OID‰‰†‹KOID‰‰†‹OID‰‰†‹MOID‰‰†‹C The Sunday Times of India, New Delhi, January 11, 2004 No honeymoon Temperamental Jens Laila’s gesture Ending all speculations, South Africa Jens Lehmann is in danger. Not Laila Ali will fight Guyanese boxer paceman Andre Nel will marry from a rival striker but from FA. The Gwendolyn O’Neil in Abuja for a sweetheart Deanne Weitz after the 2nd temperamental German was charged charity combatting AIDS and day’s play in the 4th Test against West with misconduct by FA for throwing human trafficking. It will be her Indies coming Saturday. Of course, Nel the ball at Southampton striker Kevin first fight since she defended the will be back for the Test the next day Phillips. Now he waits for the verdict IBA super middleweight title Tomba Singh declared AIFF Player of the Year BRIEFLY Zimbabwe hoping against hope SPORT Sourav is cricket’s AFP By Bobbilli Vijay Kumar time around, Australia were the all- TIMES NEWS NETWORK VB SERIES conquering champions; that superi- or ring has been dented if not busted Sydney: Don’t blame Zimbabwe if bout. ‘‘We are not here to make the over the last two months. they want to start off with a com- numbers here,’’ he had said, shortly next Captain Marvel Zimbabwe watched the opening plaint before they take on Australia after losing to Australia A. On Sat- game of the VB series very closely in a day-nighter here on Sunday urday, shortly after a net session at India, from series to series, have had and learnt a couple of well-estab- THE SPORTING LIFE evening. the Sydney Cricket Ground, he de- just one, which is not enough to win lished paradigms. Australia showed They have virtually been ignored clared his mission: ‘‘We will try to Ayaz Memon consistently. as the hosts and India added one make the finals.’’ Nobody laughed. that you are never out of the game. But it is Ganguly’s remarkably var- Saurav Ganguly could chapter after another to their grow- But Streak was quick enough to One just has to create pressure and ied experiences as captain which, I be- well usurp Ricky ing rivalry over the last month. The sense the mood and conceded that it allow the other team to take care of lieve, gives him an edge over Ponting. Ponting’s status as only time they hit the headlines was won’t be easy.‘‘It will be a great chal- the rest. But then, they are not play- The Australians are unused to crisis. Steve Waugh’s succes- when their bowlers got thrashed or lenge as both the teams are in very ing India tomorrow. As the last series showed, they are sor. I mean this, of good form, especially with the bat,’’ Australia were so thrilled with prone to error (or panic) because they their batsmen got bamboozled by course, to be the man he conceded. their unexpected victory that they have been pretty much one-dimen- Australia’s second string. who will lead the best ‘‘We will have to bat consistently, were again brimming with confi- sional simply because there has been But captain Heath Streak will cricket side in the converting the 20s and 30s into big dence. Their sagging spirits and little opposition to them. Ponting has probably offer only a smile if cor- world in the next few years. 80s and 100s. We will also have to drooping bodies have lifted and they to live with that legacy for some while. nered about the step-motherly treat- Waugh’s departure leaves a void bowl to the best of our ability. We quickly jumped into the swimming Ganguly got the captaincy in the ment: quite a few of his mates, if not which most people expect Ponting to know that we can bowl out sides, or pool on arrival here and played some wake of the match-fixing controversy, he himself, understand what that fill by natural inheritance. But if Gan- at least contain them within reach.’’ naughty games inside. which was a sordid time in Indian means. Grant Flower’s presence will guly builds aggressively on the gains They will be hoping to play simi- cricket. He has to fight many ghosts, ensure that even at the height of in- He was obviously being more made in the recent Test series, and his lar games in the middle too. and many insecurities. In the process, tense competition, they will not for- hopeful than optimistic. His inner experience, Australia may well have to Matthew Hayden, who had shown he has made silly mistakes and he has get their strife-torn country and suf- thoughts burst forth when he con- settle for second best. signs of self-destruction during the taken sensational decisions. He has fering compatriots. ceded that it was nice not to be under Over