Dhoni says Kirsten 'the best thing ever' for the team

INDIAN SKIPPER Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that having South African Gary Kirsten as his team’s coach, has been a blessing and a wonderful experience.

 

Describing Kirsten as the “the best thing ever” to have happened to the Indian squad ahead of the first Test against South Africa, Dhoni warned the host cricket team not to think they can force India''s batsmen into submission with a short ball war.

 

"We are so used to that question – about how we will handle it when we are bombarded with short balls," Sports24.com quoted Dhoni, as saying with a smile.

 

"The answer is that it won't bother us. Most of our batsmen have recently played quite a lot in South Africa and are much more familiar with conditions than was the case in the past," he added.

 

"That is why we don't pay attention to what history says about what happened here in the past. We don''t think too much about the statistics," he said with regard to India's Test record of one victory in nine attempts since 1996,” Dhoni said.

 

Pakistan’s World Cup preparations “not up to the mark”: Wasim Akram

Karachi, Dec 17 : Pakistan’s preparation for the 2011 World Cup is “not up to the mark”, and it is high time that the selectors announced the preliminary squad to give enough time to the players to prepare properly, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said.

Akram’s statement came close on the heels of one-day skipper Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis’ observation during the national camp in Lahore that Pakistan needed to step up their preparation for the World Cup, starting February 19.

“It is good they (Afridi and Younis) have spoken the reality because it is a fact. Even, I feel our preparations are not up to the mark,” the Daily Times quoted Akram, as saying.

“It is better not to give false hopes to people. I think the PCB has already delayed long enough the announcement of players for the World Cup,” he added.

The former Test pacer said that there was no purpose of wasting any more time, and the players “who are going to play in the World Cup should know where they stand and what are the expectations from them.”

He was of the view that the quadrennial event in the sub-continent would provide Pakistan a great opportunity to make up for all the disappointment this year.

Too early to judge India's performance: Marsh

New Delhi: India's weakness in handling pace and bounce came back to haunt them against South Africa in the Centurion Test, but former Australian opener Geoff Marsh feels it is too early to point fingers at the World's top Test team.

"Look, this Indian team has performed very consistently. Look at the way they have performed throughout the year. It is just the first innings so let us not be judgemental. The pitch at Centurion was very lively and seamy. It is too early to judge India's performance in South Africa," said Marsh, the coach of new Indian Premier League team Pune Warriors.

India were all out for 136 in the first innings in the first Test, the famed batting line-up caving in with South African pacers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel wreaking havoc on a lively surface.

Johnson puts Australia in control of third test

Perth: Mercurial paceman Mitchell Johnson found his inswinging form to help Australia skittle England for 187 and wrest back the initiative on a topsy-turvy second day of the third Ashes test in Perth on Friday.

Mitchell smashed through England's top order then cleaned up the tail to finish with 6-38 in a brilliant return after he was dropped for the second test in Adelaide following a wayward, wicketless display in the opener in Brisbane.


The 29-year-old Queenslander's efforts sent Australia in to bat with an 81-run lead, but England's seamers hit back with three wickets after tea to leave Australia 119-3 at stumps.

Steve Finn removed Phillip Hughes for 12, coaxing a nick from the 22-year-old opener that went straight to Paul Collingwood's safe hands at third slip.

The young paceman then had Ricky Ponting caught behind for one, the struggling Australian captain feathering a catch off his glove to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Ponting, who has not surpassed 12 runs in his past four innings, was given not out, but England successfully appealed the decision to ensure the embattled 35-year-old receives another harsh reception in Saturday's newspapers.

Michael Clarke smashed four boundaries in an aggressive 20-run cameo but undone himself by chasing a Chris Tremlett delivery onto his stumps as Australia wobbled on 64-3.

Clarke's dismissal brought the hosts' serial rescuer Mike Hussey to the crease and the 35-year-old left-hander proved rock-solid again, adding an unbeaten 24 in a 55-run stand with opener Shane Watson (61 not out) to see Australia to a 200-run lead at stumps.

Trailing 1-0 in the five-test series and harangued by a hostile local media after being bowled out for 268 on Thursday, Australia have seven wickets in hand and every hope of building a match-winning total on day three.

Much of the credit will go to their enigmatic paceman Johnson, who ignited the Australian attack in the morning session with a fierce spell of swing bowling.

