MUMBAI: The cricket board has decided to recommend recently retired stalwart Rahul Dravid for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award and Yuvraj Singh, the player of the World Cup, for the Arjuna Award.
"We will be forwarding the names of Rahul Dravid for Khel Ratna Award and Yuvraj Singh for the Arjuna Award next week (to the government)," BCCI's CAO Prof Ratnakar Shetty said on Saturday.
The government had recently extended the deadline for the nominations till July 20.
The 39-year-old Dravid retired from all forms of the game at the international level following the Test series in Australia last year after having accumulated over 23,000 runs in Tests and ODIs combined since making a spectacular debut at Lord's in 1996.
If awarded the highest sports award in the country that was instituted in 1991-92, former India captain Dravid would follow the footsteps of his illustrious ex-teammates Sachin Tendulkar (1997-98) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2007-08) as the third cricketer to win the coveted award.
So far 20 sportspersons have been bestowed the award. Yuvraj, who has started practising at the nets at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore after his battle with a rare form of germ cell cancer between his lungs, was India's hero in the 2011 World Cup triumph.
Showing posts with label Day To Day Sports News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Day To Day Sports News. Show all posts
Saturday, July 7, 2012
4th Odi: David Hussey Guides Australia To 200/9 Against England
CHESTER-LE-STREET: David Hussey's 70 guided Australia to 200 for nine in the fourth one-day international against England on Saturday.
Scorecard
Australia were in dire straits at 96 for five when Hussey took guard but his 73-ball innings, featuring nine fours, kept the tourists in the match.
Together with Brett Lee, he put on 70 for the seventh wicket.
England, 2-0 up in this five-match series, would have been in an even stronger position had they not dropped four catches, with Hussey reprieved on 15 and 29.
Fast bowler Steven Finn, twice on a hat-trick, took four for 37 -- just shy of his career-best four for 34 which he achieved twice against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.
England, after winning the toss in overcast conditions, saw Finn claim two wickets in successive balls as Australia slumped to six for two in the sixth over.
First a full and straight delivery rapped David Warner on the pads, with the normally dynamic left-hander having taken 19 balls for two runs.
English umpire Nigel Llong initially ruled not out, but England requested a review which showed the ball had pitched in line.
Next ball Peter Forrest was plumb lbw for a golden duck after being struck flush on the back pad.
Australia captain Michael Clarke survived the hat-trick after missing an excellent Finn delivery that cut back sharply between bat and pad.
Clarke should have been out for eight but Eoin Morgan at backward point dropped a simple chance off Tim Bresnan.
Opener Shane Watson struck Stuart Broad for four and later in the same over, after Broad had bowled a no-ball, pulled the ensuing free-hit for six.
But a stand worth 51 in 80 balls ended when Watson, trying to run the ball down to third man, played on to Bresnan for 28.
Clarke, also dropped on 28, found runs hard to and was out for 43 off 85 balls when clean bowled by Finn.
Next ball Finn had Matthew Wade brilliantly caught off the inside edge by opposing wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter, who dived to his right and grabbed the one-handed chance at the second attempt.
Once again Finn was on a hat-trick but Lee watched the next ball pass wide of his stumps.
Hussey, who survived an lbw shout from Ravi Bopara, was dropped off a low caught and bowled chance by the medium-pacer.
He was given another 'life' when Ian Bell, running in from the cover boundary, grassed a low chance off all-rounder Bopara.
Lee, a ball after lofting James Anderson for six, holed out for 27 before Hussey, in the last over, was caught in the deep by Anderson off Bresnan.
Scorecard
Australia were in dire straits at 96 for five when Hussey took guard but his 73-ball innings, featuring nine fours, kept the tourists in the match.
Together with Brett Lee, he put on 70 for the seventh wicket.
England, 2-0 up in this five-match series, would have been in an even stronger position had they not dropped four catches, with Hussey reprieved on 15 and 29.
Fast bowler Steven Finn, twice on a hat-trick, took four for 37 -- just shy of his career-best four for 34 which he achieved twice against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.
England, after winning the toss in overcast conditions, saw Finn claim two wickets in successive balls as Australia slumped to six for two in the sixth over.
First a full and straight delivery rapped David Warner on the pads, with the normally dynamic left-hander having taken 19 balls for two runs.
English umpire Nigel Llong initially ruled not out, but England requested a review which showed the ball had pitched in line.
Next ball Peter Forrest was plumb lbw for a golden duck after being struck flush on the back pad.
Australia captain Michael Clarke survived the hat-trick after missing an excellent Finn delivery that cut back sharply between bat and pad.
Clarke should have been out for eight but Eoin Morgan at backward point dropped a simple chance off Tim Bresnan.
Opener Shane Watson struck Stuart Broad for four and later in the same over, after Broad had bowled a no-ball, pulled the ensuing free-hit for six.
But a stand worth 51 in 80 balls ended when Watson, trying to run the ball down to third man, played on to Bresnan for 28.
Clarke, also dropped on 28, found runs hard to and was out for 43 off 85 balls when clean bowled by Finn.
Next ball Finn had Matthew Wade brilliantly caught off the inside edge by opposing wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter, who dived to his right and grabbed the one-handed chance at the second attempt.
Once again Finn was on a hat-trick but Lee watched the next ball pass wide of his stumps.
Hussey, who survived an lbw shout from Ravi Bopara, was dropped off a low caught and bowled chance by the medium-pacer.
He was given another 'life' when Ian Bell, running in from the cover boundary, grassed a low chance off all-rounder Bopara.
Lee, a ball after lofting James Anderson for six, holed out for 27 before Hussey, in the last over, was caught in the deep by Anderson off Bresnan.
Playing Federer Takes Pressure Off Me, Says Murray
LONDON: Preparing for what could be the defining moment of his career, Andy Murray believes he will be under less pressure in the Wimbledon final on Sunday because he is playing 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.
The majority of the 15,000 fans with a golden ticket for Sunday's final, not to mention the millions glued to television screens around the country, will be willing Murray to become the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men's singles for 76 years.
Swiss maestro Federer, who boasts a global army of admirers, will be chasing a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon crown and a return to the top spot in the ATP rankings.
It looks a dream scenario and Murray, the first British man to reach the final since Bunny Austin in 1938, said he is glad it is Federer facing him over the net.
"It's a great challenge, one where I'm probably not expected to win the match, but one that if I play well, I'm capable of winning," Murray said.
"There will be less pressure on me on Sunday because of who he is."
Federer, who will reach another couple of landmarks if he beats Murray, equalling the seven men's singles titles of Pete Sampras as well as the 286 weeks the American spent at world No.1, produced a brilliant performance to beat 2011 champion Novak Djokovic and reach his eighth Wimbledon final.
After falling in the quarterfinals in the last two years, Federer said it was good to be back on the stage he is graced on the final Sunday for much of the past decade.
"All I hoped for was a good match from me, to be quite honest, to give myself a chance to be in the finals and have a shot at the trophy again really," Federer said.
"I missed being in the finals here the last couple years obviously."
Federer said losing in the quarterfinals last year to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after being two sets up had been tough to take.
"I played so well against Tsonga it was a hard one to sort of accept to lose. You have to wait another year for your chance, and now I am finally back in that final. So it's great."
Murray enjoys an 8-7 lead over Federer in their previous meetings but the Swiss beat him in straight sets in the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open finals and the Briton is under no illusions about the size of the task facing him as he tries to win a maiden major title.
"He's obviously one of the greatest players ever to have played," said fourth seed Murray who beat Tsonga in a gripping four-set semifinal.
"I'd be surprised if he wasn't the best in terms of his win/loss ratio here.
"He's been doing it consistently over a number of years. The matches he has lost the last couple of years was five sets against Tsonga, five sets against Berdych, five sets against Rafa. He's very, very tough to beat here."
Federer, 30, has lost only once in seven Wimbledon finals, an epic five-set battle against Rafa Nadal in 2008, and he is excited by the prospect of playing home favourite Murray.
"He's only going to get better as time goes by. That's what he's been proving," Federer said. "He's actually handled it very well from what I've seen from afar.
"I always say in whatever country I am I like to play the local hero and Andy is exactly that here at Wimbledon.
"I hope I have some crowd support, but it's not the most important thing right now."
The majority of the 15,000 fans with a golden ticket for Sunday's final, not to mention the millions glued to television screens around the country, will be willing Murray to become the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men's singles for 76 years.
Swiss maestro Federer, who boasts a global army of admirers, will be chasing a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon crown and a return to the top spot in the ATP rankings.
It looks a dream scenario and Murray, the first British man to reach the final since Bunny Austin in 1938, said he is glad it is Federer facing him over the net.
"It's a great challenge, one where I'm probably not expected to win the match, but one that if I play well, I'm capable of winning," Murray said.
"There will be less pressure on me on Sunday because of who he is."
Federer, who will reach another couple of landmarks if he beats Murray, equalling the seven men's singles titles of Pete Sampras as well as the 286 weeks the American spent at world No.1, produced a brilliant performance to beat 2011 champion Novak Djokovic and reach his eighth Wimbledon final.
After falling in the quarterfinals in the last two years, Federer said it was good to be back on the stage he is graced on the final Sunday for much of the past decade.
"All I hoped for was a good match from me, to be quite honest, to give myself a chance to be in the finals and have a shot at the trophy again really," Federer said.
"I missed being in the finals here the last couple years obviously."
Federer said losing in the quarterfinals last year to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after being two sets up had been tough to take.
"I played so well against Tsonga it was a hard one to sort of accept to lose. You have to wait another year for your chance, and now I am finally back in that final. So it's great."
Murray enjoys an 8-7 lead over Federer in their previous meetings but the Swiss beat him in straight sets in the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open finals and the Briton is under no illusions about the size of the task facing him as he tries to win a maiden major title.
"He's obviously one of the greatest players ever to have played," said fourth seed Murray who beat Tsonga in a gripping four-set semifinal.
"I'd be surprised if he wasn't the best in terms of his win/loss ratio here.
"He's been doing it consistently over a number of years. The matches he has lost the last couple of years was five sets against Tsonga, five sets against Berdych, five sets against Rafa. He's very, very tough to beat here."
Federer, 30, has lost only once in seven Wimbledon finals, an epic five-set battle against Rafa Nadal in 2008, and he is excited by the prospect of playing home favourite Murray.
"He's only going to get better as time goes by. That's what he's been proving," Federer said. "He's actually handled it very well from what I've seen from afar.
"I always say in whatever country I am I like to play the local hero and Andy is exactly that here at Wimbledon.
"I hope I have some crowd support, but it's not the most important thing right now."
Fernando Alonso Puts Ferrari On Pole At British Grand Prix
SILVERSTONE (England): Spaniard Fernando Alonso slid and splashed through atrocious conditions to hand Ferrari their first Formula One pole since 2010 in a rain-delayed British Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
The championship leader, last year's winner at Silverstone, was joined on the front row by Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber - also his closest rival in the standings after eight of 20 races.
