N Srinivasan takes over as ICC chairman

MELBOURNE: Suspended Indian cricket chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday appointed as the new ICC chairman at the world body's annual conference.

The powerful 69-year-old industrialist was elected despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as the country's cricket chief after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for global cricket's top position and will take charge following the ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne this weekend.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council," Srinivasan said.

"I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field.

"I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth."

He added: "I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries."

Srinivasan was among 13 people named in a report into corruption claims in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, which has been embroiled in allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing, including against his son-in-law.

Srinivasan said that rather than being suspended, he had voluntarily stepped aside as BCCI chairman.

"I've done nothing wrong, my conscience is very clear and there is no taint on me," Srinivasan told a media conference as his appointment was announced.

Srinivasan's ascension to the head of the ICC follows controversial changes last February to the governance of the global body, which handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's "big three" nations -- India, Australia and England.

Srinivasan becomes the first ICC chairman, replacing outgoing Australian Alan Isaac, who served a two-year term as ICC president.

Mustafa Kamal will now become the 11th president of the ICC.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Srinivasan,International cricket council,Indian Premier League,Board of Control for Cricket in India,BCCI

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N Srinivasan takes over as ICC chairman

MELBOURNE: Suspended Indian cricket chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday appointed as the new ICC chairman at the world body's annual conference.

The powerful 69-year-old industrialist was elected despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as the country's cricket chief after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for global cricket's top position and will take charge following the ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne this weekend.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council," Srinivasan said.

"I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field.

"I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth."

He added: "I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries."

Srinivasan was among 13 people named in a report into corruption claims in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, which has been embroiled in allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing, including against his son-in-law.

Srinivasan said that rather than being suspended, he had voluntarily stepped aside as BCCI chairman.

"I've done nothing wrong, my conscience is very clear and there is no taint on me," Srinivasan told a media conference as his appointment was announced.

Srinivasan's ascension to the head of the ICC follows controversial changes last February to the governance of the global body, which handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's "big three" nations -- India, Australia and England.

Srinivasan becomes the first ICC chairman, replacing outgoing Australian Alan Isaac, who served a two-year term as ICC president.

Mustafa Kamal will now become the 11th president of the ICC.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Srinivasan,International cricket council,Indian Premier League,Board of Control for Cricket in India,BCCI

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Dravid to interact with Indian batsmen

NEW DELHI: Former captain Rahul Dravid will have a few sessions with the Indian batsmen ahead of their first Test against England starting at Nottingham on July 9, although he has not been appointed in any capacity, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said on Sunday.

It has been learnt that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher had approached the BCCI to have Dravid for a few interactive sessions with the young batsmen and the batting legend readily agreed to it.

"Let me clarify at the outset that Rahul Dravid has not been appointed batting consultant or in any other capacity. Since he is a legend and has enjoyed stupendous success in England, the team management wanted the boys to interact with him before the first Test," Patel said on Sunday.

"Subsequently MS and Duncan requested me to find out whether Rahul could spare some time with the boys ahead of 1st Test at Nottingham. I spoke to Rahul and he was gracious enough to agree. We want him to share his vast experience. He has had so much success in England that no one can tell the current lot better about technique and temperament than Rahul," Patel added.

Dravid has achieved huge success in England during his playing days. Six of his 36 Test hundreds came in England, where he made 1376 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 68.80. He was India's best batsman in their last tour of England in 2011, his three centuries the only bright spot in a 0-4 rout.

Asked if there could be any contractual obligations, Patel said, "Absolutely not. It's an interaction arranged on request of team management. There is no one Test or two Test thing. Rahul will be in England at that time. Also being a mentor at Rajasthan Royals, he has had a positive influence on youngsters. We hope for the same as India embark on a tough series.

If Gautam Gambhir is not picked in the playing XI, then India will be going into the first Test with a top six that has never played Test cricket in England.

For Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, this will be their maiden five-day challenge against 'Red Dukes' during English summer when Jimmy Anderson is expected to make the ball talk.

