14 Saturday 12th March, 2011

anything to go by, the Tamil Nadu offie may just get a chance along- side . While will be the premier pacer, Ashish Nehra who came India face sternest back against Holland is the favourite to share the new ball with him. But who has a good record against South Africa, will definitely keep Dhoni interested. test against SA For the South African side, the bad news is leggie Imran Tahir’s Nagpur: A jittery India series against the Proteas 2-3 broken left-thumb for which he has will have to find the right prior to the World Cup. been advised 10 days of complete combination and plug their Interestingly, when rest. However, the team manage- loopholes as they go into the Tendulkar last played in an ment may just take a chance since tough ICC World Cup 2011 ODI against South Africa in the injury is not in the right Group-B encounter against Gwalior last year, he scored thumb. In case Tahir doesn’t play, South Africa on Saturday with the historic double hundred. Johan Botha is likely to replace the dodgy form of some of If the maestro can achieve the Pakistan-born spinner. their key players being a con- half of what he did that day, Smith and his boys will be des- cern. the South African bowlers perate to shed the chokers tag off After a couple of not-so-con- would have a hard day on the their backs. Also the Jamtha vincing performances against shirtfront Jamtha strip where ground will bring back happy Ireland and the Netherlands batting first is the order of the memories for the Proteas when respectively, Mahendra Singh day. they walloped India by an innings Dhoni’s much vaunted batting Sehwag began with a bang and six runs in a Test match last line-up is expected to regroup as against Bangladesh, but hasn’t year. they face the mighty South exactly been spectacular Although it’s a different format, Africans, who on the other hand against other sides. The same is seven among those who played in would be itching to get back to the case with , that particular Test match (Smith, winning ways after losing to who has been frittering it away Amla, De Villiers, Kallis, Duminy, England by six runs. after getting starts. Steyn, Morkel) are likely to feature Although India have been It will be a stern test for in the first XI. unbeaten in the four matches so the middle order also where Steyn, who rocked the Indian far, the only time they have been with back-to- batting with a 10- match really put to test was against back 50s has shown some haul, will be hoping to repeat that England in Bangalore last touch. But skipper Dhoni has powerhouse performance. If Steyn month when they could only been scratchy and Yusuf hits the rhythm, he will be more Pathan has blown hot and than a handful for the Indian bats- cold. men, not to forget Morkel. The Irish and the Dutch Even Hashim Amla, who has didn’t exactly have the score been India’s nemesis will like to to test the strength of the make matters worse for the Men in middle-order, which Blue, as an intriguing contest is on Graeme Smith’s men the cards. might just do. Teams (Probable elevens): Morne The concern with the India: , Sachin Morkel. department still Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat The explosive remains with skipper’s fas- Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni opening pair of Sachin cination for leg-spinner Piyush (capt, wk), , India’s Zaheer Khan, front, is Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag Chawla. Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, helped with stretching during a has got the starts in most of the However with three left-han- Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra training session in Nagpur. (AP) matches, but has failed to capi- ders in South African ranks South Africa: Graeme Smith talise on those. Both have a centu- (Smith, Jean Paul Duminy and (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de manage to tie the game after scor- ry each under their belt, but Robin Peterson), there is a possi- Villiers (wk), Jacques Kallis, JP ing an imposing 338. would like to get another big one bility that off-spinner Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Saturday’s match will be an before the knock-out stage gets may get the South Africa’s prepares for a television interview during a Tahir, Robin Peterson, Lonwabo important one for India as their underway. nod ahead of Chawla. practice session in Nagpur, India, Thursday, March 10, 2011. South Tsotsobe, Dale Steyn, Morne batsmen will face the current best Tendulkar was not a part of the If Dhoni’s statement about Africa will play against India in a World Cup league match on Morkel new ball pair of Dale Steyn and Indian side that lost the One-day Ashwin being “mentally strong” is March 12. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) PTI Dhoni demands more runs from Tendulkar, Sehwag Put the house in order or face the consequences! NAGPUR, India (AP) - It momentum of big opening takes a brave to demand stands could be crucial. more runs from Sachin “If we get a good start, Tendulkar and Virender either from momentum point of Point of view Sehwag, but that’s just what view or period point of view, India skipper Mahendra Singh our lower order can really cash BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE Football Union in 1973. tion and the country’s sports law. Dhoni is doing. in on the platform,” he said. A peep into the history of Sri It’s the great values of rugby, Dhoni wants the World Cup Dhoni said he was keeping ri Lanka’s rugby has lost a Lanka’s rugby shows that most of the camaraderie on and off the openers, two of the world’s best his options open for the match chunk of its prestige, but it’s