Sehwag's fifty puts India on top

Virender Sehwag played some scintillating shots en route his half-century as India  reached 99 for two at tea, in reply to Australia's first innings 333, on second day of the first Test in Melbourne , on Tuesday.


The dashing opener smashed a quickfire 67 before he was bowled off James Pattinson while trying to execute a cover drive without reaching to the line of the ball at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

- Scorecard

Sehwag Quick Fifty lead India's innings

The Indian vice-captain would rue the fact that he could not get a big score despite being dropped twice, on 54 and 58.

On the first occasion, it was David Warner at long on, who failed to latch onto a big hit off Nathan Lyon's bowling and then it was Brad Haddin who needlessly dived to his right when the first slip would have easily collected the catch.

At the tea break Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 25 while Sachin Tendulkar was on two in pursuit of his 100th international century.

Sehwag batted for 127 minutes and faced 83 balls, hitting seven fours in the process.

Pattinson, the young tearaway quick, was earlier rattled by Sehwag's antics and the two were involved in a verbal duel after the Indian opener pushed the fast bowler for a single. Umpire Marais Erasmus had to step in and calm the two players.

Left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir(3) was the other batsman out as he edged a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery that kicked up and moved away, to Brad Haddin behind the stumps.

Sehwag, typically, played and missed quite often in the initial phase of his knock but also carted some bold strokes which played on to the nerves of the Australians.

Sehwag's booming shots were not seen straightaway but he hit Patterson for a four through the covers in the fifth over to start the counter attack.

The right-hander then carved first-change Peter Siddle over slips which almost went to six at the third man region. He then followed it up with two consecutive fours off the fast bowler -- one smashed through the covers and the second one deliberately steered through the slip cordon.

Sehwag took a fancy of off-spinner Nathan Lyon, introduced early in the innings, and twice flayed him down the ground for boundaries. The first such shot brought up his half-century off 59 balls with five fours.

The Delhi opener, who completed 8,000 runs in Test cricket during his innings, then dragged a drive off Lyon which almost carried to David Warner at long-on. In the very next over, he edged Pattinson but wicketkeeper Haddin couldn't hold on to the chance on to his right.

Just before the tea break, Pattinson again roared up in appeal for a catch to forward short leg but it was clear the ball had gone off the thigh of Sehwag.

Dravid went about his business quietly at the other end. He began with a classy thrust off his pads to midwicket fence off Pattinson but the second one came after a while when he edged one off Peter Siddle between the slips.

Tendulkar walked in to a standing ovation from the goodish MCG crowd but nearly disappointed them when he played the part-time medium-pace of Mike Hussey uppishly and almost into the hands of short mid-wicket fielder.

The Australian pace bowlers bowled in very good area in the half an hour before tea and beat Dravid on a number of occasions.

Read more »

India's last cricket frontier

India are beginning a grinding four-Test cricket series against Australia in Melbourne. Sports writer Suresh Menon here covers the prospects for the Indian team, which has never won a Test series in Australia.

Zaheer With his New Look

Not since 1977-78, when a full Indian team was expected to thrash an Australian outfit weakened by the Kerry Packer defections, has there been so much hope in the Indian camp as there is now.

Back then India lost the first two Tests narrowly and won the next two with thumping margins before losing the decider.

"We should have won 5-0," said ace spinner Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, who claimed 28 wickets, 12 in the Melbourne Test with figures of six for 52 in each innings.

It was a rag-tag Australian outfit, led by Bobby Simpson, who had been recalled a decade after retiring from the game.

History clearly is not in India's favour.

Inspired or deflated?

India might have the superior batting, but this series hinges on which team is more capable of taking 20 wickets to win a Test.

Zaheer Khan apart - and no-one knows what his level of fitness is or whether he will even last the series - this is the most inexperienced bowling attack India has fielded in at least six decades.

If that spurs the likes of Ravichander Ashwin or Umesh Yadav, talented bowlers but in alien conditions, it will be a series to savour.

Australia's bowling attack is also certainly weakened, with new star Pat Cummins unfit.Adding to India's confidence is Australia's recent loss to New Zealand in the Hobart Test, which revealed their own lack of experience and extended the career of Ricky Ponting.

The question is: will the loss in Hobart make Australia a more dangerous side or will it drag the team further down the corridor of uncertainty they have been inhabiting in recent weeks and months?

Sport is strange that way.

A loss can either inspire or deflate a team. Champion teams tend to be motivated by defeat, but Australia haven't been champions for some time now, and it will be interesting to see how they react.

A week before this Boxing Day Test, Ponting turned 37. Both Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are a couple of years older, but the Indians continue to be the pillars of the batting.

The last time India travelled, they were knocked over by England in every match; India struggled once Zaheer Khan pulled out with injury in the first Test, and discovered that nothing succeeds like failure.

