No one can replace Tendulkar: Sharma

BHOPAL: Former India pace bowler Chetan Sharma has said that no one can fit into the big shoes of champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket.

Tendulkar's absence would be felt from the Test team as no player has the ability to win a match like him, Sharma told reporters on Monday during a short visit.

Tendulkar has recently announced retirement from international cricket, with his 200th Test against the West Indies in November going to be his last game.

"This is a big achievement for any player," Sharma said.

Sharma said that pacer Ishant Sharma, who bowled badly in the last one-day match against Australia, was lucky to have been retained in the team.

A hugely costly over by the out-of-form pacer, who gave away 30 runs in the 48th over, had turned the tide in Australia's favour after the Indians seemed cruising in the third one-day international match at Mohali on October 19.

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Usman Khawaja enters beer logo row

SYDNEY: Australian batsman Usman Khawaja may follow fellow Muslim Fawad Ahmed and refuse to wear a uniform with a beer brand logo, but admits that cementing his Test place comes first.

Khawaja, the first Muslim to wear the baggy green, told The Sydney Morning Herald he had considered whether it was possible to wear a uniform which did not have the logo of Cricket Australia's key sponsor the VB brewery.

"I understand what Fawad is doing, and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it," Khawaja told the newspaper.

"I thought about it for this Ashes campaign. But I probably haven't been in the Australian team for long enough to worry about it too much."

Khawaja, 26, struggled in the Ashes series in England earlier this year and remains on the fringes of the Test team.

Leg spinner Ahmed was exempted from wearing the VB logo in England after he explained that it clashed with his Islamic faith -- a move which sparked a row and criticism that he should not accept sponsorship money from companies promoting alcohol.

Khawaja said he had discussed the matter with South African batsman Hashim Amla, who has been exempted from wearing a brewery's logo, about how he could reconcile with his strongly-held Muslim beliefs.

"He just said to me he doesn't accept prize money from whoever their alcoholic sponsor is," Khawaja said.

"I assume if I ever did do it, that's the path I'd lead. But at the moment it's all about the cricket for me."

Pakistan-born Khawaja said Carlton and United Breweries, makers of VB beer, were a "massive sponsor for Cricket Australia so obviously there needs to be some give and take there" and he was willing to forgo some money if need be.

The left-hander signed Tuesday with Sydney Thunder for the next two seasons of the domestic Twenty20 competition, a move which will see him join Test captain Michael Clarke, David Warner and veteran Michael Hussey.

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Raina hints Ishant may play 4th ODI

RANCHI: Despite the criticism and call for Ishant Sharma's ouster for conceding 30 runs in an over, teammate Suresh Raina today dropped hints that the beleaguered pacer could be retained in the fourth ODI against Australia at the JSCA Stadium on Wednesday.

Raina said Ishant had worked really hard in the last couple of days to overcome the disastrous 48th over in Mohali that cost India the third one-dayer as Aussies took a 2-1 lead.

"I hope Ishant would be strong in his mindset and approach the match in a positive manner. He has really worked hard in the last two days," Raina told reporters today.

"Our bowlers are doing well. Our think tank is strong and have good planning. Bowlers are training hard for last two days. The harder they work the better they would perform. Hopefully we will do really well against the Aussies tomorrow," he said.

Admitting that adjusting to the new ODI rules was proving difficult for the bowlers, he said: "We are not getting the ball to reverse, while spinners are also not getting turns as with two balls it do not get old. But we have no excuse. We have to do well under the circumstances.

"We have to admit that it's tough for the bowlers. When five players are inside (the circle), it's obviously going to be difficult for the part-timers as your regular bowlers are not doing well.

"Bowlers come under pressure as to what line and length they would have to try when five players are inside. You're allowed to bowl two bouncers but then you have to bowl four more balls after that."

Raina however said they would have to live up to the challenge laid out by the ICC.

"No complains, as we have to play under the ICC Playing Conditions. Players will have to do their job."

Asked whether 15-20 runs per over had become a norm, he said: "The players are used to the Indian bowlers after six IPLs. There's positive as well as negative aspect to it. There is more pressure on the bowlers nowadays."

Despite trailing the series 1-2, Raina said India were not under any pressure.

"We won the first match in the Pune T20. Then they won and we did in the next. It's been a good contest so far. Our batting is clicking and sometimes bowling. The team who play well on that given day would win. It's about your aura in the field and the mental toughness."

