India's Historic Win - International Media Reports Roundup

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'Aussies weakened by Warne, McGrath's retirement'- Ian Healy Former Australia vice-captain and wicketkeeper Ian Healy, looking back on the just-concluded tour, says this Indian era should produce some real masters of the game with bat, ball as well as all-rounder status. More... Aussies weakened by Warne, McGrath's retirement Ian Healy Ian Healy March 07, 2008 At the end of the Indian cricket team's tour Down Under, Australia is now part of the leading pack in world cricket rather than miles in front of it. The impact of the retirements of Shane Warne [images] and Glenn McGrath has been immediate. Australia are not as potent and India is more confident. This summer was as hard-fought as it was acrimonious, but certainly it was the personal tensions which held the spectator's attention. Harbhajan Singh [images] and Andrew Symonds [images], then Matthew Hayden [images], then everyone had an opinion of the feisty offie. His captains stirred things along masterfully and kept the ranks composed and ready for the one-day finals' onslaught. Sachin Tendulkar [images] has played a pivotal senior player's role, which eventually brought out the best in his batting for the summer. He played an important role in the racial court hearing before inspiring the youngsters to the Commonwealth Bank series win with his deeds with the bat. The tactic of the summer for me was Anil Kumble's [images] comment that only one side was upholding the spirit of the game and it was India. He had only Michael Clarke [images] not walking on a certain dismissal to back it up but that mattered little. The press, and then the public, snapped into a full interrogation of Australian cricket player behaviour and the emphasis was off the racial slur of Harbhijan well and truly. This was a definite turning point and India would go on to record history in Perth, have a satisfying draw in Adelaide before gathering its one-day team for February form not often seen in Australia. India's greatest regret should be its lack of preparation for the Test series because that quite possibly cost them a clean sweep. Melbourne's performance was to be crucial and they were hopeless and insecure; Sydney looked better, and except for one umpiring decision (Rahul Dravid's [images] on the last day) and 15 minutes of pathetic batting which allowed the unlikely Clarke to clean up far too many wickets in tandem with Symonds, the series could have been in the balance! Nil-all or one-nil down going to Perth was critical but performance was poor to allow 2-0. Australia were now dealing with frustrations on several fronts. The press were examining their every move and on-field appeal, the Indians were baiting them beautifully and their administrators were balancing their support of the players with a desire to appease Indian cricket. These irritations eventually sapped them of energy and technique for the top order to finish the summer unrecognisable from the powerhouse we watched at the start. With all this commotion surrounding the Australian senior players there was no better time to unleash the one-day young brigade to follow on from their Twenty20 World championship success. They were terrible. The Melbourne Twenty20 was disastrous as they capitulated one after another like schoolboys. The question was asked: was India fair dinkum? For the ensuing month they answered it clearly. Slowly they built confidence and form. Several poor batting days, but never a moment of panic from the captain. In my opinion this is the best group of emerging players I have seen in one team. The contest between Ricky Ponting [images] and Ishant Sharma in the Perth Test was unbelievable cricket. The workload that Sharma shouldered through the summer was immense and always impressive. Rohit Sharma, Gautam Ghambir, Robin Uthappa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni [images] and Irfan Pathan [images] were all wonderful inclusions. R P Singh had a happy knack of collecting wickets along with Praveen Kumar and Piyush Chawla entered spectacularly under great pressure. The two missing links were Yuvraj Singh [images] and Virender Sehwag [images]. Yuvraj found a spark in the finals but must identify what was wrong before then so that it does not happen again. He was a broken man who did not want to play and he let the team down. Sehwag still has so much to contribute and he demonstrated an ability to restrain his recklessness at times this summer. A combination of senior players sprinkled in between these young players will be important and I would not rule out Dravid, VVS Laxman or Sourav Ganguly [images] for future series as long as they are working as hard as the rest on the training paddocks. This Indian era should produce some real masters of the game with bat, ball as well as all-rounder status. It is India's responsibility to the game now having started to beat the champs that they sustain this brilliant performance and kick clear themselves, something that England [images] after 2005 could not manage.