The 41-year-old Dravid stood tall amid ruins during India's disastrous last tour of England in 2011. In India's 0-4 'whitewash' during the last series, Dravid's batting was the only saving grace as he scored three Test centuries including a coveted one at Lord's.

BCCI issued a release later in the day, saying that Dravid will be with the Indian team in its preparatory stages of the tour of England.

"Rahul Dravid, former India captain, has accepted a request from the Indian team management, to support and advise the team in its preparatory stages of the tour of England, given his vast experience and knowledge of the game," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in the release.

"He will be with the team till the beginning of the first Test."

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Dravid to interact with Indian batsmen

NEW DELHI: Former captain Rahul Dravid will have a few sessions with the Indian batsmen ahead of their first Test against England starting at Nottingham on July 9, although he has not been appointed in any capacity, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said on Sunday.

It has been learnt that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher had approached the BCCI to have Dravid for a few interactive sessions with the young batsmen and the batting legend readily agreed to it.

"Let me clarify at the outset that Rahul Dravid has not been appointed batting consultant or in any other capacity. Since he is a legend and has enjoyed stupendous success in England, the team management wanted the boys to interact with him before the first Test," Patel said on Sunday.

"Subsequently MS and Duncan requested me to find out whether Rahul could spare some time with the boys ahead of 1st Test at Nottingham. I spoke to Rahul and he was gracious enough to agree. We want him to share his vast experience. He has had so much success in England that no one can tell the current lot better about technique and temperament than Rahul," Patel added.

Dravid has achieved huge success in England during his playing days. Six of his 36 Test hundreds came in England, where he made 1376 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 68.80. He was India's best batsman in their last tour of England in 2011, his three centuries the only bright spot in a 0-4 rout.

Asked if there could be any contractual obligations, Patel said, "Absolutely not. It's an interaction arranged on request of team management. There is no one Test or two Test thing. Rahul will be in England at that time. Also being a mentor at Rajasthan Royals, he has had a positive influence on youngsters. We hope for the same as India embark on a tough series.

If Gautam Gambhir is not picked in the playing XI, then India will be going into the first Test with a top six that has never played Test cricket in England.

For Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, this will be their maiden five-day challenge against 'Red Dukes' during English summer when Jimmy Anderson is expected to make the ball talk.

The 41-year-old Dravid stood tall amid ruins during India's disastrous last tour of England in 2011. In India's 0-4 'whitewash' during the last series, Dravid's batting was the only saving grace as he scored three Test centuries including a coveted one at Lord's.

BCCI issued a release later in the day, saying that Dravid will be with the Indian team in its preparatory stages of the tour of England.

"Rahul Dravid, former India captain, has accepted a request from the Indian team management, to support and advise the team in its preparatory stages of the tour of England, given his vast experience and knowledge of the game," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in the release.

"He will be with the team till the beginning of the first Test."

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Dravid to interact with Indian batsmen

NEW DELHI: Former captain Rahul Dravid will have a few sessions with the Indian batsmen ahead of their first Test against England starting at Nottingham on July 9, although he has not been appointed in any capacity, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said on Sunday.

It has been learnt that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher had approached the BCCI to have Dravid for a few interactive sessions with the young batsmen and the batting legend readily agreed to it.

"Let me clarify at the outset that Rahul Dravid has not been appointed batting consultant or in any other capacity. Since he is a legend and has enjoyed stupendous success in England, the team management wanted the boys to interact with him before the first Test," Patel said on Sunday.

"Subsequently MS and Duncan requested me to find out whether Rahul could spare some time with the boys ahead of 1st Test at Nottingham. I spoke to Rahul and he was gracious enough to agree. We want him to share his vast experience. He has had so much success in England that no one can tell the current lot better about technique and temperament than Rahul," Patel added.

Dravid has achieved huge success in England during his playing days. Six of his 36 Test hundreds came in England, where he made 1376 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 68.80. He was India's best batsman in their last tour of England in 2011, his three centuries the only bright spot in a 0-4 rout.

