Wednesday 26 September 2012
Virat keep himself to tryst with destiny
As a part of current situation new wall of Indian cricket is going to build faith of people in himself. Virat is new emerging player in world's cricket, he's set to keep tryst on himself with destiny.
India spin's trio seems be a fruitful at Premadasa
At the end of the round-robin league, except for a few games it was boring. One does understand that the weaker teams need to get games, but to wait for about a week into the World Cup to get bigger games going could be a bit difficult for the paying public, and that could be a valid reason for the poor turn out the early stages. Hopefully, that will change from now on.
The rain also played spoilsport in some of the games and I hope once the Super Eights start, rain will not push a strong team out.
The teams are divided into two groups and although in this format the difference between the teams is not much, India seem to be in a strong group. It is not fair that you don't carry points into the Super Eights because in a World Cup every game is important. It is unfortunate India's fantastic showing against England will have no bearing.
India played a terrific combination and the master stroke was playing Piyush Chawla. The England players looked like they had never played spin before and looking at them, I get a feeling that without Kevin Pietersen there will be early finishes in the Test matches in India.
Harbhajan and Piyush will hopefully be persisted with, and the addition of R Ashwin will make it a formidable trio, especially on the Premadasa pitch.
India are in a tough group comprising Australia, Pakistan and South Africa. They will have to play out of their skin to beat them. It is not impossible because India’s batting has looked solid and the bowling also climbed the ladder against England.
These teams were beaten by India in similar conditions in the knockout phase of the World Cup last year and India will carry that confidence with them.
Proteas aim only to keep basic in rest of the game:Steyn
"After playing in England on the slow decks I think we adjusted our game quite nicely there (England)," Steyn said.
"So if we go to Colombo it won't hit us as a train smash. My game is not going to change, I'm still going to bowl 145 (km/h) or 150, whatever I can get it up to, whether it's a slow deck or not, it's still going to be tough."
Steyn boasts one of the best economy rates of the tournament thus far, and has given away only 19 runs in the six overs he has bowled. His most impressive performance was against Zimbabwe, returning 1/9 in his four over spell. He is placed at an unusual 20th on the ICC T20 bowling rankings, only because he doesn't play many International T20's, a decision he feels will benefit the next tier of bowlers.
"One of the main reasons I don't play a lot of International T20 cricket is purely because of the amount of other cricket that I play; one day cricket and Test cricket," Steyn said.
"The other thing is that I'm really committed to the Proteas doing well. If I had to go and play International T20's too you'd find guys like Parney (Parnell) and maybe Lopsy (Tsotsobe), players that don't play as much IPL cricket like I do, missing out."
The Proteas are enjoying two days off at the holiday town of Bentota in the south of Sri Lanka and will return to Colombo on Tuesday to begin preparations ahead of Friday's match.
"I think it's highly important that you find time to get away from this game," Steyn added.
"Gary (Kirsten) and Paddy (Upton) and everyone from the management are doing a fantastic job of finding time for us to get away from the game, especially when you have been away from home for close to 90 days.
"A few extra days of training is definitely not going to make us a better team after we have been playing since July."
The Proteas have regained the No.1 T20 ranking following their successive victories in the Group matches and England's loss to India.
Simon Taufel quit's as an umpire after this WC'T20
"Following the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012, I'm moving on from active international umpiring for personal and professional reasons. My wife and children have supported me immensely throughout my career and it is time for me to spend more time with them. My passion for cricket umpiring and personal professional development has shifted from on the field to off the field. In my new position as ICC umpire performance and training manager, I look forward to help create professional programmes and resources to support the current and future generations of cricket match officials. The new role includes working closely with the national cricket federations which is really exciting as is continuing to work with the entire cricket community in helping the development of our cricket umpires."
Taufel was the ICC's 'umpire of the year' for five consecutive years starting from 2004, and has umpired in 74 tests and 174 one-day internationals.
