ID :
34951
Wed, 12/10/2008 - 20:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/34951
The shortlink copeid
Cricket scores over terror as India-England gear up for Test
R Eswar
Chennai, Dec 10 (PTI) Cricket would score over terrorism
and more than the outcome, both the teams would hope to apply
balm on the wounds of India's terror-stricken populace when
they host England for the first cricket Test here in the
southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu Thursday.
Since the November 26 Mumbai mayhem, it took umpteen
hectic parleys and individual behind-the-door persuasion by
both the Indian and English Boards to convince that India is
safe enough to continue the tour they had abruptly abandoned
after the Mumbai massacre.
To their credit, Pietersen and his teammates, including
the reluctant trio of Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and
Graeme Swann, put behind their personal apprehension and
decided to board the India-bound flight after security adviser
Reg Dickason had given the green signal for the series.
But now that the terror scare has been overcome, weather
god poses the most serious threat to the Test with the
possibility of rain hovering over the eagerly awaited Test.
Despite England returning with a full-strength team, the
match on paper looks heavily tilted in favour of the Indians,
who bulldozed the visitors 5-0 in the ODI series.
To make it worse for the visitors, Ryan Sidebottom has
already been ruled out of the series, while fellow pacer
Stuart Broad will also be out of action in the first Test.
Though Denmark-born Kent pacer Amjad Khan has been
drafted in as Sidebottom's replacement, Harmison, James
Anderson and Flintoff would have to shoulder the entire burden
in the pace bowling department.
Their batting looked fragile in the one day series and
unless their is a dramatic improvement, England bowlers would
not have enough runs on the board to defend.
In contrast, there apparently is no real chink in the
Indian armour and though the void created by the twin
retirements of former captains Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble
would take time to fill, it's not likely to make much of an
affect on the team's show against England.
On a high after taming the world champion Australia at
home, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his teammates apparently cannot
put a foot wrong and England bore the brunt in the ODI series
where a 7-0 whitewash seemed looming large over them before
the last two ODIs were abandoned following the Mumbai
massacre.
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir don't feel the need to
get their eyes in and attack straight from the word go which
has made life difficult for the rival bowlers.
While Rahul Dravid continues his battle against a
prolonged bad patch, it hardly affected the side because
others raised their hands to be counted.
Sachin Tendulkar has proved that he has not lost his
hunger for runs and the double century against Australia in
the Delhi Test underlines the kind of form VVS Laxman is in.
Though Yuvraj Singh remains in and out of the side, the
selectors reposed faith in him and now that Ganguly is no more
around, this series provides a golden opportunity to the
left-hander to cement his place.
Dhoni's altered approach to batting means he is no more a
mindless slogger and can bat according to situations, which
means there simply would be no respite for the visitors.
In the bowling department, Zaheer Khan is arguably the
best new ball bowler in the world at the moment. The
left-hander has also assumed the mentor's role for youngsters
like Ishant Sharma and the result is showing.
With both Zaheer and Ishant breathing fire, Munaf Patel
hardly got chance but still managed to impress all with his
cerebral approach in the ODI series against England.
The spin department, meanwhile, has seen a quiet passing
of the baton with Harbhajan Singh taking over as the spearhead
and leg-spinner Amit Mishra effortlessly stepping into
Kumble's shoes.
All in all, an in-form India hold a clear edge over the
undercooked visitors and England would require an
extraordinary effort to do what Australia could not.
Squads (From):
India: M S Dhoni (c), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag,
Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, S
Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Pragyan
Ojha, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma and Murali Vijay.
England: Kevin Pietersen (c), Tim Ambrose, James
Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair
Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Amjad Khan, Monty
Panesar, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann
and Ravi Bopara.
Umpires: Daryel Harper and Billy Bowden.
Match Referee: Jeff Crow
Hours of play : 9.30 to 11.30 am, 12.10 to 2.10 pm, 2.30
to 4.30 pm IST. PTI RE
PMR
NNNN
Chennai, Dec 10 (PTI) Cricket would score over terrorism
and more than the outcome, both the teams would hope to apply
balm on the wounds of India's terror-stricken populace when
they host England for the first cricket Test here in the
southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu Thursday.
Since the November 26 Mumbai mayhem, it took umpteen
hectic parleys and individual behind-the-door persuasion by
both the Indian and English Boards to convince that India is
safe enough to continue the tour they had abruptly abandoned
after the Mumbai massacre.
To their credit, Pietersen and his teammates, including
the reluctant trio of Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and
Graeme Swann, put behind their personal apprehension and
decided to board the India-bound flight after security adviser
Reg Dickason had given the green signal for the series.
But now that the terror scare has been overcome, weather
god poses the most serious threat to the Test with the
possibility of rain hovering over the eagerly awaited Test.
Despite England returning with a full-strength team, the
match on paper looks heavily tilted in favour of the Indians,
who bulldozed the visitors 5-0 in the ODI series.
To make it worse for the visitors, Ryan Sidebottom has
already been ruled out of the series, while fellow pacer
Stuart Broad will also be out of action in the first Test.
Though Denmark-born Kent pacer Amjad Khan has been
drafted in as Sidebottom's replacement, Harmison, James
Anderson and Flintoff would have to shoulder the entire burden
in the pace bowling department.
Their batting looked fragile in the one day series and
unless their is a dramatic improvement, England bowlers would
not have enough runs on the board to defend.
In contrast, there apparently is no real chink in the
Indian armour and though the void created by the twin
retirements of former captains Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble
would take time to fill, it's not likely to make much of an
affect on the team's show against England.
On a high after taming the world champion Australia at
home, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his teammates apparently cannot
put a foot wrong and England bore the brunt in the ODI series
where a 7-0 whitewash seemed looming large over them before
the last two ODIs were abandoned following the Mumbai
massacre.
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir don't feel the need to
get their eyes in and attack straight from the word go which
has made life difficult for the rival bowlers.
While Rahul Dravid continues his battle against a
prolonged bad patch, it hardly affected the side because
others raised their hands to be counted.
Sachin Tendulkar has proved that he has not lost his
hunger for runs and the double century against Australia in
the Delhi Test underlines the kind of form VVS Laxman is in.
Though Yuvraj Singh remains in and out of the side, the
selectors reposed faith in him and now that Ganguly is no more
around, this series provides a golden opportunity to the
left-hander to cement his place.
Dhoni's altered approach to batting means he is no more a
mindless slogger and can bat according to situations, which
means there simply would be no respite for the visitors.
In the bowling department, Zaheer Khan is arguably the
best new ball bowler in the world at the moment. The
left-hander has also assumed the mentor's role for youngsters
like Ishant Sharma and the result is showing.
With both Zaheer and Ishant breathing fire, Munaf Patel
hardly got chance but still managed to impress all with his
cerebral approach in the ODI series against England.
The spin department, meanwhile, has seen a quiet passing
of the baton with Harbhajan Singh taking over as the spearhead
and leg-spinner Amit Mishra effortlessly stepping into
Kumble's shoes.
All in all, an in-form India hold a clear edge over the
undercooked visitors and England would require an
extraordinary effort to do what Australia could not.
Squads (From):
India: M S Dhoni (c), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag,
Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, S
Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Pragyan
Ojha, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma and Murali Vijay.
England: Kevin Pietersen (c), Tim Ambrose, James
Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair
Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Amjad Khan, Monty
Panesar, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann
and Ravi Bopara.
Umpires: Daryel Harper and Billy Bowden.
Match Referee: Jeff Crow
Hours of play : 9.30 to 11.30 am, 12.10 to 2.10 pm, 2.30
to 4.30 pm IST. PTI RE
PMR
NNNN