He further said their seven-wicket win against England in the last match on January 19 would inspire them to do well here.

"We have done well against England in the last match here. Definitely we would try to do well here. Just hope that it will be our day tomorrow."

Raina is seen as the No 4 batsman in Dhoni's envisage for the World Cup 2015 and the 26-year-old said he was enjoying batting at the key position.

"I've played many matches at No 4 and 6. I had a top edge in the last match but I'm batting well and feeling fine and positive. The No 4 spot belongs to me in the upcoming matches and I hope I do well," he added.

But he said the World Cup is still a long way to go and they were looking forward to winning tomorrow's match.

"We can't say what would happen after two days or weeks. Our main focus now is to beat Australia. It's a long way to go. Tomorrow's match is more important and we are getting ready for it. It's about taking one match at a time."

Asked whether he considers Dhoni as his role model, Raina said: "He has been batting well over the years. I've learnt a lot from him and Yuvraj Singh. He's a finisher in ODI and T20 cricket."

On Dhoni's trademark Helicopter shot, Raina said it exclusively belonged to the Indian skipper.

"That's Mahi's exclusive. He has specialised on that and it suits him only. It's amazing the way he clears the ball with his full strength... It's amazing. He has practised a lot. We have our gameplan. We just have to stay positive."

In a lighter vein he further said they might have a dinner at Dhoni's residence tomorrow.

"We may have dinner tomorrow at Mahi bhai's residence. There is nothing special apart from that."

Australia's leading bowler Mitchell Johnson is troubling the Indians with his sheer pace and bounce but Raina said: "No doubt, he is bowling well. But our planning is equally good against him. We have to do well especially in the middle order. Myself, Yuvi bhai and (Ravindra) Jadeja would have to do well."

Raina further said it would be a dream come true for him if he could make a comeback in Sachin Tendulkar's farewell two- Test series against the West Indies next month.

"Personally for me the next four ODIs are very important as I've to make a comeback into the Test squad. It (Tendulkar's 200th) will be a dream Test for me whether I play or not. He is world's No 1 batsman and more importantly a good human being. It will be a sad moment for all of us. It's a very important moment for his family. I hope he scores centuries in both of his last two Tests," he signed off.

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'Sachin often changed his stance'

After questioning Sachin Tendulkar's conduct during the 'Monkeygate' scandal in his autobiography, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting now says he has made peace with the key Indian characters of the ugly drama during his IPL stint.

Ponting, who in his book said that he was taken aback by Tendulkar's statement which backed Harbhajan Singh in the furore, said the matter is behind him now.

"I had to captain Harbhajan and Sachin, and (the then Indian captain Anil (Kumble) was the mentor/coach. They wouldn't have had me there if that ( Monkeygate) hadn't passed over," Ponting told ESPNcricinfo.

"And Anil hasn't said anything about being angry or anything like that, it's just about moving on and 'wait until my book'.

Ponting, however, maintained that Tendulkar changed his stance during the scandal a couple of times.

"I didn't have any problem with them. Sachin was trying to look after his mate and changed his story a couple of times to suit.

"Harbhajan was the one there was a problem with, but we got to Mumbai, looked each other in the eye and shook hands and said we'll make this work for the next couple of months.

"That's well and truly gone," he said.

But Ponting said the pain of allrounder Andrew Symonds, who alleged that Harbhajan racially abused him, has remained.

"The worst of it all was the impact it had on Symmo (Symonds)," Ponting wrote in the book.

"I had tried to protect him from most of what was going on in the lead-up to the hearing, but when it was done I reckon it took the wind out of his sails. In many ways Symmo was gone from this moment on and it still makes me angry."

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ICC all set to persist with two-ball rule

The contentious two-ball rule is here to stay. The conclave of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which concluded in London on Saturday, chose not to tamper with the rule.

It means status quo remains on the playing conditions in one-day internationals, despite opposition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Mirror reported last week that the rule is here to stay, for the time being at least, notwithstanding India's call for a change. The rule was given a go-ahead at the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) meeting in Dubai last month.

The ICC confirmed the status quo in as many words after the London conclave. "The ICC board was briefed on the ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) meeting that was held in Dubai last month and noted the CEC's discussions on a number of issues, including maintaining the current playing conditions for ODI cricket and bad light, and the Decision Review System (DRS)," the ICC said in a statement on Saturday.

