Paine's profession thrown into threat

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine's career is in serious risk after South Australia's state coach Darren Berry exposed that he is far from playing first-class cricket due to his latest injury.

Berry said that he was "spread out at how bad the injury looked" when he met the national team back-up keeper during a Sheffield Shield game in Hobart.

"I could tell by surveillance him trying to make a fist he was a mile away from spirited cricket," Berry said.

Paine, who has played four Tests for Australia, busts the finger during a pre-season training session with Tasmania.

Originally expected to miss action for three months, he was lined out for the whole season last week.

The 27-year-old was urgent in office Brad Haddin hard for a usual berth in both the Test and ODI team until the setback.

Berry wrote in Fairfax's Sun-Herald newspaper that Haddin can ill-afford to take it easy with the likes of Matthew Wade, Chris Hartley and Peter Nevill mouthful of air down his neck.

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Ishant Sharma to miss practice game but he will be fit for 1st Test

The Indian cricket team will not seek out a cover for wounded pacer Ishant Sharma as he is probable to be fit for the opening Test next to Australia next week even although he has been lined out of a three-day practice match starting on Monday.

“The doctor has advice him relax till Monday. So we would have a fresh look at him on Tuesday. But the work on him is going on and he's humanizing,” stated media executive G S Walia here this morning.

Ishant is getting better from injury in his left ankle which forced him to leave the field after bowling only 5.3 overs next to Cricket Australia Chairman's XI here on Thursday.

While the team management sounds hopeful on Ishant, it's certain he wouldn't be rotating out for the three-day game against Cricket Australia Chairman's XI.

The lanky fast bowler did come with the rest of his teammates to Manuka Oval this morning but spent the entire period either strolls at the ground or turning his arm over from a stationery location at the nets.

While words are on present to ease the uncertainties on Ishant Sharma, the sight of Zaheer Khan is certainly inspiring for the Indian team.

The left-arm paceman was all too eager to gauge and bowl for close to half an hour over two spells during the strong practice session. For a long time, he kept testing the skills of Virender Sehwag. The Delhi dasher, fresh from his record knock in one-day arena, had to summon all his attentiveness to counter Zaheer and on one time even shouted down the noise from a substantial crowd of Indian supporters who had gathered around the nets.

Zaheer is fitter and leaner and looking to last throughout an entire summer of Australia which he has never been able to do over two previous visits.

Young Abhimanyu Mithun also appears eager and inspired and rapped Sehwag a number of times on his pads. He also induces edges which seem to upset Sehwag.

Sachin Tendulkar opted for his favored method of facing throw downs but he too seem upset with the kind of attempt "throw down expert" Raghu could manage at him.

Tendulkar wanted Raghu to bowl on the off-stump and power him to either drive or leave the ball. As Raghu sent down a mixed bag of assortment, Tendulkar suddenly stopped the nets and took him to a false turf at the other side of the nets. The trick appears to work for him as the master batsmen then spent a long time at the nets.

India's fielding drill was strong this morning with players put themselves up to some sharp catching and throw sessions.

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Sachin Tendulkar has subordinate for Australia series

A cricket fan listed in the Indian touring squad as an "assistant" is helping Sachin Tendulkar get ready for India's quest to win their first Test series in Australia, news said on Monday.

DVGI Raghavindraa has never played first-class cricket but what he lacks in playing know-how he makes up for with interest and his presence in Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald said.

Raghavindraa is being used on tour for his throw-down skills in the carry out nets and the Herald said he has come with strong recommendation from Tendulkar and fellow Indian batsman Rahul Dravid.

The newspaper said Raghavindraa, 27, is scheduled as an "attendant" on a Board of Control for Cricket in India news release, and is a worker at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

A Herald reporter watched Raghavindraa during a Sunday net meeting with Tendulkar at Canberra's Manuka Oval in which he threw balls at the batting genius for an hour.

Raghavindraa help Tendulkar get ready for the bombardment of out swingers he is likely to take delivery of from Australia's rising pace star James Pattinson in front of the opening Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.

"The session did not always go to plan. After a series of delivery on his pads, Tendulkar put his bat down for more than a few minutes to show Raghavindraa the wrist place necessary to allow the ball to form away from the right-hander," the newspaper said.

"Just two delivery later, Raghavindraa, unleash from about three meters in front of the popping crease, sent down an out swinger, which Tendulkar, after shoulder arms, describe as 'perfect' and gave his thumbs up."

Tendulkar has been a permanent thorn in the side of Australia's bowlers, averaging more than 60 with 11 centuries in 31 Tests next to them and is eye his 100th international hundred during the Australian tour.


Greg Chappell, who coach India for a three-year spell finish in 2007, said in a new book free last week that Tendulkar was a prisoner of his hard to believe fame in India and carried expectations greater than Australia's iconic batsman Donald Bradman.

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