ACCOLADE

Murray starts with a win 15

TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2012

XXCL

Kick off with T

SOCCER MANCHESTER CITY HOPING FOR A TURNAROUND! 16

BOARDS MEDIA RELEASE SILENT, BUT DHONI IS CAPTAIN FOR SERIES

COMEBACK THREESOME

Yuvraj & Harbhajan back, Murali is the only surprise

LOKENDRAPRATAP SAHI

Yuvraj Singh

Last Test: 12 months ago

Harbhajan Singh

Last Test: 15 months ago

Murali Vijay

Last Test: 16 months ago

Calcutta: The national selectors have indeed looked beyond Suresh Raina, but instead of Manoj Tiwary, theyve settled on Ajinkya Rahane as the (reserve) middle-order batsman. Rahane is in the India XV for the first two Tests against England, in Ahmedabad and in Mumbai, respectively. Hes uncapped at the highest level. The 24-year-old was in the squad for the two Tests versus New Zealand, in August-September, but as the reserve opener. Rahane has opened for India in ODIs and T20 Internationals. But at the first-class level, hes been batting at No.3. The Mumbaikar did so even for India A against England last week. Its not the first time that Tiwary has lost out, but this probably was his best chance. The next may not come in a hurry. So, the next few weeks, possibly months too, are bound to test his mental toughness. Publicly, at least, Tiwary has taken it rather well. Ive just got to keep my patience... Im a firm believer that the day is not far away when things will fall in place... Starting from scratch is, however, never easy. Merely being in the Test squad would have done Tiwary a world of good, but the new committee, headed by Sandeep Patil, has gone along with the previous ones thinking. Turning out for India A, Tiwary did well to score 93 versus England, but he didnt set the Hooghly on fire in the Ranji opener against holders Rajasthan. Rahane made it easier for Patil and Co. by scor-

Chief selector Sandeep Patil and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the selection committee meeting, in Mumbai, on Monday

ing a hundred versus Railways. Rahane failed in the first innings against England, but did get 54 in India As second outing. While Yuvraj Singh was expected to make the squad and Harbhajan Singh stood a reasonable chance, Murali Vijay has been recalled out of the blue. Vijay had been a big failure (an average of 12.00) in his last Test series, in the West Indies in

June-July 2011, but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni rates him very highly. Plus, hed scored a

double for Rest of India versus Rajasthan some six weeks ago. Both Dhoni and Vijay turn

ITS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT TIWARY HAS LOST OUT, BUT THIS PROBABLY WAS HIS BEST CHANCE.THE NEXT MAY NOT COME IN A HURRY. SO, THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, POSSIBLY MONTHS TOO, ARE BOUND TO TEST HIS MENTAL TOUGHNESS

out for the Chennai Super Kings and, so, the captain knows him from really close quarters. With Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir retained, Vijay will sit in the dressing room, unless one of the two seniors gets injured. Sehwag got a hundred on Monday, for Delhi, but Vijays presence would put him and Gambhir on their toes. Like Harbhajan, Sehwag is two short of a century of

Tests. Barring the unexpected, the opener should get to the milestone in Mumbai, while Harbhajans getting there depends on how the XI is structured. Typically, Harbhajan took a swipe at critics after his selection. He must save his energy for the field, though. Of the three comeback men, Vijays last Test was 16 months ago. Its 15 months for Harbhajan and 12 months for Yuvraj. Each have reason to rejoice, but none more so than Yuvraj. Hes already made a T20 return, now hes days away from again turning out in the India whites. His has been an incredible script. Cheteshwar Pujara has quickly capitalised on Rahul Dravids retirement; Yuvraj has the chance to make permanent (to the extent possible) the slot occupied till recently by V .S. .V Laxman. Strangely, the Boards media release didnt mention that Dhonis been retained captain for the entire (four-Test) series, but a well-placed source of The Telegraph said hed be there for all the matches. Apparently there was no dis, cussion, with everybody assuming that Dhoni will be in the hot seat right through! Usually, a vice-captain isnt named for a home series and that has been strictly followed. Dhoni, known to strongly pitch for Raina, was present during the selection committee meeting in Mumbai. Coach Duncan Fletchers views were ascertained over the phone. Hes on vacation. Well earned? You decide.

Upset Raina skips lunch!

