TIGERS HAD WON THE MATCH WITH SUCH EASE.
TAS HAS CHASED 189 IN 18.4 OVERS COURTESY TO SOME BIG INDIVISUAL PERFORMANCE BY THE PLAYERS.
DIGHTON 23(11)
LOCKYEAR 24(20)
DANEANDERSAN 31(20)
TRAVISBIRT 27(13)
MARKDIVIN 07(10)
BAILEY 51*(29)
TAS HAS WON THE MATCH BY 5 WICKETS.
FALL OF WICKETS
47/1 54/2 103/3 118/4 154/5
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
WI VS RSA DAY-4
WI ARE 359 RUNS AHED AT THE START OF DAY-4
IT PROMISING TO ENTHROLING DAY OF TEST CRICKET.
CAN SA. WILL RISTRIC WI UNDER 400 RUNS? CAN THEY CHASE THE TARGET?
SA WILL ABLE TO RISTRIC WI UNDER 400 BUT THE QUESTION IS CAN THEY CHHASE
SA IS NOT ABLE TO HANDEL THE PRESSURE OF WI QUICKS THEY WERE FAILED TO CHASE. THEY WERE LOST BY 128 RUNS
IT IS WI FIRST WIN IN SOUTHAFRICAN SOIL.
WI IS WIN THE TEST MATCH AFTER 20 LOESES.
MARVAN SAMULES IS THE MAN OF THE MATCH
WI ARE 359 RUNS AHED AT THE START OF DAY-4
IT PROMISING TO ENTHROLING DAY OF TEST CRICKET.
CAN SA. WILL RISTRIC WI UNDER 400 RUNS? CAN THEY CHASE THE TARGET?
SA WILL ABLE TO RISTRIC WI UNDER 400 BUT THE QUESTION IS CAN THEY CHHASE
SA IS NOT ABLE TO HANDEL THE PRESSURE OF WI QUICKS THEY WERE FAILED TO CHASE. THEY WERE LOST BY 128 RUNS
IT IS WI FIRST WIN IN SOUTHAFRICAN SOIL.
WI IS WIN THE TEST MATCH AFTER 20 LOESES.
MARVAN SAMULES IS THE MAN OF THE MATCH
Saturday, December 29, 2007
INDIA VS AUSTRALIA DAY-4
INDIA HAS TO PLAY WELL TO SAVE THE TEST MATCH
INDIA HAS TWO PLAY 180 MORE OVERS TO COME OUT OF THE JAIL.
AS WE KNOW THAT AUSTRALIA IS HARD TO BEAT ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD
AUSTRALIA HAS JUST CRUSH THE INDIAN WITH SUPERIOR AUTHORITY
AUSTRALIA WIN THIS MATCH WITH 337 RUNS.
AUSTRALIA LEAD THE SERIES 1-0 IN BOXING TEST.
AUSTRALIA WIN 15 CONSEQUTIVE WIN AND 9 CONSEQUTIVE WIN AT MELBOURN.
INDIA HAS TO PLAY WELL TO SAVE THE TEST MATCH
INDIA HAS TWO PLAY 180 MORE OVERS TO COME OUT OF THE JAIL.
AS WE KNOW THAT AUSTRALIA IS HARD TO BEAT ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD
AUSTRALIA HAS JUST CRUSH THE INDIAN WITH SUPERIOR AUTHORITY
AUSTRALIA WIN THIS MATCH WITH 337 RUNS.
AUSTRALIA LEAD THE SERIES 1-0 IN BOXING TEST.
AUSTRALIA WIN 15 CONSEQUTIVE WIN AND 9 CONSEQUTIVE WIN AT MELBOURN.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
DISAPPOINTED DAY FOR INDIAN CRICKET
IN THE END OF THE FIRST DAY AUS. WERE 337/9 AUS. JUST ADDED 6 TO THEIR TOTAL.
ZAHEER KHAN HAD TAKEN THE WICKET STUART CLARK HE HAD PICKED FOUR WICKETS
ANIL KUMBLE HAS TAKEN 5 WICKET
INDIA HAD DONE MARVALLOUSY WELL TO RISTRICT AUS. UNDER 350.
INDIA DID NOT PLAY TO THEIR POTENTIAL THEY DID NOT PUT A GOOD SHOW WITH THE BAT INDIA WERE ALL-OUT ON 196 COURTESY TO SACHIN TENDULKAR.
AUSTRALIAN QUICKS HAD DONE REMARKEBLY WELL TO RISTRIC INDIA TO A SMALLER TOTAL.
AT THE END OF THE SECOND DAY AUSTRALIA WERE 32/0 IN 8 OVERS AUSTRAILIA HAD GOT THE LEAD OF 179/0
HUGE TASK FOR INDIA TO RISTRIC AUSTRALIA INDIA WILL HAVE TO PLAY OUTSTANDINGLY WELL TO SAVE THE TEST MATCH.
IN THE END OF THE FIRST DAY AUS. WERE 337/9 AUS. JUST ADDED 6 TO THEIR TOTAL.
ZAHEER KHAN HAD TAKEN THE WICKET STUART CLARK HE HAD PICKED FOUR WICKETS
ANIL KUMBLE HAS TAKEN 5 WICKET
INDIA HAD DONE MARVALLOUSY WELL TO RISTRICT AUS. UNDER 350.
INDIA DID NOT PLAY TO THEIR POTENTIAL THEY DID NOT PUT A GOOD SHOW WITH THE BAT INDIA WERE ALL-OUT ON 196 COURTESY TO SACHIN TENDULKAR.
AUSTRALIAN QUICKS HAD DONE REMARKEBLY WELL TO RISTRIC INDIA TO A SMALLER TOTAL.
AT THE END OF THE SECOND DAY AUSTRALIA WERE 32/0 IN 8 OVERS AUSTRAILIA HAD GOT THE LEAD OF 179/0
HUGE TASK FOR INDIA TO RISTRIC AUSTRALIA INDIA WILL HAVE TO PLAY OUTSTANDINGLY WELL TO SAVE THE TEST MATCH.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
S.A HAS WON THE LAST 4 TEST MATCH SERIES
SMITH IS THE SECOND SUCCESSIVE CAPTAIN AFTER HANSIE CRONIE.
SMITH IS THE YOUNGEST CAPTAIN HE BECAME THE CAPTAIN AT THE AGE OF 22. HE IS PLAYING HIS 50TH TEST SPECIAL OCCASION FOR SMITH.
UMPIRE ON THE FIRST TEST BETWEEN S.A VS WI
ALLEM DAR (PAK.)
RUSSEL TIFIN (ZIM.)
WESTINDIES HAS STARTED THEIR INNINGS WITH DAREL GANGA AND CHRIS GAYLE (CAP.)
D.GANGA
MATCH INNINGS RUNS 50 100 BEST
9 16 216 1 0 60
WESTINDIES 100 RUNS COME WITH THE DELIGHTFUL COVERDRIVE SCORED BY CHRIS GAYLE.
THE NEXT BALL AFTER THIS CHRIS GAYLE WAS OUT. HE WAS OUT ON 66(49)
CHRIS GAYLE IS THE 33RD CAPTAIN OF WESTINDIES
FALL OF WICKETS
98/1
102/2
AT LUNCH WESTINDIES ARE 130/2 IN 30 OVERS
SMITH IS THE SECOND SUCCESSIVE CAPTAIN AFTER HANSIE CRONIE.
SMITH IS THE YOUNGEST CAPTAIN HE BECAME THE CAPTAIN AT THE AGE OF 22. HE IS PLAYING HIS 50TH TEST SPECIAL OCCASION FOR SMITH.
UMPIRE ON THE FIRST TEST BETWEEN S.A VS WI
ALLEM DAR (PAK.)
RUSSEL TIFIN (ZIM.)
WESTINDIES HAS STARTED THEIR INNINGS WITH DAREL GANGA AND CHRIS GAYLE (CAP.)
D.GANGA
MATCH INNINGS RUNS 50 100 BEST
9 16 216 1 0 60
WESTINDIES 100 RUNS COME WITH THE DELIGHTFUL COVERDRIVE SCORED BY CHRIS GAYLE.
THE NEXT BALL AFTER THIS CHRIS GAYLE WAS OUT. HE WAS OUT ON 66(49)
CHRIS GAYLE IS THE 33RD CAPTAIN OF WESTINDIES
FALL OF WICKETS
98/1
102/2
AT LUNCH WESTINDIES ARE 130/2 IN 30 OVERS
MIRACLE FROM THE INDIAN'S BOWLERS AND SPECTACULOUR DAY FOR INDIAN TEAM
RAHUL DRAVID HAS TAKEN 159 CATCHES IN HIS CAREER. HE DID NOT GET THE CREDIT WHICH HE DESERVE.
AUSTRALIA IS 337/9 AT THE END OF THE DAY.
COURTESY TO MATTHEW HAYDEN WHO HAS SCORED 124(183) AND
PHIL JAQUES HAS SCORED 66(108)
MATTHEW HAYDEN HAS SCORED HIS 28TH CENTURY FIRST IN 2007
THE FIRST WICKET PATNERSHIP WAS 135 WHERE ANIL KUMBLE HAS TAKEN A WICKET OF JAQUES AFTER THAT THE MIRACLE OF THE INDIAN BOWLERS COME
THE AUSTRALIAN ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE PATNERSHIP GOING
SPERHEAD OF THE INDIAN BOWLINGS IS ANIL KUMBLE
HE HAS TAKEN 5 WICKETS IN THIS MATCH 25-4-84-5
ANIL KUMBLE HAS TAKEN 5WICKETS 35TH TIME IN HIS CAREER AND 10TH AGAINST AUSTRALIA.
ZAHEER KHAN HAS TAKEN 3 WICKETS IN 22-1-93-3
FAW:
135/1 162/2 165/3 225/4 241/5 281/6 288/7 294/8 312/9
RAHUL DRAVID HAS TAKEN 159 CATCHES IN HIS CAREER. HE DID NOT GET THE CREDIT WHICH HE DESERVE.
AUSTRALIA IS 337/9 AT THE END OF THE DAY.
COURTESY TO MATTHEW HAYDEN WHO HAS SCORED 124(183) AND
PHIL JAQUES HAS SCORED 66(108)
MATTHEW HAYDEN HAS SCORED HIS 28TH CENTURY FIRST IN 2007
THE FIRST WICKET PATNERSHIP WAS 135 WHERE ANIL KUMBLE HAS TAKEN A WICKET OF JAQUES AFTER THAT THE MIRACLE OF THE INDIAN BOWLERS COME
THE AUSTRALIAN ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE PATNERSHIP GOING
SPERHEAD OF THE INDIAN BOWLINGS IS ANIL KUMBLE
HE HAS TAKEN 5 WICKETS IN THIS MATCH 25-4-84-5
ANIL KUMBLE HAS TAKEN 5WICKETS 35TH TIME IN HIS CAREER AND 10TH AGAINST AUSTRALIA.
ZAHEER KHAN HAS TAKEN 3 WICKETS IN 22-1-93-3
FAW:
135/1 162/2 165/3 225/4 241/5 281/6 288/7 294/8 312/9
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
NEAREST TO THE GLORY MOMENTS
ADAM GILCHRIST NEEDS 4 MORE CATCHES TO EQUAL THE HIGHEST CATCHERS AND IT IS 395 AT THIS TIME.
SOURAV GANGULY WILL PLAY HIS 100TH TEST MATCH IN MELBOURN
AUSTRALIA WILL ALSO PLAY THE 100TH TEST ON THAT GROUND
100 TEST MATCH WILL ALSO PLAY ON MELBOURN GROUND
SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF MATCHES PLAY IN THAT GROUND HIGHEST PARTICULAR MATCHES IS 114 ON LORD'S GROUND
S,TENDULKAR NEED 141 RUNS TO REACH 2000 RUNS AGAINST AUS.
SUNIL GAVASKAR IS THE ONLY PLAYER WHO HAD COMPLETED 2000 RUNS AGAINST WEST-INDIES
HARBHAJAN NEEDS 8 MORE WICKETS TO GET 250 WICKETS IN TEST CAREER.
KUMBLE IS 8 WICKET AWAY TO GET 50 WICKETS IN 2007
BRET LEE NEEDS 3 WICKET TO REACH 250 WICKETS IN HIS CAREER.
ADAM GILCHRIST NEEDS 4 MORE CATCHES TO EQUAL THE HIGHEST CATCHERS AND IT IS 395 AT THIS TIME.
SOURAV GANGULY WILL PLAY HIS 100TH TEST MATCH IN MELBOURN
AUSTRALIA WILL ALSO PLAY THE 100TH TEST ON THAT GROUND
100 TEST MATCH WILL ALSO PLAY ON MELBOURN GROUND
SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF MATCHES PLAY IN THAT GROUND HIGHEST PARTICULAR MATCHES IS 114 ON LORD'S GROUND
S,TENDULKAR NEED 141 RUNS TO REACH 2000 RUNS AGAINST AUS.
SUNIL GAVASKAR IS THE ONLY PLAYER WHO HAD COMPLETED 2000 RUNS AGAINST WEST-INDIES
HARBHAJAN NEEDS 8 MORE WICKETS TO GET 250 WICKETS IN TEST CAREER.
KUMBLE IS 8 WICKET AWAY TO GET 50 WICKETS IN 2007
BRET LEE NEEDS 3 WICKET TO REACH 250 WICKETS IN HIS CAREER.
Monday, December 24, 2007
SPECTACULOUS AND MARVELLOUS TOP SIX OF AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA IS A NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF MARVELLOUS TOP SIX. ALL ARE DIFFERANCE BUT WITH GOOD CRICKETING MIND. THEY ALL ARE VERY AGRESSIVE .
1.ADAM GILCHRIST:ADAM GILCHRIST IS ONE OF THE DANGEROUS PLAYER IN THE CRICKET HISTORY.HE CAN WIN THE MATCH SINGLEHANDELY.HE KNOES ONLY ONE THING OF PLAYING CRICKET AND IT IS DEMORALIZING FOR OPPOSITION.HE ALMOST DEPEND ON THE TIMING.
2.MATHEW HAYDEN:HE IS MORE OF A POWER PLAYER IN THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM HE IS PLAYING UNCONVENTIONAL PLAYER. HE IS ALSO A MATCH WINNING PLAYER.
3.RICKYPONTING:HE IS A PLATER WITH ALL CLASS. HE CAN ADEPT ANY SITUATION THAT IS THE REASON HE HAS NEVER LOST A GAME IN LAST TWO WORLD-CUP.HE IS BECOME STRONGER INDIVISUAL AT THIS POINT OF A CAREER.
4.ANDREW SYMONDS:HE IS A PLAYER WITH ALL CLASS TIMING AND POWERHITTING WITH GOOD CRICKETING BRAIN.
5.MICHLE CLARK:HE IS A PLAYER WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO ANCHOR THE INNINGS ALL TO GATHER.
6.MJICHLE HUSSY: HE IS A MAN WITH THE MOST HIGHEST AVG. IN CRICKET HE IS FINISHER HE HAS WON MOST OF THE MATCHES SINGLEHANDEDLY.HE HAS ALSO GOOD CRICKETING MIND.
SIMILARITY IN TOP SIX
ALL ARE GOOD PLAYERS GOOD POSITIVE PLAYERS
THREE ARE RIGHT HANDED AND THREE ARE LEFT HANDED.
ALL ARE GOOD CRICKETING BRAIN THAT'S WHY THEY ARE SO SUCCESSFUL AT HIGHEST LEVEL.
AUSTRALIA IS A NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF MARVELLOUS TOP SIX. ALL ARE DIFFERANCE BUT WITH GOOD CRICKETING MIND. THEY ALL ARE VERY AGRESSIVE .
1.ADAM GILCHRIST:ADAM GILCHRIST IS ONE OF THE DANGEROUS PLAYER IN THE CRICKET HISTORY.HE CAN WIN THE MATCH SINGLEHANDELY.HE KNOES ONLY ONE THING OF PLAYING CRICKET AND IT IS DEMORALIZING FOR OPPOSITION.HE ALMOST DEPEND ON THE TIMING.
2.MATHEW HAYDEN:HE IS MORE OF A POWER PLAYER IN THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM HE IS PLAYING UNCONVENTIONAL PLAYER. HE IS ALSO A MATCH WINNING PLAYER.
3.RICKYPONTING:HE IS A PLATER WITH ALL CLASS. HE CAN ADEPT ANY SITUATION THAT IS THE REASON HE HAS NEVER LOST A GAME IN LAST TWO WORLD-CUP.HE IS BECOME STRONGER INDIVISUAL AT THIS POINT OF A CAREER.
4.ANDREW SYMONDS:HE IS A PLAYER WITH ALL CLASS TIMING AND POWERHITTING WITH GOOD CRICKETING BRAIN.
5.MICHLE CLARK:HE IS A PLAYER WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO ANCHOR THE INNINGS ALL TO GATHER.
6.MJICHLE HUSSY: HE IS A MAN WITH THE MOST HIGHEST AVG. IN CRICKET HE IS FINISHER HE HAS WON MOST OF THE MATCHES SINGLEHANDEDLY.HE HAS ALSO GOOD CRICKETING MIND.
SIMILARITY IN TOP SIX
ALL ARE GOOD PLAYERS GOOD POSITIVE PLAYERS
THREE ARE RIGHT HANDED AND THREE ARE LEFT HANDED.
ALL ARE GOOD CRICKETING BRAIN THAT'S WHY THEY ARE SO SUCCESSFUL AT HIGHEST LEVEL.
MASSIVE DIFFERANCE IN RICKYPONTING AND RAHULDRAVID
RICKYPONTING: RICKY PONTING IS IN A FORM OF HIS LIFE. HE HAD MENTIONED THAT HE LIKES THE LEADERSHIP OF THE AUSTRALIA. HE HAD MENTIONED THAT HE WAS A CAPTAIN HE HAS TO LOOK FOR HIS TEAM AND IF THE TEAM WINS THEN THERE WILL NO PROBLEM AT ALL IF YOU ARE NOT A CAPTAIN THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR YOUR INDIVUSAL PERFORMANCE. THAT IS THE REASON HIS AVG. INCREASE AFTER HIS LEADERSHIP. IT SUGGEST THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF THE PLAYER
RAHUL DRAVID:THE WALL OF INDIAN CRICKET PLAYER OF 2002 RAHUL DRAVID WAS NOT ABLE TO HANDEL THE PRESSURE. HE HAD MENTIONED THAT HE WANTS TO IMPROVE HIS OWN BATTING IN HIS CAPTAINSHIP.
