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Spinners put India on top
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Nobbs is responsible for London debacle: Shivendra
Now we know what drives Haryana’s Olympians
Under-19
Valdes howler hands beaten Madrid lifeline
Syria, Cameroon share points
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Hyderabad, August 24 In conditions best suited for spinners, Ashwin and Ojha got into the act straightaway to reduce New Zealand to a precarious 106 for five in reply to India's first innings total of 438, largely built around Cheteshwar Puajara's 159. The Kiwis still need 133 runs to avoid the follow on with five wickets in hand and seemed headed for a big defeat with three days left in the match. After Ojha gave the first breakthrough dismissing an aggressive-looking Brendon McCullum, Ashwin rocked the Kiwis with two wickets from his first two overs. McCullum scored 22 off 27 balls with three boundaries. Ashwin continued his terrific spell with a third wicket in his fifth over to have the Black Caps reeling at 55 for four as his superb first spell figures read 12-3-28-3. Ojha finished the day with two for 30 to show for his efforts. Just when New Zealand were looking to build a partnership Ojha broke a 44-run fifth wicket partnership between Kane Williamson and James Franklin by dismissing the former. Williamson scored 32 before returning to the pavilion. At stumps after the second day's proceedings, New Zealand trail India by 332 runs with James Franklin batting on 31 from 75 balls with a four and a six while wicketkeeper-batsman Krug van Wyk was yet to open his account after having faced six balls. Earlier, India's forst innings ended on 438 with Pujara contributing 159 and adding 127 runs for the sixth wicket with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who chipped in with an useful 73. Starting at 307 for five, the duo carried on from where they had left on the opening day to help India get past 400, first time in five matches. Apart from absence of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman from the batting line-up, the other major concern was about the close-in catching. Virat Kohli showed that he is ready to turn into a specialist close-in fielder as he took couple of sharp catches at backward short leg off the bowling off Ashwin. The one he took to dismiss opposition skipper Ross Taylor was referred to the third umpire who ruled in favour of the fielding side after five minutes of deliberation. It was also a new look slip cordon for India which had Virender Sehwag at the first slip, Raina at second and Kohli at third, while Gautam Gambhir manned the point region. In reply to India's first innings, New Zealand started off on an attacking note with McCullum taking charge of Zaheer Khan who yielded seven from the first over. McCullum hit Zaheer for two boundaries with the left-arm pacer struggling with line and length, getting little help from the slow pitch. With the pacers getting little assistance, Dhoni introduced Ojha in the eighth over with success when the left-arm spinner gave India the first breakthrough in his very third ball. The attacking McCullum paid the price of being cheeky when he hit straight to Kohli at covers to get out for 27. There was another blow for the Black Caps with spin being introduced from both ends at the start of 11th over as Guptill became the victim of off-spinner Ashwin's first delivery. A third wicket when Ashwin returned in his second over meant that New Zealand were torn apart in conditions best-suited for the Indians. New Zealand skipper Taylor (2) in trying to tuck away an Ashwin delivery to the pads found Kohli at the same position to pouch onto a low chance. The decision came after about five minutes after several TV replays by the third umpire. Continuing his dream spell, Ashwin picked a third wicket trapping Daniel Flynn (16) in front of the stumps. Earlier, start to the second day's proceedings was delayed by 26 minutes as the groundsmen were asked to keep the covers ready in anticipation of rain. Although the heavens didn't open up but it remained cloudy throughout the entire second day. After resumption, the Indian duo of Pujara and Dhoni, who had a 47-run overnight partnership with individual scores of 119 and 29 respectively, carried out their good work even as the skipper was troubled by the Kiwi seamers initially. But Pujara kept his composure and flair intact, looking for quick singles, rotating the strike as by lunch they had put on 111-run together keeping their stand intact. Dhoni completed his half-century, 25th in 68 Tests, flicking Doug Bracewell towards deep midwicket while Pujara reached to 150 pulling the same bowler through fine-leg boundary in a fine first session for India. There were a couple of chances too but the expansive New Zealand fielders missed a Dhoni nick off Martin with the ball going past the wicketkeeper (van Wyk) and first slip (Taylor). Pujara, on 133, got an easy escape from a run-out after he was slow to respond to Dhoni's call but only to see McCullum fumble at short cover while picking up the ball. But the script favoured New Zealand post lunch as the visitors had their most fruitful session when they came back taking five wickets including that of Pujara and Dhoni. Black Caps conceded just 67 runs as India were bundled out for 438 at the stroke of tea. — PTI Scoreboard New Zealand 1st innings:
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We will look to wrap up Kiwis early: Ashwin
