16 Thursday 26th March, 2009 Robinho threatens to sue Pele over India looks for series win, drug controversy by Rory Smith Pele allegedly made the accusation that both Robinho and his close friend Ronaldo had both once had a problem with drugs when speaking at a private function in Sao NZ looks to learn Paulo. Unbeknown to Pele, he was being WELLINGTON, New Zealand Yuvraj Singh have jointly amassed recorded and his alleged remarks were (AP) - New Zealand will attempt to 508 test appearances while New later widely reported by the Brazilian media. bridge a broad gulf of experience Zealand’s top six can claim only 60. Both the player and his club have categori- between itself and the Indian crick- Of those, 49 are shared by James cally denied the allegation. A statement on et team in the second test match Franklin (24), Ross Taylor (15) and the British record signing’s website read: “A starting at Napier on Thursday. Flynn 10. formal retraction will be requested, if what India won the first test by 10 The India batsmen have 103 test he said was not misinterpreted by the wickets and seems set, with the centuries among them, the New media that published help of its deeply experienced and Zealanders only six. it. prolific batting lineup, to press on McCullum said New Zealand “If Pele does not to its first series win in New could not expect to match India’s come forward, he will Zealand in 41 years. experience but could use it as an have to deal with this The yawning gap in the experi- example. very unfortunate ence of the Indian and New Zealand “If we can maintain a little bit comment in court. batsmen was obvious during the of faith in the guys we’ve got here, I Robinho is upset and first test at Seddon Park, Hamilton. think we’ve got an incredible skill disappointed at Pele, While India, led by Sachin base within a pretty young side,” he who seems to have Tendulkar’s 160, batted for 152.4 said. “There are areas we can forgotten the great overs to score 520 in its first improve on. If India are not quite at idol he was. “He must innings and take charge of the their best it gives us a way that we Robinho be reading sensa- match, New Zealand batted for only can hopefully steal a march on tionalist media to come 78 overs in the first innings and 102 them.” up with such a wrongful statement.” in the second, out for 279 on both New Zealand will also rely on its The former Real Madrid player has occasions. bowlers producing a better collec- endured a torrid introduction to life in the New Zealand’s batsmen lacked tive performance than at Hamilton, Premier League. After joining Mark the ingrained discipline and ability where they shared nine Indian Hughes’s side for £32.5million in of their Indian rivals to bat for long wickets - Virender Sehwag was run September, he has shown flashes of his undoubted ability but has been surrounded periods of time, which is the cor- out. Most conspicuously out of by rumours of dressing room discontent, nerstone of test cricket. form were Kyle Mills, who took one fined by Hughes for allegedly leaving a Daniel Flynn’s 289-minute wicket for 119 in the match and training camp without permission and ques- innings of 67 in the second innings Franklin - filling a critical all- tioned by police over an alleged sexual was the longest played by any New rounder’s role - who took none for assault. Robinho denies any wrongdoing Zealand batsman in the match, 98. His recent displays have been patchy, while first innings century-makers Former India coach John including a missed penalty in the 1-0 win Daniel Vettori and Jesse Ryder and Wright, now a New Zealand selec- over Sunderland on Sunday, and while second innings top-scorer Brendon tor, emphasized New Zealand must Hughes has always supported him publicly, McCullum (84) were the only other try to learn from their opponents. the manager is thought to be frustrated in Kiwis to bat for more than two “You learn as much of players particular by his woeful away form. hours. as you do coaches even if they’re Now, for the first time in his Eastlands Tendulkar batted 400 minutes opposition players,” he said. career, his place could be under threat for his 160 while his teammates “Cricket’s like any sport, you study thanks to the return from injury of Bulgarian Gautam Gambhir (174 minutes for it, you look for what other blokes winger Martin Petrov. 