 |
|
|
India
whip Windies England
waste good start
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 COUNTDOWN3 DAYS TO GO... The Pathan factor The uncertainty surrounding Pathan continues. In India’s first warm-up match against the Netherlands, Pathan’s bowling failed to inspire much confidence. The bowler looked jaded and low on confidence. Though he took one wicket in six overs, his lack of pace as well as bite was alarming.
I am going through hell, says Shoaib
Aussies’ behaviour awful: Gavaskar
We would like chasing: Ponting
Jyoti masters field at halfway mark
Saina bows out
|
|
India whip Windies India won their second and final preparatory match before the World Cup commences at the expense of the hosts, the West Indies, after dismissing their opponents for a paltry 85, thanks to some spirited collective pace bowling spearheaded by Munaf Patel. India reached 86 for one in reply in 18.3 overs despite losing opening batsman Virender Sehwag for a duck. Opener Robin Uthappa was 35 not out and Dinesh Karthik promoted to number three, made 38 not out, the pair adding an 80-run unbroken second-wicket partnership. Compared to the embarrassment of losing to Kwazulu Natal in a warm-up match four years ago, India’s run up to the tournament this time has been without tension. There is even hope that one of the imponderable pieces in the puzzle – Irfan Pathan – who gleefully grabbed three wickets, might be falling into place. This left-armer was deliberately and distinctly slow medium in his pace, a little over 70 miles per hour, which facilitated greater accuracy and control over swing. Indeed, his removal of the in-form Marlon Samuels with one that shaped in to this right-hander was in the old Pathan mould. Pitches in Jamaica are generally faster than wickets in the Eastern Caribbean, with the exception of the square at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, venue of the final and of three of India’s Super 8 matches, assuming India qualify for that stage. Thus, the pace and bounce Dravid’s quicker bowlers enjoyed on Friday at the Trelawny ground, on Jamaica’s northern coast near Cuba, may be absent at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, where India engage in their three Group Stage matches. In other words, it could be more sweat and toil starting next week for the Indian leather merchants. It’s hazardous to read too much into India’s warm-up success – intended from an organisers’ perspective to scatter the butterflies in the participants’ stomachs. After faring disastrously in this phase in South Africa, Saurav Ganguly’s side bounced back to creditably reach the final. At the same time, it would be erroneous to pretend that that inauspicious pre-tournament form was a false indicator. India struggled in the opener against Holland (beaten comprehensively earlier this week), were thrashed in the next out by Australia and were not wholly convincing versus Zimbabwe before they discovered their rhythm. Yet, comfortable wins, regardless of the matches being unofficial, with an option to rotate one’s XI between 13 players, have got to have a positive impact. In their two practice exercises, India have looked calm, competent and quietly confident. And if they carry these attributes in the competition proper, it would be surprising if these didn’t yield dividends. The pick of the Indian bowlers, though, was Munaf. He was mean and menacing. Indeed, he could be India’s trump card in the tourney. But if there’s a striking lesson from the warm-up encounters, it’s the emergence of Bangladesh as a dark horse in India Group B. They have not only been acclimatising on surfaces similar to the one at Queen’s Park Oval – which India haven’t had the benefit of so far – but stunned New Zealand. India cannot afford to be off-colour on 17 March! Scoreboard India
|
||
Kingstown, March 9 Vaughan and Ian Bell struck fifties to share a second-wicket stand of 116 but their efforts, which will not count as it is a 13-player game, were undone. Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff failed to score quickly and then gave away their wickets with rash shots. England, who were 122 for one midway through the innings, batted after winning the toss. Opener Ed Joyce nearly nicked Nathan Bracken’s first ball of the day before paceman Tait was clipped for four, bowled a wide and then trapped Joyce lbw for five with a full-length inswinger in the second over. Captain Vaughan and Bell steadied the innings with some excellent boundaries, especially through the legside off the wayward Mitchell Johnson, one of eight Australian bowlers used. Bell made an elegant 56 before coming down the pitch to Brad Hogg and being stumped by Adam Gilchrist, who was making his first appearance of the trip after arriving late following the birth of his child. Vaughan, regaining full fitness after knee and hamstring problems, showed no signs of injury in his 62 from 73 balls and looked in good form until he sent a loose cut straight to Shane Watson off impressive left-arm chinaman Hogg, who finished with two for 28. Tait took four for 33. England, who again omitted Andrew Strauss and Ravi Bopara from their 13, crushed Bermuda in their first warm-up on Monday having beaten Australia three times on the bounce in the recent tri-series there, including a 2-0 win in the finals. Ricky Ponting’s men went on to lose 3-0 in New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee series but easily overcame Zimbabwe by 106 runs in their first warm-up on Tuesday. The world champions, who have lost their number one ranking to South Africa, are in Group A with Graeme Smith’s team, the Netherlands and Scotland. England face New Zealand in their Group C opener on March 16 and then play Canada and Kenya. Kiwis post 285 BRIDGETOWN:
