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Bhuvanehwar made most of the new ball and troubled the Australian top order
Last updated on: March 18, 2013 20:59 IST

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's three-wicket burst at the start of the Australian second innings opened the door slightly and put India in with the chance of pushing for victory.

He made most of the new ball and troubled the Australian top order by moving around getting both the Australian openers early on.

The young pacer started with a wicket in the very first over, getting rid of dangerman David Warner, who was caught behind for two.

Ed Cowan became his second victim when he was trapped leg before wicket for eight as both the openers perished cheaply.

Dhoni persisted with his young pacer and kept him on for the seventh over and he repaid his captain's faith by getting the wicket of Steven Smith for five.

 

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Differences sorted out, Watson set to jet back to India
Last updated on: March 18, 2013 12:40 IST

Shane Watson said on Monday that the 'homeworkgate' issue is firmly behind him, and he is looking forward to joining the Australian Test team in Delhi, ahead of the fourth and final Test, after sorting out differences with coach Mickey Arthur and high performance manager Pat Howard. - Watson to return to India after serving ban Watson was not considered for selection for the third Test in Mohali, along with three other members of the Australia touring squad, for failing to meet team standards. Following that decision he returned to Australia to attend the birth of his first child Will, who was born on Thursday. He also rubbished theories that he was considering retirement following his axing from the team.

 

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'I've a burning ambition to be an Australian Test player for as long as I can be'
Last updated on: March 18, 2013 12:40 IST

"I've a burning ambition to be an Australian Test player for as long as I can be and help Australia win those big Test Series as well as the big ICC tournaments," Watson said on Tuesday. "I've had several constructive discussions with team management back in Mohali over the past few days. We've spoken about how we are going to work together to move forward, as Australia attempts to climb back to the top of the ICC rankings," he added. Watson's arrival in India was necessitated by the fact that captain Michael Clarke is struggling with a sore back and they are trailing 0-2 in the series, while battling for survival in Mohali. If Clarke is ruled out of the final match, then Watson may captain Australia in that Test, starting in Delhi from March 22.

 

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'We're looking forward to having Watto back'
Last updated on: March 18, 2013 12:40 IST

Coach Arthur said he is convinced about Watson's commitment to the Australian cricket team and looking forward to having him back. "Covering all the bases while preparing for any Test match is key to both us and Shane's recommitment to the team. In his chats with me this week we have been really positive. We're looking forward to having Watto back and around the group as we prepare for the fourth Test," he said. The Australian all-rounder had reacted strongly to his dropping from the Mohali Test and said he was "absolutely shattered" at being dropped and will have to weigh his future in Tests now. 'Any time you're suspended for a Test match unless you do something unbelievably wrong, and obviously everyone knows what those rules are -- I think it is very harsh,' Watson was quoted as saying by the Australian media. I'm at a stage where I'm sort of weighing up my future and what I want to do with my cricket in general to be honest,' he added.

 

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'Pat Howard doesn't particularly know me very well'
Last updated on: March 18, 2013 12:40 IST

Watson had a public war of words with Australian high performance chief Pat Howard.

Howard had said that Watson acted in the best interests of the Australian team "sometimes", just after crisis hit the team following the sacking of four players for breach of discipline.

Watson then slammed Howard for his comments saying: 'Pat Howard doesn't particularly know me very well. He's obviously come from a rugby background and hasn't been in and around cricket for very long, so I think the best people to ask are the people I've played cricket with.'

 

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'We are both now on the same page'
Last updated on: March 18, 2013 12:40 IST

However, the all-rounder said the two had sorted out their differences and are looking forward to working with each other. "I have also had a number of chats with Pat Howard over the last week and we are both now on the same page and are really looking forward to working together to get Australia to be the best team in the world. I'm looking forward to getting around the boys again and concentrating on moving forward. I'm entirely committed to the team and being the best player I can be," Watson said. Watson will leave Australia on Monday evening and arrive in Delhi early Tuesday morning. He will train with the squad in Delhi on Wednesday morning ahead of the final Test.

