Guest Hiten. Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 Hope Mishra learns some things. Maybe then if Tendulkar takes singles and doesn't protect Mishra from every ball' date=' people won't call him zelfish. :D[/quote'] Right! Because batting with a tailender is an art and Tendulkar clearly has not learned it :giggle::whine:
Feed Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 Sachin: We have plans for SL bowlers Sachin Tendulkar spoke to espnstar.com in an exclusive chat after the Indian team wrapped up its camp in Bangalore before the Sri Lankan tri-series. More... Monday 31st August 2009 Sachin: We have plans for SL bowlers Sachin Tendulkar spoke to espnstar.com in an exclusive chat after the Indian team wrapped up its camp in Bangalore before the Sri Lankan tri-series. By Mukul Sachdeva Q: So, how was the break and what all you did all this while? ST: A lot of different things. It’s not a great feeling being away from the team or the game but then I get to spend time with my kids, help them with their small things, be with my close friends. I was in the UK for a while, watched some movies, relaxed at home. It was good fun. Q: Now, you are all set for the triangular. ST: Oh yes. The camp has ended on a positive note and the team looks pretty solid and hungry. Sri Lanka is one place which is not very free scoring. In that regard, it will be a challenge for some of the strokeplayers in our team. As boundaries can be difficult to come by, there will be a lot of running between the wickets involved. Q: Going by that you feel that Sri Lanka and New Zealand have an edge over India since they are a fitter side or rather better fielding side? ST: No, you cannot say that. We are an extremely good fielding unit and we turned around games with our fielding. It is a misconception to assume that New Zealand and Sri Lanka have an edge over us. We run well between the wickets, our run out conversion is good, our catching ability is amongst the best, our bowlers are much more disciplined as they don’t bowl wides and no balls. I think we are three evenly matched teams. Q: On the last tour we handled Ajantha Mendis really well. Do you think we have decoded the Mendis mystery? ST: These are the contests created by the media. Ajantha Mendis, Muthiah Muralitharan or Chaminda Vaas are all good bowlers and we as a team respect them. At the same time we have a plan for each one of them. On the last trip batsmen like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir handled Mendis and Murali really well. I think we can build on that. These youngsters bring a fresh approach and mindset which then rubs off on others which helps the team produce good results. Q: What do you think of Rahul Dravid’s inclusion in the team? A: Oh, it should be help the team. He brings in a lot of experience on the table and also a lot of skill. I think his will be good value addition to the team.
Feed Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 'Absence of Zaheer will mean more load on others' Indian pacer Ishant Sharma on Tuesday said he is gearing up to take more workload in the absence of an injured Zaheer Khan in the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy. More... 'Absence of Zaheer will mean more load on others' August 26, 2009 09:30 IST Indian pacer Ishant Sharma on Tuesday said he is gearing up to take more workload in the absence of an injured Zaheer Khan in the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy but conceded it would not be easy filling in for the bowling spearhead. Apart from Zaheer, Ishant said the Indian team would also miss opener Virender Sehwag, who is nursing an injured shoulder. "Yes, they are our key players. Their absence will definitely be felt by the team," the lanky pacer, who had come for a promotional event, told reporters at Zirakpur. "Absence of Zaheer will mean more load on other pacers. He is a great bowler, who was in a very fine form and he used to help me a lot in the matches. It will be difficult for us to play without him, but we will try our best to fill the gap," he said. Asked to comment on the recent conflict between the Delhi players and the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA), Ishant evaded a reply and preferred not to comment. He, however, maintained that he was part of the Delhi team. "I can only say that I was a part of Delhi team and I have not left them. In future also, I would play for them," he said. On the the controversy created by the cricketers' refusal to agree to the World Anti-Doping Agency's whereabouts clause, Ishant said, "We play a lot of matches at various venues and we are left leaving very little time for our personal life. So, it would be difficult to tell anybody in advance about our whereabouts." Speaking about his own form, Ishant said he was practising hard for the upcoming tournaments. "I am practising hard for the forthcoming tournaments. We have to constantly try and improve our performance level," he said. Asked whether too much cricket was being played these days, Ishant said players do get fatigued sometimes but called it a part and parcel of their job.
Dinx - the Jinx Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 I hope they really plan and prepare well for the test series against the lankans.. we need to win atleast 2/0. God should show the way...
riya Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 When did Zaheer play last,in WC T20 after IPL,right?
ShermanAve Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 When did Zaheer play last' date='in WC T20 after IPL,right?[/quote'] right.
Feed Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 Bond returns to revive struggling NZ New Zealand's pace spearhead Shane Bond makes a comeback to official cricket after two years when he plays in a Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka. More...
Feed Posted September 5, 2009 Posted September 5, 2009 Gambhir dismisses Mendis challenge India opener Gautam Gambhir has dismissed suggestions Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis would pose a challenge for the team in the forthcoming one-day tri-series in Colombo. More...
