CRICKETROXX

I consider myself fortunate that I’ve got well-wishers all over:Sachin Tendulkar

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Sun, 8 Jan 2012 13:02:00 +0530

Sydney: The affection showered on Sachin Tendulkar across Australia during the current tour has made him feel humble.

Generally, the sentiment is that Australia must defeat India, but Sachin should get his 100th International hundred.

“In the past, too, people have always wished me well... It’s a humbling experience... That the Prime Minister (Julia Gillard) herself took the lead has been touching,” Sachin told The Telegraph.

Speaking at the Sheraton On The Park on Saturday, Sachin added: “I consider myself fortunate that I’ve got well-wishers all over... I appreciate that they want me to do well.”

When one such well-wisher walked up to him in the hotel here and asked if he required “anything,” Sachin answered: “Your good wishes will do.”

Sachin needn’t have mentioned it, for it’s a given.

© telegraphindia

Photos-Gautam gambhir in practice session ahead of Boxing day test match

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:34:00 +0530

Photos of Gautam gambhir in action ahead of Boxing day Test match.Picture courtesy Daylife,Afp,Getty images.

Arjun reminds me of little Shaun Marsh: Dean Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 07:58:00 +0530

As Team India went through a grueling training session ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at MCG, Little Master Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun too had a round of practice with the country's top cricketing stars.

Arjun Tendulkar reminds former cricketer Dean Jones of little Shaun Marsh.

Arjun is the 13-year-old son of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

The Dhirubhai Ambani International School student was seen in a florescent yellow tee, black three-fourths and Ferrari cap, accompanying his father Sachin to the outdoor practice nets in Melboune Cricket Ground.

“I remember Swampy (Geoff Marsh) bringing a young Shaun (Marsh) to practice with him. The thing it does is it gives them a glimpse of how the game works at the highest level,” Dean was quoted in theHindustan Times.

Arjun, who is a left-arm pacer, was caught taking suggestions from Indian pacer Zaheer Khan. While they were discussing about seam and swing, skipper MS Dhoni shared some light moments with the southpaw.

“If he does ever choose to go down the same road, he’ll look back at these experiences and won’t be overawed if he reaches this level,” Jones said.

Later both senior and junior Tendulkar went to indoor nets. While Arjun bowled to Indian computer analyst Dhananjay, Sachin chose to loosen himself up.

Under the guidance of Tendulkar, Arjun shows off his skill. While Sachin rolled his arm, Arjun played with the bat.

This summer, Arjun had also accompanied Sachin in London to the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

The practice session ended with Sehwag bowling to Arjun.

© cricketcountry

Huge crowd tipped to See Tendulkar

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:55:00 +0530

A bumper crowd is expected at the MCG on Boxing Day as cricket fans prepare for a likely Australian farewell to star Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Cricket Australia officials are banking on more than 75,000 fans attending the MCG for the opening day of the four-Test series.

MCC visitors passes have sold out for the traditional and iconic post-Christmas sporting event and Cricket Australia is advising fans to book ahead to avoid disappointment.

CA spokesman Peter Young said they were a little concerned about cricket fans leaving bookings to the last minute.

"Melbourne has got the biggest walk-up rate of any ground in the world," Young said.

"If you want to get good seats, then you should book ahead."

Young also said cricket officials were expecting stronger-than-normal crowds for the remaining days of the Test with more than 45,000 fans expected for day two at the MCG.

"They are running stronger than we had originally expected," Young said.

"As far as Melbourne is concerned, the city seems to be in love with Test cricket."

Cricket fans, however, may have to endure a wet start to the match with rain "more than likely" for the opening morning of the match.

Weatherzone's Alex Zadnik said there was a chance of thunderstorms on Boxing Day with a forecast maximum of 25 degrees.

Balmy Christmas Day conditions are likely to extend into Boxing Day with "potentially heavy rain" in the morning.

“The morning looks quite hot," Zadnik said. "(But there's) quite likely to be a delayed start to play.

“It's a bit early to be sure.

“(But) the odds are for a wet start (to the Test)."

After likely humid and wet conditions for Boxing Day, the temperature is expected to drop for the remaining days with a forecast maximum of about 20 degrees on day two.

“It's likely that a few showers might linger on Tuesday the 27th, but nothing heavy," Zadnik said.