Lambs abroad

Thanks to the recent victories against England and the West Indies at home (the former admittedly in a one-day series), the smile is back on the face of the Indian tiger.

But tigers at home, lambs abroad - the story of Indian cricket for many years, has come back to haunt them.

Nevertheless, the leading players know this is their last chance to be part of a series win in Australia.

For the past decade and a half this has been one of the leading India teams of all time.Even when the team was anointed No 1 in the world, there was a nagging incompleteness: India had never won a series in Australia.

There was the series win in Pakistan, victories in England and the West Indies, and the World Cup.

A few things have to fall into place, though, to cross the Australia frontier.

India haven't fully got over their first-Test blues on tour; they tend to lose the inaugural encounter and then find it impossible to get back into the series.

They should have won the last two series in Australia, but managed only a draw under Sourav Ganguly and despite winning a Test under Anil Kumble, lost the series.

Much will also depend on how the rival skippers, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Michael Clarke, handle their resources.

Clarke has the story of Bobby Simpson to inspire him; Dhoni has the chance to correct a historical anomaly when the better team lost some three and a half decades ago.

Read more »

Emotions Reloaded: Bravo's Cameo - Bravado

Emotions Reloaded: Bravo's Cameo - Bravado: Just when CSK seemed to have lost their complete plot in the match against Cape Cobras, there came the savior, Dwayn Bravo. Man, he m...

Read more »

Speed thrills

Plagued by injuries throughout his tumultuous six-year international career,  Kerala pace ace S Sreesanth is coming through another frustrating period. Not only did he miss the tour of West Indies, where he was expected to spearhead the attack in Zaheer Khan’s absence, he’s also seen his replacement, Praveen Kumar, step up to the plate and stake a claim for a regular spot. Ishant Sharma is also bowling with renewed vigour.

Eager to get back in the groove for the England tour, Sreesanth is banking on the thing that works for him – raw pace — injuries be damned.

Making a comeback after his latest injury (tennis elbow) the 28-year-old is in no mood to sacrifice pace even with the physical demands of the modern game in mind.

“I don’t want to be a bowler who gets injured and then comes back and bowls at 120kmph. I want to bowl fast. Even in 2007, I had a back injury and people asked, ‘why don’t you start playing because you can bowl?’ But, I don’t want to just bowl. I want to bowl fast,” Sreesanth tells the HT in an interview. Excerpts:

What’s the status on your injury?
I had a tennis elbow, and a bruise on my bone. For the last year and a half I’ve been on and off feeling pain while bowling. I am training hard and following a proper routine. I am fine now.

What will be the challenge in England?
England are a very good side, they have done well everywhere. The conditions will be helpful, but not getting carried away by the bounce and the swing, like I did on my last tour in 2007, will be the key. It took me two Tests to understand how to bowl in England, and the experience of playing a season for Warwickshire will be to my advantage.

One thing about England is that the conditions are helpful but if you don’t hit the right areas you won’t get wickets. If you can swing the ball with pace, nothing like it. I learnt that from Allan Donald and Ashley Giles, who were my coaches at Warwickshire.

Many feel the contest will decide the top Test team in the world?
We don’t need to discuss that. We’re the top-ranked team, and we have proved it for the last year and a half.

Experts feel you are more suited for Test cricket? Is it because it gives you a chance to bounce back unlike a limited overs game?
It is an honour when a great player says that I am a good Test bowler. But honestly, as a cricketer, I want to play all forms of the game. I want to give my best shot, some days I don’t do well, which is a part of the game. All I can control is to give my best when I get an opportunity. There’s nothing like a one-day or a Test bowler, I just want to play for India and do well in all forms of the game. I have four-five years of very good cricket left in me, I am 28, and 28 to 32 are the best years for a fast bowler, you are more experienced and more fit.

You are known to enjoy the party circuit. How are you preparing for the England series? Have you cut down on partying?
I had my share of celebrations for a couple of weeks (after the World Cup win), but that is history now. I am training hard. I don’t want to be a bowler who gets injured and then comes back and bowls at 120kmph. I want to bowl fast. Even in 2007, I had a back injury and people asked, ‘why don’t you start playing because you can bowl?’

But, I don’t want to just bowl. I want to bowl fast. A lot of people question, why he is not playing? But I had this pain and whenever I bowled fast, it was getting worse. I don’t want to cheat myself. I want to bowl fast and get back in to the team.

Do you think partying affects your performance?
It’s a personal choice. If you know what you are doing and when to do it, then it’s fine. Sab ke liye ek time hota hai. It’s about setting your priorities right, knowing your values… I celebrate when it is the right time. I am not into partying much now. I am not a 19-year-old anymore. I love going out; I used to love partying, even now I go to these get-togethers.

