The New Nation - Internet Edition

Murali scare or not, we still have to play him: Mashrafe

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh vice captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has said they still have to play Muralitharan whether there is a Murali scare or not among them.

"Murali becomes a factor to all other teams. Perhaps, our skipper could make a proper comment on him. But we still have to play him whether there is a Murali scare among us or not," he said at a post-match briefing at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Sunday.

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed six wickets for 49 runs in 22 overs to wrap up the Bangladesh's first innings only for 178.

Asked what will be their batting approach if Sri Lanka declared their 2nd innings early on the next day (Tuesday), the pace spearhead said: "Not to give our wickets. They may introduce Murali (Muralitharan) or (Rangana) Herath after eight to nine overs. I think, it will be better for us to become set, stay at the wicket and then to play long innings."

About the present state of the match, he said: "They (Sri Lanka) already took a lead of over 400. They may bat further, or may declare (the innings) considering the weather. They might consider this lead as enough if they look back to our first innings of (178).

"We will have to try to go as far as possible, put up some good partnerships. Murali may bowl for most of the time and he is really deadly."

The `Narail Express' thinks it would be better for them not to play too many shots against Muralitharan and instead play by just rotating the strikes.

Mashrafe gave full credit to Muralitharan, saying: "Murali is such a bowler who can extract turn from any kind of wicket… main thing is that we will have to bat well against him."

I just want to continue to play for my country: Mahela Jayawardene

UNB, Dhaka

After scoring his 24th century on the 3rd day of the 1st test against Bangladesh, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene has said he just wants to play for his country and also to continue his consistent form.

"Yes, every century is pleasing for me. I don't have any special target. I just want to continue to play for my country and to keep my consistent form. There are no big goals for me," he said at a post- match briefing at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Sunday.

Asked about Sri Lanka's position at the end of the third day, the Sri Lankan skipper said: "We are in a good position. This is what Test cricket is all about; you've to grind yourself at certain situations. We were not in a very good situation at the end of the first day. Probably, we should have batted a little better."

He thought the (Sri Lankan) bowlers did a very good job to comeback in the match. "We had to really push the advantage this morning… Bangladesh tried to put us under pressure. Sangakkara batted really well. Wasn't his prettiest knock but I'll take it as very useful," he said.

About the wicket, Mahela, the highest test scorer for Sri Lanka, said: "Wicket was a little bit low but bowlers bowled really well, seamer Mashrafe (Bin Mortaza) and the other seamer, (Mahbubul Alam) Robin bowled to good areas and created opportunities.

"We just had to make sure to bat for long periods… we know they have got spinners also so we just carried on with very good patience."

Replying to a query, the 31-year-old Mahela said that any century against any opponent is pleasing for him.

About the rest day (Monday), he thinks that the rest day will be good for their bowlers especially for the fast bowlers. "The guys will get a day extra to relax and come back strongly against Bangladesh in the next couple of days. From our point of view, it's a good thing for our fast bowlers and (also) Murali. They will get their legs up and relax," he said.

Mahela, however, told a questioner that he doesn't have a very good idea about Bangladesh elections. "I know that two women are running for the election. That's about it. I am not a huge political fan," he said.

The Sri Lankan skipper also admitted that he didn't hear the umpire's no ball call (on bowling of Robin) and started walking to the dressing room thinking he was out. "It was a good ball and I got the nick. You need luck in this game as well, sometimes."

No Sun for China in Asian Cup qualifier against Syria

AFP, Shanghai

A thigh injury will sideline Chinese defender Sun Xiang during his team's Asian Cup qualifier against Syria, state media reported on Sunday, in the latest setback for China's beleaguered national side.

The Austria Vienna full back, 26, first injured himself in September and said he was upset he would not recover before China plays Syria away on January 14, the Xinhua news agency reported.

"What a disappointment. I had expected I would be fit enough for the Asian Cup qualifier but as a soccer player you never know what injury is waiting for you," he was quoted as saying.

Sun's absence will further weaken a defence that conceded five goals during the last three warm-up games, Xinhua said. The team is training in Shanghai before the Syria match-up.

"Sun is an excellent player and we need his service as our defence is far from solid but he did not recover from the nagging injury, so we have to rest him," coach Yin Tiesheng said.

Yin is hoping to rebuild a national side that has already crashed out of the early qualifying rounds of World Cup 2010 and which also includes players from a Beijing Olympic squad that failed to win a match before the home crowd.

Redknapp rules out Defoe return

AFP, London

Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp said Saturday that he will not be forced to pay an inflated transfer fee to bring England striker Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane from Premier League rivals Portsmouth.

Redknapp took Defoe to Portsmouth in January when he was in charge at Fratton Park, but admitted he may now switch his attention to Middlesbrough's international winger Stuart Downing.

"I think they have a massive offer from somebody for him (Defoe). I paid about nine million pounds for him," Redknapp said.

"He is a good player but we're not going to pay over the top for anyone. I like Downing but I don't know whether Middlesbrough want to sell him."

New Zealand ease to Twenty20 win

Reuters, Wellington

A blazing century opening partnership by Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum and tight bowling by Daniel Vettori helped New Zealand to a 36-run victory over West Indies in their second Twenty20 international on Sunday

Ryder (62) and McCullum (59) smashed the West Indies attack all over the small Seddon Park ground in Hamilton to give New Zealand a 130-run opening partnership, though the middle order wasted the great start before the hosts reached 191 for nine.

