Mohali Archive

Mohali, Nov 3 – Fast bowler Peter Siddle has become the latest Australian to return home from the Indian tour because of a side strain.

Siddle experienced soreness during the fourth One-day international at Mohali, where he bowled only five overs.

The Victorian is the fourth player after paceman Brett Lee, all-rounder James Hopes and wicket-keeper Tim Paine to fly back home from the middle of the series.

Siddle took the decision after discussing his injury with physio therapist Kevin Sims.

‘Peter’s injury does not appear to be a serious problem but it is unlikely he will be able to safely bowl within the next week,’ Sims said. ‘That would, therefore, not allow him to have any further participation in the tour.’

‘With this in mind, we have made the decision that Peter will return to Australia where he will be reviewed by Cricket Australia medical staff to ensure he is available for selection at the beginning of the Australian summer.’

No replacement has been announced by Cricket Australia (CA), which is likely to take a decision in the next 24 hours.

Mohali, Nov 2 – Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni blamed his batsmen for the loss against Australia in the fourth One-day international here Monday that allowed the visitors to level the seven-match series 2-2.

Chasing a victory target of 251, India were all out for 226 in 46.4 overs on a batting friendly track at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium (PCA).

‘We should have achieved the target and for that we had to bat 50 overs. But we failed as a batting unit. It was a fantastic One-day wicket,’ said Dhoni.

‘It is big set-back for the team. The batsmen got the starts but failed to convert them into partnerships,’ he said.

Dhoni, however, lauded his bowlers and fielders, who affected four run outs, for restricting Australia much below the par total on this ground.

‘Our bowlers did a good job and this was one of the best fielding efforts in the last one and a half years. But we have to show the same intensity in fielding regularly,’ said Dhoni.

The Indian captain also defended young fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who is going through a rough patch and gave away 42 runs in five overs.

‘Ishant was targeted by the Australians. And that can happen to any bowler on any day. They took the risk against Ishant and it paid off,’ he said.

Dhoni also added that Gautam Gambhir, who missed the match due to a neck injury, would be available for the fifth ODI in Hyderabad.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said it was a good win to level the series.

‘Ideally we should have scored more than 250. We were 30-40 runs short. But we bowled and fielded superbly and the bowlers stood up to the task,’ he said.