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[renjuus]

Best Test Tons in Australia since 2000': Tendulkar, Laxman, Sehwag in final-15 list


Melbourne, Sep 25: Indian trio of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag feature in the final-15 list of the "Best Test Tons in Australia since 2000", which was unveiled today. Sehwag's 195 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against Australia in 2003 was placed at 13th while now Tendulkar's best score in Australia - 241 not out in 2004 at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) features at 8th followed by Laxman's 167 at 9th position

The final list of 15 of the best Test centuries in Australia since 2000 was unveiled on Cricket Australia's (CA) website. According to it, Michael Clarke's 329 not out against India at SCG in January 2012 is the number one followed by South African Faf du Plessis' 110 not out at Adelaide Oval in November 2012.

Another double century against India, by Ricky Ponting (257) at Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2003) has made its way to the list. It is rated as the 3rd best. Tendulkar, who had a tough series in 2003-04 against the home team, bounced back in style in the 4th and final Test at SCG scoring a majestic 241 not out. This was the farewell series for captain Steve Waugh. The Master Blaster decided not to play any shots on the off-side and it paid off. In one of his best knocks of 200-Test illustrious career, Tendulkar scored 241 not out as India amassed 705/7 declared in the 1st innings. The match later ended in a draw and the series honours were shared at 1-1. "I would put this innings (241 not out) right at the top of my hundreds," Tendulkar said, as quoted by CA's website.

"I had a plan and I am happy I could execute it well. I am happy that I was able to maintain the discipline throughout the innings. Things had gone wrong a couple of times with my shot selection, and I knew I had to cut out a few strokes," he had added. In 2000, when India toured Australia under Tendulkar's captaincy, they had a torrid time in the Test series. After losing both the matches, Laxman gave Indians something to cheer in the final Test with a superb 167. At SCG, India were trailing by 402 runs and Laxman opened the batting. Though India lost the match by an innings and 141 runs, the Test was remembered for 25-year-old Laxman's top-class 167 against the bowling attack of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Damien Fleming. India were whitewashed 3-0. Rahul Dravid, who has played some memorable innings in Australia, has missed out. His best in Australia was 233 against the hosts in Adelaide in 2003 which resulted in India's historic 4-wicket victory.

Here is the final list of 15 "Best Test Tons in Australia since 2000" (As per CA's website)

1. Michael Clarke (Australia) 329 not out Vs India (Sydney, January 2012) - Australia won by an innings and 68 runs

2. Faf du Plessis (South Africa) 110 not out Vs Australia (Adelaide, November 2012) - Match drawn

3. Ricky Ponting (Australia) 257 Vs India (Melbourne, December 2003) - Australia won by 9 wickets

4. Brian Lara (West Indies) 226 Vs Australia (Adelaide, November 2005) - West Indies lost by 7 wickets

5. Clarke 128 Vs India (Adelaide, December 2014) - Australia won by 48 runs

6. Steve Waugh (Australia) 102 Vs England (Sydney, January 2003) - Australia lost by 225 runs

7. JP Duminy (South Africa) 166 Vs Australia (Melbourne, December 200 - South Africa won by 9 wickets

8. Sachin Tendulkar (India) 241 not out Vs Australia (Sydney, January 2004) - Match drawn

9. VVS Laxman (India) 167 Vs Australia (Sydney, January 2000) - India lost by an innings and 141 runs

10. AB de Villiers (South Africa) 106 not out Vs Australia (WACA Ground, December 200 - South Africa won by 6 wickets

11. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) 192 Vs Australia (Bellerive Oval, Hobart, November 2007) - Sri Lanka lost by 96 runs

12. Hashim Amla (South Africa) 196 Vs Australia (WACA Ground, December 2012) - South Africa won by 309 runs

13. Virender Sehwag (India) 195 Vs Australia (MCG, Melbourne, 2003) - India lost by 9 wickets

14. Simon Katich (Australia) 131 not out Vs New Zealand (Gabba, Brisbane, November 200 - Australia won by 149 runs

15. David Warner (Australia) 123 not out Vs New Zealand (Bellerive Oval, Hobart, December 2011) - Australia lost by 7 runs

Dravid's 233 in adelaide was much better than sachin's 241 in sydney 4 me....

[Viru]

Dravid's 233 in adelaide was much better than sachin's 241 in sydney 4 me....

