A report in the DNA stated that veteran Indian hockey player Dilip Tirkey and former goalkeeper AB Subbaiah may be appointed as the defence coaches of the national team. The decision came after India’s poor defence let the opposition score goals in the recent matches. There were many defensive lapses and the team management feels that the gaps must be filled before the qualifiers.

India may play two spinners in the final match of the test series in Adelaide, reports The Hindu. Pragyan Ojha along with Ravichandran Ashwin has been drafted into the side and medium pacer R. Vinay Kumar who made his debut in the Perth test will sit out. The Adelaide pitch favors spin bowling more that the other Australian grounds and that could result in India opting for two spinners.

Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir said in a statement in Mid Day that Indian pitches should not be criticized and they should continue to assist spin bowling in the future as well. He said that every home team prepares pitches according to their strength and criticizing Indian pitches is not right. He also said that the Australian fast bowlers will have to bowl well in the sub-continent to show that they really are good.

source: http://www.IndianSportsNews.com / Monday, Januaryn23rd, 2012