First Kashmir-Jammu trial match in U-17 washed away

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16: First of the three trial matches being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association between Kashmir and Jammu Province probables to name the State team for the forthcoming North-Zone Cricket tournament in under-17 year age group.

Second match will be played tomorrow at GGM Science College Hostel grounds, here. And, in the first match to be played on November 20, J&K will take on Punjab at Patiala.

Jammu Province team: Munish Raghuvanshi (captain), Sahil Bhalwal (vice-captain), Parveen Singh, Raj Kumar, Vikas Baba, Amit Chada, Viran Sudan, Sagar Gupta, Narinder Kumar, Rohit Bhat, Munish Dogra (wicket-keeper), Mukesh Kumar, Apnav Gupta, Kapil Deol, Aslan Arshad Choudhary, Dilwag Singh, Umesh Kumar and Sunil Kumar. Probables were selected by Ashok Gupta and Ankush Abrol.

India raise expectation ahead of final

By Javagal Srinath

India finally played a perfect game yesterday. It batted without a fault, fielding was decent and the bowlers stuck to their job. New Zealand were unlucky to find India in such a mood. It just gives the final on Tuesday that touch of expectation.

Once again, the match underlined how much openers mean in one-day cricket, especially in the sub-continent. Good starts are rarely wasted. Then there were quite a few famished batsmen in the Indian team. Once they had the taste of blood, they bayed for more!

Sachin Tendulkar once again raised his own batting bar magnificently. I hope all those who criticise him for not doing well in crunch games will remember this innings. He came with a batting plan which was to play uninhibited cricket.

He was more aggressive than he had been lately, lifting deliveries over the bowlers’ head, hitting inside out over extra cover and there were ferocious pulls off anything short. With all those brilliant batsmen making their marks in this tournament, Tendulkar again served notice that he remains master of them all.

Cherish him as long as you can.

Virender Sehwag prospered in his company. There is little doubt that the effect of Tendulkar rubbed off on him at the other end. He swished outside the off-stump at times but his square cuts disappeared like bullets and he left many in the crowd breathless with his lofted strokes on the onside. He does it with a flick of the wrist rather than straight-batted hits and that makes it more exciting and compelling.

He has struck form at the right time and now has a good chance to gain psychological points over the Australians in the final which would serve him well on a taxing tour down under.

Rahul Dravid played an innings which makes an utter nonsense of those who still find fault in him as a one-day batsman. He was so orthodox and yet so brilliant it would have pleased the Jayasuriyas and Gilchrists of this world. It just does not get much better than a half century from 22 balls. His creativity means the Indian team could maintain a faster tempo throughout their innings rather than worry the lower half is only good enough for grafting.

Both the Indian spinners, Murali Kartik and Anil Kumble, gave away under 40 runs from their 10 overs which was excellent but then New Zealanders were already grievously hurt by Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan at the start of the innings.

Kartik makes the most of the opportunities he gets and it shows a tough mind. He has missed out on a berth to Australia and I can only recommend him to keep his focus going for he surely is man with the future.

I was surprised at the ease with which New Zealand gave up under lights. They are not usually the team which gives up without putting up a fight. But they surely looked to get over with it and made the task of the Indians all that simpler.

They had their moments in the tournament, though, and we would never know if choosing to bat first in Faridabad on a dew-moist morning at 9 am or a few dropped catches which helped Australians slip away in Pune broke their will. They would look back at the triangular series with some disappointment. The Kiwis captain Stephen Fleming’s abdominal strain further hampered them.

Chris Cairns, who missed most of the tournament because of fitness worry, would not look at this game with much affection. He could only put his hands on his waist and watch all those fours and sixes fly around him. New Zealand missed the experience of Fleming for he would surely have liked to disturb the rhythm of the Indian batsmen. The fielders too looked transfixed at times and did not look too comfortable once the lights came on. It surely gets difficult to spot the white ball once it gets dirty and is usually lost in the colourful background of the stands.

It was a one-sided game but there was enough excitement for the spectators in terms of strokeplay. It was champagne batting and the memory will remain long for those who watched it from close quarters.

I am sure the Indians though will not get carried away as they still have Australians waiting for them in the finals. One who laughs the last, laughs the loudest. I am sure Sourav Ganguly would look to have the final say in Eden Gardens, come tuesday. (PTI)

Pillay keen to win Olympic gold and World Cup

RANCHI, Nov 16: Mercurial forward Dhanraj Pillay today said he has two more goals to achieve before finishing his hockey career on a high note — winning next year’s Olympic gold and the 2006 World Cup.

