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INDIA-AUS ODI Series
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East Bengal take on Mohun Bagan
The next BIG thing!
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INDIA-AUS ODI Series
Vadodara, October 24 The hosts were knocked out of the Champions Trophy at the league stage where they could manage just one win. India have done well in the last couple of years and would take inspiration from the fact that they had beaten Australia in their own den when they clashed last in a one-day series. Sachin Tendulkar’s form is crucial to India’s fortune. He was instrumental with an unbeaten ton and a score of 91 during India’s historic triumph in the VB Series Down Under. With a line up of Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina and Dhoni, the home team’s batting is their strength. Ponting has already sounded wary about the strength of India’s batting line-up led by Tendulkar and the fit-again Virender Sehwag at the top by calling it “formidable”. Bowling is a big concern for India after a lacklustre performance in the Twenty20 World Cup as well as the Champions Trophy in South Africa. The bowling attack has been re-arranged with the inclusion of Munaf Patel for R P Singh to support the in-form Ashish Nehra and Ishant. Praveen Kumar and Sudeep Tyagi are the other two pacers in the running. The spin department, which would hold the key in the middle overs, is spearheaded by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who needs to come up with a better performance than his haul of three wickets in seven matches in the previous series between these two teams to make an impact. Leg spinner Amit Mishra is the back-up for Harbhajan if included in the playing eleven. In form skipper Ponting and vice captain Michael Hussey hold the key to the Australian batting , not to forget all-rounder Shane Watson who has come to India on the back of successive hundreds in the semifinal and final of the Champions Trophy. Ponting is aware of the threats posed by the Indian slow bowlers especially in sub continent conditions but is confident that his batsmen would be up for the challenge. Australia would bank upon their strong pace attack, and especially on Brett Lee who powered New South Wales to the maiden Champions T20 League title last night. Lee and left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson pack a lot of punch in their attack and were in the forefront when India were routed for 148 in the previous encounter between the two teams at this venue two years ago. With the impressive Peter Siddle, the Victorian who also has got used to the Indian conditions by playing in the CLT20, and swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus present as the other options, Australia carry a huge pace armoury. Spin looks to be their weak spot with neither off spinner Nathan Hauritz nor rookie left-arm slow bowler Jon Holland expected to give the Indian batsmen cause for major worries.
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No IPL-III matches in Jaipur
The IPL’s governing council has decided to shift all seven home matches of Rajasthan Royals out of Jaipur in the IPL Season 3 due to the prevailing mess in the RCA. According to sources, the BCCI took this decision as it saw no possibility of any immediate solution to the stand-off in the RCA.
In such a scenario, the Board had no choice but to shift the matches out of Jaipur, they added. Now, all the matches, which were earlier scheduled to take place in Jaipur, will now be held at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad. Confirming the development, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said that no IPL matches will be played in Jaipur because of the “Rajasthan government’s interference in the state’s cricketing affairs”. “Following the government’s intervention in state cricket and constitution of an ad-hoc committee for the RCA we have decided to shift all home matches of Rajasthan Royals to Ahmedabad.” He said the IPL, in view of the prevailing chaos in the RCA, didn’t want to take any chance by hosting matches in Jaipur. However, the convener of the ad-hoc committee, Ratan Singh, denied any knowledge regarding shifting of IPL matches out of Jaipur. “I have not received any official notification in this regard so far,” he said. The fresh IPL move has come as a big blow to the cricket in Rajasthan after Jaipur lost the chance to host two ODIs and cricket World Cup 2011 matches in the recent past. However, many feel that the BCCI had every reason to be concerned about the fate of the IPL matches in Jaipur, particularly in light of the recent happenings in the RCA. Rajasthan had been refused participation in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and the Under-19 national women’s championship as both the factions had sent separate teams to participate in these events. Learning no lessons from it, the two feuding factions again sent two teams for the Under-22 tournament in Mumbai recently and were again asked by the Board to stay away from the event. Earlier, when the IPL had come out with its schedule for Season 3 in August this year Jaipur had been allotted three matches of Rajasthan Royals, while four of the home team ties were allotted to Ahmedabad which featured among the four new venues for the IPL matches. The other three were Nagpur, Vishakhapatnam and Dharamsala.