Hyderabad, August 24 In response to India's first innings total of 438, New Zealand are struggling at 106 for five with Ashwin dismissing three batsmen, including rival skipper Ross Taylor. "The new ball was a little bit hard and the seam was much more upright, something that helped us extract bounce and enabled us get a few wickets up front. As the ball gets old, it would slow up a little bit and we have to be more patient to get wickets tomorrow. But we have to stick to our plans and would look to wrap up the innings quickly," Ashwin said after second day's play. "Wrapping up early would mean we should be eyeing a follow-on. With respect to how the wicket is behaving and the weather being a little cloudy, we should be looking to bowl twice and get the job done," he added. Ashwin said the bowlers did a good job today and early dismissal of Brendon McCullum provided them the momentum and was also pleased with the fact the he got a wicket off his very first ball. "I just wanted to land it (the ball) in proper place and keep it up. The drift was going the other way and the batsman got beaten. I thought we bowled well and stuck to our gameplan. Obviously the wicket of McCullum early helped. But in the end, we bowled well today," he said. "If you put 440 on the board you expect yourself to be on a dominant position in the game. It's a good enough score to dominate the game." About the controversial dismissal of Ross Taylor when Virat Kohli took a low catch at the backward fine-leg, Ashwin said the decision was fair. "I asked Virat and he said he had his fingers were underneath it (ball). We're quite confident that he was out." Ashwin also rejected criticism that he use the carrom ball more often than the conventional off-spin. "I have always maintained that I've relied much more on the stock ball than the carrom ball. Yes, it's done the trick once or twice, I got people out with it. But it's not that I ball that one every over. "Carrom ball is not an attacking ball at all and is used as a defensive mechanism. I've played enough first class cricket to know what stock ball is," he said. He said the perception has grown since they play a lot of ODI and T20 cricket where he use the carrom ball more often. — PTI
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Nobbs is responsible for London debacle: Shivendra
Gwalior, August 24 "The team's coach Michael Nobbs was responsible for the humiliating defeat in London as he made us change the strategy," Shivendra told reporters after a function organised by a private school in his honour. "The coach was unable to establish any co-ordination with the team members which resulted in the defeat," he said. "As the coach asked us to play in an attacking manner, our defence got weakened and we faced defeat after defeat," Shivendra stated. When asked whether the coach should be replaced, he said that such decisions are taken by management and an individual player has no say in it. He, however, admitted that players were also responsible for the defeat and had apologised to the nation for it. The Indian team had finished last in the Olympics, its worst-ever performance. Nobbs was appointed as coach of the Indian team in June 2011 and his contract ends after 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was member of the Australian hockey team at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. — PTI
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Now we know what drives Haryana’s Olympians
Chandigarh, August 24 The buzz among 18 Haryana Olympians is about the 'gaaddi' they will lay their hands on to at the felicitation function in Gohana on Sunday. Word has it that the London Olympics medal winners will get a brand new Audi A4, while others would have to be content with a Maruti SX4. Though nothing is confirmed, every player has been trying his best to confirm the brand name from their sources in the officialdom. However, the Hooda government is tightlipped. Even as it plans the car as a surprise gift to the winners, the higher officials are unaware that their subordinates have already spilled the beans, leading to intense speculation and anxiety among athletes. Haryana sports department director O P Singh, who reached Gohana two days earlier to apparently oversee the arrangements, is non-committal and sounds a bit fed up with the talk. He questions sagely, "What's the fuss about. I have also been travelling in the official Sx4 for so many years." Then, on a wiser note, he says, "I have no official communication in this regard but I can tell you one thing... It is certainly a very expensive car. The players are being feted for perfection and excellence and the reward will be according to that." Dharampal Sharma, the section officer, will vouch for the fact as he has been receiving scores of curious calls to confirm the car's brand name. Every time, he gets a call, the hassled official almost fails to mince words to keep the suspense on. And when it comes to Audi, there is no stopping the speculations and the secrets are harder to keep. Bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt admitted that they have been advised to keep mum over the reward to maximize the "effect of announcement on that day". But being a patient fellow, he says there are no complaints. Come Sunday, everyone will know who all deserve a luxurious ride. An MNC is said to be footing the car bill, in association with the State. But the officials might be "hard-pressed" to claim the bounty as their own.
