MOHALI, Oct 16: Lou Vincent and Mark Richardson struck heroic centuries as they joined hands to script a huge 231-run opening stand and put New Zealand in complete control of the series-deciding second cricket........more

Kiwis on the top
on day one

By Ravi Shastri

India had their longest day in the field in many, many Tests - certainly at home, where they have otherwise usually been on top. New Zealand’s openers made hay while the bowlers struggled through the day...............more

Should JKCA own
Jadeja and Co.?

By Rajesh Dhar

Former India test cricketer, Ajay Jadeja’s desire to represent Jammu and Kashmir in this season’s Ranji Trophy is presently a most debated, outspoken, common place and unabated topic..........more

Indian challenge
ends in ATP
Challenger singles

BELGAUM, Oct 16: The Indian challenge in the singles of the Belgaum Open ATP Challenger ended today with the exit of Rohan Bopanna and Harsh Mankad in pre-quarterfinals............more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: Government College for Women (GCW) Gandhi Nagar today retained the inter-college Volleyball trophy beating GCW Parade in straight sets in the final played at College........more

Jammu Distt Billiards & Snooker Championship
Sohail, Kamal, Jaideep,
Nikhil in Snooker semis

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: Sohail Khalid and Nikhil Kapahi have made their maiden entry in the semi-finals of senior Snooker winning their respective quarterfinal...........more

Sports meet by Police
enters 2nd day

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct. 16: On the 2nd day of the Inter School Sports meet being organised by J&K Police at Manigam, Jawhar Ahmad of High School Gund stood first in the Discus Throw event by throwing......more

Vijay Club banned
from Super League

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: Organising committee of the ongoing Super League Football Tournament today debarred Vijay Club.....more

Aditya-a shining skater in J&K......

Double gold for Heena on opening day .....

Dogra Law College wins by 4-wkt in Cricket.....

Opening onslaught puts Kiwis in driver’s seat

MOHALI, Oct 16: Lou Vincent and Mark Richardson struck heroic centuries as they joined hands to script a huge 231-run opening stand and put New Zealand in complete control of the series-deciding second cricket Test against India here today.

The young Vincent’s career-best 106 and his association with Mark Richardson (102 not out) virtually left the Indians in a daze as the visitors ended the opening day at a commanding first innings score of 247 for one.

Electing to bat, the two openers showed remarkable grit and resilience as they went about providing the perfect launchpad for the Kiwis to not only put the hosts under enormous pressure but also harbour hopes of registering their first series win on Indian soil.

Scott Styris (7) was giving Richardson company when stumps were drawn for the day which was completely dominated by the Kiwis.

It was a rather nightmarish day for stand-in captain Rahul Dravid, the 28th skipper in India’s Test history, as his bowlers were made to toil the entire day without any rewards on what appeared to be a good batting track.

The only breakthrough for India came when leg spinner Anil Kumble put an end to the record-breaking partnership, getting rid of Vincent late in the day, much to the relief of a meagre crowd which did its best to pep up the demoralised home team.

Shortly after improving on his previous best score of 104, Vincent attempted to sweep Kumble but missed the ball completely and the umpire had no hesitation in declaring him leg before wicket.

The tall right hander struck two mighty sixes and 14 boundaries during his 106-run knock which came off 227 balls.

Barring a few anxious moments in the first hour’s play when the track had something to offer to the bowlers, the two Kiwis openers seemed to be in no discomfort at all during their marathon partnership which pushed the Indians on the backfoot on the very first day.

The two batsmen displayed some amazing shots on both sides of the wicket and were prompt to dispatch the loose deliveries to the boundary to pile on the runs and compound the misery of the clueless Indians.

The opening duo also erased a number of records during their association, the notable being the highest-ever opening partnership for New Zealand against India, eclipsing the previous record of 149 which stood in the name of Trevor Franklin and John Wright for their effort in Napier in 1989-90.

Vincent, considered to be one of the promising batsmen in New Zealand, swept Kumble to the square leg boundary to notch up his second Test century. The way he tackled the two famed Indian spinners was creditable.

Richardson had to defy cramps to bring off his century towards the fag end of the day, hitting Kumble to the boundary to achieve the milestone.

Dravid, standing in as captain for Sourav Ganguly who had to pull out of the crucial match because of an abscess in his left upper thigh, kept rotating his bowlers in a bid to get the breakthroughs but without much luck.

The right-handed Vincent was the more aggressive of the two batsmen and was not afraid to go for some audacious shots against the spinners.

He picked Harbhajan for some special treatment sweeping him to the square leg fence and then executing a rare reverse sweep in the same over which again fetched him four runs.

