Cricket : Sachin scores 50 th Test Centuary Barrier

[Pintu]

India clubbed with Pak, Australia in Champions Trophy - Top Stories - Cricket - SPORTS - The Times of India

India clubbed with Pak, Australia in Champions Trophy
TNN 21 July 2009, 12:42am IST

MUMBAI: Fourth-ranked India have been grouped alongside defending champions and top-seeds Australia and archrivals Pakistan, seeded fifth, for the eight-nation Champions Trophy to be played in South Africa from September 22 to October 5. 2004 champions West Indies, seeded eighth, will constitute the fourth team in Group A.

Group B features second seeds South Africa, third seeds New Zealand, sixth seeds Sri Lanka and seventh seeds England.

Wanderers in Johannesburg and Centurion in Pretoria will be the two venues for all 15 games with Centurion hosting the final on October 5.

All three group games involving India will be day night affairs. MS Dhoni-led India, joint winners with Sri Lanka in 2002, will open their campaign against Pakistan at Centurion on September 26.

They next play Australia at the same venue on September 28. The last match for India will be against West Indies on September 30 at The Wanderers.

The seedings for the event have been awarded as per the team rankings on March 31, 2008. The 2008 rankings have been taken into account because the tournament was originally scheduled to be held in 2008 in Pakistan, explained Brian Murgatroyd ICC media and communications manager.

Champions Trophy fixtures

Pool A: Australia, India, Pakistan, West Indies Pool B: South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England

Sept 22: SA vs SL (D/N), Centurion

Sept 23: Pak vs WI (D/N), the Wanderers

Sept 24: SA vs NZ, Centurion

Sept 25: SL vs Eng (D/N), the Wanderers

Sept 26: WI vs Aus, the Wanderers; Ind vs Pak, Centurion

Sept 27: NZ vs SL, the Wanderers; SA vs Eng (D/N), Centurion

Sept 28: Aus vs Ind, Centurion

Sept 29: Eng vs NZ (D/N), the Wanderers

Sept 30: Ind vs WI (D/N), the Wanderers; Aus v Pak, Centurion

Semifinals

Oct 2: A1 vs B2 (D/N), Centurion

Oct 3: B1 vs A2 (D/N), the Wanderers

Final: October 5.

 

[leonblack08]

Bangladesh complete WI whitewash​

Bangladesh celebrates victory over West Indies winning by 4 wickets on the 4th day of the second test match West Indies v Bangladesh at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada, July 20. Photo: AFP
Star Online Report
A stunning performance from the stand-in captain Shakib Al Hasan and brilliant innings from Rokibul Hasan led Bangladesh cricket to a historical moment by clinching the away test series 2-0 against West Indies.

Sakib's unbeaten 96 off 97 balls and Rokib's 65 off 99 balls gave no chance to West Indies to fight against Bangladesh.

Sakib's five wicket haul in the second innings restricted West Indies only for 214 at the 1st session of fourth day.

"This is the best day for Bangladesh cricket. The guys have been supporting me very well so I don't feel any pressure. Raqibul played a gem of an innings. I thought attack was the best form of defense.", Sakib's reaction after the win.

Having more than 150 overs in hand to chase a silly target of 215 in the 4th innings, top order batsmans frustrated once again leaving Bangladesh 67-4.

But 100 run partnership from middle order batsman Rokib and captain Sakib lead Bangladesh win the 2nd test by 4 wickets on the 4th day.

Winning the test match, Bangladesh sealed their first test series win in overseas.

Beating West Indies in the first test, Bangladesh won their first away match in the history of Bangladesh cricket.

Acting captain Sakib Al Hasan judged for both Man of the Match and Man of the Series.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[proud_indian]

congrats to u guyz

 

[Arjak]

My heartiest congrats to bangladesh,for this phenomenal victory.....

 

[Pintu]

Congratulation to Bangladesh Team for their first overseas victory and tremendous feat they have achieved .

Regards

 

[Pintu]

Cricket Drama: History At Lord's - Edit Page - OPINION - The Times of India

Cricket Drama: History At Lord's
Harish Bhat23 July 2009, 12:00am IST

History was made at Lord's this week, as England won their first Ashes Test there in 75 years. Surely the Aussies must be feeling down, even as the English team has reinterpreted MCC Marylebone Cricket Club as 'My Country Conquers'. But history and drama are no strangers at this Mecca of cricket. Indeed, the ground witnessed a dramatic start. The first Test played at Lord's in 1884 saw England win, not modestly but by an entire innings. The players must have thereafter immediately retired to the much beloved Lord's tavern, which reportedly served the finest ales in London. This institution was sadly demolished in 1967, which has led to some English players flitting off to various parts of the city in search of a good drink.

