My stand vindicated: Jagmohan Dalmiya
By IANS,
Kolkata : Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya Wednesday said he stood vindicated as truth had prevailed with the Calcutta High Court order on filing criminal cases against six of his detractors in the board.
"I am happy... my stand is vindicated. Truth always prevails," Dalmiya said while reacting to the court's order.
Government allows free import of shooting pellets
By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian shooters had a reason to smile as the government Wednesday finally waived the import duty for the .177 calibre pellets used in 10 metre air rifle event.
It is the same event in which Abhinav Bindra won India its first individual Olympic gold medallist.
In World Cup final last week, Gagan Narang won the gold and set a world record in the event.
Second phase of I-League to start from Jan 23
By IANS,
New Delhi : The second phase of I-League football will start from Jan 23 with a double header in Mumbai and Ludhiana.
In the 12th round's double header, Mumbai FC will host Mohun Bagan at the Cooperage while in Ludhiana hosts JCT will face defending champions Dempo. The I-League committee that met here Wednesday, finalised the dates till the 20th round. The last two rounds will get over by the second week of April.
High Court orders perjury cases against six BCCI officials
By IANS,
Kolkata : Acting on a petition filed by former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya, the Calcutta High Court Wednesday ordered that criminal cases be filed against six current and former officials of the board for committing perjury.
The six include Union agriculture minister and former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar, present board chief Shashank Manohar, chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty, secretary N. Srinivasan, his immediate predecessor Niranjan Shah and Chirayu Amin.
England facing injury crisis ahead of first ODI
By IANS,
Mumbai : England's fast-bowling department is facing a crisis ahead of their first one-dayer at Rajkot Friday with Stuart Broad being the latest to be rendered doubtful with an injury.
The 22-year-old seamer was rested for Tuesday's practice match against Mumbai XI with a sore right knee which he suffered during Sunday's warm-up match.
Broad has been given an injection and will face a fitness test in Rajkot Thursday, on the eve of the first ODI of the seven-match series.
Flower tips English batsmen to combat Indian spinners
By IANS,
London/Mumbai : During his playing days, Andy Flower was a nemesis for Indian spinners. And now touring India as England's assistant coach, Flower is teaching them the nuances of playing on turning tracks.
Flowers's statistics against India is envious and since his early days as an opener he blossomed into one of the best players of spin in the world. He scored 1,138 runs against India from nine Tests at an intimidating average of 94.83 with his highest being an unbeaten 232.
Ponting is not a complete batsman: Harbhajan
By IANS,
New Delhi : Ricky Ponting might be regarded as one of the best modern day batsman, but his nemesis Harbhajan Singh feels otherwise.
The off-spinner, who has always enjoyed an upper-hand against Ponting, said he did not consider the Australian captain a "complete batsman" because of his failure to play spin bowling.
"Ponting had a lot to say about our players and about the way we play our cricket. In fact, it is Ponting who first needs to go and learn to bat against spin bowling.
Mini battles within Singapore Open golf
By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS,
Sentosa (Singapore) : Even with this star-studded field, there are many mini-battles and personal goals at stake in the $5 million Barclays Singapore Open golf starting Thursday. Top golfers like Australian Adam Scott is fighting his own form and demons as is Ernie Els.
Both Scott and Els, once in top-5 of the world are out of top-10. Scott, however, hopes to cement his place in the history books by claiming an unprecedented third Singapore Open title.
Sahoo enters quarterfinals of NECC-ITF Women’s Tennis
By IANS,
Pune : Qualifier Shalini Sahoo continued her fine run, knocking out Uzbekistan wildcard Alexendra Kolesnichenko in straight sets to enter the quarterfinals of the $25,000 NECC-ITF women's tennis Championships here Wednesday.
The Delhi girl outplayed the 662 ranked Alexandra 6-3,6-2 in an hour and 15 minutes to reach her first ever singles quarterfinal.
Shalini broke Alexandra in the 8th game to wrap the first set. In the second set Shalini hit an array of winners and broke Alexandra in the 3rd and 5th game and establish her control over the match.
Amidst economic gloom, golfers feel lucky to play for big bucks
By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS,
Sentosa (Singapore) : Top Asian golfers like Jeev Milkha Singh and K.J. Choi are a little worried at the global economic crisis but feel lucky to play for huge prize money.
Jeev, who is here to play in the $5 million Barclays Singapore Open, feels that the crisis will hit Asia soon and everyone should be prepared mentally to face it.