The pole was Ferrari's first since Alonso started the Singapore Grand Prix from the top slot on the grid in September 2010, 31 races ago.
"It was tricky conditions for everyone. You have to be calm in some difficult moments," said the Spaniard, who leads Webber by 20 points overall, of his 21st career pole.
There was however a lingering question mark over whether the double champion had set his fastest lap in the second phase of qualifying under yellow warning flags after Frenchman Romain Grosjean slid his Lotus into the gravel.
"I backed off in the area where they were taking away the car," Alonso said of the incident.
Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher qualified third fastest for Mercedes with fellow German Sebastian Vettel, the reigning champion, alongside for Red Bull.
The top four, separated by just four tenths of a second, are all former British Grand Prix winners.
"In a session like this, it's a huge amount down to the driver to get comfortable in the car. It was nip and tuck with Fernando to get pole," said Webber.
Heavy rain had earlier forced qualifying to be halted for an hour and a half, with cars slipping and sliding on pools of standing water.
Alonso had been among those calling for race control to abandon the session.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, the last Briton to win his home race in 2008, qualified eighth while team mate Jenson Button had a nightmare afternoon and should start 16th after grid penalties are applied to others.
"I could not get any heat on the front tyres. I felt it straight out of the pits. I couldn't get any heat on the fronts and that is why I could not get a lap time on those tyres," Button told the BBC.
"It is the story of my year, not getting heat on the fronts so I am not too upset. I know I can drive a car in the wet," added the Briton, a winner in the wet from last place at a restart in Canada last year.
Brazilian Felipe Massa put his Ferrari in fifth place on the grid, his best performance of the season, next to his former team mate and 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus.
Rain also caused chaos on Friday, with teams getting limited practice laps in very slippery conditions while waterlogged campsites caused huge traffic jams outside the circuit as race fans struggled to find parking.
Organisers had urged up to 30,000 ticket-holders with public parking passes to stay away on Saturday to ensure car parks held up for an expected 125,000-strong crowd on race day.
The championship leader, last year's winner at Silverstone, was joined on the front row by Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber - also his closest rival in the standings after eight of 20 races.
The pole was Ferrari's first since Alonso started the Singapore Grand Prix from the top slot on the grid in September 2010, 31 races ago.
"It was tricky conditions for everyone. You have to be calm in some difficult moments," said the Spaniard, who leads Webber by 20 points overall, of his 21st career pole.
There was however a lingering question mark over whether the double champion had set his fastest lap in the second phase of qualifying under yellow warning flags after Frenchman Romain Grosjean slid his Lotus into the gravel.
"I backed off in the area where they were taking away the car," Alonso said of the incident.
Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher qualified third fastest for Mercedes with fellow German Sebastian Vettel, the reigning champion, alongside for Red Bull.
The top four, separated by just four tenths of a second, are all former British Grand Prix winners.
"In a session like this, it's a huge amount down to the driver to get comfortable in the car. It was nip and tuck with Fernando to get pole," said Webber.
Heavy rain had earlier forced qualifying to be halted for an hour and a half, with cars slipping and sliding on pools of standing water.
Alonso had been among those calling for race control to abandon the session.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, the last Briton to win his home race in 2008, qualified eighth while team mate Jenson Button had a nightmare afternoon and should start 16th after grid penalties are applied to others.
"I could not get any heat on the front tyres. I felt it straight out of the pits. I couldn't get any heat on the fronts and that is why I could not get a lap time on those tyres," Button told the BBC.
"It is the story of my year, not getting heat on the fronts so I am not too upset. I know I can drive a car in the wet," added the Briton, a winner in the wet from last place at a restart in Canada last year.
Brazilian Felipe Massa put his Ferrari in fifth place on the grid, his best performance of the season, next to his former team mate and 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus.
Rain also caused chaos on Friday, with teams getting limited practice laps in very slippery conditions while waterlogged campsites caused huge traffic jams outside the circuit as race fans struggled to find parking.
Organisers had urged up to 30,000 ticket-holders with public parking passes to stay away on Saturday to ensure car parks held up for an expected 125,000-strong crowd on race day.
I Won't Even Be 41 When Ipl 6 Starts, Says Sourav Ganguly
KOLKATA: Turning 40 might club him in the league of veterans but Sourav Ganguly is not yet ready to throw in the towel as far as his participation in the next edition of IPL is concerned.
"I will take a call next season. As a matter of fact, I would not be even 41 when the IPL 6 would begin in 2013," Ganguly, who turns 40 tomorrow, said when asked about his plans for next year's Indian Premier League.
This despite a poor fifth season for Pune Warriors India as the team's skipper.
Ganguly is a believer and 40 is just a number for him. Ganguly said: "40 is just a number to me. For me life is simple and consistent. It (the age) does not matter to me, it makes no difference at all.
Taking a dig at his detractors, India's most successful Test captain had earlier said: "I'm also a human and prone to failures. Somehow you have to deal with it. Many captains have failed (in the IPL) but it's Sourav Ganguly who always makes the headlines."
Asked to pick his finest moment as a cricketer, the stylish left-hander, who guided India to the 2003 World Cup final, said his entire life has been satisfying.
"I cherish my entire life. I've been blessed with a life full of good memories," Ganguly, who has the most number of Test wins (21) as captain of India, said.
At the same time, he refused to talk about former coach Greg Chappell with whom he had a stormy relationship, leading to his ouster from the Indian team in 2005.
Asked whether he regrets his decision of bringing the Aussie and get him the Indian coaching job, Ganguly said: " As I've said earlier, I don't want to talk about Greg Chappell."
He might not have put it in as many words, but Ganguly obviously seemed unhappy about Chappell's fresh salvo at him in one of the articles in a book on Rahul Dravid.
"Sadly, the success of the team (under Dravid) was not universally enjoyed within the team. Some individuals felt threatened by the new world order and appeared to work against Rahul...," wrote Chappell in the book 'Timeless Steel'.
The Aussie did not name anybody but many believed that he pointed his fingers at Ganguly again.
"I've read his comments. I don't think it has put me against Dravid," Ganguly said.
Sachin Tendulkar might be regularly opting out of the one-dayers but Ganguly felt the veteran Mumbaikar has the right to pick and choose.
"He is Sachin. He has got the right to do it. That's the way it is for the youngsters. He comes and performs for the team."
Recently, Dravid had expressed his apprehension about the future of Test cricket 10 years down the line, but Ganguly thought otherwise.
"It's difficult to predict what will happen 10 years down the line. No matter what, Test cricket will survive. I've always said Twenty20 would be popular but there will be a place for Test cricket," said Ganguly, who is also the BCCI's technical committee chairman.
He was also not unduly concerned by the fact that India's next generation batsmen came a cropper and lost the first-class series (1-2) during the recent 'A' tour of the West Indies.
Asked whether India's bench strength was not up to the mark, Ganguly said: "We will find that out. I don't think one has to worry just on the basis of the outcome of a series."
Ganguly refused to pick his favourites for the World T20 in Sri Lanka and said: "It's Twenty20, anything can happen in the format. It's very difficult to predict and pick a favourite team in this format."
"I will take a call next season. As a matter of fact, I would not be even 41 when the IPL 6 would begin in 2013," Ganguly, who turns 40 tomorrow, said when asked about his plans for next year's Indian Premier League.
This despite a poor fifth season for Pune Warriors India as the team's skipper.
Ganguly is a believer and 40 is just a number for him. Ganguly said: "40 is just a number to me. For me life is simple and consistent. It (the age) does not matter to me, it makes no difference at all.
Taking a dig at his detractors, India's most successful Test captain had earlier said: "I'm also a human and prone to failures. Somehow you have to deal with it. Many captains have failed (in the IPL) but it's Sourav Ganguly who always makes the headlines."
Asked to pick his finest moment as a cricketer, the stylish left-hander, who guided India to the 2003 World Cup final, said his entire life has been satisfying.
"I cherish my entire life. I've been blessed with a life full of good memories," Ganguly, who has the most number of Test wins (21) as captain of India, said.
At the same time, he refused to talk about former coach Greg Chappell with whom he had a stormy relationship, leading to his ouster from the Indian team in 2005.
Asked whether he regrets his decision of bringing the Aussie and get him the Indian coaching job, Ganguly said: " As I've said earlier, I don't want to talk about Greg Chappell."
He might not have put it in as many words, but Ganguly obviously seemed unhappy about Chappell's fresh salvo at him in one of the articles in a book on Rahul Dravid.
"Sadly, the success of the team (under Dravid) was not universally enjoyed within the team. Some individuals felt threatened by the new world order and appeared to work against Rahul...," wrote Chappell in the book 'Timeless Steel'.
The Aussie did not name anybody but many believed that he pointed his fingers at Ganguly again.
"I've read his comments. I don't think it has put me against Dravid," Ganguly said.
Sachin Tendulkar might be regularly opting out of the one-dayers but Ganguly felt the veteran Mumbaikar has the right to pick and choose.
"He is Sachin. He has got the right to do it. That's the way it is for the youngsters. He comes and performs for the team."
Recently, Dravid had expressed his apprehension about the future of Test cricket 10 years down the line, but Ganguly thought otherwise.
"It's difficult to predict what will happen 10 years down the line. No matter what, Test cricket will survive. I've always said Twenty20 would be popular but there will be a place for Test cricket," said Ganguly, who is also the BCCI's technical committee chairman.
He was also not unduly concerned by the fact that India's next generation batsmen came a cropper and lost the first-class series (1-2) during the recent 'A' tour of the West Indies.
Asked whether India's bench strength was not up to the mark, Ganguly said: "We will find that out. I don't think one has to worry just on the basis of the outcome of a series."
Ganguly refused to pick his favourites for the World T20 in Sri Lanka and said: "It's Twenty20, anything can happen in the format. It's very difficult to predict and pick a favourite team in this format."
Serena Williams Wins Her Fifth Wimbledon Title
LONDON: Serena Williams weathered Agnieszka Radwanska's fight back and defeated the Pole in three sets 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in 2 hours 2 minutes to win her fifth Wimbledon title on Saturday.
Serena continued her power-packed game as she fired 17 aces to wrap the final set 6-2 in 37 minutes.
Radwanska levelled the final one set all after she rallied to win the second set 7-5.
Playing in her first Grand Slam final, Radwanska fought back in the second set after losing the first fairly easily to win the set in 49 minutes.
Serena won the first set of the final 6-1 against Radwanska before rain brought a halt to action on Centre Court for more than 30 minutes.
Serena won the first set in 36 minutes with some aggressive play against the world number three Radwanska.
Serena continued her power-packed game as she fired 17 aces to wrap the final set 6-2 in 37 minutes.
Radwanska levelled the final one set all after she rallied to win the second set 7-5.
Playing in her first Grand Slam final, Radwanska fought back in the second set after losing the first fairly easily to win the set in 49 minutes.
Serena won the first set of the final 6-1 against Radwanska before rain brought a halt to action on Centre Court for more than 30 minutes.
