Ricky Ponting & Adam Gilchrist

Indian bowlers fail to
impress on second day

MELBOURNE, Dec 27: Indian bowlers struggled to drive home the....more

Venkatesh Prasad

Venkatesh Prasad fined,
handed suspended ban

MELBOURNE, Dec 27: Indian paceman Venkatesh Prasad was today fined....more

Kapil Dev

Kapil dismisses
Aussie media ire
on floodlight issue

MELBOURNE, Dec 27: Indian coach Kapil Dev....more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 27: Defending champion Kamal Rohmetra had a dream run in Billiards final which he won in the last 40 minutes game, showing an experienced opponent, Gautam Lakra way out at fully packed Billiards halls of Amar Singh Club, here this evening. Kamal defeated Gautam by a margin of 67 points finished the score on board at 506-439......more

10-day NSS camp at Rajouri

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 27: NSS unit of the Degree College here organised a 10-day long special camp under the theme ‘Youth for Healthy Society’ in the college premises. The camp which began on December 24 was inaugurated by the Principal of the College, Prof M K Dhar. All faculty members were presented on the occasion...more

Surinder Singh of
J&K in North Zone
Cricket team

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Test discard Vikram Rathore of Punjab was today named captain of the 15-member North zone cricket team for the Deodhar Trophy to be played in West zone next month.....more

Ramesh eyeing Davis
Cup world group

CHENNAI, Dec 27: The new Indian tennis captain Ramesh Krishnan has set his sights on putting the country back in the Davis Cup world group. It is a tough thing to get into the world group but it’s a worthwhile goal and it will take a few years to accomplish it, he told PTI here today....more

Indian bowlers fail to impress on second day

MELBOURNE, Dec 27: Indian bowlers struggled to drive home the advantage as Australia reached a commanding position in the second cricket test on the second day badly hit by poor weather and a media row over India’s refusal to play under floodlights.

Rain played spoilsport for the second day running with most of the post-lunch period and the entire session after tea washed out as Australia reached a solid 332 for five at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In-form batsmen Ricky Ponting (59 batting) and Adam Gilchrist (77 batting) flayed the Indian attack to raise an unfinished 135-run stand for the sixth wicket after Prasad removed the overnight unbeaten duo of opener Michael Slater (91) and skipper Steve Waugh (32) in the morning.

Paceman Venkatesh Prasad struck twin blows in the space of five runs to leave the hosts at 197 for five in the extended morning session, but the Indian bowling lacked consistency against aggressive batting with two confident appeals also turned down against Gilchrist to their chagrin.

But Prasad’s aggressive celebration on dismissing slater invited Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugulle’s ire with the bowler and coach Kapil Dev called for a hearing.

Only 45 overs could be sent down today despite play beginning 30 minutes early in the morning in a bid to make up for lost time, after poor weather enabled only 48 of the quota of 90 overs to be bowled yesterday.

Australia recovered from the twin setbacks to reach 277 for five at lunch, but rain delayed resumption of play by almost 90 minutes and forced another interruption before bad light called a final halt at the stroke of tea.

With more rain forecast for the next two days, the match looks headed for a tame draw.

Resuming at the overnight 138 for three, Slater and Waugh took the fourth wicket stand to 69 when Prasad had the former nine runs short of his 14th test hundred.

The Indians finally cashed in on the opener’s penchant for shot-making as prasad dug one short to be pulled to fine leg where Javagal Srinath took a good catch.

Five balls later, Prasad struck again when he induced Waugh to edge to M S K Prasad behind the stumps as India once again seemed set to get on top of the Australian batting.

India almost had the sixth wicket, but Anil Kumble’s confident claim that he had Gilchrist caught and bowled was turned down after third umpire Bill Sheahan failed to convince himself that the catch has been taken cleanly from the TV replay provided from a lone angle.

Venkatesh Prasad also was certain he had the batsman caught behind when on 63, but Australian umpire Steve Davis turned down the appeal.

But first innings centurion Ricky Ponting and Gilchrist attacked the bowling with the new ball taken one over before lunch having little impact on the scoring.

Gilchrist’s fifty came off only 49 balls (115 m, 5x4) and he has struck 12 fours thus far.

