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India poised to clinch AHMEDABAD, Oct 28: Buoyed by the eight-wicket.......more
Lele objects to Agarkar, MUMBAI, Oct 28: Cricket Board Secretary Jayawant.......more Portable pitch AUCKLAND, Oct 28: The International Cricket....more Indian challenge ends TASHKENT, Oct 28: Lightweight pugilist Narendra Rana....more
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Anand Lakra, Khanna win in 15-ball Pool tourney Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 28: Anand Lakra won the Juniors title, while KK Khanna ....more
Nikhil
Kesar bags double title Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 28: Vikram Singh became new men’s District Champion....more Inter-College
Volleyball Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 28: Government MAM College and Post Graduate Departments.....more MELBOURNE, Oct 28: Veteran Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy, who...more |
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India poised to clinch series, Kiwis face uphill task AHMEDABAD, Oct 28: Buoyed by the eight-wicket win in the second encounter to go ahead in the three-match series, India enter the third and final cricket test starting here tomorrow as favourites to wrap up the series against a New Zealand team which is down and out after many setbacks. A dry, grassless and spinner-friendly track has been laid out for the visitors eager to overturn a 0-1 deficit and square the series. The comprehensive defeat in conditions condusive to spin at Kanpur’s Green Park has undermined the confidence of the Kiwis after they had staved off defeat and earned a creditable draw in the first test at Mohali. The Indians, on the other hand, received a shot in the arm by the emphatic win at Kanpur with a day to spare which was achieved despite the fact that they had to bat last on a crumbling pitch. They, thus, go into the deciding test at the Sardar Patel Gujarat stadium in Motera favourites to wrap up the issue and maintain their superb home record since 1986-87. The Indians are expected to go into the final test of the series without any changes to the playing eleven though both skipper Sachin Tendulkar and coach Kapil Dev were non-committal and said they will have a team meeting later in the day before deciding on the issue. Tendulkar was also not interested in being drawn into predicting the nature of the pitch. All he was prepared to say was that it was expected to help the spinners at some time in the match. Pitch curator and former test left-arm paceman Dhiraj Parsana said the wicket would last for all five days and not become powdery as it had happened when India last played here in a test - and won in dramatic style against South Africa in 1997. In that encounter Tendulkar, in a tremendous show of tactical acumen, brought back into attack pace spearhead Javagal Srinath on a fifth day pitch which was expected to be totally spin-oriented. The gangling fast bowler destroyed South Africa with a match-winning haul of 6 for 21. To India’s advantage both Srinath and his Karnataka mate Anil Kumble have shown fine form in the series and have been the leading wicket-takers from either side, with 14 and 11 scalps to their credit, indicating their dominance. "We have relaid the soil. Though the grass has been shaved off, it will grow due to undersoil moisture, Parsana told reporters on the match eve. Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming, who has led from the front by showing good technique with his extra reach and an open-chested stance against the spinners, said the pitch here looked "flat and a lot smoother (sporting fewer cracks) and softer than the one at Kanpur". The Kiwis have fought hard in both the tests but have also let slip some advantageous situations. Added to their worries is the non-availablity of key batsman Craig McMillan, who is returning home after fracturing his right index finger at Kanpur, and the poor form shown by openers Matthew Bell and Mathew Horne. Fleming told reporters there will be a change in their opening combination without mentioning who will be axed. As per indications bell, who has made just 29 runs in four innings in the series, is to be dropped and Craig Spearman would open the innings with Horne. Coupled with the absence of the injured McMillan, who showed good technique against the spinning ball at Kanpur despite batting with his broken right index finger, it leaves two spots open in the Kiwi line-up. Gary stead, who has flown in as replacement for McMillan, is expected to take his place in the match line-up too while Chris Harris, who bowls slow medium stuff which can be as frustrating to the free-stroking Indians as the bowling of Nathan Astle, might get a look-in in the lower order. The Indians, on the other hand, have been blessed with back-to-back century opening stands - an Indian record in successive test innings - between left-hander Sadagopan Ramesh and Devang Gandhi. Tendulkar today acclaimed their contribution for the position India finds itself now in the series. Saurav Ganguly did not take part in the net session because of a bout of flu which coach Kapil Dev said was nothing to worry about. However, it remains to be seen how fit he will be tomorrow. With the openers going great guns, Rahul Dravid continuing with his domination of the Kiwi attack and Tendulkar already showing signs he is back to his attacking best, only Ganguly has to get into his groove for the Indian batting to rise to its full stature. (PTI) |
