Series victory shows India's strong bench strength: Srikkanth

Chief cricket selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth feels that India's emphatic One-day series victory against Sri Lanka is proof of the team's bench strength and this augurs well for the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent.

Srikkanth said on Thursday night's victory at Eden Gardens, where India successfully chased 315, has been particularly pleasing since it came in the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh.

"Winning without Dhoni and Yuvraj shows that the bench strength is strong. The youngsters are filling the gaps. The contributions have come at crucial junctures like Virat Kohli coming in for Yuvraj Singh in ODIs and (Murali) Vijay for Gautam (Gambhir) in Tests," said Srikkanth during an interaction with the media at the Palam ground in New Delhi on Friday during the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals between Tamil Nadu and Delhi.

"The competition is healthy and I think it is good for the team," he added.

Reflecting on the series victory over Sri Lanka, Srikkanth noted: "The last two months have been good. I am happy the way the team has performed."

Srikkanth was lavish in his praise for Kohli, who hit his maiden ODI century at Kolkata's Eden Gardens Thursday as India went 3-1 up in the five-matche series with one game to go.

"He was simply brilliant. For a younsgeter, he handled the pressure superbly."

Srikkanth is pleased with the way things have shaped up in the last one year.

"Like in Tests, I want the team to become the No 1 in One-day cricket too. And nothing would be greater than winning the 2011 World Cup."

On India's poor fielding being a cause of concern, Srikkanth said: "They are trying to improve and I am sure things will fall in place."

Describing Ishant Sharma as a very "talented" cricketer, he said the fast bowler's loss of form was not a "cause for concern."

"It's just that he is going through a rough patch. I am sure he is going to come back strong."

The former India Test captain complimented coach Gary Kirsten for doing a fine job.

"Kirsten is brilliant. He is a sensible person and he knows what he is doing. His contribution is important."

On India becoming the top Test team, Srikkanth said: "We deserved to be the No.1 in Tests. We have been doing well in different conditions. India have beaten teams in their own backyard. We have won at home on placid pitches and not on turning tracks. Some of the victories have come from difficult situations which means the team can fight back.”

"I rate this team very highly because Sehwag can tear apart the bowling, Tendulkar can provide the balance and Gambhir and Dravid can play for hours."

Asked about the lack of good spinners, Srikkanth said: "It's not fair to say so. Amit (Mishra) won you a Test match against Australia and we have been on the lookout for some more talent. We have been watching the first class matches and I must say there is plenty of talent in the spin department too."

Srikkanth said the national selectors have their eyes fixed on domestic competitions to spot talent.

olympic

Ancient Olympics

Main article: Ancient Olympic Games

Stadium in Olympia, Greece

The Ancient Olympic Games is a series of competitions held between representatives of several city-states from Ancient Greece, which featured mainly athletic but also combat and chariot racing events.^[1] The origin of these Olympics is shrouded in mystery and legend.^[2] One of the most popular myths identifies Heracles and his father Zeus as the progenitors of the Games.^[3][4][5] According to legend, it was Heracles who first called the Games "Olympic" and established the custom of holding them every four years.^[6] A legend persists that after Heracles completed his twelve labors, he built the Olympic stadium as an honor to Zeus. Following its completion, he walked in a straight line for 200 steps and called this distance a "stadion" (Greek: στάδιον, Latin: stadium, "stage"), which later became a unit of distance. Another myth associates the first Games with the ancient Greek concept of Olympic truce (ἐκεχειρία, ekecheiria).^[7] The most widely accepted date for the inception of the Ancient Olympics is 776 BC; this is based on inscriptions, found at Olympia, of the winners of a footrace held every four years starting in 776 BC.^[8] The Ancient Games featured running events, a pentathlon (consisting of a jumping event, discus and javelin throws, a foot race and wrestling), boxing, wrestling, and equestrian events.^[9][10] Tradition has it that Coroebus, a cook from the city of Elis, was the first Olympic champion.^[11]

The Olympics were of fundamental religious importance, featuring sporting events alongside ritual sacrifices honoring both Zeus (whose famous statue by Phidias stood in his temple at Olympia) and Pelops, divine hero and mythical king of Olympia. Pelops was famous for his chariot race with King Oenomaus of Pisatis.^[12] The winners of the events were admired and immortalized in poems and statues.^[13][14] The Games were held every four years, and this period, known as an Olympiad, was used by Greeks as one of their units of time measurement. The Games were part of a cycle known as the Panhellenic Games, which included the Pythian Games, the Nemean Games, and the Isthmian Games.^[15]

The Olympic Games reached their zenith in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, but then gradually declined in importance as the Romans gained power and influence in Greece. There is no consensus on when the Games officially ended, the most common-held date is 393 AD, when the emperor Theodosius I declared that all pagan cults and practices be eliminated.^[16] Another date cited is 426 AD, when his successor Theodosius II ordered the destruction of all Greek temples.^[17] After the demise of the Olympics, they were not held again until the late 19th century.

Vijay's Next Movie

Much prior to Vijay’s ‘Vettaikaran’ hitting the screens, here is great news for the actor and his fans as well. Close sources have confirmed that Sun Pictures has shown keen interest in acquiring the rights of Vijay’s 50th film ‘Sura’.

‘Sura’ features Vijay and Thamannah in the lead roles and is directed by S.P. Rajkumar. The director S.P. Rajkumar is making his comeback in Kollywood taking a sabbatical after ‘Azhagar Malai’. First schedule of the film was recently completed and the entire crew is busily shooting for the following schedules in Pondicherry and Vizag.

According to the trade reports, ‘Vettaikaran’ has been sold out for a big price and it has gradually encouraged Sun Pictures to ink a deal with Vijay’s ‘Sura’ as well.