Pothas credits Indian bowlers

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 24

SRI Lankan coach Nic Pothas credited Indian bowlers for their superb bowling on a wicket that has no demons. The visitors’ poor run with the bat continued as they were bundled out for 205 in the first innings of the second Test here at Jamtha.
“Credit to the Indian bowlers. They bowled really well on this wicket. There was no demon in it,” said Pothas during the presser. Pothas rued the fact that they gave wickets to straighter deliveries. “I said there are no demons in the wicket and six of our wickets fell to straight balls. (Ravindra) Jadeja bowled stump to stump and (Ravichandran) Ashwin got wickets on straight balls so I think that’s bit disappointing.”
The coach said their plan was to first settle well in the beginning. Sri Lanka scored only 32 runs by lunch at a rate of 1.74. “In the first session of a Test match you generally try to settle pace to bat for a long time. But it was not that difficult to bat on. I think India bowled pretty well. There were hardly too many free balls going around. But we adapted after lunch,” he felt.
Sri Lankan batsmen played lot of sweep shots and the captain Dinesh Chandimal, too, got out while sweeping but coach said the batters in the middle are the sole decision makers.
“We empower batters to make decisions out in the middle. He (Chandimal) obviously would have felt to increase scoring at that time but it didn’t come off. May be the timing of that shot was not at its best. But we back our batters to be positive.”
From 160 for four, Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 45 runs. It was the fall of wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, which triggered the downfall. The Lankan coach said Dickwella plays that shot (sweep) well. “But I certainly won’t say that his wicket was reason for the downfall. There were six other batsmen in the team after him,” he said.
Though they have only 205 on the board, Pothas said they have plans for the morrow. “We will have a new day tomorrow and have plans. We will execute them.”
Sri Lanka were humbled in their own backyard by India a few months back but they performed well against Pakistan later. When asked whether they are back to the square one, the coach replied in negative.
“No…we are not back to the square one. Yes, it’s disappointing we did not bat well as there are no demons in the wicket. Pakistan happened a long time back and it is done and dusted. Today, it is a different story and probably we didn’t bat as we should have.”

There was nothing in the wicket: Jadeja

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 24

DESPITE the wicket looking green, there was hardly anything for the bowlers, said Ravindra Jadeja, who along with Ravichandra Ashwin, took seven wickets between them to floor Sri Lanka on the first day of the second Test at Jamtha.
Jadeja said though he was happy to bowl so many overs he was critical of the Jamtha track, which is always under the scanner, saying that there was nothing in the wicket. Yet the bowlers managed to get 10 first innings wicket.
“I am happy that I got to bowl so many overs but there was no help from the wicket and we have to bowl in the right areas. We tried to restrict Sri Lankans and decided not give them easy boundaries. We were just doing supporting role as the fast bowlers were doing great job in first session,” said Jadeja, who took three wickets for 56 runs.
When asked whether the pacers did not get any help from the wicket, the spinner said, “The bowlers got too much help at Kolkata that’s why it looked that they did not get help from the track. The wicket had grass but the bounce and swing was not there which we got at Kolkata. Both the seamers bowled well and did not give much runs in the beginning,” said Jadeja as he praised Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
Ashwin bowled round the wicket quite a few overs and Jadeja said they tried to do something different, as there was no assistance from the track. “As I said there was nothing in the wicket. We thought it would be good to try something new. That is why Ashwin bowled round the wicket. We wanted to try to 
create a chance. It doesn’t 
matter whether you are bowling round the wicket or over the wicket till it’s helping you,” Jadeja said.
When asked if he was the captain, then who he would have chosen between him and Ashwin in the playing XI for South Africa Tests, Jadeja replied: “Yeh bhi koi puchne ki baat hain (Is this a question that you even need to ask?),”.
“If I am the captain, I will not even give the ball to anyone. I will keep bowling from one end.”
Then on a serious note, he said, “It all depends on team’s balance and what it wants. At times on overseas tours, we assess if there are more left-handers or right-handers in the opposition and accordingly, the team’s composition is set.”

