Former cricketers hail Perth win as great effort .........

Seeds scattered at Melbourne Park .............

Ponting’s men fined for slow over-rate ..........

It’s not beginning of end of our dominance: Ponting

PERTH, Jan 19: India may have managed to halt the juggernaut but Australia’s days of invincibility are far from over, asserted captain Ricky Ponting.

Smarting from the 72-run defeat against India which denied the side a record 17th straight Test win, Ponting said it was premature to construe the defeat as beginning of the end of Australia’s hegemony in world cricket.

"It’s been interesting to read the newspapers which suggest that Australia’s days of invincibility are over, we are on the slide," Ponting said.

"Australia is usually a team which turns things around pretty quickly," he said.

The Australian skipper, however, did not hold himself back in praising Indians wholeheartedly in outplaying his team in the third Test at WACA.

"India dominated the game. Their batsmen and bowlers were both on top of their games and they also caught most things that came their way," he said.

On missing out on the record, Ponting said, "the run of successive wins had to stop at some time. Our cricket perhaps just wasn’t good enough to win us this Test match."

Ponting blamed his batsmen for not making a big score in the first innings, which, he felt, cost them the match.

"The deficit of the first innings was a major issue. It’s very difficult to come back into a Test if you concede a lead of 120 runs, more so if you are batting last," he said.

"In the second innings we had starts but didn’t have big enough stands," Ponting said.

Inevitably, the questions centred around Ponting’s own form and the brilliant spell of fast bowling which Ishant Sharma bowled to him on the fourth morning.

"It was a very good spell of fast bowling. He is tall and little unusual and gets the ball to dart back a long well.

"He bowled a very long spell this morning, I just wanted to stay and wear him down...I wanted to get the first session out without much damage," he said.

"Nothing is wrong with my form. I have not got the runs that I would have liked but I feel in good nick.

"India is a very good team, they have been good right throughout the summer and at no stage we made the mistake of underestimating them," he said.

He also doffed his hat at VVS Laxman, who once again emerged as Australia’s nemesis.

"The knock of Laxman was also a critical one. It’s not the first time that he has held up Australia," Ponting said.

The Australians, surprisingly, were found wanting against swinging deliveries but Ponting laughed off the suggestions that they were deficient in the area.

"In the 16 matches we have played, I am sure we have played swing bowling. In England (during the Ashes series of 2005), it was the reverse swing," he said.(UNI)

Selectors’ face dilemma over Dravid choice for ODIs

MUMBAI, Jan 19: The national selection committee will meet here tomorrow to choose the Indian cricket squad for next month’s triangular ODI series in Australia with the biggest dilemma facing it whether to recall former captain Rahul Dravid.

The other major problem confronting the five wise men would be the composition of the pace bowling department which has been weakened by the heel injury-induced absence of spearhead Zaheer Khan who is not available for the series as well as the one-off Twenty20 international against hosts Australia preceding it on February 1.

Dravid lost his place in the one-day squad controversially after a string of poor scores against Australia in the home series preceding the one against Pakistan, but since then has opened in Tests Down Under and seems to have rediscovered a bit of his wonted form.

More importantly the lack of form of Yuvraj Singh, to accommodate whom Dravid was asked to open Down Under in Tests, has left a huge hole in the middle order as men-in-form Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are expected to open the innings while another middle order Test mainstay V V S Laxman is no longer in the selectors’ radar for the 50-over-a-side game.

Virender Sehwag, who has opened the innings in the ongoing Perth Test with some success, has also come back into the reckoning for the ODIs.

The selectors would surely be tempted to give back Dravid his one-day slot, especially with young middle order batsmen Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma have not exactly been in peak for in domestic cricket.

However, Uthappa and Sharma are expected to be included though players like S Badrinath, Manoj Tiwari, Suresh Raina and Cheteshwar Pujara are likely to be discussed for possible selection along with a dark horse like Parthiv Patel.

From the present five-man pace battery in Australia, rookies V R V Singh and Pankaj Singh are expected to return home along with Test captain Anil Kumble, who has already retired from the one-day game, and Laxman.

Reserve ‘keeper Dinesh Kaarthick, who had lost his place in the ODIs, could also be in that list.