During the course of the board meeting in London, BCCI president N Srinivasan and a few other directors of the ICC, including those from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, raised the issue, but they were explained in detail that the two-ball rule is not hampering spin bowling as has been thought.

The evidence that was put forth was the latest ICC ODI bowling rankings. Three spinners - Sunil Narine, Ravindra Jadeja and Saeed Ajmal - are in the top three positions and the myth that the two-ball rule is not helpful for the spinners was busted. It was also pointed out that among the top 10 international bowlers, four are spinners, with Mohammad Hafeez ranked 10. Another point that was hammered upon by the board members was that the rule has actually enhanced the quality of ODIs, particularly in the middle overs.

The ICC officials had prepared a chart showing the number of runs from 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40 and 41-50 overs. From the chart, it was concluded that more runs were being scored in the middle overs since the time the rule was introduced.

The rule came into existence in October 2011, and the chart containing the data before and after that date has established the fact that ODIs have become more exciting of late. There was an attempt to prove that middle overs in ODIs had become exciting.

It was also pointed out during the meeting that before the new rule was implemented, balls had to be changed twice in a game at times.
Earlier, there were occasions when a team demanded a change of ball as early as the 20th over and again had a different ball after the 34th over.

The ICC took note of the points and did not demand a vote. Even Srinivasan, who is also known to be a strong critic of the rule, did not insist on a change. The BCCI president, sure, had supporters in the representatives from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, but the Asian block knew that they cannot alter the rule for want of numbers. They would have needed seven votes to change it and they were nowhere near the magical number.

India skipper MS Dhoni has been a staunch critic of the new law but he will have to live with it, for the time being.

EXPERT VIEW

Obviously, there has been a big change since the harder seam helps fast bowlers a lot. So, now instead of one ball getting old in 25 overs like it used to happen earlier, we have a lot more time to work on new balls. This is very beneficial for fast bowlers as you can hit the deck hard with a newer ball and also it swings a lot more: Ishant Sharma.

(It is) important we don't give runs with the two new balls and take wickets. It is always good to have bowlers who can bowl well at the death also. Especially the three fast bowlers should be able to bowl at the end: MS Dhoni.

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SA tour hinges on action against Lorgat

"At this stage, I cannot confirm if the tour is on," Altaaf Kazi, communications and public relations manager of Cricket South Africa (CSA) told Mirror on Sunday evening. "The negotiations are still ongoing."

What Kazi has effectively admitted that even after four or five rounds of meetings with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), held in Mumbai and London, the CSA has not managed to secure an assurance from the Indian board that Team India will tour South Africa.

There was a stage when the tour was almost decided with India agreeing to play even three Tests. However, a certain David Becker and his tirade against N Srinivasan derailed the process.

CSA shot itself in the foot

The former legal head of the International Cricket Council (ICC), supposedly close to Haroon Lorgat, issued a statement that turned out to be detrimental to the interest of the CSA. Incidentally, he is also a legal advisor to the CSA.

After meeting Srinivasan in London, the CSA directors got into an emergency huddle in Johannesburg on Sunday. Before them was a virtual ultimatum from the BCCI that action, rather tangible action, against Becker and Lorgat is needed for the tour to go ahead. The board meeting was attended by all 12 directors, including CSA president Chris Nenzani and chief executive officer Lorgat.

It is understood that the board is divided over the Indian condition, with one group wanting to play hardball with the BCCI and back Lorgat and the other thinking that the CSA should toe the BCCI line and save the association from suffering huge losses. The cancellation of the India tour would mean losses of up to 500 million rand for the CSA.

Ball in CSA'S court

Meanwhile, Srinivasan refused to go into the details of the tour and the BCCI's supposed demand for action against Lorgat and Becker. "I've nothing to say on the matter," the BCCI president told Mirror from London.

However, a source close to him said that the ball is in CSA's court. "The comments of Becker are not only against Srinivasan. He also criticised the ICC. It sure is a serious matter," the source said adding, "We know, they have held an emergency board meeting and we will be interested to know the outcome. Let them get back to us."

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'We can beat India in their own den'

BRIDGETOWN: The West Indies cricket team coach Ottis Gibson has expressed confidence that his players can beat Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men at their own den when they tour India next month.

