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Dravid ‘over cautious, defensive’
Victory due to total team work: Chandra
Scotland squad
for India ODI
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Piqued Kallis mulls options for future
Anand eyes record 10th title
Tevez set for Man United debut
Praveen stars in India A win
BEIJING 2008
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Dravid ‘over cautious, defensive’
London, August 14 In the euphoric celebrations over 1-0 series win for his team, the Indian skipper's inexplicable decision may be overshadowed, but it will long remain a topic of discussion. Dravid may have been nervous and timid on the field, but he was totally dismissive of cricket fans while defending his decision. "I can understand the disappointment of the people in their living rooms. But I have seen the bowlers from close quarters and could read their body language," Dravid said after the drawn match at the Oval. Other than leading the team to a win, Dravid has had a poor series with a batting average of 25.20 in three Tests during which he probably made a slowest 12 runs off 96 balls in Test history. He also dropped a sitter off his counterpart Michael Vaughan when the batsman was on 18. Dravid's decision not to enforce follow-on not only came in for flak in the British media but also evoked a sharp criticism from former cricketers and fans back home. Former Indian cricketers found it difficult to accept Dravid's "over-cautious and defensive" approach and felt that the final scoreline could have been different had India enforced the follow-on. "It was a very safe decision but probably he should have enforced the follow-on. He explained that the bowlers were tired after bowling 90 overs. What would have been the case if they'd bowled for two days? Would they have gone and just sat down? I don't think that can be the only reason," former Indian opener and coach Anshuman Gaekwad said. Gaekwad was also not too happy with Dravid's reference to "people in living room", saying that fans were justified in feeling let down. "People in living room also include those who have played cricket for the country and commentating. Dravid has no doubt done a tremendous job, but maybe India could have won the series 2-0. The team should take the criticism in right perspective. No body is trying to put them on the mat," he said. Abbas Ali Baig also did not agree with Dravid's decision, saying it was a very defensive approach which deprived India of winning by a bigger margin. "Dravid is the man on the spot and it is for him to judge the situation. But I would have enforced the follow-on if I was in his position. "It's a negative way of looking at things. I think he wanted to play it safe, having taken a 1-0 lead. But I don't think India would have been under any trouble if they had batted last on that wicket," Baig said. Former all rounder Madan Lal also echoed similar views, saying Dravid's decision was "very defensive". "It is up to the captain to take whatever decision he wants to take along with the team management. Maybe, for Dravid it was right decision because they have won the series. But it was a very defensive decision. "Although I cannot say if it was really a negative approach because I don't know their situation," he said. Veteran sports scribe Rajan Bala wondered if Dravid would have taken the same decision had the series been tied 1-1 before the Oval Test. "I don't think India would have been content with a draw had the series been 1-1. They would have played for a win then rather than adopting a defensive strategy," Bala said. "It's a typical Maharashtrian trait. Borde is the manager and he is known to be a great conservative. In western India, the theory of cricket is to take first innings lead and finish the match. Bombay has won Ranji Trophy for so many years with this strategy. There is no question of any flair." Bala also felt that Dravid could have avoided making comments on living room discussion on the follow-on issue. "He could have avoided saying all that. It is obvious that he is a trifle insecure after the World Cup debacle." Dravid, however, received support from Ajit Wadekar, who led India to its first series victory on English soil in 1971. "I feel Dravid did the right thing because of a few reasons. Number 1 - he did not want to lose the chance of following a series victory over West Indies (in 2006) with a series win over England which is a difficult proposition. "And this is the last time four or five of them will have this chance to savour a Test series win in England. And to top it all his bowlers must have been tired with India fielding only four front line bowlers."
— PTI
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Victory due to total team work: Chandra
Bangalore, August 14 Reacting to India’s historic win after a gap of 21 years he said “it was a team spirit. Every one chipped in and contributed with determination that led to victory”. Stating that the team was playing well, he hoped that Team India would display better skill in the next series against Australia. Recalling Team India’s victory against England in 1971 of which he was the architect (6-38), Chandrasekhar said “it was really a fantastic win for the team. It was wonderful and it came when I was making a comeback. The win boosted me to carry on further”. A nightmare to batsmen on his day, Chandrasekhar, had made his debut in 1964 against England in Mumbai, and in a span of 15 years, ending with his last Test match at Birmingham in 1979, had played in 58 Test matches and captured 242 wickets with his carrier-best being 8/79. When India registered its series win against England in 1971, Chandrasekhar’s bowling figures read 5/170 in first Test, 2/76 in the second and 8/114 in the third Test. “It was really a fantastic win against England in their home land,” he added. — UNI
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Scotland squad
for India ODI
Glasgow, August 14 Meanwhile, weather threatens to play spoilsport as rain is forecast for much of the week in Glasgow and there are fears that the tie could be washed out. Weather has frustrated Scotland several times this season, with their one-day international against Pakistan on July 1 rained off. If play is possible on Thursday, it will be the first one-day international played at Clydesalde's ground. Squad: Ryan Watson (captain), John Blain, Gordon Drummond, Gavin Hamilton, Majid
Haq, Paul Hoffmann, Neil McCallum, Navdeep Poonia, Dewald Nel, Colin Smith, Fraser Watts, Craig Wright. — UNI
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Piqued Kallis mulls options for future
Durban, August 14 "I have resigned as vice-captain and I'm considering my options with regard to the rest of my career," Kallis said. "I have been thinking long and hard over the weekend and there is still a lot of emotion involved because I am extremely disappointed," Kallis was quoted as saying by the 'Mercury' newspaper. ICC's top-ranked all-rounder Kallis was left out of the 15-member squad announced last week. Keen to feature in the twenty20 tournament at home from September 11 to 24, the 31-year-old Kallis said his best playing years were ahead but after the weekend development he would think whether to play for the country in the future. “I was very excited about the tournament and hoping to make a huge contribution. I feel I have a lot of good cricket left and my best years might even be ahead of me. Ideally, I would like to play many more years for my country but this weekend caused me to question my future for the first time,” he said.
