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Learn from Sachin, Miandad to Pak
Captaincy issue dividing Pak team, says Inzamam
Anand in joint lead
Prakash creates goal record
Sports School in Balwant Hockey semifinals
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India — South Africa
ODI series review
Centurion, January 24
In the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, young Kohli and Pathan put up impressive performances with the bat in hostile South African conditions even as the likes of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina found the going tough. Kohli emerged as the highest run-scorer for India with 193 runs in the series at an an average of 48.25. He scored two fluent half centuries with an unbeaten 87 in the fourth ODI being his highest score. Pathan, on the hand, made full use of his long handle in the three matches that he played, accumulating 166 runs to finish as the second highest run-getter for India. Pathan's 70-ball 105-run knock in the fifth ODI here last night, was also India's lone century in the series. Apart from that he also scored a fifty and has got the best average (55.33) and best strike rate (134.95) among Indians in the series. Pathiv Patel, who came in as replacement for an injured Tendulkar for the last two ODIs, holds the third best batting average (24.50). With 111 runs from five innings, Raina is the third highest scorer for India but the left-hander is behind Pathiv in the average list (22.20) as he failed to convert his starts to big scores. Yuvraj (18.20) and Dhoni (15.00) had a forgettable series as they scored a total of 91 and 75 runs respectively in their five innings. Rohit Sharma had the worst batting figures for the visitors as opening the batting he could manage only 49 runs from the five matches at an average 9.80. In the bowling department, Harbhajan holds the best economy rate among Indians. He gave away just 4.36 runs per over in the 47 overs he bowled in the series. The off-spinner picked up four wickets for 205 runs in the entire series with a best figure of two for 23. But it was the pace duo of Munaf Patel and Zaheer Khan who stood out in the series, scalping 11 and nine wickets respectively. Even though he was unsuccessful with the bat, Yuvraj snarred five wickets with his slow left-arm spin which proved handy for India. Opener Hashim Amla was the prolific scorer for South Africa with 250 runs from five innings at an average of 62.50. His exploits in the series include two fifties and a match-winning unbeaten 116 in the final ODI. JP Duminy is a close second with 244 runs at an average of 61.00, which includes three half centuries with 71 being the highest knock.
— PTI
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I advised Sree to stay calm: Srikkanth
Terming selector's job as a "thankless one", Srikkanth said Sreesanth is a genuinely good outswing bowler. "I have told him (Sreesanth) to be calm and he will be a great bowler," Srikkanth was quoted as saying in 'On Record' show telecast on Asianet Television, yesterday. The former India captain said that maturity comes with passage of time and experience that
one gains playing international cricket. "Some people are playful. Maturity will come. Sreesanth is an excellent
bowler and he has an excellent outswing," he said. Describing cricket as a "futuristic game", he said that the game has evolved over the years. "Cricket will overtake football and athletics in next two years in Kerala. Every state needs icons. Orignally, the state had PT Usha and now it is Sreesanth. Many more Sreesanths will be emerging from Kerala," he said. On any regrets during his cricketing years, Srikkanth
said," Sometimes I feel, I should have scored more runs, should not have thrown my wicket..." Cricket is a great unifying factor in India and all the three formats — Test, ODIs and Twety20 will co-exist, he said. Srikkanth said he had always played cricket for fun and enjoyment. "I did not want to be a professfional cricketer. My motto is do your best and leave the rest up to God."
— PTI |
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Learn from Sachin, Miandad to Pak
Rather than letting their on-field performance speak for them, Miandad feels that the players are happy to brag about their performance in media. "We keep on reading and hearing about some of the players making claims about how they will deliver, but on field that is not happening and it is a big let down for the nation." "I would advise them to just focus on their game and go for improvement and take every match seriously. The players need to realise cricket is played on the field. "They should learn from Sachin who has had a wonderful career and scored century after century but one never hear him making tall claims about his performances or achievements. He is a proper professional and someone our players can learn from," the veteran of 124 Tests insisted. Miandad also called on captain, Shahid Afridi to take more responsibility as a player and lift the team by example and said that the all-rounder has got enough amount of talent and he should channelise it properly. "He shouldn't be playing the way he is. Imran Khan is a great example of how a captain should perform. "Imran lifted the team in the 1992 World Cup. Afridi needs to start doing that himself. He did it during the World T20 Championship so he is perfectly capable of delivering," Miandad said. He emphasised, "He (Afridi) has immense talent which he does not utilise properly at times." Urging the players to take the current one-day series against New Zealand seriously Miandad
said," Unfortunately what I noticed was that the players didn't appear serious about their business in the first match in Wellington they took things lightly. In international cricket this is not acceptable." Pakistan who are currently engaged in an ODI series against Kiwis failed to replicate their performance in Tests against the hosts and lost the series opener by nine wickets after being bowled out for just 124 runs in 37.4 overs. Adding greater significance to ongoing series in view of the upcoming World Cup, Miandiad reiterated that losing it could have a big impact on their performances in the mega event.
