There's nothing quite like Test cricket

It's late on Saturday morning. I was up at 5am despite having gone to bed late, but I am in a state of bliss. I have just finished watching the perfect Test, and times like this make it possible to fully appreciate Harold Pinter's assertion that cricket always beat sex for him.

A good game of Test cricket - it's hard to imagine Pinter referring to any other form - is like five whole days of delicious foreplay, a treat for the senses. Each day leaves you with anticipation, and the final day, the final session, leaves you sated, fulfilled, and with a glow of well-being. No other form of cricket, and indeed no other sport, can match the sensory pleasures of Test cricket - so languorous, so drawn out, and ultimately so rewarding.

Dunedin provided almost everything. The drama. The twists. The contest between bat and ball. Swing and seam and pace. Stirring batting. Wickets falling in a heap and then the batsmen fighting back.

The first day ended even; New Zealand pulled away on the second; Pakistan combusted in the first half of the third, and then a debutant stood up, and with his brother alongside him, stroked his way to a hundred. On day four, the Pakistani fast bowlers, among them a 17-year-old left-armer and one coming back in from the cold, blew the New Zealanders away as only Pakistani fast bowlers can, and day five began with all results possible.

A wobble at the top followed by a fight-back involving, inevitably, the debutant, by now playing with the maturity of one who already belongs, left the last session poised as any lover of Test cricket would want it to be. The final breakthrough was provided by a bowler who had toiled all match without a wicket, who had taken on the job of bowling into the wind so that his colleagues could reap the rewards at the other end, and had swung it New Zealand's way after taking a blow to the finger so severe the physio had to pull the digit back into shape. That merely made it more poignant. Easily it was the best Test of the year: if it failed to move you, cricket will be never be your game.

Overall it was a good week for Test cricket. Crowds turned up at Green Park in Kanpur. The pitch was far from ideal but it was redeemed by the result. And while West Indies were thrashed by Australia in three days at the Gabba, Adrian Barath, another debutant, and only 19, fulfilled an eight-year-old prophecy by Brian Lara by constructing a hundred full of sparkle and assurance.

Barath had provided glimpses of his talent during Trinidad & Tobago's run to the final of the Champions League a month ago, but because Test cricket provides the sternest examination of a cricketer's skills and temperament, it can now be said that he could be the opener West Indies have for years been looking for. At the press conference later, Barath spoke of the allure that the shorter forms held for cricketers of his generation. "But even the youngsters understand the stature of Test cricket," he said. "Test cricket is what it comes down to."

Of course it would be obtuse not to see the signs. Test cricket demands too much commitment from a generation that is so keen on abbreviations that vowels need statutory protection. The new fan is naturally drawn to the animal appeal of Twenty20. And since the money lies there, the players are drawn to it too. The clock cannot be turned back.

But to abandon Test cricket will not only be short-sighted but suicidal. Twenty20 is only a fling; the attraction to it could be as fleeting as the format itself. Casual fans could soon find better ways of entertaining themselves. If all you are looking for is a good time, there will inevitably be better ways to spend three hours. Twenty20 competes with everything: a movie, an evening spent at the bar, even sex. The connection with Test cricket goes much deeper, and is thus likely to endure much longer.

The challenge for the administrators is to not get swept away by the flow but to keep their wits about them. Test cricket is not merely a romantic ideal worthy of preservation, it is the game's foundation. Without it, the core of the game will wither away.

Twenty20 is wonderful as a sideshow. To make it the main course would be to expose its shallowness. It's not a game where skills can be learnt, much less one where they can be nurtured. Twenty20 can teach players to hit hard and long and fire it down straight or two feet outside the off stump, but if they are brought up exclusively on a diet of the shortest form, cricketers will grow up skill-deficient and will be found out, as many of India's IPL players were in South Africa, in the second season of the tournament, in more demanding conditions. Twenty20 will need Test cricket to breed and develop the players; the IPL and the Champions League will need, at least in the foreseeable future, the international structure to produce stars for them to market.

It boils down to the balance thing. Cricket is fortunate to have found three distinct forms. Space can, and must be, made for each. Playing six Tests a year, like India are in 2009, is bad enough; not caring is far worse. For far too long, audiences have been taken for granted. That can't any longer be the case.

It is staggering that no one thought it necessary to include a weekend in the first two of India's three Tests against Sri Lanka. For that you have to wait for the last two days of the final Test.

The experience of watching cricket on TV in India has grown progressively worse. One of the joys of the Dunedin Test was the cleanness of the TV feed. You could watch the bowler start an over, and indeed end it; no creepy-crawlies invaded the screen while the game was on; and between overs you could watch the captain change the field. Also, somehow it felt like the commentators spoke only as much as they needed to. In India, enduring cricket on television has itself become a test of loyalty.

And it has never been any secret that the heart of Test cricket lies in the balance between the bat and the ball.Yet, Test after Test, venue after venue, bowlers have been obscenely ground to irrelevance. Like Lahore and Karachi last year, and many of the pitches during England's tour of West Indies, Ahmedabad was so gross that it could have been designed by the enemies of Test cricket.

At Cricinfo we can still feel the passion of Test cricket. Our coverage of Test cricket this month has been consumed as eagerly as the World Twenty20 was, and in much larger numbers than the Champions League was. Page impressions don't lie, and all of you who have read our match reports and comments and features have done your bit to reinforce our faith.

Test cricket needs an avenger. It needs men with vision and a sense of mission. It needs ownership and drive. Now, someone needs to convert Lalit Modi.

Source

Tanvir targets regular place

LAHORE: Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir has said he is happy with his recovery from the back injury that affected his form over the past six months. Tanvir was a regular with the Pakistan limited-overs sides in 2008 but has struggled to hold down his place in 2009. He burst onto the scene at the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 but was out of sorts in the second edition earlier this year. “A damaged disc in my lower back caused me great discomfort in my lower back and hamstring areas,” he told PakPassion. “It was a frustrating time for me and an injury that we couldn’t diagnose during the tournament. My body wasn’t right in England and the injury had affected my self-belief. The injury was of course a physical one, but it affected me mentally too.”

Tanvir said the injury forced him to opt out of the Sri Lanka tour that followed and he had been working out at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to get back to full fitness. “The strength sessions at the NCA have helped me and I’ll continue my work with the medical staff there.” The Twenty20s against New Zealand in UAE earlier this month were his first international games in five months. He turned in a couple of steady performances and was satisfied with his fitness. “I felt no recurrence of the back injury. The ball was coming out of the hand nicely, I felt I had good rhythm against New Zealand and bowled pretty well.” The emergence of Mohammad Aamer and the return of Mohammad Asif have made competition for fast bowling spots intense, but Tanvir was hopeful he would be picked for the tough tour of Australia starting next month.
Source

A serious talent announces himself

In September, Pakistan were dizzied in what should have been a routine chase against a West Indies second XI that still had more heart than the current first at the Champions Trophy. The pitch at the Wanderers had the kind of bounce and pace cricket presumably wants to consign to the same bin holding bouncers, lighter bats and longer boundaries. Chasing 134, Pakistan were 76 for 5 and their top order had dealt with bounce as expertly as the US has with Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq put together.

Umar Akmal eventually saw them home. But unless it is your job to be this way, his unbeaten 41 will, in this time of hyperbole and overload, not be an etching in your mind. It was a fine, composed hand, unrushed, not panicked and sensible. Either during the match, or at another, Sanjay Manjrekar, in a break from commentating brought up the innings. A properly earnest disciple of the Bombay school of batting, where technique and correctness is all and sometimes overbearingly so, Manjrekar was as impressed as he was surprised that such a batsman had come out of Pakistan. How solidly he got behind the rising ball, how well he let the ball go, how unhurried he was and how smartly he constructed his little innings; Manjrekar thought him to be the most proper batsman to emerge from this land for many years.

