Rohit Sharma waits for his Test debut call

NEW DELHI: He has often been painted as a batsman who has failed to realise his potential but Rohit Sharma is not bothered about the criticism, instead he is eagerly waiting to make his Test debut.

After being catapulted to the opening slot by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sharma did extremely well in the Champions Trophy and the tri-series in the West Indies.

Those performances together with his good show in the recent India A tour of South Africa have infused a new life into his career and the young batsman is now confident to do an encore when he takes guard in the five-day format.

A freak injury just before the Nagpur Test in 2010 had delayed his Test debut but he is confident he will finally get to play the traditional format when the West Indies arrive for a short tour in November.

"I am confident. I am expecting another Test call-up and making my debut. Although these things are not in my hand as my job is to perform and contribute towards team's victory but I am looking forward to my debut in the upcoming series," Sharma said.

In February 2010, Sharma was set to make his Test debut against South Africa but he injured himself while playing football in the warm-up on the first morning of the match.

He was also part of the squad for the third Test at home against the West Indies in November 2011 and the four-Test Australia series in 2011-12 but could not make the playing XI.

Since then Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have all made their Test debuts in the middle-order.

Sharma also rejected criticism that he has not justified his immense talent. He has been often criticised for being laidback and not managing himself off the field.

"I am very happy with what I have done so far," he said categorically.

"I would like to keep doing things that way. I don't look back and ponder over my failures. I am working hard on my game and keep on doing it," Sharma, who holds the dubious record of being the first player in history to play 100 ODIs without playing a single Test match, added.

Sharma said he is enjoying the current phase of his career and hopes it continues the same way.

"Last four months have been great for me and I am happy with my form. I am enjoying my batting. It's about converting the good start into big scores. I have played 20-25 games opening the innings and I enjoyed my role as an opener. I am doing it for quite some time and I am happy with the role. I still have a long way to go in my career.

"Me and Shikhar Dhawan had some good opening partnerships going in the recent past. We gave our team convincing starts. It's good as long as the team is winning," he said.

Sharma said the experience of playing in South Africa with India 'A' will definitely help his game when he tours the country again with the senior squad.

"It will be an added advantage for us. Definitely, it will help us a lot. We did well and got to know about the conditions. I scored a hundred in the first 'Test'.

"However, the team was not given the real feel of pitches. What we expected in South Africa in terms of wickets (pace and bounce), we did not get that. The wickets weren't that great but you have to make certain adjustment. You get used to the condition when you start playing," he said.

The 26-year-old added that the short series against the West Indies would serve as an ideal preparation for the team.

"It can be, lot of guys haven't played Test matches for months. They will be short of practice. It will help them get back into the groove which will definitely help in South Africa tour."

Talking bout his own fitness, Sharma said he is feeling a lot more agile and quicker as a fielder.

"I have worked hard on it. We are now one of the best fielding sides in the world. We are strong as a unit and when you have a great bunch of agile fielders, your approach towards the game completely changes," he said.

Sharma admitted that the competition in the team has become tougher with seniors like Virender Sehwag and Gautam looking to make a comeback.

"Sure, the competition has become much tougher. But it's good for Indian cricket. It's good that seniors have been provided with a chance to make a comeback. It augurs well for the team but competition has increased."

Talking about the upcoming Champions League, Sharma said Mumbai Indians would "badly miss" the services of their front-line bowler Lasith Malinga, who has ruled himself out of the competition due to family reasons.

"Lasith is not coming but Mitchell Johnson will be soon joining us. Lasith's absence will be definitely felt as he forms an integral part of our team. He is a great bowler and on his day, he can destroy any opposition's batting line-up. It's definitely a big loss for us and we will miss him."

Sharma said he would look to repeat the success of IPL 6 while leading the star-studded side in the Champions League.

"That's exactly the goal (to lift the trophy) and our preparations are heading in the right direction. But it's not going to be easy this time around with world's best clubs competing in the tournament.

"It will be a new challenge for me. I would like to repeat my performance as a captain but it's a tough tournament," he said.

Sharma also seemed happy to have players such as Sachin Tendulkar and Kieron Pollard in the side.

"The team combination is good and we are all ready to go. We have a good mixture of experience and youth. A lot of players are coming off on the back of some good match practice and it's all looking good," he signed off.

Mumbai Indians start CLT20 preparations from Friday

MUMBAI: IPL champions Mumbai Indians will commence their preparation-cum-conditioning camp ahead of the Champions League Twenty20 from Friday at home ground in Ahmedabad.

The team will have a five-day camp at the Sardar Patel Stadium and later return to play its two home matches in the city on September 23 and 27.