New Zealand put their World Cup preparations firmly back on track after a surprise defeat by Bangladesh when they posted an imposing target for Sri Lanka in their final warm-up game on Friday. On the face of it, 1996 winners Sri Lanka posed a far stickier problem for the Black Caps at the 3Ws Oval than Bangladesh three days earlier, but this time New Zealand attacked the bowling from the off in their 285 for eight from 50 overs. They were helped by an extremely solid platform established by opening pair, captain Stephen Fleming and Lou Vincent who made 131 for the first wicket. Fleming was the first to depart, attempting one hoist over mid-off too many and he was comfortably caught by Farveez Maharoof off Nuwan Kulasekara’s bowling for 65. Vincent carried on the assault on the Sri Lankan attack and had advanced the score to 175 when he was undone by a direct hit from the covers by captain Mahela Jayewardene to be run out for 70 from 105 balls. Peter Fulton was quick to take up the cudgels for the Kiwis and he needed just 47 balls to knock up a quickfire 59 which included three sixes and ensured they did not lose momentum through the middle order. None of the Sri Lankan bowlers, who had made such short work of Scotland on Monday, came off the field with much credit. Their main threat spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took more than his fair share of punishment in a 10-over spell, which went for 64 with only one wicket to show for his efforts. SA stumble on ‘unfit’ pitch ST AUGUSTINE:
South Africa stumbled to 199 all out on a pitch that captain Graeme Smith labelled as “unfit” in their World Cup warm-up match against Pakistan on Friday. Loots Bosman top-scored with 53 before South Africa were dismissed in the 49th over after they lost the toss and were sent in to bat. Play was held up for seven minutes while the coaches, South Africa’s Mickey Arthur and Pakistan’s Bob Woolmer, came on to the field after 16 overs to discuss the state of the pitch in the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground with umpires Peter Parker and Ian Gould. “Mickey and Graeme both consider the pitch unfit for play,” South African media manager Gordon Templeton told reporters. Fast bowler Mohammad Sami used the conditions effectively to trap AB de Villiers in front for three and have Herschelle Gibbs caught behind for 11 as South Africa limped to 27 for three after 10 overs. Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince then stabilised the innings with a stand of 66 before they were dismissed with consecutive deliveries. Prince was leg-before to off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 35 with the last ball of the 26th over, and Kallis fell in identical fashion to leg spinner Danish Kaneria for 29 with the first delivery of the 27th over. Bosman and Mark Boucher added 43 runs for the sixth wicket before Hafeez bowled Boucher for 22. The last four South African wickets tumbled for 26 runs. Fast bowlers Umar Gul and Sami, and spinners Hafeez and Shoaib Malik each took two wickets.
— Reuters B’desh send
Scots packing
Bangladesh sent Scotland spinning to a seven-wicket defeat in a World Cup warm-up here yesterday to make it two wins out of two after their stunning dismissal of New Zealand. Scotland made a paltry 152-9 off their 50 overs at the 3Ws Oval before Bangladesh stormed to victory with the best part of 16 overs left thanks to an unbeaten 57 from skipper Habibul Bashar. Seamers John Blain and Paul Hoffman dismissed Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal (7) and the highly-rated Shahriar Nafees (0) respectively but Habibul and Saqibul Hasan (45) laid the groundwork for the Asian side. Saqibul fell to a catch by Neil McCallum off Dougie Brown with the total at 108 leaving his skipper and Mohammad Ashraful (23 not out) to see Bangladesh to a comfortable win. Habibul’s 57 was made off 76 balls and featured five fours. Scotland had made a solid start to their innings reaching 73-2 with Navdeep Poonia (32) and Fraser Watts (28) showing some form. But both were undone by slow left-armers Abdur Razzak (3-25) and Mohammad Rafique (2-16). Zimbabwe prevail over Bermuda Kingston: Sean Williams hit an unbeaten 72 and guided Zimbabwe past Bermuda by six wickets in warm-up game yesterday. Williams, who top-scored with 