1. Home
  2. Ranji Trophy: Quality umpires needed for big games,says Pravin Amre

Ranji Trophy: Quality umpires needed for big games,says Pravin Amre

March 1, 2015

Bengaluru, Mar 1: Although Mumbai failed to make it to the final of the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy, Pravin Amre, the coach, felt his young side had shown a lot of character against Karnataka, the defending champions, to bounce back after being bowled out for just 44 in their first innings in their semifinal.

Ranji Trophy umpireChasing a steep 445 for victory, half-centuries from Aditya Tare, the captain, Shreyas Iyer and Siddesh Lad took Mumbai to 332 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday (February 28), before they subsided to a 112-run defeat. However, Amre said there were a lot of positives to take from the loss.

"Getting 44 all out on the first day was not acceptable," said Amre after the match. "But if you see the way we fought back, as a coach I am very proud of the boys. Not many teams get out for 44 and make such a comeback. Particularly the way we got two wickets on the first day. The other teams would have just given away the match at that stage (bowled out for 44), but our boys have shown their character."

Amre rued the fact that certain decisions did not go in Mumbai's favour and urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ensure highest quality of umpiring in domestic cricket. Robin Uthappa, who made 68 in the first innings, was lucky to survive a huge shout for lbw from Shardul Thakur when on 8 on the opening day. Aditya Tare was a victim of a poor decision when the ball moved after missing the edge only for him to be given out caught behind on the same day in Mumbai's first dig.

"As a coach, I don't want to give this as an excuse, but everybody has got evidence," said Amre. "I think BCCI should also think about keeping quality umpires in big games.

"The match referees can go and watch, there is evidence. Robin Uthappa's decision, had it been 30 for 3, the match would have been different. Same thing with Tare's decision at a vital time. I think those were the turning points for me."

Although Mumbai started the chase positively, Suryakumar Yadav's defensive approach on the third day shifted the momentum in Karnataka's favour, with the batsman taking 26 balls to get off the mark. However, Amre felt the approach didn't have any detrimental effect on the team's chances, pointing at Tare's dismissal on 98 as the key moment.

"I think Tare's dismissal again was vital. From there, I think the momentum went to Karnataka. I'm sure if he had got that 100, it would have been one of those big hundreds. Suryakumar Yadav plays his own game. I think that playing defensively was his mindset at that particular moment. But, as long as he was at the wicket, it was very important for us because if we had wickets in hand, anything could have happened."

A young side with hardly any experienced pros to look to for guidance during tough times, Mumbai's roller-coaster season had started with a loss to Jammu and Kashmir at home. An innings defeat against Tamil Nadu had put them on the brink and the 40-time champions were staring at relegation. Suryakumar's decision to quit captaincy only compounded their woes. However, Tare brought in stability as Mumbai scripted a remarkable turnaround towards the end of the league stage.

An in-form Baroda side were beaten in a do-or-die clash. A first-innings lead over Karnataka allowed Mumbai to enter the knockouts, and their thumping win against Delhi, one of the most consistent sides this season, sealed them a semifinal berth. Amre lauded the young side and said it was a huge challenge to handle a team in transition.

"As a coach, handling a young side was very challenging. I learnt a lot and also I was happy that some of my decisions worked and the satisfaction was there. This is a hugely talented side in a rebuilding phase.

"I had to identify the talented players. I was very happy with the way we set Shreyas Iyer's batting number. It was entirely my decision to bat him at three. There was this responsibility on Shardul Thakur to go and deliver. (I was) backing many players like Akhil Herwadkar - he came and delivered in the quarterfinal against Delhi. The important one was Tare, backing him as captain and I think he did a great job. It wasn't an easy job."

Tare reprimanded for criticising umpiring decisions

Aditya Tare, the Mumbai captain, was reprimanded for his comments against poor umpiring decisions after the first day's play. Like Amre, Tare had earlier pointed to the two decisions that had gone against Mumbai. V N Kutty, the match referee, charged him with a Code of Conduct violation and cautioned Tare after he pleaded guilty.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
February 21,2020

Wellington, Feb 22: shant Sharma's lion-hearted bowling effort met its match in Kane Williamson's elegance as New Zealand ended an attritional second day of the opening Test against India with a slight upper-hand, here on Saturday.

After another lower-order collapse that saw India get bundled out for 165, Ishant, coming straight back from an ankle injury, took three for 31 in 15 overs despite Williamson's effortless 89 in New Zealand's day-end score of 216 for 5.

New Zealand now lead by 51 runs.

Mohammed Shami (1/61 in 17 overs), during his final spell of the day, removed Williamson, who couldn't check an uppish drive. Henry Nicholls' (17 off 62 balls) struggle seemed to have hampered Williamson's rhythm.

During the final hour, Ravichandran Ashwin (1/60 in 21 overs), who also bowled beautifully throughout the day, relieved Nicholls' of his agony with a delivery that had drift and a hint of turn as India skipper Virat Kohli snapped the low catch at second slip.

Williamson looked good as he hit some delightful strokes square off the wicket. The square drive on the rise off Jasprit Bumrah (0/62 in 18.1 overs), followed by a cover drive, showed his class.

In all, the New Zealand skipper hit 11 boundaries off 153 balls.

Bumrah, in particular, was punished by Williamson, who also back-cut him for a boundary and Taylor then punished another half volley through the covers.

