India v/s Windies Series 2011...

KT Mirash · 06-04-2011, 01:53 PM

The two captains pose with the trophy ahead of Saturday's Twenty20 game, Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, June 3, 2011

realfan · 06-04-2011, 01:56 PM

what time in IST is todays match?

KT Mirash · 06-04-2011, 02:01 PM

Darren Sammy and Suresh Raina share a light moment in the pre-match press conference, Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, June 3, 2011

In the Press, Chris Gayle shadow still looms large...

Chris Gayle's shadow hung over the press conference. It was Suresh Raina who nailed Gayle's impact in a delightful moment of humour-infused candour. The question was a direct one: Are you relieved or are you disappointed that Gayle isn't playing?

Quote:

"To be honest I am a bit relieved at the moment,"

Raina said, as the press room filled with laughter.

The mood, though, turned sombre when the Gayle issue was put forward to the West Indies captain and the coach. Uncomfortable silence was punctuated by a note of defiance. It's an issue that has dogged West Indies for a while now and seems to be heading into a cul-de-sac. And so necks craned forward when the coach Ottis Gibson, who is alleged to have had problems with Gayle, was asked for his opinion. Gibson paused before he tried to be diplomatic.

Quote:

"There is a lot being said. I have left the board to deal with it and have tried to focus on cricket. I have been doing that since the Gayle issue started."

The questioner persisted. Do you think both sides have been stubborn?

Quote:

"I don't know."

Silence.

It was Darren Sammy's turn next and he chose to take a detour around the question.

Quote:

"It's an opportunity for all the other guys to perform."

Diplomacy then gave way to pride.

Quote:

"We won a Twenty20 and a Test match against Pakistan. We have not done it since 2009 and didn't win for 17 Tests. We have managed to draw the series at home against a higher-ranked team. The guys represented West Indies proudly and played their best. We are looking again to play a team and do well."

No mention of Gayle in there. Conspiracy theorists will spin it the way they want and Sammy fans will say there's little else he, as a captain, could have said.

Later, as the conference ended and Gibson was on his way out, he was again asked by couple of journalists about the Gayle issue. Do you think the board will arrive at a compromise and Gayle be picked for the third ODI?

Quote:

"They probably will."

How are you going to react to that situation when Gayle comes back into the team? Pat came the reply:

Quote:

"I don't have a choice."

The rest of the conference was mundane. Raina and Duncan Fletcher talked about how this was a good opportunity for the youngsters in the team, Gibson and Sammy said they were looking forward to testing their skills against India. Raina said all the right things.

Quote:

"As long as you are playing for your country you get goosebumps. We have a responsibility to do well as the world champions. We will play our natural game and prepare for every match in a good way."

Sammy, too, was upbeat.

Quote:

"Playing the No.1 team in the world should be motivating to any player. To do best against the best".

Even as the press meet was on, it rained outside. The covers were on and the Indian team practiced largely indoors. More rain is forecast for tomorrow.

There was one further tricky question that awaited Sammy. It was a direct question about his place in the Test side and how he was handling the growing feeling that he wasn't fit to be in the playing XI. Sammy leaned forward and looked at the questioner.

Quote:

"I go out and do what I have to do. Check the stats and stuff; I have done quite well as a Test cricketer. Whenever I step on to the field, I have West Indian cricket at heart. Everyone is entitled to their opinions but I have the support of my team. I believe in my own ability and I just try to do my best. I try my best. When I step on the field I try to play cricket for all the fans who want to us to get back on top."

KT Mirash · 06-04-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by realfan

what time in IST is todays match?

Newspaperil kandath Indian Standard Time 07:00pm aanennaa...

realfan · 06-04-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannans

Newspaperil kandath Indian Standard Time 07:00pm aanennaa...

KT Mirash · 06-04-2011, 02:08 PM

Tour Fixtures:

Only T20I: West Indies v India at Port of Spain
Jun 4, 2011 (10:00 local | 14:00 GMT | 19:30 IST)

1st ODI: West Indies v India at Port of Spain
Jun 6, 2011 (09:00 local | 13:00 GMT | 18:30 IST)

2nd ODI: West Indies v India at Port of Spain
Jun 8, 2011 (09:00 local | 13:00 GMT | 18:30 IST)

3rd ODI: West Indies v India at North Sound
Jun 11, 2011 (09:00 local | 13:00 GMT | 18:30 IST)

4th ODI: West Indies v India at North Sound
Jun 13, 2011 (09:00 local | 13:00 GMT | 18:30 IST)

KT Mirash · 06-04-2011, 02:09 PM

Squads for today's T20 Game:

India squad

Quote:

SK Raina*,
Harbhajan Singh,
R Ashwin,
S Badrinath,
S Dhawan,
V Kohli,
P Kumar,
A Mishra,
MM Patel,
PA Patel
†, YK Pathan,
WP Saha†,
I Sharma,
RG Sharma,
MK Tiwary,
R Vinay Kumar

West Indies squad

Quote:

DJG Sammy*,
CD Barnwell,
D Bishoo,
DM Bravo,
ADS Fletcher†,
DP Hyatt,
AR Nurse,
R Rampaul,
AD Russell,
MN Samuels,
K Santokie,
LMP Simmons

Aaram ThampuraN · 06-04-2011, 02:15 PM

innathe kali 7 manike anu enne paperile kandu

KT Mirash · 06-04-2011, 02:15 PM

Today's Match Preview:

Team news

West Indies' squad is almost identical to the one that beat Pakistan in the T20 on April 21. The only change is that Kemar Roach has been rested. He didn't play that game anyway. If they keep the winning combination, left-arm medium-pacer Krishmar Santokie will have to wait for his international debut.

West Indies (probable)

Quote:

1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Andre Fletcher (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Danza Hyatt, 6 Darren Sammy (capt), 7 Christopher Barnwell, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Ashley Nurse, 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Ravi Rampaul

India's squad is so different from their usual ones, they have no previous to start from. The choices begin at the top, with Shikhar Dhawan and Parthiv Patel favourites as openers. The middle order should be a bit easier to pick, but it will be interesting to see if they go with two spinners and, if they choose to do so, who that second spinner will be. There could be an aversion to playing two offspinners, which is believed to be one of the reasons why R Ashwin lost out to Piyush Chawla in the World Cup squad. Munaf Patel and Praveen Kumar will be certainties in the pace attack.

India (probable)

Quote:

1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Parthiv Patel (wk), 3 Suresh Raina (capt), 4 Virat Kohli, 5 & 6 two out of S Badrinath, Rohit Sharma and Manoj Tiwary, 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Munaf Patel, 11 R Ashwin/R Vinay Kumar/Amit Mishra/Ishant Sharma

KT Mirash · 06-04-2011, 02:16 PM

The two captains are a fascinating study.

Under Suresh Raina's previous watch, India finished third in a tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. He was leading a young team then; this one is not too dissimilar, which means the challenge is just as big.

Darren Sammy, on the other hand, will perhaps never play an international without having to justify his presence. Sometimes he passes in flying colours, as he did in the Test that they won against Pakistan, sometimes he doesn't; at all times he tries gamely, making you wonder what would be if some of the more talented West Indies players played with the same passion and persistence.

06-04-2011, 01:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
realfan Emperor of Acting Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 2,802 Rep Power: 10580	what time in IST is todays match? __________________ when mohanlal touches anything it turns to gold.... wait for the midas touch....yes all the underlying emotions of love will be turning into gold... Pranayam...redefined

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