“However, the whole Test isn't likely to be rained out."

© smh

Tendulkar to be gifted 'throne of centuries' by fan

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:38:00 +0530

Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar is one century short of creating history by becoming the first cricketer to score hundred hundreds.

One of his ardent fans, Chintu Kumar, 26 from Bihar is tirelessly engaged in chiseling a stone sculpture to gift the Master Blaster after he reaches the much-awaited milestone.

Chintu has named the throne as calls it ‘Satako Ka Singhasan (throne of centuries). He had already gifted the Indian captain MS Dhoni a 250-kg stone replica of the World Cup after India won the ICC World Cup earlier this year.

Chintu feels Tendulkar’s chance os scoring his elusive hundredth ton is high in the Boxing Day Test. He was quoted in Times of India as saying, "I am praying that Sachin gets his much-awaited century of centuries soon. The chance of this happening in the first Test against Australia, which is scheduled to begin in Melbourne on December 26, is high.

"It is impossible for any cricketer to reach such a height in his career. Many have come and gone. It is only Sachin Tendulkar who can do this.

“I was disappointed when the 'God of Cricket' missed his 100th century in international cricket by a whisker at the Wankhede Stadium," Chintu said, adding confidently that the master "will make it this time".

Chintu’s passion for Indian cricket is well known. His friends describe his madness and love for the game. One of his friends was qoted by TOI, "Chintu was confident that Team India will win ICC World Cup. In anticipation, he had made a stone replica of the cup for MSD. And, fortunately, India won.”

© Cricketcountry

Sachin has a 'helper' for Australia series

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:12:00 +0530

A cricket enthusiast listed in the Indian touring squad as an "attendant" is helping Sachin Tendulkar prepare for India's quest to win their first Test series in Australia, reports said on Monday.

DVGI Raghavindraa has never played first-class cricket but what he lacks in playing expertise he makes up for with enthusiasm and his presence in Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald said.
Raghavindraa is being used on tour for his throw-down skills in the practice nets and the Herald said he has come with strong recommendations from Tendulkar and fellow Indian batsman Rahul Dravid.

The newspaper said Raghavindraa, 27, is listed as an "attendant" on a Board of Control for Cricket in India news release, and is an employee at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

A Herald reporter watched Raghavindraa during a Sunday net session with Tendulkar at Canberra's Manuka Oval in which he threw balls at the batting maestro for an hour.

Raghavindraa helped Tendulkar prepare for the barrage of outswingers he is likely to receive from Australia's rising pace star James Pattinson ahead of the opening Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.

"The session did not always go to plan. After a series of deliveries on his pads, Tendulkar put his bat down for several minutes to show Raghavindraa the wrist position required to enable the ball to shape away from the right-hander," the newspaper said.

"Just two deliveries later, Raghavindraa, unleashing from about three metres in front of the popping crease, sent down an outswinger, which Tendulkar, after shouldering arms, described as 'perfect' and gave his thumbs up."

Tendulkar has been a perennial thorn in the side of Australia's bowlers, averaging more than 60 with 11 centuries in 31 Tests against them and is eyeing his 100th international hundred during the Australian tour.

Greg Chappell, who coached India for a three-year spell ending in 2007, said in a new book released last week that Tendulkar was a prisoner of his incredible fame in India and carried expectations greater than Australia's iconic batsman Donald Bradman.
© Ndtv

World War II veteran Reg Ellis enthralled after meeting Sachin Tendulkar

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:09:00 +0530

The last survivor of the Victory Test matches played by ex-servicemen after the end of the second World War, 94-year-old Reg Ellis from Adelaide, was ecstatic after meeting Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar during Sir Donald Bradman Oration in Canberra on Wednesday.

Ellis and his team, which included future Test cricketers Flying Officer Kieth Miller and Warrant Officer Lindsay Hassett were also honoured at the function.

The World War II veteran Ellis had flew in 11 missions over occupied Europe - including two when he landed a heavily damaged plane wheels up.

But he was happier talking about cricket, and not war.

"It was fantastic. The Indian team couldn't have been better. The chap who made 219 (Virender Sehwag, who recently set the one-day international record) - I spoke to him for quite a while,” Ellis was quoted by Adelaide Now.

"Tendulkar, he grasped my hand and was very friendly. He invited me to be the guest of the Indian team when they played in Canberra the next day but I had to come home."

