ago I think is a great opportunity and something to celebrate,” he said. Warne captured international limelight for the first time in 1993, when he produced what has been acclaimed as the “Ball of the Century” to bowl England’s Mike Gatting with his first ever Ashes delivery. Since then, Warne has been the world’s premier bowler. He has held the record for the highest number of Test wickets since October 2004. In August 2005, he became the first man to reach 600 Test wickets.
— PTI
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Flawed genius
The 37-year-old is probably from among the rare breed who evoke immense admiration and scandalous disbelief at the same time. If his ‘ball of the century’ would be etched in the memories of his fans for years to come, the same could also be said about his penchant to court controversies — be it concerning women, dope or match-fixing. In fact, series of sex scandals resulted in an expected break-up with model-wife Simone with whom he has three children. But his controversy-prone personal life was largely responsible for him being denied captaincy, which he otherwise deserved truly by virtue of his stature in the game and staggering records. The leg-spinning great was named vice-captain once but was stripped of that designation in 2000 after it emerged that he had flooded a British nurse with sexually explicit text messages. Earlier in 1995, Warne, along with Mark Waugh, was fined by the Australian Cricket Board after he admitted giving match-related information to an Indian bookie in exchange of money. Warne also suffered the ignominy of being sent back home from the 2003 World Cup in South Africa after failing a drug test. He was found to have taken a diuretic, a masking agent, which he later blamed to a pill given by his mother to reduce weight. Slapped a one-year ban from international game, Warne came back in style, taking 26 wickets, including two ten-wicket hauls in a three-Test series against Sri Lanka to pass the 500-wicket mark. A master of mind games, his rivalry with Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and duels with Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar were among the highlights of his 15-year career that started against the Indians in Sydney, 1992.
— PTI |
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SA coach hits back at critics
Durban, December 21 Former skipper Keppler Wessels and spinner Pat Symcox had criticised the team management for underestimating the Indians and being arrogant. But Arthur denies that his players had taken the visitors for granted in the Johannesburg game. “We played as poorly as we could have played, while India played very well. But we certainly didn’t take the Indians for granted and I can assure you we’re going to get better,” Arthur was quoted as saying in Natal Mercury morninger today. “Despite all the precautions, things like that can happen very easily and maybe some guys simply expected to roick
up and roll them over,” he said. Arthur admitted though that Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs should have been asked to play in local provincial matches before the first Test. “Obviously, in hindsight we can now say that perhaps he (Smith) should have played. But he (Smith) was under huge pressure after the ODI series and we opted to give him some time out.” Arthur also said they had prepared well for the Test but that they could not make the necessary adjustments needed while switching to the longer version of the game. “Our batters weren’t patient enough, and some of our bowlers bowled too short and wide. But these were things we talked about a lot in the build-up. Unfortunately, the guys just didn't execute. “We’re are still looking for the right combinations at Test level, and we’re also looking to integrate our young players into the body of the team. In many ways we’re still a fledgling outfit, and
things don’t come right overnight.” — PTI
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Cricket eves lift Asia Cup
Jaipur, December 21 India had won the earlier two editions of the tournament in Sri Lanka and Pakistan and on each occasion, Sri Lanka finished second. After skittling out the visitors for a paltry 93 in 44.1 overs, India cantered to the victory target in just 27.5 overs, losing only two
wickets. Sunetra Paranjpe guided India to the win with a sedate unbeaten knock of 35, which also earned her the Woman of the Match award, while captain Mithalia Raj was unbeaten on 17. Opting to bat first, the Lankan eves soon found themselves in a morass, losing wickets at regular intervals even though there was no demon in the pitch. For the visitors, only C. Golampala (22), S. D. Alwis (11) and S. Weerakkody (17) could reach the double figure as the Indian trio of Jhulan Goswami (2/230, Rumeli Dhar(2/11) and Devika Palshikar (2/16) ran through the rival line-up. India did not have a sound start either, losing Sulakshana Naik (16) and Trish Kamini (13) early before Paranjpe and Mithali joined hands to guide the side to their title
hat-trick. Paranjpe hit four boundaries in his 59-ball knock, while Mithali played a patient 34-ball knock which included just one hit to the fence. Trish Kamini and Sri Lankan D De Silva shared the Womam of the Series award. Scoreboard Sri Lanka De Silva lbw Goswami
2 Golampala b Dimri 22 Siriwardhane b Dhar 1 Galageora b Dhar 4
Alwis run out 11 Lokusuriya run out 9 Mandora c Naik b Palshikar 3
Dolawatte b Palshikar 1 Abeysinghe not out 3 Weerakkody b Goswami 17 Kumari c Dimri b Paranjpe 1 Extras
(b-3, lb-4, nb-2, w-10) 19 Total (all out, 44.1 overs) 93 Fall of wickets:
1-4, 2-18, 3-30, 4-51, 5-59, 6-62, 7-66, 8-67, 9-92. Bowling:
Goswami 4-0-23-2, Dhar 7-3-11-2, Paranjpe 5.1-0-16-1, Goyal 8-4-7-0, Dimri 10-6-12-1, Palshikar 6-0-16-2, Kamini 4-3-1-0. India Naik c Kumari b Polgampala
16 Kamini run out 13 Paranjpe not out 35 Mithali not out 17 Extras
(b-1, lb-5, w-8) 14 Total (2
wkts, 27.5 overs) 95 Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-52. Bowling: Weerakkody 4-0-13-0, Niroshi 4-1-10-0, Polgampala 7-0-22-1, Lokusuriya 3-0-11-0, Siriwardhane 6.5-0-22-0, Alwis 3-0-11-0.