Slater, overnight on 64 and skipper Waugh began pounding the Indian bowlers, pacemen Srinath and Ajit Agarkar in particular.

The two wicket-takers on the opening day paid the penalty for straying in line and length and had expensive figures of two for 101 and 1 for 64 respectively.

Salter fell in the nervous nineties for the eighth time in his career as he top-edged the pull for Srinath to complete a running catch. The opener’s unwanted record left him level with West Indian Alvin Kallicharan and one behind Steve Waugh’s record of nine.

Waugh, who was all at sea last evening against Agarkar, twice cut Srinath to the backward point fence, while Slater also cut Agarkar to the boundary.

Slater’s runs came off 179 balls in 269 minutes of stay and contained 10 fours while Waugh faced 108 balls in a stay of eight minutes over an hour.

But India were unlucky not to effect another breakthrough when Kumble seemed to have had Gilchrist caught and bowled, only for the third umpire to rule him not out. The left-hander was only on seven with the total reading 207 for five.

But Prasad himself was guilty of bowling too short with Srinath and Agarkar also dishing out a liberal dose of loose stuff to let both Gilchrist and Ponting settle down.

But only 12 overs could be sent down in the heavily rain-hit afternoon session before the heavens opened up again. (PTI)

Venkatesh Prasad fined, handed suspended ban

MELBOURNE, Dec 27: Indian paceman Venkatesh Prasad was today fined 35 per cent of his match fee and handed a four-month suspended ban of one test or two one-dayers for his outburst on dismissing opener Michael Slater on the second day of the second cricket test here today.

Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle held a hearing with the bowler and coach Kapil Dev after neutral umpire David Shepherd reported the player following the incident that took place in the morning session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Prasad, who had slater caught by Javagal Srinath pulling to fineleg for 91, charged up and an made exaggerated pumped up action with his hands clearly aimed at the departing batsman.

He was spoken to by shepherd who alongwith fellow umpire Steve Davis reported to Madugalle who held the hearing at the end of the day’s play before announcing his decision.

Madugalle levied the fine - about Rs 40,000 - and also the suspended ban, which will come into effect if he misbehaved in the next four months.

It was the second time that prasad was being punished. He was fined 30 per cent of his match fee for using abusive language after dismissing a english batsman in a triangular one-day tournament in Sharjah this April.

The Indian team management refused to comment on the punishment, saying it was upto the match referee to take action against a player.

An ICC release said Prasad was guilty of breach of point two of the code of conduct which states: Players shall at no time engage in conduct unbecoming of their status which would bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute.

Slater, however, did not make much of the incident and said Prasad came into the Aussie dressing room and apologised later. I told him there was no need for that. Frankly, I did not even take notice of Prasad while walking off. All I thought of was the shot, he said. (PTI)

Kapil dismisses Aussie media ire on floodlight issue

MELBOURNE, Dec 27: Indian coach Kapil Dev dismissed as baseless stringent criticism by the Australian media today after India refused to play under floodlights on the rain-hit opening day of the second cricket test yesterday.

Kapil Dev expressed surprise after the local media used vitriolic language in slamming the decision of the tourists and said his team was only following the decision taken by the Indian Board two months ago when conditions were drawn up for the current series.

The Indian Board had refused before we came here. I don’t understand what the fuss is all about. I think if they want to raise an issue, it is baseless, commented Kapil Dev.

He categorically said there was no question of agreeing to such a move, saying his team was not used to playing under lights and that it was for the world governing body, ICC, to make it mandatory if teams were expected to oblige.

It should be in the playing conditions and in this case Indian Board had conveyed their decision long time ago, he said after local newspapers blamed India saying their stand had left some 50,000 boxing day fans in the cold.

The Indian coach said he was aware the issue was not raised by the Australian Board but only by the local media. I cannot be concerned about anything other than official reaction, Kapil Dev said.

As far as we are concerned, we had the same reply when we were asked (by match referee Ranjan Madugalle) in the Adelaide test. It is not at MCG that we have let known our opinion, he said.

I am not saying playing under lights is good or bad. Simply we are not used to it and then I can’t decide without speaking to my board. If it was made mandatory by ICC for every test team to play we would have played, he said.