After England raced to 78 without loss, Johnson caused Alastair Cook to miscue a drive straight to Hussey at gully, then trapped Jonathan Trott for four and Kevin Pietersen lbw for a duck.

Ashes

Johnson grabbed his third lbw by dismissing Collingwood for five then celebrated his fifth and sixth wickets by bowling pacemen Tremlett for two and having James Anderson caught for a duck.

Johnson's withering spell had his fellow seamers bouncing and paceman Ryan Harris finished with 3-59 after dismissing England captain Andrew Strauss for 52, Ian Bell (53) and spinner Swann for 11.

Peter Siddle toiled in a fruitless morning session but was rewarded after lunch with a wicket when he bowled Prior for 12.

Australia are battling to level the five-test series and prevent the tourists from becoming the first English team to take the Ashes home in 24 years.

Mitchell's spell will rank high up in Ashes: Marsh

Australian seamer Mitchell Johnson, who rejuvetaned their Ashes campaign with a six-wicket-haul against England at Perth Friday, has bowled one of the best Ashes spells, feels former Test opener Geoff Marsh.


Marsh was all praise for Johnson, who Friday roared back to form taking six wickets for 38 runs, which gave Australia a lead of 81 runs. The left-handed seamer gave a lesson in the art of swinging the ball as he broke the back of England batting in a brilliant morning spell that read 9-3-20-4, and then returned to mop up the tail.



"Mitchell's spell was outstanding and it certainly ranks high up among the best Ashes spells bowled by an Australian," said Marsh, the former Australian Test player, who is the coach of new Indian Premier League
(IPL) team Pune Warriors.

"Mitchell is our strike bowler and he was not in form in the first Test, which could happen. He was a vital cog of the Australian side and his not performing affected the side's performance in the first two Test. Someone had to stand up for the team at Perth and he bowled a brilliant spell today."

Bombay High Court stays Kings XI Punjab's termination from IPL

THE BOARD of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suffered yet another legal setback for the second consecutive day on Wednesday with a division bench of the Bombay High Court dismissing its appeal against the court's order staying the termination of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kings XI Punjab.

 

The bench comprising Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Anoop Mohata permitted Kings XI Punjab to continue being part of the tournament following which they can now participate in next month's player auction for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.

 

“It is abundantly clear that BCCI wanted to terminate the contract on the basis of what was factually incorrect. Termination was anything but fair and was wholly arbitrary,” the court said. Ecstatic after a favourable decision, Bollywood actress and co-owner of Kings XI Punjab team Preity Zinta thanked her fans and supporters of the team.

 

“Well, we are very-very happy for all the judgments. Thank you to our lawyers, most importantly thank you to our fans, to all the supporters of Kings Eleven Punjab, wherever they are across the globe, in

India, in Punjab, in Himachal. Thank you very-very much for supporting us. We got a pretty good judgment,” said Zinta.

 

Hong Kong title as good as being number one: Saina

Hyderabad:  Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal is in no hurry to become the World number one and said winning the prestigious Hong Kong Super Series title in Wanchai was as good as achieving the numero uno status as she had beaten some top players en route to her victory.

On Sunday, Saina capped a dream year with her fourth Super Series title when she won the Hong Kong Open but that is unlikely to push her to the number one ranking.

"I will be happy if I finish the year with number one ranking. I don't know yet what is the system and how it is going to happen. I think this year I will be remaining at world number three or four but winning this tournament is like becoming world number one for me. So it's ok," Saina told reporters here.

"I will achieve it this year or next year. I mean, all players want to become world number one and I have the same dream. Lets us see when I will achieve it," she added.

India set sights on last frontier in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG: Boosted by its No. 1 ranking, India embark on its fifth attempt to win a Test cricket series in South Africa this week.

Having lost all four contests since South Africa's readmission to international cricket in 1992, India begins its latest attempt on Thursday at Centurion's SuperSport Park - where it has never played a Test and where the hosts have won 11 of 15 matches.

The three-match series is viewed as the final frontier for the sport's current dominant team in the five-day format.

India has won seven of nine series, drawing the other two, to top the rankings. However, only one of those wins _ against New Zealand in 2008-09 _ was outside the Asian subcontinent and away from India's preferred slow and batter-friendly pitches
.

Nadal, Wozniacki win ITF World Champion awards

London:  Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki have been named ITF World Champions for 2010.