Bowlers snuff life out of Lanka

Ashwin, Jadeja, Ishant put India in command

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 24

PLAYING also-rans in the first Test, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja reclaimed their turf in style to snuff life out of a poor Sri Lanka. On a wicket, billed as preparation for the South Africa tour, the spin duo turned up to continue their dominance. India muscled the visitors for 205 in the first innings on the first day of the second Test.
The Jamtha pitch, despite having a tinge of green on it, failed to help much as the ball hardly moved in the morning. It did not even turn whole day but Ashwin and Jadeja used their craft to snare seven wickets between them to restrict a defensive Lanka.At stumps, India were 11 for one from eight overs, still trailing by 194 runs. Murali Vijay (2) and Cheteshwar Pujara (2) were at crease after KL Rahul (7) returned cheaply.
Despite official request from the team management, India did not get the pitch of their liking. Sri Lankan coach Nick Pothas and Jadeja, who took three wickets, both were unhappy with the wicket. “There was hardly any help from the wicket. The ball hardly moved or spun,” said Pothas while Jadeja said, “Despite looking green, the bowlers did not get any help from it.”
Yet, Ishant Sharma, included in place of an injured Mohd Shami, used all his experience to take three wickets (14-3-37-3).
If Ishant took both the openers, spinners were in charge from then on bowling on the mark.
Ashwin (28.1-7-67-4) was impressive in his approach while Jadeja (24-4-56-3) was threatening with his drifters and straighter ones.. The two bowled a total of 49 overs, 19 in tandem after tea, and took five wickets for 50 runs during that period.
Ashwin took the first wicket of the series when he fooled Lahiru Thirimanne with a straighter one. Thirimanne, who took 58 balls for his nine runs, tried to slog sweep but missed the line as the ball crashed into his off stump.
It was a fine performance by Ashwin, who had taken 12 wickets in a match at the same venue two years back. He had bamboozled the visiting South Africans but that was a rank turner and was termed as a ‘dust bowl’.
Unlike in 2015, this VCA Jamtha track was not a dust bowl. Rather it hardly helped the bowlers — neither seamers nor seamers. Two years after that win, 730 days to be precise, Ashwin once again showed his ability to bowl on any surface. Both the spinners proved their captain Virat Kohli wrong who had, on the match eve, said that spinners would come into play only after third day’s play.
Barring opener Karunaratne and captain Dinesh Chandimal (57), the Islanders were timid while facing the Indian spinners as their last six wickets fell for just 45 runs.
Karunaratne and Chandimal were the only two batsmen to show some courage against the Indian spin duo. They added 62 runs for the fourth wicket but after the Lankan opener’s departure, it was all India’s game.
Karunaratne was a slow starter. He consumed deliveries, played with a dead bat, and crawled to 21 from 82 deliveries at lunch. After resumption, he tried to open up and hit two boundaries, one off Jadeja and then from Umesh Yadav’s over pitched delivery to move to 43. He completed his lazy looking half century from 132 deliveries. However, when it looked that the left-handed batsman would carry Lankan innings, Ishant trapped him in front. 
Local boy Umesh, who played his first international match at home, went wicketless but bowled his heart out.

The name’s Sandakan.. Paththamperuma Arachchige Don Lakshan Rangika Sandakan

With 49 characters, Sri Lankan cricketer has longest name 

By Paritosh Pramanik

A FEW years ago, a joke did rounds on social media about actor James Bond and former Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas travelling in the same flight.
Vaas to Bond: Hi, what’s your name?
Bond: The name’s Bond...James Bond. And You?
Vaas: The name’s Vaas...Chaminda Vaas...Joseph Chaminda Vaas…Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas…Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas…
Before Vaas could complete ‘Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas’, Bond fainted.
Jokes apart, Sri Lankan cricketers do boast of having some of the longest names (character-wise).
In the current Sri Lankan team, left-arm Chinaman Lakshan Sandakan has the longest name with 49 
characters.
Sandakan, who has played 20 Tests and has 20 wickets, is: Paththamperuma Arachchige Don Lakshan Rangika Sandakan.
Closely following Sandakan is Rangana Hearth who has a 46-character name.
Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath is the full name of the ace Lankan spinner.
The shortest name (character-wise) in the present Lankan squad is of all-rounder Angelo Mathews who has just 18 characters.
If characters are not enough, Sandakan and Herath share the highest numbers of words in their names with six each.
Thirty-one-year-old Gihan Rupasinghe, who is not part of this team, has 59 characters in his name, compared to Vaas’ 52. Rupasinghe Jayawardene Mudiyanselage Gihan Madushanka Rupasinghe has played two T20 Internationals for Sri Lanka. Similarly, 24-year-old Akila Dhananjaya (Mahamarakkala Kurukulasooriya Patabendige Akila Dananjaya Perera), with 11 ODIs and six T20s under his belt, shares the record of longest Sri Lankan cricketers’ name with Rupasinghe (59).
Cricketer-turned-umpire Kumar Dharmasena (Handunnettige Deepthi Priyantha Kumar Dharmasena) has 44 characters in his name.
International Cricket Council, which uses social media platform Twitter among others, used to find it difficult while writing full names of Sri Lankan cricketers due to character constraints.
But when Twitter increased the limit earlier this month (November 9), to display names from 20 to 50 characters, International Cricket Council (ICC) was the happiest of the lot.
A delighted ICC posted full names of some Sri Lankan cricketers like Vaas, Kumar Dharmasena, wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella and spin veteran Rangana Herath.
“Thanks to #280characters, we can now use the following names! Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas Handunnettige Deepthi Priyantha Kumar Dharmasena Dickwella Patabendige Dilantha Niroshan Dickwella Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath” wrote ICC on its official Twitter handle.
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List of current Sri Lankan players with their full names

