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Ganguly worried BANGALORE, Dec 23: Expressing concern over his lean patch in the tests, Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly was critical over England’s tactics in the test series after losing the first test at Mohali. "They (England)......more Sachin
disappointed BANGALORE, Dec 23: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, adjudged man of the series against England, expressed his disappointment over the negative tactics of the visitors in the just-..............more Ganguly
on his way BANGALORE, Dec 23: Chairman of the cricket board’s selection committee Chandu Borde today hinted that Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy might be reviewed after the one-day series against England beginning next ..........more BCCI,
English Board BANGALORE, Dec 23: Announcing that the sixth one-day international between India and England has not been finalised yet, Board of Contral for Cricket in India president Jagmohan ....more |
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KC Public School celebrates
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: The Minister for Power, S S Slathia today.....more Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: An Open Chess Tournament, organised....more Ist
Lt Thakur Dutt Memorial Veteran Cricket Excelsior Sports Correspondent AKHNOOR, Dec 23: Veteran Cricket Club (VCC), Jammu defeated Veteran Cricket Club, Akhnoor by five wickets in the opening ....more Jammu
Club’s Annual Sports Meet Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Harinder Mahajan has entered into the semi-finals of the Lawn .....more |
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Ganguly worried about his form BANGALORE, Dec 23: Expressing concern over his lean patch in the tests, Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly was critical over England’s tactics in the test series after losing the first test at Mohali. "They (England) could have been more attacking. They were little careful and concentrated on stopping flow of runs" and not willing to take risks, Saurav Ganguly said at a press conference after India wrapped up the three-test series 1-0 against England. However, England skipper Nasser Hussain, speaking separately, defended their action saying that they had achieved what Australians could not. "We restricted them to 290 and 238. Australia had conceded 570 odd runs despite having spinner like Shane Warne". About his own form, Saurav said he was indeed worried of his lean patch in test matches and despite getting starts, he was failing to convert them into big scores. "I am a bit worried though I am doing well in one-dayers", he added. However he hoped to reverse the downturn in the matches next year. "There has not been any slump in my game but i am not getting any big scores and getting out in the 40s and this is my major concern". Denying complacency in the team after winning the Mohali test in four days, he said "toss was vital factor. We lost it in the last two tests and we were not totally outplayed", Ganguly added. Commenting on being at the receiving end after winning at Mohali, he said "we didn’t lose. We played well in mohali but did not play so well after that. We did well to save the test at Ahmedabad and lot of cricket was washed away at Bangalore. So we can’t really see much into this test match". The batting needs to be more consistent and more runs be scored by the team. Srinath, Harbhajan Singh and Anil all bowled well in the series, he added. On being outplayed in the Bangalore test, he said "they had nearly 100 runs lead in the first innings so they had to set the tone in the test." Commenting on the strategy of the England team he was quick to disagree about the negative bowling and said "they had their own strategy in the test which could have been sometimes negative and sometimes positive, but to get 20 wickets in a match you have to be more attacking and have some good set of bowlers. They knew that Indians played spinners well so their strategy I think was mainly to stop the flow of runs". Ganguly said "I am confident though we didn’t play very well in the last two tests, after the break we will come back strongly in the one-day series. The team was ready to play on any wicket that is offered and there is no point in going on complaining about them". About some unsavoury incidents on the field when the match referee had to intervene and tell the two teams to play it cool, Ganguly said "pressure is always there in an international game and it will only be on the game. I believe we should always be aggressive at times". He defended wicket keeper Deep Das Gupta saying that he has batted well but he had a bad match in Ahmedabad. "He did well in South Africa and in Bangalore. The players will have bad matches," he added. He defended inclusion of three spinners saying that the groundsmen said it would turn straight away. "May be the moisture held it and there was no turn for the spinners," he added. Coach John Wright said the team did well in Mohali "but we didn’t encash on that win and bad catching and some soft dismissals affected the teams most in the next two tests. The execution of plan failed in the last two games. India dropped a few catches in Ahmedabad. About Ashley Giles, he said, "the left arm spinner got more bounce than shane warne did for Sachin Tendulkar. He was quite effective." (UNI) |