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Lele objects to Agarkar, Sodhi joining nets MUMBAI, Oct 28: Cricket Board Secretary Jayawant Lele has objected strongly to allrounder Ajit Agarkar and Harvinder Singh Sodhi joining the Indian team at nets without prior permission at Ahmedabad yesterday. Lele told PTI from Baroda today that neither Agarkar, who submitted his fitness certificate to BCCI on Tuesday after being sidelined due to groin injury for the past couple of months, nor Sodhi took his (Lele) permission to join the nets on the eve of the third and final test against New Zealand. Lele said "what was the need to have Agarkar and Sodhi to bowl at the nets when we have three good new ball bowlers in the side. I agree that in the past we have asked some young bowlers to bowl in the nets, but only after taking the Board’s permission. "I will take up this issue during the Selection Committee meeting in Ahmedabad as both Agarkar and Sodhi did not even have the courtesy to inform me," he added. "If the two have gone to Ahmedabad on their own then it is a different matter. Otherwise it is a serious issue and I will take appropriate action against them," Lele said. "In fact Kapil Dev (Indian coach) spoke to me in Kanpur during the second test and requested that Agarkar and Sodhi be allowed to bowl at the nets in Ahmedabad, but I had refused permission," he added. "The BCCI committee members have given me the power to decide on extra players for Ahmedabad and no one else has the right to decide about this matter," he added. "Agarkar should have been playing in the times shield in Mumbai to prove his fitness as he has the tendency to break down just before a match or an important tour. Instead he has gone to Ahmedabad," Lele said. "It is difficult for anyone to gauge Agarkar’s fitness at the nets and I feel he should play in matches to show he is `match-fit’ even though he has produced fitness certificate to the Board," Lele said. (PTI) |
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Portable
pitch AUCKLAND, Oct 28: The International Cricket Council hopefully will approve the use of a portable pitch for international one day games after a trial match in late November, New Zealand cricket officials today said. The portable grass pitch — which is set in an aluminium tray and transported by crane and truck — will be used in a four-day match between England a and a South Island selection team at Christchurch’s Jade stadium starting on November 21. NZC chief executive Christopher Doig said a report on the pitch would be tabled at the next ICC management meeting, scheduled for June 2000. "Hopefully it would be agreed unanimously that the portable pitch can be used for (international) one day cricket." The pitches would be used at multi-purpose grounds where the cross-over with winter sporting codes made wicket preparation difficult. New Zealand cricket has tested the pitch, which is 23 metres (25 yards) long and 3.1 metres wide, for the past two seasons, but it failed to gain ICC support last season following criticism from players that the wicket was under-prepared and lacked pace and bounce. Portable pitches are also being tested in Australia, including one at the Melbourne cricket ground. Kerry packer’s Rebel world series cricket pioneered the concept of portable pitches in Australia during the 1970’s when it was denied access to major cricket grounds. (REUTERS) |
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Indian
challenge ends TASHKENT, Oct 28: Lightweight pugilist Narendra Rana bowed out of the Asian Boxing Championships after a nerve-wracking bout against Filipino Larry Semmillano as India’s challenge at the prestigious event came to an end here today. Rana, India’s last remaining hope after Jitender Kumar’s controversial loss to Chinese Abudur Rehman was upheld by the technical committee, lost his 60 kg class semifinal match which also cost him a place in the Sydney Olympic Games. At the end of the evenly-fought bout the scoreline read 3-all. Rana paid a heavy price when decision was taken on the basis of individual points of the five judges with the maximum and minimum points discounted. This went against him as the other three judges totalled 23-22 in Semillano’s favour bringing