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Home , Ajit Wadekar, Amit Mishra, Bishan Singh Bedi, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis

CHENNAI THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015 SPORT | 19 No complaints, really Satisfying feeling Pitch influence We are not complaining at all. We are playing in Indian When you take an important and the team wins, it I think the have played their part in making it conditions… We have been happy with what we are is all the more satisfying. It is not a good feeling when very difficult for all the batters — , Ī Ī provided with. — Adrian Birrell, you bowl 15-20 overs and remain wicketless. South Africa Assistant coach — , leg-spinner

Nagpur pitch “poor”: ICC The Mishra BETWEEN WICKETS Lessons from the Cairns trial: DUBAI: In a major embarrass- ment for the BCCI, the Interna- Time for the ‘Fraud Law’ tional Council (ICC) on impact SURESH MENON Tuesday rated the track at Nag- pur, which hosted the third Test The leg-spinner has plotted the between India and South Africa, he irony of the trial in Britain as “poor”, triggering a review of downfall of accomplished batsmen Twas that the testimony of the one person the performance of the pitch who offered direct evidence of fixing could not be taken seriously because he was a fixer! Lou under the ICC Pitch Monitoring Y.B. SARANGI not a good feeling when you Process. bowl 15-20 overs and remain Vincent confessed to fixing matches for fellow- In accordance with Clause 3 NEW : Amit Mishra, 33, is wicketless,” said Mishra, as the New Zealander Cairns at the Indian Cricket of the Process, ICC Match Ref- ripening fast, ever-ready to de- Indians reassembled here on League (ICL) in 2008. Vincent’s credibility was low — he had in eree Jeff Crowe submitted his liver. With his subtle variety — Tuesday for a practice session the past admitted to fixing matches in too — and the report to the ICC expressing the the traditional leg-break, the in the -up to the fourth and judge directed the jury to treat his evidence with caution. “He concerns of the match officials deceptive googly, the bewitch- final Test starting at the Fero- might have his own interest to serve,” Justice Nigel Sweeney over the performance of the ing loop, the varying length, the zeshah Kotla on Thursday. said. pitch. This report has been for- clever change of pace — the un- Mishra rated the wickets of It was not a match-fixing trial, but match-fixing had to be warded to the BCCI, which has derrated spinner has turned out de Villiers and Amla in Mohali proved as Cairns was charged with perjury and attempting to 14 days to provide its response. to be an impact bowler in In- and Nagpur respectively as his pervert the course of justice. Cairns was accused of lying under The pitch at the Vidarbha dia’s dominating performance top dismissals. “The first would oath when he said during a libel trial with Lalit Modi in 2012 that cricket ground, which is BCCI over South Africa in the ongo- be the one of AB in the second he had never cheated at cricket. In 2010, Modi had tweeted president Shashank Manohar’s ing four-match Test series. in Mohali, because at accusing Cairns of fixing. Cairns won £90,000 in damages and home association, saw ample Mishra may not have taken that time we did not have many £1.4m in legal fees. turn from the first day resulting wickets in a heap in the two runs and they had a lot of wick- The Southwark Crown Court in found Cairns not in the match being over within Tests he has played, but he has ets left.” He got de Villiers with guilty. Cairns, now a free man, was intelligent enough to claim three days. provided some crucial break- a lethal flipper. that his reputation was “scorched” anyway, and there would be After the BCCI submits its re- throughs at the right times to Amla’s wicket, which ended no role in cricket for him. sponse, ICC’s General Manager keep the momentum in favour the South African captain’s 72- The judge had advised the jury that at least two of the three (Cricket), Geoff Allardice, and of the host. run stand with du Plessis span- main witnesses — Vincent, Brendon McCullum and Vincent’s ICC’s Chief Match Referee Ran- Castling the dangerous A.B. ning more than 46 overs, was ex-wife — had to be believed if jan Madugalle will consider all de Villiers twice in Mohali and his second best. the charges were to stick. The It is difficult to the evidence, including study- removing the set duo of Hashim ex-wife recounted a drunken ing video footage of the match, Amla and and Disappointed night where she confronted prove fixing, but before reaching their decision scalping the experienced J-P. Mishra was disappointed Cairns over fixing but said he that shouldn’t on whether or not the pitch was Duminy in Nagpur have been with the spinner-friendly pitch- reassured her that they would poor and if so, whether a penal- the high points of Mishra’s sev- es getting more attention than not be . deter players from ty should be imposed. en-wicket haul in the series so the bowlers themselves. But it is not just the subtle- The ICC will make no further far. They speak a lot about the “There has been a lot of talk ties of the law that are interest- reporting what comments until Allardice and diminutive leg-spinner’s ability about the