The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tri-series
Yuvi, others need to fire

Melbourne, February 9
It will be a test of character for a young Indian team when it takes on world champions Australia in a cricket tri-series one-dayer here tomorrow with the form of some of the middle order batsmen being a concern.

Sreesanth doubtful

India suffered a big setback ahead of their tri-series one-day encounter against Australia with pace spearhead S Sreesanth rendered a doubtful starter because of fever.
Sreesanth is suffering from fever and he is on antibiotics, a team source said here today.
The Kerala paceman bowled brilliantly in the abandoned tri-series opener against the hosts to pick up the valuable wickets of Australian captain Ricky Ponting and retiring glovesman Adam Gilchrist.
If Sreesanth does not get fit in time for tomorrow's match, the Indian team management has to decide between Gujarat speedster Munaf Patel and leg spinner Piyush Chawla.
There is a possibility that India could go into the match with two spinners as the duo of Harbhajan Singh and Chawla can create problems for the stroke-making Aussie batsmen on the slow and low track of the MCG.

With their first two matches being abandoned due to rain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his young brigade will need to pull up their socks against the hosts, who will be high on confidence after their resounding 128-run victory over Sri Lanka yesterday.

While the Indian pacemen have given a good account of themselves the batting has not shown the desired consistency in the two rain affected games.

One-day specialist Yuvraj Singh has been going through a lean patch since the Test series while the form of some of the other younger batsmen like Rohit Sharma and Robin Uthappa, who joined the team for one-day team, has also been worrying factor.

The focus will again be on the youngsters who have replaced stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly in the team. Another batting failure would no doubt put enormous pressure on them.

The Indians will look for a flying start from the in-form Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag for the team to post a good total on the board on a slow Melbourne Cricket Ground track.

The Australians, on the other hand, have a settled batting line up and the return of Matthew Hayden, who invariably reserves his best against the Indians, has only strengthened the line-up.

The Australians are currently on top of the points table having seven points from two matches, the Indians have four points from two rain-abandoned games while Sri Lanka have two points from as many matches.

Captain Dhoni, who himself has not been in best of nick till he scored an unbeaten 88 against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, will hope that his team comes good in what promises to be a thrilling floodlit contest in front of a packed crowd.

The ability of India's young players to run in their singles hard and power in their returns are also likely to be as decisive factors as the skills they show with bat or ball.

India would have to squeeze out every possible run that exists in the field and partnerships would be the key to ensure the momentum.

Innovative strokes would come in handy and master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, trying out exaggerated flicks in the nets, shows that the message is not lost on him.

Indians would also be tested in the field, both inside the ring and in the outfield on a huge MCG arena where only the strongest with the best methods can fire in a flat return.

It's a kind of pitch which usually doesn't help big strokes and Indians' adaptability will be closely watched.

But India should not allow the repeat of what happened to Sri Lanka yesterday after the latter hung back in the square and allowed Australia to recover in Sydney.

Most Indian batters have not shown a tendency to build on to a good start and hopefully the example of Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni, when they put on 184 runs against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, would not be lost.

Australia appear extremely formidable in all departments even though the likes of Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist are not in the best of forms.

They have variety and cricketers with more than one dimension in their ranks. They could use as many as seven bowling options and eight in their ranks can do a good job with the bat.

Sunday promises to be sunny throughout and India would have their first full game. An upset win tomorrow could bring a considerable gap between them and Sri Lanka.

For much of the last two weeks the speed and agility of the young Indian team has been its' major calling card.