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Sachin disappointed with England tactics, Nasser defends BANGALORE, Dec 23: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, adjudged man of the series against England, expressed his disappointment over the negative tactics of the visitors in the just-concluded three-test series. "They kept on bowling over the wickets. I was a bit disappointed", Tendulkar said during the award presentation ceremony after the match was called off today. However, he expressed happiness over scoring 307 runs, including a ton in Ahmedabad, from five innings. Tendulkar said he was looking for a break and it would help to rest the injured finger in the leg. About the pitches, Tendulkar said he felt like playing in England while batting in Mohali and Bangalore. Usually Indian pitches will have dry grass. Bangalore and Mohali were different. Indian captain Saurav Ganguly said the upcoming one-day series against England next month would be good as the visitors were a tough side. He, however, was disappointed with the batting and it needed to be worked on. Bowling was very good and was all praise for medium-pacer Javagal Srinath and leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who got the 300th wicket in Bangalore match. Meanwhile, brushing aside the criticism of his team having resorted to negative tactics during the three-test series against India, England skipper Nasser Hussain strongly defended the strategy employed to stifle the home team. "I need not ask the opposition where they like us to bowl," he retorted at the press conference after the fifth day’s play was called off in the final test here today. "I don’t have problem with the impression (in the media)," he added. Defending his instruction to left-arm spinner Ashley Giles to bowl on the leg stump to Sachin Tendulkar, he said it worked. "We bowled out the strong Indian batting line-up for 290 in the second and 238 in the Bangalore test while the formidable Australian bowling line-up conceded 570 runs on turning wicket in India last winter." Praising his inexperienced bowlers, he said their performance was above board. They put a lot of pressure on the Indians and put the team in a winning position in the third and final test which ended in a draw here. He said security had never posed a problem to the team in India, where noise levels are high. "Security concerns are misplaced and they have nothing to do with India. India is a great place to play cricket," Chennai-born Nasser Hussain added. A couple of players had pulled out of the tour because of prevailing situation in Asia and the travelling by air leaving their families at that time. Nasser, who had led an inexperienced side, said "we played good cricket throughout and I am pleased with the young side. "The biggest gain of the test series was the teeming around and the team spirit." "We did well in Ahmedabad putting the Indians under pressure" and "with five day’s play here (in Bangalore) we might have won", he said, giving full credit to his young bowlers. On some heated moments that were witnessed and allegation that Hoggard resorted to sledging in this test he said "this shows how the game is being played for years. It is played tough when Australia and England bat. When Lilee and Thompson bowled there were a few words said. Now we have a match referee who says you can cool it, thank you very much. He has been excellent", he said. The experience gained in India would be of immense value for the youngsters. "We have a very good coach in Duncan Fletcher and the team after inclusion of some seniors can get only better", he said. On availability of senior cricketers like Alec Stewart, the captain said that the team had already been announced. "It is good to hear Alec has made himself available and the team would be complete with the addition of some senior players". Expressing his hate towards flat wickets, he said "I liked these Indian wickets as they were good batting tracks. It will be very difficult to take 20 wickets on them (flat pitches)". About use of floodlights in tests, he said "natural light is always better than artificial light so that you need not play till nine o’clock". (UNI) |