At the risk of being a product of this age, has there been a better, more rounded batsman to come through in Pakistan in the last decade? Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, around the turn of the century, were the last batsmen Pakistan produced and both took time to settle in, and neither looked, initially, as settled, or as pure as does Akmal. A surprisingly large number of Pakistanis have scored hundreds on Test debut so Akmal, statistically, is not unique. And only three went on to substantial careers but there is something about Akmal, so much so that it is difficult to not be very excited.

There are more than just glimpses of his elder brother in some shots, but Umar's strokeplay is purer and broader, maybe unencumbered by the duties of 'keeping. That word 'pure' keeps coming up, and it is most appropriate for there is a clearheaded aggression in him that is the way of successful modern-day batsmen. He will not dally over wanting to drive through cover or square, he will go for it if he sees it there. He will not ponce around against spinners, inevitably making the first move. Unlike Kamran he has a leg-side game as well though the best of it all is his pulling, so sweet it might make you sick. Those particularly proficient at it - small men usually - do it to balls of length not deserving such fates, and Daniel Vettori would have grudgingly acknowledged such proficiency a bare handful of deliveries into Umar's Test debut.

But if it had been only the first-innings hundred then perhaps this piece might not have been written at all. A few would have been capable of producing that kind of one-off counterattack and a few have done; for one, his brother did it against India a few years back and a Faisal Iqbal 80-odd against Australia is also much remembered with fondness and sadness. But Yousuf will not be alone in appreciating the significance of his second-innings 75 and Manjrekar and the Bombay school, and our own Hanif, had any of them been watching it, will have liked it even more.

New Zealand knew more about him now, his urges and his thinking. Men were put on the boundary, a deep point was in place, bouncers were hurled in asking him to risk a pull and a stiff target waited on a last-day track; having passed a first test of skill, now came a test of will.

This was crisis management redux, from the first innings at least. Boundaries were not so cheap and gifts came, like hookers, with a price. He would have to know, as a newspaper once simply wrote of Hanif, that it pays to wait for runs. He did and very nearly it paid off; both for time and balls, he actually batted marginally longer than he did in the first innings and never looked like an imposter doing so. After his ODI hundred in Sri Lanka, a sprinkling of his talent at the Champions Trophy and a handy T20I innings or two, the conclusion is that he doesn't bat in a bubble. The mood, the context, the format, the task at hand - these are the things that shape his batting as much as his own skills.

It should not be lost on anyone that he is a product very much of Pakistan's cricketing system, and he was also almost lost to it. During a spell at the National Cricket Academy he was told to leave by head coach Mudassar Nazar because he didn't seem focussed enough, not practicing hard, throwing away his wickets and Nazar had had enough; Akmal, though, kept returning, and with a little word from his elder brother, got back in. He returned, according to Nazar, a changed boy.

The sifaarish [recommendation] was worth it, even if it is a shame for what it says about just how chancey the whole process often is. Otherwise though, he wasn't spotted in a side street in tattered clothes, shattering windows with his pulls. He worked his way up from junior level inter-city and district cricket, played and performed for Pakistan at Under-19 level and on Academy tours and spent a season wowing people for SNGPL domestically. When he got called up earlier this year to the national side, it was after he had hit three hundreds on an A team tour to Australia, against bowlers like Shaun Tait and Doug Bollinger.

Expectations now will rocket, which at one level is fine, for they have been so low of Pakistan's batsmen so long that it cannot be a bad thing. At another, it is unfair, especially when your current top order would struggle to make the tail of Canada's batting, and it will at some point become too much. But at that juncture Pakistan must remind themselves that like Mohammad Aamer, Akmal is genuine reason for hope. Neither must go to waste. After that they might even sit back and wonder contentedly at the continued ability of this country to keep producing such gems.

Source

Murali may quit before 2011 World Cup

Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan spinner, has said he may quit international cricket before the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent.

Murali, on his fourth tour to India, his final overseas tour, is struggling to come to terms with the placid Indian pitches and a strong batting line-up which has treated him harshly in the series so far. In the second Test, in Kanpur, he went for over 100 runs for the second time in two Tests in the series, and so far his five wickets have cost him 396 runs, at an average of 79.20.

"I am 37 years old and I can't bowl as much as those days because I get tired after 15-16 overs. But I will try and play a little bit of one-day cricket - that's only 10 overs to bowl. If I find everything is not going well I might retire from both forms of the game before the World Cup," Murali said. "Everything depends on how much my body can take. In Test cricket it's a little bit harder because I have always been a threat to other sides [but] at the moment it's not looking like that because others are playing me well. I think I made the right decision to retire from Test cricket at the end of the West Indies series next year.

"Two to three years ago it was not like this. Now you have niggles here and there and my groin is not the same as it used to be. We got the worst bowling conditions in the last two Tests. We didn't have the bowlers, that was one of the factors. But that's the way cricket goes, everything won't work in your favour."

Sri Lanka are struggling in the series because Murali has not been able to give them the breakthroughs he usually does. "I've played only eight Tests this year: two against Bangladesh, two against Pakistan, and two against New Zealand when I really did well bowling in the second innings of the second Test with a groin injury," he said. "Whenever the side wanted a breakthrough I got it for them in the New Zealand series. I don't know why it's not happening here.

"You have to give credit to India also for playing well. Whatever we were expecting didn't happen. Even the spinners didn't do well in any Test because everyone was not up to the mark and the wicket was not assisting them."

Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test in India, but Murali said that he won't be too disappointed if he had to return home without a Test victory in India. "Every cricketer has to go through disappointments. Everything you want to happen in life won't happen; something will be missing. Looking back I can say what an amazing career I have gone through but if we can't win in India that's it. Life has to go on."

Already the leading wicket-taker in Tests, he needs 12 more wickets in a possible three Tests to reach 800, but he said he was not targetting personal milestones. "I am not really focussing on finishing off my career taking 800 Test wickets. My focus is on winning matches. I don't believe in numbers. Eight hundred is just a number everyone will forget once you retire. It's a number to have in your mind. It is good if I get it but if I don't, still I will be happy and go out knowing I had a great career."

Source

Yousuf blames fielding lapses for loss

He is not happy with his side's defeat in the first match against New Zealand today but Pakistan skipper Mohammed Yousuf says such close games are good advertisement for Test cricket.

In an exciting climax to the series opener, Pakistan lost to the hosts by 32 run in the last session of the game.

"Such close matches are good for Test cricket and the pitch in Dunedin was a good track, supporting both bowlers and the batsmen. You need a little variable bounce on the final day to get a result," he said.

Yousuf, who is leading the team after Younus Khan pulled out of the tour, says had their bowlers done well on the first day, the result could have been different.

"It was not easy batting conditions on the first day but we let them score too many runs and we had some expensive fielding lapses," he said.

"We didn't field well in the first innings and gave away some runs," Yousuf said. "Credit to New Zealand for the way they bowled in the second innings. We wouldn't be chasing 250-odd had we not dropped vital catches."

Yousuf also said that inexperienced batting line up was also unable to handle the pressure.

"The batting was a bit inexperienced and we didn't get as many runs in both the innings as we should have. I think the senior and junior players have to come forward and do their bit," he added.

