Entries Tagged as 'Gary Kirsten'

Indian bowlers make merry

India started their tour of Sri Lanka on an impressive note with their bowlers putting up a tidy display to bundle out Sri Lanka Board XI for a modest 224 on a rain-truncated opening day of the three-day warm-up match in Colombo on Friday.

Electing to bat, the home team never really recovered from a shaky start and could have been skittled out for a much lower first innings total had it not been for a resolute 100-run fifth wicket partnership between Thilina Kandamby (84) and Chamara Silva (68).

Captain Anil Kumble (3/30) was the pick of the Indian bowlers while paceman Zaheer Khan (2/35) and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (2/52) chipped in with two wickets each at the Nondescripts Cricket Club.

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Source: Hindusthan Times

Indians need patience to counter Mendis

Every ex-cricketer seems to have their own formula to play new spin sensation Ajantha Mendis even before he has made his Test debut, so does former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Ranjit Fernando, who feels patience will play rich dividends while playing him.

“The best way to play Mendis and read his six different varieties of balls is to spend as much time as possible in the middle. If you are patient and occupy the crease for a long time, you can read him better and make adjustments to play his lethal ‘carrom ball’,” Fernando, who will be on the commentators panel during the series, has told The Times of India on Saturday.

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Source: CricketNext

India vs SL Board President’s XI, Day III - Questions face India Test readiness

Watching television images of South Africa drilling England the past week is a dangerous exercise. India, for example, are nowhere near the level of the Proteas who drew the first Test at Lord’s with character and quality and have outplayed Michael Vaughan’s team with style and panache at Leeds.

Fighting centuries and determined concentration explains why the Proteas are second on the Test rankings. There is also quality support in their bowling now. They have found their radar again and sorted out their length and pace.

The Indian team for the first Test of the Idea Cup series are still several rungs below in terms of form and match-fitness, which means that Gary Kirsten and Co. still have a lot of work to do. While the former South African opening batsman may have been happy four days ago at the preparation for the Sri Lanka Test series, he will be wondering whether a second practice match might have been an advisable option.

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Source: CricketNext

Kirsten happy with India’s preparation -

India’s coach Gary Kirsten has said that with so much cricket taking place in different formats, it is vital that every player understands the role that he is expected to play in the upcoming Tests against Sri Lanka.

Speaking to the media at the end of the drawn three-day game against a Sri Lanka Board XI, Kirsten said: “We have to create an environment for everyone. To perform at his optimum, he needs a complete understanding of what he needs to do. We have worked hard on it so that everyone understands their roles and how they are going to play Test cricket.”

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Source: Cricinfo