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WARM-UP GAME
After half-century, Rahane says he’ll bat at any position
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India won't have a cake-walk playing England: Wright
All eyes on Sachin in Ranji Trophy tie
Pak to kickstart India tour in Bangalore
With stars & hopefuls, Ranji season kicks off
Star-studded Delhi vs starless Uttar Pradesh
He’s captain at home, but Bhajji can’t get his way with PCA
Bhajji does a Salman
IPL retention news
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On comeback trail, Yuvraj claims maiden five-wicket haul
Mumbai, November 1 Yuvraj, who had scalped Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell yesterday, added the wickets of Samit Patel (104), Matt Prior (51) and James Anderson (19) in the morning session today after England resumed at 286 for four. India A scored 124 for four in 40 overs before the play was called off ahead of the scheduled close by mutual consent on the third and final day of the game. Openers Abhinav Mukund (3) and Murali Vijay (32), Yuvraj (14) and Ajinkya Rahane (54) were the batsmen out in the home side's second innings. The openers were claimed by Anderson while Tim Bresnan sent back Yuvraj, who has come back to top level cricket after undergoing treatment for cancer that put him out of the game for close to a year. Rahane hit six shots to the fence before Samit Patel had him caught at slip. Captain Suresh Raina (19) and Manoj Tiwary (2) were the unbeaten batsmen at close. Raina was lucky to be dropped on nought by Anderson at second slip off Bresnan and his stay at the crease later too was unconvincing against Bresnan's pace. England now take on Mumbai A in their second warm-up game at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium from November 3-5 before proceeding to Ahmedabad for the third game, a four-day tie, against Haryana from November 8-11. The opening Test of the four-match series versus India is set to commence at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad from November 15-19. Patel was caught by Vijay at covers off a leading edge when trying to flick the left arm slow bowler. He had stayed for more than four and a half hours and struck 14 boundaries in 173 balls. The partnership between Patel and Prior was worth 65 runs in 12.1 overs. Swann was bowled when a ball from Vinay Kumar kept a bit low as England reached 396 for 8 at lunch. In the seventh over after the break, and after the addition of 30 runs, Yuvraj completed his five wicket haul by having Anderson caught at short leg for 19. Tim Bresnan remained unbeaten with 33 off 61 balls with four fours and a six. The innings ended with last man, the injured Steven Finn unable to bat. By tea, India A wiped off the deficit by reaching 68 for the loss of one wicket in 20 overs. Abhinav Mukund, who made 73 in the first innings, fell for three in the second over off James Anderson with 4 on the board. Steven Finn will play no further part in England's first tour match against India A because of a thigh strain, it was confirmed this morning. Finn underwent scans yesterday on his sore right leg, having left the field in pain after just four overs on the first morning of England's tour at the Brabourne Stadium. He will be assessed over the next couple of days to determine a rehabilitation programme. Brief scores: India A (2nd innings) Abhinav Mukund 3, Murali Vijay 32, Ajinkya Rahane 54, Yuvraj Singh 14, Suresh Raina not out 19, Manoj Tiwary not out 2 Total: 124/4 Fall of wkts: 1-4, 2-69, 3-98, 4-118 Bowling: James Anderson 7-1-20-2, Tim Bresnan 10-1-37-1, Samit Patel 16-1-40-1, Graeme Swann 5-0-19-0, Kevin Pietersen 2-0-8-0. — PTI Next practice match at CCI
Mumbai: The Indian Test squad, to be picked on Monday for the four-match rubber against visiting England side, will have a short three-day camp at the Brabourne Stadium here from November 9-11. “The Test team will be practicing here from November 9 to 11 every day," sources in the Cricket Club of India said. The opening Test of the series commences at Ahmedabad on November 15, followed by a match at Mumbai on November 23. The teams will then move to Kolkata to play the third Test on December 5 before heading to Nagpur for the final duel on December 13. England, meanwhile, would be playing their second warm-up game at the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai from November 3-5 followed by the third and final preparatory game at Ahmedabad from November 8-11. |
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After half-century, Rahane says he’ll bat at any position
Mumbai, November 1 “I am not particular about which number I should bat. I will be happy to bat wherever team management wants me to. I just want to score runs," said the Mumbai batsman after scoring a half-century in the second innings of the drawn tie. Rahane said he was pleased with his second innings effort of 54 in 98 balls after scoring just four in the first essay. “I am happy with my second innings effort after the disappointment in the first. It will give me confidence going forward to the Ranji Trophy game tomorrow (against Railways at the Wankhede Stadium),” he said.
