tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-101588032024-03-12T16:26:01.965-07:00ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Champions League Twenty 20 cricket, T20 World Cup Teams listT20 World Cup 2009 England, T20 World Cup 2009 Schedule, T20 World Cup Teams listUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger574125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-72878505922198098772012-03-12T04:53:00.000-07:002015-04-08T04:58:13.790-07:00A year on, Tendulkar still on 99 tons<div style="text-align: justify;">Exactly a year ago, on March 11, 2011, Sachin Tendulkar scored his 99th international century against South Africa in Nagpur during the World Cup. It wasn’t enough to set up an Indian victory, but it showed viewers the world over that aged 37 and 323 days, he was still a master batsman showing few signs of slowing down.<br /><br />A year on, and Tendulkar is still on 99 international centuries, while so much has changed for the Indian cricket team. In the last 12 months they have won the World Cup, slipped form their No. 1 perch in the ICC’s Test rankings, been whitewashed in consecutive overseas Test tours, failed to make the finals of a tri-series, and have seen Rahul Dravid make his exit from the international scene.<br /><br />In these 12 months, Tendulkar’s batting returns have also diminished. In 11 Tests he has scored 778 runs at an average of 37.04, with a best of 94. He came close to scoring that unprecedented 100th hundred a couple other times too; at The Oval he made 91 and in Sydney he reached 80. That innings of 94 was the best chance he had of getting to three figures – Tendulkar came out on the fourth morning in Mumbai in robust mood – but an unwarranted dab to third man ended up in the slips.<br /><br />His batting hasn’t been poor, but he has endured patches where he has shut shop – such as in Sydney, where he fell to Michael Clarke – and others when he has timed the ball perfectly only to lose focus (London, Delhi, Mumbai, Melbourne) with aggressive shot selection. Plenty has been written, spoken and surmised of whether the 100th hundred has played on Tendulkar’s mind, and not without reason. It is a long time for Tendulkar to go without a century. Along the way, India were blanked 4-0 in England and Australia, adding to the overall sense of failure.<br /><br />Tendulkar did not play an ODI since the World Cup final on April 2, 2011 until he was named in India’s squad for the CB Series after the Test debacle in Australia. That period included four ODI contests, against West Indies and England home and away. Injury played its part, with Tendulkar being ruled out of the ODI leg in England. In 11 ODIs since that century in Nagpur, Tendulkar has made 301 runs at 27.36, with his best shot at the 100th hundred being his chancy 85 against Pakistan in the World Cup semi-final. He has not crossed 48 since then.<br /><br />Tendulkar’s inclusion for the ongoing Asia Cup – India play Sri Lanka on Tuesday – gives him another opportunity to reach that landmark century. After a bad CB Series, there is thought that Tendulkar will score No. 100 on much friendlier tracks in Bangladesh. If he does, India will rise to cheer a legend. If he doesn’t, the calls for Tendulkar to take a firm call on his ODI career will get much louder.<br /></div><p style='display:none'>26836f82e46040fca5a806badc0036547afa3dbd</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-46259474822306105292012-03-06T01:44:00.001-08:002012-03-06T01:53:45.177-08:00Sachin shouldn't wait long to decide<div style="text-align: justify;">Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson feels Sachin Tendulkar has got the right to decide when to quit one-day cricket, but says he should not wait too long, as otherwise, the criticism will grow.<br /><br />"In Tests (in Australia), I thought he played the second best after (Virat) Kohli, who probably played the best. Looked to me he (Tendulkar) was in pretty good form in the Tests," Lawson said.<br /><br />"But I wonder whether he is playing the one-dayers for the right reason? Was his heart and mind in it? Is he playing for the 100th hundred or for India? That's what he will have to ask himself."<br /><br />"He is one of the greatest players of all-time and he has gained the respect that he can take his own decision, but if he waits too long, someone (like Kapil Dev) would not like it," said Lawson, when asked for his reaction to the former India captain's view that Tendulkar should have quit one-day cricket after India's triumph in the World Cup last year.<br /><br />The veteran of 180 Test wickets conceded he was surprised by the dismal Indian show in the Test series Down Under.<br /><br />"Yes, I was surprised. First Test was very close, India were a bit unlucky. Umesh Yadav bowled well. Ishant was a bit unlucky. After that the bowling fell away. I thought the bowling was getting better but Zaheer got injured again."<br /><br />The former Pakistan national coach felt that Sharma was bowling a little bit on the shorter side.<br /><br />"Ishant was bowling the wrong length, an Indian length on Australian wickets. All the Australian bowlers were getting wickets when they pitched (the ball) up. He was bowling with lot of heart, he was making the effort, but to me, the length was a bit wrong in the Tests," Lawson said.<br /><br />The 54-year-old New South Welshman was full of praise for Kohli's display and his on-field attitude Down Under, but could not say much about his leadership skills.<br /><br />"I like him as a batsman. He has got talent, got quick hands, good feet (movement). He stood up to the Australians and did well on those bouncy pitches. He played well on front foot and back foot."<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-54140021234729657572012-02-24T02:54:00.000-08:002012-02-24T02:55:22.935-08:00Cricketers must put the country above themselves<div style="text-align: justify;">What has been a matter of speculation till now is finally out in the open. The Indian cricket team is having to deal with a serious rift between captain M. S. Dhoni and vice-captain Virender Sehwag.<br /><br />Whether this rift is behind the lacklustre showing of the Indians in Australia, or questions raised over the team's dismal performance have caused things to boil over, is unclear so far. What is certain is that ego tussles between two senior players threaten to mar further the fortunes of the under-performing team.<br /><br />The potshots that Dhoni and Sehwag have taken at each other at recent press conferences over the rotation policy being followed for senior players were clearly uncalled for. Such issues are best settled within the confines of the dressing room, and the fact that the captain and his deputy chose to wash the dirty linen in public indicates that all is not well with the channels of communication within the team.<br /><br />Dhoni and Sehwag seem to consider their personal tussle more important than the interests of the team, and the expectations of millions of Indians. It need not be stressed here that their importance stems only because they represent India in the international arena. Realising that they are not larger than the team would help them lend a perspective to the issue bedeviling their ties.<br /><br />While there is no denying that it is Dhoni's prerogative as captain to choose the eleven that he wants to field, this should not lead to autocratic functioning on his part, especially as regards senior players who have served Indian cricket for long.