Hyderabad, October 6
Australian opener Matthew Hayden today brushed aside the claims that Ricky Ponting has arrived with a team which is loaded with inexperience and said all the pre-series talk about the poor form of the visiting team would count for nothing when the Test series gets underway.

The Australians looked completely out of sorts in the three innings on the tour of India so far and have struggled to cope against the spinners here.

Hayden, who has been a very successful batsmen against India, has only managed just 50 runs in the three innings that he has played so far.

''It's easy to say that (it's India's best chance), you can say all sorts of stuff, e'll see.

''I don't think there's any one factor that we're really struggling at, but we'll see, and that's going to be up to us in their country to produce a good result,'' Hayden said.

''From my perspective, to get into that space that is very unique to these conditions is the most important thing, rather than hitting billions of balls and getting lots of time in the middle, I think the Test matches are where I want to try to do that, and I know how to play well here for sure.

He added that he has done a lot of work on his batting so as to bat well in India.

''I've done a lot of the foundations to batting well, and even yesterday after I got out I was able to go out to the nets and work on something specific to do with what I need to get ready for on Thursday, so I feel in a really good spot,'' Hayden stated.

Hayden also said a lot shouldn't be made of the practice games, which the Aussies used to get acclimatised to the Indian conditions.

''Although we probably haven't hit the ground running so far as a performance goes, I think just to get your mind into that space of a) how you're going to play the longer version of the game, and b) how you're going to play it in this territory, I reckon is such a brilliant way to get involved,'' he added.

''The Indian series is one of the great challenges in cricket and I feel up to it mentally,'' Hayden told mediapersons here.

Hayden was the most successful Australian batsman during the tour of India in 2000-01, when he slog-swept his way to 549 runs, an Australian record for a three-Test series.

But Hayden is determined not to let the disappointment at Hyderabad upset him mentally and is keen to replicate the success of 2000-01.

''I have had success in India, so I am feeling pretty confident. The previous tours here have been actually the greatest preparation for me,'' he said. ''I am feeling very comfortable and confident with my game at the moment.'' — UNI\PTI 

Hyderabad, October 6
Despite Australia's unimpressive performance in the four-day tour opener against the Board President's XI here, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly is not ready to take the world champions lightly when the Test series gets underway later this week.

Australia were far from the invincible unit they once were and only a last wicket stand of 96 runs between Michael Hussey and Stuart Clark in the first innings saved them from the humiliation of a follow on.

Ganguly, however, refused to read too much into the visitor's poor form at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

''It's a fantastic side. Just don't get excited by the result of the practice match. They'll be a completely different kettle of fish once the Tests start,'' Ganguly said.

''It's difficult to say that (call India favourites). I think there's nothing to choose between the sides. It'll be an extremely even contest,'' he added.

The 36-year-old admitted that the pressure will be on him following the drama which preceded his selection. Ganguly was omitted from the Irani Trophy squad which had put his selection for the upcoming Test series in doubt.

''I know the pressure will be on me. And let me tell you, all those players who have been wearing this shirt for a long time know that. We're here to do that and nothing else matters. At the end of the day all that counts are the number of runs that are on the board,'' he said. — UNI 

New Delhi, October 6
Swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag today tipped India to win 3-1 against Australia if the four-Test series, starting October 9 in Bangalore, was played on spin-friendly tracks. "If we are playing on spin friendly tracks, the series might be in our favour 3-1," Sehwag told CNN-IBN today.

"The Indian team is the only team that beat Australia in Australia twice. We beat them in Perth last time and before that in Adelaide. So, we are accepting the challenge and we will fight it out. Hopefully, we will do well and reclaim the Border Gavaskar trophy," he added.

Sehwag, the only Indian to have hit a triple-hundred, said he was clear about his job which is to give a good start to the team and then convert it into a big advantage.

"It is my responsibility and my job as an opener to give a good start to my team and if I get a start, I continue and covert that into a big one, the way I did in Australia and Sri Lanka. That's my job and I love to do that," he said.

"I am in good nick but I am looking forward to this series and hope I do well because it's against the Aussies and everybody knows it's a tough task to get runs against them," he added.

The Delhi player, however, made light of the fact that Ricky Ponting's men struggled in the drawn four-day warm-up match which concluded in Hyderabad yesterday.