There were quite a few loose deliveries on offer from the Indian pacers and in between a few did beat the bat. With the 'Basin' baked in sunshine, batting became lot more easier and Black Caps seized the initiative.

Bumrah, in particular, failed to find his length consistently. Either he bowled too full and drivable length deliveries or too short that even Rishabh Pant failed to gather with the ball going a couple feet over his head.

This is where Ishant came into the picture. While he was lucky to get opener Tom Latham out with a delivery drifting on leg-stump, the other opener Tom Blundell (30) had a typical Ishant dismissal written all over it.

The ball was full on the off-stump channel and jagged back enough to find the gap between his bat and pad.

Williamson and Taylor then had a partnership of 93 runs during which New Zealand also got the lead before Ishant, coming back for his third spell, bowled one that reared up from good length and proved to be an easy catch for Cheteshwar Pujara at short-leg.

Once Nicholls came in, Williamson, who was batting fluently, suddenly had a player at the opposite end who scored only 4 off 34 balls.

Looking good for his 22nd Test hundred, Williamson, in his bid to get another boundary, couldn't check a cover drive and the low catch was taken by substitute fielder Ravindra Jadeja.

Earlier, New Zealand's debutant Kyle Jamieson and veteran Tim Southee took four wickets apiece as Indian innings folded in 68.1 overs.

Jamieson (4/49 in 16 overs) and Southee (4/49 in 20.1 overs) took four of the five wickets that fell on the second morning with India adding only 43 runs to their overnight score of 122 for 5.

Rishabh Pant (19) started with a six but then a horrible mix-up with senior partner Ajinkya Rahane (46) resulted in a run-out and the little chance of recovery was gone for good.

It was a poor call from the senior player and Pant had to sacrifice his wicket in the process.

Ashwin then received a beauty from Southee, pretty similar to what Prithvi Shaw got, while Rahane inside edged one while trying to leave it alone.

With India at 132 for 7, Rahane knew that time was running out as he played a square drive off Trent Boult to get him a boundary.

Southee then got rid of Rahane when he tried to shoulder arm a delivery that made a late inward movement. Mohammed Shami's entertaining 21 then enabled the visitors to cross the 150-run mark.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
July 31,2020

Northamptonshire, Jul 31: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus, and as a result, he will miss the British Grand Prix.

The Racing Point driver was absent from the circuit on Thursday after self-isolating following what his team called an "inconclusive" test. Perez then re-tested later in the day and it returned positive.

Formula 1 is following a strict testing regime as part of the safety protocols put in place when racing resumed earlier this month, and this is the first time a driver has tested positive.

"Perez has entered self-quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the relevant public health authorities, and will continue to follow the procedure mandated by those authorities," Formula 1 and the FIA said in a statement.

"With the assistance of the local organiser of the British Grand Prix, local health authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full track and trace initiative has been undertaken and all close contacts have been quarantined," the statement added.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
August 7,2020

Islamabad, Aug 7: Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, known for his blistering deliveries on the cricket field, recently baffled many with a deadly off-field bouncer by claiming he is willing to eat grass if it enabled an increase in budget for his country's Army!

"If Allah ever gives me the authority, I will eat grass myself but I will increase the budget of the army," said Akhtar in an interview with ARY News.

The 'Rawalpindi Express', considered the fastest bowler in history said he does not understand why the civilian sector cannot work in collaboration with the Armed forces.

"I will ask my army chief to sit with me and make decisions. If the budget is 20 per cent, I will make it 60 per cent. If we insult each other, the loss is ours only," the once feared fast-bowler said.

Akthar had also claimed to ARY News interview that he was willing to take a bullet for his country and had turned down a county stint just because he wanted to fight the 1999 Kargil War.

Ties between India and Pakistan have been strained in the recent months over several issues, the latest being Pakistan's attempt to broach in the UNSC the issue of Kashmir on the first anniversary of the India's move to scrap the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and to split the erstwhile state into two union territories .

Pakistan also has not been in a good financial position and under prime minister Imran Khan, himself an all rounder cricketer, has added nearly USD 22 billion, that is 35 per cent to the nation's international debt pile in the last two years, according to an Asia Times report in July.

While Pakistan recently received USD 1.39 billion from the IMF to cushion the economic shocks caused due to COVID-19 outbreak, Akthar had a few months ago proposed that a joint cricket match be played between India and Pakistan to raise funds to fight the coronavirus. The suggestion that was put down by cricketers in India.

Meanwhile the 'Pindi boy' whose deadly pace and bounce was once dreaded by batsmen had recently taken to Twitter to deny former India cricketer Virender Sehwag's claim of sledging him.

Sehwag along with other Indian crickerters such as Harbhajan Singh and even Rahul Dravid had been at the receiving end of Akthar's sledging and antics during their playing days.

"Yes, totally self made story by him. Mujhe yeh bol k bach k jana kidhar tha us nay," Akthar tweeted to a report in which Sehwag claimed that he had sledged the 'Rawalpindi Express' by telling him that Sachin Tendulkar was his father.

During an awards ceremony Sehwag had recounted that fed up with Akthar's sledging and retaliated by telling him to say the same things to Tendulkar, who smashed the 'Pindi boy' for a six. Sehwag quipped that he told Akthar then that "Baap baap hota hai".

In the recent ARY interview, asked about the allegation made against him by former India cricketer Virendra Sehwag that he makes pro-India comments for greater following on social media channels, Akhtar said, "I cannot talk on the basis of hate." 

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.