— PTI |
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Captaincy issue dividing Pak team, says Inzamam
"By not announcing the captain just three weeks before the World Cup, the board has split the players into Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul Haq groups," Inzamam said. The former batsman, who represented his country in 120 Tests and 388 ODIs including five World Cup appearances, said the PCB had created an unnecessary crisis over the captaincy issue and it will affect the team in the mega-event starting February 19 in Dhaka. "I just don't understand what they are trying to do. In such circumstances I don't have much high hopes from this team in the coming tournament," Inzamam told the 'Jang' daily newspaper. "Human beings are powerless against fate and you can never rule out a miracle from this team. But at the moment it looks to me their fate will be the same what was in 2003 and 2007," he said. The PCB has announced their final World Cup squad but stopped short of naming the captain, a move which did not go well with many former players including team's chief coach Waqar Younis. While Afridi is presently leading Pakistan in the ODI series in New Zealand, Misbah, who captained the side in the Test matches, is his deputy. Both the players are seen as strong contenders for captaincy in the World Cup and indications are that Afridi's chances of retaining the position will depend on his and the team's performance in the ongoing series against New Zealand. Inzamam, who led Pakistan in the last World Cup, said in the existing circumstances he feared for the worst. "I just hope the disappointments of last World Cup is not repeated," he said.
— PTI |
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rafael NADAL, clijsters enter quarters
Determined Dolgopolov fought back from a set down to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 in what he called the performance of his life against Soderling. Two-time Slam finalist Soderling was unbeaten this year and considered a contender for his first major title.
US Open champion Kim Clijsters remained firm favourite for the women's title after battling past Russia's Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, setting up a quarter-final date with Pole Agnieszka
Radwanska. Paes-Bhupathi in last
eight Indian pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi entered the quarterfinals with a three-set win over Spanish combination of Marcel Granollers and Tommy Robredo 6-4 4-6 6-4 in the men's doubles event. "I started the tournament off well (against Dinara Safina) but from then on it has been tough because I have been playing players I've never played before," she said, adding that she was "not Superwoman". "It was the same tonight. I didn't feel my best out there but I fought back." Women's second seed Zvonareva recovered from a slow start to ease past Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-1 and move towards her third straight Grand Slam final, as she targets a maiden major win. Zvonareva will next face the Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova, who downed Italian 22nd seed Flavia Pennetta 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
— Agencies |
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Anand in joint lead
Wijk Aan Zee, January 24 The draw helped Anand to join overnight leader Hikaru Nakamura of United States in the lead after the latter suffered his first loss in the tournament at the hands of World Number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway. Anand and Nakamura jointly share the lead on 5.5 points, but Aronian, Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave moved within striking distance of the leaders, a half point behind with five rounds still remaining in the category-20.
— PTI |
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Prakash creates goal record
Sonepat, January 24 Out of her 32 goals, 26 were field goals and remaining six were netted through penalty corners. Interestingly, she has attended national camps as many as eight times so far, but has not found a place in the national team. In other matches, Punjab beat Maharashtra 6-0; Orrisa defeated Delhi 5-2; Madhya Pradesh and Chandigarh played a 1-1 draw; Himachal Pradesh managed a 2-1 win over Kerala and Chhatisgarh scored a 4-1 win over
Manipur. |
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Sports School in Balwant Hockey semifinals
Jalandhar, January 24 Sports School are pitted against BRC Danapur in the semis while holders Government Model School, Jalandhar, would take on rivals Lyallpur Khalsa School, Jalandhar, tomorrow. Exactly ten minutes later, in the 20th minute, Sports School opened their account when Lovepreet Singh scored a field goal. Till half-time the score was 1-1. In the second match, Model School Jalandhar defeated Birsa Munda Vidyapeeth, Rourkela, 4-1. |
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