Nadal, who won the French Open, Wimbledon and the U S Open, won the award given by the International Tennis Federation for the second time.

Wozniacki, a Dane who won six tour titles this year to take the No 1 ranking but failed to reach a Grand Slam final, won for the first time.

Nadal, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning in New York, says "after a difficult year in 2009, it was an amazing feeling to regain the No 1 ranking and finally win the U S Open."

In doubles, Bob and Mike Bryan won the men's award while Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta won the women's.

Tremlett, Bresnan vie for vacant England bowling spot

Perth: Standby England fast bowlers Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan are vying to snare injured fast bowler Stuart Broad’s spot in the first eleven for the Perth Ashes Test, which begins from Thursday.

Broad has been sent back home with a side strain, and both Tremlett and Bresnan failed to impress during the three-day friendly against Victoria last week.

However, the wholehearted seam and useful batting of Tim Bresnan is also highly regarded by the English hierarchy. It is significant that Bresnan has played a greater role in the recent development of a strong team ethos for England than Tremlett has, and this may play a role in enhancing his chances, according to reports.

Bresnan``s bustling approach to the task on hand is felt to be better suited for the WACA ground.

Tremlett, on the other hand, has a massive advantage with his height, feels Jimmy Anderson.

"Bresnan is a very skillful bowler who can bat as well and he has made some valuable contributions with the bat in our one-day side," he added.

Anderson spent some of his commute back from England thinking about how the tour had progressed so far, and it is difficult imagining any of his conclusions being negative.

"I feel like it``s part of my job as a bowler and I see myself as the leader of the attack here, so it``s important I think about what went right for us in the last two games and what we can improve on for this game," he said.

"I did plenty of that, as did the guys who were still here. They``ve thought about things we can improve on, and we``ve spoken about it already."

One man who will need to raise his game somewhat in the absence of Broad is the young quick Steve Finn, who has made valuable contributions in the first two Tests without ever quite bowling at his best.

"He``s a confident young guy and he has improved every time he``s bowled with each spell on this trip," Anderson said.

"He believes he can do the job and everyone else believes he``s got the attributes and the mental game to be able to step up to the plate.” 

‘Harbhajan batted brilliantly'

HYDERABAD: “We need to get more runs to put more pressure. There is plenty of time left in this Test and it is too early to think about the declaration,” Rahul Dravid said at end of the third day's play in the second Test between India and New Zealand here on Sunday.

“We are slightly ahead but need to really increase the lead as much as possible. Hopefully, Bhajji (Harbhajan) will hit a century again and mind you Sree is really batting well,” he said.

“Anything can happen on the last two days of a Test and especially here. We have to really bowl well and take our catches to put the Kiwis under pressure in the second innings,” Dravid said.

“Definitely batting in the last innings should be a very difficult proposition even though the pitch is still really a good one now,” he added.

“This is a beautiful ground with a lovely outfield. You can see how exceptional the New Zealand fielding had been today,” he said.

Hyderabad wicket not helping bowlers: Laxman

VVS Laxman feels the presence of a famed batting line-up and the pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium should work to India's advantage even if New Zealand manage to set the hosts a competitive fourth-innings target on the fifth and final day of the second Test here.

"The target is to keep the lead under 225. Even if the required rate is five, there should not be a problem as we have got a very strong batting line-up and the nature of the wicket will help us," Laxman said after New Zealand finished the day at 237 for four to acquire a lead of 115 runs.

Asked about the team's plans for on Tuesday, Laxman said, "We will look to get two early wickets and then get into the tail."

On the nature of the wicket, he said, "The wicket is not doing enough for bowlers. There is bounce but no turn and that's why I think our bowlers have done a very good job today."

Harbhajan, McCullum hit tons in second Test

HYDERABAD: New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum struck a superb 124 not out to defy India on the fourth day of the second Test on Monday.

McCullum, 29, hit 11 fours and three sixes in his 177-ball knock as the visitors reached 237/4 at close in reply to India's first-innings 472, built around a record century by tailender Harbhajan Singh.

New Zealand, who made 350 in their first essay, lead by 115 runs with six wickets in hand.

Kane Williamson (12) was the other not out batsman at the crease when stumps were called for the day.

McCullum dominated India's bowlers, hitting paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for a six over long-off and a four off the next ball before racing to his sixth Test century with another boundary. 

