Shane's Gain in Bangalore Stalemate
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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 India, and not Australia, had held Test cricket 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 Sachin Tendulkar, that was his foot now because they couldn’t only wicket in the match and he take 20 wickets,” 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- innings, 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 Damien Martyn, Justin Langer, endured a torrid time behind the Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and stumps, leaking 39 byes in the Adam Gilchrist have all called it a Shane Watson match. day since the 5-0 drubbing of Ponting’s assertion that it was England 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, Andrew Symonds, 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 the Ashes 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 the Australian side are New Zealand and a tough home- of three for 53 and scoring a Brad Haddin, 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 Simon Katich, fast bowlers they are still the team to beat. Best breakthroughs when his side need- Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark 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 Cameron White. 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 Indian Cricket League, seeking pants, despite finishing runners-up in recent series between India and Sri approval for their competition, at the domestic Twenty20 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 West Indies, India v Pakistan and Players involved in the ICL have ing body’s permission, after the South Africa 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 test cricket’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.