44 in Tuesday’s 106-run defeat to Australia, hit three fours and two sixes as Zimbabwe eclipsed Bermuda’s 136 in the 29th over. Chamu Chibhabha (30) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (21 not out) also headed Zimbabwe’s successful chase. Antony Ireland took 3-22 against Bermuda’s top order, starting the rout which was resisted only by Janeiro Tucker (52) after captain Irving Romaine won the toss and elected to bat at Arnos Vale. Zimbabwe’s run chase started horrendously, losing two wickets in the first two overs to be 5-2. Sibanda (2) was caught and bowled by Hurdle and Duffin (1) was caught by Smith off Mukuddem. Williams and Chibhabha led the recovery with a 73-run, third-wicket stand broken by 270-pound (122-kilogram) left-arm finger spinner Dwayne Leverock. Chibhabha was caught at midoff by Deloyne Borden, and Leverock claimed a second wicket when Chigumbura (4) was caught by Hemp with Zimbabwe 93-4 and 44 runs from victory. Williams and Matsikenyeri steered Zimbabwe home. Kenya win thriller
Trelawny: Skipper Steve Tikolo posted a composed 51 and snared five for 48 with his accurate medium-pace to steer Kenya to a nine-run win over the Netherlands in a warm-up match. Thomas Odoyo’s blazing 49-ball 73 spurred Kenya to 274 for eight in 50 overs, but the Dutch batsmen appeared on course for a successful chase before Tikolo ripped through the middle-order yesterday. Tikolo, 35, brought himself on as the seventh bowler for Kenya, whose attack was wilting under the impact of a 142-run opening stand between Bas Zuiderent (65) and Darron Reekers (75). Allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate, who plays for English county Essex, kept Netherlands on course with a half century, but the match swung in Kenya’s favour after he was run out. Peter Borren’s three sixes in one over from Jimmy Kamende had raised the Dutch hopes, but the experienced Tikolo did not allow the tailenders any chances. Easy win for Ireland
Port-of-Spain: David Langford-Smith took 4-41 to help Ireland to a seven-wicket win over Canada in a warm-up match yesterday. After being sent in to bat, Canada only lasted 32.5 overs at the Sir Frank Worrell ground as it was bundled out for 115. Ireland reached the target for the loss of three wickets. Langford-Smith took the new ball and removed Canada opener Geoff Barnett, who topscored with 27, and Abdool Samad (8) in his first spell of 2-29. Langford-Smith also dismissed tailenders Sunil Dhaniram (6) and George Codrington (4).
— Agencies |
|
COUNTDOWN
Once known for flummoxing the best of batsmen with his swing, in the warm-up match Pathan bowled gentle medium pace at around 115-120 kmph. With this speed and without a hint of any worthwhile swing, no bowler is likely to ruffle a batsman. With not many days remaining for the World Cup to begin, the Pathan puzzle continues to elude a solution. Ever since he was sent back home mid-way through the South Africa series late last year and advised to play domestic cricket, Pathan’s performance has, at best, been mediocre. A beleaguered Pathan was hammered in the first match against Uttar Pradesh and conceded 167 runs for the lone wicket he took. He had an ordinary outing against Tamil Nadu. In his third game, a Ranji Trophy semifinal against Mumbai, he had better figures of 3-49 and 4-47. To compound matters, injury concerns surfaced at the wrong time. Dilip Vengsarkar, chairman of the selection committee, said Pathan would go to the World Cup only if he was fit. It was a shoulder niggle that forced Pathan to miss the series against the West Indies and then Sri Lanka. Playing in a Deodhar Trophy game for West Zone, Pathan took two late wickets in 8.4 overs for 48 runs against Central Zone. It was this performance that ensured Pathan’s place in the team for the World Cup. Pathan struggling to regain his rhythm and confidence before the start of the World Cup bodes ill for India’s chances. Critics feel that Pathan, who broke on to the international stage when he was 19, has not been handled properly. Constantly changing his batting position has left him confused, they argue. Soon after he gained entry into the Indian team in 2003, Pathan showed signs of emerging as an all-rounder the team had desperately been looking for. To his credit, the Baroda player improved his batting tremendously and played some meaty knocks. But unfortunately, this was also the time when his bowling suffered. With India’s first match round the corner, it will be naive to expect Pathan to suddenly deliver a match-winning performance. There is no evidence at the moment to suggest that it may happen soon. The tendency to judge a player by what he did more than six months or a year back is hardly going to pay dividends. Current form should be the biggest factor in determining selection. Let’s hope Pathan recovers his form and is not reduced to just a passenger in the squad. If this happens, it will be a setback for the team. For Pathan, it could be much more than that. If that be the case will anybody stand up and take the blame?