[siddhu]

Former Australia vice-captain and wicketkeeper Ian Healy, looking back on the just-concluded tour, says this Indian era should produce some real masters of the game with bat, ball as well as all-rounder status. More... Aussies weakened by Warne, McGrath's retirement Ian Healy Ian Healy March 07, 2008 At the end of the Indian cricket team's tour Down Under, Australia is now part of the leading pack in world cricket rather than miles in front of it. The impact of the retirements of Shane Warne [images] and Glenn McGrath has been immediate. Australia are not as potent and India is more confident. This summer was as hard-fought as it was acrimonious, but certainly it was the personal tensions which held the spectator's attention. Harbhajan Singh [images] and Andrew Symonds [images], then Matthew Hayden [images], then everyone had an opinion of the feisty offie. His captains stirred things along masterfully and kept the ranks composed and ready for the one-day finals' onslaught. Sachin Tendulkar [images] has played a pivotal senior player's role, which eventually brought out the best in his batting for the summer. He played an important role in the racial court hearing before inspiring the youngsters to the Commonwealth Bank series win with his deeds with the bat. The tactic of the summer for me was Anil Kumble's [images] comment that only one side was upholding the spirit of the game and it was India. He had only Michael Clarke [images] not walking on a certain dismissal to back it up but that mattered little. The press, and then the public, snapped into a full interrogation of Australian cricket player behaviour and the emphasis was off the racial slur of Harbhijan well and truly. This was a definite turning point and India would go on to record history in Perth, have a satisfying draw in Adelaide before gathering its one-day team for February form not often seen in Australia. India's greatest regret should be its lack of preparation for the Test series because that quite possibly cost them a clean sweep. Melbourne's performance was to be crucial and they were hopeless and insecure; Sydney looked better, and except for one umpiring decision (Rahul Dravid's [images] on the last day) and 15 minutes of pathetic batting which allowed the unlikely Clarke to clean up far too many wickets in tandem with Symonds, the series could have been in the balance! Nil-all or one-nil down going to Perth was critical but performance was poor to allow 2-0. Australia were now dealing with frustrations on several fronts. The press were examining their every move and on-field appeal, the Indians were baiting them beautifully and their administrators were balancing their support of the players with a desire to appease Indian cricket. These irritations eventually sapped them of energy and technique for the top order to finish the summer unrecognisable from the powerhouse we watched at the start. With all this commotion surrounding the Australian senior players there was no better time to unleash the one-day young brigade to follow on from their Twenty20 World championship success. They were terrible. The Melbourne Twenty20 was disastrous as they capitulated one after another like schoolboys. The question was asked: was India fair dinkum? For the ensuing month they answered it clearly. Slowly they built confidence and form. Several poor batting days, but never a moment of panic from the captain. In my opinion this is the best group of emerging players I have seen in one team. The contest between Ricky Ponting [images] and Ishant Sharma in the Perth Test was unbelievable cricket. The workload that Sharma shouldered through the summer was immense and always impressive. Rohit Sharma, Gautam Ghambir, Robin Uthappa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni [images] and Irfan Pathan [images] were all wonderful inclusions. R P Singh had a happy knack of collecting wickets along with Praveen Kumar and Piyush Chawla entered spectacularly under great pressure. The two missing links were Yuvraj Singh [images] and Virender Sehwag [images]. Yuvraj found a spark in the finals but must identify what was wrong before then so that it does not happen again. He was a broken man who did not want to play and he let the team down. Sehwag still has so much to contribute and he demonstrated an ability to restrain his recklessness at times this summer. A combination of senior players sprinkled in between these young players will be important and I would not rule out Dravid, VVS Laxman or Sourav Ganguly [images] for future series as long as they are working as hard as the rest on the training paddocks. This Indian era should produce some real masters of the game with bat, ball as well as all-rounder status. It is India's responsibility to the game now having started to beat the champs that they sustain this brilliant performance and kick clear themselves, something that England [images] after 2005 could not manage.

Believe it or not, but either thsi guy is blind or he has to be the most biased of the whole lot of commentators. he has to be latter and that includes all the zingoistic followers of any country. This guy certainly takes the cake.