Serena won the first set in 36 minutes with some aggressive play against the world number three Radwanska.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Rory Mcilroy Regains World No. 1 Ranking
CHARLOTTE (North Carolina): Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reclaimed golf's world number-one ranking on Sunday despite falling to Rickie Fowler in a playoff at the US PGA Tour's Wells Fargo Championship.
McIlroy, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday, regained the summit a week after he was supplanted by England's Luke Donald.
The two have exchanged the top spot for the past two months, and McIlroy needed only a top-seven finish at Quail Hollow to return to number one.
"It's a little consolation," McIlroy said. "I would rather win the tournament, but it's good.
"You know, I want to try and play well for the next few weeks and try and solidify my spot there at No. 1 and hopefully start by doing that next week and giving myself another chance to win."
McIlroy, who will defend his US Open title in June, will tee it up in the US tour's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday after skipping the event last year.
McIlroy, who won his first US title on the same Quail Hollow course in 2010, finished tied for second Sunday with DA Points, both parring the first playoff hole as Fowler birdied for the victory.
"Overall it's been a decent week," McIlroy said. "To come back after three weeks off and get myself in the mix -- I gave myself a chance to win -- was nice."
McIlroy said he was delighted for Fowler, another 23-year-old who has been touted as a rising star but who had been unable to land that first US Tour win until Sunday.
"It's great to see," McIlroy said. "He probably went through a lot of scrutiny and a lot of pressure trying to get that first win out of the way.
"Hopefully that'll ease the pressure a little bit."
McIlroy, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday, regained the summit a week after he was supplanted by England's Luke Donald.
The two have exchanged the top spot for the past two months, and McIlroy needed only a top-seven finish at Quail Hollow to return to number one.
"It's a little consolation," McIlroy said. "I would rather win the tournament, but it's good.
"You know, I want to try and play well for the next few weeks and try and solidify my spot there at No. 1 and hopefully start by doing that next week and giving myself another chance to win."
McIlroy, who will defend his US Open title in June, will tee it up in the US tour's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday after skipping the event last year.
McIlroy, who won his first US title on the same Quail Hollow course in 2010, finished tied for second Sunday with DA Points, both parring the first playoff hole as Fowler birdied for the victory.
"Overall it's been a decent week," McIlroy said. "To come back after three weeks off and get myself in the mix -- I gave myself a chance to win -- was nice."
McIlroy said he was delighted for Fowler, another 23-year-old who has been touted as a rising star but who had been unable to land that first US Tour win until Sunday.
"It's great to see," McIlroy said. "He probably went through a lot of scrutiny and a lot of pressure trying to get that first win out of the way.
"Hopefully that'll ease the pressure a little bit."
Novak Djokovic Tested, Testy In Tight Madrid Opener
MADRID: Top seed Novak Djokovic failed to get to grips with the controversial blue clay of the Madrid Masters but still survived a struggle to reach the third round 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 over Daniel Gimeno-Traver on Tuesday.
World number one Djokovic, originally cautious in his comments about the experimental surface which has drawn fire but little praise so far from players, was unable to stay in check after playing his match.
"It's impossible to move. I hit maybe five balls, the rest went just trying to put the ball into the court. I was relying on serve and getting free points from his unforced errors.
"That was not tennis, either I need football shoes or some advice on how to play on this court.
"I cannot find the words to describe this court. It's really tough to play like this on a centre court. We cannot change anything this year, but my first impressions are not good. I don't want to be the one complaining, but I say honestly what I feel.
"We need serious discussion about the future of this blue clay."
The Serb is playing for the first time since losing the Monte Carlo final to Rafael Nadal, the second seed here who has so far led the criticism against the blue look.
Djokovic beat the Spaniard for the Madrid title a year ago, backing up that win with another for the trophy in Rome.
Djokovic advanced after a struggle from seven aces and 20 winners after losing the second set on a double-break against the number 137 ranked Spaniard.
Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych advanced over South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-3, paving the way for a trio of French seeds.
Number nine Gilles Simon beat Fabio Fognini 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 6-3 after playing his last match eight days ago in the Bucharest final against the Italian.
But Simon was scathing about the blue clay.
"I see no difference from last year, these have always been the worst court of the clay season. I could have sprained something practising," complained the Frenchman.
"There are other priorities ahead of making it blue - it should be better."
Gael Monfils, the number 12, returned after six weeks out with an abdominal injury and put out German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3.
Estoril finalist Richard Gasquet won a marathon in two and three-quarter hours against Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
Estoril champion Juan Martin del Potro eased past Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-2.
The two leading women both reached the third round, with top seed Victoria Azarenka made to struggle by Czech Andrea Hlavackova before emerging 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) winner.
The Belarus player was serving for a quick straight-set result but was broken as her opponent pulled level at 5-5 in the second set.
The seed had to save a set point in the 12th game to bring on a tie-breaker, which finally saw her through with 32 winners in one and three-quarter hours.
"The surface is a bit slippery, but it's the same for all of us," she said of the blue clay court surface.
"I don't like to complain - it is what it is and it won't change now."
Second seed Maria Sharapova defeated another Czech in Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 6-3, firing 18 winners and breaking five times.
The Russian, whose match was started before 11:00 am (0900 GMT) due to the demands of television, said that a few days of training on the blue clay surface last week paid dividends.
"It's not so much about the colour. It does look good on television. But it plays a bit different. It's about the amount of clay on the court and the way it bounces," she said.
"You have to get used to it but I came here after winning Stuttgart and got in four or five days on it. I got settled in so it's just a matter of adjusting. It's also the same for everyone."
Number 13 Ana Ivanovic defeated Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1.
World number one Djokovic, originally cautious in his comments about the experimental surface which has drawn fire but little praise so far from players, was unable to stay in check after playing his match.
"It's impossible to move. I hit maybe five balls, the rest went just trying to put the ball into the court. I was relying on serve and getting free points from his unforced errors.
"That was not tennis, either I need football shoes or some advice on how to play on this court.
"I cannot find the words to describe this court. It's really tough to play like this on a centre court. We cannot change anything this year, but my first impressions are not good. I don't want to be the one complaining, but I say honestly what I feel.
"We need serious discussion about the future of this blue clay."
The Serb is playing for the first time since losing the Monte Carlo final to Rafael Nadal, the second seed here who has so far led the criticism against the blue look.
Djokovic beat the Spaniard for the Madrid title a year ago, backing up that win with another for the trophy in Rome.
Djokovic advanced after a struggle from seven aces and 20 winners after losing the second set on a double-break against the number 137 ranked Spaniard.
Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych advanced over South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-3, paving the way for a trio of French seeds.
Number nine Gilles Simon beat Fabio Fognini 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 6-3 after playing his last match eight days ago in the Bucharest final against the Italian.
But Simon was scathing about the blue clay.
"I see no difference from last year, these have always been the worst court of the clay season. I could have sprained something practising," complained the Frenchman.
"There are other priorities ahead of making it blue - it should be better."
Gael Monfils, the number 12, returned after six weeks out with an abdominal injury and put out German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3.
Estoril finalist Richard Gasquet won a marathon in two and three-quarter hours against Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
Estoril champion Juan Martin del Potro eased past Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-2.
The two leading women both reached the third round, with top seed Victoria Azarenka made to struggle by Czech Andrea Hlavackova before emerging 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) winner.
The Belarus player was serving for a quick straight-set result but was broken as her opponent pulled level at 5-5 in the second set.
The seed had to save a set point in the 12th game to bring on a tie-breaker, which finally saw her through with 32 winners in one and three-quarter hours.
"The surface is a bit slippery, but it's the same for all of us," she said of the blue clay court surface.
"I don't like to complain - it is what it is and it won't change now."
Second seed Maria Sharapova defeated another Czech in Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 6-3, firing 18 winners and breaking five times.
The Russian, whose match was started before 11:00 am (0900 GMT) due to the demands of television, said that a few days of training on the blue clay surface last week paid dividends.
"It's not so much about the colour. It does look good on television. But it plays a bit different. It's about the amount of clay on the court and the way it bounces," she said.
"You have to get used to it but I came here after winning Stuttgart and got in four or five days on it. I got settled in so it's just a matter of adjusting. It's also the same for everyone."
Number 13 Ana Ivanovic defeated Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1.
Liverpool Avenge Cup Loss To Deny Chelsea Fourth
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool scored three times in nine first-half minutes to avenge Saturday's FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea as they beat the Champions League finalists 4-1 at Anfield on Tuesday.
Michael Essien's own-goal and goals from Jordan Henderson, Daniel Agger and Jonjo Shelvey ensured Fernando Torres endured a nightmare return to his former club since leaving for £50 million ($81 million) in January 2011.
The defeat means Chelsea must beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 19 if they are to secure a place in the competition next season as they can now no longer finish fourth in the Premier League.
Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo made wholesale changes to his side, but the Italian will be concerned the FA Cup winners have now won just one of their last five league games.
Rarely have Liverpool looked forward to the end of the season so much after enduring a campaign where a League Cup final win has failed to mask their mediocre league form.
They lost their last two games at Anfield while their fans had been starved of a home league win since March 13 and even this victory left the Reds, managed by Anfield great Kenny Dalglish, in a relatively lowly eighth place.
Chelsea went into the game having secured more away points (25) than Liverpool had managed at home (24).
But di Matteo's decision to rest his key players ahead of the Champions League final back-fired spectacularly.
Chelsea made eight changes to the side that started the 2-1 FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley.
Liverpool, who were without skipper Steven Gerrard, were clearly desperate to put right the wrongs from a disappointing performance at the weekend.
And they never looked back after Essien turned the ball into his own net in the 19th minute while trying to clear from Luis Suarez.
Two minutes earlier Branislav Ivanovic rattled the woodwork after a corner from six-yards when the unmarked Chelsea defender should have done better.
Chelsea captain John Terry then slipped to pave the way for Henderson to double Liverpool's lead in the 25th minute, the former Sunderland player producing a delightful finish past keeper Ross Turnbull.
And Agger made it 3-0 in the 28th minute when the Dane nodded home after clever work by Andy Carroll.
Former Liverpool striker Torres, who had managed just seven goals in his previous 44 Premier League appearances for the Londoners, was denied by the woodwork before half time with an angled shot.
Liverpool's Stewart Downing, yet to score a league goal since joining from Aston Villa in pre-season, then twice hit the woodwork himself before the break.
Having struck the bar with a dipping 25-yard attempt, the winger then hit a post from the penalty spot after Ivanovic had fouled Carroll in the dying moments of a thrilling first half.
Chelsea did reduce their deficit in the 50th minute.
Ramires scored against the Reds at Wembley and the Brazilian was at it again as Florent Malouda's free-kick hit his midriff before trickling into the net.
But Chelsea's revival was short-lived thanks to Turnbull.
The keeper's attempted clearance landed at the feet of Shelvey, who rifled a first-time effort from 30-yards into the net in front of the Kop to make it 4-1 in the 61st minute.