<br /><br />Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/m.-s.-dhoni-and-virender-sehwag-rotation-policy-team-india/1/175042.html</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-25609599658261870482012-02-14T00:40:00.000-08:002012-02-14T00:41:16.360-08:00Sri Lanka sets India 237 to win<div style="text-align: justify;">Sachin Tendulkar will continue his pursuit of a 100th international century as India chases a victory target of 237 against Sri Lanka in a tri-series limited-overs international.<br /><br />Sri Lanka recovered from two early setbacks to reach 236-9 in Tuesday’s tri-series match, with No. 4 Dinesh Chandimal run out for 81 after sharing important partnerships of 51 for the third wicket with Kumar Sangakkara (31) and 94 for the fourth with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (43).<br /><br />Vinay Kumar took a wicket in the last over and returned the best bowling figures of 3-46 for India. Ravichandran Ashwin took 2-30.<br /><br />Tendulkar was recalled after being rested for Sunday’s four-wicket win over Australia. The leading batsman in cricket hasn’t posted a century since March.<br /><br />Sri Lanka hasn’t won a match yet in the series and, after winning the toss and electing to bat, didn’t get away to a positive start.<br /><br />Vinay Kumar had Upul Tharanga caught behind off the second ball and recalled paceman Irfan Pathan had Tillekeratne Dilshan (16) also caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni as Sri Lanka struggled to 28-2 in the eight over.<br /><br />Chandimal and Sangakkara set about slowly recovering the innings and took the total to 79 before Sangakkara got a leading edge as he charged at Ashwin in the 20th over and was caught at point.<br /><br />Chandimal and Jayawardene both made important contributions before falling within seven deliveries as Sri Lanka lost three wickets for 11 runs. Kumar broke the partnership when he trapped Jayawardene lbw as he returned to the attack in the 37th over. The 22-year-old Chandimal stroked six fours and a six before he was run out to make the total 178-5.<br /><br />Two overs and only six runs later, Ashwin had Thisara Perera (5) caught at deep mid-off attempting to hit out.<br /><br />Angelo Mathews (17), whose attempted quick single resulted in Chandimal’s dismissal, was run out himself after guiding Sri Lanka to 210—7 in the 47th over. Sachithra Senanayake scored 22 from 14 balls and was unbeaten at the end of the innings.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-40745851869644718452012-02-08T02:40:00.000-08:002012-02-08T02:43:31.535-08:00Ind vs SL: Angelo Mathews strikes as Sachin Tendulkar misses ton again<div style="text-align: justify;">Sachin Tendulkar, who was playing well and looked destine for 100th ton, was bowled by Angelo Mathews for 48 in the second ODI of the tri-series against Sri Lanka at the WACA in Perth.<br /><br />The master blaster played a sensible knock of 48 off 63 balls, which included five hits to the fence, before Mathews got better of him in the 19th over.<br /><br />Tendulkar added valuable 75-run for the second wicket with Virat Kohli to revive India run chase after they lost Virender Sehwag (10) early.<br /><br />Chasing a modest 234-run target, India lost opener Sehwag in the third over to be reduced to 14/1 in 2.3 overs.<br /><br />Sehwag started in a typical aggressive style as he hit two fours in his short 8-ball stay on the crease before Kulasekara took a running catch at the third man area off the bowling of Lasith Malinga.<br /><br />Asked to field first, Ravichandran Ashwin (3-32) and Zaheer Khan (2-44) led a fine bowling display by India as they restricted Sri Lanka to 233/8 on Wednesday.<br /><br />Ashwin dismissed three crucial Sri Lankan middle-order batsmen as the Islanders failed to increase their tempo in the entire match and set a modest 234-run target for the Indians. Ashwin finished his ten overs spell with impressive figure of 3 for 32 runs.<br /><br />Zaheer started Indian attack on the right note as he took two early wickets after Sri Lanka decided to bat at the bouncy WACA pitch.<br /><br />Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/india-in-australia/top-stories/Ind-vs-SL-Angelo-Mathews-strikes-as-Sachin-Tendulkar-misses-ton-again/articleshow/11803427.cms<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-57557218165718518642012-02-05T23:03:00.000-08:002012-02-05T23:04:32.993-08:00Yuvraj Singh will receive help from government<div style="text-align: justify;">Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing cancer treatment in the United States, has received wishes from Indian Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Sunday.<br /><br />Maken said the government will help Yuvraj, as the nation prays for his speedy recovery. "Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government shld & will help him," Maken tweeted last night.<br /><br />Yuvraj, who played a stellar role in India's ODI World Cup triumph last year, has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy in the US. (Read)<br /><br />The 30-year-old left-hander has been in US since last month being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a tumour in the lungs by his family. But it has now been diagnosed as malignant and Yuvraj is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the Cancer Research Institute in Boston.<br /><br />His physiotherapist Dr Jatin Chaudhary, however, assured that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to resume cricket in May.<br /><br />"It is a rare tumour and is cancerous but it has been detected in stage one itself. Doctors had to decide whether to continue medication or go for chemotherapy but since parts of the tumour are just above the artery of his heart, there was a danger that while running it could burst. But it is 100 per cent curable," Chaudhary said.<br /><br />"The doctors decided that he would have to undergo chemotherapy and he travelled to the US on January 26. End of March, he would undergo a CT scan and should recover by then. After that it is just some rehabilitation in April before he is fit to be back on the field in May," he added.<br /><br />"Thankfully no surgery is required, he is already a lot better than what he was and can't wait to be back on the cricket field," he said.<br /><br />Chaudhary said the detection of cancer was delayed by wrong diagnosis by an Indian hospital.<br /><br />"His first biopsy report was stolen from his car and the second from a hospital, I don't want to name, did not give the correct diagnosis. It was a Russian doctor who detected the cancer and after consultations with doctors in US, it was decided that Yuvraj would undergo chemotherapy," he said.<br /><br />"Once he is done with chemo in March, his rehabilitation would be complete by April end and he would be perfectly fit to play in May," he added.<br /><br />Yuvraj has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average of 34.80.<br /><br />He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his 274-match ODI career, the highlight of which was his stellar role in India's World Cup triumph last year.<br /><br />In 23 Twenty20s, Yuvraj has scored 567 runs at 31.50.