If he’s fit pacer S Sreesanth, sidelined from the Test series in Australia because of a shoulder injury, and third opener Gautam Gambhir are expected to board the flight to Australia along with left-arm spinner Murali Karthik. But there’s a question mark over right arm pacer Munaf Patel.

Uttar Pradesh medium pacer Praveen Kumar, who was part of the ODI squad against Pakistan and played in the Jaipur ODI, has given a timely reminder to the selectors of his abilities with his splendid 8-68 haul yesterday in the Ranji Trophy final against Delhi here.

R P Singh, who has been in splendid form in Australia, exciting young talent Ishant Sharma and all-rounder-in-the-making Irfan Pathan are near-certain to retain their spots and form the core of the pace department.

Only three selectors are to be present in Mumbai for the meeting - Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Jagdale and Bhupinder Singh - while their colleagues Venkatapathi Raju and Ranjib Biswal - are in Australia currently.

The discussion among the selectors, with one-day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in attendance in Australia, would be done over the telephone. (PTI)

Irfan can be an outstanding all-rounder: Steve Waugh

PERTH, Jan 19: Irfan Pathan’s fluent knock in India’s second innings of the ongoing third cricket Test has earned him an admirer in former Australia captain Steve Waugh who believes the left-hander has it in him to evolve as an outstanding all-rounder.

Pathan, who came as nightwatchman, survived some torrid times in the middle, during which he was hit twice by Brett Lee bouncers, before unleashing an array of shots in his crucial 46-run knock that steadied the Indian second innings.

Impressed by his application, Waugh said, "Irfan Pathan has the potential to become an outstanding Test match all-rounder.

"The poise he showed to bat throughout the first session yesterday confirmed this," Waugh wrote in his column for ‘The Daily Telegraph’.

Waugh also wondered how the left-arm seamer fell out of favour and was dropped from the squad.

"When I first saw him four years ago I marvelled at the way he could swing the ball both ways and it has been surprising to see him dropped because of poor form and only appear for the third Test of the series," he said.

The former captain put forward an explanation himself, saying it was often difficult to maintain a calm head amid the adulation that followed success.

"...It is a recurring problem in India for youngsters such as Pathan to become flooded with rich sponsorships when they hit the big time, become a bit starstruck by it all, then stop doing the little things that got them there in the first place," he said. (PTI)

GHS Laiter wins Wrestling championship

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 19: Government High School, Laiter clinched the first Reasi District Indian Style Wrestling championship concluded at Government High School, Kotli Bhaga in Reasi.

Government High School, Kotli and Government High School, Kundra finished second and third respectively.

More than 50 wrestlers from Reasi, Katra, Pouini, Laiter, Aghar Jitto, Sirla, Kotli, Pai, Kundra and Bhumag participated in the event organised by Reasi District Indian Style Wrestling Association.

Rattan Lal Sharma, Headmaster was the chief guest on the occasion while Chander Sharma and Sardari Lal Dubey, president, Reasi District Indian Style Wrestling Association were the guests of honour.

Shiv Kumar Sharma, president, J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association presided over the function.

Final Results:

45kg: Pawan Kumar (1st), Ravi Singh Sirla (2nd) and Shokat Ali Kundra (3rd).

50kg: Bushan Sharma (1st), Anil Sharma (2nd) and Vikal Kumar (3rd).

55kg: Surinder Sharma (1st), Abdul Rehman (2nd) and Angrez Singh (3rd).

60kg: Rakesh Kumar (1st),. Bushan Sharma (2nd) and Uttam Singh (3rd).

66kg: Gulam Mohd-ul-Din (1st), Gulzar Mohd (2nd) and Jeevan Lal (3rd).

Above 66kg: Krishan Singh (1st), Ravi Kumar (2nd) and Vijay Kumar (3rd).

Shito-Ryu Karate championship begins

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 19: The first Shito-Ryu Karate-Do championship got under way at Dr Ambedkar Convent School, Bantalab here today.

More than 100 students drawn from different schools and clubs are competing in the said event.

Manohar Lal Bhagat, Municipal Corporator, Ward No 63 was the chief guest on the occasion who inaugurated the championship.

G C Dogra, MD, Dr Ambedkar group of schools, Vijay Kumar Dogra, president, All J&K Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Association were also present.

MAM College starts campaign on positive note

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 19: MAM College started their campaign in style by earning two consecutive wins in Inter Collegiate Kabaddi Tournament (men) which commenced at New University Campus Ground here today.

