Sehwag shaping well for Champions Trophy: Dhoni

Virender Sehwag, recuperating from a shoulder surgery, was shaping well for the Champions Trophy, according to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who said the dashing opener may however not be ready for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in early September.

"He is improving every day. He is putting in a lot of effort to get ready for the Champions Trophy," Dhoni said on Thursday.

On Sehwag's chances of playing in the tri-series in Sri Lanka starting on September 8, Dhoni hinted the batsman may have to sit out of the event.

"It's (tri-series) too soon, with just a few days to go," he said.

Sehwag had injured his shoulder during the semifinal of the second edition of the Indian Premier League in South Africa and he underwent a surgery for the the Grade II lesion at a Nottingham hospital in June.

Since then, Sehwag has been following a rehabilitation programmed, which makes him doubtful not only for the September 8-14 tri-series in Sri Lanka but also cast a cloud of doubt over his availability for the Champions Trophy in South Africa starting on September 22.

Dhoni said apart from Sehwag, there were no other injury issues and the players looked in perfect shape for a hectic schedule ahead.

"We just had a mid-term fitness test and we'll have a camp before the tri-series to get back into the groove and get ready for the long season ahead," Dhoni said.

The Indian captain was here to announce the second season of the September 9-13 Kolkata Fashion Week, of which he is the brand ambassador.

Dhoni had appeared in fashion shows along with model-turned-actress Deepika Padukone.
Asked if he would team up with the actress again at the Kolkata Fashion Week this year, Dhoni's reply had the audience in splits.

"During the period, I would not be in Kolkata. I will be playing in Sri Lanka. So I'll be walking the ramp there with the likes of Yuvraj Singh and fellow cricketers from New Zealand and Sri Lanka," he quipped.

On a serious note, Dhoni said Kolkata was close to his heart since he played a lot of cricket here early in his career.

"Right from my under-13, under-16 and under-19 days when I was playing for Bihar, now Jharkhand, a number of times we played at Eden Gardens.

"Apart from that, I used to play P Sen Trophy for Shyam Bazar Club and I remember a good innings against East Bengal.

I played a number of Ranji matches against Bengal at Eden," he recalled.

"When I was working with Railways in Kharagpur, I spent quite a good time here. I understand Bengali, can speak a bit. Kolkata is very close to my heart," he said.

source by:cricketnext.in.com

Sehwag eyes Champion trophy return

After being out of action for over two months following a shoulder injury that needed surgery, dashing opener Virender Sehwag is hoping to return to top-notch cricket through the ICC Champions Trophy next month.

"I am hoping to play in the ICC Champions Trophy. My rehabilitation is going well," said the Delhi marauder on the sidelines of a book release function here on Friday.

Sehwag sustained the shoulder injury during the semi-finals of the Indian Premier League in South Africa in May while captaining Delhi Daredevils against eventual winners Deccan Chargers.

He was in the Indian squad for the World T20 Cup in England but could not play any part because of the injury to his right shoulder that needed surgery.

Sehwag underwent a surgery on June 11 after a lesion was identified in the injured shoulder and he was ruled out of action from between 12 to 16 weeks. The lesion was expected to heal in six weeks.

Indian team's physio Nitin Patel was given the task of monitoring Sehwag's rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

The Champions Trophy, earlier termed the Mini World Cup, is also to be held in South Africa from September 22.

Sehwag said he will start batting practice from the first week of September and is now able to lift 10 kg with his injured shoulder. "But I can't throw or bowl yet," he said.

As a first step towards a recall into the Indian team, Sehwag, who has played in 69 Tests and 205 ODIs in which he has amassed a combined 12,000-plus runs, at a fabulous strike rate of close to 90, is to visit the NCA in Bangalore on August 15.

"I am set to go to Bangalore (NCA) on August 15 (for assessment of his progress from injury), said the ace batsman who has 26 hundreds to his credit in Tests and ODIs combined.

Significantly, the Indian selectors are to meet on August 16 to pick the Champions Trophy squad, as well as the ODI squad for the triangular series in Sri Lanka preceding it, on the next day at Chennai.

Sehwag's selection for the ICC event would depend on the report that would be sent by the Indian team physiotherapist ahead of the selection panel meeting. He has been visiting the NCA after his surgery as part of his rehab process.

If he fails to make the cut for the Champions Trophy the next target is the seven-match ODI series against World Cup champions Australia that commences on October 25.

source by:cricketnext.in.com

I want to score heavily in Test matches: Virender Sehwag

India's only batsman to hit two triple centuries, opener Virender Sehwag says his penchant to hit big centuries in Tests was driven by critics doubting his caliber in the longer version of the game.

