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4th ODI at 6.30 am
Confidence of pacers shattered: McCullum
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Aussies win, clinch series
Rs 40 crore plan for Indian soccer team
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India aim to wrap up series
Tendulkar fails to recover l Ishant set to replace Munaf
Hamilton, March 10 Tendulkar, who has been in superb form, has been ruled out of the match due an abdomen injury but the visitors have the batting might to still get past the Kiwis who have no option but to win the match to stay afloat in the series. The MRI scan done on India's premier batsman has revealed internal bleeding in his stomach. "I had stiffness in the region before the third ODI, but I had stretched myself too far. But I should be ready to play in a couple of days time," Tendulkar said. Considering the momentum the Indians have gained since the debacle in the Twenty20 series, the Blackcaps would have to produce something more than their best to stop the marauding visitors at the Seddon Park tomorrow. If they succeed, Vettori's men would have served notice as another potential match-winning unit to be reckoned with in the future. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's troops have been playing a sort of firebrand cricket as there is self-belief, confidence and camaraderie. In the past, Indians were regarded as paper tigers on tours. But now they are stalking and devouring national team wherever they travel, be it to the antipodes, the African bushveld, Old Blighty or the Caribbean Indian cricket has never been so good, so consistent and so dominating. The results have been remarkably encouraging over the last two years or so. The Kiwis would take comfort from the fact that Tendulkar, who had aggravated an abdomen injury during his delightful 163 before he retired hurt at Christchurch, would be rested. However, the return of Ishant Sharma, who should replace Munaf Patel, will lend more thrust to the Indian attack, which seemed to wilt under the early and late Kiwi onslaught in the third ODI at Christchurch. The bean pole-like speedster, who had hurt his right shoulder while fielding in the second T20, has not played a game in February 27. But he had a good bowl at the nets, suggesting he was ready to reestablish his partnership with Zaheer Khan. It will be an interesting battle between this highly-regarded Indian new ball pair and the Kiwi openers, Brendon McCullum and Jesses Ryder. The flightless Kiwis strove to take wings at Christchurch, battering the Indian attack, as had Sanath Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharna done of it in the 90s. Ryder's pyrotechnics was a revelation as he literally butchered Zaheer, Praveen and Munaf, whose dibbly-dobblies he dispatched to the pickets with utter contempt. Ryder is one to watch. While thundering to his maiden one-day hundred (105), the burly left-hander made it loud and clear to bowlers around the globe that he could destroy any attack on his day. But he has to be a lot more consistent to win the respect of the bowling tribe. — PTI
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Confidence of pacers shattered: McCullum
Hamilton, March 10 "I suppose from their perspective it would have knocked their confidence a little bit. It could happen when you go around the park like we did in the last couple of games. It is not a nice thing to happen for fast bowlers," said McCullum. "It is a skill issue of not being able to execute their plans. Or it maybe a mental issue with being apprehensive and almost trying too hard not to get hurt rather than just trying to grab the ball and do as well as you can. "We just have to try and execute the plans that were set out for us. So far, in the last couple of games we haven't quite been exact enough with our execution. "The mental approach against such a strong batting line-up can make you a bit apprehensive so we need to try and relax and implement the plans that we've got in place because we know they do work," he added. However, McCullum felt the Indian bowlers will be wary of the depth in the Blackcaps batting line-up. "We managed to put them under pressure. We saw some pretty big hitting in the end as well. Obviously, they will be a little wary, knowing that the wicket is good and the ground is pretty small. "They will have to be exact in their plans. If we can get some momentum with the bat and put them under some pressure then there's no reason why we can't post a big score and possibly win," he said. Will Tendulkar's absence make any difference to New Zealand? "I am sure it does, but they have still got Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj and Raina. So they still have a pretty strong batting line-up. We saw how well Sachin played the other day. To know that he will not be in the side will be a lift for our bowlers," he said. The 27-year-old opener was hopeful that skipper Daniel Vettori's return would bolster the New Zealand attack. "We will welcome him back with open arms, especially me. It will be great to have him back in the fold. His experience and skill will be handy," McCullum said. McCullum said all-rounder Jacob Oram, who returned to the team after an injury lay-off, was also coming on well. "Jacob's progressing really well. It is just a matter of being a little bit cautious with his body. He is obviously gone through a lot of niggles and injuries over the last few seasons. So we just have to be a little cautious with that."