[IndianRenegade]

Its time for Aussies to whine... let them do it....

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Bitter memories over with our win, says Bhajji Harbhajan said the team's performance in Australia has proved that India could become a a major force in world cricket. More... Bitter memories over with our win, says Bhajji Agencies Posted online: Friday , March 07, 2008 at 1754 hrs IST Print EmailTo Editor Jalandhar, March 7:: All the controversies and bitterness generated during the tour of Australia should be buried now that the series is over and India had emerged victorious, according to Harbhajan Singh who played a key role in the historic triumph. Harbhajan, who was at the centre of most of the controversies during the ill-tempered tour, said the team's performance in Australia has proved that India could become a a major force in world cricket. "The bitter memories should be buried. It is all over with our win. We must concentrate on playing cricket and it should be played in good spirit," he told a press conference. "They (Australians) tried to upset our players but were not ready to tolerate anything. We were brave enough to give them a befitting reply through cricket only," the off-spinner, who was involved in a racism row with Andrew Symonds, said. "It was Australians, who initiated making comments. Some of the comments were so bad that I cannot share it with you. We were there to play cricket only," he said. Elated by the Indian team's performance Down Under, Harbhajan said he had no doubt that India would soon become a dominating force in all forms of cricket. "Of course if we play like this, we will be number one team in Test as well as ODIs. We can beat any team with such a strong side. We look forward to play good cricket in the season," he said.

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Just like Ishant - Harsha Bhogle Indian cricket has taken giant strides in the world's toughest testing ground. More... Just like Ishant Harsha Bhogle Posted online: Friday , March 07, 2008 at 1741 hrs IST Print EmailTo Editor : Indian cricket has taken giant strides in the world’s toughest testing ground. Some wonderful cricket was played on the ground and it was the attitude that fuelled it as much as the ability. This might be the turning point in our cricket, though the assessment must be made a little later — every event seems momentous in the hours immediately following it. But as far as I recall, it has been a long time since a set of youngsters took the opportunity that was offered them so spontaneously and that is why I believe the reason for this success goes beyond training on a cricket ground. It has to be symbolic of a larger force, a greater movement. Something bigger than what we saw on a cricket field is taking place in India and that is what makes the present moment so terribly exciting. Opportunity and confidence are a wonderful pair, and few nations in the world experience both at the same time. Indian cricketers have had opportunities in the past as well but many were hesitant, unsure of the big stage, happy to be substantial at home and negligible elsewhere. I don’t think many believed in themselves. They were probably weighed down by the reputations of their opponents, and when defeat is anticipated it is the most frequently achieved result. However, when confidence accompanies opportunity, when the mind is driven by visions of success, defeat can be stopped in its tracks. That is what was most exciting about watching India play in Australia. Irfan Pathan took his opportunity in the Perth Test, one of the great highlights of our cricket; Praveen Kumar, shy and gauche, grabbed his in the one-dayers; so did Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma, and even Robin Uthappa and Piyush Chawla. But few people have made as much of an impact in such a short while as Ishant Sharma. The world is now his oyster and he must tread carefully and confidently ahead. I first saw Ishant bowl in the nets in England and it was difficult to be impressed. In the few games that followed, he bowled no-balls, seemed to lack rhythm and pace and yet those around him were optimistic. He wasn’t yet showing the world what he was capable of. Then Australia happened and he took to the country like few others have. Australia can either weigh you down or charge you up. It is not the country that has been represented by its cricketers on Indian television. It is a tough land but one that recognises the spirit in man. As early as the Sydney Test, Ishant had been stamped as one to watch by canny observers who give praise sparingly. Thereupon he blossomed and between the second and third Tests, worked on the ball that leaves the right-handers. Till that moment, he had been one-dimensional, bowling quickly but predictably. In the years to come, if he can retain his ability to learn, his spell of bowling to Ponting at Perth will become a defining moment. Australia knew they had a fight on their hands from a man who had taken no more than a handful of wickets. He had pace but more than anything else he was confident and willing to back himself. From that moment onwards, with the batsman aware that the ball could go either way, he became, to quote Adam Gilchrist after the Adelaide Test, “lethal”. The ability to make the ball go both ways is something that the other great fast-bowling talent in India, Sreesanth, needs to work seriously on. His outswinger is a rare gift but is currently being threatened by the incoming ball, like it is with Irfan Pathan. A Sharma-Sreesanth opening ticket has the potential of becoming the best we have had. But this generation has to learn that the best lessons come from playing well in the longer game. India’s best players in the Tests were still Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and V.V.S. Laxman. There were many who played valuable cameo roles, and Rahul Dravid will return to his position as one of the world’s finest players, but it is interesting to note that the two best performances by Indian bowlers in recent times have come from playing Test and four-day cricket. Lest we forget, Zaheer Khan is one of those two. In England two years ago, he bowled right through the season, went through good days and bad, and understood himself and his craft. And I have no doubt that Ishant Sharma’s success is due, in very large part, to the amount of bowling he did in the Test matches. It is something that our young cricketers need to understand as they stand up to the seduction of the shorter game. In Australia, India were well served by their captains. Anil Kumble, quiet, dignified and strong, was outstanding in the Tests. Few carry their stature with as much calm as he does and he was one of the great highlights of a prickly season. In the one-dayers, Dhoni reached a new height as a cricketer, as a person and leader. He was decisive, putting the team’s needs first and reputations second. Leaving out a player is the greatest power a selector has and it is something that can only be done by men of conviction. He knew what he wanted, was willing to stick his neck out for it and having done so, he backed the people with him. Inevitably, his changes worked, and that can only sometimes be luck. India now has a group of interchangeable players and in Australia the individual slowly vanished, beautifully vanquished by the team. That credit can go to Dhoni. Many years ago, at college, we studied theories of achievement motivation and its link to the economic progress of society. Young men and women all over India are dreaming of achievement, the relative prosperity is throwing opportunity their way and, especially in the smaller towns, they are hungry. India’s success on the cricket ground is merely a reflection of the times we live in. But it is also proof that if we offer opportunity to an increasingly confident generation, success is a predictable and pleasant result.

