Wellington, Feb 13:
Their morale dented after losing the opener, India would be desperate to end their disastrous tour on a positive note when they take on a sprightly New Zealand in the second and final Test starting here tomorrow.
The visitors lost the Auckland Test by 40 runs and had previously surrendered the five-match ODI series by an embarrassing margin of 0-4.
At Basin Reserve then, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co would be desperate enough to put in a last gasp salvaging effort. Victory in this Test will lift some of the gloom that has shaded this trip so far.
The ODI squad was unable to cope with the short-ball strategy deployed by the hosts’ bowling attack. That series was labelled as practice for the 2015 World Cup to be hosted here next year, and everything fell apart in spectacular fashion, sending the team think-tank and the selectors back at home to their drawing boards.
The defeat at Eden Park wasn’t as spineless as the ODI form, despite the first Test ending in four days. That match ebbed and flowed in every session as the two teams fought their hearts out.
New Zealand only misfired once with the bat, but came up trumps with their bowling in both innings. Meanwhile, India finished on the losing side because they had not performed in the first innings either with the bat or ball.
Put together, the two aforementioned points put great onus on this team, replete with superstars, to raise their level of performance in this last outing on the trip. It has a little to do with the political scenario that is shaping up in world cricket at the moment as well.
Just when the BCCI is busy flexing its muscles, making India the center-point in a restructuring of the game’s administration, its team cannot be seen surrendering meekly in conditions alien to them. Add to it, the misery this travelling bunch suffered in South Africa (in ODIs), that makes for an embarrassing situation.
The bigger picture, though, is to look at this Test match in isolation, and even then, it becomes a very important marker for Team India. This is a new squad taking shape and as such, every series becomes part of a learning curve.
India is expected to play an unchanged eleven, with
Ravindra Jadeja’s top-notch fielding and counter-attacking batting ability still keeping him ahead of R Ashwin. The batsmen pick themselves, if only for the investment the team management has put in this bunch.
At this must-win juncture, they will be hoping for them to succeed collectively as a group for once and repay the faith shown.
As ahead of the first Test, New Zealand have named their playing eleven, with Ross Taylor unavailable as his second child is expected to be born during this match. 21-year-old Tom Latham will be given his Test cap and will bat at number four.
Lending further credence to the green-pitch, they have also dropped leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and brought in all-rounder James Neesham, who too will be making his Test debut.
The Black Caps will be looking to press home their advantage and round off what has been a superbly consistent and rewarding summer of cricket for them.
Squads:
India: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Ishwar Pandey.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (c), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, James Neesham, Tim Southee, Tom Latham, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Kane Williamson, Ish Sodhi (12th man).
Match starts at: 3.30am IST. (PTI)
India desperate for last-gasp win against New Zealand
Bandh, protest at Bafliaz for tehsil status
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Feb 13: People from Bafliaz in Surankote today held protest and observed complete bandh demanding tehsil status for the area.
Reports said the residents of Bafliaz and adjoining areas came out on Surankote- Thanamandi-Rajouri road and started protest. The market remained closed and people shouted slogans demanding tehsil status. They alleged that area deserves tehsil or block but it has remained neglected by the Cabinet Sub Committee. They sought the intervention of Chief Minister in this regard. They warned to intensify the agitation in near future.
Meanwhile, people from two Panchayats of Rajpura area of Mandi held protest at Mandi tehsil headquarters today. They demanded that their Panchayats should be included in Haveli and not in Surankote as it is more closer and geographically suited to the area. After strong protest they also forwarded a memorandum to the Tehsildar for the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch.
Dental camp organized at Balniketan
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb13: Institute of Dental Sciences, Sehora (Jammu) today organized a free dental camp at Ved Mandir Bal-niketan.
A team of doctors comprising Dr Moin, Dr Gurdeep, Dr Gurleen, Dr Monica, Dr Roshika, Dr Meera, Dr Sakshi, Dr Mona, Dr Munisha, Dr Deepika, Dr Divya and Dr Heena, examined 91 orphan children of Ved Mandir Balniketan and Ved Mandir Balika-Niketan including their caretakers.
The team assured that follow-up treatment and medicines, where required, would be given to the patients free of cost.
The doctors also motivated the children to maintain a good oral hygiene and educated them of proper teeth-cleaning techniques.
Driver injured as truck rolls down
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Feb 13: One person was injured when a truck rolled down into a gorge near Tmater Morh, here today.
Reports said that the truck, bearing registration number JK02AA-7968, slipped into gorge after driver lost control over the steering.
Driver of the truck, identified as Sat Pul son of Darshan Lal of Digiana Jammu, was shifted to local hospital and then referred to GMC Hospital Jammu.
Youth injured in road accident
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: A youth was injured in road accident at Patoli, falling under the jurisdiction of Domana police station.
As per reports, 26-year-old Inderjeet, son of Ashok Kumar of Nanak Nagar was injured, when the motorcycle, he was riding slipped near Patoli, falling under the jurisdiction of Domana police station.
On getting information, police shifted him to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where his condition was stated to be stable, when last reports came in.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered and investigation started.
Chain hunger strike by PHE employees enters 10th day
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: The ongoing chain hunger strike by PHE employees and workers entered 10th day today.
The PHE workers and employees under the banner of PHE Workers Welfare Association raised slogans against the Government for not redressing their long pending demands.