Lakshan Sandakan (Paththamperuma Arachchige Don Lakshan Rangika Sandakan, 49 characters)
Rangana Herath (Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath, 46)
Niroshan Dickwella (Dickwella Patabendige Dilantha Niroshan Dickwella, 45)
Sadeera Samarawickrama (Wedagedara Sadeera Rashen Samarawickrama, 37)
Vishwa Fernando (Muthuthanthrige Vishwa Thilina Fernando, 36)
Dilruwan Perera (Mahawaduge Dilruwan Kamalaneth Perera, 34)
Suranga Lakmal (Ranasinghe Arachchige Suranga Lakmal, 33)
Dimuth Karunaratne (Frank Dimuth Madushanka Karunaratne, 32)
Lahiru Thirimanne ( Hettige Don Rumesh Lahiru Thirimanne, 32)
Lahiru Gamage (Panagamuwa Lahiru Sampath Gamage, 29)
Dhananjaya de Silva (Dhananjaya Maduranga de Silva, 26)
Dasun Shanaka (Madagamagamage Dasun Shanaka, 26)
Roshen Silva (Athege Roshen Shivanka Silva, 25)
Dinesh Chandimal (Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal, 21)
Angelo Mathews (Angelo Davis Mathews, 18)

VCA ready to host 50th international match

Principal Correspondent

VIDARBHA Cricket Association will be hosting its 50th International match when India and Sri Lanka begin the second Test at Jamtha stadium on Friday.
Till date, VCA has hosted 22 One-Day Internationals, 11 Twenty20s, two World T20s and 15 Test matches (including this one).
On the eve of the game, the Indian and Sri Lankan teams sweated out hard in the nets. 
India were the first to hit the nets on Thursday. Captain Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma batted in the nets turn by turn but Mohd Shami and Ishant Sharma did not bowl.
With a tinge of green on Jamtha track, the ball is bound to seam around. Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha got ready for it facing bouncers from Sanjay Bangar’s throw downs. Vijay practiced reverse sweeps.
Local boy Umesh Yadav started late in the nets as he was seen with his right elbow heavily strapped. He started gently rolling his arm but then bowled in full pace. Ishant Sharma opted for fielding drills.
VCA has given free entry to school students but denied entry to college students who wished to watch the training sessions of the teams.
“We want to watch the training and will also purchase tickets. But they should let us go inside the stadium to watch the practice session,” said one of the spectators.

Much less grass than Kolkata: Chandimal

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 23

THE centre wicket at the Jamtha stadium might look green but according to Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal, it is far less than what was on offer at Eden Gardens in Kolkata for the first Test.
Sri Lanka had rattled India in the first innings with slight assistance from overcast conditions in the first Test. Chandimal said conditions here would not assist the seam bowlers much.
Speaking on the eve of the second Test starting Friday, Chandimal said the contest would be more even between bat and ball.
“We saw so much grass at Eden Gardens. Here it is very less. This looks a good Test pitch. It’s a challenge for us as a team. We are looking forward to the game,” he said.
When asked to elaborate on a ‘good Test wicket’, Chandimal said, “The first few days will be good for batters. Then it might turn. That’s the kind of wicket I think that is.”
Chandimal said Sri Lanka have learned a lot from their last home series and they are now looking to win a series in India.
“We learned a lot from the last Indian series in Sri Lanka. The most important thing is we came here to win the series. Our attitude has changed. As I said every time our fielding also has made a huge difference – there’s a lot of energy. We have looked at a six-five combination or six-four - plus an all-rounder. That’s the combination we are looking at,” Chandimal said.
However, the Lankan skipper admitted that it would be a huge challenge to beat India in their own backyard.
“If you take the Indian team, they are a very good side. It is a big challenge for us as a team to come here and win a game or a series. But I am sure we can do some miracle here,” he said.
Chandimal backed premier bowler Lahiru Gamage who was not among wickets in Kolkata.
“Kolkata was his second game. His first game was in Dubai and he did well against Pakistan. You can have a bad day and you can have a bad game. He is a really good player. He has a lot of experience, having played quite a bit of domestic cricket. I am sure he will be a good asset, especially when bowling on a wicket like this,” he said.