The selectors have sent Misbah-ul-Haq to New Zealand on Yousuf's request but the Pakistan captain said a decision on whether Misbah would play at Wellington, venue for the second Test, would be taken soon.

"Right now we have not made up our minds on whether to play him. Let him join us and we will see how it goes in the nets," Yousuf said.

Yousuf was all praise for the Kiwi paceman Shane Bond who took eight wickets and in the match said his five wickets in the Pakistan first innings was the turning point of the tie.

"Bond bowled superbly, and his performance was the major difference between the teams," Yousuf said. "I have faced many fast bowlers, and Shane Bond is among the best. He bowls an excellent line and at a pretty good speed."

Yousuf said young Umar Akmal who scored a century and 75 on his Test debut had a bright future ahead of him.

"He plays well under pressure and I thought his innings today was better than his hundred in the first innings. He will hopefully be around for Pakistan for a long time," Yousuf said.

The Pakistan captain said his bowlers were capable of taking 20 wickets in a Test but the batsmen need to apply themselves more.

"We can comeback in the series," he said.
Source

Misbah to fly for NZ tomorrow

KARACHI: Just a month after being dumped from all three formats of the game, Misbah-ul-Haq will be catching a flight for Wellington on Saturday (tomorrow) to ‘bolster’ Pakistan’s fragile batting ahead of their second Test against New Zealand.

“On the demand of the team management, the national selection committee has decided to send Misbah-ul-Haq to New Zealand as a replacement of Younis Khan,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman told ‘The News’ on Thursday. “He will be traveling on Saturday and should join the team well ahead of the second Test,” he added.

Younis, Pakistan’s regular captain, had withdrawn from the tour of New Zealand in a bid to take a break from international cricket. He was replaced by another senior batsman, Mohammad Yousuf as the new captain. Soon after his appointment, Yousuf asked for Misbah’s inclusion in the team to fill in for Younis. National selectors, at that time, had resisted the inclusion of Misbah in the squad but have now changed their mind after watching Pakistan’s top order succumbing tamely against the Kiwi attack on the third day of their first Test in Dunedin on Thursday.

Replying to the home team’s 429 in the first innings, Pakistan were at one stage struggling at 85-5. But debutant Umar Akmal (129) saved them from follow-on with a 176-run stand for the sixth wicket with elder brother Kamran Akmal.

Misbah, 35, was dropped from all three formats of the game last month after a series of poor outings in the World Twenty20 in England, the tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

His inclusion will raise Pakistan’s strength to 18 men, which is very high for a touring party. But Pakistan are treating it as a ‘home’ series as New Zealand were supposed to tour Pakistan for the series but decided against it because of security fears.
Source

Shane Bond, Umar Akmal light up first Test

DUNEDIN: A 34-year-old fast bowler, returning to Test cricket after two years, and a 19-year-old debutant lit up Dunedin’s University Oval on a windy day, at the end of which New Zealand were better placed in the first Test. Finally back in New Zealand whites, hurling that red thing in anger on a flat pitch, Shane Bond – with pure pace – rattled the Pakistan middle order during a seven-over spell of 3 for 25. In reply, Umar Akmal launched a counterattack after Pakistan were 85 for 5, impressing with his dazzling strokeplay and clear head, scoring a 160-ball 129 to help his team avoid the follow-on.

It took Bond his first spell to graduate from the early 140 km to close to 150, but during that time Chris Martin dismissed the openers, and Iain O’Brien – bowling into a stiff wind – troubled the batsmen enough to not let them settle. Umar, who nearly scored a century in boundaries alone, found support in his elder brother. Kamran Akmal was the quieter partner in the 176-run sixth-wicket stand, and missed his century by 18 runs. Nonetheless he stayed for long enough to be the first person to congratulate his younger brother on reaching a special century.

Unlike their Pakistan counterparts, New Zealand’s new-ball bowlers found neither seam movement nor swing. They were helped, though, by the ordinary techniques of the top three batsmen. Martin, who had earlier got his 26th duck as New Zealand were dismissed for 429, was at the right place at the right time with the ball. First when Khurram Manzoor – his guard outside leg stump – went to cut him, ended up playing away from the body, and chopped it on. And then when Imran Farhat moved across his stumps and played down the wrong line. Nice payback for being dismissed for a sixth duck in six innings against Pakistan.

In his third over of the second session, Bond gave Mohammad Yousuf a bouncer at 151 kmph that just missed the edge, followed by a yorker at 149 and a legcutter at 144 just outside off, again just avoiding the edge. It seemed it would take something more special to dismiss Yousuf and Bond pulled that out too: diving low and forward during his follow through to take a return catch. Two balls later he gave Fawad Alam the perfect lifter, not wide of off, high enough to have him jumping, and too fast for the batsman to pull his glove out of the way.

Another short ball came in the next over. Shoaib Malik, semi-backing away, guided it onto his stumps: 74 for 2 had become 85 for 5. In the interim, though, Umar had cut his first ball in Tests, from Bond, for four. Then came the shot of the day. Umar would have been forgiven had he played a forward defense to this ball from Daniel Vettori, but he rocked back and pulled it over wide long-on, so clean that it almost carried for a six.

Before Bond finished his spell, he induced an edge from Umar, but it went low and fast to the left of Daniel Flynn at gully. Another sharp Bond bouncer got a top edge that fell short of the slip cordon. Those were the only blotches on Umar’s innings. Kamran, duly took the back seat as Umar cut, drove, pulled, slog-swept, and punched his way to 50 off 57 balls, and consequently forced more defensive fields. Bond had rattled Pakistan during that hour, and it was Umar’s turn now.

Vettori, who gave O’Brien a deserved breather after 11 consecutive and tight overs for 28 runs, appeared to be the weak link. Boundaries were hit in three of his first five overs, and the partnership was on its way. Post tea, Vettori was reduced to bowling from over the stumps and Brendon McCullum crouching outside leg. The brothers saved the best for Bond, though. After Kamran hit him for three boundaries in two overs, Umar gave him the real treatment in the next. Three short deliveries, three pulls, left of mid-on, right of mid-on, and through midwicket, and the partnership had crossed 100. Umar had reached 72 off 91 then, and Kamran 47 off 81.

O’Brien, who had played the perfect foil to Bond and Martin, saw his day go from dream to nightmare, thanks to Umar. His second spell’s first over went for three boundaries and, in his third spell, Umar reached his century in sensational manner. Three successive deliveries were pulled for four, six and four, through mid-on, wide long-on and midwicket, and Umar moved from 87 to 101, and O’Brien had gone for 70 in his last 10 overs. Just then Kamran got reckless, stepped out to Vettori, and edged a delivery from outside leg to first slip. Umar refused to buckle down still, Bond or no Bond, new ball or no new ball, scoring 28 more off the next 27 balls he faced. With about six overs to go in the day, he got a thick outside edge to a wide Bond delivery, which carried to third man. Umar couldn’t have chosen a more deserving bowler for his wicket. agencies
Source

Reformed Asif looks to repair the damag

LAHORE – Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif believes that nearly the two years lull in his cricketing career came as a blessing in disguise for him and now he looks forward to make up for the lost time.
The 26-year-old is part of Pakistan’s squad for the three-match Test series against New Zealand which opens at Dunedin from November 24.
He last played a test match against South Africa at Gaddafi stadium two years ago before injury and getting involved into drug scandals that kept him away from international cricket.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle Urdu service, Asif said that that he feels sad after losing two precious years of his career because a fast bowler’s life in modern days is quite short. “In fact it was a blessing for me as I was suffering from elbow injury at that time. Had I not rested that long maybe my career would have been over by now. But I have recovered from the problem,” he added.
About the forthcoming test series, Asif said that playing in New Zealand was always his dream. “Wickets in New Zealand will definitely suit my bowling style and now I am fully geared up to play a leading role in the Test series,” he added.
“Before coming to New Zealand I have played five first class matches and my rhythm has returned.”
Asif was not selected for the limited-over series against New Zealand held in UAE earlier this month following his deportation last year. The deportation followed his detention at Dubai airport for 19 days for possessing a small quantity of opium.
Source

