'We have a clear strategy'

Rajasthan captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar was in the thick of things as the Rajasthan team practised at Chepauk on Tuesday ahead of the five-day final beginning on January 19.

“It's an honour to be in a Ranji Trophy final in successive years. We have worked hard, found answers even when we were under tremendous pressure in the league stages,” he said.

SENIOR PROS

The former India left-hander admitted he and opener Aakash Chopra, another former international, carried much responsibility as senior outstation professionals in the team.

He added younger Rajasthan players had responded admirably to challenges during moments of crisis. Kanitkar had words of praise for batsman Robin Bist and paceman Rituraj Singh.

Kanitkar said, “Bist has footwork and balance. He is surely one for the future. Rituraj is a promising paceman who has made a difference to the side. He swings and seams the ball both ways and can be slippery.”>>>

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We have let the nation down: Gambhir

Struggling Indian opener Gautam Gambhir conceded that his team has let the entire nation down in the ongoing Test series against Australia and has failed to live up to the expectations.

India trail the four—match series 0—3 and are in danger of a second successive Test whitewash abroad after the England debacle last year.

“We have let the entire nation down and I will be the first one to accept it. There is a backlash which is happening back home and we are ready to accept it. We have given the opportunity to people (to criticise us). We haven’t played good cricket and not lived up to the expectations, given the batting we have,” said Gambhir after nets here on Tuesday.

“We have let the common man down who expects us to perform, and I accept it. We need to turn it around as quickly as possible,” he added.

The left—handed opener has scored only 144 runs from six innings at an average of 24.00, and is only one of the batsmen of the Indian batting unit which has collectively failed on the present tour.

“I am not someone who would be hesitant to take the responsibility. I will be the first one to accept it. If you want to be number one, you have to perform well and start winning overseas, whether it is England, South Africa or Australia,” said Gambhir.>>>

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Ashes victory is the ultimate goal, says Australian coach Arthur

Australia coach Mickey Arthur considers the ongoing four—match Test series against India as a stepping stone for regaining the Ashes next year, which he says remains the team’s ultimate goal.

“Winning back the Ashes is at the forefront of everybody’s mind. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that we were trying to build a really competitive team to go back and win them in 2013,” the Australian coach said.

“Judging by reports that I’ve read they have started to take a little bit of notice,” he added.

Australia has had a stunning revival after their 1—3 Ashes defeat last year, and Arthur was confident his team won’t be any pushover when they tour England in 18 months time.

Australia drew in South Africa last November and have already reclaimed the Border—Gavaskar trophy even before next week’s fourth Test in Adelaide and Arthur said world number one England is firmly on their radar.

“It is the ultimate goal,” he said.>>>

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Laxman has no plans to retire, say teammates

He might be drawing flak for his poor run in the ongoing Test series against Australia, but veteran Indian batsman VVS Laxman has no plans of hanging up his boots just yet.

Laxman carried this impression of defiance to the nets today at WACA as he strode out purposefully in the middle and had an extended batting session in sweltering heat.

And later, at the press conference, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir also jumped to Laxman’s defence, saying, “My question is why one person? The top seven batters are equally to blame.

We have failed as a unit, why then Laxman alone?

“He is a legend of Indian cricket. He has served Indian cricket for a very, very long time. There shouldn’t be anyone who would be deciding. It should be him and him alone who should do so.

“If criticism has to happen, it should happen not to one person but to the entire batting unit who have let the team down. Neither media, fans nor former cricketers would decide if he is to retire. He is still working very hard, it’s matter of just one innings and his confidence would be back.”>>>

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Sehwag nonchalant at the nets

If Virender Sehwag was anxious about his role as India skipper for the fourth Test against Australia and his continued poor run with the bat, he didn't show it to the world during the nets at the WACA here on Tuesday.

After batsmen — from Rahul Dravid to Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli to Gautam Gambhir — had gone through some serious nets, Sehwag preferred to bat in shorts without any protection of pads, against throw-downs and slow bowling, at the WACA.

Sehwag is now at the helm for the Adelaide Test, after Mahendra Singh Dhoni was banned for slow over-rate during the third Test which India lost.

DISMAL FORM

Sehwag has a fearsome reputation as a devastating opener, having scored 8,098 runs from 95 Tests at 50.93 with 22 centuries, including two triple hundreds, yet his form on the present tour has been downright dismal. Sehwag has scored 118 runs from six innings at an average of 19.67.>>>

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