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Batting falters, India follow on
We have done some amazing things in the past. We take a lot of confidence from that. It is one more opportunity to do something special. As recent as in December we won chasing a Test match, getting almost 400 runs against England on the final day. |
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Crowe blasts Sehwag’s ‘poor’ captaincy
Sunil Gavaskar writes...
Taufik Hidayat returns a shot to his opponent Tommy Sugiarto during their men's singles semifinal match on Saturday. — AFP
JCT hold Bagan
Loss of passport costs Limba WC
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Batting falters, India follow on
Napier, March 28 Resuming at 79 for three, India's hopes of batting their way into the match depended largely on Sachin Tendulkar (49), Rahul Dravid (83) and VVS Laxman (76) but none of the stalwarts could hang around long enough as their first essay folded for 305, thus incurring follow on. With a healthy 314-run first innings lead and a hungry pace battery operating with the new ball at his disposal, Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori had little hesitation in inflicting follow on and India dug themselves deeper in the hole losing stand-in captain Virender Sehwag (22) to finish day three on 47 for one in their second essay. Gautam Gambhir (14) and Rahul Dravid (11) were in the middle at stumps with India still trailing the hosts by 267 runs and risking a rout that would level the series 1-1. With two full days left, India's chance of winning the match and sealing the series here itself lay in tatters, while New Zealand remain firmly on course to restore parity in the three-match series. India's fallibility against the moving ball came to the fore again as New Zealand, riding on a joint five-wicket burst by Chris Martin (3/89) and Iain O'Brien (2/66) bowled them out for 305 and enforced the follow-on. The second new ball sounded India's death knell as Yuvraj Singh (0), Dinesh Karthik (6), Laxman, Harbhajan Singh (18) and Zaheer Khan (8) fell in a heap with the visitors losing their last five wickets in 62 balls. The startling Indian exodus could possibly be attributed to Dravid, who though made an imperious 83. — PTI Scoreboard New Zealand (1st innings): 619/9 decl India (1st innings): (overnight 79 for 3) Gambhir c Vettori b Patel 16 Sehwag c McCullum b Vettori 34 Dravid c McCullum b Ryder 83 Ishant lbw b Vettori 0 Tendulkar c Taylor b Patel 49 Laxman c McIntosh b Martin 76 Yuvraj c McIntosh b Martin 0 Karthik c Ryder b Martin 6 Harbhajan c Martin b O'Brien 18 Zaheer c Ryder b O'Brien 8 Munaf not out 0 Extras (b-1, lb-7, nb-7) 15 Total (all out in 93.5 overs) 305 Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-73, 3-78, 4-165, 5-246, 6-253, 7-270, 8-291, 9-305. Bowling: Martin 24-5-89-3, Franklin 15-4-34-0, Vettori 19-5-45-2, O'Brien 13.5-4-66-2, Patel 19-2-60-2, Ryder 3-1-3-1. India (2nd innings): Gambhir batting 14 Sehwag lbw b Patel 22 Dravid batting 11 Total (For 1 wicket, 17 overs ) 47 Fall of wicket: 1-30. Bowling: C Martin 3-1-6-0; I O'Brien 5-2-10-0; J Franklin 3-0-11-0; J Patel 3-1-14-1; J Ryder 1-0-5-0; Daniel Vettori 2-1-1-0.
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Crowe blasts Sehwag’s ‘poor’ captaincy
Criticising stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag for his poor leadership, former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe said India's performance in the on-going second Test in Napier is a far cry from their attempt at becoming the world's number one team. Crowe claimed regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni — he is out with a back injury — was being sorely missed and pin pointed Sehwag's leadership as one of the prime reasons for India's desperate situation against the Kiwis in the second Test.
“The Indian team effort was pretty sloppy. There was a resigned feel about what the Indian side were obviously thinking in terms of looking to draw this match and to retain that 1-0 advantage,” said Crowe. “But these are troubled signs for India. They have almost taken their eye off the ball. The Virender Sehwag shot was very irresponsible. Gautam Gambhir was lucky to survive a run-out, and the stroke that he played to get out. All this does not become of an experienced side that wants to be No. 1 in the world. Their fielding again was just slack. Nothing much changed and MS Dhoni was badly missed,” Crowe wrote in his column for ‘cricketnirvana’. “I have never seen captaincy so bad as I saw with Virender Sehwag,” he added. The 46-year-old right-hander said Dhoni altogether has a different approach towards the game and pointed out that even senior players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid stood as silent spectators yesterday when the New Zealand batsmen were on a run rout. “Clearly the loss of Dhoni has been a massive turnaround for them because their attitude has disappeared completely. For a side that wants to be the No. 1 team in the world, I was quite surprised at their whole approach, particularly after lunch on the opening day,” he said. “Obviously Dhoni has got the Midas touch, he has got that ability to motivate the team. But what surprises me is the fact even with Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar on the park they are not able to rally the troops,” Crowe said. “India should look back at the decision to arrive late in Napier. It’s hard to tell if that is what is showing up on the field as well. But this late arrival has gone against the norm,” said Crowe. “I don’t know if its arrogance or not, it’s probably ill-planned. No one can predict that Dhoni was going to be injured, but they just seemed to as a group just gone off the boil which has allowed New Zealand to lift their confidence and belief that maybe they can pull off an upset and take the remaining wickets necessary to win the Test,” he added.