Need to assess cramped schedule in future: Kohli

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 23

WITH India playing most of their series outside India for over a year starting with the South African tour, the players are hardly getting any time to prepare for the gruelling assignments. Lack of space for camps has forced India to use the current series against Sri Lanka as preparation for the impending SA series.
On the eve of the second Test here at VCA Jamtha Stadium, captain Virat Kolhi rued not getting enough time to prepare for the South Africa series and pointed out that the players are easily criticised for their performance but nobody looks at the days they get to prepare for a tough tour.
Kohli also confirmed that the team management did request the board and curators for green tops in the current series.
“Yes, because unfortunately we get only two days before we fly to South Africa after this series gets over. So we have no choice but be in game situation and think of what’s coming ahead of us. Had we got a month off ideally, we would have done a proper preparation in a camp sort of scenario but we have to sort of make do with what we have. As usual cramped for time, which I think we needed to assess in future as well because we very easily assess the team when go abroad but we don’t look at how many days we have got to prepare before we go to a particular place to play,” the skipper came up with a lengthy explanation.
“Everyone starts judging players when results come after Test matches. It should be a fair game. Whether we get to prepare the way, we want to. Then we are entitled to be criticised.
“So we thought this is an ample opportunity for us to challenge ourselves, put us in a situation… As I said, we want to embrace being in difficult conditions,” Kohli added.
India would be without first match performers Shikhar Dhawan, who scored 94 in second innings and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who rattled Sri Lankan’s in second essay with four wickets. But Kohli said it was not a worrying sign.“Not difficult at all, because we pick a squad keeping in mind all 15 are equipped with what is required to perform at the international level. These kinds of scenarios where two guys miss out for personal reasons is an opportunity for the guys who get games in these situations. I am not worried at all,” he said.
Talking about the Jamtha wicket Kohli said it was a usual Nagpur strip with nice bounce.
“The wicket is quite hard as it usually is at Nagpur with a nice grass covering on it. So, the fast bowlers should be in play for the first couple of days, for sure, because of the bounce and the nice carry off it as well. From there on, the spinners will come into play. It is a pretty good wicket for overall Test cricket, I feel.”
Two years ago, at the same venue Kohli had sought a rank turner against South Africa. That Test ended in just three days but the captain said past records do not matter.
“That (past record) wouldn’t matter because, obviously you have to look at what you are playing at, what kind of wicket you are playing on and pick the team accordingly,” he added.

SA on mind, India face Lanka challenge

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 23

“UNFORTUNATELY, we get only two days before our flight to South Africa and we have no choice but to be in game situation and think of what’s coming ahead for us. Had we got a month off, ideally, (then) we would have done a proper preparation in camp sort of a scenario. But we have to make do with what we have, as usual cramped for time which I think we need to assess in future as well.”
The statement by Indian captain Virat Kohli on the eve of the second Test against Sri Lanka at VCA Jamtha, showed the mindset the hosts are even as they are in middle of a challenge from their neighbours.
India are set to leave for South Africa two days after this Sri Lanka series ends on December 24. With only a couple of days’ gap for SA tour, Kohli and Company are using this series as a ‘preparatory camp’ for a much more difficult tour ahead.
Come Friday, India’s ‘preparation’ would move into the second gear.
With the request of the home team management fulfilled, the Jamtha wicket, with a tinge of green, would definitely force teams to ponder upon using three seamers. 
However, Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal has a different take on the wicket. “It doesn’t have grass as compared to the Eden Gardens wicket,” Chandimal said. This would make the selection interesting for both teams.
After managing to gain ascendancy despite being under pressure for first two days in Kolkata, India would take that confidence into the second Test. However, with Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, both vital cogs in the first Test, not part of the squad the team management will have to select the best replacements.
Dhawan’s absence has opened way for Murali Vijay. He will be an able ally to KL Rahul who is having a dream season. With nine half centuries from 11 innings, the Karnataka batsman would love to convert them into big ones and gain confidence ahead of South Africa tour.
Kohli needs no citation. He played an entertaining knock in the second innings at Kolkata but it was Cheteshwar Pujara who stood tall among ruins, facing Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage to score a fighting 52. At Jamtha, he will be once again the man holding India’s innings in case of a collapse. Ajinkya Rahane adds solidity to the middle-order.
In absence of Bhuvneshwar the responsibility of turning up falls on local boy Umesh Yadav. At the nets on Thursday, Umesh bowled with a heavily strapped right elbow but Kohli dismissed any fitness problem. If India go with three seamers then Umesh will have to share the ball with Mohd Shami and Ishant Sharma.
Shami would be very effective on the Jamtha track, which has a good carry. Ishant has made the most of the time playing Ranji for Delhi.
For Lanka, the good work of first three days in Kolkata should act as a booster. Their fragile batting was exposed on the last day where bad light saved them but here it would be a fresh challenge. 
Middle-order batsmen left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews and captain Chandimal have runs under their belt. They would hope to carry the momentum here at Jamtha, where India have lost only one Test to South Africa in 2010.

