|
|
|
|
|
Is this weakest Aussie team to visit India?
Dhawan had a fracture, is out of Delhi Test |
|
|
Clarke might play in 4th Test
This Australian team cannot handle spin, says Ganguly
Homeworkgate: Arthur says he put his neck on line
To reach Olympian heights in 2016, golfers left to work on their own
TTFI elects new officials
You know nothing, Hamilton tells critics
|
|
Is this weakest Aussie team to visit India?
Chandigarh, March 19 They have some excellent players, actually. But on wickets that turn, they tend to lose their heads. Alarmingly, it has happened against India’s young spinners who are still at the beginning of their Test careers, who are still to master their craft. Each time pressure became unbearable, the young Australians have cracked. Frail Australian teams have come to India in the past — but they were frail only in that they were ignorant of the local conditions. Mentally, no team from Down Under was as weak as this bunch. The Australian team that came to India in 1986 is a prime example. It was led by a character tougher than the toughest Aussies. He was, grudgingly and with fondness, called Captain Grumpy. Allan Border’s team in 1986 was young and inexperienced, among the weakest Australian parties to land here. India had nearly beaten Australia in Australia the previous year; then New Zealand actually beat them. But the team of 1986 had the germs of greatness — part of it were men like Dean Jones, David Boon, Geoff Marsh, Steve Waugh and Greg Matthews. Pricked by challenge, they rose to the occasion. The series was drawn 0-0, the first Test ending in a tie in Chennai. They had come as weaklings, they went back braves. Probably their weakest had come here in 1979-80, led by Kim Hughes. Kerry Packer’s money had attracted most of the top Australians, who missed this tour. They had players like Graham Yallop, Allan Border, Kim Hughes and Rodney Hogg — some of them became really big, but they to India as minor players. India didn’t play their spin giants — Bishan Singh Bedi, EAS Prasanna, and B Chandrasekhar, yet India won 2-0. Dilip Doshi and Shivlal Yadav led the spin attack, but Kapil Dev was the most successful bowler. General consensus has settled upon that Aussie team as the weakest ever to visit India. But now Michael Clarke’s team has beaten that team to the Aussie wooden spoon. When Rickey Ponting retired recently, Clarke actually shed tears. They were probably not merely for sweet remembrance of things past — Clarke had probably seen a sign of things to come. Not that the portents were scary. India had been recently humiliated by England; Australia were coming in with nine wins and only one loss in their last 13 Tests. There’s a devil in detail, though — only two of these wins came away from home, that too against stragglers West Indies. In their last 18 Test wins, only two were really significant — against Sri Lanka at Galle and against South Africa at Johannesburg, both in 2011. In this series, no young Australian player has played a decisive knock, no one has clubbed adversity into submission. This is what that sets this team far apart from the great Australian teams of the past. To complete the sorry picture, there has been evidence of ham-handed player management; leadership has either been absent or excessive.
|
|
Dhawan had a fracture, is out of Delhi Test
Chandigarh, March 19 Gautam Gambhir, who had been dropped to make way for Dhawan in the squad for the series, had been added to the squad, but had to be dropped after blood tests showed he had contracted jaundice. “Dhawan was ruled out of the fourth Test against Australia after sustaining a fracture in his left hand. He will be out of action for six weeks,” the BCCI said in a press release. Dhawan had hurt his left hand as he tried to stop a Phillip Hughes shot at the boundary in Australia's second innings on the fourth day of the Mohali Test. He did not field for the rest of the day and was taken to hospital for scans. He did not come out to open as India chased 133 in the fourth innings. Now only Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane are the specialist openers in the squad, and Rahane is likely to make his Test debut in Delhi. Raina has played 17 Tests, the last of which was against New Zealand in Bangalore in September 2012. — TNS
|
||
New Delhi, March 19 “He is in a bit of pain, but with Michael Clarke, you can never say never,” said Arthur. “He will give himself every opportunity to get himself ready for the Test. That will pan out closer to the time and will give him every opportunity to get up for it because he is such a vital cog in our team,” he said. Clarke is struggling with a recurring sore back and he batted with a lot of discomfort in the third Test. Arthur said that the team management would certainly not put Clarke at risk. “We certainly wouldn’t put Pup (Clarke) at risk for what we’ve got ahead of us. We’ll cross that bridge when we have to but that will ultimately be his decision, obviously with some help from our medical team,” the coach said. "My fingers are crossed I will be doing everything I can to give myself the best chance," Clarke himself had said. "I haven't missed a Test match due to injury so far in my career and I wouldn't like this to be my first one.” “If I can't perform at my best, if I feel I am going to let the team down, I won't be taking the field," he had added, ominously. There was more bad news on Tuesday when Cricket Australia said that fast bowler Mitchell Starc will return home and will undergo surgery to remove the bone spurs on his right ankle. Team doctor Peter Brukner said Starc will undergo surgery this week and his recovery will be assessed as he returns to bowling. Starc will miss the fourth Test. "Mitch has been experiencing ankle pain related to bone spurs during the India Test series and whilst manageable this represents an appropriate time for Mitch to have the surgery with a view to having him fully fit for the Ashes in late June," Brukner said. Arthur said the priority was to keep Starc fit for the Ashes. "We were aware that Mitch would need surgery at some point to have the spurs removed. He could have continued playing but we want to take a proactive approach to have him fit for the Ashes series.” — Agencies
