India-Australia: The mother of all battles

It's billed as the mother of all cricket battles, greater than the Ashes for many Australians and bigger than any Pakistan rivalry in the eyes of many Indians.

The four-Test series between India and world champions Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting in Bangalore on October 9 has caught the imagination of the cricket world like never before.

Batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar justifies the media hype before the series as an indication of how important matches against Australia have become for the cricket-mad public in both countries.

"We have played some of our best cricket against Australia," says Tendulkar, who is just 77 runs away from surpassing Brian Lara as Test cricket's leading scorer.

"It is because of the competitive nature of cricket that an India-Australia series is bigger than the one against Pakistan."

The series prize, named after two distinguished former captains and batting greats, Allan Border of Australia and Sunil Gavaskar of India, has provided fascinating cricket since its inception in 1996.

Of the 22 Tests played for the Trophy, Australia have won 10 and India eight, with four draws. The last 15 Tests have seen Australia hold a narrow 6-5 advantage.

The upcoming contests follow an ill-tempered, but enthralling, four-match series in Australia earlier this year that the hosts won 2-1 amid deteriorating relations between the two sides.

Anil Kumble's Indians, already seething at umpiring errors in the acrimonious second Test in Sydney, almost abandoned the tour when all-rounder Andrew Symonds levelled racial abuse charges against spinner Harbhajan Singh.

When officials brokered a compromise, the Indians hit back with a brilliant win in the next Test in Perth, often regarded as a no-hope venue for touring teams due to its fast wicket.

India are the only team to win a Test match on Australian soil since January 2003, and they have done it twice following the Adelaide win by Sourav Ganguly's men in 2004.

Australia regarded India as the final frontier after Mark Taylor's tourists lost 1-0 here in 1996 and 2-1 in 1998 and Steve Waugh's team went down 2-1 in a thrilling series in 2001.

All seemed lost for India when Waugh's men wrapped up the first Test in Mumbai in three days and made the hosts follow on 274 runs behind in the second match in Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

India, however, conjured a remarkable fightback on the back of Venkatsai Laxman's extraordinary 281 to win the Kolkata Test by 171 runs and then clinced the series with a two-wicket humdinger in Chennai.

Australia finally conquered the Indian frontier under Adam Gilchrist in 2004 as injured captain Ricky Ponting watched from the sidelines, but not before the Indians took the final Test in Mumbai on a treacherous wicket.

"Given India and Australia are the powerbrokers of contemporary cricket it is appropriate they provide the game's most competitive and compelling Test match cricket," veteran Australian journalist Mike Coward said.

"The rivalry between these two superpowers now generates an intensity and excitement once reserved for Ashes and Indo-Pakistan matches."

Australia, who played just one Test series in India between 1980 and 1995 -- in 1986 which featured only the second tied Test in history in Madras (Chennai) -- now can't wait to get to India.

The upcoming series will be their fifth on Indian soil in the last 12 years.

INDIA'S GOLDFINGER

My dream to see India win an individual gold at the Games before I die has been fulfilled: Olympian Milkha Singh on BIndra’s feat

Abhinav Bindra looked surprisingly calm and composed on the podium when the Indian Tricolour went up and the national anthem was played at the shooting hall here on Monday. There was just that small wave of the hand, and a smile which was there and yet not there.
In contrast, the Chinese shooter Zhu Qinan, who won the silver medal, wept on the podium and shed buckets of tears later at the press conference. Bindra looked unfazed, untouched by it all. It did not seem as if he had done the impossible. It was, as if, impossible is nothing. But he has always been that way.
Chased by the media all through the complex — from the main hall, to the mixed zone, to the doping lab, to the bathroom, Bindra kept repeating his words. “I've trained very hard. It has paid off.”
He did not want to talk about the pain he went through in the past two years. He did not want to talk about his back injury, the surgery, the rehabilitation and the continuous grind. He just kept telling veteran shooter Mansher Singh, who was there with him after the victory, “Joey, I want to go home. Please help me getting an early booking. I just want to be with my parents.”
It's no secret that his parents have supported through very difficult times. His father, a wealthy businessman in Chandigarh, even built his son a shooting range at home.
Abhinav never went to college though he did complete his MBA from US through distance learning. “This medal belongs to my family,” he said.
When asked by a European correspondent what he does for a living, he shot back: “I have been drilling holes on a black paper for 10 years. That’s what I do for a living.” Bindra has no patience for run-of-the-mill questions. He has no patience for unwanted criticism either. He simply clams up. He has been criticized often for his attitude, his arrogance, his tendency to simply switch off during interviews. Talking about the Athens disappointment and the fight later, he said: “I finished seventh at Athens. It shattered me. It was hard for me to take the plunge back. I kept telling myself, be at it, be at it'. It has all fallen into place now.”
However, he did show a flash of humour when world media wanted to know more about him. How excited was he thinking about going home now? “I really don't like planes, you know.” Straight and simple. Don't ask him the obvious, he'll s t i n g back.
On his way out of the complex, he was again mobbed by India media. He stopped and obliged. “I'm pretty exhausted but happy with my good job.” Why are you so serious all the time? Even now? “I was born with a poker face.”
Does he remember Rathore's silver in Athens? “Yes, I was there. It was very motivating. It was a great moment. Inspired me to work hard for four years,” he said and then put his win perspective.
“I shot better at Athens but got nothing for it. Sport is like a gamble. Anybody else could have won today. It was my day.” So, Abhinav Bindra, cool as a cucumber, played the gamble of his life and won. Should we call him the man with the golden gun now?

