Hope Sachin gets a ton at Eden: Dada

KOLKATA: Facing criticism for his prolonged form slump, Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar got some words of encouragement from his former captain and opening partner Sourav Ganguly ahead of the third cricket Test against England starting here on December 5.

Addressing a gathering which had all members of the Indian team, Ganguly said, "Many stories are being written about the match. I wish all the luck to Sachin. I hope he scores a ton at Eden Gardens."

Ganguly shared the dais with Tendulkar and Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Ganguly feels that India would bounce back to win the series.

"The series is levelled 1-1 but I hope India will win the series convincingly," he said.

England levelled the series after thrashing India by 10 wickets in the second Test in Mumbai. The fourth Test is scheduled in Nagpur (December 13-17).

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

'We all wanted to be like Pankaj Roy'

KOLKATA: Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday said his generation of players in Bengal all wanted to be like celebrated Test opener Pankaj Roy when he started playing cricket.

"The modern generation wants to be like (MS) Dhoni, (Rahul) Dravid or Yuvraj (Singh) but when we started playing cricket all we knew was about Pankaj-da," said Ganguly at the launch of a book on Bengal's cricket legend Roy.

Pankaj Roy is best known for establishing the world record opening partnership of 413 runs with Vinoo Mankad against New Zealand at Chennai in 1956, which remained unbroken for 52 years.

The Bengali version of the biography 'Pankaj', written by journalist Gautam Bhattacharya and edited and conceptualised by Roy's son Pranab - also a former Test cricketer - was released by cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar at the glittering function graced by the entire Indian cricket team and a host of Bengali film celebrities and business magnates.

"I never got to see the great one play. I have only heard stories about him. It will be good to know more things about him and his contribution to the sport," said Tendulkar.

Current India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni released the English edition of the book along with Ganguly.

"Pankaj Roy was known to me as Pranab's father when I started playing cricket. His views about cricket were different from the cricket we play nowadays. The book will give a good insight because everything during Pankaj's days was not covered by the media and everything was not available on Google and other such platforms. Overall it will be very good to read," said Dhoni.

The book contains a preface by Ganguly.

For author Gautam Bhattacharya, penning the biography was like travelling back into time.

"While I travelled back into time to Pankaj's India when writing the book, one was shocked and amazed to see the state of affairs in the team. The team was just a loose collection of 11 individuals who incidentally wore the same cap," said Bhattacharya.

Terming his experience of putting together the book as 'emotionally and physically draining', Bhattacharya added: "He did not get to see the birth of Team India under Sourav Ganguly since he (Pankaj) passed away in early 2001."

Turning to Dhoni, he said: "Team India has only changed hands, Team India has remained Team India. Pankaj up there must be smiling and nodding in approval and wishing he could have played for Team India."

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ponting says 'one poor day' cost series

PERTH (Australia): Newly-retired Ricky Ponting on Monday blamed "one poor day in the entire series" against South Africa for costing Australia both victory and the number one ranking in Test cricket.

South Africa emphatically won the third and final Test at the WACA Ground by 309 runs to secure a 1-0 win in the series, and Ponting had no doubt the second day in Perth was the turning point.

Australia had the better of the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide, but failed to clinch victory in either match.

Having dismissed South Africa on the opening day for 225, the home side was skittled for 163 in their first innings, and then had the game ripped away from them as the Proteas piled on 206 with the bat in the second day's final session.

"We know that one poor day in the entire series has cost us the series and the chance to get to number one in the world, which we all have worked so hard for and wanted so much," Ponting said.

"That is Test cricket though, you have to take your opportunities.

"We had some opportunities in Adelaide to get a win and go 1-0 up and maybe things might have been different."

Ponting praised the South Africans and said they were worthy of their lofty status.

"The fact they have beaten us at home and England at home in the last two series shows they are dominating world cricket," he said.

"They are a very good cricket team, we had to play very good cricket to win the series and we just about did that for 13 of the 14 days in this series.

"The cricket they played on day two, that was them imposing themselves on the series and they did it better than any team I have seen before."

