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

Batting slump no obstacle for superior England..........

Aussie players keen to join ICL : Jones.........

Team India on top in Ceat Cricket ratings...........

Sri Lanka have their tasks cut out against Australia

SYDNEY, Feb 7: Sri Lanka will have to do some rethinking on how to bowl in the slog overs when they take on World champions Australia in the cricket tri-series here tomorrow.

The Islanders had India on the mat at 83 for four at one stage in their previous rain-abandoned game but conceded 105 runs in the last 10 overs to allow the opposition to put a competitive total on the board.

Lankan vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara admitted after the match that his side needed to do a bit of rethinking on how to bowl in the slog overs.

"We have something to work on to keep the scores less in the last 10 overs," he said.

The team will no doubt tighten up things in the slog overs against the hosts, who have a very strong batting line up, as any slip-ups could prove costly on a Sydney Cricket Ground track which was expected to favour the batsmen.

The tri-series has still not seen a single match being completed as both the day-night encounters at Brisbane were abandoned because of rain and the forecast for tomorrow is also not too encouraging.

The met office has predicted partly cloudy conditions with chances of rain during the day. If rain again plays spoilsport, it will come as a huge disappointment for the fans.

After two washed out games, India find themselves on top of the points table with four points from two matches while Australia and Sri Lanka have two points each from one match.

All the three participating teams will play against each other four times with the top two sides qualifying for the best-of-three finals.

With the first two matches of the series washed out, both sides will be keen to post their first win at the floodlit SCG.

The Australian batting will be bolstered with opener Matthew Hayden set to return to the team for the game. Paceman Stuart Clark will also be available after missing last Tuesday’s clash with India for personal reasons.

The Aussie fielding has left much to be desired in the last few weeks and the champion team will no doubt address the problem.

Retiring wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist dismissed concerns about the home side’s fielding after more catches were spilled against India in the series opener.

"Look, as long as cricket is played, there is going to be dropped catches," Gilchrist said.

"It’s expected and when you don’t catch them it’s glaringly obvious, particularly if you set the standards we set", he said.

The Australians have also indicated that Brett Lee, who has bowled brilliantly right through the test series against India, will be given a break at some stage and it remains to be seen whether the pace spearhead takes the field on the morrow.

The Lankan batting will largely depend on the swashbuckling Sanath Jayasuriya and the veteran batsman is capable of destroying any attack on his day.

Apart from Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva, Tillakratne Dilshan and all-rounder Chamara Kapugedera make it a formidable batting for the island team.

The bowling is vastly experienced too with spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas getting support from the young Lasith Malinga and Ferveez Maharoof. The spin of Dilshan and Jayasuriya gives them the variety.

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (Capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Ferveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Tharanga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Chanaka Welegedara, Ishara Amarsinghe.

Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (Capt), Adam Gilchrist (Wk), Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, James Hopes, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Ashley Noffke, Nathan Bracken.

Hours of Play : 8.45 am to 12.15 pm, 1.00 pm to 4.30 pm (IST).(PTI)

Aussies pushing for umpiring reforms
to cut down howlers

MELBOURNE, Feb 7: With the dwindling umpiring standards becoming a major concern for the players, Australia would be pushing for better training and more pay for on-field officials besides asking for an expansion of the 10-member elite panel.

According to a report in ‘the daily telegraph’, the Australians are discontented with the current level of umpiring, which caused an ugly furore during the test series against India.

West Indian veteran Steve Bucknor had to be removed after committing several howlers that dealt telling blows to India during the series.

"The plummeting standards of World umpiring have become an urgent concern and Australia is pushing for the expansion of the 10-member elite panel to ease the workload," the report stated.

The Aussie players reportedly want to have their home-grown World’s best umpire Simon Taufel, 37, in their matches but the neutral umpires policy has been coming in the way.

"Australia’s leading test cricketers also have concerns they never get to play under Taufel, clearly the World’s top umpire, because of the requirement for neutral umpires in all tests," the report said.

The report also said Australia is concerned about the amount of workload that the umpires have to cope with and wants more recruitments to address the matter,

Dodgy umpiring once again became a talking point here after Indian batsman Rohit Sharma was adjudged caught behind by South African Rudi Koertzon during the ongoing tri-series match against Sri Lanka. Replays clearly showed that the batsman had not nicked the ball.(PTI)

Somdev set to make his Davis Cup debut

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Somdev Dev Varman will have a big responsibility to shoulder when the untested youngster faces Uzbekistan’s top singles player Denis Istomin while making his Davis Cup debut for India in the Asia Oceania zone group I tie here tomorrow.