There was time for Liverpool to bring on 17-year-old Raheem Sterling while Maxi Rodriguez appeared to wave goodbye to fans when he was substituted in the closing stages.
Michael Essien's own-goal and goals from Jordan Henderson, Daniel Agger and Jonjo Shelvey ensured Fernando Torres endured a nightmare return to his former club since leaving for £50 million ($81 million) in January 2011.
The defeat means Chelsea must beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 19 if they are to secure a place in the competition next season as they can now no longer finish fourth in the Premier League.
Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo made wholesale changes to his side, but the Italian will be concerned the FA Cup winners have now won just one of their last five league games.
Rarely have Liverpool looked forward to the end of the season so much after enduring a campaign where a League Cup final win has failed to mask their mediocre league form.
They lost their last two games at Anfield while their fans had been starved of a home league win since March 13 and even this victory left the Reds, managed by Anfield great Kenny Dalglish, in a relatively lowly eighth place.
Chelsea went into the game having secured more away points (25) than Liverpool had managed at home (24).
But di Matteo's decision to rest his key players ahead of the Champions League final back-fired spectacularly.
Chelsea made eight changes to the side that started the 2-1 FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley.
Liverpool, who were without skipper Steven Gerrard, were clearly desperate to put right the wrongs from a disappointing performance at the weekend.
And they never looked back after Essien turned the ball into his own net in the 19th minute while trying to clear from Luis Suarez.
Two minutes earlier Branislav Ivanovic rattled the woodwork after a corner from six-yards when the unmarked Chelsea defender should have done better.
Chelsea captain John Terry then slipped to pave the way for Henderson to double Liverpool's lead in the 25th minute, the former Sunderland player producing a delightful finish past keeper Ross Turnbull.
And Agger made it 3-0 in the 28th minute when the Dane nodded home after clever work by Andy Carroll.
Former Liverpool striker Torres, who had managed just seven goals in his previous 44 Premier League appearances for the Londoners, was denied by the woodwork before half time with an angled shot.
Liverpool's Stewart Downing, yet to score a league goal since joining from Aston Villa in pre-season, then twice hit the woodwork himself before the break.
Having struck the bar with a dipping 25-yard attempt, the winger then hit a post from the penalty spot after Ivanovic had fouled Carroll in the dying moments of a thrilling first half.
Chelsea did reduce their deficit in the 50th minute.
Ramires scored against the Reds at Wembley and the Brazilian was at it again as Florent Malouda's free-kick hit his midriff before trickling into the net.
But Chelsea's revival was short-lived thanks to Turnbull.
The keeper's attempted clearance landed at the feet of Shelvey, who rifled a first-time effort from 30-yards into the net in front of the Kop to make it 4-1 in the 61st minute.
There was time for Liverpool to bring on 17-year-old Raheem Sterling while Maxi Rodriguez appeared to wave goodbye to fans when he was substituted in the closing stages.
On A High, Mumbai Ready For Bangalore
MUMBAI: As Team Mumbai and Team Bangalore square off in a potentially mouth-watering IPL clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday night, you can't but marvel at how both teams are battling similar problems. Barring the fact that the hosts are third on the points table, compared to the men-in-red's fifth, both Mumbai and Bangalore, have an identical tale to narrate in IPL 5.
The teams have overly depended on two batsmen to either set a big score or chase down totals. While Mumbai must thank Rohit Sharma (293 runs from 11 games @29.30) and Ambati Rayudu (208 runs from 11 matches @34.66) for scripting unbelievable heists, the visitors have engineered miraculous jailbreaks through the efforts of West Indies' Chris Gayle (433 runs from 10 games) and talented South African, AB de Villiers (292 runs from 11 matches).
There's another similarity in the form of underperforming captains, but world class spinners at the international level, leading the teams. Harbhajan Singh, captain of Mumbai, may have got 406 sticks in 98 Tests, but in 11 games this IPL, he has picked up five wickets at 50.20. Meanwhile, Team Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori has also 'grabbed' five wickets at 47. He too has 359 Test scalps in 111 Tests.
Mind you, both have economy rates of 6.78 and 6.71 respectively , which for a spinner, are excellent. Vettori, though, even dropped
himself in the last game to accommodate Muralitharan and may do that again. Want more? Sample this. Both have an interesting home record against each other . Mumbai haven't beaten Bangalore at their traditional home venues, Wankhede Stadium and the CCI. (They beat them in the semifinal of IPL three, but that was held at the DY Patil ground, which is not their home venue). Bangalore too haven't beaten Mumbai at Chinnaswamy.
The two teams have also come off stunning wins over the weekend. Mumbai beat Chennai thanks to Dwayne Smith's pyrotechnics in the last over, while Bangalore mastered Hyderabad, after De Villiers showed a combination of hockey, cricket and fencing skills during his 17-ball stay.
The one thing that separates the two teams though is bowling . Mumbai have perhaps the best T20 bowler in history, Lasith Malinga. With 20 wickets from just eight games, the Sri Lankan slinger, has made a stunning return after missing three games due to a back injury . He averages a surreal 8.45 per wicket and consumes a batsman every 9.4 balls. What's more, in a format where an economy rate of seven runs per over, is considered acceptable, he concedes just 5.36 per over.
Any guesses who Harbhajan will throw the ball to if and when Gayle and De Villiers get going? With almost 60% of the matches ending in the last over, punters betting on another close finish should go home rich. PS: A word of caution for those sitting in the North and South stands. Wear a nose mask. With short straight boundaries, you're right in Gayle's zone.
The teams have overly depended on two batsmen to either set a big score or chase down totals. While Mumbai must thank Rohit Sharma (293 runs from 11 games @29.30) and Ambati Rayudu (208 runs from 11 matches @34.66) for scripting unbelievable heists, the visitors have engineered miraculous jailbreaks through the efforts of West Indies' Chris Gayle (433 runs from 10 games) and talented South African, AB de Villiers (292 runs from 11 matches).
There's another similarity in the form of underperforming captains, but world class spinners at the international level, leading the teams. Harbhajan Singh, captain of Mumbai, may have got 406 sticks in 98 Tests, but in 11 games this IPL, he has picked up five wickets at 50.20. Meanwhile, Team Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori has also 'grabbed' five wickets at 47. He too has 359 Test scalps in 111 Tests.
Mind you, both have economy rates of 6.78 and 6.71 respectively , which for a spinner, are excellent. Vettori, though, even dropped
himself in the last game to accommodate Muralitharan and may do that again. Want more? Sample this. Both have an interesting home record against each other . Mumbai haven't beaten Bangalore at their traditional home venues, Wankhede Stadium and the CCI. (They beat them in the semifinal of IPL three, but that was held at the DY Patil ground, which is not their home venue). Bangalore too haven't beaten Mumbai at Chinnaswamy.
The two teams have also come off stunning wins over the weekend. Mumbai beat Chennai thanks to Dwayne Smith's pyrotechnics in the last over, while Bangalore mastered Hyderabad, after De Villiers showed a combination of hockey, cricket and fencing skills during his 17-ball stay.
The one thing that separates the two teams though is bowling . Mumbai have perhaps the best T20 bowler in history, Lasith Malinga. With 20 wickets from just eight games, the Sri Lankan slinger, has made a stunning return after missing three games due to a back injury . He averages a surreal 8.45 per wicket and consumes a batsman every 9.4 balls. What's more, in a format where an economy rate of seven runs per over, is considered acceptable, he concedes just 5.36 per over.
Any guesses who Harbhajan will throw the ball to if and when Gayle and De Villiers get going? With almost 60% of the matches ending in the last over, punters betting on another close finish should go home rich. PS: A word of caution for those sitting in the North and South stands. Wear a nose mask. With short straight boundaries, you're right in Gayle's zone.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
By Retiring, Rahul Dravid Has Sent Team A Message: Sourav Ganguly
In Pics: Rahul Dravid's glorious Test career | Rahul Dravid Profile | Statistical highlights of Rahul Dravid's Test career | Dravid bids adieu
I can't say if it's a good time to quit because there is no such thing! Like other areas of life, when you do something with real passion and devotion, it's really hard to move away from it. But he has taken a really hard decision and sent a message to the team.
I believe Dravid formed one of the four pillars around which revolved India's efforts to rise to the top of world cricket. The team was going through a rebuilding phase when Dravid and me joined the team and all of us worked really hard to turn out fortunes around.
My first encounter with Dravid was way back in 1990-91 during India's Under-19 tour to England. His talent was already apparent then but we didn't stay in touch after that. The next time I really got to know him was during our debut series against England in 1996.
That Lord's Test will remain one of our fondest cricketing memories. Both of us were feeling the nerves in the middle but kept egging ourselves on. He was really unlucky not to complete a well-deserved century. Without a shadow of a doubt, he was the best No. 3 batsman in Test cricket of his generation. But to his credit he worked on improving his batting in one-day cricket.
He was also a team man to the core. He didn't blink an eyelid when the team needed his services as a wicketkeeper during the 2003 World Cup. We played as a complete unit, which proved to be one of our strengths.
He knows that once again it's time for a change and he needed to step away. I applaud him for his courage.
CA's Trophy That Was Never Handed To Tendulkar
CA planned to present the batting legend a nice little memento after he scored his 100th international hundred during the just concluded tour Down Under, the 'Australian' reported.
Cushioned in a metal box, the trophy, featuring a golden Kookaburra ball on a plinth, criss-crossed Australia and followed Tendulkar at every venue only to fail to find the intended recipient.
"Cricket Australia said the Sachin Trophy was en route from Brisbane, where India played their last tri-series league match, to Melbourne (the venue of first tri-series finals), perchance India made the finals," the newspaper said under the headline 'Sachin gives us a Godot moment'.
Tendulkar, however, received a special presentation from the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) at the Adelaide and was also presented with a sculpted bust of Don Bradman in Sydney.
Interestingly, the plaque on the bust presented to Tendulkar read "in whom Sir Donald Bradman saw something of himself", the newspaper said.
While Tendulkar raised hopes of getting to the elusive feat during the Test series against Australia, with a fluent 73 in the series opener at Melbourne and another 80-run knock during the second Test at Sydney, he looked a distant shadow of his self in the ODI tri-series that followed.
Tendulkar scored 143 runs in seven outings in the tri-series at an average 20.42 with his highest being the 48 against Sri Lanka at Perth.
India Seek Redemption At Asia Cup
Hosts Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in the opening fixture of the four-nation tournament which will conclude on March 22.
Bangladesh have not won a single ODI series in the four they played last year, even losing 2-3 to Zimbabwe in a five-match rubber when they visited the African country. They lost by identical 0-3 to Australia and Pakistan and 1-2 to West Indies, all at home.
The hosts were also mired in controversies in the run-up to the tournament with young wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim in the dock after voicing his concerns about player payments in the Bangladesh Premier League and had a 24-hour wait before he was made captain.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal was dropped by the Board chief, then asked to prove his fitness -- despite being passed fit by the team doctor two days earlier -- and then picked again.