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East Bengal take on Mohun Bagan
The Indian star forward had a bitter memory with Bagan, who had suspended Bhutia for six months without pay earlier this year that snowballed into a prolonged battle with the verdict is still awaited. But, thanks to an interim relief from AIFF-appointed arbitrator, Bhutia could sign for East Bengal as the 'Sikkimese sniper' would look forward to the Big Derby to settle scores against his former team on the field. Bhutia, however, had a slight niggle, having pulled a hamstring muscle, he refrained from practice today and was seen warming up only. Once the two 'Big Bs' of Mohun Bagan -- former striking partners Bhutia and Jose Ramirez Barreto -- will now be the rivals shouldering responsibilities for their respective sides. It will be interesting to see who takes the cake in the Bhutia vs Barreto battle. Incidentally, Barreto too is recovering from a muscle pull that robbed him of Bagan's last two matches and coach Karim Bencherifa said he would take a final call on the Brazilian's availability tomorrow only. On paper, East Bengal, who have completed their foreign quota of three players after signing Nigerian stopper Ogba Opara yesterday, appear favourites against a depleted Bagan who will not get the services of suspended Deepak Mondal and injured N S Manju. — PTI
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The next BIG thing!
Ludhiana, October 24 Cut to the Guru Nanak stadium, JCT FC’s home ground. A man, rather boy, all of 21, cuts through the midfield of one of the most talented outfits in Indian football, Churchill Brothers. Meet Jagpreet Singh, the latest footballing sensation to have hit the Indian scene. He is modest, works hard, and leaves it at that. After being hailed as Indian football’s big hope, by none other than Baichung Bhutia, he still sees the world without glamour’s rosy shades.
A: I don’t really think I should take it too seriously. Obviously, Baichung talking about me is a big compliment, but I don’t wish to read too much into this. I just want to continue the hard work, and keep improving my game. Q:When did you start playing football? And what inspired you to take up the sport as a career? A: Professionally, I think I started thinking about football when I was at the Hoshiarpur U-19 academy. I spent three years there before moving to the JCT academy. Now its been two years at JCT FC and these two years have been very, very fruitful thanks to the guidance and support of our coach Sukwinder Singh. About the inspiration to play, I think I picked up the game from my father, and also the Punjab Police personnel, who I used to watch during my childhood. But I have to make special mention about Gurbax Singh. He used to play for Patiala Police, and was role model for me. He still is, as he always guides me. Q:You are the fulcrum of JCT’s midfield play now. But who did you enjoy playing the most with? A: Edu, without a doubt. While playing with him, it was as if, I used to become almost Brazilian. Our link up was just amazing, and it showed last year. I really wish I can play with him at JCT again. Q: Which Indian player do you look up to? A: I think Anwar Ali is someone I really admire. I have spent a lot of time with him in the India camp, and also at JCT. There is a lot one can learn from a professional like him. Q: How has the stint with the Indian team helped you? A: Among the big players one can always learn a lot. You can learn more about being expressive on the field, through your game. It also tells you that there is still a lot to do, to reach where the stars are. Q: How do you feel about the new rule on foreign recruits in I-League? A: I really thought that three players were enough. This is not a very good scenario, where a club can field upto five of them. It will curb the number of chances Indian players get, which beats the purpose of having an Indian league. When there were 12 teams, there were 70 Indian players, now with 14 teams, there are still only 70 Indian players. Q: Finally, where do you see yourself in the coming years? A: It is not in my hands to predict anything. Like all other players, I wish to play for India. But these are not things you can guarantee. One thing is for sure, you will see me on some field, playing somewhere, and giving it all I have.
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Kolkata, October 24
Though flamboyant Virender Sehwag has returned to bolster the Indian top-order, Yuvraj Singh is unlikely to take the field for the series-opener at the Reliance Stadium. Australia are in super form having clinched the Champions Trophy title, which followed an impressive 6-1 thrashing of England while the Indians have not quite lived up to expectations in recent times.
Jaipur, October 24
Kolkata, October 24
Q: Firstly, the most important thing. How did you feel when Baichung named you as the most promising talent in the country?
