‘Shami, the find of 2013’

agencies
Kolkata, 31 December
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today said Bengal pacer Mohammad Shami,  who leaped to prominence with a nine-wicket haul in his debut Test, was the biggest find of Indian cricket in 2013. Heaping praise on Shami, Ganguly said: “Mohammad Shami is undoubtedly the biggest find of Indian cricket this year.”
Team India, according to him, had a mixed year, beginning with the 4-0 rout of Aussies  but ending the year on a disappointing note, going down to South Africa in both the ODI and Test series. He also said that Test cricket will miss the iconic duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis.
“Both contributed immensely  to Test cricket for their respective teams. Graeme Swann too retired for England and was an influential figure for English cricket.”
Ganguly further hoped that he would complete his autobiography by the next cricket World Cup in 2015.
“I’ve thought about it. But it will take longer than 2014. Hopefully before the next World Cup, you all will see my autobiography,” Ganguly told a Bengali news channel.
He also said that he was looking forward to a ‘new role’ in 2014, but declined to comment on speculation about a new innings in politics. The former India captain, who has been made an offer by the BJP to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, said that politics was a sensitive topic.
Asked whether he would like to get into cricket administration through the Cricket Association of Bengal, Ganguly said: “That also will depend on others…”
“July is a long way to go,” he said referring to CAB’s annual general meeting and elections in July end.

Smith lauds victory: South African captain Graeme Smith hailed "an incredible win" for his team after they clinched an emphatic ten-wicket victory on the fifth day of the second and final Test against India at Kingsmead on Monday. The win, in Jacques Kallis’ final Test match, clinched the two-match series for South Africa after the first Test in Johannesburg was drawn. It also confirmed South Africa’s ranking as the world’s number one Test team and increased their gap over second-ranked India.
Smith said South Africa had to fight their way out of some tough situations.

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