Misbah’s future to be decided after first Test

The future of Misbahul Haq as a Test batsman will be decided after the first Test in New Zealand as Pakistan’s selectors decided to observe the team’s performance. Mohammad Yousuf, the stand-in captain for the three-match series, had earlier called for Misbah to step up and fill Younis Khan’s absence. However, chief selector Iqbal Qasim this week said that Yousuf had not approached the PCB about a possible replacement for Younis. The PCB, after a meeting, has decided that a call be taken only after inspecting Pakistan’s performance in Dunedin. “Seventeen players are already in New Zealand. We want to first watch their performance in the opening Test and then we’ll consider the option whether to send Misbah,” Qasim added. Misbah, 35, was left out from the squads in all three formats for Pakistan’s series of ODIs, T20s and Tests against New Zealand in the UAE and New Zealand. His form has been poor in all three formats over the last year, in contrast to 2007, when he reignited his dormant international career in sensational fashion at the World Twenty20 in South Africa and then on a tour to India.
Source

I'm still hungry for runs: Pujara

Saurashtra 'run machine' Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored an unbeaten double century in his comeback match against Maharashtra, says his hunger for runs is still intact despite a career-threatening knee injury that had ruled him out since April this year.

A freak injury during a practice match before the IPL II in South Africa meant that the Kolkata Knight Riders batsman had to undergo surgery in May. What followed was a prolonged rehab under his father and former Ranji player Arvind Pujara and few weeks at NCA under then chief Dav Whatmore.

The Saurashtra batsman, who has scored about 2000 runs in the previous two Ranji seasons with seven centuries including a triple ton, had to sit out of the IPL besides the Challengers, Irani Trophy and domestic T20 back home.

Playing his first competitive match after the injury, the 21-year-old scored an unbeaten 203, a performance that has made him confident for the long season ahead.

"I just did nets before playing the match. It was a little difficult when I started batting. I was very anxious to score my first runs, I was very conscious about my batting. It was really tough as after the operation, I did not play any club or practice matches.

"But after spending 15-20 minutes at the crease, I could push myself. I was able to bat the way I did last season, though it was a difficult physically. After getting the rhythm, it was easy scoring. The double gave me immense confidence," Pujara told PTI in an interview.

Here for Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy Super League match against Bengal, Pujara said, "I have got a good start and hope I carry on with the momentum."

Pujara said he is looking forward to play his first match at Eden Gardens, a venue where scoring runs would be more satisfying.

"It's one of the best grounds in the country. I have played few practice matches (for KKR) but never in an official match. I am really looking forward to scoring runs here. It will be a great experience," Pujara, who was instrumental in Saurashtra's back-to-back semi-final finishes in previous two seasons, said.

He said it would be a different experience playing against Sourav Ganguly, his captain in Kolkata Knight Riders.

"He is very experienced and it will be really challenging to play against him. Overall, it will be a tough match to play against Bengal on their home turf."

Looked upon as the next Rahul Dravid, the unassuming Pujara says he does not want to be compared with somebody who has several years of international cricket behind him.

"I don't think I should be compared with him (Dravid) who has so much of international experience under him. I am yet to play international cricket."

Known for his cool, compact approach in sync with the Test cricket mould, Pujara said his main goal is to score runs be it for his club, state or employers.

"I don't listen what people say. My job is to score runs and I give my best whether playing for my club or state. I know selectors are watching if I am scoring runs. Like every other cricketer, I also think of playing for India. If I am good enough, my time will come," he signed off.
Source

Tendulkar rises, Gambhir slips in rankings

Riding on his match-saving hundred against Sri Lanka in the opening Test, senior Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar rose a rung to joint 15th but opener Gautam Gambhir slipped one place to third in the latest ICC Rankings issued today.

Tendulkar shares the 15th spot with dashing England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Among other Indians, Rahul Dravid has jumped five places to sit just outside the top 20 in 21st position, while India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has leaped three places to 30th spot.

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who scored a double hundred in the drawn match, achieved the number one ranking for the first time in his career.

The 32-year-old scored a masterly 275 - his sixth double-century in 108 Tests - to leapfrog team-mate Kumar Sangakkara and Gambhir.

Jayawardene, who during his mammoth knock became only the ninth batsman to complete 9,000 Test runs, is just 17 points short of becoming only the 25th batsman overall to reach the 900-point mark which, in ranking terms, is the benchmark for top batsmen.

Among the Test bowlers, Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who took 2-189 in the first Test, has slipped one place to sixth in the latest rankings.

The gap between number-one ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa and Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan's has opened from 20 points to 31 points.

The ICC Test Championship table is currently led by Australia with India ranked third.

Pakistan sits in sixth position on 84 ratings points with New Zealand four points behind in seventh place and the West Indies in eighth-position on 76 ratings points.

© PTI
Source

Dilshan stars in Sri Lankan reply

What Rahul Dravid did for India yesterday, Tillakaratne Dilshan did for Sri Lanka today. The only difference was, he did it at the top of the order, before any collapse had happened. Otherwise, their knocks were similar in nature. There was no false shot from Dilshan and he scored at what, even by his standards, was a very rapid pace for a Test match. The end result was that he got 112 as he powered Sri Lanka on towards a safe total.

The day started badly for India. Due to recent performances, it is almost expected that the Indian tail will wag at least in the first innings. However, that was not to be today, as the Sri Lankan bowlers kept things tight and didn't allow the tail to add valuable runs. The initial breakthrough was provided by yesterday's hero - Welegedera - who snared another big fish - in the context of the match, the biggest fish of them all - in Rahul Dravid. Dravid was dismissed without adding to his overnight score as Welegedera sneaked one through his bat and pad. Harbhajan and Zaheer tried to hang around and hit a couple of good shots, but Zaheer was given lbw to a marginal decision against Herath and Harbhajan fell trying an ill-advised reverse sweep against Muralitharan. Murali outfoxed Ishant Sharma four balls later to wrap up the innings at 426. It was a total India would have been reasonably satisfied with, given the way the innings started, but they would have also felt slightly inadequate given how the pitch had eased out.

That feeling was reinforced when Sri Lanka's openers came out to bat. Although Zaheer Khan breathed fire, they were able to weather the storm as they set about building a platform. As was to be expected, Dilshan was the more aggressive off the two, but not by too much. They matched India in the run-rate department, keeping theirs above four, just like India had done. It was Ishant Sharma who finally got a breakthrough when he induced an outside edge and saw Dhoni fling himself to his left to pluck a brilliant catch. The openers had put on 74 runs to set Sri Lanka on their way.

Captain Sangakkara walked out to join the free-scoring Dilshan, and they kept up the tempo established by the first wicket partnership. Dilshan, in particular, upped the ante even more and Sri Lanka went in to tea at 155/1. The final session saw a brief revival from India, but it came after Dilshan had completed his tenth Test match hundred off just 120 balls.

Zaheer Khan then struck for India in successive overs to first get Dilshan and then remove Sangakkara. Both batsmen were undone by the short ball, and both had attempted unwise shots against the bouncer. It was a just reward for Zaheer, who looked in fine form in his first match since a long layoff.

