You are lucky to have Tendulkar, Dhoni: Henriques

March 11, 2013

dhoni-sachin

Mohali, Mar 11: India is lucky to have the experience of senior players such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar and it would be a big challenge for Australia to make a comeback in the third Test, all-rounder Moises Henriques said.

"It's a different challenge. It is certainly very tough to win over here, to win Test matches over here, against very experienced Indian team and very experienced Indian spinners," Henriques told a press conference after his team had an extended session at the nets.

"You have guys like (M S) Dhoni and (Sachin) Tendulkar still leading the team around as senior players, obviously it very lucky to have those characters around. They are very strong team, especially here (at home) and they play very well. So it's a big challenge for all of us.

"For a lot of Australian players it is their first tour to India, so it is a new challenge. We are all doing as much we can to learn from every match we play here. We got to learn faster because we need to win this Test match," he added.

Australia themselves are lacking in experience after the retirement of stalwarts such as Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey recently.

Henriques heaped praise on Indian spinners R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh, terming them as "fantastic bowlers" and said they have to take positives from the two Test losses and quickly learn from their mistakes.

"Obviously we have to learn from what we haven't done well in the first couple of Test matches. Obviously, we lost a lot of wickets to spin. We haven't scored enough runs as we should have," he said.

Asked what was the message from their team management after two losses in Chennai and Hyderabad, Henriques said, "The message is basically to stay positive and stay truthful to your plans and if you have a plan keep backing it and if you don't (then) to find out what the right plan is for you."

The all-rounder, who has just featured in two Tests, said the break ahead of the third Test has helped the team to think and strategise their plans.

"I think with a little bit of break between the second and third test allowed players time to work on making sure they know their plans and executing what their plan is," Henriques said.

The 26-year-old said Australia will look to target the first session of play to get off to a positive start.

"I think the first session whether be it with bat and ball, we want to make it a good one so that we can start off the Test very well," he said.

Asked about his own performance, Henriques said he would look to make more impact with the ball.

"I feel I am playing my role with the ball keeping it tight, but limited impact in terms of getting breakthroughs and things like that. I had a very quiet second Test match. If selected in the Third, hopefully, I can impact the game a little bit more," he said.

The struggling Australian side has been dealt a further blow after wicketkeeper Matthew Wade injured his ankle, putting him in doubt for the Mohali Test, starting on Thursday.

Though Henriques said that Wade was in "pretty good spirits in the change room", the team's media manager Matt Cenin said things will be much clearer tomorrow.

"He was playing basketball (on Saturday, at a private school in Chandigarh) when he sprained his ankle. He had a scan done this morning and have sent these back to Australia to be reviewed by our specialists and we should have update sometime tomorrow," Cenin said.

Wade was in doubt ahead of the second Test as well after he fractured his cheekbone during training but he played with the pain and scored a 62 in the first innings.

Brad Haddin, who played four Tests in India during the 2008 tour by the Australians, has been now put on standby for injured Wade.

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News Network
January 20,2020

Jan 20: Both Steve Smith and Rohit Sharma made sparkling centuries in Bengaluru, but it was the Indian who finished on the winning side, leading his team to a 2-1 series win.

Smith, having run out his captain Aaron Finch early on, dug in to bring up his ninth ODI century, his 131 off 132 balls setting India a target of 287 on Sunday, 19 January. Continuing the dazzling display of batting at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, Rohit struck 119 in 128 balls, and skipper Virat Kohli chipped in with 89, as the hosts chased down the target with seven wickets to spare in 47.3 overs.

With Shikhar Dhawan hurting his shoulder in the fifth over of the day and sidelined for the rest of the match, Rohit was reunited with KL Rahul – who had a chance to open the innings after coming in at No.3 and No.5 in the first two matches, while also standing in as wicket-keeper. The vice-captain was on the ball right away, dominating the scoring as India raced to 61/0 in the first 10 overs.

