Kumble blasts Gauti, Viru

Anil Kumble said India could have chased the 299 runs to win the Bangalore Test had Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir fired.

"We would have definitely chased the target if Viru and Gambhir had given us a good start," Kumble said.

"After we fought back through Zaheer (Khan) and Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) we were confident of finishing the match on a high note. If we had got a start like we did in the first innings we could have gone for the target. But unfortunately we did not get it and we had to settle for a
draw," he added.

Kumble said toss also played a vital role.

"I think the toss also played an important role and if I had won the toss probably things would have been different and we could have been in a much better position on the fifth day." About the Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch, Kumble said, "The Bangalore pitch has changed with people fiddling with it in the past eight years or so but again as I said before winning the toss could have made a difference." Asked as why the middle order batsmen was not coming up to the mark, particularly VVS Laxman, Kumble quickly retorted, saying it was unfair to judge a player on a single performance.

"It is unfair to point a finger at any of them (Fab Four). Laxman has been a real champion and has won us matches in the past," Kumble said. "It is not fair that people try to put an axe on him every time he fails and forget his contributions to the team's cause in the past or for that
matter any of the players. I'm sure all of them will perform as they have the quality and will get centuries at Mohali," he said.

On his own wicketless show on home ground here, Kumble said, "I think just one failure should not be held against a player. As a captain I have played my part. But I could not take wickets. It is not possible for a bowler to take wickets in every Test as everybody has an off day.

About his reported shoulder injury, Kumble said, "As far as my shoulder is concerned, it is much better now. There are still three days to go for the Mohali Test. We will monitor it (shoulder) closely." With the first Test slipping out of his fingers, Kumble is now eyeing the second Test and sounds confident.

"We are certainly going for a win at Mohali. We are confident of doing well in the series as our aim is to win the series. In fact, we would have been in a better position if we had got rid of Haddin or Watson yesterday.

"They batted well. Even today if I had taken Haddin's catch in the very first over, things would have been different but it did not workout that way," Kumble said.

Akram: Seniors saved India

Former Paskistan skipper Wasim Akram said India could hold on to a draw in Bangalore thanks to the way the seniors batted.

Speaking to Mobile ESPN, Akram said: "If India had played inexperienced batsmen in the match, Australia would have wrapped up the Test half an hour after Tea on Monday."

"Sachin (Tendulkar), VVS Laxman, Rahul (Dravid) and Sourav (Ganguly) played according to the situation. It was certainly not an easy wicket to bat on."

The former-cricketer-turned-commentator said the first Test was a close affair: "I had said before the match that India would be the favourites but the toss played a crucial factor."

The highest wicket taker in ODI's was impressed by India's pace attack but was critical of the spinners.

"Zaheer (Khan) and Ishant (Sharma) bowled brilliantly. They got the reverse swing going, hid the shiny part and came along really well."

"However, the spinners disappointed, especially Anil Kumble. It was his kind of a wicket."

The former sultan of swing felt if India came across similar wickets in the remianing venues and batted first after winning the toss and got a good score on the board, Australi would feel the pinch.

Harsha: Aussies can't take 20 wickets

Expert cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said the Australian attack is incapable of taking 20 wickets in a Test match.

Speaking to Mobile ESPN, Harsha said: "If you don't lose wickets to Australia's new ball bowlers, you get to see that there is not much in the Australian attack that can take 20 wickets."

Harsha said the first Test in Bangalore was rivetting for a major part and was a bit of an anti-climax only towards the end.

"But that is to be expected increasingly these days on Indian pitches. The wicket looked fragile but actually went on to conduct itself pretty well."

"That's how wickets in India behave. The Bangalore wicket turned out to be okay from a batting perspective."

Harsha opined India did well to get out of jail by forcing a draw despite some good cricket by Australia.

"Australia had India on the racks but did not have enough to bowl India out."

"The Aussies were really only a couple of wicketsaway from a win. This is a game India should have lost."

Harsha said it was good to see Sachin Tendulkar spend a long time in the middle: "However, I get worried to see Sachin play spinners the way he did. He is too good a player to treat spinners with so much respect."

"It was also nice to see VVS Laxman spend some time in the middle. He alongwith some of the other players was short of match practice but he spent some quality time in the middle."

Harsha, though pointed out that the Indian batting seemed to be a little anxious: "The batsmen appeard to be playing for their places in the team."

"I am not sure that is the best way to play cricket."

Harsha said the the biggest plus for Australia were Shane Watson's bowling and the fact that Mike Hussey got runs in the middle."

Speaking on the Indian attack, Harsha thought India lacked a third seamer: "Maybe India would do well to drop one spinner and play another seamer. Virender Sehwag needs to be used more. But that would again depend on the kind of surface."

Harsha said India would be on a high going into the second Test in Mohali, whereas Australia would be disappointed they could not force a win.

