‘bad form won’t hurt WC prospects’
Wellington: India’s poor form in the ongoing tour of New Zealand will count for nothing when the team comes here to defend the World Cup title as the current exposure to conditions would work to its advantage during the mega-event next year, feels former captain Sunil Gavaskar. “This tour and one to Australia next summer pre-World Cup would be crucial to India’s development,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by ‘Fairfax News’. The former captain, who is commentating in the ongoing tour, said India have adapted well after the retirement of legends such as Sachin Tendulkar. “You can already see they’re making changes and learning from the ODI series. They’re starting to show they’re adapting to the conditions and the bowling and I think the team is really keen to learn and improve and that’s a great sign,” said Gavaskar. The former batsman felt India’s had become better fielders since their 2011 World Cup triumph. “In 2011 when India won, the fielding wasn’t up to standard,” he said. “It was some of the best Indian players of all time that helped them win the tournament, but not the fielding. The fielding is so much better now and those younger players are going to save extra runs in the field and run extra runs when they’re batting. They’re talented and that increased exposure over the next 12 months [will help],” he added.
Ryder’s booze-up costs him T20 spot
Wellington: Jesse Ryder’s fall from grace continued on Sunday when the big-hitting left-hander was left out of the New Zealand squad for the World Twenty20 starting next month in Bangladesh. Ryder’s omission comes less than a week after he was dropped from the New Zealand Test squad following a late-night drinking session that ended just hours before the start of the first Test against India. New Zealand selection boss Bruce Edgar confirmed that Ryder had been almost assured of making the World Twenty20 squad, but was ruled out because of his behaviour. “We’ve had to exclude him from the tour. Character is really important as part of our selection process,” Edgar said.
nz squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Anton Devcich, Martin Guptill, Roneel Hira, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, James Neesham, luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson.
can learn a lot from ipl: Hafeez
Karachi: Pakistan’s T20 captain, Mohammad Hafeez feels the PCB should sort out the issue of Pakistani players not being allowed to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier league (IPl). “It is strange that for years now Pakistani players have not been allowed to play in the IPl. Because it is a world class league and there is so much to learn from it,” Hafeez said in an interview to ‘Express’ newspaper. “I played in the first season of the IPl and I got a chance to share the dressing room with greats like Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Pointing and it was a great learning experience. I believe that what our players are missing out the most is this aspect of playing in the IPl,” he said. “It is no use taking interest in a thing you are not part of. But this IPl problem is something that our cricket board should look into and resolve. Because it is a world class event and every player wants to take part in such an event where the big crowds only add to the fun and excitement,” Hafeez added. “My belief has always been to keep politics and sports apart. I know that we have not performed well against India in ICC events but I believe for good or bad the past should be past. This is a new event and obviously we will go into the match against India with lots of passion and will to win.”
Big teams win in corporate trophy
Mumbai: Former champions Air India and last year’s runners-up India Cements scored comprehensive victories in Group D to start their campaign in the BCCI Corporate Trophy on a bright note here on Sunday. AI rode on Yuvraj Singh’s blistering knock of 105 off 74 balls and an incisive spell of fast bowling by Pankaj Singh to decimate State Bank of Mysore by 102 runs at the Wankhede Stadium. India Cements defeated Food Corporation of India by 91 runs in the other game at the BKC ground by scoring 240 for 9 in a match reduced to 45 overs because of a wet outfield and then dismissing their rivals for a paltry 149 in 35.4 overs. Yuvraj carted the SBM bowling in his inimitable fashion by striking 12 fours and five sixes, the last flicked six over fine leg enabling him to reach his century in style to power AI to an imposing 327 for 7 in 50 overs. Yuvraj also put on 131 runs for the third wicket with Naman Ojha, who made 60 off 41 balls with 2 sixes and 7 fours, to give a timely acceleration to the innings after openers Manvinder Bisla (58) and Sushant Marathe (44) laid a good foundation against some accurate bowling.
‘debut ton important for rahane’
Mumbai: Ajinkya Rahane’s maiden Test century in the ongoing second Test against New Zealand is a crucial milestone in his fledgling Test career, feels his former coach Pravin Amre. “He had to wait for 16 Tests (as a reserve) for his first Test appearance (against Australia at Delhi last year when he fell for 7 after a poor shot). He was then dropped and it was a difficult phase in his career,” said Amre, who has guided Rahane since he was 17. “He had to wait for his chance and he did very well in South Africa when he got it. To come off from that tour with a plus-60 average is great. And this century is extremely important for his career. He timed the ball exquisitely,” said the former Mumbai-born cricketer who played for Railways in Ranji Trophy. Amre, who made a fine hundred on Test debut in Durban in 1992, recalled how he had asked Rahane to undergo a short coaching stint before the latter got the golden chance to play in his maiden Test match against Australia. “I saw that and said to myself it’s not the Ajinkya I know. That was the time he needed some guidance. But I am a firm believer like my (Shardashram) coach (Ramakant) Achrekar sir in not changing a player’s technique. “He possesses fine technique and his basics are strong,” Amre said.
Sl, SA reach quarters of U19 Wc
Dubai: Sri lanka and South Africa progressed to the quarterfinals of the ICC Under 19 World Cup after recording contrasting victories, here on Sunday. Sri lanka overcame 1998 champion England by one wicket at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in a match of fluctuating fortunes to become the first side from Group D to progress to the knock-out stage. South Africa recorded a comfortable 45-run victory over Canada at Abu Dhabi Oval 1 to seal a place in the next round from Group C. In the other results of the day, the West Indies outplayed Zimbabwe by 167 runs and New Zealand outsmarted the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 112 runs. In one of the closest finishes in the history of the age-group competition, Sri lanka sealed victory with one wicket and seven balls to spare. This was after Sri lanka had looked down and out in its 231-run chase when it collapsed to 160 for seven in 35 overs and then needed nine runs for victory with one wicket remaining. Number-seven batsman Thilaksha Sumanasiri (43) and number-nine AK Tyronne (20) put on 53 runs for the eighth wicket to take the score to 213 before Sumanasiri perished with Sri lanka still requiring 18 runs off 35 balls. Tyronne followed Sumanasiri nine runs later to leave his side needing nine runs from 17 deliveries. But Anuk Fernando (10 not out) and lakshan Jayasinghe (four not out) got the required runs with seven balls remaining, with a winning single coming after Jonathan Tattersall missed the wicket at the non-striker’s end.
Aus rapid return to top confirmed
Johannesburg: Michael Clarke has got just about everything right in South Africa so far. From the Australia captain’s insistence that his bowling attack is better than the higher-ranked opposition, to his correct analysis of a deceptive Centurion pitch that left the home team baffled in the first test, to his unleashing of lethal left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson in the short, sharp bursts that sliced through No. 1-ranked South Africa and left scars, likely mental as well as physical, for the remaining two matches of the series. One thing he’s a little off on, though, according to the signs at SuperSport Park, is his assessment of how far from the top the Aussies stand now having brought the best team in the world to its knees to win a sixth straight test - all of them by some distance. “We want to get back to being the No. 1 test team in the world. We’re a long way from that at the moment,” Clarke said after Australia crushed South Africa by 281 runs at one of the home team’s favorite grounds. “But it’s nice to see us compete against the No. 1 team and challenge.”