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Harbhajan denies remarks against Aussie players Harbhajan on Friday denied having called Australian opener Matthew Hayden a 'big liar' and Adam Gilchrist 'no saint'. More... News Harbhajan denies remarks against Aussie players PTI PrintSaveWrite to EditorMail JALANDHAR, March 7: India's ace spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday denied having called Australian opener Matthew Hayden a 'big liar' and wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist 'no saint'. Harbhajan, who was at the centre of most of the controversies during the acrimonious tour of Australia, was quoted by a daily as saying "Don't talk about Hayden's credibility, he is a big liar". The spinner, however, made it clear that he had not made such comments. "I did not make these comments. A lot has been written in the last few days, but I have not said such things", Harbhajan said. In that interview, Harbhajan was also quoted as saying that "He (Gilchrist) is also not a saint. He, of course, pretends to be a saint -- someone who does not say an offensive word on the field." "But this is completely wrong. There are times when he does not let an opportunity go waste".

[manoj_admlab]

India's tough new breed are not scared of a dogfight Peter Roebuck March 8, 2008 AUSTRALIA were swept aside by an ambitious, fit, young, fresh and superbly led Indian side. Bound together by a sense of injustice, enraged by the coverage in Australian papers and egged on by their own strident media, the Indians became formidable. India's economic boom has released a new sort of cricketer - tough, independent, materialistic and comfortable in his own skin. Suddenly, India seemed to represent the future, Australia the past. Australia were confronted and affronted by a younger version of themselves. Australia have always had a strong and democratic cricketing culture. The captain is a tough nut from Mowbray, and his predecessor grimaced more than he grinned. India used to depend on players steeped in the ethics and traditions of the game. Not any more. India have not merely copied Australia's abrasive style of play, they are also producing the same sort of characters, battlers who ask no quarter and give none. What else has this summer been but an extended game of backyard cricket? Take Irfan Pathan. He was not bothered about the pressure of bowling the final over at the Gabba. Afterwards he told friends that he had watched his father trying to feed his family and find a husband for his daughter, and did not think cricket compared with that. Like most of his comrades, he comes from the poorer sections of society. He knows life can be harsh. Of course, it helped that a charismatic captain eased the pressure with a joke. Hindus and Muslims can laugh together. But Irfan was not scared anyhow. Mahendra Dhoni understood, represented and exploited the new Indian outlook. After all he was born in Ranchi, Jharkhand, a seething, struggling town whose airport is named after a tribal freedom fighter, and raised far from the fashionable crowd by Paan Singh, a retired pump operator who still potters around town on a bicycle. Dhoni recently told India Today's Sharda Ugra that, "Guys from small places are tougher than those from the metros." He fits the bill. Throughout, he held his side together, remaining calm and constant in the tight spots, always showing faith in his players. Despite a sore paw, he appeared in the second final, pushed himself up the order and kept wicket one-handed. Towards the end, he dared to introduce a swing bowler from a family of wrestlers and a moon-faced teenage leg spinner. Sachin Tendulkar was happy to play under him. Even extras such as Suresh Raina remained loyal. Not that Dhoni is a soft touch. His glare at Yuvraj Singh after the swashbuckler's recklessness cost the team four overthrows should be bottled. Dhoni did not waver. After an early setback he said that he had been given the team he wanted. He took responsibility for the performance of the side. Thereafter, India were fast in the field and between wickets, audacious tactically and fresh in mind and body. Australia played like a team weighed down by worry. Among the home side only James Hopes and Nathan Bracken lasted the course. Neither had played in the Test series. It was a long season full of incidents and speculation about IPL and Pakistan. A difficult summer as well. As much could be noted from the withdrawals of Shaun Tait and Brad Hogg. Australia made their worst mistake long before the ODI finals. From the moment they started to play the man and not the ball, their campaign was in trouble. As might have been predicted, the attempt to isolate and intimidate Harbhajan Singh served merely to strengthen India's resolve. Whatever the right and wrongs of the Sydney Test, the Australians lost their equanimity and never recovered. Harbhajan's exchange with Andrew Symonds was brief and of little account. And Symonds had started it. Symonds and Matthew Hayden are about as diplomatic as Sir Les Patterson. The rest was madness. Far from breaking their spirit, the attacks on Harbhajan helped the Indians to form the pack mentality that has long been the hallmark of Australian teams. The spinner's refusal to take a backward step was part of that. The Australians allowed Harbhajan to get under their skin. It was a mistake, and the captain was responsible. Ricky Ponting had a poor summer. Admittedly, he was leading a weakened team but his form dipped and he allowed his side to become overheated. No wonder his leadership was called into question. In October, these teams meet again in India. In between comes a lot of IPL and a tour of the enfeebled West Indies. It is hard to see the trip to Pakistan taking place. During the Gabba final, Wasim Akram's distressed wife called to tell her husband that a bomb had exploded nearby. That put this summer's squabbles in their rightful place. Australia made their worst mistake long before the ODI finals. From the moment they started to play the man and not the ball, their campaign was in trouble. As might have been predicted, the attempt to isolate and intimidate Harbhajan Singh served merely to strengthen India's resolve. Whatever the right and wrongs of the Sydney Test, the Australians lost their equanimity and never recovered. Harbhajan's exchange with Andrew Symonds was brief and of little account. And Symonds had started it. Symonds and Matthew Hayden are about as diplomatic as Sir Les Patterson. The rest was madness. Far from breaking their spirit, the attacks on Harbhajan helped the Indians to form the pack mentality that has long been the hallmark of Australian teams. The spinner's refusal to take a backward step was part of that. The Australians allowed Harbhajan to get under their skin. It was a mistake, and the captain was responsible. Ricky Ponting had a poor summer. Admittedly, he was leading a weakened team but his form dipped and he allowed his side to become overheated. No wonder his leadership was called into question. In October, these teams meet again in India. In between comes a lot of IPL and a tour of the enfeebled West Indies. It is hard to see the trip to Pakistan taking place. During the Gabba final, Wasim Akram's distressed wife called to tell her husband that a bomb had exploded nearby. That put this summer's squabbles in their rightful place. http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/indias-tough-new-breed-are-not-scared-of-a-dogfight/2008/03/07/1204780065086.html?page=2