Asian Games: Men's snooker team claim silver, bronze for tennis team

GUANGZHOU: The Indian men's snooker team lost 1-3 to China and had to be content with a silver at the Asian Games on Monday, while the men's hockey team began their campaign on an upbeat note with a 7-0 demolition of Hong Kong.

The cueist trio of Yasin Merchant, Aditya Kumar, Brijesh Damani went down to Junhui Ding, Liang Wenbo and Tian Pengfei 16-70, 51-46, 27-68, 0-96.

Whereas, India had to settle for a bronze in the men's tennis event after losing 1-2 to top seeds Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.

India's Somdev Devvarman drew the tie with a 6-2, 7-6(4) victory over Ti Chen after Sanam Singh went down fighting 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-7 (5) to Tsung Hua Yang in the first rubber.

Somdev and Sanam then combined for the deciding doubles but Yang and Chu-Huan Yi scraped through 4-6, 6-7(1).

There's lot more to talk than my 50th Test ton: Tendulkar

HYDERABAD: The entire world is waiting with bated breath in anticipation of his coveted 50th Test ton but Sachin Tendulkar feels that in his illustrious career spanning over 21 years, there is lot more to talk about the game than a particular milestone.

"There is much more to Test cricket than my 50th Test ton. This is not the only thing. I always focus on playing well for my country and presently I am focusing on winning the series against the New Zealand," Sachin said on the penultimate day of the second Test against New Zealand.

"I don't open the newspapers (to see what's written about me). I don't read them and you can see them hanging at the stand outside my hotel room. I focus on my game only. Last 21 years have been really special for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my joyful journey," said Tendulkar, who managed to score 13 runs in the first innings. 

India spank Hong Kong 7-0 in Asian Games men's hockey

GUANGZHOU: Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh scored a double as Indian men's hockey team started their Asian Games campaign on a rousing note, blanking a lowly Hong Kong 7-0 in their first Group B match on Monday.

Coach Jose Brasa's boys completely dominated their rivals in the entire 70 minutes and pumped in four and three goals respectively in both the halves at the Aoti Hockey Field to start their proceedings in the quadrennial mega-event in style.

Against Hong Kong, India utilised three out of the five penalty corners they earned in the match with Sandeep (4th and 18th minutes) converting two and Tushar Khandker (37th) scoring from a variation.

Bharat Chikara (2nd), Sarvanjit Singh (22nd), Arjun Halappa (38th) and Shivendra Singh (48th) completed the rout for India through field strikes.

India will now face minnows Bangladesh in their group match on Wednesday
.

Rajasthan Royals, BCCI to solve dispute through arbitration

MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals and BCCI on Monday agreed to take the dispute over the IPL franchisee's contract termination to an arbitrator. 

Rajasthan Royals moved the Bombay High Court last month after the BCCI terminated the contract with them for the IPL. 

However, at Monday's hearing Rajasthan Royals' lawyer Janak Dwarkadas told the court that both the parties have decided to solve the dispute through arbitration as per their contract terms. He also said that justice B N Srikrishna would be the sole arbitrator. 

Justice S J Vazifdar adjourned hearing till November 18. Another IPL franchisee Kings XI Punjab has also challenged termination of regulation of its contract with BCCI. 

Kings XI's lawyers told the court today that his client too is seeking resolution of dispute through arbitration and the franchisee would be willing to accept arbitration before Justice Srikrishna. 

The court then posted the matter of Kings XI for hearing on November 18.

Cameron to push England 2018 World Cup bid

Seoul: Prime Minister David Cameron plans to attend the FIFA vote next month when world soccer’s governing body decides the fate of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup. 

Cameron is intensifying his efforts to back the bid, talking it up during meetings with world leaders at the G20 summit he is attending in South Korea. 

England faces strong competition from Russia and joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/the Netherlands. 

“The prime minister wants to offer the strongest possible support for what he thinks is an excellent bid,” his spokesman told reporters. 

FIFA’s executive committee will select the hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at a two-day meeting in Zurich, finishing on December 2. 

Cameron held a 30-minute meeting with Chung Mong-joon, FIFA vice-president and president of Korea’s FA, at the British ambassador’s residence on Thursday. 

Cameron joked that he was spending more time on the World Cup than on core G20 issues at the summit. 

The prime minister is arguing that England already has world-class stadiums in place, reducing the costs involved at a time of sharp public spending cuts. 