India won't have a cake-walk playing England: Wright
Former Indian coach and New Zealand cricketer John Wright on Thursday pointed out that hosts will miss the experience of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in the middle during the upcoming India-England Test series.
Wright also ruled out India's complete dominance, but insisted that it will be a closely contested series. “The Test series will be interesting. England are coming off a home series defeat against South Africa (2-0), while India will miss the experience of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. The middle-order is quite new. The series will be a closely-contested one and it won't be 4-0 to India," Wright said. The former Test cricketer added that the first innings of the match will hold the key to success as the team that will put runs on the board or picks up early wickets will enjoy an upper hand. He also mentioned that it will be a real test for the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha. However, Wright said that the two have bowled very well in tandem so far.The first of the four Tests is scheduled to be played at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 15. Averse to the idea of Day-Night Test matches, Wright said the ICC's move to introduce D/N Tests is an attempt to bring back spectators but the format should be thoroughly trialled first.
All eyes on Sachin in Ranji Trophy tie
All eyes will be on Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan as Mumbai start their Ranji Trophy campaign against the Railways at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday. It will be ideal practice for the two veterans ahead of the four-match Test series against England beginning Nov 15. Pacer Ajit Agarkar, for the first time in his 16-year career, will lead a Mumbai. —
PTI |
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Pak to kickstart India tour in Bangalore
Mumbai, November 1 The visitors will then move to Ahmedabad for the second T20 game (December 27) before heading to Chennai for the first of the three-match ODI series on December 30. The second ODI of the series will be played at Kolkata on January 3, while the third and final one-dayer will be held at Delhi on January 6. The arch-rivals have not played a bilateral series since Pakistan's tour of India in 2007. The cricketing ties between the two nations were snapped after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. India is likely to issue 5,000 visas to Pakistani spectators to watch the Indo-Pak cricket series beginning December 25 but after framing stricter guidelines this time as several of them did not return home after watching such matches in the past. A high-level special committee will meet on Monday and frame visa guidelines, finalise types of visa to be given to Pakistani cricket fans, whether to give the visa for 1 match or for multiple matches, sources said. Schedule: (December 25): 1st T20 International at Bengaluru; (December 27): 2nd T20 International at Ahmedabad; (December 30): 1st ODI at Chennai; (January 3): 2nd ODI at Kolkata; (January 6): 3rd ODI at Delhi — PTI
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With stars & hopefuls, Ranji season kicks off
Chandigarh, November 1
The so-called followers of the religion of cricket won’t be there. Entry would be free, which is a sure deterrent for freeloaders who wave Rs 40,000 denomination passes in Twenty20 cricket. It would be day-time cricket, non-slam-bang cricket, another deterrent for the new cricket fan. There would be nobody watching, actually — practically nobody. The Ranji Trophy season starts today — 12 matches across the country, involving men like Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, R Ashwin... and many others. But of those worshippers of cricket would go to watch them in daytime. Many of these men have recently come back from South Africa, where they played in the Twenty20 Champions Trophy. They have had scant time to prepare for the four-day game. Many of them regularly skip Ranji Trophy and playing this year only to get some match practice. But all of them know that, despite what the advertising guy tells you, this is the real thing — this is first-class cricket, immensely tougher than Twenty20. You need to do well here to play for India. The game, though, is evolving in such a way that the hit-and-miss, fluky cricket pays you much more than four days of solid first-class cricket. Thus, first-class cricket has been relegated to being second-class to Twenty20. That’s a hard reality which should worry the game’s lovers and cricket administrators. Ranji Trophy has a different format this year — the Elite and Plate of the last few years have given way to three groups of nine teams each, from which eight quarterfinalists would emerge. A more exciting change is that teams have greater incentive for winning matches — three additional points for an outright win, and an extra point for a 10-wicket victory. Hopefully, captains would become more aggressive now, going for wins rather than playing on and on dully, to gain a first-innings lead. There could be further improvements. There are too many teams, and too many matches in very little time. The winner, for instance, would have played for up to 47 days in under three months, during which there would be much travel, day of practice, rest and recovery too. It’s a bone-wearying exercise, but cricketers do it because they love the game, it’s their life and livelihood, or they know nothing else. The alleged lovers of cricket should show them some love, too.
