India in complete command of Kolkata Test

India took firm control of the second Test against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens as they ammased 98 runs in the session, for the loss of just one wicket, that of overnight batsman Wasim Jaffer for 202. Local boy Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman looked completely in command over proceedings as the duo dominated the Pakistani bowlers right from the word go. India went into lunch at 449 for four, with Ganguly on 62 and Laxman on 41.

The Indian opener began the day from where he left off the previous evening as he struck a magnificient backward punch through cover point off Shoaib Akthar to begin his scoring for the day. The ball after next, he played one past gully for four to reach his second double-century of his brief international career. However, he could not extend his knock beyond 202 as he stabbed at one from Sohail Tanvir that slanted away from him.

Jaffer’s knock was the best innings by an Indian batsman against Pakistan in India. He surpassed his former opening partner Virender Sehwag and Anshuman Gaekwad as both of them scored 201 against Pakistan on previous occasions.

After Jaffer’s departure, VVS Laxman joined Ganguly at the crease and his approach was nothing short of positive. He got off to a brilliant start with a typically well-timed forward push off Tanvir for a boundary, and since then never lowered his tempo. Once he set his eyes in, Laxman looked ominous, as he played some sumptuous ground-strokes off Shoaib Akhtar and Sohail Tanvir. India breezed past 400 in a Tanvir over, which fetched them 17 runs, including four boundaries. Pakistan tried pulling things back, but once Ganguly reached his second half-century at Kolkata, the runs started to bleed once again for the hosts.

Ganguly came up with some of his typical strokes through the off-side, and looked completely flawless throughout his stint in the crease this morning. His timing was brilliant, and what made the timing look better was the placement of his strokes.

Pakistan’s bowling, which lacked intensity on the opening day improved in the initial part of the morning, thanks to an overnight talking by Geoff Lawson. But once, the runs started to flow, they looked jaded and listless.

India will be eyeing a heavy score of around 600 and ensure they dont bat again in the remainder of the Test match.

India deal ‘pretty much signed and sealed’ – Kirsten

Gary Kirsten, the former South African batsmen who is the front-runner to become India’s next coach, said that the deal with the Indian board would be “pretty much signed and sealed” by Monday.

 

Kirsten was interviewed in Delhi on November 26 by the coach selection committee, comprising former captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and S Venkataraghavan, BCCI joint secretary MP Pandove, treasurer N Srinivasan and secretary Niranjan Shah. Anil Kumble, India’s Test captain, was also present at the meeting.

 

“They [BCCI] have given me a week to make a decision but it’s pretty much a reality,” Kirsten told PTI. “I have turned down numerous coaching opportunities due to family reasons in the past but this is such an esteemed one that I have to take a different look at it. I am very keen in principle to take up the post.

 

“At present, I am just looking at the logistics with my family and how it is going to work out. Negotiations are underway about this and I will make a final decision by Monday.”

 

The coach selection committee had wanted to speed up the process by appointing a coach before the tour of Australia next month, but Kirsten said that although the job would become effective immediately, he had obtained an assurance that he could start later because of a number of commitments in South Africa.

 

“The reality is that I was approached quite late by the Indian board, and, in accepting the job, I told them I had commitments over Christmas and New Year,” Kirsten explained to the Age. “But it looks like we are close to resolving that issue, and I will join the team for the last two Tests.

“The last thing you want to do is come in and be a distraction, but I have spoken to Anil [Kumble] about my situation, and he is comfortable with me joining the tour again later. I will not be coming in and imposing my ideas on them. That would be wrong. Instead, I will try and blend in and help anyway I can.”

Kirsten, 40, was one of South Africa’s leading batsmen, playing 101 Tests scoring 7289 runs at 45.27 and playing 185 ODIs scoring 6798 runs at 40.95. Soon after his retirement from Test cricket in March 2004, he embarked on a coaching career, taking up an assignment as Cricket South Africa’s high performance manager, after which he set up the privately-run Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy.

Vaas announces retirement plans for 2008

KANDY, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka bowler Chaminda Vaas will retire in 2008.

Vaas, 33, has been recalled for the first test against England starting on Saturday after being dropped earlier this month in Australia. It will be his 100th test.

“I give myself one more year in test cricket and in that time I hope to take 350 wickets before I quit,” Vaas told reporters on Friday.

“I will not wait for people to start saying that I am too old to play and be left out of the side as I don’t want to become a laughing stock,” Vaas said.

“I am proud and honoured to have served my country for so long and I am eager to perform in my 100th Test. I want to make it a special one by bowling my country to victory,” he said.

Vaas has taken 320 wickets at 29.44 during a 13 year test career.

There has been speculation in Sri Lanka that Vaas has been told by the selectors that his place cannot be guaranteed after the first test against England.

The left-arm quick bowler has not taken a five-wicket haul in test cricket since July 2005.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene praised Vaas’s record.

“It’s a great achievement for a sub-continental fast bowler,” Jayawardene said. “He’s been a great fighter.”