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Middle order shows revival signs
A very difficult challenge lies ahead: Rohit
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No spot for top wicket-taker in RoI squad
Chandigarh, February 3 Rishi Dhawan must be wondering what else he could have done to find a place in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy? The Himachal all-rounder picked up 49 wickets from just eight games to finish as the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy.
Anand beats Gelfand
Thorpe admitted to rehab for depression
Joshna wins Winter Club title in Canada
Ministry issues norms for Khel
Ratna, Dronacharya
Pargat appointed Surjit Hockey Society chief for better working
Punjab Police progress; JCT academy out
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Middle order shows revival signs
Whangarei, February 3 India batted out the second day, finishing at 313/7 declared in 93 overs, with Rahane (60) and Rohit (59) getting some much-needed runs ahead of the two-Test series against New Zealand starting February 6 in Auckland. This was in reply to the hosts' score of 262 for nine declared on the first day. The Indian batting started from their overnight score of 41/0, with openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay looking to bat for time. But they couldn't stay at the wicket for a long duration, as both fell early in the first hour of play. Vijay was the first to go, bowled in the second over of the day, without adding to his overnight score of 19. Dhawan needed to spend more time in the middle after his repetitive failures in the ODI series but going for a third run, a misunderstanding with non-striker Cheteshwar Pujara meant that he was run out. He scored 26 runs, off 68 balls, with four fours. New Zealand XI skipper Anton Devcich described Pujara as “the toughest Indian batsman to bowl to”, and it certainly looked so while he batted for an hour and half, scoring 33 runs (66 balls, four fours) before he was trapped LBW by Roald Badenhorst (1-38). It brought together Rohit and Rahane at the crease, and the duo didn't face much trouble as the pitch eased out under the bright sun. They added 99 runs on either side of lunch. Post-break, Rohit brought up his half-century off 83 balls, with seven hits to the fence. Brief scores: New Zealand XI 262 for 9 dec (O'Donnell 80, Pandey 3-42) drew with Indians 313 for 7 (Rohit 59, Rahane 60).
— PTI |
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A very difficult challenge lies ahead: Rohit
“We got what we wanted from this practice game. All the batsmen got in and made some runs which is a good sign before a Test series. I am happy with how things went in the last two days,” said
Rohit. Rohit had words of praise for young Pandey. “Pandey bowled really well. Given the conditions, he stuck to his plans and he got rewarded with three wickets. All the other three fast bowlers also did well,” said
Rohit. Rohit said it was important to rotate all his bowlers unlike the New Zealand XI, who gave their bowlers longer spells. “We had to rotate the bowlers, and we had to see all of them got a chance to bowl. Everyone got what they needed to get out of this game. We are looking good and raring to go for the Test series,” he added. Rohit defended a poor show by Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay, who failed to convert their starts. “I won't say it is disappointing that they didn't bat longer. They had a decent outing in the middle. I am sure it is a matter of one good innings and things will change quickly. That is what I feel and I am sure those guys also feel the same,” said the stand-in skipper. The Indian team now leaves for Auckland on Tuesday and then they have a short turn-around of only one day before the first Test begins in Eden Park on February 6. “It is really important that we get together and play as a team. We have to do well in partnerships, whether it is bowling or batting. If we bat first, we have got to post big totals. If we field first, we got to take early wickets.” The talented right-hander is ready to put behind the disappointment of a disastrous ODI series and focus on upcoming challenge. “Everyone knows what is in front of us. The two Tests will be really challenging. New Zealand are playing some good cricket. We have to be at our best to beat them. I am sure everyone is ready to take the field,” he signed off.
