The New Nation - Internet Edition

India accuses Australia of playing 'scared’ as hosts defy India victory push

AP, Adelaide

India fired its best shots after stumps Saturday, accusing Australia of batting "scared" on the third day of the fourth cricket test when the hosts ground out an unspectacular innings that dented the visitors' victory ambitions. Australia reached 322-3 by stumps in reply to India's 526, adding a cautious 260 runs for the loss of three wickets in the day. A draw would be enough for Australia to win the series, and India is running out of time to bowl them out twice and square the series 2-2.

"They are not going to win so they are scared and playing very defensive," India opening batsman Virender Sehwag said at the close of play.

"It was a very good day for India.

"It was a good performance by our bowlers. On a flat track, to restrict them to 260-3 was a very good effort." Sehwag's comments smacked of the antagonism that has permeated the series. He was quick to point out Ponting (79 not out) had not reached a half century in the first three tests of the series and claimed the Australian captain sacrificed the team's run-rate in order to correct that shortcoming.

Australia managed only 67 runs from 27 overs in the afternoon session and 97 runs from 33 overs in the final session. Ponting took 197 minutes to reach his half century and batted more than four hours for his 79 runs by the close.

"We are in a positive mind," Sehwag said.

"We will try to walk out tomorrow and get them out quickly and play positively."

Australia's total was underpinned by an innings of 103 by opener Matthew Hayden - his third century in five innings in the series. Hayden moved to outright third on the list of Australian test century makers with his century, taking his place behind Ponting and Steve Waugh. He moved out of a third-place tie with the great Sir Donald Bradman whose 29 centuries in 52 tests are iconic figures in Australian cricket.

Hayden put on 159 for the opening wicket with Phil Jaques (60) to provide Australia with a strong platform. Ponting and Michael Clarke (37 not out) built on that foundation and, with more effort than ease, added 81 in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership ahead of stumps. Ponting's half century was his 40th in tests and sixth against India.

Hayden immediately returned fire at Sehwag, blaming Australia's slow scoring rate on negative Indian bowling. "Unless I took guard four stumps outside off there was no chance I was going to get to the ball," he said.

"It was wide bowling and we didn't feel threatened by the way they bowled."

India used seven bowlers Saturday in the search for breakthroughs and to compensate for the loss of opening bowler R.P. Singh who is out of action for two weeks after suffering a hamstring tear. Hayden made centuries in the first and second tests, won by Australia at Melbourne and Sydney, but missed the third test at Perth through injury.

His century was his 30th in 94 tests and his sixth in 14 tests against India. He has now scored 406 runs in five innings in this series with three centuries and an average in excess of 80. Hayden was undone after spending 273 minutes at the crease, facing 200 balls and preserving his wicket through 64 overs, by a superb delivery from Ishant Sharma which arced into the left-hander from outside off stump and penetrated his guard. The ability of the right-armer Sharma, 19, to swing a ball 64 overs old into the left-handed Hayden and to beat his rigid defense stamped the young Indian swing bowler as a special talent. The Hayden wicket was only his fourth of the series, captured at a cost of 68 runs apiece, but Sharma showed an ability in Perth and again at Adelaide to trouble the Australian top order, even in the most favorable batting conditions.

Ponting's arrival on the dismissal of Jaques - bowled by Anil Kumble - prompted India to immediately recall Harbhajan Singh to the bowling crease. Harbhajan has dismissed Ponting three times in the series so far, but the Australian captain played his off breaks with more aptitude on Saturday.

BCB Academy team beat Hong Kong in last one-day match

UNB, Dhaka

The GP-BCB Academy team completed their Hong Kong tour with a winning note beating hosts Hong Kong by three wickets in the third and last one-day match at the Hong Kong Cricket Club ground on Saturday.

With the day's feat, Bangladesh maintained their unbeaten record in the three-match one-day series during their six-day tour.

The BCB Academy team made a flying start beating Hong Kong by 71 runs in the first one-day match on January 23 at the Hong Kong Cricket Club ground while the 2nd one-day match between two teams was abandoned due to rain at the Kowloon Cricket Club ground on Friday.

Sent in to bat first in the day's third and last one-day match, Hong Kong scored 146 for all in 36.2 overs with Shawkat Ali making 32 and Munir Daar 31 runs.

The match was reduced to 38 over-a-side due to wet outfield.

Delwar of Bangladesh picked up four wickets for 13 runs, Kamrul grabbed three for 34 runs while Naeem took 2 for 17.

In reply, the GP-BCB Academy team easily reached their target making match-winning 147 for the loss of 7 wickets in 22.4 overs with Nazimuddin contributing 51 featuring three fours and five sixes while Naeem scoring unbeaten 17.

Shawkat Ali took two Bangladesh wickets for 16 runs.

The Bangladesh team returns home today (Sunday).