"In Test matches I'm very cautious. I want to score more runs and I want to score big runs and I want to prove everyone wrong because when I came to the Indian team everybody was saying 'He's only a one-day player, he cannot bat in Test cricket'," he said on an ICC talk show.

The Delhi-dasher is currently undergoing rehabilitation after a surgery to be fit for September's ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Often compared to Tendulkar, Sehwag said he always wanted to emulate the little master.

"I wanted to become a Tendulkar, but that's not possible because he is a God of cricket. When I was watching him on television, I tried to copy every single shot."

Sehwag was sent home from England during the ICC World Twenty20 because of a shoulder injury sustained during the second edition of the Indian Premier League.

source by: cricketnext.in.com

Yuvraj defends stand against WADA

Hitting back at sportspersons criticising cricketers for not signing an anti-doping clause, Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh today said playing to a cramped calendar makes it necessary for cricketers to guard their privacy in a brief off-season.

Several Olympians, including Beijing gold medal-winning shooter Abhinav Bindra have ridiculed the cricketers' privacy and security apprehensions with regards to the 'Whereabouts Clause' of the WADA anti-doping code which requires athletes to furnish their location three months in advance for out of competition tests.

Yuvraj said while the athletes from other sports were entitled to their opinions, the cricketers' concerns were not without basis either.

"I feel we are travelling more. We are playing a lot of time in a year and we should be given more space with due respect to other sports," Yuvraj told a news channel.

"After nine months of playing, we come home for just 10 days. We don't want somebody to intrude our privacy for dope tests during that small period. We have put out our points in front of the BCCI and they will speak to the ICC," he added.

The feisty left-hander said athletes from other sports don't have to travel abroad as much as the cricketers have to.

"Their sports and our sport is different. We play more and we get very little time with our families. They have their opinions but we have our concerns and we have conveyed them," he said.

Source by: Cricketnext.in.com

Tendulkar rates Chennai Test ton as his best

The century hit by master blaster Sachin Tendulkar against England just after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks gave him more satisfaction in comparison to his other tons in all varieties of the game, as it brought back smiles on the faces of terror hit Indians.

Tendulkar was a 14-year-old schoolboy, when Dilip Vengsarkar, then the Indian captain, judged him ready to play first-class cricket and he went on to hit 208 centuries in all forms of the game.

"I think the one against England in Chennai last year," he says, without hesitation when asked about his most important innings played so far for India.

"After what happened in Mumbai (the terrorist attacks), the mood of the entire nation was low. Something was needed to put smiles on people’s faces.

"I am by no means suggesting that the people who lost near and dear ones could forget their terrible loss, but if we as a team were able to make them smile for just a couple of seconds, that was an achievement," The Independent quoted Tendulkar, as saying.

"And thanks to the England cricket team who came back very graciously and played against us. You know, cricket in India brings the entire nation together, from the poorest child to a billionaire. We are in a position to make everyone happy, which is very special for me and the whole cricketing fraternity," he said.

He pointed other innings which he considered important were played during his school days.

"I would say that there were a couple in my schooldays that changed my life. In the semi-final of an Under-17s tournament I scored 326 not out, which is when everyone in Mumbai took notice of me. I then scored 346 not out in the final, with Dilip Vengsarkar and Sunil Gavaskar watching."

"I was only 14 at the time, but Vengsarkar wanted me to join the Mumbai first-class team, which contained nine Test players. He had to be sure I was ready. So he invited me to play in the India nets.

"The Indian team had a camp in Mumbai, and he made Kapil Dev and all these guys bowl at me in the nets. After that session he gave a green signal to the selectors," he said in the interview.

The master blaster said that in his first domestic season he scored the highest number of runs for the team.

"There are three trophies in India, and in all three I scored a century on my debut, so my performances were very good, but also the timing was perfect," he said.

Source by: Cricketnext.in.com

Pak may reject playing WC games in India

The 2011 World Cup, scheduled in the sub-continent, ran into fresh trouble with a senior cricket board official here indicating that Pakistan might decline to play its matches in India.

Saleem Altaf, chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said PCB would take its time before deciding where it would play its 2011 World Cup matches.

"It is our right to decide where we play our World Cup matches now that the games have been relocated from Pakistan," he said.

PCB officials and former players remain upset after the International Cricket Council decided on Friday to shift the World Cup matches from Pakistan due to security reasons.

Pakistan was due to host 14 games, including one semi-final, and the home side was supposed to play all its matches in front of home crowds.