|
|
This Australian team cannot handle spin, says Ganguly
New Delhi, March 19 Ganguly told in an interview in Kolkata that Australia do not have the batsmen to play spinners. “I don’t want to rate the side but having seen the Aussies since 1996, I think this team is the worst-performing on Indian soil. In India, you will expect turning tracks only. Four days are just enough to win against this weak Australian side. I hope India repeat this result on Australian soil as well.” Former Indian captain said, “The most important thing for MS Dhoni right now is to build the team and prepare them for the 2015 World Cup and as far as records are concerned, they are meant to be broken. I hope he will remain Indian captain for at least next two to three years and give Indian team that much-needed stability.” The man known as Prince of Kolkata went on to say, “In the fourth Test match at Kotla, the match will be over in three days if Australia bats second, they are lucky enough to win the toss and were thus able to stretch the earlier matches to the fourth day. Australia have no skill to apply themselves on Indian soil and that’s the only reason why they faced three loses in the row.” “I hope the Indian team will continue their good form at Kotla and will win the series with 4-0 white-wash,” he added. He also took a dig at the Australian team management’s decision to sack four players, including vice-captain Shane Watson, for the third Test on disciplinary grounds. “I read somewhere about (former coach) John Buchanan lauding the decision (to sack the four). Just unbelievable, what can I say!” he said. Ganguly hoped that Sachin Tendulkar would get some big runs. “I hope he gets back to form. It’s very important for him as well as team to get into the rhythm. I don’t think there’s a need to readjust his order and he should stick to No 4 only.” Asked about the Australia’s prospect in the upcoming Ashes series, Ganguly said: “I won’t be surprised England win 3-0 in the five-match series.” — PTI
|
|
Homeworkgate: Arthur says he put his neck on line
New Delhi, March 19 Vice-captain Shane Watson, pacers James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson and batsman Usman Khawaja were left out from the third Test in Mohali, which India won by six wickets. The four were axed for not completing a presentation on improvements needed in the team on time, a move which was called ridiculous by several former players such as Shane Warne. The 44-year-old Arthur, who closed his Twitter account today, said he believed the decision was correct as team discipline was important. “I’ve never been one just to sit back and let things drift,” Arthur said. “If I’m doing that, I’m not doing my job. I’m empowered to coach this team, to run this team and get this team back to where it needs to be,” he asserted. Arthur said the presence of senior players is very important to develop team spirit. “We’ve got to understand where we’re at, at the moment, with a very young group of players that needs to be shown the right way to go. If you’ve got older senior players the team governs itself and then it’s easy just to run and coach,” he explained. “If you’ve got a young team you need to grab the team and really make the players understand what their responsibilities and ownerships are of the side. I would say I’ve put my neck on the line. But I’ve put my neck on the line because I’m really passionate about Australian cricket and I’m very passionate about this team,” he said. Arthur, the first foreigner to coach Australia, was roped in for a three-year term when he joined as head coach in November 2011. Currently lagging 0-3 in the four-match series against India, it is perhaps the toughest phase of Arthur’s tenure after decent results with an inexperienced team earlier. “I want this team to achieve ultimate success and that’s to get to number one in the world,” Arthur said. — Agencies
|
|
Herath stars in Sri Lankan win
Colombo, March 19 Dilshan hit a brisk 57 off 73 balls that included six fours and Sangakkara continued his amazing form in the series to score 55 from 85 balls with eight fours. It was the first time in four innings that Sangakkara had been dismissed below 100. He was named man of the series with an aggregate of 441 runs. The pair added 94 for the second wicket and after they were dismissed, Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews with 13 apiece carried Sri Lanka to their victory target of 160 for the loss of three wickets. Dilshan was bowled by Robiul Islam playing an ambitious drive and Sangakkara was also bowled when he tried to sweep Sohag Gazi and the ball trickled onto his stumps. Opener D. Karunaratne’s early wicket for 16 offered only scant hope to Bangladesh, who recorded their first ever draw against Sri Lanka in the Galle Test last week. Earlier, Herath claimed a match haul of 12 for 157 and joined the 200 Test wicket club as Bangladesh folded before lunch. Bangladesh, having resumed at 158 for four, lost their ninth wicket two minutes before the scheduled lunch break which was delayed by 15 minutes for an extended morning session. Herath struck immediately in the first over of the day, dismissing overnight batsman Mominul Haque (37) when short-leg fielder Dimuth Karunaratne took a bat-pad catch. — Reuters
