Stephen Fleming not decisive of pursuing a coaching career

Former skipper of the New Zealand cricket team, Stephen Fleming, whose name has been in the news for the next coach of the Indian national squad, has said that he has not yet decided to take coaching as a full-time job.
Dwelling upon the topic, Fleming, who is currently coaching the Chennai Super Kings said, “I’m enjoying coaching Chennai Super Kings. I got my hands full at CSK. It is good experience. I haven’t thought a lot about my coaching career. It is something that I’ll consider as time goes on.”
Talking about his current job, the Kiwi said that it was a great challenge for him to take on the opportunity, as he is trying to develop his coaching philosophies in these two months.
While addressing the post-match conference after the Chennai side lost to the Mumbai Indians by eight runs, Fleming said that the narrow defeat at the Wankhede stadium was mainly contributed by the loss of quick wickets.
Commenting upon his team’s performance in the match, the former skipper said, “We are not quite getting across the victory line. We let another game slip away. We did OK in the field to restrict a powerful batting line up like theirs to 160 on a wicket that was getting better and better. We just lost key wickets at key moments.”
He was of the view that the match changed its’ position after the loss of Mike Hussey and MS Dhoni’s wickets. Fleming also praised the impressive fielding displayed by the Mumbai Indians and said that it proved to be a decisive factor between the two sides.
The left-handed opener was of the view that though the fielding in the Indian Premier League had met new standards, the Mumbai Indians had particularly displayed a terrific performance on the field, saving about 15 to 20 runs in the match.
Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma took a splendid catch to get rid of the Chennai Super Kings skipper Dhoni, in their previous encounter. The catch was the turning point of the match, as Dhoni certainly has the capability to take the game away from the opposition.
Fleming said that though his boys could not display an equal standard of fielding, they would certainly try to do better on the ground next time. The CSK coach added that though his team was competing well in the IPL tournament, they will have to focus on winning games to ensure that they do not fall behind in the competition.
The former Kiwi skipper said that they were striving for devising a success formula for their team. Fleming added that his side have already laid the foundation and are now putting in their efforts to get better, as the tournament lingers on.

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Rohit Sharma eager to make a comeback to the national side

The promising India batsman, Rohit Sharma said on Saturday that he has gotten over the disappointment of not making his maiden World Cup berth but he is still eager to make a comeback in the national side.

The 23-year-old Maharashtra batsman, who was overlooked by the selectors for the World Cup campaign, vowed that he would give his absolute best whenever he gets the opportunity of putting on the national colors in future.

"I know I missed out on the World Cup. But it's alright; such things happen. I just need to keep my focus on. Don't lose my heart and whenever I get the opportunity, just do my best," said Sharma.

Sharma, who is yet to debut in the Test format of game, has played 61 One Day Internationals compiling 1248 including two centuries and five fifties.

Sharma is representing Mumbai Indians in the ongoing season four of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) and has been remarkable with the bat so far.

He has compiled a tally of 134 runs from three games. The tally also includes his whirlwind knock of 87 runs against Chennai Super Kings which was laced with eight muscular boundaries and five lofty sixes.

Talking about his belligerent innings against Chennai, Sharma said that he did not have enough opportunities earlier to prove his mettle. He was pleased with his stellar performance against Chennai bowlers.

I have been batting well,” said Sharma. I have not had enough opportunities. It was my day, there was pressure and I did well. I am glad to make runs. It was a perfect day for me. Two wickets in first four overs and I had time in my hand to go and get my runs," he added further.

The Maharashtra batsman was also happy the way Wankhede Stadium behaved under lights. He said that the dew made facilitated batsmen at an already batting friendly Wankhede pitch. He further added that the ball was coming on nicely to the bat because of dew and he just took it from there.

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MUMBAI INDIANS GREET RAY PRICE AS TARE, DAVY AND AMBATI COMPETE FOR KEEPING POSITION

Mumbai Indians have greeted the services of Zimbabwe Spinner Ray Price, who will be joining them before their match against the Deccan Chargers on Sunday, 24 April, 2011.

The left-arm spinner has replaced the Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques, who continues to recover from surgery for an adductor muscle injury.

Ray will remain with the top franchise on the points table until the end of IPL ongoing edition.

Ray price is at the second position on ICC’s One Day Internationals (ODI) bowling rankings right now. Pricewas the best bowler amongst the Zimbabwe bowlers with an average of 18.77 and economy rate of 3.44.

Price shared that at the start of his International career, his aim was to finish at top of the rankings, however, being ranked number two in the world is exceptional and he will be eyeing the number one position.

In the mean time, Rohit Sharma is resolute in using the IPL to re-emerge in the international cricket.

The endowed right handed Indian batsman, who missed out on a World Cup berth earlier in the year, splintered a blistering 87 against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday as the hosts powered past the defending champions at the Wankhede Stadium and is looking forward to extend his affluent run of form against the Deccan Chargers.

