NOTTINGHAM, Aug 31: India and England have taken contrasting routes ahead of the Natwest Challenge opener at the Trent Bridge ground here tomorrow and it could be a difference between progress and retardation.............more

Reid boost for
Ganguly’s men

TRENT BRIDGE, Aug 31: The beleaguered Indian team found some much needed psychological boost coming from unexpected quarters, with bowling coach Bruce Reid saying Sourav Ganguly’s men had the ability to lift their intensity in the coming Natwest Challenge and the Champions Trophy in England..................more

Lanka trounce
South Africa by 49 runs

COLOMBO, Aug 31: Sanath Jayasuriya top-scored with 79 runs and captured three wickets as Sri Lanka trounced South Africa by 49 runs in the fifth and final one-day cricket international today despite a fighting century.........more

Classy Agassi
serves up late feast

NEW YORK, Aug 31: Andre Agassi served up his traditional late-night feast at the U S Open yesterday, beating fellow American Robby Ginepri 7-6 6-4 6-2 to move into the second round..........more

Sports Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 31: Jammu and Kashmir Bank will take on State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) in the final of the Jammu Sportsmen Cooperative Society (JSCS) knockout football.........more

Anil (Mohanu) bags
Bagdhar Kesari title

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

KATRA, Aug 31: Pahalwan Anil Kumar (Mohanu) son of a veteran wrestler Rattan Lal of village Kool Kalan has lifted the 8th edition of the Bagdhar Kesari 2004.....more

JKMSA’s men, women
car race at MA Stadium
in October

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 31: Jammu and Kashmir Motor Sports Association (JKMSA) has decided to organise 2nd women and first men car racing events at MA Stadium......more

Khalsa Blues win
opening hockey tie

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 31: Khalsa Blues XI defeated Friends Club by five goals to four in the opening match of the 5th Mohd Amin memorial hockey tournament......more

Cadet Rajesh brings laurels to Science College.....

Of commercials and Indian cricket....
By Rajesh Dhar

India, England take contrasting routes for success

NOTTINGHAM, Aug 31: India and England have taken contrasting routes ahead of the Natwest Challenge opener at the Trent Bridge ground here tomorrow and it could be a difference between progress and retardation in days to come.

England have gone for a complete reliance on youngsters while India is sticking to its plan even in face of depressing outcomes — believing form is temporary and class is permanent.

After a disastrous performance in the triangular one-day series this summer when they won only one of their six games against West Indies and New Zealand, England have sacked five and infused fresh blood which they feel would serve them well in 2007 World Cup.

India, on the other hand, despite the setbacks in Sri Lanka and Holland, are still going with the tried and tested rather than blood youngsters like Dinesh Karthik of Tamil Nadu who was a mere passenger in Holland and might find himself in similar role in England.

England have put their faith in the likes of Gareth Batty, Alex Wharf, Anthony McGrath and Andrew Strauss as they look to build the nucleus of the new side. It is largely an inexperienced side despite the presence of Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, explosive allrounder Andrew Flintoff, Darren Gough and Ashley Giles.

But the promise of fast bowlers Steve Harmison and James Anderson gives them hope they could settle the insult of Natwest Trophy of 2002 when India lost only one game to them and successfully chased 326 in the final at Lords.

Much has changed since then as India have dipped in form in one-day cricket despite reaching the finals of the 2003 World Cup. Though, they remain a formidable Test squad.

England, similarly, have made rapid strides in Test cricket and have scorelines such as 3-0, 3-0 and 4-0 from their last three series — yet in one-day cricket they also continue to flounder.

England have had a disastrous year in one-day cricket when they could win only two games from seven in the West Indies and then at home returned a score of 1-4 from six Natwest games.

Harmison and Anderson, despite at their potential best in Tests, have gone for runs in one-day cricket and the presence of old warhorse Darren Gough is expected to rein in the young colts. Goughs performance this summer in the twilight of his career has been exemplary as the Yorkshire veteran has an economy rate of less than five per over.

In the batting, Vaughan and Trescothick are proven bats and the induction of fresh blood like Andrew Strauss has been most welcome. Strauss already has one century and three fifties from his short career of 11 matches and his strike rate of 75-plus from 100 balls faced is not bad either.

Then there is Flintoff who is acquiring the reputation of a one-man army. Wicketkeeper-batsman Geraint Jones and Paul Collingwood are brisk scorers in all form of cricket. Vikram Solanki might not have had much runs under his belt this season but he remains electric in the field.

