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India back from the brink India stand-in skipper Virat Kohli is ecstatic with the way India clawed their way back from the verge of exit into the final. — AFP
We showed a lot of character in bouncing back: Kohli
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England hit back after Siddle skittles them out for 215
Use ‘India’ only if BCCI comes under RTI: Draft Bill
Mudgal Committee recommends giving more say to athletes
Kaushik appointed men’s coach
..but Ric feels Indian coaches not good enough
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India back from the brink
Port of Spain, July 10 The 22-year-old Kumar had career-best figures of 4 for 8 runs in six overs as Sri Lanka were bundled out for a paltry 96 in 24.4 overs in pursuit of 178 in stipulated 26 overs as Virat Kohli, in his maiden stint as captain, guided the team into the title round. India will again meet Sri Lanka in the final at the same venue on Thursday. India thus topped the table with 10 points including bonus points from the last two encounters having lost the first two matches and also eliminated hosts West Indies in the process. Put into bat, Rohit Sharma contributed 48 as India reached 119 for three in 29 overs when rain halted proceedings. Courtesy Duckworth-Lewis method, Sri Lanka’s target swelled upto 178 in 26 overs. For India, the magic figure was 167 — they had to restrict the Islanders in order to make it to the summit clash. Kumar's knack of picking up early wickets reaped dividends for India as he rocked the opposition removing Upul Tharanga (6) and Kumar Sangakkara (0) off successive deliveries. Tharanga got one that shaped away after pitching as he edged it to Suresh Raina, stationed at wide second slip. Sangakkara got a raw deal as he was adjudged lbw to a Kumar delivery that seemed going well above stumps. If that wasn't enough, Mahela Jayawardene (11) was also dismissed cheaply to make it 27 for three. Jayawardene slashed hard at a rising delivery, only to hole out at third man. Kumar soon got his fourth wicket when Lahiru Thirimanne (4) offered a simple catch to Virat Kohli at covers, leaving Lanka tottering at 31 for four. Once Kumar had done the initial damage, Ravindra Jadeja removed Angelo Mathews (10) and Chandimal in quick succession and reduced Lanka to 63 for six. And when Jeevan Mendis (13) was castled by Ravichandran Ashwi, the match was as good as over. Earlier, Rohit revelled again in an opener's role as his unbeaten 48 took India to 119 for three in 29 overs on a track which wasn't conducive for free-flowing strokeplay. In-from opener Shikhar Dhawan (15), skipper Virat Kohli (31) and Dinesh Karthik (12) were three batsmen who were dismissed in the process. — PTI Dhoni likely to be back for the final
India captain MS Dhoni is likely to be back for the final against Sri Lanka on Thursday. The India skipper had suffered a hamstring strain while batting against West Indies in the first match of the tri-series at Sabina Park in Kingston and was ruled out of the rest of the competition. He, however, stayed with the squad instead of flying back home. What has fuelled speculation about his possible comeback for the final is his presence on the field in the pre-match warm-ups and in full team uniform during and after the final match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. — Agencies Scoreboard Sri Lanka
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We showed a lot of character in bouncing back: Kohli
Port of Spain, July 10
He said the two big wins after as many defeats showed the character of the team. “To bounce back like this and finish top of the table is a commendable effort. I am very proud of the team,” a beaming Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. Kohli was happy that the team showed a lot of character in making such a strong comeback in the tournament. “We have shown a lot of character. When three good teams are playing in the tournament, anything can happen. We were never bothered about the rain delays. Our performance showed what happens when one executes their plans properly.” The young captain said that when he was involved in a 49-run partnership with Rohit Sharma, he didn't want to take any undue risks. “When I and Rohit were playing, we wanted to play ourselves in. It paid in the end, because we had wickets in hand, and it worked in the D/L calculations.” Man of the match Bhuvneshwar Kumar called the Port of Spain pitch as the “most helpful so far”. “It's important to hunt in pair and pitch the ball in right areas. It worked well for me and I am proud that I have performed well for my country,” he said. — PTI "To bounce back like this and finish at the top of the table is a commendable effort. I am very proud of the team. We have shown a lot of character...our performance showed what happens when one executes their plans properly." — Virat Kohli, India captain"It was important that I bowled a tight spell upfront and took early wickets for the team. Once we got those wickets, it wasn't going to be easy for them to chase the score down." — Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India pacer
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England hit back after Siddle skittles them out for 215
Nottingham, July 10
Australia, huge underdogs in the series, enjoyed the perfect start when fiery fast bowler Peter Siddle took five wickets and England collapsed to 215 all out shortly after tea. However, Steven Finn removed Shane Watson and Ed Cowan in successive balls and James Anderson dismissed Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers before Australia lurched to the close on 75 for four. Steve Smith, on 38, and Phil Hughes, seven, were the not out batsmen. England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and chose to bat in overcast conditions. James Pattinson's first ball of the series was a wild short-pitched wide and the fast bowler struggled to find his line as the ball swung extravagantly in the air. Cook and Joe Root had to survive the odd unplayable delivery, but they looked comfortable until the skipper, on 13, drove loosely at a wide ball from Pattinson and nicked a catch through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. The Australians joyously celebrated the wicket of Cook but the situation was tailor-made for the phlegmatic Jonathan Trott. He greeted Siddle to the attack with successive fours and also dispatched debutant spinner Ashton Agar's first ball in test cricket to the extra cover boundary. Root struck six neat fours in a patient 30 but he was deceived by the first ball of Siddle's second spell, a rapid full-length yorker which crashed into his stumps. England took lunch on 98 for two but Kevin Pietersen nibbled at a Siddle outswinger and was caught by Clarke at second slip for 14. Trott struck eight sweetly-timed fours and was two runs short of his fifty when he carelessly dragged a wide Siddle delivery on to his stumps to leave England in trouble at 124 for four. — Reuters Scoreboard Australia
