Selectors should speak to Sachin about his future plans: Gavaskar

November 26, 2012

sachin

Fresh questions were on Sunday raised on Sachin Tendulkar's retirement with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar saying that the selectors should have a word with him about his future plans.

"Tendulkar has been playing for so long and he has been so consistent. This little period of lack of runs or lack of half centuries will give the critics chance to ask questions," Gavaskar said.

"At the end of the day, it is the selectors who will take the call. I think the selectors will probably have a word with Tendulkar about what his future plans are and then take a call," he said.

"Ideally, whatever decision is taken about Tendulkar's retirement, I believe he will make his own decision," Gavaskar said.

Tendulkar has scored just 29 runs in three innings in the ongoing Test series against England and Gavaskar said the senior batsman has been having a "long bad patch" though he was trying hard to come out of this.

"Yes, he is struggling and he is having a long bad patch if one can call that way. With so may runs and so many centuries at his hands, the moment he is through a lean patch, everybody will start talking about that but I feel he will overcome this.

"He is trying hard. In the first innings (of the ongoing second Test in Mumbai), the ball (from Monty Panesar) turned just a little bit. Today, (in the England second innings) you could see he changed his guard. He was standing ahead of the crease between the middle and off to negotiate the turn better. But unfortunately he was out to a straighter ball," Gavaskar said.

"But, we saw he was applying his mind. He is not taking that he will just go out in the middle and play. He is trying hard to overcome this and that is the best part," said the former captain.

Gavaskar felt that Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's demand for turning wickets backfired on his own team and India were in an unusual position which they normally did not face on slow home pitches.

"I have been saying that the demand for turning pitches could backfire on you if your batsmen fail to capitalise on this. That has been happening in this Test. India are in an unusual situation. This kind of thing normally happens on visiting teams but now the home side is facing this," he said.

"But all is not lost for India. If they can set a target of 170 plus, it will not be easy for England to knock those runs in the fourth innings."

India are a mere 31 runs ahead of England with just three second innings wickets at hand.

He credited England spinners rather than blaming Indian batsmen for lack of application, saying the visiting bowlers have done better than their home side counterparts.

"No batsman goes to a Test match without application. I would rather give credit to England bowlers, they have bowled better than their Indian counterparts.

"Panesar bowled really well. He was mixing turning and straighter deliveries. That created doubts in the mind of Indian batsmen whether the ball would turn or straighten. Graeme Swann was his ideal foil. The length of the deliveries was important. He was drawing the Indian batsmen forward."

In contrast, Gavaskar said, the Indian bowlers were bowling good length deliveries which gave opposition batsmen more time to adjust.

"The Indians were bowling at good length and that gives fraction of time more to adjust. The application of captain Alastair Cook and belligerence of Kevin Pietersen created problems for the Indian bowlers," he said.

He also refused to blame Indian batsmen whose top five batsmen after opener Gautam Gambhir (53) could score just 38 runs in the second innings total of 117 for seven at stumps.

"They have been used to playing on slow and low pitches. So whenever they play in Australia, England or South Africa where wickets have bounce, they will flounder. They will also struggle on turning pitches which have bounce."


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Agencies
March 14,2020

Sydney, Mar 14: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been placed under 24-hour isolation amid the fears of coronavirus after he reported a sore throat following the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which the hosts won by 71 runs.

"In accordance with recommended health protocols, Lockie Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24 hours after reporting a sore throat at the end of the first ODI," said New Zealand Cricket in a statement.

"Once the test results are received and diagnosed, his return to the team can be determined," it added.

The first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series was played in front of empty stands as the spectators were not allowed to be at SCG as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, Australian fast bowler, Kane Richardson was also tested for the coronavirus, after suffering from a sore throat on Thursday. That saw him left out of the squad for Friday's game but the test was negative.

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News Network
June 15,2020

Melbourne, Jun 15: Star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is the best fielder in the game right now, according to Australian batting star Steve Smith, who also rated KL Rahul as the most impressive among the younger crop.

Smith, who answered questions sent in by his fans on Instagram on Sunday, also said the Indian Premier League is his favourite tournament to play in.

Jadeja known for his quick and sharp fielding tactics has earned praise from several former players and respect from the current stars and Smith is no different.

Asked who the best fielder in the current lot of players Smith simply replied stating it was Jadeja.

When quizzed about which Indian player has impressed him the most, the Australian batting mainstay said: "KL Rahul. Very good player!"

Rahul, who has played 36 Tests, 32 ODIs and 42 T20Is for Indian, has become a regular member of the national team in white-ball cricket. Besides showcasing his skills with the willow, Rahul also bears the responsibility of being the wicketkeeper in the limited overs format.

Asked Mahnedra Singh Dhoni, Smith responded saying the former Indian skipper is a "Legend! Mr Cool". While he called the current captain Virat Kohli a "freak" when it comes to batting ability.

The Rajasthan Royals batsman, who rated his first innings his 144 at Birmingham in the first Ashes Test last year as his favourite Test knock till date, said the Indian Premier League (IPL) is his favourite tournament.

"Tough to beat the IPL. Playing with and against the best players from around the world."

India is scheduled to travel to Australian for a full series later the year and the 31-year-old said : "Can''t wait. Going to be awesome."

Asked about his opinion on India batting great Rahul Dravid, Smith said "what a lovely gentleman and seriously good player."

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News Network
January 9,2020

Mumbai, Jan 9: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that the Men in Blue have the edge over Australia in terms of talent and confidence ahead of the two teams' three-match ODI series starting January 14 in Mumbai.

"In the past that wasn't the case because they were doing really well. We were trying to match that level. I feel that Indian cricket is a notch ahead in terms of talent, in terms of cricket and in terms of confidence," Star Sports expert Irfan Pathan said. "The only thing that will make it equal is the kind of pitches we are going to play in Australia because we do not have experience playing on those hard and bouncy pitches," said Pathan, who recently called time on his international career.

Recounting his favourite memory of playing against Australia, Irfan said, "It all started in Australia for me. The most memorable moment was getting my first wicket and helping India win a Test match in Australia after 21 years. Winning the Test in Perth and being named the Man of the Match is also a favourite memory for me."

Australia have already announced their team for the three-match ODI series with India. The team will be led by Aaron Finch. The other members of the team are Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, and Adam Zampa.

India are yet to announce their team but in all probability, it will be led by Virat Kohli who has been in phenomenal form over the last few years. All three ODIs are day and night affair. While the first match of the series is on January 14 in Mumbai, the second will be played at Rajkot on January 17 followed by the January 19 clash in Bengaluru.

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