<br /><br />news: http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/184992-yuvraj-singh-will-receive-help-from-government-sports-minister</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-37444051731478452682012-01-31T00:40:00.000-08:002012-01-31T00:42:07.072-08:00Tendulkar, Dravid & Laxman must retire, feels Reid<div style="text-align: justify;">Former Australian pacer Bruce Reid has opined that India’s legendary batting trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman should retire in the interest of Indian cricket.<br /><br />Reid was quoted in MiD Day as saying, “India definitely need to blood some new batsmen. There's no doubt that Sachin, Laxman and Dravid have been champion players. But they need to realise that you can't play forever.<br /><br />“There comes a time, when you reach a certain age, you starting losing your reflexes, eye sight, and so on -- especially if the opposition is bowling as well as the Australians are. I have the utmost respect for the trio -- but they should go out before Indian cricket plunges even further -- not that you can plunge further than the rock bottom it has already hit.<br /><br />Reid, India’s former bowling coach feels India’s downfall can be attributed to the emphatic bowling performance by the new-look Australian pace-attack.<br /><br />He said, "I am not saying India didn't bat appallingly (in the just-concluded Test series), but this has been one of the best bowling performances by Australia. They pitched the ball up, swung it and bowled fast. I think after England and South Africa, Australia now has the best up-and-coming attack."<br /><br />Reid feels he has been disappointed with the way Indian team management have treated talented left-handed pacer Irfan Pathan.<br /><br />He said, "When I first met Irfan (Pathan) in 2003, I was so impressed with what he had to offer. But I was a bit amazed that he was put up in the batting order.<br /><br />Source: http://www.cricketcountry.com/cricket-articles/Tendulkar-Dravid-Laxman-must-retire-feels-Reid/10933<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-54879049061304050882012-01-30T06:24:00.000-08:002012-01-30T06:26:00.207-08:00IPL auction: Kochi players top pruned list<div style="text-align: justify;">Brendon McCullum, VVS Laxman and Sreesanth are the most valued names among several former Kochi Tuskers Kerala players to have been added to a trimmed 144-man list for the upcoming IPL auction in Bangalore on February 4.<br /><br />The IPL's Governing Council, after releasing a 183-man shortlist to the franchises earlier this month, had said that Kochi players would be added at a later date.<br /><br />Laxman, the embattled Test batsman, discarded pace bowler Sreesanth and New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum have fetched the highest reserve price of $400,000. The Sri Lankan pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Muttiah Muralitharan – who retired from international cricket after the 2011 World Cup – have been valued at $300,000 followed by RP Singh and Parthiv Patel ($200,000) and Ravindra Jadeja, Vinay Kumar, Ramesh Powar and VRV Singh ($100,000).<br /><br />Each of these players played for Kochi in IPL-4 before the franchise was terminated by the IPL's Governing Council.<br /><br />"The shortlist comprises some outstanding cricket talent. Given that it was prepared on the basis of the feedback of the franchises themselves, the stage is set for an exciting and eventful Player Auction, this Saturday," Rajeev Shukla, the IPL chairman, said on the list announced.<br /><br />There are several new additions to the list, which did not feature on the initial 183-player list. Those to fetch reserve prices of $200,000 are discarded Australian allrounder Steven Smith, former Australia bastman Brad Hodge, England's Ian Bell and Owais Shah and former South African allrounder Nicky Boje.<br /><br />Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/ipl-auction-kochi-players-top-pruned-list/63465-13.html</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-82058022835521564442012-01-23T05:13:00.000-08:002012-01-23T05:19:01.727-08:00George Bailey named Australia Twenty20 captain<div style="text-align: justify;">Uncapped batsman George Bailey has been named as Australia's new Twenty20 captain after previous skipper Cameron White was dropped from the squad to face India.<br /><br />White will not feature in the two upcoming matches against India after managing just 55 runs at an average of 7.85 in the Big Bash League.<br /><br />Bailey, 29, has hit 114 runs at an average of 19 in the BBL.<br /><br />Brad Hogg, 40, and Brett Lee, 35, have been recalled to face India.<br /><br />Hogg turns 41 in February but has been outstanding in the BBL, taking 12 wickets for the Perth Scorchers.<br /><br />Bailey impressed selectors with his captaincy for Australia A against New Zealand in November and replaces White, who took the role when Michael Clarke retired from the format in January last year.<br /><br />National selection panel chairman John Inverarity said: "George is a very good T20 player with a sound record.<br /><br />"He is widely respected and regarded as an outstanding captain, having had sustained success in this role.<br /><br />"Brad Hogg's bowling has been outstanding and his case for inclusion was compelling."<br /><br />Australia face India on 1 and 3 February.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-52687364769756884302012-01-18T00:52:00.000-08:002012-01-18T00:53:02.018-08:00How to choose the online sports equipment<p align="justify">Taking pleasure in sports is amazing that millions, if not billions, of folks around the globe do on a regular basis. Despite the fact that most people will by no means intend to be enhanced than they presently are, there will always be those who crave to perk up their routine, and the right quality sports equipments can be of enormous help in attaining this.</p><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are one such person who looks for quality in what all you acquire then you should just extend your thought to <a href="http://www.tracknfieldgear.com/" title="sports equipment"><strong>sports equipment</strong></a> as well. The search for your quality equipment stops at tracknfieldgear as we are establish in offering you the best quality sports equipment that will help you out to do a good ethics over the sports activities conjointly standing for its durability. Here in this article you will be able to find as of how to select the quality sports equipment.<br /></div><p align="justify">Apart from using it as an athlete it also benefits us to stay fit so it is a complete need that you acquire for the beat quality equipment. Discus is one such leading game and when it comes to Discus all that matters is the speediness, power and techniques are the chief phases to be enclosed as it engages various course of action which are to be well thought-out a lot than others.</p>When it comes to sports equipment all that matters is the quality because they stand long way to go also helps us in several ways to make us fit. Tracknfieldgear.com is one such online sporting goods store which will help you find the best greater equipment. When you look out for <strong>sporting goods </strong>all that you must look is the standard of the product.