"In a practice game, you are not 100 per cent on and you are just practicing for the Test match and are not worried about the result. I think they got what they wanted out of the game. They are ready for the Tests," he said. — PTI

Chennai, October 6
With Sourav Ganguly failing again, and yet another slip-shod batting display, India-A crashed to a miserable 133-run defeat against New Zealand A on the final day of the second four-day cricket match here today.

With this win, Kiwis levelled the two match series 1-1 after India A won the first match a few days back. Set to score a none-too-daunting 234 for win in a maximum of 59 overs, the Indian batsmen threw caution to the winds, committed hara-kiri and caved in without any fight, and allowed the Kiwis to level the series. India were bowled out for 100 runs in 58.2 overs.

The shot selection by the Indian batsmen left a lot to be desired as none of them applied themselves to the task and lost wickets in a heap. Medium pacer Ian O’Brien prized out first innings heros M. Vijay and Chatteswar Pujara in a two-wicket blitz in four balls to push India A on the backfoot. Both of them failed to score as India were one for two in three overs.

Then Sourav Ganguly (6), was snapped up at gully by Watling of medium pacer Bradley Scott, who also removed Ravindra Jadeja (4). In between skipper Suresh Raina ran himself out going for a non-existent single after playing to short midwicket and could not beat James Marshall’s direct hit. Opener Suhil Kukreja top scored with a patient 31.

With the Kiwis pushing through the overs at a rapid pace, it was a mere formality thereafter as off spinner Nathan McCullum and Leggie Aaron Redmond hastened the end claiming two wickets apiece as India crumbled in the fifth mandatory over, with 30 minutes of play remaining on the final day.

Earlier, resuming at 107 for three, the Kiwis, who had a 39 run first innings lead, declared their second innings closed at 194 for seven with Jamesh Marshall and Watling coming good with the bat. As offie Suresh Raina and leg spinner Amit Mishra struck quick blows, the Kiwis declared their second innings, setting a modest target for India, which eventually proved to be more than a handful for the hosts. — UNI

Scoreboard

New Zealand A (1st innings) 315

India A (1st innings) 276

New Zealand A (2nd innings)

Overnight 107 for 3

Redmond c Jadeja b RP Singh 5

Guptill lbw b Raina 41

Fulton b Mishra 33

Hay c Raina b R Jadeja 23

J Marshall c Vijay b Raina 43

Watling not out 34

R Young c Vijay b Mishra 4

N McCullum c sub b Mishra 0

Scott not out 4

Extras: (b6, lb1) 7

Total (7 wkts, dec, 61 ovrs) 194

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-70, 3-92, 4-129, 5-158, 6-176, 7-182.

Bowling: RP Singh 6-0-23-1, Dinda 3-2-10-0, Sangwan 2-0-17-0, Ganguly 2-0-9-0, Mishra 22-5-65-3, Jadeja 16-6-36-1, Raina 10-2-27-2.

India A (2nd innings)

S Kukreja c Young b Redmond 31

Vijay c Fulton b O’Brien 0

C Pujara c N McCullum b O'Brien 0

Ganguly c Watling b Scott 6

Raina run out 5

R Jadeja c Young b Scott 4

W Saha lbw b O’Brien 16

A Mishra c Guptill b Redmond 7

RP Singh lbw N McCullum 7

P Sangwan c J Marshall b N McCullum 11

Dinda not out 10

Extras (2lb, 1w) 3

Total (all out, 58.2 ovrs) 100.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-12, 4-21, 5-25,6-56, 7-69, 8-78, 9-78, 10-100.

Bowling: O’Brien 13-5-30-3, Boult 4-1-5-0, Scott 4-2-5-2, N McCullum 21.2-8-33-2, Redmond 16-6-25-2. — IANS

Karachi, October 6
In what would be music to the ears of Pakistan's banned ICL players, the government has agreed to consider their case and formulate a policy to resolve the crisis in consultation with the cricket board.

Law minister Farooq A Naek told reporters in Lahore that the ICL issue was discussed in a meeting with the former Test players.

The Indian Cricket League has around 18 Pakistani players, including Inzamam-ul-Haq, on its payroll and are not considered for selection in national and domestic teams.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had banned all the players, who aligned with ICL as it was not an ICC recognised event.

"I have asked them (players) to show me their contracts with ICL so that we can formulate a new policy about them and solve the problems of both sitting and retired cricketers.