India, on the other hand, is banking on its batting stars to carry the day. Despite the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Indians are rich in batting wealth.

Most of them carry an injured pride from recent matches and would like to recapture their batting glory.

Tendulkar’s absence also gives a chance to skipper Sourav Ganguly to take position as opener and Laxman too moves up the ladder at number three. Both Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid have much to play for in coming weeks — the same is the case with Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif.

The bowlers once again have been placed in the hands of experienced coach Bruce Reid — even though his is an ad-hoc arrangement.

Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble will again vie for the spinner’s slot in the team. As of now, Laxmipathy Balaji, Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra look certain starters.

Teams (from):

England : Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood, Geraint Jones, Anthony McGrath, Gareth Batty, Andrew Flintoff, Darren Gough, James Anderson, Steve Harmison, Alex Wharf and Ashley Giles.

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Rahul 1Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Rohan Gavaskar, Irfan Pathan, Laxmipathy Balaji, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.

Hours of play (IST): 3 p.m to 6.30 p.m, 7.10 p.m till close of play. (PTI)

Reid boost for Ganguly’s men

TRENT BRIDGE, Aug 31: The beleaguered Indian team found some much needed psychological boost coming from unexpected quarters, with bowling coach Bruce Reid saying Sourav Ganguly’s men had the ability to lift their intensity in the coming Natwest Challenge and the Champions Trophy in England.

"They came out of a break after the superb showing in Australia and Pakistan and immediately it is not easy to get back into groove," said former Australian seamer Reid, whose services the Indians have sought to get their bowling combination sorted out.

"But they have a couple of big tournaments in England and you would find the intensity would lift. They would be back where they were in Australia and Pakistan."

Reid’s confidence should serve as a good boost to the Indians who are desperate to regain their vaunted form and have been set back by the loss of batting ace Sachin Tendulkar for the three-match series against England due to an elbow injury.

By what Reid saw of the Indian fast bowlers in the last two days, the former left-arm paceman is pleased with the progress Irfan Pathan has made and feels Laxmipathy Balaji has gone a "little away" from what he had advised the young Tamil Nadu fast bowler in Australia.

"Irfan is okay but Balaji has tried out a few things. They are very young and have got enormous talent. Young boys always try and change a few things and talk to other people as well."

"They are learning and trying to do what is best for them. Between my knowledge and theirs, we try to work out what is best for them."

Reid is also pleased by what he has seen of Ashish Nehra and feels the Delhi left-arm medium-pacer has refined his action since he last saw him in Australia.

"Ash Nehra looks better than what he did in Australia. He has got over a couple of niggles and is getting through to the crease better. Hopefully he can now bowl well again."

"So we should make a good unit with couple of left-arm pacemen and couple of right armers."

Reid said in his association with the team in the last two days, he has impressed on them to try and bowl as many slower deliveries and yorkers as possible.

"Obviously they are going to play a major role, especially in the last 10 overs when it is crucial these deliveries come into play."

Reid said even though his stint with the Indians would be interrupted during the Natwest Challenge because of his commitment with Hampshire where he is coaching, he should be available full time to them during the Champions Trophy.

"I have a fly-in, fly-out kind of scenario with the Indians and that’s because I was already committed to Hampshire when I worked with them in Australia last year.

"But I am there for the Champions Trophy and we could have a regular arrangement in future," he said. (PTI)

Lanka trounce South Africa by 49 runs

COLOMBO, Aug 31: Sanath Jayasuriya top-scored with 79 runs and captured three wickets as Sri Lanka trounced South Africa by 49 runs in the fifth and final one-day cricket international today despite a fighting century from Jacques Kallis.

With this win, Sri Lanka swept the series 5-0.

Batting first, Sri Lanka amassed 308 runs losing eight wickets in 50 overs after South African captain Graeme Smith won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first on a pitch that favoured strokeplay.

Later, South Africa was dismissed for 259 runs in 48.1 overs helped by a superb 5-61 from legspinner Upul Chandana.

South Africa lost out-of-form Herschelle Gibbs with the total on 11, bowled off the inside edge by left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa.

Smith showed promise with a well-compiled 25, hitting three fours, but fell run out to a sharp throw from Chandana at deep square-leg when he attempted a second run.

Kallis and Jacques Rudolph joined at the departure of Smith and added fighting 114 runs in 137 balls for the third wicket scoring with singles and two and hitting loose balls to the boundary.

