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'Loved every moment that I played with Watto'
Last updated on: March 15, 2013 08:19 IST

"I've never known him to be anything other than a very good team player and a great bloke to have around your team.

"I loved every moment that I played with Watto."

Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja were also dropped for the same reason.

Watson, who was initially thought to be considering his test career, has returned to Australia to be with his pregnant wife.

Dscribing his suspension as "extremely harsh" Watson hit back at Howards's comment this week.

"All I can really say is go around and ask every person I've ever played cricket with and that will give you the best indication of whether I'm a team man or not," he said.

"Pat Howard doesn't particularly know me very well. He's come from a rugby background and hasn't been in and around cricket very long."

 

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When Laxman-Dravid floored Australia 12 years ago
Last updated on: March 14, 2013 16:58 IST

Harish Kotian looks back on VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid's epic 376-run partnership at the Eden Gardens that halted Australia's run of 15 consecutive Test victories.

Exactly 12 years ago, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid scripted one of the greatest rescue acts in cricket.

Playing against the all-conquering Australians at the Eden Gardens, India looked destined for another embarrassment before Laxman and Dravid changed the script with a mammoth 376-run partnership for the fifth wicket on Day 4 of the second Test, in Kolkata, in March 2001.

Their magical partnership turned the match on its head. Asked to follow-on, India staged one of the biggest escapes ever seen in Test cricket and romped to a 171-run victory.

March 14, 2001: Test cricket witnessed two of the best batsmen to have graced the sport take the Australians head on.

India resumed the day on 254 for 4. However, Dravid and Laxman held firm, not only denying the visitors a wicket in the 90 overs bowled during the day, but also scoring 335 runs, as the home side ended the day on 589 for 4.

 

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Laxman crossed Sunil Gavaskar's milestone of 236
Last updated on: March 14, 2013 16:58 IST

From a situation of trying to save the match at start of Day 4, India suddenly found themselves in a winning position at stumps.

Many records were surpassed by the duo on one of India's greatest days in Test cricket.

Laxman crossed Sunil Gavaskar's milestone of 236, then the highest score by an Indian batsman in Tests. He also recorded the highest by a batsman at the Eden Gardens, beating West Indian Rohan Kanhai's knock of 256, in the 1958-59 series.

The unbroken partnership, which stood at 357 at end of the day, bettered the highest by an Indian pair for the fifth wicket. They went past Ravi Shastri and Mohammad Azharuddin's stand of 214, against England in 1984-85.

That partnership was also India's highest for any wicket against Australia, bettering the unbroken stand of 298 between Dilip Vengsarkar and Ravi Shastri in 1986-87.

 

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Laxman recorded the highest score by an Indian in Tests
Last updated on: March 14, 2013 16:58 IST

It was also an important day, personally, for both Laxman and Dravid. The former had always desired to bat at No. 3, and Dravid's poor form saw the in-form Hyderabad batsman being promoted to that position in the second innings with the team in dire straits.

While Laxman recorded the highest score by an Indian in Tests, Dravid answered his critics in style.

The two complemented each other perfectly in their mammoth partnership, catching the Australian attack, comprising greats like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, completely off-guard.

A helpless Australia captain Steve Waugh aptly described the pair's batting as "some of the best batting I have ever seen".

 

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Harbhajan's hat-trick
Last updated on: March 14, 2013 16:58 IST

India declared their innings on 657-7 and set the visitors a tough target of 384 off 75 overs. Needless to say, the tourists crumbled on the final day against the Indian spinners and lost by 171 runs.

Harbhajan Singh, who took a hat-trick in the first innings, claimed six wickets in the second for a match haul of 13 wickets.

Not only did Australia's run of 15 consecutive Test victories end with that defeat, but it also changed fortunes in the series.

Australia were in complete control following a 10-wicket win in the first Test in Mumbai, but India's dramatic comeback in Kolkata spurred the hosts to victory in the next match too, in Chennai, and gave them a 2-1 series triumph.

 

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PHOTOS: Harbhajan turns to old friend Sachin for assistance
Last updated on: March 13, 2013 18:24 IST

A friend in need is a friend indeed...

This adage perfectly fits India's two most senior players -- Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh. The two, who are also teammates in the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, have been good friends not only on the field but off it too for a long time now.

Harbhajan has always openly acknowledged Tendulkar's contribution to his development as a cricketer and considers him one of his heroes.

And a desperate Harbhajan, struggling to get wickets in the ongoing Test series against Australia, turned to his old and most trusted friend Tendulkar on Wednesday, to help him sort out issues with his bowling.

After India's net sessions in Mohali on the eve of the third Test, Harbhajan had a long one-on-one session with Tendulkar, who provided him with a lot of inputs with regards to his bowling.

 

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Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by seven wickets to win series
Last updated on: March 19, 2013 17:30 IST

Tillakaratne Dilshan [ Images ] and Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ] struck half centuries as Sri Lanka [ Images ] coasted to a seven-wicket series-clinching victory over Bangladesh on the fourth day of the second and final Test on Tuesday.

The win had been set up by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath [ Images ], who celebrated his 35th birthday with career-best figures of seven for 89 and his 200th Test wicket as Bangladesh were earlier bowled out for 265 in their second innings.

Dilshan hit a brisk 57 off 73 balls that included six fours and Sangakkara continued his amazing form in the series to score 55 from 85 balls with eight fours.

It was the first time in four innings that Sangakkara had been dismissed below 100. He was named man of the series with a total aggregate of 441 runs.

The pair added 94 for the second wicket and after they were dismissed, Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews [ Images ] with 13 apiece carried Sri Lanka to their victory target of 160 for the loss of three wickets.