Asked if there could be any contractual obligations, Patel said, "Absolutely not. It's an interaction arranged on request of team management. There is no one Test or two Test thing. Rahul will be in England at that time. Also being a mentor at Rajasthan Royals, he has had a positive influence on youngsters. We hope for the same as India embark on a tough series.

If Gautam Gambhir is not picked in the playing XI, then India will be going into the first Test with a top six that has never played Test cricket in England.

For Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, this will be their maiden five-day challenge against 'Red Dukes' during English summer when Jimmy Anderson is expected to make the ball talk.

The 41-year-old Dravid stood tall amid ruins during India's disastrous last tour of England in 2011. In India's 0-4 'whitewash' during the last series, Dravid's batting was the only saving grace as he scored three Test centuries including a coveted one at Lord's.

BCCI issued a release later in the day, saying that Dravid will be with the Indian team in its preparatory stages of the tour of England.

"Rahul Dravid, former India captain, has accepted a request from the Indian team management, to support and advise the team in its preparatory stages of the tour of England, given his vast experience and knowledge of the game," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in the release.

"He will be with the team till the beginning of the first Test."

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N Srinivasan takes over as ICC chairman

MELBOURNE: Suspended Indian cricket chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday appointed as the new ICC chairman at the world body's annual conference.

The powerful 69-year-old industrialist was elected despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as the country's cricket chief after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for global cricket's top position and will take charge following the ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne this weekend.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council," Srinivasan said.

"I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field.

"I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth."

He added: "I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries."

Srinivasan was among 13 people named in a report into corruption claims in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, which has been embroiled in allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing, including against his son-in-law.

Srinivasan said that rather than being suspended, he had voluntarily stepped aside as BCCI chairman.

"I've done nothing wrong, my conscience is very clear and there is no taint on me," Srinivasan told a media conference as his appointment was announced.

Srinivasan's ascension to the head of the ICC follows controversial changes last February to the governance of the global body, which handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's "big three" nations -- India, Australia and England.

Srinivasan becomes the first ICC chairman, replacing outgoing Australian Alan Isaac, who served a two-year term as ICC president.

Mustafa Kamal will now become the 11th president of the ICC.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Srinivasan,International cricket council,Indian Premier League,Board of Control for Cricket in India,BCCI

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N Srinivasan takes over as ICC chairman

MELBOURNE: Suspended Indian cricket chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday appointed as the new ICC chairman at the world body's annual conference.

The powerful 69-year-old industrialist was elected despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as the country's cricket chief after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for global cricket's top position and will take charge following the ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne this weekend.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council," Srinivasan said.

"I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field.

"I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth."

He added: "I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries."

Srinivasan was among 13 people named in a report into corruption claims in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, which has been embroiled in allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing, including against his son-in-law.

Srinivasan said that rather than being suspended, he had voluntarily stepped aside as BCCI chairman.

"I've done nothing wrong, my conscience is very clear and there is no taint on me," Srinivasan told a media conference as his appointment was announced.

Srinivasan's ascension to the head of the ICC follows controversial changes last February to the governance of the global body, which handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's "big three" nations -- India, Australia and England.

Srinivasan becomes the first ICC chairman, replacing outgoing Australian Alan Isaac, who served a two-year term as ICC president.

Mustafa Kamal will now become the 11th president of the ICC.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Srinivasan,International cricket council,Indian Premier League,Board of Control for Cricket in India,BCCI

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Dravid to interact with Indian batsmen

NEW DELHI: Former captain Rahul Dravid will have a few sessions with the Indian batsmen ahead of their first Test against England starting at Nottingham on July 9, although he has not been appointed in any capacity, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said on Sunday.

It has been learnt that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher had approached the BCCI to have Dravid for a few interactive sessions with the young batsmen and the batting legend readily agreed to it.

"Let me clarify at the outset that Rahul Dravid has not been appointed batting consultant or in any other capacity. Since he is a legend and has enjoyed stupendous success in England, the team management wanted the boys to interact with him before the first Test," Patel said on Sunday.