Australia, minus their most decorated player, need to quickly regroup for the three-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on December 14 in Ponting's home state of Tasmania.

They are set to regain the services of experienced fast bowlers Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, who were both ruled out in Perth with fatigue, but most of the attention will focus on the replacement for Ponting in the batting line-up.

"Rob Quiney is the obvious one, having come into the series," Ponting said.

"He didn't perform the way he would have liked, but he was obviously the first choice batsman going into Brisbane.

"(Phil) Hughes and (Usman) Khawaja are out there scoring runs almost every game they play now.

"I honestly can't see it coming from outside those three and whichever way they go you can guarantee they will have a good replacement for me."

Australia clearly needs to bolster a shaky top order that was exposed by the Proteas, but captain Michael Clarke, who said his team's first innings batting cost it the Test, said he had not yet contemplated a replacement for Ponting.

"Someone has to come in for Ricky and I am sure the selectors have been thinking about that, but I haven't been," he said.

"I will talk to them tonight or tomorrow and we'll work out what is best for the team."

Clarke said he would consider moving in the batting order if it was best for the team.

He was pleased with the performances of left-armers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, declaring that both had shown their value to the team.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Sachin was the best I played against'

SYDNEY: Cricketing great Ricky Ponting, who retired from all forms of the game after playing his last Test match at Perth against South Africa, on Monday, said India's Sachin Tendulkar is the best player he has played against.

On being asked about the most supreme batsmen of his era, Ponting said: "I feel Sachin was the best player I played against and that's coming from more of a captain's point of view as well, knowing he had so much success against us in our conditions and their conditions."

Ponting hung his boots after playing 168 Test matches, scoring 13,378 runs at an average of 51.85 with a highest of 257. He also scored 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries. In one-day internationals (ODI), the former Australia skipper played 375 matches scoring 13,704 runs, including 30 centuries with a highest score of 164.

Commenting further about other great batsmen he played against, as reported by a cricket website, he said: "I probably lost more sleep on the eve of games against (Brian) Lara because I knew he could single-handedly win games. The way I judge players has always been on their ability to win games by themselves. Lara could certainly do that and he did it probably more than what Sachin's done for India.

"You've got to put (Jacques) Kallis in that bracket as well. You put his wickets on top of what he's done with the bat. He came out the other day to bat and I looked at the board and he was averaging 57 in Test cricket. That's remarkable considering the amount he's had to bowl and all that sort of stuff. I've been pretty blessed to play in the era with so many great batsmen, and if my name gets mentioned among them, then that's great."

Ponting, who was part of three World Cup-winning squads in 1999, 2003 and 2007, having led in the latter two, said former pacers Curtly Ambrose of the West Indies and Pakistani Wasim Akram and India spinner Harbhajan Singh were the best bowlers he faced in his career.

"I think Curtly Ambrose and Wasim Akram were probably the two outstanding quicks that I faced, and for different reasons. Ambrose for his ability to just make you feel like you couldn't score off him for long periods of time, never felt like he was going to bowl you a bad ball. Akram for the exact opposite, you could get a few runs off him, but you just knew there was an unplayable ball around the corner, be it with an old ball or with a new ball.

"Harbhajan's probably the other one who caused me as much grief as anything. He got me out a lot of times and caused me a lot of grief. Those guys through their careers can all put their hand up and say they had my measure," said Ponting of Harbhajan, who dismissed the Tasmanian 10 times, including three ducks in Tests, more than any bowler Ponting's confronted.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

South Africa take lead against Australia

PERTH: South Africa struck back with a vengeance on the second day to claim a 62-run first-innings lead in the third and final Test against Australia at the WACA Ground on Saturday.

Scorecard

Defending just 225 after winning the toss and electing to bat on the opening day, the Proteas routed the home side for 163.

At tea, the Proteas were 24 without loss in their second innings of a frenetic Test match, with Alviro Petersen on 21 and Graeme Smith on two, an overall lead of 86.

