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Ganguly gets nod for
two Tests The selection of Ganguly reflects a new approach by the Srikkanth-led committee, which has banked on experience rather than grooming too many young players for the gruelling series against Australia.
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Board President’s XI
v Australia
JCT look favourites against Vasco
Champions League
Assam 1st to enter last 4
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Ganguly gets nod for
two Tests
Mumbai, October 1 Ignoring the previous selection committee's stand on the elegant left-hander, the new team of selectors, headed by former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, included the 36-year-old Ganguly in the squad which also has Tamil Nadu batsman S Badrinath and Delhi leg-spinner Amit Mishra as the two new faces.
Ganguly's career was at crossroads after he was ignored by the previous selection panel, with Dilip Vengsarkar at the helm, for the season-opening Irani Cup tie, touted as a virtual selection trial, at Vadodara late last month. However, a change of guard with the complete overhaul of the selection panel saw the return of Ganguly and he seems certain to play the series opener at Bangalore barring injury. While Badrinath and Mishra got the selectors' nod, middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh was ignored yet again for the longer version of the game.
Four players from the 16-strong Test squad to Sri Lanka - wicket keepers Dinesh Kaarthick and Parthiv Patel, Rohit Sharma and Pragyan Ojha - were also omitted. There was speculation in the run-up to the meeting that the senior players, including Ganguly, would be informed about the BCCI's vision over the composition of the team and they would be asked to inform the board about their retirement plans so that ways could be planned for their honourable exit. Chief selector Srikkanth told the waiting reporters that as per the BCCI regulations he was not allowed to speak to the media. "After discussions we have selected the team and this is the best team according to us". Sachin Tendulkar, who sat out of the recent tri-series against Sri Lanka because of an elbow injury, retained his place in the Test squad after being declared fit. The selection of Ganguly reflects a new approach by the Srikkanth-led committee, which has banked on experience rather than grooming too many young players for the gruelling series against Australia. The Irani Cup snub had put a question-mark on Ganguly's career and this probably would be the last chance for the feisty former India captain to prove his worth. The Bengal stalwart, who made a spectacular entry into Tests with a debut ton at Lord's in 1996, made a storming return to the five-day game in South Africa in late 2006 after losing his place earlier that year due to a fall-out with the then coach Greg Chappell. The classy left-hander amassed over 1100 runs with 239, his career-best score, against Pakistan in Bangalore in late 2007, at a fantastic average of 61.44 last year which compares favourably with his career average of 41.74 in 109 Tests. The 28-year-old Badrinath has played only three ODIs and with a well-settled middle-order line-up, it appears extremely unlikely that he would get a chance to make his Test debut at Bangalore. The presence of Badrinath, a prolific run-getter at the domestic level and for India A, should, however, keep not only Ganguly but also the other three top batsmen who flopped in Sri Lanka in the Test series that India lost - Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman - on their toes. The inclusion of Mishra, who has played in three ODIs for India before being sidelined by younger bowlers like Piyush Chawla and Ojha, is bound to keep Kumble - the elder statesman of the team at the age of 38 - also under pressure. Yuvraj, ignored like Ganguly when they named the Rest of India team for the Irani tie, will now have to do something extra, while leading the Board President's XI against Australia in the four-day warm-up game at Hyderabad starting tomorrow, to bring himself into reckoning. — PTI
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Dinda, Mishra fashion
win
Chennai, October 1 Requiring 355 to win, the Kiwis were never in the hunt and folded up for 225 in the first over after tea as Dinda took two wickets off consecutive deliveries to finish with figures of 18.4-4-60-5. The second and concluding match of the series will be played at the same venue from October 3 to 6. Earlier, double strikes by leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who came away with a three-wicket haul, and Dinda scuttled the Kiwi hopes that were resting on their batsmen to play out the minimum of 108 overs. It was a struggle for the Kiwis batsmen who were far from convincing, be it negotiating pace or spin. However, Indians, who sent down 11 no-balls and three wides, tended to stray allowing some relief and freedom to the batsmen. — IANS Scoreboard New Zealand A: 230 India A: 336 New Zealand
A: Redmon c Shah b Mishra 37 Watling lbw b Parmar 6 Fulton c Saha b Mishra 39 Hay b Dinda 20 Marshall lbw b Mishra 47 Broom lbw b Dinda 0 McCullum c Saha b Dinda 3 Young not out 39 Mason c Kukreja b Parmar 10 Boult c Saha b Dinda 3 Arnel lbw b Dinda 0 Extras (b-2, lb-5, nb-11, w-3): 21 Total (all out in 81.4 overs): 225 Fall of
wickets: 1/22, 2/90, 3/90, 4/148, 5/148, 6/154, 7/201, 8/215, 9/225 Bowling: Ashok Dinda 18.4-4-60-5; Sudeep Tyagi 11-1-39-0; Mohinish Parmar 25-5-60-2; Amit Mishra 25-4-55-3; Suresh Raina 2-1-4-0. — PTI |
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Board President’s XI
v Australia
