Gilchrist targetting Mumbai Test to prove Aussie supremacy

MUMBAI, Oct 31 : Australia want to cap off their successful India tour with another win in the fourth and last cricket test to prove their supremacy over the hosts. Aussie skipper Adam Gilchrist said now that his team had clinched the series, its next target would be to win the match starting at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday. . .........more

Kerala beat Punjab to
win Santosh Trophy

NEW DELHI, Oct 31 : Skipper S Ignatius gave an apt birthday present to the people of Kerala, scoring the winner in extra time as his side beat fancied Punjab 3-2 in the Santosh Trophy football tournament .........more

Paul fit and raring to go

KOLKATA, Oct 31 : Bengal pacer Shib Shankar Paul, who has got a berth in the national team for the Mumbai Test against Australia, today said he has recovered fully from the mild ankle injury that he ........more

Ganguly virtually ruled
out of 4th Test

MUMBAI, Oct 31: Captain Sourav Ganguly was today virtually ruled out of the fourth cricket Test against Australia after coach John Wright termed his recovery from a thigh strain "pretty slow". Wright, however, said a final .........more

Surinder Singh, Vijay not considered
JKCA Jammu wing announces 16 probables for Ranji Trophy

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 31: Jammu wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association today announced 16 probables for a 1-day joint coaching session with their counterparts from valley at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Srinagar............more

Himachal makes 259
against J&K

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 31: Himachal Pradesh today completed their first innings at 259 runs at the end of day one play of 95 overs against Jammu and Kashmir............more

Baba Jitto Club wins opening Kabaddi match

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 31: Baba Jitto Club won the opening match of kabaddi championship being organised by Baba............more

FFCC wins by 98 runs
in cricket tourney

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 31: The Friends and Friends Cricket Club (FFCC) today defeated Star Cricket Club (SCC) by a big margin of 98 runs to .......more

Gilchrist targetting Mumbai Test to prove Aussie supremacy

MUMBAI, Oct 31 : Australia want to cap off their successful India tour with another win in the fourth and last cricket test to prove their supremacy over the hosts.

Aussie skipper Adam Gilchrist said now that his team had clinched the series, its next target would be to win the match starting at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.

"Though it has been a very good away series win for us after nearly 35 years, I would like to win the Mumbai test to prove our supremacy," he told reporters after a promotional programme in the city.

"We have been fortunate to win the toss in all the three test matches during this series and I am quite happy to be leading the series 2-0 though I personally would be happy with a 3-0 verdict," said Gilchrist, who is the brand Ambassador for the 3 global services.

On the Nagpur test, Gilchrist, who led his team commendably in the absence of regular skipper Ricky Ponting, said "I think the Indians were psyched down by the wicket at Nagpur even before the test started.

"Indians should have gone in with three seamers and should have included Ashish Nehra as our batsmen would have found it difficult to play two left arm seamers on a wicket which helped new ball bowlers throughout.

"Even in the Chennai test the Indians had an opportunity to close us down but they did not take it and left us off the hook when our batsmen managed to hang out in the middle," he said.

Hailing Ponting as the best captain of Australia, Gilchrist said there was no pressure whatsoever when he took over as the acting captain.

"As every player has been contributing consistently on this tour, there has been no pressure on me as a captain. Though the absence of Ponting was felt in the initial stages of the series, the younger lot proved themselves with important contributions," Gilchrist said.

"Like India missed Sachin Tendulkar in the first two tests due to tennis elbow, we too missed ponting but thankfully for us things went well with everyone sharing the responsiblility," Gilchrist said.

He admitted that winning the series had been a very emotional experience. "It was indeed a very emotional experience specially when you consider that we have not won a series here since 35 years. All the preparations which had gone prior to coming here has been worthwhile and it is a very good feeling to win over here."

Gilchrist also said that at the start of the tour he had not expected a 2-0 lead going into the last test.

"Before we landed here, I had not expected to be in the position that we are in now as the Indian team is a very good team on their own soil. But we had made a lot of efforts in our planning and thankfully we could execute it as planed," he added.

Praising Indians’ hospitality, Gilchrist said "it is a great feeling to be in India and their hospitality has to be experienced to be believed and every member has something good to take back home".

Commenting on the future set of Aussie bowlers, Gilchrist said "there are youngsters who can fill the void which could exsist after the retirement of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne in the Australian team". (PTI)

Kerala beat Punjab to win Santosh Trophy

NEW DELHI, Oct 31 : Skipper S Ignatius gave an apt birthday present to the people of Kerala, scoring the winner in extra time as his side beat fancied Punjab 3-2 in the Santosh Trophy football tournament final here today.

The Kerala state was formed on November 1, 1956 and it was a timely gift to the passionate supporters, who filled the Ambedkar Stadium to near its capacity, when Ignatius scored the winner in the 107th minute.

The two teams were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time in an absorbing contest that almost went to the wire.

Kerala could have won their fifth title in regulation time itself but Punjab goalkeeper Kameshwar Singh made amends for his earlier lapses blocking Lenal Thomas’ spot kick in the 90th minute and the stunned Kerala players failed to tap in the rebound.

But Kameshwar has to take blame for Kerala’s first two goals. The first one, which gave Kerala 1-0 lead at the break, came as the result of the BSF man’s blunder as he lost balance while gathering a probing floater from the right by Bijesh Ben and crossed the goalline.

Referee Rizwan-ul-Haq immediately awarded the goal to Kerala after consulting the linesman and the vocifercous protests by the Punjab players had no effect.

