'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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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