 

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Injury rules Pietersen out of IPL
Last updated on: March 20, 2013 15:42 IST

England [ Images ]’s dashing batsman Kevin Pietersen [ Images ] has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League [ Images ] because of an injury.

Pietersen, who plays for Delhi Daredevils [ Images ], has been advised six to eight weeks' rest and rehabilitation, and withdrawn from all forms of cricket by the England Cricket Board.

Pietersen suffered a knee injury during the ongoing tour of New Zealand [ Images ] and will return home immediately for treatment.

“England and Surrey batsman Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the remaining Test against New Zealand commencing Friday March 22 due to an injury to his right knee.

" Pietersen experienced knee pain while fielding in preparation for the 4-day game in Queenstown earlier this month, ahead of the Test series. This has failed to resolve satisfactorily,” the ECB said on Wednesday.

“Recent scans confirm an injury to the right knee with bone bruising and possible cartilage damage to the kneecap. The 32-year-old will return to the UK for further investigations and specialist review.

"The injury is likely to require ongoing assessments and a likely 6-8 week period of rest and rehabilitation. Pietersen has therefore been withdrawn from all cricket including the Indian Premier League,” it added.

 

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Wright was the first foreign coach for Team India
Last updated on: March 16, 2013 08:51 IST

The Board of Control for Cricket in India made a shocking decision on Friday to extend the contract of Duncan Fletcher by a year despite his poor record as India coach since he took over from Gary Kirsten in 2011.

Fletcher is the fourth foreigner to coach India since John Wright, who managed the team between 2000 and 2005.

He has the worst record in Tests among all his predecessors. Under him India also suffered the ignominy of back-to-back whitewashes in England Australia in 2011.

Rediff.com takes a look at how India's foreign coaches have fared:

John Wright (November 2000 - April 2005)

Former New Zealand batsman John Wright was India's first foreign coach, appointed in November 2000.

He is regarded as one of the best coaches Team India had. His style of functioning was loved by the players and Board. Wright and Ganguly formed a good partnership and took Indian cricket to never seen heights as they focussed on winning overseas Test matches.

Under Wright, India put together one of its best teams ever in Test cricket, and were virtually unbeatable at home.


Matches Won Lost Drawn Tied Won %
Tests 51 20 15 16 0 39.21
ODIs 130 68 56 6 0 52.31
T20Is -

 

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Chappell failed to make an impact as coach
Last updated on: March 16, 2013 08:51 IST

Greg Chappell (Jun 2005 - April 2007)

Greg Chappell came with a big reputation. The former Australia captain was regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, but failed to make an impact as a coach.

He never got along well with captain Sourav Ganguly and his policy of inducting younger players to the team got him into the bad books of senior players.

He quit after India's disastrous showing in the 2007 50-overs World Cup, in which the team failed to make it past even the group stages.

Matches Won Lost Drawn Tied Won %
Tests 18 7 4 7 0 38.88
ODIs 62 32 27 3 0 51.61
T20Is 1 1 0 0 0 100.00

 

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India won the 2011 Word Cup under Kirsten
Last updated on: March 16, 2013 08:51 IST

Gary Kirsten (Mar 2008 - Apr 2011)

Gary Kirsten is regarded as one of the best coaches India ever had. The young South African was a popular figure in the dressing room and earned the respect of the seniors and juniors alike.

He formed a very personal bond with all the players, and under him the team played like champions.

Kirsten provided India one of its best cricketing moments when he helped them win the 50-overs World Cup in 2011 following which he called it quits.

Such was his closeness with the players that many of them wanted him to stay back. He moved on for personal reasons.

Matches Won Lost Drawn Tied Won %
Tests 33 16 6 11 0 48.48
ODIs 91 57 29 4 1 62.64
T20Is 18 9 9 0 0 50.00