The home side resumed at 33 for two and collapsed dramatically in the opening 30 minutes of play as pace bowler Dale Steyn (4-40) rediscovered his best form in a stunning spell.

In his first over of the day, Steyn removed careless opener David Warner, caught behind for 13 when he slashed at a wide delivery, despite the Australian asking for the decision to be reviewed.

Steyn then removed night watchman Nathan Lyon three balls later for seven, caught at gully by Faf du Plessis.

Champion batsman Ricky Ponting strode to the crease to huge applause in his final Test, but lasted just over 10 minutes before being trapped lbw by Vernon Philander (2-55) for four, another Australian decision review failing.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke's golden run of form came to an end when he became Steyn's fourth victim, caught behind for just five from a searing delivery.

The home team were 45 for six, having lost four wickets for just 11 runs.

It would have been 45 for seven had Hashim Amla's throw at the stumps from mid-off, with Wade well out of his crease and having given up the cause, been a direct hit.

Wade made it a costly miss as he top-scored with a counter-attacking 68 that included three sixes.

Spinner Robin Peterson cleaned up the tail to end up with three for 44, John Hastings the last man to fall for 32 when Petersen caught the ball, threw it up in the air as he stepped back over the boundary rope, and then stepped back into play to complete the catch.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Steyn, Amla lead South African fightback

PERTH: Pace spearhead Dale Steyn rediscovered his best form to bowl South Africa into a commanding position on the second day of the third and final Test against Australia at the WACA Ground on Saturday.

Scorecard

Steyn's four-wicket haul helped decimate the Australian first innings and hand his side a 62-run lead, before Proteas batsmen Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla ripped the match away from the home side.

Skipper Smith and Amla shared in a thrilling 178-run stand for the second wicket at almost seven runs an over as the tourists took a stranglehold on the top ranking in Test cricket.

At stumps, South Africa were 230 for two in their second innings, representing an overall lead of 292 runs with eight wickets left and three days still to play.

Amla was on 99 from just 84 balls with his 18th Test century beckoning, while Jacques Kallis, dropped on three by Nathan Lyon from the bowling of Mitchell Starc, was on 17.

The highest successful run chase at the WACA is South Africa's 414 for four in 2008.

Smith fell for 84 late in the day, brilliantly caught by a diving Lyon at deep square leg off Mitchell Starc to end a devastating partnership in just 25.3 overs with Amla.

Defending just 225 after winning the toss and electing to bat on the opening day, the Proteas rallied behind the fast bowling of Steyn to rout the home side for 163 off 53.1 overs.

Steyn had barely been a factor in the series, with just five wickets in the first two Tests, but tore through the Australian top order to finish with four for 40 off 16 overs.

Having already claimed the wicket of opener Ed Cowan for a first-ball duck late on the first day, he devastated the home side in the first 30 minutes on Saturday.

The home side resumed at 33 for two and collapsed dramatically.

In his first over of the day, Steyn removed careless opener David Warner, caught behind for 13 when he slashed at a wide delivery, despite the Australian asking for the decision to be reviewed.

Steyn then removed night watchman Lyon three balls later for seven, caught at gully by Faf du Plessis.

Champion batsman Ricky Ponting strode to the crease to huge applause in his farewell Test, but lasted just over 15 minutes before being trapped lbw by Vernon Philander (2-55) for four, another Australian decision review failing.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke's golden run of form came to an end when he became Steyn's fourth victim, caught behind for just five from a searing delivery.

The home team were 45 for six, having lost four wickets for just 11 runs.

It would have been 45 for seven had Amla's throw at the stumps from mid-off, with Matthew Wade well out of his crease and having given up the cause, been a direct hit.

Wade made it a costly miss as he top-scored with a counter-attacking 68 off 102 balls that included three sixes.

