For once the hype around London Olympics seems to take taken away the limelight away from Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys. Discreet is not a term you would generally associate with an Indian cricket team’s departure for an international tour, says a report in The Indian Express, adding that but for once, not many seemed to take notice of the country’s most-vaunted sports team as they boarded the flight from Chennai. The spotlight had already shifted. Their arrival in Sri Lanka has been overshadowed by the upcoming London Olympics.
“Call it a case of really bizarre scheduling or the BCCI’s not-too-subtle benevolence towards their neighbouring counterparts, a trip to Colombo has become a routine affair for Dhoni & Co. And so often have the two teams met each other in recent years that an Indo-Lankan contest has lost relevance for many — except of course on that unforgettable night at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2, 2011,” says the Indian Express report, adding that a clearer case of overkill has rarely existed. “Since January 2008, India and Sri Lanka have done battle on a staggering 52 occasions across all three formats. Of the lot, six Tests, 17 ODIs and one T20 have been played in the Emerald Isle itself. There’s plenty of reason for the players too to feel fed up. Kumar Sangakkara had once quipped last year about wanting to walk into a hotel foyer and not seeing the Indian team for a change. A look at the amount of matches that the likes of Dhoni and Suresh Raina have racked up against their neighbours can explain the former Sri Lankan captain’s reservations,” says the report.
Meanwhile a report in The Hindu says that split by years but united by cricket, a coach and a star player stressed that ‘remaining focused’ will help the Indian team do well in the coming under-19 World Cup in Australia. B. Arun and Yuvraj Singh believe that the squad led by Unmukt Chand will shine bright. Arun, who guides the junior crop, and Yuvraj spoke about what it takes to excel at the junior level.
“We did rappelling (at Nagarhole sanctuary), which is basically climbing down a cliff and the process is simple provided you stay calm. It is similar to what happens in close matches, a cool mind wins in hot matches. We also did a game called a trust-walk in which we split the players into three groups and except the group leader, the rest were blind-folded,” says B. Arun, adding, “The players found their own code-language. The camp got the team closer and helped a few players, who were withdrawn, to open up a lot more.”.
Meanwhile a report in The Times Of India says that Alastair Cook hit his 20th test century to steer England to 267-3 at stumps Thursday on the opening day of the first test against South Africa at The Oval. Cook hit a measured 114 not out from 283 balls, with a six and 11 fours, to put England in charge. Jonathan Trott made 71 from 162 balls with nine fours. Morne Morkel, who trapped England captain Andrew Strauss lbw for 0 on the fourth ball of the day, was the best bowler on a lifeless wicket, taking 2-44 on a frustrating day for South Africa.