Changing ends, Punjab attacked with more vigour and scored twice in the first six minutes.

Punjab’s equaliser was scored by hardworking Hardeep Gill who was allowed to operate freely by the Kerala defenders. The wily player dodged past two rival defenders and beat ‘keeper M V Nelson with a powerful rightfooter in the 48th minute.

The very next moment Kerala wasted a golden chance to wrest back the lead when K M Abdul Naushad ballooned his shot from close with just the goalkeeper to beat.

The Southern state, making its fourth consecutive entry into the final and 12th overall, immediately went 1-2 down when defender Harpreet Singh jumped over his marker to head in Punjab’s first corner kick after the break.

The entire team then ran to the corner flag to join the celebrations with their supporters as the Kerala fans quietly watched their team’s fortune turn upside down.

The second goal in quick time gave Punjab more confidence as Kerala defence wilted under more onslaughts.

But Kerala restored parity four minutes later conceding the lead courtesy another costly mistake by the Punjab custodian, who had emerged hero only the other day, when they beat defending champions Manipur via tie-breaker.

This time it was noushad who fooled the ‘keeper when he curved in a corner kick to the far post with Kameshwar most probably expecting a floater into the danger area.

The goal again brought the Kerala fans, who thronged the stadium with drums, crackers and banners, back on their feet. Small groups of fans even took turns to move around the stadium singing and dancing to the tune of popular songs. (PTI)

Paul fit and raring to go

KOLKATA, Oct 31 : Bengal pacer Shib Shankar Paul, who has got a berth in the national team for the Mumbai Test against Australia, today said he has recovered fully from the mild ankle injury that he suffered recently and was fit to do duty for the country.

"I am completely fit now. I don’t have any problem with the ankle," Paul told newspersons after a practice session at the Eden Gardens here.

Paul, scheduled to join the team in Mumbai this evening, said, "I’m looking forward to it. It’s a dream come true for me. I will deliver my best if given a chance to play".

The 24-year-old cricketer, who sustained a left ankle injury while playing a practice match on Thursday, bowled it the nets in the presence of Dr S R Dasgupta, sports medicine specialist, and some of his Bengal teammates.

Paul said he had a telephonic talk with skipper Sourav Ganguly this morning.

The Bengal pacer, who had an excellent season in first class cricket this year, was picked in a 15-member Indian squad announced yesterday for the fourth test scheduled to begin in Mumbai on November three. (PTI)

Ganguly virtually ruled out of 4th Test

MUMBAI, Oct 31: Captain Sourav Ganguly was today virtually ruled out of the fourth cricket Test against Australia after coach John Wright termed his recovery from a thigh strain "pretty slow".

Wright, however, said a final decision on Ganguly, who pulled out of the third Test in Nagpur just before the start of match, would be made after the skipper underwent a fitness test tomorrow.

"Sourav’s (Ganguly) progress has been pretty slow but we will make a final announcement only after the net practice tomorrow," the New Zealander said after a practice session.

Ganguly pulled out of the Nagpur Test citing an upper thigh strain. He was included in the 15-member squad for the fourth and final test beginning at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday subject to proving his fitness.

Though he batted in the nets today, he was clearly in pain while playing on the back foot. He also refused to speak to the media.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, vice-captain Rahul Dravid, opening batsman Virendra Sehwag and middle order batsman VVS Laxman along with newcomers Dinesh Karthick and Gautam Gambhir had long stints at the nets.

Tendulkar tried out as many as three bats and looked very pleased with the way he was timing the ball.

He was also seen enjoying himself while bowling to Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra, who were struggling to face some short pitched stuff from the champion cricketer.

Offie Harbhajan Singh bowled for quite a long time along with left-arm spinner Murali Karthik and looked quite pleased to have overcome the stomach ailment that kept him out of the the third Test.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Kaif, Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan chose to opt out of the practice session.

Newcomers Dheeraj Jadhav and Shib Shankar Paul were yet to join the team.

Australia have already sealed the four-Test series 2-0 with their 342-run win in Nagpur. It was the Aussies’ first series win in India in 35 years. (PTI)

Surinder Singh, Vijay not considered
JKCA Jammu wing announces 16 probables for Ranji Trophy

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 31: Jammu wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association today announced 16 probables for a 1-day joint coaching session with their counterparts from valley at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Srinagar.

The announcement had surprises for pacer Surinder Singh Bagal and all-rounder Vijay Sharma, who have not been considered for the final selection to be made at Srinagar.

However, the selectors have made some encouraging decisions by including young and promising Ian Dev Singh and new face Shafkat Baba in the 16-member Jammu squad.

The Jammu team: Ashwani Gupta (captain), Kavaljeet Singh, Dhruv Mahajan, Jagtar Singh, Sameer Khajuria, Shammi Salaria, Hardeep Singh, Pranav Mahajan, Vikrant Taggar, Inderjit Singh, Ian Dev Singh, Sameer Malik, Shafkat Baba, Anshuman Sharma, Shashi Kumar and Rajesh Gill.

The selected team was handed over to the working president of JKCA, Mohd Aslam Goni by the two Jammu wing selectors, Sant Singh and Ashok Dutta.

Latar, a handout issued by the JKCA said that as per the directions of JKCA president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the Punjab coach, Devinder Arora will accompany the team as its official coach and Mohan Lal Chouhan as administrator manager. Nominations of the captain and manager were made by the vice-chairman and joint secretary of the Jammu wing of JKCA, handout added.