The introduction of spin gave Australia a vital breakthrough: Ashton Agar trapped Rahul in front on review, and although the new pair of Rohit and Kohli weren't unduly troubled, the run-rate slowed down. Josh Hazlewood, playing his first ODI in India and his first match in the format in 14 months, was especially miserly, conceding just 10 runs in his first five overs.

But, having settled in, the duo built a useful partnership of 137 and gave themselves the chance to hit out with wickets in hand. The part-time bowling of Finch and Marnus Labuschagne was punished, Rohit lapping up the short balls and sending them soaring into the stands. His century, his eighth against Australia, came with a single to third man.

Zampa finally got the breakthrough, having him caught in the deep going for another big one. But with Kohli having loosened his arms with a couple of beautiful fours off Pat Cummins to go past his half-century, India remained on course.

The skipper missed out on a hundred, but with Shreyas Iyer too clearing the ropes, there were no hurdles as India wrapped up an entertaining series win.

Earlier, the Indian bowlers struggled to find their lines after Australia chose to bat, but Australia weren't able to fully capitalise. David Warner was thrown by the movement to nick Mohammed Shami to the wicket-keeper, while Finch was caught short after Smith pulled out of a run, to leave the hosts at 46/2.

Labuschagne and Smith, though, combined for another special partnership, going at a brisk rate and showing delectable timing against spin. They had guided their side to 173 in the 32nd over when the a sharp piece of fielding from the home captain and strong bowling pulled things back.

Kohli, at cover, plucked a drive from Labuschagne soon after the batsman had reached his maiden fifty. Ravindra Jadeja had his second of the over when the experiment to send Mitchell Starc at No.5 lasted just three balls.

Alex Carey gave Smith company as he brought up a well-earned century, having fallen just short the previous game. The former skipper stepped up the scoring once he crossed three figures, a wristy helicopter six over deep square leg the highlight of his innings. But, excellent death bowling by Shami, who finished with four wickets, ensured the tourists were kept to under 300 – a total that proved below par.

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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
March 5,2020

Mar 5: India reached a maiden women's Twenty20 World Cup final Thursday after their last four clash against England was washed out, sparking calls for the International Cricket Council to include reserve days in future events.

Harmanpreet Kaur's unbeaten side were due to face the 2009 champions at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but the rain began pouring early in the day with barely any let-up.

With a minimum 10 overs per side needed for a result and no break in the weather, the umpires called it off without a ball being bowled.

Normally, five overs per side are needed to constitute a Twenty20 match, but the rules are different for ICC tournaments.

Four-time champions Australia are scheduled to take on South Africa later in the second semi-final, with that match also under threat.

With no reserve day, the highest-ranked teams from the two groups move into the final if play is not possible

That would pit India against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, where organisers are hoping to attract 90,000 plus fans, denying Australia a chance to defend their crown.

A reserve day is allowed for the final and the lack of one for the semis has been criticised by some players, with England captain Heather Knight among those calling for change.

"If both semi-finals are lost it would be a sad time for the tournament," she told reporters ahead of the match. "It's obviously going to be a shame if it does happen and I'm sure there will be a lot of pressure on the ICC to change that."

Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts said he sought clarification from the ICC about adding a reserve day with the Sydney weather looking ominous, but the request was denied.

"We've asked the question and it's not part of the playing conditions and we respect that," he told Melbourne's SEN radio.

"It gives you cause to reflect and think about how you might improve things in the future, but going into a tournament with a given set of playing conditions and rules, I don't think it's time to tinker with the rules."

It is not the way India would have wanted to make the final, but they are deserving of being there having gone through the group phase as the only unbeaten team.

After opening their campaign by upsetting Australia, they beat Bangladesh, New Zealand and then Sri Lanka.

While the entire team played well, teenage batting prodigy Shafali Verma excelled, which saw her elevated to the top of the ICC T20 batting rankings this week aged just 16.

She is only the second Indian after Mithali Raj to reach number one, pushing New Zealand veteran Suzie Bates down to second.

Ranked four in the world, India had made three semi-finals before this year and lost every time, including against England at the last World Cup.

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