Gibson said his side has more experienced players than the last time when they had toured India and they should be able to give a much better performance this time around.

"We are not saying we cannot beat India, but we know it is going to be tough. The last time we went to India, we had a couple of inexperienced guys but we put up a good show. So hopefully this time with a bit more experience, we can go one better and win the series. There is no reason why we can't," said Gibson.

The Windies have not played a Test match for almost a year now and the team is training hard in a fitness and medical camp here to ensure players stay fit as they will be on the road for a long time.

West Indies will play two Tests and three ODIs during their tour of India, commencing with the first Test from November 6-10 in Kolkata. The second Test -- Sachin Tendulkar's farewell match -- will be played in Mumbai from November 14-18.

Following their India tour, West Indies will be in New Zealand for three Tests, five ODIs and two T20 Internationals.

"Things have been going well; the doctors haven't reported anything untoward to me as yet, so fingers crossed that everybody is fit to get on the plane," the coach said.

Gibson noted that the series against India will finally settle the question of where the West Indies stand as far as Test cricket is concerned.

"We have played great in Test cricket, having won the last six, but people have been poking fun at the opposition. This one in India gives us the opportunity to see where we are as a Test side," he said.

"India are playing some very good One-Day cricket at the moment; they have not played Tests in a long time either, so it gives us an opportunity to go out there and test ourselves," said Gibson.

The West Indies played their last Test series in November last year when they defeated Bangladesh and their other victories were against New Zealand in a home series in August last year.

Asked about the reports that he could be leaving the West Indies to take up the post of the head coach at Glamorgan in England, Gibson said he had not been in contact with anybody in that English county side.

"I suppose when you are doing a good job, every job that comes along is yours. But there is no truth in the rumour. I have not been in contact with anybody from Glamorgan. It is the club that I played for in England, but I have had absolutely no contact with them. I have just signed a new contract with the WICB and I am very happy with where we are," said Gibson.

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De Villiers confident SA can fix Test woes

DUBAI: Star batsman AB de Villiers expressed his confidence on Monday that South Africa can rectify the problems which led to their defeat against Pakistan in the first Test last week.

Speaking ahead of the second Test starting on Wednesday, the 29-year-old admitted South Africa were disappointed to lose by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi.

"The mood is good, we've moved on from the disappointing performance, obviously we were hurt quite a bit after the Test, we haven't played cricket like that in a long time and we were very, very disappointed," de Villiers said after team practice on Monday.

"We're finding ways to fix it and that's the most important thing. We've looked at a few areas where we went wrong and we're going to try and get it right," said de Villiers.

"It's a must-win game for us and we're going in there with that attitude to win that game, we're still the number one team in the world and we are going to play like it."

South Africa slumped to 249 and 232 against a spin-cum pace Pakistan attack and failed to stop their rivals from putting up a mammoth 442 for a comfortable win.

To add to South Africa's batting problems, first Test centurion Hashim Amla may not be available for the second Test as the reliable batsman returned home for the birth of his second child.

Left-hander Dean Elgar is likely to replace Amla. Dale Steyn also suffered a back problem, but De Villiers believes the pacer will recover.

"He did tweak something in the fielding practice yesterday, but we think it's not too serious, so we are just taking a good precaution and making sure he will be ready for the second Test," he said.

De Villiers praised Pakistan's bowling, led by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal who finished with 4/74 in the second innings.

"I thought they bowled quite well with clever plans. But then again few soft dismissals including myself, you never know what could have happened," said De Villiers, referring to his bizarre run out in the first innings.

De Villiers played a defensive shot and was out of his crease after the slip fielder threw to wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal who ran the batsman out.

He hit a fighting 90 in the second knock. "I think we didn't do the basics well, didn't adapt quickly to the conditions, few highlights were probably Hashim's innings and a couple of partnerships, and that was it, other than that it was quite a disappointing performance."

South Africa may also look at their spin option, replacing leg-spinner Imran Tahir for left-arm spinner Robin Peterson who finished wicket-less in the first Test.

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Captain Dhoni supports bowlers

MOHALI: Despite some dismal performances by a few players, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today came out strongly in their support, saying that frequent changes might hamper the team in the long run.

"It will be unfair that all of a sudden when you lose one or two matches and you want playing eleven bowler to be removed and thrown out of the team by saying he is not good," said Dhoni at the post-match press conference here last night.

