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No consolation for luckless India
Damp, disappointing end for Dravid, India
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Amir confesses to involvement in spot-fixing Karachi, September 17 After claiming to be innocent for long, banned Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has reportedly confessed to his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal that shook the core of international cricket last year.
Ireland stun Australia
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No consolation for luckless India
Cardiff, September 17 Put into bat, India rode on a fluent century from Virat Kohli (107) and substantial contributions from Dravid (69) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (50 not out) to post an impressive 304 for six on a batting-friendly Sophia Gardens pitch here yesterday. Chasing the challenging target and their innings interrupted by intermittent rain, England were 166 for four in the 26th over, but recovered to race to the revised target of 241 from 34 overs with 10 balls to spare. The hosts won the series 3-0 after one match was rained out and another ended in a tie. Jonathan Trott (63) and captain Alastair Cook (50) were the main contributors in the successful chase. Debutant Jonny Bairstow and Ravi Bopara, who knocked off the winning runs, also chipped in with unbeaten knocks of 41 and 37, respectively. The target was revised twice earlier as the start of England run chase was delayed due to rain. First it was revised to 295 from 47 overs and then to 270 from 40 overs.
— PTI Scoreboard India Parthiv c Bresnan b Swann 19 Rahane c Finn b Dernbach 26 Dravid b Swann 69 Kohli hit wicket b Swann 107 Raina c Bresnan b Finn 15 Dhoni not out 50 Jadeja c Bopara b Dernbach 0 Ashwin not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 11, w 6) 18 Total (6 wkts; 50 ovrs) 304 Bowling: Bresnan 9-0-62-0, Finn 10-1-44-1, Dernbach 10-0-73-2, Swann 9-0-34-3, Patel 8-0-55-0, Bopara 4-0-24-0. England Cook b Kohli 50 Kieswetter lbw b Vinay 21 Trott c Singh b Jadeja 63 Bell c sub b Singh 26 Bopara not out 37 Bairstow not out 41 Extras (lb 1, w 1, nb 1) 3 Total (4 wkts; 32.2 ovrs) 241 Bowling: Vinay 6.2-0-42-1, Singh 7-0-51-1, Munaf 4-0-26-0, Ashwin 4-0-25-0, Jadeja 5-0-52-1, Kohli 6-0-44-1.
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Damp, disappointing end for Dravid, India
It is a little unfortunate that Rahul Dravid’s ODI career came to an end on a cold blustery evening in Cardiff. While the diehard Indian fans did give him a warm send-off, he had to sign off as part of a side that was hammered from all sides - weather, luck, injuries and mostly England - to return home with little more than some dampened spirits and sombre reflection.
Dravid should have been sent on his way under blazing lights, preferably at home with the team emerging winners. But that is a risk he couldn’t have taken, it the record of the past two years is any indication. Back home, all and sundry, injured or otherwise, will be fit and available. Also, the batting wouldn’t be in the crisis it was in during the UK tour. So Dravid left the Welsh terrain, professing satisfaction over an ODI career of note. But the emotions, deep in his heart, would be sadness and disappointment - both for the way his career ended, also for where it ended. Emotions like frustration, anger, resignation, surprise, irritation determination and once again, resignation, would ideally explain the Karnataka batsman’s career graph in limited-overs cricket, spanning 344 One-day Internationals and one, lonely, T20 match. But all things considered, we all say, “well done, Jammy” and wish him the best for whatever time he has left in Test cricket. Around him, India collapsed in an inglorious heap. It was incredible to see that practically every match in the ODI series was rain-hit, though those venturing to play cricket in the second week of September in the UK are pretty much asking for it, weather-wise. There was a little tinge of destiny about the second chapter of the series, much like there was a splash of being totally outclassed in the Tests. But at least there was some fight, though the bowling now looks really dodgy against determined opposition. One is also left wondering exactly what Varun Aaron was doing in England and Wales. Surely, even the fast bowler would be wondering, given that those less fit than him, and decidedly slower in pace, played practically all the games. But what would Indian cricket be, without a little mystery. England come to India next month to play five ODIs and a T20 match and there the contest will be stiff. For one, all the ‘injured’ players will be fit. All those who struggled in England will be looking for revenge. India may well win that series, though it won’t be a cakewalk. However, one hopes that England isn’t forgotten in a hurry. Nothing like some T20 tamasha and a home win series to apply salve to the wounds. But do not forget how those wounds came about. Otherwise, they tend to fester, and turn for the worse every time you travel aboard. |
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Amir confesses to involvement in spot-fixing Karachi, September 17 According to 'The News International', Amir "submitted his written confession during a hearing at the Southwark Crown Court in London." The 19-year-old was found guilty of spot-fixing and banned along with the then Test captain Salman Butt and pacer Mohammad Asif after it came to light that the trio conspired to bowl deliberate no balls during the Lord's Test against England. — PTI
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Sreejesh, aggression and chicken dish...