It is more about relaxing your mind and body and taking the mind off cricket. I love to go and watch movies, or may be a small get-together at home with light music and some fun. Partying now is only restricted to when it is the birthday of a very close buddy or a special occasion. I don’t think it will affect your game as long as you don’t overdo it. Anything over is bad… There is a thin line between foolishness and bravery and if you know that line, you will be fine.

You are a two-time world champion, how do you compare the 2007 World T20 triumph with the 2011 ODI World Cup experience?
2011 was a completely different experience from 2007, when I took the last catch in the final. In the 2011 tournament, I hardly did anything. Fortunately, I got to play the most important game — the final.

It is great to be part of World Cup history but that doesn’t stop me. I want to set standards now; I want to take responsibility.

I want to be like Zaheer bhai; follow his footsteps, listen and learn from him, and one day become the main strike bowler of India and win matches. There are 14 Tests coming up, I will miss the three against the West Indies but will still get 11. I want to go to the next level. I have been in and out of the team for six years, and it is high time I consolidated my position and became a match winner.

How did you take it when you were dropped from the IPL team?
I took it in the right spirit. I knew the West Indies and England tours were coming and I motivated and trained myself to be fit for the series. Nobody wants to miss a game, but honestly it gave me time to set goals about what I want to achieve and where I want to be in one year’s time. Someone like Muraltharan, who has 800 Test wickets, was also dropped for some matches, that’s how the format is.

…because you were a current India player who was not finding a place among the seven local players in the Kochi team?
Honestly, I didn’t understand (being dropped for the IPL games) but I was only a player, not the captain or the vice-captain. I was not involved in the team management’s decisions.
 
The DRS has triggered a strong debate, are you for or against it?
It is the Board’s decision, and we respect that. We are under contract.

Read more »

BCCI has anti-Pakistan agenda: Former ICC chief Ehsan Mani

Former ICC chief Ehsan Mani says that the Indian board is blocking Pakistan. 

Governance, for instance.
This is for the simple reason that the ICC had three or four processes of electing its presidents. I’m glad that the proposed change, mooted in Hong Kong, has been deferred. The change was going to be very open-ended and do away with the rotation system. Having agreed to the rotations and to suddenly change, it smells to me of an agenda. The way John Howard was rejected was not good for the publicity of the ICC. The new system of electing the president would throw us back to the old days when only one country (England) was having its candidate elected as ICC president. The best man should head the ICC. 

The rotation system may not necessarily give you the best man.
Yes and no. There are very good men in every country. Even Bangladesh and Zimbabwe can throw up good candidates. The question is, are they going to be nominated. The one good way is to have a certain number of independent directors who are not influenced by any country.

You have been critical of ICC’s approach towards Pakistan. What could it have done?
Look, I never criticised ICC for the current situation in Pakistan. The climate is still not conducive for international cricket. I criticised them for the way Pakistan was removed as a host of the World Cup. Pakistan made a reasonable demand of letting them host their matches in neutral venues. Sharad Pawar and David Morgan agreed to that but the next day at the steering committee meeting, India persuaded Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to reject Pakistan’s request. They were unceremoniously removed as hosts. That was sad. Pakistan always stood by India at the ICC.

What do you mean when you said BCCI is trying to exclude Pakistan from every game?
Yes. The proof is very much in front of us. The BCCI has been very active in that. They did not allow Pakistan players in the IPL. You can see that no Pakistani team is involved in the Champions League. The cricket boards in India and Pakistan have always remained independent of military and political tensions between the countries.

Why do you think it has happened?
You should ask those who are running BCCI today. In my time, there were people like Madhavrao Scindia, AC Muthiah, Rajsingh Dungarpur, IS Bindra and Jagmohan Dalmiya who never let politics come into the game. The current people, who are running the BCCI, have let politics into cricket.

But how can the BCCI ignore the government’s advice?
The Indian government is on record saying that it has not given instruction to the BCCI to exclude Pakistani players from the IPL. If you see the FTP, only four countries are playing among themselves.And you look at the number of times India played Australia in the last seven or eight years.At the same time, there is no clear cut schedule between India and Pakistan in the new FTP. It is because the ICC is weak. In my time, every country played with every other country in a four-year cycle. That rule has been corrupted.

But don’t you think India-Australia and India-England series make for great economics?
I can assure you that India-Pakistan series will far exceed the value of any of these series. This argument of economic viability can hold good from an Australian or English point of view but not from an Indian point of view. The right way forward is to put cricket ahead of politics and financial power. Time is a great healer and things will change soon.

What is the way forward for Pakistan cricket?
It is a sad state of affairs in Pakistan. The controversies, from spot fixing to lack of unity, are because of the mismanagement of the PCB.