— PTI |
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No spot for top wicket-taker in RoI squad
Throw into equation the 435 runs he scored, averaging impressive 40, and he emerges as one of the best all-rounders in the country. Yet, the selectors couldn't find a spot for this young all-rounder in the Irani Trophy. And given that players are picked for this tournament primarily on the basis of their performances in the Ranji Trophy makes his case even more curious. As much as one would want some explanation, if there could be any at all, for this bizarre decision, there's not a word from the people concerned. Vikram Rathour, the selector from the North Zone, cut short any question in this regard, citing the contract with the BCCI that disallows him from talking about selection matters. And such is the fear of the BCCI that even those who are outraged with the decision talk from behind the shield of anonymity. “This absolutely makes no sense. If they can't find a spot for the highest wicket-taker, they should just stop the Ranji Trophy and selectors could pick whoever they want to,” said a HPCA official. So with no explanation forthcoming, one could only make conjectures about the possible reasons. One justified reason could have been an injury to the bowler, but the people in the know of things claim he was fit and available for selection. Does the fact that Himachal was placed in group C, comprising weaker teams, made the selectors ignore his performance? That argument, too, doesn't hold much water, for Dhawan couldn't have chosen his opponents. And only a chance against the stronger opposition could have provided the answer about his real worth. All said and done, Dhawan deserved to be in the Rest of India squad. And the selectors, at the very least, owe an explanation to the youngster. Rest of India squad : Harbhajan Singh (Captain), Jiwanjot Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Baba Aparajith, Kedar Jadhav, Ankit Bawne, Dinesh Kartik, Amit Mishra, Pankaj Singh, Ashoke Dinda, Varun Aaron, Parveez Rasool, Anureet Singh, Natraj Behera, Mandeep Singh. |
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Let’s shift the focus away from Leander and Mahesh now: Somdev
Indore, February 3 Excerpts: Q: The best thing in this tie was team camaraderie. Isn't it good to not have groups in the Indian Davis Cup team. Leander or Mahesh not being there? Ans: Let's not focus on Leander and Mahesh. Let's focus on the youngsters. Jeevan asked 15 times during and before and after my match what I need. And he knows I will do the same when he will play. So we are all here helping out each other. I think the focus should not be there on Leander or Mahesh. The focus should be on the group of guys who are here. The focus should be on the new captain. Because this is the future. We appreciate everything they have given us but now we need to move on. Mahesh has said he is done this year. Leander unfortunately is not available for national duty this year but we will just go ahead. No matter, who is there or not there. We will try to make the best of whatever we have. Q: Your game has always been of retrieving the ball and wearing out the opponent in long rallies. But there has been this criticism that you play defensive and it does not work against somebody who is going broke. How willing you are to tweak your game for better results? Ans: Sport in general works a lot on momentum. When things are not going well for you, everything goes against you and when things are going for you, everything looks great. Tennis is a long season and a long career as well. It is important not to be discouraged, not to be disheartened by what's going on. I feel, I have got to where I have got because of my self-belief. Sometimes when there is lack of self-belief, then little things, like you said defence not working, come but when there is self-belief suddenly those things turn around really fast and you ask a different set of questions. In my experience, all it takes is a few matches for anything to swing things either way in terms of results. So, I am more focussed on staying healthy and playing my game. Q: So you are convinced that you don't need to bring that element of attack in your game? Ans: There has to be a constant wish for improvement. No matter how far I am in my career, I will always tell you one of the things I need to do is improve myself. That I need to be more aggressive on my returns, that I need to come in more and put volleys away. But at the same time I cannot take away the whole identity of myself and my game. There will be a few points here and there, maybe 10 points in a match, that change. But for the majority of a match, 150 points that I play, will have to be played my way. Q: Is it really difficult to change the mindset? Ans:
It is extremely difficult. Yes, mentally it is the toughest thing to do for a player, to change the way they play. For a guy like Virender Sehwag to change his mindset and play like Rahul Dravid or vice versa, it is really tough. For a guy like Roger Federer to start playing more defensively. I think, any person who is good at his sport, to some extent, is stubborn.
