Australia and India are both set to gamble on recalled players in their fourth and final Test at the Adelaide Oval, starting here Thursday.
Trailing 2-1 but determined to square the series, India seem almost certain to recall spinner Harbhajan Singh after relegating him to 12th man duties for the third Test at the WACA Ground.
If India win in Adelaide, it will be the first time since the two sides met in 2003-04 that the Australians have failed to win a home series.
Harbhajan was suspended for three Tests following the contentious second Test in Sydney, but is free to play pending an appeal that appears certain to be heard after the series.
His absence enabled India to play three fast bowlers in Perth and while the move worked as the Indians broke Australia's 16-match winning streak with a 72-run victory, the seamers are less likely to have a major impact here.
India may drop struggling opener Wasim Jaffer and reshuffle its top order, enabling Mahendra Singh Dhoni to bat at six and all-rounder Irfan Pathan at seven, or they could axe a fast bowler.
Either way, Harbhajan is likely to be wanted to partner captain Anil Kumble with the spin duties, despite Virender Sehwag's pivotal cameo with the ball in Perth.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Indian board to appeal Harbhajan ban
The Indian cricket board on Monday vowed to appeal against the three-Test ban slapped on Harbhajan Singh for racially abusing Australia's Andrew Symonds during the ill-tempered Sydney Test.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it did not accept the findings of match referee Mike Procter and would lodge a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
"The Indian board does not accept the findings of the match referee and has decided to challenge the unfair decision to suspend Harbhajan Singh as it deems it patently unfair," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement.
"The board will appeal to the ICC to review the decision of the match referee and suspend its operation until the appeal is disposed of."
Harbhajan, 27, was found guilty under the ICC's code of conduct following a clash with Symonds on the third day of the acrimonious second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which Australia won by 122 runs Sunday.
The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor after Australia captain Ricky Ponting accused Harbhajan of making a "monkey" comment at Symonds, the only black player in the home team.
Following a four-hour hearing held at the SCG, Procter delivered his judgement.
The BCCI said it would not tolerate "unfair" treatment of any of its players while also questioning the manner in which the hearing was conducted.
"The Indian board realises the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of the Indian team. To vindicate its position, the board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player.
"The board also questions the very conduct of the hearing as the match referee, before reaching his decision, disregarded the essential point of any inquiry, that it should be based on facts, rational, detached and objective."
The BCCI has also said it will lodge an official complaint against "incompetent" umpiring in the Sydney Test.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it did not accept the findings of match referee Mike Procter and would lodge a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
"The Indian board does not accept the findings of the match referee and has decided to challenge the unfair decision to suspend Harbhajan Singh as it deems it patently unfair," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement.
"The board will appeal to the ICC to review the decision of the match referee and suspend its operation until the appeal is disposed of."
Harbhajan, 27, was found guilty under the ICC's code of conduct following a clash with Symonds on the third day of the acrimonious second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which Australia won by 122 runs Sunday.
The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor after Australia captain Ricky Ponting accused Harbhajan of making a "monkey" comment at Symonds, the only black player in the home team.
Following a four-hour hearing held at the SCG, Procter delivered his judgement.
The BCCI said it would not tolerate "unfair" treatment of any of its players while also questioning the manner in which the hearing was conducted.
"The Indian board realises the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of the Indian team. To vindicate its position, the board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player.
"The board also questions the very conduct of the hearing as the match referee, before reaching his decision, disregarded the essential point of any inquiry, that it should be based on facts, rational, detached and objective."
The BCCI has also said it will lodge an official complaint against "incompetent" umpiring in the Sydney Test.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Day 2: India batsman fight back; Laxman Century
V.V.S. Laxman led an Indian counter attack with his third consecutive century at the Sydney Cricket Ground to slow Australia's push for a record-equalling 16th straight Test victory Thursday.
The 33-year-old batting craftsman from Hyderabad fully stretched Ricky Ponting's team at the SCG with classic strokeplay for his 12th hundred in his 88th Test match.
Laxman relished his return to the venerable ground, producing his trademark sumptuous drives, scoring 109 off 142 balls with 18 fours to breathe new hope into the tourists after Australia's formidable first innings total of 463.
Before Laxman's arrival shortly after lunch on the second day of the second Test, Andrew Symonds had dominated with his unconquered 162 in Australia's innings.
But the Indian right-hander joined Rahul Dravid at the crease to restore morale after the tourists' 337-run drubbing in the first Test in Melbourne.
Laxman and Dravid fell late in the day, six minutes apart. Dravid was out for a battling 53, caught at first slip by Matthew Hayden off Mitchell Johnson, and Laxman was taken by Mike Hussey off leg-spinner Brad Hogg.
At stumps on day two, India were 216 for three and trailing by 247 runs with Sachin Tendulkar on nine and Sourav Ganguly not out 21.
"Getting a hundred on this ground previously definitely gives you a boost because you've done well and it's familiar conditions. It gives you a lot of confidence," Laxman said.
"I was disappointed that we lost two quick wickets because I really wanted to be not out and carry on tomorrow.