The World War II veteran was interviewed by Mark Nicholas, and shared stories of a world tour that included unofficial Tests in England, as well as matches in India and Australia.

© Cricketcountry

Sachin Tendulkar-The most searched cricketer

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 09:19:00 +0530

As the year 2012 approaches us, Google has published the Zeitgeist for 2011. The Zeitgeist reveals the top ten most searched terms in different categories and throws light upon the trends that dominated the internet search engine during the year gone by. The India centric trends published by Google feature only a few cricket related terms.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2011, were amongst the top ten ‘Fastest Rising Searches.’ The World Cup occupied the fourth spot whereas the IPL 2011 settled at eight. The World Cup cashed in on the buzz in the months of February and March but as April arrived, the IPL came to the forefront on the search engines

The two tournaments were also in the most searched ‘News’ list and they occupied the top two spots in that category with IPL heading the tables.

It wasn’t a very good year for cricketers at the Zeitgeist as Sachin Tendulkar remains the only player to feature in any list. He is seventh on the list of most searched ‘People’ in a list dominated by glamorous celebs.

Poonam Pandey, the model who is a huge cricket fan and became a well known name due to her antics in support of Team India, was fourth on the list ahead of the likes of Aishwarya Rai and Kareena Kapoor. She also occupied the second spot in the ‘Fastest Rising People’ list behind Anna Hazare. However, no cricketer features in that category.

© Cricketcountry

MCA passes resolution to back Sachin Tendulkar for Bharat Ratna

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:08:00 +0530

With the Government changing rules to make sportspersons eligible for the Bharat Ratna, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has passed a resolution to support the demand for bestowing the country's highest civilian honour on champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

"A resolution was passed at our Managing Committee meeting to back Tendulkar for Bharat Ratna. Our Joint Secretaries (Nitin Dalal and P V Shetty) will now be writing to Maharashtra Government requesting it to take it up with the Central Government," said MCA Vice-President Ratnakar Shetty.

There has been a clamour for bestowing the honour on Tendulkar, the world's highest run-getter in both Tests and ODIs and on the cusp of an unprecedented 100 centuries in international cricket (he's one short of the landmark).

There are also demands from other quarters, notably hockey aficionados, to honour the late Major Dhyan Chand, with the the coveted award.

Meanwhile, the MCA also took up the incident of former India pacer Ajit Agarkar returning from Cuttack after being left out of Mumbai Ranji Trophy playing XI by the team management and the open support extended to him by pace spearhead Zaheer Khan.

"There is no question of them being let off. They agreed they would not be repeating what they did," said Shetty, who is also the Chief Administrative Officer of the Cricket Board.

He said, though, the BCCI has scrapped its broadcast deal for international and national matches with Nimbus, it will show the Ranji Trophy league tie between Mumbai and Punjab from December 21 at Mumbai, as scheduled, on its website.

About web casting rest of the Ranji matches from the knock out stage, he said BCCI will look at it later.(PTI)

© Cricketcountry

Can’t wait any longer for the Sachin feat: Rohit

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:25:00 +0530

Rohit Sharma is hoping that Sachin Tendulkar gets his much-awaited 100th international century in the first Test against Australia as the anticipation has now become unbearable.

The first Test starts December 26 and Rohit is keeping his fingers crossed for a Sachin hundred in the match. “I think it’s a great place for him to do it... the only thing we want to see, me and my teammates, all over the country, all the Indians, we don’t want to wait for too long. It’s been a while and (we hope) he gets it in the first game itself,” Rohit said.

Sachin’s 100th international hundred has kept his fans in animated suspense for the last nine months after he hit his 99th century, against South Africa during the World Cup in Nagpur in March.

Since then, Sachin has turned out in seven Test matches and entered into 90s on no less than three occasions yet the realisation of that monumental century has remained elusive.

For a good measure, Sachin appeared to tease hundreds of his supporters at Manuka Oval on Friday when he didn’t come out to resume his innings on 92 after tea against Cricket Australia Chairman’s Eleven.

Rohit said Sachin’s withdrawal from the crease was part of the Indian team management’s plan to give everyone a stint in the middle in the run-up to the four-Test series.

