India vs England, First Test, Day 4

Well, after watching Day 3’s proceedings I had decided not to write too much due to India’s dismal performance. However Day 4 was full of highlights. And even though India  have lost both Tendulkar and Dravid (to a dubious decision), Karthik and Ganguly are well settled at the moment.

With the wicket not offering a lot of lateral movement, a lot now depends on Monty’s guile. He did outfox Sachin to a beauty, the same armball that he used to get him out the first time in India.

The day began with England in full control of the match. However it was RP Singh, the unsung hero of the first innings, who was finally rewarded for his persistence. He got Michael Vaughan when the skipper was really beginning to get it on. 

That started a mini collapse. Paul Collingwood was surprised, or should I say bamboozeled, by a snorter of a delivery. All he could do was duck from the bouncer which caught his gloves and went down to first slip. RP was on a roll. Ian Bell soon followed after playing a couple of crispy shots. However a inside edge soon followed him in the second innings as well.

This is the time when Kevin Pieterson really decided that it was game on. He completely toyed with the Indian bowling and was ably supported by Matt Prior. Kumble, Zaheer, RP, Sree Santh, they were all completely useless in front of the big South African. However, once Prior fell, the Indian bowlers, actually bowler (RP Singh) got rid of the tail real quick.

This would actually be a big worry for England as their tail has refused to wag twice in as many innings in front of a decent attack. It would get even worse if the pace attack is from South Africa, Pakistan or Australia. No wonders they received a 5 – 0 thrashing in the ashes earlier this year.

The day however belonged to KP who scored his third century at Lords in 4 matches. This is also his first against India and could be one of many more to come. 

If England are going to win this match from here, then it would be all thanks to this big man, for had it not been him, England could have been dismissed for a really low total.

India started their innings positively with both Karthik and Jaffer looking to play their shots. Jaffer seems to think that once he crosses a fifty or a hundred in one of the innings then he has done his job. He needed more application here and his wicket caused another failed opening start for India. Rahul Dravid came in and blasted a boundary through point for his first delivery.

However it was Chris Tremlett who had him trapped in front, although it must be said that he was hit just outside the line of offstump and the ball was really only touching the bails as Hawkeye suggested. In came Tendulkar in what would surely be is last innings at Lords. He received a standing ovation from the crowd which goes to show how much he is appreciated around the world.

Tendulkar and Karthik started to rebuild the Indian innings, and just when it seemed that Sachin had settled down, in comes Monty Panesar. An armball completely deceived Sachin and Steve Bucknor had no hesitation in lifting the dreaded finger. This was the end of the innings and the joy could be seen quite clearly in Panesar’s celebrations.

Ganguly was the last man in for India for the day and with Karthik, the two put on a 53 run stand. India finished the day at 137-3, still 243 runs short of their target. With only Laxman and Dhoni left, it really is upto young Karthik and experienced Ganguly to hold the fort for as long as possible. A win is still very much in the equation for India, the batsmen just have to live up to their reputation.

Ponting warns India's spin attack in Australia

Harbhajan could hold the key to the two-test series as has enjoyed success against Australia. The offspinner has taken 79 wickets in 14 tests against Australia at an average of 28.82 with seven five-wicket hauls. Overall, Harbhajan has 357 wickets in 85 tests at 31.62.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Harbhajan is unlikely to be fit to play in Mohali, a claim doubted by Ponting, who argues he watched the spinner practice on the day he was said to have twisted his ankle.

''India might be trying to put a smoke screen,'' said Ponting, adding that even if he is out, the hosts ''still had spinners like Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha to take his place.''

Australia has had a slightly disrupted lead-up to the test, with batsman Michael Hussey and left-arm quick Doug Bollinger arriving in India only a few days ago due to having played in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in South Africa.

Ponting said a good start was imperative in a short series, which will be followed by three one-day internationals.

''We want to make sure that we start the game well and get our plans right,'' Ponting said. ''We are pretty confident that we will have a good start.

''India is a tough opponent and playing them often is a great thing for the game and great for both countries.''

India, the No. 1 test team in the world, and the fourth-ranked Australians have met each other often in recent years, so Dhoni doesn't anticipate too many surprises.

''The boys know exactly what to expect, but the strategies are decided only after analyzing the conditions,'' Dhoni said.

''Test cricket is about doing well in sessions. The team that wins more sessions in the last couple of days when the ball turns and bounces and there is reverse swing, is often the deciding factor.''

