We have to play our best to beat India: Sammy

Senior West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy said his team would really need to perform out of their skins to beat India in the group league encounter at WACA on Friday. “It’s another cricket match but India is playing well at the moment. You give each and every opponent the respect that they deserve. We have always had good matches against India and we have to bring out our ‘A’ game to beat India,” Sammy said. West Indies have lost two matches against Ireland and South Africa but Sammy stressed on the need for the seniors in the team to rally around young captain Jason Holder in trying situations. Asked how it has been like to play under Holder, Sammy replied, “It’s been good. We all must support him (Holder). He didn’t put himself in that situation (being made the captain). I have also been in his situation before.”   

WC pitches are different from tri-series: Kirti Azad

Without intending to undermine India’s brilliant showing so far in the World Cup, former all-rounder Kirti Azad feels the pitches being prepared for the showpiece event are a lot flatter than the ones used during the tri-series preceding the tournament. After failing to win a single ODI in the tri-nation event involving winners Australia and England, India surprised one and all by comprehensively winning their first three games of the World Cup. “That time the weather was not so warm hence the ball was moving around. We were not acclimatised that well. Now with the summer coming in it is ideal weather for Indian team and ideal pitches. Look the pitches at the time of the tri-series had a little bit of grass on them. Now they are completely dry. Even if you try you can’t get grass on the pitches in this weather.” — Agencies

Warner was cabbie for Kerala team before stardom

David Warner used to assist regular driver of the Australian cricket Institute’s van in Brisbane before attaining international recognition as an explosive batsman. Recalling Kerala cricket team’s 45-day camp in Brisbane in 2008, the United Arab Emirates batsman Krishna Chandran said that Warner used to talk about cricket, claiming it was only later they realised that he was a cricketer and was also occasionally helping out the regular driver of the institute’s van.

Sandhu may become Oz’s shock WC squad inclusion

Australia’s rising speedster Pat Cummins is reportedly set to miss the tie against Afghanistan on Wednesday and Gurindher Sandhu (in pic) would loom as the man most likely for a shock call-up in the tournament should the injury-prone paceman’s rib problem fails to improve this week. Cummins’ absence means Josh Hazlewood would reclaim his place for the next match against Afghanistan on Wednesday, and beyond that the make-up of the Australian attack remains uncertain. Scans showed the strain in Cummins’ side was not serious and the 21-year-old fast-bowling prodigy would be monitored to determine if he’ll be able to play on Sunday. — ANI