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson paid tribute to one of cricket's most consistent umpires. "Simon has been one of the most respected umpires for over a decade due to his excellent decision-making and man-management skills. He has been a role model for umpires globally who look to him for inspiration and guidance. I am delighted that he will be working with us to groom and develop the next generation of elite umpires and have no doubt that he will be equally successful in his new role as ICC's umpire performance and training manager. In the meantime I know that Simon, a thorough professional that he is, will want to focus on the job at hand, that of getting things right on the field, something he has done as well as any other umpire in the history of the game."
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Exceptional characteristics shown by Bhajji under current circumstances: Dhoni
"I believe I have seen Harbhajan bowl better but under current
"I would have even been happy had he got two for 24 but I believe he can bowl better," he added.
Asked what he liked about Harbhajan's bowling, Dhoni replied, "He (Harbhajan) didn't bowl any short deliveries and invited the batsmen to drive. He used the variations like top spinner and doosra effectively.
"He showed an aggressive mindset and wasn't bothered too much about field placements. He was very focused on his job," the skipper said.
Although he was non-committal about whether he is now ready to shelve his seven-batsmen theory but there were indications enough that Harbhajan is now very much in the scheme of things.
"I would say that this problem of plenty is better than not having that one extra bowler. Obviously, I don't know who all will play in the next game but obviously Harbhajan, with his ability to slog down the order, gives us an option of playing a batsman less," he answered.
Dhoni also lavished praise on Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir -- both of whom have done well after considerable amount of time.
Playing with Dhoni, Raina in IPL will certainly help: Morkel
COLOMBO: Albie Morkel, a regular in theChennai Super Kings line-up during IPL, says the experience of sharing the dressing room with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, R Ashwin andSuresh Raina will help South Africa when they take on India in their final Super Eight game of the World Twenty20.
"Well, it certainly helps having played alongside these players. IPL has got all close together. Since I have shared the change room with these guys, I will able to give inputs to my team about them and vice-versa.
"But then, they will also need to change small things in their game and I will also need to do the same. Ultimately, it's about who's going to perform better under pressure," Morkel said ahead of South Africa's training session.
The Proteas will be playing against India on October 2, besides meeting Pakistan and Australia in the Colombo leg of the Super Eights, and the all-rounder termed it a "very tough group".
"India have played very well and Pakistan also has played some fantastic cricket. The wicket here is a bit on the slower side and will offer turn. Our preparation needs to be different and we would focus on our preparation," said Morkel, who didn't play the last match due to an ankle injury.
Rain has been a factor in this ongoing edition with South Africa having to play a 7 overs-per-side game against Sri Lanka and under these conditions, it is better to "bat first", felt Morkel.
"It's something you can't really control and I believe it favours batting first. Obviously, even in those conditions you need to bat well and can't just score some 40-odd runs. But having played a curtailed match, I can assure you that it ends in a flash before you could settle down."
The elder of the Morkel brothers, Albie has often been Dhoni's 'Go-To Man' in IPL whether while needing a few big hits or bowling at the death. But he believed that for an impact player to prosper one needs a good team to rally around that particular player.
"I don't think you can survive unless you have a good team. You need 11 players to make an impact and on a given day, at least 3-4 should perform in order to win a match. If you look at the lesser teams, they have 2-3 players making in impact and they win the match."
Asked about his role in the side, he answered, "It's the same and that of a floater. While batting I am expected to give the side's score the required kick and bowl in different situations. For me, as long as I am able to make an impact even in 2-3 balls, I am happy.
"As long as you have that mindset, you don't need to worry. Whenever I go out there to bat in slog overs and need to get a few runs, I feel nervous. But I also do a lot of simulation training in the nets. If I can execute what I have done in the nets, I find it satisfying."
"Well, it certainly helps having played alongside these players. IPL has got all close together. Since I have shared the change room with these guys, I will able to give inputs to my team about them and vice-versa.
"But then, they will also need to change small things in their game and I will also need to do the same. Ultimately, it's about who's going to perform better under pressure," Morkel said ahead of South Africa's training session.
The Proteas will be playing against India on October 2, besides meeting Pakistan and Australia in the Colombo leg of the Super Eights, and the all-rounder termed it a "very tough group".