— TNS
|
|
Karachi, March 9 “I remember how well Imran Khan used Mushtaq Ahmed when we won the 1992 World Cup. He brought him on at the right times, gave him the right amount of confidence and attacking fields. Inzamam will have to do the same for Kaneria,” Alam said. Alam, who played 47 Tests and took 125 wickets besides scoring 1483 runs, said that he had no doubt spinners will play an important role in the World Cup. “The reason is simple. The pitches have been relaid, and because of the warm weather and absence of grass, the slow bowlers always get plenty of encouragement. I don’t think it will be any different in this competition.” Alam, who was the team manager when Pakistan won the 1992 Cup, said the slow bowlers have to stick to a good line and length and make good use of the crease would be effective in the West Indies. “I just think our selectors should have put in another specialist spinner in the squad specially when fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were out and (Abdul) Razzaq was also unfit,” he said. Legendary Abdul Qadir concurred with Alam, saying left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman should have been selected. “I have not seen him bowl close up but given the conditions in the West Indies, Kaneria needed support from the other end. All the other teams have picked two specialist spinners in their squads,” Qadir, who picked 366 international wickets, said. Former captain Mushtaq Mohammad said Pakistan have to rely all the more on Kaneria given the depleted pace attack. “Kaneria I think has it in it him to do well but he will be under a lot of pressure because we don’t have a strong pace attack now,” he said. Iqbal Qasim, who took 171 wickets with his left arm spin in 50 tests and is now a national selector, said the fitness problems of Shoaib and Asif had affected the planning of the team for the World Cup. “We have not had the ideal preparations but we also have capable spinners in Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Hafeez. If they give Kaneria good support we can do well. “But to accommodate all of them the team management will have to give a lot of thought to the combination they play,” Qasim said. — PTI
|
|
I am going through hell, says Shoaib
Karachi, March 9 “I am going through hell. I have been waiting for this event for two years and to play in a cricket-loving region like the Caribbean was my dream. Not being able to play in the World Cup is like taking all my dreams away,” Akhtar said. “I can’t describe it in words what it means to miss an event like the World Cup,” he added. Akhtar rues the fact that he has played only one match in the West Indies in 2000 and was all the more anxious to bowl here as every paceman aspires to perform well in the Caribbean. With the chance to play this World Cup gone, the Rawalpindi Express, who is already 31, admitted that it was his last chance to play a World Cup. “I wanted to be in the Caribbean and I wanted to help my team win but unfortunately my injury forced me to miss the big event and the chance will never come again,” Shoaib was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
— UNI
|
|
|
Aussies’ behaviour awful: Gavaskar
New Delhi, March 9 “There is not the slightest doubt that in the last decade or so the Aussies have been awesome in batting, bowling and fielding which has taken them to the top of the cricketing ladder in both Test and limited overs cricket. “But they have also been awful in the way they have sometimes behaved on the field much to the chagrin of the traditional fans of the game,” Gavaskar wrote in the India Today magazine. He said the Australians could not be compared with the West Indies, who were admired for their rampaging form a few decades back. “Unlike the West Indian teams of the 1970s and 1980s which dominated world cricket in much the same way as the Australians are doing now, the Australians are not popular winners. “The Windies were feared for the ferocity of their attack and the aggression of their batsmen but at the end of the playing day the West Indian player was not only admired but also liked. “They went about their job in a no fuss manner and hardly had anything to say to the opponents, unlike the Aussies who have plenty to say and seldom in a humourous way. Banter works, abuse doesn’t,” Gavaskar said. The former Indian opener, who was re-appointed head of the International Cricket Council’s cricket committee, said Australia’s recent ODI defeats to England and New Zealand must have pleased the rival teams and fans. “Australia’s come-uppance at the hands of England and New Zealand has gladdened the hearts of not just the other aspirants for the World Cup but also the followers of the game,” he said. Still, Gavaskar said that it would not be wise to write off Australia in the World Cup in the Caribbean. “It would only be a fool who would rule out the Australians as the favourites to win the World Cup for the third consecutive time,” he said. — PTI
|
|
We would like chasing: Ponting
