10 Tuesday 14th November, 2006 Aravinda welcomes move to drop Hair

he International Council’s to these young cricketers before a big sea- move to remove Australian umpire son ahead?" Laxman queried. "There is TDarrel Hair from the Elite panel is no substitute for hard work and commit- the best thing to have happened in cricket ment. And, then you have to have of late, says former star bats- immense self-belief to do the job that is man Aravinda de Silva. expected of you. Don't be afraid of fail- In an interview after a visit to the ure," de Silva said. Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium A visibly delighted de Silva, on seeing (Uppal), de Silva said somehow the Asian the world-class gym at the stadium adja- cricketers were never really comfortable cent to a swimming pool, stressed on the with Hair. importance of systematic physical condi- tioning. "When I started playing Test Attitude problem cricket in 1984, all that we did was to do "As cricketers we just don't expect an about 40 rounds and no training of this umpire to be a mere judge but also a good kind. But, I tell you, this is equally impor- friend off and on the field and a very good tant as playing on the field. Physical con- communicator. There seems to be an atti- ditioning ensures strength and tude problem in Hair's case," he said. "I endurance. Cricket is power game now," won't say he is racial, but definitely the he told the attentive Hyderabad crick- Asians have always had the feeling of eters. being let down by him." De Silva is in India on a private visit Game plan and took time off to speak to some domes- On the 1996 World Cup which they tic cricketers in Hyderabad in the pres- won, de Silva said they had a game plan Former Sri Lanka cricketer Aravinda de Silva (right) gestures as Indian cricketer VVS Laxman (left) looks at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket stadi- ence of India’s middle order batsman one year in advance for the event. "The um in Hyderabad, India. (AP) V.V.S. Laxman. role of each cricketer was clearly defined. Sri Lanka can regain Cup So we knew what exactly to do and when," you cannot have 11 good fielders sacrific- His views on the Indian team. "I Words of wisdom he said. "This is the problem with Indians ing the best batsmen. On Sri Lanka's prospects in the 2007 believe there have been too many players now. There is too much of shuffling "You have to strike a perfect balance World Cup, he said the team had the coming in and going out in the last 12 Interestingly, Laxman asked ques- around," he remarked, bringing smiles on in the team. I don't know why Laxman potential to regain the World Cup. "But, months. It is time you find a combination tions from the former great and urged the Laxman's face. And, more significantly should not figure in one-day cricket given they have to get the right combinations which gels well before the World Cup," he youngsters to listen to the words of wis- for the Hyderabadi, de Silva ridiculed the his class and success rate against teams and have clearly defined roles for each said. dom from de Silva. "What is your advice stress on fielding in selection saying that like Australia," he said player," he said. Agencies Pietersen and Yousuf misses double century as England find form Pakistan eye victory LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - Mohammad ing appeal to the television umpire Yousuf just missed a double century Sunday. SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - England has another tour Monday to spur Pakistan into a com- Yousuf shared the highest partner- , match against South Australia manding lead against the West Indies on ship of the with wicketkeeper- and hit half-cen- before the first Ashes test against day three of the first cricket test. batsman Akmal (78), adding 148 runs at a turies Monday to help England Australia begins Nov. 23 in Yousuf's 192 off 330 balls lifted good pace before both fell to off-spinner make substantial inroads into New Brisbane. Pakistan to 485 in its first innings, giving Gayle in the second session. South Wales' first-innings