<br /><p align="justify">The advantage of most sports equipment will be declared by the target market of each product. As the gear planned at the greater part of those taking part in sports will be off-the-rack in order to be able to sell them at an inexpensive price, you will normally find that you have to make some compromises. But in terms of these sports equipment, you will find that the superior the class of equipment you use, the better the development in your performance will be. There may be several <strong title="online sports equipment"><strong>online sports equipment</strong></strong> store but, the need for your quality centered sporting stuffs will end only when you reach tracknfieldgear.</p>At track and field gear you will be able to find the best superior products and we are one such<strong> </strong>chief <strong>Athletic gear</strong> suppliers as well as the most valued sports instruction equipment suppliers in Texas. You will be able to find in hurdles, <a href="http://www.tracknfieldgear.com/store/discus-c-21.html" title="discus throw"><strong>discus throw</strong></a>, starting blocks, <a href="http://www.tracknfieldgear.com/store/weights-etc-c-33.html" title="weight lifting equipment"><strong>weight lifting equipment</strong></a>, shot put, track equipments and many others.<br /><p align="justify">We believe in long term customer satisfaction so we sell only quality goods.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-6524679686854334912012-01-10T20:59:00.000-08:002012-01-10T21:01:09.016-08:00India need tough security in upcoming tests<div style="text-align: justify;">Hassled by crowd behaviour during the second cricket Test in Sydney last week, the Indian team management is planning to demand higher security around the boundary rope for the remainder of the series.<br /><br />According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Indian team managers are expected to<br />approach Cricket Australia officials to tighten security around the boundary rope for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series.<br /><br />"Upset about remarks made by crowd members to players in the Indian team during the second Test in Sydney last week, officials want extra security to monitor crowd behaviour at the WACA Ground, where the third Test starts on Friday," the paper reported.<br /><br />Indian middle-order batsman Virat Kohli had displayed his middle finger to the spectators at the SCG, claiming that his mother and sister were verbally abused. Video<br /><br />"Agree cricketers don't have to retaliate. What when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister? The worst I've heard," Kohli had tweeted.<br /><br />Fast bowler Ishant Sharma also found himself in the middle of a controversy when he flipped a finger after being taunted during the Indian team's day out at a go-karting track here on Monday night. Video<br /><br />The controversies related to Kohli and Sharma are the latest in a series of incidents that happened between the two countries.<br /><br />In 2008, the Indian team had threatened to quit the tour after off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was charged with calling Australian player Andrew Symonds a "monkey" during the Sydney Test.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-42453937984884338312012-01-09T02:40:00.000-08:002012-01-09T02:41:14.143-08:00Tendulkar should take counselling: Latif<div style="text-align: justify;">Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif on Monday suggested that Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar should take counselling from a sports psychologist to get over the "mental block" caused by the continuing wait for his elusive 100th international century.<br /><br />"He is under pressure no doubt about it. He might not admit it but he is facing a mental block because of this hype over his milestone. It would not be a bad idea for him to get some counselling from a sports psychologist," Latif suggested.<br /><br />"He is batting well and he is looking good out in the middle. It is just a mental block and pressure that has prevented him from reaching this milestone earlier," he said.<br /><br />India lost the first two Tests after batting collapses with Tendulkar scoring a half century in each match but failing to get to his elusive 100th international hundred.<br /><br />Latif said he had a feeling that Sachin would get the hundred in the final Test and definitely in the series. He said the world's top athletes at some time in their career required counselling to get over mental blocks.<br /><br />"It can happen to anyone," he added. The Indian maestro's last international century came against South Africa in March last year.<br /><br />Read More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/india-in-australia/top-stories/Tendulkar-should-take-counselling-Latif/articleshow/11421689.cms</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-62396333459101008722011-12-30T22:54:00.000-08:002011-12-30T22:56:21.805-08:00Indian batting stars under fire after MCG debacle<div style="text-align: justify;">The Indian media on Friday lashed out at the country's famed batting line-up for letting the team down in the opening Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).<br /><br />Chasing a 292-run target on Thursday, India failed to cope with Australia's pace attack as they were shot out for 169 despite the batting experience of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag.<br /><br />"Melbourne Meltdown" said a Times of India headline after the tourists' 122-run defeat. "Those expecting India's much-vaunted batting line-up to give Australia a run for their money were disappointed when Dhoni and Co surrendered without even putting up a semblance of a fight," the paper wrote.<br /><br />Australian fast bowlers James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle all struck it rich on a seamer-friendly track, grabbing 19 of the 20 Indian wickets to lead their side to a crushing victory.<br /><br />"'Foreign fever' returned to grip the Indian team as Pattinson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle tormented them - much like the English bowlers had done in England - with a heady cocktail of pace, bounce and movement served with relentless consistency," said the paper.<br /><br />It was India's fifth successive Test defeat away from home after a 4-0 loss in England.<br /><br />"Mauled in Melbourne" the Hindustan Times said on its front page and "Bat-erred India fall apart" on its sports page.<br /><br />"The chase was always going to be an uphill task, considering the recent barren run which has seen the famed batting line-up not cross the 300-run mark in the last 10 away innings," said the paper.<br /><br />The Hindu newspaper also blamed the batsmen for defeat, saying the "famed batting line-up fails to deliver".<br /><br />Ravi Shastri, former India all-rounder and now a noted TV commentator, said the Indian batsmen needed to show grit to bounce back in the four-Test series.<br /><br />"India need runs from all their main batsmen. Now that bowlers look the part, batters have no business to let them down," he wrote in the Times of India.<br /><br />"I wouldn't be surprised if this completely turns out to be a bowlers' series. If so, then every run saved or made would count. India have the skills. All they need is resolve," he wrote.<br /><br />Former India paceman Javagal Srinath said the tourists could fight back.<br /><br />"Saddled with the reputation of being poor starters overseas, India did precious little to rectify the anomaly in the Melbourne Test," he wrote in the Hindustan Times.