Winning with a calm head on their shoulders

January 14, 2013

England_victry

Kochi, Jan 14: Until recently, England’s reputation as travellers to the sub-continent wasn’t so flattering, especially so in India.

England hadn’t won a Test series in India for 28 years and they had gone without a victory in the last 11 ODIs. Their solitary success, in fact, in the last 16 matches had come way back in 2005 in Jamshedpur. Even after finishing the home series against India with an all win record in all three formats of the game in mid 2011, England found out how formidable India can be at home when they were routed 5-0 in the ODI series later that year.

Prior to visiting India for a return Test series late last year, England had lost to Pakistan in the Gulf 0-3 and had barely managed to save the series in Sri Lanka. A similar humiliation was waiting for Alastair Cook and company in India and the heavy loss in the opening Test at Ahmedabad only reaffirmed those beliefs. On slow turners, one would have foreseen, England were going to die a quick death. The Englishmen, however, scripted one of the greatest comebacks to turn the series on its head, stunning India in Mumbai and Kolkata to clinch the series 2-1 after drawing the Nagpur Test.

Now, Cook’s men want to set their ODI record straight and it shouldn’t come as a surprise if they actually realise their dream of winning a 50-over series in India, again after David Gower’s team did so in 1984-85. England at the moment appear to have got the wood on this Indian team. Unlike in the previous visits when they turned up at the ground having lost the battle in their minds, this English side’s resolve to fight shines through.

Given the nature of pitches, weather and the boisterous crowd, India is generally considered a tough cricketing nation to travel and the results over the last few decades drive home that point. Beating India in India is not just about bringing a set of skills to the table. Of course, that’s a crucial part, but it’s also about conquering the conditions that are totally alien. India successfully did that from early to late 2000s when they won series in Pakistan, the West Indies, England and New Zealand and regularly won Tests in Australia and South Africa. Annoyed by the constant taunt that they are ‘tigers only at home’ a bunch of pride men – Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly – made a conscious effort to shed that tag and were quite successful in that endeavour.

This English squad under Cook appears as determined. They no longer complain about designer tracks (for Tests) and they have stopped worrying about batting beauties (ODIs). They gave India a dose of their own medicine in Tests by unleashing Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann and in the opening one-dayer at Rajkot, they beat India at their own game, by outbatting them on a barren strip. Irrespective of the way the results go in the next four matches, England have shown that they are here for a scrap.

England also no longer get worked-up with the general chaos in India, especially in smaller centres. Swann had cited ‘embrace-India’ attitude to their success in Tests and Cook epitomises this England’s new approach. In Rajkot, no one would have blamed the English skipper if he had shown his disapproval at the way how things were organised, rather disorganised, during his press conferences. But he dealt with them through a quiet smile, even if it appeared sarcastic.

A largely partial Indian crowd too can sometimes get on to you and England all-rounder Samit Patel felt that in Rajkot on Friday. “As a batsman, you hit a boundary and you don’t get a clap, that’s quite hurtful,” he admitted. “You know for a fact that you played a good shot, but no one’s really appreciating. That could get a bit under your skin. But it’s how you handle it. I think all the lads stay pretty calm out there and we’re learning every time we go out to the middle,” he remarked.

England have realised that to win in India (or in an Indian stadium), which is characterised by commotion in the stands, you need to have a calm head on your shoulders.

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News Network
April 6,2020

London, Apr 6: As the coronavirus brings the international sports calendar to a grinding halt, news agency Sport looks at three long-standing habits which could change forever once competition resumes.

Saliva to take shine off swing bowling

It's been a tried and trusted friend to fast bowlers throughout the history of cricket. But the days of applying saliva to one side of the ball to encourage swing could be over in the aftermath of Covid19.

"As a bowler I think it would be pretty tough going if we couldn't shine the ball in a Test match," said Australia quick Pat Cummins.

"If it's at that stage and we're that worried about the spread, I'm not sure we'd be playing sport."

Towels in tennis - no touching

Tennis players throwing towels, dripping with sweat and blood and probably a tear or two, at ball boys and girls, has often left fans sympathising for the youngsters.

Moves by officials to tackle the issue took on greater urgency in March when the coronavirus was taking a global grip.

Behind closed doors in Miki, ball boys and girls on duty at the Davis Cup tie between Japan and Ecuador wore gloves.

Baskets, meanwhile, were made available for players to deposit their towels.

Back in 2018, the ATP introduced towel racks at some events on a trial basis, but not everyone was overjoyed.

"I think having the towel whenever you need it, it's very helpful. It's one thing less that you have to think about," said Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas when he was playing at the NextGen Finals in Milan.

"I think it's the job of the ball kids to provide towels and balls for the players."

Let's not shake on it

Pre-match handshakes were abandoned in top football leagues just before the sports shutdown.

Premier League leaders Liverpool also banned the use of mascots while Southampton warned against players signing autographs and stopped them posing for selfies.

Away from football, the NBA urged players to opt for the fist bump rather than the long-standing high-five.

"I ain't high-fiving nobody for the rest of my life after this," NBA superstar LeBron James told the "Road Trippin' Podcast".

"No more high-fiving. After this corona shit? Wait 'til you see me and my teammates’ handshakes after this shit."

Basketball stars were also told not to take items such as balls or teams shirts to autograph.

US women's football star Megan Rapinoe says edicts to ban handshakes or even high-fives may be counter-productive anyway.

"We're going to be sweating all over each other all game, so it sort of defeats the purpose of not doing a handshake," she said.

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Agencies
May 9,2020

Tokyo, May 9: As the world continues to grapple with coronavirus pandemic, the organisers of Tokyo Game Show have cancelled 2020 showpiece event.

TGS 2020 was slated to be played from September 24 to September 27 at the Makuhari Messe convention center. However, there now talks going on for holding an online event instead.

According to the Verge, this is the first time that TGS has ever been cancelled since it started in 1996.

TGS 2020 gained more attention because of its status as the last major trade show before the launch of the upcoming next-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

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News Network
June 22,2020

Zadar (Croatia), Jun 22: Grigor Dimitrov took to Instagram to announce that he has tested positive for coronavirus. The tennis star was one of the players who took part in the Adria Tour with the likes Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem among others.

Taking to Instagram, the player wrote: "Hi Everyone-I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for Covid-19. I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions. I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering. Thanks for your support and please stay safe and healthy."

He also urged those who had come in contact with him over the last few days in Monaco should also get tested for the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, World no.1 Djokovic reached the final of his exhibition tournament in Zadar, Croatia, after easing through the round-robin group stage on the first day. This is the second stage of the Adria Tour with Austrian Dominic Thiem winning the first leg in Belgrade, Serbia.

Djokovic started by saving three set points in his 4-3, 4-1 win over fellow Serb Pedja Krstin. He then beat home favourite Borna Coric 4-1, 4-3 in front of several thousand fans at the Visnjik tennis complex.

The tournament in Zadar is being played on red clay over two days. In the other group, Russian Andrey Rublev is in pole position to advance into the final after wins over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic and Serb Danilo Petrovic. He faces German star Alexander Zverev in the final round robin match on Sunday who stayed in contention after beating Cilic 4-3, 0-4, 4-3.

Djokovic''s own inconsequential final group match is against Croatian Dino Serdarusic who replaced Grigor Dimitrov after the Bulgarian pulled out of the tournament with sickness following his opening 4-1, 4-1 loss to Coric.

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