“It was a practice game and the team management wanted to give everyone a chance. I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t resume. As I said, it was a practice game and the idea was everybody should get some time in the middle.”

Now that the Indian government has agreed to include sportsmen, if deserving, for country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, Rohit hoped the honour will come Sachin’s way.

© Telegraph

Tendulkar most deserving person for Bharat Ratna, say politicians

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:58:00 +0530

The amendment of rules to make sports persons like Sachin Tendulkar eligible for Bharat Ratna was on Friday welcomed by leaders cutting across party lines.

While Union minister and BCCI official Rajiv Shukla termed it as a "good move" saying Tendulkar is the "fittest person" to be given Bharat Ratna, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Javdekar said conferring of highest civilian order on the little master "will be a matter of pride for Bharat Ratna also".

Shukla said as a cricket administrator he had been demanding for almost two years that Bharat Ratna be conferred on Tendulkar.

"It is a good move by the Government. I appreciate and congratulate the Government. He is the most deserving person and this award is meant for those people who have made outstanding contribution internationally. Tendulkar is one person whose record can never be broken by any one as I assume," Shukla told reporters outside Parliament House.

"He is the fittest person to be given Bharat Ratna and I would humbly request the Prime Minister and the Government to consider bestowing Bharat Ratna on Tendulkar," he said.

Shukla also supported the suggestion that legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand should be given Bharat Ratna.

"Sachin should get Bharat Ratna. This will be a matter of pride for Bharat Ratna also," Javdekar said.

Union Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah also expressed hope that Tendulkar would be given Bharat Ratna.

Both Abdullah and Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi said Dhyan Chand should also be conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously.

"Dhayan Chand excelled as a hockey player," Abdullah said. (PTI).

© Cricketcountry

Sachin Tendulkar can now be given Bharat Ratna

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:06:00 +0530

In a significant move clearing decks for Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand and others to get Bharat Ratna, the government has made a necessary change in eligibility criteria for a person getting the India's highest civilian honour.

The Bharat Ratna will now be awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order "in any field of human endeavour" - covering almost all the fields that had earlier remained out of the purview of this civilian award.

Earlier, it was restricted to areas like "Art, Literature, Science and Public Service", making it difficult for government to consider names of those, who contributed immensely to other fields, including sports.

"The change is made through notification by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on recommendation of the home and sports ministries," said a senior official.

Supporting sports ministry's demand to include 'sports' as a category for the award of Bharat Ratna, the home ministry had written to the PMO in July, asking it to take the call as the decision would help outstanding sportspersons to be considered for the highest civilian award.

As the clamour for awarding Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar and Dhyan Chand gets louder, sports minister Ajay Maken had earlier written to home minister P Chidambaram seeking inclusion of 'sports' as a category for the award of Bharat Ratna. Maken, however, did not plead for any specific sportsperson or sports.

Before the change which is made now, the Bharat Ratna was considered only for those, who excelled for "exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of public service of the highest order". The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna - that was instituted in 1954 - are made by Prime Minister himself to President.

Though names of persons as per the eligibility criteria can be recommended by different state\Union Territories governments, organizations and individuals to PMO for consideration, no "formal recommendation" for this is necessary. It is also not mandatory that Bharat Ratna is awarded every year. The number of awards is, however, restricted to a maximum of three in a year. © TOI

Tendulkar's technique better than Ponting, feels Kim Hughes

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:09:00 +0530

Former Australian captain Kim Hughes while drawing comparisons between Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting has said that the latter is struggling with poor form due to a flawed technique.

Hughes was quoted in Herald Sun as saying, "Sachin is 38 but has a wonderful technique. This has nothing to do with age. Ricky's technique is flawed."That is why Sachin scores runs. Rahul Dravid is also playing well as he is also solid. Against average bowling Ponting can slip through like the first Test in Brisbane against New Zealand but that's it."

"Tendulkar does not fall across the crease and try to hit the ball from off through square leg with his head in the wrong position," Hughes said. "There's guys like Justin Langer there to help him. I don't know why people don't get it.

"He will struggle to make runs at present against any decent attack and the Indians have good bowlers like Ishant Sharma." ©Cricketcountry

Madhya Pradesh govt seeks clarification over MS Dhoni's academy

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:05:00 +0530

The Madhya Pradesh government has asked Indian cricket team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to clarify certain issues regarding his proposal to set up a sports academy in the state to groom the budding talent.

