14 Monday 4th January, 2010 Ponting first ball welcomes 2010 but New Delhi pitch farce shows… which points a finger at the lev- els of coaching. There is a lot of rhetoric going on, but as you quickly learn from the ‘bada’ politicians, SLC silence over talk is cheap and promises made all too often forgotten, hoping the public will do so as well. As it is, SLC and the interim committee seem to walk in some trepidation of big brother BCCI Indian slur, players across the straits. As with the fiasco outside the Premadasa Stadium, when police charged spectators back in August when it took almost a month to com- ment and apologise to the public for that debacle, SLC has yet to were chicken at issue any comment on the Ferozshah Kotla pitch fiasco of eight days ago. where batsmen have largely The Chesterfield Files Sangakkara has been too dominated, because of much of a gentleman to be criti- favourable conditions, but not cal of the shoddy handling of that enjoyable for those at the Ganga aims to the debacle by the Delhi District receiving end. Association, other than And watching these two of saying the pitch was unfit to ‘flow’ again and the Mohammad brotherhood in play on. Yet, the feeling is that action does suggest how fortu- had it been , nate Sri Lanka were when they or , the game would make WI team were not included in the have been called off within the side. Asif was alleged- by Russell Palipane first eight overs. ly injured, yet he should have As it is, Delhi’s discredited been serving a ban for a drug Trinidad & Tobago skipper, Daren cricket hierarchy are in panic related offences and Sami mode in what can only be Ganga, the right-hand batsman, who because he had done nothing described as bizarre efforts to turns 31 later this month, has not more offensive than play for the cover the gaping cracks in their played for the regional squad in two . flawed association; they are like Banning players because they years, but said last week he was politicians who have been were part of a rival league and looking to score heavily in the caught in a flagrant lie, yet the Board of Control for Cricket unable to accept culpability or upcoming WICB regional first class in India didn’t like it, is the sort responsibility. season, to force his way into the of low trick you find politicians As the possible threat of selection frame, according to a report play, carrying out to discredit a International Cricket Council decent, law abiding opponent. in the Trinidad & Tobago Express, slapping a ban on the capital Had these two been on tour, it Jan. 2, 2010 edition. by Trevor Chesterfield city’s venue looms, political would have been interesting to “I intend to push hard to get back wannabe and DDCA vice-presi- elcoming a New Year, if see how the Pakistan dent Chetan Chauhan adopted into international cricket. In order to not stepping into the attack would have shaped bowl- the typical gung-ho approach do this, I know that I have to impress second decade of the ing strategy. Mind you, before W when he accused the Sri Lankan 21st has already this Sydney Test, Sami’s eighty the West Indies selection panel and players of being “chicken” – in brought its share of drama and one in 33 games at an in order to do this, I have to increase other words, cowards, if you controversy. average of 51.37 explains why he the quantity of runs I produce,” check your thesaurus – because Just ask how didn’t play on the New Zealand they were afraid of being beaten Ganga was quoted as having said. tough is, Yahaluweni. A first leg of the antipodes tour. in the abandoned fifth limited “I still think that I have the quality ball duck at the Sydney Cricket In fact, my island Test player overs international game, to perform at the top level and I Ground against Pakistan in your for 2009, Rangana Herath, wasn’t because of poor pitch condi- first of the year, is not even part of Sri Lanka’s game would really like to make a contribu- tions. the sort of memory to have, plan when the series was about tion at that level. My form is currently India MS Dhone He also used old Raj style jin- especially after winning the toss to start against Pakistan in goism to attack the ICC’s match good and I am looking forward to tak- and deciding to bat and trusting Galle. By the end of the tour of Bandara a chance on this How different to when Trevor referee Alan Hurst’s decision to ing that into the regional series and your instincts against sharp India, his contribution was Bangladesh tour of slogs. Penney was in charge of the call off the controversial game getting some good scores,” said the new-ball bowlers such as impressive: 34 wickets at 1151 for Batsmen who use their feet to fielding side of the game and in the middle of the 24th over of Mohammad Asif and an average of 33.85 should earn bowlers such as Mendis soon one where the captain at the highly articulate and amiable man, the Sri Lanka innings. . better recognition than it has. have his measure and while time, , said he with Indian roots, much like many What has the SLC done? So Sucker as he is for the hook, But as you find, there are Herath, despite the of understood the value of such a West Indian cricketers, such as for- far, mumbled something about Ponting elects first ball up to those in this island, who in the Kanpur coach in the side and it is why awaiting the outcome of the mer skippers, the