the curtain down on India’s campaign at the championships. Rana had gone into the bout expecting to coast to victory over his rival from the Philippines, but his movement and footwark let him down today. The strategy was for Rana to remain at a long range and punch mostly his straight right as points were not being awarded for close range punches or those on the guard or closer to the guard. He implemented the strategy well and we were expecting him to win by a punch or two, but things turned out different-ly, Coach Gurbux Singh Sandhu said. Rana himself was very disappointed at not being able to overcome his opponent despite his greater experience. I was very confident of winning here and competing well in the final but it turned out otherwise, a dejected Rana said. he admitted that his tactical moves today did not pay-off. Being the only remaining boxer for India in the Champiom-ships put extra pressure on Rana and that weighed him down. I had the entire contigent relying on me for qualifying from here and I failed to deliver the goods. That is very disappointing, said Rana. Rana’s loss also brought to an end the Indian campaign for Olympic qualification from here. We had expected at least one boxer to qualify from here but after Jitender’s bout yesterday the morale of the team was down and this result is extremely disappointing, the national coach said. However, he expressed confidence that the boys would bounce back at the next two qualifying tournaments in Seoul and Bangkok next year. In other semifinal action, Dilshod Yuldashev of Uzbekistan took his appointed place in the final of the 48 kg category against Punnon Suba of Thailand. Dilshod overcame Yang Xiangzhong of China 7-3 while Suba, a world ranked Pugilist, beat Danilo Levle of the Philippines 13-6. The bantamweight final, where India’s Ng Dingko Singh would have been a strong contender, will be contested by Alisher Rahimov of Uzbekistan and Kadayev Talaibek of Kyrgystan. (PTI) |
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Inter-College
Volleyball Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 28: Government MAM College and Post Graduate Departments, University of Jammu today entered the semi-finals stage in the ongoing Inter-College Volleyball competitions being held at University of Jammu grounds, here. In the first quarter-final of the day, MAM College defeated Degree College, Rajouri in straight sets of 3-0. Krishan Singh made good spikes in the first and third sets which Rajouri failed to reply. However have showed some resistance in the second set, while ended in 29-27. The final score 25-22, 29-27, 25-20. In the second quarter-final, Post Graduate Departments upset last year winners Degree College, Poonch in tough contest which ended in 3-1. PG side had advantage of tall spikers, who also made some superb blocks which helped their side to create upper hand. Though, first set was lost by the PG 23-25, but won the remaining three due to their experience. Shanaz Ahmed and Nirmal Singh displayed superb spike work during the match. Ishfaq also played a nice game. From Poonch, Farooq Ahmed and Mohd Riaz fought well. In tomorrow’s fixture, MAM College will take on GGM and PG Deptt fight fight against Degree College, Kathua for the final berth. The first match will start at 11 am. The competitions are being organised by the Directorate of University of Jammu. |
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MELBOURNE, Oct 28: Veteran Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy, who holds the world record for test dismissals, retired from all competitive cricket today. There will be no farewell game for the 35 year-old in next week’s first test against Pakistan in his hometown of Brisbane. It’s been great, I’ve been fortunate and may the game power on, Healy said of his immediate retirement. The experienced Gloveman told the Australian Cricket Board of his decision during the Australian tour of Zimbabwe earlier this month. Healy said several factors had influenced his decision to pull out of any national team commitments, including the increasing wear and tear of daily life as a member of the Australian team and frustration with his batting form. Healy played in 119 tests with 395 dismissals to his credit - 366 catches and 29 stumpings. He scored 4,356 runs at an average of 27.39, including four centuries and 22 half-centuries. His highest score was 161 not out against the West Indies in Brisbane in 1996. He also played 168 one-day internationals, with 234 dismissals and 1,764 runs at an average of 21. Australian captain Steve Waugh said Healy was an inspiration to the team. As a keeper you never noticed him being there, which is the ultimate compliment you can pay, said Waugh. It means he’s doing a great job. Waugh suggested that Adam Gilchrist would be Healy’s obvious successor. (AP) |
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