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IPL6 auction: Pakistan players sidelined again
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Concerns over Clarke’s ‘million dollar dilemma’
Australia seek all-round success on India tour
With Paes and rookies, India keen to shed the underdog tag
Smith set to become first man to lead a team in 100 Tests
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Kamini sets India soaring over Windies
Mumbai, January 31 Set a massive target of 285 to win, the West Indians were bowled out for 197 in 44.3 overs. The Indians were never really under pressure. The only threat from the West Indians was represented by an innings of 39 off 16 balls by the charismatic Deandra Dottin. Dottin, coming in at No. 5, hit four sixers and three fours but her fall, off Niranjana, ended the West Indian hopes. Earlier, opener Kamini became the first Indian woman to notch up a century in the 50-over World Cup as the hosts piled up a commendable 284 for six. The previous best by an Indian woman in the World Cup was by skipper Mithali Raj against Netherlands in the 2005 edition. This was also India’s highest ever team total. India surpassed their previopus highest score of 275, made against Netherlands in the 2000 World Cup in New Zealand. Left-hander Kamini, who made a comeback into the side, scored 100 off 146 balls before she was finally run-out. She struck 11 fours and a six and batted till the 43rd over and spent 156 minutes at the crease. Put into bat, Kamini and Poonam Raut (72) made best use of the flat track at Brabourne Stadium here and added 175 runs for the opening stand. Raut’s 72 runs came off 94 balls and she struck seven fours during her 144-minute stay at the crease. Raut was out leg before trying a sweep shot off spinner Shanel Daley. India tried to accelerate and made best use of the Powerplay as 45 runs came off those five overs. After Raut’s fall, Kamini was joined by former Indian skipper Jhulan Goswami, who was promoted as a pinch hitter and Goswami made a quickfire 36 in 21 balls. India started losing wickets towards the end as they tried to step up the scoring rate. For the visitors, Dottin was the star with the ball too, picking up three wickets in her four overs while giving away 32 runs, and Daley picked up one. — PTI 1st ton for India
Scoreboard India Raut lbw b Daley 72 Kamini run out 100 Goswami c Selman b Dottin 36 Kaur c Selman b Dottin 36 Malhotra c Mohammed b Dottin 3 Niranjana run out 2 Sharma not out 8 Raj not out 1 Extras: (lb 3, w 21, nb 2) 26 Total (6 wkts; 50 overs) 284 Fall of wickets: 1-175, 2-224, 3-231, 4-246, 5-265, 6-280 Bowling: Selman 4-0-26-0, Taylor 10-0-54-0, Daley 9-0-51-1, Mohammed 10-0-44-0, Quintyne 10-0-50-0, Smartt 2-0-12-0, Campbelle 1-0-12-0, Dottin 4-0-32-3 West Indies Knight run out 0 Taylor c Jain b Sharma 9 Campbelle b Niranjana 21 Kyshona A Knight b Sultana 11 Dottin lbw b Niranjana 39 Aguilleira c Raj b Niranjana 18 Daley c Niranjana b Malhotra 28 Quintyne st Jain b Sultana 17 Smartt c&b Goswami 6 Mohammed not out 10 Selman c Jain b Goswami 2 Extras: (lb 2, w 16) 18 Total: (all out; 44.3 overs) 179 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-15, 3-38, 4-84, 5-84, 6-133, 7-146, 8-165, 9-169 Bowling: Goswami 9.3-3-13-2, Sharma 7-1-28-1, Niranjana 9-0-52-3, Sultana 10-4-38-2, Parwin 7-1-34-0, Malhotra 2-0-12-1
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IPL6 auction: Pakistan players sidelined again
New Delhi, January 31 The 101-strong list of players, to be auctioned on Sunday, does not feature a single Pakistani player despite the resumption of bilateral cricket ties between the two neighbours in December last year. Pakistani players have been ignored by IPL since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Even though the Pakistan Cricket Board has been pushing for their inclusion, the efforts have not paid off even this year. And it has got nothing to do with the recent tension that gripped the Line of Control earlier this month after an Indian soldier was beheaded during a violation of the ceasefire. The move to keep Pakistani players out was initiated in December last year even though the BCCI had hinted about having them for the auction at least. The BCCI’s apprehension stemmed from the fear of controversies given that having sportspersons from across the border remains a sensitive matter in India. “It is for the franchises to decide their teams. The franchises invest a lot of money and they do not want to take risk by including Pakistani players. The idea is to play it safe,” a top IPL official said. Recently, Pakistani hockey players were sent back from the Hockey India League while the women cricketers from the country, who are here for the World Cup, were shifted from Mumbai to Cuttack following protests by the Shiv Sena. — PTI Top base price for
Ponting, Clarke
They are not exactly Twenty20 stars but retired Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and his successor Michael Clarke have attracted the highest base price of $400,000 (approx Rs 2.1 crore) among the 101 names who will go under the hammer in the IPL players’ auction to be held here on Sunday. While Clarke was previously with Pune Warriors Indians, Ponting played for Kolkata Knight Riders last season. |