— PTI |
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Sunil Gavaskar writes... That cricket is a great leveller is an old saying and a very wise one too. Since time immemorial any player who takes it lightly is yelping as the game bites him in the backside for doing so. The Indian team with players with loads of experience seemed to have forgotten that as they have let New Zealand back in the series with a performance that was staggering in its casual attitude. Even granting that the bowlers who bowled so splendidly in that first Test win had to contend with a benign pitch in this game the much acclaimed batsmen instead of revelling on another batting beauty of a pitch were dismissed playing shots that would look odd even in a limited overs game. Yes we know that they are all stroke players but if they are honest enough they will themselves agree that the shots that led to their dismissals were way out of sync with the situation in hand. Nobody expected them to block but surely when the primary target is to avoid a follow on why attempt to do it in 20 overs? And whats this about nightwatchmen for batsmen with multiple tons to their credit and that too with more than a couple of overs left? Yes one can understand a night watchman when there are a couple of overs or less left to be bowled in the day or if the weather conditions are bad and likely to be much better the next day. Ishant Sharma is a young man who is constantly looking to get better with the ball as well as the bat but he was made a scapegoat and pray tell how is a lesser batsman supposed to survive than a more accomplished and experienced specialist batsman? As predicted the critics have taken the team to task for staying on in Auckland till the eve of the Test. Not practicing is ok for there can be too much of practice and sometimes it is better to keep fresh than go through the motions of practicing but to arrive at a Test venue at 3 in the afternoon of the day before the Test begins is hard to understand. It is not clear whose call it was to do so but if anything it brings to the fore the imperative of having a team manger who can lay down the law. Every Test playing nation has a permanent manager and the players dare not mess with him. The BCCI will do well to rethink their current policy of appointing managers for that will be a huge help as the team strives to be the number one team in the world. — PMG
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Hidayat storms into final
Hyderabad, March 28 The former Olympic gold medallist used his racquet with dexterity during his 33-minute battle with Sugiarto and sent the opposition packing 21-13, 21-11 in the semi-final match of the Grand Prix event. His lightning backhand return was the highlight of his game as the world number seven smashed hard and indulged in some sharp dribbles and soft drops to the fans delight. The former world champion impressed with his excellent footwork and seemed in no hurry as he engaged his opponent in some long rallies in the first game, before pocketing it 21-13. However, in the second, he seemed to have stepped into another gear. He was far more ruthless in his offence and didn't allow his rival any chance of staging a comeback, quickly moving from 9-3 to 12-5, 15-5 and 19-10 before closing the issue at 21-11. He was almost flawless in his strokeplay and sounded confident of winning the title. “I could play the entire range of shots perfectly and I am focused and confident ahead of the final,” Hidayat said after the match. Talking about the semi-final encounter Hidayat said, "It was a good match. Tommy is a young player, he has just come into the national team. He is a strong player, so I preferred to play soft against him. I prefer not to serve high in 21-point game and today also stuck to low serves." — PTI
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JCT hold Bagan
Ludhiana, March 28 JCT FC drew with Mohun Bagan at the Guru Nanak stadium here today after playing 90 minutes of breathtaking football. Move after move from the right meant that the visitors had the better of the earlier exchanges. Before the home side could try to get off the blocks, Bagan took the lead when after a goal-mouth melee, N.S. Manju scored in the 10th minute. The goal got the Kolkata side into their rhythm and they held the JCT 16-yard box under a siege. The most recognisable face in Indian football, Bhaichung Bhutia shot at a cross from Barreto, after a light first touch, but the shot went wide. JCT slowly gathered momentum and Paul Mac James shot wide after wrong-footing two defenders. The best opportunity of the half fell to JCT’s Amandeep. Paul after holding the ball, gauged Aman’s run and played it through behind the defenders. Aman was one on one with the keeper and skilfully chipped the Bagan custodian. The ball looked destined for the back of the net, but looped further, and hit the cross bar. Aman again had a chance when he met a cross from Sakatar, but shot straight at a Bagan defender as the home side went into the breather a goal down. The second half opened to some cagey play. But Sukhwinder made the change that was too influence play for the rest of the half. Edu replaced Paul and the game found a new rhythm. Edu started dictating play, but a goal did not seem close. In between Bhaichung, in what was his only moment of notice in the half, got into a one on one with JCT keeper Karanjit. The Bagan skipper took all the time to unleash his shot, but Karanjit made a spectacular save to keep his side in the game. With under nine minutes of regular time left, JCT’s outstanding player of the day, Amandeep went on a solo run on the right. He beat three defenders and chipped the ball goalwards, where Edu was ready to pounce on it. But the ball hit a Bagan defender and before anyone could react, was in the the net. The stadium roared and for JCT, from a position where they were fighting for a point, suddenly, three looked possible. But in the only minute of added time, Bagan came forward, with seven players in the JCT box. Barreto crossed and Bhutia’s shot bounced off Anwar. The rebound was hit back at the goal and this time, Karanjit, after fumbling the ball, finally caught it. It was too much drama for just 90 minutes, and with a draw, the home side gained a position in the league table. Relegation threat? Not for this day!
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Loss of passport costs Limba WC
Kolkata, March 28 Confirming the development, Archery Association of India said Limba could not go with the squad as he did not have the passport. "In Limba's absence, a panel of four coaches - Australian Peter Feeney, Dharmendra Tiwary, Richpal Singh and Poornima Mahto - has been picked to accompany the 16-member team," AAI general secretary Paresh Nath Mukherjee told PTI. Limba, who had lost his papers during shifting his base in Jaipur, was not picked for the meet when the squad was announced earlier this month as he didn't have the passport. The former Olympian, who came close to winning a bronze medal at Barcelona in 1992, when contacted, exuded confidence that the Indians will hold good show in the World Cup. "The team is fully prepared... I don't think my absence will be felt. Moreover, we have an experienced coaching panel accompanying the boys and girls. I am confident that they will return with gold medals," Limba told PTI.
— PTI |
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Napier, March 28
Indian Open