But the ICC now has to reschedule and allocate new venues for these 14 matches with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the joint hosts of the tournament, vying to get those games.

Tendulkar vindicated by Dhoni's success

Instrumental in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's elevation to captaincy of the Indian team, Sachin Tendulkar says India's rich success under the stewardship of the star stumper from Jharkhand vindicated his faith in him.

After Rahul Dravid decided to step down from the captain's job soon after India's England tour last year, Tendulkar suggested Dhoni's name to then BCCI president Sharad Pawar.

Under Dhoni, India won, among others, the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, tri-series in Australia, Test series against Australia at home before recording their first ODI series win in New Zealand and first Test series there in 41 years.

Refusing to disclose much about his suggestion to Pawar to appoint Dhoni as the captain, Tendulkar said, "I spoke to the BCCI president but I would not want to discuss everything publicly. As I said earlier, it's my principle that whatever happens inside dressing room should stay there."

Tendulkar, however, did not hide his satisfaction after Dhoni lived up to his expectation. "Talking about his captaincy, I'm extremely happy and delighted the way he has conducted himself," Tendulkar said.

"He is a balanced guy, is always on his toes all the time. Before he was made the captain, standing in the slips I interacted with him and picked a lot of things which clearly indicated that he has a sharp brain, his approach was pretty clear and not complicated," Tendulkar said. "I think he is doing a fantastic job."

Incidentally, Tendulkar himself struggled whenever he was saddled with captaincy.

Asked if he would love to have another go at it, the Mumbai run-machine was almost indignant. "Now what kind of question is it?" he asked.

"The team is doing so well (under Dhoni) and you should be proud of it," he admonished the person posing the query.

Tendulkar said he was rather happy playing mentor's role to younger players.

"To players like Harbhajan Singh or Yuvraj Singh, I'm like their elder brother. I share information not just with them but also with other members of the side. It's a terrific atmosphere in the dressing room and it's not just a one-way traffic," he said.

"We learn from each other and if someone has some issues, there is the coach. Generally it's a great atmosphere and I enjoy being part of this side," he added.

Dhoni, Harbhajan skip prestigious awards

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh find themselves embroiled in an unexpected controversy. Dhoni and Harbhajan missed the Padma awards ceremony in Delhi on Tuesday despite being in the country.

Harbhajan explained why he couldn't attend the ceremony in the Capital. He said he had pressing family commitments in his home town Jalandhar.

"I wanted to attend the award ceremony," Harbhajan said here on Wednesday. "I had some family commitments that's why I couldn't attend the awards. I have not done any mistake. If anybody thinks that I have committed a mistake, then I will come two days in advance."

Rubbishing reports that he was in the Capital for an ad shoot, Harbhajan said if this "charge" is proved he would quit cricket.

"The allegation that I was in New Delhi or was shooting for an advertisement instead of attending the Padma award ceremony is completely false," Harbhajan said. "If anyone says that I was in Delhi and proves it, I will stop playing cricket."

However, there was no word from Dhoni over him giving the awards a miss. Reports claim Dhoni missed the function because he had commercial commitments to meet.

Dhoni left for South Africa on Tuesday night to play in the IPL, but despite being in Mumbai all day failed to turn up for the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

India's Minister of Home Affairs P Chidambaram, however, played down the duo's absence, saying there are two or three absentees from the awards often.

"Both are in South Africa," he said. "They had told us they are playing matches there and won't be available. That happens every year, one or two people don't turn because they have other things to do."

Tendulkar first time Man of the Match in IPL

Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged the Man of the Match for the first time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he led Mumbai Indians to a victory against last year's finalists Chennai Super Kings here Saturday.

Tendulkar scored his second fifty in the competition, remaining unbeaten with 59, his first fifty plus score coming May last year when he made 65 against Kings XI at the Wankhede Stadium.

The other statistical highlights of the opening match in the second edition of the IPL:

· Mumbai Indians posted their eighth victory in 15 IPL games. They have now won two out of three contested against Chennai Super Kings.

· Mumbai Indians have won two games in succession against Chennai. They had defeated Chennai by nine wickets at Wankhede Stadium on May 14, 2008 in their previous meeting.

· Lasith Malinga (3/15) has produced his career-best bowling figures in Twenty20. His figures are the best for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings, bettering the 3 for 33 by Dhawal Kulkarni at the Wankhede Stadium on May 14, 2008.

· Manpreet Gony is the leading bowler for Chennai in the IPL. His 19 wickets at an average of 25.00 in 17 matches obliterated Albie Morkel's tally of 17 at 23.47 runs apiece in 13 matches.

