Current Aussie team worst-ever to tour India: Ganguly

March 19, 2013

Aussie_team_worst-ever

Mar 19: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly today said that the current Australian side is the worst-ever to tour India.

“They don’t have the batsmen to play spinners and spinners to take wickets here. I don’t want to rate the side but having seen the Aussies since 1996, I think this team is the worst-performing on Indian soil,” Ganguly told a regional news channel here today.

Reacting to India’s hattrick of wins against Aussies that had never happened, Ganguly said four days and a spin-friendly track in Kotla were what India need to hand a 4-0 whitewash.

The Australian team management’s decision to sack four players, including vice-captain Shane Watson, for the third Test on disciplinary grounds, also did not go down too well with Ganguly.

“No matter how disciplined you are, skill is the most important to be successful. Australia lack skill on this tour. I read somewhere about (former coach) John Buchanan lauding the decision (to sack the four). Just unbelievable, what can I say!”

Meanwhile, Ganguly hoped that Sachin Tendulkar scores some big runs. ”I hope he gets back to form. It’s very important for him to get into the rhythm.”

There may be talks about changing Tendulkar’s batting order but Ganguly said: “I don’t think there’s a need to readjust his order and he should stick to No 4 only.”

Ganguly pointed out that the batting collapse in their second innings was the Aussies’ biggest worry: ”Remember that Clarke won the toss on all three occasions. I won’t be surprised to see India win inside three days if the Aussies were made to bat second.

“In India, you will expect turning tracks only. Four days are just enough to win against this side. I hope India repeat this result on Australian soil as well.”

Asked about the Australia’s prospect in the upcoming Ashes, Ganguly said: “They (Englishmen) have been doing well. I won’t be surprised England win 3-0 in the five-match series.”

Mahendra Singh Dhoni may be on the verge of breaking his record of achieving most wins as India captain, but Ganguly said: “The most important thing for him right now is to build the team. Records are meant to be broken. But let’s hope that Dhoni remains (captain) till the World Cup 2015 and build a good side.”

Ganguly felt that the Board’s think-tank has a plan to continue with the duo of coach Duncan Fletcher and Dhoni: ”The Board must be looking at them to take India till 2015 World Cup, that’s more important,” he said.

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News Network
June 25,2020

New Delhi, Jun 25: India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday called the 1983 World Cup win as the 'landscape' changing moment for the game of cricket in the country.

Today, India is celebrating the completion of the 37 years of the maiden World Cup triumph under the leadership of Kapil Dev.

"Today 37 years ago, changed the cricketing landscape in India. Thank you @therealkapildev and team for making the game a career for many of us today. Deeply indebted," Ashwin tweeted.

In 1983, in the finals between India and West Indies, the latter won the toss and opted to bowl first.

The Kapil Dev-led side managed to score just 183 runs as Andy Roberts took three wickets while Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Larry Gomes picked up two wickets each.

Defending 183, India did a good job of keeping a check on the Windies run flow, reducing the side to 57/3.

Soon after, the team from the Caribbean was reduced to 76/6 and India was the favourites from there on to win the title.

Mohinder Amarnath took the final wicket of Michael Holding to give India their first-ever World Cup title win.

In the finals, West Indies was bowled out for 140, and as a result, India won the match by 43 runs.

Kapil Dev lifting the trophy at the balcony of Lord's Cricket Ground still remains an image to savour for all the Indian fans.

In the finals, Mohinder Amarnath was chosen as the Man of the Match as he scored 26 runs with the bat and also picked up three wickets with the ball.

India has been the regular participant in the World Cup from its beginning to the latest edition. The first edition was held in 1975 and from there on, it has taken place after a span of every four years.

West Indies won the first two World Cup titles (1975, 1979) and was the runner-up in 1983. India has won the title two times, in 1983 and in 2011.

MS Dhoni captained the 2011 team to win their second title after 28 years. Australia has won the tournament five times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015).

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News Network
May 30,2020

New York, May 30: Cricket superstar Virat Kohli remains the only Indian in the Forbes' list of world's highest-paid athletes with total earnings of USD 26 million, jumping to the 66th spot from 100 in the 2020 standings.

Kohli's earnings from endorsement stand at USD 24 million and USD 2 million from salary/winnings. The 31-year-old is also the only cricketer in the top-100 list.

With earnings of USD 25 million, Kohli was ranked 100th in 2019 and 83rd in 2018 with USD 24 million.

Tennis legend Roger Federer has toped the list for the first time with earnings of USD 106.3 million, rising from fifth place last year.

Football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are second and third respectively with earnings of USD 105 and USD 104 million.

The others in the top-10 are Neymar (football), LeBron James (basketball), Stephen Curry (basketball), Kevin Durrant (basketball), Tigers Woods (golf), Kirk Cousins (American football) and Carson Wentz (American football).

The athletes' earnings have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which led to suspension of sporting activities all around the world.

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Ismail
 - 
Sunday, 31 May 2020

Saina Nehwal is the only Indian to feature in the world’s 20 most charitable athletes, as per a list compiled by the US based website in Athletes Gone Good. 

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News Network
February 17,2020

Hamilton, Feb 17: Mayank Agarwal found form on his birthday and Rishabh Pant mixed caution with his customary aggression as India’s warm-up fixture against New Zealand XI ended in a draw here on Sunday.

The match was called off an hour after lunch with India reaching 252 for four just 48 overs into their second innings.

Agarwal, who had gone through a wretched period since the second Test against Bangladesh, retired on 81 off 99 balls with 10 fours and three sixes to his name.

To the relief of the Indian team management, Pant played in his customary manner to reach 70 off 65 balls, but also showed discretion when the opposition bowlers were in the midst of a good spell. There were four sixes -- two each off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and off-spinner Henry Cooper.

While Sodhi was hit down the ground, Cooper was dispatched over extra cover on a couple of occasions. He didn’t curb his aggression, though, there were times when he was ready defend the spinners and also leave some of the deliveries.

Even though Pant is considered a better batsman than Wriddhiman Saha, the innings might have come too late in the day considering that the latter is a better keeper and possibly a more responsible batsman in pressure situations.

The biggest positive to have emerged from the New Zealand second innings is Agarwal’s poor run coming to an end. The Seddon Park track easing out was definitely a factor but Agarwal’s footwork was more assured as he played some glorious on-drives and pull-shots off fast bowlers.

Before this game, Agarwal had played 10 competitive games including first-class, ODIs and List A matches and couldn’t cross the 40-run mark in 11 completed innings. He even bagged a pair against New Zealand A in an unofficial Test match.

Once he had got his form back, he didn’t come out to bat after lunch giving Saha an opportunity to score an unbeaten 30, his runs coming mostly against non-regular bowlers.

The Agarwal-Pant pair added 100 runs in 14.3 overs and it also helped that part-timers like Cooper was introduced into the action.

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