The likelihood of Sachin Tendulkar Or Virender Sehwag coming good is more than that of Rohit Sharma Or Suresh Raina, writes Hindustan Times. Going by India's rotation policy thus far in the series, it is Gambhir's turn to rest on Sunday against Australia, writes the paper, adding that however in all probability Gambhir is set to continue. Looking at the form he has struck in the last two games -where he got out in the nineties -it would be foolish to ask him to take a break. With neither Sharma nor Raina, who have totalled 79 and 74 runs, respectively in four innings, making good use of the opportunities, it would be prudent to have all three openers take on Australia, who will be without skipper Michael Clarke. If that happens, it would mean that either the rotation policy has been given a “minor change “or it has been “put on hold“ at least for Sunday's game.
According to writes The Times Of India, for the first time on this tour, India are favourites going into a match against Australia. It adds that thanks to the spirit and character displayed by them in the last three games, MS Dhoni’s men are brimming with confidence ahead of the Tri-series day-nighter here on Sunday.
“After an insipid start to their campaign, the Indians have done well to bounce back. They beat both Australia and Sri Lanka and head into this match after having secured a tie in the last game against Sri Lanka. At the halfway mark India are topping the table, even it is by the slender margin of just a solitary point. Gabba has been a lucky venue for India too: they have beaten Australia here in their previous two clashes,” writes the national daily.
Other news (TOI, Indian Express, The Hindu, HT, Tribune):
SLC secures funds to pay players: A Sri Lankan bank has agreed to release 600 million Sri Lanka rupees ($5.07 million) to the country's cash-strapped cricket board to pay its salary-starved players, according to the sports ministry. Sri Lanka's top cricketers have been owed match payments dating back to the end of last year's World Cup, with its cricket board unable to pay them since racking up some 3.7 billion Sri Lanka rupees of debt to finance the building of three cricket stadiums for the global tournament.
CA chief admits making mess of Haddin dumping: Cricket Australia (CA) CEO James Sutherland has accepted that the cricket body has done a botched up job of dropping wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's from the ODI side. He admitted that CA has to improve communication between national selectors and the public after confirming that Haddin had been dropped from the team rather than being rested from the tri-series. Sutherland said the John Inverarity-led panel needed to raise its game regarding how it broadcast its selections to the public. “We’re not comfortable with the level of uncertainty and public discussion on this particular matter,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Sutherland, as saying.
Pietersen blames DRS: Out of form England batsman Kevin Pietersen has blamed the Decision Review System for ruining his game. Admitting that he is altering his technique to deal with the technology, Pietersen said:"I've played a lot of cricket for England but this has been very hard. Batters have had to worry about the DRS, worry about the ball hitting your pad and having to change technique to try to counter it. The benefit of the doubt is certainly not with the batter now, which is quite sad."
Kaneria vows to clear his name in spot-fixing scandal: Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has vowed to do everything in his control to get his name cleared in the scandal, which has led to the jail sentence of Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield. “But it is a incorrect terminology that I have been implicated by the court. In fact, the Essex police cleared me in this case after proper investigations,” said Kaneria. “I have told my lawyer in London to get the full judgment of the trial and pursue this matter. I will not rest until I am cleared to play for Pakistan again,” he added.
Pakistan cricket bosses will ask British authorities for the full judgment and evidence in a spot-fixing case that implicated leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. Meanwhile, Kaneria was leading Sindh province against Punjab in a domestic tournament final here on Saturday.
Akram bats for Whatmore as Pakistan coach: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes the appointment of Dav Whatmore as the coach of the national cricket team will be a step in the right direction. “Coaching is not just about skill and experience. It is about manmanagement as well, which Dav is very good at. He will instill discipline and extract the best out of our players. I can definitely vouch for him,” said Akram. However, the decision to appoint Whatmore would mean Mohsin, who has had a brilliant run as interim coach, will have to step down. The PCB though is keen to give him the chief selector's role and Akram feels it would be a wise move.
