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DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE West Indies gets down to business Ganguly visits Sardar Patel Stadium Venue set to have a record capacity of 1.10 lakh Pollard at the forefront of a practice session at a venue where he made a mark a decade ago Shayan Acharya an elaborate discussion with ternational Council. Mumbai the officials of the State asso­ After commencing the WI IN INDIA The Board of Control for ciation. He had a look at the work in January 2017, the Cricket in India (BCCI) chief facilities,” one of the officials Gujarat Cricket Association V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM Sourav Ganguly and secre­ told Sportstar. officials are hopeful of finish­ HYDERABAD tary Jay Shah visited the new After razing down the old ing the work well in time. returns to the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ah­ structure at the Motera, Spread over 63 acres, the venue — the Rajiv Gandhi medabad on Tuesday. around ₹700 crore is being stadium will have a club­ Stadium here — where he an­ During his two­hour visit spent on building the new house with 50 rooms and a nounced himself as one of to the stadium — set to be the stadium, which is scheduled swimming pool. the most explosive batsmen world’s largest stadium with to be inaugurated in March “There will also be 73 cor­ in the T20 format when he a capacity to host 1.10 lakh next year. porate boxes and an indoor scored a spectacular 18­ball fans — Ganguly took a stock cricket academy along with 54 for Trinidad & Tobago of things, interacting with Friendly fixture likely practice grounds for the against New South Wales in the officials of the Gujarat There is a possibility of cricketers. The work is in the Champions League T20 Cricket Association and en­ World XI playing a friendly progress,” the official, who Championship a decade ago. quiring about the latest fixture with Asia XI as an in­ has been involved with the Pollard was at the fore­ developments. augural tie, but that is sub­ project since the beginning, front of a practice session on “He (Ganguly) had quite ject to the approval of the In­ said. Tuesday afternoon ahead of the West Indies’ opening game of the three­match T20I series against Virat Kohli­led India to be played here on December 6.

Enjoying themselves The smiling visages of the West Indian cricketers was again a reminder that most of them continue to enjoy the game which they ob­ viously love so much. They Energetic bunch: The West Indians will want to prove that they can surprise the more accomplished Indian team in the T20I just joked around, had a few series beginning on December 6. * K.V.S. GIRI brief chats and shared thoughts. Pollard walked physical conditioning, the liaison officer Vikram Man HCA secretary R. Vijaya­ “The first priority will be across to the HCA curator players were off to a more Singh was the manager of nand said that every effort is to ensure a spectator­friend­ Y.L. Chandrasekhar, to get a serious business of training the West Indies team which being made to make the ly ambience inside the stadi­ feel of what kind of a pitch in the nets under the watch­ won the 2016 T20 World match a big success even as um. This is the first match would be in place for the big ful eyes of the head coach Cup in Kolkata and he overcast conditions pre­ for our new team of office­ game on Friday. Phil Simmons. shared those memories with vailed on Tuesday after the bearers led by Mohammad After a long warm­up ses­ Interestingly, Hyderabad members of that winning heavy rains on Monday Azharuddin. And, we want sion with the emphasis on Cricket Association media team. night. to make it truly memorable.” Aerial view: The Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, where construction is in full swing. * VIJAY SONEJI Williamson and Taylor score unbeaten centuries Pavitra’s waiting game succeeds Help the Kiwis pull off a draw in the second Test against England; hosts clinch series 1­0 Seethal Shaji downs Rutuja Devkar ENGLAND IN NZ off track when Ollie Pope and spilled simple DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Kumari (Raj) bt Aruna Koru­ Agence France-Presse chances from Williamson. BOXING konda (AP) RSC­1; Poonam B Pavitra is a former Asian Hamilton Kaithwas (Mah) bt D. Bhavya The New Zealand skipper Stan Rayan silver medallist (Kar) RSC; Divya Ganesh (Ker) Centuries from Kane Wil­ was on 39 when wicketkeep­ KANNUR liamson and Ross Taylor en­ er Pope put down a regula­ B She bided her time for bt Lakshmi Prathyusha Kola sured New Zealand drew the tion offering, much to bowler Heena Tokas opened with a openings before landing (Tel) RSC­1. rain­hit second Test against ’ annoyance, and wild flurry of punches and some strong punches on Light-welter (64kg): Aarti Ra­ continued that streak for a Heena wal (Del) bt Seema Kumari England here on Tuesday, on 62 Denly inexplicably DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD sealing a 1­0 series win. dropped an even easier major part of her light­ (Bih) 5­0; Heena Chaudhary chance. Williamson gently weight bout against Pavitra (Ker) bt V. Vinodhini (TN) 