14 Thursday 16th October, 2008 Shane’s gain in Bangalore stalemate by Tristan Holme involvement will be is highly ques- tionable, included as he was after Listening to Zaheer Khan after the uncapped Bryce McGain’s the drawn first first Test in withdrawal from the tour through Bangalore you’d have thought that injury, but his first appearance in , and not , had held Test was a nervous one. the upper hand for the majority of While he did claim the scalp of the match. India’s most revered batsman in “They are the ones on the back , that was his foot now because they couldn’t only in the match and he take 20 ,” he said cheekily. failed to trouble the Indian bats- “They couldn’t even get me and men on a fifth-day wicket which Harbhajan (Singh) out.” did hold some encouragement. Zaheer was in a bullish mood Most interesting was Ricky after claiming the man-of-the- Ponting’s assessment of White’s match award for his six wickets showing, defending his man but and unbeaten 57 in India’s first then going on to say that a “quali- , but while Australia will ty spinner” would have made the be disappointed not to have final day much more interesting claimed first blood in the four-Test as India held on for a comfortable series, it was the placidity of the draw. pitch on the final day which was There was no denying that most to blame. White left much to be desired and As Australia embark on their so Australia’s lack of a top-class most testing year of cricket since spinner remains their greatest the season that included their weakness. Ashes defeat in 2005, they do so Meanwhile Katich, Clark and without half of the players who Johnson all impressed at various formed a side that was compared stages of the clash but while to Sir Donald Bradman’s Haddin showed himself to be an ‘Invincibles’ of the late 1940s. excellent player of spin he also , , endured a torrid time behind the Glenn McGrath, and stumps, leaking 39 byes in the have all called it a match. day since the 5-0 drubbing of Ponting’s assertion that it was Down Under and as the Yet Watson is the ‘new’ man a difficult wicket to keep on was run-in to next year’s Ashes begins, whom Australia need the least as correct, but Haddin’s opposite question marks hover over their the role he is occupying is general- number Mahendra Singh Dhoni ability to replace some of the ly filled by one of the world’s best conceded just 13 byes despite game’s finest players. cricketers, , who spending longer in the field. So far the rebuilding phase has will presumably return after prov- The next eight months in the begun with positive, but not over- ing his ‘commitment’ to Cricket lead-up to will be most whelming, results. Australia. telling, as Australia follow this Shane Watson was the biggest More important to the redevel- tour with a two-Test series against plus here, earning match figures opment of side are New Zealand and a tough home- of three for 53 and scoring a , who has taken the and-away series against South handy 41 as he played his first Test gloves in the wake of Gilchrist’s Africa. By the time they arrive in since November 2005. Most retirement, opening batsman England, the world will know if impressive was his ability to make , fast bowlers they are still the team to beat. Best breakthroughs when his side need- and they start off by silencing Zaheer Natalie Coughlin, 11-time Olympic medalist in swimming, attends the 29th Annual Salute to in the second Test, starting in ed them most and the all-rounder and, biggest of all, leg-spinner Women In Sports Awards Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria on Tuesday, Oct.14, 2008 in New . Mohali on Friday. was a bag of grins in the press York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini) conference at the end of day four. Just how long-term White’s (cricket 365.com) Alonso: I’ll help Massa beat Review system for Windies-England series England’s Test series against West mittee meets in May. Kent were not invited to take part in Indies this winter will use the umpire The ICC board also considered an the inaugural Champions League tour- Hamilton to world title decision review system. application from the controversial nament due to their links with partici- The system - trialled during the , seeking pants, despite finishing runners-up in recent series between India and Sri approval for their competition, at the domestic Cup. Renault star Lanka - allows a side up to three today’s sitting. The ICC board also agreed to look at appeals against a decision per innings. A decision was adjourned pending possible changes to bilateral tours, Fernando The International Cricket Council further discussions between Shashank including an enhanced Test champi- Alonso claims confirmed this afternoon it will be Manohar, president of the Board of onship, and to undertake further implemented during England’s four Control for Cricket in India, and ICL research into whether there should be he will try to Test matches in the Caribbean in officials. an application to have cricket included assist Felipe February and March 2009. The ICC have previously refused to in the 2020 Olympics. The decision was made by ICC grant the Twenty20 ICL competition It was further agreed that next Massa’s bid to board members on the first day of their official status, which has been enjoyed April’s ICC World Cup Qualifier should beat Lewis two-day meeting in Dubai. by the successful and lucrative Indian be moved from the Middle East to South Another three series - New Zealand Premier League. Africa, pending that country’s govern- Hamilton to v , India v Pakistan and Players involved in the ICL have ing body’s permission, after the v Australia - will also trial been subject to heavy sanctions from Emirates Cricket Board admitted not this year’s the system before the ICC’s cricket com- governing bodies around the world, and all venues would be ready in time. Formula One Poles apart: Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton during their world title. time at McLaren. (AP) which Alonso scored his second consecu- England moots plan to host Pakistan to host 2009 by Simon Arron tive F1 victory, the top three were asked what they thought about the penalty all-Asian cricket tests Hamilton had been given for forcing Kimi “If I can help Massa, I will - no LONDON (AP) - England could we play these types of games and Champions Trophy if Raikkonen wide at the first corner. doubt,” Alonso told Spanish sports