its past presidents and their execu- field which the IRB harps on and batsmen, to produce bigger against South Africa after play- Snot as serious as a teenager tive committee members had the the spirit of sportsmanship that partnerships at the World Cup. ing two pace bowlers and two losing her virginity. habit of saving money, as once have fed rugby at international Dhoni told reporters Friday spinners in the last three Sri Lanka has been stripped of pointed out to this writer by for- level and made it a vibrant and that he wants India to get “big- games. its full membership with the mer SLRFU President, Dr. Maiya professional sport. ger opening partnerships so “Playing an extra seamer International Rugby Board (IRB). Gunasekere, who also goes down in Sri Lanka must also realise that that the middle order and the will be a thought. From what This certainly is a blow to the the history book of rugby for being it has achieved very little in this lower middle-order can use its we have seen, this is one of the rugby governing body, which is the first chairman of a rugby inter- robust sport and can’t have sports explosive power well” in com- better tracks of the country. By rated as one of the world’s oldest im committee in Sri Lanka. politics ruin the chances of its ing games. better, I mean there is a little rugby unions. We haven’t done During the ‘good times in rugby’ future generations. Scribes have India is virtually through to more bounce, though there is anything significant to take advan- there was camaraderie among all written on reams of paper that the quarterfinals and next takes no extraordinary speed or seam tage of this early start in rugby. provincial unions and the main sports administrators must do a on South Africa on Saturday. movement,” he said. This was because the administra- union. There was hardly any talk lot more than merely conduct Tendulkar and Sehwag have But Dhoni said much tors from the old school pinned about contests for the top posts due annual domestic tournaments, slammed a century each in the depended on how the pitch rugby with a title named ‘amateur to the presence of a ‘healthy hold on to existing sponsors and tournament, but are yet to fig- looked on the morning of the sport’. administrative system’ which field teams for international tour- ure in a century stand with match. Our old timers who ran the groomed the next president or the naments. Today, the greatest chal- partnerships of 69, 46, 9 and 69 “There is a fair amount of administrative arm of the rugby next administrator. lenge is to keep the players in the so far. help for the spinners also on union and statisticians would This tradition was broken in game and bring in more money “If our openers can bat as this wicket. We will have a look value the long journey Sri Lanka 2007 when Senior DIG Nimal than in previous years. And for long as possible, it will be good and see whether it (the wicket) has made in rugby. Former Lewke decided to contest the that to happen, the game needs for us,” Dhoni said. “Because, is dry or not and then decide on recorder of the Sri Lanka Rugby SLRFU Presidency, which was Former Air Force Commander administrators who can make from what we have seen, if the team combination,” he said. Football Union (SLRFU) Niel promised to former Sri Lanka play- Roshan Goonatilake things work with innovative think- Sachin and Viru get going, it is Asked about the danger Wijeratne writes comprehensively er Michael Jayasekere, the present ing. difficult to stop them.” from pace bowler Dale Steyn, about Sri Lanka’s first ever inter- selection committee chairman. and the most powerful provincial The present rugby administra- Tendulkar scored 120 Dhoni said “it is not only Steyn, national in rugby which was That year, Asanga Senewiratne union – the Western Province tors can take credit for winning against England while Sehwag there are others too and all of against New Zealand in his book backed Lewke and the former was Rugby Football Union (WPRFU), the hosting rights of an interna- smashed 175 against them are talented enough to get ‘Rugby Across the Straits’. The elected vice president. Many continue to be at loggerheads with tional sevens tournament. But the Bangladesh, but Dhoni said the batsmen out.” match, played on September 12 thought that this breaking of tradi- each other. country’s players can’t fulfil them- 1907, had angered the Rugby Union tion could have sowed the seeds for The differences between the selves just by watching interna- in England. The Rugby Union, had the birth of the worst ills that SLRFU and the WPRFU continue tional stars contest the Carlton as a result, taken a decision to pro- affect rugby today. True to the say- despite the IRB having given Sri Sevens. The players eagerly look hibit its member countries from ing ‘what goes around comes Lanka a warning; put your house forward to the day when they will around’, the 2010 SLRFU election be put on the SLRFU payroll. Pakistan rally behind Akmal playing matches in the Crown in order or face the consequences. was very disappointing for Rugby coaches and fitness trainers Colony. The only way out for Sri The IRB doesn’t recognise inter- KANDY, Sri Lanka (AP) - er, back each other,” he said. Lanka was to obtain affiliation Senewiratne. Despite being im administrations. It’s not that look to the future when the SLRFU assured of the top spot, will be in a position to give them Pakistan players are rallying “These are the players who with the Rugby Union. As a result, the islanders are short of bitter around besieged wicketkeeper commit mistakes and these are the Ceylon Rugby Football Union Senewiratne opted out of the run- memories of being denied the IRB enough