Spinner Robin Peterson cleaned up the tail to finish with three for 44, John Hastings the last man to fall for 32 when Alviro Petersen caught the ball, threw it up in the air as he stepped back over the boundary rope, and then stepped back into play to complete a clever catch.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

CAB persuades Mukherjee to join work

KOLKATA: The drama surrounding the preparations of the Eden pitch for the third Test between India and England ended on Saturday after CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya persuaded Prabir Mukherjee to return to work, hours after the peeved curator had threatened to proceed on medical leave.

Mukherjee, unhappy at being sidelined, had decided to go on a month's medical leave in the morning but was persuaded to change his mind by the evening after meetings with CAB officials.

"There is no issue at all. We have sorted out the differences. Prabir Mukherjee was the Eden Gardens curator. He will be in-charge of the Test match against England stating on December 5 and the India versus Pakistan ODI on January 3, next year," CAB chief Dalmiya said after his meeting with the veteran curator.

"I'm hearing all sorts of stories everyday. These are all unnecessary media created stories. Yes, he is really unwell but I've asked him to come and stay for lesser time," Dalmiya added.

Mukherjee, who has been at the centre of controversy for apparently refusing to toe the line of India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's demand for a rank turner, expressed his desire to go on leave on medical grounds as he felt that the host association was not standing by him.

After East Zone curator Ashis Bhowmick joined Mukherjee, there were reports that the 83-year-old curator's wings have been clipped although it has been mandatory for zonal curators to visit each venue of their respective zones.

Following his U-turn, Mukherjee was back at the Eden Gardens towards the evening and was seen enjoying good camaraderie with CAB top brass.

It was a sort of moral victory for Mukherjee after CAB's treasurer and their 'Crisis man' Biswarup Dey went to Mukherjee's house and took him to Dalmiya's residence for a discussion.

The drama started in the morning with Mukherjee claiming that he had sent a letter to the CAB, seeking one-month's medical leave.

"Nowhere the president has the right to talk about pitches. But here they are threatening to suspend me if I talk about pitches", Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee had openly criticised Dhoni for the skipper's demand for preparing wickets that offer turn from the very first over.

"It is unethical to tamper with the pitch as per the liking of the captain. I have not done it in my life. Why should I do it now? What happens if the pitch does not last for five days? Let them give me in writing then I will do it," the outspoken Mukherjee had maintained.

Mukherjee's outburst had led BCCI to rush Bhowmick to take charge of the Eden, something that might have hurt the octogenerian.

"This is the treatment I get after more than two decades of my service at CAB. It was an insult for me," Mukherjee had said referring to the appointment of Ashish Bhowmick, the East Zone ground and pitch committee representative.

"I expected some sort of protection from CAB and thought that they would stand by me. Instead they are after me. My BP shot up 170/100 last night. After the check-up, the doctors have advised me a complete rest for a month. I've sent the medical report and request for a medical leave for a month to the CAB this morning," he said.

"I don't make pitches to earn money. I had prepared pitches in Bangladesh for the U-19 World Cup (in 2004) and the ICC Cup without getting a single penny. Cricket is my passion that's why I'm associated with Eden for so long," he said.

Mukherjee had to cope with a mental trauma after the loss of his 31-year-old daughter and 73-year-old wife in a span of six days. "My daughter died on May 25 and wife on May 31. Despite coping with terrible personal crisis, I did not take a single day's leave".

"The day after my wife's death, I was at the Eden Gardens. Nobody can question my commitment. But I am getting such a raw deal from the CAB," he said.

Mukherjee's differences with Dhoni is not something new. During England's last appearance here for an ODI in 2011, Dhoni had termed the Eden wicket as "ugly". However India had won that match for a 5-0 whitewash in the series.

During the South Africa Test in 2010 which India won in last over of the final day, Mukherjee wasn't ready to give in to Dhoni's demand of shaving the green off the 22-yard strip.

Back in 2005, Mukherjee had an argument with the then India coach Greg Chappell and skipper Rahul Dravid as he produced a bouncy pitch in protest against keeping Sourav Ganguly out of the Indian team. India had lost that match by 10 wickets where South Africa captain Graeme Smith had scored a century.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

B'desh suffers Shakib blow in ODI series

KHULNA: Bangladesh suffered a crucial blow when their star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan was ruled out of the entire one-day series against the West Indies because of injury, an official said Saturday.

