|
|
|
|
|
Gambhir needs a great A game vs Aussies
Captain Clarke tries mind games with Gambhir
Majithia elected PRSA president
|
|
|
Sardar praises youngsters before World League
Edwards ton gives England 3rd spot
Pistorius tragedy: Fallen idol mocks our hunger for
demi-gods
|
|
Gambhir needs a great A game vs Aussies
Chennai, February 15 Replaced by Shikhar Dhawan, who was originally named the A squad skipper, Gambhir found himself demoted to the role — ironical for a player once seen as captaincy material for the senior national squad. He would still be biggest star in the India A line-up which will square off against the full-strength Australians, who didn’t do too badly in their opening game against the Board President’s XI. Most of their top players, including skipper Michael Clarke, had not set foot in the country at that time as they were busy wrapping up the home limited-overs series against the West Indies. The two-day match, which was also played here, ended in a draw with the Aussie batsmen getting a feel of the trying conditions that await them. Their bowlers, on the other hand, also managed to get some confidence after coming good on a turning track, which was expected to challenge them quite a bit. The India A squad’s batting will depend on some known faces such as Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary and Ajinkya Rahane. There are some new faces in the squad as well, including Jiwanjot Singh, who has scored 995 runs in 10 first-class matches. Abhishek Nayar — the second-highest run-scorer in the Ranji Trophy this season with 966 runs for Mumbai, including three centuries and eight 50s — is also there. Nayar also picked up 19 wickets to play an important role in Mumbai’s 40th Ranji Trophy title triumph. He was interestingly a top buy at the IPL players’ auction, picked up by Pune Warriors for a whopping Rs 3.5 crore. The Aussies, meanwhile, would want that skipper Michael Clarke, who is nursing a strained right hamstring, manages to be fit for the game and get some match practice ahead of the Test series. Also looking for some practice would be star all-rounder Shane Watson, playing solely as a batsman. Meanwhile, India A coach Lalchand Rajput said one good knock will do Gambhir’s confidence a world of good. “These are good players who have performed well at that level. It’s only a question of one good knock. Yes, when you don’t score runs, people write that you are not getting runs, but the same Gautam has got so many runs in the past,” Rajput said. “It’s just a matter of getting there and spending more time in the middle and utilising the opportunity. Once he spends more time, everything will fall in place. Gautam knows this and he is very keen and looking forward to this game.” —
PTI Squads India A: Gautam Gambhir (capt), Jiwanjot Singh, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Ajinkya Rahane, C Gautam, Rakesh Dhruv, Jalaj Saxena, Manpreet Gony, Vinay Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ashok Menaria, Abhishek Nayar. Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Jackson Bird, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Lyon. |
|
Captain Clarke tries mind games with Gambhir
Chennai, February 15 Clarke said he expected a batsman of Gambhir’s calibre to be in the team and India will badly miss his experience. “I expected him (Gambhir) to be in the Test team. He is a wonderful player and has played for India for a long time now. I think there are a few bowlers in our team who are happy he is not playing,” the Australian captain told reporters on the eve of their second and final warm-up game India A. Terming Gambhir a “wonderful guy”, Clarke hoped that the left-hander will hit the straps soon and get back into the national reckoning. “He is a wonderful guy and I really like him and I get along really well with him. If he scores runs, I’m sure he will get his chance with the Indian team again,” he said. Australian teams over the years have been known to start mind-games prior to the series, which Steve Waugh had once famously termed as “mental disintegration” of the opponents but Clarke believes that the game is about on-field performances and not making statements. “It’s not about what you say. It’s about what you do. As a player, as the Australian cricket team, that’s our goal. It’s no good making statements and comments and not backing them up. I’d rather want people to say less and do more, so that’s our goal. Perform well on the field, that’s all we want.” Asked about his role in leading the batting line-up against a superior Indian spin attack, Clarke replied that success can never be guaranteed. “Reputation is irrelevant, to be honest, especially when it’s my reputation. I start on zero like everybody else,” he said. — PTI
|
|
Majithia elected PRSA president
Chandigarh, February 15 The election was held at the Mohali shooting range and was attended by all the 18 district bodies and its President Gurbir Sandhu. The election took place despite the NRAI has disaffiliated the PRSA for failing to adhere to its directives and rules. When contacted, Majithia said he had been elected president unanimously. He said Gurbir Sandhu, who was also present in the meeting, spoke on the issue stressing that all elections till now had been held unanimously and that the tradition should be followed. Sources said as many as 10 heads of various district associations proposed Majithia’s name and the remaining heads seconded it. Sandhu maintained that no voting had taken place. He, however, admitted that he had gone for the meeting which he had earlier termed unconstitutional. Majithia said he had taken the responsibility after being assured by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal that the sport would be given due importance. He said the Deputy CM had assured him that world-class infrastructure would be created for rifle shooters in the state. The minister has said that to begin with, the PRSA would set up shooting ranges in Amritsar and Ludhiana which were connected by air and did not have a range. He said following this, infrastructure would be created at other places also. Majithia disclosed that he would form an advisory council of shooters who could then advise the association as to what was needed to be done to propagate the game in the state. He said he has been told that there is a disconnect between sportspersons and administrators and that he wanted to rectify this immediately.