"I have spoken to the President (Asif Zardari) over this issue and he is very keen to see the revival of cricket in Pakistan," Naek said.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, who also attended the meeting, said he had raised the issue of banning the players.

"I did speak to the Minister about ICL players because if an ICL player is needed to fulfill his duties for the national side, then he will come and play as it is mentioned in the contract.

"I don't think that if a player gets a chance to play for ICL, he should go and be banned by the board. This is totally unfair. This is stopping a player from earning through his chosen profession," he said.

The former batsman with experience of 120 Tests is leading the Lahore Badshahs in the second edition of the ICL season. — PTI 

Shimla, October 6
Leading Biker Bhaskar Rumni today skidded on a snowy track on his way to Pitso and dropped out of Raid de Himalayas rally while Suresh Rana was still leading in the world’s toughest car rally on leg-V on day six.

A convoy of about 18 cars and 21 bikes headed towards Leh from Petsio Army Camp today which saw a big set back to Bhaskar Rumni, who was injured when his bike skid down and injury forced him to leave the event on Leg-V on the sixth day of the event. 

Organiser of Motor Rally, Navdeep told UNI that the Leg-V result of X-treme bike category is now Ashish Moudgil-first followed by Sandeep Singh Mathur-second, Chetan Ganapathy-third and Prashant Kumar on fourth and Rajan Sindh on fifth and Karanbir Singh Bedi on sixth place.

In the X-treme car category Suresh Rana is in first position with a 9-minute lead to Sanket Shanbag-second, Harpreet Singh Balu-third, Gurdeep Garival(Army)-Fourth and Captain Amirnder Singh (Army)-fifth position, when the cavalcade of about 18 cars headed toward Leh valley from Petsio Army Camp.

The remaining 20 teams of bikers have a solo woman contestant on the motor event. Of the three women contestent who took part in Leg-IV, two have dropped out from the fray. Navdeep said that five army teams are in the fray and three of them are in leading position. — UNI 

London, October 6
Chelsea stayed top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday while Liverpool kept pace after an astonishing comeback earned them a 3-2 win at Manchester City. First half goals by Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka steered Chelsea to a routine win and put them on 17 points from seven matches, the same as Liverpool who trailed 2-0 before a Fernando Torres double and Dirk Kuyt's stoppage time winner.

Tottenham Hotspur remained rooted to the bottom of the table after losing 1-0 at home to Hull City as the pressure mounted on manager Juande Ramos. Promoted Hull are third with 14 points. Newcastle United ended a five-match losing sequence when they recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Everton in Joe Kinnear’s first match since being named the struggling club’s interim manager.

Portsmouth beat Stoke City 2-1, England strikers Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch both on target. Gianfranco Zola suffered his first league defeat as manager of West Ham United when they slumped 3-1 at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Chelsea, held 0-0 in Romania by CFR Cluj on Wednesday in the Champions League, made light of injuries to the likes of Michael Essien and Didier Drogba to outclass Villa. Cole combined superbly with Frank Lampard before thumping a shot past Brad Friedel and they could have had five before the break as they dominated a Villa side who began the day in the top four. Anelka doubled the lead before halftime when he tapped in from close range after a Friedel save from Michael Ballack.

With Liverpool trailing 2-0 at halftime to goals by Stephen Ireland and Javier Garrido it looked like Chelsea were heading for a three-point cushion in the early title race. However, Torres, who hardly got a kick in the first half, burst into life. He halved the deficit with a simple finish after a slick move that ended with an Alvaro Arbeloa cross.— Reuters

Chandigarh, October 6
Punjab fell flat at the last hurdle as Mizoram emerged champions with a well-earned 1-0 victory in the 31st Sub-Junior National Football Championship for the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy here in Mahilpur today.

It was speedy and skillful Mizoram striker Lalnumawia who dashed the hopes of Punjab by scoring the match-winner in the 40th minute. Lalnumawia was declared the Player of the Tournament. Muna Lal of Punjab received the Man of the Match award. Goa were presented the Fair Play Trophy.

Earlier, heavy morning rain rendered the Principal Harbhajan Stadium waterlogged. The final was shifted to the adjacent Football Academy ground which was made ready for the match by mopping up operation.

Mizoram had an upper hand for the first 15 minutes of the second half but later Punjab started asserting themselves and mounted pressure.