INDIA HAD DONE REMARKEBELY WELL IN HIS LEADERSHIP ONLY QUESTION OF HIS OWN PERFORMANCE. AND HE HAD LEFT THE LEADERSHIP IT WAS REFLECTED AS A NEGATIVE STEPS.INDIANS ARE ALWAYS FAILED TO PERFORM IN CRITICAL SITUATION. DATE:24/12/07
RICKYPONTING: RICKY PONTING IS IN A FORM OF HIS LIFE. HE HAD MENTIONED THAT HE LIKES THE LEADERSHIP OF THE AUSTRALIA. HE HAD MENTIONED THAT HE WAS A CAPTAIN HE HAS TO LOOK FOR HIS TEAM AND IF THE TEAM WINS THEN THERE WILL NO PROBLEM AT ALL IF YOU ARE NOT A CAPTAIN THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR YOUR INDIVUSAL PERFORMANCE. THAT IS THE REASON HIS AVG. INCREASE AFTER HIS LEADERSHIP. IT SUGGEST THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF THE PLAYER
RAHUL DRAVID:THE WALL OF INDIAN CRICKET PLAYER OF 2002 RAHUL DRAVID WAS NOT ABLE TO HANDEL THE PRESSURE. HE HAD MENTIONED THAT HE WANTS TO IMPROVE HIS OWN BATTING IN HIS CAPTAINSHIP.
INDIA HAD DONE REMARKEBELY WELL IN HIS LEADERSHIP ONLY QUESTION OF HIS OWN PERFORMANCE. AND HE HAD LEFT THE LEADERSHIP IT WAS REFLECTED AS A NEGATIVE STEPS.INDIANS ARE ALWAYS FAILED TO PERFORM IN CRITICAL SITUATION. DATE:24/12/07
Sunday, December 23, 2007
FORD-RANGER CUP MATCH-21
MATCH BETWEEN QLD(BULLS) VS SA(REDBACKS)
QLD HAS SCORED 170 RUNS IN ALMOST 45 OVERS
WHICH IS ALWAYS A LESS SCORE AGAINST REDBACKS BECAUSE THEY HAD SCORED 329 IN THE PREVIOUS MATCHES SO LOOK LIKE REDBACKS WILL WIN THE MATCH THEY NEED 171 RUNS TO WIN THE MATCH IN ALLOTED 50 OVERS CAN THEY CHASE DOWN THAT TOTAL (REMAIN TO BE SEEN)
BULL HAS LOST THEIR WICKETS AT REGULAR INTERVALS.
FOW :58/1,61/2,61/3,63/4,67/5,144/6,159/7,159/8,170/9,170/10
MATCH BETWEEN QLD(BULLS) VS SA(REDBACKS)
QLD HAS SCORED 170 RUNS IN ALMOST 45 OVERS
WHICH IS ALWAYS A LESS SCORE AGAINST REDBACKS BECAUSE THEY HAD SCORED 329 IN THE PREVIOUS MATCHES SO LOOK LIKE REDBACKS WILL WIN THE MATCH THEY NEED 171 RUNS TO WIN THE MATCH IN ALLOTED 50 OVERS CAN THEY CHASE DOWN THAT TOTAL (REMAIN TO BE SEEN)
BULL HAS LOST THEIR WICKETS AT REGULAR INTERVALS.
FOW :58/1,61/2,61/3,63/4,67/5,144/6,159/7,159/8,170/9,170/10
Saturday, December 22, 2007
WETHER IS THE TRUMCARD FOR ENGLAND.
SRILANKA COULD NOT BOWLED OUT ENGLAND BECAUSE OF THE WETHER. IT IS THE MEDICINE THAT CURETHE ENGLAND PLAYER.
ENGLAND HASN'T LOST A WICKET AFTER LUNCH.ENGLAND IS 237/5 IN 85.5 OVERS INCLUDING 24 EXTRA.
A.COOK HAS SCORED MARVOLOUS CENTURY AND STILL UNBEATEN ON 107*(259)
MATT PRIOR IS UNBEATEN ON 18*(75).IF THE MATCH WILL NOT START THEN SRILANKA WILL WIN THE SERIES 1-0
MATCH SUMMARY
SRILANKA FIRST INNINGS 499/8 DEC.
ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS 81
ENGLAND SECOND INNINGS 237/5
A.COOK 107*
ENGLAND ARE TRAIL BY 181 RUNS.
SRILANKA COULD NOT BOWLED OUT ENGLAND BECAUSE OF THE WETHER. IT IS THE MEDICINE THAT CURETHE ENGLAND PLAYER.
ENGLAND HASN'T LOST A WICKET AFTER LUNCH.ENGLAND IS 237/5 IN 85.5 OVERS INCLUDING 24 EXTRA.
A.COOK HAS SCORED MARVOLOUS CENTURY AND STILL UNBEATEN ON 107*(259)
MATT PRIOR IS UNBEATEN ON 18*(75).IF THE MATCH WILL NOT START THEN SRILANKA WILL WIN THE SERIES 1-0
MATCH SUMMARY
SRILANKA FIRST INNINGS 499/8 DEC.
ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS 81
ENGLAND SECOND INNINGS 237/5
A.COOK 107*
ENGLAND ARE TRAIL BY 181 RUNS.
THE MOST EXCITING DAY OF CRICKET HISTORY AT GALLE
ENGLAND VS SRILANKA 5TH DAY OF TEST MATCH
ENGLAND WERE 102/1 AFTER END OF DAY-4
AT THE START OF DAY-5 ENGLAND WAS LOOK LIKE VERY DETERMINE. BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE SO DRASTICALLY THAT BEFORE 16 MINITUTE OF LUNCH ENGLAND HAD LOST ONLY ONE WICKET OF IAN BELL AT THAT TIME ENGLAND WERE 200/2. 16 MINUTE BEFORE LUNCH THE M.MURLIDHARAN HAD DELIVERED A MARATHONE OVER AND PICKED UP 3 WICKET IN THE OVER. FIRST WAS K.PIETERSAN SECOND WAS PAUL COLINGWOOD WITH A RIPPER AND THIRD WAS RAVI BOPARA.
ENGLAND WERE 202/5 STILL 2 SESSION TO NEGOSIATE.
THE ONLY BASTMAN WHO IS COMFORTABLE AT THE CREASE IS A.COOK WHO IS UN-BEATEN AT 96*
(219) HE WAS DROPPED BY P.JAYAWARDHANE ON 54 HE HAS TAKEN 33 CATCHES AND 10 STUMPING HE MIGHT HAVE DROPPED FIRST CATCH SINCE HIS DEBUE.
CAN HE BAT WHOLE DAY WITH MATT PRIOR (REMAIN TO BE SEEN)
SCORECARD
A. COOK 96*(213)
M.VAUGHAN 24(57)
I.BELL 34(67)
K.PIETERSAN 30(66)
P.COLLINGWOOD 0(2)
R.BOPARA 0(1)
ENGLAND WILL HAVE TO PLAY TWO MORE SESSION TO DEFEAT THE INVESTEC SERIES 1-0.
ENGLAND VS SRILANKA 5TH DAY OF TEST MATCH
ENGLAND WERE 102/1 AFTER END OF DAY-4
AT THE START OF DAY-5 ENGLAND WAS LOOK LIKE VERY DETERMINE. BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE SO DRASTICALLY THAT BEFORE 16 MINITUTE OF LUNCH ENGLAND HAD LOST ONLY ONE WICKET OF IAN BELL AT THAT TIME ENGLAND WERE 200/2. 16 MINUTE BEFORE LUNCH THE M.MURLIDHARAN HAD DELIVERED A MARATHONE OVER AND PICKED UP 3 WICKET IN THE OVER. FIRST WAS K.PIETERSAN SECOND WAS PAUL COLINGWOOD WITH A RIPPER AND THIRD WAS RAVI BOPARA.
ENGLAND WERE 202/5 STILL 2 SESSION TO NEGOSIATE.
THE ONLY BASTMAN WHO IS COMFORTABLE AT THE CREASE IS A.COOK WHO IS UN-BEATEN AT 96*
(219) HE WAS DROPPED BY P.JAYAWARDHANE ON 54 HE HAS TAKEN 33 CATCHES AND 10 STUMPING HE MIGHT HAVE DROPPED FIRST CATCH SINCE HIS DEBUE.
CAN HE BAT WHOLE DAY WITH MATT PRIOR (REMAIN TO BE SEEN)
SCORECARD
A. COOK 96*(213)
M.VAUGHAN 24(57)
I.BELL 34(67)
K.PIETERSAN 30(66)
P.COLLINGWOOD 0(2)
R.BOPARA 0(1)
ENGLAND WILL HAVE TO PLAY TWO MORE SESSION TO DEFEAT THE INVESTEC SERIES 1-0.
Friday, December 21, 2007
ENGLAND VS SRILANKA DAY-4 OF INVESTEC SERIES
ENGLAND WERE 2/0 IN THEIR SECOND INNINGS AND 415 RUNS BEHIND AT THE END OF DAY-3
ENGLAND HAS VERY GOOD SESSION TILL LUNCH AT DAY-4
ENGLAND IS 102/1 TILL LUNCH. LUNCH HAS TAKEN 8 MINITE EARLIER THEN A LOCAL TIME BECAUSE OF THE RAIN.
M.VAUGHAN WAS THE ONLY BASTMAN OUT IN THE SECOND INNINGS.
THE LEADING SCORER OF ENGLAND IN THIS SERIES IANBELL HAS ARRIVED AT THE CREASE. HE IS UNBEATEN ON 17*(35) ALONG WITH A.COOK. HE IS UNBEATEN ON 53*(117).
ENGLAND IS TRAIL BY 316 RUNS. PLAY WILL START AT 12:33 IF THE WETHER IS FINE ENOUGH TO PLAY.
ENGLAND
SCORECARD
A.COOK NOTOUT 53*(117)
M.VAUGHAN CT.M.JAYAWARDHANE C.WELEGADARA 24 (57)
I.BELL NOTOUT 17*(35)
EXTRA-8 OVERS 33.5 102/1
LEADING SCORER OF THE SERIES
NAME RUNS MATCHES
M.JAYAWARDHANE 474 3
K.SANGAKARA 291 3
I.BELL 245 3
M.VAUGHAN 215 3
M.VANDORT 213
ENGLAND WERE 2/0 IN THEIR SECOND INNINGS AND 415 RUNS BEHIND AT THE END OF DAY-3
ENGLAND HAS VERY GOOD SESSION TILL LUNCH AT DAY-4
ENGLAND IS 102/1 TILL LUNCH. LUNCH HAS TAKEN 8 MINITE EARLIER THEN A LOCAL TIME BECAUSE OF THE RAIN.
M.VAUGHAN WAS THE ONLY BASTMAN OUT IN THE SECOND INNINGS.
THE LEADING SCORER OF ENGLAND IN THIS SERIES IANBELL HAS ARRIVED AT THE CREASE. HE IS UNBEATEN ON 17*(35) ALONG WITH A.COOK. HE IS UNBEATEN ON 53*(117).
ENGLAND IS TRAIL BY 316 RUNS. PLAY WILL START AT 12:33 IF THE WETHER IS FINE ENOUGH TO PLAY.
ENGLAND
SCORECARD
A.COOK NOTOUT 53*(117)
M.VAUGHAN CT.M.JAYAWARDHANE C.WELEGADARA 24 (57)
I.BELL NOTOUT 17*(35)
EXTRA-8 OVERS 33.5 102/1
LEADING SCORER OF THE SERIES
NAME RUNS MATCHES
M.JAYAWARDHANE 474 3
K.SANGAKARA 291 3
I.BELL 245 3
M.VAUGHAN 215 3
M.VANDORT 213
Thursday, December 20, 2007
VICTORIA VS INDIA PRACTICE MATCH ON 20/12/2007
INDIA WAS 110/3 AT THE END OF DAY ONE.
RAHUL DRAVID HAD OPEN THE INNINGS WITH WASSIM JAFFAR. SO RAHULDRAVID MIGHT OPEN THE BATTING IN THE FIRST TEST.RAHUL DRAVID HAD MENTIONED THAT HE DID NOT BOTHER ABOUT OPENING THE BATTING HE WILL DO WHAT TEAM MANAGEMENT WANTS FROM HIM.
INDIA WAS 110/3 AT THE END OF DAY ONE.
RAHUL DRAVID HAD OPEN THE INNINGS WITH WASSIM JAFFAR. SO RAHULDRAVID MIGHT OPEN THE BATTING IN THE FIRST TEST.RAHUL DRAVID HAD MENTIONED THAT HE DID NOT BOTHER ABOUT OPENING THE BATTING HE WILL DO WHAT TEAM MANAGEMENT WANTS FROM HIM.
THE THIRD ODI BEATWEEN AUSTRALIA VS NEWZELAND IN CHAPPEL-HEADLY SERIES ON 20/12/2007
AUSTRALIA HAS SCORED 282 RUNS WITH THE HELP OF RICKY PONTING
NEWZELAND NEED 283 RUNS TO LEVEL THE SERIES.
NZ. WAS NOT ABLE TO CHASE A GOOD SCORE. IN THE END LOST BY HUGE MARGIN OF 114 AND WIN THE SERIES 2-0
RICKY PONTING WAS BOTH MAN OF THE MATCH AND SERIES
AUSTRALIA HAS SCORED 282 RUNS WITH THE HELP OF RICKY PONTING
NEWZELAND NEED 283 RUNS TO LEVEL THE SERIES.
NZ. WAS NOT ABLE TO CHASE A GOOD SCORE. IN THE END LOST BY HUGE MARGIN OF 114 AND WIN THE SERIES 2-0
RICKY PONTING WAS BOTH MAN OF THE MATCH AND SERIES
STRANGE AND SPICY ABOUT M.MURLIDHARAN
M.MURLIDHARAN IS A HIGHEST WICKET TAKERS IN TEST CRICKET THE SPECIAL ABOUT HIM IS HE NEVER MARK HIS RUNUP AT TIMES IF HE THINK THAT IT IS FINE ENOUGH FOR ME THEN HE STARTS BOWLING FROM THEIR
RECORD
MATCHES WICKET 5WI
118 720 62
IMPACABLE PLAYER FOR SRILANKAN CRICKET
M.MURLIDHARAN IS A HIGHEST WICKET TAKERS IN TEST CRICKET THE SPECIAL ABOUT HIM IS HE NEVER MARK HIS RUNUP AT TIMES IF HE THINK THAT IT IS FINE ENOUGH FOR ME THEN HE STARTS BOWLING FROM THEIR
RECORD
MATCHES WICKET 5WI
118 720 62
IMPACABLE PLAYER FOR SRILANKAN CRICKET
THE FANTABULOUS HISTORICAL DAY OF SRILANKAN CRICKET
AFTER LUNCH DRAMA IS CONTINUE ENGLAND HAD LOST 2 WICKETS TILL 2'O'CLOCK AT THAT TIME THE MATCH HAD STOPPED DUE TO WETHER ENGLAND WERE 41/6 AT THAT TIME AFTER SOME TIME THE MATCH WAS STARTED AND ENGLAND COULD NOT ABLE TO GET A PARTNERSHIOP GOING. ENGLAND WERE ALLOUT ON 81/10 IT WAS ENGLAND LOWEST TOTAL AGAINST SRILANKA
ENGLAND WILL NEED ABSOLUTE MIRACLE TO GET OUT OF THIS TERIBLE POSITION.
ENGLAND WILL RAPUP THE SERIES 2-0.
SRILANKA HAD APPLIED FOLLOW-ON TO THE ENGLAND. IN THE SECOND INNINGS ENGLAND WERE 2-0 OVER HAD BEEN DELIVERED BY M.MURLIDHARAN HE HAD OPEN THE BOWLING 5TH TIME IN HIS TEST CAREER.
ENGLAND WERE 415 RUNS BEHID AT THE END OF DAY-3.
THE STAND OUT PERFORMER IN THIS TEST MATCH
M.JAYAWARDHANE 213*(433)
C. VASS 90(133) AND ALSO TAKEN 4 WICKET 9-2-24-4
AFTER LUNCH DRAMA IS CONTINUE ENGLAND HAD LOST 2 WICKETS TILL 2'O'CLOCK AT THAT TIME THE MATCH HAD STOPPED DUE TO WETHER ENGLAND WERE 41/6 AT THAT TIME AFTER SOME TIME THE MATCH WAS STARTED AND ENGLAND COULD NOT ABLE TO GET A PARTNERSHIOP GOING. ENGLAND WERE ALLOUT ON 81/10 IT WAS ENGLAND LOWEST TOTAL AGAINST SRILANKA
ENGLAND WILL NEED ABSOLUTE MIRACLE TO GET OUT OF THIS TERIBLE POSITION.
ENGLAND WILL RAPUP THE SERIES 2-0.
SRILANKA HAD APPLIED FOLLOW-ON TO THE ENGLAND. IN THE SECOND INNINGS ENGLAND WERE 2-0 OVER HAD BEEN DELIVERED BY M.MURLIDHARAN HE HAD OPEN THE BOWLING 5TH TIME IN HIS TEST CAREER.
ENGLAND WERE 415 RUNS BEHID AT THE END OF DAY-3.
THE STAND OUT PERFORMER IN THIS TEST MATCH
M.JAYAWARDHANE 213*(433)
C. VASS 90(133) AND ALSO TAKEN 4 WICKET 9-2-24-4
THIRD DAY OF THE MATCH BEATWEEN SRILANKA VS ENGLAND
SRILANKA HAS SCORED 499/6 DECLARED 8 OVERS BEFORE LUNCH. WHAT A MARATHON PERFORMANCED BY LEFT ARM SWING BOWLER HE HAS TAKEN 2 WICKETS TILL LUNCH IAN BELL WAS RUNOUT AND LATISH MALINGA HAS DELIVERED A PERLER TO THE KEVIN PITERSEN. HE WAS CT.BEHIND WITH THE QUICK BOUNCER FOR MALINGA.
AT LUNCH ENGLAND IS 24/4 AT LUNCH.