Indian Cricket League

The Season 2 of ICL, the Indian Cricket League, the exciting new series which has changed the face of world cricket, promises more action and ‘cricketainment’ when it starts October 10.

Already, the introduction of a ninth team – the Dhaka Warriors – is causing a lot of excitement and the new ICL World Series-Edition 2 will be staged over four venues – Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Panchkula, followed by the World Series featuring four teams, namely ICL India, ICL Pakistan, ICL World and ICL Bangladesh, which will be held in Hyderabad.

ICL’s pioneering initiative in the last season saw the induction of Lahore Badshahs, who played a pivotal role in taking the standard of domestic Indian cricket to an unprecedented level. The Dhaka Warriors are sure to bring in a whole new vibrancy to the Indian Cricket League.

City erupts with joy after victory

The humid autumn afternoon in the capital saw masses of youngsters parading the streets on Thursday, yelling at the top of their voices, ‘Bangladesh, Bangladesh!’
The celebrations for the Bangladesh’s victory over New Zealand achieved genuine fervour around the Raju Memorial Monument on the Dhaka University campus.
Groups of students and residents of the surrounding areas, with shirts tied around the hips and brandishing twigs torn from trees, circled the monument, with one in each group carrying the national flag.
The jubilation coincided with the celebrations of the Bijaya Dashami, the last day of the largest religious festival of the Bengali Hindus, Durga Puja.
The processions of devout Hindus carrying the idols for immersion in the Buriganga were also overjoyed by the victory of the Bangladesh cricket squad against New Zealand, the giant-killer.
‘I cannot believe we’ve beaten another former world champion! I still cannot believe it,’ yelled Shumon Arefin, a third-year student of Sociology from the top of a rickshaw flatbed van near the Teachers-Students Centre.
‘We had lost all hope that our cricketers would shine again because of their awful performance in the past few series, but they turned the tables by winning this match and we now have grounds to hope for better performances from them,’ said Showkat Islam, a fourth-year student of socialogy.
Hoards of motorbike riders honked their horns and carried the national flag as they traversed the avenues and alleys of the capital. Splinter processions were brought out in almost every area of the city.
While the upscale city blocks saw a few, sporadic groups of cars with cheering young men wielding cricket bats through the windows and sunroofs, the grandest of celebrations were held in the city’s fringes.
‘We were upset after the resignation of 10 regular players of the national team but our boys have proved that we have enough players to beat the former world champion,’ said Amsa Amin, a student of the North South University.
‘Defeating another world champion is a big achievement for the Bangladesh team. We thank the Tigers who have made us proud after a long period
of frustration,’ said Moudud Islam, a third-year student of Mass Communications and Journalism.

Tigers’ first-ever ODI win over Kiwis

Azad Majumder

After so many let downs, the batsmen finally complemented the bowlers as Bangladesh rediscovered their giant-killing act to thrash the visiting New Zealanders by seven wickets at the boisterous Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.
A career best 85 runs by Junaed Siddique and an unbeaten 60 from skipper Mohammad Ashraful took the Tigers to a position what they were destined for after the bowlers had restricted the Kiwis to 201-9 in 50 overs.
When Sakib al Hasan hit the winning run sending the ball to the fine leg off Mark Gillespie with 27 deliveries still to go Bangladesh crossed another major hurdle as they now have only England and West Indies among the Test-playing nations to beat in an one-day international.
New Zealand have always been a formidable opposition for Bangladesh and they won the last game between the two sides in just six overs. Bangladesh’s record was so poor against them that they had just made more than 200 runs only once in 11 previous meetings.
But they all are now part of history as Bangladesh got their first major win since they defeated South Africa in the last World Cup. The script had no similarity with the South Africa game, rather it bore more resemblance to the one that came again India.
Like in Trinidad, Mashrafee bin Murtaza set up victory with a piercing first spell and the spinners continued the pressure later on to have New Zealand cave in. Mashrafee claimed 4-44, but he could have returned with more impressive figure had he not conceded 25 runs in the two overs of his second spell.
Mahmudullah Riyad grounded an easy catch of Tim Southee in the penultimate delivery, otherwise it could have been Mashrafee’s second five-wicket haul in a limited-over international game.
Abdur Razzak had his best game in many days to take 3-33 that included the wicket of Jacob Oram, who nearly snatched the game from Bangladesh’s grip despite the efforts of Mashrafee.
Bangladesh nearly dismissed New Zealand under 100 runs when they reduced the visitors to 79-6, but Oram staged a great recovery with a 70-run partnership with skipper Daniel Vettori in the seventh wicket stand.
Oram, who was finally caught at long-on by Syed Rasel after making 57 off 89 balls, however, has to be grateful to Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed a run-out chance from a hand-shaking distance when the batsman was only on four.
Mushfique made amends by putting on 67 runs for the second wicket with Junaed that finally took the game to Bangladesh’s way and Ashraful made no mistake to capitalise on the build-up.
He and Junaed assembled 109 runs in the second wicket partnership and were separated with only seven runs away from the victory target when the later got the leading edge to give a catch at backward point.
Junaed, who had just managed 62 runs in his previous eight games, had a life on 46 when Scott Styris dropped a sharp return catch, but it was just a spot on the moon.
Other than the slight deviation from his route, Junaed was as good as any other top-class batsman and the reward was there for him – the man-of-the-match award.