With both set batsmen gone, it was upto Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene to stitch together another partnership so that the initiative stayed with Sri Lanka and on a good batting pitch, they did just that. They were unseparated until the close of play, having put on 81 valuable runs. After the wickets of Dilshan and Sangakkara, India would have sniffed a chance at victory if they could have got some more wickets quickly, but both Samaraweera and Jayawardene played with composure to give their team a good chance of getting close to, or overhauling India's total. At close of play Sri Lanka were 275/3, still trailing India by 151 runs, but with two set batsmen at the crease and some batting to follow on a pitch that doesn't have much for the bowlers, they would be very happy with their performance in the day.

India will be looking to make the most of the start tomorrow, since the start of the day has been the only time that bowlers seemed to have got something out of the pitch. On both days so far, India have lost wickets in the first hour and they would be hoping that the same holds true tomorrow.
Source

Watson world's No. 1 all-rounder: Ponting

Sydney: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes all-rounder Shane Watson has the capability to become the world's premier all-rounder in the coming years.

Ponting said that with England's Andrew Flintoff retiring from the international scene and South African Jacques Kallis career almost coming towards its end, Watson has the chance to press his claims to be considered as the No. 1 all-rounder.

“I have always seen that he has the ability to do that. He's had his fair share of blokes that have knocked him along the way and they have knocked me and the selectors for keeping on picking him. But, he's starting to show now what he's capable of, he has a great opportunity that he can become that considering a lot of the other guys are coming towards the end,” The Age quoted Ponting, as saying.

“If you look at the outstanding all-rounders around the world- Flintoff is finished, Kallis does not have far to go, Bravo (West Indian Dwayne) is thereabouts, but he is a bit up and down. There are not many of them around,” he added.

Ponting also said the 28-year-old can have a massive impact on world cricket.

“I think with the way his game is shaping up, he can have a massive impact on world cricket,” he said.

“So for him, things are right on track for his cricket at the moment,” he added.

Most of Watson's international cricketing highs have come on foreign soil, and his numbers in Australia look particularly feeble in comparison, something he is keen to rectify during this summer’s tournament against West Indies and Pakistan.

While his Test career is very much in its infancy, his ODI batting average at home is 31.09 compared to 42.97 when he is away.

He has collected 25 wickets at 32.52 in Australia and 74 wickets at 27.77 overseas.

Source

Pak players given NOC to play IPL: Razzaq

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board has granted NOCs to its players to take part in the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), senior Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq said.

Razzaq claimed that the board had issued NOCs to players to take part in the IPL few days back and indicated he would be soon signing up for the Kolkata Knight Riders team.

"Yes the PCB has given us NOCs for the IPL and hopefully this time we will be able to take part in the league in India," Razzaq said.

When asked whether the government had also cleared the players to play in India, Razzaq said since the PCB has given clearance there should not be a problem with the government allowing them to play in the IPL.

The IPL has set a deadline of November 20 for Pakistani players to send in their NOCs from the PCB and government clearance so that they can be considered for the players auction that would be held soon for the next IPL season.

Razzaq said he was in talks with the KKR team to represent them in the next IPL season but said once the deal was final the KKR team would make an official announcement themselves.

"But yes I am interested in playing for them next season," Razzaq, who recently resigned from the rebel Indian Cricket League, said. .

Razzaq was among the first batch of players from Pakistan who signed up for the ICL and played in both seasons of the unofficial T20 league with distinction.

The Pakistani sports minister, Aftab Shah Jillani also recently said that he didn't see any problems in allowing Pakistani players to take part in the IPL next year as conditions between Pakistan and India were steadily improving.

The Pakistani government had this year advised the PCB not to allow its players to go and play in IPL II in India because of the tense relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks.

The IPL was later shifted to South Africa because of elections but by that time the franchises had either suspended or terminated contracts of Pakistani players.

Several Pakistani players took part in the first IPL edition including Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohail Tanvir, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and Mohammad Hafeez.

Razzaq also disclosed that the PCB had given him and Rana Naved NOCs to take part in the premier league in Bangladesh.

Both the players had asked for permission from the board to go and play in the Bangladesh league.

Misbah is already in Bangladesh playing in the premier league for Abhani club and Razzaq said he would be representing the same club.

Source

Row over Misbah selection in Test squad

Karachi: Another controversy is brewing in Pakistan cricket over the selection of senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq for the three-Test series in New Zealand starting from November 24.

Last month, Misbah was dropped from the ODI and Test side that tours New Zealand as the national selectors felt he needed to go back to domestic cricket to regain his form.

However with Mohammad Yousuf taking over from Younis Khan as the new skipper for the Test tour of New Zealand, his first demand has been the inclusion of Misbah in the team for the three Tests series.

Sources close to the selectors told PTI that they were not very keen to bring back Misbah for the New Zealand tour mainly because of his attitude towards domestic cricket.

"Yousuf and some other players spoke to the chairman of the Pakistan cricket Board, Ejaz Butt asking him to have Misbah sent to New Zealand and he agreed to their request," one source said.

"But the selectors after a meeting in Lahore are still not convinced it is necessary to send Misbah and want to talk to the Chairman on the issue before announcing any replacement for Younis Khan who has pulled out of the Test series to take a break from international cricket," the source added.

The source said the selectors were unhappy with the attitude of Misbah who had skipped the Quaid-e-Azam tournament after the first few rounds to play in the professional league in Bangladesh after getting permission from the board.

"The selectors feel that the players should not be allowed to devalue domestic cricket and Misbah must play more matches of the Quaid Trophy before he is considered for the Pakistan team," the source added.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said it was not necessary that Misbah should be sent to New Zealand.

"The selectors have their point of view of looking at things but a final decision would be made once the Chairman returns to Lahore on November 20. His word would be final," Qasim said.

Sources said since Misbah had already got a visa stamped on his passport for the New Zealand tour as he was among the reserves list he could be rushed to New Zealand at a short notice.

Source

I enjoy cricket like a 16-year-old: Tendulkar

New Delhi: So much in India has changed since 1989 that you can now virtually not recongnise the country, but there has been one constant indulgence and that person's name is Sachin Tendulkar. CNN-IBN's Sports Editor Gaurav Kalra spoke to the Indian batting maestro, who completed 20 years of international cricket on November 15, 2009.

CNN-IBN: Do you still remember the Karachi morning of November 15, 1989?

Sachin Tendulkar: Yes, I remember. I remember that we fielded first and after the first day, I was so tired that I went to hotel and went to sleep at 6:30 and then woke up at 8:30. I had dinner and then again went on to sleep. Salil Ankola was my room partner and I remember discussing with him that how tiring the first day in Test cricket was and I never thought it will be that tiring.

CNN-IBN: At 16, you were a Test cricketer.

Sachin Tendulkar: Yes, at 16 I got an opportunity and I was grateful but it was an experience. That match was something. It was Kapil Dev's 100th Test match and also Waqar Younis' debut Test.

CNN-IBN: Did you experience stage fright at that point? Did you ever think this is not where I belong just yet?

Sachin Tendulkar: I definitely felt that way. When I was going out to bat in the first innings, the entire stadium was going berserk and it was Wasim Akram bowling from one end and Waqar Younis charging in from the other. I didn't know what was happening.