Poulter’s withdrawal gives Lahiri a start at Singapore Open
By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS,
Sentosa (Singapore) : Rookie Anirban Lahiri followed Himmat Rai into the main draw of the $ 5 million Barclay's Singapore Open starting Thursday. Lahiri benefitted from the late withdrawal of Ian Poulter of England who decided to pull out after learning that the replacement for his driver, which was stolen in Shanghai last week would not arrive until Friday evening.
Ishant to miss first ODI against England
By IANS,
New Delhi : Fast bowler Ishant Sharma will miss the first one-dayer against England Friday due to an ankle sprain.
Ishant, who was the pick of Indian bowlers in the just-concluded Test series against Australia, has been advised rest for five days.
"He is undergoing his rehabilitation and is making good progress," Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement Wednesday.
Ishant took 15 wickets in four Tests against Australia and was adjudged man of the series.
Driven by desire to win Majors, Jeev to cut heavy schedule
By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS,
Sentosa (Singapore) : Driven by the desire to win his first Major, top Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh plans to cut down on tournaments to give more time to his body to recover from injuries.
New format to help India in Chess Olympiad
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Indian team for the Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany have good medal prospects due to the new format introduced this year.
The placing will be based on wins and not points. A 4-0 win and 2.5-1.5 win will give the same two points. With the yardstick for measuring success changing, it can help strong teams like India.
The Indian team, which finished 30th in men and 12th in women at Turin 2006, will be sponsored by India Cements to the tune of Rs.1 million.
Symonds comeback welcomed by teammates
By IANS,
Melbourne : Andrew Symonds will be welcomed back with open arms by his Australian teammates.
Symonds, who makes his national comeback in Friday night's Twenty20 exhibition match against the ACA All Stars, may be ushered back into the Test squad as early as Thursday.
Matthew Hayden is one player advocating an immediate return for his fellow Queenslander.
Yellow card: Cricket goes the football way
By IANS,
London : Cricket is all set to go the football way with the introduction of yellow cards to prevent players from abusing umpires and excessive sledging.
The rule will be put on trial in minor county and club level tournaments here. If the trial is successful then the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will soon introduce it in first class matches as well.
ECB chairman Giles Clarke will discuss this innovation with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which controls and oversees the laws of the game.
Australia is still No.1, insists Ponting
By IANS,
Melbourne : Australia's cricket captain Ricky Ponting denied that the country had lost its crown as having the best team in the world, despite losing the Test series to India.
Ponting, whose ability to lead the side is being questioned after the 0-2 loss, vowed that Australia would continue to be a positive and aggressive side and he would not change his "ruthless" approach to leadership.
Aditya Patel to race in Macau motor race
By IANS,
Chennai : Aditya Patel, the 19-year old from Chennai, will be the lone Indian in fray at the famed and notorious Guia street circuit in Macau where Formula BMW Pacific makes its debut at the weekend and will be run concurrently with the season-ending Formula 3 race.
For Patel, currently placed ninth overall and fourth in the Rookie class of the Formula BMW series, it will be a steep learning curve on a circuit that has tested the best of racing drivers.
United midfielder Hargreaves out for season
By DPA,
London : Manchester United has confirmed that midfielder Owen Hargreaves will miss the rest of the season.
Hargreaves had a surgery on his right knee following discussions with the noted surgeon Richard Steadman in Colorado, the club said in a statement Tuesday.
He will have further surgery on his left knee in a fortnight in an effort to end the tendinitis problem that has plagued him for almost two years.
Hargreaves had managed just three appearances this season.
Getting prohibited bore arms licence a problem for Dhoni
By IANS,
Ranchi : Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni may already have got the prestigious Khel Ratna award but he is facing scores of problems in obtaining an arms licence for a prohibited bore weapon.
Dhoni had applied for an arms licence for a prohibited bore weapon, issued by the government under special circumstances, in August this year. But in spite of being a celebrity, he has not been issued the licence even three months on.
On the other hand, doubts have seemingly been raised about his character.
Real Madrid ousted from Spanish Cup
By DPA,
Madrid : Spanish champions Real Madrid were astonishingly eliminated from the King's Cup by third-division side Union Irun.
Real beat Union 4-3 Tuesday but crashed out of the competition on the away goals rule, having lost 2-3 two weeks ago in the little Basque town.
A header from Eneko Romo in injury time left Real still needing another goal to go through. Gonzalo Higuain went close for the whites, but the Basque part-timers managed to hold on for a memorable result.
Arsenal kids put on another sterling display in Carling Cup
By DPA,
London : Arsenal's youth players produced another sensational performance, beating Wigan 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.
Manager Arsene Wenger took an opportunity Tuesday to give the younger players in his squad a chance, his side having an average age of just 19.
