Stuart Broad out of T20’s against India

Nagpur: England's Twenty20 skipper Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the upcoming two T20 matches against India with a bruised left heel.

Broad will return to the UK immediately to begin a period of rest and rehabilitation.

James Harris, who is currently in Pune with the England Performance Programme, will replace Broad in the squad.

The 22-year old is uncapped at international level.

Eoin Morgan will captain the side in Broad's absence with the first match taking place in Pune on December 20.

The second game will be held in Mumbai on December 22.

Pacer Steven Finn will also return to the UK after a strained disc in his lower back ruled him out of the final Test here earlier today.

Finn is expected to be available for the ODI series against India beginning in January.

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Home News Exclusive Schedule/Results Top Performer Debate Blog Poll Trivia Pic Gallery Under-fire Dhoni lodges complaint with BCCI against Gambhir

New Delhi: Under fire after back-to-back defeats in the home series against England, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is unhappy with Gautam Gambhir's "attitude and on-field ethics" and has lodged a complaint to the BCCI against the left-hander, a media report claimed on Wednesday. Dhoni feels that Gambhir puts his interest above the team and has become too self-centred. The Indian captain has gone to the extent of lodging a complaint to the BCCI tagging the opener's approach as "selfish" and "hurtful to the team", 'cricketnext' website reported, quoting an Indian player who pleaded anonymity. "Of late Gambhir has gone into a shell and focusing on just to save his place in the team. His prolonged poor form has resulted in low self-esteem and he's cut off from other issues pertaining to the team," the player was quoted as saying. "But what irked Dhoni was Gambhir playing for himself and not for the team. It was evident in the way Gambhir batted in the second innings of the Mumbai Test that he was more interested in carrying his bat by remaining not out, rather than shielding the tailenders and scoring quick runs. "...Every run was crucial but Gambhir chose to be a mute spectator. The whole world saw that and everyone was taken aback. The effort to contribute to the team wasn't there. Look how well R Ashwin batted with maturity during his unbeaten 91 in the Kolkata Test and he isn't a specialist batsman. He shepherded the tailenders superbly and scored vital runs. If Ashwin can do, why couldn't Gambhir?" the player said. While assuaging thoughts of any bad blood between Dhoni and Gambhir, the report cited the run-outs of Virender Sehwag in the first innings of the Kolkata Test and Cheteshwar Pujara in the second as moments which precipitated India's downfall and left Dhoni miffed with Gambhir's current approach. "On both occasions, Gambhir was at fault. While there were clearly three runs in Sehwag's case which Gambhir declined, the call for a run to Pujara was ill-judged. He was having a tough time against Steven Finn and wanted to get off the strike. His desperation cost Pujara his wicket. Dhoni doesn't have doubts about his integrity or commitment," the player said. Gambhir's attitude has not gone down well with Dhoni, who is determined to win the Nagpur Test and level the series, and he conveyed his thoughts to the BCCI officials in no uncertain terms, the report claimed. The website report said one of the BCCI officials will speak to Gambhir before the match and the matter will be sorted out. "It is important that all the members take the field in the last Test with the motto of giving their best shot," he concluded. A source close to Gambhir asserted that though the opener hasn't performed to the potential in this series, Dhoni was playing gimmicks to undermine Gambhir. "Dhoni's captaincy is under fire. He's being censured by one and all. His place in the Test team is questioned; his defensive and unimaginative mindset as a captain is unmasked, so he's trying to pass the buck and blame others - whether his batsmen, spinners, Sehwag and now Gambhir - to save his face," the website said, quoting the source. "He (Dhoni) sees Gambhir as a potential threat to his captaincy and wants to undermine him. Mohinder Amarnath has tipped Gambhir to take over the captaincy from Dhoni and proclaimed that Dhoni uses his clout in the BCCI to push his agenda. He thinks that he can dictate terms in every matter...", the report added.

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Broad out of Nagpur Test; Finn doubtful

Nagpur: England fast bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the 4th and final Test between India and England due to a bruised heel. Broad, who is England’s T20 skipper, has also become doubtful for the subsequent T20 matches between the two nations. Board first had a scan on his injury during England`s second tour match in Mumbai last month, but he went on to play in the first two Tests before being dropped. If Board fails to recover in time, England would also have to name a new captain for the slam-bang format. Eoin Morgan is most likely to replace him. The two T20 matches are scheduled to take place in Pune and Mumbai on December 20 and 22, respectively. According to the sources from the English camp, fast bowler Steve Finn, who replaced Broad in the Kolkata Test, is also a doubtful starter for the Nagpur Test. First Published: Wednesday, December 12, 2012, 13:26