Ghaziabad: On the eve of the selection of Indias XV member Test squad, many had predicted that Suresh Raina might lose his place. But the man himself, probably, expected to make the cut. At least his reactions say so. Raina, captaining Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy game against Delhi, was so upset after learning about his ouster from the Test squad that he decided to skip lunch on Monday the final day of the Ranji tie. , According to a source in the UP dressing room, once Raina got the news of his omission from the squad for the first two Tests, announced by Sandeep Patil and Co. in Mumbai, he was not in a mood to have food and literally went into a shell. He was very sad and told his teammates that he is not in a mood to eat... He is a very bubbly character in the dressing room, but suddenly went very quiet He also didnt stay back to collect the mementos presented by the Ghaziabad District Cricket Association and left immediately after UP had won, the source said. While Uttar Pradesh stunned the star-studded Delhi by six wickets, Kohli, who promoted himself to the No.3 position in the second innings, scored 37. Like Raina, none of the top Suresh Raina Delhi players attended the function and chose to stay in the dressing room despite their names being called repeatedly over the public address system. The Man of the Match award went jointly to the winners opening batsman Mukul Dagar and pacer Imtiaz Ahmed. Uttar Pradesh coach Venkatesh Prasad was unhappy with the national selection committees decision. I think its really unfortunate that Raina is not there in the Indian team. I am surprised by his omission He is one player, who, I thought, would surely be in the team, Prasad, a former India medium pacer, said. Any player, who has been selected to play Test cricket, should also be given a long run to prove his mettle. Raina is a wonderful batsman and played a good knock in the last Test he played Even here, in this match, he played crucial roles in both the in(AGENCIES) nings., he added. Related reports: Page 14

ITS A TOUGH ONE FOR TIWARY, SAYS COACH RAMAN

Manoj: Have to be patient

ASTAFF REPORTER
Calcutta: Manoj Tiwary isnt feeling let down by the national selectors decision to not include him in the squad for the first two Tests against England. He has taken it in the right spirit and vowed to keeping scoring runs in the Ranji Trophy. He knows well that only loads of runs will help him find a berth in the side. My reaction was normal when I first cametoknowaboutitafterteafrom(Ashok) Dinda that no player from Bengal was in the squad for the first two Tests. Its a part and parcel of any sportsmans life Ive taken it in a positive way and in the right spirit, the Bengal captain said on Monday . There were a lot of thoughts that came into my mind when I came to know about it. My next target is to perform in the coming days in the Ranji Trophy After having scored consistently at the domestic level and in the limited opportunities at the international level, doesnt the thought of what next crop up in his mind? Yeah it does But weve quite a few games coming up. I always try to motivate myself by thinking that I have a lot of time I am young, and touchwood, things will fall in place The big runs will come. I just have to be patient. I dont regret anything in life nowadays I always focus on my next innings. I keep myself in the right frame of mind and dont want to be distracted by any negative thoughts, he explained. My mindset is tough. I learnt a lot of things when I sat out for 14 ODIs after scoring a hundred. I know how to motivate myself in the right direction Ive got used to such things now. Thankfully, Ive people around me who guide me in such tough times and help me a lot. Such things dont distract me any more. Ive matured as a person. The Bengal captains next match will be against Punjab in Mohali from Friday . I love playing for Bengal Im a firm believer that day is not far away when things will fall in place. It would be a dream come true if I get to debut at the Eden. Bengal coach Woorkeri Raman, too, couldnt hide his feelings. The squad has been an interesting pick I was surprised to see four openers unless (Ajinkya) Rahane has been included as a middle-order batsman. Manoj will obviously feel bad This is a tough one and not much anything can do about it. On Dindas exclusion, Raman said: With the captain (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) harping on spinners, it was likely that most of the fast bowlers, barring the top-3, would miss out Its only logical that three spinners will be in the side and I dont see any chance for four pacers. Manojs teammate Wriddhiman Saha, though, felt differently. I would always prefer them to play matches than sitting in the bench because that helps to enhance your confidence.

THE SQUAD FOR FIRST 2 TESTS

Openers: Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay Middle-order: Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane Wicketkeeper: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain) Pacers: Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav Spinners: Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin
Note: Rahane has opened for India in ODIs and T20s.

THE TEST SCHEDULE 1st Test: Ahmedabad (November 15 19) 2nd Test: Mumbai (November 23 27) 3rd Test: Calcutta (December 5 9) 4th Test: Nagpur (December 13 17)
Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary with former India captain Sourav Ganguly at the Eden, on Monday Picture by Santosh Ghosh .