In the middle of it all, chief selector Akram Khan, who happens to be Tamim's uncle, quit over claims of interference.
The young side, however, cannot be taken lightly as Bangladesh can be giant-killers on their day and the other three established sides of world cricket can hardly afford to be complacent.
The unpredictable Pakistan, on the other hand, would want to begin their campaign with a win with a new coach Dav Whatmore taking charge. It will be Whatmore's first assignment with the team and he will be hoping to make an impression straightaway.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Clijsters Reaches Semis At Brisbane International
BRISBANE: Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters advanced to the semifinals of the Brisbane International with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Iveta Benesova on Thursday.
Clijsters won the Brisbane title in 2010 and, after missing the 2011 edition, now has an 8-0 record in the Australian Open tune-up.
She raced to a 5-0 lead before Benesova, who ousted US Open champion Sam Stosur in the second round, launched a comeback with a run of three straight games.
Benesova held her opening serve and had an early break-point chance in the second set before Clijsters shifted up a gear and dominated the remainder of the match to earn a semifinal meeting against Daniela Hantuchova, who got a walkover in the quarterfinals when 13-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams withdrew from the tournament on Wednesday after injuring her left ankle.
Clijsters had a tough three-set win over Ana Ivanovic in the second round but didn't let Benesova get too close in the quarterfinals.
"I'm very satisfied with the way that I played," Clijsters said. "In my previous match I lost my focus a bit. I was really focussed on not letting that happen today."
Third-seeded Francesca Schiavone will meet Kaia Kanepi of Estonia in the other women's semifinal.
Schiavone saved two match points before coming back for a 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic.
The 2010 French Open winner saved match points on her serve in the 12th game of the second set and then, after winning the tiebreaker and going down a break in the third set, won the last five games to clinch a quarterfinal berth in just under three hours on her third match point.
Kanepi needed five match points to finish off a 6-1, 7-6 (7) win over second-seeded Andrea Petkovic.
"I just played really bad in the first set," Petkovic said. "My footwork was very sloppy, and afterwards I started moving a little better, but when somebody is hitting as hard as Kaia - and she was serving incredible - then you really have to be on point with your footwork.
"She played really, really well and I have to say, if she keeps playing like this she'll be a force."
In the men's draw, second-seeded Gilles Simon of France advanced with a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win over Santiago Giraldo of Colombia.
Simon will next play either Alexandr Dolgopolov of Russia or former champion Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic.
Clijsters won the Brisbane title in 2010 and, after missing the 2011 edition, now has an 8-0 record in the Australian Open tune-up.
She raced to a 5-0 lead before Benesova, who ousted US Open champion Sam Stosur in the second round, launched a comeback with a run of three straight games.
Benesova held her opening serve and had an early break-point chance in the second set before Clijsters shifted up a gear and dominated the remainder of the match to earn a semifinal meeting against Daniela Hantuchova, who got a walkover in the quarterfinals when 13-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams withdrew from the tournament on Wednesday after injuring her left ankle.
Clijsters had a tough three-set win over Ana Ivanovic in the second round but didn't let Benesova get too close in the quarterfinals.
"I'm very satisfied with the way that I played," Clijsters said. "In my previous match I lost my focus a bit. I was really focussed on not letting that happen today."
Third-seeded Francesca Schiavone will meet Kaia Kanepi of Estonia in the other women's semifinal.
Schiavone saved two match points before coming back for a 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic.
The 2010 French Open winner saved match points on her serve in the 12th game of the second set and then, after winning the tiebreaker and going down a break in the third set, won the last five games to clinch a quarterfinal berth in just under three hours on her third match point.
Kanepi needed five match points to finish off a 6-1, 7-6 (7) win over second-seeded Andrea Petkovic.
"I just played really bad in the first set," Petkovic said. "My footwork was very sloppy, and afterwards I started moving a little better, but when somebody is hitting as hard as Kaia - and she was serving incredible - then you really have to be on point with your footwork.
"She played really, really well and I have to say, if she keeps playing like this she'll be a force."
In the men's draw, second-seeded Gilles Simon of France advanced with a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win over Santiago Giraldo of Colombia.
Simon will next play either Alexandr Dolgopolov of Russia or former champion Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic.
Saina Sails Into Quarters Of Korea Open
NEW DELHI: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal sailed into the Korea Open Super Series quarterfinals after notching up a straight-game victory over Shao Chieh Cheng of Chinese Taipei in the second round in Seoul on Thursday.
Fourth seed Saina registered a 21-14 21-10 win over Cheng in a 36-minute battle in women's singles. The Indian will next take on the winner of the match between China's Yanjiao Jiang and Inthanon Ratchanok of Thailand.
Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, however, were defeated by the formidable combo of top seed Xiaoli Wang and Yang Yu of China 10-21 17-21 in 34 minutes.
Saina didn't break much sweat against the world number 11 Cheng and tired her rival by engaging her in rallies.
The World number four Indian opened a four-point lead first up and then stretched it to 10-2. Cheng registered five straight points and tried to give some fight but it was Saina who pocketed the game.
In the second game, after lagging 0-3, Saina caught her opponent at the nets to draw level. A couple of unforced errors and a disputable line call helped her rival to move to 7-3.
Saina engaged her opponent in long rallies and forced her to commit errors to move to 7-7 before taking the lead.
The World Championship silver medallist didn't get her shots right as a lot of her half smashes went into the net or outside as Saina went into the break leading 11-7.
Saina ruled the roost after the break and moved to 14-8. The Indian varied the pace of the game and judged her rival well to gain points, reaching 20-9. Cheng earned a point with a smash but after she hit a shot outside, Saina easily pocketed the match.
Fourth seed Saina registered a 21-14 21-10 win over Cheng in a 36-minute battle in women's singles. The Indian will next take on the winner of the match between China's Yanjiao Jiang and Inthanon Ratchanok of Thailand.
Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, however, were defeated by the formidable combo of top seed Xiaoli Wang and Yang Yu of China 10-21 17-21 in 34 minutes.
Saina didn't break much sweat against the world number 11 Cheng and tired her rival by engaging her in rallies.
The World number four Indian opened a four-point lead first up and then stretched it to 10-2. Cheng registered five straight points and tried to give some fight but it was Saina who pocketed the game.
In the second game, after lagging 0-3, Saina caught her opponent at the nets to draw level. A couple of unforced errors and a disputable line call helped her rival to move to 7-3.
Saina engaged her opponent in long rallies and forced her to commit errors to move to 7-7 before taking the lead.
The World Championship silver medallist didn't get her shots right as a lot of her half smashes went into the net or outside as Saina went into the break leading 11-7.
Saina ruled the roost after the break and moved to 14-8. The Indian varied the pace of the game and judged her rival well to gain points, reaching 20-9. Cheng earned a point with a smash but after she hit a shot outside, Saina easily pocketed the match.
3rd Test: Dilshan Falls As Sri Lanka Follow On
CAPE TOWN: Sri Lanka faced an uphill battle to avoid defeat after captain Tillekeratne Dilshan was out early in their follow on innings on the third day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Thursday.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka were 42 for one at tea, still 299 runs short of making South Africa bat again.
Sri Lanka were earlier bowled out for 239 in their first innings, with fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander taking three wickets apiece.
Philander struck again in the fourth over of the follow on when Dilshan drove loosely at a ball which moved away, edging a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
Lahiru Thirimanne should have followed his fellow opener to the pavilion when he was on 10. He edged Morne Morkel and Boucher put down a straightforward chance. Thirimanne was on 18 not out at tea.
Sri Lanka collapsed in their first innings, losing eight wickets for
90 runs after resuming on 149 for two.
Steyn took three for 56 and Philander three for 46. Both bowled superbly on Thursday, with Steyn's figures for the day an impressive three for 16 off eight overs, while Philander was even better, his three wickets costing 12 runs off nine overs.
Steyn struck with the third ball of the day when Kumar Sangakkara sliced a drive to point without adding to his overnight score of 35.
Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera stayed together for more than an hour before Philander accounted for Samaraweera, who was caught at second slip for 11.
Steyn came back for a second spell and had Jayawardene caught at second slip for 30 with his third ball and Mathews caught behind for a single in his next over.
Dinesh Chandimal, who made two half-centuries on debut in the second Test in Durban, hit 35 off 45 balls but the tail crumbled before he was last man out.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka were 42 for one at tea, still 299 runs short of making South Africa bat again.
Sri Lanka were earlier bowled out for 239 in their first innings, with fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander taking three wickets apiece.
Philander struck again in the fourth over of the follow on when Dilshan drove loosely at a ball which moved away, edging a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
Lahiru Thirimanne should have followed his fellow opener to the pavilion when he was on 10. He edged Morne Morkel and Boucher put down a straightforward chance. Thirimanne was on 18 not out at tea.
Sri Lanka collapsed in their first innings, losing eight wickets for
90 runs after resuming on 149 for two.
Steyn took three for 56 and Philander three for 46. Both bowled superbly on Thursday, with Steyn's figures for the day an impressive three for 16 off eight overs, while Philander was even better, his three wickets costing 12 runs off nine overs.
Steyn struck with the third ball of the day when Kumar Sangakkara sliced a drive to point without adding to his overnight score of 35.
Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera stayed together for more than an hour before Philander accounted for Samaraweera, who was caught at second slip for 11.
Steyn came back for a second spell and had Jayawardene caught at second slip for 30 with his third ball and Mathews caught behind for a single in his next over.
Dinesh Chandimal, who made two half-centuries on debut in the second Test in Durban, hit 35 off 45 balls but the tail crumbled before he was last man out.
Clarke 329 Is Highest Test Mark In Sydney
SYDNEY: After erasing some of Donald Bradman's marks with an unbeaten triple century, Michael Clarke didn't risk upsetting anyone by going on to surpass the great man's highest score.
So he declared Australia's innings at 659-4 when he was 329 not out - five short of the revered Bradman's mark of 334 - at the drinks break in the middle session on Thursday, exactly halfway through the second Test against India.
Australians had a commanding 468-run first innings lead, but on a flat wicket where the bowlers were struggling, Clarke could have easily justified batting on, and breaking a slew of batting records including Brian Lara's mark of 400 for the highest score.
He had already beaten Bradman's record for highest score on home soil by an Australian captain (270), then he'd added the highest score ever at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground, followed by the first triple century at the ground and then just about doubled his own previous highest score of 168.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm stoked that I've managed to make 300-odd runs today but the most important thing for me now is that we win this ," Clarke said, deflecting the attention from the timing of his declaration.
"It's about putting the team first. What I love most about this game, is seeing this team win," he said. "I've been like that as a player and I'll be no different as a captain.
"If it was best for the team to continue batting then I would have continued to bat."
His innings was not even within 50 of an Australian record - Matt Hayden scored a then-world record 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003 - but it was a sign of respect for a more recognized and enduring mark: the 334 scored by Bradman, and equalled but deliberately not surpassed by Mark Taylor.
