England need to conquer fear of spin

November 23, 2012

cook23112012

Mumbai, November 23: A lot of things have changed about English cricket in recent years. They don't always end up losing to Australia anymore; won an ICC trophy in 2009; became the World's No. 1 Test team for a brief period last year and their life doesn't revolve just around the Ashes like it used to.

In fact, captain Alastair Cook -- the choir boy turned prolific run-getter -- insists that the team's dressing room music isn't just Johnny Cash anymore either, but modern-day commercial. Their tastes seem to have really changed.

What hasn't changed about English cricket though is the uncanny way in which they manage to bury themselves under extreme pressure when you threaten them with spin. Decades of having toured the Indian subcontinent has made no difference whatsoever. You give them a turning track -- or even talk about one, like MS Dhoni has -- and they give it away.

It showed in Ahmedabad and it looks likely that it'll show again in Mumbai. Dhoni's much discussed 'demand' that the curator at Wankhede better serve his team a track that turns from the first over may not necessarily see R Ashwin or Pragyan Ojha taking the new ball.

But even if Zaheer Khan does, England's mind may be on the first change. Mentally, India have a great advantage here as the second of the four-Test series begins on Friday.

From the dryness of the surface to the exact length of each blade of grass on the pitch, how soon it starts getting rougher and how much of an exact deviation do Ashwin or Ojha get will occupy England's mind more than anything else. To Dhoni's credit, he's given them this headache already.

In fact, it's not just a turning wicket that the Indian skipper has demanded. The track also needs to have bounce and the ball has to move quicker off the pitch. That's quite a handful indeed. Asked about his opinion of the Wankhede wicket, where India have played only one Test post the stadium renovation, Dhoni promptly declared: "If this pitch also does not help our spinners, then I will again come and criticise it."

Umesh Yadav out of Test; Stuart Broad taken ill

Dhoni asserted that India will play only two spinners here. The only replacement in the squad, in fact, will be Ishant Sharma or Ashok Dinda replacing pacer Umesh Yadav, who is down with a back injury. Similarly for England, paceman Stuart Broad has taken ill and did not practise on Thursday. Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar can come in for either Samit Patel or Broad. That could be the only change other than Jonny Bairstow replacing Ian Bell.



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Agencies
March 25,2020

Lausanne, Mar 25: The World Archery has hailed as a 'brave decision' the International Olympic Committee (IOC) move to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics until next year due to coronavirus pandemic.

"We commend the conscientious and brave decision taken by Tokyo 2020 and the International Olympic Committee to delay this summer's Games in the face of an unprecedented challenge to humanity," Ugur Erdener, the World Archery president, said in an official statement.

The decision to postpone the Summer Olympics was confirmed by the IOC, on Tuesday, after the organising body for the event and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to reschedule the quadrennial event in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is not an easy situation, especially for the athletes who had been training hard for Tokyo 2020. I hope that everyone understands why this decision has been made and I urge archers around the world to retain hope and reset for this new timetable," he added.

The IOC has, however, said that the original name of Tokyo 2020 will remain intact irrespective of the fact that it will take place next year.

The Tokyo Olympic Games were slated to be held from July 24 to August 9.

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News Network
April 24,2020

New Delhi, Apr 24: India's World Cup-winning former opener Gautam Gambhir performed the last rites of his deceased domestic help after her mortal remains could not be sent to her home in Odisha due to the coronavirus-forced national lockdown.

Gambhir, also a BJP Lok Sabha MP, posted a tribute on his Twitter page for his employee Saraswati Patra, who was working at his residence for the past six years.

"Taking care of my little one can never be domestic help. She was family. Performing her last rites was my duty," he tweeted.

"Always believed in dignity irrespective of caste, creed, religion or social status. Only way to create a better society. That's my idea of India! Om Shanti," said the 38-year-old Gambhir, who played 58 Tests for India between 2004 and 2016.

Media reports in Odisha said the 49-year-old Patra hailed from a village in Jajpur district.

She was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital a few days ago and was battling diabetes and high blood pressure for a long period. She breathed her last while undergoing treatment on April 21.

Union Minister of Petroleum and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan appreciated Gambhir.

"Taking care of Saraswati throughout the course of her illness, he also ensured her dignity in death by performing her last rites himself since her mortal remains could not be sent to her family back home in Odisha," Pradhan, who also belongs to Odisha, tweeted.

"His act of compassion will enliven the faith in humanity for millions of poor, who are working far from their home for livelihood and will garner respect from all folds of the society."

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News Network
May 5,2020

May 5: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar says he is interested in becoming India's bowling coach if there is an offer, asserting that he is capable of grooming "more aggressive, fast and talkative" pacers.

Akhtar expressed his willingness in an interview on social networking app 'Helo'.

Asked if he would like to be associated with the Indian bowling unit in future, he responded in the positive. India's current bowling is Bharat Arun.

"I will definitely. My job is to spread knowledge. What I have learned is knowledge and I will spread it," Akhtar said.

One of the fastest bowlers to have played the game, he added, "I will produce more aggressive, fast and more talkative bowlers than the current ones who will tell-off the batsmen in a way that you will enjoy a lot."

He said he has always wanted to share his knowledge among budding cricketers and that he is looking to produce more aggressive bowlers.

He also added that he would like to "coach" IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, for whom he has played in the cash-rich T20 league's inaugural edition.

The former pacer also spoke about his early interactions with Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar in the 1998 series.

"I had seen him but didn't know how big a name he was in India. In Chennai, I got to know that he was known as a god in India.

"Mind you, he is a very good friend of mine. In 1998, when I bowled as fast as I could, Indian public celebrated with me. I have a big fan following in India," Akhtar said.

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