The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Hyderabad hopes to turn the tables

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Hyderabad hopes to turn the tables

Special Correspondent

Chance for Baroda to prepare for bigger challenges ahead

BARODA: Hyderabad, forced by circumstances into a corner, will be a focussed side against Group B leaders Baroda in a Ranji Trophy 2005-06 Elite Division away game, commencing on Tuesday at Motibaug ground. Form, fitness and external factors like weather and wicket figure in team discussion, but the dominant theme is outright victory. The horror of defeat against Uttar Pradesh leaves Arjun Yadav's squad with no options but to aim for victory and maximum points in the four-day match against the table topper.

Crucial tie

The visitors, nine points off five league matches (against Baroda's 15), can then hope for a place in qualifying rounds, in case UP is not upto the mark. Former Ranji Trophy champion Baroda, cushioned by a confirmed semifinal berth, is viewing the Hyderabad tie as a chance to test its young talents for higher stakes ahead. The Motibaug track appears lively, helping teams, which play well in refreshingly cool conditions.

Comfort zone

Baroda, captained by Jacob Martin and coached by Balwinder Sandhu, is in a position of comfort due to all-round ability and depth in talent. The absence of pace spearheads Zaheer Khan and sensational Irfan Pathan is viewed as an opportunity by the ex-Mumbai coach to test new faces. Hyderabad's batting is still in search of batsmen with collective ability to make up for V.V.S. Laxman, who is away on national duty.

Emphasis on youth

Baroda can fall back on U-17 and U-22 squads for new ball options, with Murtuza Vora, A. Chauhan and Sankalp Vora figuring in coach Sandhu's plans. Strike bowler Rakesh Patel may be rested, giving Shekhar Joshi the chance to don the senior role.

Swapnil Singh, an U-17 left-arm spinner, may also get a long spell, giving Rajesh Pawar's injured shoulder time to recover.

Youth forms a major part of Hyderabad's bowling resources with new ball bowler Kaushik Reddy and spinner Pragyan Ojha expected to make Baroda's experienced batting line-up of Connor Williams, Satyajit Parab, Martin, Kiran Powar toil for runs.

The teams (from):

Hyderabad: Arjun Yadav (capt.), D Manohar, Shashank Nag, Anirudh Singh, Vinay Kumar, Ibrahim Khaleel (wk), P.S. Niranjan, Kaushik Reddy, N.P. Singh, I.S. Reddy, Pragyan Ojha, Abhinav Kumar, Amol Shinde, S.A. Pai, Alfred Absolem. Coach: Rajesh Yadav

Baroda: Jacob Martin (capt.), Connor Williams, Satyajit Parab, Rakesh Solanki, Pinal Shah (wk), Kiran Powar, Yusuf Pathan, Murtuza Vora, A. Chauhan, Swapnil Singh, Shekhar Joshi, Irfan Pathan Sr, Sankalp Vora, S. Gaekwad, Miten Shah. Coach: Balwinder Sandhu

Umpires: K. Hariharan, M.S. Mahal

Match referee: Narendra Menon

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport