Daily Excelsior.........sports

Indian team grappling
with selection dilemma

NAGPUR, Oct 25: Sachin Tendulkar’s return may have lifted the spirits in the Indian camp but the team management is.....more

India banking on
Tendulkar for
series leveller

NAGPUR, Oct 25: India are banking on their fit-again talisman Sachin Tendulkar to boost their struggling batting line-up and overwhelm Australia in a must-win third cricket Test beginning here tomorrow.....more

Ganguly not happy with
pitch prepared for Test

NAGPUR, Oct 25: The pitch at the VCA ground may have lost much of its grass in a matter of few hours but skipper Sourav Ganguly is still far from happy saying the curator had not kept the home team’s strength in mind.......more

Harbhajan down with
fever; doubtful
for third Test

NAGPUR, Oct 25: A sudden bout of fever has made off-spinner Harbhajan Singh a doubtful starter for the third cricket Test against Australia, beginning here tomorrow.............more

15th Jammu district Billiards and Snooker championship
Narrow escape for
Rashu in snooker

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 25: Rashu Gupta had a narrow escape against Sourav Sharma in the first round match of senior snooker in the 15th district Jammu billiards................more

Jammu District TT championship begins
Semis position cleared in
cadet, sub-junior boys

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 25: Semi-finals line-up has been drawn in the two age groups of cadet and sub-junior on the opening day of the Jammu district table tennis..........more

4-wkt win for SCC

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 25: Sambyal Cricket Club (SCC) today registered a four wickets win over Rajput.......more

Moin Khan dropped
for second Test

KARACHI (Pakistan), Oct 25: Pakistan have dropped wicketkeeper Moin Khan for the second Test against Sri Lanka starting.......more

Tendulkar says he is not rushing himself

NAGPUR, Oct 24: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar today said he was not rushing his comeback to cricket and that with more than a decade’s experience, he was prepared to face all kinds of challenge the game could throw at him.

"I don’t think I am rushing myself. I have played 115 Tests, after that you have to be prepared to face all sorts of problems and all kinds of obstacles," Tendulkar said ahead of the third cricket Test against Australia beginning here on Tuesday.

The 31-year old record breaking batsman is returning to action from a 75-day break due to an elbow injury that forced him to miss three one-day competitions including the ICC Champions Trophy last month as well as the first two tests of the ongoing series.

Tendulkar, who has not played a match since the Asia Cup final in Sri Lanka in August, makes his return as India trail 1-0 in the four-Test series and preserve the 35-year old unbeaten record against the Aussies at home.

He said he was well fully aware of the task up against him. "I have prepared myself. I have played against Australia and I have played against these bowlers. I know what to expect from them," he said.

"Unfortunately, there was no match in between (after the second Test in Chennai). I have to be happy with my net practice," Tendulkar said after taking part in a full net session with his teammates during which which he was seen hitting the ball hard.

"It went well (today’s net session). I have been having intense sessions over the last three-four days. They were pretty hard ones. My body has responded quite nicely," he said.

"I am very happy to make the comeback. It has been a difficult time. It was extremely difficult to be sitting in the dressing room, when you want to be out there in the middle.

"Unfortunately that did not happen. But I am prepared now to go out and try my best," he said.

The master batsman admitted that he would not be hundred percent fit immediately.

"It is not going to be normal in the near future. The doctors have said I will face some stiffness. That is fine. It is normal for anyone," he said.

"I know it is going to take some time. It is something that is not going to get better overnight."

"After I spend some time in the middle, muscles which are developed because of batting will get strengthened."

"That is what I have been trying to do over the last four-five days. It has shaped up pretty well." (AGENCIES)

India banking on Tendulkar for series leveller

Tendulkar’s mere presence in the playing eleven should give the hosts, whose batting is yet to click barring Virender Sehwag’s knock of 155 in the drawn second Test at Chennai, a lot to cheer about.

With Australia having taken a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series, another win by the visitors will help them clinch their first ever series victory on Indian soil in 35 years, which makes it imperative for India to deliver the goods before it is too late.

The hosts are expecting the master batsman, who enjoys a terrific record here at Vidarbha Cricket Association ground, to inspire them to a win and deny a determined Australia. Tendulkar has scores of 176, 179 and an unbeaten 201 in three of the four Tests he has played here.

But Tendulkar, 30 short of completing 9500 Test runs, said he was not thinking about his past records on this ground.

"It’s all gone in history books. I will start from zero," said the 31-year-old adding he was looking forward to resume action after a more than two-month injury lay-off.

The return of Tendulkar would mean that Mohammad Kaif would have to be left out from the playing eleven.

Captain Sourav Ganguly indicated that there could be a change in the opening combination as well, suggesting that Aakash Chopra was also in contention.

"Both Yuvraj and Chopra are in fray, the choice will be made by the selectors," he said.

Asked about the pitch, which was trimmed considerably overnight, he said he had not given any instruction to the curator ever since landing in the orange city.

"I gave some instruction only last week from Kolkata but I have not given any instruction after arriving here," he said.

But irrespective of how the pitch behaves, the Indian batsmen will have to ensure a big total.

The middle order has failed to click so far, thanks to the indifferent form of VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and captain Sourav Ganguly, resulting in the hosts being unable to take full advantage of the situations set up by the efforts of spinners Anil Kumble (13 wickets at Chennai) and Harbhajan Singh (11 at bangalore).

India are also expecting that the toss of the coin would go in their favour and end Ganguly’s woeful luck in home Tests (he lost his 11th toss at home in Chennai and second in as many Tests in this series).

The tinge of grass on the wicket will no doubt enthuse the battery of Australian pace bowlers, particularly Glenn McGrath, who would be playing his 100th Test match.

Mcgrath would be keen to make a mark in this Test knowing fully well that he might not get another chance to be part of Test team to India.

The pitch appears to be pace-friendly but India are most likely to persist with their double spin attack which has been getting the team regular breakthroughs.

Injury to pace spearhead Irfan Pathan, ruled out of the Test due to a side strain, could see Ajit Agarkar, with his good record against Australia to back his claims against injury-prone left armer Ashish Nehra, sharing the new ball with Zaheer Khan.

This move would also give a bit of variety to the Indian attack as well as enable both Harbhajan and Kumble to exploit the bowler’s footmarks on both sides of the wicket at both ends with Agarkar and Zaheer bowling regularly from over the wicket.

Kumble, who has drawn level with Kapil Dev by taking his 79th wicket in his 12th Test against Aussies at Chennai, and Harbhajan may have to wait till the third day to gain some assistance from the pitch here.

What the Indians would like to avoid is the repeat of the situation in Chennai when night watchman Jason Gillespie batted for close to two sessions on day four after joining his partner Damien Martyn the previous evening to defy the Indian attack.

In hindsight that record fifth wicket stand of 139 between Gillespie, who made 24, and Martyn (104, his first century against India), cost India the golden chance to level the series as the duo not only played out time, but also set up a daunting fourth innings target of 229 runs for the hosts to chase. Rains finally had the final say in the tie.

The Aussies, who are expected to retain the same eleven that did duty for them at Bangalore and Chennai, would also look to consolidate on the sort of blazing century stands provided by openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden in Chennai. (PTI)

Chopra to open with Sehwag today

NAGPUR, Oct 25: India today decided to reinstate Aakash Chopra at the top of the batting order and leave out Yuvraj Singh and an in-form Mohammad Kaif for the crucial third cricket Test against Australia beginning here tomorrow.

The team management opted to go in with a specialist opener in chopra after Yuvraj Singh failed to make much of an impression in the first two Tests.

Mohammad Kaif was left out of the team to accommodate Sachin Tendulkar, who will return after an injury lay-off which saw him miss the first two Tests of the series.

Captain Sourav Ganguly had earlier indicated that it would be a toss up between Yuvraj and Chopra for the opener’s slot.

The selectors decided to give the right-handed Chopra another chance and he will open the innings with Virender Sehwag, team sources said.