Melbourne, March 9 Chappell had suggested it would be a mistake to bat second after Ponting had indicated change in plan with recent statistics showing the team had problems defending total owing to their depleted bowling attack. “You have to be certain that conditions won’t deteriorate through a game and that one on Wednesday probably did,” Ponting said after their first warm-up match. “With the 9.30am starts, if it looks like a really good, hard surface that’s not going to deteriorate too much, then we might (chase),” he was quoted as saying by Herald Sun. Chappell was of the view that Aussies should solve their bowling problem and stick to their tested plan of batting first. “Ponting has said that he may decide to bat second a bit more often than he has done in the past. I think it’s mistake, because he is going to be doing that to try to cover a bit of a weakness in the bowling. “But you can’t hide a weakness. You have got to solve the problem. I think he would be better off sticking to the original plan, which is to bat first,” Chappell said. — PTI
|
|
Montego Bay (Jamaica), March 9 ICC General Manager (Cricket Operations) Dave Richardson today said the technology, which was first tried in the 2004 Champions Trophy, would help umpires’ decision-making in the noisy matches. “It will help the umpires to hear the faintest of snicks even when the stands are full and noise is being generated,” he said. Richardson also outlined the doping policy for the teams but denied that the ICC had prepared any “list of targeted players” to be subjected to test in the present World Cup. “We are serious about drug-testing and have been trying to get everyone follow the norms which are ICC compliant. “No player has tested positive in dope tests in ICC events yet and I hope this World Cup will see a similar trend.” Shane Warne was pulled out of the last World Cup because of dope-testing measures adopted by the Australian Board itself and same was the case with Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan during the last year’s Champions Trophy. Richardson said there was no need for dope tests to be sent to any laboratory outside the Caribbean. “You must remember that Jamaica produces world class athletes so it is adept at handling the dope tests here itself.” Richards had no doubt that the long World Cup was important for the interest it generates in smaller cricketing nations, the so-called minnows. “For others it might be a long-drawn out World Cup and these early matches could be a strain but think about the excitement it generates in Scotland, Ireland or Canada,” he said. Richardson believed the biggest challenge for the organisers so far had been to produce practice wickets which were beneficial to the teams participating. “If you had been here (the practice ground at St. Ann, one of the parish of Montego Bay) a month back, you would have seen goats roaming about. We are trying to produce facilities where teams can get adequate facility and prepare them for the actual competition from the 13th onwards,” he said. — PTI
|
|
Jyoti masters field at halfway mark
Singapore, March 9 The 34-year-old Gurgaon golfer shot a brilliant round of four-under-par 68 on the more demanding Masters course at the Laguna National Golf Club and enjoyed a one-stroke lead over Scotland's Barry Hume at 11-under 133. Hume overcame a late double-bogey to stand alone in second place at 10-under, while Malaysia's Ian Steel and Briton Gary Lockerbie were a shot further back in a tie for third place. Overnight joint leader Liang Wen-chong of China could only manage a level-par second round to be tied for fifth place at eight-under 136 with Ireland's Peter Lawrie. Among other Indians in the fray, Gaurav Ghei continued his fine run and a two-under 70 gave him tied eighth place at six-under 138. Rahil Gangjee and Asian number one Jeev Milkha Singh also made the halfway cut in the $1.1 million tournament. The Kolkata-based Gangjee was tied 24th at four-under 140 after a 68, while Jeev struggled to a one-over 73 and made it to the weekend right on the cut-line. Chopra sizzles
Palm Harbour (Florida): Daniel Chopra made a fine start with a four-under 67 at the PODS Golf Championship at the Innisbrook Resort in the US PGA tour here. The 33-year-old Swede moved to tied second place with the American trio of Arron Oberholser, Anthony Kim and Doug Labelle II, the quartet all two shots behind of leader Cliff Kresge. Chopra, a former Asian Tour player who spent his formative years in the sport in India, had five birdies and just dropped shot. Currently 41st on the Money List, Chopra had his first birdie on the second but then gave it away with a bogey on par-4 sixth. He came under par for the front nine with a birdie on ninth and then had three birdies in four holes on back nine from 11th to the 14th. He birdied the 11th, 13th and 14th and parred the rest for a good 67. It was once again some great putting that did the job for Chopra, who needed just 24 putts for the round. Chopra was eighth last week at the Honda Classic after being in contention till the end of the third day and he also had a top-10 at AT & T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM on his maiden US PGA tour.
— PTI
|
|
Birmingham, March 9 World number 32 Saina put up a brave fight but eventually lost 21-17, 13-21, 16-21 to her higher ranked opponent. Earlier, top Indian shuttler Chetan Anand, had already crashed out in the first round of the men’s singles. — UNI
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
India
won their second and final preparatory match before the World Cup
commences at the expense of the hosts, the West Indies, after dismissing
their opponents for a paltry 85, thanks to some spirited collective pace
bowling spearheaded by Munaf Patel.
Melbourne, March 9
The