Sachin ee inngsine munpe 5-6 inngs ore 50 polum illathe form out aayirunu

bhayakara criticisms kett kalikan irangiya inngs aayirunu ith ennitane immathiri kali kalichath

8 manikoor bat cheyth 200 ethane vare matto ore cover drive polum kalikathe bat cheythu 90% shotsum leg sideil wrist workinte kali thanne

Dravidinte inngsum kidu aayirunu pakshe adelade pothuve batsman friendly wicket ennale parayapedune

aa kaliyile tharaam agarkar aayirunu sherikkum ippozhum ormayude 2nd inngsile aa maraka spell

[renjuus]

Sachin ee inngsine munpe 5-6 inngs ore 50 polum illathe form out aayirunu

bhayakara criticisms kett kalikan irangiya inngs aayirunu ith ennitane immathiri kali kalichath

8 manikoor bat cheyth 200 ethane vare matto ore cover drive polum kalikathe bat cheythu 90% shotsum leg sideil wrist workinte kali thanne

Dravidinte inngsum kidu aayirunu pakshe adelade pothuve batsman friendly wicket ennale parayapedune

aa kaliyile tharaam agarkar aayirunu sherikkum ippozhum ormayude 2nd inngsile aa maraka spell

sachinte lack of form before that innings okke pakshe nammal indians kooduthal vaikaarikamaayi kaanunnathinte kuzhappam..I just meant the quality of both the innings...match situation also..

[wayanadan]

ബംഗ്ലദേശിനു ചരിത്രനേട്ടം, വെസ്റ്റ് ഇൻഡീസിനു വൻ നാണക്കേട്



2017 ൽ നടക്കുന്ന ഐസിസി ചാംപ്യൻസ് ലീഗിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കാൻ ബംഗ്ലദേശ് യോഗ്യത നേടി. 2006 നു ശേഷം ഇതാദ്യമാണു ബംഗ്ലദേശ് യോഗ്യത നേടുന്നത്. ആദ്യ എട്ടു റാങ്കുകള്*ക്കുള്ളിൽ വന്നതോടെയാണു ബംഗ്ലദേശ് യോഗ്യത നേടിയത്. നിലവിൽ ഏഴാം സ്ഥാനത്താണു ബംഗ്ലദേശ്. അടുത്ത കാലത്തു ഏകദിനത്തിൽ മികച്ച ഉന്നതി ബംഗ്ലദേശ് കൈവരിച്ച ബംഗ്ലാ കടുവകൾ പാക്കിസ്ഥാൻ, ദക്ഷിണാഫ്രിക്ക, ഇന്ത്യ രാജ്യങ്ങൾക്കെതിരെ ഏകദിന പരമ്പരകൾ 2015 ൽ ജയിച്ച് ചരിത്രമെഴുതി.
അതേ സമയം ഐസിസി റാങ്കിങ്ങിൽ ഒമ്പതാം സ്ഥാനത്തേയ്ക്കു പിന്തള്ളപ്പെട്ട വെസ്റ്റ് ഇൻഡീസിനു യോഗ്യത നേടാനായില്ല. മിനി വേൾഡ് കപ് എന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്ന ഈ ടൂർണമെന്റ് 1998 ൽ ആരംഭിച്ചതിനു ശേഷം ഇതാദ്യമാണു വെസ്റ്റ് ഇൻഡീസ് ടൂർണമെന്റിനു യോഗ്യത നേടാതെ പുറത്താകുന്നത്. ഐസിസി റാങ്കിംഗിലെ ആദ്യ എട്ടു സ്ഥാനക്കാർക്കാണു ചാംപ്യൻസ് ലീഗിൽ മത്സരിക്കുവാന*ുള്ള യോഗ്യത.

നിലവിൽ ലോകചാമ്പ്യൻമാരായ ഓസ്്ട്രേലിയയാണു റാങ്കിങ്ങിൽ ഒന്നാമത്. ഇന്ത്യ രണ്ടാം സ്ഥാനത്താണ്. ദക്ഷിണാഫ്രിക്ക, ന്യൂസിലൻഡ്, ശ്രീലങ്ക, ഇംഗ്ലണ്ട്, ബംഗ്ലദേശ്, പാക്കിസ്ഥാൻ എന്നീ രാജ്യങ്ങളാണ് ഈ ടൂർണമെന്റിൽ മാറ്റുരയ്ക്കുക. രണ്ടു ഗ്രൂപ്പുകളിലായാണ് ടീമുകൾ മത്സരിക്കുന്നത്. ഇരു ഗ്രൂപ്പിലും മുൻപിൽ വരുന്ന രണ്ടു ടീമുകൾ അടുത്ത റൗണ്ടിലേയ്ക്കു മുന്നേറും.
2017 ജൂൺ 1 മുതൽ 17 വരെ നടക്കുന്ന ടൂർണമെന്റിന് ഇംഗ്ലണ്ടാണ് ആതിഥ്യമരുളുന്നത്. 2019 ലോകകപ്പ് ക്രിക്കറ്റിന് ടൂർണമെന്റിനുള്ള യോഗ്യത 2017 സെപ്റ്റംബർ 30 നാണു പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കുക.
നിലവിലെ ഐസിസി റാങ്കിങ് (ക്രമത്തിൽ)