England last hosted the World Cup in 1966, winning the tournament for the only time, and staging the event again would be a morale boost for English fans. 

Cameron told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he looked forward to a “good, clean fight” when the issue of their rival bids came up at a bilateral meeting on Thursday. 

Two FIFA executive committee members, who deny wrongdoing, have been suspended while FIFA investigates allegations in the Sunday Times newspaper that they offered to sell their votes. 

There is speculation FIFA is unhappy with the level of scrutiny it has faced in the British press and that England’s bid could suffer as a result of the newspaper reports. 

Britain has already been chosen to host the 2012 Olympics, their winning bid boosted by strong backing from then Prime Minister Tony Blair during the campaign.

McIntosh hits ton as Kiwis take control on Day-1

Hyderabad: Tim McIntosh, who got out for duck in both innings of the first Test, justified his selection in New Zealand batting XI with a gritty hundred to give New Zealand a steady ground to post big first innings total in hot and humid conditions here on the first day of the second Test match on Friday.

Zaheer Khan tried to bring India back in the last session of the day, picking up Taylor and centurion McIntosh, but Jesse Ryder and Gareth Hopkins held on their nerves to make it a complete New Zealand day.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, New Zealand batsmen adopted slow and cautious approach to post 258 runs for the loss of 4 wickets on day one and made Indian bowlers work hard to take wickets for all three sessions.

McIntosh’s knock is the first hundred by a New Zealand opener on foreign soil in the last six years. He got off the mark with a boundary through cover and produced 10 delectable shots along the ground and a lofted six over the region between long-on and deep midwicket. 

During his stay at the wicket, the 30-year-old was involved in two important partnerships. Recalled in the Test squad for BJ Watling, Martin Guptill made an attacking 85 to share an excellent 147-run partnership with McIntosh and took New Zealand past 150 runs but was trapped leg-before of the bowling of Pragyan Ojha.

Before getting out, Guptill scored nine boundaries and a towering six of the bowling of Harbhajan Singh to counter attack Indian bowlers who looked intimidating in the first session on a green top.

After Guptill’s dismissal, Ross Taylor came to the crease and stitched 55-run partnership for third wicket but just when Taylor seemed threatening with quick boundaries, Zaheer Khan induced an edge and sent him back to the pavilion.

Earlier, New Zealand made the most of their good fortune- surviving a testing spell of fine swing bowling by Sreesanth- at the first session of the opening day of second Test match here as they went for lunch at 75 runs for the loss of only one wicket. 

New Zealand suffered an early blow when opener Brendon McCullum (4) was caught-behind of a beautiful out-swinger by Sreesanth.

The second-wicket partnership between Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill, standing unbeaten at 74, survived many close chances including Guptill’s dismissal on a no-ball, a dropped catch by MS Dhoni of Harbhajan Singh, and several edges falling short of gully and point.

India has not made any changes to their playing XI and has fielded the same squad for the match, while New Zealand has made three changes in their team.

Paceman Brent Arnel replaced Hamish Bennett, Tim Southee came in for spinner Jeetan Patel while Martin Guptill replaced BJ Watling.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Daniel Vettori(c), Gareth Hopkins(w), Brent Arnel, Chris Martin, Tim Southee.

India (Playing XI): Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, S Sreesanth.

Unprecedented security for Asian Games

Guangzhou, Nov 12 : Unprecedented security cover has been put in place and organisers announced that use of vuvuzela in and around stadia has been banned as the Asian Games officially open with an expensive and flashy opening ceremony.

China is leaving no stone unturned to showcase its sporting hegemony as it poured in billions of dollars for this extravaganza to herald the most ambitious Asiad so far with more than 14,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and territories taking part.

''Everything is in place. After six years of hard work, I am pleased to announce that the preparatory work of the 16th Asian Games has been completed,'' announced Guangzhou vice-mayor Xu Ruisheng.

Security is a main concern, with more than 100,000 police officers on duty to keep the Games safe, and they are being backed by thousands of security guards and volunteers.

''As the Guangzhou Asian Games will have the most ever athletes, officials and reporters in the history of the Asian Games, the security work has been a great challenge.

''The security panel has adopted effective and necessary measures to ensure a safe Games. We have done our best to provide a safe and favorable environment for athletes, coaches, officials and audiences,'' a statement from the Games security commission said.

