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

Four bowlers can do job for Aussies, says Gilchrist

BRISBANE, Nov 21: Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist is confident Australia’s balance of four bowlers will be successful again following Shane Watson’s injury withdrawal from Thursday’s first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba.

Fifth-bowler Watson today conceded defeat and pulled out of the Australian team for the opening match of the series after tweaking his hamstring while bowling in a domestic one-dayer last Friday.

Specialist batsman Michael Clarke has replaced the all- rounder at No.6, and Gilchrist sees no problems with Australia reverting to the bowling formula which has kept the team on top of world cricket for 15 years.

Gilchrist said he felt confident going into the Gabba Test with three pace bowlers and a spinner.

"We’ve had that balance for many years and I guess why there is a focus on that is because we now have another option with Shane Watson, it creates another bowling option," Gilchrist told reporters Tuesday.

"It doesn’t necessarily mean that any captain has to use that bowling option, but having captained a few teams it’s nice you can look around the field and know you’ve got other guys you can draw on if you want to use them.

"We shouldn’t forget that Shane Watson averages 50 in first class cricket and is starting to forge his way as a top-four batsman so he’s really justifying his selection in the squad.

"But if we do go with four bowlers, three quicks and a spinner, that’s been very successful for us for a long time, particularly in Australian conditions."

Gilchrist said that, from his first observation, the Gabba wicket is not as green as usual.

The wicket has the reputation of favouring fast bowlers with pace and bounce, but Gilchrist said the toss may not be so important in the opening game.

"I haven’t been out to the middle yet, but looking at it from a long way away, the thing that jumped out is that it doesn’t look as green as what it might normally be two days out from a Test," he said.

"Often you can come to the Gabba and try and pick which wicket you’re going to play on and then on game day it looks in pristine condition.

"But my first observation is that it doesn’t look quite as green as normal, but I reckon the wicket is going to be a beauty and from my experience it’s just a fantastic consistent cricket wicket.

"The toss isn’t of vital importance, whatever you do first you’ve got to try and do it well, but if that means you bat first on a bit of a green wicket then you just have to try and ride it out and get as many as you can."(AGENCIES)

India beckons incredible Woods

NEW DELHI, Nov 21: India is beckoning Tiger Woods and the world number one golfer wants to travel to the country sometime soon, revealed Jyoti Randhawa who spent four hours with the American during Shanghai Open recently.

"Tiger is a wonderful human being. I got to spend four memorable hours with him during the Shanghai Open. I enjoyed the time and we became good friends," Randhawa said on the sidelines of a press conference here today.

"We talked about everything from golf to fast cars and bikes. He owns a few fast cars. And he told me that he was keen to come to India.

"I extended him an invitation and assured that it would be a quiet affair away from media glare and we laughed over it," Randhawa said.

The ace Indian player said the experience was enriching in terms of golf and Woods gave him certain tips on how to improve his game.

"Tiger told me how important self-belief was in golf. And later in the tournament, I assessed myself vis-a-vis Tiger and I feel it is just a matter of time before I could catch on with the top players in the world," said Randhawa, who led the field for two days in Shanghai before slipping to tied ninth.

On what makes Woods the best in business, Randhawa said the American had an unbelievable short game.

"Tiger has a wonderful course management. He forgets a bad shot instantly and starts afresh. People talk about how good his long drive is and discuss his immaculate swing, but I think it is his short game that puts him a cut above the rest," he observed. (UNI)

Rain likely to spoil second one-dayer also

DURBAN, Nov 21: After the washout at Wanderers, rain is again likely to play spoilsport in the second day-night one-day international between India and South Africa here tomorrow.

The local weather service predicts a fresh southerly wind on the morrow, suggesting there would be good rainfall in the morning as well as in the evening.

Both the teams, in case the rain gods have similar bearing on this game as they had on the opening match of the series at the Wanderers on Sunday, would never know how weak or strong they actually are against each other.

History is overtly loaded against India who have never won a game against South Africa at this venue though its last two visits, against different rivals, have brought happy tidings.

India were overwhelming winners against England in the 2003 World Cup at this venue when Ashish Nehra returned figures of 6 for 23, which remain the best bowling figures in Kingsmead in a one-day international.

India kept up the good work against Kenya in the semi-final of the same competition, prevailing upon the Africans by 91 runs to book their berth in the World Cup final.

However, against the Proteas, India came a cropper in 1992, losing by 39 runs, and the two subsequent visits in 1996-97 and 2001-2002, resulted in defeats by 17 runs and six wickets respectively.

Indeed, the first one-day international at this venue was played in 1992 against India and only two players, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar, survive from that game.

Kumble might not be chosen to relive the experience as only one spinner in Harbhajan Singh could be accommodated, but it might mean little since rain has invariably disrupted games in Kingsmead in recent years, with four of the last seven one-day internationals abandoned because of it.

Since the Wanderers abandoned game, two outdoor sessions and the improvement in Virender Sehwag’s injured finger are the two things which would delight the Indians.