Indians practice on matting wicket

 By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 22

EVEN if wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha said he did not have an iota of knowledge about India asking matting wicket in nets, it is for sure that the think tank clearly has next month’s South Africa tour on mind.
After asking for a green top at Kolkata in the first Test, India moved a step further to get used to the pace and bounce, hence the matting wicket.
At the press conference Saha was asked about Indian management’s demand of a matting wicket and the Bengal stumper said he had no idea about any such thing.
However, in the nets Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahu l and others spent quite a lengthy time taking throwdowns from net bowlers as well as Sanjay Bangar on the matting wicket.
The ball skids fast on matting and it can bounce to a decent height too. With the wickets in South Africa being seamer-friendly, India have started their preparation in the right earnest.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and the entire 
seam department—Umesh Yadav, Mohd Shami and Ishant Sharma, skipped the nets and preferred to rest at the hotel.
Murali Vijay, who will open on Friday, was the first to hit the nets along with KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara. While Vijay and Rahul decided to face throwdowns and pace bowlers, Pujara preferred to take on spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. 
Saha and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane followed the first three batsmen as did newcomer Vijay Shankar. Shankar also bowled a few overs in the nets and was seen taking valuable tips from chief coach Ravi Shastri.

‘Flexible’ Saha ready to bat at any position

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 22

A ‘FLEXIBLE’ wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha says, he is comfortable to bat at any position according to the demand of the game.
Speaking to mediapersons ahead of India’s second Test against Sri Lanka, Saha said it doesn’t make any difference if he bats at No 6 or 7 or 8.
In the opening Test at Kolkata Saha batted at No 7 and 8 in both the innings but the batsman had no complaints about his changing batting order.
Saha said the No 6 six slot is a flexible one depending on the conditions.
“It’s not that I always bat at No 7 (or No 8) as I have batted at No 6 also. We (along with R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja) are being rotated as batting position depends on strength of the opposition bowlers. Favourable conditions determine the slots whether it is Nos 6, 7 or 8. It can be any position as per the team management’s call,” Saha said.
Asked about India’s morale after a fantastic comeback in the last match despite struggling for the first two days, Saha said, “The team’s morale was fantastic even though we couldn’t bat as per expectation in the first innings. But we made a good comeback in the second innings. Shikhar (Dhawan), (KL) Rahul and Virat (Kohli) batted well and when you get them seven down for less than 100, it automatically boosts your morale.”
But the wicketkeeper felt had they got a few more overs and time the match would have been won. But at the same time he said India wanted to make it sure they did not lose the match.
“May be with a bit more time at our disposal, we could have won. We tried hard but initially, if we could have got the first few decisions quickly, it could have been different. But time was also a constraint as we first wanted to be safe and set a score that was not easily gettable and then attack. That was our gameplan so that bowlers would go all out.”
The wicketkeeper-batsman was of the view that to win a Test match contribution from all was needed. “You can only win Test matches by taking 20 wickets so preference is always given to bowlers. You need contribution from everyone —myself, Ashwin and Jadeja along with lower order.”
Asked whether the next month’s South Africa tour is at the back of Indian team’s mind, Saha said they were taking one match at a time. “I always believe in match by match preparation. The team is also thinking on the same lines. Right now we are planning for the match against Lanka. Yes the SA series is there at the back of our minds but when you win a Test match, you take that 
confidence into the next game and that’s what we are trying to do. We are 
taking it match by match and our main aim is to concentrate on the next match,” Saha said.

How green is my grass?

