England dance to Indian tune

January 20, 2013

kohli

Ranchi: A superlative bowling effort was equally well complemented by the batsmen as India nosed 2-1 ahead in the five-match series with a command seven-wicket win in the maiden international at the JSCA Stadium here on Saturday.

Things couldn’t have fallen any better in place for the hosts, who are now just one win away from wrapping up the series. From winning toss to executing their bowling plans to mounting their successful chase, India didn’t put a foot wrong. Having restricted England to an extremely inadequate 155 all out in 42.2 overs, the home team replied with 157/3 in 28.1 overs, skipper MS Dhoni appropriately bringing the winning runs much to the delight of 39,000 screaming home fans.

Ajinkya Rahane’s problems with incoming balls continued while Gautam Gambhir (33, 53b, 4x4), though not completely convincing during his stay, added 67 runs for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (77 n.o., 79b, 9x4, 2x6) to set a good base for the chase. After enduring a poor run of scores for a while, man of the match Kohli announced his return to form in an emphatic fashion.

Playing as authoritatively as he has during his dream run last year, the right-hander made his intentions clear by dispatching Jade Dernbach for three successive fours and setting the right tempo for the rest of his innings. Yuvraj Singh (30, 21b, 6x4) too played a little gem but much of the credit for India’s dominant win should go to their bowlers.

For the third time in the last four matches, the much-maligned attack produced a stellar performance, restricting the opposition to sub-160 total. Against Pakistan in Delhi, the home bowlers had defended a smallish total of 165 with tigerish zeal.

In Rajkot, in the first one-dayer against England, normalcy appeared to have been restored with the visiting batsmen plundering 325 runs even though Indian batsmen too managed a 300-plus total in reply.

In Kochi, the Indian bowlers regained their zing on a turning wicket after Bhuvneshwar Kumar had done the damage upfront in an excellent of display of swing bowling as England, despite a good start, collapsed to 158, conceding a massive 127-run win. On a supposedly batting surface here, England crashed to another low total with all the six Indian bowlers getting amongst wickets. Ravindra Jadeja (3/19), who used the arm-ball to devastating effect, was the pick of the bowlers but R Ashwin (2/37) and Ishant Sharma (2/29) were no less impressive.

Keeping the evening dew factor in mind, India opted to bowl first on a pitch that had a thin grass cover on it. While there was no exaggerated movement off the pitch, both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shami Ahmed kept the English openers – Alastair Cook and Ian Bell – quiet. Cook, though not brisk, looked fluent even as Bell, who at one stage was one off 18 deliveries, struggled to kick on. Like in Kochi, Shami gave the crucial opening breakthrough, this time catching a shuffling Cook in front as the ball straightened after pitching.

Having been choked for runs, the pressure was building on the batsmen and the first adventurous shot from Cook resulted in his fall. Changing ends, Ishant produced a peach of a delivery to beat Kevin Pietersen with the slightest of away movement to have the dangerous batsmen caught behind. Pietersen wasn’t happy with umpire S Ravi’s verdict and replays showed no contact between bat and ball.

After Pietersen’s dismissal at the total of 68, England kept losing wickets in clusters, making it extremely difficult for themselves to salvage the innings. Bell’s misery ended at the same score, Dhoni’s decision to stand up to Bhuvneshwar paying the dividends this time. A reverse sweeping Eoin Morgan fell at 97 while a run later, both Crai Kieswetter and Samit Patel handed their wickets away.

Joe Root (39, 57b, 4x4), England’s top-scorer, staged a mini recovery with Tim Bresnan, adding 47 for the seventh wicket but Ishant’s return spelt his doom. Ashwin got rid of Bresnan at the same score with a classic off-spinner’s delivery and after adding 10 more runs Steven Finn and Jade Dernbach lost their wickets.