Pakistan crush hapless Bangladesh

KARACHI, AFP: Pakistan crushed a hapless Bangladesh by ten wickets in the inconsequential last Super League match in the Asia Cup after paceman Abdur Rauf took a career-best 3/24 at National Stadium on Friday.

The 29-year-old rattled Bangladesh's top order to help Pakistan bowl out the visitors for just 115 in 38.2 overs after the tourists won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions.

Pakistan openers Nasir Jamshed scored 52 not out and Salman Butt made an unbeaten 56 to see the home team through at a canter.

INDIA EYEING FINAL SPOT

Asia Cup: Dhoni’s Men Take On Pakistan In Super Four Tie Today

Karachi: Having got three full days to recharge their batteries, a rejuvenated India will take on arch rivals Pakistan in a Super Four match of the Asia Cup cricket tournament here on Wednesday, fully aware that a victory will ensure them a berth in the final.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was visibly miffed when he complained about the tight schedule of the tournament that required his team to play three matches over four days. Much to his relief, a three-day break allowed the side to get over the fatigue and the players should be raring to go when they have the traditional rivals at sight.
Irfan Pathan has recovered from a nagging side strain and would be available for selection for the tie. “Irfan has worked very hard with the trainer for the last few days to make a comeback and his availability is a definite plus point for us,” coach Gary Kirsten told reporters after the Indian team’s nets session.
Though predicting the outcome of an India-Pakistan match can be inviting embarrassment, Dhoni’s team seems to have a certain edge, having beaten the hosts in the group stage.
The Indian batting line-up, especially the top order, has been firing on all cylinders and though the tight schedule made it quite taxing for them, runs have not stopped flowing from their blades.
“It was tough out there for us. But I am happy we have kept going. Suresh Raina, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have batted really well in the tournament and I hope they keep on doing the same,” Dhoni said.
Raina has hit a purple patch with two centuries against his name and his impressive strike rate suggests he is yet to get over the Twenty20 mode.
Sehwag has been among the runs too, as is Gautam Gambhir and the Delhi duo would walk out to once again lay the perfect foundation for a mammoth total so that they can bury the opponents under the run mountain.
In fact, the top order has made it look so easy that neither Yuvraj Singh nor Dhoni got much of a chance to strut their stuff.
The lone worry surrounds the form of Rohit Sharma, whose run drought is all the more baffling considering his sublime shot in the Indian Premier League. But even though Rohit continues to struggle to the ODI format, his batting colleagues are doing enough to ensure that the team does not suffer from his slump.
The lack of firepower and sting in the bowling attack, however, would remain a worry for Dhoni. In their previous meeting too, Pakistan managed to post 299 for four against a lacklustre Indian attack.
Meanwhile, the game is crucial for Pakistan who face a do-or-die situation as a defeat would put them out of the final. Keen to sort their bowling woes, Pakistan have decided to include paceman Abdul Rauf and off- spinner Saeed Ajmal, replacing Wahab Riaz and Mansoor Amjad, in the team for the crucial tie. Shoaib Malik who has been suffering from dehydration, has declared himself fit as the skipper is keen to play. Pakistan will also have to rise above internal conflicts and put up a vastly improved show to stop the in-form Indians, even though it would not be an easy task. The team already looks a house divided with coach Geoff Lawson and the senior players at the loggerhead, while the Australian is also under tremendous media pressure after his bust-up with the press.
Teams (from): India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Manpreet Gony, Ishant Sharma, R P Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar. Pakistan: Shoaib Malik (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Mansoor Amjad, Mohammad Yousuf, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Salman Butt, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan. AGENCIES
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Clinical Sri Lanka storm into final

As birthday bashes go, this was pretty special, with Sanath Jayasuriya bludgeoning Bangladesh into submission as Sri Lanka sauntered into the Asia Cup final. Kumar Sangakkara's elegant 121, just 24 hours after a century against Pakistan, was the supporting act, and with Muttiah Muralitharan at his supple-wristed best with the ball, Bangladesh were brushed aside by a massive 158 runs. Nazimuddin and Raqibul Hasan showed some defiance, but even against an attack missing Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof, 333 was never on.

