THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q TUESDAY Q NOVEMBER 24, 2020 11

When luck favoured Viv in India Aus pace attack stronger, more NEW DELHI, NOV face of that 192 Kotla not 23: 'I remember the first out.' time we played, we played 'Richards's subsequent balanced than India's: Buchannan in Bangalore, and I never scores of 15 & 47 at Calcutta; Former Australia coach, program which can become forget this... just the fire 50 & 2 at Madras; 1 & 39 not John Buchanan was at the an added complication for crackers and everything was out at Bombay (in the re- helm of affairs when the India on tour," said crazy, because here I am maining three Tests of the Australians were dominat- Buchanan. and I see 70,000 people in series) suggest that Vivian ing world cricket from 1999 Currently, the fourth Test the crowd; maybe more was by no means, yet, the to 2007. Having worked of the series between India people that on the island monarch of all he surveyed, closely with star performers and Australia is slated to be that I live, and that for me even if he fell to Chandra in the Aussie dressing room, held in Brisbane. Australia was huge; and as I was go- but once in those 6 innings.' the former coach spoke has a remarkable record in ing out from the stairs all 'Even on the Pakistan leg about India's chances in the Brisbane, and the venue has these firecrackers and of that subcontinental tour upcoming series while giv- become a sort of fortress for bombs just went off and all (in February-March 1975),' ing his insight into the pace the side. of a sudden I slipped and Mr Bharatan pointed out, attack of both teams, in an When asked to decipher fell straight to the bottom; 'Viv Richards made but 7 & 0 exclusive interview with Australia's success in Bris- and I somehow didn't feel in the Lahore Test; and 10 ANI. bane, Buchanan replied: like Viv; then the brief in- in the Karachi Test.' The Indian team had ar- Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. somewhere near their best "The Gabba is a venue for all nings that I played gave an left. dian skipper, decided to 'Thus, from 7 Tests (5 in rived in Australia on No- "I think the Australian throughout the series, then I players to adjust. It is not indication of how I felt.' 'The Indian tour was very stick with Richards for the India and 2 in Pakistan), Viv vember 13 and the team is bowling attack of Cummins, think this fact combined simply that batsmen need Viv Richards remember- special for me. My father Delhi Test. First stoke of Richards's scores read: 4 & currently under their quar- Starc, Hazelwood, Pattin- with an Indian bowling line- to adjust to the bounce and ing his first Test against In- used to say that if you go to good luck. 3; 192 not out; 15 & 47; 50 & antine period. However, the son, Neser, Lyons, Swepson up that may be a little short increasing pace of the dia in Bangalore on Novem- India and start playing all Then another amazing 2; 1 & 39 not out; 7 & 0; and side has been training and look a stronger and more in experience and variety, wicket over days 2 and 3 of a ber 22, 1974. the best spinners in the bolt of good fortune came 10.' the Kohli-led team also had balanced attack than India, an Australian bowling line- Test but bowlers need to ad- The famous Viv swagger world then I will start be- Viv's way! 'An aggregate of 370 runs their first intra-squad especially if Ishant is not up that looks primed for the just to find the right length was nowhere on display as lieving in you,' Viv added. On 12, he nicked stand-in from 12 Test innings (twice match on Sunday. available. Playing in Aus- series, plus the COVID bio- to force batsmen to play at he was caught by E A S As the legendary cricket Indian captain Srinivas not out) for an average of "Yes, it is always good to tralian conditions, bowlers bubble factor. This certainly the ball. The Gabba is a Prasanna off B S Chan- journalist Raju Bharatan re- Venkataraghavan to wicket- only 37' be in a foreign country for a need experience. Ashwin places Australia as wicket that presents differ- drashekhar for 4 in the first called in a Rediff.com col- keeper Farokh Engineer. But all those numbers, while, playing matches be- and Kuldeep will play good favourites to win both the ent challenges to batsmen innings. umn, after his failures in the The Indians all went up in Viv didn't recall as he re- fore a Test series. Although, support roles and may be a short-form series and the and bowlers every day, Viv didn't fare better in Bangalore Test, Richards appeal. membered on Monday, '46 this year is different due to factor in Sydney. But India Test series," said Buchanan. sometimes, every session. the second innings either, would have been dropped Not Out, Umpire Madhav years go, I started my first COVID. Most players have lacks solid backup to Bum- Australia had gone into a This is due to the heat of this time snapped up by for the second Test at the Gothoskar declared. ever game for @windi- been in a bio-bubble for rah, Shami, and Yadav. hard lockdown last week as Brisbane. Syed Abid Ali off Chandra Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi. Viv made the most of that escricket. I can't express some time during IPL and Bumrah is a fine paceman. there was a sudden spike in "Day 1 will see moisture in for 3. But Lawrence Rowe -- reprieve and added 180 how lucky & incredible I felt now will continue in that He has very good durability. COVID-19 cases. The