These small moments of drama pale in comparison to the historic incidents of July 15, 1822, when John Willis opened the bowling at Lord's while playing for Kent against MCC. He bowled round arm and was promptly no-balled by the umpire. Willis, a man of great temper and pride, threw the ball down in disgust, mounted his horse with a flourish, and rode out of Lord's and cricket forever. No present-day cricketer can hope to match this manly display of spirit.

History was also made at Lord's several years ago in July, coincidentally when a ball bowled by Jehangir Khan instantly killed a sparrow flying over the cricket ground. The poor bird and the killer ball are preserved in an unusual exhibit in the Lord's museum. I was amused to see in this museum the very tiny urn, no larger than a tea cup. I was told cup holds the revered ashes Australia and England hotly compete for. And even if you win it, you can't take the urn away from Lord's, where it stays forever. So, really, the Aussies have possibly lost more on account of the tavern which has disappeared, rather than the match they have just lost.

History is made by everyone. I created a small piece of history on visiting Lord's in May 1997. Having watched a county match between Middlesex and Sussex, and having shaken hands with Mike Gatting, one was overcome by a sense of awe and history on looking out at the grandstands. I left the ground, then i paused below the Grace Gates and in the sand wrote with a twig the name of the cricketing hero of my schooldays Sunil Gavaskar. This month, England have made history at Lord's and Sunny has turned 60. The name one scribbled must have melted into dust. But then, the ashes are also a type of dust, aren't they?

 

[Pintu]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | Nine make shortlist

Nine make shortlist

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

A total of nine candidates, including well-known football administrators Savio Messias, Shaji Prabhakaran and Gautam Kar were Wednesday shortlisted for the post of the general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

According to sources, the shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview next month following which the final decision will be taken by the acting president Praful Patel.

Sources said that the selection of Messias, who is widely regarded as one of the best choices, had looked uncertain at one point as the AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco was opposed to his inclusion.

Subodh Bhatnagar, a sports administrator from the Indian Air Force and the Chandigarh Football Association secretary, Rakesh Baxi have also made the shortlist.

Around half-a-dozen candidates have been picked from a list of 35 people for the post of the chief executive officer of the I-League.

While the AIFF deputy general secretary, Gautam Kar and director competition, Anil Kamath will receive interview calls, former Mahindra United player and coach Harish Rao has found a place on the list.

Meanwhile, Patel said the financial condition of the AIFF was not as bad as projected in the media adding that there had been no default on the part of Zee Sports in paying the federation its dues.

“There has been a lot of speculation which is not true. Zee recently released some money and there was no such problem. Reports of the AIFF breaking some of its fixed deposits to run its affairs is also not true,” Patel said.

As for the ambitious AIFF-Bharti Academy which has run into troubled waters, Patel said he had spoken to Bharti and had requested them not to back out of the project.

The academy “can come up as and when the land is available,” Patel said. “It was to come up in Goa but a land dispute arose and Bharti agreed to shift it to Haryana. But then, the Haryana government could not give us the land required for the project.”

 

[Pintu]

Referrals will make the game confusing: Hayden - Interviews - Cricket - SPORTS - The Times of India

Referrals will make the game confusing: Hayden
Dwaipayan Datta , TNN 25 July 2009, 01:17am IST

CHENNAI: Matthew Hayden is far away from the centre of attraction, but watching Australia trail in the Ashes series still hasn't been easy.

The former Australian opener, though, doesn't believe there is anything wrong with the Australian side and believes they can fight back in the series.

Hayden, currently in the city on Team Chennai work, talked about all these and much more during his chat with TOI on Thursday.

Excerpts:

Things are not looking too well for Australia...

They aren't. It's amazing how the momentum can shift in a matter of a few sessions. Australia were in complete control in the first Test and I don't think they become a bad team because they lost one Test. Let's give credit to the England team, their engine room was at its best in the Lord's Test.

Engine room?

