OID‰‰‰†KOID‰‰‰†OID‰‰‰†MOID‰‰‰†C The Times of India, New Delhi, Wednesday,July 30, 2003 The last action hero Money’s on Lance No second thoughts Andre Agassi has thrown down the Five gone and Armstrong is still Soccer buffs, brace up for apocalypse gauntlet to Roddick $ Co. The tennis strong. That’s the verdict of three in two years time. Zinedine Zidane legend says he’s the last man standing members of Tour de France’s ‘club has reaffirmed his plan to quit after from a “tough generation” which includ- of five’. Eddy Merckx, Bernard playing for 24 more months. And ed Pete Sampras and Jim Courier and Hinault and Miguel Indurain believe he wants to get whatever laurels whose exploits will be tough to follow Armstrong can win the 6th next year more he can in this period Indian shuttlers disappoint in World Championships I just feel it’s the right time. I felt I was a bit tired Hussain just ‘lost it’, and stale. Four years is a long time in this job. ‘I was tired and stale’ —Nasser Hussain after relin- AP claim South Africans Birmingham: A “tired” Nasser Hussain who quishing England captaincy AFP stepped down as England Test captain after a four- Birminghham: Nasser Hussain SPORTS DIGEST year spell in charge here on Monday said: “I just was accused of “losing it” and try- feel it’s the right time. I felt I was a bit tired and ing to embarrass South Africa cap- AFP stale. Four years is a long time in this job,” Hussain tain Graeme Smith during his last said after the drawn first Test against South Africa match as England Test captain. at Edgbaston. “It can become very repetitive,” Hus- Smith, at 22 South Africa’s sain, 35, added. youngest-ever captain, publicly ex- “I needed to see how far I could dig and I just pressed surprise at Hussain’s move. wasn’t good enough.” Hussain, who retains his But sources close to the tourists’ place in what is an unchanged team for the next camp said that the Essex batsman’s Test, added: “I feel it is coming to a slight change in decision had not come as a a total era. I think Michael Vaughan has shown in the last surprise. “Nasser lost it totally” few months that he is a capable leader and that’s the source said. “He was swearing what I have been waiting for. There are some good at his players in the field.” The lads playing under him and the last thing they source added that Hussain, whose want is a tired leader.” players often felt the rough edge of England’s new Test skipper, who led England to his tongue in 45 Tests as England One-day triumphs over Pakistan and victory in the captain, tried to put one over on triangular series final against South Africa earlier Smith just before the Test began. this season, expressed shock at the timing of Hus- sain’s decision. “I had not expected the Test cap- “When he went out to toss, Hus- South African skipper Graeme Smith with the MoM medal. taincy to come my way but I feel ready for the chal- sain introduced Smith to the match lenge and I will be more than happy to have him referee as ‘Greg Smith’. The (South Africa’s best against England. In the (Hussain) in the dressing-room as a senior player,” Africa) team thought it was a delib- build-up to this match Hussain had East Bengal supporters, having the 28-year-old added. erate attempt to humiliate him.” angered the tourists by saying there donned club colours on their Meanwhile, Hussain insisted he had not taken his If so it backfired spectacularly were “splits in their camp” and that faces, await the arrival of their decision lightly. “It’s not the sort of job where you with Smith making 277 -- South they “were ripe for the taking”.AFP triumphant team at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport in just take the cash and plod on and stand at mid-off. Nasser in figures Kolkata on Tuesday. I’ve always felt it’s the sort of job where you have to give it everything. It’s time for change. “After last Hussain vis-a-vis other skippers since he took over captaincy winter the stuff that went on off the field and on the Kanpur decision on Aug 5: The field in Australia there were a lot of difficult times,” M W L D Win % Indian cricket board’s Pitches Com- he said referring to the drawn out wrangle over N.Hussain (Eng) 45 17 15 13 37.78 mittee will reconvene on August 5 to S.Fleming (NZ) 36 13 10 13 36.11 decide on Kanpur as a Test venue whether England should play a World Cup match in Zimbabwe. Asked to explain the timing of his deci- S.Waugh (Aus) 47 