Tomorrow could offer a clinching argument, either way. — PTI

	India may opt for two spinners Melbourne, February 9 India may consider the option of going into tomorrow's tri-series cricket match against Australia with two spinners looking at the slow nature of the MCG track, according to Virender Sehwag. "Looking at the slow and low conditions which usually prevail at the MCG, we would even consider the option of playing with two spinners," Sehwag said today. The opening batsman admitted that the Indians usually fared poorly at the MCG, venue for tomorrow's clash against Australia, because its huge size was a problem in fielding. "We don't do well at the MCG because it's a big ground and fielding is a difficult proposition here. Individually, we have had some good moments here but collectively this venue hasn't been good for us," Sehwag said reflecting on the 2-7 win-loss ratio of Indians at this historic venue. Individually, though Indians also have some fine memories from this venue, including one for Sehwag himself when he smashed 195 against the Australians in a Test here during the 2003-04 series. The Delhi dasher still believed Australia could be put under pressure if his side was able to deny them wickets for long stretches of period. "We have the potential to beat Australia. We are the only side which has done it successfully. We would try and do well here tomorrow. If you can deny them wickets, we have seen they could be put under pressure. But you have to play well for full 100 overs in order to beat them," Sehwag said. Sehwag felt that having had three outdoor practice sessions in Melbourne would stand his young side in good stead. "We have practiced hard for three days and it would help the youngsters. They are getting better day by day and looking forward to tomorrow's game," he added. — PTI
	‘Akhtar has lost PCB confidence’ Karachi, February 9 PCB Chairman Naseem Ashraf today lashed out at fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar saying he has lost the confidence of the entire board. Reacting to Akhtar's statement that the Board had adopted double standards while awarding the new central contracts, Ashraf said the paceman needed to regain the confidence of the Board. "The decision not to award him a central contract was unanimous. They were doubts over his fitness and focus for the national team. He didn't accumulate the minimum points needed to get a central contract," Ashraf said. Akhtar came at the bottom of the list in the new points system adopted by the Board to give central contracts to 15 players. He has also refused to sign the special retainer announced for him and a few other senior players who did not get central contracts. Akhtar told reporters yesterday that PCB had a dual policy dealing with players and he could not understand their methods. He also asked Board officials to watch him bowl in the Pentangular tournament starting tomorrow if they thought he was not fit. But Ashraf said the Board had in the past given many opportunities to Akhtar but some of his actions had embarrassed the board and the team. "We consider him a valuable player which is why he has been given another opportunity in the Pentangular as captain of the Islamabad team to prove himself and win back the Board's confidence," the PCB chief said. Ashraf stated that any player who did not want to sign a contract or retainer was free to do so and the Board would not force him. But he made it clear that any player(s) violating their contract terms will face disciplinary action. Referring to recent statements by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, Shahid Afridi and Akhtar, Ashraf said players were well aware that any statement that went against the Board policies would be dealt with strongly and disciplinary proceedings can be initiated against them. — PTI
	New Zealand make a winning start Wellington, February 9 New Zealand thrashed England by six wickets to claim the opening contest of their five-match one-day international series today, the hosts controlling proceedings from start to finish to win with 20 overs to spare. New Zealand looked a different side from the one that was outclassed in the two Twenty20 internationals that preceded this series and handed England a first loss on the tour after skittling out the tourists for a feeble 130 in 49.4 overs. Scoreboard England: Cook b Martin 11 Mustard b Styris 31 Bell b Martin 5 Pietersen b Oram 6 Collingwood run out 12 Shah run out 20 Bopara c Fulton b Styris 3 Swann run out 7 Broad not out 18 Sidebottom c&b Patel 4 Anderson b Patel 3 Extras: (lb-4 w-6): 10 Total (all out, 49.4 overs): 130 FoW: 1-34, 2-42, 3-55, 4-67, 5-80, 6-91, 7-103, 8-104, 9-120, 10-130 Bowling: K.Mills 9-0-27-0, C.Martin 8-1-22-2, J.Oram 8-0-20-1, S.Styris 10-1-22 2, D.Vettori 8-1-21-0, J.Patel 6.4-0-14-2 New Zealand: Ryder c sub (Wright) b Broad 31 McCullum c Mustard b Broad 42 How c Mustard b Sidebottom 28 Taylor not out 24 Styris c Sidebottom, b Broad 0 Fulton not out 1 Extras (lb-2 w-1 b-2): 5 Total (for 4 wickets, 30 overs): 131 FoW: 1-61 2-83 3-122 4-127 Bowling: Ryan Sidebottom 9-1-34-1(w-1), James Anderson 4-0-35-0, Stuart Broad 9-2-26-3, Graeme Swann 3-0-17-0, Paul Collingwood 4-0-15-0 . — Reuters
