India the first TT winner
Brand Yuvraj in new celestial orbit
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Yuvraj Singh’s teammates call him Yuvi as the letter ‘V’ stands tall in his unfinished nickname. The question is whether it’s V for vendetta or victory. Going by the Punjab southpaw’s belligerent form in the Twenty20 World Cup matches, it’s a bit of both, skyrocketing Brand Yuvraj to a new celestial orbit. With nine brands in his kitty and slightly over a crore per brand riding on him on an average, Yuvi’s hunger is telling.
On September 19, when India took on England at Kingsmead, Yuvraj reduced to pulp fast bowler Stuart Broad with six sixes in an over, a feat YouTube has been showing to over half a million viewers for three days now. A day later, he called his sixes “heavenly justice”.
He was referring to a similar feat by England’s Dimitri Mascarenhas in the NatWest Series tie at the Oval two weeks back, when Mascarenhas hit Yuvraj for five sixes in his over. At Kingsmead, Yuvi took a long sharp look at Mascarenhas at mid-wicket in Broad’s over and hoisted the ball over him in the fifth delivery – sheer vendetta.
It is this fury that’s fuelling such form, many a times pitchforking Yuvraj as the architect of India’s victories in the tournament, and eventually helping the country reach Monday’s final against Pakistan. And advertisers seem to be lapping up his spirit too. For Hero Honda, Yuvraj represents the key values of youthfulness, dynamism, trust and durability. “He also signifies a new India – confident, fearless and ready to take on the world.
His performance has vindicated our faith in cricket,” says Anil Dua, senior vice-president of Hero Honda, the motorbike brand Yuvraj has been endorsing for the last six years. “Brand Yuvraj is all about passionate determination. His performance stems from somewhere deep.
A nagging angst, like he has been denied something and now he will show the world what it means to take him on. He is in control. You can see the power in his eyes. He represents the new India. The caged tiger is breaking free,” says Josy Paul, national creative director, JWT India.
Yuvraj works hard at his game and his management agency reciprocates that by targeting the right ads that go with his swashbuckling psyche. “It’s not about quantity. The quality of ads are important too and we choose brands which are representative of his character,” claims Vinita Bangad of Percept Talent Management.
A quick look at the brands Yuvraj endorses – Pepsi, Microsoft, Hero Honda, Trent, SBI Cards, Seagram, Marico, Reebok and Donear Suitings – shows his association largely with leadership brands. “On an average, his brand loyalty spans three to four years,” says Ms Bangad.
A quick glance at the numbers show that India’s Twenty20 vice-captain, Yuvraj Singh, is giving captain MS Dhoni a good run for his money when it comes to endorsements. While Yuvraj makes Rs 10 crore by endorsing nine brands over 40 days a year at 4.5 days per brand, Dhoni bags Rs 8 crore by endorsing 12 brands over 75 days in the same timeframe, at about 9.5 days to a brand, points out sources.
The vice-captain works less, earns more out of the ads by clearly focusing on image or identity-driven brands that complement his attitude. By the way, both are 26-year-olds.
Critics have always nailed Yuvraj for his inconsistencies – just 30 fifties and seven hundreds in 183 ODIs. Also, his recurring back strain has put him out of action on several occasions.
But the Twenty20 World Cup seems just the right platform for Yuvi’s twin Vs to come together. Victory with a Vengeance – that’s the mantra if India were to overcome arch-foes Pakistan tonight.
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Cricket can learn ‘packaging’ from Chak De!
The ICL-BCCI issue is hot in the Indian cricket world. Belligerent sound bites fill the airwaves in talk shows and other programmes about the ongoing tussle between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Zee Group-promoted Indian Cricket League (ICL).
“However, there is no fundamental conflict between the two entities,” says Ms Latika Khaneja, Director of the New Delhi-based Collage Sports Management (CSM).
“Whatever differences are cropping up are due to politics: the TV right issues, personal ego clashes, and the economics of the entire cricket property.”
CSM manages contract negotiation and all ‘off-the-field’ business and marketing endeavours, including endorsements, promotions, and so on for sportspersons and celebrities.
The firm’s clients include cricketers such as Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Mongia, Sanjay Bangar and Gautam Gambhir.
Having multiple sports bodies is a well-accepted practice all over the world, says Ms Khaneja, in an email interaction with Business Line.
“It is also very good for the players as it gives them options and careers outside of the pyramid of national cricket.”