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Ganguly on his way out after one-day series? BANGALORE, Dec 23: Chairman of the cricket board’s selection committee Chandu Borde today hinted that Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy might be reviewed after the one-day series against England beginning next month. "It is too early to say. Let him finish his term. It is not correct to change the horse midstream," Borde told reporters when asked whether there was any move to remove Ganguly from captaincy. "We want to take a look at the one-day series. After that we will sit and decide." "That’s the worry. They (batsmen) have excellent record. They cannot be dropped overnight.... Tell me whom should we drop." He looked satisfied with the performance of the three new medium-pacers - Tinu Yohannan, Iqbal Siddiqui, and Sanjay Bangar - who had been given chance in the test series against England, saying they had "come up to our expectations". (PTI) |
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BCCI, English Board hammering out a package BANGALORE, Dec 23: Announcing that the sixth one-day international between India and England has not been finalised yet, Board of Contral for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya said that BCCI and England Cricket Board are on the verge of clinching a package of reciprocality upto 2006. The details of the package was being ironed out by the two boards and a solution would emerge in the next two or three days, he told newsmen here today. He, however, said that if England failed to play the sixth one dayer, the entire package would fall through. Under the package, both teams would play equal number of tests and one dayers. Now India was playing more matches. He said however, India was ready to honour the commitment of playing the fourth text if England agreed to the BCCI’s suggestion. (UNI) |
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KC Public School celebrates
5th Annual Sports Day Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: The Minister for Power, S S Slathia today rated the K C Public School as the best educational institution in the Jammu Province. He was speaking on the occasion of 5th Annual Sports Day of the school at Akhnoor Road, here. He said that in the short period of just five years, the institution has made tremendous progress in every sphere and set new standards in the field of education. Earlier, the KC’s family was limited to the industries, but by establishing a modern educational institution in Jammu, they have made revolution in the education by setting up one of the best school in private sector, he mentioned. He pointed out that this institution will, in the coming times, also get the attention of the students from outside the State and make its name at the national level. The Minister had no hesitation in rating the KC Public School as the best in Jammu Province. "After going through the institution and the facilities being extended to the students, I can say that KC Public School is number one in Jammu Province", he said. Besides the outstanding sportspersons of the institution, those excelling in academic and cultural programmes within and outside activities were also honoured on the occasion. A number of colourful cultural programmes were presented by the students amidst different sports events. Top in the list of sports persons honoured on the occasion was Raghav Wahi, the first ever golfer from India, who cut the world rating in his age group. Others in the roll of honour were Shikhar Uppal, Arjun Choudhary, Rajat Vaid and Rachit Mehta, all national level skaters, Suraj Bajaj and Abhay Wattal, both national level Judo players, Sambhav Koul, national Karateka, Mrinal Koul, school head boy, Iesha Pargal, school head girl, Mayank Goswami, who was skipper of J&K team in school sports, Zain Ajaz and Kanwar Sethi, both national cricketers. Special academic award went to Divya Sharma, who secured 96 per cent marks in CBSE examinations. All round best students awards were bagged by Neha Sharma, senior school, Zain Ajaz, junior school, Anuvrat Tiku, Siddant Choudhary and Anubhav Malhotra, all most promising children of the year, while Krishen Anand was declared as most disciplined child. Those who bagged special sports awards included Swarn Singh, Taek-Won-Do, Aditya Beri, swimming, Vibhuti Wattal (gold in distt and silver in state championship), Gymnastics, Shiv Shanker Thakur, Judo, Mehak Daftari, Yoga, Shray Mahajan, swimming, Swati Koul, Athletics, Sudhanshu Singh and Deepanshi Isher, both in swimming. The Minister also donated Rs 1100 to the budding students who performed excellent in various sports and athletic meets. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Anil Goswami was the guest of honour, who also gave away prizes to the outstanding students. Messrs Dilawar Mir, MLA, Janak Raj Gupta, ex-MP and S S Wazir, former DGP were also present on the occasion and also gave away prizes. The final results of various sports events in different houses are: 100 meters (senior boys): Sahil Raina of Ladakh, Ist; Karan Sethi, Kashmir, 2nd and Sudhant, Jammu, third. 100 meters (senior girls): Swati Koul, Jammu, Ist; Meesha, Ladakh, 2nd and Ashmeet, Kashmir, third. 100 meters (junior boys): Asif of Ladakh, Ist; Shashi Ranjan of Kashmir, 2nd and Maoule of Poonch, third. 