"India have played very well and Pakistan also has played some fantastic cricket. The wicket here is a bit on the slower side and will offer turn. Our preparation needs to be different and we would focus on our preparation," said Morkel, who didn't play the last match due to an ankle injury.
Rain has been a factor in this ongoing edition with South Africa having to play a 7 overs-per-side game against Sri Lanka and under these conditions, it is better to "bat first", felt Morkel.
"It's something you can't really control and I believe it favours batting first. Obviously, even in those conditions you need to bat well and can't just score some 40-odd runs. But having played a curtailed match, I can assure you that it ends in a flash before you could settle down."
The elder of the Morkel brothers, Albie has often been Dhoni's 'Go-To Man' in IPL whether while needing a few big hits or bowling at the death. But he believed that for an impact player to prosper one needs a good team to rally around that particular player.
"I don't think you can survive unless you have a good team. You need 11 players to make an impact and on a given day, at least 3-4 should perform in order to win a match. If you look at the lesser teams, they have 2-3 players making in impact and they win the match."
Asked about his role in the side, he answered, "It's the same and that of a floater. While batting I am expected to give the side's score the required kick and bowl in different situations. For me, as long as I am able to make an impact even in 2-3 balls, I am happy.
"As long as you have that mindset, you don't need to worry. Whenever I go out there to bat in slog overs and need to get a few runs, I feel nervous. But I also do a lot of simulation training in the nets. If I can execute what I have done in the nets, I find it satisfying."
Virender Sehwag mystery: Is he fit? Will he return as opener?Anyserious damage or something else..?
COLOMBO: The extent of Virender Sehwag's finger injury, and whether the opener will retain his place in the team given the need to field an effective bowling combination, is the issue vexing Team India at the moment.
The star batsman was "requested to rest" by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the game against England on Sunday night, although the opener is struggling for runs and the extra match practice in an inconsequential game would have helped.
On Tuesday, as the Indians geared up for the Super 8 campaign by going through a rigorous training session at the Colts Cricket Club here, Sehwag, who took part in the fielding drills, chose not to bat at all.
For almost the entire time, Sehwag sat in the tent before being taken for a routine 'random' dope test by the International Cricket Council (ICC) along with off-spinners R Ashwin and Harbhajan.
Incidentally, allrounder Irfan Pathan, who did a poor job as opener as Viru's replacement on Sunday, had an extended session with the bat in the nets.
There has been a bit of a fitness concern about Sehwag after he was hit on the knuckles by a short ball by a net bowler on Friday at the P Sara Oval. The 'hit' looked to have hurt him quite a bit but the batsman recovered soon enough to take a few throwdowns later in that session.
Was Sehwag taking it easy on Tuesday to avoid aggravating that injury? RN Baba, the media manager of the Indian team here, confirmed to TOI that "Viru is 200 per cent fit". To buttress his point, Baba even pointed out the fact that the Delhi dasher "did some fielding practice" earlier in the session too. So then, what was it that prevented Sehwag from taking strike in the nets?
When you have come into the tournament in average form, played just one game and scored just eight against a side like Afghanistan, you would want to feel the ball hitting the middle of your blade again in the nets.
He has now given enough food for thought to conspiracy theorists here who say Viru is now 'sulking' after being dropped against England. Dhoni had said after that game he "requested" some senior players to take a breather.
India still have a couple of days of training left before they play Australia at the Premadasa on Friday night in their first Super 8 game. If Sehwag continues to skip nets, there is a possibility he isn't getting back his spot in the final XI any time soon and India will continue to open with Pathan and play five bowlers.
India still need Sehwag at the top. Against the quality pace attacks of Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, you need a batsman of his class to gain early advantage.
The star batsman was "requested to rest" by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the game against England on Sunday night, although the opener is struggling for runs and the extra match practice in an inconsequential game would have helped.
On Tuesday, as the Indians geared up for the Super 8 campaign by going through a rigorous training session at the Colts Cricket Club here, Sehwag, who took part in the fielding drills, chose not to bat at all.
