Duncan Fletcher appointed coach

CHENNAI: The former England coach, Duncan Fletcher, has been appointed coach of the Indian cricket team for a period of two years. He takes over from the highly successful Gary Kirsten.

The 62-year-old Fletcher was a path-breaking coach for England from 1999 to 2007. During his tenure, England registered its first Ashes triumph in 18 years and recorded significant away Test series victories in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the West Indies and South Africa.

As a player, he excelled as an all-rounder — he was an aggressive left-handed batsman and bowled tight right-arm medium pace for Zimbabwe. The highlight of his career was when he skippered Zimbabwe to a stunning win over Australia in a group match of the 1983 World Cup in England. He led from the front too, scoring 69 not out and claiming four wickets for 42.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided on Fletcher for the top job at its working committee meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday. Eric Simons' role as the bowling coach was extended.

BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan said Fletcher might not join the side during India's tour of the West Indies beginning early June. The new coach would, however, be part of the side for the full tour of England from mid-July.

The taciturn Fletcher, much like Kirsten, shuns the limelight. He has earned respect for strategic brilliance and out-of-the-box thinking.

As England coach, he forged impressive partnerships with captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan. Fletcher has also played a key role in the development of Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen. He has the reputation for backing ability, and not numbers.

Duncan Fletcher.

CHENNAI: The former England coach, Duncan Fletcher, has been appointed coach of the Indian cricket team for a period of two years. He takes over from the highly successful Gary Kirsten.

The 62-year-old Fletcher was a path-breaking coach for England from 1999 to 2007. During his tenure, England registered its first Ashes triumph in 18 years and recorded significant away Test series victories in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the West Indies and South Africa.

As a player, he excelled as an all-rounder — he was an aggressive left-handed batsman and bowled tight right-arm medium pace for Zimbabwe. The highlight of his career was when he skippered Zimbabwe to a stunning win over Australia in a group match of the 1983 World Cup in England. He led from the front too, scoring 69 not out and claiming four wickets for 42.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided on Fletcher for the top job at its working committee meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday. Eric Simons' role as the bowling coach was extended.

BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan said Fletcher might not join the side during India's tour of the West Indies beginning early June. The new coach would, however, be part of the side for the full tour of England from mid-July.

The taciturn Fletcher, much like Kirsten, shuns the limelight. He has earned respect for strategic brilliance and out-of-the-box thinking.

As England coach, he forged impressive partnerships with captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan. Fletcher has also played a key role in the development of Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen. He has the reputation for backing ability, and not numbers.

Saina, Jwala-Ashwini hold Indian interest

e field offers plenty of depth in all five sections . — Photo : Rajeev Bhatt

CONFIDENT DUO:Indian badminton specialists G. Jwala (left) and Ashwini Ponappa during an interactive session with the media.

NEW DELHI: Saina Nehwal, the doubles combination of G. Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa, apart from Malaysia's World number One Lee Chong Wei, return to the Siri Fort Sports Complex here with memories of another day.

In October last, these leading badminton stars claimed gold medals in the the Commonwealth Games in contrasting ways. They are all looking for an encore in front of a packed house once the inaugural $200,000 India Open Super Series begins on Tuesday.

However, the Chinese have stayed away due to their National League but the field still offers plenty of depth in all five sections.

The showpiece event

The showpiece event will, as always, be the men's singles, where Lee Chong Wei, World No. 2 and former Olympic Gold medallist Taufik Hidayat and World No. 6, former World champion Denmark's Peter Gade are the star attractions.

But the Indian interest will only more in the ladies singles for two reasons — the prospects of Saina winning the title and the lack of serious Indian challenge in the men's section.

Saina, ranked fourth in the world, was hopeful of repeating her title-winning sequence. Winner of the Swiss Open this year, Saina said, “It is going to be tough but I am confident of doing well again.

I have trained hard and my ankle is much better,” assured the Hyderabad girl, who has been nursing an ankle injury in the season so far.

Saina is drawn to play Japanese girls Ai Guto in the opening round with the prospect of facing Indonesia's Maria Kusumastuti before the much-awaited quarterfinals against Japan's Eriko Hirose.

