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Mission Resurrection
Brearley to
head MCC
Azlan Shah hockey begins tomorrow
Gopichand defends camp
Ghei ranked career-high 155th
Mahesh-Radek in semis
Jung misses final berth
Mumbai to host Olympic torch
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Players unpaid for seven months New Delhi, May 3 Team India members did not get their payment since the Champions Trophy in October last year. Since then, the cricketers toured South Africa, played home series against West Indies and Sri Lanka before flying to the West Indies for the World Cup without being paid. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla sought to play it down and said arrears would be cleared once the contracts were signed by the cricketers. “The payments were not made because the contracts were not ready. Once the contracts are signed, everything will be cleared. This is not a problem at all,” he said. Incidentally, the players are reportedly unhappy with the present shape of the contract and doubts have been raised whether they would sign it before leaving for the Bangladesh tour. This is, however, not the first occasion when the cash-rich board delayed payments. Former team physio Andrew Leipus and even the then coach John Wright faced similar treatments from the board. Sachin resumes practice Kolkata: With his ankle injury improving, Sachin Tendulkar today rejoined Team India’s practice session for a few hits on the second day of the cricket conditioning camp here. “He continues to get ice treatment. Physio John Gloster says he is improving,” Indian team’s administrative manager Surendra Bhave told PTI here. Tendulkar, who skipped the morning session, wielded the willow for about 15 minutes at the indoor gymnasium adjacent to Eden Gardens in the afternoon. The Indian team spent an hour in the indoor facility where the practice venue was temporarily shifted due to unseasonal rain. Later, when the team resumed practice outdoors at the Eden Gardens once the ground condition improved, Tendulkar was present throughout. However, an indicator of his improved condition was that he did not seem to be in discomfort while walking. Tendulkar sprained his right ankle on the opening day of the camp yesterday, when he ducked awkwardly to a bouncer from pacer S. Sreesanth and lost his balance. India to play SA in Ireland London: India will play South Africa in a three-match ODI series to be held in Ireland in late June and early July. India and South Africa will warm up with matches against hosts Ireland on June 23 and 24, respectively, before the three-match series in Belfast on June 26, June 29 and July 1. — PTI Ireland, who made their debut at the World Cup in the Caribbean recently, scored a shock win over Pakistan to knock the former champions out in the first round. Their upset World Cup win over Bangladesh earned them a entry into the main International Cricket Council limited-overs rankings. — PTI
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Mission Resurrection Border writes
I am often reminded of the mid-1980s and the various crises that Australian cricket faced at the time. Hard as it may be to believe, there was a time when things looked bleak for us. We had lost a substantial number of quality cricketers to a ‘Rebel’ tour of South Africa, and I was captaining a team of relative newcomers. We lost the Ashes twice and were steamrolled by New Zealand on our own pitches during this period. How did we pick ourselves up? Well, we did a ‘total rethink.’ The selection process was made more structured, and a core group of players identified. We decided to give them the time to develop at the highest level. The ‘chop-and-change’ approach was abandoned, as it does not do a team any good when its members are constantly looking over their shoulders. We assured the players that they would be given a good, solid trial, which meant that they could concentrate on their game without worrying about being axed. Under Bob Simpson, we worked very hard on basics like fielding and running. Our diligence was duly rewarded. India should think about doing something similar. I believe that ‘character’ should be given preference over ‘skill.’ Mental fragility will get you nowhere even if you are the most skilled player on the planet. Look at the great Indian sides of the past. Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev were skilled no doubt, but what made them great was ‘character.’ They were never bullied by their opponents, they would always take the fight to the other camp, and they had a great work-ethic. The Indian cricketers of today and tomorrow would do well to emulate them. It has often been claimed that ‘character’ is something that cannot be learnt. I disagree. The most straightforward of things, like ensuring that the wickets for junior-level tournaments assist pace and bounce, can make a difference. A player who is able to adjust and adapt to varying conditions will stand a better chance of success than a ‘fair-weather’ specialist. Make no mistake, India is a tough side to represent, given the gravity of expectations. I remember telling Mohammed Azharuddin about what I had to undergo as Australian captain. Azhar heard me out, smiled, and proceeded to awaken me to the fact that my job was a cakewalk compared to his. I could not help but agree with him. I don’t think we Australians will be villified if we lose a cricket match. Our supporters will be disappointed for sure, but that’s just about it. ‘Character’ will go a long way in helping Indian cricketers of the future cope with the expectations of their fans. It will be further enhanced if the long-overdue need to improve fitness and fielding standards is addressed. In modern times, there is absolutely no excuse for being a poor fielding side. It’s not rocket science, is it? Fitness is another priority. A regimented coaching system should be avoided. Every kid is born unique, and he should be encouraged to develop his own style and techniques. Biomechanics can be utilized to bring about some minor alterations. But what is god-given should not be discarded. It will help if all the private coaching academies set up by former international cricketers evolve some kind of a coordination mechanism. It’s always good to involve former players in any developmental venture, as they have all been there and done that. The academies should not be restricted to rich children. The richest cricket board in the world can also do its bit to help kids who don’t have financial resources to find a place in these schools. A glance at India’s cricketing structure reveals a distinct pathway for children to proceed from their school team to the senior national team. The junior-level tournaments are neatly streamlined (u-15, u-17, u-19), as are the domestic inter-state and zonal competitions. The base is broad, and it can be made more effective by a foolproof selection system and of course, the elimination of political interference. The ‘give-and-take’ nonsense has to done away with, and the best XI selected at every level. If the best eleven players in the country are from say Punjab, then let it be an all-Punjab team that represents India. Learn from
the Aussies
There are two things that India can pick up from Australia. The first pertains to the huge ‘business’ that is Indian cricket. It should be run like one. ‘Cricket Australia’ for example has a CEO, and is divided into Finance, Business, Game Development and Legal Affairs departments. The operations are overseen by a Board of Directors. We have a proper ‘business model,’ and India could think of creating one. The second is the ‘indispensability issue.’ If I ask you what is common to Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne, you will come up with several flattering answers. But a less-flattering reply is that all three individuals have been dropped at some stage of their careers. Performances should, and must count, not your record. Iconic players earn some latitude, but if their form continues to be dismal, then it is imperative that a hard decision be taken. No player should be allowed to consider himself indispensable. This is just the right time to get Indian cricket back on track, and ensure that it catches up with those who have already embraced professionalism. The fundamental structures are there. All they need is a kick up the backside.
— PMG
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Windies omit Samuels for England tour
St John’s, May 3 The squad contains most of the senior players who were part of the West Indies’ disappointing World Cup campaign and convener of selectors Gordon Greenidge said the team was capable of rebuilding Caribbean cricket. There are five pacemen in the side with Daren Powell, Corey Collymore and Jerome Taylor joined by Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul. The squad does not have a specialist spinner. “We feel that this squad should perform credibly. We feel we have a good mix, and we’re hoping that this mix will start the ball rolling as far as the redevelopment or the re-defining of West Indies cricket for the future is concerned,” the former opening batsman said. New skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan, who stepped into the shoes of Brian Lara, said the tour was an opportunity for youngsters to showcase their skills. Australian David Moore, assistant to former coach Bennett King, will accompany the team on the tour. The first Test at Lord’s will be followed by ones at Headingley, Old Trafford and Riverside Ground. Squad: Ramnaresh Sarwan (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Sylvester Joseph, Runako Morton, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor, Ravi Rampaul.