In an e-mail, the state government has asked the Jharkhand wicket-keeper batsman to clarify what would be its role in establishing and running the academy, an official said today.

It also wanted Dhoni to give details about land requirement, estimated cost and the running mechanism for the proposed academy, he said.

The state government also sought to know the number of players who would be admitted in the academy in each session.

"We heartily wish that Dhoni opens his academy in Bhopal, but at the same time we would like to have some say in its management so that talented youths from our state get preference in admission to the academy," Director of Sports, MP, Shailendra Shrivastava said.

Dhoni had recently written to Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressing his desire to set up a world class sports academy and urged him to provide adequate land for it. © DNA

Photos-SAchin in action on Day 1 of the Tour Match at Manuka

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:41:00 +0530

Complete photogallery of Sachin Tendulkar in action on day 1 of the Tour match against Cricket Australia Chairman's XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra,Australia.Photocourtesy Daylife,Gettyimages,Ap.

Master schools rookie Yadav

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:33:00 +0530

Since time immemorial the human mind has always wanted that which it can't have. For India's fast bowlers, born and bred in dust bowls and benign strips, it's a pitch which affords bounce that's always on top of their wish-list. However, as India's rookie pacer Umesh Yadav found out,too much of a good thing. can also hurt you. During the nets session at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, Sachin Tendulkar often instructed the pacer not to let the extra bounce in the pitch affect his length, albeit to little avail.

Tendulkar even stepped out of the popping crease and marked the exact spot, just short of good length, with his willow. "Umesh ball ko is line pe rakh," he said, pointing to the line he dug with his bat into the pitch. The instruction, however, seemed to be lost on the 24-year-old whose next ball, like most of his previous deliveries, was again short.

Indian pacers have in the past been known to lose control of their length at the mere sight of a hard, green top. At Bridgetown earlier this year the three-pronged pace attack of Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun had been cautioned by MS Dhoni ahead of the match not to get carried away by the bounce at the home ground of pace legend Malcolm Marshall.

Dhoni's logic was simple—keeping the ball fuller increases the chances of getting a lbw decision. However, barring Ishant, who ended with 10 wickets including four lbws, none of the Indian pacers paid heed to the skipper's advice.

© HT

Tendulkar to play at Manuka

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:43:00 +0530

Sachin Tendulkar is among a star-studded Indian team for the opening day of two-day game with the Chairman’s XI at Manuka Oval.

Tendulkar has been selected in a 13-man India team captained by Rahul Dravid, which also includes VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma.

The Chairman’s XI will bat first, with captain Ryan Broad and Wes Robinson opening the innings.

India: Rahul Dravid (c), Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Weiddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Umbsh Yadav, Prauyan Ojha, Abhimanyu Mithun, Vinay Kumar.

Chairman’s XI: Ryan Broad, Wes Robinson, Joe Burns, Tom Cooper, Alex Doolan, Glenn Maxwell, Dean Solway, Tim Ludeman, Cameron Boyce, Josh Lalor, Jake Haberfield, Peter George

We would like to give our youngsters an opportunity: Dhoni

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:33:00 +0530

: India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday gave enough hints of giving the youngsters a go in the opening warm-up match against Cricket Australia Chairman`s XI on Thursday.

"We would like to give our youngsters an opportunity of course. Some of us haven`t played much cricket over here. It`s slightly different, so we will try to make the most of it," Dhoni said on the eve of the match, which will kick off India`s long tour that includes a four-match Test series, starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

He also said the game was important in terms of building momentum.

"The first game is always important; if you have momentum on your side it always builds up. You don`t really want to lag too much behind right from the very start, so a good start is crucial."

Going by reports in the Australian media, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Abhimanyu Mithun and batsman Virat Kohli are likely to play against Chairman`s XI.

With the team arriving here 12 days prior to the first tes, Dhoni said lack of preparation cannot be an excuse this time around.

"We are here close to 12 days early and if 12 days are not enough then one month wouldn`t be enough so we have to adapt to the conditions."

The Indian team had an optional training session at the Manuka Oval, venue for Thursday’s match.

Dhoni had earlier said that the experience of playing in Australian conditions in the past will benefit the team.