pitch. But our per- ing in the case. Cricketers of they know. Madugalle have reached their to plot the downfall of accom- formances should also get the the stature of McCullum, Da- decision. plished batsmen. attention they deserve. Our niel Vettori, ap- The Nagpur pitch received Mishra, who was dropped for conditions have been like this peared as prosecution witnesses; the nine-week trial threw up flak from many former cricket- the rain-marred Bengaluru for a long time. We also bowled questions of players coming forward to report cases. For it is ers, including Australia’s Mat- Test, has no qualms about not well in and won,” he naive to believe that with Cairns proving his innocence, he is thew Hayden, England’s Mi- rolling his arm over as often as said. simultaneously proving the innocence of cricket itself. The chael Vaughan, and a host of fellow spinners R. Ashwin and He knows the Kotla like the sport cannot rid itself of the evil of fixing without the voluntary others. . back of his hand. For Mishra, co-operation of players. However, Indian captain Vi- “When you take an impor- who has 65 wickets from 18 What are the lessons in the Cairns case for India? It is difficult rat Kohli and team director Ravi GIVE US OUR DUE: Amit Mishra is disappointed that the pitches in the series have received more tant wicket and the team wins, Tests, the hunt for glory re- to prove fixing, but that shouldn’t deter players from reporting Shastri had strongly defended attention than the performance of India’s three spinners. — PHOTO: AFP it is all the more satisfying. It is sumes on Thursday. what they know. In 2012 the High Court lifted the pitch, saying that there was ’s life ban because it had not been pre- nothing wrong with the track. sented with any evidence beyond reasonable doubt of the for- However, South Africa had mer skipper’s involvement in fixing. The BCCI did not pursue not lodged any complaints nor the case. Unless someone from within the circle, preferably a had it made any critical com- Captain Kohli’s proud homecoming player, comes forward with evidence, it is impossible to proceed ments on the pitch. — PTI with a case where nothing is written or recorded. Then there is the question of following the money trail. The British Court was Special Correspondent re- Y.B. SARANGI and there was no great excite- which the host won by an iden- ports from : ment of leading India on home tical margin of seven wickets told of cash drops at a restaurant in Birmingham and other The fact that South Africa’s : From achieving one ground. Those were different each. However, by that time Pa- methods, but there was no link established between any player first innings folded up in 33.1 rare feat to another, Indian Test times. There was no hype or taudi had switched his alle- and the money. overs and India’s second in- skipper seems des- glamour. I remember we did giance to . Vacuum in law nings in 46.3 overs at Nagpur tined to add new chapters to his not even stay in a five-star ho- For 27-year-old Kohli, the When the trial court in Delhi ruled that Sreesanth was not may have prodded Crowe into glorious ongoing cricketing tel. Cricket definitely was much South Africa series has to be a guilty, he was being tried under the Control of giving a poor rating to the pitch. journey. more enjoyable.” memorable one. Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), whose connection with fixing The former bat- After leading the country to The debonair Mansur Ali With India taking a 2-0 lead was never made clear. The court spoke of the “huge vacuum in sman may also have taken note its first Test series win over Khan Pataudi was the other in the third Test in Nagpur, law” to deal with such cases. of comments defending the South Africa in over a decade, Delhi player to have captained Kohli had the rare privilege of The faster India is able to vote the Prevention of Sporting quality of the pitch by Kohli, off- Kohli is all set to become the India at the historic ground. ending up on the winning side Fraud Bill into law, the sooner cases of fixing can be brought to spinner R. Ashwin and subse- third Delhi cricketer to captain Pataudi, who played domes- in his first home series as - trial and dealt with. It is 15 years since Azharuddin and some quently Shastri before writing a the country on his home tic cricket for the capital city tain. colleagues were hauled up but we still don’t have a law in place report. ground, the Ferozeshah Kotla, from 1960 to 1964, led the coun- This was his second consecu- to deal with the problem. Perhaps the most curious during the fourth and final Test try in a drawn Test against En- tive series win since taking over Now there is an attempt by the BCCI to seek outside help, statement was assistant coach of the series between the two gland in 1964. from M.S. Dhoni in the fourth which is good. It recently requested the Maharashtra Chief ’s: “When India teams starting here on Interestingly, Pataudi’s high- and final Test against Australia Minister to set up a Sports Integrity Unit, an intelligence gather- travels overseas, the ball starts Thursday. est Test score (203 ) had in Sydney in January; the earlier ing department that will look into cases that lead up to fixing. A seaming from day one, I think When Kohli goes out