The 25-year-old all-rounder's chronic shinbone injury recurred during the second Test in Khulna last week and he was initially ruled out of the first two of the five-match one-day series.

Bangladesh physician Debashish Chowdhury said after a review of his MRI scan reports on Saturday that he has been asked to rest for four to six weeks.

"We reviewed his MRI and have decided to rest him for the series," Chowdhury told reporters. "He will need at least four to six week rest to heal the injury, though no surgery is required."

Despite the absence of the star all-rounder, Bangladesh clinched a comfortable seven-wicket win against the tourists in the first one-day here on Friday, to go 1-0 up in the series.

Young uncapped batsman Mominul Haque replaced Shakib in the squad for the first two matches and is now likely to retain his place for the entire series after making his debut on Friday.

The second match of the series will also be played in Khulna on Sunday. The remaining three matches are in Dhaka on December 5, 7 and 8. The two teams will also play a Twenty20 international, also in Dhaka on December 10.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Proteas on the ropes against Aussies

PERTH: Australia's second-string pace attack stunned South Africa on the opening day of the third and final Test at the WACA Ground on Friday.

Scorecard

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Proteas were struggling at 141/7 at tea in a match that will decide the top-ranked nation in Test cricket.

Second Test hero Faf du Plessis was again fighting to revive the South African cause and was on 39, with Vernon Philander on four.

Australia were forced to completely revamp their pace attack for the match, with their three pacers from the drawn second Test in Adelaide -- Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson -- all ruled out.

Left-armer Mitchell Johnson was recalled for his first Test in 12 months, Mitchell Starc was promoted after being 12th man for the first two matches in the series, and John Hastings was handed his Test debut.

All were in the wickets as they decimated the South African top order, the visitors at one stage losing five wickets for 14 runs either side of lunch as they slumped to 75-6.

It was the returning Shane Watson (1-14) who claimed the first wicket, having Graeme Smith caught at first slip by Michael Clarke for 16.

Watson made a welcome return from a calf injury, having missed Australia's last eight home Tests, finding a thick outside edge from Smith to remove the Proteas skipper.

Just before lunch, Starc (2-47) struck two telling blows as the day took a sharp turn.

Starc removed opener Alviro Petersen (30) when he bowled the right-hander with a full delivery and then found a way through the defence of Kallis (2), who overcame a hamstring injury to take his place in the match, with a similar ball.

Already struggling at 63-3 at lunch, the Proteas crumbled after the resumption, with Hashim Amla (11), AB de Villiers (4) and debutant Dean Elgar (0) all falling in quick succession.

Amla was run out by a brilliant direct hit from David Warner in covers, de Villiers became Hastings' first Test scalp when caught at first slip by Clarke and Elgar gave Johnson a well-deserved first wicket when he was caught behind.

Just before tea, spinner Nathan Lyon (1-13) had Robin Peterson caught behind for 31 to end a 57-run partnership with du Plessis.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia bowl out South Africa for 225

PERTH: South Africa were dismissed for 225 in their first innings after winning the toss on the opening day of the third and final Test against Australia at the WACA Ground on Friday.

Scorecard

In a match that will decide the top-ranked nation in Test cricket, the Proteas were in deep trouble at 75 for six, before the tail wagged to help add respectability to their score.

It was second Adelaide Test hero Faf du Plessis who again led the fightback, making an unbeaten 78, for a total of 266 runs in his first two Tests with just one dismissal.

He received support from Robin Peterson (31) and Vernon Philander (30) after Australia's revamped pace attack rocked the Proteas' top order.

Spinner Nathan Lyon took three for 41 off 12 overs, but it was the Australian fast bowling quartet of Mitchell Johnson (2-54), Mitchell Starc (2-55), Shane Watson (1-22) and John Hastings (1-51) that did the damage.

None of the pace foursome played in the drawn second Test in Adelaide.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More