Hyderabad, October 1 Yuvraj, who scored two successive centuries at this venue against South Africa and Australia in one dayers, is now focusing on the longer version of the game in his bid to win back his place in the Test squad for the third and fourth matches. Yuvraj is determined to lead from the front against Ponting's side which is mainly banking on its pace attack. The sporting wicket will help his cause with S Badrinath and opening batsman Wasim Jaffer also having to prove themselves. Juniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be the mainstay of the batting line-up for Board Presidents XI. Pace bowler S. Sreesanth, who has recovered from injury and is also looking to regain his place in the Test squad, will spearhead the bowling. Irfan, Pankaj Singh and Manpreet Gony constitute the pace department while local lad Pragyan Ojha along with leggie Piyush Chawla would be the all-important spin duo. The Aussies, who arrived here a couple of days back, had strenuous practice sessions. Ponting, while expressing his satisfaction over the pitch, indicated that he might bank on his pace attack led by Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson. He also has a personal objective of proving his own batting form on Indian soil in the tour beginner. He would also be looking to dispel criticism of former Indian Test players that this would be the weakest team from Down Under to tour India. He would be banking on Mathew Hayden, the hero of the previous tours, to counter the spin challenge. The Aussie players who did well in the first edition of IPL - Shane Watson, Stuart Clarke, Micheal Clark and Michael Hussey would be the key to the Aussie success on the tour. — UNI Board President’s XI: Yuvraj Singh (C), Badrinath, Piyush Chawla, Akash Chopra, Rakesh Dhruv, Manpreet Gony, Wasim Jaffer, Virat Kohli, Pragyan Ojha, Pankaj Singh, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, Rohit Sharma, S. Sreesanth, Yogesh Takawale. Coach cum manager:
Praveen Amre. Australia: Ricky Ponting (C), Doug Bollinger, Stuart Clark, Micheal Clark, Bradd Haddin, Mathew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Phil Jacques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Bryce McGain, Peter Sidell, Shane Watson. Coach : Tim Nielsen. |
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Injured McGain out of first Test
Hyderabad, October 1 The 36-year-old late bloomer picked up the injury while touring India with the Australia A side last month and developed a sore shoulder after yesterday's practice. His injury, which makes him a doubtful starter for the second Test as well, virtually clears the deck for 25-year-old off-spinner Jason Krejza's Test debut in Bangalore. "McGain is not fit. He pulled up sore yesterday and his injury is being assessed," Australia coach Tim Nielsen said. "The physio will take a call in the next 24 hours but he is definitely going to miss the warm-up match here and most probably the first Test as well," he said. Team sources said the back injury would require at least two weeks' rest and the IT worker-turned-cricketer might miss the second Test as well. "We will have to talk to the selectors as well. For if another player gets injured, we might have to rush in substitutes," Nielsen said. The Australian coach said McGain's injury provides Krejza a gilt-edged opportunity to prove his mettle and the youngster was up to the challenge. "Krejza has done a brilliant job so far and it would be a great opportunity for him to bowl some of the best players of spin bowling," he said. — PTI |
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JCT look favourites against Vasco
Panaji, October 1 "It was a good start to begin with a win especially against champions Dempo who are in high spirits after they qualified for the semifinals of the AFC Cup,” stated Sukhwinder Singh. JCT, who were at the receiving end against Dempo have to thank their keeper Karanjit Singh who did well under the bar bringing up smart saves to deny Dempo a win. The defence led by Anwar looked tall and Vasco who played well in patches against Sporting which they lost to will have to work hard if they are to trouble the rival defence which looks solid. Vasco will be fielding the three foreigners from Uzbekistan - defender Yorkin Nazarov, Sherzod Nazarov and Ravshan Teshabaev. — PTI
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Champions League
Brussels, October 1 The Bulgarian striker pounced twice in the second half after Wayne Rooney had put the holders ahead in the 22nd minute to give United their first win of the campaign. Villarreal are level at the top of the group with United on four points after a 1-0 win at home to Celtic with a second half goal from midfielder Marcos Senna. Celtic and Aalborg have a point apiece. Juventus had to come from two goals down in Minsk with BATE holding on for their first-ever Champions League point. Vincenzo Iaquinta scored both Juve goals after the Belarus side went two up in 23 minutes through Sergei Kryvets and Igor Stasevich. In the other Group H match, Real Madrid kept their 100 per cent record intact with a 2-1 win at UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg, Ruud van Nistelrooy netting the 31st-minute winner. Real, who went ahead with a fourth-minute own goal by Tomas Hubocan before Portugal's Danny equalised, lead the group on six points after two games. Juventus are second with four points, BATE have one and Zenit none. Arsenal crushed Porto 4-0 in Group G with a double strike from Robin Van Persie and goals in each half from Emmanuel Adebayor, his second a penalty. The other group match between Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev ended scoreless. Arsenal have four points from two games, one point more than Porto. Dynamo have two points and Fenerbahce one. Bayern Munich top Group F despite being held 1-1 at home by Olympique Lyon. The French side took the lead when Bayern's Martin Demichelis headed into his own net in the 25th minute, but the German champions claimed a crucial point when Ze Roberto headed home after the break. Bayern have four points with Lyon and Fiorentina, held 0-0 at home by Steaua Bucharest, two points behind. The Romanians have one point. — Reuters
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Assam 1st to enter last 4
Jalandhar, October 1 By virtue of this draw, Assam has become the first team to book a berth in the semifinal. In another gruelling encounter, reigning champions West Bengal and fancied football firebrands, Goa, treated a jam-packed stadium to an exhibition of brisk soccer. The teams battled to a goalless draw. In the Assam-Uttarakhand match, Uttarakhand were the first to settle down and drew the first blood. Anuj Negi fired a thunderbolt from a 40 yards to find the corner of the rival net. This was in the 25th minute. Hardly had the cheers died down when striker Rahul collected a stray floater down the right flank and swerved past a host of defenders to look the rival goalie in the eye before gently slipping the ball in the right corner to make it 2-0. |
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Mumbai, October 1