for the come in that match in 1964. But deed came in Sri Lanka when small, but significant step. right from the first over. As I toss at the Kotla, he will be- he did not rate his knock high. India fought back after losing A sports body cannot handle the complicated issues allied to said earlier the wicket is the come the first Delhi player in 39 He wrote in Tiger’s Tale, “I got the first Test. fixing without the aid of the law enforcement agencies, and a same for both sides. years to lead the country in his 200-odd in the fourth Test at So far, India has ensured vic- proper law under which those caught can be tried. “I think it is a test of skill, just backyard. Legendary left-arm Delhi, which wasn’t a great in- tory in four of the nine Tests led There has to be a system of registering complaints — anony- as you have the skill to counter spinner was nings, although the records by Kohli, drawing three and mously if necessary, if that gives the authorities a starting point against the seaming ball, the the last cricketer from the city show it as the highest ever losing two — a good success — and assurance that all complaints will be investigated. Play- skill against the spinning ball is to have done so, in a Test against England by an Indian. rate. ers must understand the importance of speaking up in time. also equally important.” against England in 1976. The first 90-odd runs were Wearing the India blazer at McCullum held on to his story about being approached by The first Test also ended in The -led side won helpful because they came at a the Kotla will certainly be a Cairns for three years because he “didn’t want it to be true”. In three days, with South Africa that match by an innings and 25 time when India was trying to proud moment for captain Koh- the end the tardiness led to what Cairns’s defence lawyer called shot out for 109 in 39.5 overs in runs, thanks to the efforts of save the match, whereas the re- li. He made his first-class debut the “shifting sands” of evidence. the fourth innings. seven for 46 and three for 24 by mainder had no bearing on the at Kotla in 2006-07 against Ta- McCullum quoted Cairns as telling him that “everyone is Skipper Hashim Amla did not debutant fast bowler John Lev- result, which was another mil Nadu. doing it in world cricket,” a statement which, even making say anything about the Mohali er — who later got embroiled in draw.” It must rank as the most Incidentally, Kohli’s India allowance for exaggeration, must worry the ICC. Some of In- pitch, but after the defeat at the Vaseline controversy. self-deprecating appraisal teammate M. Vijay’s first-class dia’s players in recent years have had the miasma of guilt hang- Nagpur he said he had never indeed. debut had come in the same ing over their heads. There are two ways of dealing with this if played on such a pitch before No different Pataudi went on to captain match, which Delhi won. They MEMORABLE TEST: Virat Kohli is all set to become the third Delhi the authorities are serious. Offer immunity in the hope of land- and that it would have been a Bedi recalled, “Honestly, I India at the Kotla in two more can take a pleasant peep into cricketer to captain the country on his home ground when India ing bigger or more fish, or see a case through to its conclusion. nightmare to face don’t think I was different from Tests — against New Zealand the past as they prepare for the takes on South Africa in the fourth and final Test at the Fixing, like dengue and chikungunya, is with us still. It should on it. the rest. I was just one of them (1965) and Australia (1969) — Test. Ferozeshah Kotla from Thursday. — PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY be handled with the same intensity as the viral attacks to keep it from spreading. Occasionally a guilty person might go free, but Dravid sets out the blueprint Looks like it will last more each case will help the system become increasingly watertight. for junior cricket than three days: SA camp Chance for Proteas to VIJAY LOKAPALLY NEW DELHI: The South African ly track in Nagpur ‘poor’ after the “We are playing in India and cricket team, which rushed to the third Test at the VCA Stadium we expect the pitches to turn. salvage some pride NEW DELHI: He was a paragon of pitch after arriving at the Fero- got over inside three days. This one looks likely to go on for perfection at the crease and the zeshah Kotla here on Tuesday for However, South Africa’s as- more than three days. We have reputation in every single Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi Me- a practice session, hoped that the sistant coach Adrian Birrell said been happy with what we are game. The only problem is that morial Lecture by fourth and final Test against In- his team expected turn from the provided with.” s expected the he has played in every single on Tuesday brought out the dia would last more than three pitches in India. Birrell was honest to admit that AProteas have game! parent and teacher within him. days. “We are not complaining at all. his team, trailing 2-0 in the four- recovered from the The workload hasn’t been as “I believe in junior cricket The South African batsmen We are playing in Indian condi- match series, had not performed disappointment of heavy during the Test series passionately,” he