"Subsequently MS and Duncan requested me to find out whether Rahul could spare some time with the boys ahead of 1st Test at Nottingham. I spoke to Rahul and he was gracious enough to agree. We want him to share his vast experience. He has had so much success in England that no one can tell the current lot better about technique and temperament than Rahul," Patel added.

Dravid has achieved huge success in England during his playing days. Six of his 36 Test hundreds came in England, where he made 1376 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 68.80. He was India's best batsman in their last tour of England in 2011, his three centuries the only bright spot in a 0-4 rout.

Asked if there could be any contractual obligations, Patel said, "Absolutely not. It's an interaction arranged on request of team management. There is no one Test or two Test thing. Rahul will be in England at that time. Also being a mentor at Rajasthan Royals, he has had a positive influence on youngsters. We hope for the same as India embark on a tough series.

If Gautam Gambhir is not picked in the playing XI, then India will be going into the first Test with a top six that has never played Test cricket in England.

For Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, this will be their maiden five-day challenge against 'Red Dukes' during English summer when Jimmy Anderson is expected to make the ball talk.

The 41-year-old Dravid stood tall amid ruins during India's disastrous last tour of England in 2011. In India's 0-4 'whitewash' during the last series, Dravid's batting was the only saving grace as he scored three Test centuries including a coveted one at Lord's.

BCCI issued a release later in the day, saying that Dravid will be with the Indian team in its preparatory stages of the tour of England.

"Rahul Dravid, former India captain, has accepted a request from the Indian team management, to support and advise the team in its preparatory stages of the tour of England, given his vast experience and knowledge of the game," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in the release.

"He will be with the team till the beginning of the first Test."

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

N Srinivasan takes over as ICC chairman

MELBOURNE: Suspended Indian cricket chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday appointed as the new ICC chairman at the world body's annual conference.

The powerful 69-year-old industrialist was elected despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as the country's cricket chief after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for global cricket's top position and will take charge following the ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne this weekend.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council," Srinivasan said.

"I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field.

"I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth."

He added: "I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries."

Srinivasan was among 13 people named in a report into corruption claims in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, which has been embroiled in allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing, including against his son-in-law.

Srinivasan said that rather than being suspended, he had voluntarily stepped aside as BCCI chairman.

"I've done nothing wrong, my conscience is very clear and there is no taint on me," Srinivasan told a media conference as his appointment was announced.

Srinivasan's ascension to the head of the ICC follows controversial changes last February to the governance of the global body, which handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's "big three" nations -- India, Australia and England.

Srinivasan becomes the first ICC chairman, replacing outgoing Australian Alan Isaac, who served a two-year term as ICC president.

Mustafa Kamal will now become the 11th president of the ICC.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Srinivasan,International cricket council,Indian Premier League,Board of Control for Cricket in India,BCCI

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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N Srinivasan takes over as ICC chairman

MELBOURNE: Suspended Indian cricket chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday appointed as the new ICC chairman at the world body's annual conference.

The powerful 69-year-old industrialist was elected despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as the country's cricket chief after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for global cricket's top position and will take charge following the ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne this weekend.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council," Srinivasan said.

"I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field.

"I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth."

He added: "I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries."

Srinivasan was among 13 people named in a report into corruption claims in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, which has been embroiled in allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing, including against his son-in-law.

Srinivasan said that rather than being suspended, he had voluntarily stepped aside as BCCI chairman.

"I've done nothing wrong, my conscience is very clear and there is no taint on me," Srinivasan told a media conference as his appointment was announced.

Srinivasan's ascension to the head of the ICC follows controversial changes last February to the governance of the global body, which handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's "big three" nations -- India, Australia and England.

Srinivasan becomes the first ICC chairman, replacing outgoing Australian Alan Isaac, who served a two-year term as ICC president.