4­1; (J&K) bt Durga Devi (Pon) The weather turned sour of Railways in the fourth RSC. soon after lunch on the fifth chipped a slower Feather (57kg): Y. Sandhyarani Elite National women’s box­ Devi (Pol) bt Prativa Jana Siwi (Har) bt Mallanathula day when New Zealand, hav­ from Jofra Archer straight to ing championship at the (Ben) RSC­1. Venkata Sai (AP) RSC; Lal­ ing taken advantage of some Denly at short midwicket and, as the bowler leapt in Mundayad indoor stadium Sonam Poonia (Raj) bt R. buatsaihi (Pol) bt Joshmy Jose sloppy fielding, was 241 for here on Tuesday. Divya (Kar) RSC­1; G. Prathiba (Ker) 5­0; Gajal Mariya (Kar) two in the second innings, celebration and Williamson But the seasoned Pavitra, (TN) bt Neha Kumari (Jha) bt Nilam Devi Laishram (Man) 140 ahead with Taylor on 105 made an apologetic gesture a former Asian silver medal­ RSC­1. 5­0. and Williamson on 104. to Taylor, the ball popped Roshni Subba (Sik) bt Uggi­ list who had been to the Middle (75kg): K.A. Indraja out of Denly’s hands. na Gnaneswari (AP) RSC­3; Worlds a few years ago, (Ker) bt Gitimoni Gogoi (Asm) Improves record Hema Danu (Utk) bt Laxmee Williamson had another waited patiently, waited for RSC; Nupur (Har) bt Shweta With the weather denying life when he should have Mehra (Mah) 4­1. (Raj) 5­0. openings and when they T.C. Lalremruati (Miz) bt England a second turn at bat, been run out on 97 but Sam came, she landed some E.S. Sanjana (Tel) RSC­2; Light-heavy (81kg): Seethal Curran’s shy at the stumps it ensured New Zealand’s se­ strong punches on Delhi’s Tongbram Premi Devi (Man) Shaji (Ker) bt Rutuja Devkar ries win after its innings vic­ Seasoned campaigners: Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor’s unbroken partnership kept England was so far off line that the former junior international bt R.K. Sinsha (Ker) 3­2. (Mah) RSC. tory in the first Test, and im­ at bay on the final day. * AP batsmen picked up an extra Heena. Light (60kg): Pavitra (Rly) bt Heavy (+81kg): M. Yamini (TN) proved its record to eight run. Heena Tokas (Del) 4­1; Suman bt Nayana (Kar) RSC. wins, a draw and one loss (to after lunch, while Taylor Two balls after Taylor had ough that chance had alrea­ Even without the rain, Better reach South Africa) in the past 10 reached century number 19 raised his bat and poked his dy been damaged by Root’s chances of pulling off The Railways boxer had a series. with a flourish in Root’s next tongue out in his signature dropped catches. New Zea­ victory seemed very remote better reach and could land Williamson brought up his over when he smacked a four celebration, the rain arrived land resumed at 96 for two as the England bowlers toiled punches that mattered and 21st Test century with a four and two sixes off consecutive to wash out England’s faint with England hunting early with an ageing ball on an un­ hold her guard when Hee­ off Joe Root in the third over balls. hope of forcing a result alth­ , but its plans went responsive . na’s hits came her way. “I felt the third round SCOREBOARD turned the bout in my fa­ vour,” said the 32­old Pavi­ New Zealand — 1st innings: tra after the 4­1 verdict. New Zealand wins Spirit of Cricket award 375. England — 1st innings: 476. “This is the first time I’m New Zealand — 2nd innings: T. fighting her.” IANS regarded as one of the sportsmanship that was sportsmanship and their Latham c Root b Woakes 18, J. Meanwhile, Kerala’s Melbourne most exciting ODI matches fitting for such a fantastic exemplary conduct Raval lbw b Curran 0, K. Willi­ Seethal Shaji, also tall and amson () 104, R. Taylor wiry, appeared to struggle a The New Zealand cricket of all time — Kane final, and indeed towards opposition players Williamson’s team tournament.” throughout the (not out) 105; Extras (b­2, lb­3, bit early against Maharash­ team has been awarded w­3, nb­1, pen­5): 14; Total (for tra’s Rutuja Devkar in the displayed an exceptional “It is a testament to their tournament. with the MCC’s two wkts. in 75 overs): 241. light­heavyweight category level of sportsmanship, squad that even after a Christopher Martin­Jenkins The award has Fall of wickets: 1­2, 2­28. (81kg). humility and selflessness in match that will live long in England : Broad 9­0­ Spirit of Cricket Award for previously been won by But midway through the defeat. the memory for the cricket 28­0, Curran 16­2­56­1, Archer 2019 for its sporting Wayne Madsen of bout, Seethal produced a that was played, we are still 12­1­27­0, Woakes 11­4­12­1, conduct in the aftermath of MCC president Kumar Derbyshire, Sussex’s Luke couple of hard ones that talking about the spirit of Stokes 14­1­58­0, Denly 9­1­ the World Cup final against Sangakkara said: “The New Wright, Brendon forced the referee to give England. cricket. Their actions 27­0, Root 4­1­23­0. Zealand team are worthy McCullum of New Zealand, Joe Root. Rutuja a standing­eight deserve this recognition.” Man-of-the-Match: After losing to England winners of this award. In Tom Fell of Worcestershire Player-of-the-Series: Neil count twice and a little later in a thrilling final held on the heat of battle they The Black Caps were and England’s Anya Wagner. stop the contest. July 14 at the Lord’s — displayed a level of widely praised for their Shrubsole. Match drawn. New Zealand Important results: Bantam Packing a punch: Seethal Shaji, right, unleashed a couple of wins series 1-0 . (54kg): Nissy Laissy Thampy hard ones on Rutuja Devkar. * S.K. MOHAN The attempt to dilute the Lodha panel recommendations is troubling