"For the last few months the team has been playing extremely well and all the players have set their eyes on the Olympic gold", Pillay told reporters here hoping to win both the coveted titles before his illustrious career comes to an end. Pillay, who participated in an exhibition match this morning to mark the foundation day of Jharkhand, commended the likes of Gagan Ajit Singh, Dilip Tirkey and Bimal Lakra saying that the players are capable of taking on any challenge in the world.

Moscow Olympic gold medallist Zafar Iqbal, however, felt that India need to work harder to win the gold medal at Athens.

"We are still choking during the final minutes. The team requires to maintain consistency till the finish," said the former international, who also took part in the exhibition match. Local lad Bimal Lakra, who was part of the Indian team that won the inaugural Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad recently, was given Rs 5 lakh by Chief Minister Arjun Munda. "We have a very good team with outstanding bench strength. With seniors like Dhanraj, Dilip Tirkey and others we can very well win the Athens Games next year," Lakra said on the occasion. (PTI)

Gilchrist critical of India’s makeshift keeper policy

KOLKATA, Nov 16: Celebrated Aussie stumper Adam Gilchrist today said India’s policy of persisting with Rahul Dravid as makeshift wicketkeeper in one dayers was a "risky" proposition.

"They (India) have a specialist wicketkeeper in the team (Parthiv Patel), but they are not playing him. Obviously, it depends on a team whether it chooses to play a specialist keeper or not. But I think if you go for another batsman or allrounder in lieu of a specialist wicketkeeper, it can be risky," Gilchrist told reporters here.

"Sometimes this policy pays off and sometimes it does not, just like the one-day game," Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist, also famed for his aggressive batting as an opener, said the team management should also take into account whether the person assigned to do the keeping job enjoys it or not.

"It is important whether the one who keeps wants the job and enjoys it. You must enjoy wicketkeeping as it is a thankless job... You have to work hard."

Gilchrist, who has notched up an impressive 5775 runs in 176 one day internationals besides taking 256 catches, said he considered his role as a wicketkeeper very vital for the team.

"A wicketkeeper is expected to snap up every chance. I consider missing a chance behind the stumps as more vital than missing a ball while batting," the 33 year-old Aussie cricketer said.

Asked whether he wanted to be remembered as a wicket-keeper who could bat or a batsman who could keep wickets, Gilchrist quipped "I will be happy if I am remembered".

Gilchrist, arguably one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen of all time, said he was yet to take stock of how his career has gone. "One can do so only after the career has ended. It is then that one works out how people will remember him.

"But this aspect has never been the motivating factor for any member of our team. We believe in doing the job... Playing together. That’s the foundation of the Australian team," he said.

Commenting on the november 18 tri-series final at the Eden Gardens, Gilchrist said "we had come to India with the ambition of making it to the final. Now that we have achieved that, we are working towards a win. I think it will be a disappointment not to walk away with a victory".

Gilchrist, who has repeatedly given Australia blazing starts in the tournament, said it would be ‘nice’ if the November 18 match turned out to be a repeat of the World Cup final in South Africa earlier this year when the Aussie crushed India to win the coveted trophy.

"For that we have to play well. We have to back up our will with a solid performance," Gilchrist, who made his one-day debut against South Africa on Indian soil at Faridabad in 1996-97, said.

The wicket-keeper batsman has watched in only ‘bits and pieces’ India’s emphatic win against New Zealand at Hyderabad last night. "But I’m not at all surprised at the way India won. They are a highly talented side. They struck form and were through to the final."

Praising Indian openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag for laying a solid foundation to the innings, Gilchrist lauded Rahul Dravid for playing an aggressive knock to finish the job.

He described the Eden Gardens as a "terrific venue, one of the finest in world cricket," but said that it would be premature to pass judgement on the nature of the wicket.

"A wicket can be changed quickly. For instance in Hyderabad, the track initially had lots of grass, which were removed later on. So, I think it will be proper to comment on the pitch only on the day of the match," he said. (PTI)

Pankaj to play first match

HYDERABAD, Nov 16: Teen sensation Pankaj Advani would play John Hartley of England in the opening match of the World Billiards Championship which will see 48 cueists from 20 nations battle it out on the green baize here from tomorrow.