[koksmayu]

Generally, I've shied away from the media: Symonds Generally, I've shied away from the media: Symonds 7th Mar 2008 23:00 IST Controversial Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who made headlines for his frequent altercations with the Indians during their turbulent tour Down Under, admits that he is a "bit cold" towards the media because of past experience. "Generally, I've shied away from the media... if the media has a shot at you and it's not correct, you don't get a right to reply," Symonds said. "If you know a bloke is genuinely trying his best or has been dead-set unlucky, and the media is making it appear something it's not, that's unfair. Its why I’ve tended to be a bit cold towards the press," Symonds said in a recent interview to a magazine in Adelaide. That perhaps explains why Symonds was never brought in front of media to present his viewpoint after the Sydney Test - incidentally, that being the game where he first lit the controversy by claiming in a press conference that he indeed was out to Ishant Sharma in the 30s but was given the benefit of doubt by the concerning umpire. That, as we know, changed the face of the game, and the series. "If a journalist is inaccurate, I'm still not going to let him off or think highly of him," opined Symonds. "The same goes for me. If I write something that's not accurate or is rubbish, I expect the same treatment. I’m asked for my opinion and it's very important that I'm accurate and honest." Symonds took off for fishing in North of Queensland today and hopefully it's not in troubled waters. continued.. (

[amitkum]

Symonds is not in good form so staying away

[f.b.m]

Yeah, writing a newspaper column is just doing his best to stay away from the media I guess. Especially this one.

[Zakhmi]

India knew how to nail Aussies: Bond New Delhi: There is no better player to talk about how to fire at the Australians. An express pace bowler who has enjoyed the trans-Tasman rivalry like few others from New Zealand, Shane Bond shook the Aussie might and pride so very often that a five-for was taken for granted whenever he turned out against the world champions. The handsome 32-year-old, who was a guardian of law (with the police) when first selected to play for his country, is nowadays a persona non-grata for administrators back home because he signed up with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Not the one to cut down on speed, Bond could be seen giving his all during a practice session at the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) ground in Gurgaon. Even though the ‘nets’ at the periphery of the national capital were a far cry from the international jamboree that he was part of just some months ago, Bond seemed to be enjoying his stint, reconciled that he might not get to play for his country again. "I have resigned myself to the fact that I will not be able to represent New Zealand again. I am disappointed about that, but I would rather look forward than look back," said Bond, who boasts of 79 Test wickets, 125 in ODIs and 12 in Twenty20. The robust player had been keeping a keen eye on India’s tour of Australia. He felt India had read the pulse of the opposition correctly and that helped them put up a sterling performance ‘down under’. "The Indians played really tight. They bowled aggressively through the tour and made the Australian middle-order look fragile," he said. "Teams who do well in Australia are often the ones who don’t drop catches. India ran in well and kept the pressure on the opposition like seldom seen before. They seemed to know how to nail the Aussies." more...

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BCCI gags players from talking to media on Australian tour After receiving a letter from Cricket Australia regarding off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's reported comments against some Aussie players, the Cricket Board on Monday warned the Indian players against giving statements in the media. More... BCCI gags players from talking to media on Australian tour Press Trust Of India Rajkot, March 10, 2008 First Published: 21:04 IST(10/3/2008) Last Updated: 21:13 IST(10/3/2008) After receiving a letter from Cricket Australia regarding off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's reported comments against some Aussie players, the Cricket Board on Monday warned the Indian players against giving statements in the media. Players should not give media statements. Now that the Australia tour has ended, they should concentrate on the upcoming South Africa series, BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah told reporters here on Monday, adding that the Board will take action against those players who go against this gag order. "BCCI has received a letter from Cricket Australia (CA) to stop Indian players from passing remarks in the media against the Aussie cricketers," Shah said. Shah said that Harbhajan has denied having made uncharitable remarks against Australian cricketers Mathew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist. "Players of both sides should strictly follow ICC's Code of Conduct, which does not allow them to make abusive comments against each other", the BCCI official said. The players would be picked for the first Test on March 17 at Bangalore and would assemble at Chennai on March 22, he said.