ven up some of the strength needed to left to professional CEOs and Directors. promise he might not like to be identi­ Committee which began the investiga­ tend to see everything in terms of reve­ do that by aligning with the old­timers 5. We will make a fetish of “elections” fied with. It might also be the start of tions into spot­fixing in the IPL, so he nue and the influence (and visibility) it who asked not what they could do for and say “the people have spoken”, as another round of SC v BCCI battles In­ has seen cricket from many sides. brings. Which explains why both sides cricket but what cricket could do for though it is a state or national election, dian cricket could do without. Perhaps I am overstating it here. Per­ can claim to be successful at their jobs, them. although in reality it is a small minority If all this sounds excessively cynical, haps Ganguly simply needs more time and changes — even if by the Supreme of people. you only have to follow the events of to set the house in order and it is for this Court — are dismissed as interference. BETWEEN WICKETS Glimpse into mindset 6. We will pretend, as a group, that the recent past. A successful player and unselfish reason that he needs an ex­ Ganguly has made much of the con­ Whether the Supreme Court allows the cricket and cricketers are on top of the becomes the Board president tension till 2024. flict of interest issue which, he says, has suresh menon BCCI to dilute its rulings or not, the pro­ agenda, and if we say it often enough, to much acclaim and fresh hopes (crick­ Perhaps India is not ready yet for the kept former players away from the posed changes give us a glimpse into we will be believed. et fans are the most optimistic of peo­ professional at the top of the adminis­ Cricket Advisory Committee. This com­ “Tenures are finished, tenures are fin­ the mindset of the administrators. And 7. Anyone who doesn’t fit into the ple). trative tree who is susceptible to regu­ mittee has little to do apart from pick­ ished. You cannot go beyond tenure,” it hasn’t changed in decades. scheme of things will have to be eased Perhaps he will clean up the adminis­ lar appraisals, performance­based in­ ing the selectors and the coach, and can said Sourav Ganguly. He was speaking In effect these are: out, squeezed out or bought. tration. Perhaps he will change a sys­ crements — with dismissal from the job be safely scrapped. The Apex Council of the national selection committee, 1. We are in power, and we want to 8. We will (and this is the latest) exhi­ tem built on favours and political ma­ being the other side of the coin. can do that job. and may have been unaware of the iro­ remain in power. bit greater patience than the Supreme noeuvres. He is young. He has no The current CEO, who began well, In the BCCI’s ideal scenario, the Su­ ny. 2. Remaining in power calls for com­ Court and tire that body out. After all, compulsion to be seen with the India and held things together in the confus­ preme Court would withdraw, the offi­ For his own tenure ends next year, promises with others who also want to the highest court in the land has more captain and click selfies with him. He ing days when no one knew who was cials would be allowed to go back to the but he himself wants to go beyond te­ remain in power, as well as politicians important things to deal with than de­ knows the strengths and weaknesses of responsible for what, has had his wings bad old days and the huge amount of nure. The president of the Board of who can smoothen the path to ciding the arithmetic of a “cooling­off” the system from inside. clipped. time, money and effort spent in reform­ Control for Cricket in India seems more permanency. period. He understands where things could ing cricket administration would be keen to sign on to the past than to the 3. We would like to make our own It is too early to say which of these go wrong. He will not play favourites Fundamental divide written off as a bad dream. future. rules, even if some of these go against Ganguly has signed up to, but the at­ since that was his reputation when he There is a fundamental divide between Then, nothing would have changed This is a pity, because Ganguly is cap­ decency and common sense. tempt to dilute the Lodha panel recom­ was the national team’s captain. players and administrators on what in decades. The only difference would able of shaking out the old and bringing 4. There is too much money in the mendations is troubling. Ganguly, as Five years ago, he was in the Su­ constitutes success. Players look at per­ be that the subtlety has gone out of the in the new. He might, however, have gi­ game for sports administration to be the new face of an old system, is a com­ preme Court­appointed Justice Mudgal formance, and security. Administrators manoueuvres.

CM A ND-NDE YK