For a good six-seven minutes, I had no clue what was happening. That entire innings is kind of a blur now. I don't know precisely what happened on each ball. Normally, I do remember but I don't remember much of that innings. But I remember when I got out and came back inside I told myself: 'what have you done? This was not expected out of you. You were supposed to go out there and do well.' I was extremely disappointed and I started doubting my ability and I started thinking if I really belong here.

CNN-IBN: What will you say have been the highest and the lowest points in your international career of 20 years?

Sachin Tendulkar: There have been many wonderful moments. But if I have to single out one, it has to be the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan. The entire atmosphere was something special. Exactly a year before that, people had started counting the number of days left for that match. So that has to be the special match. And the lowest point probably was the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

CNN-IBN: Twenty years is a lot in modern sport. You have to play so much that you have been ravaged by injuries. Has there ever been an occasion where you have said: 'this hurts too much. I have done enough and now I need to give up.' Has that thought ever come into your mind?

Sachin Tendulkar: Not like that. At no stage, I have felt that I should stop and I have had enough. There have been occasions when I have felt that my body is not feeling great. I need to work harder in the gym and get myself in a good condition.

I precisely remember the tennis elbow injury. It was the worst injury I have had so far. It was a difficult phase. I tried every possible treatment but nothing worked. After getting operated which was the last option, and I was pushed to an extent that I had to undergo a surgery.

After that, again I was not feeling great. By then I had become so impatient, I wanted to get back to action and I wanted to start playing. My progress was not taking place at the rate one would have expected. But the doctors said that you just need to be patient. It will get better. Everything will be fine. It just requires time. In between the pressure was so much. I was getting scared at times that I may not be able to play cricket again. I could not even lift my son's cricket bat. There was no strength and there was vast amount of muscle loss.

I was just praying to God that I get one more opportunity. I don't want to stop playing cricket. There are some crazy things I have done. I could not sleep at night. So, I used to go for drives alone. I was so mentally disturbed because I did not want my career to end.

CNN-IBN: A lot of people have spoken of this rivalry between you, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting. When you see them performing, do you see them as competition?

Sachin Tendulkar: Not really. I have followed Brian's cricket closely. He is a good friend of mine. We shared various things with each other. We discussed how he would approach a particular match or, what would be my mental setup. But at no stage I felt we have competed as such.

CNN-IBN: Recently, Sunil Gavaskar told CNN-IBN that if there was one little area of concern with Tendulkar's legacy it will be in his two stints as captain, he was a little inflexible. In your own mind, do you see captaincy as a failure.

Sachin Tendulkar: I don't because captaincy has a lot to do with how the team performs. And by no means, I am saying that the players didn't want to perform. Every time a player walks out, he wants to do well.

But when we went to Australia, on the entire tour, we never went past 25--260 runs. How are you going to win if you score 250 runs in a Test match? All these factors are there and I don't blame anyone. Some times, it's just luck.

I remember when we were playing in Sharjah and I was captain and against the West Indies, a leg-spinner was bowling and I sent Robin Singh up the order but he got out on the first ball. There was flexibility. But exactly a week later, Azhar was the captain and he promoted Robin in Bangladesh against Pakistan and the same Robin Singh played brilliantly. He scored 86 or 88 in no time. Not that he didn't want to do well in Sharjah but sometimes things don't work out.

CNN-IBN: You have spoken about the passion for playing for India. Do you feel that the energy of the young brigade in the current Indian team has given you them impetus to go on in international cricket or are your goals completely self-driven?

Sachin Tendulkar: How I feel personally is more important. I may have youngsters in the team but if within me (the motivation) is not there, then it can never happen.

I feel very strongly about cricket. Cricket has given me everything in life and even today I enjoy cricket like a 16-year-old. The enthusiasm, the satisfaction, the art of out-thinking the opposition is what I love.

CNN-IBN: Did the 175 against Australia in Hyderabad hurt more or the 136 against Pakistan in Chennai because of the performance you put in but still your team lost

Sachin Tendulkar: I think both hurt me a lot. I know everyone was happy but in a team we think differently and as a player we think differently. I was disappointed. I was happy that I was able to go so close but my hurdle was not crossed and I felt terrible.

CNN-IBN: Will we be talking in five years time, celebrating 25 years of Sachin Tendulkar in international cricket?

Sachin Tendulkar: I don't know about that. But I want to thank the entire nation for all the support and for all the love.

CNN-IBN: We will put a little more pressure on you and ask you to get 13 more hundreds so that you can have 100 hundreds.

Sachin Tendulkar: May be by god's grace but I will continue to enjoy the game and what has to happen will happen
Source

Yousuf worried by early summer pitches

Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has said the bowler-friendly pitches in the early part of the summer in New Zealand will be one of the biggest challenges for his team during the three Tests, starting November 24. Pakistan set foot in the country having just finished the one-day and Twenty20 leg of the series in in the heat of UAE.

"The fact is we are going to New Zealand when the season has not started there properly and the weather will also be cold," Yousuf told AFP. "I think we are going to encounter seaming wickets and batting on them will be a big challenge for us."

The coach Intikhab Alam concurred with Yousuf and hoped his players will be able to adjust to the conditions. Looking at the composition of the Test squad, Intikhab said the bowlers were capable of taking 20 wickets but the batting needed a bit of attention. A series of batting collapses were primarily responsible for their 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka in August.

"Our batting must click and show improvement because it will be tough to switch from one-day and Twenty20," Intikhab said. "Our bowling has the capacity to bowl New Zealand out twice but we must put runs on the board first."

He expected Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, to be the biggest threat, especially if the pitches suit spin. Vettori has been the team's best all-round player in the recent past and has shouldered plenty of responsibility in all departments.

"Vettori is a seasoned player and we have to play him well, without giving him too many wickets," Intikhab said. "But if New Zealand prepares wickets conducive to spin then we too have quality spinners in Saeed Ajmal and Danish Kaneria."

Pakistan were hit by the sudden withdrawal of Younis Khan, who quit the captaincy and opted out of the tour because he wanted a break from the game. Intikhab and Yousuf agreed that Younis' absence will be felt, despite his run of poor form.

"Naturally, Younis is a senior batsman and although he has been in poor batting form, he is a world-class player who can come good any time, but you miss players through injuries as well and Younis' replacement will have a chance to prove his worth, " Alam said.

The tour begins with a three-day game in Queenstown on Wednesday before the first Test in Dunedin.

Source

Sachin Tendulkar: a nation unites to rejoice in 20 years of genius

Yesterday marked a day of celebration in India of the type usually reserved for the honouring of religious deities — which in a way, it was. The occasion: the twentieth anniversary of the Test debut of Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest batsman of the modern era.

It may be a cliché, but that does not make it less true. In a land where cricket is a religion, the “Little Master” is revered like a god — a situation not lost on a man who prefers to mask his movements in his homeland for fear of being mobbed.

Asked to name his greatest strength last week, the 36-year-old said: “Everyone likes me ... When one billion people are wishing you well, not much can go wrong.” What would sound narcissistic from a lesser mortal passed as a modest statement of fact from the gently spoken Tendulkar.

Urchins in the slums of his native Mumbai will scream “Saaa-chhhhin” when asked to name their favourite player. “He is the best — he is the master blaster,” said Rahul Singh, 13, a schoolboy playing with a tennis ball and plank of wood on one of the city’s sun-scorched maidans — an analysis echoed by the most seasoned pundits. “He’s got 17,000 one-day runs. He’s got the world record for Test runs, too. He bats so nicely — so much better than Ponting or K. P. or M. S. Dhoni.” The Tendulkar phenomenon began inauspiciously, on November 15, 1989, when a 16-year-old schoolboy walked out against Pakistan in the cricketing crucible of Karachi. He made a nervy 15 before being bowled by Waqar Younis, who was also making his debut. “It was the most important moment of my career,” Tendulkar told The Times last week. “That’s where it all began.”