[Zakhmi]

Chappell keeps mum on India's glory Chennai: Former India coach Greg Chappell on Tuesday refrained from commenting on India's one-day series win in Australia but harped on the talent available in large numbers in the country. Chappell, who had lived in India for about an year with Bangalore as his base, emphasised the need to shift from the "old practices" in Indian cricket. "Some of the ideas like the young players using heavier bats needs to be addressed at some levels," he said. Refusing to answer any question on the current Indian team's performance in his country recently, he said "I did not see a great deal of their action in Australia. I would focus on the job on hand. I am here for a specific work. No comments." He also did not comment on the IPL and ICL. Chappell, presently coach of the Rajasthan Cricket Academy, assessed a bunch of cricketers to enroll them for Reebok cricket Star Twenty-20. "It all comes down to the development programme," he said.

"Modern cricket is very demanding. If we prepare them with the right mixture of programmes, especially at a young age, they will be able to carry out the work load, particularly the fast bowlers. Right programmes at an early age will help curb injuries at later stage of their career," he said. On the programme, Chappell said "24 boys will be shortlisted. They will under-go a ten day camp in Jaipur under a programme devised by physical trainer, Ian Fraser." He said there was an abundance of talent in India. "We have players in very large numbers. But only a few could stand out after the hard grind, which needed to be put in for gaining excellence," he added. http://www.cricketnext.com/news/chappell-turns-mum-on-indias-glory-down-under/30226-13.html