"Most of the batsmen have played there before. We are hoping we will do well there. Even last time (in the 2007-08 series) we had a very good chance and we did really perform well," he said.

©Zeenews

Experience will hold us in good stead: MS Dhoni

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:53:00 +0530

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes the experience in the team`s ranks will hold it in good stead against Australia in the four-match Test series starting with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Dhoni also said the Australian team cannot be taken lightly just because there are some young players.

The wicketkeeper batsman said India only need to play to their potential.

"Most of the batsmen have played there before. We are hoping we will do well there. Even last time (in 2007-08) we had a very good chance and we did really perform well. It is not that if the opposition is not doing well, it will be a best chance for us. We have to play to the level of the kind of talent that we have got and not worry about such things," said Dhoni on the eve of the warm up match against Chairman`s XI.

"It depends on how we prepare ourselves during the 12 days before the Test match and how we adapt to the conditions," Dhoni was quoted as saying in The Age.
Dhoni has vowed to give his touring side the best possible chance to exploit Australia`s weaknesses and is well aware this campaign is perceived as his nation`s greatest chance to win a series on Australian soil.india`s batting, led by Sachin Tendulkar, is strong and experienced but much will depend on whether fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma can stay fit, with the attack expected to be rounded out by paceman Umesh Yadav and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

"Some people think that the last Australian team was much better than the current Australian side. Some of the present players were not part of the 2008 side. To judge them is quite a difficult task. Anil Kumble was part of our side [then]. The spinners coming into the team now are not as experienced as Anil. It applies to the Australian team also. They had big players like Adam Gilchrist and others," Dhoni said.

© Zeenews

Indian skipper MS Dhoni has promised his side will be on their best bahaviour on tour of Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:32:00 +0530

INDIAN skipper MS Dhoni has assured rival captain Michael Clarke there will be no repeat of the infamous racism saga that marred their last tour of Australia.

Australia's most recent home series against India three years ago degenerated into a bitter war of words, with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and allrounder Andrew Symonds among the chief protagonists.

At the height of the controversy, there were calls for Ricky Ponting to be stripped of the Australian captaincy and the Indians threatened to abort the tour if Harbhajan was suspended.

But with Harbhajan and Symonds not involved in this series, Dhoni said the Indians had no intention of reprising their sledging war with Australia.

"We will try to keep the fireworks off," Dhoni said at a press conference in Chennai before leaving for Australia yesterday."It is about the fireworks on-the-field ... both the sides have talented players.

With Australia reeling from a shock second-Test loss to minnows New Zealand, Dhoni believes India will never get a better chance to win on Australian soil.

"Even last time we had a very good chance and we did perform well. It is not like that the opposition is not doing well (but) it will be the best chance for us," Dhoni said."We would like to improve in all three departments. Catching will be very crucial. We are more concerned about where we need to work on and not worry about what kind of opposition we are playing."

©Heraldsun

Dhoni hints at going with young talent

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:15:00 +0530

India captain MS Dhoni hinted at resting some of his side's big names for their tour opener against a Chairman's XI in Canberra starting on Thursday.

The first of two practice matches at Manuka Oval is a two-day affair and Dhoni realises he must manage the workload of his senior players ahead of a four-Test series against Australia beginning on Boxing Day.

Most of the Indian squad didn't arrive in Canberra until after 3am on Wednesday, meaning a Thursday start might be a tight turnaround for the likes of Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Dhoni.

All-time greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman as well as pace weapon Ishant Sharma were among a group of players who arrived in Australia last week and may be considered for selection from the 17-man touring party.

However, Dhoni must balance a desire to give his key men match practice with the fact the first practice match is effectively against a second-string Chairman's XI.

Dhoni might be tempted to save his stars for the second hit-out - a three-day affair starting on Monday, which will pit them against likely Australian Test batsmen David Warner and Usman Khawaja, as well as outside hopes Phil Hughes and Ed Cowan.

Keeper Wriddhiman Saha, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Abhimanyu Mithun and batsman Virat Kohli have all played four Tests or less and are likely to play.

Speaking to media in the team's first optional training session on Wednesday, Dhoni said he wanted his young troops to gain confidence playing in unfamiliar Australian conditions.

"We would like to give our youngsters an opportunity to start off of course, some of us haven't played much cricket over here," said Dhoni.

"It's slightly different, so we try to make the most of it."

