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Home , Gautam Gambhir, Pragyan Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Steven Finn, Umesh Yadav

16 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2012 Sports AIM TO SETTLE SCORES Cook confident of success weeks in advance. You're going be the spin trio of , have not fired big for long, the to lose no matter who and vet- home conditions would be rel- is , in any game, you eran . But it ished by this very experienced can read what you want, but the would be interesting to see duo as the new ball is not ex- proof of the pudding is in the whether Harbhajan would take pected to do much on the re- eating. We can always deal the field as spin twins Ojha and laid Sardar Patel track. with what is thrown at us,” Ashwin have been impressive. has become India's said Cook. Ashwin and Ojha have played lynchpin in over the Cook admitted that he would only a handful of Tests in their last few series, while Cheteshwar not be able to say for sure about budding careers but have proved Pujara has the ability to either the pitch prepared for the game. that they could bowl well in tan- go for the shots after a good start “Wickets change a lot in 24 dem in helpful home conditions. or play the waiting game if the or 48 hours. Yesterday it looked England batsmen, including need is to steady the ship. Yuvraj quite dry and I've not had a look the recalled , Singh is expected to play his right now. The pitch has been have had very good prepara- first Test since the visit to re-laid and so there are not tion for the series though they England after which he under- many statistics relevant to the did not play against a top qual- went treatment for cancer. ,” said the . ity spinner. He also brings with him the It is also Cook's first Test as India's batting looks strong option of slow left-arm bowl- Kevin Pietersen at a practice session Wednesday PTI PHOTO captain following the retirement on paper even without Rahul ing especially against Pietersen of his long-time opening part- Dravid and V V S Laxman, who he has dismissed quite a , Nov 14: Insisting the eve of the first Test. ner and skipper Andrew Strauss. that his team is well prepared “All through the tour we “I'm obviously excited, a (L) and MS Dhoni unveil the trophy in Ahmedabad Wednesday PTI PHOTO MOTERA MYSTERY for the four-Test series, England have said that we have wanted little bit nervous but very captain Alastair Cook Wednesday to get used to conditions. We'd proud to be leading. Whatever India have not won a single Test in seven years at Sardar Patel Ahmedabad, Nov 14: Billed as back of its spinners in favourable Sharma is down with viral fever Stadium, venue of their series-opener against England and the said that the visitors would be have liked to face more quality happens over the next Test the revenge series, India would home conditions. but he was not in the running hosts would aim to reverse the trend and gain early initiative looking to put India under spinners in the practice games match, I hope to do a good job aim to pay England back in the England have not won a Test for a place in the playing eleven against the tourists. It was in December 2005 that India tasted their pressure when the two sides but we can't control that. But in the long run. I hope to get same coin when the two teams series in India in nearly 28 years ahead of and last Test win against Sri Lanka on this ground in Motera, which meet in their opening match here we've had some excellent bowlers good results.” renew cricketing rivalry when they and reversing the trend would , who are likely made its debut as a Test centre in November 1983 when the West Thursday. in the nets,” added the left Cook said the issues that the go into what promises to be an be a tough job for the world to open the new ball attack for Indies under Clive Lloyd visited the country against the Emerald “There is always a lot of pres- handed opener. team had with top batsman engrossing four-match Test rub- number two team. the home side. Islanders. In all, India have won only three out of 11 Tests played at sure on the home team but Cook also said that his side Kevin Pietersen in the past is ber here from Thursday. They have been handicapped Ashok Dinda has been called this ground, including back-to-back wins in 1994 and 1996 over Sri one thing we've seen is that was ready for the trial by India's behind them now. The skip- India had suffered a humili- by the leg-injury to fast bowler up as late cover for Sharma but Lanka and South Africa respectively. they have an excellent home spinners R Ashwin and Pragyan per also had a word of ad- ating 0-4 series whitewash when , who could trouble would warm the bench barring record. History shows that Ojha, besides senior bowler miration for the return to they had visited England in the Indian batsmen with his steep a last-minute injury to Zaheer who retired early this year. few times though the tall they've coped with that over the Harbhajan Singh. of July-August 2011 and would like bounce even on the slow pitches. or Yadav. Though openers Virender Englishman has termed him years. Our job is to put them “We're ready, that’s the rea- after his battle against a rare to avenge the defeat on the Indian paceman Ishant India's main weapon would Sehwag and as a 'pie chucker'. PTI under pressure,” said Cook on son why we came here three germ cell cancer. PTI