Clarke's epic innings will go a long way to tipping public support his way, having often struggled to win over a demanding nation of fans who consider the national cricket captaincy second only to the prime minister in terms of importance.
Clarke's talent had never been in doubt since he burst onto the scene in 2004, more than 18 months after establishing himself in the limited-overs squad, by scoring 151 on debut against India at Bangalore.
That innings reflected the precocious talent of the brash youngster from Sydney's western suburbs, who had earned the nickname 'Pup' due to his youthful prowess in provincial cricket and was long considered as a flamboyant run-maker rather than a captain in waiting.
The public's reticence toward Clarke has largely been based on style rather than substance, with fans hesitant to embrace a man who takes a very different approach to the trademark no-frills manner of iconic recent captains like Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
He models underwear, has a collection of tattoos, and is highly conscious of his image - not exactly traits Australian cricket fans would ascribe to favourite sons like Dennis Lillee or David Boon.
His locker room spat with former opener Simon Katich for wanting to leave to spend time with his girlfriend rather than keep celebrating a victory in Sydney has become the stuff of legend and polarized opinion.
Clarke's struggle for fans' acceptance was illustrated last Australian summer when he was booed by a crowd when he walked out to bat in a one-dayer in the wake of Ashes series defeat, when the national team at its nadir after a decade at the top of the game.
But Clarke's four centuries in nine Tests since officially replacing Ricky Ponting as captain have hushed some critics who didn't think he was leadership material.
"It's about respect, it's about continuing to earn the public's respect. That's all I've ever wanted," Clarke said after his 18th and, by far his biggest, hundred. "If people are going to dislike me that's life, that's the way it is. But the most important thing for me, especially being the Australian captain now, you want your home fans to respect you."
His latest innings had a precarious start, with Australia at 37-3 after removing India for 191 on the opening day of the 100th at the SCG. But after sharing back-to-back partnerships of 288 with Ponting (134) and 334 with Mike Hussey (150 not out), he increased his batting average as Australian captain above 59.
Clarke's campaign to bat his way into public affection is progressing well, if judged by the prolonged and raucous standing ovation he received Thursday when he clipped off his pads through mid-wicket for a boundary to bring up his 300.
It came in the wake of a tumultuous initial stint as captain, which included a horrendous loss in Cape Town when Australia was bowled out for 47 followed by a courageous win over the South Africans in Johannesburg.
A big victory over New Zealand followed that to open the Australian season last month, but that win was followed by a shocking loss in Hobart _ Australia's first loss to the Kiwis on home soil in 26 years.
Mark Taylor had no problem with public support as captain in between the tenures of Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
He only enhanced his reputation when he declared Australia's innings after a night of contemplation when he'd reached 334 not out against Pakistan at Peshawar in 1998. Taylor even had a telephone discussion with then Australian Prime Minister John Howard before formally announcing his decision to declare, and hence be forever linked with Bradman.
Taylor was in a TV commentary box at the SCG when Clarke declared on day three, clearly surprised at the decision. He'd earlier joked that Australia had enough and made the mock gesture of calling the players off the field.
"I had a feeling he might get to 334 and think about it," Taylor, wearing a pink suit in support of a charity, said in the broadcast. "The drinks break came at probably just the wrong time for Michael Clarke. It wouldn't have surprised me if I saw him walk off with 334, not for me but more for somebody like Sir Donald Bradman."
But Taylor backed the decision, saying Clarke had put the team's pursuit of victory above any personal milestones.
"What a great day, not just for Michael Clarke, but for cricket," Taylor said. "Millions of views around the world have enjoyed this for cricket's sake."
Friends and fans rushed to praise Clarke, perhaps none more than Taylor.
"He's a guy who loves the game of cricket and I don't think people have quite understood that with Michael," he said. "He had an opportunity to make the world record today, there's no doubt about that. He could've done that and still had two days to bowl India out and win this .
"He could've achieved both goals but what he wanted to say is 'yes, I want to do well myself ... but I want to captain a side that's going to win first.'
"A lot of people focused on the negatives ... but now he is the main man. I think we're starting to see the real Michael Clarke."
So he declared Australia's innings at 659-4 when he was 329 not out - five short of the revered Bradman's mark of 334 - at the drinks break in the middle session on Thursday, exactly halfway through the second Test against India.
Australians had a commanding 468-run first innings lead, but on a flat wicket where the bowlers were struggling, Clarke could have easily justified batting on, and breaking a slew of batting records including Brian Lara's mark of 400 for the highest score.
He had already beaten Bradman's record for highest score on home soil by an Australian captain (270), then he'd added the highest score ever at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground, followed by the first triple century at the ground and then just about doubled his own previous highest score of 168.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm stoked that I've managed to make 300-odd runs today but the most important thing for me now is that we win this ," Clarke said, deflecting the attention from the timing of his declaration.
"It's about putting the team first. What I love most about this game, is seeing this team win," he said. "I've been like that as a player and I'll be no different as a captain.
"If it was best for the team to continue batting then I would have continued to bat."
His innings was not even within 50 of an Australian record - Matt Hayden scored a then-world record 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003 - but it was a sign of respect for a more recognized and enduring mark: the 334 scored by Bradman, and equalled but deliberately not surpassed by Mark Taylor.
Clarke's epic innings will go a long way to tipping public support his way, having often struggled to win over a demanding nation of fans who consider the national cricket captaincy second only to the prime minister in terms of importance.
Clarke's talent had never been in doubt since he burst onto the scene in 2004, more than 18 months after establishing himself in the limited-overs squad, by scoring 151 on debut against India at Bangalore.
That innings reflected the precocious talent of the brash youngster from Sydney's western suburbs, who had earned the nickname 'Pup' due to his youthful prowess in provincial cricket and was long considered as a flamboyant run-maker rather than a captain in waiting.
The public's reticence toward Clarke has largely been based on style rather than substance, with fans hesitant to embrace a man who takes a very different approach to the trademark no-frills manner of iconic recent captains like Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
He models underwear, has a collection of tattoos, and is highly conscious of his image - not exactly traits Australian cricket fans would ascribe to favourite sons like Dennis Lillee or David Boon.
His locker room spat with former opener Simon Katich for wanting to leave to spend time with his girlfriend rather than keep celebrating a victory in Sydney has become the stuff of legend and polarized opinion.
Clarke's struggle for fans' acceptance was illustrated last Australian summer when he was booed by a crowd when he walked out to bat in a one-dayer in the wake of Ashes series defeat, when the national team at its nadir after a decade at the top of the game.
But Clarke's four centuries in nine Tests since officially replacing Ricky Ponting as captain have hushed some critics who didn't think he was leadership material.
"It's about respect, it's about continuing to earn the public's respect. That's all I've ever wanted," Clarke said after his 18th and, by far his biggest, hundred. "If people are going to dislike me that's life, that's the way it is. But the most important thing for me, especially being the Australian captain now, you want your home fans to respect you."
His latest innings had a precarious start, with Australia at 37-3 after removing India for 191 on the opening day of the 100th at the SCG. But after sharing back-to-back partnerships of 288 with Ponting (134) and 334 with Mike Hussey (150 not out), he increased his batting average as Australian captain above 59.
Clarke's campaign to bat his way into public affection is progressing well, if judged by the prolonged and raucous standing ovation he received Thursday when he clipped off his pads through mid-wicket for a boundary to bring up his 300.
It came in the wake of a tumultuous initial stint as captain, which included a horrendous loss in Cape Town when Australia was bowled out for 47 followed by a courageous win over the South Africans in Johannesburg.
A big victory over New Zealand followed that to open the Australian season last month, but that win was followed by a shocking loss in Hobart _ Australia's first loss to the Kiwis on home soil in 26 years.
Mark Taylor had no problem with public support as captain in between the tenures of Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
He only enhanced his reputation when he declared Australia's innings after a night of contemplation when he'd reached 334 not out against Pakistan at Peshawar in 1998. Taylor even had a telephone discussion with then Australian Prime Minister John Howard before formally announcing his decision to declare, and hence be forever linked with Bradman.
Taylor was in a TV commentary box at the SCG when Clarke declared on day three, clearly surprised at the decision. He'd earlier joked that Australia had enough and made the mock gesture of calling the players off the field.
"I had a feeling he might get to 334 and think about it," Taylor, wearing a pink suit in support of a charity, said in the broadcast. "The drinks break came at probably just the wrong time for Michael Clarke. It wouldn't have surprised me if I saw him walk off with 334, not for me but more for somebody like Sir Donald Bradman."
But Taylor backed the decision, saying Clarke had put the team's pursuit of victory above any personal milestones.
"What a great day, not just for Michael Clarke, but for cricket," Taylor said. "Millions of views around the world have enjoyed this for cricket's sake."
Friends and fans rushed to praise Clarke, perhaps none more than Taylor.
"He's a guy who loves the game of cricket and I don't think people have quite understood that with Michael," he said. "He had an opportunity to make the world record today, there's no doubt about that. He could've done that and still had two days to bowl India out and win this .
"He could've achieved both goals but what he wanted to say is 'yes, I want to do well myself ... but I want to captain a side that's going to win first.'
"A lot of people focused on the negatives ... but now he is the main man. I think we're starting to see the real Michael Clarke."
We Need To Go Out And Show Some Fight: Dravid
SYDNEY: With India heading towards their sixth consecutive overseas Test defeat, veteran batsman Rahul Dravid on Thursday said his team has quality batsmen but they need some inspiration to fight back and save the second Test.
Scorecard
"The key for us is to keep them on the field for a long period of time. If we can keep their bowlers and fielders on the field for more than 100 overs. Then we can put them under pressure and some of their bowlers will wilt", said Dravid after the third day's play during which Australia declared for 659 for 4 in the first innings before reducing India to 114 for two in their second essay.
"Sadly in the three innings we have played so far, we haven't been able to do that. They kept up on the field for a long time today. We need to try and do that.
"We have probably been in the field much longer. They put us under the pump. The real key for us is to keep them in the field for that long. They are coming in hard, running in hard. The last spell they bowled really well. After drinks the last 15 overs they came in really hard. That's one of the challenges," he added.
Hoping that India would be able to bat after tea on Friday, Dravid said, "That's where the real challenge is. If we can hang in there, play out time, and have them on the field for a long time."
Dravid refused to predict whether India would save the Test by batting out the next two days.
"I don't know we can think about saving the game right now. We need to go out there and show some fight. And bat as long as we can. Who knows what can happen? We have got quality batsmen who can bat long periods. I am sure the guys will go out and fight and do the best they can," he insisted.
India were revived in 2001 home series when Dravid and VVS Laxman batted the length of a full day's play at Eden Gardens and turned the series around and Dravid hoped for a similar inspiration for his team.
"I would hope so. We need a lift. We need to perform better than we have. We have not played well in the last three days. We need some inspiration," he said.
Dravid believed the challenge for his side's batsmen is both mental and physical.