His debut was a rare taste of failure, which Tendulkar admits led him to doubt his ability. Just a few weeks later, however, in the final Test of the series, the boy prodigy became a man when, not wearing a helmet, he took a short ball on the nose in Sialkot. Despite his nose being broken, a blood-spattered Tendulkar declined treatment and batted on. He made 57 in an innings that helped India to rediscover the romance of cricket.

Such moments have made Tendulkar a personal talisman for many of his countrymen. His career has coincided with an economic renaissance that has given many Indians a new confidence, said Venu Nair, the South Asia president of World Sports Group, which last year bought the media rights for the Indian Premier League for more than $1.5 billion (now about £90 million).

“One crucial thing was that from an early age, the wonderkid Sachin was not good only at home,” Nair said. “Wherever he went he excelled. That let an entire generation of Indians — myself included — believe we could compete anywhere.”

In an age of playboy cricketers, the breadth of Tendulkar’s fanbase is unique. India’s housewives approve of his impeccable family man credentials. Those scraping by can relate to a man of modest background who did not take a holiday abroad until a decade into his career. Advertising executives share their enthusiasm: endorsing products from cement to luxury watches will earn Tendulkar as much as £8 million this year.

Yet his career is not without traces of misfortune. He captained his country for two stints, neither successful. More poignantly, perhaps, his fate has often been to save his nation’s honour, with many of his finest knocks — most notably, perhaps, his 136 against Pakistan in the 1999 Chennai Test, widely regarded as one of the finest innings ever — coming in games that an underperforming India side lost.

“Yes, you feel bad,” Tendulkar said. “I have done well, but the team hasn’t. And I play for the team. It’s been a difficult thing.”

To dwell on such shortcomings, however, would be to miss the greatness of Tendulkar.

Long before his first Test innings he had been marked as special. Batting for his school, Shardashram, in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1988 he was part of a record unbroken 664-run partnership that reduced a hapless opposition to tears and made headlines in the national papers. Later that year, aged 15, he hit an unbeaten century on his first-class debut for Bombay against Gujarat.

Then, with the weight of India’s expectations heaped on his shoulders far from home, the prodigy blossomed.

Touring England in 1990, Tendulkar, then 17, became the second-youngest cricketer to score a Test century, making 119 at Old Trafford in an innings Wisden called “a disciplined display of immense maturity”.

In 1992 he hinted at the true scale of his greatness, scoring 114 against Australia in Perth on what was billed as the world’s fastest pitch. In the same series, an unbeaten 148 in Sydney prompted Merv Hughes to tell Allan Border: “This little p***k’s going to get more runs than you.”

Hughes was right: last year Tendulkar surpassed Brian Lara’s record for most Test runs. For Ricky Ponting, he is “the guy that sets the benchmark as far as batting is concerned ... guys like me and the rest just chase and get as close as we can to him”.

In fact, nobody in the game seems to have a bad word to say about Tendulkar — one suspects because he is genuinely nice off the field. Donald Bradman, no less, once said he was “very, very struck” by how Tendulkar’s “compactness and his stroke production and his technique ... seemed to gel” — mirroring, the Australian believed, his own strokeplay.

When he reaches the very top of his game, however, Tendulkar has emphasised his ability to enter a state of zen-like calm. “It’s just a level of concentration when you forget everything else,” he said. “Against the same bowler, under the same conditions, at the same pace, when your mind is free you have time to play your shots; when you have too many thoughts in your mind, you are late.”

Two decades into his career he may not quite be able to replicate the jaw-dropping genius of his youth, but he can revisit this trance-like state. Against England in Chennai, in the Test that followed the Mumbai terror attacks last year, Tendulkar said that he did not realise that India had won until the opposition came to the crease to shake his hand. He scored an unbeaten 103.

“He hasn’t just survived, he’s left his imprint on every situation,” Harsha Bhogle, the doyen of Indian cricket commentators, said. “It is a colossal achievement. On his first tour of England he batted against Eddie Hemmings, who had made his first-class debut seven years before Tendulkar was born. He now shares a dressing room with kids who were having their umbilical cord cut when he was scoring his first century.”

His greatest hits

Sachin Tendulkar gives The Times his top 20 moments in cricket:

1 Wearing the India cap for the first time Against Pakistan in Karachi, aged 16 years 205 days
2 First Test hundred 119 not out at Old Trafford in 1990, aged 17 years 112 days
3 Perth Test 1992 114 v Australia on lightning WACA pitch
4 Hero Cup semi-final v South Africa, 1993 Bowls the last over and concedes only three runs to secure victory
5 82 at Auckland, 1994 Rapid match-winning one-day innings as an emergency opener
6 Titan Cup victory, 1996
7 Sahara Cup, Toronto, 1997 Captains understrength India to 4-1 series win over Pakistan
8 155 not out v Australia, Chennai, 1998 Takes Shane Warne apart on turning pitch
9 Sharjah Sandstorm, 1998 Two hundreds off Australia
10 Meeting Don Bradman, 1998 With Warne on The Don’s 90th
11 Century at Headingley, 2002 A superb 193
12 World Cup game v Pakistan, 2003 98 off 75 balls
13 First Test series win away to Pakistan in 2004
14 35th Test century, v Sri Lanka in Delhi, 2005 Passes Sunil Gavaskar’s 34 centuries
15 Test win at Trent Bridge, 2007 India shine in “jellybean” Test
16 Test win in Perth, 2008 A fine way for India to come back from a controversial defeat in Sydney
17 Commonwealth Bank series, 2008 117 not out at SCG paves way for finals victory
18 Mohali Test v Pakistan, 2008 Overhauls Brian Lara’s Test record run tally in half-century
19 Chennai Test v England 2008 103 not out to secure emotional win after Mumbai atrocities
20 175 v Australia Hyderabad, 2009 A one-day masterpiece

Source

Sachin to celebrate with family, friends

Sachin Tendulkar will celebrate his 20 years in international cricket later today with a small gathering of family, close friends and his Indian teammates.

According to sources in the Indian team, Sachin's wife Anjali joined him this morning and would be with him at a small party at hotel St Laurn, where the team is putting up for the first Test against Sri Lanka, in the evening.

Some close friends of Tendulkar, like Sameer Dighe and Atul Ranade are also in the city to participate in the celebrations.

The vice president of the hotel Rajesh Sinha said that they have prepared a special menu for the master blaster.

"We have planned an Oriental menu for Sachin which would include sea food like prawns and lobsters as he is fond of sea food," Sinha told PTI.

"The menu has been named S20 after Sachin and would be available from today evening till they stay with us," he added.

Executive chef of the hotel Shailesh Verma said that they have prepared a five KG cake made out of swiss chocolate for Tendulkar.

"We have different preparation from asparagus, and a whole lot of things which Sachin likes. We also have prawns and salmon for him," Verma said

Gujarat chief minister and GCA president Narendra Modi would be presenting a memento to before the Test match between India and Sri Lanka at Sardar Patel stadium, Motera here tomorrow.

Tendulkar, who made his international debut with a Test against Pakistan on November 15, 1989, would also be felicitated on behalf of the Gujarat government.

The Sardar Patel stadium, built in 1983, has played host to some of the most memorable moments of cricketing history.

Little master Sunil Gavaskar completed his 10,000 runs in Test cricket on this very ground, while Haryana Hurricane Kapil Dev surpassed Sir Richard Headlee's Test wicket record of 431 here.