<br /><br />"Barring England, where nothing went right for them, India have bounced back after first-Test losses. There is no reason, given the experience and quality of the India batting, why they can't do so again in Sydney."<br /><br />Source: http://cricketnext.in.com<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-29026172098725279902011-12-19T05:10:00.001-08:002011-12-19T05:10:37.788-08:00Bangladesh v Pakistan - second test scoreboardScoreboard at the close on the third day of the second and final test between Bangladesh and Pakistan on Monday.<br /><br />Bangladesh first innings 338 (Shakib Al Hasan 144, Shahriar Nafees 97)<br /><br />Pakistan first innings (overnight 87-1)<br /><br />Mohammad Hafeez c Rahim b Nazmul Hossain 14<br /><br />Taufiq Umar c Nafees b Nazmul Hossain 130<br /><br />Azhar Ali c Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 57<br /><br />Younus Khan not out 48<br /><br />Misbah-ul-Haq not out 26<br /><br />Extras: (lb-1, nb-15) 17<br /><br />Total: (three wickets; 96 overs) 292<br /><br />Fall of wicket: 1-23, 2-150, 3-245<br /><br />To bat: Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema.<br /><br />Bowling (to date): Shahadat Hossain 13-1-63-0 (nb-6), Robiul Islam 18-3-65-0 (nb-6), Nazmul Hossain 20-4-51-2 , Mahmudullah 12-2-29-0, Shakib Al Hasan 18-5-28-1, Elias Sunny 8-0-36-0, Nasir Hossain 7-0-19-0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-88913416155961727372011-10-11T05:57:00.000-07:002011-10-11T05:58:37.324-07:00Cricket-Australia board hits back at 'outlandish' fixing claims<div style="text-align: justify;">Oct 11 (Reuters) - Cricket Australia (CA) has hit back at allegations Australian players are involved in match-fixing, saying the claims made by a sports agent were "baseless and outlandish".<br /><br />Sports agent Mazhar Majeed, accused of taking bribes to fix matches, had said Australian cricketers were "the biggest" culprits of fixing and they fixed "brackets", a set period of a match on which punters bet, a London court heard on Monday.<br /><br />In response, CA Chief Executive James Sutherland told reporters that the allegations appeared to be "outlandish".<br /><br />"The sweeping statements unfairly malign Australian cricketers," Sutherland said on Tuesday. "We haven't been able to speak to the International Cricket Council overnight ... but we will definitely make contact with them very quickly."<br /><br />Sutherland said the world governing body of the sport had a very sophisticated anti-corruption unit and he would have been tipped off by the ICC if an Australian cricketer was on the radar.<br /><br />"The ICC attend every single international cricket match with their anti-corruption unit and there is nothing I have heard to suggest that there are Australian players who are of interest to them," he added.<br /><br />Agent Majeed, 36, told an undercover journalist that match-fixing had been going on "for centuries" and named celebrated former Pakistan fast-bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis as alleged participants, the court heard.<br /><br />The CA chief said it would work with the ICC to investigate a player if any credible evidence was uncovered.<br /><br />"If we charge players and we find them guilty we will have no qualms about issuing a life sentence on players who are found guilty of match fixing," he added.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-20339687369933281412011-09-30T06:14:00.000-07:002011-09-30T06:16:53.824-07:00New cricket rules start this weekend<div style="text-align: justify;">Two new balls will be used by a fielding side from each end in one-day cricket when revised rules for the international game come into force on Saturday.<br /><br />The changes were approved by the International Cricket Council's Executive Board in May, following proposals from its Cricket Committee.<br /><br />Besides two new balls, to be used in alternate overs, there will also be a change in powerplays in ODIs.<br /><br />The total number of powerplay overs will remain at 20 per innings with the first block of 10 being at the start of the innings.<br /><br />"The remaining second and third block of (five) powerplay overs may not be taken so as to commence earlier than the 16th over nor be completed later than the 40th over," the ICC said Thursday in a statement.<br /><br />The restrictions will not apply for reduced innings of a scheduled duration of less than 40 overs.<br /><br />A runner will not be allowed for an injured player during Test, ODI or Twenty20. However, the injured or ill batsman will have the option of retiring hurt and returning to bat at the fall of ninth wicket.<br /><br />In another development, if an umpire feels that a batsman, while running between the wickets, has significantly changed his direction and obstructed a fielder's attempt to run him out, the batsman should be given out for obstructing the field.<br /><br />"It shall not be relevant whether the run out would have been affected or not," the ICC said, adding that "the on-field umpires are entitled to consult the third umpire in deciding whether the obstruction was willful or not."<br /><br />Other changes provide extra time to complete a Test match and affect a bowler's attempt to run out a non-striker before delivery.<br /><br />Umpires can decide to play 15 minutes - a minimum of four overs - of extra time at a scheduled lunch or tea interval if requested by a captain and if, "in the umpires' opinion, it would bring about a definite result in that session," the amended rule states.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-9693404539437920912011-09-27T00:56:00.000-07:002011-09-27T00:59:03.078-07:00KKR hope to leave Redbacks red-facedIs the South Australian Redbacks' ploy of playing three specialist spinners in the Champions League backfiring on them? The strategy may have worked well from them in the Big Bash competition where the matches were played on bigger grounds. But here the smaller grounds make it more difficult for the bowlers as even a mishit may go for a six.<br /><br />On Sunday, against a rampaging Jon-Jon Smuts, the Redbacks were at the receiving end of his willow as the Warriors tore the spin attack to shreds. Skipper Michael Klinger and coach Darren Berry will have to give a rethink on their strategy as they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their Group B match at the RJIC Stadium, on Tuesday night.<br /><br />The way Yusuf Pathan smashed four consecutive sixes off part-time spinner Arul Suppiah will undoubtedly play on the mind of the Redbacks. The Knight Riders have a strong batting line-up and containing them will not be that easy.<br /><br />Klinger admitted that his side didn't bowl well. "We gave loose deliveries too often," he said. "We normally execute very well with the kind of deliveries we want to bowl, but today they were hitting them," he said after his side suffered an embarrassing 50-run loss to the Warriors.<br /><br />He, however, did not lay the entire blame on the bowlers. "They played better than us. There are no excuses. We did not execute our basic skills well and lost wickets regularly. The run rate was high and they did well to contain us," Klinger said.