Dilshan was bowled by Robiul Islam playing an ambitious drive and Sangakkara was also bowled when he tried to sweep Sohag Gazi and the ball trickled onto his stumps.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne's early wicket for 16 offered only scant hope to Bangladesh, who recorded their first ever draw against Sri Lanka in the Galle Test last week.

Left-handed Karunaratne was adjudged lbw after he did not offer any shot to a Islam delivery.

Earlier, Herath claimed a match haul of 12 for 157 and joined the 200 Test wicket club as Bangladesh folded before lunch.

Bangladesh, having resumed at 158 for four, lost their ninth wicket two minutes before the scheduled lunch break which was delayed by 15 minutes for an extended morning session.

Herath struck immediately in the first over of the day, dismissing overnight batsman Mominul Haque (37) when short-leg fielder Dimuth Karunaratne took a bat-pad catch.

Nasir Hossain left without troubling the scorers, yorked by Herath after going for an ambitious drive.

Those two quick wickets pushed Bangladesh onto the back foot but skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (40) refused to give up. He got some support from Gazi (26) and Abul Hasan (25 not out) down the order before Herath struck again.

After removing Gazi, Herath had the Bangladesh captain caught at slip for his 200th Test wicket that effectively broke the back of the Bangladesh resistance.

Among the Sri Lankans, only Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ] (795) and Chaminda Vaas [ Images ] (355) have taken more Test wickets.

Hasan hit two sixes and a four but Rubel Hossain was bowled by Dilshan for seven and Shaminda Eranga ended the visitors' innings by removing Islam's stumps (10).

Scorecard

Bangladesh (1st innings): 240

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 346

Bangladesh (2nd innings): (158-4 overnight)

Tamim Iqbal b Eranga 59

Jahurul Islam st Chandimal b Herath 48

Mohammad Ashraful [ Images ] b Herath 4

Mominul Haque c Karunaratne b Herath 37

Mahmudullah b Herath 0

Mushfiqur Rahim c Mathews b Herath 40

Nasir Hossain b Herath 0

Sohag Gazi c Lakmal b Herath 26

Abul Hasan not out 25

Rubel Hossain b Dilshan 7

Robiul Islam b Eranga 10

Extras: (b-1, lb-4, nb-4) 9

Total: (all out; 100.4 overs) 265

Fall of wickets: 1-91, 2-96, 3-143, 4-143, 5-160, 6-171, 7-202, 8-228, 9-239.

Bowling: Kulasekara [ Images ] 12-0-36-0(nb-1), Lakmal 9-1-26-0, Herath 36-9-89-7, Dilshan 25-4-62-1, Eranga 15.4-3-39-2 (nb-3), Mathews 3-2-8-0.

Sri Lanka (2nd innings):

D. Karunaratne lbw b Robiul 16

T. Dilshan b Robiul 57

K. Sangakkara b Gazi 55

L. Thirimanne not out 13

A. Mathews not out 13

Extras: (b-2, lb-1, nb-3) 6

Total: (three wickets, 41.4 overs) 160

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-125, 3-135.

Did not bat: D. Chandimal, K. Vithanage, N. Kulasekara, S. Eranga, R. Herath, S. Lakmal.

Bowling: Robiul Islam 11-0-42-2(nb-3), Abul Hasan 4-0-21-0, Sohag Gazi 13-1-47-1, Rubel Hossain 3-0-16-0, Nasir Hossain 4-0-11-0, Mahmudullah 3-0-12-0, Mohammad Ashraful 3.4-0-8-0.

Result: Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.

Series: Sri Lanka won 1-0.

 

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'We would like to go home with a win in Delhi'
Last updated on: March 19, 2013 12:21 IST

The prospect of suffering a rare series-whitewash against India is looming large on them but Australian skipper Michael Clarke said such a situation has not arisen due to lack of hard work and they would do everything to sign off the tour with a win in Delhi.

India for the first time have won three Test matches in a series against Australia and stand a very fare chance of making it 4-0 in Delhi.

Clarke though said they have learnt their lessons from the defeats and the improvements in the side give him hope that they can tuen the tables on India in the fourth match.

"It's very hard when you are losing. You want to win every game. The boys are disappointed as we have not had as much success as we would have really liked from this tour. But its not for lack of work, we are working hard and trying to get better and like I say we would really love to finish on a high in last Test at Delhi," Clarke said after losing the third Test by six wickets.

"It is disappointing that we cant win the series, we cant level the series, but I think the players have learnt a lot. We would like to go home with a win in our last Test in Delhi," he added.

 

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'Shikhar Dhawan has raised his own expectations'
Last updated on: March 19, 2013 11:55 IST

Shikhar Dhawan has made a stupendous start to his Test career but the opener will face a sterner test in future since he has raised his own expectations with his fabulous batting on debut, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said.

The Delhi southpaw smashed a blistering 187, the fastest century on debut in the history of Test history, to set the platform for India's six-wicket win in the third Test which ended in Mohali on Monday.

"He has got off to a good start. It does not matter how well you have played in domestic cricket. In that first game, you are nervous, but I think he handled that well. But the coming days will be slightly tougher in the sense that he has raised his own expectations," Dhoni said after India took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

 

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'Vijay was excellent'
Last updated on: March 19, 2013 11:55 IST
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Asked whether the series-win was a sweet revenge for the bashing India had received Down Under, Dhoni said: "We don't think about revenge in sport.

"We have exploited the conditions well. Even the fast bowlers have done well despite conditions helping spinners. (Ravindra) Jadeja's inclusion has helped.

"It meant we were playing with five specialist bowlers. Everyone contributed in some way, (Murali) Vijay was excellent," Dhoni added.