legendary Rohan take on Sami and the look on begrudge hardworking bowlers and Mumbai, where his strike the side were always sharp in report by Hurst on the appalling Kanhai and . his face would tell you that the their successes and that is disap- rate was impres- their fielding skills. What Sri pitch conditions, a warning of fireworks they have in Sydney to pointing for rewards for the just sive, at least kept Lanka has is a fumbling joke Unlike Kanhai and Chanderpaul which was made back in welcome the New Year had been are seldom recognised. It is why, his line and and it is not going to improve who played/play for , Ganga October how the New Delhi sta- reignited. Especially as Phil when all the fuss was being length. Mendis until they get someone who represents Trinidad & Tobago. dium’s surface was such that Hughes, who has been recalled, made over Ajantha Mendis, you buckled at Green understands the value of field- batting was a matter of playing Late last year, Ganga and his T&T had fallen the previous ball for really wondered if there were Park and his ing. a game of Russian roulette. team won the hearts of thousands of an unconvincing ten-ball duck: those who did not know their fielding This is while Mahendra There was no protest or rejec- fans for the manner they performed six balls more than the duck he history too well. The careers of exposed his Singh Dhoni has called for bowl- tion of such claims made by recorded at the start of his trick finger artists, Jack level of ing and fielding coaches for in the championship, where Chauhan. In fact, one SLC career at The Wanderers, Fingleton and Johnny Gleeson coaching India to relieve the burden on they were the runners-up. source says they didn’t read against South Africa. fizzled after electrifying standards in Gary Kirsten. If you look at a such comments. Which suggests Ganga is considered by many, as Watching the Baggy starts. the leagues touring squad such as England they don’t wish to be seen object- a shrewd tactician (in the Mike Greens disintegrate they Mendis may he played before his now in South Africa, they have ing to such a flagrant use of Brearley mould?). way they did is like watch- return, but he international career. two: Otis Gibson, a West Indian abuse by a so-called leading ing a soggy paper bag full Watching him field who has had a career that West Indies will host South Africa administrator of the host. of groceries you are carry- became an embarrass- includes county cricket in in three Tests starting in May this According to a confidential ing falling apart, the con- ment, one as fraught as that England and first-class in South year and Ganga will be eyeing this report sent to the ICC who exam- tents despoiled by falling by the rotund Thilina Africa as well as the ined the venue on November 4, it series to make a possible return. into a dirty puddle. Kandamby who struggles and who looks after the fast appears that the main problem The T&T skipper has played 48 It maybe fun around the boundary at the big- bowlers; the other is former is the quality of the soil used in for some in ger venues. Pakistan Test and ODI leg-spin- Tests, but last saw Windies colours in the last two years; it is substan- an era It will be interesting to see ner Mushtaq Ahmed, who helps 2008 in South Africa, where he strug- dard and has been badly pre- how he shapes up in Bangladesh the spinners. gled badly with a mere 117 runs from pared. It means that whoever is will need in a new look squad which has Sri Lanka, it is being suggest- at fault needs to answer a few six innings. He was dropped on his to reinvent some promising fresh talent to ed by the interim committee questions as well as how do they return to the Caribbean and remained himself as a this level which is creating a lot hierarchy, doesn’t need a bowl- play a game on an untested sur- bowler and if interest. It will also be inter- ing coach. The shadow genius in the wilderness until late last year face and what they are getting employ a better esting to see how the Sri Lanka Chandika Harturusinghe and when he re-entered the selection out of it. strategy if he team shapes up in the field. deputy coach Stuart Law are frame as a possible candidate to lead It is amazing how India, with hopes to extend his and Muttiah quite capable of handling the all their money, manage to get the West Indies to Australia. career, while the Muralitharan suggest the team bowling needs. Yeah… Sure… the basics wrong. This gives the Overall, Ganga has scored 2,160 worthies such as needs to step up their fielding Like standing at the nets and impression because of their Herath and Malinga skills, but when you view the shouting orders, instead of runs at an average of 25.71. He has internal politics and the actual Bandara have been names of the management and encouragement and giving managed just three centuries in 86 cricket concerns are not a high around a lot longer coaching staff on tour, who do advice. As with the fielding, the innings, though taking back-to-back priority. It shows a system that and know the condi- we find going on another ‘paid bowling was exposed in India is no only incompetent but run hundreds off Australia in the 2003 tions a lot better. This is holiday’? Why, it is Manoj not so much because of the by those who feed on their nar- home series. why, having finally Abeywickrama! injuries