Feed Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Compaq Cup Preview : India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka Cricket / The tournament marks the beginning of a critical period for the 50-over format More... New Zealand takes on Sri Lanka S. Ram Mahesh Cricket / The tournament marks the beginning of a critical period for the 50-over format Back in business: Daniel Vettori has handled Shane Bond, who is making a comeback, admirably without unduly burdening him. Colombo: Back in the day when cricketers journeyed by sea between Tilbury in England and Fremantle in Western Australia, they stopped over at Colombo. While the steamship anchored to restock, the cricketers would alight on the wharf in their top hats and starched collars to look around, stretch their legs, and play Colombo’s finest. These whistle-stop tours, as they came to be known, helped entrench cricket in Sri Lanka. Their significance was, however, often lost on the touring cricketers to whom these games were, at best, an indulgence before more serious engagements. Matters have progressed considerably since, but the tri-series for the Compaq Cup, which gets underway with the ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand on Tuesday, has about it the air of a whistle-stop tour. Sure, Sri Lanka and New Zealand have already been involved in what is for these days pretty close to a proper tour: they’ve been in battle for three weeks now, contesting two Tests and two Twenty20 Internationals. It’s India that’s on the whistle-stop. M.S. Dhoni’s men will fly in on Wednesday for back-to-back matches on Friday and Saturday, and possibly the final next Monday. The weightier engagement in this case is the Champions Trophy, which begins later this month in South Africa. Despite the seeming irrelevance of the tri-series (even after factoring it as a sort of warm-up) the tournament actually marks the beginning of a critical period for the 50-over format. Shane Warne has called for its elimination, saying it has passed its sell-by date; Sachin Tendulkar has suggested a bifurcation, splitting a side’s batting innings into two blocks of 25 overs; Stephen Fleming has advocated whittling it down to 40 overs a side: each of these cricket-intelligent men feels the zeitgeist — they realise that Twenty20 endangers the existing one-day format and that significant decisions must be made soon. But the 50-over format still has a few things going for it. Ironically, the question about its survival supplies, at least in the near term, the very context the format was criticised of not having. Also, with Twenty20 undercutting the modern one-day game, compressing more into less, the space for combat governed by more traditional rules of engagement opens up. Both the forthcoming tri-series and the Champions Trophy promise such combat. In different ways, each appears as if it will maintain an even balance between bat and ball, a necessary condition for cricket invested with meaning. The Premadasa Stadium, where all matches of the tri-series will be played, doesn’t give up its runs easily. It used to contain a lethargic wicket square, ideal for low-slung spinners, but the strips have in recent times offered the seamers movement under lights. The numbers corroborate this phenomenon: in the ten day-night ODIs since July 2007, the side chasing has won only once. Adding to the difficulty of run-making is the outfield, which, having been raised on a swamp, isn’t the quickest. Sri Lanka dominated the Tests, where New Zealand’s reserves of skill and fortune were as thin as the moustaches Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill have cultivated over the tour. New Zealand, restored somewhat by the change of format and the additions to the squad, took the Twenty20s. Tuesday’s ODI then is middle-ground. New Zealand will look to exploit Sri Lanka’s top-heavy batting. Sri Lanka’s captain, Kumar Sangakkara, admitted to a batting problem (in limited-overs cricket) after the second Twenty20 game. Tillakaratne Dilshan has been in rare form, but his opening partner, Sanath Jayasuriya, has returned only 132 runs in his last seven ODI innings. Moreover, the batting that follows Mahela Jayawardene at four has often struggled. The tri-series is the last opportunity for Sri Lanka to get things in order before the Champions Trophy. Encouraging For New Zealand, Shane Bond’s re-entry has been encouraging. Daniel Vettori has handled him admirably, trusting his fast-bowler under pressure without unduly burdening him. Vettori’s style of leadership — much like Sangakkara’s — involves empowering his teammates. Their tactical joust is one of many things to keep an eye on. Another is the weather, for heavy showers are forecast. The sides (from): New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt.), Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum (wk), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Nathan McCullum, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon Diamanti, Ian Butler and Shane Bond. Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt. & wk), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Ajantha Mendis, Dammika Prasad and Thilan Thushara . Umpires: Billy Doctrove and Asoka de Silva. Third umpire: Gamini Silva. Match referee: Chris Broad. Hours of play (IST): 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 6.45 p.m. till close.