"It's very important how we start off tomorrow morning. If they can build a big partnership we can have a big first innings total and put pressure on the Aussies.... I'm sure Sachin Tendulkar is going to get a double (century) tomorrow."
Laxman and Dravid, who have proved Australia's nemeses with two huge partnerships in the past, amassed 175 runs for the second wicket.
Australia 1st innings (376 for 7 overnight)
P. Jaques c Dhoni b Singh 0
M. Hayden c Tendulkar b Singh 13
R. Ponting lbw b Harbhajan 55
M. Hussey c Tendulkar b Singh 41
M. Clarke lbw b Harbhajan 1
A. Symonds not out 162
A. Gilchrist c Tendulkar b Singh 7
B. Hogg c Dravid b Kumble 79
B. Lee lbw b Kumble 59
M. Johnson c Ganguly b Kumble 28
S. Clark lbw b Kumble 0
Extras b2, lb9, w4, nb3 18
Total all out, 112.3 overs 463
Fall of wkts: 1-0, 2-27, 3-119, 4-119, 5-121, 6-134, 7-307, 8-421, 9-461
Bowling:
Singh 26-3-124-4 (1nb, 1w)
Sharma 23-3-87-0 (2nb, 3w)
Ganguly 6-1-13-0
Harbhajan 27-3-108-2
Kumble 25.3-0-106-4
Tendulkar 5-0-14-0
India 1st innings
W. Jaffer b Lee 3
R. Dravid c Hayden b Johnson 53
V.V.S. Laxman c Hussey b Hogg 109
S. Tendulkar not out 9
S. Ganguly not out 21
Extras b4, lb8, w3, nb6 21
Total 3 wkts, 62 overs 216
Fall of wkts: 1-8, 2-183, 3-185
Bowling:
Lee 15-4-34-1 (5nb)
Johnson 18-2-75-1 (1nb, 3w)
Clark 11-3-28-0
Symonds 7-1-19-0
Hogg 11-0-48-1
The 33-year-old batting craftsman from Hyderabad fully stretched Ricky Ponting's team at the SCG with classic strokeplay for his 12th hundred in his 88th Test match.
Laxman relished his return to the venerable ground, producing his trademark sumptuous drives, scoring 109 off 142 balls with 18 fours to breathe new hope into the tourists after Australia's formidable first innings total of 463.
Before Laxman's arrival shortly after lunch on the second day of the second Test, Andrew Symonds had dominated with his unconquered 162 in Australia's innings.
But the Indian right-hander joined Rahul Dravid at the crease to restore morale after the tourists' 337-run drubbing in the first Test in Melbourne.
Laxman and Dravid fell late in the day, six minutes apart. Dravid was out for a battling 53, caught at first slip by Matthew Hayden off Mitchell Johnson, and Laxman was taken by Mike Hussey off leg-spinner Brad Hogg.
At stumps on day two, India were 216 for three and trailing by 247 runs with Sachin Tendulkar on nine and Sourav Ganguly not out 21.
"Getting a hundred on this ground previously definitely gives you a boost because you've done well and it's familiar conditions. It gives you a lot of confidence," Laxman said.
"I was disappointed that we lost two quick wickets because I really wanted to be not out and carry on tomorrow.
"It's very important how we start off tomorrow morning. If they can build a big partnership we can have a big first innings total and put pressure on the Aussies.... I'm sure Sachin Tendulkar is going to get a double (century) tomorrow."
Laxman and Dravid, who have proved Australia's nemeses with two huge partnerships in the past, amassed 175 runs for the second wicket.
Australia 1st innings (376 for 7 overnight)
P. Jaques c Dhoni b Singh 0
M. Hayden c Tendulkar b Singh 13
R. Ponting lbw b Harbhajan 55
M. Hussey c Tendulkar b Singh 41
M. Clarke lbw b Harbhajan 1
A. Symonds not out 162
A. Gilchrist c Tendulkar b Singh 7
B. Hogg c Dravid b Kumble 79
B. Lee lbw b Kumble 59
M. Johnson c Ganguly b Kumble 28
S. Clark lbw b Kumble 0
Extras b2, lb9, w4, nb3 18
Total all out, 112.3 overs 463
Fall of wkts: 1-0, 2-27, 3-119, 4-119, 5-121, 6-134, 7-307, 8-421, 9-461
Bowling:
Singh 26-3-124-4 (1nb, 1w)
Sharma 23-3-87-0 (2nb, 3w)
Ganguly 6-1-13-0
Harbhajan 27-3-108-2
Kumble 25.3-0-106-4
Tendulkar 5-0-14-0
India 1st innings
W. Jaffer b Lee 3
R. Dravid c Hayden b Johnson 53
V.V.S. Laxman c Hussey b Hogg 109
S. Tendulkar not out 9
S. Ganguly not out 21
Extras b4, lb8, w3, nb6 21
Total 3 wkts, 62 overs 216
Fall of wkts: 1-8, 2-183, 3-185
Bowling:
Lee 15-4-34-1 (5nb)
Johnson 18-2-75-1 (1nb, 3w)
Clark 11-3-28-0
Symonds 7-1-19-0
Hogg 11-0-48-1
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