four eventful years, Ganguly current series, will be dreaming seen defeat, victory, controversy, Streak realises that he and his any pressure to win. ‘‘We are here to has been successful in re-establishing everything that can temper and sea- team have been caught in a kind of a enjoy the game and play it in the about the 400 that he had almost the credibility of Indian cricket. He son a player and man. If he has learnt whirlpool: they might produce a cou- right spirit. If we can pull off a cou- touched late last year. Adam has picked and nurtured youngsters Venus Williams of USA raises the trophy his lessons, he now not only has con- ple of stunning performances or ple of wins it will be a great achieve- Gilchrist too would aim to get a few without parochial considerations after she beating Russia's Maria siderable talent at his disposal, but Sharapova in a friendly match in Hong even anchor one or two upsets but in ment for the country.’’ runs while the One-day specialists which overturned a culture that exist- also wisdom. Kong on Saturday. Venus won 7-5, 6-3. the end the world’s two top One-day At least, they are in a much better have already started singing and ed for more than seven decades. He has India may have failed to beat Aus- teams will square off for another position during this visit. The last dancing. had differences with his peers, but has tralia in the Test series, but indicated not allowed that to obscure his vision. Rayudu to lead: Talented batsman Am- strongly that they are ripe to take over, He has gradually, it seems, accepted bati Rayudu of Hyderabad will lead the lacking just that little bit of luck and Fleming’s ton puts Kiwis ahead Bhandari flown in to his own limitations. More importantly, 14-member Indian cricket team in the un- that wee bit of ruthlessness to clinch he has radically influenced the mental der-19 World Cup to be held in Wellington: New Zealand cricket stand of 71 with Craig McMillan for the final Test and the rubber. That approach of the players — from pusil- Bangladesh from February 9-17. Tamil captain Stephen Fleming produced the fourth. strengthen attack good fortune is best friends with great lanimity to derring-do. Notch-by- Nadu’s Dinesh Karthik will be Rayudu’s an unbeaten century to lead his team Pakistan: Y Hameed c Styris b Oram 44, I teams is a truism that every sportsper- Kolkata: Medium pacer Amit Bhan- notch, all these have contributed in deputy while former Indian all-rounder to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan Farhat c McCullum b Mills 17, S Elahi c Flem- son acknowledges, so Ganguly should dari is being flown to Australia to making the current side arguably In- Robin Singh will be the coach, BCCI joint and a 2-1 lead in their five-match ing b Styris 80,Y Youhana run out 36, Inzamam- not worry too much about luck. In- strengthen the bowling attack of the dia’s best ever, at least where results secretary Prof Ratnakar Shetty, said. One-day series here on Saturday. ul Haq c McCullum b Tuffey 0, Shoaib Malik c stead, he should focus on whipping up The team: Ambati Rayudu (capt-Hyderabad), Fleming b Tuffey 0, M Khan c Mills b Styris 10, Indian team in the ongoing triangu- are concerned. Fleming, who finished 115 not out, an obsessive desire to win in his play- Robin Uttappa, Gaurav Dhiman (both from Kar- A Razzaq not out 50, A Mahmood run out 11, S struck the winning runs from the lar One-day cricket series. The deci- Man for man, India look to be as ers. nataka), Praful Waghela (Mumbai), Faiz Fazal second ball of the 47th over as New Akhtar run out 2, M Sami not out 0. Extras (lb 2, sion to send Bhandari to Australia w 2, nb 1): 5. Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs): 255. good as Australia today.The core team Only such desire could have made a (Vidharbha), Shikhar Dhawan, Abhishek Sharma Zealand, reached 259-3, overhauling was taken after a request was re- (both from Delhi), Suresh Raina, Praveen Gupta, R Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-72, 3-144, 4-144, 5- is well settled. There is no really ‘old’ difference in the last Test, as indeed in Pakistan’s total of 255-9. The century ceived from the Indian team man- P Singh (all three from Uttar Pradesh), Dinesh 152, 6-186, 7-190, 8-234, 9-247. Bowling: player in the side, so continuity is as- the first One-dayer at the MCG on Fri- agement in Australia, the BCCI said Karthik (vice-captain, Tamil Nadu), V R V Singh was Fleming’s fifth in 210 One-day Tuffey 10-2-45-2, Mills 10-0-58-1, Oram 10-0- sured.