— PTI
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Melbourne, May 3 Australia’s win in the final against Sri Lanka was marred by some poor officiating. With the Sri Lankan batsmen accepting an offer for bad light, the Australian team started celebrating their victory before the umpires incorrectly said the match was not over and made them complete the last three overs in near darkness. “We were running around like lunatics thinking we’d won, when (umpire) Aleem Dar came over and told me, ‘well no, actually the game wasn’t over yet’,” Ponting told Sydney Morning Herald on his return from the Caribbean. “To be honest, I really thought he was joking,” Ponting continued. “We get on pretty well, Aleem and I, and we like to have a joke now and then, but I thought this particular one was extremely poorly timed,” he said. “I’d actually planned the bowling so that Glenn McGrath could bowl the last over of the match and his career, so I guess we were denied that opportunity as well,” Ponting said. “I think they’ve learned their lessons there and I am sure next time they officiate in big games like that they’ll know the rules inside out.” Ponting and his team-mates were welcomed by a small group of family and friends and a sizeable media contingent at the airport. The skipper said the team had celebrated long and hard since claiming the World Cup for a third straight time. “(I am feeling) more refreshed than I was two days ago, that is for sure,” he said. “The celebrations were long and hard which is what they should be after you win a World Cup,” he added. “There were some pretty amazing scenes coming back to Australia from guys (with) not a lot of clothing on at different hours of the morning, but we celebrated as we should,” he said. Ponting said Australia’s second straight undefeated run at a World Cup was an amazing achievement and he continued to praise Adam Gilchrist for his man of the match performance in the final. “For us to again go through undefeated and once again have a lot of our players peaking at the right time in the World Cup is an amazing achievement by everybody,” he said. “Gilly’s innings in the final as I have been flat out telling him, it was unbelievable, that was the one difference between the two teams in the final,” he said. “It has been an amazing couple of months of our lives and even more amazing last few days.” The team was later feted at a breakfast by Prime Minister John Howard and later by thousands of fans at a civic reception in central Sydney. Howard praised McGrath as one of the all-time greats. “The wonderful Glenn McGrath ... really has been an ornament to Australian cricket for many years,” he said. “He is the greatest fast bowler of his generation and many would say he ranks with the very greatest that the game has seen.” Ponting raised the cup to huge cheers at an outdoor ceremony in Martin Place, but the biggest cheers were reserved for retired fast bowler Glen McGrath, the player of the World Cup, and outgoing coach John Buchanan. — PTI
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Colombo, May 3 The team, which reached the final in the Caribbean before losing to Australia in a rain-marred match, returned on a Qatar Airways flight after the original Emirates carrier pulled out of Colombo after Sunday’s air raids. Mahela Jayawardene and his team was due to be driven along the 35 km route from the airport to the city in an open truck, but the plans were aborted after heavy rains lashed the city. The downpour, however, failed to dampen the spirit of fans who lined up along the team’s route from the airport to welcome their heroes. Speaking about the final, Jayawardene said that Australia were quick to grab the first opportunity which put his team on the backfoot. “We ended up short after putting up a determined effort, the outcome is obviously disappointing. Australians were faster off the blocks than us,” he said. He said the team was determined to get to the target of 282 in 38 overs but darkness and rain played spoilsport. “We were going well when rain and the darkness fell around us. We knew we lost the World Cup the moment our batsmen accepted bad light because we had completed 20 overs by then,” he said. Jayawardene said the lack of any assistance from the pitch made things difficult for his bowlers. “Our bowlers couldn’t get any movement, but that was more due to the conditions than anything to do with the ability of Vaas, Malinga and Dilhara,” he said. “We were looking for early wickets which was not to be. That set us back.” “We had given different players different roles and everyone played their part very well,” Jayawardene said, summing up Sri Lanka’s run up to the final. The team was received at the VIP lounge of the Bandaranaike International airport where Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic and Muslim priests conducted separate services. An open air welcome ceremony at the Independence Square was also cancelled and moved indoors to the Sri Lanka cricket offices at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds. — PTI
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Brearley to
head MCC
London, May 3 His one-year term will begin on October 1 after the present incumbent Doug Insole, who took charge in October last year, relinquishes office, according to BBC Sport. Brearley famously captained England to victory in the 1981 Ashes, when he was credited with transforming the fortunes of the team’s match-winner Ian Botham. After his retirement as a player, Brearley, now 65, wrote an acclaimed book ‘The Art of Captaincy’ and has since become a leading psychoanalyst. — UNI |
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Azlan Shah hockey begins tomorrow
New Delhi, May 3 Launched in 1983, the tournament was staged every alternate year till 1998 before being made an annual affair. India, who finished third last year, will be looking to improve their position to end their title drought. Defending champions Holland will not be in the fray this year, throwing the title race open to Asian giants India, Pakistan and Korea, and four-time champions Australia. India and Pakistan have both won the tournament three times each, and both would be eager to have another crack at the crown. The teams are divided into two pools with India grouped with Australia, Asian Games champions China and Argentina in Pool A, while Malaysia, Korea, Pakistan and Canada feature in Pool B. The final is slated for May 13. Ignace opts out of tournament Ipoh (PTI): India suffered a jolt even before kicking off their campaign in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament with ace midfielder Ignace Tirkey opting out of the event citing “personal reasons”. His replacement, Vikram Kanth (Indian Oil), is expected to arrive here tomorrow ahead of India’s fixture against Australia, according to chief coach Joaquim Carvalho.
