Surprised Ojha not playing Test cricket: Surrey manager

London, Sep 13   Surrey manager Chris Adams is surprised that Pragyan Ojha has been left out of the Indian cricket Test squad and predicts that the left-arm spinner would play 100 tests for the country, Ojha took six for 42 in Surrey's innings-and-126-run victory over Derbyshire in three days at The Oval. The win promoted the county to LV County Championship Division One. Ojha finished with match figures of 10 for 90 to spearhead Surrey's drive towards their fourth successive championship win.
Surrey were surprised when they were able to secure Ojha's services following a call-up to India's squad for The Oval Test.
"It's not for me to comment on India's selections but I'm amazed he's not playing Test cricket," Adams was quoted as saying in espncricinfo.
"I strongly believe he will play 100 Tests for India, from what I've seen. I may be hitting high, but he's a wonderful bowler with wonderful skills. I expect him in the next six months to break into the India team and be a permanent fixture."
Ojha has proved to be the signing of the season, taking 24 wickets at 12.95 runs each as Surrey have wrested a top-two spot with four successive championship victories.

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It does not feel like I'm finishing: Dravid

Cardiff, Sep 15 : Former India cricket captain Rahul Dravid, who will be retiring from one-day internationals after the fifth ODI here Friday, said hard work in the shorter format of the game helped him to excel in Tests.
"It does not feel like I'm finishing. I will still be doing the same things I have been doing in the last two and a half years. But I have had to work harder on my one-day cricket than in Tests," said Dravid, who will be playing his 344th ODI, on the eve of the match here.
Dravid, who will be ending his 15-year-old ODI career, said he does not dread quitting.
"After such a long period of playing cricket, you don't dread the day you will quit. You will recognise that when the time comes, you would have to move on. Retiring wouldn't make much of a change in my life," he said.
"The Test series against West Indies is coming up. There will be a few days off, then it is back to fitness and practice. Nothing would really change. Nothing is going to be different from tomorrow onwards," he said.
On the feeling of retiring, Dravid said: "When you are away from home, you don't get a sense how it's been like. My wife did mention there are very nice things written about me back home. I feel humbled about the things being said and written about me in last few weeks."
Dravid, who is the seventh highest ODI scorer with 10,820 runs, said that when he started playing, he wasn't considered suitable for ODI cricket but he worked hard to score more than 10,000 runs.
"When I started playing, I wasn't recognised as a one-day player. There was a lot more learning I had to do. I was dropped in the middle of my career, had to learn some lessons, and it helped free up my Test cricket as well. I ended up playing over 300 games for India," he said.
"It gives me a lot of satisfaction (to reflect) that I had a good Test and one-day career. At one stage, I probably wouldn't have thought so myself. In many ways, it has been a very pleasing and satisfying career," he said.
Asked whether batting at various positions and keeping wickets helped him to become an all-round cricketer, Dravid said: "I have played in various positions, kept wickets, opened, batted at number three and five. It helped improve my versatility, being challenged to do different things, different positions, learn new skills, batting at 5-6, and facing different bowlers. Keeping and then batting as well as batting and then keeping helped me grow as a person and as a cricketer."
Asked if he was asked to lead the side in his final ODI, Dravid said: "I don't think I would lead the side. M. S. Dhoni has led the side well. I have got enough respect and recognition for what I have done. It would be lovely to win though (tomorrow), irrespective of what happens."
"We were very good at Lord's, unfortunately, we couldn't get over the line. Hopefully we can do so here tomorrow," he said.
Dravid said after he was dropped from the ODI side, he found it difficult to adjust to Test cricket.
"Initially I found it difficult. I was used to playing continuously all the time. There were gaps as big as six months. When it was the off-season in Indian domestic circuit, I found it difficult. Going straight into Tests with no side games was a challenge for me. I had to learn to adjust to it, get fitter and work harder. It helped, and I was also able to iron out a few flaws in my game, as well as spend time with my family."
Dravid said making the final in the 2003 World Cup was one of the highs of his career and leading the team to a first round exit in the 2007 World Cup was the lowest.
"Reaching the 2003 World Cup finals and getting so close was a high. Then watching India win the World Cup this year was extremely satisfying. I watched Kapil Dev lift the trophy as a 10-year-old, and now towards the end of my career, seeing another Indian team do it and realizing you have been a part of that journey has been satisfying," he said.
"Captaining the team in the 2007 World Cup was a big disappointment. I think we had a team which could have done better, but then we lost to Bangladesh and missed out," he rued.
Dravid said that England, who humiliated India in the summer, are yet not ready to be compared along with the great Australian and the West Indies.
"There's no doubt when England comes to India in October, they would find different conditions. That would be a challenge for them. They have proved to be a good side in their home conditions. They have got the potential but it's not easy," said Dravid.
"It's unfair to compare them with the Australians and West Indies of the past. They were consistent for a long period of time and in various conditions. West Indies won in India and Australia in 2004. England need to go to various countries and win, in South Africa and in India," he said.