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-87285690163519453322011-09-20T01:55:00.000-07:002011-09-20T01:56:33.807-07:00IPL franchise caught short<div style="text-align: justify;">Dubai: It was a day of dramatic events and intrigue at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday. The BCCI's annual general body meeting in Mumbai on Monday decided to terminate the contract of the Kerala franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over non-payment of bank guarantees.<br /><br />The Kochi Tuskers team which had never quite overcome a controversial start in the lucrative league is said to have defaulted on Rs1.56 billion (Dh117.96 million) in annual payments. The franchise had repeatedly ignored reminders from IPL authorities.<br /><br />Incidentally the franchise had been bought for Rs15.50 billion and was supposed to make annual payments over a ten-year period.<br /><br />New office-bearers of the BCCI were also elected during the meeting, with N. Srinivasan formally taking over as the new BCCI president after Sashank Manohar served out two terms.<br /><br /><a href="http://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/ipl-franchise-caught-short-1.869958">Source:</a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-3229357105188389662011-09-19T05:38:00.001-07:002011-09-19T05:38:48.499-07:00Kochi Tuskers threaten BCCI with legal action<div style="text-align: justify;">Kochi Tuskers have threatened legal action after the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise's contract was terminated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at its Annual General Meeting here on Monday.<br /><br />The BCCI terminated Kochi Tuskers' contract after the franchise, despite repeated reminders, defaulted on a Rs. 156 crore annual payment it was to make as bank guarantee.<br /><br />"Because of the irremedial breach committed by the Kochi franchise, the BCCI has decided to encash the bank guarantee in their possession and also terminate the franchise. We have terminated the franchise because the breach is not capable of being remedied," said new BCCI president N.Srinivasan in Mumbai.<br /><br />But Kochi Tuskers director Mukesh Patel told IANS that they don't have any dues outstanding and in fact the BCCI owes them Rs. 12-15 crore next month as a share in the central revenue.<br /><br />"We don't have any outstanding dues with the BCCI. The termination is illegal. We will take them (BCCI) to court. In fact, the BCCI will be paying us Rs. 12-15 crore next month as a part of our central revenue," said Patel.<br /><br />The franchise was bought by a consortium, comprising some Gujarat-based businessmen, last year for a whopping Rs. 1,550 crore. According to rules, franchises have to pay the amount in 10 equal instalments.<br /><br />It has been in the news right from the start due to rift between the owners, who also wanted to shift the team's base to Ahmedabad.<br /><br />The BCCI in the past had also turned down Kochi Tuskers' request to cut down their franchise fees. Kochi owners were promised 18 games in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document but it was cut down to 14 as the fourth edition was reduced to a 74-game tournament.<br /><br />The IPL was earlier planned to be a 94-match tournament but due to hectic international calendar it was cut down to 74 matches.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-88669958177892145892011-09-17T01:53:00.000-07:002011-09-17T01:55:06.786-07:00India vs England: Statistical highlights, fifth ODI<div style="text-align: justify;">The Statistical highlights from the fifth and final ODI between England and India in Cardiff.<br /><br /># England's 3-0 series triumph is their biggest in a bilateral series against India without losing a single game.<br /><br /># England have won 33 and lost 38 out of the 76 matches contested against India - winning % 46.57 (NR 3 and Tied 2).<br /><br /># India (304/6) have recorded their fifth total of 300 or more against England in England in ODIs.<br /><br /># India have registered their highest total in international games against England in 2011, eclipsing their 300 in The Oval Test.<br /><br /># Alastair Cook became the first England skipper to win all five tosses in a bilateral series and the second English captain overall. Alec Stewart had won all five tosses as England skipper in the 1999 World Cup.<br /><br /># Virat Kohli (107) has become the second Indian player to register a hundred against England in England.<br /><br /># Kohli's innings is the highest by an Indian batsman against England in England, bettering Sachin Tendulkar's 105 not out off 108 balls at Chester-le-Street on July 4, 2002.<br /><br /># Kohli has become the sixth Indian after Sachin Tendulkar (three), Rahul Dravid (twice), Sourav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja and Kapil Dev to register a hundred in ODIs in England.<br /><br /># Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli were involved in a stand of 170 - India's highest against England in England for the third wicket, oovertaking the 104 between Dravid and Sourav Ganguly at Birmingham on August 27, 2007.<br /><br /># The aforesaid partnership is India's second highest for the third wicket against England, next only to the 175 between Navjot Singh Sidhu and Mohammad Azharuddin at Gwalior on March 4, 1993.<br /><br /># The above stand is the highest for any wicket at Sophia Gardens, surpassing the 154 for the first wicket between Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith for South Africa against Zimbabwe on July 5, 2003.<br /><br /># The 170-run stand is the highest put on by Dravid against England for any wicket, obliterating the 169-run partnership for the fourth wicket at Chester-le-Street on July 4, 2002.<br /><br /># Virat Kohli (107) has posted his highest innings against England, obliterating the 55 at Chester-le-Street on September 3, 2011.<br /><br /># Kohli's aforesaid innings is his (highest away from home) joint second highest in ODIs - his highest being 118 against Australia at Visakhapatnam on October 20, 2010.<br /><br /># Kohli has registered six centuries in ODIs - two against Bangladesh and one each against England, New Zealand, Australia and Sri Lanka.<br /><br /># Kohli has recorded three hundreds each in India and away from home.<br /><br /># Kohli's strike rate of 115.05 is his second highest amongst his centuries in ODIs, next only to the 100 not out off 83 balls (SR 120.48) against Bangladesh at Dhaka on February 19, 2011.<br /><br /># Rahul Dravid (648 at an average of 38.11 in 20 matches) has become the leading Indian run-getter against England in England, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 639 at an average of 39.93 in 17 matches.<br /><br /># Mahendra Singh Dhoni (236 at an average of 78.66 in five matches) has equalled an Indian record as captain in a bilateral series against England. Sourav Ganguly had the same tally - 236 in five matches at an average of 47.20 in 2001-02.<br /><br /># Dhoni has recorded three fifties in succession for the first time against England - 69 at The Oval, 78 not out at Lord's and 50 not out at Cardiff.<br /><br /># Dhoni has recorded a strike rate of 192.30 while posting a fifty - 50 not out off 26 balls - the highest by an Indian against England in ODIs (minimum 50), surpassing Yuvraj Singh's 176.92 at Rajkot on November 14, 2008 during his innings of 138 not out off 78 balls.<br /><br /># Ravindra Jadeja has recorded his fourth duck in ODIs - his first against England.