For almost the entire time, Sehwag sat in the tent before being taken for a routine 'random' dope test by the International Cricket Council (ICC) along with off-spinners R Ashwin and Harbhajan.
Incidentally, allrounder Irfan Pathan, who did a poor job as opener as Viru's replacement on Sunday, had an extended session with the bat in the nets.
There has been a bit of a fitness concern about Sehwag after he was hit on the knuckles by a short ball by a net bowler on Friday at the P Sara Oval. The 'hit' looked to have hurt him quite a bit but the batsman recovered soon enough to take a few throwdowns later in that session.
Was Sehwag taking it easy on Tuesday to avoid aggravating that injury? RN Baba, the media manager of the Indian team here, confirmed to TOI that "Viru is 200 per cent fit". To buttress his point, Baba even pointed out the fact that the Delhi dasher "did some fielding practice" earlier in the session too. So then, what was it that prevented Sehwag from taking strike in the nets?
When you have come into the tournament in average form, played just one game and scored just eight against a side like Afghanistan, you would want to feel the ball hitting the middle of your blade again in the nets.
He has now given enough food for thought to conspiracy theorists here who say Viru is now 'sulking' after being dropped against England. Dhoni had said after that game he "requested" some senior players to take a breather.
India still have a couple of days of training left before they play Australia at the Premadasa on Friday night in their first Super 8 game. If Sehwag continues to skip nets, there is a possibility he isn't getting back his spot in the final XI any time soon and India will continue to open with Pathan and play five bowlers.
India still need Sehwag at the top. Against the quality pace attacks of Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, you need a batsman of his class to gain early advantage.
I'm nowhere near Kallis: Watson
Despite putting on a few good all-round displays in the T20I Cup, Shane Watson has been modest enough to admit that he finds himself nowhere near Jacques Kallis when it comes to being an all rounder.
"When I look at it, I find myself nowhere near Jacques Kallis simply because what he has achieved in all forms of the game," said a modest Watson, who has bagged back-to-back man of the match awards for his all-round efforts against Ireland and West Indies.
"When I look at it, I find myself nowhere near Jacques Kallis simply because what he has achieved in all forms of the game," said a modest Watson, who has bagged back-to-back man of the match awards for his all-round efforts against Ireland and West Indies.
"Just in Test cricket to have played over 150 matches (156) and scoring at an average of over 58 (56 plus) and getting more than 250 wickets (280), is something that people just dream of. It is a privilege being out playing in the same era as him."
"He is a world class T20 player and look at the way he has adapted being a world class all-rounder. For me, if he is not the best, he will still be among the best couple to have played the game," added Watson, paying rich tributes to the South African all-rounder.
Watson has been in very good form with the bat and has provided some crucial wickets with the ball. Against Ireland, he got the wicket of Kevin O'Brien and in the game against West Indies he dismissed the dangerous Chris Gayle.??"I am trying to execute the simple things like bowling wicket to wicket. Against Gayle, my plan was to bowl as close as possible to his body. I didn't want to give him any room to swing his arm. Then no ground in the world would seem to be big enough for him. But I am disappointed that I couldn't execute my plans against Marlon Samuels."
The all-rounder feels that presence of David Warner and Mike Hussey has helped him bat freely. "The manner in which Warner bats takes a lot of pressure off me. As far as Hussey is concerned, he has shown in IPL how good he is. He never seems to take any risk, yet he scores at a brisk pace. It's important that the top three in your batting line-up set up a platform," he said.
Monday 24 September 2012
Sehwag to captain North Zone
Besides Sehwag, the 15 member squad also comprises of some other big names - Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, who are currently playing the World T20 in Sri-Lanka. Ashok Vaswani will be the manager of the team, a DDCA release said.
The selection committee, however, said that that if the Indian team qualifies for the World Twenty20 final, then the top players will be replaced by other cricketers. Sehwag will be replaced by I D Singh, Gambhir by Rahul Dewan and Kohli by Udey Kaul, while Vipul Sharma and Gurvinder Singh will replace Yuvraj and Harbhajan repectively, the release added.