New Delhi, September 17 Though the International Hockey Federation
(FIH) has not specified the ranking of the Asian Champions Trophy, whether it is above or below the Asian Games or the Asia Cup, India’s title win was no doubt commendable as they defeated Asian Games champions Pakistan in the final. “It is fantastic to see a young India side win such a prestigious tournament,” said chief coach Michael
Nobbs. If Nobbs qualifies the Asian Champions Trophy as a “prestigious tournament”, it was indeed a big win. Though some ring-side observers of India’s play at Ordos have commended the “aggressive” display of the players on and off the field, some of them did not cover themselves with glory with their needless display of aggression, off the field. The first was when some players wailed to the media that some of them were without proper playing shoes. Only Manjit Kullu and Harpreet Singh did not have proper shoes as they went with practice shoes and shoes given by the Sports Authority of India. Normally, the team kit consists of only team jersey, track suit, and other such stuff. Shoes, hockey sticks and gloves would have to be bought by the players themselves, or from sponsors. Since Manjit and Harpreet were new to the team, they did not have high quality shoes, which cost upward of Rs 5000. But this bit of news was splashed in the media as a major lapse on the part of Hockey India. But the most startling news was about the star of India’s title win, custodian
P.R. Sreejesh. The young goalie, who was fielded in the final by Nobbs replacing the experienced Bharat
Chhetri, came out with flying colours in the penalty shoot-out when he baulked the shots of Haseen Abdul Khan and Shafqat
Rasool. The saves were remarkable, as India were being exposed to the new mode of penalty stroke, taken the first time, with the player taking the shot running in from the 25-yard line to execute the stroke. Sreejesh had also saved the eight penalty-corners earned by Pakistan during regular play. He had also stopped seven out of the nine penalty-corners forced by Malaysia and three by Japan. Coincidentally, Sreejesh had kept the goal when India lost to Pakistan in the 2006 SAF Games final and the win at Ordos against Pakistan was a personal tit-for-tat for him. His admirers has hailed him as the second “Sree” from Cochin, as cricketer Sreesanth also hails from Kerala’s port city, though one does not whether it should be taken as a compliment or not! While returning home,
Sreejesh, somewhat besmirched the good name he earned at Ordos, though an admirer ‘praised’ his off-field aggression, when he created a ruckus on the flight to Delhi when he was told, rather apologetically by the airhostess, that they had run out of the chicken
dish. Sreejesh reportedly jumped up from his seat and shouted that he would not accept his meal if the chicken dish was not served. He was pacified only when the captain came of the cockpit and arranged chicken for the agitated player! Players like Sreejesh should know that one swallow does not make a summer and they should not forget their moorings at the moment of success. Only the patient, disciplined and well-behaved eventually make it big and memorable, howsoever talented they may be. It would be better for our “aggressive” hockey players to practise some kind of decorum if they were to be remembered and cherished for their success. |
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Bhupathi-Bopanna win in doubles
Tokyo, September 17 Rattled by the opening day's singles defeats, India went with experienced players, leaving out Vishnu Vardhan, who was initially named to play the doubles along with Bhuapthi. India are still trailing 1-2 and need to win both the reverse singles tomorrow with Somdev Devvarman clashing with Kei Nishikori and Bopanna taking on Sugita. Although both Bopanna and Bhupathi play the left court, the Indian captain did not want to risk fielding Somdev, who encountered a shoulder problem during the opening match against Sugita, yesterday. Sugita and Ito do not feature in even top-450 in the doubles ranking chart but they tested Bhupathi (6) and Bopanna (14) to limits, forcing them to come out with their best effort as the match lasted three hours and six minutes. Indians played well in patches and consistency was not there. — PTI |
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Wahingdoh punish Mohun Bagan
Pune, September 17 Although the Royal’s were lucky to go into the halftime on equal pegging with Mohun Bagan, they quickly grabbed the initiative in the second half and made the Mariners rue their missed chances as a brilliant cross from T.H Boysingh was headed in by striker
Chencho. The Green and Maroons task was made further uphill when N.P Pradeep made a horrible tackle in midfield and was rightly sent-off for a second bookable offence. Pune stun Dempo Kolkata: An inspired show by 10-man Pune FC helped them beat Dempo SC 2-1 in a group league match of the 33rd Federation Cup which was held at the Salt Lake Stadium. East Bengal held A brilliant strike from skipper Sanju Pradhan helped defending champions East Bengal avoid defeat as they managed to hold Mohammedan Sporting to a 1-1 draw in group C. — Agencies
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Ireland stun Australia
Invercargill, September 17 Ireland's first victory in five World Cup meetings with the Wallabies will probably shift the three Tri-Nations sides into the same side of the draw and open a path to the final for the Six Nations teams. Holders South Africa, who invariably raise their game when it matters, showed that they remain a major threat with a clinical 49-3 six-try destruction of Fiji in Wellington. Argentina also began to find their rhythm with a fluid 43-8 victory over Romania.
— Reuters |
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