Feed Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Sri Lanka make sweeping changes for Compaq cup Sri Lanka has reacted to last week's Twenty20 series loss to New Zealand by making a raft of changes to their one-day squad More... Sri Lanka make sweeping changes Published: 6:31AM Tuesday September 08, 2009 Source: NZPA Sri Lanka has reacted to last week's Twenty20 series loss to New Zealand by making a raft of changes to their one-day squad on the eve of the Tri Series opener. Stung by the 2-0 series defeat and concerned over the fitness of spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka drafted in five new players and cut four as they plot for redemption against New Zealand at R Premadasa Stadium (9pm NZT). Legspinner Malinga Bandara has been called in as cover for Muralitharan who continues to struggle with a groin strain that flared during the latter stages of the second test on August 30. Bandara fulfilled a similar role during the Twenty20s, playing both matches. A golden duck in game two on Friday has seen top order batsman Mahela Udawatte jettisoned for Upul Tharanga, though the 82-match opener's inclusion may also put pressure on the under-performing Sanath Jayasuriya at the top of the order. The hosts moved to bolster their middle order batting by summoning Thilan Samaraweera, man of the series in last month's Test series. Samaraweera made two superb centuries while amassing 347 runs at 86.75 though his ODI record is not as flattering - 249 runs at 16.60 and a sluggish strikerate of 52.42 runs per 100 balls. Since his debut in 1998, 32-year-old Samaraweera has played only 21 ODIs, a sporadic career marked by frequent and lengthy breaks. Until he was recalled for the five-match series against Pakistan in July-August his previous ODI was against I ndia in November 2005. Thilina Kandamby, who made 26 against New Zealand for Sri Lanka A on Sunday, is the other batting addition as Gihan Rupasinghe and allrounder Kaushal Lokuarachichi - not required during the Twenty20s - make way. Isuru Udana, a young left-arm quick confined to 12th man duties last week is replaced by aggressive right armer Dammika Prasad who bowled without luck while taking two for 97 in the second test after standing in for a resting Nuwan Kulasekara. While Sri Lanka now have multiple options, New Zealand's line-up is more straight forward with the only selection issue revolving around whether to play Ian Butler as a third seamer or Nathan McCullum as spinning back up to captain Daniel Vettori. New Zealand (likely): Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond. Sri Lanka (from): Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Malinga Bandara, Dammika Prasad.
hitman1980 Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Can't wait to see india play .. Man its so many days since I have seen the "best team in whole world' .. :D
Lord Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 should be a close series,without Veeru n Zak,we will be depleted but still i expect India to prevail
hitman1980 Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Gone r days when we were dependent on 1-2 players .. each and every player is a match winner now .. Even if they don't win they certainly won't disappoint and always give a good fight ..
Lord Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Gone r days when we were dependent on 1-2 players .. each and every player is a match winner now .. Even if they don't win they certainly won't disappoint and always give a good fight .. yup,but it also cant be denied that both Zak n Veeru will be missed n thier absence will hurt us.they r irreplaceable
Feed Posted September 9, 2009 Posted September 9, 2009 India eye No.1 ranking in Sri Lanka Coach Gary Kirsten says India need to be consistent in the ongoing tri-series in Sri Lanka to become the world's best one-day team. More...
Feed Posted September 10, 2009 Posted September 10, 2009 Compaq Cup : Indians practise in right earnest in Colombo Colombo: The members of the Indian cricket arrived at their hotel at 4 p.m., and two hours later they were at the Premadasa Stadium for a full practice session under lights. Unlike a majority of practice sessions under coach Gary ... More... Indians practise in right earnest IN HIGH SPIRITS: Indian captain M.S. Dhoni chats with Sachin Tendulkar during a practice session on Wednesday. Colombo: The members of the Indian cricket arrived at their hotel at 4 p.m., and two hours later they were at the Premadasa Stadium for a full practice session under lights. Unlike a majority of practice sessions under coach Gary Kirsten, this wasn’t optional. “The period of success we’ve had in the past, we attribute to our preparation,” said Kirsten. “It was good to get out and practice under lights — we know conditions can be a little different under lights.” Fielding drills All the basic fielding drills were run by the support staff — the emphasis was on high catches. The nets were conducted on the central wicket square, allowing both the batsmen and the bowlers to acquaint themselves with the conditions. Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir batted first. Rahul Dravid had his first net with the team on tour after his recall to the one-day squad. He practised the slog-sweep, twice clearing the boundary. He also danced down the wicket to Amit Mishra, hitting the leg-spinner straight. Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and R.P. Singh troubled the batsmen on occasion. Harbhajan Singh gained alarming bounce. M.S Dhoni sparred with Paddy Upton to improve his hand-speed. India plays New Zealand and Sri Lanka on Friday and Saturday.
Aadhavzone Posted September 10, 2009 Posted September 10, 2009 no doubt Dhoni and Co will rock Sri Lankan grounds and trophy is ours! With Suresh Raina and Yuvi, with Dhoni at support, we are sure tough for the opposition!
Dinx - the Jinx Posted September 10, 2009 Posted September 10, 2009 Who should be our bowlers in the playing 11 I'll go with Ishant, Ashish, Bajji, Amit
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