"Mumbai Indians had a great season in IPL 2013 emerging victorious. We are looking forward to begin our CLT20 campaign from where we had left," said team mentor Anil Kumble.

"Ahmedabad is our new home ground during the League. This is the first time Mumbai Indians is setting its foot in this city and it would be exciting to play in front of our fans here in Gujarat."

Anil Kumble will be joined by team's head coach John Wright, Robin Singh, Jonty Rhodes, Nitin Patel and Paul Chapman in the support staff.

Placed in Group A, Mumbai Indians will play its first match - also the CLT20 opener - against Rajasthan Royals on September 21 in Jaipur.

Ferrari say Kimi Raikkonen not an anti-Alonso choice

Ferrari say their decision to bring 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen back to the Formula One team next season will help and not hurt Fernando Alonso's chances.

"For anyone thinking that the choice of Kimi is somehow an anti-Alonso choice, I can put their minds at rest," team principal Stefano Domenicali told the team website (www.ferrari.com).

"At Ferrari, everyone knows the interests of the team come first and only then those of the individual. Fernando is a key asset for this team and he will be for a long time.

"I'm sure he is the first to be happy with a choice made to strengthen the group, because he is too intelligent not to realise that a stronger team can only be an advantage," added the Italian.

Double world champion Alonso had made clear before the appointment that he would be happy to continue with under-performing Brazilian Felipe Massa as his teammate.

In comments on Wednesday, after the announcement from Maranello, the Spaniard paid tribute to the departing Massa and welcomed his new "travelling companion" without mentioning the Finn by name.

Domenicali said the driver combination of Alonso and Raikkonen was the best Ferrari could have and both would start on equal terms.

The Italian also addressed concerns about Raikkonen's ability to work as a team player and in helping to develop and improve the car technically.

"Everyone has their own ways and you can't expect a Finn to start telling jokes in Italian or playing the clown," he said. "Honestly, I think the combination of Fernando's expressive and passionate Latin character and the cool style, to call it that, of someone like Kimi, seems to appeal too many.

"As for the technical side of things, not only do we know full well how much Kimi can contribute at an important time like this...but we also have first hand information from James Allison, as to how much the Finn has also progressed in this area over the past two years."

Allison was with Raikkonen at Lotus, where he was technical director, before starting work with Ferrari this month.

Bale says 'bit behind' in fitness for Real Madrid

Gareth Bale said on Thursday he was "a bit behind" his new Real Madrid teammates in terms of fitness, after a close season hampered by injury.

But the big-money signing from English Premier League side Tottenham said he hope to be back to his best as soon as possible and maintained that his troublesome foot was better.

"I feel good. I have been training in the last week with Wales. I have had two good sessions today and I got half an hour or 40 minutes game-time with Wales (on Tuesday)," the 24-year-old told reporters at the launch of Madrid's third kit.

"Obviously I am a bit behind physically than everyone else but I am hopeful I can catch up as soon as possible."

Bale signed for Real from the north London club earlier this month on a six-year deal for around £80 million ($124 million, 94 million euros).

The winger said he did not know whether Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti would pick him for Saturday's game against Villarreal in La Liga.

"He has spoken to me but I think you will have to wait until the match later to see if whether I am picked or not," he said.

"Hopefully I can get my fitness up straight away and hopefully get a place in the team" he added, vowing to give "100 percent" regardless of where Ancelotti will play him.

Bale also said he was happy with the welcome he received in the dressing room, particularly from Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.

"It was amazing. He's a nice guy and he made me feel welcome just like everyone else," said Bale.

"I am just looking forward to getting on the pitch and doing well."

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Wasim Akram hopes for Tendulkar's last Test against Pakistan

Famed Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram said Thursday he hoped Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar would play his final Test farewell against Pakistan in Kolkata.

World record run-getter Tendulkar, 40, is set to achieve the unique record of playing his 200th Test later this year against the West Indies, who have agreed to tour India.

Speculation is rife that Tendulkar might retire from all cricket after that or sometime early next year.

Tendulkar, regarded as one of the best batsmen to play the game, has so far scored 15,837 runs with 51 hundreds in 198 Tests and 18,426 in 463 one-days with 49 centuries -- all world records.

But Wasim, who played in Tendulkar's debut Test in Karachi in 1989, said Tendulkar's farewell Test should be against Pakistan.

"I have created an ideal scenario for his farewell Test: India playing Pakistan at Eden Gardens, Kolkata with a passionate crowd and both nations at a standstill," Wasim told AFP.

"It could be the best farewell Tendulkar can have," he added. The Indian media has speculated that India may cancel their tour to South Africa later this year and invite Pakistan for a short two-Test tour.