According to her, the coexistence of two rivals will give “better pay packets to cricketers. For the public, the challenge lies with Zee to create a property that is interesting.”
On how the product offering should be, Ms Khaneja’s wish is that ICL steers clear of creating a me-too product and come up with entertainment and excitement, “because a head-to-head combat of Yuvraj and Dhoni with Dinesh Mongia and JP Yadav does not stand a chance.”
It’s all in the packaging, she adds. “Look at Chak De! India. A movie on women’s hockey starring none other than King Khan!”
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Twenty20 World Cup to be aired in 105 countries
Aug. 17 China will be introduced to live ICC cricket this September with the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup.
ESPN STAR Sports, the broadcast rights holder to ICC tournaments, said it has secured coverage of the tournament in over 105 countries.
“In addition to these partnerships, we are currently in discussions with more broadcasters across markets and we would soon be sharing the details on them. This would further extend the reach of this tournament, thus setting new standards of global distribution of cricket,” said Mr Manu Sawhney, Executive V-P, Programming and Marketing, ESPN STAR Sports. The broadcaster is believed to be charging advertisers a higher rate than what was seen during the World Cup. ESPN is betting on the event drawing interest from the game’s regular fans as well as from new audiences who will stop by the channel purely for the entertainment value that the Twenty20 format is expected to offer.
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Join ICL 'n face life ban, warns BCCI
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ESPN STAR SPORTS signs broadcast deals in 105 countries for ICC World Twenty20
ESPN Star Sports (ESS), has announced a slew of broadcast partnerships for the first edition of the ICC World Twenty20 slated to kick off in September in South Africa.
ESPN Star Sports and its affiliate EML have secured global coverage for the tournament with over 105 countries slated to showcase the inaugural edition of ICC World Twenty20.
The coverage will be available on ESPN, Star Sports, and recently launched cricket-dedicated channel StarCricket along with their affiliated television channels in various Asian countries including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and China. This marks the first time that an ICC event will be shown live on television in China, informs an official statement issued by the company.
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Pak ban players from new ICL
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not allow current or former players still involved with the board to play in the unofficial Indian Cricket League, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf said on Thursday.
"The ICL is not recognised by the International Cricket Council or its member boards so there is no question of our players going to play there," Ashraf said.
Sources close to some of the players said Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik had received offers days after former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq confirmed he had been approached by the organisers.
The ICL has signed former West Indies captain Brian Lara for the Twenty20 series to be played over 45 days starting in October.
Ashraf said any player who decided to play in the league would not be selected again for Pakistan.
"We have clauses in our central contracts clearly outlining the board decides where the players can play," he said.
"Even where former players are concerned if they are not holding any position with the board we can't stop them. But those who are working for us will not be given permission to play in the Indian league."
The BCCI has also refused to endorse the league.
ESPN Star Sports announces Dream Job
Three years ago, ESPN Star Sports (ESS) had come up with an anchor based reality show format. The show was called Dream Job - Harsha Ki Khoj and involved searching for an anchor who had strong presentation skills like Harsha Bhogle.
Now the sports broadcaster has announced the second edition of the show called Clinic All Clear Dream Job. This offers a one-year contract with the broadcaster. The winner will become a presenter on Star Cricket.
The broadcaster has roped in actor and cricket presenter Mandira Bedi as a celebrity judge for the show. The jury for the second edition will also include stars like Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram, Harsha Bhogle and Alan Wilkins. The broadcaster's news executive producer Sharon van Zwieten News and SportsCenter presenter Colette Wong will also play a critical role in the jury.
The show will air every Thursday from 20 September on Star Cricket.
ESPN Software India MD R C Venkateish said, “The launch of Dream Job is a part of our overall strategy of launching quality sports based feature programmes. The first edition of the programme received a huge response from cricket lovers across the nation and we expect an even better response this time. The format of the show has been made bigger; the scale is now going to be international. After all, the prize on offer for the winner is literally a Dream Job – he will be a presenter on Star Cricket.”
HUL GM and category head, Hair Care Rajaram Narayanan said, “Dream Job is a perfect platform for any Indian who eats, breathes and sleeps cricket, a sport that unites India. Clinic All Clear as a brand stands for self - assurance, self - confidence and perfection; and Dream Job is a hunt for a perfect candidate who needs to have similar attributes.”