first the wicket to guard against 'I found that Chandra was whose place Viv had taken more runs to his score, fin- representing this team, who situation while touring Aus- I think India needs to use Test is slated to be held in too much drying and crack- difficult to play, and, lucky in the West Indies team for ishing at 192 not out (6 have always produced leg- tralia. I expect many of the him in such a way that he is Adelaide on December 17 ing by Day 5. That is why for me, because he didn't the Bangalore game after sixes, 20 fours, 297 balls, endary cricketers. Always Indian players to be feeling as fresh as possible for each and the match will be a day- spinners can be a handful in play for the second match. I the triple centurion had an 321 minutes). proud to have played with & the effects of this Test match," said night contest. the first two sessions of Day made 192 and that was the eye problem -- was unfit for As Mr Bharatan noted in against some exceptional lockdown/isolation by the Buchanan. The former Australia 1 as the ball will grip on the confidence that you needed the Delhi Test. his Rediff.com column, talents. It was an incredible time the New Year Test be- During the 2018-19 se- coach has said that he does surface. Days 2 and 3 will to play Test matches,' Viv Chandra was injured and 'Once Chandra returned journey!' gins which may cause some ries, India won their first not see the venues being see the wicket get harden, recalled in a conversation out of the Delhi Test as was with the third Test at Cal- Who knows what would issues for individuals and Test series on Australian swapped as the COVID sit- quicken, and bounce a little with Harsha Bhogle, the India's captain Mansur Ali cutta, India's 'mystery man' have happened if the dice of the team," said Buchanan. soil. Kohli-led India eventu- uation is under control in more. If the weather re- transcript of which you can Khan 'Tiger' Pataudi. began weaving a web fate had not gone Viv's way Pacer Ishant Sharma is ally won the series 2-1 and Australia as of now. mains hot, and there has read as the first link on the Clive Lloyd, the West In- around 'Vivy' even in the during the Delhi Test? currently at the National now they would be looking "Australia would always not been too much summer Cricket Academy (NCA) to to retain the Border- prefer to play the first Test rain or thunderstorms, then regain his full fitness before Gavaskar Trophy. However, in Brisbane. However, I do the last session on Day 4 embarking on the Aus- during that series, Tim not see the program chang- and Day 5 will see a little 'Family man' Warner says life tralian tour. Buchanan feels Paine-led Australia was ing as Adelaide has now more uneven bounce and that the Indian side would without the duo of Steve come out of lockdown. turn. Very good players ad- miss him if he is not able to Smith and David Warner. COVID is still very much in just to the changing wicket play the Test series against "It is certainly a much circulation in the country conditions and both bats- in bio-bubble is tough Australia. The World Cup- stronger batting line-up for though, but for now under men and bowlers can be Australia than that which control. If this changes in NEW DELHI, NOV Australia. So, there's a lot of winning coach also high- very successful at the Gabba played here the last series. any way during the tour, it 23: Australia opener David T20 stuff over the next cou- lighted how India lacks if they can do so," he signed Provided they each play will definitely change the Warner admitted that play- ple of years along with gear- backup to Mohammad off. ing cricket while living in- ing up for that 50-over side bio-bubbles in the World Cup in 2023," he times of COVID-19 pan- added. Why captain Rahane will be demic has taken a toll on his Warner also ruled out family life, and said his pri- playing in the Australian mary target now is to repre- Big Bash League again un- sent his country in the next til he retires from interna- two T20 World Cups. tional cricket. tough to crack for Aus Accepting that the last six "It's difficult for us play- NEW DELHI, NOV 23: months were pretty tough ers to play all three forms Australia opener David for an international crick- even if there is a window. Warner says Ajinkya Ra- eter, Warner refused to You have got to have that hane, who will lead India in commit on the number of break because you are going the Tests in the absence of series he was targeting to full tilt into summer as well. Virat Kohli, who will be fly- play for Australia in the next There is not an off-season ing back to India for the 12 months. for us," he said. birth of his first child after "...it's going to be very dif- wife into here, it's going to to host the event in 2021. "You are playing overseas the first Test, starting De- ficult to be able to do that. be very difficult. "That's something that then coming into the cember 17 in Adelaide, will This last six months has "I wouldn't ever put them we have identified as play- (home) summer, then you not be easy target of banters. been quite challenging in it- in that situation where they ers and coaching staff al- have got to play Big Bash, Warner lauded Kohli’s de- self, getting used to these have to do 14 days quaran- ready. I think you look at then you play more Tests or cision to be with his wife for bubbles and trying to get tine at home," Warner said our one-day and T20 team, an ODI series, then