SRILANKA HAS SCORED 499/6 DECLARED 8 OVERS BEFORE LUNCH. WHAT A MARATHON PERFORMANCED BY LEFT ARM SWING BOWLER HE HAS TAKEN 2 WICKETS TILL LUNCH IAN BELL WAS RUNOUT AND LATISH MALINGA HAS DELIVERED A PERLER TO THE KEVIN PITERSEN. HE WAS CT.BEHIND WITH THE QUICK BOUNCER FOR MALINGA.
AT LUNCH ENGLAND IS 24/4 AT LUNCH.
FASTER PANKAJSINGH BEGAN HIS RUN-UP IN BANGLORE SHOP.
BANGALORE, December 20: It was like a Twenty20 match for him daily - dividing his time between practising cricket in the morning and working in a sweetmeat shop in the evening.
If you had visited Bangalore in 2003-04, you would have probably seen rookie paceman Pankaj Singh supervising sales at Anand Sweets on the upmarket Commercial Street. You may not have spotted his cricketing talent then; but Anand Dadu, proprietor of the shop, certainly had. "He is a sweet boy, and he deserves a place in the Indian side," said Dadu, who supported the fast bowler, now in Australia hoping to make a mark on his maiden tour.
The 22-year-old's inspirational story would definitely elicit a 'howzzat'. Born in a poor family in a small UP village, Pankaj first came to Bangalore with the Mohammadan Sporting cricket team from Kolkata for the Brijesh Patel Cricket Academy (BPCA) tournament in 2003-04. At the end of the tourney, Munawar Ali, the Sporting manager, requested Dadu, one of the sponsors, to take care of him.
"He had no money or basic education. All he could do was to bowl fast. I employed him in our Commercial Street shop and rented a small room for him. The boy didn't have a pair of decent cricket shoes. I bought him kit before he played the BPCA matches," says Anand.
Despite the continuous struggle, a determined Pankaj stuck to his task - playing at BPCA and working in the shop for over six months - before the Patel, then secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, spotted him. He had Pankaj sent to the MRF Pace Foundation, Chennai, for a two-month stint.
After impressing TA Sekhar at the MRF camp, Pankaj was sent to Rajasthan, who were looking for new pacemen. There, Pankaj earned his Ranji cap. He became the leading wicket-taker in the domestic league - with 25 scalps - before the call for the Indian side came.
"After he was selected, Pankaj called and thanked me. 'I will never forget Anand Sweets and the time I worked and learnt the ropes in Bangalore,' he told me," says a beaming Anand.
BANGALORE, December 20: It was like a Twenty20 match for him daily - dividing his time between practising cricket in the morning and working in a sweetmeat shop in the evening.
If you had visited Bangalore in 2003-04, you would have probably seen rookie paceman Pankaj Singh supervising sales at Anand Sweets on the upmarket Commercial Street. You may not have spotted his cricketing talent then; but Anand Dadu, proprietor of the shop, certainly had. "He is a sweet boy, and he deserves a place in the Indian side," said Dadu, who supported the fast bowler, now in Australia hoping to make a mark on his maiden tour.
The 22-year-old's inspirational story would definitely elicit a 'howzzat'. Born in a poor family in a small UP village, Pankaj first came to Bangalore with the Mohammadan Sporting cricket team from Kolkata for the Brijesh Patel Cricket Academy (BPCA) tournament in 2003-04. At the end of the tourney, Munawar Ali, the Sporting manager, requested Dadu, one of the sponsors, to take care of him.
"He had no money or basic education. All he could do was to bowl fast. I employed him in our Commercial Street shop and rented a small room for him. The boy didn't have a pair of decent cricket shoes. I bought him kit before he played the BPCA matches," says Anand.
Despite the continuous struggle, a determined Pankaj stuck to his task - playing at BPCA and working in the shop for over six months - before the Patel, then secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, spotted him. He had Pankaj sent to the MRF Pace Foundation, Chennai, for a two-month stint.
After impressing TA Sekhar at the MRF camp, Pankaj was sent to Rajasthan, who were looking for new pacemen. There, Pankaj earned his Ranji cap. He became the leading wicket-taker in the domestic league - with 25 scalps - before the call for the Indian side came.
"After he was selected, Pankaj called and thanked me. 'I will never forget Anand Sweets and the time I worked and learnt the ropes in Bangalore,' he told me," says a beaming Anand.
NEWZWLAND ALL-ROUNDER JACOB-ORAM POSTPONES WEEDING TO PLAY IN IPL
AUCKLAND, December 20: New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has postponed his wedding to fiancée Mara to participate in the inaugural Indian Premier League next April.
The wedding was scheduled for late March but Oram said the US 200,000 dollar offer to play in a Twenty20 league in India in April was too good to pass up.
Oram let the cat out of the bag when he was asked whether there was any pressure from New Zealand Cricket not to sign with the IPL because April was supposedly a rest period for the all-rounder before the Black Caps tour England.
"The only pressure was for my wedding. "I've had to postpone it, it was a joint decision between us because the opportunity in India is so good," stuff.co.nz website quoted Oram, as saying.
Oram said he would withdraw from the IPL if his injury required rest before the England tour.
"I've spoken to the Indian people and I'm going subject to fitness. If I'm carrying an injury I'm not going to go over there and thrash myself so I can't play for New Zealand. I would rather play two months in England - it is the ultimate tour- than go to India," he said.
Oram added his decision had the blessing of national coach John Bracewell and New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan.
AUCKLAND, December 20: New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has postponed his wedding to fiancée Mara to participate in the inaugural Indian Premier League next April.
The wedding was scheduled for late March but Oram said the US 200,000 dollar offer to play in a Twenty20 league in India in April was too good to pass up.
Oram let the cat out of the bag when he was asked whether there was any pressure from New Zealand Cricket not to sign with the IPL because April was supposedly a rest period for the all-rounder before the Black Caps tour England.
"The only pressure was for my wedding. "I've had to postpone it, it was a joint decision between us because the opportunity in India is so good," stuff.co.nz website quoted Oram, as saying.
Oram said he would withdraw from the IPL if his injury required rest before the England tour.
"I've spoken to the Indian people and I'm going subject to fitness. If I'm carrying an injury I'm not going to go over there and thrash myself so I can't play for New Zealand. I would rather play two months in England - it is the ultimate tour- than go to India," he said.
Oram added his decision had the blessing of national coach John Bracewell and New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan.
WARNE EXPECT SACHIN TO SCORE BULK OF RUNS IN AUSTRALIA
MELBOURNE, December 20: Sachin Tendulkar might be in the twilight of his career but spin legend Shane Warne believes the master batsman is still a force to reckon with and backed him to score heavily in his last Australian tour.
Warne, who mastered the art of leg spin but failed to solve an enigma called Tendulkar during his illustrious career, warned Australia to write off the "great" player at their own peril.
"I don't believe just because he is getting old, he is finished. Given the conditions, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide are going to be pretty flat, I expect Sachin to get lot of runs", Warne said.
"There is no doubt he will play one or two special innings in this Test series. Absolutely no doubt, he will play a couple of unbelievable breath taking innings.
Warne picked Tendulkar as the greatest contemporary batsman he played against and warned Australia not to ignore him.
"He is the best batsman I have played either with or against. You never write off a great player," said Warne as he backed the peerless Indian and the rest of his team-mates to score heavily in the next few weeks.
"Two of the Tests are in Sydney and Adelaide. Melbourne has been very, very benign and flat. If you don't take wickets with the new ball, you are in for a long day in the field."
Warne said the experienced Indian batting line-up will pile up huge runs, but for getting 20 wickets and winning against the Aussies, India will have to depend on its spinners.
"Can India take 20 wickets? I think it will be down to Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh."
"Two of the Tests are in Sydney and Adelaide. They are obviously spinning wickets. They will go in with two spinners and the wickets will help their batting.
"It will help their quicks, especially Zaheer Khan, with reverse swing in Sydney and Adelaide.
Warne expressed his admiration for skipper Anil Kumble for being a gentleman cricketer and yet being the most competitive of the Indian players.
"He is one of the gentlemen of the game, one of the nicest blokes you will ever meet but also one of the most competitive players going around in that Indian side.
"He is very, very competitive and I think he will make a great captain," said Test cricket's highest wicket-taker.
Warne hoped the present team management would not try the same methods as John Buchanan and Steve Waugh did during their reign in the 2003-2004 series.
"The great players you have to try and get them out, you can't just bore them out. That's what I believe was wrong with part of our tactics under John Buchanan and Steve Waugh. They wanted to bowl wide of off-stump and pack the off-side", he said.
"You just can't bowl to the great players like that. You have got to try and get them out otherwise they will bat all day. That's what happened early on in India. I was against those tactics," Warne said.
"I think the majority of the Indian players, you are not going to overdo the short ball, but there is going to be a lot of short-pitched bowling at the Indians on our wickets. That's not just to Sachin."
Warne also called former coach Buchanan a "goose" and somebody "who had no idea and lacked common sense."
"I don't think he has made one good point in a long time. He is living in a pixy land. We had to listen to his verbal diarrhoea all the time."
Warne chose the moment to criticise the present cricket set-up in Australia.
"Australian people, administrators, ex-players and coaches, also John Buchanan, have got to stop the arrogant mindset that Australia is so much better than anybody else.
"There is going to be a time in the next two or three years when Australia is tested."
Warne also gave an insight into what he intended to do with his life after cricket.
"I am looking to set up my own cricket academy where a lot of countries can send their captains and spinners and I can work with them. It's going to be more like a workshop than academy."
MELBOURNE, December 20: Sachin Tendulkar might be in the twilight of his career but spin legend Shane Warne believes the master batsman is still a force to reckon with and backed him to score heavily in his last Australian tour.
Warne, who mastered the art of leg spin but failed to solve an enigma called Tendulkar during his illustrious career, warned Australia to write off the "great" player at their own peril.
"I don't believe just because he is getting old, he is finished. Given the conditions, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide are going to be pretty flat, I expect Sachin to get lot of runs", Warne said.
"There is no doubt he will play one or two special innings in this Test series. Absolutely no doubt, he will play a couple of unbelievable breath taking innings.
Warne picked Tendulkar as the greatest contemporary batsman he played against and warned Australia not to ignore him.
"He is the best batsman I have played either with or against. You never write off a great player," said Warne as he backed the peerless Indian and the rest of his team-mates to score heavily in the next few weeks.
"Two of the Tests are in Sydney and Adelaide. Melbourne has been very, very benign and flat. If you don't take wickets with the new ball, you are in for a long day in the field."
Warne said the experienced Indian batting line-up will pile up huge runs, but for getting 20 wickets and winning against the Aussies, India will have to depend on its spinners.
"Can India take 20 wickets? I think it will be down to Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh."
"Two of the Tests are in Sydney and Adelaide. They are obviously spinning wickets. They will go in with two spinners and the wickets will help their batting.
"It will help their quicks, especially Zaheer Khan, with reverse swing in Sydney and Adelaide.
Warne expressed his admiration for skipper Anil Kumble for being a gentleman cricketer and yet being the most competitive of the Indian players.
"He is one of the gentlemen of the game, one of the nicest blokes you will ever meet but also one of the most competitive players going around in that Indian side.
"He is very, very competitive and I think he will make a great captain," said Test cricket's highest wicket-taker.
Warne hoped the present team management would not try the same methods as John Buchanan and Steve Waugh did during their reign in the 2003-2004 series.
"The great players you have to try and get them out, you can't just bore them out. That's what I believe was wrong with part of our tactics under John Buchanan and Steve Waugh. They wanted to bowl wide of off-stump and pack the off-side", he said.
"You just can't bowl to the great players like that. You have got to try and get them out otherwise they will bat all day. That's what happened early on in India. I was against those tactics," Warne said.
"I think the majority of the Indian players, you are not going to overdo the short ball, but there is going to be a lot of short-pitched bowling at the Indians on our wickets. That's not just to Sachin."
Warne also called former coach Buchanan a "goose" and somebody "who had no idea and lacked common sense."
"I don't think he has made one good point in a long time. He is living in a pixy land. We had to listen to his verbal diarrhoea all the time."
Warne chose the moment to criticise the present cricket set-up in Australia.
"Australian people, administrators, ex-players and coaches, also John Buchanan, have got to stop the arrogant mindset that Australia is so much better than anybody else.
"There is going to be a time in the next two or three years when Australia is tested."
Warne also gave an insight into what he intended to do with his life after cricket.
"I am looking to set up my own cricket academy where a lot of countries can send their captains and spinners and I can work with them. It's going to be more like a workshop than academy."
PLAYERS WILL ADHERE TO TAX LAWS SAID BY CHETAN CHAUHAN
MELBOURNE, December 20: Indian team Manager Chetan Chauhan on Thursday rubbished claims that players are miffed at being made to pay tax and said they would adhere to the tax rules in Australia.
Under the new laws of the Australia Taxation Office that came into existence in June 2004, all visiting sportspersons are to pay tax on money earned here and media reports claimed it had angered the Indian players, who would be required to cough up $1.5 million.
Dismissing the claims, Chauhan said the cricketers never avoided paying taxes even at home.
"Whatever fees the Indian players are getting, they are not getting any exemption. They are paying tax like any normal individual in India and they are in the highest tax bracket," he said.
"At the same time, the BCCI is taking up the matter with Cricket Australia and the matter would be sorted out. But let me make it very clear that the players in no way are holding back paying tax," Chauhan was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press .
MELBOURNE, December 20: Indian team Manager Chetan Chauhan on Thursday rubbished claims that players are miffed at being made to pay tax and said they would adhere to the tax rules in Australia.
Under the new laws of the Australia Taxation Office that came into existence in June 2004, all visiting sportspersons are to pay tax on money earned here and media reports claimed it had angered the Indian players, who would be required to cough up $1.5 million.
Dismissing the claims, Chauhan said the cricketers never avoided paying taxes even at home.
"Whatever fees the Indian players are getting, they are not getting any exemption. They are paying tax like any normal individual in India and they are in the highest tax bracket," he said.
"At the same time, the BCCI is taking up the matter with Cricket Australia and the matter would be sorted out. But let me make it very clear that the players in no way are holding back paying tax," Chauhan was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press .
SACHIN, DADA'S GESTURE FOR DON'S MUSEUM
MELBOURNE, Decemeber 20: The Don Bradman museum is all set to get richer in terms of Indian collections with cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly deciding to donate their memorable apparels to it.
Tendulkar will give a pullover that he wore while scoring his 30th Test hundred at Headingley, overtaking Don Bradman's record of 29 tons, to the Adelaide-based museum named after the Australian legend.
"Yes, they (museum authorities) wrote to me sometime back and I have decided to donate it when I am there in Adelaide for the final Test," said Tendulkar at the end of the first day's play against Victoria at Junction Oval here on Thursday.
Apart from Tendulkar, Ganguly will also gift his shirt that he wore during the epic Test win over Australia in the second Test in Kolkata in 2001. India went on to beat the Aussies 2-1 after clinching the third Test in Chennai.
MELBOURNE, Decemeber 20: The Don Bradman museum is all set to get richer in terms of Indian collections with cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly deciding to donate their memorable apparels to it.
Tendulkar will give a pullover that he wore while scoring his 30th Test hundred at Headingley, overtaking Don Bradman's record of 29 tons, to the Adelaide-based museum named after the Australian legend.
"Yes, they (museum authorities) wrote to me sometime back and I have decided to donate it when I am there in Adelaide for the final Test," said Tendulkar at the end of the first day's play against Victoria at Junction Oval here on Thursday.
Apart from Tendulkar, Ganguly will also gift his shirt that he wore during the epic Test win over Australia in the second Test in Kolkata in 2001. India went on to beat the Aussies 2-1 after clinching the third Test in Chennai.
HOWZZAT! NO TAKERS FOR BCCI WEBSITE SO FAR
NEW DELHI, December 19: For the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the richest cricket board in the world, it has been a long-standing dream to launch its official website. But recently, that million-dollar dream got a big jolt when four bidders - Reliance, Tata, Nimbus and an Australian company - failed to submit their bids for the web portal.
According to industry sources, BCCI floated its tender for the web portal last month with a base price of $50 million and the last date for submitting the tender was December 17. But to the BCCI's disappointment, none of the parties came forward to bid for the website. Reason? The reserve price of the tender is very high.
When TOI contacted BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi on Wednesday, he said: "We have extended the submission date of the bid till Janaury 24 and I am confident that we are going to get the right bidders for the website. It's too early to say that there are no takers for the Indian cricket website."
However, sources close to the bidders have something else to say. Two of the bidders found the proposal unfeasible at the price of $50 million, while the others want to take up the project on a revenue-sharing basis. Sources also say the BCCI indentified five sources of income from the website, whose rights are restricted to advertising and sponsorship, subscription, gaming, merchandising, sydication and contests.
Industry sources say that live streaming rights will take at least two-three years for genuine broadband to be available with users. Even with the merchandise rights, industry sources say that since the BCCI has sold apparel and sports goods rights, there is hardly anything lucrative. Also, the rights are restricted to online purchase, which anyway is not very popular.
"The web portal has a revenue potential of $15 to $20 million. Having said that, the site would require huge infrastructure and that will involve a cost of $5 to $6 million. Given this scenario, the BCCI should work out a more viable proposition," the source said.
NEW DELHI, December 19: For the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the richest cricket board in the world, it has been a long-standing dream to launch its official website. But recently, that million-dollar dream got a big jolt when four bidders - Reliance, Tata, Nimbus and an Australian company - failed to submit their bids for the web portal.
According to industry sources, BCCI floated its tender for the web portal last month with a base price of $50 million and the last date for submitting the tender was December 17. But to the BCCI's disappointment, none of the parties came forward to bid for the website. Reason? The reserve price of the tender is very high.
When TOI contacted BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi on Wednesday, he said: "We have extended the submission date of the bid till Janaury 24 and I am confident that we are going to get the right bidders for the website. It's too early to say that there are no takers for the Indian cricket website."
However, sources close to the bidders have something else to say. Two of the bidders found the proposal unfeasible at the price of $50 million, while the others want to take up the project on a revenue-sharing basis. Sources also say the BCCI indentified five sources of income from the website, whose rights are restricted to advertising and sponsorship, subscription, gaming, merchandising, sydication and contests.