· Mumbai (166/7) posted their second highest total against Chennai, next only to their 202 for seven at Chennai on April 23, 2008.

· Jayasuriya has taken his run-aggregate in the IPL to 540 at an average of 41.53, surpassing Gautam Gambhir's tally of 534 in 14 innings at an average of 41.07.

· Parthiv Patel's second-ball duck is his second in the IPL. In the first edition of the IPL, he had posted a first-ball duck against Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur.

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India can beat anyone anywhere: Harbhajan

Fresh from a rare Test series victory in New Zealand, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes India have what it takes to beat the best in the world on their home soil.

India's Test series win in New Zealand this week was their first in four decades. It was also their third successive Test series victory since beating top-ranked Australia in November.

"This team is capable of winning anywhere," Harbhajan said in an interview on Friday. "If we play to our potential, stick to the basics and focus on the job, we have the team that can beat anyone anywhere."

India defeated Australia and England in back-to-back series at home last year and are once again considered a true force in world cricket. India have yet to win a Test series in Australia, although they squared a close series 1-1 in 2004 and lost a controversial Test series 2-1, before winning a tri-series last year.

India won their first Test in South Africa in 2006 and emerged surprise winners of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup there two years ago. The 28-year-old bowler said winning matches overseas has made a big difference.

"The guys are confident, confident of performing in any conditions," said Harbhajan, the side's main spinner since Anil Kumble retired last year.

"I think this team can win anywhere -- South Africa, Australia -- we have got the ability to exploit any conditions." Harbhajan is his country's second most successful spinner and emerged the highest wicket-taker in New Zealand with 16 wickets.

Their success streak, including a 1-0 win over England, has triggered debate in the cricket-mad country as to whether the current side are the best yet.

India are ranked third behind Australia and South Africa in the Test rankings and the batting-heavy team has found a potent new ball pair in the wily Zaheer Khan and quick Ishant Sharma.

The pair have played a significant role in the last three series victories and are regarded as the best new ball pair in the business. "Zaheer has bowled beautifully to give India early breakthroughs," Harbhajan said of the left-armer.

"Ishant is still raw, and he needs to be focused. He is a talented bowler." Harbhajan, who has taken 330 Test wickets and over 200 one-day wickets, did not get drawn into the debate of whether the team is India's best yet.

"I won't want to compare between eras," said Harbhajan. "But a batting like up of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh... I'd say it is one of the best. It's an exciting team."

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Tendulkar credits Kirsten for India's success

Indian batting stalwart Sachin Tendulkar credits coach Gary Kirsten with helping the team become a force in world cricket again.

India won their first Test series on New Zealand soil in four decades this week, their third successive Test series victory since defeating top-ranked Australia in November.

"The secret to this success is the players are playing their natural game," Tendulkar told Mumbai tabloid Mid Day on Friday.

"That can only happen if the atmosphere is good and the mind is free of any kind of pressure.

"it's the case of natural instincts taking over and that can be credited to Gary (Kirsten). The team environment is allowing players to play their natural game. That's probably the secret," Tendulkar added.

Tendulkar, the world's highest run-getter in Test and one-day cricket, was second behind Gautam Gambhir in the runs tally for the team in the Test series with 344 runs.

Former South African opener Kirsten took over from Greg Chappell last year and has helped the Indian team improve their performances, earning the respect of the players for his quiet approach following a turbulent period under the Australian.

First Time Five Indians in Wisden's Dream Test XI

Wisden, the highly respected cricket publication, today named Virender Sehwag as the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni captain of its first ever Dream Test XI which has five Indians in the ranks.

India's rich vein of form found ample reflection in Wisden's first ever Dream XI which include Sehwag, Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan.

India has the largest representation in the Test squad, followed by Australia (Ricky Ponting and Mitchell Johnson) and South Africa (Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn) who have two each.

Flamboyant batsman Kevin Pietersen is the lone English player in the XI, while the West Indies is represented by run-machine Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Smith is Dhoni's deputy in the side.

The three selectors who picked the squad were former India captain Ravi Shastri, retired West Indian pacer Ian Bishop and former New Zealand stumper Ian Smith.

"The criteria for selection are simple: the best eleven to play a Test match, no matter the opposition, guided by performances in 2008, and taking into consideration the amount of Test cricket they played in the year, the quality of their opponents, and that indefinable blend of class and form," Wisden said.

It turned out to be a double delight for Sehwag who became the sixth player to be adjudged the Leading Cricketer in the World, an award instituted in 2004.

The five previous winners have been Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Andrew Flintoff, Muttiah Muralitharan and Jacques Kallis.