Jay Simpson seized on a reverse ball from Jack Wilshere to open the scoring three minutes before half-time. He added a second from Carlos Vela's unselfish square pass midway through the second half, before Vela chipped a sensational third.
Djokovic pleased to have reversed Shanghai bad luck
By DPA,
Shanghai : Novak Djokovic couldn't be more pleased after reversing his 2007 run of year-end bad luck by qualifying a year later for the semi-finals of the Masters Cup tennis tournament.
The world No.3 Serb, who cemented his place with a three-set victory Tuesday over Nikolay Davydenko, goes into his last red group match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga relaxed and calm.
A Thunderbolt through the Himalayas
By Alkesh Sharma, IANS,
Chandigarh : Winning has never been a problem for Team Thunderbolt in one of the toughest motor rallies in the world - the Raid de Himalaya. This time the team dared to add another first - riding an all terrain vehicle (ATV) on some sections of the rally.
Having claimed four out of the five top slots as overall champions of the rally held last month in the most inhospitable parts of Himachal Pradesh and the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, the team is all set to hoist its flag in other motor rallies in the country.
Warm homecoming for Sourav Ganguly
By IANS,
Kolkata : Hundreds of fans mobbed local hero Sourav Ganguly, who returned to the city Tuesday, a day after bidding adieu to international cricket.
Bouquets in hand, the cricket buffs shouted slogans eulogising the former Indian captain and constantly cheered "Dada", "Dada" - as Ganguly is lovingly known.
They held aloft the tricolour, Ganguly's photographs and waved posters thanking him for his contribution to the game, the country and West Bengal.
Kirsten’s man management skills are excellent: Ganguly
By IANS,
Kolkata : A day after retiring from international cricket, Sourav Ganguly Tuesday lavished praise on Indian coach Garry Kirsten saying he has earned the love and respect of the team for his "excellent man management" skills.
Terming Kirsten as a 'fantastic human being', Ganguly said he knew how to handle players.
"His man management skills are excellent. This is very much needed at this level. They (the cricketers) all love him," Ganguly told a local Bengali channel.
"He can be both strict and soft. He knows how to handle players," Ganguly said.
Harbhajan moves to fifth spot in ICC bowlers’ rankings
By IANS,
New Delhi : After an inspiring performance in the Test series against Australia, Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh moved two places to the seventh spot in the bowler's list in the latest Test rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Indian qualifier Shalini stuns seventh-seeded Dutch girl
By IANS,
Pune : Little-known Indian qualifier Shalini Sahoo knocked out seventh-seeded Nicole Thyssen of the Netherlands, while another Indian Isha Lakhani easily won her first round on a day two other seeds were also shown the door at the $25,000 NECC-ITF women's tennis championships at the Deccan Gymkhana courts here Tuesday.
Shalini played fighting tennis to overcome Thyssen, ranked 236, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in a match lasting two hours 15 minutes.
Symonds says he will not apologise to the team
By IANS,
Melbourne : Andrew Symonds, who will be back in the Australian ranks in a Twenty20 exhibition game, vowed to become a better person and not repeat the mistakes that forced him out of the team.
Symonds, who was banished from the team for missing a team meeting, will play against an all-stars team in Brisbane.
The all-rounder though said he would not appologise to the team because he has already admitted his mistake.
"I don't really look at life like that," Symonds was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald.
Himmat Rai benefits as Garcia turns down Singapore Open invite
By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS,
Sentosa : Phil Mickelson may have lost his World No. 2 ranking to Sergio Garcia as the latter won the HSBC Champions, but the biggest beneficiary of that seems to India's young pro Himmat Rai.
Young Rai, playing his first season as a professional on Asian Tour, sure is a happy man.
One spot on the $5 million Barclay's Singapore Open was reserved for the winner of HSBC Champions. But with Garcia turning that down invite, Himmat as the first reserve got a start in the biggest event of his fledgling career.
***
An Indian party at Singapore
Former Australia stars lambast Ponting’s captaincy
By IANS,
Melbourne : A day after Australia lost the Test series in India, skipper Ricky Ponting received flak from the media as well as former cricketers who branded him an "ordinary captain".
Former Test players described Ponting's use of part-time bowlers to speed up Australia's poor over rate in the must-win match in Nagpur as "ridiculous".
One-time Australian spearhead Jeff Thomson pulled no punches when he claimed Ponting had lost the plot.
"I always thought he was an ordinary captain and this proves it," Thomson was quoted as saying in the Courier Mail.
‘Asian Major’ has stars ready for the Sentosa battle
By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS,
Sentosa (Singapore) : In-form Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson, between them have six Majors, and if you add Ernie Els, the number rises to nine. The trio will hog headlines this week as they fight for the Barclay’s Singapore, which in terms of quality of play, set-up and the field, not to talk of the US$ 5 million prize purse, certainly qualifies as an ‘Asian Major’.