Bedi said, “It is not easy to be a presenter especially for sports. The action is live and the result unpredictable. Hence the reactions have to be honest, impromptu and informed. This is a lethal combination and it takes time to adjust and respond. One has to be always at his confident best to be All Clear All The Way.
“As the jury, we will be testing the contestants on various parameters like presence of mind, domain knowledge, presentation, camera readiness, ease with cricket as well as non-cricket sport and performance during live matches. I am very excited with this new association with the number one sports network in India and world over. Working with ESPN Star Sports is like a dream come true for me. It is my dream job”.
Clinic All Clear Dream Job has kick started with entries through audio/video clips and call in phone lines that will be open till 6 August 2007. The show has already received overwhelming response from enthusiasts across the country, an official release said.
The entries will be reviewed and the short listed candidates will be called for on-ground auditions at the four metros in the presence of the jury. Starting with Delhi on 18 August, Dream Job will travel to Mumbai on 25 August, followed by Bangalore on 1 September and Kolkata on 8 September.
The search goes international as India is taking on England for 3 Tests and 7 One Day Internationals. On each match day the broadcaster will hunt for candidates from the stands and four candidates will make it to the final phase of the reality show.
From the on ground auditions, 16 contestants will make it to the studio rounds, with the final 4 heading to Sydney for an experience of a lifetime and the viewers will not just get to see the contestants live during the semi finals but also vote for their favourite to reach the final round.
The final round will see the top two go to the ESS studios at Singapore where each of them will get to do a story live on Sportscenter. The two will have a final job interview and the winner will get a one year contract as a sports presenter thereafter.
The broadcaster adds that the Dream Job contest last time received an response with entries across the country. The show had on ground auditions in six cities and after a six month long process, Anand Narsimhan from Bangalore was chosen as the winner.
Ten Sports in deal with Goal TV for licensing and production
Ten Sports and Goal TV have agreed to a new multi-year deal which will allow Goal TV's football content to be shown to the 50 million households of Ten Sports and Zee Sports in the Indian sub-continent.
The agreement also sees the production of Goal TV's two all-football channels shift to the Ten Sports headquarters in Dubai. Goal TV is a JV between Astro in Malaysia and Hong Kong's Yes TV. It claims to reach 60 million viewers in 16 countries.
Goal TV founder Thomas Kressner said, "It is an excellent development for us to partner with the Indian sub-continent's leading sports channel, with its huge daily audience and solid production experience".
Goal TV's content includes live action from the French, Scottish and Dutch premier leagues and programming from top English clubs Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, and Spanish La Liga club Barcelona.
Ten Sports senior VP Peter Hutton said, "This volume of excellent football content is part of a growing bouquet of football rights on Ten and Zee Sports. It supports our existing deals with the Uefa Champions League, Uefa Cup, Uefa Supercup, Fifa, AFC, the English championship and the All India football federation."
The new agreement means that Taj TV, Ten Sports' parent will now produce and transmit nine channels from its Dubai based headquarters, ranging from the Cricket Plus channel for Directv in the US to the Football Channel for Singapore cable operator Starhub.
ESPN gets broadcast rights of India-Scotland ODI
ESPN-Star Sports have acquired the broadcast rights of the India-Scotland One-Day International to be played at Glasgow on August 16.
"We are absolutely delighted to bring the India-Scotland One Day International to millions of cricket followers in the country," R C Venkateish, Managing Director, ESPN Software Pvt Ltd, said in a statement here today.
ESPN Star Sports acquires rights for India-Scotland ODI
ESPN Star Sports has acquired the telecast rights for the India-Scotland one-dayer to be played in Glasgow on 16 August. The ODI match is part of India’s ongoing tour of England, Ireland and Scotland.
ESPN software India Private Ltd MD R C Venkateish said, "We are absolutely delighted to bring the India-Scotland one day international to millions of cricket followers in the country. We have almost uninterrupted international cricket lined up over the next 15 months and we will continue in our endeavour to add more exciting properties to the list."
Cricket Scotland CEO Roddy Smith said, "We are delighted that our game against India will be shown through our partnership with ESPN Star Sports. There is huge passion for the game in Scotland and I know the viewers will be enthralled by a competitive game from Glasgow."
ESS is also telecasting India’s tour of England where India plays three Test matches and eight one day internationals (July – September), followed by Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa (September 07), India’s Australia tour (December 07 –March 08) and Asia Cup in Pakistan (May 2008). This will be followed by ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan (September 2008).