training time ahead of ning, when former Air Force national assignments. The parents Kamran Akmal as he tries to the same players who win you was formed on August 10, 1908. grants for two years. This was rebuild his confidence after a matches, if we keep on remind- Since that inaugural Annual Commander Roshan Goonatilake’s because they had an interim com- of players are watching with great name was nominated as President. anticipation whether their chil- disastrous performance against ing us about those dropped General Meeting (AGM), the top mittee running the affairs of New Zealand. catches we can’t move forward,” posts in the Ceylon Rugby Football Rugby traditions in a way safe- rugby. dren will go the full distance in a guards the sport. Meddling with it sport for which they have given “It’s mentally tough for him Misbah said. Union were held by distinguished Sri Lanka must treasure its (Akmal) in this situation, but we Friday’s session was special- individuals who showed the same is akin to tampering with the fine rugby traditions. They must real- their blessings. mechanism of a Japanese car And the whole nation awaits the are trying to give him full sup- ly organized by the coach after skill on the field, when it came to ize that rugby is living in the pres- port,” Vice Captain Misbah-ul- his batsmen struggled in the last administration as well. This engine. ent because of its rich past. Hence, day when rugby is rid of sports Now it’s considered alright to politics for the stage to be set for Haq told reporters on Friday. two matches, scoring 184 against smooth run in administration con- whatever old values that are appli- “Wicketkeeper is a key member Canada and 192 against the tinued till about the time Gamini have interim administrations for cable even today, must be safe- Sri Lanka to get a real taste of vic- rugby. This is underscored by the tory at an international competi- of the team and I hope with the Kiwis. Fernando was President of the guarded and adhered to, even at a support of players and the team “We practiced for a long peri- rugby governing body, which was manner in which the present-day time when people are screaming tion, something they have been administrators of rugby (SLRFU) starved of ! management he will make a od so that it restores the confi- renamed the Sri Lanka Rugby for changes in the rugby constitu- strong comeback.” dence of top order batsmen with Akmal has been pilloried at the new ball - especially after we home for his performance batted poorly in the previous against New Zealand, when he games,” Misbah said. twice dropped Middle-order batsman Umar before he had even begun to Akmal, Kamran’s brother who Hussey back to boost Australia’s batting power plunder a match winning is the only candidate to replace innings of 131. the incumbent ‘keeper, skipped Team coach Waqar Younis match practice due to an injury BY CAROLINE CHEESE and has an excellent record in ment when fast bowler Doug find himself replacing his brother India, but the 35-year-old, nick- Bollinger was ruled out of the David in the lineup for Sunday’s kept Akmal behind the stumps to his right index finger. during a three-hour training Manager Intikhab Alam said BANGALORE, India (AP) - Mike named Mr. Cricket, joked Friday tournament. match against Kenya in Bangalore, session on Friday when his top the injury was not a serious one Hussey maintains he’s just an he’s “not that special, believe me.” If Hussey had had his way, he with Cameron White also thought bowlers were used to test his “and the scans show there was “everyday bloke” but judging by “I’m just a normal, everyday would have been in the squad in to be vulnerable. batsmen in the middle of a bat- no fracture.” Akmal was injured the reaction to his arrival in India, bloke, I’m just trying to do my the first place, having declared his “I haven’t spoken to (David),” ting square. Waqar stood as during fielding practice on not many of his Australian team- job,” he said. “I don’t try to put confidence that he would recover Hussey said. “The team has been umpire to monitor the players. Thursday and his strapped fin- mates would agree. any more pressure on myself. I just from injury in time for the start of playing pretty well, so I don’t know Misbah said Pakistan’s play- ger also had some swelling. Bowler Brett Lee summed up try and be myself and do the job the World Cup. what the selectors are going to do. ers could not afford to keep Pakistan’s batsmen struggled the mood on Thursday when he the team requires in any particu- “I found it pretty difficult to I haven’t been given any indication regretting Akmal’s mistakes against Canada’s seamers, who described Hussey’s return to the lar game.” take for a while,” he said of his if I am going to play or not. and should move on in the used the overcast conditions squad, having originally been Such is Hussey’s reputation as exclusion from the squad. “But I “I’m not sure what’s going to World Cup. perfectly at Colombo’s R. ruled out with a hamstring injury, a middle-order batsman that then used all that energy and emo- happen. I’m hoping to play but if “I think anyone could have a Premadasa Stadium before as a “dream come true.” Australia’s selectors felt sufficient- tion to rehab and get better as fast not then I’ll just keep preparing as bad day whether it’s a wicket- Shahid Afridi’s five-wicket haul The No. 4-ranked one-day bats- ly emboldened to turn to him as I could.” well as I can and be ready for if keeper or any other player, but helped Pakistan beat the North man is a renowned player of spin instead of a like-for-like replace- Now that he is back, he could I’m required at some stage.” as a team we have to stay togeth- Americans.