"Virender Sehwag had to beat off the strongest of challenges by Graeme Smith to become the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008. Sehwag did so by taking the task of opening Test innings to a new level," Wisden observed.

"He sought, and often achieved, mental domination from the first ball by scoring faster than any other opening batsman has ever done on a regular basis in Test cricket," it said.

Team:

• Virender Sehwag
• Graeme Smith
• Ricky Ponting
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Kevin Pietersen
• Shivnarine Chanderpaul
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni(W,C)
• Harbhajan Singh
• Zaheer Khan
• Dale Steyn
• Mitchell Johnson

Cricket News, Average of India-New Zealand Series, Latest Cricket News

India: Batting

Batsman	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	Hs	Avg	SR	100	50	0
G Gambhir	3	6	1	445	167	89.00	47.04	2	1	0
SR Tendulkar	3	5	0	344	160	68.80	61.31	1	2	0
R Dravid	3	6	1	314	83	62.80	37.51	0	4	0
VVS Laxman	3	5	1	295	124*	73.75	51.12	1	2	0
MS Dhoni	2	3	1	155	56*	77.50	52.54	0	2	0
V Sehwag	3	5	0	140	48	28.00	112.00	0	0	0
Yuvraj Singh	3	5	1	125	54*	31.25	68.68	0	1	1
Zaheer Khan	3	4	2	110	51*	55.00	103.77	0	1	0
Harbhajan Singh	3	4	0	94	60	23.50	78.99	0	1	1
MM Patel	3	3	2	24	15*	24.00	70.58	0	0	0
I Sharma	3	3	0	24	18	8.00	42.10	0	0	1
KD Karthik	1	1	0	6	6	6.00	19.35	0	0	0

India: Bowling

Bowlers	Mts	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	Best	Avg	Econ	SR	5WI
Harbhajan Singh	3	147.4	28	342	16	6-63	21.37	2.31	55.38	1
Zaheer Khan	3	115.3	24	400	13	5-65	30.76	3.46	53.31	1
I Sharma	3	94.2	21	334	8	4-73	41.75	3.54	70.70	0
MM Patel	3	84	15	290	6	3-60	48.33	3.45	84.00	0
SR Tendulkar	3	9	0	45	2	2-36	22.50	5.00	27.00	0
Yuvraj Singh	3	22.3	2	84	1	1-11	84.00	3.73	135.00	0
V Sehwag	3	22	0	116	0	-	-	5.27	-	0

New Zealand: Batting

Batsman	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	Hs	Avg	SR	100	50	0
JD Ryder	3	5	0	327	201	65.40	61.58	2	0	1
LRPL Taylor	3	5	0	322	151	64.40	60.98	2	0	0
BB McCullum	3	5	0	232	115	46.40	65.35	1	1	0
DL Vettori	3	5	1	220	118	55.00	70.06	1	1	0
MJ Guptill	3	5	0	136	49	27.20	55.96	0	0	0
JEC Franklin	3	5	0	130	52	26.00	34.12	0	1	1
DR Flynn	2	4	0	79	67	19.75	33.90	0	1	1
TG McIntosh	3	5	0	60	32	12.00	31.91	0	0	1
IE O'Brien	3	5	2	61	19*	20.33	50.83	0	0	0
TG Southee	1	2	0	19	16	9.50	47.50	0	0	0
CS Martin	3	3	3	4	4*	-	33.33	0	0	0
KD Mills	1	2	0	2	2	1.00	10.00	0	0	1
JM How	1	1	0	1	1	1.00	9.09	0	0	0
JS Patel	1	1	0	1	1	1.00	11.11	0	0	0

New Zealand: Bowling

Bowler	Mts	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	Best	Avg	Econ	SR	5WI
CS Martin	3	134.1	32	458	14	4-98	32.71	3.41	57.50	0
IE O'Brien	3	125.5	29	452	9	3-103	50.22	3.59	83.80	0
DL Vettori	3	136.4	32	366	7	2-45	52.28	2.67	117.10	0
JS Patel	1	64	12	180	4	2-60	45.00	2.81	96.00	0
JD Ryder	3	33	14	89	2	1-3	44.50	2.69	99.00	0
TG Southee	1	30	3	152	2	2-94	76.00	5.06	90.00	0
KD Mills	1	24.2	4	119	1	1-98	119.00	4.89	146.00	0
JEC Franklin	3	89	17	290	1	1-38	290.00	3.25	534.00	0
JM How	1	1	1	0	0	-	-	0.00	-	0
LRPL Taylor	3	2	1	4	0	-	-	2.00	-	0