— PTI |
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Dharamsala to host 2
matches
Mumbai, March 10 Modi confirmed that Dharamsala will host two matches of the high-profile Twenty20 tournament after a rescheduled itinerary was drawn up for the April 10-May 24 event with Ahmedabad and Vishakapatnam as the other two new centres. Apart from these new additions, Nagpur was also shortlisted as a possible venue for the high-profile league, but didn't make the cut. “Two matches have been agreed upon and are going to be moved from Chandigarh to Dharamsala. We've worked out the dates, those two dates have been frozen,” he added. Modi said IPL will take full responsibility for a centrally-managed security set-up which will cost 10 times more than last year. Modi said the security of players, officials and fans will no longer be left to the individual franchises as was the case last year. “Security is paramount for us. Players, officials and fans are all very important. Players’ security was the responsibility of the teams last year but this time we have gone venue by venue managing the security centrally. Of course we will coordinate with the teams,” Modi said at a function to unveil the new logo for IPL second season that starts April 10. Elaborating on the security plan, Modi said, “From the minute a (foreign) player lands here to the minute he leaves India. From the minute an Indian player enters the hotel to the minute he leaves, we will be managing the security. It’s a cumbersome template that was used during the India-England Test series last year. That was a rigorous plan put in place, shared with the government and the international board, in that case the England and Wales Cricket Board,” Modi added. “Security (budget) will be 10 times more than last year,” he said without divulging the exact figure. Asked about the reported apprehensions of foreign players and the host state governments, Modi said, “Three state governments (of the eight involved) have already given us their clearance in writing. The other five are expected to give it in a day or so. One state government had asked for a change of date and we are working it out. No foreign player has so far contacted the IPL to say that he is apprehensive. They have never been uncomfortable about coming here. India is not Pakistan, we are a safe country,” he said. Modi also rejected the Federation of International Cricketers Association’s demands for a say in the security arrangements for IPL. The opening and closing ceremonies as well as the inaugural and summit ties of the April 10-May 24 event would be held at the D Y Patil Stadium in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Modi said tenders have been floated for multiplexes vying to show live telecast of the IPL matches but with a clause. “If Mumbai is hosting a match, then the multiplexes there cannot show that match on that day, they will have to show the match going on in some other city,” he said. Modi said the confirmed contracted revenue for the second edition of the IPL has gone up by Rs 1,725 crore. “Now it’s Rs 10,790 crore. Two official partner slots are still open. We are in talks and are close to signing up one of them”, he said.