''We can not take any chances,We want the Games to be grand success and we want people of the World to remember Guangzhou for all the good reasons,'' Xu Ruisheng said. ''The city will emerge as a main sporting centre after this event.'' The organisers also announced that people will not be allowed to carry vuvuzela in or around stadia.

''We have nothing against the instrument (which hit the headlines during the Soccer World Cup) but keeping in mind the objections raised by the athletes and sports officials who say it is a source of distraction, it has decided to declare it as a prohibited item,'' Xu Ruisheng said.

Government officials are confident that the Games will help transform the city into one of Asia's top destinations at par with Beijing and Shanghai. For the Games, many big infrastructure projects - a new railway station, a trade centre, subway lines, housing projects, highways and bridges have been constructed well ahead of schedule along with 70 sporting facilities which have either been built or renovated.

As the Chinese are known to spring surprises on the World when they host such extravaganzas - this time the the opening ceremony will be held outside the main stadium and will be held in an island on the Pearl River.

Organisers also asserted that the opening ceremony will have the largest lighting show ever seen at a major sports event, based around a theme prominently featuring the local Lingnan culture.

''All chapters of the performances will be linked together under the theme of water, which is a traditional element of Lingnan culture,'' diclosed ceremony's deputy director He Jiqing.

All the athletes will arrive by a convoy of pleasure boats, but this time the two Korean teams (North and south) who marched together at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens Olympics and 2006 Doha Asian Games are unlikely to do so here

Kiwis consolidate after Sreesanth's breakthrough

Hyderabad, Nov 12 : India failed to drive home the advantage it gained after S Sreesanth gave the hosts the first breakthrough scalping opener Brendon McCullum (4), as New Zealand were 75 runs for one wicket at lunch on the first day of the second Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium here today.

McCullum was beaten by a fiery Sreesanth outswinger that saw him edge it straight into the hands of wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his individual score reading four.

However, Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill consolidated the innings with some sedate batting that saw no further damage.

They added 71 crucial runs for the unbroken partnership for the second wicket.

At lunch, McIntosh was on 25 runs that comprised of three hits to the fence. Guptill was going steady with 36 that included two boundaries and one over the fence.

Luck favoured McIntosh twice in the innings. He was caught by Dhoni off a Sreesanth no-ball and the captain later dropped him off Harbhajan, who replaced Zaheer Khan from the pavilion end.

Earlier, amid sunny conditions New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.

The stadium, consequently, became the 21st Test venue in the country.

Meanwhile, India retained the same team that played in the first Test.

However, the visiting team made three changes in the squad.

Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill and all-rounder Tim Southee replaced Hamish Bennett, B J Watling and Jeetan Patel respectively.

Teams: India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Gareth Hopkins, Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel.

Johnson wants England skipper Andrew Strauss to be his bunny

Sydney, Nov 12 : To dominate the England batting line up, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson will attempt to turn Andrew Strauss into his bunny during the Ashes series.

Johnson said England would disintegrate if Strauss failed at the top of the order.

"Look, I think if we can go after their captain, Strauss, I think if you can get him early at the top order, hopefully (that will) put a lot of pressure on their lower-middle order," Johnson said on Thursday.

"Being the captain, I think they've really looked up to him in the last 18 months, especially after beating us at their home. If we can put a lot of pressure on him then hopefully they can crumble a little bit," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.

Strauss was dismissed for just four on Thursday in the tour match against South Australia, but showed fine form last week with an unbeaten 120 against Western Australia.

Johnson also piled the pressure on England opener Alastair Cook, who has scored just 226 runs in his past 10 Test innings and was out for 32 off 91 balls against the Redbacks.

"I guess we saw that the last Ashes - he was probably a bit of a weak link for them. There will definitely be a lot of pressure on him that's for sure," Johnson said.

Pak team's morale 'pretty good' despite wicketkeeper Haider's sudden exit: Waqar

Dubai, Nov 12 : The Pakistan cricket team's morale is 'pretty good' despite the chaos and controversies surrounding it, and the sudden departure of wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider to England, the team's coach Waqar Younis has said.

"Morale is pretty good. What happened in the last four, months five months, it's not ideal, not what we want, but we are all professional," the Daily Times quoted Younis, as saying in a news conference in Dubai on Thursday- the day before the start of a two-Test series against South Africa.

