Monday, October 4, 2010

Three-wicket Hilfenhaus rocks India






Mohali: The Indian top order crumbled under pressure as the home team lost four wickets chasing 216 to win the first Test match against Australia at the PCA stadium on Monday.


At stumps on Day 4, Sachin Tendulkar (10) was on the crease and he was being supported by Zaheer Khan (5). For Australia, Ben Hilfenhaus took three wickets, while Doug Bollinger chipped in with one wicket.Earlier, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid were back in the pavilion as India got off to the worst possible start.


The spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha struck in the second session as India kept the Australians on a tight leash, reducing them to 165 for six at tea.


Wicketkeeper batsman Tim Paine was batting on nine after Harbhajan dismissed Marcus North of the last delivery before tea being caught by substitute Cheteshwar Pujara at silly point.


The visitors now enjoy an overall lead of 188 runs with four second innings wickets in hand.


After Ishant Sharma rocked the Australian top-order in the morning session, the post lunch session belonged to spinners Harbhajan and Pragyan.


Starting the session at 100 for three, Ojha, who got a bit of stick in the morning session, drew Simon Katich forward as the ball spun away from the left hander. The edge was taken by Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind stumps. Katich scored 37 with the help of two fours.


Michael Hussey (28) got a bad decision when he was adjudged leg before trying to sweep a Harbhajan delivery that pitched well outside leg stump. He ended the Test on a disappointing note.


Earlier in the morning session, pacer Ishant Sharma produced a hostile spell to grab three quick wickets on a dead track and reduce Australia to 100 for three after they raced away to 87 for no loss in the first hour and half.


Watson smashed 56 off only 59 deliveries -- an innings which was in stark contrast to his toiling century in the first essay -- before Ishant snared three quick wickets to bring India right back in the match.


Watson added 87 runs with Simon Katich for the opening stand before Ishant bowled a deadly second spell from the pavillion end to dismiss the all-rounder, rival captain Ricky Ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke in a space of two overs to bring the hosts right back into the match.


Ishant, who started in an erratic manner giving away 17 runs in two overs, had brilliant figures of 3-2-8-3 to show for in his second spell. His pre-lunch session figures read 5-2-25-3.


Among his three victims, Watson should curse himself for doing a hara-kiri.


Ishant bowled one wide outside the off-stump and the opener went for a wild slog over deep mid-wicket but dragged it back onto his stumps. Watson hit seven boundaries and a huge six off Pragyan Ojha during his knock.


Ponting started with a boundary but Ishant got his man when the Australian skipper pulled a short one straight into the hands of backward square leg which was specifically stationed for that particular shot. Suresh Raina took a well-judged catch.


The lanky speedster from Delhi was over the moon when he got Michael Clarke to flick one to short mid-wicket where Virender Sehwag was standing.

Friday, October 1, 2010

ICC Ambassadors for 2010 - 2011 announced




The ICC today announced the appointment of five current leaders of cricket as its ambassadors for 2010-2011 which includes ICC's flagship event - the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, England's ICC World Twenty20 2010-winning captain Paul Collingwood, Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke, India vice-captain Virender Sehwag and Simon Taufel of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires have agreed to become ICC Ambassadors for a 12-month period.

As such, these highly respected individuals will be called upon to promote and support a variety of ICC events and initiatives, including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, THINKWISE, Spirit of Cricket and the Pepsi ICC Development Programme.

By making appearances at press conferences, social events and coaching clinics, the ICC Ambassadors will also provide valuable support and general awareness of the activities of the ICC and its key stakeholders.

Given the distinguished performances of this elite group of professionals, both on and off the cricket field, and the prestige associated with being appointed an ICC Ambassador, 2010-2011 promises to be an exciting year ahead.

For Sangakkara and Taufel, it is the third successive time that they have been appointed as ICC Ambassadors since the programme was launched in 2008 while Collingwood, Clarke and Sehwag have been appointed for the first time.

Previous ICC Ambassadors include Rahul David (India), JP Duminy (South Africa), Charlotte Edwards (England) and Lisa Sthalekar (Australia).

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "To have such fantastic personalities who are hugely respected figures within the game give their support to the work we do is reassuring.

"Virender, Michael, Kumar, Paul and Simon have so much to offer and to have access to their valuable time and energy for issues of importance to the ICC is beneficial to the game as a whole," he said.