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London: Former India captain Rahul Dravid was scathing in his criticism after India`s abject surrender in the Kolkata Test, questioning the "skill, ability and talent" of the players who are representing the country. "People talk about attitude and say (the players) don`t care because there is too much money in the Indian Premier League. That`s one side of things but the main thing is their lack of skill and ability, which is more worrying for me. It raises questions as to the talent and quality of players coming through," Dravid told `BBC Test Match Special`. "One of the challenges India face is that our domestic cricket is not of the quality to allow players to seamlessly move into international cricket." There is a lot of anger among the cricket-crazy Indian fans and the veteran of 164 Tests and 13,288 runs feels that it is absolutely justified. "A lot of people are upset not just by losing but the manner of the defeats. India won three tosses and had the wicket in their favour in Mumbai and the best of the batting conditions here in Kolkata but they just haven`t been able to capitalise or put up a fight," said Dravid, who had retired from international cricket last March. Dravid along with Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag formed the core of a solid Indian Test team that reached the pinnacle of success winning in Australia, England, Pakistan, West Indies, New Zealand. "England have put a mirror up to the Indian cricket team and shown them the challenges that they face. Successful teams have a group of players who come through together and peak at the same time." The `Wall` feels that `A` tours are becoming increasingly more important. "I think having `A` tours and the academy system is becoming more and more important and I think England have been pretty good with that in the way that the academy travels every winter to different parts of the world. I think that is something India can learn from England," Dravid said. "It is about recognising that the Indian team is in a bit of transition and working out how to bring through young players who have the skill, technique, temperament and desire to play Test cricket." Dravid also admitted that Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha didn`t deliver as per expectations. "India have been outbowled in the spin department and that`s a worrying sign because spin has been our strength." Although he is thoroughly disappointed with the Indian team`s effort in the field and their general fitness standards, he was blunt in stating that it can`t be used as an excuse. "India have been poor in the field and their physical fitness is disappointing me. That`s not an excuse. You can`t demand runs, but you can at least demand accountability in terms of intensity and effort." There is always a possibility that the Indian team would come back stronger and level the series in the final Test in Nagpur but the 40-year-old feels that there is a need for long-term planning. "Irrespective of what happens in Nagpur, the lessons need to be learned from the series if India wants to be a consistently successful team and challenge again for the number one ranking," he concluded

London: Former India captain Rahul Dravid was scathing in his criticism after India`s abject surrender in the Kolkata Test, questioning the "skill, ability and talent" of the players who are representing the country.

"People talk about attitude and say (the players) don`t care because there is too much money in the Indian Premier League. That`s one side of things but the main thing is their lack of skill and ability, which is more worrying for me. It raises questions as to the talent and quality of players coming through," Dravid told `BBC Test Match Special`.

"One of the challenges India face is that our domestic cricket is not of the quality to allow players to seamlessly move into international cricket."

There is a lot of anger among the cricket-crazy Indian fans and the veteran of 164 Tests and 13,288 runs feels that it is absolutely justified.


"A lot of people are upset not just by losing but the manner of the defeats. India won three tosses and had the wicket in their favour in Mumbai and the best of the batting conditions here in Kolkata but they just haven`t been able to capitalise or put up a fight," said Dravid, who had retired from international cricket last March.

Dravid along with Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag formed the core of a solid Indian Test team that reached the pinnacle of success winning in Australia, England, Pakistan, West Indies, New Zealand.

"England have put a mirror up to the Indian cricket team and shown them the challenges that they face. Successful teams have a group of players who come through together and peak at the same time."

The `Wall` feels that `A` tours are becoming increasingly more important.

"I think having `A` tours and the academy system is becoming more and more important and I think England have been pretty good with that in the way that the academy travels every winter to different parts of the world. I think that is something India can learn from England," Dravid said.

"It is about recognising that the Indian team is in a bit of transition and working out how to bring through young players who have the skill, technique, temperament and desire to play Test cricket."

Dravid also admitted that Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha didn`t deliver as per expectations.

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Time has come for Sachin Tendulkar to retire: Amarnath, Vengsarkar

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New Delhi: Former India cricketer and member of selection committee Mohinder Amarnath has said that Sachin Tendulkar should quit international cricket as he no longer can play the way he used to in the past.

"Sachin is a great cricketer. He has been playing for many years. Now he cannot play the way he was playing earlier. The time comes for everybody," he was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar echoed Amarnath’s view saying Tendulkar cannot dominate the bowlers with the same ruthlessness when he was young.

"Sachin is a fantastic cricketer. He has contributed a lot for Indian cricket. However, he is now 39 years old. He will continue scoring runs, but not with the same speed. He will not dominate as he used to in the past," he was quoted as saying.

Tendulkar is under severe criticism for his failure to score runs in the past one year leading to suggestions that he should take retirement from international cricket.

Amarnath also raised questions over MS Dhoni;s performance saying he hasn’t done anything in recent memory that justifies his continuation as the Test skipper.

"Dhoni doesn't find a place in the team. What has he done for the team in the last one year? The selection committee does not have guts to remove Dhoni," he said.

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