indocric

Dravid, Sachin most successful Test pair

2011-08-21T10:37:00.003+05:30

London: The Indian pair of middle-order Rahul Dravid and batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday become the most successful run-getters in Test cricket.The duo surpassed the previous record of West Indies legendary pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes who have together shared 6482 runs in partnerships during their Test career.[...]

4th Test: India reeling at 103/5 at end of Day 3

2011-08-21T10:18:00.005+05:30

London: Ian Bell brought up his maiden double hundred in Tests and Graeme Swann took 3/27 as England took a firm grip on day three of the fourth and final match against India at the Oval on Saturday.At stumps India were 103/5, and still trail England by 488 runs after the hosts declared their innings at 591/6.Graeme Swann bowled beautifully to pile more misery on Team India.[...]

'When things are going bad, skipper needs to be proactive'

2011-08-21T10:10:00.004+05:30

Widely regarded as one of the best captains in the history of cricket, Mike Brearley was a master in man-mangement, quite literally. For he was famously described by his opponents as having a “degree in people”. In a conversation, the 69-year old talks about MS Dhoni’s captaincy, the Indian team and his disappointment at witnessing this terribly lopsided series.[...]

Exclusive interview with Indian chairman of selectors cricket,Kris Srikkanth

2011-08-21T10:01:00.004+05:30

He says "Let us accept that England played better cricket while nothing really clicked for us. These things happen. England utilised the conditions better than we did. We are not the No. 1 in Test cricket any more, but I am sure we will regain the spot in 12-18 months."[...]

Bit sad that India lost No 1 rankings: Kirsten

2011-08-21T09:53:00.001+05:30

Former India coach Gary Kirsten is a bit surprised and sad after watching India's abject capitulation in England that led to the team surrendering the No 1 rank in Tests to Andrew Strauss's men."I am bit surprised with the results, but not in a negative way," the current South Africa coach said on the sidelines of a promotional event in Johannesburg.[...]

Wrong message sent out by RP Singh’s selection

2011-08-21T09:47:00.002+05:30

The Indian cricket team has been dethroned from their No.1 position in the ongoing Test series in England by the hosts, the body language and attitude of most of the players has come under intense scrutiny as have the decisions taken by the team think-tank and the role of the support staff. So it wasn’t much of a ‘surprise’ when the recalled from oblivion Rudra Pratap Singh was preferred ahead of Munaf Patel to replace the injured Praveen Kumar[...]

IPL's impact on Indian cricket

2011-08-21T09:42:00.002+05:30

"Now that India has lost so miserably in England, kids would listen to me when I tell them to get their forward defense right" said a visibly frustrated veteran cricket coach. When someone of his standing, having groomed nearly a dozen International and scores of first-class cricketers, says something like this, you ought to pay heed.[...]

I was Initially Nervous: Rudra Pratap

2011-08-21T09:34:00.001+05:30

London:India's medium pacer Rudra Pratap Singh, who made a comeback to Test cricket after three years, has said he was nervous bowling on the first day of the fourth and final cricket Test against England at The Oval here Thursday."I was initially nervous, that's why the first over I bowled here and there but gradually I got my line and length," said Rudra Pratap.[...]

England series not one of the toughest, says Sreesanth

2011-08-21T09:19:00.003+05:30

London: India are staring at a whitewash in the four-match Test series against England but pacer Shantakumaran Sreesanth believes that the series was not one of the toughest he has faced."I don't think it's one of the toughest series (I've been involved in). The one against South Africa at home in 2008 was tougher," said Sreesanth, after England piled up a mammoth 457 for three on the second day of the fourth Test at The Oval.[...]

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's got to make the blazer fit again

2011-08-21T09:19:00.002+05:30

"Stand-in captain, stand-in blazer," he said with a smile when asked if he'd had one cut to fit his own shoulders yet. This was in 2008: India were still chasing Australia for the number one spot in the ICC's Test rankings and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in Anil Kumble's absence, was leading the side for only the second time in the longer format. And while he had walked out for the toss wearing a clearly oversized jacket, it was abundantly clear that captaincy fit him just right.[...]

RP's first over worst in Test history: Botham

2011-08-20T09:48:00.001+05:30

London: Fast bowling legends Wasim Akram and Ian Botham criticised Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to open the bowling with RP Singh during the morning session of the fourth and final Test here at The Oval on Thursday. RP's first over saw five gentle looseners go down the leg side, inviting the wrath of cricket pundits here.While Botham called it 'the worst first over he had ever seen in a Test match', Akram said that Zaheer Khan's replacement (RP) should have reached UK soon after the Lord's Test.[...]

4th Test: Bell, KP give England control

2011-08-20T09:40:00.001+05:30

London: Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell's second century of the series on Friday put England firmly in control as they reached 457/3 at Stumps on day two of the fourth Test against India at The Oval.Pietersen, who was unlucky to fall just before Stumps, scored 175 and added a mammoth 350 runs with Bell who remained not out for 181.[...]

BCCI opts for DRS in home series against England, West Indies

2011-08-20T09:37:00.002+05:30

New Delhi: The Indian cricket board, which has had a reputation of opposing on-field technologies, may be turning a new leaf.BCCI has volunteered to use the Decision Review System, including Hawk-Eye, ultra-motion as well as Hot Spot and snickometer (both to be used for the first time in India for a bilateral series), in the upcoming home series against England and the West Indies.[...]

