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Contrary to suggestions that Andrew Flintoff should skip the IPL to preserve himself for the Ashes series, former England bastman Geoffrey Boycott says the event will prepare the all-rounder better. “I’m not sure that is a realistic suggestion, unless the hip injury hangs around for a couple of months. In fact, I would argue that the IPL could be exactly what he needs,” Boycott said
Steve Bucknor will retire from umpiring at international level next month. The 62year-old Jamaican will retire from Test cricket after officiating in the third Test between South Africa and Australia starting on March 19 in Cape Town. The two upcoming ODIs between the West Indies and England in Barbados will be Bucknor’s last one-day assignments
Bengaluru ● Tuesday ● 24 February 2009
Indian batsman VVS Laxman said defeating New Zealand in their own backyard would be a tough challenge for the Indian team. “We have a challenge in defeating New Zealand in New Zealand. If we play to our potential, then we will definitely win the Test as well as the one-day series. I would like to contribute to the team winning the Test series”
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India are No.1 team, says Moles BY K. MOSES CHRISTCHURCH
Feb. 23: The build-up to a cricket series in these parts of the world is very often a fiery one involving verbal volleys lobbed from rival camps in an attempt to soften up each other via mental disintegration. However, New Zealand coach Andy Moles did just the opposite when he put all aces in India’s bag ahead of Wednesday’s Twenty20 encounter that kickstarts the long drawn — twoT20s, five-ODIs and three-Test — engagement here. “I think in all facets, they are the number one team in the world,” Moles said on Monday. “You look at the way they have played over the last 18 months, they have gone round the world and at home and they have played very, very good cricket. They have got some very experienced players, who are obviously coached really well,” he added. “Certainly in the past, Indian teams haven’t toured too well but I think they have put a lot of that to bed over the last couple of years. They have started to tour well and did really well in Australia last year. They are an excellent cricket team,” the 48year-old said. Moles picked out Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag for special praise and said his side would be wary of them. “In Gambhir and Sehwag, they have got two of the most explosive players in the world,” he said.
Kiwis wary of Indians BY OUR CORRESPONDENT CHRISTCHURCH
Feb. 23: He played alongside them in the highly entertaining Indian Premier League. Now, Ross Taylor will attempt to cut the mighty Indians down to size with his aggressive batting. The New Zealand top order bat admits the visitors are strong on paper and are on a different plane. “India have world-class players but when you play at this level, probably once you have played a few games, you put all that aside. I am sure some of our players will be a little bit starstruck early on but I am sure they will be fine come game day,” the 24-year-old said. Taylor knows that will not be so easy. “Taking into consideration their consistency over the last 12-18 months, India would be the best team going around in all forms of the game. They have beaten Australia consistently. Definitely, I think they are the world’s best team at the moment and it is exciting for us to play against them and see where we really are,” he said. However, the highly competitive ODI series (drawn 2-2) against Australia recently should stand them in good stead, Taylor feels. “I think we can gain a lot from that. Obviously, Australia being one of the best teams in the world and to beat them on their home track was very satisfying. To go over there with the team we had — a very inexperienced side — but the youngsters stepped up. I still think we have got a little bit of room to improve and hopefully we can show that in this series,” he said.
Harbhajan Singh (left) and Sachin Tendulkar jog at the the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Christchurch on Monday. Rain hampered the Indians’ practice session. PHOTO: K. Moses
From New Zealand’s point of view, Moles said, “We are really proud to play at home. We like to defend our own ground. It is an opportunity again for the individuals in our team to show what they can do. We can’t wait for the series to begin because we will really start to see areas that we need to improve in and things we are doing well.”