of 355-9 Pietersen said it was impor- the hosts a 279-run lead, after the West Akmal, who hit 13 fours in his fourth in an Ashes tour match. tant that England had a good Indies scored just 206. test half century, was snapped up by Lara England was 256-4 at stumps hitout Monday against the strong The West Indies was reeling at 74-3 at short midwicket. The skipper also with Strauss (50), Cook (59) and New South Wales lineup when bad light - for the third consecutive dropped a low catch off Yousuf in the sec- Pietersen (80 ) having bene- that includes Glenn McGrath (1- day - brought an early closure to the day's ond in the second over of the day. fited from time in the middle 41) and Nathan Bracken (0-39). play with 20 overs still to be bowled. A "It was a good experience to bat in the against a test-strength New South "They wanted to get mileage total of 44 overs of play have been lost due company of senior batsman like Yousuf," Wales side. and we wanted to get runs, so it to poor light over the last three days. Akmal said. "We lost two quick in was was a good test," Pietersen said. Visiting captain was hold- the morning session and we needed to unbeaten on 48 after two days of "But we've only got three ing one end up with a defiant 28 while build a partnership to extend our lead. the three-day match. innings - this one and two in nightwatchman was Thankfully we managed to do that." After early showers suspended Adelaide before Brisbane - so it unbeaten on five with the West Indies still Yousuf, who had reprieves on 43, 101 play with the hosts resuming at was important for the guys to get 205 runs adrift to make Pakistan bat and 114, was finally in Gayle's 325-5, England's bowlers took 4-35 in and try to make a few. again. next over - this time he was well out of his before New South Wales declared. "That's the toughest warmup Paceman Umar Gul (2-39), who took crease. Steve Harmison returned 3-95. game I've played in for England, five wickets in the first innings, rocked The last- pair of Danish 's pace troubled especially against four bowlers - the West Indies with two big wickets on Kaneria (23) and Gul (16 not out) frustrat- England early, and he had Marcus two definites and two strong pos- either side of tea, while Daren Ganga (5) ed the West Indies bowlers with a rapid 41- Trescothick (8) out hitting on to sibilities who could play against was run out. run partnership that also saw Dwayne his stumps in his opening five-over us (in Brisbane). So it was good Dangerman (11) edged to Bravo dropping a routine catch of spell. But Strauss and Cook stead- fun." wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal but Gul was Kaneria. ied the innings with a stand of 86. SCORES: lucky to win 's (23) lbw The West Indies bowlers had another eventually broke New South Wales 355-9 declared (Phil Jaques decision from the Sri Lankan umpire tiring first session on a slow pitch as the partnership when he grabbed a 107, 68, Michael Clarke 50; England opening batsman Andrew Strauss evades a Asoka de Silva. Television replays showed Pakistan added 131 runs and lost two one-handed return catch off Steve Harmison 3-95, Andrew Giles 2-46; ball from New South Wales bowler Brett Lee during the the ball hit the right-handed batsman wickets after resuming at the overnight Strauss and then removed No. 4 England 256-4 (Kevin Pietersen 80 not out, second day of their 3-day tour match against New high on the thigh pad. 265-4. with a ball outside off Andrew Flintoff 48 not out, Alastair Cook 59, South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, "We need to apply ourselves and put Fast bowler provided stump. Andrew Strauss 50; Stuart Clark 2-34). Nov. 13, 2006. (AP) runs on the board tomorrow," the West the early breakthroughs before Yousuf Indies coach said. "That's and Akmal were involved in a century the only way we can put the pressure back stand and extended the Pakistan lead. on Pakistan." Shoaib Malik (69) took two bound- Duleep Trophy final Boxing champion to Yousuf made the West Indies pay aries off Taylor's first over before he heavily for the three dropped