	Atwal, Chowrasia keep hopes alive New Delhi, February 9 Braving tough conditions and strong field, Arjun Atwal and Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia shot steady third round to end the day at joint 5th to keep Indian hopes alive as the battle for the title got intense with France's Raphael Jacquelin leapfroging into the lead at the end of the penultimate day of the EMMAR-MGF $2.5 million Indian Masters Golf here today. Overnight leader Damien McGrane (Ireland) also had poor three over 75 and with three round total of 211 (67,69,75) was a stroke behind the leader at joint second place with Spain's Jose Manuel Lara(68,72,71) and Northern Ireland's Greame McDowel (69,69,73). The chilly weather made things difficult for the players but Atwal and unfancied Chowrasia stuck to the basics and finished ahead of many big names. Atwal, overnight joint sixth with 140, shot a par 72 round while Chowrasia came up with his third under par round as he shot his second successive one under 71 to total 212. The US-based Indian hit four birdies on 1st, 5th, 10th and 11th but spoiled the round by hiting a double bogey on the 7th besides dropping strokes on 15th and 16th. Chowrasia, who had shot 70 and 71 this afternoon again fired 71. He had five birdies on 1st, 3rd, 12th, 16th and 17th but like Atwal he also had a double bogey. That was on the 10th and he also dropped strokes on 15th and 18th. There was no end to Jyoti Randhawa's misery. The fancied Indian was again duped by his favourite course as he came up with yet another disastrous round of five over par. After leading the field on the first day, this was his second successive score of 77 and with a total of 217 (67,75,75), he was at joint 23rd place along with another Indian Randhir Ghotra, who shot two under 70 today. Jyoti had only two birdies (4th and 14th) while hitting five bogies (6th,7th,10th,1th and 18th). — UNI
	Bhupathi-Bopanna make it 2-1 M.S.Unnikrishnan Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 9 Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, combining only for the second time in Davis Cup doubles, jelled so well that it was like a walk on the grass for them as they steamrolled past Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to put India 2-1 up in the Asia-Oceania Group I Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan at the R.K.Khanna Stadium centre court here today. Bopanna, who beat Dustov in the opening singles yesterday before Somdev Dev Varman nullified the lead by losing to Istomin, will have the onerous task of winning the reverse singles against Istomin tomorrow, to ensure that India take an unbeatable lead. Bhupathi was to partner Prakash in the doubles, but non-playing captain Leander Paes played a master stroke to bring in Bopanna, which proved a successful gambit as the Indian duo was simply superb against Istomin and Dustov, serving and volleying with immaculate efficiency and ease, barring an occasional hiccup. To help India, Denis Istomin, surprisingly, struggled with his serves. Farrukh Dustov, who was steady with his serve, too faltered. Serving for the set and the match, Bopanna erred as he could hold serve, set and match after saving two break points. But he fired two of his six aces and second of his two double faults, in this nerve-wracking game. The strategy of the Indian pair was to attack the visitors at the net, and this ploy worked as Istomin and Dustov often caught-landen footed at the baseline. India could not have asked for a better start to the doubles when Istomin dropped serve in the very first game, with a double fault. Bopanna made a brisk job of his serves, but Bhupathi faced problems in holding his serves on a couple of occasions. Bhupathi committed a double fault in the fourth game, but Bopanna's quick-silver net volleys helped his senior partner hold serve. Bhupathi also had trouble holding serve in the eighth game when Bopanna committed a couple of unforced errors, though he made amends with a forehand swat after the game went to deuce. The Indian pair then did well to wrest Istomin's serve in the ninth game to win the first round. Though Istomin survived a scare in the fourth game of the second set as did Bhupathi in the seventh game, he was not that lucky in the eighth game which he dropped when his volley got tangled in the net. The third set was getting tougher for the hosts when Dustov and Isomin volleyed into the net, and Bhupathi smashed a cross-court winner to wrest Dustov's serve in the fifth game. Serving for the set and the match, Bopanna was in a spot of bother when Istomin's sliding return passed Bhupathi, and he himself committed a double fault.A net volley by Bhupathi took the game to deuce and the Indian No I then fired two aces to gain advantage. India won the set and the match, when Istomin hit a return long and out.
	22nd title win on a trot for Rlys eves Kusum Arora Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 9 Indian Railways beat Jharkhand 3-1 in the final of the 55th Rakshak Senior Women National Hockey Championship here today, while Mumbai downed Haryana to finish third. Railways have annexed the tournament consecutively for the 22nd time since they first won it in 1981. Railways started the game on a fast note and converted a penalty corner in the 8th minute through Suman Bala to open their account. In the 27th minute, Asunita Lakra made it 2-0 for the champions. In the second half, Jharkhand’s Susila Lakra reduced the margin in the 52nd minute. In the 62nd minute, Suman Bala converted a penalty corner to make it 3-1 for Railways. In the match for the third position, Mumbai beat Haryana 4-3. Meanwhile, the chief guest on the occasion, Punjab minister for Welfare of Sports and Youth Services, Gulzar Singh Ranike gave a grant of Rs 1 lakh to the Punjab Women Hockey Association.