<br /><br /># Virat Kohli is the leading run-scorer for India in ODIs in 2011 - 868 at an average of 39.45 in 24 matches.<br /><br /># Kohli's 107 is the highest individual innings at Cardiff, obliterating the 100 by Mohammad Ashraful against Australia on June 18, 2005.<br /><br /># Dhoni's sixth fifty against England is his 41st in ODIs.<br /><br /># Among the captains with 1500 runs or more as captain in ODIs, Dhoni's average of 53.63 (3808 runs in 107 matches) is the highest.<br /><br /># Rahul Dravid has signed off his ODI career with an excellent innings - 69 off 79 balls.<br /><br /># Dravid's 83rd fifty in ODIs is his eleventh against England.<br /><br /># Dravid has completed his 1,000 runs against England in ODIs - 1012 (ave.38.92) in 30 matches. He has become the fourth Indian to do so against England, joining Tendulkar (1455), Yuvraj (1187) and Virender Sehwag (1008).<br /><br /><a href="http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/178511-india-vs-england-statistical-highlights-fifth-odi">Source:</a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-9022368832463199672011-09-16T05:58:00.000-07:002011-09-16T05:59:17.372-07:00IPL to get new chairman at BCCI AGM<div style="text-align: justify;">The BCCI is set to elect a new chairman for the cash-rich Indian Premier League at its 82nd Annual General Meeting scheduled here on September 19.<br /><br />The need to elect a new person to head the IPL arose after incumbent Chirayu Amin expressed his desire to step down from the post.<br /><br />"Chirayu Amin wants to step down from the chairmanship of IPL because of his commitments. So a new chairman would have to be elected at the AGM. This is one of the items listed on the agenda of the meeting," sources said.<br /><br />Amin took over the reins when the IPL was rocked by the Lalit Modi fracas that saw the then prime mover of the league being sacked at the end of the third season in 2010.<br /><br />The indications are that Rajiv Shukla, currently vice president from the Central Zone, would become the new chief of this important sub-committee of the BCCI.<br /><br />Sources, however, said that the appointment of a CEO, as speculated in the media, to run the Board's affairs is not a listed item on the agenda of the meeting which would pass the annual accounts and annual report of the secretary.<br /><br />President-elect N Srinivasan, who would complete his term as the Secretary of the Board, is poised to take over as the new chief from incumbent Shashank Manohar who would step down after the completion of his term at the helm.<br /><br />The appointment of the new selection committees including the senior panel, is also one of the important items on the agenda of the meeting along with the election of various office bearers.<br /><br />Among the senior panel members, North Zone's Yashpal Sharma has completed his tenure and would be replaced but it is still not clear whether there would be other changes, including that of the Chairman -- a post currently occupied by Krishnamachari Srikkanth.<br /><br />The selectors were under fire from various quarters outside the Board for the poor display of the Indian team in England so soon after winning the coveted World Cup on April 2.<br /><br />The team was whitewashed 0-4 in the Test rubber, clearly outplayed in all departments and beset by a spate of injuries to several key players, to lose its top ranking in the most important format of the game.<br /><br />Later it was beaten in the ODI series too by hosts England who are not among the top teams in the 50-over format for quite some time.<br /><br />There are also clear indications Orissa Cricket Association Chief, Ranjib Biswal could become the new secretary as he, apparently, has the backing of both Manohar and Srinivasan.<br /><br />Former Joint Secretary and incumbent treasurer M P Pandove's name is also doing the rounds.<br /><br />But it remains to be seen whether he has sufficient support among the members as he is the secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association headed by I S Bindra who is close to the Board's persona non grata, Modi.<br /><br />Things would become clear on September 18 evening when the nominations for the various posts are filed and the withdrawals too, if necessary, are gone through on the same day.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-74981226547069963522011-09-09T05:00:00.000-07:002011-09-09T05:01:30.136-07:00More trouble heading BCCI's way<div style="text-align: justify;">Major trouble seems to be heading the Board of Cricket Control in India's way with the Parliament Standing Committee slamming the cricketing body. Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken is sure to use the revelations from the Standing Committee to push for greater government control over cricket.<br /><br />The committee had said, "Cricket & IPL's economic & financial wrong-doings must be examined. The game's image must not be tarnished due to off-field events."<br /><br />The Parliament Standing Committee investigating the tax exemptions given to the BCCI also stated that the Indian board needs to get its house in order.<br /><br />The report also adds that BCCI President elect N Srinivasan admitted that the board cannot shift all blame on the exiled Former Chairman Lalit Modi.<br /><br />The Committee has noted that the Board had been enjoying questionable tax benefits having got exemption to the tune of Rs 225 cr before 2007 & having submitted only Rs 92 crore out of the Rs 118 crore that was demanded in 2007.<br /><br />Moreover out of the Rs 375 crore Tax that that was demanded in 2 years from 2007 to 09, the BCCI has paid only Rs 249 crore.<br /><br />The Committee said it's astonished that the Income Tax Department could not finalise the assessment of income of BCCI for the last three years.<br /><br />The IPL finances have been severely critised. The BCCI & IPL have paid only Rs 5 crore as service tax out of the demanded Rs 160 crore payable from franchisee fees & sale of advertisement space etc.<br /><br />With the tax evasion net now exposed, the committee maintains that current BCCI bosses cannot pass the buck on one person.<br /><br />Committee would like the investigating agencies to look into all matters relating to breach of law and identify and punish all those persons responsible for the same without further loss of time.<br /><br />Parliamentary committee has now asked the investigating agencies to look into matters relating to breach of law, & punish those responsible, without any further loss of time.<br /><br />The investigations are to be completed in 6 months and top BCCI bosses seem to have a tough road ahead.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-86038195437777956162011-08-25T02:40:00.000-07:002011-08-25T02:42:32.101-07:00When Ponting urged Dravid not to retire<div style="text-align: justify;">Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting claims that he persuaded Rahul Dravid against retiring when the Indian batsman was written off after a string of low scores last year. Ponting also said that Dravid reciprocated the support by inspiring him during his lean patch.
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<br />Dravid, the lone Indian batsman to perform well in the team’s recent 0-4 Test whitewash at the hands of England with 461 runs, was woefully out of form last year and Ponting said he encouraged the veteran right-hander to carry on despite the criticism.