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Payback time for VVS
Chandigarh, November 1 Interestingly, Laxman made his first-class debut for Hyderabad against the same team, in the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy in 1992-93, getting a duck and 17 in the two innings. “Memories are always good, but it’s the time to pay back to my home state. I’ve been concentrating hard in the nets at the National Cricket Academy. Not to prove anything but to serve Hyderabad cricket. The state has provided with the best of the platforms.” said Laxman. He added: “I believe that domestic cricket keeps one’s interest alive towards the game. Ranji is among the best platforms for the players and I hope that the young guns of Hyderabad will take full advantage of this.” The wristy player added, “The wicket is looking good for us but I just want to give the team a good start. The team is a blend of youngsters and experienced players. I will try to take out the best from players like Pragyan Ojha. And there is no question of facing pressure till the time you play your natural game.” About Harbajan Singh, he said, “It’s not about facing the an ex-teammate or his team. We are here to play and hopefully will play well. I hope he regains form soon.”
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Star-studded Delhi vs starless Uttar Pradesh
New Delhi, November 1 The team, led by Virender Sehwag, have a problem of plenty, in both batting and bowling, as they have in their ranks players of the class of Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Unmukt Chand, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Parwinder Awana, Mithun Manhas and Yogesh Nagar. In fact, this will be a match between star-studded Delhi and a star-less Uttar Pradesh. Captain Sehwag, however, has been struggling with his batting, and would look for turnaround.
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He’s captain at home, but Bhajji can’t get his way with PCA
Mohali, November 1 But that too is not easy to come by, it seems. In these troubled times, the Turbanator, who could zip and bounce the ball on any listless attack on any given day, fervently sought a spinner-friendly track for the Ranji opener against Hyderabad but the state association (PCA) has been denied the favour. Two days ago before the match, an animated discussion with BCCI ground and pitches committee chairman (and PCA’s curator) Daljit Singh and skipper Harbhajan Singh ended in a stalemate. Daljit Singh said, “The BCCI has given firm orders to prepare hard and green wickets. Mohali too will have a typical wicket on the first day. We do not customize wickets according to the teams. And any good bowler, for instance Bhajji, can take wickets on any given track. I do not think there is any need to tweak the pitch.” Resigned to his fate, Harbhajan Singh worked extra hard on the nets on the eve of the match and then came out to say, “I wish we had a spinner-friendly track but going by its looks it seems it will help seamers. We had a couple of good spinners in our side and it would have helped us but now we will have to play in the given conditions.” In domestic circuit it is understandable for a home team captain to have a wicket of his choice. But here Harbhajan is not just looking at Punjab’s prospects, he has his comeback in the India team at the back of his mind too. Leggie Rahul Sharma too would be more than happy to get a turning track. For Hyderabad’s Pragyan Ojha, it could have been home away from home. And then there are the likes of Bipul Sharma, and others who could have cemented their reputation as all-rounders. But Daljit Singh will have none of it. As he always likes to say, “It will be a typical Mohali wicket, swing and seam in the morning and evenings and a good batting track in the daytime.” So it will be, it seems, if something drastic does’nt happens in a day’s time. The delicious irony is that Punjab skipper Harbhajan’s very strengths could become Bhajji the comeback man’s woes. It is a known fact that Mohali does have a seamer-friendly wicket and Punjab have always counted on their pace attack on their home ground. So is this time, but Bhajji too is desperate to make a difference here. Also, the BCCI is firm to stem the rot of placid wickets in the Ranji Trophy and the Mohali wicket may be in a bid to set a precedent. And if a seamer can scalp VVS Laxman, who is keen to pay back his Ranji team, early it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.While Laxman can take it easy after his international career, Harbhajan cannot afford to do so. A doubly determined Bhajji could not find a coin or a handkerchief but emulated Narendra Hirwani in his own style by putting an empty mineral water bottle on a designated spot and kept aiming for it. For the record, he did manage to hit it once all this while.
Bhajji does a Salman
MOHALI: What is common between Harbhajan Singh and Salman Khan? Flirting with Bollywood and belief in astrology. Or something more. Bhajji like Salman Khan is sporting an oversized bracelet on his left wrist these days. An oversized stone (probably turquoise-Feroza stone) cased in a shining shining silver bracelet is turning out to be his good luck charm for past some time. It could well be for ornamental purposes, but he sure can do with some good luck. |
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Mumbai, November 1
The stakes are rising higher and higher for Harbhajan Singh. A player who once used to the mainstay of Indian spin attack, a spinner you could count on fast and bouncy Australian attack, a street fighter who could match the famed kangroos in their own game of sledging and the one who could fire the team oversees with a single spell, is looking for solace at his proverbial home ground.
Ajinkya Rahane today insisted he does not have preference for a particular batting position and that he was willing to bat at any number.