— UNI
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ICC clears Shabbir
The ICC sent a notification to the Pakistan Cricket Board informing them that Shabbir could resume his international career with immediate effect in the wake of the completion of his one-year ban for having an illegal bowling action. “The ordeal for me is finally over and I am very keen to try and fight my way back into the national team,” Shabbir told reporters in Karachi where he is playing in the domestic Twenty20 Cup competition. “I have faced a hard time in the period the ban was imposed on me. I felt hurt because I was banned only because two or three of my deliveries were reported by the umpires,” he said.
Shabbir, who has taken 51 wickets in 10 Tests, was banned from playing international cricket on December 19, 2005. The ICC took the extreme measure after umpires reported his action twice in 2005 - after the tour of the West Indies in May and then in the home series against England. But a senior PCB offical made it clear that Shabbir would remain under scrutiny of match officials. “His ban is over and he can resume playing but he can’t afford to have his action reported again as it could mean a big setback for him,” the official said. The ICC lifted the ban after getting an all clear report from the biomechanic specialist it appointed to review Shabbir's action last month in Australia. “We have also got a copy of the report of Professor Bruce Elliot which puts Shabbir’s bowling action within ICC tolerance levels,” the PCB official said.
— PTI
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Jugraj does it for cops
Jalandhar, December 20 Jugraj, who struck four goals yesterday against Rail Coach Factory, put up another fine show today and converted all three penalty corners earned by the policemen. The winners opened their account through Gagandeep Singh’s fine field goal but soon after BSF’s Habil Topno drew level with an equally good field goal. After that, Jugraj took charge and scored three goals in about 20 minutes (4-1). The last goal for the BSF was scored by Varinderjit Singh off a penalty stroke. The match between Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) and Sher-e-Jalandhar ended in a 1-1 draw. Sher-e-Jalandhar took the lead through Gagan Ajit Singh in the 26th minute with a spectacular field goal. But Daler Singh of PSB secured the equaliser in 48th minute through a penalty corner. Interestingly, five Sher-e-Jalandhar players — Davinderpal Singh, Baljit Saini, Davinder Singh, Parminder Singh and Maninder Singh — used to play for PSB earlier. Sher-e-Jalandhar is presently gearing up for the Premier Hockey League. Meanwhile, in another league match, Corps of Signals registered their first victory in the tournament defeating Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, 4-2.
— UNI
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Bagan, Churchill in last eight
Kolkata, December 21 The two sides would lock horns on December 24 for a place in the last four. Bagan played a cohesive game, with their forwards and medios drumming up a good combination to rattle the Kerala side’s defence. The nimble-footed Bhaichung Bhutia and a cunning Mehtab Hossain scored two apiece, while Baba netted for the losers in the one-sided encounter watched by a sizeable crowd. Bagan went ahead 15 minutes into the first half when Bhutia headed in a measured corner from Lal Kamal Bhowmick. Viva Kerala, playing their maiden Federation Cup, tried to regroup and got the equaliser in the 29th minute, but the goal was disputed by Bagan players. Bagan custodian Sangram Mukherjee misjudged a looping backpass from Eduardo and collected the ball with his hands thinking the Brazilian defender had gone for a backheader. The referee awarded an indirect free kick to the visitors and Tunde’s setpiece went in off a Bagan player. Bagan defenders were seen hotly contesting the referee’s decision to signal a goal, as Jose Barreto pushed the official who stood firm. Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers produced a scintillating first half to blank Air India. Geroge Ekeh came up with a double strike and Okoli Odafa found the target once, as all goals came in the opening half. Air India looked rudderless, but tried to stage a comeback in the second session. In the 57th minute they came close to scoring, but Samson Singh’s effort was blocked by Churchill custodian Vinay Singh. Four minutes from the final whistle, Air India were distinctly unlucky as Vinay Kuruvilla’s stinging shot came off the woodwork. — PTI
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Irina, Parnita for Ladies Classic golf
Panchkula, December 21 Leading the pro brigade will be Chandigarh’s Irina Brar and Parnita Garewal. Promoted by Tourism Malaysia, the tournament will be the second of its kind to promote women’s golf. The first was played at the Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi on October 6. The winner and runner-up of the pro event will get a ticket each for Malaysia to play in a tournament there. For the amateurs, the promoters have lined up tickets to Malaysia for the top four players. The Ladies Classic aims to promote women’s golf at professional as well as amateur levels. The Ladies Classic is being supported by other companies like Awana Genting, Lotus Herbals Limited and India Travel Mart. Lotus Herbals- Safe Sun is the official sunblock for Malaysia Truly Asia Ladies Classic 2006.
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Bopanna, Sharan enter semis
New Delhi, December 21 Bopanna smashed 11 aces as he beat fifth-seeded Karan Rastogi in straight sets at 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 17 minutes while Divij Sharan took just over an hour to dispose off third-seeded Kondo Hiroki of US at 6-2, 6-1. Sharan had such a smooth sailing that Hiroki could not offer him much resistance as the synthetic surface did not seem to be of his liking. Bopanna, on the other hand, intimidated Karan Rastogi with his blinding serves and agile court craft and got breaks in the third game of the first set and third and seventh games of the second set to wrap up the contest. Sanam K Singh of Chandigarh frittered away the advantage of winning the first set as his good play in patches was not enough to get the better of Hyun Woo Nam of Korea and lost 6-4, 3-6, 1-6. But in one of the most interesting clashes, fourth seeded Aisam Qureshi of Pakistan squandered a match point in the second set and lost it, yet held on grimly to beat off the doughty fightback of the nippy Todor Enev of Bulgaria in the third set tie-breaker to post a 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 (7-2) victory. Aisam made up for his lapses by firing an ace to win the last tie-break point to win the contest and storm into the semifinals.
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Melbourne, December 21
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