Green tinge on Jamtha wicket may turn deceptive

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 22

IT WAS a cloudy Wednesday morning, with the sun hiding behind a thin cover of clouds. At VCA Jamtha Stadium, around 8-10 members of groundstaff were vehemently rubbing the centre wicket with brushes under the watchful eyes of curator Pravin Hinganikar. 
The wicket had a tinge of green but it was definitely not like the one at Eden Gardens.
Going by the work on the centre wicket, one can be sure of a track that will ‘assist’ the seamers when the second Test between India and Sri Lanka begins on November 24. It bodes well for the Indian pace attack, fresh from its heroics in Kolkata. But that is just one half of the story.
The Indian team management’s has asked for green 
wickets for the Lanka series as preparations for the South Africa tour starting January 5 in Cape Town. 
It was learnt that the think-tank has emphasised that the pitches ought to be lively greentops. The wicket at Eden Gardens was just the kind of wicket Indian management, led by coach Ravi Shastri, wanted.
The Jamtha wicket does have a cover of grass but it could at the most be deceptive. Though officials expect the track to retain a greenish tinge when the second Test begins on Friday, how much will it assist the seamers remains a question.
Jamtha wicket has recently developed a characteristic of its own — helping the seamers and then settling down for the batsmen for a majority of period. As per experts, this wicket would remain intact for entire five days, not even assisting the spinners in the later part. It definitely is no good news for R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Exactly a month ago, Vidarbha played Chhattisgarh in their Group D Ranji Trophy match at the same venue. 
The game produced loads of runs. Chhattisgarh’s Amandeep Khare slammed a double ton while Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal hit his first of the three centuries this season.
The grass tinge had enticed Vidarbha to field a three-pronged pace attack. The plan proved flat on the docile deck. The positive from that game was Umesh Yadav’s six-wicket match haul. Yadav returns to the ground and is sure to make his ‘home’ debut on Friday.
However, it would not be an easy task for both teams to choose their combinations. The Sri Lankan team that had their practice session on Wednesday morning, also had a close look at the wicket. Captain Dinesh Chandimal had a lengthy chat with his team of support staff by the wicket.
Meanwhile in the middle, after brushing the sleeping blades, grass-trimmer was pressed into action to level the strip. A heavy roller put the grass in place, giving look of an ideal sprinkling of green.
How much the green lasts would be the question on both teams’ minds.

VHA elections on December 17, pub on Nov 18

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE much-awaited elections of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) will be held on December 17. Full election programme will be announced on Saturday.
The election process will begin on November 25 with declaration of voters list. Declaration of results will be done on December 17 at the VHA office off Amravati Road, sources said.
In all probability, the voters list will be displayed at VHA office on November 25. Voters will get time to take objection on voters, if any, till November 28.
The sale of nomination forms will begin from November 30 and the last date of submission of forms is likely to be December 5. Election officer Srigopal Madanlal Soni will scrutinise the forms on December 7, it has been learnt while the last date of withdrawal will be December 9. “On the same day final list of candidates will be declared,” a top VHA official said.
Last elections to the association were held in 2014. Since then, the present body has failed to conduct elections every year as per association’s constitution. Elections were declared in 2016 and process was also completed but a court ordered stayed the polls a day before elections after some members objected to the voters’ list. 
VHA had added 51 new members to the list forcing the now-suspended Shyam Sharma to move court.
After several hearings which continued for over six months, the High Court ruled in association’s favour and asked to include 51 members in the voters list.
With their inclusion, the total number of voters has now swelled to 451 which includes 322 patrons and life members and 120 affiliated units. Last year, there were 99 affiliated units.