200 meters (junior girls): Neha of Kashmir, Ist; Yashica of Poonch, 2nd and Muhsina of Ladakh, third. 200 meters (junior boys): Asif of Ladakh, Ist and Rohin Ganjoo, Kashmir, 2nd. 100 meters (junior boys): Medha of Kashmir, Ist; Sangeeta of Poonch, 2nd and Robina of Ladakh, third. 200 meters (senior boys): Raman of Ladakh, Ist; Naseer of Kashmir, 2nd and Ujjwal of Jammu, third. 200 meters (senior girls): Swati Koul of Jammu, Ist; Meesha of Ladakh, 2nd and Kamna of Poonch, third. 100x4 relay race (senior boys): Sahil, Raman, Aditya and Varun of Ladakh, Ist; Sahil, Arush, Naseer and Karan of Kashmir, 2nd and Sushant, Baber, Asif and Ujjwal of Jammu, third. 100 meters (sub-junior boys: Raghav, Ist; Ankur, 2nd and Aditya, third. 100 meters (sub-junior girls): Monika, Ist; Parushi, 2nd and Gagandeep, third. Obstacle Race (sub-junior boys): Ankur, Ist; Harshwardhan, 2nd and Umang, third. |
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Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: An Open Chess Tournament, organised by the Jyoti Talent Boosting Centre, began at Indoor Complex of the M A Stadium, here this morning. The week-long tournament was declared open by the Secretary, State Sports Council, Sheikh Fazal Ahmed, while Dr Surjit Singh Dua was among others present in the inaugural function. Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary complimented Master Chela Ram for his passion for the game of Chess and his organising the tournament at this old age. The main attraction of the day was the match between the organising secretary of the tournament, Master Chela Ram Dogra, the chess legend in Jammu and Kashmir, and Akhil Chopra, which former won. Other results of the day: Sumit Grover beat Sanjeev; Ram Singh beat Dr T K Moza; Joginder Singh lost to Dr Suresh Gupta; Arvind beat Sudhanshu Mahajan; Harvinder Singh beat Daleep Singh; Shivam Gupta beat Basuneet Sharma; Ashok Nanda beat Koushik Jalali; Sahil Arora beat Vaneet Kumar; Sushil Sharma got walkover Ashwani Gupta; Bankim Chander beat Sumir Saraf; Vicky beat Shashank and Suresh Raina beat Shuhul Razdan. All the winners have got one point each out of their first win. Meanwhile, due to some unavoidable circumstances there will be no competitions on tomorrow. |
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Ist Lt Thakur Dutt Memorial
Veteran Cricket Excelsior Sports Correspondent AKHNOOR, Dec 23: Veteran Cricket Club (VCC), Jammu defeated Veteran Cricket Club, Akhnoor by five wickets in the opening match of the first Lt Thakur Dutt Memorial Veteran league-cum-knockout Cricket Tournament at Higher Secondary School grounds, here today. Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, host Akhnoor Club set a target of 146 runs when they got bowled out in 24.1 overs off the 25 overs match. In reply, Jammu Club chased the target in 23.5 overs for the loss of five wickets. Devinder was the highest scorer from Akhnoor club with 27 runs, while Rajinder contributed 20 runs to the total. From Jammu Club, Krishan was the most successful bowler, who claimed four wickets for 17 runs, while Sanjay and Ravi Kant shared three and two wickets respectively. Batting second, Ravi Kant played brilliant innings for Jammu Club with highest 43 runs hitting four boundaries, while Krishan added valuable 17 including two fours. From Akhnoor club, Vinod took two wickets for 20 runs and Deepak one for 15. Pappa and Sobha were umpires in this match. The tournament, wherein matches will be played on every Sunday, is being organised by the Veteran Cricket Club, Akhnoor. Next match: Veteran Luxmi Club, Jammu will be playing against Veteran Club, Satwari at 10 am sharp. |
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Jammu Club’s Annual
Sports Meet Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Harinder Mahajan has entered into the semi-finals of the Lawn Tennis in the ongoing Jammu Club’s Annual Sports Meet, here today. Harinder had an easy ride over Arvind Kohli, who lost in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 on way to semi-finals. Meanwhile, in the Lawn Tennis dependents, Vidhant beat Sidant Chaudhary in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 to advance into the next round. Arjun Gandotra in Table Tennis semis JAMMU: Arjun Gandotra today reached into the semi-finals of the Table Tennis events in dependents category in the Annual Sports Meet of the Jammu Club, here. In the quarter-finals tie, Arjun defeated Gautam Gupta in a tough contest which lasted in four sets 11-9, 11-7, 3-11, 11-10. Earlier, in a second round match, Kanav Sharma had tough time against Karan Dewan, who fought for complete five sets. Although, Karan had won two consecutive sets, but Karan fought back winning the remaining three sets making it 3-2. The score: 8-11, 6-11, 13-12, 11-7, 11-6. However, Kanav lost his second tie against Karan Anand in straight sets 11-7, 11-8, 11-6. |
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