The ICC has said the boards will have to de-link from the government. Is it possible in Pakistan?
Government interference has harmed Pakistan cricket but this whole thing is not targeted at Pakistan at all. This is motivated by the BCCI because of India’s sports ministry’s proposed legislation for accountability from the national bodies.The BCCI does not want that and that is the real reason. I welcome this legislation. The BCCI can no longer be able to come to the ICC and say that the government does not want an India-Pakistan series

Read more »

Edwards wants to be an important part of West Indies cricket

Kirk Edwards, who scored a century on Test debut against India in the Third Test, said his goal is to become an important part of West Indies cricket. The tall right-hander made an assured 110 in more than four hours at the crease and became the first man to make a century at Test cricket's newest venue. 

"It is a special feeling to get a Test century on debut for the West Indies but I would have liked to carry on and make a bigger score for the team. Test cricket is about fighting and I see myself as a fighter."

"We have a lot of strong characters in the team and we will continue the fight out this match."

He also became the 13th West Indian to make a century on debut. His knock pushed the home side to 224/6 in the second innings - an overall lead of 82 with a day left in the match.

During his innings Edwards had the ideal partner in Shivnarine Chanderpaul (73 not out) in a stand of 161.

Edwards,26, played some brilliant shots and also showed great determination. He was cheered by the vocal and colourful crowd of over 7,000 fans - including his father Glendon, who made the trip from Barbados.

"We need the support of the people. I had a great reception from the crowd here in Dominica. I was really impressed and happy with the support that we received here."

Speaking about his temperament, Edwards said he never shies away from a challenge. "I'm always prepared mentally. I visualise what I want and I go after it. I want to be a pillar in West Indies cricket so all these things drive me to achieve my goals."

"There will be obstacles but I always aim for my goals. The youngsters (in the team) need the support, we won't come on the stage and get success overnight.

Edwards spoke of the players he admired and those who inspired him as a boy growing up.

"As a young guy growing up and watching cricket I used to like to watch Viv Richards. I used to love to see Viv Richards on the highlights package (on television)."

"It was a proud moment for me to go to the Kensington Oval - at the old Oval - and see Brian Lara and Carl Hooper play. I used to think to myself that one day I would like to be out there playing as well so for me playing for the West Indies is a dream come true," Edwards added.

Read more »

I am a huge Sachin Tendulkar fan, says Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter fans can more than just watch their favourite hero's final battle against Lord Voldemort. They can take heart in the fact that Daniel Radcliffe, known for most of his 22 years of life as Harry Potter, is an unabashed Indophile and plans to visit India soon.

For one, he is a big fan of cricket and Sachin Tendulkar and not necessarily in that order. Daniel cherishes an autograph of the Master Blaster. "My friends and I were thrilled to meet Sachin and get his autograph. I am a huge fan, he is truly a legend."

"I wanted to visit India during the Cricket World Cup but got so caught up with my Broadway musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, that it left me with no time. But cricket or no cricket, I am certainly planning a trip to India soon," he told TOI.

The British actor knows a lot about India. He said, "I have heard and read a lot about India, especially Midnight's Children, and would like to know more about the country. Indians are huge cricket fans, just like me."

As the Harry Potter film series draws to a close, the actor wants to take home two pairs of glasses that his onscreen persona sports as a reminder of the memorable time he spent on the sets. "I will also take home friendship which will last me a lifetime."

Daniel has been portraying the boy wizard for nearly a decade. "I do not want to break my Harry Potter image, but have been trying other characters and hope the audience will like them the way they did Harry Potter." The actor is confident that his Harry Potter image will not come in the way of his future films. "I don't think of it, but one has to move on. My next film, The Woman in Black, will release in 2012."

The British actor knows about Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chak De. "I have watched a couple of Bollywood films and found them every entertaining."

Though Emma Watson, known for her portrayal of know-it-all Hermione Granger, is paired alongside Daniel in the film, he looks at her as his sister. "We have been working together for over a decade and are very good friends. In the beginning, we felt a little awkward doing the romantic scenes but both of us are professionals and we gave our shots."

So finally what does he have to say to all his fans. "I hope you've been satisfied with the films and I'm sorry we haven't been able to keep everything in. I think Harry Potter fans have a literary curiosity and imagination that is not necessarily associated with fans of all other big franchises, both past and present," said the actor. "Take that curiosity out into the world, do extraordinary things."

Read more »

Tendulkar eyes landmark 100th Test century during series with England

Sachin Tendulkar will be reunited with his India team-mates this week, aiming to achieve his 100th international hundred against England in the first of their four-Test series at Lord's, starting on Thursday week. 

But even if he does so on a ground where his highest previous Test score is 37, do not expect the 38-year-old to mark this milestone any differently from the way he has celebrated any other in his 22-year career. 

'I am still learning about the game,' said Tendulkar, who has been rested while India have moved triumphantly through a tour of the West Indies.

'You have to keep your mind open. I figure something out about my batting all the time. Those small adjustments with your footwork or bat-swing improve your game. I love doing that.' 