India’s non-playing captain Leander Paes chose to throw the "fearless" youngster at the deep end and see how the US collegiate champion performs at the big stage, instead of risking half-fit Prakash Amritraj, who will play doubles alongside Mahesh Bhupathi.

To Somdev’s good fortune, the draw unfolded in the manner India wanted giving Rohan Bopanna the opening match against Uzbekistan’s number 2 player Farrukh Dustov, before Somdev walks in the lush centre court at DLTA tomorrow.

At 784 in the ATP rankings, Somdev is 600 places below Istomin, who is high on confidence after dragging Lleyton Hewitt to a nail-biting four-setter in the Australian Open last month.

But Paes’s decision to pick Somdev ahead of Prakash is based on two facts. The 22-year-old will be an unknown entity for Uzbekistan and will certainly add to India’s advantage besides giving that extra time to Prakash to recuperate from the stomach ailment and come out fully fit for the doubles clash on Saturday against Istomin and Dustov.

Prakash though has an envious record against Istomin and has beaten him twice in previous meetings. The Indian beat Istomin in the Jaipur tie in 2005 when Uzbekistan was whitewashed 5-0 and in a challengers match the next year.

Prakash was not part of the team in the away-tie in 2007 which India lost 1-4. Paes partnering Sunil Kumar Sipaeya notched up India’s only win.

"I had to see his (Prakash) physical condition at the moment. I spoke to him in the team meeting. It is always better to field somebody who is fully fit rather than choose a player who is 60 per cent fit," Paes told reporters today.

"It will also give Prakash an extra day to recover and be fully fit and get ready to last five sets. As a captain I have to look at things in totality," Paes said.

Paes’s belief in Somdev’s ability is unflinching and the stalwart said time was ripe for the "brightest prospect" in the country to unfold on the big stage.

"The boy deserves the chance. He is fearless, determined and has a big heart; one of the fittest boys in the team. He has played a lot of tennis at collegiate level which has toughened him.

"He is a baseliner and so is Istomin. Istomin is in great form but he is not a serve and volley player. It will a interesting match between two baseliners on grass court." (PTI)

Ponting urges CA not to interfere in IPL issue SYDNEY, Feb 7: Skipper Ricky Ponting says it would be ‘’unfair’’ if Cricket Australia (CA) creates hurdles for players who want to join the Indian Premier League (IPL). CA is concerned that its own sponsorship deals will get effected if the players go with the IPL . Meanwhile IPL chairman Lalit Modi has said the league would go ahead without Ponting and his men if CA pursued worldwide sponsorship protection, and Ponting was not keen on that possibility. ‘’There are already some globally-protected sponsors of Cricket Australia, there are a couple of them. I don’t think Cricket Australia would be able to make any of their other sponsors global sponsors ... If they tried to do that I’m sure the players’ association would have something to say about it. It would be a little bit unfair if that was the case,’’ Ponting said. Ponting and his team mates do not want their agreement to fall through because of sponsorship row between the CA and IPL. The 33-year-old skipper said he did not find any reason for the Cricket Australia not to clear players to represent the IPL. ‘’It’s a domestic competition, as county cricket is,’’ he said. ‘’There’s never been any worry about Cricket Australia releasing guys to go and play county cricket. That’s the reason Cricket Australia backed it all in the first place, because it was a domestic tournament and it wouldn’t be actually taking Australian players way from their domestic competitions or the Australian team.’’ However, their chances of representing the IPL franchises this year depends on whether their scheduled tour of Pakistan goes ahead, as the trip would clash with the Indian tournament. Ponting said players were trying not to even think about the issue. ‘’We’ve had a lot on our plate over the last few weeks. The likelihood of us Australian players being able to play this year anyway was pretty minimal. We’ll worry about all those other outside distractions, if you like, once this summer is over and done with,’’ he said.(UNI)