|
|
Sardar praises youngsters before World League
New Delhi, February 15 “In modern hockey, you cannot take any team lightly, including Bangladesh, as all the teams would be giving their best shot, as it’s a World Cup qualifying tournament,” Sardar Singh told The Tribune on the sidelines of an Hockey India function to announce its new sponsors. India, China, Ireland, Bangaldesh, Oman and Fiji will be fighting for the lone slot from this competition in the men’s section while the women’s field will comprise of India, Japan, Russia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Fiji. The women have a tougher field, but Sardar said the men too cannot relax, though the selectors have picked the best team, including some of those young players like Mandeep Singh, Malak Singh and Gurjinder Singh, who had impressed in the Hockey India League (HIL) and the World Series Hockey (WSH) earlier. “The HIL gave the players great experience on and off the field. It was evident from the body language of the Indian players, who derived immense benefit by playing alongside and playing against great players from Australia, Germany, Holland etc,” Sardar continued. He said it would not be difficult for India to win the qualifying tournament “if we play our normal hockey”. He said players like drag-flicker Gurjinder Singh, forward Mandeep Singh and Malak Singh, were great assets for the team, though he felt the team would have been stronger had drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was also part of the team. Though the team now boast of three drag-flick specialists in V.R. Raghunath, Rupinder Pal Singh and Gurjinder Singh, Sandeep Singh would have been great value addition to the squad. The selection of Gurjinder Singh, despite playing for the rival WSH, was an indication that the Hockey India selectors would cast their nets wide to pick the best hockey talent in the country, no matter who played for whom. He said it was the selectors’ decision to keep Sandeep as a reserve for the tournament, though he was sure that the drag-flicker would return to the Indian team any time soon. He said Mandeep Singh, who scored ten goals in the HIL, holds out much promise as he has all the attributes of a classy forward — speed, stamina and uncanny ability to score goals. |
|
Cape Town, February 15 Ajmal took all five wickets to fall, conceding 41 runs in 25 overs, as the hosts still trail Pakistan by 199 runs. Ajmal began with the wicket of Graeme Smith, who was trapped lbw by Ajmal attempting a sweep. Umpire Steve Davis rejected the appeal but Pakistan called for a review which showed the ball was hitting the stumps. Azhar Ali then took an excellent one-handed catch at short leg to dismiss Alviro Petersen (17) after Ajmal incuded an inside edge on to the pads of the right-hander. Hashim Amla was also trapped LBW by Ajmal, who got the decision in his favour after yet another appeal to the TV umpire. Jacques Kallis was also trapped LBW, and when Faf du Plessis edged a doosra to the slips, South Africa were reduced to 109 for five. AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar then took the score to 139 without further loss. Earlier, Vernon Philander claimed his ninth five-wicket haul in 15 Tests as South Africa dismissed Pakistan on the stroke of lunch. Resuming on 253 for five, the tourists looked in danger of folding within an hour but found batting against the old ball comfortable. A stand of 64 between Tanvir Ahmed (44) and Ajmal (21 not out) took Pakistan to 338. — Agencies Brief Scores Pakistan: 338 (Younis 111, Shafiq 111; Philander 5/59) South Africa: 139/5 (du Plessis 28, Ajmal 5/41)
|
|
Edwards ton gives England 3rd spot
Mumbai, February 15 Apart from Edwards, Lydia Greensway (31), wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor (28) and Arran Brindle (27) also made useful contributions with the bat to guide England home. Off-spinner Lucy Doolan was the most successful bowler for New Zealand scalping three wickets for 50 runs, while Sian Ruck picked up two wickets for 20 runs. Earlier sent into bat, Amy Satterthwaite struck a fluent 85 to guide New Zealand to 220 for eight. Left-arm spinner Holly Colvin shone with the ball for England, picking up three wickets for 31 runs while Aaran Brindle (2/38) dismissed two Kiwi batswomen. England's chase, however, did not start on a good note as the defending champions lost opener Danielle Wyatt (5) early. Edwards, who became the first woman cricketer to amass 5,000 runs in ODIs, and Taylor then forged a 78-run second-wicket stand. The English skipper then added 53 runs with Greenway for the third wicket to steady the innings and just when it seemed that the two were set for a long haul a brilliant diving catch by New Zealand captain Suzie Bates cut short Greenway's stay. Brindle then shared a 58-run stand for the fourth wicket with Edwards. They lost quick wickets to be reduced to 202 for 6, but Edwards and Laura Marsh saw them home. — PTI Brief Scores N