go away. the big day, while praising used to not having family on Monday. what we are picking is For us, it's finding that time India's Test vice-captain Ra- with me." At 34, Warner insisted pretty relevant to what to actually have time off. hane for his measured ap- proach. field and getting into that John Buchanan believes Ra- world cricket," Buchanan "They're things that each that going foward he would we're going to face with the "For myself, I have three Asked how different the contest as players, it's obvi- hane is not like Virat Kohli said. player has different circum- prefer playing more T20 next couple of World Cups. kids at home and a wife that Test contest would be with ously lots to think about in his gameplay and should- "I do not have any insight stances. The next 12 months matches, especially with If we're going to take time I owe my time to as well. So Rahane expected to lead af- how to do that especially n't try to emulate his cap- into Rahane as a leader and a is very difficult when you two ICC World T20 events off, it will be between those playing all three forms, look at the calendar, there's ter Virat leaves, Warner with Ajinkya as captain. tain. captain. He will not be lined up in the next two series. Obviously the pref- that's very difficult to do "The great thing from In- "Virat's departure from Kohli, nor should he try to going to be definitely times said, "He's calm and very years. erence is playing those that. I don't think I will play dia's perspective is that the team is a huge blow to be. His first job will be to where you can come home measured in his approach. The ICC men's World World Cups," Warner said. while I am playing for Aus- you've got three if not four the Indian campaign in Aus- score runs, and lead by ex- and have time with your He's got a very good cricket T20 will be held in consec- "Given that there's a T20 tralia still. That's honestly very good players who could tralia. They will miss his en- ample this way," added the family. We are just not go- brain. utive years after the world World Cup coming up in In- speaking," said Warner, captain the team at any thusiasm, his competitive- former Australian coach. ing to get that time to see "...it's like chalk and body was forced to resched- dia, the preference will be who only had two stints in time. With him, he'll bring a ness, his belief in what they The series will be aired on our family and the back end cheese with them two (Kolhi ule this year's tournament the T20 stuff first. But obvi- the BBL and has not played calm and measured ap- can do as a team. On top of Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 3 and of being here 14 days inside a and Rahane) and as a player in Australia to 2022. India, ously you've got that next in his home tournament to try and engage him on the proach with his nature." this, they will be missing one Sony Six channels from No- hotel, add three kids and a meanwhile, are scheduled T20 World Cup as well in since 2013-14. Former Australia coach of the finest batsmen in vember 27, 8am onwards. Second straight runner-up finish for Prajnesh NEW DELHI, NOV could convert none of the Prajnesh buried a forehand An easy hold put the ATP Finals on Sunday, edg- "It's our first title to- 23: Indian tennis player eight break chances that to the net to be down a American ahead 5-2. He re- ing Jurgen Melzer and gether. Not bad for a first Prajnesh Gunneswaran fin- came his way in an hour and break point but saved it turned to serve out the set Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-2 one," Mektic said. ish runner-up at the Or- 28 minute contest. with an ace. without any fuss. 3-6 10-5. Austrian Melzer, a former lando Open, losing the sum- It is Prajnesh's second Another forehand error In the third game of the The fifth seeds, in their top-10 singles player who is mit clash of the ATP straight runner-up finish. by Prajnesh gave Nakak- second set, Prajnesh maiden season together, retiring, had hoped to end Challenger event to Ameri- He had reached the final at sima another chance but the dropped serve and squan- had lost in their other two fi- his career on a high. can Brandon Nakashima, in the Cary Challenger last Indian saved that too with a dered two break chances in nals, including at the U.S. "It was a hell of a ride," Orlando. week. well set-up winner. the next game to let 19-year- Open, but it proved a case of the 39-year-old said. "We Prajnesh did not have the The result helped Praj- However, Nakashima's old Nakashima run away third time lucky. have been fighting hard required power in his nesh rise nine places in the strong ground-strokes with his maiden Challenger "It was a dream come true since Roland Garros, played strokes to hurt the Ameri- ATP rankings to 128. He has brought him another level singles trophy. just to have qualified here almost every week to get can, losing 3-6, 4-6 in the already locked the India chance and this time Praj- Dutch-Croatian duo Wes- for this event," Koolhof, the here. It stings today, and it US$ 52,080 hard court number one rank with his nesh could not save, send- ley Koolhof and Nikola fourth Dutchman to win the hurts, but in the end we're tournament on Sunday. Orlando show. ing a backhand over the Mektic claimed their first ti- doubles title at the season- going to look back at being The Indian left-hander Serving at 2-3, 30-all, baseline. tle together by winning the ender, said. runners-up here."