Mustafa Kamal will now become the 11th president of the ICC.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Srinivasan,International cricket council,Indian Premier League,Board of Control for Cricket in India,BCCI

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

N Srinivasan takes over as ICC chairman

MELBOURNE: Suspended Indian cricket chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday appointed as the new ICC chairman at the world body's annual conference.

The powerful 69-year-old industrialist was elected despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as the country's cricket chief after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for global cricket's top position and will take charge following the ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne this weekend.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council," Srinivasan said.

"I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field.

"I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth."

He added: "I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries."

Srinivasan was among 13 people named in a report into corruption claims in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, which has been embroiled in allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing, including against his son-in-law.

Srinivasan said that rather than being suspended, he had voluntarily stepped aside as BCCI chairman.

"I've done nothing wrong, my conscience is very clear and there is no taint on me," Srinivasan told a media conference as his appointment was announced.

Srinivasan's ascension to the head of the ICC follows controversial changes last February to the governance of the global body, which handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's "big three" nations -- India, Australia and England.

Srinivasan becomes the first ICC chairman, replacing outgoing Australian Alan Isaac, who served a two-year term as ICC president.

Mustafa Kamal will now become the 11th president of the ICC.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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N Srinivasan takes over as ICC chairman

MELBOURNE: Suspended Indian cricket chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday appointed as the new ICC chairman at the world body's annual conference.

The powerful 69-year-old industrialist was elected despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as the country's cricket chief after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for global cricket's top position and will take charge following the ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne this weekend.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council," Srinivasan said.

"I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field.

"I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth."

He added: "I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries."

Srinivasan was among 13 people named in a report into corruption claims in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, which has been embroiled in allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing, including against his son-in-law.

Srinivasan said that rather than being suspended, he had voluntarily stepped aside as BCCI chairman.

"I've done nothing wrong, my conscience is very clear and there is no taint on me," Srinivasan told a media conference as his appointment was announced.

Srinivasan's ascension to the head of the ICC follows controversial changes last February to the governance of the global body, which handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's "big three" nations -- India, Australia and England.

Srinivasan becomes the first ICC chairman, replacing outgoing Australian Alan Isaac, who served a two-year term as ICC president.

Mustafa Kamal will now become the 11th president of the ICC.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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We must capitalise on situations: Dhoni

MUMBAI: He was reminded of the 'ghosts' of the past repeatedly, but true to his 'Captain Cool' billing, MS Dhoni remained calm and composed at a press meet hours before the Indian team's departure for the gruelling five-Test tour of England, on Saturday.

Sporting a 'fresh' look thanks to a break after the IPL, the skipper of the Indian team, whose side suffered a humiliating 4-0 mauling three years ago in the 'Old Blighty', exuded confidence ahead of a trip that may have a significant bearing on his future as Test captain, considering the side's consistent failure to win outside the sub-continent under him.

While the scars of the 'horrendous' England tour in 2011 remain, Dhoni's optimism stems from the fact that many of this youthful Indian team wouldn't carry baggages of that reversal, since they weren't part of the side back then. His confidence has also been enhanced by how many of his 'boys' have performed on recent overseas tours, though India have remained winless on recent tours abroad.

The crucial thing, he feels, will be his team's ability to close out the game when in sight of a winning position. The first Test will be held in Trent Bridge from July 9.

"The 2011 series in England and (then) Australia were very disappointing for us, but when we went to South Africa and New Zealand, we were not really able to close the games. It was a good effort by our bowlers but we were denied by some fantastic batting from opposition. When we come to 50-50 situations, we should capitalise on that," he stressed.

Even coach Duncan Fletcher, who has often been under fire from critics considering his poor record with the team overseas, expects this side to do better.

"It was disappointing to lose to England and Australia, but this is a relatively young side with an added advantage that it doesn't carry any baggage. They have played some good cricket in South Africa and Australia. Potentially, it is a good side," Fletcher said.

The good part is, the captain, with question marks still hanging around his neck about his ability to come good as a match-winning batsman on foreign shores, is willing to back his natural, attacking game, which means the 'real' Dhoni would be on show in England.

