I feel much better now, says Kumble

Ace leg spinner Anil Kumble said in Bangalore on Friday that he was feeling much better but not yet match-fit, as he returned home after a thorough check-up and rehabilitation programme for his shoulder injury in South Africa.

"I feel much better, and I have started bowling", Kumble told PTI on his return after undergoing treatment by renowned specialist Dr Fergusson. Asked if he was totally fit now, Kumble, who had undergone surgery to his shoulder in Johannesburg in January, said he was not yet 'match-fit'.

Kumble had just completed a three-week thorough check-up and rehabilitation programme to his bowling arm in South Africa, where he was accompanied by Dr Premchand Khincha. "I have started net practice", the 30-year-old Karnataka spinner said and expressed the hope that he would be available for selection for the South Africa tour from October." He added "But if I recover before the Sri Lankan tour in July-September, that will be a bonus."

Indian physio Andrew Leipus, who is already in Bangalore for the Indian team's conditioning camp beginning on May 13, said Kumble had shown remarkable improvement and he would be working with the spinner on his path to become fit.

Kolkata knock a turning point: Laxman

Indian cricket's newest batting hero VVS Laxman has termed his monumental 281 against Australia in the second Test at Kolkata in March as a turning point in his career. Interviewed by Karan Thapar on BBC's Face to Face programme, Laxman said "definitely it was a turning point. It was a great feeling passing a legend's (Sunil Gavaskar) record. And to come back from a 274-run deficit and win...it was a great victory."

Laxman said before the start of the fourth day's play at Kolkata, he was "aware that I had to get 236 runs" because he remembered Gavaskar telling Navjot Sidhu once that it was really unfortunate that no one was able to break his record.

Laxman said he was not disappointed on missing the treble hundred. "Not really, because we had nine or ten overs before declaring. And Australia started the final day bowling a negative line. If we would not have won the Test, it would have been disappointing," he said.

Looking ahead, Laxman said "at present I am concentrating on the Zimbabwe tour. We are all looking forward to this tour because we all want to win Test matches abroad."

Dungarpur's pat for Central Zone Academy

National Cricket Academy chairman Raj Singh Dungarpur on Wednesday praised the facilities of the Central Zone Cricket Academy at the Kamla Club in Kanpur. Terming the facilities as "a paradise for cricket and a valuable gift for UP and Indian cricket," the former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India pointed out that they were on par with the facilities at the NCA at Bangalore.

Dungarpur said when he visited the venue six months back, the facilities were inadequate. "But now the ground is in superb condition, conducive for good cricket and can match any ground in England." He also had a word of praise for the officials of the UP Cricket Association.

Dungarpur expressed optimism about the results from the zonal academies and he hoped that there would be several players from here knocking at the doors of the Indian team by next year. He said there were 120 trainees at the six national academies and 20 more at the CCI Academy in Mumbai and was confident that out of these 140, future stars would emerge.

The former Rajasthan and Central Zone captain admitted that there had been some delay in setting up the academies. But now that they were in place, appropriate results would follow. "Under the leadership of Dr AC Muthiah, the BCCI ultimately took the step of setting up the academies. It is perhaps the best move by the BCCI," he said.

Vijay Manjrekar XI retain trophy

Vijay Manjrekar XI retained the Sportstar Trophy (under-19) cricket tournament when they defeated Dattu Phadkar XI by ten wickets in the final league match in Mumbai on Thursday.

Manjrekar XI were always in with a winning chance when they took a first innings lead of 47, having dismissed Phadkar XI for 195 and then replying with 242. Fine bowling by medium pacer Abhishek Nair (6 for 52) saw Phadkar XI being shot out for 140 in the second innings. Requiring only 94 runs for a win, Manjrekar XI reached their target off only 27.3 overs without losing a wicket. Nair who was adjudged the player of the tournament, received the Ramakant Desai Trophy and a cricket kit.

In another match, KM Rangnekar's XI drew with Vijay Merchant XI. Merchant XI took a first innings lead of 25, replying with 226 to Rangnekar XI's total of 201. In the second knock, Rangnekar's XI hit up 317 for nine declared, thanks principally to Sandesh Amrute's unbeaten 157 which included 25 fours. In the remaining time, Merchant XI in their second innings scored 157 for three. Rangnekar XI and Phadkar XI shared second spot with eleven points while Merchant XI finished with eight points. Manjrekar XI were top of the heap with 18 points.

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