catches in played a lose shot and was caught at mid- leave Spanish jail after his eight-hour, 21-minute innings which wicket. featured 24 boundaries and a straight six It ended a valuable 139-run partner- Chopra & Ricky give paying bail off left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed. ship off 285 balls in 3 1/4 hours with He was also lucky not to be given out Malik hitting a six and 10 boundaries in MALAGA, Spain (AP) - WBO feather- on 53 when De Silva did not refer a stump- his half century. North the lead weight champion Scott Harrison was expected to be released from jail Monday after paying his bail. SCOREBOARD Aakash Chopra and Ravneet Ricky on 135. The boxer's release means he will be West Indies, first innings, 206 63-0 (2w), 20-3-63-0, Dave slammed centuries to put North Zone in Ricky too began with three fours off able to defend his title against Nicky Pakistan 1st innings (Overnight: 265 for four) Mohammed 31-4-98-3, Chris Gayle 10-3-24-2, an impregnable position in the Duleep Ganegama but then slowed down. After Cook in London on Dec. 9. Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Taylor 57 Ramnaresh Sarwan 1-0-2-0. Trophy final against Sri Lanka A at the crossing 50, off 108 balls, he tucked into The 29-year-old Scottish fighter was Imran Farhat lbw b Taylor 9 West Indies 2nd innings Eden Gardens. Resuming on 51 for no Dammika Prasad and Jehan Mubarak's expected to fly back to Britain late Younis Khan c Sarwan b Edwards 11 Chris Gayle c Akmal b Gul 11 loss on the second morning, North Zone part-time offspin. His 100 came up off 183 Monday, according to his manager, Mohammad Yousuf st Ramdin b Gayle 192 Daren Ganga run out 5 finished on 321 for 2 with a lead of 25 balls, and was out in the 84th over, caught Barry Hughes. Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw b Mohammed 0 Ramnaresh Sarwan lbw b Gul 23 with eight wickets in hand. by Thilan Samaraweera off "The judge has signed the papers for Shoaib Malik c Mohammed b Taylor 69 Brian Lara not out 28 Chopra, who had raced away to 39 at Amerasinghe for 122. He added 214 with bail with no conditions attached and he Abdul Razzaq c Ramdin b Taylor 5 Fidel Edwards not out 5 stumps yesterday, lost his opening part- Chopra for the second wicket. will be released mid-afternoon," Hughes Kamran Akmal c Lara b Gayle 78 Extras: (1lb, 1nb) 2 ner Gautam Gambhir to the second ball Mithun Manhas, North's captain, was said. Shahid Nazir c Collymore b Mohammed 0 TOTAL: (for 3 wickets) 74. of the day - bowled by Ishara with Chopra on 29 from 44 balls at the Harrison was arrested for an alleged Umar Gul not out 16 Overs: 21. time: 98 minutes. Amerasinghe for 7 - but held his nerve to close of play. For the Sri Lankans, assault in southern Spain on Oct. 6 while Danish Kaneria c Ramdin b Mohammed 23 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-20, 3-56. graft out his 15th first-class hundred. He Amerasinghe was the only real success training for the fight. The boxer has a Extras: (4b, 7lb, 6w, 8nb) 25 Still to bat: , Dwayne Bravo, picked up two fours off one Akalanka of the day, picking up Gambhir and history of depression and alcohol prob- TOTAL: (all out) 485. , Dave Mohammed, Jerome Taylor, Ganegama over to get to 50, but then Ricky at the start and end of the day. lems. Overs: 146. Batting time: 636 minutes. . buckled down. Chopra spent a few overs His release order came after he paid Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-45, 3-133, 4-140, 5-279, 6- Bowling: in the nineties, but a brace off Rangana North Zone 321 for 2 (Chopra 135*, Ricky 122) euro28,000 (US$36,000) bail, a spokes- 285, 7-433, 8-444, 9-446, 10-485. Umar Gul 9-1-39-2, Shahid Nazir 8-3-27-0 (1nb), Herath's left-arm spin took him to the Sri Lanka A 296 all out (Chamara Silva 84, woman for the Superior Justice Bowling: Fidel Edwards 26-3-109-1 (8nb, 4w), Abdul Razzaq 1-1-0-0, Danish Kaneria 2-0-7-0, landmark. He finished the day unbeaten Warnapura 65, Sharma 4-85) Tribunal for the southern region of Jerome Taylor 33-7-115-4, Corey Collymore 25-6- Shoaib Malik 1-1-0-0. Andalucia said.