that meant players were cissism, to the detriment of the acknowledged Mendis as It would be interesting to being forced to return, but Ganga said he was also hoping to game. a failure on his first test- know what level certificate he because the bench strength was- lead T&T to the 2010 regional first ing foreign assignment, it has in coaching; whether it is a n’t up to international level class title. email: is pleasing that the selec- local one or Australian or from because of the Premier League [email protected] “We have the regional first class Rangana Herath tors have finally given England. level of the game in the country, cricket series that’s upon us and my aim is to win this title for T&T,” Ganga stressed. “I am hoping for yet another suc- Nadal wins UAE exhibition Bravo fires Bushrangers cessful year for T&T and that we win the first class title that has eluded us final against Soderling to Big Bash win for a while.” ABU DHABI, United Arab me it is not my goal for this innings acceleration and fire still required a tricky 26 from 15 Emirates (AP) - Rafael Nadal year,” Nadal said. “To play Victoria to 179 for four and their balls. won his first title of 2010, beat- competitively throughout and second successive win in the tour- Bravo managed just one run Eto’o to miss ing Robin Soderling 7-6 (3), 7-5 win as many tournaments as I nament. from his first three balls but blast- in the final of the season-open- can, that is my goal. To be Openers Brad Hodge and ed the fourth straight overhead ing Capitala exhibition tour- happy playing, to be healthy Matthew Wade gave the for six and then hammered the Inter-Chievo clash nament Saturday to end a two- and to play like I have played Bushrangers a lively start when next ball through point for four. match losing streak against over the last two days.” they posted 69 off just 43 balls. In the next over, he heaved and join Cameroon the Swede. Nadal will play in next Wade carved out 41 from 24 Smith over mid- for his sec- After both players held week’s Qatar Open, the balls with four fours and two sixes ond six and then scored the win- Inter striker Samuel Eto’o will miss serve throughout the first set, Australian Open from Jan. 18 while Hodge got 40 from 36 balls ning run with a single into the on- his side’s Serie A game at Chievo on the second-ranked Spaniard and the ABN AMRO from Feb with three fours before both bats- side. Wednesday. The Italian champions broke decisively in the sixth 8 in the Netherlands before MELBOURNE, January 3rd men, along with captain Cameron Earlier, Bravo broke a promis- failed to persuade Cameroon to let the game of the second at Zayed taking a break. Nadal injured 2010: Effervescent West Indies all- White (14), fell quickly as Victoria ing opening stand of 60 from 32 front man join their squad late for the Sports City. both knees and his abdomen rounder Dwayne Bravo snatched stumbled to 105 for three in the balls between Phil Jacques (33) African Cup of Nations. Soderling had ended last season, missing three wickets and then played a 14th over. and (40). He Eto’o will meet up with Cameroon as Nadal’s 31-game unbeaten run Wimbledon among other tour- cameo to lift Victoria Bushrangers David Hussey then brought the removed Warner to a catch at the planned on January 4, Inter said. Inter on clay at the French Open naments. to a handsome six-wicket victory game to life with a 16-ball 38, deco- wicket with his second ball. Bravo coach Jose Mourinho had wanted Eto’o last year, and beat him again “After the end of the sea- over New South Wales Blues with rated with two fours and three then prised out Usman Khawaja to be available for the match at Chievo at the season-sending ATP son, I didn’t stop and practiced two balls to spare in the Twenty20 sixes, and added 48 from 24 balls for 13 to trigger a collapse that saw since Cameroon’s first match in the Tour World Finals in London. for two and a half weeks,” Big Bash, yesterday. for the fourth wicket with four wickets fall for 47 runs off 43 tournament in Angola is on January 13 Roger Federer defeated Nadal said. “I hope to have The right-arm medium pacer Andrew McDonald who hit a balls, as the Blues struggled. against Gabon. David Ferrer of Spain 6-1, 7-5 good tournaments in Doha, grabbed three for 32 as the Blues, measured, unbeaten 21 from 16 But came to the The Serie A leaders are likely to to finish third. Australia and Rotterdam, and winning the toss and batting, balls. party,scoring a typically aggres- move quickly and sign Macedonia strik- Nadal said overtaking then have three weeks off reached a competitive 178 for six When out-of-favour West Indies sive 25 from 15 balls with two er Goran Pandev in time for Federer was not his main tar- because I have to rest a little off their allotted 20 overs at the allrounder Dwayne Smith fours and a six, while sharing 45 Wednesday’s game after letting reserve get for 2010. in order to play the American MCG. removed Hussey to an amazing for the sixth wicket with name- striker David Suazo join Genoa on loan “Everybody wants the No. 1 season and play many seasons Bravo then smote an unbeaten catch by leaping high sake Steve Smith who finished despite Eto’o’s impending month-long ranking but, believe me, for afterwards.” 18 from eight balls to ignite a late on the long-off boundary, Victoria unbeaten on 35 from 26 balls. absence.