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Australia face real test against emotional NZ
A TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE
‘Sreesanth needs to be controlled better’
Manipur, SSCB lifters shine
AIFF seek to nail Bob Houghton
Police equestrian meet next month
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Hambantota, February 23 Pakistan will next play Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday. Against Kenya, Pakistan produced an all-round display as after piling up a mammoth 317 for seven on the board, they dismissed the minnows for a paltry 112 in 33.1 overs. Even though he failed with the bat, skipper Shahid Afridi (5/) led from the front while defending the target and returned with a five-wicket haul to notch up the comprehensive victory for the former champions. For Kenya only four batsmen reached double figures with Collins Obuya top-scoring with a gutsy 47 off 58 balls. Apart from Afridi, pacer Umar Gul picked up two Kenyan wickets giving away just 12 runs. Earlier, Pakistan's middle-order came up with a splendid batting display to steer the team to a massive 317 for seven after opting to bat.' Shrugging off a poor start, Kamran Akmal (55), Younis Khan (50), Misbah-ul-Haq (65) and Umar Akmal (71) chipped in with valuable half-centuries each to post a challenging total. While it was the experienced duo of Younis and Kamran, who helped the team recover from an early stutter, Misbah and Umar capitalised on it to pile up huge runs. From 12 for two in 6.5 overs, Younis-Kamran lifted Pakistan to 110 for three, sharing a crucial 98-run third-wicket stand before quickfire knocks from Misbah and Umar turned the tide completely in Pakistan's favour. Misbah scored 65 off 69 balls with the help of one four and two sixes, while Umar hit 71 off 52 balls, including eight fours and a six as they put up 118 runs for fifth wicket. Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan openers, Mohammad Hafeez (9) and Ahmed Shehzad (1) struggled against Kenya's new ball pair of Thomas Odoyo and Elijah Otieno. It was Otieno, who provided the early breakthrough for the African nation as Seren Waters took a fabulous catch to see off Hafeez. In the very next over, Odoyo got rid of Shehzad, who played 18 balls to score just one. It was then up to the veterans Kamran and Younis to consolidate the innings. The duo responded to the calls but survived some anxious moments before opening their arms. The moment Nehemiah Odhiambo was introduced into the attack, Younis went for a four followed by Akmal's two consecutive hits to the fence in the same over as 16 runs came from it, including three no-balls that lifted some pressure off Pakistan, as they crawled to 40 for two in 10 overs. — PTI
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India will conquer the Test of times
By Navjot Singh Sidhu Test cricket is the mother ship, the benchmark that makes or breaks a team. Over the years, it has been success in Tests that has filtered down to the other forms of the game, including the World Cup, which always has been a reflection of wins in the real contests - five-day Test matches. The past is the best prophet to predict the future. Historically, success in Tests has also meant success elsewhere. Way back in the 1970s, the West Indies were the bullies, pummelling all opposition. With a battery of batsmen and giant fast bowlers, they were unbeatable in Test cricket, right from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. The success also reflected in the World Cups, as they destroyed everyone in the 1975 and 1979 editions and sailed into the final in 1983, where they lost to Kapil's Devils and their own arrogance. But soon after, the West Indies disappeared from the scene as they lost, almost in one sweep, batsmen like Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd and bowlers of the calibre of Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall Michael Holding and Joel Garner. They are now in the re-building process, but the first lot of bricks is yet to arrive. Australia then stitched a combination which was practically unbeatable for 20 years. They won most Test series, and also won the World Cup in 1987. They made the final in 1996 too, but fell to Sri Lanka, who were virtually playing in their own backyard. Australia have been unstoppable since. In 1999, 2003 and 2007, they were unbeatable, a fallout to their success in Test cricket all around the world. Then there was an exodus. Steve and Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne left, and Australia abdicated the throne. Ample proof was the last Ashes series, that they had lost their supremacy. In ODIs too, they are in the process of re-building. India on the other hand, is on the ascendancy, perched at the top of the cricketing world. They have a problem of plenty in their talent pool, with the core team good enough to play for the next 10 years. The roar of dominance that has echoed around the cricket world has its roots in the successes India began garnering as a Test team since 2007. This success also reflected in the victory in the first Twenty20 World Cup. It is now time for India to make a serious assault at the World Cup, with this new brand of talented, aggressive and ambitious cricketers. But good intentions die unless they are executed. Difficulty is an excuse that history never accepts. There is need to translate team ability into success. If that happens, India's rule in cricket will be complete.