The meeting was attended by Mohinder Amarnath (chairman), Chetan Chauhan (DDCA), Vikram Rathore (Punjab), Manzoor Ahmed Wazir (J&K), Rajeep Kaisi (HPCA), Aman Kumar (Haryana) and Sunil Dev (Convenor).
Sehwag will also lead Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.
India's spin department is healthy: Anil Kumble
NEW DELHI: Former Indian captain Anil Kumble reckons that India's spin repertory was full of "quality bowlers" and rated comeback man Harbhajan Singh as one of the "best spinners in the country".India found new spin heroes inRavichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha in the absence of Harbhajan, who was not considered for national duty for a long time before making a comeback in the ongoing World Twenty20.
Kumble, who is world's third highest wicket-taker with 619 scalps, said Harbhajan was exceptional and Ashwin's main attribute was a calm head which is crucial to perform under pressure.
The former captain also said that leg-spinners such as Amit Mishra, Rahul Sharma andPiyush Chawla should be given a good number of opportunities.
Talking about leading spinners of the country, Kumble said in Ashwin, Harbhajan and Ojha India have a very potent spin attack.
"You'll never know the real calibre of a spinner if you don't give him enough opportunities. Right now the spin cupboard is pretty healthy because there are two spinners (Ashwin and Ojha) who are performing on the field," Kumble said.
"There's Harbhajan who has the experience of picking 400 Test wickets and who's a highly fierce competitor and exceptionally skilled. When he comes back to being his best, you'll have three quality spinners in the side plus the three leg-spinners waiting in the wings," Kumble told BCCI's official website on Monday.
Talking about Harbhajan, Kumble said he still has a lot to offer to the national team.
"He's been exceptional. He lost a little bit of confidence and the only way to regain it is to be part of the team and play more and more matches. He's done that before and I see no reason why he cannot perform again. I certainly feel that Bhajji is still one of the best spinners that we have in India and it's just a matter of time before he comes back to bowling at his best," he said.
Kumble explained why it should not be said that Harbhajan was underperforming in recent Tests.
"I don't think he's done badly at Test level. It's just that he's played a lot of matches outside of India. Not always is a spinner an attacking option when you go outside of India. His role changes, especially in the first innings. Yes, he's had mixed performances in the one-day game. He hasn't lived up to the high standards he's set for himself and hence people think that he's underperforming," he said.
Ashwin according to Kumble is a "very intelligent bowler and very calm under pressure."
"He's not scared to try out different deliveries in a match. He knows how to set up a batsman, which I think is the key for any bowler. He has the wicket-taking ability. Nobody thought Ashwin will be successful in Tests. Everyone looked at him as a limited-overs specialist. They also looked at me as a one-day bowler. But I proved them wrong and Ashwin is on track to doing so, with his recent Man of the Series performance against the Kiwis."
Kumble finds Ojha "steady" and also likes him bowling in tandem with Ashwin but had a suggestion for him.
"He needs to work a bit on his arm-ball. He has it in him but he hasn't picked too many wickets with the arm-ball. So, that's something he can work on. He's a young spinner and the more opportunities he gets, the more he'll learn. Ojha is also a very able partner to Ashwin. They hunt as a pair - one guy keeps one end tied up and the other picks up the wickets. They complement each other really well."
Talking about the leg-spinners around, he said, "Rahul Sharma, Piyush Chawla and Amit Mishra are frontrunners" and suited more to Test format.
"I believe they should get more opportunities because leg-spinners need more time to settle down. They will be slightly more expensive than the other spinners because it's not easy to bowl leg-spin consistently in one area.
"The good thing is that all three are very different, which gives the team a lot of variety. Mishra is a classical leg-spinner. Piyush relies more on his quickish googlies and top-spinners. Rahul is a bit more steady; a bit more like me. He bowls quicker through the air, bowls line and length and takes his wickets more on bounce and pace. All three are suited for the longest format," he added.
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