NEUTRAL VENUES FOR RANJI TROPHY KNOCK- OUT GAMES FROM 2013-14 SEASON

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

March 27, 2013: THERE is a very strong possibility that the seven knock-out matches of the 2013- 14 Ranji Trophy season would be played on neutral, or identified, venues.

For this purpose, 10 venues would be identified based on their performances (pitches and other aspects) in the league phase of the tournament. Out of those, seven would host the four quarter- final matches, two semi- finals and the final of the national championship. No venue would host more than one knock- out match.

This was a view that gained currency both in the captains and coaches conclave held on March 5 and again at a meeting of the Anil Kumble-headed technical committee in Mumbai on March 15.

The working committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) discussed the issue at its meeting on March 15.

“The issue of the identified venues, as we are calling them, was discussed at the last working committee meet and got the approval of the house. It was left to the technical committee, and also the programme and fixtures committee, to finally chalk out a suitable schedule,” a top BCCI official told MAIL TODAY.

“A total of 10 venues would be identified during the league phase of Ranji Trophy, based on factors like pitches and ground conditions etc., and seven out of them would host matches,” he said.

North zone, however, may not get to host any knock- out match mainly due to weather conditions and poor visibility during winter. “The December- January period is most affected by fog and lack of proper sunshine, and sun also sets sooner during this time than in summer. So, north may not host any knock- out matches,” he said.

The Ranji Trophy points system, which underwent a change this season, may be slightly tweaked to provide more encouragement to teams to go for wins.

“In the present structure, teams that take a first innings lead but still lose get no points. It has now been suggested that they should get three points, so that they are encouraged to compete better,” said a member of the technical committee.

The gap between matches was the other major issue the committee discussed on March 15. 

From next season, the second half of the tournament may have four- day gaps instead of three. The panel will finalise its recommendations next month, before sending them to the working committee.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

DETERMINED SEHWAG SLOGS IT OUT IN HIS COMEBACK BID

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

March 26, 2013: GOING by his daily practice regime, Virender Sehwag seems more determined than ever before in his bid to stage a comeback to the Indian team.

An intensely focused Sehwag is slugging it out in the field these days, running and polishing his batting, and, at times, spending up to one-and- a-half hours in the state- of- the- art gymnasium in the basement of his Hauz Khas home to improve his fitness.

Sehwag is also practising at his alma mater, Jamia Millia Islamia, where Delhi Daredevils are having a camp these days.

He is practicing with white Kookaburra balls as the same brand is being used for both the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which began on March 18, and the IPL, starting on April 3.

Sources close to Sehwag, ignored for the last two Tests of the series against Australia, say he is practicing daily and with “a clear mind-set” as to which areas of his batting he has to improve.

 “Viru is very clear in his mind as to what he’s trying to do and achieve. He has a point of view, and he’s trying to consolidate his strong points and improve upon what he sees as the weak areas,” coach Ajay Verma, who has been assisting Sehwag by providing him bowlers and space at his academy, told MAIL TODAY.

Sehwag, 34, faces up to 300 throw- downs in one session and bats up to one hour in a single net session, besides trying to improve his running between the wickets with specific drills.

Amar Nath Sharma, Sehwags coach since his school days, says hed do well to draw inspiration from the hard work he did in the 2007 summer after being dropped from the Test team for the first time on performance.

“I’ve never seen anyone practice as hard as Viru did in two months that summer. If he catches the same lai aur taal (rhythm) again, nothing like it,” Sharma told MAIL TODAY. “But he’s a few years older now and will have to work harder as competition is tougher now and there are at least three players vying for each spot.”

Sehwag can also draw inspiration from year 2008, when he staged a roaring comeback after missing 10 Tests in 2007. It turned out to be the best calendar year of his career as he amassed 1,462 runs at 56.23 in 14 Tests.

“If India ignore him for the South Africa tour in November- December, it’ll be very difficult for the team,” warns Sharma. “Viru is an attacking batsman and he would be needed against their strong pace attack.”

But before that tour, India will play an ODI tri- series in the West Indies from June 28, also involving Sri Lanka, and Sehwag will naturally try to retain his ODI spot by performing well for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, beginning on April 3.

HARBHAJAN SINGH CAN PLAY ROLE OF MENTOR, SAYS FORMER INDIA TEST OFF-SPINNER ARSHAD AYUB

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Hyderabad

March 7, 2013: AFTER the two successive Test wins over Australia, former India off- spinner Arshad Ayub wants the hosts not to get complacent and target a 4- 0 series whitewash.

That would avenge the similar scoreline inflicted on India Down Under in 2011- 12.

 “It’s (4- 0) possible. We must strive for that and look in that direction very seriously,” Ayub told MAIL TODAY on Wednesday. (As it turned out, India defeated Australia 4-0 – a historic whitewash)

 “Most of the time when we got out [abroad], they look at that [clean sweep]. Give nothing to them, put the pressure on. I would encourage the team to make sure that they dont get any leverage and try and whitewash them,” he said.