Squads:

 India's spin attack in Australia video

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Shantakumaran Sreesanth, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Cheteswar Pujara, Murali Vijay.

 India's spin attack in Australia video-II

Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Philip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc. -AP

Amy Williams: Letting my hair down in the Great Britain Olympic Ball

I'm very excited going forward as the wing of a major event for the Great Britain Olympic Association fundraising in support of current and future Great Britain Olympic athletes and I want to be able to give great after my experience as part of Team GB had the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. My boyfriend will be joining me - we only hope that my brother has his tux to fit ...

1000 or so people attending the Olympics Great Britain ball directly to the future success of Team GB help it will be great to be part of it. 
 
 This my first Olympics and my balls are rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sir Steve Redgrave, Jessica Ennis, Zara Phillips, golfer Nick Faldo and enjoy. Zara and I am part of a team for charity sailing race around the island last summer were white.
 
Another first for me is good fun but I need to discover seasickness pills before I sail again!
Great Britain Olympic Association is to be funded privately, so no financial assistance from the Government or the lottery will receive. Basically this means that its success entirely depends on their income from fundraising events like the Olympics, 


Great Britain and balls, provided by BT will receive. 60 year than Greece, along with Sugababes, Jamie Cullum and Mark Ronson, will help create the event success. There will be a red carpet and you can come along and take pictures and signatures of all the celebs and VIPs in the region has been allocated. So if you're interested in at 6:00 Friday (September 24) to Grosvenor House Hotel to come.

Britain Olympic Ball video

I said it: When I helped launch the London 2012 games makers - a program that recruits volunteers for the game - but worth repeating: the Olympic Games coming to London, offering the opportunity of a lifetime and successful Olympics for Team GB will unite the nation in the excitement, pride and celebration. I have first hand experience in Canada.  

 Britain Olympic Ball video-II

Financial events such as the Great Britain Olympic ball to deliver a very important hopes and dreams of Team GB athletes and ensure we make best use of this once in a lifetime opportunity. And that partners such as BT to help it happen.

Andy Hunt Blog: Olympic momentum builds

It was definitely special night celebrating the Olympic and privilege to enjoy the company of more than 60 Olympic medalists out of Great Britain alongside world famous entertainment and music business was, and by HRH Prince Harry, we joined the excitement as Our guest of honor was struck.
This event shows tremendous support from Great Britain Olympic Association (BOA) and the GB team. As an independent organization that relies only on private funding, Great Britain Olympic Ball fundraiser is very important: the happy dance and raison d 'être was serious.
Fund raised will be the team GB athletes the best opportunity to once in a generation, the competition here in London in 2012, so I was happy, including the London 2012 hopeful Jessica Ennis, Zoë Smith and Daniel Keatings to enable Sitting by Olympic legends including Steve Redgrave, Matt Pinsent and Jonathan Edwards and see nearly the level of extraordinary support and interest there is in London for them to succeed.
Event was bigger and better than ever before and many business leaders and distinguished guests in the room were generous with their support, which enables us to significant increases of six-figure sum this night and our most successful Olympic Ball .
The next morning I was up early and on my way to the Echo arena in Liverpool to see the Great Britain women's handball team has to take on Italy in their Four Nations Tournament. Impressive performance saw GB win 31-21. Victory over Italy represents a very credible result and a real breakthrough. It was encouraging to see improvements in sports such as handball, where we do a strong Olympic tradition have made.
Olympic discipline since 1972, handball was voted the best sport in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and one of the most popular Olympic sports in the world, with major championship attracted television audiences of over a billion dollars. Top Class International Handball seeing you live, I can understand why. Handball attractive, fast-paced and physical sport team is very goal. Sure to capture the traits in the public mind Great Britain in 2012.
M62 quick dash then took me to Manchester for the British Taekwondo Championships where GB athletes claim to an impressive three gold medals from the field of quality consists of 500 athletes from 53 countries

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Taekwondo another high action, high-speed sports and encouraging home crowd for the GB gold medal World Champion and number one in Europe, Aaron Cook, Bianca Walkden and Tony Grisman, who beat current world champion, Muhammad is the trustee. This is also great to see young master race Jade Jones, fresh from winning her gold medal with Team GB in the first Youth Olympic Games last month in Singapore.