Former world champion Geet Sethi has been given the top billing in the meet where Advani will start his campaign, after the formal inauguration, in Group E which will be officiated by McGilivary of Ireland, the only woman referee in the world.

Two toppers of the eight groups after the round robin league stage would enter the knockout phase and the changed format of best of 15 frames provides an opportunity for green horns to outplay top seeds.

Six professionals, three from India and three foreigners, would display their skills in trick shots on the inaugural day with each cueist getting five minutes time. (PTI)

Aditya first in Fancy dress contest

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16: Aditya Sharma, a LKG student bagged first place in fancy dress competition organised by the Care Public School in the school premises, here.

Second place was shared by Simran Sandhwalia of class Ist and Arushi Kalsi of Nursery. Third place was again shared by Mayur Koul of Ist and Aakriti Mattoo of LKG.

In group items, Saraswati Vandhana and Birlly Boy given first and second grade respectively.

Earlier, chairman of the school, Dr Surinder Gupta in his welcome address appreciated the efforts made by the students and staff for making the programme a success.

Later, Mrs Gupta presented vote of thanks. Miss Anshu Verma compared of the programme.

CA to look into my Jan 26 match proposal: Gilchrist

KOLKATA, Nov 16: Aussie vice-captain Adam Gilchrist today said that his country’s cricket board has promised to look into his proposal for holding a match between Australia and India to celebrate January 26, which holds great historic importance for both the nations.

Gilchrist said he had discussed the matter with Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Bob Merriman, who said that the matter was worth considering.

"Though Bob did not say anything concrete, he commented that the matter was worth looking into," Gilchrist told newspersons here.

He said that the idea has also been floated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Gilchrist had proposed last month that India and Australia give their "history, tradition and strong rivalry" a boost by playing each other on January 26, the day India celerates its republic day. The Aussies observe the day as Australia day.

Gilchrist said as Australia were scheduled to play Zimbabwe on January 26 next, the Gavaskar-Border Trophy could be started from subsequent years.

"The international calender is very crowded. So, the match can be played every two, three or four years," the wicket-keeper batsman said.

Gilchrist had suggested the match could be on the lines of the Gavaskar-Border Trophy and named after the two icons of modern day cricket Steve Waugh and Sachin Tendulkar.

He also said that the match be alternately hosted by India and Australia. (PTI)

Toss will be crucial in final

By: Ravi Shastri

Australia reserved their best form for this crucial match, and if India had nightmares about the World Cup final, who could blame them. From first over to last, it was downhill for India, barring a few moments when Sachin Tendulkar was batting at his best. But chasing 347 was Mission Impossible.

As I had mentioned earlier, it was only a matter of time that the big three of the Australian batting clicked. Unfortunately for India, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and to some extent Matthew Hayden chose the same day to come good, which gave the Indian bowlers and fielders no chance.

Gilchrist set the tempo with a superb hundred. In this decade, he is doing to opponents what Jayasurai did in the late 90s. He respects neither reputation nor length and line, and the ball inevitably finds the middle of the bat.

Ponting, who had had a modest tour till this game, came good with a vengeance. He clouted the bowling to all parts of the ground in much the same way he had done in the World Cup final, and Australia’s total swelled way past the 300 mark.

With the Australian in this mood, the Indian bowlers were reduced to helplessness, but frankly I was dismayed by the composition of the team and the shoddy fielding. The selection of Aashish Nehra over Ajit Agarkar was baffling. Nehra has had no match practice but was played in this game, while Agarkar who had taken four wickets in the previous match against Australia was dropped. Now there are two demoralized bowlers.

I also advocate playing five bowlers if Rahul Drvaid is going to keep wickets, for India are lacking power in the field, not while batting. Playing an extra bowler instead of an extra batsman would serve the team better.

The fielding was ragged, and I have seen the Indian team do much much better than this. Remember, successes in the World Cup came because the bowlers were delivering and the fielding was top rate. It was not just the batting, alone which mattered.

There was very little to cheer about in this match, save for the batting of Tendulkar, which is not such a surprise, and the bowling of Murali Kartik, which must be encouraged. I thought the young man bowled superbly, and with a little bit of luck and support in the field, would have finished with better figures than he did.

But the rest of India’s effort was rather mediocre. Unless the side regroups, and the think-tank works out a different strategy, it will be very difficult in Hyderabad over the weekend. (TCM)

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