Scorecard

Completed scoreboard in the Twenty20 international between New Zealand and the West Indies at Seddon Park on Sunday:

New Zealand

J. Ryder c Sarwan b Gayle 62

B. McCullum c Chanderpaul b Gayle 59

R. Taylor c Marshall b Pollard 6

J. Oram run out Findlay 9

D. Flynn c Ramdin b Pollard 3

J. Franklin c Findlay b Benn 20

D. Vettori b Taylor 2

K. Mills b Taylor 6

E. Thompson not out 1

T. Southee run out (Taylor) 2

Extras (b 12, lb 4, w 5) 21

Total (9 wickets) 191

Fall of wickets: 1-130 (McCullum), 2-139 (Taylor), 3-142 (Ryder), 4-152 (Flynn), 5- 161 (Oram), 6-164 (Vettori), 7-184 (Franklin), 8-189 (Mills), 9-191 (Southee)

Bowling: Baker 2-0-14-0, Taylor 4-0-29-2 (1w), Benn 4-0-45-1, Edwards 2-0-31-0 (1w), Gayle 4-0-27-2, Pollard 4-0-29-2 (3w)

West Indies

C. Gayle c Oram b Thompson 1

R. Sarwan c Southee b Oram 53

X. Marshall c Flynn b Southee 10

S. Chanderpaul c Oram b Vettori 5

S. Findlay b Vettori 13

K. Pollard c Ryder b Patel 38

D. Ramdin c Taylor b Patel 30

J. Taylor not out 0

S. Benn not out 0

Extras (lb 3, w 2) 5

Total (7 wickets) 155

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Gayle), 2-49 (Marshall), 3-64 (Chanderpaul), 4-87 (Findlay), 5-87 (Sarwan), 6-155 (Ramdin), 7-155 (Pollard)

Bowling: Mills 4-0-35-0, Thompson 3-1-18-1 (1w), Southee 4-0-44-1, Vettori 4-0-19-2 (1w), Oram 3-0-24-1, Patel 2-1-12-2

World needs India-Pakistan games: Yousuf

PTI, Karachi

Sports and politics should be kept apart and cricket would be poorer without Indo-Pak contests, according to banned Pakistani batsman Mohammad Yousuf.

Disappointed after India cancelled its Pakistan tour in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, Yousuf, who has been banned after joining the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), said nothing really can match the excitement and euphoria that surround an Indo-Pak contest.

"I just think both countries need to keep sports and politics apart. I would hope they would soon start working on resuming sporting ties and allowing bilateral cricket matches, because the cricket world needs to have Indo-Pak contests," Yousuf said.

Yousuf also refused to buy the argument that an Indo-Australian series has now replaced an Indo-Pak contest as the most intense cricketing battle.

"Tell me was there a bigger series then when India toured Pakistan in 2004? Cricket does not get bigger than that," he argued.

Noting India's recent string of extraordinary performances, Yousuf said as a player, he saw playing India at present as a big challenge. "Playing India has always been a high point for me," said the right-hander.

Yousuf, however, was happy that Sri Lanka has finally agreed to come and play a full series here.

"It will be a close contest against them and Pakistan should win as it has a very good team with good performers. But negating the wicket taking abilities of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis will be the key to the outcome of the series," Yousuf said.

Personally, Yousuf still yearns for Test cricket and he once again made himself available for national duty.

"I am still available for my country but that is something for the board and selectors to decide. They need to rethink their policy on banning the players who have played for the ICL," he said.

Australia, Pakistan to clash in first ever night Test

PTI, Melbourne

Australia and Pakistan are all set to make history by becoming the first cricket teams to play a night Test next November in Adelaide.

According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph, Cricket Australia (CA) will soon seek the International Cricket Council's approval for holding the match that will have a 1400hrs (local time) start.

"Test cricket is our premium form of the game so why (not) play it at a time when most people can watch it? There's no doubt it will happen - people can go after work and it's a cooler time of the day for spectators," CA chief executive James Sutherland said.

"The Olympics, the NRL and the AFL t Much of it is played at night because it's a more convenient time for viewers and fans," he pointed out.

The biggest roadblock in holding the match is the availability of a suitable ball but CA says it will be taken care of by November.

"The white ball for one-day cricket that lasts 50 overs is not suitable," Sutherland said.

Duminy, Steyn turn it around for South Africa

Internet, Melbourne

In a dream recovery, South Africa turned the table on Australia with Jean-Paul Duminy's maiden Test hundred helping the tourists reach 459 in their first innings on the third day of the second Test match on Sunday.

Duminy, playing in his only second Test, scored a majestic 166 off 339 balls and raised fruitful partnerships along with Dale Steyn (76 off 191 balls with nine fours and a six) and Paul Harris (39 off 67 balls with four fours) to give his team a vital 65-run first innings lead.

The Aussies had made four for no loss in their second innings at stumps.

The magnificent fightback by the Proteas provided more evidence for their claims they are the best side in the world on a day when Australian bowlers struggled and flopped even as the visitors' recovery has dashed certainly the hosts' chances of winning the series.

Resuming at their overnight score of 198 for seven, the Proteas added 261 runs for the last three wickets with some exceptional stands after their skipper Graeme Smith has struggled to keep their innings afloat on the second day of the three-match test series.

The thing that the Aussie bowlers let the visitor's wobbly tail wag as much as it did was unthinkable a couple of years ago though the South Africans, who started the morning 196 behind with only three wickets, should be given full credit for their dogged show.