— PTI
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China start campaign in style
Kuala Lumpur, August 14 China's shuttlers, who dominate the world rankings, are seeking a clean sweep of all five titles as they attempt to tighten their grip on the sport ahead of next year's Beijing Olympics. With the Red Army's stars not taking to the courts until tomorrow it was left to formidable foot soldiers Chen and world number seven Chen Yu to kick-start the proceedings in the first round. Chen Jin never even got out of first gear against unseeded Marco Vasconcels from Portugal, winning 21-9, 21-5 to move into the second round. Malaysia's mixed doubles pair Tan Wee Kiong and Woon Khe Wei survived a marathon encounter against Canadians Mike Beres and Valerie Loker, eventually winning 18-21, 21-13, 21-11. On the women's side, Yip Pui Yin from Hong Kong, seeded 11, defeated Trupti Murgunde from India 21-17, 21-13. Former world number one Peter Gade from Denmark, the only European considered capable of standing up to the Chinese juggernaut defeated England's Andrew Smith 21-18, 21-10. Chetan bows out Top Indian shuttler Chetan Anand's lean patch continued as he crashed out of the 16th World Badminton Championship, losing to ninth seeded Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia 21-11, 14-21, 18-21 in men's singles first round here today. Chetan, who had not got past second round in three tournaments last month - China Super Series, Thailand Open and Philippine Open - outplayed the higher rated rival in the first game but surrendered the advantage by losing the next two and the match in 47 minutes. The world number 33 Indian paid the prize for not being able to keep the shuttle inside the court in long rallies in the second and third games though he was far superior in smashes. He sent down 16 smash winners in the whole match as against six by his opponent. Chetan was at his best in the first game, winning six smashes though Kuncoro was better in the nets. Chetan, however, failed to match Kuncoro in the second set and lost points in long rallies though he was still better in smashes. In the tight decider, the higher rated Indonesian outwitted and prevailed over the Indian to take the match. No other Indian was in action today in the prestigious event. Anup Sridhar, Saina Nehwal and the men's doubles duo of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas, who all had sailed into the second round by scoring easy victories in their opening round matches yesterday, will have tougher matches tomorrow. Sridhar, who had beaten Austria's Juergen Koch 21-15, 21-19 in the men's singles first round, will face eighth seed and reigning Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in the second round tomorrow. Saina, who had outplayed Switzerland's Jeanine Cicoginini 21-12, 21-12 in the women's singles opening round, will square up with 13th seed Juliane Schenk of Germany.
— Agencies
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Murali seeks damages from Bedi
Colombo, August 14 “It’s a letter of demand that we have sent
(Bedi),” Muralitharan’s manager, Kushil Gunasekera said. Gunasekera said Bedi had recently commented that Muralitharan bowled with an illegal action, and called him a “cheat.” The International Cricket Council
(ICC) has created a “monster” of Muralitharan and set a bad precedent by not taking any action against him, Gunasekera quoted Bedi as saying. “These are derogatory (remarks), and of a personal nature,” Gunasekera said. He said Muralitharan’s lawyers have demanded 750 million Sri Lankan Rupees ($6.7 million) from Bedi as damages. Bedi (60) was an accomplished left-arm spin bowler during his playing days in 1960s and 70s. In 67 Test matches he took 267 wickets. — AP
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Anand eyes record 10th title
Mainz (Germany), August 14 Anand has won Rapid Chess title nine times, including six in Mainz. The Chess Classics will have two Major Rapid Events - the Finet Chess 960 World Rapid Championship with finals on August 16 followed by the usual Grenke Leasing Rapid World Championship - in which Anand is the defending champion for the last nine years. In these two events, Anand, Levon Aronian, Etienne Bacrot and Rustam Kazimdzhanov will compete for the coveted titles. After yesterday’s draw, Anand will have two blacks and a white on the first day. He will play his first game of Chess 960 World Rapid Championship with black against Rustam Kasimdzhanov followed by a game against Bacrot and in the third game will have white against Levon Aronian. Anand though was modest when asked about his chances in the
tournament. “Well basically it is first time I have been invited to play in a mixed tournament and I think it will be quite interesting. It is true that Rapid genre was invented round about 1988 or so and I have been playing since the first tournament and clearly it is something I enjoyed a lot,” Anand said. “Basically in Chess960, you don’t know where the pieces are, you only find that at the board. So it is impossible to prepare. Secondly, it is bit disoriented and you actually need sometime before to get a grip on the possibilities and then you start to play normally, but I think It also makes it more creative.” On being asked about the hindrance Chess960 might do to the main event, Anand said, “ hope not, I think the two formats are quite separate and than you get a day in between the two tournaments, so rightly after that tournament finishes, the main Rapid tournament starts so I should be able to separate the two. However, this time the opponents are quite tough.” Besides the two main events, Ordix and Finet Opens will have young and talented players like Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Alexie Shirov, Alexander Grishuk, Gata Kamsky, Sergey Karjakin, Krishnan Sasikiran, Pentala Harikrishna and Arkadij Naiditsch among a strong list of over 50 Grandmasters and International Masters to vie for a place in next year’s World Rapid. The youngest GM in the world, India’s Parimarjan Negi will play in Ordix Open.
