Needed a change, so got a new haircut: Ishant

Without his trademark long hair, Ishant Sharma was not easy to recognise on the field as India played England in the fourth one-dayer on Sunday.

Someone jokingly remarked that long hair had generated wind resistance when the quickie bowled. Or such hair had resulted in dropping a vital catch in the Test series against Australia.The 19-year-old, his hair freshly cropped, laughed off the suggestions.

"I was actually wearing a cap when I failed to take that catch," he said.The Delhi speedster said that he decided to have a hair cut as he felt it was time for a change."I felt like I needed a change...so I decided to have a hair cut," he said.

"My teammates were also ragging me and asking me to go to the barber. If my teammates are happy, it also makes me feel the same," he added

Ishant fit to play in Kanpur ODI

Indian speedster Ishant Sharma, who could not take part in the first two ODIs due to injury, was declared fit to play the third ODI against England in Kanpur, scheduled to be played on November 20.

The lanky Ishant, who bagged the man-of-the-series in India's 2-0 Test series win over Australia missed the first two games against England with an ankle injury.

An MRI scan on his ankle revealed that it was just a minor sprain and it was suggested that he take a little rest.

If Ishant returns to action in Kanpur, either Munaf Patel or R P Singh will make way.England will play seven One-dayers and two Tests during their tour of India

Yuvi's fitness only concern for confident India

With their confidence on a high after the landslide win in the opening ODI, in-form batsman Yuvraj Singh's back injury is India's only concern as they prepare to take on a battered England in the second one-dayer of the seven-match cricket series on Monday.

After drubbing the visitors by a massive 158 runs, the Indians are hoping that Yuvraj, who pummelled the English attack with an unbeaten 138, would be fit to take the field on Monday.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni says a final call on the attacking left-hander, who required a runner for most part of his innings in the Rajkot ODI, would taken just before the match.Pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, meanwhile, is all but out of the match after Dhoni admitted that his ankle sprain needs more time to heal.

England, on the other hand, have to battle low morale after the pasting they received at the hands of the marauding Yuvraj. Skipper Kevin Pietersen says his team would bounce back and come hard at India in the second clash.

But that looks easier said than done against an in-form Indian line-up, which did not show any sign of missing a stalwart in Sachin Tendulkar, who has been rested for the first three matches.It was Tendulkar's masterly batting that enabled India to tame Australia in the latter's lair in the triangular ODI series Down Under at the beginning of the year and his absence was surprisingly not even felt at Rajkot's Madhavrao Scindia ground.

The array of stroke-players that India possess in the batting line-up, starting with the potent opening combine of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir followed by Suresh Raina, Yuvraj, Rohit Sharma and Dhoni, must be causing not only envy but also awe among among the visiting team.

The Indian new ball bowlers Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel in particular extracted life even in the afternoon on what was a perfect belter in Rajkot while their England counterparts --led by the redoubtable Andrew Flintoff -- looked quite innocuous and failed to take advantage of whatever juice it possessed in the morning.

Pietersen's decision to ask India to take first strike must have been prompted by the array of pace bowlers at his disposal, but to his chagrin all of them were taken to the cleaners by the Indian batsmen.It is unlikely the South Africa-born batsman, who top-scored in England's reply with a confident and attractive 63 before he was run out, will repeat the same mistake henceforth."It's definitely disappointing to lose.

But there are six games left in the series and we intend to bounce back and hit India hard on Monday. We would give them a good run for the money", the England captain said after his team's humiliating defeat in the first ODI.

However, to achieve this he said the team has to improve in all aspects of the game.India, on the other hand, could not have asked for a better start to the seven-match series that concludes on December 2 at the Ferozshah Kotla ground in Delhi.

The mandatory new ball after 34 overs and the new Power Play rule, taken by India from 34th to 38th overs, also is a big advantage for big hitters.At the end of the 34th over, India were 216 for two giving a run-rate of 6.35 and the team added 171 runs in the last 16 overs at a whopping 10.6 per over, a clear indicator of the difference these two rules made to the overall picture.

Yusuf Pathan, who lasted just two balls after the electric start provided by the openers, could give way for left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha if the think tank feels that more variety is required in the spin department which had three off-spinners to fall back on at Rajkot.

England, meanwhile, are grappling with their problems of how to forge a potent bowling attack to take advantage of the wicket and weather conditions here.Samit Patel, who was set upon by Sehwag and Gambhir as soon as he was introduced to bowl, took two wickets but conceded 78 runs. With Monty Panesar not a part of the ODI fold, visitors' spin options are limited.