Hirose had ended Saina's run in the All England championship in March but the Indian avenged the defeat the following week on way to the Swiss Open title. The presence of other Indian girl, National champion Aditi Mutatkar, does not promise much. Four other qualifiers, mostly Indians, will complete the 32-player draw on Tuesday evening.

Best Indian hope

In the men's singles, India's best hope P. Kashyap is drawn to play Hidayat in the second round. National champion Arvind Bhat, Ajay Jayaram, Guru Sai Dutt and Anand Pawar are the other Indians in main draw. Some more will join after Tuesday's qualifying rounds.

Besides, Saina, the country's best title-prospect is in the ladies doubles were Jwala and Ashwini are confident of going all the way.

Seeded eighth, the Indian girls gain strength from the fact that they have beaten the top two Japanese seeds, favourite Madeka Miyuki-Suetsuna Satoko and Fujii Mizuki-Kakiiwa Reika, at least once.

“We skipped the Asian championship to prepare for this event,' said an articulate Jwala and continued, “we are well prepared but I do not want to look beyond the first match. We will take it as we go along.”

Jwala did feel sad about the fact that the event has not been publicised at all. “On my way to the hotel (from the airport), I noticed that there was not a single hoarding any where. Even outside the stadium, there is nothing. It really feels sad.”

Saina, Jwala-Ashwini hold Indian interest

e field offers plenty of depth in all five sections . — Photo : Rajeev Bhatt

CONFIDENT DUO:Indian badminton specialists G. Jwala (left) and Ashwini Ponappa during an interactive session with the media.

NEW DELHI: Saina Nehwal, the doubles combination of G. Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa, apart from Malaysia's World number One Lee Chong Wei, return to the Siri Fort Sports Complex here with memories of another day.

In October last, these leading badminton stars claimed gold medals in the the Commonwealth Games in contrasting ways. They are all looking for an encore in front of a packed house once the inaugural $200,000 India Open Super Series begins on Tuesday.

However, the Chinese have stayed away due to their National League but the field still offers plenty of depth in all five sections.

The showpiece event

The showpiece event will, as always, be the men's singles, where Lee Chong Wei, World No. 2 and former Olympic Gold medallist Taufik Hidayat and World No. 6, former World champion Denmark's Peter Gade are the star attractions.

But the Indian interest will only more in the ladies singles for two reasons — the prospects of Saina winning the title and the lack of serious Indian challenge in the men's section.

Saina, ranked fourth in the world, was hopeful of repeating her title-winning sequence. Winner of the Swiss Open this year, Saina said, “It is going to be tough but I am confident of doing well again.

I have trained hard and my ankle is much better,” assured the Hyderabad girl, who has been nursing an ankle injury in the season so far.

Saina is drawn to play Japanese girls Ai Guto in the opening round with the prospect of facing Indonesia's Maria Kusumastuti before the much-awaited quarterfinals against Japan's Eriko Hirose.

Hirose had ended Saina's run in the All England championship in March but the Indian avenged the defeat the following week on way to the Swiss Open title. The presence of other Indian girl, National champion Aditi Mutatkar, does not promise much. Four other qualifiers, mostly Indians, will complete the 32-player draw on Tuesday evening.

Best Indian hope

In the men's singles, India's best hope P. Kashyap is drawn to play Hidayat in the second round. National champion Arvind Bhat, Ajay Jayaram, Guru Sai Dutt and Anand Pawar are the other Indians in main draw. Some more will join after Tuesday's qualifying rounds.

Besides, Saina, the country's best title-prospect is in the ladies doubles were Jwala and Ashwini are confident of going all the way.

Seeded eighth, the Indian girls gain strength from the fact that they have beaten the top two Japanese seeds, favourite Madeka Miyuki-Suetsuna Satoko and Fujii Mizuki-Kakiiwa Reika, at least once.

“We skipped the Asian championship to prepare for this event,' said an articulate Jwala and continued, “we are well prepared but I do not want to look beyond the first match. We will take it as we go along.”

Jwala did feel sad about the fact that the event has not been publicised at all. “On my way to the hotel (from the airport), I noticed that there was not a single hoarding any where. Even outside the stadium, there is nothing. It really feels sad.”