It's an Aussie term for the top three batsmen of the team. Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook had that brilliant partnership, while Australia's top-three didn't fire. It did make a lot of difference.

Andrew Flintoff was brilliant in the 2005 Ashes. He looks as good this time around as well. Your thoughts?

2005 was not just about Flintoff but with the way the entire English bowling unit performed. But this time, yes, Flintoff was absolutely magnificent. He went flat out, and I think, it's time Australia finds its own Flintoff.

Do you think Australia can come back?

They can, but it's going to be intriguing. And that makes this series such an iconic contest. The Aussies, though, will look to have Brett Lee back, because, if he is operating full steam, he does make a difference.

There have been quite a few controversial decisions in the series so far. What do you think about those?

I believe too much intrusion of technology isn't helping the sport. With time, it's becoming a question of integrity versus technology, which I am not enjoying at all. Barring the hotspot, I don't think any technology is foolproof. So it's better to ask the fielder, especially in case of the catches, and if he says he has caught it, then so be it.

You mean that the referral system won't help?

Probably not, my belief is it will make the game more confusing. It's time we wake up to the idea that cricket is not such a cut and dried game and there will be grey areas. The benefit of doubt should exist, because that makes the game so beautiful.

Flintoff's retirement has opened up an area of debate. Do you think we'll see more players quitting Test cricket to go full steam in the IPL?

It's a fact that IPL is on its way to becoming a global phenomenon. I surely won't like to see Test cricket being wiped out, but things are changing faster than ever. And I believe, the most important thing for the game will be to find a place in the Olympics, if and when that happens. If the IPL helps cricket in reaching that goal, then so be it.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Kiwis might opt for IPL over country says Vettori​

WELLINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - New Zealand cricketers may opt to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) rather than for their country if the Twenty20 competition continues to clash with international commitments, captain Daniel Vettori said.

Vettori was one of six senior players who delayed signing their central contracts until Friday after scheduling conflicts between the IPL and New Zealand's international programme next season had been clarified. "It's a difficult decision and people have families and other issues to work through but our priority was to play for New Zealand," Vettori told the Herald on Sunday newspaper.
"But we realise that if these situations continue to come up it will be difficult for players to continue to turn down the money, so we implore the powers that be to (find a solution) so we don't have to make these decisions every year."

Vettori and several other players arrived late for New Zealand's tour of England in 2008 so they could play matches in the inaugural IPL.

Link

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Irfan was dropped for reasons other than performance: Yusuf​

AHMEDABAD: Vadodara all-rounder Irfan Pathan's omission from the 30-member probables list for the Champions Trophy has come as a surprise to many. On Tuesday, during a promotional event in Ahmedabad, his brother Yusuf - a member of the Indian squad - took a dig at BCCI selectors by saying Irfan's performances had always been up to the mark and he had been left out because of other reasons. "Irfan's performance was always up to the mark. He has not been left out because of his performance. Everybody has seen what is happening," an angry Yusuf shot back when asked by TOI for his comment on Irfan's omission from the probables squad.
"What will I comment," Yusuf went on. "It is for you (the media) to react and comment on what is happening." Since emerging on the scene as a hot new talent in 2003, Irfan has had a roller-coaster ride in his career so far. Although his pace dropped and he was axed, he has had a fairly decent - although unspectacular - run since his comeback, excelling in T20 cricket and the IPL. He also scored a maiden Test hundred against Pakistan in Bangalore and also that man-of-the-match in India's famous win at Perth, where he scored 74 runs and picked up five wickets. He was also a member of India's World T20-winning squad. Yusuf's outburst comes on the heels of Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) chief selector Mukund Parmar comments that "for someone from Gujarat to get selected in the Indian team, someone from the state has to be there in the selection panel".
Gujarat Ranji Trophy consultant coach Ashok Patel said: "The Indian team composition is very South-heavy, or rather we should say, Chennai heavy." Selection committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth, incidentally, is from Chennai.