Olympic momentum builds video

In both taekwondo and handball it was inspiring to see the spirit and attitude of Great Britain athlete, competing with commitment, dedication and love. There was this same spirit of the Great Britain Olympic ball, provided by BT, where the GB team fans were eager to do their bit to protect our nation's athletes on the road to 2012.

Olympic momentum builds video-II

Currently there are less than two years to go to 2012 or 1995 on Monday, you can really feel a sense of movement and anticipated length and width of buildings across the country.
London 2012 represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for Team GB athletes, for sport, for our nation. For me incredibly excited and energized 01:00 but we will not rest on our laurels. Boa as we say - it is better never stops.

Olympic baton passed from Beijing to London

Curtain in 2008 Beijing Olympics Bird's Nest stadium on Sunday night, drawn as Mayor of London Boris Johnson 

Olympic baton video-2

 accepted the Olympic flag from IOC President Jacques Rogge to officially begin the London Olympiad.

 

Myth of Great Britain celebrate sports and entertainment delivered to forget the two red buses Decker led. Leona Lewis and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page combined to provide background music for the former England football captain David Beckham appears on the upper deck of the bus much to the joy of the crowd.

1433 days to the 2012 London Olympic Games opening ceremony and now the countdown begins in earnest there.

Olympic baton video

 

Team GB will be looking over his extraordinary success in Beijing where they are fourth in the medals table with 19 gold, 13 silver and 15 bronze medals ended, giving a total of 47 medals and representing Great Britain at the Olympics for the best performance 100 Year.

Afridi Dutch spinning sends to defeat

Back in the fourth best all internationals Twenty20 - - Foot - spinner Afridi four wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs during 2007 as Pakistan won the final 82 runs to book their place in second stage Super Eight



Dutch shock winners of four rings in the British Open Championship Lord Friday and begin a better run rate, required to build 151 to get through and so deny the sidelines at least 25 in Pakistan - a run of victories they needed.

 
But Afridi, as well as by individual spinner Saeed Ajmal support (for Tuesday 20), which caused crashes decreased from 42 to 93 Dutch for all I saw.

Pakistan saw the victory with 48 runs by England in the White House on Sunday beaten, join host the second stage after them for five with 175 booths - keeper Kamran Akmal, who later made four stumpings, Top with a score of 41 was made.

In contrast, the Dutch made no batsman Alexei Kervezee is over 21.

Afridi Dutch spinning sends to defeat video

'Afridi was featured in the window and we tried,' said: Dutch captain Jeroen Smits

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'We talked about Afridi and that we had to play him straight, but we do not do it.

'However, the score is still here even if we do it does not have the Super Eights.' Pakistan captain Younis Khan that his team suffering the fate of Australia, which lost both their matches and were removed to avoid disappeared.

Afridi Dutch spinning sends to defeat video-2

Request printed circuit as a replacement for Razzaq

London: Pakistan on Wednesday made a special request for the inclusion of experienced all rounder - Razzaq Abd their 15 - man World Twenty20 squad as a replacement for injured Yasser Arafat

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Ijaz Butt, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, said that the request has been the International Cricket Council (Congress) ahead of his team's Super Eight game against Sri Lanka here on God's Friday (tomorrow) has been sent.

"We Razzaq for inclusion as a replacement player requested," Butt said: was quoted in an interview.
ICC spokesman said: "Here the Technical Committee of the World Twenty20 will be the final decision about their inclusion is to Razzaq.

Decision expected on Thursday (today) is done. Sources said that the chances 50-50 Razzaq that might be allowed to replace Arafat as there

Replacement for Razzaq video

Pakistan's part of his 30 man squad is likely that the technical committee but may be green signal for their inclusion in the Pakistan team there.
Razzaq, who played 46 Test and 231 One Day Internationals,

ICL as an informal objection to his removal from the squad for the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa joined in 2007 selected.
Lahore-based player said he was delighted at the prospect of playing for Pakistan again.

"I am very pleased and if given the opportunity I will do my very best for the country," he said.
Pakistan's Razzaq your team a temporary 30 - man Twenty20 World Congress provided for the consent of the International Criminal Court was included.

Rana Naved - ul - Hasan and Civil such as - - the original mix them later he and two other former ICL rebels withdrew.
Last month, waived circuit "cooling period" for Razzaq, it means that he was available for national duty.

Razzaq had a long spell with ICL, joining the league in 2007 after he was dismissed from the team that year the World Twenty20. One of his key players as their heroes in Hyderabad in 2008 won.

Replacement for Razzaq Video-2