The nuclear rivals have not played a full series since 2007, but there were hints that full ties may revive after India invited Pakistan for a short limited over series last December.

Recent tensions on the de facto border in the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, however, have left 11 people dead since early August and are likely to make the prospect of a tour more remote.

Pakistan's domestic team Faisalabad Wolves, due to play in India's Champions League Twenty20 that starts September 17, are still waiting for clearance from New Delhi.

Wasim said sport should be separated from politics. "Cricket, as always, has the capacity to bring the people of both nations closer," said Wasim, who led a Pakistan tour of India in 1999 despite extremist threats.

Wasim said Tendulkar was also revered in Pakistan. "He is a role model," said Wasim. "He is one of the best without any doubt and if I had to vote for the best sportsman of the century I would not hesitate for a second to give it to Sachin.

"Having played with him for years and having been in touch even after my retirement I have found him a true role model," he said.

"I hope relations improve and my wish come true is that India and Pakistan play a Test sooner

India A inflict 3-0 whitewash on New Zealand A

VISAKHAPATNAM: Ashok Menaria and Kedar Jadhav cracked half centuries to enable India A inflict a 3-0 whitewash on New Zealand A with a thrilling two-wicket victory in the third and final unofficial ODI match on Thursday.

India completed the task with four balls to spare with Mandeep Singh playing a 27-ball unbeaten 37-run cameo towards the end. He hit three boundaries and a six during the all-important knock.

Chasing a stiff 291-run target, the Indians suffered a top-order collapse before all-rounder Menaria scored a quickfire 69 off 52 balls that included two fours and eight sixes. He was involved in a brilliant 128-run fifth wicket stand off just 107 balls with Jadhav (57), which denied the Black Caps a consolation win.

A late counter-attack by Mandeep then made sure that the hosts won the match comfortably.

Having sealed the three-match ODI series already, India tested their bench strength today by giving a chance to spinner Jalaj Saxena and batsman Sanju Samson.

Earlier, opener Anton Devcich top-scored for New Zealand A with a 85-ball 66, studded with eight boundaries, while Corey J Anderson (59) and skipper Tom Latham (53) also hit half centuries each to contribute to the team's total after India A asked them to bat.

The Indians were sloppy on the field today as they dropped two catches, including that of Anderson's to allow the New Zealand post a huge total of 290 for nine.

Basant Mohanty (2/39), Menaria (2/45) and Jalaj Saxena (2/60) picked up two wickets each for India A.

In reply, India lost four wickets for just 79 runs on the board in 19.2 overs, despite opener Robin Uthappa scoring a fine 50-ball 46 with the help of six fours and a six.

Skipper Chand, who led by example in the series, scoring 94 and 59 in the first two ODIs, failed on Thursday, getting out for just 11. Menaria walked into the middle after Uthappa and Sachin Baby (16) were dismissed in successive overs.

The left-handed batsman fired from the word go and accelerated the run-rate by hitting three sixes off Todd Astle's first over before punishing him again for two consecutive maximums -- one over long on and another over long off -- in his very next over.

From 79 for four in 19.2 overs, Menaria, in the able company of Jadhav, helped his team score 100 more runs in the next 12 overs.

Firing on all cylinders, Menaria hit a four off Devcich to bring up his half-century in just 26 balls with the help of two fours and six sixes.

Jadhav, meanwhile, got a life when he was dropped on 30 off Ish Sodhi's over. He capitalised on the advantage to hit a solid 57 off 61 balls (5X4, 2X6).

But just when it seemed as if India A would have a cakewalk, the hosts suddenly lost two wickets in one over with Jadhav getting run out and Scott Kuggeleijn picking the prized wicket of Menaria off the fourth ball of the over with the scorecard reading 207 for six, still needing 84 runs for victory.

Mandeep then played with a lot of responsibility and was well-supported by Jalaj Saxena (19) and Rahul Sharma (20).

He shared a solid 35-run stand with Saxena for the seventh wicket, before putting on another valuable 47-run partnership with Rahul for the eighth wicket.

Mark Gillespie was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand 'A' with figures of three for 43.

Brief scores:

New Zealand A: 290 for nine in 50 overs (Anton Devcich 66, Corey Anderson 59; Basant Mohanty 2/39).

India A: 291 for eight in 49.2 overs (Ashok Menaria 69, Kedar Jadhav 57; Mark Gillespie 3/43).

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Rohit Sharma-Dhoni feels I have the ability to open in ODIs Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma say that We (Rohit and MSD) haven't spoken at length about this. But whatever little MS spoke with me, he did convey that he thinks I have the ability to open the batting and counter the new ball. I'm glad he finds me capable of it and I've also been working hard on it.