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Concerns over Clarke’s ‘million dollar dilemma’
Sydney, January 31 “Our players can’t afford to be over-worked going into the Ashes, we need to be right on the money in our preparation,” former selector Trevor Hohns said. “I understand there is a lot of money to be made by playing IPL, but we keep talking about the rotation policy and resting blokes and guys now want to play in the IPL. They face a gruelling schedule, there’s the Indian tour, the IPL, the Champions Trophy and then they have to be up for the Ashes.” “It is their choice, but guys like Michael Clarke and David Warner need to be fresh for a big tour like the Ashes,” he added. Almost half of Australia’s first XI could take part in the IPL, the Herald Sun reported. Dave Warner (Delhi) and Shane Watson (Rajasthan) already have Indian deals, while Clarke, wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, No.3 Phil Hughes and Ashes contender Moises Henriques were named in the IPL auction list. The worry is that the megabucks available in the IPL could hamper Australia’s Ashes preparations. The Twenty20 event is held during a contractual “leave-period” due to which Cricket Australia is powerless to stop their best players from embarking on a “six-week cash grab”, the paper wrote. “Should Clarke turn out in the Twenty20 extravaganza, he and his Australian IPL colleagues could have just 14 days’ rest in a four-month period between the start of the Indian tour on February 18 and the beginning of the Ashes,” it added. Interestingly, while there were 30 Australians in the latest IPL auction list, England featured just two — keeper Matt Prior and batsman Ravi Bopara. Clarke and former Test captain Ricky Ponting topped the auction list with a reserve price of $400,000, and the captain’s price tag could reach $1m if the franchises engage in a bidding war for one of the top batsmen in world cricket. — Agencies
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Australia seek all-round success on India tour
Melbourne, January 31 Following Mike Hussey’s retirement, selectors have gambled on uncapped all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Moises Henriques with the duo set to vie for the veteran batsman’s number six spot during the four-Test series starting next month. Five-Test all-rounder Steven Smith was also named in the 17-man squad released on Thursday, two years after being dumped in the wake of Australia’s 2010-11 Ashes humbling by England on home soil. Two-Test Doherty, another casualty of that series, will be expected to provide support for fellow spinner Nathan Lyon in India, where Australia have not won a Test since 2004. The 24-year-old Maxwell and Henriques, 25, would provide flexibility for the team, according to selector John Inverarity. “The squad includes a spin bowling all-rounder in Maxwell and a medium-fast all-rounder in Henriques,” Inverarity said. “In aiming for more depth in a bowling attack, the squad would allow for three pace bowlers, a leading spinner and Maxwell or two pace bowlers, the two spinners and Henriques. These are two of the options. “Xavier Doherty also returns to the Test squad. We certainly feel he is much improved in the longer format of the game since he made his Test debut in 2010-11 against England.” Opening batsman David Warner has been named despite breaking a thumb during practice this week, and Inverarity said he was confident the hard-hitting 26-year-old would recover in time for the first Test, which starts February 22 in Chennai. A year after being dropped following Australia’s shock loss to New Zealand in Hobart, Pakistan-born batsman Usman Khawaja has a chance to add to his six Tests, and has been named along with Phillip Hughes, the de facto replacement for retired former captain Ricky Ponting. James Pattinson has been named in a five-man pace battery after missing most of the Australian summer with a rib injury, with Jackson Bird rewarded a place after taking 11 wickets in his first two Tests against Sri Lanka. The 26-year-old Bird will battle for selection with left-armers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. The squad will be effectively split into two, with one group to head to India earlier for warm-up matches and the second to stay in Australia for One-day games against West Indies. Selectors will name the advance party on Saturday. The teams play the second Test in Hyderabad from March 2, with the third in Mohali (March 14) and the final match in Delhi (March 22). — Reuters Australia Squad Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Matthew Wade, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Jackson Bird, Xavier Doherty, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, and Peter Siddle
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With Paes and rookies, India keen to shed the underdog tag
New Delhi, January 31