Industry sources say that live streaming rights will take at least two-three years for genuine broadband to be available with users. Even with the merchandise rights, industry sources say that since the BCCI has sold apparel and sports goods rights, there is hardly anything lucrative. Also, the rights are restricted to online purchase, which anyway is not very popular.
"The web portal has a revenue potential of $15 to $20 million. Having said that, the site would require huge infrastructure and that will involve a cost of $5 to $6 million. Given this scenario, the BCCI should work out a more viable proposition," the source said.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
PROFESTIONAL CRICKET FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA
DATE:19/12/2007
SA HAS WON THE MATCH WITH SUCH EASY
DIFFICULT FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA TO GET 330 RUNS IN ALLOTED 50 OVERS THEY TRIED THEIR BEST BUT COULD NOT CHASE THAT SCORE.THEY NEED 264 RUNS TO PREVENT A BONUS POINT TO OPOSITION WA. CAN NOT REACH THEIR IN THE END ALLOUT ON 259 DEFETED BY 70 RUNS AND 5 TO AVOID THE BONUS POINT.
THE TURNING POINT WAS THE RUNOUT OF SHAUN MARSH HAD SCORED 68(73)
13TH SIX HAD BEEN PRODUCED BY BOTH THE TEAMS SO LOT OF ACTION HAD BEEN DONE IN THE GROUND. THE SPECTATORS HAD ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF THE MATCH.
WICKETS: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
RUNS: 6 108 137 148 163 182 205 212 219 259
DATE:19/12/2007
SA HAS WON THE MATCH WITH SUCH EASY
DIFFICULT FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA TO GET 330 RUNS IN ALLOTED 50 OVERS THEY TRIED THEIR BEST BUT COULD NOT CHASE THAT SCORE.THEY NEED 264 RUNS TO PREVENT A BONUS POINT TO OPOSITION WA. CAN NOT REACH THEIR IN THE END ALLOUT ON 259 DEFETED BY 70 RUNS AND 5 TO AVOID THE BONUS POINT.
THE TURNING POINT WAS THE RUNOUT OF SHAUN MARSH HAD SCORED 68(73)
13TH SIX HAD BEEN PRODUCED BY BOTH THE TEAMS SO LOT OF ACTION HAD BEEN DONE IN THE GROUND. THE SPECTATORS HAD ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF THE MATCH.
WICKETS: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
RUNS: 6 108 137 148 163 182 205 212 219 259
FORD RANGER CUP MATCH-20 WA VS SA
WESTERN AUSTRALIA HAVE WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO FIELD FIRST.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA HAVE POST MASSIVE TOTAL OF 329/3 IN 50 OVERS,COURTESY TO MATTHEW ELLIOTT WHO HAS SCORED 146(141) HIGHEST BY ANY SA. BASTMAN PREVIOUS BEST WAS 142 SCORED BY DAREL LEHAMAN.MATTHEW ELLIOTT HAS SCORED HIS 10TH CENTURY IN ODD CRICKET. 4TH AGAINST WA.
MARK COSGROVE HAS SCORED 70(68). THE PARTNERSHIP BEATWEEN MATTHEW ELLIOTT AND COSGROVE IS 156(138). WHICH MIGHT BE A MATCH WINNING ONE FOR SA.
SA. HAS SCORED HIGHEST SCORED OF THE SEASON. HIGHEST OF THE TOURNAMENT. PREVIOUS BEST WAS 325/5 TAS VS NSW.
C FERGUSON AND D.CHRISTIAN HAS PUT UP 61(38) IN LAST FEW OVERS.
CAN WA CHASE THE MASSIVE TOTAL OF 330 IN 50 OVERS?(REMAIN TO BE SEEN)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA HAVE WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO FIELD FIRST.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA HAVE POST MASSIVE TOTAL OF 329/3 IN 50 OVERS,COURTESY TO MATTHEW ELLIOTT WHO HAS SCORED 146(141) HIGHEST BY ANY SA. BASTMAN PREVIOUS BEST WAS 142 SCORED BY DAREL LEHAMAN.MATTHEW ELLIOTT HAS SCORED HIS 10TH CENTURY IN ODD CRICKET. 4TH AGAINST WA.
MARK COSGROVE HAS SCORED 70(68). THE PARTNERSHIP BEATWEEN MATTHEW ELLIOTT AND COSGROVE IS 156(138). WHICH MIGHT BE A MATCH WINNING ONE FOR SA.
SA. HAS SCORED HIGHEST SCORED OF THE SEASON. HIGHEST OF THE TOURNAMENT. PREVIOUS BEST WAS 325/5 TAS VS NSW.
C FERGUSON AND D.CHRISTIAN HAS PUT UP 61(38) IN LAST FEW OVERS.
CAN WA CHASE THE MASSIVE TOTAL OF 330 IN 50 OVERS?(REMAIN TO BE SEEN)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
ENGLAND VS SRILANKA 3RD TEST OF INVESTEC SERIES ON 18/12/2007
1ST DAY OF TEST MATCH:
ENGLAND WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO BOWL FIRST.
SRILANKA HAS LOST BOTH THE OPENING BASTMAN FIRST WAS GONE AT THE SCORED OF 34 ANOTHER IS ON 44/2
AT LUNCH SRILANKA IS 71/2 IN 18 OVERS INCLUDING 4 EXTRA.
K SANGAKKARA AND M.JAYAWARDHANE IS UN-BEATEN AT LUNCH.
K SANGAKKARA IS LUCKY TO STILL AT THE CREASE.
UPEL THARANGA WAS LUCKY THAT PAUL COLLINGWOOD HAS DROPED ON 15. HE COULD NOT CAPITALIZED HIS CHANCE.HE WAS LBW OF HARMISSION HE WAS UNLUCKY BECAUSE OF THE DESISION.
M.VENDORT WAS REALY UNLUCKY BECAUSE THE BALL WAS HITTING THE TOP OF LEGSTUMP.
SRILANKA
Batsman Status Runs Balls 4s 6s FOW
MG Vandort lbw RJ Sidebottom 18 33 2 0 34/1
WU Tharanga lbw SJ Harmison 16 42 2 0 44/2
KC Sangakkara not out 25 27 4 0 -
DPMD Jayawardene not out 16 26 3 0 -
Total 2 wicket(s); 21.2 over(s) 80
England
Bowler Over MDN Runs Wkts Wide No
RJ Sidebottom 7.0 1 22 1 0 0
MJ Hoggard 7.0 2 31 0 1 0
SJ Harmison 4.0 0 15 1 0 0
1ST DAY OF TEST MATCH:
ENGLAND WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO BOWL FIRST.
SRILANKA HAS LOST BOTH THE OPENING BASTMAN FIRST WAS GONE AT THE SCORED OF 34 ANOTHER IS ON 44/2
AT LUNCH SRILANKA IS 71/2 IN 18 OVERS INCLUDING 4 EXTRA.
K SANGAKKARA AND M.JAYAWARDHANE IS UN-BEATEN AT LUNCH.
K SANGAKKARA IS LUCKY TO STILL AT THE CREASE.
UPEL THARANGA WAS LUCKY THAT PAUL COLLINGWOOD HAS DROPED ON 15. HE COULD NOT CAPITALIZED HIS CHANCE.HE WAS LBW OF HARMISSION HE WAS UNLUCKY BECAUSE OF THE DESISION.
M.VENDORT WAS REALY UNLUCKY BECAUSE THE BALL WAS HITTING THE TOP OF LEGSTUMP.
SRILANKA
Batsman Status Runs Balls 4s 6s FOW
MG Vandort lbw RJ Sidebottom 18 33 2 0 34/1
WU Tharanga lbw SJ Harmison 16 42 2 0 44/2
KC Sangakkara not out 25 27 4 0 -
DPMD Jayawardene not out 16 26 3 0 -
Total 2 wicket(s); 21.2 over(s) 80
England
Bowler Over MDN Runs Wkts Wide No
RJ Sidebottom 7.0 1 22 1 0 0
MJ Hoggard 7.0 2 31 0 1 0
SJ Harmison 4.0 0 15 1 0 0
Monday, December 17, 2007
CRICKETERS GO TO AUSTRALIA TO CREATE HISTORY
MUMBAI, December 17: Skipper Anil Kumble and his team-mates on Monday left for Australia bidding to create history by becoming the first Indian team to conquer the Aussies in their own backyard.
Kumble and his men left by a morning flight to Singapore en-route to Melbourne, firm in their belief that they had the wherewithal to bring to the knees the mighty Australians on high-bouncing pitches against fiery speedsters.
"It's a tough challenge to play Australia in Australia but we are ready for the challenge. We have the potential and players to win the series in Australia," Kumble said here about the high-profile contest against Ricky Ponting's men.
"We had a very good series against Pakistan. We won the One-day as well as the Test series which is a confidence booster for doing well in Australia," proclaimed Kumble who will give way to One-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and return home at the end of the four-Test rubber.
"We have quality in the side. We have enough experience of Australian conditions to adjust to them which is a pre-requisite of international cricket. The potential in the side and the players' experience will help," he said, putting the onus on the array of quality batsmen in the team to set up the victory.
MUMBAI, December 17: Skipper Anil Kumble and his team-mates on Monday left for Australia bidding to create history by becoming the first Indian team to conquer the Aussies in their own backyard.
Kumble and his men left by a morning flight to Singapore en-route to Melbourne, firm in their belief that they had the wherewithal to bring to the knees the mighty Australians on high-bouncing pitches against fiery speedsters.
"It's a tough challenge to play Australia in Australia but we are ready for the challenge. We have the potential and players to win the series in Australia," Kumble said here about the high-profile contest against Ricky Ponting's men.
"We had a very good series against Pakistan. We won the One-day as well as the Test series which is a confidence booster for doing well in Australia," proclaimed Kumble who will give way to One-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and return home at the end of the four-Test rubber.
"We have quality in the side. We have enough experience of Australian conditions to adjust to them which is a pre-requisite of international cricket. The potential in the side and the players' experience will help," he said, putting the onus on the array of quality batsmen in the team to set up the victory.
Ashish Magotra, Mumbai Mirror: On the face of it, India's tour of Australia isn't anything out of the ordinary. The team is doing what it's supposed to do - going on tour to other countries.
But delve a little deeper and you'll notice that the players are filled with a manic, nervous energy because they are trying to accomplish something that no other Indian team has managed - win a series Down Under.
Alien pitches, a biased media, hostile crowds and a world champion team, all add to the challenge of touring Australia.
But this band of Indian cricketers knows what to expect and they are prepared for the worst. The Aussies will come hard at them but that doesn't scare Kumble and Co, rather it just makes the battle more enjoyable.
"Winning in Australia... well, winning always feels good no matter which team the win comes against but to beat Australia in Australia; to do something that no other Indian team has managed is indeed going to be special," said Kumble, just before the team posed for a group photo on the eve of their departure
Sunday, December 16, 2007
SECOND ODI BEATWEEN AUSTRALIA VS NEWZELAND
IN CHAPPEL-HEADLY SERIES.DATE:16/12/2007
NEWZELAND HAS LOST THEIR FIRST THREE BASTMAN WITHOUT CREATING ANY TROUBLE TO AUSTRAILIA. NZ. IS 30/3 AFTER 6 OVER.INCLUDING 4 EXTRA.
THE MATCH IS DELAYED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN IN SYDENY
scorecard
New Zealand: 30/3 (6.0 Ovs)
Scott Styris*12(13) Ross Taylor5(8)
Australia Brett Lee*3-0-12-2 Nathan Bracken3-0-18-1
Run Rate : 5.00 Current Partnership: 18(20)
Last Wicket: Brendon McCullum c Hogg b Lee 5(6) - 12/3 in 2.5 ov.
Previous Overs: Wd . 4 . . W . | 1 . 1 1 . . | . . . N1 2 2 . | . . 4 4 . 1
IN CHAPPEL-HEADLY SERIES.DATE:16/12/2007
NEWZELAND HAS LOST THEIR FIRST THREE BASTMAN WITHOUT CREATING ANY TROUBLE TO AUSTRAILIA. NZ. IS 30/3 AFTER 6 OVER.INCLUDING 4 EXTRA.
THE MATCH IS DELAYED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN IN SYDENY
scorecard
New Zealand: 30/3 (6.0 Ovs)
Scott Styris*12(13) Ross Taylor5(8)
Australia Brett Lee*3-0-12-2 Nathan Bracken3-0-18-1
Run Rate : 5.00 Current Partnership: 18(20)
Last Wicket: Brendon McCullum c Hogg b Lee 5(6) - 12/3 in 2.5 ov.
Previous Overs: Wd . 4 . . W . | 1 . 1 1 . . | . . . N1 2 2 . | . . 4 4 . 1
NEWZELAND WON THE TOSS IN THE SECOND ODI AND ELECTING TO BAT IN CHAPPEL-HADLEE SERIES
New Zealand KEEPER Daniel Vettori won the toss and chose to bat first in the second Chappell-Hadlee one-day international cricket match against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia lead the three-match series after winning Friday's opening game by seven wickets in Adelaide and can clinch the series on Sunday after losing the trophy 3-0 to the Kiwis in New Zealand in February.
Rain delayed the start of play by 45 minutes with more showers forecast throughout the course of the match.
Australia have named similar side while New Zealand have included Jeetan Patel and wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins for Mathew Sinclair and Mark Gillespie.
Australia - Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson (12th man).
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Jamie How, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin, Gareth Hopkins, Mathew Sinclair (12th man).
Umpires: Mark Benson (ENGLAND), Steve Davis (AUSTRALIA)
TV Umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUSTRALIA)
Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRILANKA)
New Zealand KEEPER Daniel Vettori won the toss and chose to bat first in the second Chappell-Hadlee one-day international cricket match against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia lead the three-match series after winning Friday's opening game by seven wickets in Adelaide and can clinch the series on Sunday after losing the trophy 3-0 to the Kiwis in New Zealand in February.
Rain delayed the start of play by 45 minutes with more showers forecast throughout the course of the match.
Australia have named similar side while New Zealand have included Jeetan Patel and wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins for Mathew Sinclair and Mark Gillespie.
Australia - Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson (12th man).
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Jamie How, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin, Gareth Hopkins, Mathew Sinclair (12th man).
Umpires: Mark Benson (ENGLAND), Steve Davis (AUSTRALIA)
TV Umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUSTRALIA)
Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRILANKA)
AUSTRALIA'S PITCH MIGHT SUIT DAZELING LOOKING YUVRAJSINGH
Yuvraj Singh can do no wrong these days. He creates magic everytime he strides out to bat and his gorgeous 169 in the Bangalore Test against Pakistan only highlighted what many experts have been saying for some time — that Yuvraj must play for India in all forms of the game. Now, as the Indian team embarks on the toughest assignment in world cricket — a trip to Australia — Yuvraj has an opportunity to cement his credentials as a reliable, high quality Test batsman. Yuvraj, though, is hardly deterred by the challenge and is eyeing to make a mark when it will matter the most. The stylish left-hander opens up in an exclusive chat with TOI :
So, a series win over Pakistan in India after 27 years and it coincided with your birthday. How did you and your team celebrate the feat?
The series win was very special. We had a small get-together where our captain Anil Kumble acknowledged the contribution of all the players. Everyone played his part in the victory and I'm sure it will raise our confidence level for the Australian series. As for my birthday, I had a quiet party with my close friends in Mumbai.
Did the team believe that they could have actually made it 2-0 against Pakistan?
It was a good day in office for all of us. The Test actually became very interesting at the fag end before bad light stopped the match. Yes, we were confident of wrapping up the Pakistan innings in a few deliveries. But under the circumstances, we couldn't have done better.
You seem to have got wild after getting Misbah-ul Haq's wicket...
Misbah had a tremendous run in the series and when I got through his gate, I felt as if I had bagged a five-wicket haul. I was very excited and we started sniffing victory. Whatever happened in the end is part of the game and we have nothing to complain about.
Do you think that Pakistan lacked grit to stage a fightback?
You can never underestimate Pakistan. They have very talented cricketers. Misbah was exceptional in the series. A player like Younus Khan is a braveheart. The way he motivated the guys was amazing. As a batsman, he can dominate any attack in the world. So, it's not fair to say that Pakistan lacked grit.
You must be relieved at the way the Bangalore match went for you?
It's really satisfying to score a hundred against the arch-rivals. And I'm generally happy with the way I'm striking the ball. In fact, time has come for me to concentrate harder in order to emerge a better Test batsman. To tell you to the truth, the other day when I went to the crease, I was a bit nervous because we had lost four early wickets. It was important for me to stay at the crease then. Thankfully, our gameplan fell into place and Sourav and I were able to bail the team out of trouble.
What are your observations on Sourav Ganguly's terrific recent form?
He is very positive and is showing the desire to stay at the wicket. He has changed his mind-set. In the forthcoming Test series against Australia, he is going to be a key figure along with Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
How is your preparation going for Australia?
I prefer to bat on a wicket where the ball comes easily onto the bat and Australia wickets are like that. I've always enjoyed playing there. Right now, I am practising with hard plastic and synthetic balls in order to get used to the pace and bounce of the Australian tracks.
India team plays only one practice game before the first Test at Melbourne. Is the team okay with it?
If you are playing international cricket, you have to be prepared to play in any condition. Yes, we played the series against Pakistan on a wickets that were low and slow but we are ready for the faster tracks in Australia.
Are you looking to engage the Aussies in verbal warfare?
We want a quiet series and our focus is on playing good cricket. But if we are pushed around too much, there will be something from our side too. We are not going to take anything lying down.
How do you rate the Australian attack without Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne?
Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson are capable bowlers but if McGrath and Warne had been around, it would have been more difficult. But again, you cannot take anything away from the current lot.
Yuvraj Singh can do no wrong these days. He creates magic everytime he strides out to bat and his gorgeous 169 in the Bangalore Test against Pakistan only highlighted what many experts have been saying for some time — that Yuvraj must play for India in all forms of the game. Now, as the Indian team embarks on the toughest assignment in world cricket — a trip to Australia — Yuvraj has an opportunity to cement his credentials as a reliable, high quality Test batsman. Yuvraj, though, is hardly deterred by the challenge and is eyeing to make a mark when it will matter the most. The stylish left-hander opens up in an exclusive chat with TOI :
So, a series win over Pakistan in India after 27 years and it coincided with your birthday. How did you and your team celebrate the feat?