1. ഓസ്ട്രേലിയ 2. ഇന്ത്യ 3. ദക്ഷിണാഫ്രിക്ക 4. ന്യൂസിലൻഡ്
   
2. ശ്രീലങ്ക 6. ഇംഗ്ലണ്ട് 7. ബംഗ്ലദേശ് 8. പാക്കിസ്ഥാൻ
   
3. വെസ്റ്റ് ഇൻഡീസ് 10. അയർലൻഡ് 11. സിംബാബ്*വെ 12. അഫ്ഗാനിസ്ഥാൻ

[4EVER]

South Africa Series ethu Channel aanu Telecasting...

@BangaloreaN

[BangaloreaN]

South Africa Series ethu Channel aanu Telecasting...

@BangaloreaN

STAR Sports

[4EVER]

The Mohammad Kaif Story
Kanpur, by Vishaal Loganathan • Last updated on Sunday, 11 October, 2015, 10:26 AM
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Mohammad Kaif was India's first Under-19 World Cup-winning captain.
Mohammad Kaif was India's first Under-19 World Cup-winning captain. © AFP
Whether on the cricket field, or outside it - Mohammad Kaif is a package of energy. And his story springs with an appropriate theme, too. His team, Andhra, has just wrapped up day three of their Ranji Trophy game against Gujarat, with Kaif himself scoring a 215-ball 76 to help his side take a 113- run lead, and during our 40-minute phone call, he is still ebullient - he speaks freely, remembers vividly, laughs brightly, and forgives easily.

The Allahabad-born right-hander burst onto national fame by leading his side to glory in the 2000 U-19 World Cup. Soon after, his 79-ball 87 against England at the Natwest series final in 2002 propelled him to greater heights. All of 21 then, Kaif's career looked all set to take off and to the very top of international cricket. But, it wasn't meant to be. Less than four years later, he made his first, and only, Test hundred. (He had scored 91, 13 and 46* in the three innings that came before his hundred). Three failures followed, and he never played Tests for India again.

His ODI axing took a somewhat similar trail, too. Five consecutive failures after a string of three 50+ scores in four innings, and Kaif was rendered ineffectual. His last game for India came on November 29, 2006 - Three days short of his 26th birthday.

"It was tough," Kaif, who now captains Andhra in Ranji Trophy, reminisces. "I got my maiden Test century against West Indies, and then, I never played Tests again. That was very disappointing. I made my maiden Test hundred in one Test series, then the next, I'm not there. I can't understand why it happened. I spoke to Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Greg Chappell and Dilip Vengsarkar - there were things that did not go according to plan."

"My job under John Wright was to keep the team going along. Run around, shout, keep the boys on their toes, etc. When I was doing it, we were playing well. And then, there was a change of management. There was a different mind-set. We started to lose. The whole atmosphere was not good. Not just me, everyone was finding it tough. The unity was shaken up. Probably, I got caught during the Ganguly-Chappell incidents. I was caught neither here nor there. It was a tough situation," he says.

These are scars that may take years to heal, but if there is profound sadness about his axing, Kaif does not make it too obvious. Perhaps he is now inured to cricketing disappointments. He was handed a debut against a vicious South African team and promptly dropped for series against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe (twice) and Australia. Kaif, though, looked at it as an opportunity to get better. He started to work on his back-foot game.

"I was a young cricketer, and suddenly I was playing Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Allan Donald. It was tough. It was also a moment where I was like 'Boss, you are not ready. You have to improve your game'. It was the time for soul searching," he says. "The drop probably helped me a lot to understand the game. I had played almost all my cricket in Kanpur (in Uttar Pradesh), where there was not that much bounce and it tends to keep low. But, when I faced all the top bowlers I came back with 'Boss, I have to change my approach'. I came back and started working on my back foot game - pulling and cutting. I was a more on-the-rise player, but at that level you can't always play like that. It'll get you out."

Now 34 years and 179 first-class games (the current one against Gujarat not included) old, Kaif still remembers his first match for Uttar Pradesh. "I was about 14 and it was for the Under-16 team. It was against Goa in Goa and I did not do well. Soon after, I went to England and played in the Lombard Cricket World Cup, where we beat Pakistan in the final."