Sehwag still sports a stitch or two on his injured right ring finger, but he is almost certain to come out with Sachin Tendulkar at the start of the Indian innings whenever the rain gods relent.

South Africa have not made any changes in the squad from the first game but they have let it be known that a player or two could be added in the group in Kingsmead ahead of the remaining games.

Most likely, it implies a certain inclusion of Dale Steyn who terrorised the Indians with a five-wicket haul in the tour opener in Benoni last week.

Steyn would surely stay in the background but his presence would be a confirmation that South Africa feels pace and more pace is the strategy against the Indians.

As they did at the Wanderers, the South Africans are unlikely to field spinner Robin Peterson in tomorrow’s game giving seamer Charl Langeveldt, who can use his stock full-pitched deliveries well, another chance to make an impression.

The South Africans feel that Indians, after their Benoni experience, are more likely to stay on the backfoot and bat from well inside the crease at Kingsmead.

After the the Wanderers wash-out, with a sigh of relief, the Indians must have utilised that extra bit of time to work out some strategies to counter the South African pacers.

Teams (likely):

India: Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth.

South Africa: Graeme Smith, Loots Bosman, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langeveldt.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WI) and Brian Jerling (SA)

Match referee: Chris Broad (Eng)

Match timings (IST): 6 pm to 9.30 pm, 10.10 pm till close of play. (PTI)

RBI team win runner up trophy

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 21: The duo of Rahul Sharma and Gurvinder Singh won runners up trophy in Team Championship in the XXIV All India Reserve Bank Inter-Office Sports Meet held at Delhi.

The duo also bagged Runners up Trophy in Individual event defeating seeded players of different states.

The trophies won by the players were presented to O.P. Aggarwal, Regional Director, (J&K) by the team.

Rahul Sharma also received an Appreciation Letter from V. Liladhar, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India. He also received a cash prize of Rs. 2000 for his fine performance in last year’s All India Banks’ Olympiad held at Chennai. The team won silver medal in the Championship. Total 20 teams from all over the country participated in the Sports Meet.

Both Rahul Sharma and Gurvinder Singh have also been selected as players in the All India Reserve Bank Team, which will participate in the Inter-Institutional Tournaments and All India Banks’ Olympiad scheduled to be held next year.

Suit filed by JKCA joint secy dismissed with costs

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Nov, 21: City Judge Jammu, Mr. Pawan Dev Kotwal today dismissed application filed by Sumit Sharma for using the name of association, with the costs to the tune of Rs 1500/-, and clarified that Sumit Sharma shall pay the costs personally.

Joint Secretary Sumit Sharma filed a suit for permanent prohibitory injunction restraining the defendants from claiming themselves as selectors of the J&K Cricket Association and from interfering in selection process of the team by the selection sub-committee constituted by the working committee of the association in its meeting dated July 18, 2006.

While dismissing the suit application, the City Judge Jammu observed that as far the case is concerned, existence of prima-facie case will depend on the fact as to whether the committees alleged to have been constituted in the working committee meeting July 18, 2006 are legal or in existence. If answer is in affirmative, the defendants committee is deemed to have seized its existence and in such eventuality the plaintiff has a prima-facie case. Sumit Sharma has filed the present suit in the name and on behalf of Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association, and not in individual capacity. The suit is, therefore, apparently filed by the association, President of which had already declared constitution of committees being made basis of the present suit as illegal and null and void. The association cannot blow hot and cold from the same working committee dated July 18, 2006 which constituted the committees as null and void. Sumit Sharma despite knowledge of this fact, alleged the existence of those committees in the present suit, as such, took a contradictory stand as to the decision of the association.

The Court raised question, had Sumit Sharma filed a suit in individual capacity against the association or its members challenging the validity of the circular issued by him? The position would have been different. But to utter surprise of the Court, he tried to make out a cause of action for association on the basis of resolution, which has already been declared null and void by the association itself.

Sumit Sharma did not conceal material facts from the Court that is passing of judgment by the Second Additional District Judge Srinagar, pending of appeal before the High Court and moreover the circular dated August 31, 2006 issued by the association through its president, rather plaintiff appears to have deliberately suppressed the facts in order to be obtained ex-parte order, which is not only sufficient to refuse the equitable and discretionary relief of injunction, but rather, amounts to abuse of process of Court and fraud on the Court.

Mr. Pawan Dev Kotwal further observed that the counsel for the plaintiff produced a copy of the order of High Court dated September 1, 2006 which reflects that operation of judgment of Second Additional District Judge Srinagar was stayed till next date. The counsel wanted to convey that the legality of notification for conveying the working committee meeting, which was held on July 18, 2006 resulting the passing of resolution and constitution of sub-committees is pending disposal before the High Court, but till date the resolution passed on July 18, 2006 and committees constituted on the same day exist as operation of judgment of Second Additional District Judge Srinagar, holding the notification as illegal and has been stayed by the High Court.

The plaintiff has therefore, case for injunction, restraining the other side to interference in the selection process of the teams.