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Kolkata football coaches lament lack of infrastructure

Kolkata, Sep 15    The coaches of city based I-League teams Thursday criticised the newly laid artificial grass at the Salt Lake Stadium and regretted that lack of football infrastructure in the country was retarding the growth of the game.
"I am really surprised. How can anyone lay such grass at an important stadium like that? Because of unfamiliarity with the pitch, the players are vulnerable to injuries. It is very unfortunate that there is no other ground in the city where high level matches can be played," said Nasir Ahemed, one of the coaches of the Mohammedan Sporting club.
East Bengal manager Sapan Bal also rued the lack of infrastructure and said the players often had to skip practice because of non-availability of grounds.
"Leave aside the clubs, even the All India Football Federation (AIFF) does not have a ground of its own, though they continue to control the games. But there is nothing to be done. Like bad roads and power failure, we are now accustomed to such things," said Bal.
Prayag United's coach Sanjay Sen said the turf at the Salt Lake Stadium was a cause of concern for him and the players.
"When it was being laid, we thought it would be good for the game. But it seems it has done more harm than good. Players often complain about injuries. But we have nothing to do. As a coach, it's my duty to take the team out and play - no matter what."
The coaches who addressed the media before the start of the main round of the Federation Cup Saturday conceded that the scheduling of the matches was physically taxing for the players.
The champion club of the Federation Cup gets a chance to compete in the continental level in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.

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China Masters: Saina, Jwala-Diju in quarters

New Delhi, Sep 15    India's badminton star Saina Nehwal overcame mid-match jitters to eke out a stiff 21-11, 18-21, 27-25 victory over Japan's Ayane Kurihara and entered the women's singles quarterfinals of the China Masters Super Series badminton tournament in Changzhou Thursday.
It took fifth-seeded Indian one hour and 12 minutes to stave off the challenge of the unseeded Japanese girl.
Saina next plays top seed Yihan Wang of China Friday.
In the mixed doubles, the Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and V. Diju also reached the quarterfinals. They defeated South Korea's Yong Dae Lee and Jung Eun Ha 21-19, 21-17.
They now play Robert Blair of Scotland and Gabrielle White of England.
In the men's singles, Parupalli Kashyap went down in straight sets to Peter Gade of Germany 18-21, 15-21 in the second round.
In the men's doubles, Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas also lost in the second round 13-21, 9-21 to fourth seeds Sung Hyun Ko and Yeon Seong Yoo of Korea.

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Davis Cup semifinals: Nadal plays Gasquet, Djokovic against Nalbandian