After Vincent’s departure, the black caps promoted Styris up the order to negotiate the Indian bowlers as only about ten overs were left for the day and the allrounder ensured that there was no further damage by hanging around resolutely till the very end.

Earlier, the two Indian new ball operators Zaheer Khan and Lakshmipathy Balaji generated a fair amount of pace in their early overs but were also a little guilty of straying in line and length on a number of occasions.

Though the track provided some bounce and movement in the early stages of the contest, the two Indian bowlers could not obtain the breakthrough as the Kiwis openers played cautiously to give the visitors a steady start.

Richardson got a reprieve when Dravid spilled a sharp chance at first slip with Zaheer being the unlucky bowler. The opener had scored just ten runs at that stage and Dravid must be rueing the lost opportunity what with Richardson going on to score an unbeaten century. (PTI)

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand (first innings):

Mark Richardson batting 102

Lou Vincent lbw b Kumble 106

Scott Styris batting 7

Extras (b-13, lb-16, w-1, nb-2) 32

Total (for one wicket in 90 overs) 247

Fall of wickets: 1-231.

Bowling: Zaheer Khan: 18-7-62-0; L Balaji: 17-7-39-0; Sachin Tendulkar: 9-3-12-0; Anil Kumble: 28-10-57-1; Harbhajan Singh: 17-3-48-0 Virender Sehwag: 1-1-0-0. (UNI)

Kiwis on the top on day one

By Ravi Shastri

India had their longest day in the field in many, many Tests - certainly at home, where they have otherwise usually been on top. New Zealand’s openers made hay while the bowlers struggled through the day, leaving the visiting team very much on top after the first day’s play of the second Videocon Test match.

Speculation about how the wicket would play was put to rest pretty early in the morning when the Indian bowlers realized that there was very little in it for them. There was some pace and bounce, but nothing dangerous to put doubt in the batsman’s mind. In fact, both Lou Vincent and Marl Richardson found that that they could play their shots pretty comfortably because both pace and bounce was even.
I don’t expect the character of the wicket to change too much over the next couple of days at least. But I think the taller and stronger New Zealand pacemen to get more help from the track than Zaheer and Balaji did. If that happens, there could be some discomfort for the Indian batsmen.

The spinners struggled too, and it was only late in the day that Kumble was able to break the first wicket partnership. Neither he nor Harbhajan have had to toil so hard at home, which brings me to the more serious issue that if it is going to be so hard to beat teams in India, it will take a very, very long time for India to win a test because the next tour is to Australia.

The level of performance has to be raised considerably. Personally, I think the team is playing at 60-70 per cent potential still, and more particularly in the bowling department. I know some of the players are still rusty from the long lay-off. But the cricket season is in full swing now, and the sooner they find their rhythm, the better. All this cannot take away from the wonderful batting of Vincent and Richardson who seized on the opportunity presented by a bland track and uninspired bowling to post a massive first-wicket partnership. After the first tour game, I had written that Richardson would be the key player for the side, and though he failed in the first test, he has come good here, and in style. He is a compact batsman with a good defence and enough shots to protect his wicket as well as keep the scoreboard ticking.

It’s been a day that Rahul Dravid would like to forget, and it looks like very hard work on the second day. But if India’s performance is as lacklustre, it might become a match to forget too. (TWC)

Should JKCA own Jadeja and Co.?

By Rajesh Dhar

Former India test cricketer, Ajay Jadeja’s desire to represent Jammu and Kashmir in this season’s Ranji Trophy is presently a most debated, outspoken, common place and unabated topic of discussion in the entire cricket community of the state. It is also thought that Jadeja intends to bring few more professional cricketers from other states to accompany him in the state team. The question now is, whether JKCA should own Jadeja and company to play for the state or not ?

First of all, let me take the liberty rather a privilege to divert your attention towards this example — one of my friends while pleasing his boss says, "Sir, we are always at your disposal as ours is the party of Ramaloo Ram and Company" terming his boss as Ramaloo Ram (a popular traditional Dogri Folk Singer and Dancer) and his (officers) sub-ordinates including himself as company. The company can be you, me, he, she or any body.

Anyway, by quoting this example, what I want to express however, is that the company or party backing the stars of any field is not always the bunch of talented people. So, there is no need to invite many boys from other states to represent J&K to give company to Jadeja as there are many players possessing calibre to accompany versatile local or the other stars representing the state.

The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), without a second thought, should disown the players from other states to accommodate the gutsy and gritty players of its own state, who has been sweating-it-out in the play field from last three months, though it should not rule out the consideration of Jadeja’s inclusion in the state side after giving a serious look to his contribution to the state in the past.