"It's very important to persist with them, to give them experience because they are the part of the side. They are the most talented people and let's back them," he added.

Dhoni defended his decision to entrust struggling pacer Ishant Sharma to bowl the 48th over, which yielded 30 runs to hand the third ODI to Australia from a winning position.

"If you see the performances, then you may need to change the whole team. There are some batsmen who have not made runs, there are some bowlers who have gone for runs.

"If you compare bowlers of the two sides and you feel they (Australians) are better and quick, even they have gone for runs," the skipper pointed out.

Dhoni made it clear that with regard to the team selection he will speak only to the selectors and not at a press conference.

The 32-year-old Dhoni said that the new bowlers waiting in the wings can wait a bit longer.

"It is often seen that once somebody goes out of the side, tendency is that he is forgotten and people talk about the new bowler. I always feel that people who are in the side should be given the rope, doesn't matter if he is a bowler or a batsman. Once he goes out of the side, the new guy who comes in you again, the principle should be applied.

"Otherwise if you start having (demanding) 'yeah hona chaiyee who hona chahiye, phir mushkil ho jaata hain' (there is a clamour this should be done or that should be done and later on it becomes difficult). I think this is one principle that works the best for all the players," he explained.

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Don't worry Ishant, it happens: Faulkner

MOHALI: Ishant Sharma bore the brunt of James Faulkner's conscious decision to go after seamers in the third ODI and the game-changing Australian all-rounder offered his sympathies to the Indian spearhead, saying that every bowler has days when he ends up looking "silly out there".

Faulkner's 29-ball 64 turned the match on its head last night as Australia chased down 304 with three balls and four wickets to spare.

Faulkner particularly targetted Ishant in the 48th over, plundering 30 runs off it which changed the course of the game. Faulkner hit a boundary followed by two huge sixes, then stole a double and to add insult to the injury, once again dispatched Ishant's last two balls for the maximum in that over.

Later, he sympathised with Ishant, saying this can happen to any good bowler.

"There is always pressure to bowl at that stage. I know that as I have done that a few times for Australia...there are going to be days when you would look silly out there, and that has happened to me a lot of times, don't worry about that," Faulkner said.

"But there are also other times when you might bowl a good over and win a game for your team, that's cricket," he added.

The seven-match series is right now 2-1 in favour of Australia. Faulkner said after the mauling in the second ODI in Jaipur, the visitors' plan was to target the medium pacers when the asking rate was mounting towards the end last night.

"I didn't feel I could get Ashwin over the long boundary, with his carom balls," Faulkner told a post-match press conference here.

"I thought the only way we could win the game is to take on the medium pacers down from the other end and try and take 20 off each over...that was our only chance to be honest," he said.

"It was a kick in the guts, the second game in Jaipur. To score 360 and have them chase down the total was really disappointing. We knew we had to bounce back with a good game and now we are 2-1 up in the series. It's going to be a really tough contest for the next four games," he added.

Faulkner's unbeaten knock was studded with six sixes and two boundaries.

Indian skipper MS Dhoni's unbeaten innings of 139, which propelled India to a total of over 300, went in vain thanks to the heroics of Faulkner, whose blistering hits overshadowed another brilliant knock by compatriot Adam Voges (76).

Faulkner heaped praise on Voges, saying he played a very good innings.

"He batted exceptionally well with mature head and I am happy for him."

He also praised Australia's bowling. "I thought through the middle we bowled really well as a group and restricted the boundaries at one stage and I suppose India did the same to us...that's the one-day game there's going to be highs and lows," he explained.

Faulkner said the win hasn't "probably sunk in as yet." "To be pretty honest, it has been an unbelievable series so far. In the first three games, every single team that has batted first has posted over 300.

"So, It's been really good series so far and I am pretty sure that there is going to be some strong cricket played for the last four games."

Asked if the idea behind bowling first was the dew factor or was it just the way Aussies wanted to go about it, Faulkner said, "I am not sure about that, you have to ask George (Bailey).

"I said let's chase, let's try and get some early wickets and put them under pressure, which we did. I thought we bowled reasonably well at the start, there were some chances we created as a team.

"I suppose they got away from the City end to make 300, MS (Dhoni) batted exceptionally well, but in the end we won, which is a good thing."

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