cricket

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Muttiah Muralitharan

Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has reveled that legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is the toughest bowler he has ever faced.

''Muralitharan is a great bowler, he has taken more than 700 wickets, and apart from that he is a great thinker of the game,'' Gambhir told 'espnstar.com'. ''I feel Murali is the toughest bowler I have ever faced.'' The Mahender Singh Dhoni-led Indian team today left for Colombo to play a tri-series against New Zealand and the host nation.

Gambhir said it would be tough to beat Sri Lanka in their own backyard.

''Sri Lanka know our strengths and weaknesses and we know theirs. It's going to be a good challenge.

''It's a challenge when we play someone so often and in their own backyard. When asked will there be extra pressure on him in the absence of Virender Sehwag to lead the Indian batting order, the opener said, ''Any team would miss Viru, especially after seeing him in the kind of form he was in the New Zealand.'' ''There's no extra pressure as it is all about going out there and showing your talent, enjoying the game and giving hundred per cent on the field,'' he added.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Indian One-Day cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's performance on the pitch and his good looks have earned him a huge female fan following, among them a bevy of Bollywood actresses. Here's what they say:

Bipasha Basu: Dhoni is great at his job and he is a good ambassador of our country. He is well groomed and I find him soft-spoken and charming. And I don't think he uses his popularity for the wrong reasons.

Esha Deol: Yup, I'd say Dhoni is terrific and he conducts himself with plenty of dignity. Right now I think he's at his best - physically fit and raring to go. I'd say he is the best sportsman in our country today.

Nandana Sen: Dhoni has great focus, speaks his mind freely. Although he is super-talented, he talks like a very regular guy. I find normalcy in superstars very attractive.

Raima Sen: Cricketers have always been more popular than stars. I feel Dhoni's main charm lies in the fact that he has become the captain of the Indian cricket team at such a young age. And then he brought the (Twenty20) Cup home. That did the trick. Success is the greatest aphrodisiac. It sure has added sex appeal to Dhoni's personality. And let's not forget his hip hairstyle. Wow!

Kangana Ranaut: I think Dhoni is hot enough to give any of our studs from Bollywod a run for their money. And since Dhoni can run faster than any of them, he has an extra edge. Of course, I find him hot. Which normal hot-blooded girl wouldn't?

Minissha Lamba: In any industry, whether it is cinema or cricket, we need to focus on people's achievements rather than wonder how far their sex appeal goes. Success is sexy. And everyone has the right to look his best. But physical beauty shouldn't be allowed to eclipse the value of his real personality or the fact that he has put the country on the international sports map.

Mona Singh: I find Dhoni super hot. He not only looks good but plays well too. And he is a superb captain.

Divya Dutta: Oh, I find Dhoni very hot, specially his passion for living on the edge, not playing safe or getting tense while taking crucial decisions. He is so full of energy. And he is a fabulous cricketer. Of course, the bare chest is the icing on the cake.

Gul Panag: Dhoni? Ha! He's a heady mix of good looks, success and power.

Amrita Arora: Yes, he's hot, but only as a player, please. His good personality teamed with being an excellent player makes him a force to reckon with.

Perizaad Zorabian: The fact that Dhoni comes from a small town and has beaten all odds to make it big makes him very sexy. He comes across as determined, calm, confident and no-nonsense. He takes pride in who he is. These qualities make him stand apart in a world of self-promoting wannabes.

Harbhajan Singh

NEW DELHI: A coy Virender Sehwag does not want to lead the Indian cricket team but his feisty team-mate Harbhajan Singh does, saying it's a

challenge worth a try.

Sehwag has already informed the selectors about his reluctance and requested them to groom someone for future.

Harbhajan, on his part, said incumbent Mahendra Singh Dhoni is doing an excellent job at the helm but he made no bones about his own ambition, saying he would not shy away if Team India captaincy ever comes his way.

"Whoever plays for India wants to lead the side at some stage and it's no different with me. At the end of the day, it's a huge honour for a player," Harbhajan said in an interview hours before his departure for the tri-series in Sri Lanka.

The star off-spinner, however, gave a thumbs-up to Dhoni's captaincy and said, "At the moment, Dhoni is doing a fantastic job and there is no doubt that he is a brilliant skipper."