In the first match, MAM College (evening) prevailed over DC Reasi by 15 points followed it up with another convincing win over SPMR College of Commerce by 25 points.

In other matches, DC Akhnoor got walkover DC Bhaderwah, DC Kathua got walkover DC Kishtwar and DC Rajouri got walkover DC Poonch.

The matches were officiated by Anil Sharma, Ajay Kumar and Gagan Kumar.

The tournament has been organised by the Department of Physical Education, Jammu University.

PCB defends exclusion of Akhtar, Gul in ODI squad

KARACHI, Jan 19: The Pakistan Cricket Board has defended the exclusion of senior bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul for the one-day series against Zimbabwe, a move that has been criticised by former greats including Imran Khan.

A senior official of the board was forced to lay out the PCB policy on the exclusion of Akhtar and Gul while the selectors decided to retain captain Shoaib Malik in the squad for the first two one-dayers against Zimbabwe although he is recovering from an ankle injury and has not played any cricket since the New Delhi Test against India in winter.

"Malik had an injury problem which is now healed and there was never any doubt about his match fitness. But in Shoaib and Gul’s case they struggled with their fitness during matches and that is why we have decided they should now first prove their match fitness before being considered for national selection," Ehsan Malik, the director communications said.

Imran has said the board had made maverick pacer Shoaib Akhtar the scapegoat for the defeat in India although he had done his bit in the matches.

The former captain said that Shoaib was still better than the other bowlers and the board should only think about replacing him if they found a proper replacement for him.

Malik said the board had no personal grudge against Shoaib nor was their any disciplinary issue involved in his omission for the Zimbabwe series.

"We just want all those players who have fitness issues must prove their match fitness before making themselves available for national selection," he said. (PTI)

One of the best wins of my career: Kumble

PERTH, Jan 19: Indian captain Anil Kumble today described the sensational victory in the third cricket Test against Australia as "one of the best" in his career and said it was a remarkable effort from his team after the traumatic events in Sydney.

"It was one best Tests in my career. Nobody gave us any chance in Perth. But we batted brilliantly, Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid), (Virender) Sehwag, (VVS) Laxman... Even at the lower order MS Dhoni and RP Singh," Kumble said after winning the match by 72 runs.

"We had tough times. After Sydney, it was important that we got together, back Harbhajan (Singh) and win this game.

"After Sydney there were two options. One was to go back home and the other was to show that we are capable of winning. I am glad the team has got together to prove that (beating Australia)," he said.

Kumble said unlike the Sydney match both the sides played the third Test in true spirit of the game but India dominated the Australians.

"The two teams played in right spirit. But here we did well and if see we did not give one session to the Aussies to come back," he said.

The Indian captain said his team was focused to win the fourth and final Test as well and draw the series.

"We need to get the confidence from this match to Adelaide and finish the series level...But the Aussies would not give up," he said.

Comparing rookie pacer Ishant Sharma to former pace ace Javagal Srinath, Kumble said the young speedster notched up a superb performance.

"He was brilliant. He looks like what Srinath was in his early days. He showed a great attitude."

About Sharma’s extended spell, which earned the crucial wicket of Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Kumble said, "Viru (Sehwag) is the Delhi captain. So he told me that Ishant is used to bowl longer spells. I asked Ishant if he can bowl one more over and he said yes. Since Ricky was there it was important."

Kumble also singled out Sehwag (2-24), who he brought in as a change bowler, for his outstanding performance causing the Australian collapse.

"Sehwag does something special. It was special to get Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) at that stage," he said and added "in fact, everyone chipped in to contribute to the win in some way or the other."

The 37-year-old legspinner, who also achieved his personal milestone of crossing the 600-wicket mark here, gave credit to his team for ulitising the conditions here better than the hosts.

"It was a brilliant effort from our boys. It is really special. No one gave us a chance before the match but we utilised the conditions better.

"It was a brilliant effort from young pace attack, it also showed in their body language."

Rival captain Ricky Ponting tried to be graceful in the defeat by expressing the disappointment but offering no excuses for their below-par show.

"It is disappointing but no excuses for the defeat," Ponting said after Australian team was deprived of a record 17th successive Test win by the Indians.