Talking about the positives, Moles said, “Having gone 2-0 up in Australia recently, the feeling in the camp was really good. I think we probably just stood back a little bit and waited for the Australians to give us opportunities to win the game. “We have spoken about the need to make sure that we are proactive and we are going to go about
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT CHRISTCHURCH
Feb. 23: All-rounder Jacob Oram has returned to the New Zealand squad after a layoff through injury. He will play as a batsman only though. New Zealand coach Andy Moles was delighted. “Oram is one of those explosive players who can win games. Any New Zealand team that has Jacob Oram playing has the capacity to win games not only when you are playing well but also when you are behind, you can catch the game up with his immense hitting. He will be bowling very soon too,” he said. Batsman Ross Taylor, who injured his hamstring in last week’s Twenty20 game against Australia, has also been confirmed as fit to play as New Zealand Cricket named the squad for the two T20 matches against India, on February 25 and 27. Left-arm fast bowler
looking to win games. “Against the Indians, we need to make sure that we are at our very best in all components of our game. We are looking forward to a really tough challenge.” The coach also plans to use the inexperience of his players to his advantage. “We have got quite a few new faces that the Indians wouldn’t
have seen. It will be nice if we can catch the Indians out because they don’t know too much about some of our younger players coming through,” he said. The Kiwis have begun their homework. “We will go through all the stuff compiled about the Indians playing over the last couple of series at a meeting tonight. But of course, it’s alright knowing what you want to do, and then you have to put it into practice. That is what we are going to be looking at over the next couple of days — to make sure that we carry out the plans that we are going to come up with,” Moles said. Moles also acknowledged the IPL’s contribution in formulating their plans. “The IPL has given an opportunity for our senior players especially to play alongside and see these Indian players. That’s got to be an advantage for us. We have seen them a little bit more now that the IPL has come around. Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum – those senior guys need to step up and they are aware of that. They are looking at it as a fantastic opportunity to show their wares as well. For us to perform well, we need our senior players to play well,” he said. The youngsters are not far behind. “Martin Guptill did really well in Australia, as did Grant Elliott. Neil Broom is coming on as well and improving with each game. We are a developing team and it’s really excited to be involved with them at this moment.”
gearing up
Oram returns
No wicked wickets this time: Taylor BY OUR CORRESPONDENT CHRISTCHURCH
Feb. 23: The last time India toured New Zealand, they were done in by seaming wickets that made batting miserable. The visitors failed to cross 200 in both Tests and lost the series 0-2. In the one-dayers, they were beaten 2-5. However, there is good news this time around if a couple in the New Zealand camp are to be believed. Top order batsman Ross Taylor played down home advantage and said the wickets will not be loaded in favour of the Kiwis. “I think a lot of people have made a lot of the wickets the last time they were here (in 2003). I think the wickets have improved a lot since then. “I don’t think the Indians need to worry about green, seaming wickets. It shows in our domestic form. The little dibbly-dobbly bowlers aren’t having as much success as they had five or 10 years ago. It is good for New Zealand
No fan blues for Team India
Ewen Thompson also returned to the squad after making his debut in the T20 against the West Indies in December. Glenn Turner, head of the selection panel, said Thompson had shown continuing good domestic form for the State Central Stags, including a four-wicket haul against the State Northern Knights. “Ewen comes in for Kyle Mills who is still recovering from injury to his Achilles tendon,” said Turner, adding “He will give the side additional strength as a specialist new ball and swing bowler.” Prominent among those left out were seasoned allrounder Scot Styris and James Franklin as the Kiwis banked on youth to take on the world champions. Team: Daniel Vettori (capt), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Brendon Mc Cullum, Nathan McCullum, Iain O’ Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Ewen Thompson
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he Indian cricket team T are finally at peace, free from the manic fans K IWI who brave batons bran-
Suresh Raina bats during practice in Christchruch. PHOTO: AFP
dished by cops to mob them every time they are seen in public back home. On Monday, hardly a handful turned up to get glimpses or autographs of the men in blue at a practice session at New Zealand Cricket’s high performance centre on the Lincoln University campus. Most of these were Indian expatriates. The Indian team was deprived of practice though as steady drizzle rendered the outfield at the nets area wet forcing players indoors for some fielding drills and physical exercises. Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan jogged outside the boundary line of the adjacent Bert Sutcliffe Oval, which was hosting a match between the English Lions
BYTES
and New Zealand Emerging Players. Bhajji’s desperation to get into action was evident when he gave the ball that had been hit for boundary a shine before hurling it back in. ******** hings are no different in the Kiwi camp with the team yet to get into the groove. The players, coach and the support staff are just about getting together. There was no team bus to take them around after they assembled on Monday. The players came in their own cars for practice at the Lincoln University. Stocky coach Andy Moles was behind the wheel as he pulled into the practice area with Ross Taylor in the front seat. The drive is missing.