ESS has in its line up the ICC global telecast and marketing rights until 2015. The rights package, starting in 2007, includes the two ICC cricket World Cups in 2011 and 2015, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Twenty20 World Cups.
Source-indiantelevision.com
Cricket makes a comeback on TV
The ongoing India-England cricket test series has managed to pull back to TV sets the cricket fans who had shied away after India’s debacle in the World Cup in the West Indies earlier this year.
The recently drawn test match between India and England has delivered a high television rating (TVR) of 1.75 in the metros. The ratings have been released by aMap, the online television measurement rating agency.
According to experts, these ratings are indicative of the return of faith among millions of cricket fans.
“A television rating of around 2 for India playing test matches abroad is considered decent. The aMap ratings from the metros indicate that a good number of cricket fans were glued to the television in the evenings, expecting India to do well,” a senior media planner said.
Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai account for over 60 per cent of the target audience that advertisers target on a sports channel.
Therefore, a relatively higher ratings for India-England test series compared to the last series in Bangladesh is a good sign for cricket, experts add.
According to aMap, India’s tour to Bangladesh in May post World Cup debacle resulted in an extremely low TVRs of 0.02-0.30. Even advertisers stayed away from the series raising questions on the popularity of the game.
Though recently launched Star Cricket channel has struggled with the all-India roll out and reach in the initial days of the first test match, channel executives say that it is now being watched across most of the 70 million cable homes.
“Star Cricket is a new channel and many agreements with over 100 cable operators were done during the second and the third day of the five-day test match. As its reach increases, ratings will start reflecting a clear picture of the popularity of the game,” a senior ESPN executive said.
Star Cricket is the all-cricket channel launched by ESPN Star India.
England v India, 1st Test, Lord's, 5th day pictures
Mahendra Singh Dhoni plays one off the back foot
Ian Bell attempts to stop a stroke from Anil Kumble
Mahendra Singh Dhoni flicks the ball to the midwicket boundary,
Andrew Strauss watches the ball speed to the boundary, while VVS Laxman crosses over to the other end,
Mahendra Singh Dhoni urges the nonstriker to pick up a quick single while Matt Prior looks on
England v India, 1st Test, Lord's, 5th day pictures
Mahendra Singh Dhoni plays one off the back foot
Ian Bell attempts to stop a stroke from Anil Kumble
Mahendra Singh Dhoni flicks the ball to the midwicket boundary,
Andrew Strauss watches the ball speed to the boundary, while VVS Laxman crosses over to the other end,
Mahendra Singh Dhoni urges the nonstriker to pick up a quick single while Matt Prior looks on
Indian Cricket League now signed Brian Lara
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) better watch out. Subhash Chandra promoted Essel Group's Indian Cricket League (ICL), a parallel cricket format, continues to expand its list of star cricketers.
After roping in Kapil Dev and Tony Greig on the executive board, it has now signed in former West Indian cricketer Brian Lara as captain of one of ICL's six city teams.
ICL project head Himanshu Mody said, "We are extremely honored to welcome Brian to the ICL family. I think the youngsters we are grooming for India’s future will benefit immensely from playing alongside him in the ICL."
ESPN-Star Sports fixes a high price for Star Cricket
Cable bills in non-conditional access system (CAS) areas may go up by 10-15 per cent with the launch of the all-cricket sports channel, Star Cricket, today.
With this launch, sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports will become the costliest sports bouquet in non-CAS areas in the country, with a price of about Rs 65 per susbcriber.
Nimbus Communications bouquet of two sports channels — Neo Sports and Neo Sports Plus — is the second most expensive bouquet, priced at Rs 37.25 per susbcriber.
“While we will not be able to comment on the individual pricing of Star Cricket to the cable operators, the fact that it will be seen in most cable homes confirms our committment to millions of cricket fans across India,” an ESPN executive says.
Together, ESPN and Star Sports cost Rs 42 per susbcriber in non-CAS homes while it is priced Rs 5 in the CAS homes of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. With Star Cricket, it will become the costliest sports bouquet in the country.
The leading sports broadcaster has sold its all-cricket channel at Rs 19-23 per subscriber per month to different multi system operators (MSO) on the basis of exclusive coverage of the India-England three test match series begining today.