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Kotla braces for the ‘big’ guns
Things may change tomorrow, when South Africa take on the West Indies in the first ‘real’ contest of the tournament, though one wouldn’t be too surprised if they did not. That isn’t a concern for either side. Their job is to get things off the ground and notch up a win, the campaign beginning for both the Group B teams. The immediate concern, when it comes to any Kotla match, is the pitch and how it would play. South African skipper Graeme Smith was at his diplomatic best about this. “I think we are all aware of what has happened in Delhi,” he said. “From our and the West Indies’ perspective, it is an unknown factor. It’s been re-laid, there have been a few games on it but it’s an unknown factor for all of us. But I think you can see they have made a big effort here and put a lot of work into the surface. You got to commend them for that. Let’s hope it all works out tomorrow.’ We too live in hope, since while South Africa would like to deploy their main weapons, the fast bowlers, on this track, Kotla often tempts one to field the slower bowlers. Any which way, the South Africans are better equipped. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe are the best fast bowling in the business, barring Australia. But leggie Imran Tahir could be a secret weapon, especially against their current rivals, though Smith is canny. “That’s for us to know, you will know tomorrow,” he says about the spinner’s prospects. “To be honest with you, we will go into that game expecting them to play well. You have to, that’s sport. On any given day, people can perform well. It’s takes one good performance, like from Ten Doeschate (for Netherlands against England), to put you in the game. You can’t afford to take people for granted these days.” True, but the West Indies need to conjure up some magic to get the better of South Africa. It was in June 2009 that they last beat a Test-playing nation, and while they could well have, in Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, individual match-winners, it is the team that needs to turn up. “Our challenge is to keep our feet on the ground and do well in the field,” says Windies skipper Darren Sammy. “We are focussing on South Africa now, and then we take it step by step.” The pitch doesn’t seem to faze him much though. “Many in our team have played here during the IPL, and their inputs have been priceless, giving us some idea about how the pitch would play.” Sammy and the think-tank are also considering the spinners, with left-armers Suleiman Benn and Nikita Miller, as well as Gayle’s off-spin, very much in their plans. One hopes the West Indies come to the party. Professionalism is fine, but flair is what make cricket attractive. And no one does it better than the Windies.
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SA’s answer for matters of the mind
New Delhi, February 23 Skipper Graeme Smith isn’t too different on this. It was a shade of irritation that he responds: “Every time we walk into a press conference, it is a question we expect. It’s up to us to perform well in the tournament, as simple as that. As an international sportsman, pressure is a part of daily life. When you walk into the airports, people are on you, talking to you. Those are things that you learn to deal with throughout your career.” But that hasn’t stopped Cricket South Africa from bringing in someone to deal with the malaise. Motivational speaker and sports psychologist Henning Gericke has been called up. Gericke holds a PhD and was team psychologist for the South African rugby team at the World Cup in 2007, when they Springboks emerged champions. No mean athlete himself, Gericke has involved in competitive sports for more than 20 years, having broken the four-minute barrier in the mile ten times. “Gericke has been successful in World Cup competitions, mainly in other sports,” Smith says. “He’s added little things here and there and has been good. He has brought a lot of relaxation to the group and good insights into different things, ways to think about things. He’s added value.” So Gericke has the job of tearing off the choke collar, and make the side tougher mentally. Part of that could well be dealing with the ‘chokers’ tag with a smile, rather than a frown.
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Unruly Ponting to be hauled up by ICC
Mumbai, February 23 The ICC has received a communication from the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) following the complaint lodged by the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) to the board about Ponting's unacceptable behaviour when he vent his ire on the TV set after being run out during the defending champions' World Cup opener against Zimbabwe on Monday. "Yes, we have received it this afternoon," ICC spokesperson Colin Gibson told PTI and said a decision is expected on the charges later today. Gibson also confirmed that Ponting's behaviour comes under the ICC's Code of Conduct for players. "Yes, it does," he said without elaborating. Ponting had apologised for the incident to the GCA, who hosted the tie, but the latter went ahead to register a complaint with the BCCI against him," GCA Secretary Rajesh Patel said. — PTI
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Australia face real test against emotional NZ
Mumbai, February 23 "It has been a tough morning ... a rough time to find out that their families and friends are safe," Vettori said in a video posted on the NZC website after hearing the news of the disaster on Tuesday. "The greatest thing we can do for a lot of people is win the game against Australia. That would bring a little bit of relief to some people going through a tough time." That prospect would seem unlikely but not impossible. The Australians will not be in the best of spirits after a bizarre controversy surrounding their captain Ricky Ponting who is facing an International Cricket Council (ICC) rap for allegedly damaging a television in the pavilion after getting out in his side's 91-win over Zimbabwe on Monday. — PTI
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fast track Associate teams need level playing field By Michael Holding