"If we deliver the goods tomorrow we stand a good chance. We've got a fairly good side," the coach added.

Earlier on Monday morning, Haider had quietly slipped out of the Grand Hyatt in Dubai and boarded a London-bound flight. The player had not even discussed his plans with any of his team officials or fellow teammates.

On the morning of Pakistan's final ODI match against South Africa, a message on Haider's Facebook wall read: "leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game." just hours before the final one-day international against South Africa in Dubai.

Announcing his sudden decision to bow out from international cricket, the wicketkeeper told a news channel that he was receiving threats from an unknown person, and thus he decided to leave Dubai immediately and went to London, where he is now seeking asylum.

Dhoni bats for decision review system

HYDERABAD: Keeping in mind the frequent umpiring errors during international cricket matches, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday batted for the implementation of the contentious and the much-debated Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS). The Indian captain has also called for stricter measures so as to improve the standard of umpiring. "The standard of umpiring has gone down and we need to have strong measures to improve that," Dhoni said. It must be mentioned that Dhoni had earlier, before the first Test, expressed his unwillingness to support the system. But on Thursday, while referring to VVS Laxman's dismissal in the first Test at Motera, he said that if the umpires continue to make wrong decisions, then it ( ICC) would be left with no option but to go for the UDRS. "But, as I have said earlier, I am not going to buy a life jacket that doesn't come with a warranty," Dhoni reiterated. "At times you tend to make mistakes. The umpires are also most of the time thinking about over rates and player behaviour," Dhoni said. It must be noted that the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and many in the national team are not in favour of implementing the referral system ever since their failed experiment during the tour of Sri Lanka in 2008. Virender Sehwag has been the only exception as the dashing India opener had earlier expressed his willingness for the UDRS. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been trying in vain to convince the BCCI to implement the system during all international matches in the country. But they now might have to rethink their approach to the referral system.

Indians aim to clip Kiwi wings as Tests return to Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The narrow escape in the first Test was hardly the kind of start India wanted against a depleted New Zealand and the hosts would be determined to notch up a convincing win against their spirited rivals in the second Test starting on Thursday.

Stung by criticism after a draw in the first Test, India would look to approach the second Test to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium with hope and belief that they would live up to the reputation of being the top Test side.

This is going to be a landmark match for VVS Laxman, who will be playing his first Test in front of his home crowd, as the longer version of the game returns to the city after a gap of 22 years.

It has been a long wait for the veteran of over 100 Tests, who has played against all Test nations and at almost every venue around the world during his 14-year-long career.

A sense of anticipation, that Sachin Tendulkar would get to his 50 Test hundreds in this match, also prevailed at the stadium a day ahead of the match. But the master, as is always the case, was his usual self - calm and composed.

"He is preparing the same way. He is very calm and composed and there is no anxiety as far as Sachin is concerned," said India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

After the twists and turns in the Ahmedabad match where Laxman and Harbhajan Singh's maiden Test century saved India the blushes, the hosts look determined to wrest the initiative from Daniel Vettori's side, and giving fillip to those thoughts was Dhoni.

"They are a good side but we are well prepared, and the wicket also looks good, it looks a little on the flatter side and that should allow the batsmen to play their strokes freely," Dhoni said.

The wicket, which has hosted three one-day internationals and quite a few Twenty20 and IPL matches since 2005, has a reputation for producing high-scoring matches.

The last time it hosted an ODI, in November 2009, Tendulkar smashed a memorable 175 and nearly guided India to an improbable win against Ricky Ponting's Australia.

Another good news from the India camp is that there are no injury worries and the playing XI that was there in the first Test, is likely to be retained.

There were few worries for India before the first match - mainly the form of Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid and the spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha.

While Dravid broke the shackles with a ton in the first innings, Gambhir's poor run continued and the opener would look to make the most of friendly batting conditions.

Thanks to the flat wicket at Motera, the spinners could hardly get any assistance but things could be slightly different here.

The wicket has a bit of bounce that will not only allow the batsmen to play strokes freely but will also offer some assistance to the bowlers.

As far as conditions are concerned, they are slightly damp as it rained heavily over the past few days. There is a growing belief that the track might just provide some seam movement in the first couple of hours.

While the number one ranked Test side in the world started the series as firm favourites, the scenario changed after the way things panned out in the first Test.