*Inter-Collegiate Badminton Tournament* GCW Parade, MAM claims men, women title *Excelsior Sports Correspondent* JAMMU, Feb 7: The Government College for Women (GCW) Parade and MAM College have claimed the women and men title respectively in the Inter-Collegiate Badminton Championship, finals of which were played today in University of Jammu (JU). GCW Parade routed GCW Gandhi Nagar in the final of women section with score of 2-1. Anshumali led the charge for winning side. In first single, Anshumali bt Pooja Joshi in two straight sets by 21-12 and 21-17. In second single, Sonia Gupta of GCW Parade lost to Ritu Singh in a closely fought game by 22-20, 10-21 and 7-21. In doubles, the pair of Anshumali and Sonia bt Ritu and Pooja by 17-21, 21-17 and 21-14 to claim the title. However, in men section, MAM College blanked PG Department by 3-0 to lift the trophy. In first single, Vikram Saini bt Atul Verma by 21-13 and 21-9. In second single, Vipul Saini bt Opinder Pal by 21-13 and 21-9. Meanwhile, in the doubles, the pair of Vikram and Vipul repeated the same performance to beat Atul and Ashwani by 21-10 and 21-12. Those who officiated the final matches were Vikram Jamwal and Ravish Vaid under the supervision of Ramesh Magotra from Department of Physical Education. Sunny Friends A lifts first CEC Ice Hockey C’ship *Excelsior Sports Correspondent* KARGIL, Feb 7: Sunny Friends A has lifted the first CEC Ice Hockey Championship by defeating the Sunny Friends B in the final played at Ice Hockey Rink, Kargil today. Sunny Friends A team scored four goals while Sunny Friends B could manage only two goals. The Chairman/ CEC, LAHDC, Kargil Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie was the chief guest on the occasion. He presented trophies to the winning teams and runner up. Cash prize and certificates were also given to the participants. Speaking on the occasion, Karbalaie assured the completion of Ice Hockey Rink of international standards in near future to encourage the local sportsperson. He also assured release of adequate funds for purchase of equipments for training of young sportsperson. Later, he felicitated District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Kargil Haji Mirza Hussain and Technical Director Mohd Nassir for successfully holding the event. Kasprowicz announces retirement MELBOURNE, Feb 7: Veteran Australian seamer Michael Kasprowicz, who played significant part in the World champions’ 2004 test series triumph in India, today retired from all forms of cricket. According to a report in ‘the courier mail’, the Queenslander, who turns 36 on Sunday, will play his final match, a domestic one-day tie against western Australia, on Saturday. "Kasprowicz feels its time to go and give the State’s younger pacemen a chance to finish out the season and he’ll enjoy the chance to farewell fans at the Gabba," the report said. The fast bowler earned the reputation of being a sub-continental specialist after a series of fine performances in Sri Lanka and India. He was one of the top performers in Australia’s 2-1 test series triumph in India in 2004, their first in 35 years. The seamer took a five-wicket haul in the first test in Bangalore. In fact 2004 was one of the highlights of Kasprowicz’s roller-coaster career as he took 47 wickets in the season and got selected in the team ahead of Brett Lee, who was sidelined as a 12th man for some time. However, he lost his central contract last year due to a series of injury breakdowns. He played 38 tests for Australia and took 113 wickets at an average of 32.88. The last time he played for Australia in a test was in 2006 against South Africa when Glenn McGrath had opted out of the team to be with his ailing wife. Kasprowicz played 43 one-dayers and took 67 wickets at an average of 24.98. But injuries hampered his progress, with back and groin problems limiting him to just nine balls last year. Calf injuries and a hamstring strain did not allow him to compete properly in the domestic circuit as well.(PTI) Team India on top in Ceat Cricket ratings NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Team India garnered a total of 89 points,staking a claim to the Ceat International Cricket Team of the Year 2007-2008. The Indian team is closely trailed by South Africa with 81 points in the second position, while the Australian team has taken the third spot with 52 points. Sachin Tendulkar with 85 points and Sourav Ganguly who has 82 points are ranked second and third in the batting list respectively . Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka, who topped the best batsman and fielders’ list, leads the race for the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year 2007-2008 with a tally of 86 points. (PTI)