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<br />“I remember after our last series in India there was a lot of talk and speculation about Dravid being finished,” Ponting told ‘ESPNcricinfo’. “I actually went and found him at the end of the series and said ‘don’t you even think about retiring’ because I just saw some stuff in a few of his innings that suggested he was still a very, very good player.
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<br />“I just said ‘don’t let them wear you down, don’t let them get you down’. I received a similar text message before and after the Ashes from him as well,” he added.
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<br />The 36-year-old Ponting has not scored a Test century since January last year but he is confident of regaining his touch and he is looking upto Dravid for inspiration.
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<br />“There are a few (who provide an inspiration for batsmen of advancing years). Sachin (Tendulkar) and (Jacques) Kallis both had a great last year; Dravid is doing well now.
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<br />“It’s not only good for guys of my age to see guys doing that, it’s good for the younger blokes to see it as well; to know that if you keep doing the right things and working hard, and if you’ve got talent, then age is not a barrier in our game,” he said.
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<br />Speaking about the state of the game in general, Ponting said he is worried about the impact of Twenty20 on youngsters. “The big worry I’ve had about Twenty20 cricket and even other shorter forms of the game being played at really developmental times in kids’ careers is that it won’t teach them the art of concentration.
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<br />“Cricket for me when I was growing up meant batting until someone got me out, and if that took them a week then that’s how long it took them,” he said.
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<br /><a href="http://www.firstpost.com/sports/when-ponting-urged-dravid-not-to-retire-69345.html" rel="nofollow">Source:</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-72426104785542023252011-08-20T01:59:00.000-07:002011-08-20T02:00:39.202-07:00Cricket: KP wants victory after record stand<div style="text-align: justify;">KEVIN Pietersen and Ian Bell ground India down at The Oval – but their record triple-century stand will take on extra significance only if it underpins a fourth successive npower Test victory.
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<br />Pietersen at least felt that way as he assessed his 175 – and Bell’s unbeaten 181 – in a stumps total of 457 for three.
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<br />England are in position to bat India further out of this fourth Test today, and then hope to bowl them out twice on a very good pitch in pursuit of a 4-0 whitewash at some point over the next three days.
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<br />Pietersen recalls from his own experience, as a 2006-07 Ashes tourist, the misery of a whitewash.
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<br />Asked if he takes extra pleasure in demoralising opposition, he said: “As long as we make that count and win the Test match, then yes.
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<br />“If we don’t win the Test match, then no.
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<br />“I’ve been on the receiving end of a whitewash, but it’s not for us to worry about what’s happening in the Indian rooms; it’s for us to make sure we win the first hour tomorrow and over the next three days we get the 20 Indian wickets.”
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<br />While Bell can hope for a maiden double-century in the morning, Pietersen has 19 Test hundreds – alongside team-mates Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, and just three short of England’s all-time best.
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<br />He said: “It would be nice to get a record, but I think there are a lot of players in this team who are going to get more than 22 hundreds.
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<br />“They will do.
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<br />“It’s be amazing to be part of a team where you’ve got guys who are hitting hundreds like this.
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<br />“It’s not a competition; it’s not a race. It’s just a case of winning games for England, getting us into position where we can win games.”
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<br />He fell short of a second double-hundred in this series, but added: “Nicking my first two balls for four this morning off (Shantha) Sreesanth, if somebody had said to me ‘you can have 175 and that’s it’ I would have said ’thank you, goodbye.’”
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<br />The former skipper could still reflect on his fourth hundred at a venue where he memorably made his first to help England clinch the 2005 Ashes, and which is now his home ground as a Surrey batsman.
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<br />Of his other Oval centuries, he said: “South Africa in 2008 was special, because it was the first Test of only three or four I captained.
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<br />“Getting Test hundreds is something you dream about when you’re a kid and then trying to make a profession as a cricketer – so any Test hundred is amazing.
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<br />“To score four here now is pretty cool.”
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<br />Sreesanth was one of four frontline India bowlers to suffer against Pietersen and Bell.
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<br />But he was happy to voice his admiration for England’s third-wicket pair.
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<br />“After lunch they took charge again, and credit to them,” he said. “It was not really bad bowling, but they took charge and just kept going.”</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10158803.post-39386807761428635822011-08-10T05:50:00.001-07:002011-08-10T05:50:59.565-07:00India batsmen collapse in England cricket Test<div style="text-align: justify;">Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan inflicted fresh misery upon India as the tourists collapsed to 75 for four at lunch on the first day of the third Test at Edgbaston here on Wednesday.
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<br />The recalled Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar managed just one run between them while Rahul Dravid was out for 22 to what turned out to be the last ball before lunch.
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<br />It all left England, already 2-0 up, in command of a match where a victory would not only see them win this four-match series but also replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table.
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<br />Bresnan, who starred with both bat and ball in England's crushing 319-run second Test win at Trent Bridge, had lunch figures of two for 13 in 7.2 overs, including a spell of two for five in 10 balls.
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<br />Meanwhile Broad, who took a hat-trick on his Nottinghamshire home ground last time out and scored valuable runs, had two for 32 in nine overs.
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<br />England, who saw captain Andrew Strauss elect to field after winning the toss in overcast, seam-bowler friendly conditions saw Broad strike first ball to remove Sehwag for a golden duck.
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<br />Sehwag, playing his first match of the series after shoulder surgery and one of the world's most dynamic opening batsman, tried to sway out of the way of a short ball from Broad but gloved through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
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<br />Steve Davis initially said not out but England immediately asked for a review and third umpire Rod Tucker, Davis's fellow Australian, correctly ruled in their favour.
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<br />Dravid, back in his familar number three spot after making a century while opening in Gambhir's injury absence at Trent Bridge, drove Broad for two fours in successive balls.
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<br />But first-change Bresnan ended a stand worth 51 when left-hander Gambhir inside-edged onto his stumps for a 38 featuring seven boundaries.
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<br />Gambhir's exit brought in Tendulkar who, as he has done all series, received a standing ovation as he walked to the crease in pursuit of an unprecedented 100th international hundred.
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<br />But Tendulkar made just one who before he was lured into playing a Broad delivery outside off-stump he might have left and edged to third slip Anderson.
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<br />Dravid, nicknamed 'the Wall' for his resilience was then bowled off-stump by a superb Bresnan delivery, having hit eight fours.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0