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— K. MOSES
cricket that the bowlers have to work a bit harder for their wickets and I am sure over the next month or so, the Indians will see how our conditions have changed,” he said on Monday. “There will be a little bit of getting used to for the Indians but our wickets aren’t as bouncy as Australia. I am sure after the first two T20 games, they wil get used to the bounce and in the nets as well. That won’t be a factor come the first onedayer. It will be interesting to see how it goes,” Ross added. Coach Andy Moles feels his bowlers will have to bend their backs to extract something from the wickets. “India are coming here from a series in Sri Lanka. So if we can get the ball to bounce a little bit it could work for us,” he said. It’s all about can we raise our game and carry out the plans that we want to put in place. If we do that, then we believe we will be competitive,” Moles said.
Jaipur venue for IPL opener Jaipur, Feb. 23: The second season of the Indian Premier League will kick off in Jaipur with a gala opening ceremony, IPL chairman Lalit Modi disclosed this here on Monday. Modi said Rajasthan Royals’ two home matches would be held in Ahmedabad but the rest of the fixture will be in Jaipur. “As of now, the gala opening ceremony and the inaugural IPL match will be held in Jaipur,” Modi said. “I understand that Rajasthan Royals are keen to play two matches in Ahmedabad. I don’t know which two matches they would be but the rest of matches will be played in Jaipur,” he said, after filing his nomination for RCA president’s post. The IPL supremo said the result of RCA elections would not have any bearing on the IPL starting on April 10. —PTI
England players desperate to play in IPL: Gooch BY MAXIN MATHEW BENGALURU
Feb. 23: He has enjoyed a history of being one of cricket’s most luxuriant batsman ever in the early 80s, a defiant captain who led a rebel tour to South Africa and a witty commentator with a mouthful of slapstick banter. Fifty-five and still his ingenious self, former England captain and one-time ‘terror’ Graham Gooch believes the Indian Premier League’s lucrative dominance in the world couldn’t help but finally draw English cricketers into the fray. “I believe that the English players were quite desperate to be part of it, taking into consideration the amount of money involved. Even the quality of cricket is massive and surely they didn’t want to miss out on the big audience here,” Gooch said in a
chat with this newspaper. With heavyweights such as Kevin Pietersen and the doubtful Andrew Flintoff set to steal the spotlight this season, “Goochie” — as he is popularly known — says their IPL stint will have its share of pressure. “Bagging the title of being the most expensive players in the league is good for their morale. But a costly price tag comes with the added pressure to perform well,” he added. “Kevin is a box-office player. A cricketer with ego, he is a risktaker and a good asset for this form of cricket. His style of play is exciting to watch, especially when he top-spins the ball through the wicket like a tennis player,” Gooch said. With Flintoff’s injury fuelling speculations about his availability for the IPL, Gooch said the English all-rounder shouldn’t risk aggravating his injury
Former England captain Graham Gooch and Essex County CEO David East in Bengaluru on Monday. PHOTO: Robert Maria Clement
and recuperate in time for the home series against the Caribbean nation in May and
the all-important Ashes against Australia in July. England had received a lot of
flak after their disastrous innings defeat to the West Indies in the first Test where they crumbled for a shocking 51 with many blaming the IPL auction as distraction. “It’s not the best environment for a team to put in their best when you have had the captain and coach quitting and the IPL auctions in the background. “Having said that, there was news that Andrew Strauss had said IPL was hardly discussed in the dressing room. But believe me, I have been part of dressing room talks for years and what Andrew expressed is quite hard to digest,” he said. Tipping interim coach Andy Flower as the fancied choice for team coach, Gooch stressed that past incidents should not affect the team spirit and focus should be on upping the ante for future tourneys. “There were some issues between Kevin and Peter
(Moores) which couldn’t be resolved during their ‘clear-theair meeting’ and reached public domain. Now, Andrew (Strauss) and Andy Flower should focus on uniting the team and get them performing as one. They should imbibe the fact that they are playing for national honour and coherence,” Gooch said. In the city as brand ambassador for Essex County Cricket Club, Gooch and the club’s chief executive officer David East are looking out for sponsorship deals for their stadium and also interact with IPL bigwigs so that they can try and start a new T20 venture back home. “It’s a great opportunity for us to foster new ties and also for Essex players such as Ravi Bopara (Kings XI Punjab) and Graham Napier (Mumbai Indians) who will feature this season,” East said.