The series win was very special. We had a small get-together where our captain Anil Kumble acknowledged the contribution of all the players. Everyone played his part in the victory and I'm sure it will raise our confidence level for the Australian series. As for my birthday, I had a quiet party with my close friends in Mumbai.
Did the team believe that they could have actually made it 2-0 against Pakistan?
It was a good day in office for all of us. The Test actually became very interesting at the fag end before bad light stopped the match. Yes, we were confident of wrapping up the Pakistan innings in a few deliveries. But under the circumstances, we couldn't have done better.
You seem to have got wild after getting Misbah-ul Haq's wicket...
Misbah had a tremendous run in the series and when I got through his gate, I felt as if I had bagged a five-wicket haul. I was very excited and we started sniffing victory. Whatever happened in the end is part of the game and we have nothing to complain about.
Do you think that Pakistan lacked grit to stage a fightback?
You can never underestimate Pakistan. They have very talented cricketers. Misbah was exceptional in the series. A player like Younus Khan is a braveheart. The way he motivated the guys was amazing. As a batsman, he can dominate any attack in the world. So, it's not fair to say that Pakistan lacked grit.
You must be relieved at the way the Bangalore match went for you?
It's really satisfying to score a hundred against the arch-rivals. And I'm generally happy with the way I'm striking the ball. In fact, time has come for me to concentrate harder in order to emerge a better Test batsman. To tell you to the truth, the other day when I went to the crease, I was a bit nervous because we had lost four early wickets. It was important for me to stay at the crease then. Thankfully, our gameplan fell into place and Sourav and I were able to bail the team out of trouble.
What are your observations on Sourav Ganguly's terrific recent form?
He is very positive and is showing the desire to stay at the wicket. He has changed his mind-set. In the forthcoming Test series against Australia, he is going to be a key figure along with Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
How is your preparation going for Australia?
I prefer to bat on a wicket where the ball comes easily onto the bat and Australia wickets are like that. I've always enjoyed playing there. Right now, I am practising with hard plastic and synthetic balls in order to get used to the pace and bounce of the Australian tracks.
India team plays only one practice game before the first Test at Melbourne. Is the team okay with it?
If you are playing international cricket, you have to be prepared to play in any condition. Yes, we played the series against Pakistan on a wickets that were low and slow but we are ready for the faster tracks in Australia.
Are you looking to engage the Aussies in verbal warfare?
We want a quiet series and our focus is on playing good cricket. But if we are pushed around too much, there will be something from our side too. We are not going to take anything lying down.
How do you rate the Australian attack without Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne?
Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson are capable bowlers but if McGrath and Warne had been around, it would have been more difficult. But again, you cannot take anything away from the current lot.
INTERVIEW OF THE PLAYERS
JAFFER WILL BE A INSPIRATION IN AUSTRALIA
MUMBAI, December 16: Opener Wasim Jaffer is hoping that India's top order batsmen can emulate those on the last tour of Australia by giving the visitors a solid foundation to setup big scores.
Considered one of the better players of fast bowling in the team, the 29-year-old may be on his first tour of Australia but expectations are very high that he will be a success in the four-Test series beginning on December 26.
"In 2003-04, the openers really played well... gave india tremendous starts which made it easier for the middle-order," Jaffer said.
Explosive Virender Sehwag and the resolute Akash Chopra shared in two century stands and two fifty partnerships as India drew a remarkable series one-all after going 1-0 up in Adelaide.
"(There is) a lot of responsibility on the top-order, especially the openers. If they (middle-order) get exposed to the new ball it can get difficult," said Jaffer, who recorded the second double hundred of his Test career in the recent series against Pakistan.
BATTING CONCERNS
"But if we get through the new ball it makes it easier for all the batting to come," added the Mumbai batsman, who has performed consistency well since he was recalled to the side in March last year.
However, India, aiming to snap top-ranked Australia's two-year, 14-match winning streak during the tour, have form concerns in the top-order.
Sehwag, recalled for the difficult tour because of his experience despite not figuring in the initial list of probables, has struggled for runs in domestic cricket.
Second wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik managed to hold his place as makeshift opener after hitting a fifty in the drawn final Test against Pakistan following a woeful run.
Meanwhile, matting mainstay Rahul Dravid has not been able to convert starts since quitting the captaincy in September.
"Rahul is too good a player to be out of form for long. He had a decent series against Pakistan... looked solid," said Jaffer who averages 51.18 this calendar year, scoring 819 runs from nine Tests with three hundreds and four fifties.
"Hopefully he'll turn it around in Australia. The opposition will be tougher and that will charge him a bit more."
On his first trip to Australia, Jaffer said he would call on the experience gained from the tour of South Africa, where he scored a century in the final Test in Cape Town in January.
"I have a fair idea of what to expect and their bowling attack. Until I get there, I don't want to think too much."
JAFFER WILL BE A INSPIRATION IN AUSTRALIA
MUMBAI, December 16: Opener Wasim Jaffer is hoping that India's top order batsmen can emulate those on the last tour of Australia by giving the visitors a solid foundation to setup big scores.
Considered one of the better players of fast bowling in the team, the 29-year-old may be on his first tour of Australia but expectations are very high that he will be a success in the four-Test series beginning on December 26.
"In 2003-04, the openers really played well... gave india tremendous starts which made it easier for the middle-order," Jaffer said.
Explosive Virender Sehwag and the resolute Akash Chopra shared in two century stands and two fifty partnerships as India drew a remarkable series one-all after going 1-0 up in Adelaide.
"(There is) a lot of responsibility on the top-order, especially the openers. If they (middle-order) get exposed to the new ball it can get difficult," said Jaffer, who recorded the second double hundred of his Test career in the recent series against Pakistan.
BATTING CONCERNS
"But if we get through the new ball it makes it easier for all the batting to come," added the Mumbai batsman, who has performed consistency well since he was recalled to the side in March last year.
However, India, aiming to snap top-ranked Australia's two-year, 14-match winning streak during the tour, have form concerns in the top-order.
Sehwag, recalled for the difficult tour because of his experience despite not figuring in the initial list of probables, has struggled for runs in domestic cricket.
Second wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik managed to hold his place as makeshift opener after hitting a fifty in the drawn final Test against Pakistan following a woeful run.
Meanwhile, matting mainstay Rahul Dravid has not been able to convert starts since quitting the captaincy in September.
"Rahul is too good a player to be out of form for long. He had a decent series against Pakistan... looked solid," said Jaffer who averages 51.18 this calendar year, scoring 819 runs from nine Tests with three hundreds and four fifties.
"Hopefully he'll turn it around in Australia. The opposition will be tougher and that will charge him a bit more."
On his first trip to Australia, Jaffer said he would call on the experience gained from the tour of South Africa, where he scored a century in the final Test in Cape Town in January.
"I have a fair idea of what to expect and their bowling attack. Until I get there, I don't want to think too much."
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Saturday December 15, 11:00AM
Warne to be the highest paid player in IPL
Australian spin legend Shane Warne will be the highest paid cricketer in the BCCI-sponsored Indian Premier League (IPL) with a staggering USD 400,000 in his kitty.
The BCCI managing committee announced the names of 34 cricketers including Warne, who have signed the contract and would be competing in next year's cricket league.
Retired Aussie pacer Glenn McGrath and prolific middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf will earn USD 350,000 and USD 330,000 respectively, announced BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan here on Friday.
Former Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming has been offered USD 350,000 while 10 other cricketers were offered in the USD 225,000 bracket. However, the board did not mention the names of any Indian cricketers, who have been offered a contract amount.
On being asked about Australian captain Ricky Ponting and swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist's decision on joining the league, Srinivasan said the board was in talks with them and would make a formal announcement soon.
Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar (USD 2,25000) and captain Shoaib Malik (USD 300,000) have also confirmed their participation in the league along with retired Sri Lankan star Sanath Jayasuriya.
Jayasuriya's team mate and highest wicket taker in Tests Muttiah Muralitharan has been offered 250,000 dollars.
So far cricketers from six countries which include players from Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies were given the contract.
The treasurer said that the amount paid to the cricketers would be for a period of one year and their contract will be reviewed later.
Lanky fast bowler from Srilanka, Nuwan Zoysa would be the lowest paid cricketer in the league with an offer of 100,000 dollars.
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah also announced a hike in the dearness allowance from Rs. 5000 to 10,000 and traveling allowance from Rs. 7000 to 10,000 for the board members and the selectors.
Warne to be the highest paid player in IPL
Australian spin legend Shane Warne will be the highest paid cricketer in the BCCI-sponsored Indian Premier League (IPL) with a staggering USD 400,000 in his kitty.
The BCCI managing committee announced the names of 34 cricketers including Warne, who have signed the contract and would be competing in next year's cricket league.
Retired Aussie pacer Glenn McGrath and prolific middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf will earn USD 350,000 and USD 330,000 respectively, announced BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan here on Friday.
Former Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming has been offered USD 350,000 while 10 other cricketers were offered in the USD 225,000 bracket. However, the board did not mention the names of any Indian cricketers, who have been offered a contract amount.
On being asked about Australian captain Ricky Ponting and swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist's decision on joining the league, Srinivasan said the board was in talks with them and would make a formal announcement soon.
Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar (USD 2,25000) and captain Shoaib Malik (USD 300,000) have also confirmed their participation in the league along with retired Sri Lankan star Sanath Jayasuriya.
Jayasuriya's team mate and highest wicket taker in Tests Muttiah Muralitharan has been offered 250,000 dollars.
So far cricketers from six countries which include players from Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies were given the contract.
The treasurer said that the amount paid to the cricketers would be for a period of one year and their contract will be reviewed later.
Lanky fast bowler from Srilanka, Nuwan Zoysa would be the lowest paid cricketer in the league with an offer of 100,000 dollars.
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah also announced a hike in the dearness allowance from Rs. 5000 to 10,000 and traveling allowance from Rs. 7000 to 10,000 for the board members and the selectors.
MUMBAI (Reuters) - A quintet of India's golden generation of cricketers have a final tilt at glory in Australia when the team embark on a difficult tour next week.
The four-match series could be the last test tour of Australia for batting greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and Vangipurappu Laxman, as well as leg spinner Anil Kumble, and they are intent on clinching their country's first series win on the game's toughest terrain.
India have come close to winning a series on the testing pitches of Australia twice --- in 1986, when the series ended 0-0, and a remarkable one-all draw in 2003-04 when they went 1-0 up in Adelaide.
"The last time out we won a test match but were not able to win the series...the last match (Sydney) was a draw," Laxman told Reuters.
"This time we all are keen to go out there with the single-minded ambition of winning the series.
"Doing well in Australia is the most satisfying moment for any cricketer...the ultimate one.
NEXT TOUR
"It'll be satisfying for all of us if we can contribute in the series win. I'm sure all of us are looking to achieve that," said the stylish middle-order batsman.
Skipper Kumble, who took 24 wickets on the previous tour, is 37 while Dravid, who scored 619 runs on that tour, will turn 35 in January.
Ganguly, captain then, is 35 and Tendulkar is 34 while Laxman is the youngest among the 'fab five' at 33. The next tour in 2011 is surely too far away for them.
This tour begins with a three-day match against Victoria from Thursday, with the first test starting on Dec. 26.
India clinched their first test series victory in England for 21 years in August, a year after they had won their first test series victory in the Caribbean in 35 years.
This month India recorded their first test series victory against Pakistan at home since 1979-80, which saw almost all of their batsmen strike form.
RECORD STREAK
"It's extremely important for anyone going to Australia to be confident about himself. So it's good when you are among runs. It helps," said Laxman.
"It's good that we won the series against Pakistan after these years. The confidence of the boys is amazing at the moment," added Laxman, whose greatest moment came in 2001 when he produced an epic 281 at Kolkata to spark a comeback 2-1 home-series win over Australia.
The defeat snapped the Steve Waugh-led Australians' winning streak of 16 tests, a record Ricky Ponting's side will look to upstage in the upcoming series after their recent victories over Sri Lanka took their tally to 14.
"They've got match-winning bowlers," Laxman said of the new-look Australian attack following the retirement of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, both of whom had missed the 2003-04 series.
"(Shaun) Tait or (Mitchell Johnson), the way (Brett) Lee's bowling, or for that matter Stuart Clark... It'll be a huge challenge facing these guys."
India, on the other hand, are taking two inexperienced bowlers in Ishant Sharma and the uncapped Pankaj Singh in a five-man pace attack that has been hit by injuries.
"They are potentially very good...if they can bowl to their potential it will be an interesting sight," said Laxman.
The four-match series could be the last test tour of Australia for batting greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and Vangipurappu Laxman, as well as leg spinner Anil Kumble, and they are intent on clinching their country's first series win on the game's toughest terrain.
India have come close to winning a series on the testing pitches of Australia twice --- in 1986, when the series ended 0-0, and a remarkable one-all draw in 2003-04 when they went 1-0 up in Adelaide.
"The last time out we won a test match but were not able to win the series...the last match (Sydney) was a draw," Laxman told Reuters.
"This time we all are keen to go out there with the single-minded ambition of winning the series.
"Doing well in Australia is the most satisfying moment for any cricketer...the ultimate one.
NEXT TOUR
"It'll be satisfying for all of us if we can contribute in the series win. I'm sure all of us are looking to achieve that," said the stylish middle-order batsman.
Skipper Kumble, who took 24 wickets on the previous tour, is 37 while Dravid, who scored 619 runs on that tour, will turn 35 in January.
Ganguly, captain then, is 35 and Tendulkar is 34 while Laxman is the youngest among the 'fab five' at 33. The next tour in 2011 is surely too far away for them.
This tour begins with a three-day match against Victoria from Thursday, with the first test starting on Dec. 26.
India clinched their first test series victory in England for 21 years in August, a year after they had won their first test series victory in the Caribbean in 35 years.
This month India recorded their first test series victory against Pakistan at home since 1979-80, which saw almost all of their batsmen strike form.
RECORD STREAK
"It's extremely important for anyone going to Australia to be confident about himself. So it's good when you are among runs. It helps," said Laxman.
"It's good that we won the series against Pakistan after these years. The confidence of the boys is amazing at the moment," added Laxman, whose greatest moment came in 2001 when he produced an epic 281 at Kolkata to spark a comeback 2-1 home-series win over Australia.
The defeat snapped the Steve Waugh-led Australians' winning streak of 16 tests, a record Ricky Ponting's side will look to upstage in the upcoming series after their recent victories over Sri Lanka took their tally to 14.
"They've got match-winning bowlers," Laxman said of the new-look Australian attack following the retirement of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, both of whom had missed the 2003-04 series.
"(Shaun) Tait or (Mitchell Johnson), the way (Brett) Lee's bowling, or for that matter Stuart Clark... It'll be a huge challenge facing these guys."
India, on the other hand, are taking two inexperienced bowlers in Ishant Sharma and the uncapped Pankaj Singh in a five-man pace attack that has been hit by injuries.
"They are potentially very good...if they can bowl to their potential it will be an interesting sight," said Laxman.
THE GREAT INDIAN CRICKETING GAMBLE
WHAT ARE the chances that we're going to see another brand new opening combination walk out on Boxing Day in Melbourne in the first Test of the toughest cricket tour in the world? Logically, very high - if India bat first of course, otherwise, we'd have to wait a couple of days. It's going to be very surprising if Rahul Dravid is not Wasim Jaffer's new opening partner in that first Test.
Dravid, India's most successful Test batsman in modern day cricket, and the man largely responsible for Sourav Ganguly's enviable Test captaincy record, would definitely not be happy about moving up a spot. But, he is not the skipper anymore (of his own accord of course) and the team man that he is, Dravid would almost certainly open if he is asked to do so, in order to accommodate Yuvraj Singh in the middle. In which case, India's batting card would probably read Jaffer, Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Yuvraj, Dhoni etc.
What gamble was this?
So here's some more reasoning then: If that does happen (which is likely) the great Indian cricketing gamble (the act of picking a badly out of form Virender Sehwag), is not really a gamble at all. It is just a mystifying selection. To play Sehwag ahead of Yuvraj, in sublime touch, would be totally irrational, even if you make allowance for the trend of strange decisions in Indian cricket. So why did we have to be put through this sham of a gamble on Wednesday, when Sehwag was announced in the squad after not being in the probables? Or, else, why did we have 24 probables announced at all?
The only way Sehwag would play (plausibly, again) is if Jaffer and Dravid have miserable failures in the first two Tests and you pick Sehwag instead of, say, Jaffer. It would be interpreted as madness to even think of dropping Dravid for Tests. But then again, if Gautam Gambhir was your first choice opener (as has been stated by the selectors and team management), then why didn't they just take Gambhir along as a back-up, if the thinking is to open with Dravid? You also have Dinesh Karthik in the squad anyway.
Why not Gambhir?
Gambhir's sore shoulder is being given an outer limit of three weeks rest as a precautionary measure. Twenty-one days from now is just ahead of the second Test at Sydney.
Just as an aside, when did he pick up that injury? And if it was before the Test, because he didn't seem to get injured during the Bangalore game, why did he play it/why was he made to play it? The Delhi southpaw should definitely be in the one-day squad. So he might as well have spent time with the team, become acclimatised to the conditions and been there as a back-up, if need be. That was the thinking behind taking Jaffer to the ODIs in South Africa last year (the one-day series there preceded the Tests).
That X factor
Coming back to Sehwag, there is no doubting that his impact on the Australian bowlers from last time around weighed in his favour. But that was four years ago. In the time since, the world has changed and so have Sehwag's own fortunes.
An average of 13 or so in five Ranji games so far this season and an inability to negotiate some ordinary domestic attacks (or an unwillingness to show the patience to wait it out) is not a good sign for him or for the Indian team. Yes, with Sehwag, the argument always is, "You never know". True, at his best, he can be devastating but he is not at his best and is instead, possibly at his worst in recent memory.
That above argument was fine when the man with possibly the best hand-eye coordination in the business was secure in his mind about his place in the scheme of things. At this point, it's difficult to imagine that if he walks out against Australia, he will not feel the pressure of the immediate situation or not know that a bad outing could well spell the end of what has been an astonishing international career.