The Little Master's passion for the game remains so strong that even if he brings this plot-line to its Bollywood conclusion, do not expect the credits to roll just yet. 

'Life without cricket is unthinkable,' he added. 'I still love cricket as much as ever. It is my job, but it is also my passion. I dreamed of playing for my country when I was young (he made his debut at 16) and it is still my dream, it is still fun for me.'

Read more »

Mukund disappointed to miss out on a century

Young opener Abhinav Mukund was crestfallen to miss out on an opportunity to score a century after his patient 62 laid the foundation of India's first innings during the third day of the final cricket Test between India and the West Indies at Windsor Park on Friday.

"I am really disappointed. After doing all the hard work when the ball was swinging in the morning, I tried to stick on and then got out to a ball, I must not have got out to many a times," said an earnest Mukund whose 62 laid the foundation of India's strong reply to West Indies total of 204 all out.

Mukund tried to flick a delivery from spinner Devendra Bishoo which rose from a length and took the edge of his bat to go into the hands of forward short leg fielder.

"The first two tracks had a lot of bounce. This one, frankly, looked like an Indian wicket to me," he said.

"But still planting your feet and playing out forward took a lot of effort. But then I started trusting the wicket and could go forward a lot more than in Barbados."

A feature of Mukund's batting on Friday was his backfoot play and the way he handled short-pitched bowling.

"I have played a lot on matting wicket while I was growing up. My dad always told me that a lot of deliveries in international cricket are short so I practiced and can play short-bowling much better."

While Mukund has has moved up the ladder, his friend and fellow opener Murali Vijay is having a wretched series and once again got dismissed for one.

"It's disappointing that he's been struggling a little bit. We are good friends off the field and knowing him, he doesn't allow much to affect him. It's amazing how cricketers can go through ups and downs," Mukund said.

Mukund also felt for VVS Laxman who hit his third straight half-century against the West Indies but failed to convert anyone of them into a hundred.

"He was very disappointed. He has now hit three half centuries in a row. I haven't seen that kind of dismissal and a lot of us even thought if it was legal," he said.

Laxman was dismissed when he let a leg-spin from Shivnarine Chanderpaul go into the gloves of wicketkeeper Calrton Baugh.

He then lifted his leg mindlessly and Baugh, sensing an opportunity, removed the bails that very instant.

India didn't bat with extra freedom in the final session even though the West Indies were running ragged in the field with injuries and sapping heat.

"It might have looked so from the outside since the part-timers were bowling but a lot of those deliveries were outside the off-stump. There were not many run-scoring opportunities," Mukund said.

The 21-year-old feels, weather permitting, India should go on to win the third and final Test over the next two days.

Read more »

Bowling will determine our Test future, says Dravid

Four years ago, Rahul Dravid created history as he led India to twin Test series triumphs, against the West Indies and England respectively.

While the 1-0 victory against West Indies came after a long wait of 35 years, India's victory against England also came after a long wait of 21 years.

But this time, the Indian team is embarking on both the tours as the world's number one team, while Dravid, no longer the captain, will be looking to make major contributions with the bat.

It has been 15 years since Dravid made his Test debut, with a solid innings of 95 at Lord's and he is hoping to get a hundred this time and etch his name on the Honours Boards at the famed cricket stadium, also known as the Home of Cricket.

Dravid, 38, has been an integral part of the Indian Test batting line-up, regarded one of the best in contemporary cricket. He is the third highest scorer in Test cricket with more than 12,000 runs to his credit and has held the most number of catches (200), but the veteran is not satisfied yet and wants to keep going and improving everyday.

The Indian batting legend discusses India's rise to number one in Tests and why he believes bowling will hold the key to India's Test future in an in-depth interview with Senior Associate Editor Harish Kotian.

You must be having happy memories of West Indies, having led India to a Test series victory, for the first time in 35 years in 2006?

Obviously, I have some very fond memories of the last tour. We played some very good cricket right through the tour and then to win in the end was really good. 

Also, West Indies is a lovely place to play cricket and the people there are fantastic. There is a great vibe around the ground so it is a lovely place to tour and a lovely place to play cricket.

Read more »

Tremlett slams BCCI for UDRS refusal

England pacer Chris Tremlett on Tuesday slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its continuous refusal of using the controversial Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS).

India will tour England next month to play four Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twent20 match. And just like the ongoing series against the West Indies, there will be no UDRS.

The UDRS is a system where teams are allowed two correct referrals per innings to the TV umpire and ICC has been promoting it constantly for the improvement of the game.

However, opposition from BCCI and many senior players including Indian skipper MS Dhoni goes against the wishes of the ICC.

Tremlett admitted that he is baffled by India's refusal to accept the review system.

"I am a fan of the system. If the technology is there it should be used," said Tremlett.