72) and Rahul Dravid (183 minutes do. Everyone’s a bit different but The former Atletico Madrid player, one of for 66) also showed the ability to there’s always fundamentals.” the club’s stars last season, has missed occupy the crease for long periods. India captain Mahendra Singh most of the campaign following a knee New Zealand’s batsmen will Dhoni wanted to capitalize on the injury sustained on international duty. His attempt to apply some of that disci- first test to complete a series win, return — possibly as early as City’s trip to pline in the second test, taking a its first in New Zealand since 1968. Arsenal next week — is likely to cost leaf from India’s book, in the hope Its test win in Hamilton was India’s Robinho his favoured left-wing berth. of reducing some of the disparity first in New Zealand since 1976. Hughes said: “He’s the sort of player you between the teams. “One of the first milestones we want, someone who will take people on and “You couldn’t even begin to com- have achieved is to take the lead, get crosses in. On occasions, we have pare the status of our players with now it’s important to play the same lacked that ability. theirs,” McCullum was quoted say- kind of cricket in the second and “Robinho’s favoured position is on the ing. “I guess (Sachin) Tendulkar, third game,” he said. left cutting in. We could play him off the (Rahul) Dravid and (V.V.S.) Laxman New Zealand (from): Tim front and he has played up front before, but have been in every situation you McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel not for me. I don’t think that’s what he’s suit- can be as a batsman. We’re going Flynn, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, ed to. I suppose you could play them both. out there trying to learn situations Jesse Ryder, James Franklin, “But Robinho is an outstanding player and he is in my plans long-term. He is a as they unfold. Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori player of great quality and he wants to be “It can be tough but we’ve also (captain), Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, part of what we are doing. got the blueprint to follow when Iain O’Brien, Chris Martin. “We have to find a way of getting the we’re out there. It’s staring us in India (from): Gautam Gambhir, best out of Robby, especially away from the face every time they bat.” Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, home, because it is patently obvious we are The gulf between India’s top six Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, not doing that. batsmen and New Zealand’s top Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh “But there is no reason for anybody to order is almost immeasurable. Dhoni (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar is in the nets at the India cricket teams training at Nelson Park in think he is not playing well for any other rea- For India, Virender Sehwag (67 Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, son than the opposition stopping him.” Napier, New Zealand, Wednesday, March 25, 2009, as they prepare for the second tests), Gambhir (23), Dravid (132), Munaf Patel, Dinesh Karthik, © The Telegraph Group, Test against New Zealand. (AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford) Tendulkar (157), Laxman (103) and Lakshmi Balaji. London, 2009 Franchises start preparations for overseas IPL London 2012 organisers begin building by Sandeep Nakai “Apart from the weather, South Africa aggressively pursued the case velodrome NEW DELHI (AP) - Bangalore Royal which sealed the issue in their favor,” Challengers owner Vijay Mallya has Mallya was quoted as saying by the LONDON (AP) - London 2012 organ- already spotted an opportunity in the Press Trust of India. isers have begun construction work Indian Premier League’s unexpected “Cricket South Africa was very move to South Africa this season. aggressive and I understand the gov- on the Olympic velodrome they hope Bangalore has six players of South ernment also stepped in.” will feature the fastest cycling track African origin in its squad, including Like Bangalore, the Mumbai in the world. South Africa-born former England Indians have a South African connec- The 6,000-seat, 105 million pound skipper Kevin Pietersen, who signed tion. Former Proteas skipper Shaun ($153 million; euro113 million) indoor for $1.5 million this season. Pollock played for the Mumbai lineup venue is being constructed by the Pietersen will lead the Royal last year and led the team when same company that built the Challengers for a few matches before Sachin Tendulkar was injured. Manchester Velodrome, at which he returns to play in the English Pollock has now taken up an Britain won nine gold medals at last County championship. assignment as a mentor and advisor year’s World Cycling Championships. Even then, Royal Challengers have for the Mumbai Indians and has put Organisers said Wednesday that options for a top South African player several players through a training they hoped the building design to lead the team as the lineup includes camp in Durban, South Africa.