Link

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Bangladesh beat Windies in 2nd ODI, win series​

ROSEAU, Dominica: Bangladesh won their first One-day series against a current Test nation when they defeated West Indies by three wickets in the second match at Windsor Park on Tuesday.
Two days after beating West Indies in a One-dayer for the first time, Bangladesh chased down the home side's 274-6 in 50 overs, including an unbeaten century by Travis Dowlin, by reaching 276-7 with an over to spare. Bangladesh can go for the two-Test and three-ODI sweep on Friday at St. Kitts. Bangladesh were led by captain Shakib-al-Hasan, who cracked 65 off 61 balls, and Mohammad Ashraful, who hit 64 off 77 deliveries. They had solid support from the entire top order. Left-handers Tamim Iqbal (29) and Junaid Siddique (23) shared an opening stand of 46, while Raqibul Hasan (20) and Mushfiqur Rahim (31) helped steel the middle order. David Bernard was responsible for removing both openers as Bangladesh slipped to 64-2.
First, he claimed Siddique with the ball then pulled off a sensational one-handed catch at midwicket off pacer Kemar Roach to dispatch Tamim. Ashraful then forged two half-century partnerships to tilt the balance back to the Tigers. He and Raqibul added 52 for the third wicket, followed by an even more destructive stand of 74 off 64 balls with his skipper. Bernard claimed Raqibul to a lofted drive to extra cover but that failed to halt Bangladesh's momentum. Ashraful and Shakib were cruising when Ashraful gifted his wicket as he lofted leg-spinner Rawl Lewis to long-off at 190-4 in the 37th over. Ashraful, who also hit a half century in the opening match victory, struck three fours and a six off 77 balls.
Shakib and Mushfiqur soon dulled the home crowd again in a stand of 48 for the fifth wicket. But in a frantic finale, the tourists almost threw it away. Darren Sammy grabbed the wicket of Shakib, who sliced a catch to short third man after hitting two fours and a six off 61 balls. Wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, on debut, was called out from behind the stumps once Roach had been banned from the attack for two beamers and the 19-year-old grabbed two wickets to suggest a fairytale ending for the home team.
Mahmudullah clipped to square leg while Mushfiqur slapped a full toss to extra cover at 261-7. But Naeem Islam and Abdur Razzak were levelheaded as they led their side home with an unbeaten stand of 15 off 18 balls. Razzak hit the winning boundary with a sliced four over short third man off Bernard. Earlier, Dowlin's brilliant, unbeaten 100 off 117 balls gave West Indies hope. The 32-year-old, in only his second match, struck six fours and a six off 117 balls. He paced his innings superbly, with his first 50 occupying 88 deliveries before he exploded for 50 off his next 29 balls.
Before he appeared, West Indies received an encouraging start after winning the toss. Dale Richards (20) and Andre Fletcher (22) added 33 off the first five overs but Bangladesh struck back once spin was introduced. Fletcher perished to the first ball from skipper Shakib's left-arm spin, slicing a catch to cover. Richards fell at 52-2, run out as he ended up in the same crease as Smith after a mix-up. Smith and Dowlin gradually rebuilt the innings in the face of a disciplined Bangladesh spin attack. Just as they were beginning to blossom, Smith also departed to a run out. This time, it was Tamim's brilliant direct hit from deep square leg that did the damage. Smith struck one four and one six off 62 balls. Captain Floyd Reifer's tortured return to international cricket continued when he fell for 7 as he slapped a wide ball from Naeem to backward point at 134-4 in the 33rd over. But Dowlin and the home team's all-rounders rallied in the latter overs. The last 10 overs realized 98 runs, including the batting powerplay of five overs that produced 50 runs. Bernard struck two fours, Lewis launched two sixes and Sammy closed the innings with a flurry that included four fours. Dowlin, who missed out on a maiden century when he fell for 95 in the second Test, endured one bit of luck when Syed Rasel just failed to cling onto a diving return catch with Dowlin on 97. The Guyanese brought up his century of the second ball of the final over, with a nudge into the off side.

Link

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Courtsey : Cricinfo

 

[Tamil]

congrats, but winning a second grade team...mind that and play afterwards,

But in history no one knows it beats second grade team,

BANGLADESH BEAT WEST INDIES 2-0

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan, clinch ODI series

DAMBULLA: Mahela Jayawardene hit his first ODI century in two years as Sri Lanka thumped Pakistan by six wickets on Monday to grab a winning 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

 

[leonblack08]

Now Bangladesh beat W Indies 3-0.

We got a chance and grabbed it with both hands.


