& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Taylor looks for seam success

BlSHWAJIT ROY from Kandy
Bangladesh is likely to play their tried and tested combination comprising three left-arm spinners and they may only change their minds if the grass is not taken off the pitch by the time the captains assemble for the toss at the Pallekele International Stadium today.
“The pitch looked green yesterday. But we will have to wait and see what shape it finally takes. Maybe some grass will come off, we don't know because it is currently under cover (due to some rain yesterday afternoon). We would obviously want to bat first. But if
there is a green tinge we may change our minds,” said New Zealand captain Ross Taylor during a pre-match press conference yesterday.
Bangladesh will also change their minds with regards to team combination if the grass stays on the pitch and in that case pacebowling all-rounder Forbad Reza or young pacer Abul Hossain may take the place of leftarm spinner Elias Sunny.
Bangladesh's bowling strength is their left-arm spinners and New Zealand is aware of that fact, which is why they practised against left-arm spinners in the nets to make sure they do well against them.
“We played a lot of left-arm spin in the nets. We will play at least 12 overs of left-arm spin. We need to play them well. We have a few left-handers in the line-up so they can combat the left-arm spinners. But for the right-handers too it is important to combat them. We may play left-arm spin throughout the innings,” said Taylor.
While the New Zealand skipper was looking forward to some success for his seamers as the nature of wickets in Sri Lanka has changed, he still believed that the spinners also have a big role inT20 cricket.
Taylor looks for seam
FROM PAGE 16
“I guess we will be looking to our seamers to have a big play in the tournament. Few of the players played SLPL (Sri Lanka Premier League) and had some success there. The boundaries here in Pallekele are a lot bigger than other grounds. Spinners will play a role because in 1\venty20 cricket spinners do have a big part to play,” he observed.
Though the bowling took centre stage in the discussion, the fact is that the Pallekele pitches have produced better runrates than the other two venues at the World TWenty20 and New Zealand have sweet memories as they amassed a 300-plus score against Pakistan in the World Cup here last year and won by 110 runs. The New Zealand skipper however did not want to dwell on memories.
“I have good memories of this ground. But that was in a different format of the game against a different country. It was also my birthday (when I played against Pakistan in the World Cup). My birthday is not any time soon, this is a different tournament where we need to start well,” said Taylor with a broad smile.
The Kiwi skipper was however excited with the fact that some of his key players are feeling better. Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee and Rob Nicol came to Kandy a day later than the rest of the team as the trio suffered stomach problems in Colombo while Kyle Mills, who was recovering from his collision with McCullum during the IndiaT20, is expected to be fit too.
“We won't know until the end of training whether we will have the full quota of 15. Every couple of hours they are feeling a little better. The weather is bit colder so hopefully they can gain some energy and be available to play,” hoped Taylor.