They are also missing the swing bowling of Ryan Sidebottom, who could have caused some problems with his movement as the other four -- Flintoff, Steve Harmison, James Anderson and Stuart Broad -- rely on pace and bounce more than movement in the air to get wickets.

Sidebottom has not played since suffering a heel injury during the Stanford Super Series of matches in the West Indies and even if passed fit, it is difficult to see him getting in without bowling extensively at the nets after having had such a long break.

The odds, thus, seem to be in India's favour ahead of the second ODI, but the home team needs to guard against complacency more than anything else.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Virendra Sehwag (Vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, R P Singh, Munaf Patel, Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay.

England: Kevin Pieternsen (Captain), Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Andy Flintoff, Samit Patel Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steve Harmison, Luke Wright and Ryan Sidebottom.

India take Nagpur Test by 172 runs, clinch series 2-0

India have recorded a historic series win over the world champions as they beat Australia by 172 runs in the Nagpur Test to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They won a Test series 2-0 against Australia after 28 years.

After Ishant Sharma built early inroads in the Australian batting, Indian spinners triggered the collapse, as the visitors were bundled for runs in reply to India's 382 runs. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra picked 3 wickets while Harbhajan Singh took four wickets.

Mishra first struck with his top-spinner and dismissed Michael Hussey for 19 runs. Brad Haddin was his second victim. Haddin lofted one from Mishra but perished to Sachin Tendulkar at mid-on as his 100th Test catch. He soon dismissed Jason Krejza as the eighth wicket.

Harbhajan Singh, from the other end, tightened the noose and was rewarded with the wickets of Matthew Hayden and Shane Watson. Hayden, who struggled throughout the series for a big knock, finally fired and kept the hopes floating for Australia but Harbhajan caught him plumb for 77 runs. Watson (3) was next to depart. He went on his back-foot and tried to cut but was beaten by the bounce. The ball took an edge and Dhoni collected it safely.

Earlier, Ishant picked two crucial wickets to put India in command. Batsmen to depart were Simon Katich and Michael Clarke. In reply to India's 382 runs, Australia resumed batting with their overnight score of 13/0 on Monday. Katich and Hayden started of aggressively. Katich tried to pull a swinging delivery from Ishant, going outside the off-stump, but the bat took a top edge and India skipper MS Dhoni took a well-judged high catch to send the first man back for 16 runs.

Ponting, who came next, soon joined Katich in the dressing room as Mishra's charging from mid-off, collected the ball swiftly and dived to knock the stumps on the non-striker's end. Ponting could contribute just 8 runs.

Clarke, Ponting's deputy, had a dismissal similar to the first innings. He nudged a short-ball angling away from him and Dhoni happily took an easy catch behind the wicket. Clarke made 22 runs and 45 runs with Hayden for the third wicket.
Posted by
Anbu.

Harbhajan claims his 300th victim

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh could not have chosen any batsman other than Ricky Ponting as his 300th Test victim whom he dismissed for the tenth time on Day 2 of the Nagpur Test.

He became the third highest Indian wicket-taker after Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev and first Indian off-spinner to get 300 wickets. He pitched the ball just outside the off-stump. The ball turned in sharply to beat Ponting (24) and clip the bails. This was also Bhajji's 200th wicket on the Indian soil.

On the other hand, bad luck seems to have picked Matthew Hayden as its favourite child on this tour as he once gain failed to convert the start into a big knock. Just when he looked murderous, a direct throw from M. Vijay saw him short of crease for 16 runs.

Earlier, Australia's off-spinner Jason Krejza gave a sensational start to his Test career as he bagged eight wickets in his maiden Test at Nagpur and bundled India for 441 runs in their first innings.

After picking Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman on Thursday, Krejza on Day 2 cleaned up the Indian tail.

He first broke the 119-run partnership between MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly by foxing the former. The Indian skipper tried to paddle sweep but missed the delivery and the ball hit the leg-stump. Ganguly, who was looking set for the farewell ton, edged one to Michael Clarke at first slip.

Ganguly slammed 35th Test fifty, his 7th against Australia. Ganguly played 153 balls and hit eight 4s and one 6 during his knock of 85 runs. Dhoni also got 12th half-century, his third against the visitors, before falling for 56 runs.

Soon after they fell, Krejza hurried the Indian tail-enders pack in the pavilion. He deceived Zaheer Khan with his flight and the Indian fast bowler edged it to the stumps for just 1 run. In the very next delivery, his spinning counterpart Amit Mishra (0) was done by the 'doosra'. After pitching the ball straightened and hit the off-stump.

Ishant Sharma survived few deliveries but he soon nudged one to Katich who took a sharp catch at short leg.

Posted by

Anbu.