The employees/workers of PHE City-II who sat on hunger strike today are Ravi Hans, Puran Chand, Murad Ali, Sunil Mehra, Shankar Singh, Kuldeep Kumar and Romesh Kumar.
Addressing the gathering, senior leader of PHE employees from City-II said that Government has compelled them to sit on hunger strike due to its callous attitude towards the workers.
He demanded regularization after 5 years, clearance of 22 months backlog wages of workers, disbursement of wages of workers before 5th of every month, framing of concrete recruitment policy for PHE Department and holding of DPC.
He warned the Government of dire consequence if their demands were not redressed at the earliest.
Among others present were Chuni Lal, Bodh Raj, Suram Singh, Rattan Lal, Kamal Kishore and Kuldip Singh.
Handball Association felicitates Bali on being elected Jt Secy IOA
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: Jammu and Kashmir Handball Association felicitated Dr S M Bali, president of the Association and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Handball Federation of India on being elected as joint secretary of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in an impressive function, here.
The function was organized by Ashwani Kumar Raina, general secretary J&K Handball Association and among others was attended by Ranjit Singh Chib, former India Handball Captain and Executive Member Handball Federation of India; Sardar JS Soodan, Advisior Handball Federation of India, Ramanand Khajuria, vice president J&K Handball Association and Rajinder Kumar, joint secretary J&K Handball Association.
Dr Bali was garlanded by the members of J&K Handball Association on the occasion.
Highlighting the contribution of Dr Bali in the field of sports, Ashwani Kumar Raina said that his (Bali’s) election as joint secretary in IOA is a proud moment for the entire sports fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is pertinent to mention here that Dr Bali was the secretary general of Handball Federation of India for around two decades and had the honour of arranging galaxy of tours for Indian Handball team within and outside the Country.
‘Quality learning outcomes in School System’ to be launched soon
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: A new project on “Quality learning outcomes in the School System” supported by UNICEF is going to be launched in State. The project envisages a tri-partite implementation strategy with School Education Department, the UNICEF and Save the Children working together in the elementary segment, to begin with.
This was disclosed by Secretary to Government, School Education Department H. K. Singh in a two-day interaction programme of teachers, teacher educator and officers in the School System with the experts from UNICEF.
Geeta Menon from UNICEF and Sanjeev from Save the Children gave power point presenations. The main issues that came up for discussion in the interaction included development of Teaching-Learning materials, designing e-content modules for teacher training, involving ICT strategies in classroom process, child protection issues, alignment of in-service and preservice teacher trainings with child-protection learning environment and building a resource pool of master trainers.
The UNICEF Experts who participated in the interaction included Urmil Sarkar, Deepa Das, Shikha Vadhwa, Geeta Menon while experts from “Save the Children” included Sanjeev and Sharif.
Among the senior officers who participated in the two-day interaction were T. K. Sharma, DSE Jammu, S. C. Sawhney, SPD SSA, Mohammad Rafi, Advisor in School Education Department, H. R. Pakhroo JD (trgs)/ Principal SIE Jammu, Javed Mohd, Jd (trgs), Principal/SIE Srinagar, Saif Ali JD (EE), DSE Jammu, CEOs, DIET Principals of Leh Rajouri and Budgam districts, besides the faculty of SIE Jammu.
Young housewife commits suicide, two make abortive attempts
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: A young housewife allegedly committed suicide, while two others including a minor girl made abortive attempts by consuming some poisonous substance at their respective residences.
As per reports, 20-year-old Neetu Devi, wife of Bharat Bhushan of Bari Brahmana allegedly consumed some poisonous substance at her residence yesterday.
Finding her unconscious, family members shifted her to nearby hospital and later referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where she failed to respond to the treatment and died.
After completing legal formalities, the body was handed over to family members for last rites.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Pana, daughter of Din Dayal of Preet Nagar made an abortive attempt to end her life by consuming some poisonous substance at her residence.
Family members rushed her to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where she was responding to the treatment, when last reports came in.
In another same incident, 27-year-old Chanchala Devi, wife of Ravi of Maalpur, Kanachack allegedly consumed some poisonous substance at her residence.
Finding her unconscious, family members shifted her to nearby hospital and later referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where she was undergoing treatment, when last reports came in.
Cases under relevant Sections stands registered at concerned police stations and investigation started to ascertain the reason behind such extreme step.
Nav Yug Hr Secondary School sports week commences
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Jammu, Feb 13: Nav Yug Higher Secondary School is celebrating sports week which commenced in the school premises and will conclude on Febuary 19.
During sports week, various competitions like shooting (10m air gun), tug of war, musical chair, chess, carom board, badminton, lemon spoon race, relay race and three leg race will be held among the students from class 1st to class 10th.
In the competition, there will be three groups-senior group(8th to 10th class), junior group(4th to 7th class) and sub junior group(1st to3rd class).
In the inaugural function, today, H S Jamwal highlighted the importance of game and sports in students life, Principal of the institute, Chander Kanta encouraged the students to take part whole hearted in such competition and briefed the students about the value of games in one’s life.
In carrom board, Raghav, Shagun, Rishab, Devansh Hunny Raina, Muskan, Sakshi and Mehreena of senior group, manage to reach semi final round where as Furkan, Raghav, Jatin, Ankit, Radhika, Muskan and Riya of junior group reached semi final.
About 350 students from class 1st to class 10th are participating in this competition.