If at all, my recall is right, Jadeja was the man who led from the front to help J&K in the Ranji season of 2000-01 in creating history by qualifying the league stage, giving his team victory against the formidable side like Haryana in the first match of the season. After this match Jadeja’s name was involved in the then euphoric match fixing scandal. But the players of the then state Ranji team kept faith in themselves to make it to the knock-out stage by winning some more matches. So, Jadeja’s contribution to the state cricket in the past should not be considered as immaterial.

As per his press statement from Ajmer (Rajasthan) in last month he should have joined the selection trial camp by Oct. 07, 2003 but to everybody’s surprise he did not. Though he has nothing to prove in the camp but it is against cricketint spirit that the guy who has to be the part of team be not the member of the trial camp.

Anyway, this columnist in his column — "Of JKCA, Jadeja and J&K Cricket" published, way back, on Oct. 23rd, 2000, in Daily Excelsior, before Jadeja’s induction in the then Ranji Squad, had thoroughly indicated about the implications and fall-outs of his inclusion in the state side which later-on came true, yet it needs a serious introspection before considering Jadeja only (not to talk of his party) to represent J&K in Ranji in present cricketing atmosphere of the country.

Though Jadeja has been cleared of his match fixing charges by the Honourable court of Justice, yet it is to be seen whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), under the auspices of which the cricket is played in the country, has permitted this guy to participate in first class cricket or not. If the BCCI has yet to permit him, then his inclusion in the state side would be dishonour to the highest cricketing agency of the country and if he is cleared by the BCCI to play first class cricket, then it will be all fine as this guy has the guts, wits, experience and class to help the state to shine in the field of cricket at the highest level.

No doubt, most of our countrymen are of the opinion that the guy who once has betrayed his country can never be sincere to any state, but as far as his clearance from the court is concerned, Jadeja ought not to be considered a fixer or a betrayer anymore.

Now, the JKCA, the highest cricket body of the state is meeting on Oct, 19,2003 regarding the decision of Jadeja and his company’s inclusion in the state Ranji Trophy team, it is hoped that the members of the body would go into the philosophy of the things and consider all the points before making the final decision.

Jadeja, unquestionably fits the bill if BCCI permits him, which to my knowledge has not permitted him yet, but his company/party do not. As far as the selection of the members of his party whether it would be Nikhil Chopra or anyone else simply should not be entertained in the trial camp to atleast make way for the gritty youngsters of the state like Sanjay Sharma, Inderjeet Singh etc. who can certainly help the state in future.

I would like to conclude the topic by saying that Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association ought to own Jadeja and ought not to own others.

Expecting state to shine in cricketing field by always taking the help of others is simply to cry for the moon.

Indian challenge ends in ATP Challenger singles

BELGAUM, Oct 16: The Indian challenge in the singles of the Belgaum Open ATP Challenger ended today with the exit of Rohan Bopanna and Harsh Mankad in pre-quarterfinals.

Bopanna, world number 337, went down fighting to unseeded Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 6-7 (4-7) in an intense two-and-half-hour duel.

Mankad lost to unseeded Swissman, Stephane Bohli 4-6, 3-6. (PTI)

GCW Gandhi Nagar retains Volleyball trophy

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: Government College for Women (GCW) Gandhi Nagar today retained the inter-college Volleyball trophy beating GCW Parade in straight sets in the final played at College of Education, here.

It was an easy ride for Gandhi Nagar girls in the first two sets 25-14, 25-15, but in the third set they had to put in lot of hardwork to make it a straight sets win. The score: 25-14, 25-15, 28-26. Rimpy Khajuria remained in limelight for her power-packed smashes. Shailja, Mamta and Neha also played good game for the winners. From losers, Yogita, Tripti and Bandana fought well in the third frame but it was too late to fight back. Final was officiated by Shashi Sharma and Akbar Ali.

Principal, Government College of Education, Prof Shamima Bano was chief guest in the final.

College of Education, Bhargwa college win opening ties

Government College of Education and Bhargwa Degree College, Samba today made a winning start while two other scheduled matches ended in draw on the opening day of the inter-college Men’s Volleyball tournament which started today at University courts, here.

In the first match, College of Education defeated Government Medical College 3-2 ( 21-25, 25-20, 27-25, 16-25, 15-9) while Bhargwa Degree College outplayed Degree College, Doda 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23).

Earlier, in two other scheduled matches, Post Graduate Departments got walkover MBS College of Engineering and Technology and SPMR College of Commerce got walkover Degree College, Sunderbani.