Kapil Dev, however, said as a player he did not mind this innovation, to be honest to the paying public.

As a player I can see this point of view. The game has changed so much, if there is something for the betterment of the game then why not, he said.

Last year, England had also refused to accede to such a request during the Ashes series and the media comment looked clearly reckless.

The language was consistently vitriolic, often derogatory and at time hostile as they ripped into the Indian team.

The headlines ranged from test cricket stuck in the dark ages and meek Indians fail to see the light and worse.

The Australian said, a terrified India have become the second test playing country in as many seasons to threaten the future and foundation of the game by robbing paying spectators with a refusal to continue to play under lights.

Like the dead hand of England last summer, India have refused to allow six million dollars worth of technology to be used for playing and promoting a game which will be seriously threatened if it does not move with the modern entertainment age.

Australian skipper Steve Waugh, however, backed India. I can understand from an Indian point of view they have not got a lot of experience. I guess they were a little bit worried what the conditions were going to be like, he said while backing the move to play under lights. (PTI)

Kamal Rohmetra stuns Lakra to retain Billiards title
Ankur snatches Jr Snooker title

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 27: Defending champion Kamal Rohmetra had a dream run in Billiards final which he won in the last 40 minutes game, showing an experienced opponent, Gautam Lakra way out at fully packed Billiards halls of Amar Singh Club, here this evening.

Kamal defeated Gautam by a margin of 67 points finished the score on board at 506-439.

Whereas, in the earlier 90 minutes game, Gautam was dreaming a victory as he had managed an ‘unbeatable’ lead of 122 points and was all set to won the championship. Moreover, every body in Kamal’s camp had lost hopes and were guessing that what would be the margin. But, successive breaks in the final 20 minutes including a highest 43 points turned the table against Gautam. Kamal did what had never happened in the history of Billiards in J&K and snatched victory from Gautam.

In the last 30 minutes Kamal completely dominated the table and every shot taken by him was praised by the audience most of whom were players.

It was no doubt a dream for Kamal as he scored 167 points in the 15 minutes game to overtake the leading Gautam. He was playing at 256 against 378 by Gautam and set the score board moving to reach 423 against 412. Thereafter he never looked back and finished the match at 506-439. In total, Kamal scored surprising 250 points in the last 30 minutes game as compared to only 256 in the early 90 minutes.

Four breaks of 41, 43, 28 and 32 proved luckier for Kamal, which made him to win the lost match.

Whereas, Gautam, who is known for his shocking breaks played for small points and his highest break in the final was of 32 points which he struck in the first 30 minutes of the match. He was given little chance afterwards and could grip add mere 61 points in the final 30 minutes moving the score from 378 to 439.

Earlier, the first half ended at 254-175 in favour of Gautam Lakra.

It may be recalled that Gautam had 79 points break in the semi-finals with 54 unfinished, which was the highest in this championship.

President of the J&K State Billiards and Snooker Association, Mr K K Khosa remained their throughout the final, who appreciated the efforts of Kamal Rohmetra with whom he said the State has a lots of hopes.

Before, the match was stated, chief referee Mr Mushtaq Ahmed introduced the players with the general secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Billiards and Snooker Association, Mr Sanjeev Gupta.

In the Juniors Snooker final, Ankur Mahajan balanced his yesterday’s defeat in the Billiards final, when he outplayed the same opponent, Jaideep Manocha to clinch the Snooker title 4-1 in the best of seven frames.

The turning point for Ankur was black ball in the third and fourth frame which helped him to go 3-1 ahead of Jaideep. Earlier, first frame was lifted by Ankur with comfortable margin of 61-38, but Jaideep replied in the same tone and level the score winning the second frame 72-22.

In the fifth and final frame, confident Ankur emerged victorious by 69-33 points and clinched the Snooker title.

The score: 61-38, 22-72, 73-66, 45-37, 69-33.

Mr Mushtaq Ahmed was chief referee, Manohar and Raveez were markers in the today’s finals.

Meanwhile, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed, joint secretary of the Association and chief coach of the championship informed that the seniors Snooker final will be played on December 29 at 1 pm at Amar Singh Club Billiards halls.