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New Delhi, May 3 Criticised for not being supportive of the players, the former All England champion said the international calendar was strewn with events and they would come up with better results if they took a break from the hectic schedule and increased their fitness and stamina. “The camp has been conducted with a good intention. They have been playing continuously since last year. At some point, they need to take a break and train because it is not only important to participate but also to show better results,” Gopichand told PTI. “Players are not being deprived of playing. Nobody is stopping anyone from playing. There are enough tournaments left in the calendar. There are 10 Super Series events, 10-12 Grand Prix events, World Championship, Asian Satellites - there are around 25 tournaments to perform,” Gopichand said. The Badminton Association of India has made it mandatory for players to participate in the ongoing national camp before the Sudirman Cup. Top players, including national champion Chetan Anand, had asked the federation to allow them to participate in the Super Series events in Singapore and Indonesia on their own but the federation refused permission, sparking off a debate. Gopichand said the performance of players on the European circuit was not up to expectations, so the idea was to utilise this period to enhance their fitness ahead of the Sudirman Cup. Meanwhile, former badminton players trained their guns at the BAI, saying that the federation was behaving in an “autocratic” manner and trying to “impose” itself on the players. Leroy D’Sa said the association should try to look into the reasons why players were shying away from the camp. Uday Pawar felt that top players would not get the attention they require if too many players were called in the camp. “To call 45 players for the camp defeats its purpose as none can be given personal attention,” the former shuttler pointed out. — PTI
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Ghei ranked career-high 155th
New Delhi, May 3 Ghei is now ranked a career-high 155th and overtakes Shiv Kapur (188th) as the third highest ranked Indian in the charts. His current position is even more creditable as he started the season in 229th position. Four Indians figure in the world’s top-200 and there are a total of 18 Asian Tour members in the elite list. Randhawa rose to 74th after finishing second in the Spanish Open on Sunday and he will be pushing hard to break into the world’s top-50.
— PTI
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New Delhi, May 3 Bhupathi and Stepanek had little difficulty in taming the unseeded team 6-4, 6-2 to clear the hurdle. The seasoned Indo-Czech pair run into wildcard Germans Andreas Beck and Dominik Meffert in the quarterfinals. Beck and Meffert pulled off the biggest upset of the clay court tournament when they upstaged top seeds Julian Knowle and Alexander Waske 2-6, 6-4, 10-5. — PTI
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Jung misses final berth
Sydney, May 3 Jung shot a score of 557 to miss the final by a point, while his compatriot Vivek Singh was nowhere near as he finished 28th with a score of 550.
— UNI
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Mumbai to host Olympic torch
Mumbai, May 3 The torch, which will be lit in Olympia, Greece on March 25 will travel through 11 other countries before reaching Mumbai, making the city the first in India to host an Olympic torch outside New Delhi. The Olympic torch has traditionally been hosted by New Delhi when it visited India. Mumbai will be the torch’s 12th destination in its 23-country journey and it will travel through 113 cities in China before arriving at Beijing for the opening of the games on August 8.
— PTI
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Those of us who love Indian cricket adore Sachin Tendulkar. His future has been debated of late, and several people have called for his head. But I think that as long as he keeps saying to himself, “I am going to be the first to arrive and the last to leave,” he still has a few more years of cricket left in him. Those younger to him will be only too glad to follow if he decides to lead Indian cricket out of the current situation.