news- host tests between Asian coun- where we can play them. Robert Kubica and Raikkonen claimed paper AS. tries in a bid to capitalize on “I like the idea of providing they hadn’t had a sufficiently good view Alonso and the Brazilian haven’t immigrant populations and the opportunity with our fabu- security improves to make a judgment, but Alonso grinned always seen eye to eye. They banged boost dwindling crowds for the lous grounds and our huge eth- and said: “Yes, I agree with it.” DUBAI, United Arab refused to participate due wheels during the 2007 Spanish Grand five-day game. nic minority populations, who He also passed comment on the num- Emirates (AP) - Pakistan to security concerns after a Prix and clashed again later that year The England and Wales are keen to see their own heroes. ber of errors both Hamilton and Massa will host the delayed spate of bombings across after the GP of Europe, where Alonso Cricket Board believes Pakistan And it may be in the interests of have made this season. “They have Champions Trophy next the country. accused Massa of having deliberately could attract a bigger attendance cricket; that’s the most impor- dropped a lot of points,” he said. year if it passes a security South Africa had offi- driven into him during the final stages of at grounds like Headingley, in tant thing for me.” “The championship leader has 84 assessment in February. cially pulled out of this a race the Spaniard won. the heart of Yorkshire’s large With the Twenty20 format points after 16 races, but when I won the The International year’s postponed tourna- He later apologised for his remarks population of south Asian ori- emerging as a more lucrative title in 2006 I had 82 after only nine.” and claimed they had been made in the gin, than at home. form of the game, Clarke is also Cricket Council said ment, while Australia and Hamilton is presently five points clear heat of the moment. ECB chairman Giles keen to protect ’s sta- Wednesday that the tourna- New Zealand expressed of Massa in the title chase. It remains to Their relationship is harmonious, Clarke’s proposal comes amid tus. ment will be staged from concerns about safety. be seen whether Alonso gets close enough however, compared to that between security concerns in Pakistan. “I doubt very much whether Sept. 24 to Oct. 4 in 2009 More recently, the West to McLaren and Ferrari to challenge for Alonso and Hamilton, who became bitter Leading teams indicated they we will play fewer than five tests pending a favorable report Indies declined an invita- victories during the campaign’s final two adversaries when they were McLaren wouldn’t attend the Champions against Australia and we have from the ICC’s security tion to tour the country. races, in China and Brazil. team-mates last season - a situation that Trophy slated for last month, negotiated ‘icon series’ status experts after India’s tour of Lorgat rebuffed claims His wins in Singapore and Japan were led to Alonso leaving just one season into forcing the biennial 50-over event with South Africa and will play Pakistan ends in February. from former Pakistan cap- down to luck - the timely intervention of a multi-year deal. to be postponed. five tests there on our next tour,” A reserve day has been tain and politician Imran a Safety Car - and rivals’ errors respec- Although the two men enjoy a profes- “It might be said that Clarke said. “There is a strong allocated for the final on Khan that the country is tively. sional working relationship nowadays, Pakistan might get a better awareness within the ICC of how “I’m confident about the forthcoming Oct. 5. safe for teams as bombers Alonso rarely misses an opportunity to crowd in than in Karachi,” important test cricket is and of races,” he said. “But perhaps not about At the end of the two- would never target crick- have a gentle dig at his British nemesis. Clarke told The Wisden the importance of looking after winning because we are still four tenths day ICC board meeting in eters for fear of a public After last Sunday’s Japanese GP, in Cricketer magazine. “It’s some- it. There is only so much I can Dubai, Sri Lanka was backlash. per lap behind Ferrari and McLaren.” thing we are considering, how do.” retained as the event’s “Mr. Khan is entitled to alternate host. his opinion, but we have to “We have not set any take into consideration Indian cricket board poised for discussions with breakaway ICL final deadline as to what the majority of play- by Simon Briggs year ago, and the BCCI has used all its former Indian . 20/20 for 20 match. But the BCCI will whether Pakistan will host ers and officials are think- powers of coercion and intimidation “I think if you want to sort out be hard to convince, as they have the event or not, but would ing,” Lorgat said. Hopes of a resolution to one of in an attempt to stamp it out. any issues, you’ve got to have a dia- always seen the ICL as a rival to their rather wait for the report ICC president David sport’s bitterest disputes have been Tuesday, though, a board meeting logue. If the ICC wants to talk, I real- own glitzy . from our security experts,” Morgan confirmed that raised after the Board of Cricket of the International Cricket Council ly don’t see any problem because all Meanwhile, the ICC meeting also ICC chief executive Haroon despite the 50-over tourna- Control for India agreed to meet rep- in Dubai made arrangements for we are doing is promote the sport.” confirmed that England’s Test series Lorgat said. ment - second only in pres- resentatives of the breakaway Indian Shashank Manohar – the Indian The meeting was brokered by ICC against the West Indies next year Pakistan was sched- tige to the World Cup - Cricket League. board president – to meet ICL officials president David Morgan, who met would feature the same TV-referral uled to host the Champions being postponed to 2009, and submit a written report on the people from the ICL last week. system that was used on India’s tour The ICL has been treated with Trophy last month, but the the 2010 edition will be held discussions. The breakaway league believes it of Sri Lanka last summer. fear and loathing by the cricket estab- ICC postponed the biennial as per schedule in West lishment since it announced itself a “This is a positive step,” said should be given the same “authorised © The Telegraph Group, Kapil Dev, the ICL board member and unofficial” status as the Stanford London 2008 event after several teams Indies.