South Africa needed to score at a rate of nine runs per over at the end of 35 overs when Rudolph came out to hit Chandana and was caught by Tillekeratne Dilshan at short mid-on for 48 runs.

Rudolph faced 60 balls for his runs which included two fours.

Mark Boucher made a quick 24 runs off 19 balls before being stumped by Kumar Sangakkara off Chandana. He hit two fours and a six.

Kallis departed after making 101 runs, his 13th one-day century, when he top-edged a sweep against Chandana to give Kumar Sangakkara an easy catch.

Trying to increase the scoring rate, South Africa lost their last five wickets for 49 runs. Earlier, an aggressive 125-run partnership between Jayasuriya and Saman Jayantha helped Sri Lanka set a massive target for South Africa.

Fast bowler Shaun Pollock gave South Africa a good start dismissing opener Avishka Gunawardene on the third ball of the day, without any run on the board. Gunawardene was bowled as he misjudged the line of a ball and tried to leave it.

But Jayasuriya and Jayantha pulled the side out of trouble with their 132-ball stand which came in 96 minutes.

Smith brought fast bowler Lance Klusener into the attack in the 23rd over and on his first ball forced an edge off Jayantha’s bat to wicketkeeper Boucher.

Jayantha made 51m, his second one-day half-century, in 68 balls including six fours. Jayasuriya’s 79 came in 85 balls including seven fours before offspinner Smith had him caught by Gibbs at short extra-cover off a leading edge.

In-form batsman Sangakkara recorded his 17th half-century — and third of the series — as he added a brisk 84 off 87 balls for the fourth wicket with stand-in skipper Mahela Jayawardene. (AP)

Classy Agassi serves up late feast

NEW YORK, Aug 31: Andre Agassi served up his traditional late-night feast at the U S Open yesterday, beating fellow American Robby Ginepri 7-6 6-4 6-2 to move into the second round.

The 34-year-old, starring in the opening night session on Arthur Ashe court for the sixth time in seven years, endured some anxious moments against an opponent 13 years his junior, but ultimately his class proved the decisive factor.

Agassi arrived in New York buoyed by a string of fine hardcourt performances, including winning the Cincinnati title earlier this month where he beat Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt.

But Ginepri, who also lost to Agassi in the first round two years ago, was not in the mood to roll over and matched the Las Vegan shot-for-shot in a gripping first set in which both players dropped serve twice.

After edging the tiebreak Agassi gradually asserted his authority and ran out a comfortable winner to take his record for night matches at the U S Open to 24-3.

"I felt pretty good tonight apart from my first serve, I never found my rhythm and could not relax," the eight-times Grand Slam winner said.

"Against a guy like Robby you need to fire on all your cylinders. My serve was a problem but the rest of my game held up and that’s a good sign for me."

"My confidence was low for a while earlier in the summer but I’ve got over that hump and since Cincinnati I relaxed and played a level that I haven’t played for a while and that gave me the belief that I can still do it."

Agassi, who is the oldest player in the men’s draw, will play either Brazil’s Flavio Saretta or German Florian Mayer in the second round. Their match was suspended because of rain with Mayer leading 6-4 6-2 5-1. (AGENCIES)

J&K Bank to meet SRTC in JSCS soccer final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 31: Jammu and Kashmir Bank will take on State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) in the final of the Jammu Sportsmen Cooperative Society (JSCS) knockout football tournament at Bakshi Stadium tomorrow, here at 4 pm.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, played today, J&K Bank blanked Maharaja Sports 4-0 to reach the final. Irshad Ahmed struck twice beating all the defenders on both the occasions. First goal was scored in 15th minute while second came in 40th. Rizwan Sheikh scored third goal in the 43rd minute helping Bank take 3-0 lead at the interval. Billu Khan, a deep defender in the Bank line-up scored the fourth goal in the 35th minute of the second half to make it a 4-0 win.

In the second semi-final, SRTC defeated J&K Police 4-0 in tie-breaker. Earlier, the match ended in a 1-1 draw in the stipulated 90-minute game. Policemen took the first half lead in the 26th minute through Manzoor Ahmed, which was levelled by SRTC’s Ramesh on a beautiful cross from Majid Makhdoomi in the 25th minute of the second half. Police lost the way to the final when they wasted their first two penalties to end the score 4-2 in favour of SRTC.