Corboda (Spain), Sep 15   World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will play the opening singles for Spain in the Davis Cup semifinal against France here Friday.
Nadal will play Richard Gasquet while Spain's second singles player David Ferrer takes on Gilles Simon in the second singles match.
Nadal, who has already practised twice in Cordoba, described himself as just fit enough" to play after returning from New York.
Spain are favourites to win the tie and will be looking to reach the final for the third time in four years.
France captain Guy Forget reserved his top-ranked player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for Saturday's doubles with Michael Llodra against Spain's pair of Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.
Nadal will play Simon while Ferrer takes on Gasquet in the reverse singles Sunday.
Spain, who have not lost at home since 1999, were without Nadal when they were beaten 0-5 by France last year in World Group quarterfinals.
In the other semifinal, US Open champion Novak Djokovic will play the opening singles match for Serbia against David Nalbandian of Argentina.
In the second singles, Janko Tipsarevic will face Juan Martin del Potro.
Djokovic, however, was not present for Thursday's draw at the Belgrade Arena and is expected to join the team later.
"We're still waiting for Novak to arrive from New York," Victor Troicki, who is in reserves, said. "We'll see how he feels. If he's not that great, I'll be definitely ready to play the first match against Nalbandian. Last year I found out three hours before the match that I would play, but this time I'm aware that he might not play if he's not right."
In Saturday's doubles, Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic will take on Juan Monaco and Juan Ignacio Chela.
Davis Cup semifinal draw:
(Spain vs France) Friday: R1: Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Richard Gasquet (FRA) R2: David Ferrer (ESP) vs Gilles Simon (FRA)
Saturday: R3: Feliciano Lopez / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v Michael Llodra / Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
Sunday: R4: Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Gilles Simon (FRA) R5: David Ferrer (ESP) vs Richard Gasquet (FRA)
(Serbia vs Argentina) Friday: R1: Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs David Nalbandian (ARG) R2: Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) vs Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)
Saturday: R3: Janko Tipsarevic / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) vs Juan Ignacio Chela / Juan Monaco (ARG)
Sunday: R4: Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) R5: Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) vs David Nalbandian.

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England eye clean sweep against India in one-dayer

We're going to have to play at the top of our game to try to win, and finish the summer on a high as a one-day team: Alastair Cook.
England captain Alastair Cook is hoping to complete a miserable tour for India on Friday by wrapping up a 3-0 one-day series victory over the tourists.
India are yet to taste victory over England this summer, having been whitewashed 4-0 in the Test series and trailing 2-0 ahead of Friday’s final one-dayer in Cardiff.
However India came agonisingly close to pipping England at Lord’s last weekend, and Cook remains wary of the threat posed by the wounded tourists heading into the match.
“The last two games have been very close, and have shown what a talented side India are,” Cook said.
“We’re going to have to play at the top of our game to try to win, and finish the summer on a high as a one-day team.”
Cook however is satisfied with England’s form in his first season in charge as skipper of the limited overs side, which also included a 3-2 series win over Sri Lanka.
“It’s been a good start, and I’m very happy with the way the lads have taken to me as captain and bought into the ideas,” Cook said.
“I’m very happy with winning both series. We know how tough it’s going to be in the next two months or so (in a return series in India), but this side has always responded well to challenges.”
Cook also believes England’s one-day squad can improve.
“We are a very young side trying to make progress,” he said. “The exciting thing is I don’t think we’ve played as well as we can.
“We have been put under pressure in this series, but have still won the games. That is very encouraging.
Meanwhile Cook paid tribute to India batsman Rahul Dravid, who will be playing his 344th and final one-day game.
“He’s scored 10,000 runs in both forms of the game. He’s managed to adapt his game to every surface,” Cook said. “He is an all-time great.”

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Indian F1 Grand Prix fears eased, Jaypee ready to pay tax bill: Report

London, Sep 15: Fears that next month's inaugural Indian Formula One Grand Prix at Greater Noida's Buddh International Circuit could be scrapped due to tax issues have reportedly been eased by the race's organizers, the Jaypee Sports International (JPSI). Speculation that India's tax authorities were unwilling to grant F1 teams a tax exemption on their equipment, on the basis they do not consider the October 30 race to be of national importance, had thrown the race into uncertainty.
However, the JPSI have now said that they are ready to step in and pick up any tax costs the teams incur, Sky Sports reports.
"JPSI has full support from the government, the sports ministry and the customs department for the F1 event scheduled for October this year. We have an in-principle approval from the customs department for creating a customs bonded area for F1 equipment that will be temporarily imported to India," JPSI chief executive Sameer Gaur said in a statement.
"If required, as per the law of the land, JPSI will pay customs duties and taxes etc for the temporary import of equipment. The estimated value of this equipment is about 150 crore rupees and the final duty payable on this will be approximately eight crore rupees," he added.

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