Forceful India aim to make return

India will aim for rescue when they take on England in the first of what is being tout as a vengeance five-match ODI series, starting Friday.

It's pay-back time for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men as they will be eager to settle scores, having unsuccessful to protected a single victory in international matches in England. They lost four Tests, three ODIs and one Twenty20 International during the recent tour.

His opposite number, Alastair Cook, will certainly hope that his side can carry on from where they left in the last series, even though they would be missing the services of the alarming new-ball duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

This will be the first series where the new ICC rule of using divide new balls from both ends will be implementing, along with changed Powerplay rules.

On paper and base on current form, England is certainly favourites but in home conditions, Indians have always been frightening opponents.

The series also gives Dhoni as well as the national selectors a possibility to have a clear idea about the edging players as they get an perfect opportunity to test the bench power in the absence of senior players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, to name a few.

While Mumbai young person Ajinkya Rahane - the lone brilliant spot during India's devastating ODI campaign - can consolidate his position in the team, rookie leggie Rahul Sharma, Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary and Karnataka seamer Sreenath Aravind will be hopeful to get a chance at some point in the series to show their mettle.

The series will also be an acid test for skipper Dhoni, who would be beneath huge force to do well. It double up when one looks at the bowling line-up which is severely short on experience, with Praveen Kumar the most knowledgeable - having played the most 56 ODIs.

If one goes by the presentation of the players during new matches and also net sessions, Karnataka seamer Sreenath Aravind and Jharkhand speedster Varun Aaron don't look like making the cut.

For the time being, Aaron looks like having been piped by Vidarbha pacer Umesh Yadav who bowled with a group of control and at a fast pace during the recent Irani Trophy.

On the other hand, Sreenath Aravind was constantly hammered by all and sundry during the recent Nokia Champions League Twenty20 and can establish to be easy meat for top English players similar to Kevin Pietersen and skipper Cook.

While Praveen, Umesh and Ashwin look to have booked the three bowling slots, it will be a struggle between R Vinay Kumar and Rahul Sharma for the fourth bowler's period in the playing XI.

While Vinay, with his variations, can show to be an ideal bowler at the death, Rahul can establish to be a preventive option during middle overs.

The Rajiv Gandhi stadium narrow piece promises to be a good one for the batsmen. In fact, during the last ODI which India lost by only three runs chase a target of 351, saw Tendulkar hit a magnificent 175.

India's top six is more or less established with Gautam Gambhir back at the top and is probable to be joined by Parthiv Patel. Ajinkya Rahane, who now bats at number three for Mumbai, may get a chance to bat at his favored slot while Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and skipper himself complete the top-six.

Ravindra Jadeja, after his inspiring show in England, will be the bowling all-rounder at No 7.

The England side is also a batting heavy-unit with the likes of Cook, Craig Kieswetter, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell able of playing big innings, not to forget the overwhelming result that Pietersen can have on bowlers.

Ravi Bopara and young Jonathan Bairstow are also in good nick which give the batting unit a frightening look.

The bowling, however, will be largely dependent on pacers Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn and off-spinner Graeme Swann.

It will be attractive to see whether Andy Flower and Cook make a decision to let loose the new tear away quick bowler, Stuart Meaker. In all, there is ingredient for a good competition all through the series.

Teams (from):

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Parthiv Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, S Aravind, Rahul Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Praveen Kumar.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Craig Kieswetter, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Jonathan Bairstow, Graeme Swann, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn, Stuart Meaker, Chris Woakes, Scott Borthwick, Jose Buttler, Alex Hales.

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Howard relish new responsibility

Cricket Australia have chosen former rugby union international Pat Howard as the new general manager of team presentation.

Howard, who went on to become the Australian Rugby Union high presentation manager, will oversee the head coach, captain, chairman of selectors and team manager as part of his role.

State cricket managers will also work intimately with Howard as part of a co-ordinate focus to expand international players from home ranks.

Howard said he was involved by the chance to co-ordinate an included approach to Australian cricket high presentation.

"The time of the new role off the back of Argus evaluation makes this an thrilling time in Australian cricket," said Howard, who spent a spell playing and then coaching in England at Leicester.

"It is a great opportunity for anybody involved in sports leadership."

Cricket Australia chief decision-making James Sutherland said there was strong attention in the vacancy for a full-time national selector and other selectors along with a head coach.

Sutherland said the organisations are pleased with the appointment of Howard.

"He has a background of achievement as a player, selector and coach, as well as 20 Tests as an Australian player, as well as playing and coaching achievement with the Leicester Tigers in England and was a high presentation GM with the ARU," said Sutherland.

"He brings vital qualities in what is a essential new role with a singular center on Australian team presentation.

"His priority will be ensure that all of Australia's high presentation cricket program fit together in a manner that helps us make the best men's and women's teams in the world."

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Reporting bookie approach is unsafe

Players are frightened after reporting advance by bookies, especially in tournaments like IPL, claims International Cricketers' Association chief Tim May.

Match-fixing is back in spotlight due to the ongoing criminal trial against Pakistani cricketers - Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif - in London for supposedly conspire to send down deliberate no balls throughout a Test match for cash.