Akhtar wants to stay out of controversy

Shoaib Akhtar says he is now focussed on playing maximum cricket and steer clear of any further controversy.

"I am really happy to be back in the team once again. I am fit and looking forward to do well in Toronto where finally we will get to play against some international opposition," Shoaib said after he was named in a 15-member squad on basis of his performance in the ongoing national T20 championship in Lahore.

"I have been out of touch for a long time and I don't think a fast bowler should be resting for more than three days at a time," Shoaib insisted.

Shoaib said he had enjoyed the experience of playing domestic cricket and share his experiences with junior cricketers.

"It has been a fulfilling experience and helped me get back into rhythm. I think with teams refusing to tour Pakistan, the (Pakistan Cricket) Board should lay lot of stress on having more quality domestic tournaments," he said.

The fast bowler, who returned to the Pakistan side after nearly 11 months, supported having overseas players in domestic cricket and said, "I think it would be a good idea if the sponsors and PCB put in money and got some foreign players to play in our domestic circuit."

Shoaib, however, feels that the step should be chalked out well in advance even for domestic cricket so that players know when they were required to play. The fast bowler said this would be the best way to portray a positive image of Pakistan and send out assurances to other boards that in Pakistan cricket was alive and kicking.

Shoaib has been embroiled in a legal battle with the PCB over his 18-month ban and the fine of Rs seven million imposed on him.

Shoaib thinks his stint with the English county side Surrey had played a lot to regain his confidence and insisted, "The two matches I played for Surrey helped me a lot."

Australia recover after shaky start

Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich struck half-centuries as Australia recovered on day one of the first Test against India.

Australia had reached 166 for the loss their openers, Matthew Hayden and Katich, at tea after Ponting had won the toss and elected to bat in Bangalore.

After losing Hayden to the third ball of the day Ponting and Katich took command with a stand of 166 for the second wicket before the left-handed opener fell for 66 just before the tea break.

That left Ponting at the crease, and closing on his first Test century in India, unbeaten on 94 while new batsman Mike Hussey was yet to open his account.

The two teams had ended the first session on par, with Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan turning in sharp spells with the new ball.

Zaheer had removed the burly Hayden for a duck just three deliveries into the day, when he was given out caught behind by umpire Asad Rauf after some consideration.

The Queenslander initially refused to walk and replays suggested he had cause to feel aggrieved as he appeared to hit his pad rather than the ball.

But Ponting and Katich put Australia firmly in command as they realised 166 runs for the second wicket.

Katich, unobtrusive and far more sedate, had held up one end after seeing the shine off the new ball.

But he fell just before tea, opening the door for India to make a comeback. The left-handed opener walked off in disgust after half-heartedly prodded at a delivery from Ishant, only to produce a faint edge which Dhoni held.

Ishant then had three appeals for leg before against Ponting, but he was turned down by South African umpire Rudi Koertzen on each occasion.

The little assistance which Zaheer and Ishant had gleaned from the wicket in the morning had ended as the first session drew to a close.

By then, Ponting and Katich had begun to assert some authority, although runs initially came at a crawl.

Ponting was far more fluent with his stroke play in the session after lunch, hitting 12 boundaries, most of them drives through the cover region.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who had constantly switched ends in the hope of ending the partnership, and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was introduced into the attack as early as in the 13th over, bowled a total of 32 overs without success.

Bangladesh beat New Zealand by 7 wickets

Bangladesh beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first one-day international here on Thursday to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 201-9 in 50 overs; Bangladesh 202-3 in 45.3 overs.