Problems galore
As things stand, Anil Kumble is going into the world's toughest series with some serious problems. Agreed, when Ganguly led the team in 2003-04, no one gave them too much of a chance, but this situation is even worse. Then, there was clarity of purpose about the team, no real confusion about anything. The only doubt was over whether Aakash Chopra or Sadagoppan Ramesh would open with Sehwag in Brisbane.
Incidentally, India's success on that tour was attributed a lot to the tremendous success of that Sehwag-Chopra opening combine. Incredibly, they did far better than the famed Langer-Hayden combination did for the Aussies. Now, people are four years older, bodies, even those in sublime touch on Indian soil, are four years older. You are probably going to deeply upset your best Test batsman in Dravid if you ask him to open, even if he will do it.
Your two best pacemen's fitness and ability to last a high intensity tour will be tested. Of those that are fit, two are greenhorns (Ishant Sharma and Pankaj Singh) and one, Irfan Pathan, is on the comeback trail and will be under pressure to perform if he does play. How effective the spinners will be except in Sydney (Kumble is our best hope but he will be handling the additional burden of the captaincy) is another matter for debate. All in all, it's tough to see this as being an Indian Summer Down Under. But then, there's always hope.
WHAT ARE the chances that we're going to see another brand new opening combination walk out on Boxing Day in Melbourne in the first Test of the toughest cricket tour in the world? Logically, very high - if India bat first of course, otherwise, we'd have to wait a couple of days. It's going to be very surprising if Rahul Dravid is not Wasim Jaffer's new opening partner in that first Test.
Dravid, India's most successful Test batsman in modern day cricket, and the man largely responsible for Sourav Ganguly's enviable Test captaincy record, would definitely not be happy about moving up a spot. But, he is not the skipper anymore (of his own accord of course) and the team man that he is, Dravid would almost certainly open if he is asked to do so, in order to accommodate Yuvraj Singh in the middle. In which case, India's batting card would probably read Jaffer, Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Yuvraj, Dhoni etc.
What gamble was this?
So here's some more reasoning then: If that does happen (which is likely) the great Indian cricketing gamble (the act of picking a badly out of form Virender Sehwag), is not really a gamble at all. It is just a mystifying selection. To play Sehwag ahead of Yuvraj, in sublime touch, would be totally irrational, even if you make allowance for the trend of strange decisions in Indian cricket. So why did we have to be put through this sham of a gamble on Wednesday, when Sehwag was announced in the squad after not being in the probables? Or, else, why did we have 24 probables announced at all?
The only way Sehwag would play (plausibly, again) is if Jaffer and Dravid have miserable failures in the first two Tests and you pick Sehwag instead of, say, Jaffer. It would be interpreted as madness to even think of dropping Dravid for Tests. But then again, if Gautam Gambhir was your first choice opener (as has been stated by the selectors and team management), then why didn't they just take Gambhir along as a back-up, if the thinking is to open with Dravid? You also have Dinesh Karthik in the squad anyway.
Why not Gambhir?
Gambhir's sore shoulder is being given an outer limit of three weeks rest as a precautionary measure. Twenty-one days from now is just ahead of the second Test at Sydney.
Just as an aside, when did he pick up that injury? And if it was before the Test, because he didn't seem to get injured during the Bangalore game, why did he play it/why was he made to play it? The Delhi southpaw should definitely be in the one-day squad. So he might as well have spent time with the team, become acclimatised to the conditions and been there as a back-up, if need be. That was the thinking behind taking Jaffer to the ODIs in South Africa last year (the one-day series there preceded the Tests).
That X factor
Coming back to Sehwag, there is no doubting that his impact on the Australian bowlers from last time around weighed in his favour. But that was four years ago. In the time since, the world has changed and so have Sehwag's own fortunes.
An average of 13 or so in five Ranji games so far this season and an inability to negotiate some ordinary domestic attacks (or an unwillingness to show the patience to wait it out) is not a good sign for him or for the Indian team. Yes, with Sehwag, the argument always is, "You never know". True, at his best, he can be devastating but he is not at his best and is instead, possibly at his worst in recent memory.
That above argument was fine when the man with possibly the best hand-eye coordination in the business was secure in his mind about his place in the scheme of things. At this point, it's difficult to imagine that if he walks out against Australia, he will not feel the pressure of the immediate situation or not know that a bad outing could well spell the end of what has been an astonishing international career.
Problems galore
As things stand, Anil Kumble is going into the world's toughest series with some serious problems. Agreed, when Ganguly led the team in 2003-04, no one gave them too much of a chance, but this situation is even worse. Then, there was clarity of purpose about the team, no real confusion about anything. The only doubt was over whether Aakash Chopra or Sadagoppan Ramesh would open with Sehwag in Brisbane.
Incidentally, India's success on that tour was attributed a lot to the tremendous success of that Sehwag-Chopra opening combine. Incredibly, they did far better than the famed Langer-Hayden combination did for the Aussies. Now, people are four years older, bodies, even those in sublime touch on Indian soil, are four years older. You are probably going to deeply upset your best Test batsman in Dravid if you ask him to open, even if he will do it.
Your two best pacemen's fitness and ability to last a high intensity tour will be tested. Of those that are fit, two are greenhorns (Ishant Sharma and Pankaj Singh) and one, Irfan Pathan, is on the comeback trail and will be under pressure to perform if he does play. How effective the spinners will be except in Sydney (Kumble is our best hope but he will be handling the additional burden of the captaincy) is another matter for debate. All in all, it's tough to see this as being an Indian Summer Down Under. But then, there's always hope.
PANKAJ GOT A RAW DEAL FROM UP
PANKAJ SINGH, the latest addition to India's pace battery for the Australia tour, was rejected by selectors in UP at the under-22 trials in 2003 as he was "raw" and not "properly dressed".
The then-chairman of the UP Cricket Association's senior selection committee Anand Shukla wasn't available for a comment, but a committee member during his tenure Yusuf Ali denied any such happening. "I don't remember exactly about Pankaj at the trials in Kanpur," he said, adding, "He might have not been up to the mark that time." "Many UP players have done well at the national level after being rejected by the state, but the allegation that he didn't dress properly for the trials is far fetched," the former selector added.
In 2003, Pankaj met Munawar Ali, coach of Kolkata's Mohammedan Sporting, who took him to Bangalore where the India A team were practicing and former national coach John Wright was present. His effort at the nets impressed everyone and even Dravid, who was present, praised him. There was no looking back as Pankaj got a call from Brijesh Patel to join the MRF Pace Academy. K Parthasarthy spotted him there and took Pankaj to Rajasthan. And thus began his real journey in cricket.
Elated father!
Pankaj's father Sukhraj Singh was elated over the success of his youngest son. He said being an ex-Army man he always wanted Pankaj to be a senior officer.
He hastened to add, "I never stopped him from playing cricket or other games. But I had never imagined it would become a passion."
PANKAJ SINGH, the latest addition to India's pace battery for the Australia tour, was rejected by selectors in UP at the under-22 trials in 2003 as he was "raw" and not "properly dressed".
The then-chairman of the UP Cricket Association's senior selection committee Anand Shukla wasn't available for a comment, but a committee member during his tenure Yusuf Ali denied any such happening. "I don't remember exactly about Pankaj at the trials in Kanpur," he said, adding, "He might have not been up to the mark that time." "Many UP players have done well at the national level after being rejected by the state, but the allegation that he didn't dress properly for the trials is far fetched," the former selector added.
In 2003, Pankaj met Munawar Ali, coach of Kolkata's Mohammedan Sporting, who took him to Bangalore where the India A team were practicing and former national coach John Wright was present. His effort at the nets impressed everyone and even Dravid, who was present, praised him. There was no looking back as Pankaj got a call from Brijesh Patel to join the MRF Pace Academy. K Parthasarthy spotted him there and took Pankaj to Rajasthan. And thus began his real journey in cricket.
Elated father!
Pankaj's father Sukhraj Singh was elated over the success of his youngest son. He said being an ex-Army man he always wanted Pankaj to be a senior officer.
He hastened to add, "I never stopped him from playing cricket or other games. But I had never imagined it would become a passion."
BOSE BOUNCER FOR SELECTOR BISWAL
His India hopes all but gone, Ranadeb Bose hit out at national selector Ranjib Biswal for spreading the word that he is not quick enough. The East Zone man in the five-member committee said recently that it was tough to "fight" for Bose because the team management thinks he "is almost as slow as Dada (Sourav Ganguly)."
"If he has said that, he's lying. Nobody in his right mind can say I am as slow as Sourav," snapped the medium-pacer who took 57 wickets in eight Ranji Trophy matches last season and toured England earlier this year where he took five wickets in an innings in the only first-class match he got, against Sri Lanka A.
"I was between 132-134 kmph at the Challenger Trophy. It was live on TV and those who want can check. Sourav bowls at around 120 and the difference in our pace is significant.
Biswal saw me in the recent Ranji match against Orissa where the keeper was collecting it from near his chest. I must say he is a liar if he says I bowl at Sourav's pace," added Bose. When contacted, Biswal denied having said that. "Speed is a problem with him, but I never said he is as fast as Sourav (Biswal incidentally was on record when he spoke to the media in Siliguri recently. He said the team management felt Bose's pace was in the Ganguly range). And then, a majority of selectors don't want him."
Biswal had also said because Bose was so slow, the battle for tickets to Australia was effectively between Pathan, Ishant, Munaf, V.R.V. and Pankaj Singh. "Of the five, only VRV and Pankaj are faster than me," Bose retorted. "Given the pace Munaf has bowled at of late, that is. And I am not talking about performance, since the selector has talked just about pace." Bose is certainly not the quickest around, but his out-swing, accuracy and hard work has been rewarded with a rich haul of wickets last season mainly on a slow Eden Gardens pitch.
"I know I don't have a chance to play for India anymore. Maybe because I don't do a lot of things like sending messages to certain people on their birthdays, marriage anniversaries or don't try to please them by doing things that go beyond performing in the cricket field. It's disappointing, but I have to accept it," Bose was calmer, having seen the death of his dream and having started concentrating on domestic cricket again.
His India hopes all but gone, Ranadeb Bose hit out at national selector Ranjib Biswal for spreading the word that he is not quick enough. The East Zone man in the five-member committee said recently that it was tough to "fight" for Bose because the team management thinks he "is almost as slow as Dada (Sourav Ganguly)."
"If he has said that, he's lying. Nobody in his right mind can say I am as slow as Sourav," snapped the medium-pacer who took 57 wickets in eight Ranji Trophy matches last season and toured England earlier this year where he took five wickets in an innings in the only first-class match he got, against Sri Lanka A.
"I was between 132-134 kmph at the Challenger Trophy. It was live on TV and those who want can check. Sourav bowls at around 120 and the difference in our pace is significant.
Biswal saw me in the recent Ranji match against Orissa where the keeper was collecting it from near his chest. I must say he is a liar if he says I bowl at Sourav's pace," added Bose. When contacted, Biswal denied having said that. "Speed is a problem with him, but I never said he is as fast as Sourav (Biswal incidentally was on record when he spoke to the media in Siliguri recently. He said the team management felt Bose's pace was in the Ganguly range). And then, a majority of selectors don't want him."
Biswal had also said because Bose was so slow, the battle for tickets to Australia was effectively between Pathan, Ishant, Munaf, V.R.V. and Pankaj Singh. "Of the five, only VRV and Pankaj are faster than me," Bose retorted. "Given the pace Munaf has bowled at of late, that is. And I am not talking about performance, since the selector has talked just about pace." Bose is certainly not the quickest around, but his out-swing, accuracy and hard work has been rewarded with a rich haul of wickets last season mainly on a slow Eden Gardens pitch.
"I know I don't have a chance to play for India anymore. Maybe because I don't do a lot of things like sending messages to certain people on their birthdays, marriage anniversaries or don't try to please them by doing things that go beyond performing in the cricket field. It's disappointing, but I have to accept it," Bose was calmer, having seen the death of his dream and having started concentrating on domestic cricket again.
Friday, December 14, 2007
SHOAIB MALIK TO REMAIN TO PAKISTAN CAPTAIN:SAYS PCB CHAIRMEN ANI
Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf has said that Shoaib Malik will remain as captain for Test and ODI cricket team for further one year.
Ashraf also said that all players have been banned for writing columns in the print media.
Saving two Test matches against India was a good omen, however, we have to work on mental fitness of our players, The News quoted him, as saying.
Commenting on the performance of pacer Mohammad Asif, he said that Asif would be available to the team within six weeks.
Nobody is above the game and any player's interest in any other section other than cricket would not be tolerated, said Ashraf, adding that it would be better for Shoaib Akhtar to come and play domestic cricket in Pakistan. (ANI)
Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf has said that Shoaib Malik will remain as captain for Test and ODI cricket team for further one year.
Ashraf also said that all players have been banned for writing columns in the print media.
Saving two Test matches against India was a good omen, however, we have to work on mental fitness of our players, The News quoted him, as saying.
Commenting on the performance of pacer Mohammad Asif, he said that Asif would be available to the team within six weeks.
Nobody is above the game and any player's interest in any other section other than cricket would not be tolerated, said Ashraf, adding that it would be better for Shoaib Akhtar to come and play domestic cricket in Pakistan. (ANI)
MATCH DETAILS OF AUS VS NZ AT ADILEAD OVAL
NEWZELAND HAS WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO BAT FIRST
NZ.HAD STARTED VERY FLUENTLY BUT COURTESY FOR SOME GREAT BOWLING FROM AUS.QUICK
AT THE END NZ. WERE ABLE TO SCORED 254/7 IN ALLOTED 50 OVER COURTESY MACCULUM WHO HAD SCORED 96 RUNS. TAYLOR HAD SCORED 50(52).
ORAM WAS UNBEATEN ON (32) AT THE END.
IN THE REPLY AUSTRAILIA HAD STARTED VERY AGRESIVELY. COURTESY TO ADAM GILCRIST WHO WAS OUT ON 51(29) HE AND MATHEW HAYDEN HAD GIVEN BLISERING 69 RUNS OPENING STAND.
THERE WAS DRAMA IN THAT PARTNERSHIP.
ADAM GILCRIST WAS OUT CAUGHT BEHIND BUT IT WAS A NO BALL FROM CHRIS MARTIN.
HE WAS OUT ON 51 AFTER THAT THE CAPATIAN RICKY PONTING WAS LEADING FROM THE FRONT. HE HAD SCORED HIS 24TH HUNDREAD IN HIS ODI.IT WAS HIS 16TH HUNDRED AS A CAPATIAN.HE HAD SCORED 35 TH FIFTY AS A CAPATIAN.HIS AVG WAS 46:00 AFTER CAPATIAN BEFORE IT WAS 41:00 SO HE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE STRONGER INDIVISUAL.HE HAD SCORED HIS 5TH CENTURY AGAINST THE NEWZELAND.
AT THE END AUSTRAILIA EASILY WON THE FIRST MATCH OF CHAPPEL-HADLEE SERIES.
NZ. SCORE CARD
BRENDON MACCULUM 96(102)
TAYLOR 50(52)
JACOB ORAM 32*(38)
AUS. SCORE CARD
ADAM GILCRIST 51(29)
RICKY PONTING 107*
MICHLE CLEARK 48
AUSTRAILIA WON BY 7 WICKETS
DRAMA AT THE OVAL
AT THE ONE STAGE MATCH WAS STOPPED DUE TO HEAVY DRIZZEL.AUS WERE 154/2 AT THAT STAGE
WITH THE SYSTEM OF D/L AUS.NEED 110/2 TO WIN THE MATCH.
AUS NEEDED 101 MORE RUNS OF 141 BALLS.
AUSTRAILIA DOMINATED THE SERIES 1-0 AGAINST NEWZELAND.
NEWZELAND HAS WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO BAT FIRST
NZ.HAD STARTED VERY FLUENTLY BUT COURTESY FOR SOME GREAT BOWLING FROM AUS.QUICK
AT THE END NZ. WERE ABLE TO SCORED 254/7 IN ALLOTED 50 OVER COURTESY MACCULUM WHO HAD SCORED 96 RUNS. TAYLOR HAD SCORED 50(52).
ORAM WAS UNBEATEN ON (32) AT THE END.
IN THE REPLY AUSTRAILIA HAD STARTED VERY AGRESIVELY. COURTESY TO ADAM GILCRIST WHO WAS OUT ON 51(29) HE AND MATHEW HAYDEN HAD GIVEN BLISERING 69 RUNS OPENING STAND.
THERE WAS DRAMA IN THAT PARTNERSHIP.
ADAM GILCRIST WAS OUT CAUGHT BEHIND BUT IT WAS A NO BALL FROM CHRIS MARTIN.
HE WAS OUT ON 51 AFTER THAT THE CAPATIAN RICKY PONTING WAS LEADING FROM THE FRONT. HE HAD SCORED HIS 24TH HUNDREAD IN HIS ODI.IT WAS HIS 16TH HUNDRED AS A CAPATIAN.HE HAD SCORED 35 TH FIFTY AS A CAPATIAN.HIS AVG WAS 46:00 AFTER CAPATIAN BEFORE IT WAS 41:00 SO HE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE STRONGER INDIVISUAL.HE HAD SCORED HIS 5TH CENTURY AGAINST THE NEWZELAND.
AT THE END AUSTRAILIA EASILY WON THE FIRST MATCH OF CHAPPEL-HADLEE SERIES.
NZ. SCORE CARD
BRENDON MACCULUM 96(102)
TAYLOR 50(52)
JACOB ORAM 32*(38)
AUS. SCORE CARD
ADAM GILCRIST 51(29)
RICKY PONTING 107*
MICHLE CLEARK 48
AUSTRAILIA WON BY 7 WICKETS
DRAMA AT THE OVAL
AT THE ONE STAGE MATCH WAS STOPPED DUE TO HEAVY DRIZZEL.AUS WERE 154/2 AT THAT STAGE
WITH THE SYSTEM OF D/L AUS.NEED 110/2 TO WIN THE MATCH.
AUS NEEDED 101 MORE RUNS OF 141 BALLS.
AUSTRAILIA DOMINATED THE SERIES 1-0 AGAINST NEWZELAND.
ADAPT FAST IN AUSTRALIA INDIAN BOWLERS TOLD
Indian bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad is confident his young new ball bowlers can adapt quickly to bouncy Australian pitches after toiling on flat tracks in the home Test series win over Pakistan this week.