Score board

ENGLAND

Cook lbw Shami 17

(28b, 3x4)

Bell c Dhoni b Bhuvneshwar 25

(43b, 3x4)

Pietersen c Dhoni b Ishant 17

(20b, 2x4)

Root c Dhoni b Ishant 39

(57b, 4x4)

Morgan c Yuvraj b Ashwin 10

(30b, 1x4)

Kieswetter b Jadeja 0

(3b)

Patel lbw Jadeja 0

(4b)

Bresnan b Ashwin 25

(37b, 2x4)

Tredwell (not out) 4

(18b)

Finn c Yuvraj b Raina 3

(12b)

Dernbach b Jadeja 0

(2b)

Extras (LB-6, W-9) 15

Total (all out, 42.2 overs) 155

Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Cook), 2-68 (Pietersen), 3-68 (Bell), 4-97 (Morgan), 5-98 (Kieswetter), 6-98 (Patel), 7-145 (Root), 8-145 (Bresnan), 9-155 (Finn).

Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10-2-40-1 (w-3), Shami Ahmed 8-0-23-1 (w-2), Ishant 7-0-29-2 (w-3), Jadeja 6.2-0-19-3, Ashwin 10-0-37-2 (w-1), Raina

1-0-1-1.

Runs during Power Play1: 1-10 overs: 34/1; Power Play2 (batting): 36-40 overs: 20/2.

INDIA

Gambhir c Root b Tredwell 33

(53b, 4x4)

Rahane b Finn 0

(4b)

Kohli (not out) 77

(79b, 9x4, 2x6)

Yuvraj b Tredwell 30

(21b, 6x4)

Dhoni (not out) 10

(12b, 2x4)

Extras (B-1, LB-1, W-5) 7

Total (for 3 wkts, 28.1 overs) 157

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Rahane), 2-78 (Gambhir), 3-144 (Yuvraj).

Bowling: Finn 9.1-0-50-1 (w-2), Dernbach 5-0-45-0 (w-2), Bresnan 7-2-31-0 (w-1), Tredwell 7-1-29-2. Runs during Power Play1: 1-10 overs: 48/1.

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Agencies
May 26,2020

Some of the ICC guidelines on resumption of cricket border on the impractical and will need a review when the cricketing world is closer to action, feel former players Aakash Chopra, Irfan Pathan and Monty Panesar.

Last week, the International Cricket Council recommended a host of "back to cricket" guidelines including 14-day pre-match isolation training camps to ensure the teams are free from COVID-19.

The world body issued training as well as playing guidelines which will drastically change the way the game is played.

Among them are regular hand sanitising when in contact with the ball, no loo or shower breaks while training, minimising time spent in the changing room before and after a game, no use of saliva on ball and no handing over of personal items (cap, sunglasses, towels) to fellow teammates or the on-field umpires.

"Social distancing is very doable in individual sport but very tough in a team sport like cricket and football. If you need a slip during the game, would you not employ it?

"If the team is going through a 14-day quarantine and is being tested for COVID-19, I am fine with that process. Now, after that, if we have more guidelines for the players during the game, then you are making things complicated. Then there is no point of a quarantine period," former India pacer Pathan told PTI.

Safety cannot be compromised but regularly sanitising hands during the game will be too much to ask from the players.

"Safety is paramount but we should not make the game complicated. If a bowler or fielder has to sanitise hands every time he touches the ball, then it would be very difficult.

"You can shorten the process of giving the ball to the bowler. Instead of the usual chain (wicket-keeper to cover fielder to bowler), the keeper can straight away give the ball to the bowler but even then the bowler will have to sanitise hands six times in an over," said Pathan seeking more clarity on the guidelines.

Former India opener Chopra said it is still pre-mature to prepare a fixed set of guidelines for resumption of cricket as the situation is evolving "every day".

"That (regular hand sanitisation after contact with ball) is obviously impractical but my big question is when the game happens in a bio secure environment and everyone is quarantined and tested, do these additional measures make a difference?

"On the field, I can still understand but what happens when you go back into the dressing room? How do you practice social distancing there? So it becomes quite complicated.

