4th Test: Ravindra Jadeja falls after fighting knock, India 7 down

March 23, 2013

DhoniNew Delhi, Mar 23(Agencies): India found themselves in a spot of bother as they lost wickets at regular intervals on the second day of the fourth Test against Australia at Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi.

Australian pacer James Pattinson added India's woes as he scalped MS Dhoni to leave tottering at 210/6.

Nathan Lyon was on a roll as he picked up four wickets to lead Australia's fightback on Day 2.

Lyon gave India huge blow by dismissing Sachin Tendulkar to reduce the hosts to 180/5. Tendulkar missed short of a length delivery with his defense and caught plumb in front.

Debutant Ajinkya Rahane failed to grab the chance as he scored 7 runs before went back to the pavilion.

India suffered a massive blow as they lost in-form Murali Vijay after tea. Peter Siddle captured his 150th Test wicket by removing Vijay for 57.

Vijay surprised by the short of a length delivery from Siddle as the ball hit on the gloves and went in the air. Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade took the simple catch to end Vijay's knock.

Vijay continued with his fine form against Australia as his impressive half century and a solid opening stand with Cheteshwar Pujara took India to 135 for two at tea.

India are now 127 runs behind Australia's first innings score of 262.

At the break, Vijay was batting on 54 in company of Sachin Tendulkar, who survived a few anxious moments including a strong leg before appeal to remain unbeaten on 12.

Vijay has faced 114 balls so far hitting eight boundaries in the process.

For Australia, the post-lunch session turned out to be a productive one with Nathan Lyon accounting for both Pujara (52) and Virat Kohli (1).

The makeshift opening stand of Pujara (52) and Vijay yielded 108 runs in 25 overs.

At the beginning of the innings, Pujara played a majestic backfoot cover drive off Pattinson after Vijay opened his account with a streaky boundary past the slip cordon.

Pattinson drifted one onto Pujara's pads and the batsman promptly got his second boundary. Then came the best shot of the morning session as Pujara hit left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson for a straight drive.

The three boundaries gave Pujara confidence to get off the blocks. Vijay also joined forces as he elegantly played Pattinson through the wide mid-on area.

The first five overs of the innings produced 34 runs and it looked as if Vijay and Pujara are in a mood to get 'ready' for the Indian Premier League which is scheduled to start in 10 days time. The 50-run partnership was completed in the 10th over.

The Kotla track, which has already come under much criticism, was slowly turning from bad to worse as a number of deliveries bowled by Johnson from the Old Club House end started keeping low.

If it created a bit of problem for batsmen, the low bounce meant that the edges did not carry to the glovesman Matthew Wade and the fielders stationed in the slip cordon.

Pujara was finally dismissed after completing a well deserved half-century. Facing a Lyon delivery, Pujara played for the turn but the ball went straight to hit the off-stump.

Pujara faced 76 balls and hit five boundaries in the process.

Virat Kohli also did not stay for long as Lyon trapped him plumb-in-front for one.

Around 1:25 pm, Tendulkar walked out amid a standing ovation from the 20,000-odd weekend crowd and got off the mark off the 10th delivery that he faced.

Earlier, Australia folded their first inning on 262 after adding 31 runs to their overnight total of 231 for eight.

Peter Siddle completed his maiden Test fifty but was done in by a straighter from Ravichandran Ashwin who completed his fourth five-wicket haul in the series. Siddle scored 51 off 136 balls with four boundaries.

Ashwin finished with figures of five for 57 in 34 overs. The Australian innings lasted just over 14 overs as Pattinson's (30) dogged resistance ended with Pragyan Ojha getting his 100th Test wicket.

Ojha completed the feat in his 22nd Test, becoming the third fastest Indian to reach the milestone after Erapalli Prasanna (20 Tests) and Anil Kumble (21 Tests).

Aussies caught in a spin again

Aussies_caught

(DHNS)In their victory-less tour of India, the toss had been the only winning factor for the Australians.

For the fourth successive time in the series, they found the spin of coin in their favour, this day through their newly appointed captain Shane Watson. In terms of performance, too, they offered few surprises; the spin bowling once again leaving them dazed in a bundle of shrinking timidity.