said. have struggled against the Indian tions,” said Birrell. well so far. “We have not played losing the series with Bangalore washed out “Youngsters being reported spinners in the series so far. The Birrell said his side was happy good cricket yet, so we are deter- and I get the feeling that they and, no doubt he is raring to go [for faulty action] upsets me. International Cricket Council after having a look at the Kotla mined to put up a good perform- are entering the final Test — he is a young man. But the Age fudging needs to be stop- (ICC) termed the spinner-friend- track. ance.” — Special Correspondent about as well prepared, emo- management may decide to rest ped. The overage business is tionally and physically, as you him. Dane Piedt is an exciting dangerous and toxic. can be when you are playing for off spinner with a couple of “Indian cricket must re-in- pride. good variations — it would be troduce children to the game. Straight after the Nagpur easily the greatest test of his We have to develop well- Soon a Noida home for Afghan cricketers Test this match might have felt skills and potential if he was rounded adults. There is a Rahul Dravid delivering the Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi Memorial like a bridge too far, but now it given a game. And Temba Ba- world outside cricket,” said the Lecture. — PHOTO COURTESY: BCCI VIJAY LOKAPALLY camp for the cricketers in is quite the opposite. Some of vuma must also come into con- former India captain. October, needs to spruce up its dressing the guys were saying on Mon- sideration as another specialist “We need to have a clear, de- Baig, and Sharmila Tagore, wife participation by restricting bat- NEW DELHI: The newly-constructed Shaheed room facilities and install CCTV cameras at day: “Thank goodness we batsman, provided he is still hit- tailed plan; a blueprint for our of Late Tiger Pataudi, the suave ting and options.” Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in specific places to meet the requirements for didn’t have to go home last ting the ball in the nets. Some- junior cricket. State associ- Dravid called for committed Striking a note of caution, Greater Noida could soon play ‘home’ to hosting an ICC-event match. week — it would have been times you lose form after so ations could use a portion of measures to promote the game. Dravid, 42, observed, “parents Afghanistan’s cricketers. The arrangement horrible to return without play- long away from the ‘real’ action. their funds to run free camps at “We are blessed with great feel cricket means lot of time would be subject to clearance from the Nepal also keen ing our best.” As I thought would happen, government schools for their resources, financial and human. away from home. Things are International Cricket Council (ICC). The Afghanistan cricket authorities have So Delhi represents a real the pitch looks a lot calmer and children. We have to keep our cricket changing dramatically in big ci- ICC Match Referee (for the India-South expressed their desire to make the venue chance to make up for what has more ‘normal’ now that the se- “It is an opportunity for us to fresh and inclusive. There are ties. Africa Test series) and former New Zealand their ‘home’ ground. happened so far. ries is won. I haven’t seen it but, reflect on issues that affect In- challenges from other fronts. “Cricket is not the first game has undoubt- from what I’ve heard, it looks captain Jeff Crowe visited the stadium on Nepal is also said to be keen to play dian cricket. We need the wis- “It is not surprising to find anymore in big cities.” edly been one of the outstand- likely to sustain the match well Tuesday and reportedly was impressed with regularly at this venue. dom of our elders and the ener- football more attractive among Dravid, sweat dripping down ing success stories for the Pro- beyond the third day, which is a gy of our young cricketers to do juniors. his forehead, paid tribute to Pa- what he saw. According to former North “Apart from Hayden, cricketers like teas and has enhanced his nice thought! what is best for Indian cricket.” “We need to have strict gui- taudi and termed him, “incisive, Zone captain and noted curator Venkat Mahendra Singh Dhoni and In the presence of the Indian delines from the Board for ju- analytical and objective.” Sundaram, the Kiwi suggested a few have told me the stadium is ready to host big and South African teams, for- nior cricket in terms of techni- The Board secretary Anurag improvements, which the local authorities matches,” said Sundaram. mer India captains Bishan cal aspects. Thaklur promised to take Dra- have promised to deliver in quick time. The Sports Complex is currently hosting Singh Bedi, , Sunil “A nine-year-old bowling vid’s ideas forward by adopting The scenic ground, which also came in for the UP-Baroda match and has Gavaskar, K. Srikkanth, Mohd. from 22 yards is not good. Let us this speech as the blueprint for praise from former Australian opener been allotted the Deodhar Trophy Azharuddin, Anil Kumble, and have rolling substitution in ju- improving junior cricket in when he held a three-day tournament to be held in January. former Test batsman Abbas Ali nior cricket to ensure bigger India.

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