The sources said that Mumbai all-rounder Ajit Agarkar would replace injured speedster Irfan Pathan in the team.

Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik could be included in the team if off-spinner Harbhajan Singh fail to recover from a sudden bout of fever.

The viral infection forced the bowler to skip the practice session today and he may not play the Test if the fever persists, the sources said.

"He has a viral infection and we will take a decision on whether to field him in the Test after seeing his condition tomorrow," they said. (PTI)

Ganguly not happy with pitch prepared for Test

Curator Kishore Pradhan had surprisingly prepared a green-top track for the crucial third cricket Test against Australia beginning here tomorrow but later trimmed the grass to bare minimum following a request from Ganguly.

But a glum-looking Ganguly said today the curator had not heeded to his request to prepare a wicket to suit the Indian spinners.

"I made the request to shave off the grass from the wicket from Kolkata on the 20th. Obviously our strength is our spinners. But at the end of the day the pitch is up to him (curator) I can only make a request," Ganguly told a press conference after his team’s match eve net session.

"We will play on what he gives. I don’t think he has done much work (of trimming of the grass)."

The green-top wicket prepared for the match had come in for a lot of debate and today too the mower was seen to be working on the pitch even as the two teams practised on either side of it.

Ganguly, however, said the wicket should help the batsmen and pace bowlers and then take spin slowly as the match progressed. "It has a bit of grass covering on it. It’s going to be a good wicket for everybody the quicks, the batters and it will take spin as the test match goes on.

"Obviously the curator here has his own ideas. He feels this pitch will turn also. We are going by what he says," the Indian captain said while adding that the wicket looked pretty dry underneath the grassy surface it sported.

Ganguly also said Ajit Agarkar would be the replacement in the playing eleven for injured speedster Irfan Pathan.

"Agarkar would play this test. He would share the new ball with left arm seamer Zaheer Khan in this match", he said, adding the team would go into the match with only two seam bowlers, which meant Ashish Nehra would be in the reserves.

Asked about Tendulkar’s return, Ganguly said any team in the world would be boosted by the champion batsman’s inclusion.

"Sachin is such a player that whenever he comes back into any team, it will have a big advantage. The way he batted for the last two days in nets gave no indication that he has missed cricket for the last two months."

"He is also our fifth bowler on these spinning tracks. His batting and bowling on these pitches will be a great help," the stylish left-hander said.

Ganguly said the match was very crucial for both the teams in the context of the four-match series being led 1-0 by Australia. "Yes, it’s definitely a very important match for both the teams," he said. (PTI)

15th Jammu district Billiards and Snooker championship
Narrow escape for Rashu in snooker

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 25: Rashu Gupta had a narrow escape against Sourav Sharma in the first round match of senior snooker in the 15th district Jammu billiards and snooker championships beating latter 3-2 at Billiards Hall, M A Stadium, here today.

Trailing by two frames, Rashu fought back in the remaining part of the game converting the sure loss into a 3-2 win. The turning point was fourth frame, which Rashu clinched making it a black ball game 82-74. The score: 42-51, 63-67, 49-37, 82-74, 47-45.

In another interesting game, Ritesh Gupta outplayed Sachin 3-2. Winning the opening frame, Ritesh lost the second and third. However, with some well though moves, Ritesh managed to equal the frame score 2-2 and later clinched the deciding fifth to advance clear his way for the next round. The score: 43-34, 13-76, 29-53, 45-31, 58-37.

Other results: Ist round: Neeraj Gupta bt Viraj Malhotra 56-57, 94-22, 56-28, 48-34; Suchait Mattoo bt Tarun Goswami 31-52, 60-31, 90-12, 63-36; Sunil bt Aditya Beri 66-18, 50-22, 42-30; Mohib got walkover Muqadar Saini; Prince Khajuria bt Gourav Sharma 55-43, 44-55, 68-42; 58-50; Ishuk Chowdhary bt Prabhdeep Singh 62-33, 75-3, 40-45, 71-39.