Pace sensation Aaron awaits Indian call

2011-08-20T09:33:00.003+05:30

New Delhi: As India cries out for a pace bowler to add some much-needed bite to its depleted attack, one man in the frame to become a future new ball spearhead believes speed alone cannot guarantee success.Mahendra Singh Dhoni may be Jharkhand's most notable contribution to Indian cricket but Varun Aaron was able to share some of the skipper's limelight earlier this year when he bowled what many believe to be the fastest delivery by an Indian.[...]

RP Singh is not fit to be Zaheer Khan's replacement

2011-08-20T09:30:00.001+05:30

Four years ago when India last toured England, the wiry, whippy Singh was a bit of a surprise package, working in tandem with Zaheer Khan to dart the ball through England defences with zippy swing. India won the series 1-0.Now, fattened on the lucrative land of the IPL, Singh waddles to the wicket in the manner of a club seamer, his speed barely above military medium, the swing mainly onto the middle of the bat.[...]

BCCI responsible for Indian team's debacle in England: Mushtaq

2011-08-20T09:27:00.001+05:30

Karachi: Former Pakistan Test captain Mushtaq Mohammad has blamed the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) for the debacle of the Indian team in England where it has lost the Test series and its number one ranking."The BCCI is very much responsible for poor planning of this tour. They thought their cricketers were machines and are being treated like machines. They (the players) can't play day in day out, they are human beings and they do get tired both physically and mentally and they do need rest," Mushtaq said.[...]

Big Five promise exciting times ahead in the fight for top slot in Tests

2011-08-20T09:15:00.002+05:30

England, India, South Africa, Australia and Sri Lanka are clearly the top five teams in Tests in contemporary cricket. While England is ranked No 1, until a week ago India were in the top spot. But the fact is there is very little to choose among the top five teams - in all formats.[...]

We are not a Test-loving nation, says Pataudi

2011-08-20T09:10:00.002+05:30

Mumbai: Did Test cricket ever really enjoy top precedence in India? Will a series-win in Australia ever match the emotional high of a World Cup triumph?Former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi reckoned the problem lies with the fans who are more attracted to the shorter versions of the game. "We are not like Australia or England, where crowds live and die by Test cricket.[...]

God save Indian cricket from the BCCI

2011-08-20T09:06:00.001+05:30

London: Four and a half years ago, England were whitewashed 5-0 in the Ashes in Australia. Today, they are not only deservingly No. 1 in the rankings, but could be hard to dislodge in the immediate future.So, the lesson here is that in theory India need not despair, except that, unlike England, they have a 'major liability in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is almost an insurmountable hurdle.[...]

Oval Test critical for India, cricket

2011-08-18T11:32:00.002+05:30

London: India landed in England as the top-ranked Test side in the world and with their heads high, repeating a rare feat - winning back-to-back Test series in England – was more than a likelihood. But a 3-0 scoreline with one Test to go suggests that not only India but Test cricket too needs resuscitation at The Oval.[...]

Future looks bleak for Indian cricket

2011-08-18T11:29:00.001+05:30

The knives are out. Not surprising in our country where we are keen to worship victory and only the victors. Nothing less than a win is expected from our cricket team. To us cricketers are machines and the selectors made us believe good amount of money paid to cricketers must churn out sure-wins. The performing captain Dhoni made us believe that we will never lose the top rating in the ICC team ranking.[...]

Collapse of the top order

2011-08-18T11:26:00.001+05:30

With the England tour subjecting Indian cricket fans to a rude awakening from what has been a fairytale year, the panic button has been pressed. But finger-pointing and blame-game won’t take Indian cricket very far. The fact is, the current Indian Test squad isn’t the best in the world, with the numerous injuries and loss of form that key players have been faced with. A dearth of preparation time is apparent as the stalwarts are succumbing to both injuries and the elements. Scheduling has been blamed, as has fatigue.[...]

We are very optimistic, Anderson is fit to play: Strauss

2011-08-18T11:23:00.001+05:30

London: England captain Andrew Strauss said on Wednesday his pace spearhead James Anderson would be fit for the fourth and the final Test against India starting at The Oval on Thursday. Anderson, who complained of stiffness in his right thigh after the Edgbaston Test, attended the full nets sessions at The Oval and a visibly happy Strauss said he was "very optimistic" that Anderson would be available for selection. Anderson, who has 18 wickets in the series, is the No.2 bowler in the World Test rankings.[...]

India’s flop show takes fizz out of Sachin’s 100th ton hype

2011-08-18T11:20:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Capture 99 moments; one more to go', announces Canon's latest campaign. Sounds like a decent marketing plan? Only, the Japanese photographic and digital imaging firm's campaign to celebrate Sachin Tendulkar's century number 100 is stuck. Because Indian cricket fans are no longer talking about the master batsman's great feat. The Indian cricket team's disastrous performance in its ongoing series in England has left corporates such as Coca-Cola, Canon and Future Group stranded halfway down the pitch with their plans to cash in on Sachin's 100th century.[...]

BCCI should be unbiased if India have to recover: Akram

2011-08-18T11:18:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said it is time the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) looked towards investigating India's Test drubbing against England."I understand the BCCI is going to probe the reasons for the Test humiliation. While it is a welcome move, I only hope that it will not be a one-sided investigation. Wealth should not blind wisdom," the legendary fast bowler wrote in his column in a sports website.[...]