PCB chief faces media criticism
By IANS,
Karachi : Just weeks after taking over as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ijaz Butt has already started to face media criticism over alleged nepotism.
A leading Urdu daily said in a report Tuesday that Butt, a former Pakistan Test batsman, is rewarding people close to him by appointing them in key positions in the Board.
The Daily Express also alleged that the Board chief has a soft corner for people, who were the biggest critics of the PCB when Nasim Ashraf was its chairman.
Archery coach Soumen Das dead
By IANS,
Kolkata : Soumen Das, a well known Sports Authority of India (SAI) archery coach, died last Saturday after prolonged illness.
Das, 45, leaves behind his wife Falguni Das, a former India archer, and a nine-year-old daughter Barsha Das.
Popularly known as Bhola, Das served as SAI coach both in Delhi and Kolkata and trained and accompanied the Indian team on tours from mid-1980s till the end of 1990s.
He had coached archers like Dola Banerjee and Limba Ram during his stint with the Indian team.
Krejza yet to come to terms with his stunning debut
By IANS,
Sydney : Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza still can't believe that he picked up 12 wickets on debut and is determined to prove that he is not a one Test wonder.
Krejza embarrassed the selectors, who picked him only in the fourth and final Test against India, with a match haul of 12-358 that won him man of the match award. His figures were fourth-best for a debutant in history.
Inexperienced Australian bowlers did a fine job, says coach
By IANS,
Melbourne : Australia's cricket coach Tim Nielsen acknowledged that it was a huge task for inexperienced bowlers like Jason Krezja and Mitchell Joshnon to pick up the slack after their strike bowler Brett Lee flopped during the Test series against India.
Adelaide to host Tour Down Under cycle race
By DPA,
Sydney : Sydney had the Olympics, Melbourne has the Australian Open tennis but come January the nation's sporting capital will be Adelaide with its Tour Down Under cycle race.
News that seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will be on the starting line for his comeback race has generated enormous interest in the cycling fraternity.
The US rider hung up his helmet three years ago but has signed with the Astana team for another crack at road racing's blue-ribbon event.
Adelaide to host Tour Down Under cycle race
By DPA,
Sydney : Sydney had the Olympics, Melbourne has the Australian Open tennis but come January the nation's sporting capital will be Adelaide with its Tour Down Under cycle race.
News that seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will be on the starting line for his comeback race has generated enormous interest in the cycling fraternity.
The US rider hung up his helmet three years ago but has signed with the Astana team for another crack at road racing's blue-ribbon event.
Nadal forced out of Davis Cup final
By DPA,
Barcelona : Spain's Rafael Nadal, the world's number one tennis player, stepped down from the Davis Cup final against Argentina later this month, due to a knee injury.
Nadal himself explained his decision Monday in Barcelona, after undergoing several medical tests.
"I did everything I could to try to get to that final. I am used to playing on court with pain and I have stood it quite well. But this is a different kind of pain, a new pain. I cannot manage to control it," the tennis player said.
Pakistan-bound junior hockey team stopped in Amritsar
By IANS,
New Delhi/Karachi : India's junior hockey team is camping at Amritsar to hear from the authorities on the fate of their five Test series against Pakistan.
A team official, not wanting to be identified, said that the team as scheduled reached Amritsar to cross to Wagah border Monday, but were told not to proceed till further instructions.
The official told IANS that the team had been asked to wait till Tuesday morning for a final decision on the tour. The players have not been given any reason why they have been stopped from proceeding to Lahore.
Ponting defends decision to bowl part-timers at Nagpur
By IANS,
Nagpur : Ricky Ponting Monday defended his decision to bowl part-timers at a crucial juncture on the fourth day of the last Test against India even as he draws flak from Cricket Australia (CA) and former cricketers.
Ponting, who would have invited suspension for the team's slow over-rate, bowled with part-time bowlers when India were struggling at 166 for six at one stage.
But Ponting said he bowled the part-timers because they put some impressive performances in the series.
India junior hockey team’s Pakistan visit cancelled
By Omar Khalid, IANS,
Karachi : India Monday cancelled its five-match junior hockey series against Pakistan at the last moment citing security concerns, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president said.
PHF chief Qasim Zia told reporters here that the series, scheduled to get underway in Karachi Tuesday, had to be scrapped after the Indian authorities refused to give clearance to the team.
"We are really disappointed at the cancellation as all the arrangements were made and everybody was eagerly looking forward to the series," said Zia, a former Pakistan Olympian.
