Sourav returns to first love

Whether it's at Eden or Xavier's, Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly just hates losing.

And it was evident on Friday when Ganguly returned to his first love when his class of 1989 donned the Xaverian jersey to play soccer against the current school team at the St Xavier's College ground at Kolkata on Friday.

Sourav's team may have lost 2-4 to the current players, but he showed he had lost none of the fire and passion for the game. Amid thunderous applause and under an overcast sky, Sourav XI, consisting mostly of players from his class of 1989, took to the field with the Indian skipper leading from the front. Sourav's elder brother Snehasis was along side him as the second forward.

The younger and fitter Xavierian boys went 3-0 up in the first half with displeasure evident on Sourav's face.

He kept on urging his classmates to take the fight to the opponents. Sourav did it in the second half. He latched onto a ball on the right side and send a measured cross that Abharanil converted to reduce the margin.

Thereafter, it was again Sourav who played provider when he sent a low cross to his elder brother Snehashis Ganguly whose rasping left footer defeated the goalie.

Sourav himself gave away the prizes to all the players. Md Farid, a soccer star of yesteryears, was the guest referee. Though a friendly match it was played at hot pace and Sourav once again showed his attachment to the game.

Earlier, at the college auditorium Sourav was felicitated by the Xavier's Alumni. Speaking on the occasion, Sourav, shed all the fanfare attached to the Indian captain, saying, "It feels good to be back home. I have spent 16 years of my life here and this institution has given me everything that I am today. Whatever little I have become, whatever little I have played and whatever I have achieved is due to this institution," Sourav said in a voice choked with emotion.

Recalling his association with the institute, he paid rich tribute to Fr Bushe, who is no more. "When I was in class nine, he let me leave school for practice for the under 15. Without his words of inspiration and quiet reassuring smile of encouragement I would not have made it. I also owe it to all my classmates who had been very cooperative," the Indian skipper said.

Sourav also made special mention about his class teacher Mr Rozario, who took special classes in the evening to help him catch up. "I have got a lot from this institution that has also taught me that there is no replacement for hard work. If one works hard, he will get repaid, may be after five years, but success will come to him," he said, probably reminiscing his exile from the Indian team after his debut match in Australia. Sourav worked his way back to the team during India's England tour and is now the captain of India.

The principal of St Xavier's college presented him with a citation and a memorabilia in form of a bat with the building of St Xavier's College embossed on it.

Australian Academy team to play MRF trophy in India

Cricket Australia on Friday announced that its academy squad would leave for India on July 29 to participate in the MRF Trophy tournament beginning on August 2.

The 12-member Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy (CBCA) will compete in the 12-team round robin competition against some of India's leading senior sides.

This is the first time that the academy sqaud will participate in the MRF Trophy tournament, one that will provide players with an opportunity to acclimatise to varying playing conditions, according to a Cricket Australia statement.

Teams have been divided into four groups of three teams each.

Each group will play two two-day league matches against each other, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarter finals.

The CBCA side will play the strong Railway Sports team in their opening round match and then play the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation XI, who have produced Indian Test players Mohammad Kaif and Virender Sehwag.

The two-day quarter finals will be played on August 7 to 8, while the semi finals (August 10 to 12) and final (August 14 to 16) will be three-day matches.

The CBCA squad: Adam Crosthwaite, Chris Duval, Callum Ferguson, Matthew Innes, Shane Jones, Trent Kelly, Rhett Lockyear, Steven Magoffin, Scott Meuleman, Aaron Nye, Luke Ronchi, Peter Worthington.

Windies Board reviewing Lawson's bowling

The West Indies Cricket Board will submit a review of fast bowler Jermaine Lawson's action to the International Cricket Council by August 1, the Board said on Friday.

Test umpires reported 21-year-old Lawson for a suspect bowling action during the fourth Test against Australia in Antigua in May. He has not played since May 13, when he took a career-best seven wickets for 78 runs against Australia and aggravated a disc injury in his lower back.

"Jermaine has been carrying along very well with the remedial programme in Jamaica," said Michael Seepersaud, the regional board's chief development officer, who is supervising the review process.

"The back problems that set back the remedial work on his bowling action is now over, he is free from pain, and  substantial progress has been made to ensure his all-round biomechanical efficiency."

Next week, the cricket board plans to fly in biomechanics specialist Dr Paul Hurrion from Britain to conduct an assessment of the way Lawson uses his elbow when bowling.

"Dr Hurrion has worked in similar capacity for the ICC with other bowlers and is highly recommended, so we are pleased to have him come and work with Jermaine," Seepersaud said.

"Once we have his analysis of Jeaine, we will convene the bowling committee and send our review to the ICC for their consideration."

Lawson has captured 29 wickets at 24.31 runs apiece in seven Tests. During the Test series against Australia, he distinguished himself with a hat-trick in the third Test in Barbados.

Boycott may return for India's tour of Australia

Ailing former Test batsman Geoffrey Boycott is likely to return to the commentary box during India's tour of Australia later this year.

"Boycott is recovering well from cancer, and we hope that he can join the commentary team for Australian series," Rik Dovey, Managing Director of ESPN-Star Sports, on Friday said on the sidelines of the Premier League Asia Cup football tournament at Kuala Lumpur.

Boycott, the former England cricketer with 8,814 Test runs, had captivated the Indian fans with his witty comments from behind the microphone.

His forthright criticism, coupled with his typical Yorkshire accent, had helped him attain a star status in India.

The legendary batsman however has been off air since India's tour of England last year after having to undergo chemotherapy for throat cancer.

An ardent admirer of Sourav Ganguly, Boycott has been positively responding to treatment and appeared on ESPN-Star Sports to give a few tips to the Indian captain during the World Cup in South Africa early this year.

"He has been in good spirits and we all hope that he can be back for his commentary assignment soon," Dovey said.

Dalmiya to continue as CAB president

Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly's father Chandi is all set to take over as the trustee board chairman, while Jagmohan Dalmiya faces no hiccups in getting re-elected uncontested as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, which holds its Annual General Meeting on Saturday.

With no rival candidate for any of the posts, the AGM is likely to be a tame affair, unlike last year when Dalmiya faced a challenger in Debdas Banerjee for the president's chair.

Chandi Ganguly replaces Biswanath Dutt, a former BCCI president, who stepped down a few days back.

Ganguly is now a member of the trustee board.