Ponting, however, admitted that his team needed some bigger partnerships and more runs in the first innings which could have made their run-chase easier.

"We could have scored better in the first innings and we also needed some good partnerships. It would have helped our cause in the run-chase. But India’s young bowlers really bowled well because of which it was not possible," he said.

Man-of-the-match paceman Irfan Pathan, who picked 3-54 in the fourth innings and also contributed 46 runs with the bat in India’s second innings, said things were looking better for him from here.

"It’s pretty good. I’m pretty happy with the way I batted and the way I bowled," he said.

He admitted that he was not bowling well last year but the return of swing in his deliveries had again made him effective.

"If a player has a stint of 10-12 years, bad times are bound to happen and that happened with me also. I worked at the MRF Pace Foundation and with our bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad. Things are looking much better for me now," he said.

On his all round performance, he insisted "I have mentioned that I am a bowler first and would also like to contribute to the team with the bat". (PTI)

Former cricketers hail Perth win as great effort

NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Former cricketers today hailed India’s victory in the third Test against Australia as a "memorable achievement" and said it was all the more creditable as it came after the turmoil that followed the Sydney Test.

The players also lavished praise on skipper Anil Kumble who showed remarkable poise in the difficult times and succeeded in regrouping the team after two consecutive losses.

"Anil’s decision to bat first was great after a lot of people had written about the bounce on the wicket. Had we won the Test at Sydney (where a number of crucial decisions went against India) things would have been even better," said former captain and chairman of selection committee Dilip Vengsarkar.

"I hope the team continues to play in the same manner at Adelaide (fourth and final Test from Jan 24-28)."

"It was a tremendous victory especially considering the reputation of the Perth wicket and the opposition. I had always felt we can beat Australia in Australia and it has been proved," he added.

Another former Test captain Ajit Aadekar and left arm spinner Bapu Nadkarni also termed the victory a tremendous one and rated it as one of the top three in the annals of Indian cricket.

"It was a great victory and would rate it only behind our wins in England and West Indies (in 1971). The team showed tremendous positive attitude by deciding to bat first after all the pundits had said that the wicket would be very bouncy and put Australia on the backfoot," Wadekar said. (PTI)

Seeds scattered at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE, Jan 19: Seeds were scattered in the Australian Open as underdogs ran amok at Melbourne Park today.

Women’s number two Svetlana Kuznetsova was an early victim of the cull, dumped in the third round 6-3 6-4 by Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.

She was joined at the exit door by sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze who was knocked out 6-7 6-1 6-2 by her former club mate and fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.

Last year’s men’s runner-up Fernando Gonzalez of Chile suffered a 6-2 6-7 6-3 6-1 loss to Croatian teenager Marin Cilic.

The seventh seed simply could not contain the youngest man left in the draw who bombarded him with a barrage of 60 winners.

The centre court roof at Melbourne Park was closed because of persistent drizzle which prevented play on outside courts. Kuznetsova was rocked by her defeat.

"This is a pretty tough loss because I think I’ve been in the best shape ever in Australian Open, and I just didn’t make it work,’’ the Russian world number two told reporters.

Radwanska, who only finished high school last year, knocked out Maria Sharapova — also a second seed — in round three of last year’s US Open.

Next up for her is either Russian 14th seed Nadia Petrova or Ekaterina Makarova.

Kirilenko dumped Chakvetadze after a slow start. She used to train at the same club as her opponent in Moscow and had not beaten her compatriot since 2005.

Men’s top seed Roger Federer should restore order to the draw later on Saturday when he plays Serb Janko Tipsarevic.

Venus Williams takes on India’s Sania Mirza to open the night shift and Australian hopes lie with Lleyton Hewitt who takes on Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis under floodlights. (AGENCIES)

Ponting’s men fined for slow over-rate

PERTH, Jan 19: To rub salt into Australia’s wounds after the 72-run loss to India, the ICC fined them for slow over-rate during the third Test here today.

An ICC statement said match referee Mike Procter had imposed the fines after Ponting’s side was ruled to be two overs short when time allowances were taken into consideration.

"In accordance with the ICC code of conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount,’’ the statement said.

"As such, Ponting was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while each of his players received 10 per cent fines.’’

According to Section J of the ICC code of conduct which contains regulations pertaining to over-rate, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, while the captain is fined double that amount. (UNI)