— UNI
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Tevez set for Man United debut
London, August 14 The 23-year-old completed his move to United last Friday and is set to start the game as a result of the recent injury to fellow forward Wayne Rooney. "Carlos will start Wednesday against Portsmouth," Ferguson was quoted as saying by the club website. "I would have preferred to wait for the Manchester City game - that would have given him a few more days of training." "But for the forthcoming few weeks, he will fill the position Wayne would have occupied," he added. At the official unveiling of the Argentina international, Ferguson said that the player's heroics for West Ham United last season convinced him that the striker was worth bringing to Old Trafford. Tevez helped the Hammers avoid relegation, including grabbing the winner at Old Trafford in the last game of the 2006-07 campaign. "He made a big contribution by saving them from the drop," said Ferguson. "West Ham won something like seven out of nine games in the run-in, which was championship form, and most of those victories were down to Carlos." The United manager said he would have sealed the Tevez deal earlier but was unable to because of "complicated" factors. The Argentine joined the Old Trafford outfit after his agent Kia Joorabchian paid West Ham a two million-pound settlement. "We had been watching him for a long time but we realised that the whole situation regarding ownership was complicated," conceded Ferguson. "But Mascherano going to Liverpool helped clarify a few things for us." United are reported to have paid Joorabchian 10 million pounds for what amounts to be a two-year loan with the option to turn it into a permanent deal at any stage before the contract expires. United have first right of refusal on Tevez, who cannot leave for another club without them first waiving their right to buy. "Everything is in place for Carlos and Manchester United to agree a long-term deal and we are very comfortable with the arrangement," said club's chief executive David Gill. "We are looking at it very positively with a view that he will be the player he can be for Manchester United and that it will be an easy decision to exercise our option. "That is our goal. We are not looking at two years, we are looking at a long-term arrangement." Tevez said: "I am happy to be with a group of people who are not only football stars but humble as human beings.
— IANS
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Praveen stars in India A win
New Delhi, August 14 Praveen picked up three wickets and then struck an unbeaten 57 to help the Indians overhaul Kenya’s paltry total of 98 in only 7.4 overs at the Gymkhana Cricket Club ground. Pankaj Singh grabbed 4-29 and Praveen 3-28, justifying skipper Mohammad Kaif’s decision to bowl under an overcast sky. The inexperienced Kenyan batting failed to hold up to the challenge and collapsed in just 26.2 overs. Skipper Thomas Odoyo stood tall amid the ruins with 43 of 53 balls, but his solo effort was not enough to compensate for the failure of the other batsmen, three of them out for nought. India ‘A’ were off to a flying start with Yousuf Pathan (29) and Praveen going hammer and tongs from the outset. Man of the match Praveen smashed four sixes and six boundaries en route to his fifty as the Indians romped home in style. India ‘A’ will next take on Sri Lanka ‘A’ tomorrow.
— PTI
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‘Kids’ smiles’ for opening gala
"We will collect the smiles of children of different regions, colours and races all over the world," Zhang said. "We will display these smiles at the opening ceremony, after our artistic processing, to complement the theme of the games: One World, One Dream," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. Games organisers are currently discussing the plan in detail and it is expected to be formally launched very soon, he said. According to a senior official of the Organising committee for the Beijing Olympic Games (BOCOG), rehearsals for the opening ceremony to be held on August 8, 2008 will begin in September. BOCOG has invited Zhang to act as director for the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, Australian Ric Birch and Frenchman Yves Pepin will serve as artistic consultants. Zhang, one of China's most respected directors, is best known for his films "Raise the Red Lantern," "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers". He has won the Jury Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and has twice taken the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be held from August 8 to 24. — PTI
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Yinchuan, August 14