The hosts failed to beat the Mizoram goalkeeper who at times was at their mercy. Sukhbir Singh wasted at least three chances and once his shot hit the pole while the goalkeeper was left stranded at the far post. Rajbir was also guilty of missing some easy chances.

Harbhajan Sporting Club of Mahilpur, which conducted the Sub-Junior Nationals under the patronage of the Punjab Football Association, gave a cash award of Rs 25,000 to winners Mizoram. — UNI

New Delhi, October 6
Armed with inputs from East Bengal midfielder Alvito d’Cunha, who played against Safa SC earlier this year, Dempo would be looking to continue the momentum when they take on their West-Asian rivals in the first leg of the AFC Cup semifinal at the Sports City Stadium in Lebanon tomorrow.

“We spoke to Alvito and enquired about Safa,” Dempo coach Armando Colaco told PTI over phone from Beirut. Alvito was part of the East Bengal side that lost 0-1 to Safa in Lebanon and drew 0-0 in Kolkata in the Group B league stage of the AFC Cup. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Paes 6th, Bhupathi 12th in doubles rankings
NEW DELHI: Indian tennis ace Leander Paes has risen to the sixth spot on the latest ATP world doubles rankings while former partner Mahesh Bhupathi is holding on to his 12th position. Paes made the climb thanks to his performance at the Japan Open where he reached the final along with partner Lukas Dlouhy. The former Davis Cup captain is enjoying a rich vein of form, having won the Thailand Open with Dlouhy before going to Japan. Paes, who improved two spots from his earlier eighth position, is now on 3,060 points while Bhupathi has 2,680 points. Sania Mirza continued to disappoint, however, dropping seven places to be ranked 98th in the latest WTA standings. — UNI

Indian wrestlers need opportunities: Sushil
JAMMU: Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar said Indian grapplers needed attention and opportunities to prove their mettle in various competitions at national and international level as there was no dearth of talent in the country. “India is full of talent as there is no dearth of players and sportspersons in the country, especially the wrestlers, but they need a breakthrough to come into the limelight,” Sushil Kumar told reporters at a function organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Indian Style Wrestling Association at Katra on Sunday. Sushil was invited to be felicitated by the state administration and the wrestling association for his outstanding achievement at the Beijing Olympics. — UNI

Former spinner Emburey bats for Ganguly
AHMEDABAD: Former England spinner John Emburey backed veteran southpaw Sourav Ganguly’s inclusion in the Indian team and said age should not be a criteria for selection. “Ganguly is a world class player and has been in great form. There should not be any second thoughts for selecting him in the Indian team,” Emburey said here on Monday. “Age should not be the criteria for selection, certainly not for a player like Ganguly. If a senior is playing well he should be selected. There is no point in dropping him to make way for younger players,” said Emburey, who had turned down an offer to be the coach of the Indian cricket team. — PTI

France’s Anelka doubtful for WC qualifier
PARIS: France striker Nicolas Anelka is a doubt for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier in Romania because of a leg injury, according to his Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari. Anelka netted Chelsea’s second goal in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday before limping off with a thigh muscle problem. “I’m not sure yet whether he can play with the national team. For the first game, it seems complicated. But he can stay with the French team,” Scolari told Monday’s edition of French sports daily L’Equipe. “He needs two or three days rest and maybe he will be able to play the second match.” — Reuters

No Canadian visa yet for Zim players
KARACHI: The organisers of the four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto are facing problems getting visas for the Zimbabwe team and they may have fall back on a replacement team for the sake of the event. Sources, well aware of the preparations for the event, told PTI that the Canadian embassy is yet to issue visas for the Zimbabwe cricket team for the tournament, to be held from October 10. “Apparently it is the usual issue of western governments having problems with the government in Zimbabwe and not wanting to encourage any sporting ties with the African nation,” one source said. The source added that the organisers have already started looking at a non-associate member country of the ICC as a possible replacement and Bermuda was under consideration. — PTI

Hans earn full points against St. Columbus
NEW DELHI: Hans Club stunned St. Columbas 2-0 to earn full points in the Delhi Soccer Association Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Monday. Umesh Bora and Vipin scored the goals in the first half. In another match, Glorious and Venus played a 2-2 draw. Venus took the lead through Jokhed who also scored their second goal. Glorious struck soon to equalise. — TNS