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India's hour Over the years India has been colonised, scorned and patronised. Inevitably, the hackles of its more abrasive citizens have periodically been raised. Always the struggle is between earnest reformers and rankled revolutionaries. It can happen on battlefields, in newspapers, on sports grounds, in the spirit and in the mind: the rallying of human attachment. . More... Peter Roebuck >> India's hour Their tour of Australia showed that India's time has come, both on the field and off it March 12, 2008 'Indian cricket has found its voice' © Getty Images Over the years India has been colonised, scorned and patronised. Inevitably, the hackles of its more abrasive citizens have periodically been raised. Always the struggle is between earnest reformers and rankled revolutionaries. It can happen on battlefields, in newspapers, on sports grounds, in the spirit and in the mind: the rallying of human attachment. Only the greatest of men, amongst them Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, have been able to keep the past in its place the better to stride unencumbered towards the future. Even these mighty leaders have not always been able to take their people with them. And then comes the settling of scores. In some respects the recent series down under was such a settling, but to a much higher degree it was an assertion of fearlessness. India looked Australia in the eye and did not blink. And the look told not of temporary passion but serious intent. By and large India has done extraordinarily well over the last 60 years. From the chaos of Partition, from the demonstrations and the slaughter, has come an enduring nation that commands respect, a country that has retained its independence in Independence. Although outbreaks occur here and there, for fools and hotheads cannot be abolished by decree, India is intact. Still it plays the game of the coloniser, a game once described as an Indian game accidentally invented by the English, an amusing conceit that shows cricket's adaptability. To the chagrin of some, but through economic inevitability, India has become the dominant force in the game, a circumstance that has released its entire character, warts and all. Nothing builds confidence half as well as power. Suddenly India has no need to sue for grace for it carries a big stick. It must only realise that the time has come to talk quietly. India does not need to protest about anything. Its task now is to apply the rule of law and to advance the principles of justice, especially those espoused by the American philosopher John Rawls, for none takes such care of the underdog. Above all, Indian officials must read Animal Farm, with all its attendant warnings. Nowhere was the changing of the guard more apparent than in the recent campaign down under. Always the true test comes when the champion steps into the ring, for then bluff is called and shallowness exposed. India arrived expecting to win. It was not a question of mere fragile hope. Nor did the various turbulences distract them from their purpose. To the contrary the Indians answered every slight with one of their own, joined every argument and added a few of their own making. Australia is a land of fires, droughts, floods, flies, kangaroos and koalas. Even the birds have bright plumage and make a lot of noise. It is not sensible to expect its cricketers or newspapers to tiptoe around like characters in an Edwardian play. It is a place that crushes the spirit or enhances it. That India ended the campaign in better shape than it began confirms the impression of a nation whose time has come. It is idle to pretend that cricket does not tell us something about the state of a nation. To the contrary it offers a window into the minds of a people. Of course sport serves other purpose as well. Nowadays it provides entertainment to all sections of society. Formerly it was regarded more as a craft than an adventure. Opening batsmen were not expected to hit boundaries in the first hour. These days they are supposed to strike three in the opening over. Twenty-over cricket has risen from the need to entertain. History suggests that popular culture does not threaten so much as sustain the high-brow. In any case, even Test cricket has awoken from its slumber. Standing