As Michael Clarke’s back prevented him to take the field for the first time in his career, Watson completed a rollercoaster week from being dropped in the last Test to becoming a father and then returning to lead Australia as its 44th captain.

Including Watson, Australia made five changes to the team that lost the third Test. Brad Haddin replaced Matt Wade, Mitchell Johnson filled in for the injured Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty made way for James Pattinson and Glenn Maxwell walked in for Moises Henriques. For India, Ajinkya Rahane's debut in place of Shikhar Dhawan was the only talking point.

For Australia, it brought little reprieve though. The baggy greens ended the day at 231/8 with Peter Siddle (47 batting) and James Pattinson (11 batting) showing the resolve missing from the top order batsmen. Ravichandran Ashwin (4/40) was the most successful bowler for India with Ishant Sharma thrilling with his medium pace with the new ball.

The track at the Kotla could never be the cushion for a side already struggling with confidence. The big cracks even before the start of the match looked menacingly at the visitors. And true to its nature, the wicket remained two-paced throughout. The conditions were not the easiest to bat and Australia’s attempt to score quick runs fell flat. Local boy Ishant Sharma (14-3-35-2) prospered in familiar conditions.

Sharing the new ball with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant, sharp and quick, got result in his first over. David Warner, flashed at the away going delivery to get a thick edge that went sailing to Virat Kohli in the slips for a four-ball duck.

Phil Hughes (45), post his fighting 69 in Mohali, was at his fluent best. Showing excellent footwork and adaptability to the surface, he hit three cracking boundaries in Kumar’s over to race to 21 off 17 balls. His counter-attacking innings was well supported at the other end by Ed Cowan, who was slow but dogged.

But long, drab spells of restrained action soon followed. Ishant was incisive in his first spell and kept up the tempo on his return. One of his deliveries rose viciously to hit the helmet of Hughes, who shrugged it off with a smile. Two deliveries later, the smile changed into frown, as he played on. Australia took lunch at 94/2 and India returned with a certain epiphany.

It was soon time for the spinners to thrive. They did so by taking five wickets in the second session. Cowan’s doughty innings met a soft end when he misread the line of Ashwin’s delivery, to be bowled round his legs for the second time in three Tests.

Watson, on his part, couldn’t follow the elementary. After surviving a heart-stopping stumping chance, he was eventually dismissed in the same fashion. Mathew Wade and Glenn Maxwell followed him in quick time and Mitchell Johnson underlined Australia’s struggle with his dismissal, shouldering arms to Ashwin’s carrom ball.

Like the way in the past matches, the tail continued to wag on the Indian face, first anchored by Steven Smith and later Siddle. Like the past, this match, too, bears strong undercurrents of a mediocre contest. And once again India could smell win on the opening day.

score board

AUSTRALIA (I Innings):

Cowan b Ashwin 38

(135m, 99b, 7x4)

Warner c Kohli b Ishant 0

(6m, 4b)

Hughes b Ishant 45

(82m, 59b, 10x4).

Watson st Dhoni b Jadeja 17

(63m, 56b, 3x4)

Smith c Rahane b Ashwin 46

(152m, 145b, 3x4, 2x6)

Wade c Vijay b Ashwin 2

(7m, 5b)

Maxwell c Ishant b Jadeja 10

(14m, 16b, 1x4, 1x6)

Johnson b Ashwin 3

(24m, 22b)

Siddle (batting) 47

(158m, 125b, 4x4)

Pattinson (batting) 11

(71m, 57b, 1x4)

Extras (B-5, LB-7) 12

Total (for 8 wkts, 98 overs) 231

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Warner), 2-71 (Hughes), 3-106 (Cowan), 4-115 (Watson), 5-117 (Wade), 6-129 (Maxwell), 7-136 (Johnson), 8-189 (Smith).

Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 9-1-43-0, Ishant Sharma 14-3-35-2, Ravichandran Ashwin 30-17-40-4, Pragyan Ojha 23-6-67-0, Ravindra Jadeja 22-6-34-2.

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Agencies
June 7,2020

New Delhi, Jun 7: Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria on Sunday said that Sourav Ganguly would be fit to lead the International Cricket Council (ICC), and added there is no reason for respective cricket boards to not support Ganguly if he wants to hold the post.