His family, he says, is the main reason behind him taking up cricket as a career. Kaif's father, Mohammad Tarif, and elder brother, Mohammad Saif, have both played Ranji cricket for Uttar Pradesh. "My dad follows my scores even now," he says referring to the 76 he made in the Test. "My family has been supportive from the start. I started by playing local and league matches in Allahabad for around two-three years for my club team Top Gun, and then I moved to Kanpur."

In Kanpur, Kaif got to rub shoulders with the likes of Gyanendra Pandey, Rambabu Pal, Shashikant Khandkar - all of whom played for the state team - while staying at the Green Park Cricket hostel. Gradually, Kaif's abilities started to shine through and he was soon in the side, as an 18 year old, who travelled to South Africa to play the U-19 World Cup. "Playing in South Africa was a big thing, you know, just going outside India," he admits. "That's when I started to believe that if you can play well in South Africa or in England, then you can make a career for yourself."

The Natwest final against England is synonymous with Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh's awe-inspiring heroics.
The Natwest final against England is synonymous with Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh's awe-inspiring heroics. © Getty
His rising stocks concatenated his success and soon Kaif was India's first Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, and earmarked for greater things. While his Test career was still a work in progress, his ODI career reached its crescendo. The Natwest final against England is now synonymous with Kaif and Yuvraj Singh's awe-inspiring heroics that led to the most memorable of wins for India. His recollection of how things unfurled on July 13, 2002 at Lord's is vivid, to say the least.

"It was our ninth or tenth final, and we had lost everything before. So the team was not in a good space. There was something... not right. Also, chasing was not our strength back then. At that time, after Sachin Tendulkar's wicket, most teams would say, 'Yes, we can win this quite easily'," he laughs.

"But Ganguly made a very good point saying don't lose early wickets, and he showed that with the bat, too. It helped, because we could start believing again. We got the opening stand so the first part was done. But then, suddenly, we lost five wickets, which was not part of the plan (laughs). We thought 'Oh no. Here we go again'. Then it was up to us, Mohd. Kaif and Yuvraj Singh."

"In fact, when I was walking in, I though the game was over. Outside the ropes, you believe that you have lost the game, but inside you are still believing 'No, no, hang on. Let's just take ones and twos and we'll see'. Then Yuvraj gets out. Then Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) and Kumble, too.

"Till the very last over, it was tough to believe we would win. We needed two runs and Zak (Zaheer Khan) played a couple of dot balls. So I said 'Zak, I'm running now. I don't trust you anymore. You just hit the ball anywhere... I'm running.' I remember he did not hit it far from Paul Collingwood, but we ran..."

From the high of the Natwest series win, Team India crashed to defeats in New Zealand and then to Australia in the 2003 World Cup. Kaif's house, back in India, bore the brunt of the public's backlash. Although disappointed, he understands the fans' reactions. "I know the fans were disappointed. There are fans who get disappointed and can't take defeat. We have very passionate fans in India. It was just one of those days, you know. We were disappointed, but we moved on. We were trying our best out there."

A little more than three years later, Kaif would play his final Test, and soon his final international in India colours. Disturbed, as he was, he went back to scoring in heaps in the domestic circuit averaging at least 45 for the three seasons that followed his axing. He left his home state UP to play for a young Andhra team, captaining and mentoring the side. And his run-scoring habit still hasn't deserted him.

"I played for UP all my life. I needed to make the switch to keep things fresh, and to do something... new. I wanted to share my experience while doing something new, something fresh. Right now, I'm enjoying playing for Andhra. There are no big names, apart from me. These are all young guys. I see in their eyes, what they want to become. It is the same look I had when I was playing under-19," he says.

Mohammad Kaif was never earmarked to be the Olympian god of mortals, for that there was Yuvraj Singh. Kaif was never meant to be the cure, there were plenty who were more gifted than he was. Kaif was few bits here, few pieces there, but invariably anywhere the team needed him to be. He was captain when India under-19 won in 2000; saviour when they beat England two summers later; scapegoat when they were reeling in Centurion. Jolly when they needed to be kept on its toes. Did he get his due, though? Tough call...

Kaif doesn't care, mind. "I'm really enjoying the journey," he says with a laugh before signing off.

[wayanadan]

http://goo.gl/n6J1Fu
#മാതൃഭൂമി

[baadshahmian]

the best left armer of our times...the most skillful bowler after wasim...absolutely aggressive...hope his services are used to get the reverse swing into the new lot...

[wayanadan]