warily behind a blocking bat or sending down dibblers with a ring field no longer serves the purpose. Cricket survives not because it has merit but because it has a market. Competition is another part of sport's attraction. Men and women relish the chance to push themselves to the limit, enjoy pitting themselves against each other. Satisfaction of the sort obtained from a superb round of golf, or a last-gasp winner is hard to find. Sportsmen also relish sitting in the rooms afterwards, all energy spent, skill released, divisions erased (unless Harbhajan Singh and Matthew Hayden have been playing), and only the reckoning remaining. Yet the most significant role of sport is as an expression of the energies, talents and culture of a school, group, village, city, province and country. Cricket is an expression of culture and the clashes at the SCG reached into the depths of Indian and Australian self-knowledge. It turned out to be a battle between equals. The players looked each other in the eye. India did not blink. Indeed, the visitors looked fresher by the end. Meanwhile the Australians suffered more mysterious withdrawals as Brad Hogg and Shaun Tait followed Damien Martyn into the paddock. Australia has always played cricket by its own lights. Turning its back on English customs, it developed its own approach founded upon an egalitarian outlook that endures (the captain is a hard nut from the backwaters of a forgotten island). Yearning for action, resisting melancholia, Australian sportsmen must attack. Latent insecurity and loathing of cant is demonstrated in a suspicion of walkers, and walking, and a willingness to abide by the umpire's decision. And so Australian cricket forged its own path forwards, formed its own ideology. India has never been as clear-minded about itself. Whereas the Australian settlers had an almost empty continent on which to create a nation, India had proud memories of itself, traditions recorded in books or burned into minds - attitudes and customs strong enough to survive any empire. But hundreds of years of foreign influence were bound to leave their mark besides which no nation can stand still. Since 1947 India has been rediscovering itself. Of course the same applies on the cricket field and the triumph of 2007-08 lay not so much in the results as in the sense that an identity had been found. 'Indeed, the visitors looked fresher by the end' © Getty Images Under the admirable captaincies of Anil Kumble and Mahendra Dhoni, India discovered a new, contemporary voice. Too much has been made of the various episodes involving Harbhajan. More significant has been the way the Test team fought back in Perth, and the manner in which Dhoni's men took the ODI finals. India was not broken on the wheel, was not affected by the local noise, did not take a step backwards. In short, it met the Australians on equal terms, as an united force. The Indian team expressed the confidence of a nation. Forget about the raptures and furies. Consider the last over of the campaign. Australia needed 13 runs to win. Already Sachin Tendulkar had played another beautiful innings. Already Dhoni had played boldly and thought fearlessly, summoning an unsung swing bowler from a family of wrestlers, and a teenage legspinner, and throwing them the ball at critical times. Now he tossed the ball to Irfan Pathan, put his arm around him and muttered not the usual platitudes but a cheerful, "Irfan, you cannot be so bad that you give away 13 runs in the last over." Afterwards Pathan told TV reporter Vimal Kumar that he had not felt the pressure as he had grown up seeing his father trying to put food on the table. That was pressure. Dhoni had grown up the same way, fighting for his place. It is also the Australian way. And who was Kumar except a boy from the rural areas who has risen through the ranks? Ishant Sharma's dad repairs air conditioners. Indian cricket has found its voice. Not that the inheritance has been abandoned, for that is childish. Rather it has been interpreted and renewed. Australian cricket had always belonged to the people. Now the same applies to India. Australia had been crying for an opponent that plays cricket with sustained intent. The rivalry between the nations, Australia with its 108 years and India with its 60, both with booming economies, has just begun.