England played bad cricket. They bowled and fielded poorly, and it was surprising to see that because I feel they set high standards during the Ashes and the one-day series in Australia. The way they fielded, especially, is not what you expect of England and I think they would be a bit rattled. I do believe it was just a bad day for them, but what that match has done, despite the fact that England won, has made it tougher for them to progress through the tournament. England really missed out on beating Netherlands by a good margin. In this World Cup, it’s very important how you progress to the second round; it’s all about what number you go through at. You don’t want to be the fourth team from your group to go through. With the possibility of teams ending up after the first round with equal points, you want to make sure you have a good net run-rate to finish as high as possible in your group. The Netherlands are an Associate team you expect to beat well. England’s net run rate of +0.242 is not going to help them. A win is a win, yes, but you would have expected England to take more out of that win. I was impressed by the way Netherlands played. They have three or four players who looked very good. Of course, Ryan ten Doeschate is a fantastic player, a proper batsman and bowler, and he’s done very well for the Netherlands and in county cricket. Tom de Grooth looks a good batsman, Peter Seelar, the left-arm spinner, looks a good prospect and the captain, Peter Borren, is very capable. Bowling is the problem for Netherlands. They don’t have depth or variety. I know there has been criticism about the presence of Associate nations at the World Cup. As I said in 2007, I feel there are too many weak teams in the tournament. That said, the ICC has got it all wrong by saying that 2015 will have no Associates. That’s ridiculous. The ICC has to encourage the Associates and that means giving them something to aspire to. There has to be an aim, a direction. The ICC has to first get these smaller teams playing more Test-level teams before just throwing them into the World Cup. What is the qualifying process for Associates? They have to make the final four of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. Now when did that tournament take place? Two years ago, in April 2009. That’s just too far away from the big event. Hopefully the cricket will be refreshing this week. There are some good matches lined up and the one I’m most looking forward to is West Indies v South Africa. South Africa are a very good side, no doubt, but don’t write West Indies off. Who remembers the first match of the 2003 World Cup? Nobody gave the West Indies a chance, but they beat South Africa by three runs. They have players like Chris Gayle, who can play the sort of innings that Sehwag and ten Doeschate did this past week. They also have bowlers who can take wickets on these types of wickets: Kemar Roach, Suleiman Benn, and even Gayle if he concentrates on his off spin. I’ll say it again, don’t write West Indies off! — PMG
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‘Sreesanth needs to be controlled better’
New Delhi, February 23 "Absence of Ashish Nehra in the opening match against Bangladesh gave the Kerala Express a "back-door" entry into the playing XI, but I have always maintained Sreesanth is definitely a top choice for me. "From a cricketing point of view, Sreesanth is a wicket-taking bowler. I will like to see him running in the way he is doing right now and try to bowl the right line. “Once in a while, on flat tracks, he might get hammered but he might still give you two quick breakthroughs with the new ball," Akram said. Akram, who retired after playing 104 Tests and 356 ODIs, said that one cannot fault Sreesanth for his on-field antics as he is a young and emotional guy. "You can't fault Sreesanth for trying too hard. He is emotional and obviously wants to seal a berth in the team. — PTI
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Jamshedpur, February 23 Continuing his winning streak, CWG gold medalist K Ravi Kumar of the SSCB set a new Games record in Clean and Jerk in the 69kg event. Ravi Kumar lifted a total of 286kg. He also topped the chart with a 120kg lift in the snatch. Pasam Rambabu, a gold medalist in the Inter-state weightlifting championship held in Udaipur, finished second with a total lift of 263kg. The other competitor Gaurav Dubey of Uttar Pradesh did not turn up for the competition as he failed to meet the required weight. In the women's 58kg competition, M Sunibala Devi (Manipur) clinched the gold with a total lift of 180kg including snatch 78kg and clean and jerk 102kg. Manipur girls H Shaya Devi won the gold in 53kg category while her teammate Kh. Sanjita Chanu bagged the silver in the 48kg category.— PTI
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AIFF seek to nail Bob Houghton
New Delhi, February 23 The British coach now faces the prospect of censure - even ouster - particularly after India's miserable display in the Asian Championship at Doha, as the Executive Committee meeting, chaired by AIFF President and Union Minister Praful Patel, "unanimously decided to seek legal opinion regarding its course of action". A source said though Houghton's contract runs till 2013, AIFF is likely to act tough if his utterances in the media proves to be a breach of contract. The meeting allotted the National Championship for the Santosh Trophy to Assam to be held in April this year. The boarding and lodging allowance for the players have been hiked from the present Rs 450 to Rs 700 per day. There is also a jump in the prize money as the winners would be given Rs 5 lakh and the runners-up Rs 3 lakh. The prize money for the Federation Cup has been enhanced to Rs 15 lakh from the present Rs 10 lakh. The other major decisions taken at the meeting were: The SAFF Championship 2011 will be held in Orissa; the Nehru Cup international tournament will be held in 2012 as part of the AIFF Platinum Jubilee celebrations; a cash award of Rs 50,000 will be given to each member of the Indian senior women's football who won the SAFF Championship in Dhaka, including the support staff; and the new Referees' Committee will comprise of Amit Dev (chairman), K. Sankar, J. Ravi Shankar, Col. Gautam Kar, Anthony d’Costa, Gulab Chauhan, Pradeep Nag and Inayatulla Khan.
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Police equestrian meet next month
Chandigarh, February 23 ITBP Inspector General, North-West Frontier, R.D. Singh said that about 600 riders, some of them internationally acclaimed, and 300 thoroughbreds are expected to compete in various events. Two new features, a 40-kms cross country endurance competition and an event for children have been incorporated this year. Singh said that the aim of the event was to promote equestrian sports among police personnel and also to improve standards of professional horsemanship in police duties, be it crowd control, patrolling, or other operations involving equines. Show jumping, dressage, tent-pegging, cross country, ferrier competition, medley, hacks, veterinary first-aid competition and mental hazard are among the competitions to be held during the event. This is for the first time that this event is being held in this region. Various forces organise this event, an annual affair, by rotation. The show would be open to the public on all days.
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Hambantota, February 23
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