Tendulkar offers tips to youngsters MELBOURNE, Feb 7: Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar offered tips to younger members of the Indian team in the first outdoor session which the players managed here this evening after a long lay-off due to rains. Struck by persistent rain in the last one week in Melbourne and Brisbane which restricted them to unfinished games and indoor nets, the visitors had their first full-blown nets at the MCG with Tendulkar having ears of star-struck youngsters of the team. No sooner than the trainer John Gloster had made the squad go through their stretching exercises, Tendulkar took Robin Uthappa and Suresh Raina aside and spoke at length about the conditions and pitches which they would come up against in the coming weeks. Tendulkar then reserved a good part of his discourse for Rohit Sharma who seemed eager to latch on to the pearls of wisdom from the great man. Indeed Sharma made sure that he was tackling the deliveries in the desired manner by having his batting video-taped by team’s computer analyst Dhananjay. Lalchand Rajput, Assistant Manager of the team, said "Sachin has so much of experience and he is eager to share it with the youngsters. They would benefit greatly by his advice." Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni appeared to enjoy himself in bowling to Raina and later spoke at length to a few youngsters on how to play short-pitched deliveries on these surfaces. The youngsters, by the looks of it, appeared relaxed and after an extensive session of nets, headed for the middle of the MCG and did some practice in the field. Yuvraj Singh, despite his failure, too looked relaxed and eagerly participated in the nets. "Yuvraj and Dhoni have played important roles for India in one-dayers. Yuvraj, I am sure, would soon be displaying his best form," said Rajput. Rajput was almost grateful for the first outdoor nets which his team could have at the MCG today. "Before the nets, I spoke to the team members and wanted them to make the most of the first outdoor nets which were now available to them." India team will practice tomorrow morning and would want to be in the best shape for the game on Sunday when they take on Australia in the fourth tri-series match at the MCG. (PTI)
Batting slump no obstacle for superior England CHRISTCHURCH, Feb 7: The England Cricket team again outclassed New Zealand when Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah reversed a batting slump to engineer a 50-run win in their Twenty20 match here today. England posted 193 for eight and a demoralized New Zealand could only manage 143 for eight in reply. The win wrapped up the festival section of the tour for England 2-0, giving them a psychological edge as they head into a series of five One-Day matches starting on Saturday followed by three Tests next month. But the second Twenty20 victory was not as clinical as the first encounter when England fielded the same team and most batsmen contributed to their 32-run victory on Tuesday. This time New Zealand were able to force an England top order slump before Collingwood and Shah regained the ascendancy. After a rollicking start by Luke Wright and Phil Mustard, who clouted 65 in 5.5 overs, the next 15 deliveries saw England lose four wickets for 11 runs to be 76 for four. Teenaged paceman Tim Southee, 19, who is being blooded by New Zealand as a talent of the future, claimed the prized scalps of Mustard (40) and Kevin Pietersen (three). Chris Martin bowled Wright for 30 and Ian Bell was run out for one going for a quick single on a misfield. But if New Zealand thought they had England on the ropes, they were quickly corrected as Shah and Collingwood put on 102 in 62 balls for the fifth wicket. Captain Collingwood had five fours and three sixes in his 54 off 28 deliveries while Shah faced 35 balls for 47, including four fours and two sixes. Both fell in consecutive balls from Paul Hitchcock —Shah caught at long off and Collingwood at long on, bringing in the powerful Dmitri Mascarenhas who avoided the hat-trick with a six. New Zealand started their chase for 194 to win with a Jesse Ryder boundary off the first ball but lost their way soon after. (AFP) Aussie players keen to join ICL : Jones MELBOURNE, Feb 7: After Stuart Law, Michael Bevan and IanHarvey, some more Australian players are intrested in joining the next edition of the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) executive board director Dean Jones said today. ‘’The number is set to increase for this year’s edition,’’ Jones was quoted as saying in ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.’’there will be a couple of australian players in there, yes.’’ He, however, added that the ICL does not want players to break their contracts with their respective associations. ‘’But we are not here to ask players to break contracts with their organisations to play for us,’’ he said. The next edition of the ICL’s Twenty20 tournament will startin October this year. (UNI)
Team India on top in Ceat Cricket ratings NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Team India garnered a total of 89 points,staking a claim to the Ceat International Cricket Team of the Year 2007-2008. The Indian team is closely trailed by South Africa with 81 points in the second position, while the Australian team has taken the third spot with 52 points. Sachin Tendulkar with 85 points and Sourav Ganguly who has 82 points are ranked second and third in the batting list respectively . Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka, who topped the best batsman and fielders’ list, leads the race for the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year 2007-2008 with a tally of 86 points. In the bowlers category, Anil Kumble is the highest ranked Indian with a total of 41 bowling points. Dale Steyn is at the top with 62 bowling points, followed by Muttiah Murlitharan with 52 bowling points. Adam Gilchrist has topped the wicketkeeper’s list with 21 points.(PTI)