The ex-India paceman said the tour starting next week would push the players but the team were confident thanks to their recent wins and bowling consistency in varied conditions.
"It is going to be a very challenging series down under," Prasad said on Friday. "It will be exciting competition and all the players will be pushed to the limit in terms of technique, tactics, mentally and physically."
India leave on Monday for Australia to play in a four-Test series starting on Dec. 26 followed by a ODI tri-series also featuring Sri Lanka.
India are on a high after an ODI and Test double over Pakistan but their pace attack is injury depleted. Skipper Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh are the spinners.
The pacy S Sreesanth has a shoulder injury and Munaf Patel has been dropped due to a lack of sharpness.
Among the five chosen, only left-armers Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan have previously played in Australia while young left-arm R P Singh missed the Pakistan tests through injury.
India are hoping they can at least repeat their performance on the last tour in 2003-4 when they drew the Test series 1-1.
TALL BOWLERS
Ishant Sharma, 19, is two Tests old but took a five-wicket innings haul in the drawn final Test while Pankaj Singh, 22, is uncapped, although their height could prove handy on bouncy pitches in Australia.
"Our bowling is a bit inexperienced," Prasad said "We might have played on flat tracks but I'm very confident we'll be ready to adapt because they have done it before."
He added: "Both Ishant and Pankaj have got fantastic talent and lot of potential. They only have to work hard on fitness and be open to ideas."
Prasad was appointed in April and the team have since won Test series in Bangladesh and England. Indian bowlers also shone in the Twenty20 World Cup win in South Africa in September.
"We've been talking about adaptability, that is our mantra," he said. "We've shown a lot of adaptability in terms of pitch conditions, weather and playing against different teams."
However, he said the lack of a gap between series was preventing injury recovery for fast bowlers with flat home pitches like those used against Pakistan making their life tougher. "If we have to develop fast bowling then we need to look at the pitches as well," he said. "People ask 'why can't we produce quick bowlers?' How can we if the bowlers who want to bowl quick are bowling on flat wickets. They tend to reduce their pace after a game or two and rely on swing, movement."
Indian bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad is confident his young new ball bowlers can adapt quickly to bouncy Australian pitches after toiling on flat tracks in the home Test series win over Pakistan this week.
The ex-India paceman said the tour starting next week would push the players but the team were confident thanks to their recent wins and bowling consistency in varied conditions.
"It is going to be a very challenging series down under," Prasad said on Friday. "It will be exciting competition and all the players will be pushed to the limit in terms of technique, tactics, mentally and physically."
India leave on Monday for Australia to play in a four-Test series starting on Dec. 26 followed by a ODI tri-series also featuring Sri Lanka.
India are on a high after an ODI and Test double over Pakistan but their pace attack is injury depleted. Skipper Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh are the spinners.
The pacy S Sreesanth has a shoulder injury and Munaf Patel has been dropped due to a lack of sharpness.
Among the five chosen, only left-armers Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan have previously played in Australia while young left-arm R P Singh missed the Pakistan tests through injury.
India are hoping they can at least repeat their performance on the last tour in 2003-4 when they drew the Test series 1-1.
TALL BOWLERS
Ishant Sharma, 19, is two Tests old but took a five-wicket innings haul in the drawn final Test while Pankaj Singh, 22, is uncapped, although their height could prove handy on bouncy pitches in Australia.
"Our bowling is a bit inexperienced," Prasad said "We might have played on flat tracks but I'm very confident we'll be ready to adapt because they have done it before."
He added: "Both Ishant and Pankaj have got fantastic talent and lot of potential. They only have to work hard on fitness and be open to ideas."
Prasad was appointed in April and the team have since won Test series in Bangladesh and England. Indian bowlers also shone in the Twenty20 World Cup win in South Africa in September.
"We've been talking about adaptability, that is our mantra," he said. "We've shown a lot of adaptability in terms of pitch conditions, weather and playing against different teams."
However, he said the lack of a gap between series was preventing injury recovery for fast bowlers with flat home pitches like those used against Pakistan making their life tougher. "If we have to develop fast bowling then we need to look at the pitches as well," he said. "People ask 'why can't we produce quick bowlers?' How can we if the bowlers who want to bowl quick are bowling on flat wickets. They tend to reduce their pace after a game or two and rely on swing, movement."
Karachi, December 14::
Shoaib Malik is to retain the Pakistan captaincy until the end of next year despite the series defeat against India, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said on Thursday.
"We will stick to our decision to name him as captain for the year (2008). We will give him our full backing and we feel he can mature into a good captain in time," Ashraf said.
The 25-year-old Malik's captaincy and own form have come under the microscope after Pakistan's ODI and Test series defeats at home to South Africa and then the disappointing showing in India.
Malik led Pakistan in the ODI series in India, which the hosts won 3-2, and the first Test in New Delhi which India won by six wickets before going on to complete a 1-0 series triumph.
Vice-captain Younis Khan was the captain for the last two Tests as Malik was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Ashraf said the board had made Malik the captain this year keeping in mind the future of Pakistan cricket.
"He is young and he will learn from his mistakes. Overall the team's performance in India lacked focus," he said.
Ashraf said Pakistan's Australian coach, Geoff Lawson, had been asked to give a detailed report on Pakistan's first Test series loss in India since the 1979-80 rubber.
"The team appeared to lack in mental toughness at times and professionalism The coach is responsible for this and we will talk to him," Ashraf said.
Shoaib Malik is to retain the Pakistan captaincy until the end of next year despite the series defeat against India, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said on Thursday.
"We will stick to our decision to name him as captain for the year (2008). We will give him our full backing and we feel he can mature into a good captain in time," Ashraf said.
The 25-year-old Malik's captaincy and own form have come under the microscope after Pakistan's ODI and Test series defeats at home to South Africa and then the disappointing showing in India.
Malik led Pakistan in the ODI series in India, which the hosts won 3-2, and the first Test in New Delhi which India won by six wickets before going on to complete a 1-0 series triumph.
Vice-captain Younis Khan was the captain for the last two Tests as Malik was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Ashraf said the board had made Malik the captain this year keeping in mind the future of Pakistan cricket.
"He is young and he will learn from his mistakes. Overall the team's performance in India lacked focus," he said.
Ashraf said Pakistan's Australian coach, Geoff Lawson, had been asked to give a detailed report on Pakistan's first Test series loss in India since the 1979-80 rubber.
"The team appeared to lack in mental toughness at times and professionalism The coach is responsible for this and we will talk to him," Ashraf said.
INDIA HAVE A POTENTIAL TO BEAT AUSTRALIA : ANIL KUMBLE
by the Test series win against Pakistan, skipper Anil Kumble believes India has the firepower to beat Australia in their own den.
Kumble, who notched up the win in his maiden assignment as captain, said the strength of the side is their batting line-up but they also have bowlers who can take 20 wickets.
"We have the potential to beat Australia because we have the batting line-up to put the runs on the board," Kumble said.
"And once we have the runs on the board, I believe we have the ability to get 20 wickets," he told CNN-IBN.
The 37-year-old leg spinner said the captaincy came at a time when he thought he had given up hopes of leading the side.
"I thought the chance had passed me, I thought there was a chance when I was vice-captain in 1996," said Kumble, adding that he didn't expect to be made captain even as recently as two months ago.
"When I became captain was not in my control, and I think it has come at the right time," said Kumble who recently pipped Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Test captaincy, after Rahul Dravid had given up the job.
Kumble revealed that he had contemplated retirement several times in the past and that Test captaincy was a "shot in the arm."
The veteran spinner said post-retirement, he would prefer taking up coaching in Bangalore to touring as part of the media.
by the Test series win against Pakistan, skipper Anil Kumble believes India has the firepower to beat Australia in their own den.
Kumble, who notched up the win in his maiden assignment as captain, said the strength of the side is their batting line-up but they also have bowlers who can take 20 wickets.
"We have the potential to beat Australia because we have the batting line-up to put the runs on the board," Kumble said.
"And once we have the runs on the board, I believe we have the ability to get 20 wickets," he told CNN-IBN.
The 37-year-old leg spinner said the captaincy came at a time when he thought he had given up hopes of leading the side.
"I thought the chance had passed me, I thought there was a chance when I was vice-captain in 1996," said Kumble, adding that he didn't expect to be made captain even as recently as two months ago.
"When I became captain was not in my control, and I think it has come at the right time," said Kumble who recently pipped Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Test captaincy, after Rahul Dravid had given up the job.
Kumble revealed that he had contemplated retirement several times in the past and that Test captaincy was a "shot in the arm."
The veteran spinner said post-retirement, he would prefer taking up coaching in Bangalore to touring as part of the media.
Dubai, December 14: :
Following his outstanding performance in the series against Pakistan, Sourav Ganguly entered into the top-20 of ICC Test rankings for batsmen for the first time in seven years.
The left-hander notched up two centuries, one fifty at an average of 89.00 to earn the Player of the Series award and jump four places to 20th in the ICC list.
However, Sachin Tendulkar dropped a rung to 19th.
On the bowling front, India's Test captain Anil Kumble is relishing his time in charge and the veteran leg-spinner took 18 wickets in the three-Test series to move up two places to fifth in the bowlers list.
Meanwhile, pace spearhead Irfan Pathan's maiden Test hundred has pushed him to the sixth spot in the rankings for all-rounders, behind Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka.
The other big mover from the India-Pakistan Test series is Misbah-ul-Haq. The right-hander began the series in 88th position but is now ranked 25th after scoring 464 runs in six innings at an average of 116.
At the top, Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara and Australia's Ricky Ponting are sharing the number one position in the rankings for batsmen.
The two are locked on 936 ratings points but Sangakkara has the first chance to move ahead again when Sri Lanka and England take the field for the third and final Test of the series in Galle, starting on Tuesday.
Following his outstanding performance in the series against Pakistan, Sourav Ganguly entered into the top-20 of ICC Test rankings for batsmen for the first time in seven years.
The left-hander notched up two centuries, one fifty at an average of 89.00 to earn the Player of the Series award and jump four places to 20th in the ICC list.
However, Sachin Tendulkar dropped a rung to 19th.
On the bowling front, India's Test captain Anil Kumble is relishing his time in charge and the veteran leg-spinner took 18 wickets in the three-Test series to move up two places to fifth in the bowlers list.
Meanwhile, pace spearhead Irfan Pathan's maiden Test hundred has pushed him to the sixth spot in the rankings for all-rounders, behind Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka.
The other big mover from the India-Pakistan Test series is Misbah-ul-Haq. The right-hander began the series in 88th position but is now ranked 25th after scoring 464 runs in six innings at an average of 116.
At the top, Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara and Australia's Ricky Ponting are sharing the number one position in the rankings for batsmen.
The two are locked on 936 ratings points but Sangakkara has the first chance to move ahead again when Sri Lanka and England take the field for the third and final Test of the series in Galle, starting on Tuesday.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
MURLITHARAN AND IAN BELL CONTEST
England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test
Sinhalese Sports Club
8 Dec 2007
Umpires: Aleem Dar , DJ Harper
Toss won by England, Elected to bat
Player of the Match: DPMD Jayawardene
Match drawn
MURLITHAAN CAN NOT ABLE TO RAP THE ENGLAND. BUT HE HAD DISMISED IAN BELL FOURTH TIME IN THE SERIES.
England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test
Sinhalese Sports Club
8 Dec 2007
Umpires: Aleem Dar , DJ Harper
Toss won by England, Elected to bat
Player of the Match: DPMD Jayawardene
Match drawn
MURLITHAAN CAN NOT ABLE TO RAP THE ENGLAND. BUT HE HAD DISMISED IAN BELL FOURTH TIME IN THE SERIES.
Austrilia's Legends
Sir Donald George Bradman:
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC (August 27, 1908 – February 25, 2001) was an Australian cricket player who is universally regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, and is one of Australia's most popular sporting heroes. Among those who have a meaningful Test match batting average through batting in more than 20 innings, his figure of 99.94 is over 63% higher than that achieved by any other cricketer. Next among those who have batted in more than 20 innings is South African Graeme Pollock with an average of 60.97.
Born on 27 August 1908 in Cootamundra, New South Wales, but raised in Bowral (where the Bradman Museum and Bradman Oval are located), Bradman practiced obsessively during his youth. At home he invented his own one-man cricket game using a stump and a golf ball. A water tank stood on a brick stand behind the Bradman home on a covered and paved area. When hit into the curved brick stand, the ball would rebound at high speed and varying angles. This form of practice helped him to develop split-second speed and accuracy.
After a brief dalliance with tennis he dedicated himself to cricket, playing for local sides before attracting sufficient attention to be drafted in grade cricket in Sydney at the age of 18. Within a year he was representing New South Wales and within three he had made his Test debut.
Receiving some criticism in his first Ashes series in 1928–1929, he worked constantly to remove the few weaknesses in his game and by the time of the Bodyline series he was without peer as a batsman.
Possessing a great stillness whilst awaiting the delivery, his shotmaking was based on a combination of excellent vision, speed of both thought and footwork and a decisive, powerful bat motion with a pronounced follow-through. Technically his play was almost flawless, strong on both sides of the wicket with only his sternest critics noting a tendency for his backlift to be slightly angled toward the slip cordon.
Despite occasional battles with illness, he continued to dominate world cricket throughout the 1930s and is credited with raising the spirit of a nation suffering under the vagaries of the Great Depression.
Over an international career spanning 20 years from 1928 to 1948, Bradman's statistical achievements were unparalleled. He broke scoring records for both first-class and Test cricket; his highest international score (334) stood for decades as the highest ever Test score by an Australian. It was then equalled by Mark Taylor, who declared with his score at 334 not out in what many regard as a deliberate tribute to Bradman. In 2003 it was once more equalled, then surpassed by Matthew Hayden, who fittingly went on to gain the highest score in Test cricket (380) up to that time.
He was to be unlucky against the Sri Lankans, however. When Australia played against the All-Ceylon team in Colombo (on a 'whistle stop' tour on the way to England) on 2 April 1930, Bradman was out hit wicket for the first ball bowled by N.S. Joseph, on his debut. This is supposed to be the first occasion that Bradman got out hit wicket. He missed playing them on the next two tours; but, playing All-Ceylon again on 27 March 1948 was able to score only 20 runs, being caught by R.L. de Krester bowled B.R. Heyn.
For decades, Bradman was the only player with two Test triple centuries in his career. He was joined by West Indian Brian Lara in 2004; Lara broke Hayden's record, and recorded the first Test quadruple century in history in the process of joining Bradman in this exclusive club.
Don BradmanApproaching forty years of age (most players today are retired by their mid-thirties), he returned to play cricket after second World War , leading one of the most talented teams in Australia's history. In his farewell 1948 tour of England the team he led, dubbed "The Invincibles", went undefeated throughout the tour, a feat unmatched before or since.
On the occasion of his last international innings, Bradman needed four runs to be able to retire with a batting average of 100, but was dismissed for nought (in cricketing parlance, "a duck") by spin bowler Eric Hollies. Applauded onto the pitch by both teams, it was sometimes claimed that he was unable to see that ball because of the tears welling in his eyes, a claim Bradman always dismissed as sentimental nonsense. "I knew it would be my last Test match after a career spanning 20-years", he said, "but to suggest I got out as some people did, because I had tears in my eyes, is to belittle the bowler and is quite untrue." Regardless, he was given a guard of honour by players and spectators alike as he left the ground with a batting average of 99.94 from his 52 Tests, nearly double the average of any other player before or since. His average is allegedly immortalised as the post office box number of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation - "Box 9994 in your capital city".
Bradman so dominated the game that special bowling tactics, known as fast leg theory or Bodyline, regarded by many as unsporting and dangerous, were devised by England captain Douglas Jardine to reduce his dominance in a series of international matches against England in the Australian summer of 1932–1933. The principal English exponent of Bodyline was the Nottinghamshire pace bowler Harold Larwood, and the contest between Bradman and Larwood had proved to be the focal point of the competition.
Some indication of his superlative skill was that his average for that series, 56.57, is above the career averages of all but a handful of international players in the 125-odd years of international cricket matches. Statistical analyses give some credence to the claim that Bradman dominated his sport more than Pelé, Wayne Gretzky, Ty Cobb, Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan, amongst other champions of their disciplines.
the evidence of his supreme athletic skills was revealed when Bradman missed the 1935–36 tour to South Africa due to illness. During his absence from cricket, Bradman had taken up squash to keep himself absolutely fit. He subsequently won the South Australian Open Squash Championship.
Sir Donald George Bradman:
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC (August 27, 1908 – February 25, 2001) was an Australian cricket player who is universally regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, and is one of Australia's most popular sporting heroes. Among those who have a meaningful Test match batting average through batting in more than 20 innings, his figure of 99.94 is over 63% higher than that achieved by any other cricketer. Next among those who have batted in more than 20 innings is South African Graeme Pollock with an average of 60.97.
Born on 27 August 1908 in Cootamundra, New South Wales, but raised in Bowral (where the Bradman Museum and Bradman Oval are located), Bradman practiced obsessively during his youth. At home he invented his own one-man cricket game using a stump and a golf ball. A water tank stood on a brick stand behind the Bradman home on a covered and paved area. When hit into the curved brick stand, the ball would rebound at high speed and varying angles. This form of practice helped him to develop split-second speed and accuracy.
After a brief dalliance with tennis he dedicated himself to cricket, playing for local sides before attracting sufficient attention to be drafted in grade cricket in Sydney at the age of 18. Within a year he was representing New South Wales and within three he had made his Test debut.
Receiving some criticism in his first Ashes series in 1928–1929, he worked constantly to remove the few weaknesses in his game and by the time of the Bodyline series he was without peer as a batsman.
Possessing a great stillness whilst awaiting the delivery, his shotmaking was based on a combination of excellent vision, speed of both thought and footwork and a decisive, powerful bat motion with a pronounced follow-through. Technically his play was almost flawless, strong on both sides of the wicket with only his sternest critics noting a tendency for his backlift to be slightly angled toward the slip cordon.
Despite occasional battles with illness, he continued to dominate world cricket throughout the 1930s and is credited with raising the spirit of a nation suffering under the vagaries of the Great Depression.