Some of the Bangladesh players were still in diapers when Jayasuriya made his debut, and they must have felt as helpless as babies when he celebrated his 39th birthday with the fluent shot-making and power-hitting that typified his halcyon years. He raced to a century off only 55 balls, and though it turned out to be a two-man show, Sri Lanka still had enough to pull off their fourth successive win of the tournament.

Having added 201 with Sangakkara in only 27.5 overs, Jayasuriya finally ran out of puff in the Karachi heat. A poor delivery from Alok Kapali was lofted to deep cover where Tamim Iqbal took the catch. There was scarcely any joy from the fielders, because by then Jayasuriya had pounded 130 off only 88 balls, with a heady rhythm of cuts, pulls and drives.

Sangakkara carried on though, having been reprieved by Kapali off his own bowling on 51. He drove beautifully down the ground and made good use of both the orthodox sweep and the slogged version. Occasionally, he would also come down the track and loft the ball over the infield, and Bangladesh appeared bereft of options.

When Jayasuriya lashed Mashrafe Mortaza's opening delivery past point for four, it appeared to be a sign of things to come, but with Shahadat Hossain bowling a maiden first-up, Bangladesh conceded only 20 in the first five overs. The trouble started after that, with Jayasuriya dusting off his pull stroke and driving over the infield with immense power.

Sangakkara wasn't to be left behind, piercing the packed off-side field cleverly occasionally, but after a while he gave up trying to keep pace. Jayasuriya was unstoppable. When the bowlers dropped short, he would pull over midwicket. If they were too full, the disdainful flick was unveiled. Too much width and the hoardings behind the point boundary were battered with short-arm cuts. And if all that wasn't punishment enough, he would also jump down the pitch before lashing the ball over the covers.

The half-century took only 31 balls, and when Abdur Razzak came on, he was taken for 19 runs in his second over. Two crisp fours off Farhad Reza and a single to long leg later, he had a century, the 26th of an illustrious career. Sangakkara, who had caressed some lovely drives himself, was the perfect foil, and Bangladesh's cause wasn't helped when Mushfiqur Rahim fluffed a catch behind the stumps off Razzak right after Jayasuriya had got his hundred.

SPAIN ENDS 44-YEAR PAIN

EURO ROCKS! In a pulsating final which kept the football aficionados on tenterhooks, Spain’s indefatigable spirit prevailed over the mighty Germans to clinch Europe’s coveted football title after a gap of 44 years. In a close fight, Germany also looked dangerous on the counterattack. Fernando Torres scored the all-important goal for Spain when he latched on to a through ball from Xavi Fernandez and beautifully lifted it over the diving German keeper Jens Lehmann. Spain, playing the cultured football and swift inter-passing that has marked them as the most-entertaining team, carved out several other chances they could not convert

HEAD TO HEAD

WILL GERMANY JIVE OR SPAIN REIGN?

GRIT VS FLAIR: EURO 2008 HEADS FOR A FITTING FINALE

SPAIN
STRENGTHS: Technical quality,
confidence in each other and a
system that has taken them on a
21-match unbeaten run.
WEAKNESSES: Little aerial power either in attack or defence, though it has not troubled them unduly so far.
KEY PLAYERS: Cesc Fabregas (left), David Silva, Marcos Senna.
HISTORY: Spain's sole previous success on the international stage came in 1964, when as hosts they defeated the USSR to win the UEFA European Championship. Romania is the last side to beat them in a friendly, 1-0 in Cadiz, Spain in Nov 2006.
CHANGES: David Villa, the tournament's leading scorer, will miss the final with a thigh injury. Fabregas should start in his place with coach Luis Aragones opting to play Fernando Torres as a lone striker.
GERMANY
STRENGTHS: As they showed in the lastgasp semi-final win, they are formidable right till the final whistle.
WEAKNESSES: Unusually ragged for long spells against Turkey. Keeper Jens Lehmann, 38, looked past his sell-by date.
KEY PLAYERS: Michael Ballack (right), Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger.
HISTORY: In a record sixth final. Aiming to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy for the fourth time after triumphs in 1972, 1980 and 1996.
CHANGES: Midfielder Torsten Frings is set to return in place of Simon Rolfes.
I’m very happy for the team because they deserve to be champions but there's one more hurdle because there are the Germans.
— Luis Aragones, SPAIN COACH
Throughout the tournament they (Spain) have played at a high level and been technically strong. Compared to the Portuguese they play a more variable game.
— Joachim Loew, GERMANY COACH