India to
host Philippines in a 2-ties Test series
NEW DELHI, Jan 1: After successfully holding
the first two Indo-Pak Test series, All India
Tennis Association (AITA) is all set to host
Philippines in a two-ties Test series.
The two ties will
be held at Puttaparthi and Delhi on January 12
and 14 respectively, an AITA release said here
today.
India has Ashutosh
Singh, Divij Sharan and Vishnu Vardhan in their
team while Patrick-John Tierro and Johnny Arcilla
will form the Philippines’ team.
Each tie will
consist of two singles’ matches and a
doubles. The event at Puttaparthi will be held at
Sri Sathya Sai Baba ashram while the second tie
in Delhi will be held at R K Khanna Tennis
stadium. (UNI)
India
beat Australia in Hopman Cup
PERTH, Jan 1: Sania Mirza and Rohan
Bopanna beat Australia 2-1 in a group A encounter
to keep India afloat in the Hopman Cup here
today.
Sania overcame a
stiff challenge from Alicia Molik to win the
women’s singles clash 6-2 2-6 6-4 to give
India a 1-0 lead.
However, Bopanna
lost to Peter Luczak 7-6 6-3 as the sixth-seeded
hosts levelled the contest.
Sania and Bopanna
then defeated Molik and Luczak in a closely
fought mixed doubles encounter to pull off their
first victory in the tournament.
The Indian duo won
the deciding match 6-2 4-6 7-6 (13/11) after a
tussle lasting 77 minutes.
The Indian pair,
which lost its opening tie to the United States,
have one win and one loss. The top team in each
group advances to Friday’s final.
Sania, who almost
lost the final set after being 5-1 up,
acknowledged that it was never easy against a
tough opponent like Molik.
"I almost
lost that one. 15-40, love-40, it does not
matter, she can come up with a big serve at any
time," she said.
In their next
group engagement on January 3, seventh-seeded
India will take on Czech Republic, seeded third
in the tournament. (PTI)
Think
positive, play freely: Kumble to teammates
SYDNEY, Jan 1: Skipper Anil Kumble once
again stressed the need for his batsmen to break
the shackles and play freely as India geared up
to avenge the Melbourne humiliation by the
Australians in the second cricket Test at the SCG
here tomorrow.
"It’s
very important to get partnerships. When we had
that 60-70 run stand (between Sachin Tendulkar
and Sourav Ganguly) it was fine. When we have a
partnership, it’s important to go on and
make a big score," said Kumble looking ahead
at the second Test against Ricky Ponting’s
men after losing the four-match series opener by
337 runs.
Kumble once again
called on his batsmen to lift their attitude. He
urged them to relax and bat their natural way.
"I thought
our batters were very uptight in Melbourne. They
needed to play their natural game," he said.
Speculation is
rife that India could be investing in Virender
Sehwag in this game but Kumble chose to sidestep
the matter.
"He is an
attacking option. Before he lost form and was
made to sit out, he was a very important member
of the side. He does bring in that carefree
attitude into the team," he said.
Kumble said Sehwag
has looked in touch in the nets but stopped short
of revealing anything about the final composition
for the match tomorrow.
"From
whatever we have seen in nets, he looks good. His
form is not a concern because he is hitting the
ball well," Kumble said.
The Indian captain
refuted suggestions that after the thrashing they
got in the Melbourne Test, the visitors needed to
spend more time in the nets to be back in form.
Instead he
advocated a switch off from the game for his
embattled team.
"For some
people it is said that if you are seen on the
field, you are better prepared. For some, you
feel you need a break and get away from it. To
think about what went wrong," he explained.
"It was
important for us to switch off and remember all
the positive things we have done in the past. One
extra hit in the nets won’t make you a
better player."
"It’s
the same. If the mind is thinking positive, then
the running between the wickets becomes
better," he said. (PTI)
I am
sure Indians will bring in Sehwag: Ponting
SYDNEY, Jan 1: India may be tightlipped
about their playing XI but Australian captain
Ricky Ponting is convinced that the visitors will
bring in specialist opener Virender Sehwag to
unburden Rahul Dravid in the second cricket Test
starting here tomorrow.
"I thought
long and hard about it and believe they could
ring in a couple of changes-bring in Virender
Sehwag to take the pressure off Rahul
Dravid," Ponting said in the pre-match press
conference here.
Ponting said the
Australians had the momentum going into the match
after the 337-run victory in Melbourne, but
warned his side not to take the foot off the gas
pedal.
"We have the
momentum going but if we just sit back and expect
it to happen, India is a good enough side to let
the momentum going. It could cause us a
headache," he cautioned.
Ponting said he
foresees a great battle shaping up between Sachin
Tendulkar and Brett Lee in this Test.
"When Sachin
is playing his shots, it doesn’t make many
bowlers happy. He looked to play his shots in
both the innings and played beautifully in the
first innings," he recalled.
"But having
said that, Brett (Lee) bowled a very high quality
spell to him in the second knock. Brett has
bowled well to him in India, got him a couple of
times, so it could be a great contest between the
two in this series," he added.
Ponting also
rubbished suggestions that India were undone by
lack of match practice in the Melbourne Test and
said the visitors were simply outplayed despite
getting a good batting track at the MCG.
The Australian
captain felt too much was being made about
India’s lack of preparation for this series
having been granted just a solitary first class
game.
"I think too
much is being made of it. They came after a
three-Test series against Pakistan. They played
on a track which was more suited to their style
of playing," he said.
"A lot is
being made of India’s batting but it was to
the credit of our bowlers that we didn’t let
them have a lot of scoring opportunities,"
he added.
A bit disappointed
with his own form, Ponting said he was confident
of being in the runs after his lean spell with
the bat at the MCG.
"This is a
venue where I have scored five or six centuries.
So hopefully I can return to my scoring ways and
get over the lean spell of MCG," he said.
The skipper said
he was relieved at having led the side through a
seemless transitional phase after the retirement
of stalwarts like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.
"The
transitional phase has worked out well. After we
lost a few great players, I always had faith in
the young talent coming in. They have been great
so far, there would be moments when there’s
up and down but I feel we can improve on our
performance," he said. (PTI)
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