36 6 5 76.60 for the upcoming New Zealand se- S.Jayasuriya (SL) 38 18 12 8 47.37 ries. Mohali and Kanpur were set to sion, Hussain, a veteran of 84 Tests, added: “I have been thinking about this since the end of the World S.Ganguly (Ind) 32 13 10 9 40.63 host the two Tests but doubts have C.Hooper (WI) 22 4 11 7 18.18 been raised with regard to the latter Cup.” AFP Hussain after it was reported that the relaid Hussain’s two immediate predecessors pitch might not be fit to hold the Vaughan to lead unchanged team match owing to the monsoon show- Meanwhile, Michael Vaughan will lead an un- Naseer Hussian announcing his retirement from Test captaincy on Monday. M W L D Win % ers this month. “The Pitches Com- changed England XI in the second Test against A.Stewart 15 4 8 3 26.66 mittee is meeting on August 5 where South Africa at Lord’s on Thursday.England chair- VOICES M.Atherton 54 13 21 20 24.07 a decision will be taken on whether man of selectors David Graveney named batsman Like everyone else in the dressing-room, himself a pat on the back and reflect on Most successful English captains (with at least 10 wins) to have the Test in Kanpur or move it Robert Key and fast bowler James Kirtley as injury Stewart I’m surprised at Nasser’s decision to re- a job well done. elsewhere,” board president Jagmo- cover for the team that played the opening test. M W L D Win % han Dalmiya said. PTI sign. He has been a hugely inspirational Ian Botham M.Brearley 31 18 4 9 58.06 Vice captain and opening batsman Marcus captain and no-one cares more about Selection meet postponed: The Trescothick suffered a broken finger during the P.May 41 20 10 11 48.78 England than him. As an opposing captain he was always L.Hutton 23 11 4 8 47.83 selection of Indian cricket team test but batted in both innings without any dis- Michael Vaughan someone I respected. He had a compet- probables for the conditioning camp R.Illingworth 31 12 5 14 38.71 comfort. His progress will be monitored before the itive instinct and as a leader he motivat- for the home series against New He has instilled a passion and fire into N.Hussain 45 17 15 13 37.78 second Test. ed his players well. I always enjoyed the Zealand has been put-off by a day. England squad: Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Mark the belly of English cricket and groomed G.Gooch 34 10 12 12 29.41 a team which I believe are the second battle of captaining against him. The 25-probables will now be picked Butcher, Nasser Hussain,Anthony McGrath,Alec Stewart (wicketkeeper),An- M.Atherton 54 13 21 20 24.07 Atherton on August 5 as one of the selectors drew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison, James Anderson. best in the world. Nasser can now give Steve Waugh Rajneesh Gupta Standbys: James Kirtley, Robert Key. AFP is expected to return from holiday abroad by that day, cricket board ex- ecutive secretary Sharad Diwadkar CRICKET UPDATE said on Tuesday. The camp is scheduled to start in Bangalore from August 14. PTI Latif captain for NZ tour Revivo denies he was fired: Is- Ajit Ninan raeli international midfielder Haim Karachi: The Pakistan Revivo has denied he was fired by cricket board announced the Turkish club Galatasaray, saying that Rashid Latif would re- he decided to leave the club on his main captain until the tour own. Revivo, a star left-footer who of New Zealand early next joined Galatasaray with a 2 1/2 year year. Meanwhile, promising contract in January, said he was re- pace bowler Mohammad turning to Israel to close out his ca- Sami has been ruled out of reer. Turkish media had reported Galatasaray had unloaded Revivo. next month’s series against ‘‘If Galatasaray weren’t interested in Bangladesh after suffering a my services as a player, they would sprained ankle. have never extended my contract by two more years in the summer or Sanwar in dock tried persuading me to stay’’ the 31- London: The International year-old Revivo said. He joined Cricket Council has said Galatasaray after leaving archival Bangladesh spin bowler San- Fenerbahce amid a dispute over un- war Hossain is on report for a paid wages following a long injury. AP suspect bowling action but Campbell to run world sprint the cricketer can play against double: Darren Campbell was se- World Champions Australia with the off-the-field behaviour and lected to run the 100m and 200m at in the upcoming One-day series.
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