	Salgaocar shock Viva Kerala Margao, February 9 A second half goal by man of the match, Bivan D'Mello enabled bottom placed Salgaocar sports club to defeat Viva Kerala by 1-0 and register their first win after 16th round of the ONGC I league championship match, played here at Nehru stadium, Fatorda today. The match winner goal, was result of a fine combine move and came in the 65th minute, when Nicolas Rodrigues passed to Rocus Lamare, who in quick succession switched over the ball to better placed Bivan, whose left footer found the net to make it 1-0. Bivan, thus made amends for his earlier lapse. Salgaocar avenged the defeat they suffered against Kerala by 1-3 in the away match in the first leg. With this win, Salgaocar increased their points tally to 10 from a win and seven draws from 16 outings, but have remained at the same bottom place. Viva Kerala too continues at the same place, above Salgaocar with 12 points from as many matches. — UNI
	Gilchrist not cleared: CA Melbourne, February 9 The BCCI-promoted Indian Premier League may be confident of getting retiring wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist for the high profile Twenty20 competition, but Cricket Australia has denied it had cleared Adam Gilchrist to play in this year's tournament. While there is no suggestion Cricket Australia will stop Gilchrist playing in the lucrative Twenty20 competition, he has not yet been granted permission. The situation is complicated by an unresolved dispute between CA, which is demanding global protection for its sponsors, and the IPL, which has threatened to go ahead without Australian stars rather than grant that protection. Talks between the two boards are due to continue next week. "Gilchrist will play - he has already got a no-objection certificate from the Australian board," Modi told reporters in Mumbai after meeting with representatives of the eight franchises. However, CA denied any such occurence. "We have not signed a no-objection certificate," a CA spokesman was quoted as saying. — PTI
	Ghamanda wins 1500m race Sanjeev Singh Bariana Tribune News Service Kila Raipur(Ludhiana), February 9 In the athletics events at the 73rd Kila Raipur sports festival here today Ghamanda Ram from Rajasthan was the winner in the 1500 metre race clocking 4 minutes. Lt-Gen S. S. Kumar, General Officer Commanding, 11 Corps, and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, president, PPCC, were special guests on the occasion. Satnam Singh from Jalandhar and Jaskaran Singh from Patiala were second and third, respectively. Mandeep Kaur from Jalandhar won the 200 metre event. Navpreet Kaur from Patiala and Deepti from Ludhiana were second and third, respectively. Amrik Rana from Meerut won the 400 metre open athletics meet. Azad Veer from Jalandhar was second. Ajay Kumar from BSF won the 100 metre race and Samsher Partap Singh Khalsa College Jalandhar was second. Iqbal Kaur from Tanda Urmur won the 800 metre women’s race. Narinder Kaur from Patiala and Kiranjit Kaur from Jalandhar were second and third, respectively. Navpreet Kaur from Patiala won the long jump contest. Ramandeep Kaur from Katana Sahib and Simranjeet Kaur also from Katana Sahib were second and third, respectively. ‘Brett Lee’ and ‘Hitler’ also rubbed shoulders at the venue. The event was the dog race contest and the gallery of participants included dogs named ‘Rambo’, ‘Blue Cat’ and ‘Sparkle’. Certain macho names who could not make it here because of prior engagements included ‘Shoaib Akhtar’, ‘Sunny’ and ‘Bush’. ‘Black Bull’ set the ball rolling with his scintillating performance this afternoon. ‘Rambo’ was the first greyhound to qualify. ‘Dancer’(female) won the contest while ‘Hitler’ (male) and ‘Blackie’ (female) were second and third, respectively. "Names of stars attached with participants in any such competition add more colour to the event,” said Harjinder Singh of Sahauli village. He has four Great Danes, all from Ireland.” “’Leader’, ‘Hitler’, ‘Golden Queen’ and ‘Dancer’ cost me Rs 4 lakh.” Tej Singh from Korewal village in Moga district is here with beloved pooch ‘Brett Lee’. "The dog stays in Canada with my brother for most part of the year. Even during his stay here it is given five star facilities.” Not just ‘Brett Lee’, at least half a dozen more greyhounds in the race stay abroad and come here only for the races.
	Anju in best shape for Olympics: Coach New Delhi, February 9 National athletics coach Bahadur Singh feels ace long jumper Anju Bobby George is in the "best shape" possible to fight for a medal in the Beijing Olympics. "I think she is in the best shape to go all out for a medal," Bahadur told PTI on the sidelines of the Athletics Federation of India's annual general meeting here today. "I think she can cross her personal best of 6.83m mark this time. She had done that in Athens Olympics and she can improve upon that mark in Beijing," the coach said. Anju won the bronze medal at the 2003 World Championship in Paris and recorded her best effort in Athens to finish sixth. She has already qualified for the Beijing Olympics along with triple jumper Renjith Maheswary, discus thrower Vikas Gowda and walker Babubhai Panocha. — PTI