"Part of the challenge is mental. Part of it is physical and technical. Physically you have to bat for long period of times. Technically, they have a good attack that is bowling well. So you have to counter them technically as well. It's a combination of effort. If we are going to save the game, we need everything to work for us."
The former skipper said he expects to turn his own fortune around in the present series in which he has been consistently getting out bowled to Australian bowlers.
"I feel I have been batting well. Hopefully, in the next couple of Tests, I will be able to convert one of these starts. Sometimes you can't read too much into things," said Dravid.
Dravid was out bowled in both innings of the first Test and had a reprieve too when Peter Siddle had bowled him off a no-ball. He again has been found out leaving a gap between his bat and pad in the second innings in the SCG Test.
"To be fair, there have been couple of pretty good balls. It's not like I have got out, you know, inner-edging. A couple of good balls, a couple of things, I could have done differently," Dravid insisted.
Stating that he was disappointed with his side's effort in the series so far, the veteran batsman said, "I'm a little bit disappointed here in the sense. Okay in the England, we were not always with our best attack. Due to injuries and various other reasons, our bowling attack in England wasn't the best possible attack.
"Here we had the best bowling attack we can possibly hope for. So it is obviously disappointing." Dravid said.
Dravid lamented that bowlers were not only failing to get wickets but were also not able to stop the flow of runs.
"We are obviously disappointed. Once partnership develop, and runs go, we need to pull it back and try to control the runs. Having said that, it's not easy. It's something we need to consider. We can't afford to give a lot of runs. Even if we don't take wickets, we have to stop the run flow," he said.
Indian field placement were also "defensive" and came in for criticism from experts but Dravid felt that with just 191 runs in the first innings, it was difficult to do anything.
"It's hard when you are under the pump, you have 190 runs to play with, and the game is running away from you. The wicket was pretty flat. You try and bring the field up and they were stepping out and hitting it over the top, or piercing the field. You try to push the field back to control the runs for a bit and may be get a wicket and bring it back in. We didn't get a wicket all day. Sometimes it happens.
"After Ponting got out, we brought the field up, but (Mike) Hussey came out and played a few really good shots. Again you are forced to push the field back because the game is running away from you very quickly."
Dravid also did not find anything wrong with his team's decision to bat first on winning the toss.
"I don't think it was a wrong decision to bat first. We didn't bat well, that's why we find ourselves in this situation. I think we knew it was going to be challenging. The first 35-40 overs on the first morning were always going to be a challenge. We didn't bat particularly well. 190 in not good enough on that wicket", he said.
"The wicket hasn't changed too much. If anything it is a bit slower. There wasn't much turn for Ashwin, not for Nathan Lyon in the couple of overs he bowled. Shot-making might be a little bit more difficult because of the slowness," Dravid explained.
Applauding the Australian bowlers for their efforts, Dravid said, "Obviously they are pitching it up. The ball started to reverse a little bit. When you are pitching it up, and it is reversing, obviously they are looking to bowl...it's pretty obvious. The ball is hard and swinging normally, you look to bring the slips into play.
"Once the ball becomes old, obviously they are looking to attack the stumps. I can understand that's what they are trying to do. They have bowled pretty good balls."
Dravid expressed happiness that opener Gautam Gambhir (68 not out) could manage to score some runs.
"I'm happy for him. He has worked very hard. Been under a lot of pressure obviously. He wants to score runs, keen to do well. He played positively. Later towards the end of the day, when things were tough, he gritted it out and hung in there. Hopefully, he can convert into a big one. We know he likes batting for long hours," he said.
Scorecard
"The key for us is to keep them on the field for a long period of time. If we can keep their bowlers and fielders on the field for more than 100 overs. Then we can put them under pressure and some of their bowlers will wilt", said Dravid after the third day's play during which Australia declared for 659 for 4 in the first innings before reducing India to 114 for two in their second essay.
"Sadly in the three innings we have played so far, we haven't been able to do that. They kept up on the field for a long time today. We need to try and do that.
"We have probably been in the field much longer. They put us under the pump. The real key for us is to keep them in the field for that long. They are coming in hard, running in hard. The last spell they bowled really well. After drinks the last 15 overs they came in really hard. That's one of the challenges," he added.
Hoping that India would be able to bat after tea on Friday, Dravid said, "That's where the real challenge is. If we can hang in there, play out time, and have them on the field for a long time."
Dravid refused to predict whether India would save the Test by batting out the next two days.
"I don't know we can think about saving the game right now. We need to go out there and show some fight. And bat as long as we can. Who knows what can happen? We have got quality batsmen who can bat long periods. I am sure the guys will go out and fight and do the best they can," he insisted.
India were revived in 2001 home series when Dravid and VVS Laxman batted the length of a full day's play at Eden Gardens and turned the series around and Dravid hoped for a similar inspiration for his team.
"I would hope so. We need a lift. We need to perform better than we have. We have not played well in the last three days. We need some inspiration," he said.
Dravid believed the challenge for his side's batsmen is both mental and physical.
"Part of the challenge is mental. Part of it is physical and technical. Physically you have to bat for long period of times. Technically, they have a good attack that is bowling well. So you have to counter them technically as well. It's a combination of effort. If we are going to save the game, we need everything to work for us."
The former skipper said he expects to turn his own fortune around in the present series in which he has been consistently getting out bowled to Australian bowlers.
"I feel I have been batting well. Hopefully, in the next couple of Tests, I will be able to convert one of these starts. Sometimes you can't read too much into things," said Dravid.
Dravid was out bowled in both innings of the first Test and had a reprieve too when Peter Siddle had bowled him off a no-ball. He again has been found out leaving a gap between his bat and pad in the second innings in the SCG Test.
"To be fair, there have been couple of pretty good balls. It's not like I have got out, you know, inner-edging. A couple of good balls, a couple of things, I could have done differently," Dravid insisted.
Stating that he was disappointed with his side's effort in the series so far, the veteran batsman said, "I'm a little bit disappointed here in the sense. Okay in the England, we were not always with our best attack. Due to injuries and various other reasons, our bowling attack in England wasn't the best possible attack.
"Here we had the best bowling attack we can possibly hope for. So it is obviously disappointing." Dravid said.
Dravid lamented that bowlers were not only failing to get wickets but were also not able to stop the flow of runs.
"We are obviously disappointed. Once partnership develop, and runs go, we need to pull it back and try to control the runs. Having said that, it's not easy. It's something we need to consider. We can't afford to give a lot of runs. Even if we don't take wickets, we have to stop the run flow," he said.
Indian field placement were also "defensive" and came in for criticism from experts but Dravid felt that with just 191 runs in the first innings, it was difficult to do anything.
"It's hard when you are under the pump, you have 190 runs to play with, and the game is running away from you. The wicket was pretty flat. You try and bring the field up and they were stepping out and hitting it over the top, or piercing the field. You try to push the field back to control the runs for a bit and may be get a wicket and bring it back in. We didn't get a wicket all day. Sometimes it happens.
"After Ponting got out, we brought the field up, but (Mike) Hussey came out and played a few really good shots. Again you are forced to push the field back because the game is running away from you very quickly."
Dravid also did not find anything wrong with his team's decision to bat first on winning the toss.
"I don't think it was a wrong decision to bat first. We didn't bat well, that's why we find ourselves in this situation. I think we knew it was going to be challenging. The first 35-40 overs on the first morning were always going to be a challenge. We didn't bat particularly well. 190 in not good enough on that wicket", he said.
"The wicket hasn't changed too much. If anything it is a bit slower. There wasn't much turn for Ashwin, not for Nathan Lyon in the couple of overs he bowled. Shot-making might be a little bit more difficult because of the slowness," Dravid explained.
Applauding the Australian bowlers for their efforts, Dravid said, "Obviously they are pitching it up. The ball started to reverse a little bit. When you are pitching it up, and it is reversing, obviously they are looking to bowl...it's pretty obvious. The ball is hard and swinging normally, you look to bring the slips into play.
"Once the ball becomes old, obviously they are looking to attack the stumps. I can understand that's what they are trying to do. They have bowled pretty good balls."
Dravid expressed happiness that opener Gautam Gambhir (68 not out) could manage to score some runs.
"I'm happy for him. He has worked very hard. Been under a lot of pressure obviously. He wants to score runs, keen to do well. He played positively. Later towards the end of the day, when things were tough, he gritted it out and hung in there. Hopefully, he can convert into a big one. We know he likes batting for long hours," he said.
Bradman And Taylor's Record Didn't Cross My Mind, Says Clarke
SYDNEY: Australia captain Michael Clarke on Thursday said he didn't think of Don Bradman and Mark Taylor's record when he made a surprise declaration and all that he thought was to give his bowlers enough time to dismiss India for a second time and win the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground ( SCG).
Scorecard
Clarke was unbeaten on 329 and Australia were 659 for four when he decided to make India bat in the second innings. He was five runs short of equalling Bradman and Taylor's record of 334, the highest Test score by an Australian.
"I didn't think about it (records) at all, I didn't have Don Bradman or Mark Taylor's score in my head whatsoever," Clarke told reporters when asked about the record.
"It was about trying to get the team to a number, a total I thought would be a good score to make a declaration, then have a crack this afternoon to get a couple of wickets. If it was best for the team to continue batting I would have continued to bat," he said.
The 30-year-old said his achievement would mean little unless they win the match.
"I don't think it will sink in properly until we win the Test match. That is why we play, that was my goal walking out there today. Don't get me wrong, I am stoked that I have managed to make 300-odd runs in this Test match, but the most important thing for me now is we win the Test.
"That was a big part of the reason for my declaration. I spoke to Hussey just before we declared and I really wanted him to make 150, he deserved it, and once he got that I thought now we have a 450-run lead, it is a good time to pull up stumps and try to get a couple of wickets tonight," he said.
Clarke said he didn't expect to score 300 as he had never batted for that long prior to his remarkable innings.
"I didn't expect to score 300 in one innings, so the fact I have done that I am stoked, and as for all the other records, I am happy where I sit, to be honest.
"Batting the amount of time for me was the toughest thing. I have never batted that long in any form of the game in any team in my career.
"Physically I felt pretty good, when I came to the ground I felt pretty fresh, and my body felt in a pretty good position. It is just the mental application and concentration that you need to have."
Scorecard
Clarke was unbeaten on 329 and Australia were 659 for four when he decided to make India bat in the second innings. He was five runs short of equalling Bradman and Taylor's record of 334, the highest Test score by an Australian.
"I didn't think about it (records) at all, I didn't have Don Bradman or Mark Taylor's score in my head whatsoever," Clarke told reporters when asked about the record.
"It was about trying to get the team to a number, a total I thought would be a good score to make a declaration, then have a crack this afternoon to get a couple of wickets. If it was best for the team to continue batting I would have continued to bat," he said.
The 30-year-old said his achievement would mean little unless they win the match.
"I don't think it will sink in properly until we win the Test match. That is why we play, that was my goal walking out there today. Don't get me wrong, I am stoked that I have managed to make 300-odd runs in this Test match, but the most important thing for me now is we win the Test.