Ponting keen to end his Indian failures

Ponting keen to end his Indian failures When the series starts Thursday, Australia captain Ricky Ponting is determined to improve his record in India having scored just 172 runs there in 14 Test innings at an average of 12. He has been troubled by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh more than anyone else, as the tricky bowler accounted for Ponting’s wicket five times out of five when they faced off in the 2001 rubber. Since making 60 there in 1998, Ponting has failed to reach 20 in nine attempts. It wouldn’t be such an amazing feat if the man we are discussing wasn’t averaging 58.37 in 119 Tests for India has proven the graveyard for many good players of the past but this is a man who may one day become the highest-scoring batsmen in Test history. The duo will meet again at Bangalore in the first Test this week before continuing their duel in Delhi, Mohali and Nagpur as Australia seek to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In 2004, they won for the first time in India for 35 years. “That first dismissal in the first Test (in 2001) was where it all started for me,” Ponting told reporters recently. “I was always trying to find a different way to play, fearing that one delivery I guess. “The reason for my poor performance was that I didn't trust myself; I didn't trust my technique. I ended up getting stumped or caught at bat-pad sweeping. I tried almost everything and nothing worked. “Every time I tried something, I got out pretty soon after. They are the lessons to be learnt I guess from coming here. I only played one game in 2004 as I was coming back from injury and the wicket at the Wankhede was pretty ordinary.” Ponting is taking a great deal of advice from a great many sources in an effort to listen to that one magical piece of advice that moght just change his fortunes against India in India. Ultimately, he knows that working out his own game himself and sticking to it is what will work best for him, though batting coach on the tour and former Australia great and India coach Greg Chappell has aided him technically. “I have spoken to a lot of guys this week about working out a style of playing you think is going to work for you, and when you have worked it out, making sure you stick to it. “Even if you do get out a couple of times early, you know that if you stick to those things that have worked for you in the past, some will go your way and you will end up scoring some runs. I have to be strong and stick to what I know is going to work.” He added, with a hint of needle against Harbhajan: “Sri Lanka is probably the hardest spinning condition to play in. I have got a record there, as good as anybody, and against a set of bowlers a whole lot more skilled than Harbhajan might be.” Curiously when Harbhajan was asked about his success against Ponting he said he was not sure about it as the Tasmanian had not been in long enough. Such cutting, dry humour is making for quite a contest.

Hussey century gives Australians a chance Mike Hussey’s fighting spirit brought him his 48th first-class century and saved the Australians from a possible follow on in a pre-Test warm-up against the Indian Board President’s XI. On the third day in the four-day game, left-hander Hussey made 126 not out with last man Stuart Clark scoring a crucial 44 in a tenth-wicket partnership that was worth 96. Australia reached were all out for 314 in reply to the Indians’ 455. Without Hussey’s display of obduracy Ricky Ponting’s men may well have been entering Thursday’s first Test at Bangalore with a defeat behind them. Although the match is still far from over, the Aussies may have done enough to stave off an embarrassing reverse. Most of the damage had been done by leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who took 5-89 in 40 overs, following up the dismissals of Ponting and Michael Clarke with the wickets of tail-enders Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle on Saturday morning. After Siddle’s departure Australia were 218-9. The Board XI closed on 110-2 with opener Wasim Jaffer unbeaten on 46 and no doubt determined to make a point to the selectors after he was left out of the Test squad.

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'Fab four under pressure from self'

MS Dhoni believes the 'Fab Four' are more burdened by their own high expectations than the one exerted by fans and experts.

Asserting that senior batsmen -- Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid -- still have a lot to offer, Dhoni said the quartet deserves a graceful exit as and when they decide to call it a day.

"There is more pressure on them because of their own expectation level and the fear of performance because they have set the benchmark so high that to be there always... there is more pressure that comes from within.

"I don't think you can really write them off, they have plenty in them. But at the same time you have to look into the future. It's all about transition, making a respectful last few years in their international career," Dhoni said.

Dhoni, who has impressed the game experts with his cool head and mindful strategies, also defended seniors place in the Test side.

"Do we have an option? We definitely have players who are talented and can make it big, but at the same time, it's not really about talent, their adaptability and preparation matter," Dhoni told an Indian news channel in an interview.

Speaking about the four-Test series against the Australians, Dhoni said the hosts were well prepared to take on the World Champions.

"Preparation wise, I think, we could not have done an inch more than what we have done. It's all about execution of plans and hopefully, the team will adapt and play better cricket," he said.

Dhoni also predicted tough times for the Australians if the pitches for the series favour spinners. "If it is a normal Indian wicket that starts to turn may be from the tea session, then it will be tough for them. They will have to apply themselves to get the runs."

Dhoni, however, insisted India were not depending on just its spin to trouble Australians and said the hosts had an equally potent pace-attack raring to go.

"It's not that we do not have quality fast bowlers. They have taken up the responsibility, they have pulled up their socks. We have quality spinners as well. We do not need to say anything about Harbhajan Singh or Anil Kumble.

"We are comfortable playing on any surface whether it is a spinner-friendly surface or a seamer-friendly surface," he said.

Dhoni said becoming only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to receive the country's highest sporting honour -- the 'Khel Ratna' -- was a 'special' feeling but it has also put him under pressure to perform at the same level next year.

"Khel Ratna is very special. That's the biggest sports award that I have got till now and nothing comes next to it. So it's real pleasure to get the Khel Ratna award.

"But the tough part to it, is to play cricket well again in the next year and try to get the award. But at the back of the mind, it's not about getting an award -- it's about playing some good cricket and helping the team to win," he said.