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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, September 22, 2016
Kiwis aim to turn tables on spin kings India
By Amlan Chakraborty
KANPUR, India (Reuters) - New Zealand captain Kane Williamson believes his slow-bowling trio can prove a handful for India in their own spin-friendly backyard in the three-Test series starting today. Rolling out raging turners and unleashing the spinners have been the tried-andtested formula behind India’s formidable home form, and the cracks on the track in Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium suggest the trend will continue against the Kiwis. India have won each of their last three home series, against Australia, West Indies and South Africa, without losing a Test.
Mark Craig But New Zealand seem to have done their homework and have included a trio of specialist spinners -- Ish
Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Mark Craig -- in their squad with a reasonable chance of all three playing in the series
opener in Kanpur. “They’ve got very good spinners, naturally very experienced in these conditions. But we have got some exciting young talent. We have shown that in the (World) Twenty20,” Williamson said, referring to the impressive display by leg-spinner Sodhi and left-armer Santner in the tournament in India earlier this year. “Yes, the formats are different but we are hoping they can build on those experiences,” Williamson said. “There were a lot of learning experiences to be had, certainly this being one of them, being exposed in these conditions which will certainly suit spin
bowling. “We are certainly hoping they can play a big part in the series.” Williamson had a good look at the wicket in Kanpur and the 26-year-old spotted a silver lining in the dry track, in the form of reverse-swing potential. “Coming into it, and certainly watching the previous series here, without much grass on the block, obviously the ball deteriorates quite quickly and reverse swing and spin naturally become big factors,” he said. “How our spin bowlers bowl will be important, but at the same time we are hoping for better reverse swing. We will have to see how things unfold.”
Williamson conceded spin might make or break fortunes in the series but did not agree fully with teammate Ross Taylor’s suggestion of employing the sweep shot frequently to negate the Indian spinner. “I think it’s certainly up to individuals. Some guys sweep more than others,” Williamson said. “I suppose sweeping is a big part of an Indian player’s game. They’ve got great footwork, they get forward, they get back and come down the wicket. “You can learn a lot from the way they play but at the end of the day, it’s up to individual players who are the most comfortable with it.”
India can become the best team in Test cricket - Kohli
By Amlan Chakraborty |
KANPUR, India (Reuters) - India have the resources to become the best team in Test cricket and the bumper home season would be a perfect opportunity to sow the seed of their ascendancy, captain Virat Kohli said yesterday. Kohli’s men embark on an important 13-Test season today when they take on New Zealand in the first match of the three-Test series at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium. “We believe we certainly have what it takes to be the best team in the world,” the 27-year-old told reporters on the eve of what would be India’s 500th Test. “One area we have tapped into is belief. It’s
Virat Kohli something that a lot of young players can lack coming into international cricket. “It’s all about getting rid of that feeling ... That’s the only way you can go out there, be confident and express yourself. Express how good you are, and that’s what this team have done.
“More often than not if you’re fearless, the results will fall your way because you’re willing to take that extra risk in the course of the game. I certainly feel that this team have what it takes to be the best.” India’s poor record as tourists has been a home truth but under Kohli, the team have won series in Sri Lanka and West Indies to briefly occupy the top Test rankings before arch-rivals Pakistan snatched it. Kohli saw a gilt-edged opportunity to reclaim the tag in the big ‘career-defining’ home season which will also include Tests against England, Australia and Bangladesh. “This season is a phase where we can lay the foundation where the Test team will go,” Kohli said.
“The challenge in the last one year or so has been to show composure and get the victories which we require and we have been able to get that. The important thing is to continue the same. “This season will be career-defining for all the people in the squad, because hardly have we played 17 Test matches regularly. “That’s something we are happy about, that we can plan our Test cricket, and back ourselves and get those victories whenever the chance comes. Very exciting times ahead.” Dwelling on the Test against New Zealand, Kohli praised the touring side’s fearless brand of cricket, which he attributed to former Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum.
Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club wins 5/5 title THE Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club of Canje claimed the RHTY&SC/ Hand-in-Hand Insurance 5/5 cricket tournament title when they easily defeated crowd favourites Tamarind Root last Sunday at the Area ‘H’ ground. Led by man-of-the-tournament Balram Samaroo, the Canje team played unbeaten throughout the day to emerge as champions. Batting first, Tamarind Root were restricted to 36-7 off their allotted overs, as the Rose Hall Estate fielded and bowled superbly. Dilip Regasami topscored with 15. Balram Sa-
The victorious Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club of Canje maroo took 3-3 in his one over. In response, Samaroo returned with the bat to
blast an unbeaten 20, as Rose Hall Estate reached 40 without loss in 3.4. The champions had earlier
defeated Young and Restless by nine wickets in the semi-final, after restricting their opponents to 38-6. Eleven teams – RHT ‘A’, RHT ‘B’, Bush Lot United, Young Achievers, Young and Restless, Goed Bananen, Police, Tamarind Root, Belvedere United, Rose Hall Estate and Courtland participated in the oneday tournament. The RHTY&SC also hosted basketball and football tournaments. Three exciting bouts of boxing were also held as part of the 46th anniversary celebrations of Rose Hall Town.
“Their mentality was cricket was not the end of the world for them, they just enjoyed the game,” Kohli said. “I think they have been able to detach themselves from those pressures and that’s
why they have got successful in the last couple of years.” Indian paceman Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the Test with mosquito-borne viral disease Chikungunya.
Back-to-back horse race meets
TWO of Guyana’s top turf clubs, Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities and Port Mourant Turf Club will stage back-to-back horse race meets at their respective grounds. The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities race meet is planned for this Sunday, while the Port Mourant Turf Club race meet is billed for October 2. Information reaching Chronicle Sport indicated that eight races are planned for both race meets, which are expected to feature all the top race horses in Guyana. It is understood that close to 50 horses have confirmed participation for this Sunday’s event, where over $3M in cash, trophies and other incentives are up for grabs. The feature race is the classified Alness Classic over 1600 metres for a first prize of $600 000. Other races planned for the day are the: G and Lower, Twoyear-olds race for Guyana-bred horses, H and Lower, K and Lower, J’1’, L ‘1’, and there is an event for unclassified horses. Interested persons can make contact with Marcel Crawford Jr on 678-5342, Dennis DeRoop on 640-6396 or Compton Sancho on 602-1567. Meanwhile, dubbed the best-of-the-best President’s Cup, over $8M is at stake in the Port Mourant Turf Club race meet. The feature event for animals classified A and Lower will see the winner receive a lucrative $1.5M along with the best-of-the-best President’s Cup. On the other hand, there is an event for D3 maiden animals, which includes E and Lower. There is also an event for Three-year-olds Guyana-bred horses, G1 and Lower, H3 Maiden, and I and Lower, Two-year-olds Guyana and West Indies-bred horses, I3, J and Lower and L and Lower. Entries close on September 23 and those interested can make contact with Kris Jagdeo on 624-6123 or 3220369, Rajendra (Jim-Jo) Jagdeo on 618-7278 or Chandu Ramkissoon on 232-0633 or 624-9063. Race time is 12:30hrs. Both races will run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.