Tendulkar also celebrated a memorable moment at this GCA ground, when he scored his maiden double century in Test cricket against New Zealand in 1999.
Source

Yousuf wants Misbah in New Zealand

Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan's stand-in captain for the tour of New Zealand, has called for Misbah-ul-Haq to step up and fill Younis Khan's absence. Younis has given up the captaincy of Pakistan once again, and taken a temporary break from the game altogether, and Yousuf has expressed his desire for solidity in the form of the axed Misbah.

"The team is fine but I have asked the board for Misbah-ul-Haq to fill the gap that has appeared in the middle order as Younis would not be playing in the series," he said. "He [Misbah] is a good batsman and I think he would prove helpful for the team."

Misbah, 35, was left out from the squads in all three formats for Pakistan's series of ODIs, T20Is and Tests against New Zealand in the Middle East and New Zealand. His form has been poor in all three formats over the last year, in contrast to 2007, when he reignited his dormant international career in sensational fashion at the World Twenty20 in South Africa and then on a tour to India.

However, barely a day after being axed, Misbah scored a career-best 284 for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in the domestic four-day competition. He shared a Pakistan record of 479 with Usman Arshad, 41 short of the world record for the fifth wicket in first-class cricket.

"He has been playing well in domestic cricket and I hope he would also perform well in the series against New Zealand," said Yousuf.

After a lull in international assignments over the last two years, Pakistan suddenly find themselves in action until February next year. They have completed the limited-overs fixtures in the UAE, losing the three-game ODI series but winning the two Twenty20s. They now head off to New Zealand for a three-Test series. Following that, they move to Australia where they have another three-Test series and a series of five ODIs as well as a T20I.

Yousuf said he would aim to unite the players against the backdrop of talk of players being unhappy with Younis as captain for a while. "Team's performance depends on unity. I will try my best to bring together all the players and team management and try to give top performance myself," he said.

Source

Pakistan hold nerve to sweep series

Following the one-sided affair on Thursday, there was little to separate the two sides tonight as Pakistan overcame a spirited New Zealand fightback to sweep the Twenty20s 2-0 at the Dubai Sports City. A half-century stand between Scott Styris and Brendon McCullum kept New Zealand in the hunt, but all along, Pakistan held a slight edge. New Zealand focussed on keeping wickets in hand, but unfortunately though, they left a little too much to do in the end as Pakistan sneaked home by seven runs and equalled the world record of seven consecutive Twenty20 wins with South Africa.

The final over had plenty of intrigue and controversy. Needing a difficult 18, a straight-driven six by Styris off Umar Gul brought the smiles back in the New Zealand dressing room. That was followed by a single, which put James Franklin on strike. Franklin went for a huge hit down to long-on where Shoaib Malik ran forward and claimed a low catch. Malik and the rest were absolutely sure about the legality of the catch and Franklin had almost made his way back to the pavilion when he was asked to stop in his tracks. The element of doubt crept in, albeit late, for the two officials who consulted with the third umpire. After a few anxious moments - television replays weren't dead accurate - Franklin was given the benefit of the doubt. That didn't wreck Pakistan's party as they conceded only singles off the next two balls.

Pakistan emerged the deserved winners because they were always one step ahead of the opposition, even when things got tight. For an injury-ravaged New Zealand, it was a good fight. One of the main reasons for New Zealand's feeble showing on Thursday was the failure of their top order to come up with something substantial. One person needed to bat through, if not a majority of the overs and it was McCullum who decided to drop anchor and show some responsibility as captain.

He had to survive a testing opening spell from the two left-armers - Mohammad Aamer and Sohail Tanvir - who kept him and his partners guessing with sharp angles across the right-handers. There was quite a bit of playing and missing early and it was a tough initiation at the top for BJ Watling, who was squared up by Tanvir's angle which took the leading edge, only to be snapped up brilliantly by Kamran Akmal, diving to his right. It was almost identical to the one that got rid of Martin Guptill yesterday.

For the second day in succession, Guptill perished after making a start, when he chopped Gul onto his stumps. The loss of those two early wickets, and soon after that of Ross Taylor, convinced McCullum to shed his aggressive instincts and look to build a partnership, with anyone who was interested in sticking around with him.

He found an able partner in Styris, the seniormost player in the side. It wasn't going to be easy against the spin of Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal, who tested them with their variations. They ran well between the wickets during their 66-run stand. Styris was the more aggressive of the pair, making room to the spinners to clear the infield. However, Pakistan's blow-hot blow-cold effort in the field made things easier for the pair. Imran Nazir had a forgettable day in the outfield, palming off a six over fine leg early in McCullum's innings and later on failing to hang on to an easier chance off Styris, which cost Pakistan a boundary. A couple of fumbles and wild throws was indicative of the pressure on the fielders as the partnership grew.

Styris' clean hitting got a little intimidating for Pakistan and they were a relieved bunch when McCullum departed, mis-hitting Ajmal to long-on in the penultimate over. That over proved to be the turning point in the chase. Aamer had leaked 15 in the 18th over but Ajmal, in contrast, conceded only five. He mixed it up well, firing it on the blockhole and teasing Styris with flight and bounce. That just added to the pressure in the final over. Pakistan had only just made enough to see them through.

The driving force behind Pakistan's win was Umar Akmal, who took Pakistan to a score very similar to what they had achieved yesterday. Pakistan's openers got off to a rousing start and after Ian Butler's quick strikes, Umar and Afridi scripted the recovery.

Afridi targeted the on side and he nearly lost his wicket while on 8 when a full-blooded pull bounced off Ross Taylor's palms at short midwicket. But he went on to give Styris the full treatment in the following over, clubbing a full toss for six over the bowler's head. But Afridi's knock was nothing more than a cameo, which ended when he heaved Nathan McCullum down to Shane Bond at deep midwicket.

Two more wickets pulled things back for New Zealand but they had no answer to Umar. He began with a crisply driven four off backward point and preferred initially to play the supporting role to Afridi. He focused on rotating the strike, but after the fall of wickets, opened out. He lofted Styris a few rows back over long-on and almost injured Geoff Allott, the former New Zealand fast bowler, who was present at the venue as New Zealand Cricket official, decked in a suit and tie. He then edged Franklin past the keeper and powered a full toss off Bond down to the backward point boundary to keep the largely partisan crowd - despite being a neutral venue - entertained.

Source

Was PCB chief too eager to relieve Younis?

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt took no time in accepting Younis Khan’s request for a break from the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand, an absolute contrast to last month’s scenario when the chairman refused to accept the skipper’s resignation following a heated National Assembly session in Islamabad.

Well-informed sources told Dawn on Wednesday that Younis met the chairman after Pakistan lost the three-ODI series to New Zealand in Abu Dhabi to discuss the situation in the team.

‘As you know what is going on, do you believe I can continue as captain under such circumstances?’ Younis is believed to have asked Ijaz Butt. ‘I will prefer to take a break from the next Test series at this stage.’

Surprisingly, the PCB chief appeared too eager to accept Younis’ request for a break rather than backing him as skipper like before and giving him full control.

According to a PCB official in Abu Dhabi, it all happened within just five minutes as the PCB quickly moved to appoint Mohammad Yousuf as the new skipper in place of Younis for the upcoming Test series against the Kiwis.

Reliable sources further disclosed that Younis, who is going through a lean patch as batsman, has not been getting much support from the players and even his closest friend Umar Gul had also joined the disgruntled band of players.
Source