The bookie at the centre of it all, Mazhar Majeed, has drop names of other international players as well, as well as the Australians. But the Aussies have been empty of any illegal behavior by the ICC.

May said players need to be sure that their names would be sheltered when they report approaches to the ICC.

"Players need a point of trust to report approaches/doubts," May has written in a report free on Wednesday.

"Some international players are express that they don't have this point of trust, particularly in tournament such as the Indian Premier League.

"Players will be more tending to report approaches if there is greater secrecy around the reporting process. Some players won't report breach they observe for either fear of their protection or simply because they just don't want to get concerned," the 'Sydney Morning Herald quoted May as saying.

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Indian grounds not well for diving

Former South Africa star and Mumbai Indians fielding coach, Jonty Rhodes, has said the Indian grounds require to be better to get better fielding standards.

He said: "Some grounds are quite unsafe and the circumstances need to get better. That's almost certainly the reason why young players are uncertain to dive around.

"Obviously, if the basis were in bad shape, then even I wouldn't have dived either. A proper place is necessary to learn all this," Rhodes said throughout the launch of Omtex Jonty's Way at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"Most young people fall on their knee while diving, which is dangerous. You have to be fully dedicated and go flat out while diving because then, the chances of getting upset are less," the 42-year-old said.
Rhodes has dedicated to devote 45-60 days in India with the academy.

Jonty will train the coaches, who will, in turn, pass on skills to the players. A nominal training fee will be charged to hopeful coaches and cricketers. The Mumbai Indians fielding coach aims to make fielding fun.

"It is significant that players learn the right fielding technique at an early age as it is hard to change them later.

"The young people focus a lot on their batting and bowling, but ignore fielding. I have to factually fetch them for fielding drills. My idea is to make fielding fun. I am not expectant them to be like me, but I am hoping they become the best," he said.

He related his own example to explain its significance, saying, "I was a standard batsman, but my selection in the 1992 World Cup team was purely on my fielding exploit. Fielding can help very in your selection. I used all the sports that I played to help my fielding."

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Morkel dare Warner in front of T20

South African paceman Morne Morkel has vowed to get the challenge to Australia opener and his IPL teammate, David Warner, when Baggy Greens stay the Rainbow Country.

Australia is to play two Tests and three ODIs in South Africa. Before that, the two teams play two Twenty20s, start on Thursday in Cape Town.

Warner is in red-hot form and is fresh from burning back-to-back centuries in the Nokia Champions League T20 event in India.

Morkel, who is Warner's colleague in the Delhi Daredevils, jokingly dared the Australian to try his switch-hitting next to his 150km deliveries.

"Hopefully, he won't try that alongside me," Morkel was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"He's played very well in the Twenty20. I think the most significant thing for us is to not stand back and, in a way, fight fire with fire. Let's see who can win that battle.

"I think the most significant thing (with Warner) is not to be too unsurprising and always to be expecting the shocking things to happen," he added.

Morkel said Warner will find it hard to change his feats on the sub-continent in Cape Town. Morkel sustained: "I think the circumstances here are going to be totally dissimilar," said Morkel. "Hopefully, we can get the upper hand on that on Thursday."

Australian vice-captain, Shane Watson, though, feels that Warner has full-grown in confidence as an international player and sees no reason why he can't repeat his exploits in the two-match T20 series.

"The two innings he played (in Champions League) were as inspiring an innings as you can ever see," Watson said. "To see what he can do next to high-quality bowling really right and left-handed as well, he's a very special talent."

"I'm sure the more comfortable he feels around our group and the more he is around our group, the more we're going to see exactly what he can do on the international stage."

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Uthappa guide Green into finals

Powered by tons from Robin Uthappa and Srikkanth Anirudha, India Green hammer India Blue by 79 runs to set up the title clash of the Challenger series against India Red.

Sent into bat, India Green posted a enormous 348 for nine, with openers Uthappa and Anirudha setting up the stage for the huge score with their 203-run partnership.

Uthappa, who had retire hurt after implementation his century but later came back to bat, produced a sparkling knock of 132-runs from just 103 balls, decorated with 14 fours and three shots over the fence.

Anirudha take 88 balls for 111 runs and help himself with 13 fours and three sixes.


India Green then shot out India Blue for just 269 in 41.4 overs with left-arm pace man Samad Fallah being the most winning bowler with three wickets.

India Blue made a forceful start to their chase in spite of losing Tanmay Srivastava (3) early in the innings as Murali Vijay (45) and Saurabh Tiwary (74) common a quick fire 87-run position for the second wicket.

However when the two batsmen were dismiss, necessary run-rate kept hiking up as the outstanding batsmen could not score quickly.

Dinesh Karthik (49) and Manish Pandey (32) resist for some time but their knock only abridged the beat margin.

Earlier, Uthappa and Anirudha tore separately the rival assault, beating fours and sixes almost at will before the former retire hurt after a 203-run stand in just 23 overs.

Uthappa had to leave as he could no longer use a runner under the new rules of the ICC. He came back to the fold after Ishank Jaggi got out and finally departed for a well-made 132.

The opening duo of Uthappa and Anirudha hit 22 fours and six sixes throughout their partnership.

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