— PTI |
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Ahmedabad, Vizag new venues
Mumbai, March 10 Apart from these two new additions, the hill-town of Dharamshala and Nagpur were also shortlisted as possible venues for the high-profile league, the schedule for which is yet to be announced. “We are talking to Dharamshala and Nagpur is also in fray. Schedule is still being fine-tuned as I speak,” IPL chairman Lalit Modi said at a function to unveil the new logo for the event’s second season. Modi said IPL will take full responsibility for a centrally-managed security set-up which will cost 10 times more than last year. Modi said the security of players, officials and fans will no longer be left to the individual franchises as was the case last year. “Security is paramount for us. Players, officials and fans are all very important. Players’ security was the responsibility of the teams last year but this time we have gone venue by venue managing the security centrally. Of course we will coordinate with the teams,” Modi said at a function to unveil the new logo for IPL second season that starts April 10. Elaborating on the security plan, Modi said, “From the minute a (foreign) player lands here to the minute he leaves India. From the minute an Indian player enters the hotel to the minute he leaves, we will be managing the security. It’s a cumbersome template that was used during the India-England Test series last year. That was a rigorous plan put in place, shared with the government and the international board, in that case the England and Wales Cricket Board,” Modi added. “Security (budget) will be 10 times more than last year,” he said without divulging the exact figure. Asked about the reported apprehensions of foreign players and the host state governments, Modi said, “Three state governments (of the eight involved) have already given us their clearance in writing. The other five are expected to give it in a day or so. One state government had asked for a change of date and we are working it out. No foreign player has so far contacted the IPL to say that he is apprehensive. They have never been uncomfortable about coming here. India is not Pakistan, we are a safe country,” he said. Modi also rejected the Federation of International Cricketers Association’s demands for a say in the security arrangements for IPL. The opening and closing ceremonies as well as the inaugural and summit ties of the April 10-May 24 event would be held at the D Y Patil Stadium in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Modi said tenders have been floated for multiplexes vying to show live telecast of the IPL matches but with a clause. “If Mumbai is hosting a match, then the multiplexes there cannot show that match on that day, they will have to show the match going on in some other city,” he said. Modi said the confirmed contracted revenue for the second edition of the IPL has gone up by Rs 1,725 crore. “Now it’s Rs 10,790 crore. Two official partner slots are still open. We are in talks and are close to signing up one of them”, he said.
— PTI |
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Durban, March 10 South Africa were bowled out for 370 in their second innings with 37.4 overs to spare on the final day. The series win enabled Australia to bounce back after losing a home series against the same opponents earlier in the season. The victory was virtually sealed when the tourists dismissed overnight batsmen Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers inside the first hour. South Africa lost another two wickets before lunch. Although Mark Boucher and Morne Morkel resisted for 79 minutes after the break, the end came quickly after Boucher gave a return catch to part-time spinner Marcus North. A win for Australia would clinch the three-match series after they won the first Test in Johannesburg by 162 runs. Kallis and De Villiers made their third wicket stand worth 187 before Kallis was caught at second slip off Mitchell Johnson in the sixth over of the day for 93. — AFP Scoreboard Australia (1st innings): 352 South Africa (1st innings) 138 Australia (IInd innings): dec for 5 331 South Africa (IInd innings): (overnight 244-2) Amla c Ponting b Siddle 43 McKenzie c Haddin b Siddle 31 Kallis c Ponting b Johnson 93 A B de Villiers c Haddin b Siddle 84 Duminy c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 17 Boucher c and b North 25 Harris c Siddle b Katich 5 Morkel c Haddin b Katich 24 Steyn st Haddin b Katich 7 Ntini not out 4 Extras (b-13, lb-11, nb-10, w-3): 37 Total (132.2 overs, all out): 370 Fall: 1-63, 2-80, 3-267, 4-279, 5-299, 6-307, 7-345, 8-363, 9-370 Bowling: Johnson 33-9-78-1, Hilfenhaus 24-4-79-1, Siddle 28-12-61-3, McDonald 16-3-47-0, North 20-6-36-1, Katich 11.2-1-45-3.
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Rs 40 crore plan for Indian soccer team
New Delhi, March 10 India have qualified for the Asian Championship finals after a gap of 26 years, and the AIFF wants to spare no effort to give the best facilities to the players, who would form part of the team. The AIFF has shortlisted 25 elite players for the “Goal 2011” project, who would only concentrate on the preparation for the Asian Championship finals, and nothing else. The clubs, with whom the players have been contracted, have to release them to the AIFF camp, and the players would not be allowed to renew their contracts with their respective clubs for the next two seasons. The AIFF will compensate the players for not renewing their contracts with their clubs, as well as pay them match fees. The federation would also have to compensate the clubs for releasing the players, though some of the players have signed long-term contracts with the clubs. The AIFF plans to raise the money required for this expensive project through corporate sponsorships. |
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An injured Sachin Tendulkar will be missed as India go into the fourth cricket one-dayer against New Zealand here tomorrow, confident of being able to wrap up the series by taking an invincible 3-0 lead.
Durban, March 10