In an interaction with media, the former spinner said Ganguly has all the qualities of leading the ICC as he has been a reputed cricketer and knows what a player goes through in his life.

"I also think that it would be really helpful if Sourav Ganguly goes on to lead ICC, it will help cricket and the players as a reputed cricketer will hold such a big post, he has played professional cricket, he has led the Indian side and he has also held an administrative post in the Cricket Association of Bengal," Kaneria told media.

"It depends on all of the boards whether they want to support Ganguly or not, if other boards support Ganguly and PCB doesn't, then also Ganguly would have the maximum number of votes, as a cricketer Ganguly is fit to lead the ICC, he had led the Indian side so well and he has earned a name for himself, so I don't see any reason for boards not supporting Ganguly," he added.

Ganguly had become the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last year, but speculation continued to rise over the former skipper heading the ICC.

"He is currently the president of the BCCI, he knows in and out of everything, he knows what players have to deal with and he is aware of what cricket needs, he knows what support needs to be given to associate nations, players would be able to put forward their point in front of Ganguly," Kaneria said.

In May this year, Cricket South Africa's (CSA) director of cricket Graeme Smith had backed Ganguly to lead the ICC looking at the current scenario.

"Now it is even more important to have someone in a role who can provide leadership who understands and can navigate the challenges in the game today. I think post-COVID with the things that are going to come our way, to have strong leadership is important. I feel that someone like Sourav Ganguly is best positioned for that at the moment," sport24.co.za had quoted Smith as saying.

"I know him well, I played against him a number of times and worked with him as an administrator and in television. I feel that he has got the credibility, the leadership skills, and is someone that can really take the game forward and I think that, more than anything, that is needed right now at an ICC level," he added.

ICC's elections are slated to be held in July this year and current chairperson Shashank Manohar has already clarified that he is not seeking a tenure extension.

Ganguly was exceptional in making India play its first day-night Test last year.

India had played its inaugural day-night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens last year.

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News Network
April 5,2020

New Delhi, April 5: England batsman James Vince lashed out at people for not taking proper measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and said people are going out as if "everything is normal".

"Just seen the pictures of people out and about today as if everything is normal. What selfish people, surely by now they've realised this is serious. Well done to everyone who's doing their bit and staying in," Vince tweeted.

On March 13, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Europe was now the 'epicentre' of the disease.

The death toll due to the novel coronavirus in the UK has exceeded 4,313 with at least 708 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the largest one-day rise since the start of the outbreak as confirmed by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The total number of cases in the UK as on Saturday is 41,903, a rise of 3,735 cases in the last 24 hours.

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News Network
February 13,2020

Feb 13: Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried in a private funeral service in Southern California last week, multiple outlets reported late Tuesday.

Citing Kobe Bryant's death certificate, Los Angeles Fox affiliate KTTV reported the remains of the former Lakers star and his daughter were transferred to Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona del Mar. Kobe and Brianna were laid to rest in a private ceremony there last Friday.

According to KTTV, the death certificate cited Kobe's cause of death as "blunt trauma" sustained in a "commercial helicopter crash." It also said his death was "rapid."

Corona del Mar is a community within Newport Beach, where the Bryant family lives.

Kobe, 41, and Gianna, 13, were among nine people killed when the helicopter they were in crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, Calif., northwest of Los Angeles, on Jan. 26. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56; his wife, Keri; and their daughter Alyssa, 14 -- who played on the same club basketball team as Gianna Bryant -- also were killed. Christina Mauser, a 38-year-old who was the top assistant coach of the Mamba girls basketball team, was also killed in the accident, as were Sarah Chester, 45; her daughter Payton Chester, 13; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.

A public memorial service for the Bryants will be held Feb. 24 at Staples Center, beginning at 10 a.m. PT.

While the date -- 2/24 -- conveniently falls between two Lakers' home games, it still could have been chosen symbolically. Gianna -- one Kobe and Vanessa' four daughters -- wore No. 2 on her basketball jersey while Kobe was No. 24 for part of his 20-year-tenure with the Lakers, and his retired jerseys -- he also wore No. 8 -- hang at Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Times reported that "entry is expected to be severely restricted" at the venue despite Staples Center's capacity of about 20,000.

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