The City Judge in the detailed dismissal order further observed that Court is of constrained to hold that Sumit Sharma did not approach the Court with clean hands and rather the abuse the process of Court to obtain ex-parte injunction for the cause which did not accrue to the association and Sumit Sharma used the name of Association with ulterior motive against the dictum and orders of the association through its president and thus, is not entitled to any interim direction as sought for the application is dismissed with costs to the tune of Rs 1500/- and further directed that Sumit Sharma shall pay the costs personally. With these observations, the Court dismissed the application filed by Sumit Sharma.

State Billiards, Snooker Championship
Nikhil, Rajesh, Nadeem, Umar sail into 2nd round

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 21: Nikhil Kapahi, Rajesh Salathia, Nadeem Malik and Umar Mushtaq of Srinagar have entered into the second round in the ongoing 16th J&K State Inter District Billiards and Snooker Championship being played at Billiards Hall, M.A. Stadium.

In the first round matches played today, Amardeep Singh defeated Rohit Kapoor by 3-0 frames. The score was 56-49, 53-52 and 41-28.

Gurdeev Singh and Umar Mushtaq also had no difficulty whatsoever as they registered easy wins. Gurdev overcame Amandep Singh by 70-35, 57-61, 61-37 and 42-28 while Umar Mushtaq trounced Bhanu Pathania by 59-3, 67-46 and 58-25.

In other matches, Rajesh Salathia beat Anshul Anand by 3-2 frames (42-75, 52-40, 68-38, 24-54 and 85-73), Akshay Sharma got walkover Deepy, Nikhil Kapahi beat Gurdev Singh by 50-33, 50-43 and 51-5, Gourav Sharma beat Ajay Kumar by 30-50, 26-33, 70-42, 67-29 and 43-25 and Nadeem Malik beat Atul Tandon by 47-34, 50-29 and 65-55.

The officials in the match were Rakesh, Shanker Dass and Surjit Singh.

The tournament is being organised by the J&K Billiards and Snooker Association and sponsored by the J&K State Sports Council.

Photo Caption: Nadeem Malik playing a shot in the match during 16th J&K State Billiards and Snooker Championship being played at M.A. Stadium.

Karan Club clinches girls title in Softball Championship

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 21: Karan Club defeated Jhansi Club by 7-5 in the final to win Doda District Softball Championship in Girls section which concluded at Girls Higher Secondary School, Doda here today.

Simran, Sania and Diksha, Kriti and Pooja were the standing performers for the winner team.

In Boys section, Swaraj Club trounced Lions Club by 4-3 in a pulsating contest to clinch Boys title. Balwinder, Ashish and Ravinder played well for Swaraj Club.

O.P. Chandial, Principal, Green Model Higher Secondary School, Doda was the chief guest on the occasion, who distributed medals and certificates to the winner and runner up teams.

More than 125 participants took part in the two day long championship which commenced on November 19.

The Championship was organised by the District Softball Association.

Inter District Athletic Meet kicks off

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 21: The State Level Inter District Athletic Meet for U/14 and U/17 Boys and Girls was commenced at M.A. Stadium here today. Total 270 athletes from different schools participating in the Athletic Meet.

Earlier, S.S. Bali, Assistant Director, Directorate of Youth Services and Sports declared open the tournament.

B.N. Bhat, District Youth Services and Sports Officer is the Organising Secretary of the Athletic Meet.

The Athletic Meet is being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports under the overall supervision of S.S. Bali.

The Results:

High Jump U/17 Boys final: Amir Ahmed (1st), Gagandeep Singh (2nd) and Sanjeet Kumar and Mukesh Kumar (3rd).

Javelin Throw U/17 Boys Final: Mukesh Kumar (1st), Aftab Hussain (2nd) and Gulzar Ahmed (3rd).

3000 mts Boys U/17 Final: Rahul Kumar (1st), Rama Manju (2nd) and Sonu Ram (3rd).

High Jump Girls U/17 Final: Sushma (1st), Rama Manju (2nd) and Rajni (3rd).

Javelin Throw U/17 Girls Final: Salina Begum (1st), Bindu (2nd) and Seema Rajput (3rd).

3000 mts U/17 Girls Final: Rajni (1st), Mehak (2nd) and Mohani (3rd).

800 mts Boys U/17 Final: Rahul (1st),Vishal (2nd) and Mushtaq (3rd).

800 mts Girls U/17 Final: Deepika (1st), Rafiqa (2nd) and Naima (3rd).

500 mts Girls U/14 Final: Kamlesh (1st), Sushma (2nd) and Kiran (3rd).

500 mts Boys U/14 Final: Lawang (1st), Mohd. Sharif (2nd) and Venya (3rd).

Tiny Tots organises Fancy Dress Competition

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 21: Tiny Tots Higher Secondary School, Lower Roop Nagar organised a Fancy Dress Competition in the school premises.

Students from different schools participated in from Kg wing participated in the competition.

The students who participated in the competition were:

Sahil, Vansh Deep, Shriya, Ayush, Sakshita, Mahesh, Parth, Sneha, Aashray, Megha, Lakshay, Sumit, Aakriti, Madhvi, Abhinav, Zoya, Smily Ankita and Simran.