Ayub, who played 13 Tests and 32 ODIs in 1980s with reasonable success, was particularly happy with the spinners and felt that Harbhajan Singh still has a lot more to offer, as a mentor.

“Anil Kumble played an excellent mentors role when Harbhajan was coming in. It was always between Harbhajan and Anil; when the pressure was there, both used to perform well. Also, Zaheer Khan was playing the role of mentor to young fast bowlers,” said the former manager of the Indian team.

“Harbhajan can now play Kumbles role as he knows how to go through pressure, and how to come out of it. It’s the mind-set that plays the major role in international cricket,” he emphasised.

Ayub feels Harbhajan the bowler can still contribute a lot. “ Although he hasn’t taken many wickets [ in the two Tests], hes got a lot to offer. If he looks at some pointers himself, he’d probably know where he can improve now. It’s a learning curve for everyone. As far as spinners are concerned, I think hes still young,” he said about the 32- year- old off- spinner.

“He fields well, runs well, and bats decently. I think he’s got a few more years to give to India.” Overall, says Ayub, the spinners have performed well in the two Tests, bagging 34 of the 39 wickets to fall.

“Spinners have been the strong point for India. There’s definitely an improvement here. R Ashwin bowled a really good line in this particular series, something that I didn’t see in the England series,” he said.

Ayub suggested that India may consider picking an additional spinner in place of a pacer. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan played both Tests while Pragyan Ojha has sat out.

“In India, you’re going to win matches on spin bowling. So, you must have that option of having a genuine spinner.”

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

SQUASHED UNDER THE INDIAN SPINNING WHEEL

India beat Australia by innings & 135 runs in 2nd Test, take 2- 0 lead

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Hyderabad

March 6, 2013: THE INDIAN spin trio once again cast a web around Australian batsmen for a second successive Test victory here on Tuesday to give their team 2- 0 lead in the series that made Mahendra Singh Dhoni the countrys most successful Test captain.

Indias innings and 135- run win, sealed with more than a day and a half to spare, was their sixth biggest against in Tests and the second biggest over Australia, after the innings and 219- run verdict in Kolkata in 1998.

Like in the first Test in Chennai, spinners R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh again made the Kangaroos dance to their tune, thus putting India on way to 4- 0 clean sweep.

The three spinners had snared all 20 wickets in Chennai and captured 14 of the 19 to fall at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, as Australia were all out for 131 in their second innings.

Michael Clarkes team had declared the first innings at 237/ 9 and India, thanks for Cheteshwar Pujaras brilliant 204 and Murali Vijays patient 167, piled up 503 for 266- run lead that turned out to be decisive.

Pujara was adjudged Man of the Match while Dhoni won his 22nd Test to go past Sourav Ganguly as the most successful captain. But Ganguly has 11 wins abroad to Dhoni/ Rahul Dravids five each.

Pujara and Vijay, who rediscovered his form, were so dominant that their combined 370- run tally was three more than Australias two innings grand total of 368.

While Pujara and Vijay set up the win, Ashwin bagged three more wickets on Tuesday to complete the eighth five- wicket haul ( 5/ 63) in his 14th Test – and a match haul of 6/ 104. It was his third five- wicket burst in four innings.

Jadeja turned his golden left arm over to claim three wickets for 33, the deadliest one being that of Clarke, Australias best player of spin, whom he beat in defence for a mere 16 to rattle his off stump, before running out Moises Henriques with a direct throw.

Only Harbhajan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who gave a flying start with three wickets on the opening morning, went wicketless in the second innings.

Ishant Sharma managed one wicket in 22 overs in the match.

Ed Cowan with 44 ( 176 minutes, 150 balls, 6x4s) was Australias top scorer in the second innings and had a 56- run opening- wicket partnership with David Warner ( 26, 72 mins, 56 balls, 3x4s, 1x6).

At the start of the day, Australia, who had lost David Warner and Phillip Hughes to Ashwin for 74 by Monday evening, needed 192 to avoid an innings defeat. But they lost their last eight wickets for just 57 on Tuesday.

Shane Watson was the first to depart, in the days third over, and it was Ishant’s first wicket of the series.

After adding 33 with Cowan for the fourth wicket, Clarke ( 16) was bowled by Jadeja for the second time in the match.

Jadeja had a hand in the next two dismissals too, when he had Cowan caught by Virender Sehwag at slip and then ran out Henriques from cover with a direct hit.

After the game had virtually ended as a contest, Ashwin had debutant Glenn Maxwell LBW and Jadeja had Peter Siddle caught by Virat Kohli at gully.

Ashwin ended Wades 45- minute vigil with Sehwag catching him.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today, New Delhi/Chandigarh)