Can Dhoni decode Mendis mystery?

Colombo, Aug. 13: It’s not often that Test series are fought in as exciting a manner as the one that we witnessed. Having said that, it’s not often that one man changes the course of a series in the manner Ajantha Mendis did. It’s been a while since a spinner of such class and conviction contrived to put the batsmen in a spin of web. Just one series old and Mendis is touted as the next big thing to happen to cricket; the bowler himself is a shy, soft-spoken person, so much so that he needs his captain at hand while addressing the world media. More introvert cricketers have come and gone; with passage of time, Mendis will come out of his shell and face the world as a bright and brash cricketer. Until such time, he would prefer to remain in the relative anonymity of his home, family and friends and of course, his beloved team. Much has been said about Mendis since he bamboozled India in the Asia Cup final with astonishing figures of six for 13. A lesser person would have keeled over in the face of intense scrutiny and the Lankans in general and skipper Mahela Jayawardene in particular, would have had a sense of déjà vu about their second-most famous spinner. Not since Harbhajan Singh trapped the all-conquering Aussies with 32 wickets in a three-match series in 2001 has a spinner shaken the cricketing world by its roots. Though Harbhajan hasn’t been able to replicate the feat in the ensuing seven years, the sardar of spin is often taken back to those memories. So will it be for Mendis. Twenty-six wickets in a series is something that any bowler would give his eye-teeth for, to get it in a debut series, well, that is stuff of folklore. Mendis did it and for sure he may pick up many more in his yet fledgling career, but 26 wickets isn’t going to happen every day. The Lankans may not boast of a cricketing history like us Indians, but they sure know a match-winner when they see one. Their most famous spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan faced intense scrutiny following allegations of throwing years ago in a tour of Australia back in 1995-96. Their then captain, an astute Arjuna Ranatunga threw his weight behind the bowler and twelve years down the line, the Lankans find the cricketing world’s glare on them all over again. Taking a leaf out of Ranatunga’s book, Jayawardena has shielded Mendis admirably knowing that too much pressure on the mystery spinner will do him more harm than good. But Test cricket is passé, at least for the next couple of months and until then it’s time for the one-day format. Though Mendis befuddled the Indians in the Asia Cup in Pakistan, they will be a wiser lot when they face him this time around. Some of the returning Test stars would sure have passed on useful tips and the new lot who flew in on Wednesday will realise the task ahead of them. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, two of the new arrivals, will be the first to admit that thwarting Mendis’ threat will go a long way in setting up the five-match series for the visitors. Not that the Lankans are a one-man army. It’s not often that Muralitharan is out-bowled in a series and the spinner, who bagged 21 wickets in the three-match series admitted that Mendis had outperformed him. Coming from a classy spinner and someone at the top of the heap with 700-plus sticks, it’s indeed fulsome praise. But the master knows that the journey has just begun for the apprentice. Will one man change the course of the one-day series as well? Only time will tell. But the Indians are sure a furrowed lot.

Past forward

When India had its moment in the sun

As retrospectives go, this one was a topper. Indian cricket has had its moments in the sun, many of which have been celebrated with gusto. The 1983 World Cup win remains so special that recapturing this golden moment is never going to tire the participants or the fans. Going back to Lord's to savour the moment of triumph that had come 25 years earlier was a brilliant idea. Having agreed to let the Indians gave their 'do' at the holiest of holy arenas of the game, the Marylebone Cricket Club was extremely friendly and gracious in making the nostalgic trip truly memorable for Kapil's Devils. Kapil is so chuffed he hasn't stopped talking about how great a trip it was to London. Calling in as soon as he landed back from the UK, the World Cup winning skipper said, "Everyone is happier than in '83. There is a shine on their faces." As the leader of the flock, he has been immensely pleased with the way his '83 lads have shaped up in career and life. "The '83 was the best team ever. I sat and thought about all the guys who came on the 1985 tour to Australia, but I don't believe everyone on it can be as happy as the lot who won the World Cup. Everyone looks happy and healthy. They had such rich things to talk about while we were travelling as a team to the two events in New Delhi and Lord's," Kapil admitted. As the keynote speaker at the two events, Kapil had as big a responsibility as when he walked out to bat with the scoreboard reading 9-4 and which had soon descended to 17-5 at Tunbridge Wells, a defining moment of the campaign that changed not only Indian cricket but also the world order. Kapil was not the greatest communicator when he was a fledgling. It was not so much a matter of which language he chose to spoke in as it was what he said and how he said it. The transformation is remarkable. Kapil has made a very special effort to be a cool talker and entertainer with words. He admitted quite freely that he had picked up considerably on the nuances of speech in the 25 years and more that have passed since the most famous victory of Indian cricket came at Lord's on 25 June 1983. "So many came up to me and said - 'You talked so well.' I know that has not been my strength, but over 25 years I have also learnt a bit. I know they are sincere because they don't have to praise me now. I am no more the captain. I am only their friend. But they turned around and said - 'No, you are still the skipper.' That made me mighty proud," Kapil said. In fact, Ravi Shastri, the cricketer who has made speaking on television a fine art to be able to rub shoulders with the best of them from around the world, told Kapil that the introductions he gave at the dinners in Delhi and London were the best he has had in his entire career. For two days, the team was one happy family, sharing meals, jokes, anecdotes and cocktails at the Piccadilly Hilton. With wives and family on tour, this was different from what the World Cup tour had been. There was so much good cheer the retrospective will remain as memorable for the players as the win itself had been. Sunil Gavaskar had not been well, the cold flight out under an airline blanket affecting him quite badly. He did, however, hold the company in thrall the next morning at breakfast, speaking always like an elder statesman. As the brain behind the Lord's event, he sort of doubled the happiness with the togetherness of a trip thrown in. Kapil said that the Delhi function had been better because that was the first time his boys heard their skipper turn into an after-dinner speaker who could play on words and hold the audience in thrall. At Lord's, the players could anticipate what was coming. "After 25 years, they are grandfathers, not boys. I am glad the way things have gone in their lives for all of them," Kapil said in signing off on the trip down memory lane.

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Abhinav Bindra wins 10m Aair Rrifle Gold

Abhinav Bindra won India's first ever individual Olympic gold medal on Monday with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the men's 10 metres air rifle event.

Bindra was fourth after qualifying but had a brilliant final round and even hit a near perfect 10.8 on his last visit to pull in front of Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who dropped to bronze with a poor final shot of 9.7.

That allowed China's Zhu Qinan, the defending Olympic champion and heavy favourite, to pass him on his final shot and win the silver medal.

"It's just great," Bindra said just before climbing on to the podium.
Zhu suffered a late lapse in concentration in the qualification earlier on Monday morning when he had to rush his final shots to make the time limit, thus dropping to second place behind Hakkinen ahead of the final.

He was close to tears and said: "I was under tremendous pressure and at times I felt really agitated. But I tried my best."
India's last Olympic gold medal was from hockey (8th gold) at the 1980 Moscow Olympics . Bindra's feat betters the silver medal effort of double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the Athens Games in 2004.
Randhir Singh, Indian Olympic Association secretary-general and former shooter who was present at the range, was stricken with nerves as the competition reached its climax.

"I haven't prayed so much in my life. With the second last shot they tied together and then he (Bindra) shot a 10.8. It couldn't have got better," he said.
Bindra won the 2006 World championships and finished seventh in Athens four years ago.