Star Cricket witnessed a soft-launch on July 1 and the sports broadcaster was seeking Rs 28 per susbcriber from MSOs.
Cable operators say that this will force them to increase cable prices by 10-15 per cent in non-CAS homes. Senior executives of the MSO WWIL (formerly called Siticable) say that there was no question of paying Rs 28 for Star Cricket.
“With the mandatory sports law in place, there is no exclusivity for any sports broadcaster except for test matches. We will have to pass on the pricing to the consumers or show only two out of three sports channels from ESPN bouquet," says a Delhi-based cable operator working for a leading MSO.
But it will be good news for direct to home (DTH) susbcribers. About 22 lakh susbcribers of Dish TV, a large DTH company, will be able to view Star Cricket, a Dish TV spokesperson has confirmed.
The deal with Tata Sky, the second-largest DTH operator, is also on the anvil, sources close to the development inform.
ESS enters deal with Dish TV for Star Cricket
ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd has reached an agreement with Dish TV to introduce its third channel Sports Cricket on the DTH platform. The channel will kick off with the India-England series on 19 July.
While ESPN Star Sports (ESS), which is already on DishTV, will only telecast the ODI's, Star Cricket will air the entire series inclusive of test matches. ESS will carry an English feed and Star Cricket will carry the Hindi feed.
When contacted about Tata Sky's discussions with ESS for the telecast of the series, Tata Sky MD and CEO Vikram Kaushik declined to comment.
India will complete all three test matches and two of its seven one-day matches on its England tour by 25 August, wherein India plays its last one-dayer in England on 7 September.
ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd, DishTV CEO Arun Kumar Kapoor said, "With Star cricket now available on Dish TV, we fulfill our promise of wholesome entertainment to our discerning subscribers. Just before the India-England series, we ensure that our subscribers get to watch the matches.”
“Star Cricket is a great venture by the ESPN Star Sports and we are proud to be associated with the channel in bringing the series on the DTH platform. Cricket is like a religion in India. We have extended our service portfolio for those cricket lovers whose interest, passion and emotions are synonymous with the game.”
According to ESPN MD R C Venkateish, “We have a very long and fruitful association with Dish TV. The growth of the platform in this time frame has been extremely impressive and we believe that the popularity of our channels has contributed in accelerating the growth of DishTV. We are happy to partner with dishtv for the newly launched Star Cricket.”
“Our understanding with dishtv will ensure that subscribers of the Dish TV platform will enjoy un-interrupted cricket on three channels – ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket,” added Venkateish.
ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket will telecast India’s tour of England where India will play three Test matches and seven one day internationals (July – September 2007). This will be followed by the telecast of the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa (September 2007).
India’s tour of Australia involving four test matches and a Tri series with Australia, Sri Lanka and India involving 15 ODIs will also be telecast on the network (December 2007 –March 2008). The channels will also be showcasing live from Pakistan in the Asia Cup, involving 13 One-day Internationals in the month of May 2008.
In addition, the sports broadcaster will also present the ICC Champions Trophy, bringing it live from the battlegrounds of Pakistan which will see different teams fight out in 15 intense ODI matches in September 2008.
Big names for India England test series
If Indian cricket was a bad dream for advertisers in the last quarter, it seems to have become the flavour of the season now. Putting the Caribbean World Cup experience behind them, advertisers are once again placing big bets on the India-England series that begins two days from now.
Star Cricket, ESPN-Star’s all-cricket channel that will telecast the series, has managed to rope in big names, such as Motorola, Maruti, Times Internet, Havell’s and Visa, as sponsors for the three Test series. Industry sources say ESPN will rake in between Rs 120-150 crore from the three Tests and seven ODIs. Declining to divulge figures, an ESPN-STAR Sports spokesperson said, “India-England Test matches have always generated huge interest and ratings have generally been impressive.”
The broadcaster has sold over three-fourths of its inventory, at rates ranging between Rs 50,000-70,000 per 10 seconds, media sources said. Going rates for the one-day series, which commences later in the season, are in the range of Rs 1.4-1.75 lakh for 10 seconds. ESPN’s current rates are higher than the India-England bilateral series that was telecast on Sahara last year and sold at Rs 1-1.25 lakh for 10 second spots, media sources said.