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Under-19
Faridkot, August 24 One of these boys, Gurinder Singh, will play for Australia while Prashant Chopra will showcase his talent for the Indian team. Gurinder, who is known to be a good end-overs bowler in the Australian team, bats left-handed and bowls right-arm fast-medium. Chopra is a right-hand bat and leg-break googly bowler. After India and Australia cruised into the final of the tournament, for Faridkot residents, victory for either team would be an opportunity to celebrate because one of their lads would definitely be in the winning team. Gurinder is the son of Iqbal Singh Sandhu of Hardialeana village of Faridkot. Iqbal Singh left for Australia about three decades back and for many years worked as a taxi driver. Once his 18-year-old son Gurinder got recognition as an upcoming bowler in Australian cricket, Iqbal became prominent in an alien land. Gurinder is the first cricketer of Indian origin to represent Australia in Under-19 cricket. Prashant’s father Shiv Chopra is a cricket coach and his mother Vyas Chopra a volleyball coach. In 1979, Shiv Chopra shifted to Solan in Himachal Pradesh after getting a job as a cricket coach. Shiv’s two brothers Gulzari Lal Chopra and Ved Prakash Chopra live in Faridkot. To celebrate Prashant’s knock of 52 during India’s thrilling nine-run victory over New Zealand yesterday, many youth clubs and cricket lovers put up big hoardings and in the bazaars of Faridkot, congratulating Prashant for the win. “India or Australia, whoever wins the U-19 World Cup, we have nothing to lose but only to celebrate the victory of our boys in Prashant or Gurinder,” said Prashant’s uncle Gulzari Lal Chopra.
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Valdes howler hands beaten Madrid lifeline
Madrid, August 24 With Barca 3-1 ahead, and pressing for a fourth goal yesterday, Valdes was caught out inside his own penalty area as he tried to dribble the ball clear only to be dispossessed by a stunned Angel Di Maria who scored into an empty goal. Pedro Rodriguez, Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez had earlier scored second-half goals to give Barca a convincing lead after Cristiano Ronaldo had put Madrid ahead on 55 minutes. Madrid coach Jose Mourinho questioned the legality of Barca's first goal. "Barca played well, especially in the first-half when they did not allow us to play, but in the second we were able to change our game a little. It was a good game but their first goal was an error by the linesman and was offside," he said. Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, in charge of his first 'Clasico', was happy with his side's performance. "We controlled the game and we had the chance to go 4-1 ahead at the end, but that's football. We've won and we're ahead in the tie so I'm satisfied," he said. Madrid had travelled without the injured Pepe as well as Nuri Sahin, Carvalho and Kaka who are all expected to leave before the close of the transfer window. — AFP
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Cuban star-maker makes history
New Delhi, August 24 A foreign coach has never been given the highest award for coaches, though there were many deserving cases in the past, but Fernandez has been the longest-serving, and the most successful of all. The Cuban has elevated Indian boxing to a new high to produce two Olympic bronze medallists -- Vijender Singh (2008 Beijing) and Mary Kom (2012 London) -- and a number of other medal winners. Surprisingly, no university has been selected for the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy, the highest sporting honour given for promotion of sports at university level. Other Dronacharya Award winners this year are Virender Poonia, husband and coach of thrower Krishna Poona, Sunil Dabas (women’s kabaddi), Yashvir Singh (wrestling), Harendra Singh (hockey), J.S. Bhatia (athletics), Bhawani Mukherjee (table tennis, lifetime achievement award) and Dr Satyapal Singh (para sports-athletics).Dhyan Chand Award winners are: Jagraj Singh Mann (athletics), Gundeep Kumar (hockey), Vinod Kumar (wrestling) and Sukhbir Singh Tokas (para sports). Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar: Steel Authority of India Ltd, Railway Sports Control Board, Services Sports Control Board and Air India Sports Promotion Board. For the second consecutive year, no University has been selected for the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for the best sports university in the country, due to some dispute regarding the calculation of points. According to a top source, the power-point presentation for the award was held on August 22 in Delhi, in which four top universities forcefully made their claims—Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar),Punjabi University(Patiala), Kurukshetra University and PanjabUniversity (Chandigarh).
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Syria, Cameroon share points
New Delhi, August 24 Cameroon could not display the kind of football they are famous for, nor could they live up to their ranking of 57. Yet, they took the lead against the run of play to put Syria under pressure, before the latter hit back to equalise two minutes before half time. But Cameroon regained the lead in the 52nd minute, and held on to it till the 80th minute, when Syria pulled back their second goal, to draw the match two-all. It was Syria’s first point after their 1-2 loss to India in the opening tie.
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Faridkot, August 24