Zealand: 220/8 (Satter-thwaite 85, Colvin 3/31) England: 222/6 (Edwards 106*, Doolan 3/50) |
|
Pistorius tragedy: Fallen idol mocks our hunger for
demi-gods
London, February 15 The charges against him are so monstrous that any superficial explanation of the rage that may have marked his career is clearly irrelevant. Who, for now, can presume to judge what was going through his mind when he allegedly pulled the trigger? But there does remain a rather more suitable case for treatment. For no less than we have shared in his hours of glory, borrowing inspiration from his human spirit, so we must also absorb some of this fall. To an extent, we elevate every sporting idol above real life no less artificially than do the blades of Pistorius. It is pointless, plainly, to ask whether this same catastrophe might have been avoided by its protagonists had they instead began Valentine’s Day, say, frying eggs and washing up in a diner. But other lives have certainly unravelled when those we should celebrate only in one, limited dimension have been seduced into believing our own publicity. That happens so often, in fact, that it seems legitimate to wonder whether we should sooner be rebuked for cynicism than naïvete. It is almost as though we discover some calculated gratification in our “disillusion”. Say it ain’t so, Joe … Only don’t. Conceivably our relish is cruder still: mere envy, perhaps. How many of those who disowned Tiger Woods would have behaved differently if only fate had dealt them their due in physique and bank balance? So we instead vindicate our outrage by pointing to commercial exploitation. If someone owes lucrative endorsements to a phoney clean-cut image, then he has an obligation to preserve the illusion! The fact is, however, that most of us find it all too easy to deny our imperfections to ourselves – even without the incentive of a big fat cheque, or the twin distortions achieved by constant expectation and flattery. In other cases, admittedly, the betrayal goes to the very heart of what has elevated an athlete in the first place. But it does seem plain, in Lance Armstrong and others, that even the most brazen deceit must still convince its author as far as possible. To that extent, we also connive with those who consider themselves a law unto themselves; that they can get away with anything; that probity and abstinence and the like are not required of the real dudes, the alpha males, the stags with the biggest antlers. Because they couldn’t really get there without us. That’s how you end up with the cheering spectators lining the freeway, as the fugitive OJ Simpson fled the police. In fairness, our craving for demi-gods invites as much pity as reproof. We see them glorified by grace and prowess, like martial heroes, and comfort ourselves that such paragons could surely win life’s more insidious battles as well. How much, after all, can one kind of equilibrium differ from another? The disintegration of Paul Gascoigne reiterates the self-destructive inadequacies that lurk beyond so much glib mythology. But that will never stop us seeking out invulnerability in others who disguise their frailties better. In the end, it is as pointless to generalise about elite sportsmen as it is about people. Some of them are inflamed by a hatred of defeat, prepared to separate themselves from the herd by embracing risks that no ordinary judgement would contemplate. Others exude a humility that could never be simulated for corporate gain. And a few even contrive to fall into both camps. Remember that Sandy Koufax, who declined to pitch on the opening day of the 1965 World Series because it was Yom Kippur, and Eric Liddell, whose refusal to race on a Sunday at the Paris Olympics was celebrated in Chariots Of Fire, made their stands not as principled “role models” but as principled men. Had they been insurance clerks, we should never have heard of them – but they would still have stood tall in their own lives. Increasing addiction to celebrity, since their day, infects deeds of every shade – for better, for worse. With each new fallen idol, those who have worshipped them will already have played their part. Who needs running blades, after all, when we can issue them with pedestals? —
The Independent |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Chennai, February 15
So perhaps those will turn out to be blades of clay. The man who was less than a man, shorn of both feet in infancy, had become superhuman. Now it seems as though that paradox may yet be horribly inverted, disclosing a far more grotesque mutation in Oscar
Pistorius.