A small reminder,that we have a 20-20 win and a hard fought draw against West Indies full strength team.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Sachin Tendulkar targets 15,000 Test runs​

NEW DELHI: Even after scoring close to 30,000 international runs ever since he started his career, Sachin Tendulkar feels he has not done enough as a batsman. "I am not pleased yet with what I have done," said Tendulkar, who has scored a record 12,773 from 159 Tests at an average of 54.58 and 16,684 runs from 425 ODIs. The 36-year-old Tendulkar, in an interview to Wisden Cricketer magazine, said he is now aiming to touch 15,000-run mark in Tests.

"Sunil Gavaskar has told me that I have to get to 15,000 runs. He said he would be angry with me and would come and catch me if I didn't. I admire him so much and to score that many would be a terrific achievement, but that is not the only aim," he said, adding that "to win the World Cup in 2011" is his another ambition. Australian captain Ricky Ponting, 34, is close to Tendulkar's Test mark with 11,193 Test runs so far. Tendulkar, earlier described as second best cricketer after Don Bradman in the history of the game by Wisden, said that if anyone comes close to his style of batting is his teammate Virender Sehwag. "I would say Virender Sehwag comes closest to my style," he said.

Australian great Bradman saw himself in Tendulkar and the Indian batting legend was also the only modern player to figure in his all-time XI. Tendulkar admitted that thinking of life without cricket after retirement scares him. "It's a scary thought. It has been there for my whole adult life, it will be difficult, I have been around for a long time, I can imagine when I finish I will long to face just 10 more balls but you have to move." He, however, said time has not come yet to hang his bat. "I will know when it is the right time, I won't have to be dragged away. I am the person who will make the decision and I will know whether I still belong." Tendulkar also revealed how he endured pain while batting in the recent past.

"I always play in pain, all the time. I played with a broken finger for the last three months, but you know when pain is manageable or not, and most of the time I can do it. "I can still do what I did when I was 25 but the body is changing, so your thought process has to change too. I have had to change how I think, which is about taking less risk," he said.

Link

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Dravid set to make ODI comeback​

New Delhi: Rahul Dravid, out of favour in ODIs since the last two years, is all set to make a comeback into the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be played between September 22 and October 5. The team will be selected on Sunday. Sources close to the selection committee informed Zeecric.com that Dravid is likely to replace struggling Rohit Sharma in the middle-order, which has been India’s major cause of concern in recent times. It has also been learnt that selectors want stability in the volatile middle-order and no one is better suited than Rahul Dravid to address the problem. Otherwise a defensive batsman, Dravid’s good show in the second edition of IPL may have helped him to make a comeback after two years of wilderness from the shorter version of the game.

But the main deliberation in the selection meeting is expected to be regarding the fitness of the blistering opener Virender Sehwag, whose pull out from the T20 World Cup due to injury created a lot of furore. The board would assess Sehwag’s fitness on August 15. But selectors would not risk him in the squad unless he is fully fit, due to the strict replacement rule in the Champions Trophy. Suresh Raina, who also missed the West Indies tour due to an injury, is likely to make a comeback into the side. Abhishek Nayar who did not get enough opportunity to showcase his talent in the Caribbean Island is likely to be retained as the selectors want a pace-bowling all-round option in the absence of Irfan Pathan.

Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh will form the pace bowling unit in the absence of injured Zaheer Khan. Though UP pacer Sudeep Tyagi may be the dark horse after his superb performance in IPL-II and recently concluded Emerging Players’ tournament Down Under.

Link

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Dravid returns, Sehwag to miss tri-series and Champions Trophy​

CHENNAI: Veteran Rahul Dravid, on Sunday, staged a comeback into India's 15-member One-day squad while Virender Sehwag was ruled out of next month’s tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in South Africa. The 36-year-old Dravid, who last played an ODI back in October 2007, was included in the squad to bolster the batting line-up for the two tournaments, which will also see the return of Sachin Tendulkar.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra was included in place of left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha in the squad, announced by BCCI secretary N Srinivasan. There was no major surprises in the team which features eight batsmen, four pacers, two spinners and an all-rounder in Yusuf Pathan. Mumbai left-hander Abhishek Nayar was retained in the side but his Ranji team-mate Rohit Sharma was axed to accommodate Suresh Raina, who had skipped the West Indies tour because of a thumb injury.
Squad: Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Dinesh Karthik, Abhishek Nayar, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar .

Link

 

[natarajan]

oh its sad to see sehwag misses again

 

[1.44]

Kinda hoped Sehwag would have made it