Over an international career spanning 20 years from 1928 to 1948, Bradman's statistical achievements were unparalleled. He broke scoring records for both first-class and Test cricket; his highest international score (334) stood for decades as the highest ever Test score by an Australian. It was then equalled by Mark Taylor, who declared with his score at 334 not out in what many regard as a deliberate tribute to Bradman. In 2003 it was once more equalled, then surpassed by Matthew Hayden, who fittingly went on to gain the highest score in Test cricket (380) up to that time.
He was to be unlucky against the Sri Lankans, however. When Australia played against the All-Ceylon team in Colombo (on a 'whistle stop' tour on the way to England) on 2 April 1930, Bradman was out hit wicket for the first ball bowled by N.S. Joseph, on his debut. This is supposed to be the first occasion that Bradman got out hit wicket. He missed playing them on the next two tours; but, playing All-Ceylon again on 27 March 1948 was able to score only 20 runs, being caught by R.L. de Krester bowled B.R. Heyn.
For decades, Bradman was the only player with two Test triple centuries in his career. He was joined by West Indian Brian Lara in 2004; Lara broke Hayden's record, and recorded the first Test quadruple century in history in the process of joining Bradman in this exclusive club.
Don BradmanApproaching forty years of age (most players today are retired by their mid-thirties), he returned to play cricket after second World War , leading one of the most talented teams in Australia's history. In his farewell 1948 tour of England the team he led, dubbed "The Invincibles", went undefeated throughout the tour, a feat unmatched before or since.
On the occasion of his last international innings, Bradman needed four runs to be able to retire with a batting average of 100, but was dismissed for nought (in cricketing parlance, "a duck") by spin bowler Eric Hollies. Applauded onto the pitch by both teams, it was sometimes claimed that he was unable to see that ball because of the tears welling in his eyes, a claim Bradman always dismissed as sentimental nonsense. "I knew it would be my last Test match after a career spanning 20-years", he said, "but to suggest I got out as some people did, because I had tears in my eyes, is to belittle the bowler and is quite untrue." Regardless, he was given a guard of honour by players and spectators alike as he left the ground with a batting average of 99.94 from his 52 Tests, nearly double the average of any other player before or since. His average is allegedly immortalised as the post office box number of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation - "Box 9994 in your capital city".
Bradman so dominated the game that special bowling tactics, known as fast leg theory or Bodyline, regarded by many as unsporting and dangerous, were devised by England captain Douglas Jardine to reduce his dominance in a series of international matches against England in the Australian summer of 1932–1933. The principal English exponent of Bodyline was the Nottinghamshire pace bowler Harold Larwood, and the contest between Bradman and Larwood had proved to be the focal point of the competition.
Some indication of his superlative skill was that his average for that series, 56.57, is above the career averages of all but a handful of international players in the 125-odd years of international cricket matches. Statistical analyses give some credence to the claim that Bradman dominated his sport more than Pelé, Wayne Gretzky, Ty Cobb, Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan, amongst other champions of their disciplines.
the evidence of his supreme athletic skills was revealed when Bradman missed the 1935–36 tour to South Africa due to illness. During his absence from cricket, Bradman had taken up squash to keep himself absolutely fit. He subsequently won the South Australian Open Squash Championship.
informatin Ashes 2009 in England tour!
Australia has put the final nail in the coffin of the most anticiapted Ashes series in history of the cricket. A 5-0 thrashing by the Australians & a farewell tour to 3 legends of austrailian cricket.
The start of the series was as big an event as we have seen - the interest in Brisbane was un-beliveble, but unfortunately after the heroics of the 2005 series this pommie team were nothing short of dreadful & the previous two Tests were reminder as a farewell tour for Warne, McGrath & Langer.
The action off the pitch was closely played & the Bashers series between the Barmy Army & Fanatics went to the final match at Coogee Oval locked at 2-2. In front of 2000+ fans the Fanatics won the toss, batted first & set a total of 180. After a gun-ho start the Barmy Army was hauled in & fell 28 runs short for an emphatic Fanatics victory.
Thanks to all those who attended the Bashers Series along the way & shared a beer on the Tour of Duty or at one of the Fanatics HQ bars.
Now we shift focus to the One Dayers & the ensuing Cricket World Cup.
Final details on tshirt collection for Perth & Brisbane has now been uploaded. We look forward to sharing a beer & watching another dominating performance with you soon.
Australia has put the final nail in the coffin of the most anticiapted Ashes series in history of the cricket. A 5-0 thrashing by the Australians & a farewell tour to 3 legends of austrailian cricket.
The start of the series was as big an event as we have seen - the interest in Brisbane was un-beliveble, but unfortunately after the heroics of the 2005 series this pommie team were nothing short of dreadful & the previous two Tests were reminder as a farewell tour for Warne, McGrath & Langer.
The action off the pitch was closely played & the Bashers series between the Barmy Army & Fanatics went to the final match at Coogee Oval locked at 2-2. In front of 2000+ fans the Fanatics won the toss, batted first & set a total of 180. After a gun-ho start the Barmy Army was hauled in & fell 28 runs short for an emphatic Fanatics victory.
Thanks to all those who attended the Bashers Series along the way & shared a beer on the Tour of Duty or at one of the Fanatics HQ bars.
Now we shift focus to the One Dayers & the ensuing Cricket World Cup.
Final details on tshirt collection for Perth & Brisbane has now been uploaded. We look forward to sharing a beer & watching another dominating performance with you soon.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
SURPRICE TEAM IN THE TOUR OF AUSTRAILIA
THE SELECTOR HAD SELECT THE INDIA'S TEAM THERE WILL BE LOTS OF SURPRISE.
TEAMS
WASSIM JAFAR
VIRENDER SHEWAG
DINESH KARTHIK
RAHUL DRAVID
SOURAV GANGULY
SACHIN TENDULKAR
V.V.S LAXMAN
YUVRAJ SINGH
MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI(W.K)
ZAHEER KHAN
R.P.SINGH
ANIL KUMBLE(C)
HARBHAJAN SINGH
PANKAJ SINGH
ISHANT SHARMA
V.R.V SINGH
PARTHIV PATEL HAS BEEN LEFT OUT THE SELECTOR HAS DONE INJUSTICE TO HIM
THE SELECTOR HAD SELECT THE INDIA'S TEAM THERE WILL BE LOTS OF SURPRISE.
TEAMS
WASSIM JAFAR
VIRENDER SHEWAG
DINESH KARTHIK
RAHUL DRAVID
SOURAV GANGULY
SACHIN TENDULKAR
V.V.S LAXMAN
YUVRAJ SINGH
MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI(W.K)
ZAHEER KHAN
R.P.SINGH
ANIL KUMBLE(C)
HARBHAJAN SINGH
PANKAJ SINGH
ISHANT SHARMA
V.R.V SINGH
PARTHIV PATEL HAS BEEN LEFT OUT THE SELECTOR HAS DONE INJUSTICE TO HIM
SPECTACULAR ABOUT ANIL KUMBLE
ANIL KUMBLE HAD LEAD INDIA FIRST TIME IN THE WHOLE SERIES AND WIN WITH THE CONVENTIONAL MANNER HE WAS BECAME A CAPATION AT THE AGE OF 37.
HAD SHOWN LOTS OF CHARACTER BY HIM AND INDIA HE WAS LEADING FROM THE FRONT.
HE HAD ANSWERED HIS CRITISIAM'S REPLY NOT WITH THE SPECH BUT WITH THE BOWL.
HE WAS BOWLING SIM-UP DELIVERIES.HE WAS ACTULY A SIMMER BUT BECAUSE OF HIS BROTHER ADVISED HE IS A LEG SPINER.
THE BEST BOWLER OF THE DAY : ANIL KUMBLE 60/5 IN THE SECOND INNINGS
THE EXTRA PREMIUM PLATER OF THE MATCH :SOURAV GANGULY 330 RUNS IN THIS MATCH
THE EXTRA PREMIUM PLATER OF THE SERIES :SOURAV GANGULY 534 RUNS, 4 WICKETS
THE 9X PLAYER OF THE DAY: SENSATIONAL YUVRAJ SINGH
ANIL KUMBLE HAD LEAD INDIA FIRST TIME IN THE WHOLE SERIES AND WIN WITH THE CONVENTIONAL MANNER HE WAS BECAME A CAPATION AT THE AGE OF 37.
HAD SHOWN LOTS OF CHARACTER BY HIM AND INDIA HE WAS LEADING FROM THE FRONT.
HE HAD ANSWERED HIS CRITISIAM'S REPLY NOT WITH THE SPECH BUT WITH THE BOWL.
HE WAS BOWLING SIM-UP DELIVERIES.HE WAS ACTULY A SIMMER BUT BECAUSE OF HIS BROTHER ADVISED HE IS A LEG SPINER.
THE BEST BOWLER OF THE DAY : ANIL KUMBLE 60/5 IN THE SECOND INNINGS
THE EXTRA PREMIUM PLATER OF THE MATCH :SOURAV GANGULY 330 RUNS IN THIS MATCH
THE EXTRA PREMIUM PLATER OF THE SERIES :SOURAV GANGULY 534 RUNS, 4 WICKETS
THE 9X PLAYER OF THE DAY: SENSATIONAL YUVRAJ SINGH
UN-BELIVABLE DRAMA ON THE BANGLORE
PAKISTAN NEED 374 RUNS TO WIN THE TEST MATCH WHICH IS VERY ACADAMIC OR UNLIKELY ON DAY-5 PITCH. INDIA ALSO BELIVE THAT IT WILL GO IN TO THE DRAW
BUT THE CAPATAIN ALMOST HAD DONE MIRACLE TO WIN THIS INDIAN OIL CUP WITH 2-0 LEAD
CRICKET IS A GAME OF UN-CERTAINITY ANY THING CAN BE HAPPEN IN THE CRICKET.
THE INTERESTING ANALYSIS WAS INDIA WERE ALMOST MADE THIER MIND THAT ONLY TWO OVER LEFT AFTER MANDATORY OVERS AND FAISAL IQUBLE HAD PLAYED FALSE CRICKET AFTER GETTING HIS FIFTY IN JUST 48 BALLS. IT WAS HIS SIXTH TEST FIFTY.
IN THE NEXT BALL KAMRAN AKMAL WAS BOWLED BY ANIL KUMBLE. ANIL KUMBLE WAS PUMPED UP. HE HAD TAKEN ANOTHER FIVE WICKET HALL. HE HAD GIVEN AWAY 60/5 WICKET HE HAD TAKEN 584 WICKETS IN HIS TEST CAREER.
THE FATE HAD NOT SUPPORTED INDIA. THE MATCH WAS STOPED BECAUSE OF BAD LIGHT.
NEVER THE LESS INDIA HAD WON THIS SERIES AND WON AFTER 27 YEARS AGAINST PAK. AT HOME.
ONE BIG CONTRIBUTION WAS COME FROM THE SENSETIONAL YUVRAJ SINGH HE HAD TAKEN A PRICE WICKET OF MISBAH-UL-HAQ AND YASIR ARAFAT.
PAKISTAN NEED 374 RUNS TO WIN THE TEST MATCH WHICH IS VERY ACADAMIC OR UNLIKELY ON DAY-5 PITCH. INDIA ALSO BELIVE THAT IT WILL GO IN TO THE DRAW
BUT THE CAPATAIN ALMOST HAD DONE MIRACLE TO WIN THIS INDIAN OIL CUP WITH 2-0 LEAD
CRICKET IS A GAME OF UN-CERTAINITY ANY THING CAN BE HAPPEN IN THE CRICKET.
THE INTERESTING ANALYSIS WAS INDIA WERE ALMOST MADE THIER MIND THAT ONLY TWO OVER LEFT AFTER MANDATORY OVERS AND FAISAL IQUBLE HAD PLAYED FALSE CRICKET AFTER GETTING HIS FIFTY IN JUST 48 BALLS. IT WAS HIS SIXTH TEST FIFTY.
IN THE NEXT BALL KAMRAN AKMAL WAS BOWLED BY ANIL KUMBLE. ANIL KUMBLE WAS PUMPED UP. HE HAD TAKEN ANOTHER FIVE WICKET HALL. HE HAD GIVEN AWAY 60/5 WICKET HE HAD TAKEN 584 WICKETS IN HIS TEST CAREER.
THE FATE HAD NOT SUPPORTED INDIA. THE MATCH WAS STOPED BECAUSE OF BAD LIGHT.
NEVER THE LESS INDIA HAD WON THIS SERIES AND WON AFTER 27 YEARS AGAINST PAK. AT HOME.
ONE BIG CONTRIBUTION WAS COME FROM THE SENSETIONAL YUVRAJ SINGH HE HAD TAKEN A PRICE WICKET OF MISBAH-UL-HAQ AND YASIR ARAFAT.
INFORMATION ABOUT LAST DAY OF THE CRICKET
INDIA HAD DECLARED ON 284/6 AND GET MASSIVE 373 RUNS TO WIN. BORDERLINE FOR THE TOUR OF AUSTRALIA DINESH KARTHIK HAD SCORED 52 IN THE SECOND INNING OF THIRD TEST BEATWEEN INDIA AND PAK.
SOURAV GANGULY HAD SCORED BRILIANT 91 (134) AND HE HAD SCORED 330 RUNS IN THIS TEST MATCH.
YUVRAJ SINGH WAS UNLUCKY TO GIVEN OUT. INDIA WILL WIN THE SERIES DEFINETELY.
INDIA HAD DECLARED ON 284/6 AND GET MASSIVE 373 RUNS TO WIN. BORDERLINE FOR THE TOUR OF AUSTRALIA DINESH KARTHIK HAD SCORED 52 IN THE SECOND INNING OF THIRD TEST BEATWEEN INDIA AND PAK.
SOURAV GANGULY HAD SCORED BRILIANT 91 (134) AND HE HAD SCORED 330 RUNS IN THIS TEST MATCH.
YUVRAJ SINGH WAS UNLUCKY TO GIVEN OUT. INDIA WILL WIN THE SERIES DEFINETELY.
CRITISISAM ABOUT THE ANIL KUMBLE
INDIAN CAPATAIN HAD PLAYED MORE SAFER CRICKET THEN RISKEY CRICKET.
ALL THE COMMENTRATORS INCLUDING SPECTATORS WERE VERY FRUSTETED
THE CRITISISAM WAS INDIA HAD TO DECLARED ON LUNCH IF NOT EARLIER.THEY DID NOT DONE THAT. SO THAT THE EXCITEMENT WERE LESS.
IF KUMBLE HAD DECLARED ON LUNCH THERE WAS A POSIBILITY OF WIN THE SERIES 2-0 RATHER THAN 1-0
IT WILL BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE AND TEAMS CONFIDENTS WHEN GOING TO THE AUSTRAILIA.
ADDING TO THAT PITCH ON BANGLORE DID NOT SUIT THE ANILKUMBLE'S BOWLING BECAUSE HE NEEDS MORE PACE AND BOWNCE FROM THE PITCH. BANGLORE WICKET'S WERE VERY SLOW.
INDIAN CAPATAIN HAD PLAYED MORE SAFER CRICKET THEN RISKEY CRICKET.
ALL THE COMMENTRATORS INCLUDING SPECTATORS WERE VERY FRUSTETED
THE CRITISISAM WAS INDIA HAD TO DECLARED ON LUNCH IF NOT EARLIER.THEY DID NOT DONE THAT. SO THAT THE EXCITEMENT WERE LESS.
IF KUMBLE HAD DECLARED ON LUNCH THERE WAS A POSIBILITY OF WIN THE SERIES 2-0 RATHER THAN 1-0
IT WILL BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE AND TEAMS CONFIDENTS WHEN GOING TO THE AUSTRAILIA.
ADDING TO THAT PITCH ON BANGLORE DID NOT SUIT THE ANILKUMBLE'S BOWLING BECAUSE HE NEEDS MORE PACE AND BOWNCE FROM THE PITCH. BANGLORE WICKET'S WERE VERY SLOW.
information about westindies
Tony Cozier experiences first hand the WICB bungling led by its Chief Operations Officer Tony Howard. Cozier has to pitch in to rescue the stranded West Indies players coming in South Africa.
The situation bore the unmistakeable stamp of customary West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) bungling.
Pedro Collins and Daren Ganga arrived at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport by British Airways from London early yesterday morning, after 36-hour journey from the Caribbean, expecting to join the West Indies team that had flown in the last evening from Zimbabwe for the fourthcoming tour of South Africa.
They found no one on hand to meet them, had no idea where the team was, carried no contact numbers for West Indies or Cricket South Africa (CSA) officials and no instructions to advise them of their next move.
Fortunately, I was at the airport at the time and could offer some help.
As earlier e-mailed efforts to obtain names and numbers for West Indies team hotels and management from the WICB had proved unsurprisingly futile, I telephoned Michael Owen-Smith, the CSA media manager, to inform him of the predicament. He immediately contacted CSA headquarters in Johannesburg from his office in Cape Town and called back to state that no one there had any notice from the WICB of the scheduled arrival of the two players, who replace Ravi Rampaul and Narsingh Deonarine from the Zimbabwe team.
*Does anyone actually know of any (other) company where this sort of thing happens and the persons responsible are not seriously reprimanded? The more things change, the more they remain the same. The charade continues.
Tony Cozier experiences first hand the WICB bungling led by its Chief Operations Officer Tony Howard. Cozier has to pitch in to rescue the stranded West Indies players coming in South Africa.
The situation bore the unmistakeable stamp of customary West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) bungling.
Pedro Collins and Daren Ganga arrived at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport by British Airways from London early yesterday morning, after 36-hour journey from the Caribbean, expecting to join the West Indies team that had flown in the last evening from Zimbabwe for the fourthcoming tour of South Africa.
They found no one on hand to meet them, had no idea where the team was, carried no contact numbers for West Indies or Cricket South Africa (CSA) officials and no instructions to advise them of their next move.
Fortunately, I was at the airport at the time and could offer some help.
As earlier e-mailed efforts to obtain names and numbers for West Indies team hotels and management from the WICB had proved unsurprisingly futile, I telephoned Michael Owen-Smith, the CSA media manager, to inform him of the predicament. He immediately contacted CSA headquarters in Johannesburg from his office in Cape Town and called back to state that no one there had any notice from the WICB of the scheduled arrival of the two players, who replace Ravi Rampaul and Narsingh Deonarine from the Zimbabwe team.
*Does anyone actually know of any (other) company where this sort of thing happens and the persons responsible are not seriously reprimanded? The more things change, the more they remain the same. The charade continues.
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