— PTI |
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Anand beats Gelfand
Zurich, February 3 Playing black, Anand held a slight advantage even as Caruana was required to hurry to order to meet the stipulation of making 40 moves in two hours. Anand, who had established a ‘passed’ pawn on the kingside, was looking to break Caruana’s defence around white, vulnerable un-castled king. But soon the players agreed to draw the game following repetition of moves. At the adjacent table, an upbeat Hikaru Nakamura was close to landing a rare knockout punch on Magnus Carlsen but faltered on the 37th and 39th moves. Thereafter, Nakamura blundered again with his queen-move on the 40th turn. Eventually, Carlsen emerged as the leader following a miraculous triumph in 61 moves. The results (third round): Fabiano Caruana (Ita, 1.5) drew with Viswanathan Anand (0.5); Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 1.5) lost to Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 2.5); Levon Aronian (Arm, 2) drew with Boris Gelfand (Isr, 1); Fourth round pairings: Anand-Gelfand; Carlsen-Caruana; Aronian-Nakamura.
— PTI |
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Thorpe admitted to rehab for depression
“He is in rehab for depression,” Thorpe's manager James Erskine said, “The owner of the car called the police and the police came. “They realized it was Ian Thorpe. They realized he was disoriented.” The five-times Olympic champion, who made his Games debut in Sydney in 2000, retired in 2006 citing waning motivation and made a comeback early in 2011 but failed to make the Australian team for London. Erskine said Thorpe was taking anti-depressants and medication for a shoulder injury but was not under the influence of alcohol.
— Reuters |
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Joshna wins Winter Club title in Canada
Winnipeg, February 3 Leading 2-1, the fourth seeded Joshna lost the fourth game and had to save three match balls in the fifth as she clawed her way from 7-10 to win the decider and title 12-10. En route final, World No. 20 Joshna defeated Misaki Kobayashi (Japan) 3-1 in the semi-finals, Siyoli Waters (South Africa) 3-0 in the quarterfinals and Jaycee Seagrud (Canada) 3-0 in her first round match. India's top ranked player, Dipika Pallikal, the World No.12, this time chose to play at the $50,000 WSA Cleveland Classic.
— PTI |
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Ministry issues norms for Khel Ratna, Dronacharya New Delhi, February 3 The Ministry said in a release that the weightage will be given by the selection committee for assessment of the eligible sportsperson/coach, keeping in view the factors like profile and standard of sports event in which the medal has been won. The Ministry also issued guidelines on awarding coaches under whom the medal-winning sportspersons trained. “Marking criteria will not apply for the two awards to be given for lifetime contribution in coaching.” — PTI
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Ronaldo sees red in draw
Madrid, February 3 Real are level with Barcelona, who suffered a shock defeat at home to Valencia on Saturday, and three behind Atletico. After a difficult opening 45 minutes, Jese Rodriguez looked to have Real on the road to their 11th consecutive victory when he prodded home Ronaldo's cross 25 minutes from time. However, after Ibai Gomez had spectacularly equalised, Ronaldo was shown a soft red card for lashing out at Carlos Gurpegi.
— Reuters |
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Pargat appointed Surjit Hockey Society chief for better working
Jalandhar, February 3 “He has been a member for many years now; but now he has been appointed the president to help the society run in a much more organized and professional way,” said Roojam. Recently, The Tribune had exposed that while conducting the Surjit Hockey Tournament, most of the transactions were done in cash. The society, in a reply to an RTI query, had also accepted to have burnt the cash transaction records of the last 20 years. “The Surjit Hockey Tournament is one of the most coveted tournaments in the country and it is our duty to run it in the most professional way. We have also planned to improve the functioning of the Surjit Hockey Academy,” added
Roojam. |
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Punjab Police progress; JCT academy out
Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur), February 3 In another match, United Punjab Football Club, Mahilpur, beat JCT academy (A) 3-1 in a shootout after the hard-fought match ended goalless. In another penalty shootout, Dalvir Academy, Patiala, beat Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, 5-4. In a one-sided match, Doaba Sporting Club beat JK Forests 4-0. |
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Whangarei,
February 3
Chandigarh, February 3
Bankstown, February 3