"I know I missed out on the World Cup, but it's okay because such things happen. I just need to keep my focus. I must not lose heart and whenever I get the opportunity, just do my best," said Sharma, who last played for India in January.

He added that he has been batting well. There has been pressure and he has done well. He is happy to score some runs.

Aditya Tare meanwhile, has not played any IPL match yet since Mumbai keep switching between Davy Jacobsand Ambati Rayudu as their starting wicket-keeper batsman.

Tare is hopeful about a good performance if he gets a chance to play against the chargers on Sunday.

Whilst South African star Jacobs kept the wicket in Mumbai’s first three matches this season, Indian rookie Rayudu has done so in the fourth and fifth games.

"It's always a challenge. There is healthy competition between me, Davy and Ambati. I am doing my very best in the training sessions. So, let us see how it goes," said Tare.

"Batting comes naturally to me. I love to play attacking shots. Hopefully, I can spend more time in the middle, plan my innings well and try and get runs for my side on a consistent basis."

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Tendulkar credits Mumbai Indians fielding for win over Chennai

Mumbai Indians’ captain, Sachin Tendulkar, gave full credit to his team’s unbelievable fielding for their thrilling eight-run victory over Chennai Super Kings on Friday.

Heaping praise on players for their excellent show on the field, the master blaster lauded Harbhajan Singh and Rohit Sharma for their superb bowling and batting performances. The Mumbai outfit did not disappoint their home crowd and thrashed the Chennai Super Kings in a nail-biting contest at Wankhede Stadium.

Having been asked to bat first, the Mumbai Indians put up a fighting total of 164 runs on the board. Rohit Sharma batted outstandingly and smashed a blistering innings of 87 runs from just 48 balls.

While defending the score, Harbhajan continued the same momentum and scalped this season’s second five wicket haul. The Indian off-spinner returned with terrific figures of five for 18 to restrict the opposition to 156 for nine in 20 overs.

"Rohit batted brilliantly to rally the side and then Harbhajan bowled fantastic but I think fielding was unbelievable and we saved a lot of runs. It was a spectacular show in fielding," Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar said that even though his team was a few runs short from the desired total, the players did a fantastic job in the bowling and fielding departments. "May be we were short by 10-15 runs. But we said 165 is defendable if we field well and bowled tight. Our catching was very good and ground fielding also brilliant," the maestro added.

The Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also admitted that the key difference between the two sides was fielding and the Mumbai side had been impressive on the field.

Tendulkar explained that the team is feeling great for their strong comeback in the tournament, winning two consecutive games after being routed by Kochi Tuskers Kerala in their only loss in the season. With their fourth win in the in the ongoing tournament, the Mumbai Indians have jumped to the top spot in the Indian Premier League standings.

The little master further claimed that the team has a great chance to go all the way in the competition. However, the skipper urged his team-mates to continue with the good work in the forthcoming matches.

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Mumbai Indians run over Pune Warriors at Wankhede

PW 118 17.2 overs MI 124/3 20 overs

Despite a last ditch effort, a horror start spelt doom for Pune Warriors, as they went down against the much vaunted Mumbai Indians team at Wankhede stadium Mumbai, in a crucial match of the Indian Premier League season four.

The match went down to the last ball, as the hosts stuttered in their easy chase, one run was needed off the last ball, which was deposited over the extra cover boundary by Rohit Sharma.

Earlier in the day, the Warriors batted first on a strip that looked full of runs at the renovated venue, which was once again in pomp condition.

However, the pleasant conditions did little to inspire the Warriors, as the opening four batsmen were sent packing with only 17 runs on the board. The opening pair of Jesse Ryder and Tim Paine were sent back almost immediately, while the body blow was the loss of captain and ICC 2011 World Cup man of the tournament, Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj was dismissed by his Indian teammate Munaf Patel for a duck after he was snapped up behind the wickets.

All eyes were on Robin Uthappa, the former Indian middle order batsman, but he found little support from the other end, as one batsmen fell after another in an attempt of upping the tempo.

Uthappa scored 45 runs, which included a monstrous six off Kieron Pollard. Despite his efforts the Warriors managed a paltry total of 118. Patel was the destroyer-in-chief. The right-armer claimed 3 wickets for only 8 runs.

The Indians started their chase on a poor note. James Franklin, who was promoted in the batting order was dismissed for only 6 runs. The top scorer of the tournament, Sachin Tendulkar, went about his task with his usual calm, as he scored 35 off 39 balls before falling to Rahul Sharma.

Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds were unusually circumspect in the closing overs, at one stage the hosts needed a mere 20 runs off the last three overs, yet inexplicably the match was taken down to the last ball by the pair.

Sharma sealed a win for the Indians with a six. Munaf Patel was named man of the match.

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