Harbhajan was seen in the captain's role in the recent BCCI Corporate Trophy where the off-spinner led Air India Blue to the final and the spinner said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

"Leading Air India Blue in Corporate Trophy was obviously a good experience. Of course you learn more and more with time but I certainly enjoyed it. It was a challenge for me which I accepted and enjoyed to the hilt," said the 29-year-old Punjab spinner.

Incidentally, Dhoni played under Harbhajan in the tournament and also rolled his arms for three unsuccessful overs in the final.

Talking about captaincy, one thing that baffles Harbhajan is the myth that bowlers make inferior captains and more often than not, the job goes to a batsman.

"I don't know why batsmen are traditionally preferred for the captain's job. I mean if you have good leadership skills, it should not matter whether you are a batsman or a bowler. Your ability to lead should be the lone criterion," he said.

"Imran Khan was primarily a bowler when he took over captaincy and did a great job with Pakistan. And look at (New Zealand captain Daniel) Vettori today. He has been doing so well for quite a while. So how come people perceive captaincy a job beyond the bowlers?" Harbhajan asked.

A veteran of 189 ODIs and 77 Tests, Harbhajan acknowledged captaincy is a full-time responsibility when he would have to plan for others as well but said he can handle the pressure that comes with the job.

Hayden

Hayden has aggregated 298 in six innings at an average of 59.60, including three fifties.

The following are the statistical highlights of the Twenty20 match between Chennai Super Kings and Bangalore Royal Challengers:

Chennai Super Kings (179 for five) registered the highest total in the second edition of the IPL so far, surpassing the 165 for 7 by Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings at Cape Town Saturday.

The score is Chennai’s highest against Bangalore, eclipsing the 178 for five at Bangalore last year.

Chennai Super Kings with their comprehensive win over Bangalore Royal Challengers, have now won ten games out of 18 in the IPL. Rajasthan Royals have won the most matches (13) and Kings XI Punjab 10.

Chennai Super Kings’ 92-run victory is their highest by runs margin in the IPL, surpassing their 33-run win over Kings XI Punjab at Mohali, April 19, 2008. The victory is Chennai’s second in three games over Bangalore.

Muttiah Muralitharan (3/11) has for the first time claimed three wickets in an IPL innings, eclipsing the 2 for 39 against Rajasthan at Mumbai on June 1,2008.

Muralitharan received his first MOM award in the IPL.

Parthiv Patel and Hayden recorded the first century stand for the opening wicket for their side.

Bangalore Royal Challengers (87) posted their second lowest score in the IPL, their lowest is 82 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Bangalore last year.

Chennai Super Kings’ 92-run victory is the third biggest in terms of runs in the IPL - the top two being by 140 runs by Kolkata over Bangalore at Bangalore and by 105 runs by Rajasthan over Delhi Daredevils in the first edition of the IPL.

Sydney, Oct 6 (IANS) Harbahajan Singh’s declaration that he is not out to make friends against Australia has fired up his foe opener Matthew Hayden, who said such comments would only inspire him to perform better against the hosts.The 36-year-old said he doesn’t harbour any grudge against the off-spinner who drew the ire of the Aussies during the series between the two teams early this year.

“There is a lot less of the personal tension with Harbhajan than what is made out. In a lot of ways, I feel if that is affecting him, it’s a good thing for me because I don’t feel I am harbouring any massive resentment,” Hayden was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I think he is a very good bowler and it is challenging to play well. Over the years those kind of tensions have always made me play better, and I will certainly be using that to my advantage.

“It (the series) is going to have Test match tension and I don’t feel threatened. The only thing that threatens me is what balls he can deliver to get me out. To me, that has been a great source of motivation, not just (against) Harbhajan. They’ve got a very solid bowling attack right around,” he said,

The Australian opener has had running battles with Harbhajan during the series earlier in the year and famously called him “an obnoxious little weed” - a remark that drew a reprimand from Cricket Australia.

Kapil Dev

New Delhi, Sept.24 (ANI): Former Indian cricket captain and all-rounder Kapil Dev, was on Wednesday commissioned into the Territorial Army (TA) as an honorary lieutenant colonel.

Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor piped the badges of the rank on the shoulders of Dev, at a ceremony at the Army Headquarters here this afternoon. He was later felicitated at the Territorial Army headquarters mess in the evening in the presence of host of dignitaries who been members of the Territorial Army for years and achieved major milestones in other careers. They included Major (retired) Subir Saha, the former Chairman and Managing Director of the ONGC, and Brigadier K. P. Singh Deo, a former Cabinet Minister, besides others.

“This is my second innings. Earlier I fought for the country in my white uniform. Now, I will do the same in my olive green army uniform,” Kapil said proudly.

Kapil, 50, was commissioned into the 150 TA (Infantry) battalion of the Punjab Regiment.

“I am proud I have been given this rank. It took six months for the things to materialise, with the file moving from the home ministry to the defence ministry,” said Kapil, as his wife and daughter looked on.

Kapil will also be the brand ambassador of the Territorial Army and help train golfers of the army.

Territorial Army sources said that his induction would help in attracting talent as the army is facing a major officer crunch. (ANI)

Rahul Dravid

Bangalore, Oct 6 (IANS) Rahul Dravid’s 10,000 Test runs were celebrated here at Chinnaswamy stadium with Sachin Tendulkar unveiling a wall of 10,000 bricks.It was a wall of commitment, consistency and class written all over it to describe the former India skipper.

Built by Bangalore-based realtor Skyline group, the Wall projects Dravid in metal statue playing his trademark cover-drive and features the legendary batsman’s finest cricketing moments in both forms of cricket.

Dravid is popularly considered to be “the wall” of Indian batting for his impenetrable technique and diligence.

Unveiling the Wall, Tendulkar said Dravid truly deserved such recognition and would remain a testimony for all his achievements.

“It is a great credit to his family. More than a great cricketer and a great batsman, Rahul is a perfect gentleman on and off the field. The Wall will inspire every budding cricketer to emulate Rahul and his batting skills,” Tendulkar said.

A live electronic unit in the top corner on the right displays Dravid’s current score — 10,246 runs in Test cricket. The unit will keep ticking as Dravid scores runs in Tests played in India or overseas, Skyline group managing director Avinash Prabhu told reporters at a simple ceremony, graced by former and present cricketers.

Dravid is the brand ambassador for the Skyline group. His parents - Sharad and Pushpa - were present on the occasion.

Located strategically outside the pavilion-end, the Wall is visible from the famous M.G. Road in downtown and a few yards away from Kumble circle, christened after Indian Test skipper’s 10-wicket haul in second Test against Pakistan in February 1999 in Delhi.

“The Wall is a tribute to Dravid’s legendary contribution to Indian cricket and his outstanding achievements on and off the field. The tall structure will be a new landmark in India’s IT hub and serve as an immortal reminder of Dravid’s great feats,” Prabhu, a classmate of Dravid, said in his brief address on the occasion.

In his remarks, Dravid said though he was humbled by the honour, he felt embarrassed to be present in the midst of legendary cricketers like Sachin, former off-spinner E.A.S. Prasanna, yesteryear spin bowler B.S. Chandrasekhar, former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani and others.

“For me the greatest thing is to play for the country and be in the company of a legendary cricketer who also scored over 10,000 plus runs. I am sure this Wall will inspire budding cricketers. I am also touched that the Wall is erected where I began my cricketing career,” Dravid said amidst applause.

Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary and former Indian batsman Brijesh Patel said it was a momentous day for the Chinnaswamy stadium.

“Dravid is ranked along with former legendary cricket Gundappa Vishwanath and former Indian badminton champion Prakash Padukone who also hail from Karnataka. By scoring 10,000 plus runs in both forms of cricket, Dravid is counted among the world’s top six legendary batsman, including Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Steve Waugh, Brian Lara and Allan Border,” Patel said.

Having watched Dravid from his younger days, Patel said the Bangalore-born lad was level-headed, intensely focused and good student of the game.

“Dravid has an outstanding batting average in Test cricket. It is not for nothing he is considered the ‘Wall’ for his commitment, consistency and class,” Patel said