Modi in Media mulls boycott trouble Look beyond Sachin: Kapil New , Nov 14: The BCCI to withdraw the policy resolved, saying it “strongly , Nov 14: India New Delhi, Nov 14: Former “If you are playing on a turn- BCCI and controversy, it seems, which will hit media cover- believes the right of the has sent a ‘Note Verbale’ to India captain ing wicket, toss plays an im- go hand in hand. The latest is age, fans and the sponsors in- media to cover news events the United Kingdom on the Wednesday advised Mahendra portant role. The team that a threat by major news agen- volved with teams,” the state- without undue restrictions issue of sending back former Singh Dhoni's men not to de- wins the toss gets an oppor- cies to boycott the India- ment read. “Getty Images and should be protected.” IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi pend too much on Sachin tunity to play on the fresh England Test series beginning Action Images and Indian pho- Reuters and the Associated from London as he is facing Tendulkar and asked the wicket. You should always pre- Thursday in protest at photo- tographic agencies have been Press have also said they may allegations of financial ir- youngsters to shoulder re- pare the wicket as per team's graphic restrictions imposed barred by the BCCI for this be forced to suspend coverage regularities here. sponsibility during the four- strength. But a rank turner by the Indian board. latest cricket series.” while other news organisations “We have sent a Note Test series against England might backfire,” the veteran The News Media Coalition “Despite numerous op- are considering their positions. Verbale late last night in- starting in Ahmedabad all-rounder said. (NMC) has issued a state- portunities, the BCCI has yet The BCCI, on the other forming Britain that the pass- Thursday. Kapil, meanwhile, said that ment saying it ‘deplored’ to explain why it is discrim- hand, insists there is no bar on port of Lalit Modi has been “Sachin will be the centre the upcoming series would a decision by the Board of inating against photographic news agencies. “The BCCI revoked and he is required to of attraction. The focus will be a test for India's opening Control for Cricket in agencies or indeed whether has a policy not to accredit be in India for questioning in be on him. But you cannot pair of Gautam Gambhir and India to bar photo agencies other news sectors will be photo syndication services the economic offence related rely only on Sachin. He is , who have such as Getty Images and targeted. We deplore this like Getty Images and other issues,” official spokesperson an important player, but it is failed to give the country a solid Kapil feels India should not entirely rely on Sachin PTI PHOTO Action Images from the ven- move and insult to organi- similar foreign and domestic in the Ministry of External the time for youngsters to platform in the recent past. ues. The BCCI has said it sations which have supported agencies. We have no such Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said. shoulder the responsibility,” “Sehwag and Gambhir are England,” he said. Asked about the contest being will supply images of the cricket worldwide,” Andrew problems with AFP, AP or He said that it was after Kapil said. big players, they hold a lot Asked about any weak- pitted as a “revenge series”, Kapil series, to be downloaded from Moger, executive director of Reuters since their text and the MEA received a request After receiving a 0-4 drubbing of importance. However, they nesses in the visiting team, said “As far as the revenge is its website. NMC, said. photo service is for editorial from the Ministry of Finance at the hands of England late have been struggling since Kapil said “I don't think concerned, the team should “The NMC, an international Agence France Presse use only. We have already ex- to take up with Britain the last year, India is looking to last 15-20 Tests and it is really England is weak. Their only focus on giving their best and win- organisation which defends (AFP) has already announced plained our stand to the News matter of certain issues that exploit the home advantage to terrifying that what will hap- weakness is the lack of har- ing the series. It is an impor- the ability of the press to inform that they would suspend Media Coalition,” BCCI are still pending as regards its maximum against the visi- pen if they don't score at the mony in the team. But once tant series and all the players the public with independent text and photo coverage media manager Devendra Lalit Modi's financial tors. However, Kapil warned that top. If we get a good begin- they will start playing even that must shoulder the responsibility news material, has urged the unless the matter was Prabhudesai said. PTI transactions. PTI the move may “backfire.” ning, we can dominate thing will disappear.” and put a good show.” PTI Warne’s five point plan London, Nov 14: Legendary with the field. Defending with the Australian spinner ball means bowling nothing but your has asked England to follow a stock and being super pa- five-point game plan, including a tient, so you can attack with the field unique bowling strategy, if they are as there won't be any bad balls.” The to become first British team to win 43-year-old veteran said the key a Test series in India in 28 years. to success against Indian batsmen Warne said the same plan, pre- would be to dry up the boundaries. pared by him, was executed suc- "The Indian guys thrive on cessfully by the Australian side dur- boundaries. They like to have ing their India tour in 2004 when momentum all the time. If you they won 2-1. slow that down, be patient and try "There were two important to ensure that when they hit good points: attacking bowling with shots they don't get boundaries, defensive fields and defensive they will be frustrated,” he said. bowling with attacking fields. Warne, highlighting on his sec- That sounds counterintuitive, ond point, said Cook should con- so it's important to grasp the duct himself as a brave leader thinking behind this statement," but at the same time he needs good Warne wrote in his column for support from the senior players 'The Telegraph'. Warne said such of his side. tactics worked wonders for them “As for the captain, it is a in containing the famed Indian huge test for Alastair Cook on middle-order of 2004. his first tour in the job. At "We went with that mindset in times he will have to hold his 2004 and it worked. If, for in- nerve. He has to be patient, stance, Glenn McGrath was all communicate with his bowlers over VVS Laxman and Rahul and be positive in everything he Dravid then that was the time to does. It is also important the sen- adopt a defensive field and not be ior players back him up with per- overly aggressive. So we defended formances,” Warne said. PTI Eves selected Cuttack, Nov 14: Five women Championship. On the other footballers from Orissa have been hand, Sukanti Roul, Jyosna Malik selected for the U-19 Girl’s and Arati Sethi have been se- National coaching camp at New lected to attend the U-16 National Delhi from November 16 to 30. Football Camp at New Delhi Tikina Samal, Sinulata Sahoo, from November 16 to 23. The Rachita Malik, Kausalya Barik, trio will be attending the Subhaprabha Rout will be at- preparatory camp for the up- tending the preparatory camp coming AFC U-16 Women’s for the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship. PNN

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