"To be honest it is all very premature. Once they get closer to resumption, which will take some time, there will be more clarity," said Chopra.

International cricket is likely to resume in July with England hosting West Indies and then Pakistan.

Bundesliga football league has already begun in Germany behind closed doors and by the time cricket resumes, more sporting competitions would have restarted and Chopra feels that will help cricket decide the way forward in post COVID-19 times.

"By the time cricket resumes, more football would have started after Bundesliga. Cricket can take lessons from there, collect data and ideas and see what is practical and what is not."

Former England spinner Panesar foresees the start of the England-West Indies series making things a lot clearer for the entire fraternity than they are at the moment.

"The 14 day quarantine is very much needed and well done to the ICC for including that. I think we will see resumption of international cricket with England hosting West Indies in July. We might have some practical ideas then, the other countries would also be watching keenly and will learn how to go about it.

"But measures like regular hand sanitising is not going to be practical. May be you could sanitise every one hour but it can't be regular during the game," said Panesar.

While Pathan feels the on-field safety measures will make managing over-rate a bigger challenge for teams, Chopra said no loo or shower breaks during training won't be that much of an issue.

"Training is still controllable. You don't have to be there for a long time but you would still have to use the restroom at some stage. You may avoid taking a shower but you will have to use the restroom.

"I think the idea of these guidelines is to make cricketers more aware that you have to take care of yourself and inculcate habits which are in everyone's interest in the current scenario," added Chopra.

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News Network
April 15,2020

New Delhi, Apr 15: Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri on Wednesday urged people to beat coronavirus by staying at home and by maintaining social distancing. He termed the virus 'mother of all World Cups' and asked people to combat this disease together and win the World Cup of humanity.

Taking to Twitter, Shastri shared a video post where he cited cricket examples to aware people about the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic. "As I would know, sports teaches you life lessons that can be applied to just about anything you want to pursue in rest of your life.

Today the COVID-19 has put us in a situation where we got our backs to the wall. To combat this coronavirus is like chasing a World Cup where you give your everything in trying to win it. What's staring you at the face is no ordinary World Cup. This is the mother of all World Cups where not just eleven are playing but 1.4 billion are in the playing arena and competing. Guys we can win this. For that, we have to observe the basics. You have got your Prime Minister leading from the front ahead of the curve like other countries have farmed out," Shastri said.

"You have to obey the orders that come from the top: be it centre, state or the frontline workers who are risking their lives. Two orders that stand out: staying home and maintaining social distancing. It is not easy but to win the game you got to go through the pain to break the chain and see the gain. Come on, guys! let's do it together. Let us get out there in a bruit force of 1.4 billion and beat this corona and get your hands on the World Cup of humanity. Let's do it," he added.

With 1,076 new COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 11,439, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.

Out of the total tally, 9,756 cases are active while 1,306 patients have been cured/discharged and migrated. With 38 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll rises to 377.

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News Network
April 12,2020

Mumbai, Apr 12: Always eager to share his vast knowledge and experience, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has interacted with 12,000 doctors on sports injuries.

In his over two decade long illustrious career, Tendulkar suffered many health issues, the most prominent being the tennis elbow injury.

The veteran of 200 Tests and 463 ODIs, got to know through one Dr Sudhir Warrier, an orthopaedic surgeon, that several young doctors across the country were utilising the lockdown time to effectively gain knowledge on sports injuries through live webinars.

A session on sports injuries was held on Saturday and Tendulkar, knowing that his experiences will help these doctors, volunteered to be a part of it.

Tendulkar, accordingly, interacted with around 12,000 doctors, who attended the session.

It is reliably leanrt that the 46-year-old legend said he was grateful to the medical fraternity for their service.

During the session, the young orthopaedic doctors got to know how the requirements and treatment outcomes of athletes are different from regular patients, sources said.

Dr Warrier moderated the session with Dr Nitin Patel, physiotherapist, who has worked with Indian cricket team and IPL franchise Mumbai Indians.

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