He added: "Who knows why India is against it. There have been a few decisions that have been rightly overturned and as a bowler you want those decisions given out. It's a fair way of doing things. I'm fully in agreement with it."

BCCI has always opposed the system saying they are not satisfied with its accuracy.

"The hot spot has shown that it works. In Australia we had a few decisions correctly overturned,'' countered Tremlett.

"It is very accurate. Sometimes there is a lot of noise around a Test match and an umpire might not hear a fine nick so it's an important thing to have."

"Hawkeye is fair too so it'll be a shame. It has been a successful thing over the last six months."

The last and the only time, Indian team used UDRS was way back in 2008 on Sri Lanka tour.

The system proved to be a disadvantage for the visitors as 11 decisions went against them compared to one against Sri Lanka.

Read more »

Betting Cricket: India will be without injured duo

Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan, injured seamers, will not be able to play in India’s upcoming Test series taking place against West Indies, and many of the players’ fans that enjoy betting cricket wonder how the team will do without these players, and hope that they recover as quickly as possible.

 

Zaheer, left-armer, has a problem with his right ankle while his team-mate Sreesanth has an injury with his right elbow, and both of them will need to take time off in order to go through rehabilitation. Fans everywhere that enjoy betting cricket hope that they regain their proper fitness so they can return to action as soon as possible.

The Indian Cricket Board made an announcement that Praveen Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun were called up as replacements, and many of India’s fans that enjoy betting cricket are confident that these players will be good replacements and make a very good performance when the play the Windies.

UK cricket betting services saw that Mithun played three Tests for his country, all of them last year against Sri Lanka, while Kumar still has to make his debut in the game’s longer form, even though he was a regular in limited-overs cricket.

For the three-match series in the Caribbean, the tourists were already without a number of players.

Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, openers, are both sidelined with injuries to the shoulder, while Yuvraj Singh has been ruled out because of a lung infection. UK cricket betting services are thinking about what impact this can have on the game, and many India fans hope that all goes well.

In the meantime, Sachin Tendulkar, veteran batsman, decided to not play in the Tests so he can spend time with his family.

The first Test will begin at Kingston, Jamaica, on June 20, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 1. Fans everywhere that enjoy betting cricket can’t wait for this to happen, as many would like to see how India will do without these players. .

Read more »

Jolted India look to end ODI series on a high

Jolted by the massive loss in the fourth ODI, India would aim to get the crucial psychological edge over the West Indies before the Test series when they take on the hosts in the fifth and final one-dayer, here on Thursday.

The ODI series is already in their pocket as the Indians have taken a 3-1 lead but they would try and ensure that the scoreline suggests domination by signing off 4-1.

Berths in the eleven for the first Test match, scheduled to start next Monday, are up for grabs and those certain would aim to fall in a groove while those still on the edge would look to leave a definite impression on the team management.

There are at least two batsmen and the fast-bowling combination which needs to be sorted out ahead of the Test series.

Read more »

Roberts saddened by current scenario in West Indies

This was an immortal duel under the sun; the searing intensity of a fast bowler in his prime against a wristy little Indian batsman at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

With his speed, bounce and movement, Andy Roberts had ripped through the Indian line-up on the first day of the fourth India-West Indies Test of 1975. 

Standing firm amidst the ruins was a little man with a touch of class. Gundappa Viswanath conjured the innings of his life on a lively pitch where batting demanded heart and skill.

“Vishy was different from a lot of Indian batsmen. He played the short ball well. He would not hook but would just rise on his toes and turn the delivery off his chest with his wrists,” remembers Roberts.

It indeed was a face-off that will not be clouded by the mists of time. Roberts, fast and furious, finished with seven for 64. And Viswanath remained unbeaten with 97 glorious runs in a total of just 190.

Lillee's compliment

Pace legend Dennis Lillee calls Roberts the complete fast bowler and that is some compliment. Says Lillee, “He was the best fast bowler I ever saw.”

Roberts claimed 202 wickets in 47 Tests at 25.61. His Test career of miles and milestones stretched from 1974 to '83. 

The great conqueror from Antigua is, however, depressed by the current scenario in the West Indies cricket. “There is no commitment in West Indies cricket, no pride. The cricketers play for money, not for the game or the team. The West Indies cricket has declined, not just the fast bowling.”

Roberts, now 60, formed a fearsome pace quartet in the second half of the 70s and early 80s that changed the face of the game. Roberts, Holding, Marshall and Garner, the names just roll off the tongue. 

Holding remains his great friend. “You know, he was the 12th man for Jamaica and I was the 12th man for Antigua. The friendship began there.”

He recalls, “We were all different, had different styles, different temperament. Holding was quick through the air, Garner had the height and bounce, Marshall was fast and skiddy.

“And there were others too like Croft, whose angle was very hard to deal with for the batsmen.”