Sharapova impressive after third Grand Slam singles win

AP, Melbourne

Maria Sharapova got high marks for the eloquence of her victory speech after winning the Australian Open on Saturday. Ditto on the preparation that got her there. While she spoke, at times almost tearfully, of an inspirational text message from Billie Jean King, of winning the Australian Open title for her coach's mother who had died of cancer, and of sending bunches of roses to her own Mom on her birthday, it was a polished speech so good that it sounded almost as if it had been rehearsed.

Embarrassed by her straight-sets loss to Serena Williams in last year's final here, she appears to have treated her preparation for her 7-5, 6-3 win Saturday over Ana Ivanovic the same way. When Daniela Hantuchova complained after her semifinal loss to Ivanovic that the Serbian player's squeaking shoes during Hantuchova's service motion had bothered her, Sharapova went on the offensive.

She had one of her hitting partners put on the squeakiest shoes he could find, then squeaked away when Sharapova was in her service motion.

And, on several occasions in Saturday's match, she simply delayed serving if Ivanovic was moving around much. "Sometimes when you're putting the work in it just seems so, so hard, and you never know when that work's going to pay off," she said. "When you're going through tough moments, you never know when you're going to have good moments."

There were a lot of good ones for her in the past two weeks in Melbourne en route to the third Grand Slam singles victory. She didn't lose a set in seven matches. She beat three of the top four women in the world - Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and Ivanovic. She talked - time and time again - about concentrating only on "taking care of her side of the net." And that she did. Hard work at practice, blocking out all the other questions about her father, Yuri's, antics in the players' box during matches.

Trying to set aside any thoughts of the shoulder problems that plagued her last year. And all the personal questions about her relationship with her mother, which she answered freely and honestly.

"When I walk through that gate to the court, that's my escape," Sharapova told The Associated Press. "I block out everything, good and bad."

Some of the bad last year was tough to take. In her trophy acceptance speech, Sharapova spoke in heartfelt terms about the death of her coach's mother, Jane Joyce, last year after a lengthy battle with cancer.

"It completely changed my perspective on life," Sharapova said. "I think the reason for that is because it's one of the closest people in my team, in my family, that passed away. I'm lucky to have my grandparents and family and friends very healthy, knock on wood."

She also talked about losing the final last year on her mother's birthday, and how she'd use some of her million-dollar winnings to send her a bunch of roses this year under much happier circumstances.

And of waking up Saturday morning to a text message from King, winner of 12 Grand Slam singles titles and who has had an interest in her career since Sharapova was as junior. Part of it read:

"Champions take chances, and pressure is a privilege." When she was finished her speech in front of a full house of 15,000 at Rod Laver Arena, she was surprised by the reaction. "About five people just told me that I said some great things," Sharapova said. "I was like: 'I did?' Sometimes I don't know what I say, especially today."

With last year's injuries and personal difficulties behind her, the sincerity of her comments could not be questioned. "I was so overwhelmed," she said. "Last year my thought process was just so different t I had many negative thoughts. "If I would have thought then that I'd be standing on that stage (today), with that winning trophy, I don't think I would have believed it."

Sharapova is undoubtedly mature beyond her years, thanks in big part to her winning her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon when she was just 17.

Asked if she might be still playing 10 years from now, she bristles at the thought.

"No, no, please record this," Sharapova says, smiling. "I think by that time, I hope that I will have a nice husband and a few kids."

Japan held to scoreless draw against Chile in friendly

Internet

Japan and Chile played to a 0-0 tie on Saturday in an international exhibition game.

Japan was playing under newly appointed coach Takeshi Okada, who replaced Ivica Osim after the Bosnian suffered a stroke in November.

Japan's best scoring chances came in the second half courtesy of Yoshito Okubo, who came on as a substitute for striker Naohiro Takahara.

"We had our chances but weren't able to take advantage," said Okada, who led Japan to its first World Cup in 1998.

Okubo got behind Chile's defense seconds after coming on but fired inches over the crossbar. Okubo almost scored on a header in the 82nd minute but Chile goalkeeper Miguel Pinto made a brilliant save.

"We have to be more aggressive on the attack," said Takahara. "We have to learn to finish better."

Japan will next play Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday ahead of its first qualifier for the 2010 World Cup on Feb. 6 against Thailand.

Japan has been drawn with Bahrain, Oman and Thailand in its qualification group.

Longtime U.S. women's coach DiCicco takes over U-20 team

Internet

Tony DiCicco, the U.S. women's national team coach from 1994-99, took over the U.S. under-20 women's squad Friday.

DiCicco replaces Jillian Ellis, who has been hired by current U.S. women's national team head coach Pia Sundhage as an assistant on her staff through the 2008 Olympics, should the United States qualify in April.

DiCicco won 103 matches with the national team, leading the squad to victories in the 1996 Olympics and 1999 Women's World Cup.

The under-20 team will attempt to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup being held in Chile from Nov. 20-Dec. 7.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to coach an elite group of talented and motivated U.S. players," DiCicco said.