New Zealand went into the Ahmedabad Test short of confidence after the 0-4 ODI hammering in Bangladesh but their fighting effort in the first match should give them the confidence needed to counter India on their own soil.

Injury to Hamish Bennett was a body blow for the Kiwis but his replacement, veteran all-rounder James Franklin, is no novice either.

The 30-year-old batted at number six and bowled first change during India's last tour of New Zealand in 2009.

India were on the brink of defeat and had it not been for Harbhajan Singh's maiden century and an equally brilliant innings from Laxman, the visitors would have scripted a historic win.

But this is a different match and a different venue and both teams are well aware of that.

The teams: 

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt., wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Amit Mishra and S Sreesanth.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (Capt.), Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Kane Williamson, Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Tim McIntosh, Jeetan Patel, Brent Arnel, Bradley John Watling, James Franklin, Andy McCay
.

Sehwag had an answer for everything: Arthur

JOHANNESBURG: Swashbuckling Indian batsman Virender Sehwag gave the visiting South African team a very tough time during the first Test in Chennai in 2008, former coach Mickey Arthur recalled in his book, released on Monday.

"Every single thing we tried, he countered," Arthur wrote in his book 'Taking the Mickey'. "He had an answer for everything. When we changed our tactics, he changed his; he was always one step ahead of us."

Arthur added that despite witnessing every delivery that Sehwag faced, he still found it difficult to believe some parts of his innings: "He scored 319 off 304 deliveries. Some of the 50 came off 25 or 30 balls, and I think his third century came from 84!"

Arthur went on to describe how Sehwag outwitted his strategy at every turn: "I was wracking my brains for a solution to the puzzle, but by the time I'd thought of something else to try, (Sehwag) would have scored another 70. I thought we might see the world record. The way he was going, he had the time to score 500!"

But Sehwag's good run was set to end the next morning: "Overnight I tried to come up with yet another plan. I thought he might be vulnerable to the short-of-a-length delivery early on - not the bouncer, but the back-of-a-length, chest-high delivery.

"Perhaps it was a complete fluke, but Makhaya (Ntini) caught him early, trapped on the crease early next morning, and he never got onto the front foot again for the rest of the innings, which didn't last much longer before he knicked one. Whether it was a chink in his armour or not, it worked for us. He certainly didn't score any more triple hundreds against us, anyway.
"

Zulqarnain explains his position to Pakistan Board

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman has spoken to Zulqarnain Haider and assured him of its full co-operation after the wicketkeeper left the squad in Dubai and went to London where he has applied for asylum.

Zulqarnain said PCB chief Ijaz Butt had spoken to him by telephone to find out the circumstances surrounding his sudden departure from the team hotel.

"I explained everything to him. I told him I was genuinely concerned about the threats given to me for not getting involved in any racket to fix matches in the one-day series against South Africa," Zulqarnain said on Thursday.

"I have told the PCB chairman everything and he has assured me that the board will provide me all assistance and cooperation," the keeper said.

The PCB had been trying to make contact with Zulqarnain since Monday when he arrived in London and on Wednesday it suspended his contract pending further investigation into the incident.

Zulqarnain, 24, said he had applied for asylum in Britain after much thought.

"I am not stupid that I should give up my promising cricket career and leave my country to come to London. I did it for a reason and I feel safe in London," he said.

He also said he had handed over two letters delivered to his room in Dubai to the International Cricket Council's ( ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

Pakistan's High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, met Zulqarnain on Thursday, telling reporters he had listened to the player and that the embassy would provide legal assistance where it was required.

Zulqarnain said he was seeking asylum because he feared for his safety after being ordered to co-operate with match-fixers.

He also announced his international retirement after saying he was approached by a person who asked him to fix the recent fourth and fifth one-day internationals against South Africa.

Zulqarnain dismissed Pakistani media reports that he had taken money to flee the team.

"Anyone can check my accounts to see what my financial position is. I don't regret my decision. The same people who are trying to corrupt cricket are now trying to create this scandal about me taking money," he said.

The wicketkeeper said he had no immediate plans to return to Pakistan because he feared for his life.

"When a prime minister like Benazir Bhutto could not be safe in Pakistan I am just an ordinary cricketer," he said.

Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi in 2007. Zulqarnain also said he was happy that the ACU and British border and home officials were co-operating with him.

"I will not hold anything back from them," he said