Reverse swing

Roberts maintains that reverse swing was a factor even during his time. “I remember a series in '77, I tried to bowl the out-swinger and the ball came in. It was there.”

Those magnificent speed merchants from the Caribbean destroyed batting line-ups but cut into each other when it came to the tally of wickets.

Roberts was distinctly dangerous. He bowled two different bouncers with apparently no change in his action. 

One would target the batsman's head and shoulder while the other would soar over. “Yes, I could do that. But that's a secret,” he smiles.

The Antiguan disagrees that present-day pacemen are burdened with too much workload. “Most of the time, they bowl 10 (in the ODIs) and four overs (in the Twenty20 games). We played a lot more first class games and Test matches. You can check.”

And Roberts reveals he never went to a gym. “I did training that was cricket specific. I would run in the sand and up the hills. That's where I got my strength from.”

A hard job

He elaborates, “Fast bowling is a hard job. You need to be as quick at five in the evening as you were at 10 in the morning. I could bowl as fast as anybody but I also varied my pace.”

Ask him about the hardest batsman he bowled at and Roberts is quick with his response. “It is Vivian Richards. I bowled against him in some first class games in England. He was explosive. In international cricket, Sunil Gavaskar and Ian Chappell were exceptional batsmen with different games. Gavaskar made his runs against the fastest of bowlers, in different conditions.”

When queried about a few fast bowlers quitting Test cricket to focus on the abbreviated form of the game, he answers, “They are getting paid more for bowling four overs than long, hard spells in Tests.”

Probed about Indian pacemen, he says, “Munaf Patel was much quicker when he came here last time. 

“Now he has slowed down considerably. Ishant Sharma with his height and action was very promising when he began, but now he seems to have lost steam.”

Among the Indian pacemen, Roberts says Javagal Srinath was the only one who came closest to being called a genuine fast bowler.

Read more »

Raina blames it on poor shot selection

West Indies bowled a fair deal of short-pitched deliveries but bowling coach Eric Simons, wasn’t ready to concede that it had softened up his batsmen.

“I don’t think short-pitched bowling is any issue with this team. It’s not as if we lost only because we were softened up (by them),” he said.

“Sometimes when a series is lost and there is not much to play for, a team is more relaxed and they tend to do well which is exactly what West Indies did.”

“That could be one of the reasons that they played with greater freedom… They did well on Tuesday,” Simons explained.

He added: “We have done really well in this series, and our clinching this series is a reflection of that. Whenever we play for the country, there is a lot to play for and these players have responded well,” Simons said, counting on the positives. 

Simons also mentioned how the policy of this team has been to play to its strength, especially when it comes to bowling.

“We play with a plan which suits our bowlers. There is no point in trying to be someone else. We play to our strength; try to put pressure from both ends and develop a momentum for the side.”

Simons defended Ishant Sharma who proved expensive on Monday. “He has been bowling in the right areas and has been focussed at the nets. He has come following a strong IPL showing. I thought he bowled well.” 

Incidentally, the 103-run win is West Indies’ third-highest margin of victory over India in ODIs. The highest is the 135-run win in Vijayawada in 2002.

Read more »

Spin-attack: India crafting the changing face of World Cricket

India’s greatest strength over the last two years in International cricket has been what has been our traditional weapon, spin. There are two main reasons for that, one that India has played a lot of cricket in the sub-continent and now on the slow turning pitches in the West Indies. The second reason is that spin has risen enormously in stature in general over the last couple of years. This might be because of the coming of T-20 and teams realizing the economical role that spinners can play. Spinners have been used as death bowlers, as opening bowlers and as wicket takers. They have assumed and fulfilled every role to perfection.

Traditionally teams like the West Indies, England and New Zealand did not have quality spinners and it was very rare that they played more than one spinner. In fact some-times part time bowlers used to fulfill that role in the team but now things have changed. England have been playing two spinners in test cricket and in their one-day team recently and Graeme Swann is arguable considered the best off-spinner in the world. No-one can forget the rage that Monty Panesar was in England but for his poor fielding. South Africa have been blessed by a bowler of as high quality as Johan Botha is, an excellent exponent of spin in the T-20 format especially.

This change has however not gone down very well with cricket lovers and fast bowlers. It is highly enjoyable to watch a quality spinner like Anil Kumble, Shane Warne or Muttiah Muralitharan bowl although it is an infinitely good experience to watch a steaming pace bowler run in with a bouncer. The latter image has been diminishing from world cricket. That is not all. Even the spin department has suffered in terms of match winning wicket takers – the mind-set that has come into play is that spinners look to contain in limited overs cricket and not attack. This might also be the reason of alarming extinction of quality leg-spin bowling in cricket.