Ahead of elections, VHA accused of bias in selection trials pub on Nov 18

By Paritosh Pramanik

AHEAD of Vidarbha Hockey Association’s elections scheduled on December 17, a few district associations have alleged the association was favouring ‘a selected few’ districts and denied their association’s players the right to participate in the selection trials for the senior national championship. The 
trials started from Friday 
morning.
Players from Akola, Yavatmal and Bhandara districts were denied permission to participate in the trials as their association did not get affiliation from VHA in stipulated time. A few members of Yavatmal District Hockey Association were denied permission as they belonged to parallel district association, it has been learnt.
According to information, Bhandara district association secretary Ashok Rajput’s folly can put the career of players in jeopardy. Despite repeated requests from VHA officials, Rajput failed to send affiliation for Bhandara district from VHA before the deadline. Several Bhandara players had to return as they were denied permission. Players from Akola, too, met the same fate as their association did not renew affiliation. However, according to sources, Akola unit had sent affiliation fee to VHA office and had telephonic conversation with VHA joint secretary Pramod Jain, who had assured them of affiliation. Jain said despite repeated request and official letter, Akola’s affiliation request letter and fee did not receive in the given time. “I have talked with Sanjay Bais (Secretary, Akola District Hockey Association) and he accepted his mistake. The matter has been sorted out,” Jain told ‘The Hitavada’.
Jain said same was the case with Bhandara district. “Secretary Ashok Rajput did not send the affiliation in time and hence the players are not allowed. Rajput himself felt guilty of missing the deadline and said he won’t be able to send the players for trials,” stated Jain.
Interestingly, last year VHA had allowed players, irrespective of their affiliation, to take part in the trials. “Last year when we were lenient looking at the future of players, several members criticised us of going against the laws of VHA. They warned us when we allowed players to participate irrespective of their association. Hence we took a tough stand and followed all the rules this year,” said Karunashankar, Secretary, VHA.
The change in stance of VHA officials has once again left the players suffering.

Ranji-Vid aim to keep the momentum

Meet Chhattisgarh in their second Ranji Trophy match at VCA Jamtha Stadium

By Paritosh Pramanik

CONFIDENCE adorned the faces of Vidarbha players as they slugged it out at the nets ahead of their second Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh, on Monday morning. A cracking start to the season has given their campaign a fillip but they surely would be wary of complacency when they enter the VCA Jamtha field on Tuesday.
The net session and an extended session for spinners Akshay Wakhare and Karn Sharma gave many clues. However, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal refused to read much into the ‘exclusive session’.
In the middle, a grass cutter was pressed into service as Vidarbha players and coach ‘inspected’ the 22-yard strip very closely. On the face of it, a spin friendly track awaits Chhattisgarh at Jamtha.
“Nothing should be read into Akshay and Karn’s separate bowling session. They both wanted to bowl and it is an old practice so,” Fazal told ‘The Hitavada’ after the session.
With a huge innings and 117 runs win under their belt, Vidarbha are the favourites on paper. If that win over Punjab was not enough, the home team has got a boost in the form of India pacer Yadav and leg-spinner Sharma. The duo’s availability has given the captain and coach a problem of plenty to choose the best XI.
“It is a good healthy competition. Every player has performed to his ability in the last game and with inclusion of the two premier bowlers in the squad our attack has got more teeth,” said Fazal.
Rajneesh Gurbani is set to make way for Umesh while Apoorv Wankhade might be rested for Karn.
Vidarbha have also included left-arm pacer Shrikant Wagh in the 16-member squad. Wagh is coming back from an injury and bowled in the nets under the watchful eyes of Subroto Banerjee.
Chhattisgarh will have to deal with one of the finest Vidarbha bowling attacks. Siddhesh Neral and Lalit Yadav have showed what they are capable of, bundling Punjab out for a paltry 161 in first innings. Wakhare and Karnewar, too, spun a web sharing all 10 second innings wicket. With the inclusion of Umesh and Karn, Vidarbha’s bowling will be firing on all cylinders.
The big win last week has also showed Vidarbha’s batting prowess. Fazal looked in touch while centurion R Sanjay would be eager to take the form ahead. Another centurion of the last game Ganesh Satish would also like to continue his touch.
The top and middle-order is solid with veteran Wasim Jaffer, Jitesh Sharma and all-rounder Akshay Karnewar holding places.
On the other hand, for Mohd Kaif’s team, it will be tough to get back into the groove after their innings and 160 runs defeat to Bengal.
Chhattisgarh’s batting failed miserably against Bengal with only Ashutosh Saxena posting a half century. Though Abhishek Chouhan hit a fine 115 in the second innings, it was not enough to save his side from a humiliating defeat.
“We are not taking any team lightly be it Chhattisgarh or any other team. The standard of Ranji Trophy and First Class matches has improved a lot. There is no easy team in the tournament. We will give 100 per cent in every match,” Fazal sounded caution.
“We have set our sights much higher as a team and also as individuals. For that we will have to perform to the best of our abilities throughout the season,” Fazal concluded.
Teams (From) 
Vidarbha: Faiz Fazal (C), Ganesh Satish, Wasim Jaffer, Karn Sharma, Apoorv Wankhade, Umesh Yadav, Akshay Wakhare, Siddhesh Wath, Jitesh Sharma, Ramaswamy Sanjay, Rajneesh Gurbani, Lalit Yadav, Aditya Sarwate, Akshay Karnewar, Siddhesh Neral, Shrikant Wagh.
Chhattisgarh: Mohd Kaif (C), Sahil Gupta, Rishabh Tiwari, Amandeep Khare, Abhimanyu Chauhan, Ashutosh Singh, Manoj Singh (wk), Jatin Saxena, Sumit Ruikar, Shubham Singh, Shubham Agarwal, Pankaj Rao, Mohd Shahnawaz Hussain, Vishal Kushwaha, Saurabh Khairwar, Prateek Raj.