"As far as my batting is concerned, I need to be far more aggressive. When I am aggressive, I am far better than when I try to play like a proper batsman. I intend to go for my shots from the first ball. I have to back my instincts. It is very important to back my strength, and not think too much about the situation," he said.

With India's 18-member squad departing on the wee hours of Sunday, Dhoni was happy that the side would arrive in England much in advance. A few games against county sides may just help his team get acclimatised to the conditions well in time before the Test series.

"It's good we are going early so that we can get into the groove. It's a long series and we aren't used to be playing a five-Test series. We have got enough time to prepare," he said.

Recalling the drubbing in England the last time around, Dhoni said: "During the 2011 England, we had eight-nine injuries. It put lot of pressure on us. It didn't help that we didn't have effective part-time bowlers with us then. It was a difficult period for us."

In the context of the injury-ravaged tour last time, Dhoni was happy that his squad had plenty of reserves to fall back upon this time.

"It looks like a big squad, but it is needed considering the duration of the tour. It increases the bench strength and you can replace injured players. It also helps in having a quality practice session, when the main bowlers take some time off," he said.

Fletcher pointed out that England would badly miss a class batsman like Kevin Pietersen.

"They are also in a rebuilding phase and they won't have Pietersen which will be a huge blow for them. It will make the tour quite interesting. Our focus will be to get Cook and Bell out quickly. Their bowling side is still experienced with Anderson and Broad. We have to go there and adapt to the conditions fast," the coach said.

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Kohli loses No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

DUBAI: India's batting sensation Virat Kohli's decision to skip the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh has seen him lose the number one spot to South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.

Kohli was leading de Villiers by nine ratings points in the natting chart, but since a player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match the Indian batsman has dropped a total of 13 points to now trail the South African stroke-maker by four ratings points.

De Villiers is also at the top of the batting table in the Test batsmen list, while Kohli is at the 10th position.

However, all this could change over the next couple of months depending on how de Villiers performs in Sri Lanka and Kohli performs in England.

Like Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have also lost ground for opting to rest from the tour. Dhawan is now 10th after slipping two places, while Sharma has fallen out of the top 20 to be at 23rd position.

However, Suresh Raina, who captained India in Bangladesh, has moved up two places to 27th.

In the ODI bowlers' chart, both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have lost two places, to be at seventh and 17th spots, respectively.

However, pacer Umesh Yadav has jumped eight places to claim 78th position, while Stuart Binny, who returned figures of 4.4-2-4-6 in the second ODI, has gained 23 places and is now at 206th spot.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has retained his fourth place in the ODI all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan.

In the team rankings, there is no change to the pre-series rankings of India. India are on equal points with Sri Lanka (112 ratings points) but are ranked behind the Island nation in third place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

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3rd ODI washed out, India win series 2-0

MIRPUR: The third ODI between India and Bangladesh has been called off after heavy showers rendered the ground unfit for play, on Thursday.

India were 119 for nine in 34.2 overs when rain stopped play for the third time in the final ODI of the series.

Stuart Binny (25) and last man Umesh Yadav (0) were at the crease when heavens opened up again at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

India skipper Suresh Raina had won the toss and elected to bat first.

India, thus, pocketed the three-match series 2-0 after having won the first two ODIs of the series.

Brief Scores: India: 119 for nine in 34.2 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 27, Stuart Binny 25 not out; Shakib Al Hasan 3/27).

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3rd ODI washed out, India win series 2-0

MIRPUR: The third ODI between India and Bangladesh has been called off after heavy showers rendered the ground unfit for play, on Thursday.

India were 119 for nine in 34.2 overs when rain stopped play for the third time in the final ODI of the series.

Stuart Binny (25) and last man Umesh Yadav (0) were at the crease when heavens opened up again at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

India skipper Suresh Raina had won the toss and elected to bat first.

India, thus, pocketed the three-match series 2-0 after having won the first two ODIs of the series.

Brief Scores: India: 119 for nine in 34.2 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 27, Stuart Binny 25 not out; Shakib Al Hasan 3/27).

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