"That was a big part of the reason for my declaration. I spoke to Hussey just before we declared and I really wanted him to make 150, he deserved it, and once he got that I thought now we have a 450-run lead, it is a good time to pull up stumps and try to get a couple of wickets tonight," he said.
Clarke said he didn't expect to score 300 as he had never batted for that long prior to his remarkable innings.
"I didn't expect to score 300 in one innings, so the fact I have done that I am stoked, and as for all the other records, I am happy where I sit, to be honest.
"Batting the amount of time for me was the toughest thing. I have never batted that long in any form of the game in any team in my career.
"Physically I felt pretty good, when I came to the ground I felt pretty fresh, and my body felt in a pretty good position. It is just the mental application and concentration that you need to have."
Ind Vs Aus: India Fight To Save Sydney Test After Clarke Triple Ton
SYDNEY: A hapless India faced the prospect of another humiliating defeat as Australia rode on skipper Michael Clarke's maiden triple hundred and Michael Hussey's 150 to score a mammoth first innings total of 659/4 declared and take complete command of the second Test on Thursday.
Scorecard | Match in Pics
At stumps on the third day, India were trailing by 354 runs after losing a couple of wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India face the daunting task of batting out two full days, which raises the possibility of an innings defeat in the match.
Opener Virender Sehwag (4) and an uncertain Rahul Dravid (29) were cooling their heels in the pavilion, leaving Gautam Gambhir (68) and Sachin Tendulkar (8) to fight. The visitors were 114/2 in their second dig in the 41 overs and nearly half the day of batting they got.
Gambhir has so far batted for three hours and struck nine fours off 124 balls. Tendulkar's grim 8 was made in over an hour's batting and he faced 42 balls.
Earlier, Australia continued their firm grip on the match by stretching their overnight score of 482/4 to 659 an hour after lunch without losing a single wicket.
Michael Hussey, overnight 55, remained unbeaten on 150 but the glory of the day belonged to Clarke who was left unconquered on 329, the highest score ever made at the SCG, which is hosting its 100th Test.
Hussey reached his century before lunch but Clarke had to wait till resumption to get to his triple century. The Australian captain, overnight 251, was slow to get off the blocks and had added only 42 runs by lunch as only 13 runs came off his bat in the first hour.
Still, Australia were past 500 runs in the first hour, a feat they had done nearly 22 months and 17 Tests ago -- against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton in March 2010.
All along, landmarks kept falling like nine pins against Clarke's name. When he had added seven runs to his overnight total, he overtook Ricky Ponting as the highest scorer ever against India. Ponting had made 257 in the 1999-2000 Test at Melbourne.
Clarke swept off-spinner Ashwin to square leg fence through a packed onside field to move to 280 which took him past 277 that West Indian legend Brian Lara made at this venue in a 1992-93 series.
Clarke stroked Ishant Sharma through the covers to become the highest scorer at the SCG, going past the 287 which R E Foster of England made in a 1903-04 series just a few minutes before the lunch interval.
Clarke cut another four in the same over, dangerously close to VVS Laxman at slips, to move to within seven runs of his triple century.
Hussey had reached his own hundred, his 16th in his 68th Test, and was unbeaten on 111 at lunch.
The pair raised the 200 for the stand when Hussey back cut Umesh Yadav crisply past the point boundary. It took 206 minutes and 307 balls for the 200-run stand.
By lunch, the two had put on 258 runs for the fifth wicket and the score read 583/4.
On resumption, Clarke reached the all-important landmark when he clipped Ishant Sharma to midwicket fence.
The two were still going strong when the declaration arrived as soon as Hussey reached his 150. Clarke was unbeaten on 329 at the other end and Australia had stretched their lead to 468 runs.
Clarke's score is the fourth highest score by an Australian in Test cricket, behind Matthew Hayden (380), Sir Donald Bradman (334) and Mark Taylor (334).
This was the 25th instance of a triple century in Test cricket. Only Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle are the four batsmen who have hit triple century twice in Tests.
That makes Clarke only the 21st batsman in game's annals to crack the code of a triple century.
For records, this is after 95 Tests that an Australian has thrashed a triple century. Matthew Hayden was the last one to do so -- a total of 380 against Zimbabwe at WACA, Perth in 2003.
In all, Clarke batted for 617 minutes and hit 39 fours and a six from 468 balls. Hussey batted for 312 minutes and 253 balls and smashed 16 fours and a six.
India began on a familiar dismal note when Sehwag cut an ordinary delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus to point where David Warner took a wonderful acrobatic catch.
But Gambhir was looking in fine nick as he hit a few glorious strokes in his 39 before tea. In the very first over itself, bowled by James Pattinson, he thrashed two cuts through point for boundaries.
He then twice drove Peter Siddle in succession to cover boundary. It was followed by a straight drive off Siddle which he executed with utmost aplomb.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, in his second over, the final one before tea, was hit for two fours by Gambhir -- both slammed through the cover region as India took tea at 53/1.
Gambhir duly reached his half-century in the final session, having taken only 54 balls and hitting eight fours.
Dravid, at the other end, hit a few fine strokes on either side of the wicket but he did appear a man with more than one worry in his head.
The veteran batsman once dangerously inside edged a delivery past his stumps for four and then fell prey in now all too characteristic fashion in this series.
Dravid came forward to an off-cutter from Hilfenhaus and left a little gap between his bat and pad. It was enough for the ball to sneak through and hit the top of the middle stump.
Dravid batted for 102 minutes and 73 balls for his 29 runs and hit six fours. He put on 72 runs for the second wicket with Gambhir.
Gambhir and Tendulkar dropped anchor and were just intent to see through the day. Overs after overs passed without a run being added to the total.
Gambhir took a run after being run-less for 34 balls and Tendulkar went past his three runs through a streaky four only after defending 51 deliveries.
In the dying minutes of the game, Gambhir received a chance when he edged an easy catch towards the wicketkeeper but Brad Haddin just couldn't lay his hands to the edge. James Pattinson was the aggrieved bowler for Australia.
Scorecard | Match in Pics
At stumps on the third day, India were trailing by 354 runs after losing a couple of wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India face the daunting task of batting out two full days, which raises the possibility of an innings defeat in the match.
Opener Virender Sehwag (4) and an uncertain Rahul Dravid (29) were cooling their heels in the pavilion, leaving Gautam Gambhir (68) and Sachin Tendulkar (8) to fight. The visitors were 114/2 in their second dig in the 41 overs and nearly half the day of batting they got.
Gambhir has so far batted for three hours and struck nine fours off 124 balls. Tendulkar's grim 8 was made in over an hour's batting and he faced 42 balls.
Earlier, Australia continued their firm grip on the match by stretching their overnight score of 482/4 to 659 an hour after lunch without losing a single wicket.
Michael Hussey, overnight 55, remained unbeaten on 150 but the glory of the day belonged to Clarke who was left unconquered on 329, the highest score ever made at the SCG, which is hosting its 100th Test.
Hussey reached his century before lunch but Clarke had to wait till resumption to get to his triple century. The Australian captain, overnight 251, was slow to get off the blocks and had added only 42 runs by lunch as only 13 runs came off his bat in the first hour.
Still, Australia were past 500 runs in the first hour, a feat they had done nearly 22 months and 17 Tests ago -- against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton in March 2010.
All along, landmarks kept falling like nine pins against Clarke's name. When he had added seven runs to his overnight total, he overtook Ricky Ponting as the highest scorer ever against India. Ponting had made 257 in the 1999-2000 Test at Melbourne.
Clarke swept off-spinner Ashwin to square leg fence through a packed onside field to move to 280 which took him past 277 that West Indian legend Brian Lara made at this venue in a 1992-93 series.
Clarke stroked Ishant Sharma through the covers to become the highest scorer at the SCG, going past the 287 which R E Foster of England made in a 1903-04 series just a few minutes before the lunch interval.
Clarke cut another four in the same over, dangerously close to VVS Laxman at slips, to move to within seven runs of his triple century.
Hussey had reached his own hundred, his 16th in his 68th Test, and was unbeaten on 111 at lunch.
The pair raised the 200 for the stand when Hussey back cut Umesh Yadav crisply past the point boundary. It took 206 minutes and 307 balls for the 200-run stand.
By lunch, the two had put on 258 runs for the fifth wicket and the score read 583/4.
On resumption, Clarke reached the all-important landmark when he clipped Ishant Sharma to midwicket fence.
The two were still going strong when the declaration arrived as soon as Hussey reached his 150. Clarke was unbeaten on 329 at the other end and Australia had stretched their lead to 468 runs.
Clarke's score is the fourth highest score by an Australian in Test cricket, behind Matthew Hayden (380), Sir Donald Bradman (334) and Mark Taylor (334).
This was the 25th instance of a triple century in Test cricket. Only Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle are the four batsmen who have hit triple century twice in Tests.
That makes Clarke only the 21st batsman in game's annals to crack the code of a triple century.
For records, this is after 95 Tests that an Australian has thrashed a triple century. Matthew Hayden was the last one to do so -- a total of 380 against Zimbabwe at WACA, Perth in 2003.
In all, Clarke batted for 617 minutes and hit 39 fours and a six from 468 balls. Hussey batted for 312 minutes and 253 balls and smashed 16 fours and a six.
India began on a familiar dismal note when Sehwag cut an ordinary delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus to point where David Warner took a wonderful acrobatic catch.
But Gambhir was looking in fine nick as he hit a few glorious strokes in his 39 before tea. In the very first over itself, bowled by James Pattinson, he thrashed two cuts through point for boundaries.
He then twice drove Peter Siddle in succession to cover boundary. It was followed by a straight drive off Siddle which he executed with utmost aplomb.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, in his second over, the final one before tea, was hit for two fours by Gambhir -- both slammed through the cover region as India took tea at 53/1.
Gambhir duly reached his half-century in the final session, having taken only 54 balls and hitting eight fours.
Dravid, at the other end, hit a few fine strokes on either side of the wicket but he did appear a man with more than one worry in his head.
The veteran batsman once dangerously inside edged a delivery past his stumps for four and then fell prey in now all too characteristic fashion in this series.
Dravid came forward to an off-cutter from Hilfenhaus and left a little gap between his bat and pad. It was enough for the ball to sneak through and hit the top of the middle stump.
Dravid batted for 102 minutes and 73 balls for his 29 runs and hit six fours. He put on 72 runs for the second wicket with Gambhir.
Gambhir and Tendulkar dropped anchor and were just intent to see through the day. Overs after overs passed without a run being added to the total.
Gambhir took a run after being run-less for 34 balls and Tendulkar went past his three runs through a streaky four only after defending 51 deliveries.
In the dying minutes of the game, Gambhir received a chance when he edged an easy catch towards the wicketkeeper but Brad Haddin just couldn't lay his hands to the edge. James Pattinson was the aggrieved bowler for Australia.
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