The Indian Test team is still licking its wounds after copping a 4-0 hiding from England away from home back in July and August.

They went from one disaster to the next in that series and Dhoni realises the importance of India building their confidence up early.

"The first game always, if you have momentum on your side it always (builds up)," he said.

"You don't really want to lag too much behind right from the very start, so going with a good start is very crucial.

"We are here close to 12 days early and if 12 days are not enough then one month wouldn't be enough so we have to ... adapt to the conditions."

Chairman's XI captain Ryan Broad says his team will utilise all 12 players in their squad - however he said one-Test player Peter George will have a licence to bowl as much as he wants.

George said the plan was to shake up the Indians and give them the worst possible preparation for the Australian series.

"We definitely don't want to give them a nice walk in the park," he said.

"Cricket is definitely a game of momentum ... and if you start to get on a bad roll it tends to snowball a bit, so if we can manage to do our bit to help the Aussies and peg the Indians back in these games it would be good."

Indian squad: MS Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman, Abhimanyu Mithun, Pragyan Ojha, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav.

Chairman's XI squad: Ryan Broad (capt), Cameron Boyce, Joe Burns, Tom Cooper, Alex Doolan, Peter George, Jake Haberfield, Josh Lalor, Tim Ludeman, Glenn Maxwell, Wes Robinson, Dean Solway.

© SMH

Video-MS Dhoni lifting t-20 world cup.

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0530

MS Dhoni Lifting T-20 World Cup.

Dhoni asks MP chief minister to allot land for sports academy

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:08:00 +0530

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has requested Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to allot land for setting up a world class sports academy along with educational institutions in the state.
In a letter to the chief minister, Dhoni described the initiative as his lifelong dream and said that he would want to do his bit to help promote games and sports in the country other than cricket.

"Our country is passionate about sports and millions of young people and sportsmen aspire to represent the country one day. However, many of our talented sportsmen fail to achieve their dream due to lack of infrastructure and training facilities," Dhoni said in the letter.

"I propose to set up world class sports academy in your state inter alia and inculcate values such as hard, discipline and dedication towards sports.

"Therefore, I most humbly requests you to kindly support us in our endeavour of promoting not only the game of cricket but other sports as well and allot us suitable land as and where required so that we carry on the process of passing acquired knowledge to the young and deserving aspirants."

Dhoni also proposed to set up sports schools to inculcate awareness among youngsters to pursue education while having a sporting career.

"Apart from providing specialised training in sports, I also propose to set up sports schools which will not only increase awareness towards sports but will also enable young sportsmen to pursue education while pursuing sporting careers," he said.

"Apart from this, we would also feel obliged to get valuable guidance and support as and when needed which will ultimately build our confidence to well take care of the investment aspect of our initiative," Dhoni said in the letter.

"An affirmative response to our initiative will certainly help us realizing our lifelong dream of promoting sports," he added.

Video-MS Dhoni first Internatonal Wicket

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:38:00 +0530

MS DHoni first International Wicket. Watch and enjoy.Do click on above Like.

It was honour to meet Sachin Tendulkar at 2011 Wimbledon:Roger Federer

noreply@blogger.com (Deepak) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0530

The 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has appeared in the Nike Tennis Facebook live chat that he loves to play cricket, where several fans asked his interest cricket.

The former World No. 1 Roger Federer said it’s very honour to meet Indian cricket star batsman Sachin Tendulkar at 2011 Wimbledon at All England Club in June and it is one of the best moment in his career.

Sachin and Federer have spent some time at All England Club balcony and have taken dinner together along with Sachin’s wife Anjali. Later, Sachin said tennis great Federer knows a lot about cricket and he is a humble guy.

The World No. 3 Roger Federer said his mother Lynette Durand and his two Australian coaches have explained about the cricket rules and regulations. Federer, who has take part in the Nike Tennis Facebook live chat on Monday morning, where he had answer fans through chatting and also insist that, several fans have asked him about his interest in cricket. Swiss maestro said he likes to play cricket for enjoyment and fun along with his friends in Basel.

The 30-year-old Roger Federer will begin his training session in Dubai for his preparations for the 2011 Mubadala World Tennis Championship, where he will meet Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils for the title clash. The tournament will kick off from 29^th January at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at the Zayed Sports City.