There is a further cause to these changes that are not necessarily good for the game. With the limited over formats dominating the game of cricket, pitches are being prepared customized for batsmen who like to play free flowing shots. These pitches are spinner friendly but only to the extent that they turn. Bounce and pace of the wicket have almost disappeared thus the lack of wickets. Consider the example of Harbhajan SIngh, who has been showing tremendous economy in his bowling but he goes wicket-less or with a rare wicket in ODI’s.

It is not to be argued that India have the greatest spin arsenal in the world at the moment with the likes of Amit Mishra, R.Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh. They are also by a good fortune the world champions which is not a mere coincidence. There is another reason that i may devilishly trace in this context. The increasing dominance of India in world cricket and the centre shifting from England-Australia to the sub-continent and rivalries like India-Pakistan is another reason for the diminishing fast bowlers in world cricket. The pitches in the sub-continent are tailored to the choice of batsmen-heavy sub-continent sides and thus support spin as well. Mr. Tony Greig asserted in meaning, that India is a super-power to say so in world cricket now and the board of Cricket Control in India the monitoring body than the International Council. These may seem pretty exaggerated but the shift is truly marked.

The consequences of such a change are not just negative but grey. India enjoys the love of 120 crore cricket crazy fans and the commercial nature of sport has forced the transformation. From TV viewership rights, to pitches, to the selection of a side – everything affects the game in a certain way. Whether we like it or not, we will see an increasingly morbid phase in cricket if spinners become ‘economists’ and fast bowlers keep wrapping their fingers around the bowl now and then. The ICC must alert itself of these embryonic demons and get rid of such partial pitches. The upcoming series between India and England in England will be a throwback to the bygone ages as their will be a contest between spin and quality pace. That is one series cricket fans should not miss a ball of.

Read more »

India look to win series today

India will target to defeat West Indies in the third One Day International (ODI) match today and also ensure to win the series.

Today India set to meet West Indies in the third match of the five match ODI series with the young brigade defeating their opponents in the earlier two encounters quite easily.

Meanwhile India's stand in captain Suresh Raina Raina has demanded more respect for the West Indies team who have under performed in this series.

"Earlier you termed us a young (second-string) side. Now you are terming the opposition too weak. The fact is that we all have played too well. Someone or other has put his hand up and we have prevailed," Raina was quoted as saying.

"These guys are players. They are not machines. There would be one or two slip-ups," he said.

Raina was supported by Indian coach D Fletcher who also commented that the West Indies team is not a 'bad' side.

"I don't think it (the West Indies) is a bad side. It's an international side. It has players who have performed well in the past," Fletcher was quoted as saying.

Speaking on the performance of the young Indian team that is touring West Indies, Fletcher said,"It's a reflection on the pool of talent India currently have. It's a reflection on India's standard of cricket. IPL must have done some good. This pool of talent is a massive advantage to the Indians."

The key players for India today will be V. Kohli, Raina and Badrinath. 

 Match is set to start by 18.30 IST. Watch Live Action on Ten Cricket And DD.

Read more »

Virat Kohli gets his priorities right

Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya loves to put his money on a winning horse. If he thought 22-year-old Virat Kohli was the only cricketer his franchise should have retained ahead of Indian Premier League 4 and spent $1.8m to ensure Kohli stays put, he must have certainly seen something special in the cricketer.

A closer look at Kohli now gives you glimpses of what Mallya might have seen. A confident young man who doesn't swear by his talent as much as he swears by what he has learnt from his mistakes; a hard-working cricketer who is turning out to be a winning bet for Indian cricket; an extraordinary individual.

Five years ago, when the batsman returned to finish off a Ranji Trophy game for his team Delhi on the morning his father passed away, people saw a young boy with immense composure, a batsman determined not to let the huge loss get in the way of a job he knew his father would have wanted him to finish. Kohli scored 90 runs in that game and was marked for the future right then.

However, in between that 90 he scored then and the match-winning 81 he scored against the West Indies at the Queen's Park Oval here on Wednesday, much has happened in young Kohli's life.

He achieved a lot of success in the domestic circuit, led the India Under-19 team to a World Cup victory in Kuala Lumpur in 2007, was a member of the historic World Cup winning team that defeated Sri Lanka in the final at Wankhede in April this year and all through he played some fine knocks to cement his place in the Indian team.

While he did so and earned accolades, a few brickbats too came his way. Some called him arrogant while others called him rude. When performances took a dip, his lifestyle came into question.

Being a young man, he became popular in the Page Three circles as much as his cricket. Many thought he was racing into a vaccum where his talent as a cricketer would find no breathing space.

Kohli now admits as much that he felt breathless indeed. He had to wriggle out and find his way.

"I have answered that question many times," he says, laughing but not the kind of laugh that would in any way suggest he felt very good about what he did. "I realized I had to change and was determined to transform myself.

"I was getting carried away off the field, which was not good. But then everyone around you lets you know about your ways. The word spreads, and you realise you got to change. I had to decide myself.

Read more »