What works in favour of the series, according to media buyers, is that prices are realistic and match timings are suitable for Indian audiences. As Madison Media Plus CEO Basabdatta Chowdhuri said: “This Test series is bound to attract higher viewership, because the second innings will run into Indian prime time, unlike Tests played in India, which are typically day matches.” The rates, too, fit the expected parameters, said media buyers. Pointed out Mindshare MD Sunder Raman, “ESPN’s asking rates are realistic and well within the benchmark of cricket prices. Besides, the broadcaster has enough content to generate a critical mass of viewer connectivity.”
Sources say sponsors have dished out Rs 5-7 crore for coming on board. Declining to comment on investments, Motorola’s director (marketing) Lloyd Mathias told ET: “We have invested in cricket as part of an ongoing deal with ESPN. Cricket continues to remain a prime passion in the country and one of the key drivers of our overall media strategy. Since we address the higher SEC and male-driven audience, the positioning of our products fits well with cricket.”
Indian tour Of ENGLAND AND IRELAND
The Indian team have left Mumbai on Tuesday night for its 3 month tour of Ireland and England, their first real test since the first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. The tour, which includes 12 ODIs against four countries on either side of three Tests against England, takes place without several familiar names and with a relatively inexperienced bowling attack.
India's last tour of England, under Sourav Ganguly in 2002, saw them drawing the Test series 1-1 and winning the one-day series. That success was built on the excellent form of the big three batsmen - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Ganguly - and, in the pre-tour press conference today, Dravid stressed that the key to a good showing on this tour lay with the experienced batting line-up.
In the absence of Virender Sehwag, dropped from both Test and ODI, India have a new opening combination in Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik which adds to the responsibility of the middle-order. "We have experience in the batting department, I am sure that is going to fire," Dravid said. "If we play to our true potential, I think we can have a very good series. We have to try and play good cricket and maintain the performance right through the tour."
The fast-bowling attack, however, does not share the same experience. Ishant Sharma has played just one Test, in Bangladesh, Ranadeb Bose has played none and S Sreesanth and RP Singh have 12 Tests between them. Dravid said Zaheer Khan, the most-experienced fast bowler with 47 Tests, had "a big role to play having played county cricket in England". In the spin department, India dropped Harbhajan Singh from both the Test and ODI squads and picked the 18-year-old Piyush Chawla for the ODIs and Ramesh Powar to back up Anil Kumble in the Tests.
Given the inexperience of the attack, the experience and guidance of Ventakesh Prasad, the bowling coach, could make a sizeable difference. "He has a lot of experience and has been working hard with the youngsters," said Dravid. "He has a big role to play on the tour."
The team will be traveling without a coach or an administrative or media manager. Instead, after the fiasco of Graham Ford's refusal to take up the coaching job, the BCCI chose to appoint Chandu Borde, a former Indian captain, as the cricket manager for this tour. Dravid sought to play down the absence of a regular coach and stressed that Borde would play a vital role on the tour. "Borde will be part of the team management... he will take part in strategies and meetings. He has so much knowledge and experience. In the earlier part of the tour, he will get to know the players and how the team works and get more comfortable with everyone."
Borde described the tour as a challenge and said he was used to handling such situations. He didn't join the conditioning camp in Bangalore but said that he had been keeping tabs on the England team. "They have variety in their pace attack and also have a formidable line-up. The team that plays at home always does well. I have been watching them on TV. They are doing well against West Indies. The batting looks comfortable with [Kevin] Pietersen, [Alastair] Cook, [Paul] Collingwood in their ranks."
The Tests, though, are still a month away; India begin with a one-day international against Ireland on June 23, followed by three matches against South Africa and a match in Glasgow against Pakistan. The three-Test series against England will be followed by seven ODIs.
For CRICKET NEWS
why india lost in world cup
Greg Chappell is the only responsible person for India to loose in the early stage of world cup.. he always said that we are planning for world cup we making a team for world cup whenever India loose matches.... and he always experiment over Indian cricket..and only because of him Sehwag and Irfan Pathan lost there confidence.. and in this condition....
and who can forget his discriminating behaviour against Sourav Ganguly
Rahul Dravid is also responsible for all that because he never cares if India win or not if he care about anything then its his captaincy.
what i think until Rahul Dravid is a Captain Of Indian Cricket team India can never be on top
Rahul Dravid is also responsible for all that because he never cares if India win or not if he care about anything then its his captaincy.
what i think until Rahul Dravid is a Captain Of Indian Cricket team India can never be on top
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