Scoreboard
|
|
To reach Olympian heights in 2016, golfers left to work on their own
Chandigarh, March 19 The situation is in stark contrast in India. “I do not expect any assistance from the government as they are not going to do much. They cannot even provide a proper diet plan to help and guide athletes. But it is my dream to represent my country at the 2016 Olympic Games and I am working really hard to make it a reality. It will be solely my own effort if it happens,” said Jyoti Randhawa, one of India’s leading professional golfers. After a lot of lobbying golf has been included in the Games and the 2016 Olympic Games to be played in Brazil will witness golf teams comprising of professional golfers from all over the world. Asian golfers have emerged as a strong force and can today hold their own against the best in the world. Korean KJ Choi is a strong contender on the PGA Tour having won eight titles while YE Yang became the first Asian major winner, when he won the PGA Championship in 2009. However, the Indian professional golfing scenario which also boasts some of the best Asian golfers like Jeev Milkha Singh, Randhawa and Arjun Atwal, is awaiting government recognition for the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). The Indian Golf Union is still the only recognised golf body in the country even though golf has been included in the Olympics as a professional sport and PGTI runs professional golf in India. The government needs to recognise the PGTI and assist them with funding so that they can set up a peak performance centre and work towards helping their players prepare. “Indian sports organisations will look at this as just another opportunity to further their own interests,” said Digvijay Singh, founder member of the PGTI and a respected player. “It will be yet another way to try and cash in on free trips abroad and everyone will be aiming to try and score an important position and reap its fringe benefits. No one is genuinely interested in the advancement of the game.” “I would love to play in the 2016 Olympics as my father is also an Olympian and hope that our concerned organisations also start gearing up as soon as possible,” said Jeev. Meanwhile, PGTI Director Uttam Singh Mundy adds: “The PGTI has approached the government and we have asked them to recognize us as the official body for professional golf. We hope they do so soon and give us all help.” The Indian golfing contingent that attended the Asian Games in 1986 specifically remember meeting Chinese golfers who were new to the game. However, in the years that have followed, China has emerged as one of the leading golf destinations in the worldand some of the best golfers. This year 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, the Asia-Pacific Amateur, champion will play the Masters on a special invite. With two assistants to implement his plans, Norman will regularly visit the teams training facility in Nanshan. His involvement will trickle down to the junior program to improve the standard of the game. There is a lot Indians can achieve too, only if they got some support.
|
||
|
TTFI elects new officials
New Delhi, March 19 The other office-bearers are: Dushyant Chautala (senior vice-president), DV Sundar, Rajeev Bodas, S.M. Sultan, Sanjay Singh, Majinder Singh Sirsa, Sudhanshu Pandey, Arun Kumar Banerjee and Chiranjib Choudhary (vice-presidents), Haresh Sangtani, Mantu Ghosh, Jayesh Acharya and Tridip Duvarah (joint-secretaries), Jhanja Tripathy, Srinivasan Shridhar, Th. Nandkishore Singh, Yatin Tipnis, Manjit Dua, Pankaj Sharma, Vivek Satyajeet and Vijarangam (executive committee members). The election of former internationals like Mantu Ghosh, Manjit Dua and Vivek Satyajit has ensured that the new body gets enough representation of players. The TTFI, which adopted the new sports code at a special General Body Meeting held in January this year, conducted the elections as per the guidelines framed by the Sports Ministry in the presence of Government observer Rachna Govil and Indian Olympic Association representative Anandeshwar Pandey. All the office bearers, barring one out of the eight executive committee members, were elected unanimously.
|
|
You know nothing, Hamilton tells critics
London, March 19 “It’s nice to prove people wrong,” the 2008 world champion was quoted as saying on Tuesday as he savoured his fifth-place finish at last weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. “It has been everyone, particularly all the ex-drivers, a lot of them commenting and saying that it was the worst decision ever, saying: ‘he’s going to finish nowhere, they are going to be nowhere’. “And then they contradicted themselves, going the other way...they don’t know what they are talking about,” Hamilton told British reporters. Hamilton’s decision to leave McLaren, perennial championship contenders who gave him his F1 debut in 2007, for a Mercedes team who were largely off the pace last year was widely considered a gamble at the end of 2012. However Mercedes have looked far more competitive in testing and in practice while the new McLaren has had a troubled start with Britain’s Jenson Button and Mexican Sergio Perez ninth and 11th respectively on Sunday. Button, the winner in Australia three times in the four years prior to Sunday’s race, said in Melbourne that McLaren had “fundamental things” to change. — Reuters
|
|||||
Simi penalised, leads sixth leg at WPGAI Michael Owen to retire at the end of season Delhi beat Himachal
by four wickets
|
| 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 | |
New Delhi, March 19