In the heart of India, on top of World

Spinners, Rohit give India their No 1 ranking back

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Oct 1

IT WAS his 14th ball of the innings. Rohit Sharma, struggling to get going, went for a heave-ho. The resultant inside edge climbed up but ended just short of the stretched Pat Cummins. All at sea, Rohit was searching for his cool nerve. Ajinkya Rahane, the non-striker, immediately provided it with a confidence boosting pep talk. Those words helped the flamboyant opener break shackles. He scored a fabulous 125, guided India to a thumping seven-wicket win and gave them the World No 1 ranking back.
Early nerves was the story in the Australian innings too. David Warner and Aaron Finch started off with a flyer but the cooling effect came from the Indian spinners, led by Axar Patel (3/38). Aussies made just 242 on the flat deck and India cantered home in 42.5 losing three wickets.
Just after his frustrating suicide attempt, Rohit carved out two exquisite boundaries in the next two deliveries to open his account. Scoring his first run from the 15th delivery, he soon changed gears and scored his 50 from just 37 deliveries and 100 from next 94.
Rahane (61), at the other end, too, showed his class. His drives were as smooth as butter. Defending a meagre total, Australian bowlers were disciplined but Rohit and Rahane were equally talented to pick runs as India scored runs without any dent. Steve Smith’s introduction of spinners too did not change thing much as the contest turned into a lop-sided Indian win.
Rohit hit Travis Head for a straight six and then again danced down to dispatch the ball to covers to race to 49. He completed his half century from 52 deliveries. Rahane, too, completed his half century a couple of overs later with a boundary off James Faulkner.
The duo added a century-run opening wicket stand for the third time in the series, the other two being at Indore and Bengaluru. The 124-run partnership was finally broken in the 23rd over by Coulter-Nile who managed to hit Rahane’s pads in front of the wicket. Rahane went for a referral but in vain. 
Rohit continued to toy with the Australian bowlers and hit five sixes in his innings. The 124 runs partnership was enough for India to cruise for another thumping win. Captain Virat Kohli joined Rohit and the two played without taking any risk. They picked ones and twos and fetched occasional boundaries to keep the scorers busy.
Rohit completed his 6,000 runs in ODIs with a tap towards third man when he was on 92. He competed his first century in Nagpur with a thumping six over long on off Coulter-Nile. The Nagpur-born opener’s century was studded with 10 boundaries and three sixes. Kohli played the second fiddle. His first boundary came after 49 deliveries. Rohit’s entertaining innings ended in the 40th over when he tried to clear the long on boundary only to give a simple catch to Coulter-Nile off Adam Zampa. Kohli followed soon in the next over as he too tried to clear the fence but was caught by Stoinis off Zampa at long off.
Kedar Jadhav (5*) and Manish Pandey (11*) completed the formalities with 7.1 overs to spare.
Earlier, the troika of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Kedar Jadhav, strangulated Australian batsmen to restrict at 242. In form spinners Yadav (10-1-48-0), Patel (10-0-38-3) and Jadhav (10-0-48-1) bowled a tight length to make it difficult for the Australians. While Jadhav’s side-arm deliveries were difficult for Aussies to read, Axar and Kuldeep used variations to frustrate them.
Though Kuldeep was unlucky to get any wicket, he maintained pressure which helped the other bowlers strike. Warner (53) and Finch (32) started well adding 66 runs for the first wicket. But after their partnership was broken in the 12th over by Hardik Pandya, none other showed intent barring Head (42) and Stoinis (46) who added 87 runs for the 5th wicket.
Patel broke Head-Stoinis partnership disturbing the furniture of the former in the 43rd over which pushed the Australians on the backfoot.
Jadhav got the wicket of Australian captain Smith. Smith tried to sweep him but was caught half-crouched as the ball crashed onto his pads.
Bumrah, who was clobbered for 34 runs in his first four overs, came back strongly in his next two spells to concede only 19 runs from six overs as Australians ended at 242 runs which India knocked off easily.