The doubles rubber will be very crucial in this tie, as India will be banking on Leander Paes and his new partner Purav Raja to clinch it. The Koreans, understandably, did not want to put additional burden on Young-Kyu Lim by fielding him in the singles. In the reverse singles on Sunday, Ranjeet will meet Jeong while Malik will clash against Cho. The Koreans have always been a tough nut to crack for India, and under the circumstances, Mishra felt that it was the best possible draw. “It’s a positive draw. I prefer Rajeet (No. 1 player) to play the first match. If he can pull off something, it becomes easy for our second player,” Mishra told reporters after the draw. With 11 top players skipping the tie, due to differences with the All India Tennis Association, the team selected for the tie was the best the selectors could pick, and now it was up to the players to prove their mettle, and deliver. Leander Paes reiterated his stated stand that there was nothing like playing for the country. “Playing for the country is the only thing”, he asserted. Leander said he was not apprehensive about teaming up with Purav Raja for the first time. The Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) courts are nothing new to Raja, as he had won the National Open singles (five-setter) and doubles titles here in the 2006-2007 season. But that was when the DLTA had grass courts in the main stadium, before the complex got a massive facelift for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, with grass courts giving away to slow and bouncy synthetic courts. Though neither Mishra nor Leander could remember the names of the Korean players, they were unanimous that the Koreas would be tough to beat. “Their doubles players look good. Purav is a fabulous player with a lot of skill . We need to gel well. It’s about combination and communication, especially when the surface is slow and bouncy,” noted Leander. Leander admitted that the young players would be edgy, this being their first Cup outing, but the trick was to rise to the occasion, and bring out their best. “Staying relaxed is the key. Anxiety will be there, you cannot deny that,” he said. Leander recalled the tough tie against Korea here in 1991 when he had to go out and clinch the reverse singles after Ramesh Krishnan had lost the first match of the reverse singles to tie the score at 2-2. Leander said he went out and played his best to win the rubber and the tie for India by 3-2. “I concentrated on my gameplan. Win or lose does not matter. I have always led by an example, and hard work matters,” he explained. He said in doubles, all the four players would have to gel together on the court, and find holes to get the points. “I have never bothered about results. I have lost more matches than I have won. But I remember the wins,” Leander added. Ranjeet said he wanted to play first, particularly against Korea’s No. 2 player Lim. Now that the draw has favoured him, he hopes to bring out his best. The 27-year-old Ranjeet expects to draw from his experience of playing professional tennis for the Oldenburg club in the German league, Nord Liga, and would strive to give the hosts a winning start. Vijayant Malik, the boy who cut his tennis teeth at the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association facility, was confident of making the best of the chance to play for the country. “Very much confident,” he said.
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Smith set to become first man to lead a team in 100 Tests
Johanesburg, January 31 “To achieve what he has achieved, I don’t think will be achieved very soon again, if ever,” teammate Jacques Kallis said ahead of the Test. “He’s very driven to make the team the best it can possibly be, while at the same time maintaining his own high level of play,” his predecessor Shaun Pollock said. With South Africa ranked the top Test team, Smith has been basking in the adulation of his country in the days leading up to the Test. “When he took over there were still a lot of political issues that impacted on the team and it’s not been easy on him,” said Ali Bacher, former Test captain and administrator. “Back then I thought captaining was just an on-field thing, making some decisions and showing some leadership; little did I know about what happened behind the scenes, the selection issues and the politics,” Smith said. — Reuters
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When India take on South Korea in the Asia-Oceania Group I Davis Cup tie over the next three days at the RK Khanna stadium here, the hosts will be without the burden of any expectation. Barring the 39-year-old veteran Leander
Paes, the others will be making their debut, and India give the home players only a fifty-fifty chance.
With the hosts having the underdog tag, never mind the home advantage, the draw ceremony today was not much of consequence, though Indian non-playing captain SP Mishra was happy that VM Ranjeet has been drawn to play against the unranked Korean Min Hyeok Cho in the opening singles tomorrow noon. The visitors’ No. 1 player, Suk-Young Jeong, will be meeting India’s No. 2 Vijayant Malik in the second singles, as in a surprise move, Korea decided to field their No. 2 player, Yong-Kyu Lim, only for the singles.