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Use ‘India’ only if BCCI comes under RTI: Draft Bill
New Delhi, July 10 The committee headed by Justice (Retd) Mukul Mudgal today submitted the Draft National Sports Developmemt Bill to the ministry. Clause (h) of the proposed Bill pertains to use of country name in sporting activities. It states: "In order to represent India in international events and to have a right for a particular sport federation to use 'India' or 'Indian' in the sport scenario, the federation shall have to comply with Chapter IV (Unethical practices in Sports) and Chapter IX (Applicability of Right to Information Act)." The BCCI is not a registered National Sports Federation as it does not take government grant and thus cannot be brought under RTI but if the Bill is finally passed by the Parliament, then MS Dhoni and Co. can't officially represent 'India' at international tournaments. — PTI
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Mudgal Committee recommends giving more say to athletes
New Delhi, July 10 The committee includes Abhinav Bindra, Viren Rasquinha and many sports administrators and legal experts. It has supported the contentious clause that an office-bearer of a sports association must retire at the age of 70, though the president of an National Sports Federation (NSF) or IOA shall be eligible to hold office for 12 years or three terms of fours years each with or without break. But those who have served on the executive body of an NSF/IOA for two consecutive terms will not be eligible to contest elections for another term. And one can be eligible to hold office in only one NSF. An Athletes' Commission has been proposed to be set up in each NSF/IOA for advising the each body on the development of the sport, training, schedules, athletes' grievances, selection, etc. The idea is to give a big say to athletes in the running of sports. The total strength of the athletes in the executive body will not be less than 25 per cent of the voting rights, and the representation of either gender should be not less than 10 per cent of the membership in the general body. No official against whom cases have been framed under the Criminal Procedure Code shall be eligible to contest elections to the IOC/NSFs. A two-fold system for the functioning of the NSFs has been suggested — recognition and accreditation. An Ethics Commission and an Appellate Sports Tribunal have also been proposed to be established. Other salient features in the draft Bill include, duties be imposed on the NOC in consonance with the Olympic Charter, responsibility for bidding for international multi-sports events, in-house mechanism to address grievances, conduct National Games at regular intervals, constitute Athletes' Commission and function as a public authority under the RTI and submission of report to Parliament.
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Kaushik appointed men’s coach
New Delhi, July 10 Kaushik said he was happy with his appointment as a coach of the men’s senior team “as I have the experience of working with different people from the coaching fraternity and will give it my best”. Kaushik’s appointment comes in the wake of the Sports Authority of India terminating the contract of Michael Nobbs at the recommendation of HI, as the Australian coach had failed to live up to the expectations and requirements of the Indian team as the chief coach, despite drawing a hefty salary of Rs 5 lakh per month. Hockey India Secretary-general Narinder Batra, welcoming Kaushik’s appointment, said Kaushik had the “desired credentials” to work with the senior men team. “I am hopeful that with his contribution, the team will make improvement in the coming days and wish the team good luck to win the 9th Asia Cup and book their berth for the FIH World Cup 2014”, Batra added. Kaushik, who recently retired from the Haryana Government as deputy director of sports, will join the men’s training camp for the Asia Cup, starting on July 16, at the SAI Centre in Bangalore. The 9th Asia Cup, to be held in Malaysia from August 24 to September 1, will be India’s last chance to qualify for the 2014 FIH World Cup. Kaushik, member of India’s Olympic gold medal winning team at the 1980 Moscow Games, is a former chief coach of the men’s and women’s national teams. Under him, the Indian men, led by Dhanraj Pillai, won the 1998 Asian Games gold at Bangkok, and the Indian women won the bronze medal at the Doha Asian Games in 2006.
. ..but Ric feels Indian coaches not good enough
New Delhi, July 10 “I think India needs a foreign expert. I can say it from my experience that Indian coaches are not good enough to fulfil the requirements of modern hockey,” Charlesworth said. Charlesworth said he was surprised by India’s decision to select Michael Nobbs over Roelant Oltmans for the chief coach’s post. “There are many questions. Firstly, if I was given a choice between Oltmans and Nobbs, I would have chosen Oltmans who is more experienced.” “Why did they choose Nobbs then? And if he was made the coach, he should have been given the support he needed,” said Charlesworth, who is presently the coach of Australian team. Charlesworth also feels that a good structure and long-term planning is the need of the hour for Indian hockey, which is struggling to regain its glorious past. “I think it is not easy to work without support. What Indian hockey needs at the moment is a good structure. They must have long-term plans. India must provide whatever support a coach needs, and the expectations should also be realistic.” “I will suggest that whoever becomes the new coach should be allowed to complete his term and must be given the support he needs,” he said. Asked about his experience with Indian hockey, he said things are much better now. “Nobbs and Brasa did not face problems which I had to face during my tenure. They were in a much better position. I had no support and was expected to do miracles.” Charlesworth’s tumultuous association with Indian hockey lasted just 10 months in 2008 during the regime of KPS Gill-led erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation. Charlesworth feels India can win the upcoming eight-nation Asia Cup, which they need to do to qualify for next year’s World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands. “India has an experienced High Performance Manager in Oltmans. They can put things together and win the Asia Cup,” he said. — PTI
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Port of Spain, July 10