Ganguly sees his shade in Dhoni
By IANS,
Nagpur : India's most successful captain Sourav Ganguly sees his shade in Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Ganguly, who bid adieu to international cricket here Monday, said that Dhoni's leadership style was reminiscent of his self.
"Captaincy I just did what I felt was right. I never was a captain who believed in the drawing room and I see a lot of that in Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He doesn't believe a lot in team meeting and all," Ganguly told reporters here.
Australia fined for slow over-rate in Nagpur
By IANS,
Nagpur : The Australia team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 172-run defeat against India in the fourth Test here Monday.
Match Referee Chris Broad imposed the fines after Ricky Ponting’s side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.
We need to take Indian cricket forward, says Ganguly
By IANS,
Nagpur : As Sourav Ganguly's illustrious career came to an end here Monday, the former cricket captain said he would like to be remembered as a fine batsman, a good captain and a man of comebacks.
India ends Australia’s dominance of world cricket
By IANS,
Nagpur : India have been insisting that Australia are no longer the invincibles and they have proved it in a telling fashion with an emphatic 2-0 series win to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy here Monday.
Led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a captain who thinks out of the box, India pulled the rug from under the Kangaroos with a 172-run win in the fourth and final Test here. He was the stand-in skipper for injured Anil Kumble at Mohali when India thumped the Australians by a whopping 320 runs in the second Test.
Bengal sports minister makes oblique remarks about Ganguly
By IANS,
Kolkata : Even as West Bengal was singing paeans to home-grown cricketing hero Sourav Ganguly, whose international career ended Monday, state sports minister Subhas Chakraborty sang a different tune at a programme here.
Attending a media meet where the itinerary of soccer legend Diego Maradona's visit was announced, Chakraborty made oblique remarks about Ganguly when asked whether the cricketer would also be invited at the Argentine's felicitation programme Dec 6.
"Sourav is a cricketer, Maradona is a footballer. Why should Sourav be present?," he said.
Series win against Oz takes India to second spot in Test rankings
By IANS,
Dubai : India moved up to the second spot in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Test Championship after their emphatic 2-0 win over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Indian won back the trophy after four years, winning the fourth and last Test in Nagpur by 172 runs Monday and gained seven rating points to draw level with South Africa on 116. But South Africa slipped to third position by fraction of a rating point.
Probe ordered into Kerala cricket body corruption charges
By IANS,
Trissur (Kerala) : A vigilance court here Monday ordered a vigilance probe into the running of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) after a cricket enthusiast approached the court highlighting several incidents of corruption.
Balaji Iyengar and two others sent copies of the alleged financial manipulation in the KCA to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, the Central Bureau of Investigation and other agencies who look into corruption.
PCB appoints Sohail as new Academy chief
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan Monday appointed former Test captain Aamer Sohail as the new Director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The decision to appoint Sohail at the key post that was vacated by former Test opener Mudassar Nazar was taken at a Governing Board meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Lahore Monday.
Mudassar had resigned last month from the position after accepting an assignment with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dubai.
We were outplayed by India, says Ponting
By IANS,
Nagpur : Australian captain Ricky Ponting accepted that his side was thoroughly outplayed by India in the four-match Test series that ended here Monday. India won the series 2-0 and regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after four years.
“We were totally outplayed by India in all departments and we have a lot to learn from the tour. It has been a fair result to tell the truth. We played good cricket in Bangalore but from there we have been chasing our tails," said Ponting after Australia lost the final Test by 172 runs.
Force India tie up with McLaren
By IANS,
Chennai : Force India Formula One Team has entered into a technical partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies (wholly owned by the McLaren Group) and with Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines.
Force India who last week parted with Ferrari, their engine suppliers for the 2008 season, were in talks with McLaren for a possible tie-up.
India should soon replace Australia at the top
By Joseph Hoover, IANS,
There can't be greater joy than convincingly trouncing Australia in Test cricket, a game they have dominated since the 90s. That India has consistently and emphatically challenged the cricket superpowers, at home and away, manifests that Mahender Singh Dhoni's conquering legion has the potential, skills and determination to put Indian cricket on a higher pedestal.
Maradona to arrive in Kolkata on Dec 5
By IANS,
Kolkata : Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona would lay the foundation stone of the Indian Football School (IFS) besides participating at a charity dinner during his visit to the city Dec 5-7.
Announcing Maradona's itinerary in the city, Lok Sabha MP Samik Lahiri said the present Argentine coach would arrive at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in the city on the night Dec 5.
Ganguly leads India for one last time
By IANS,
Nagpur : In a remarkable gesture to his former captain Sourav Ganguly, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni handed him the reins of captaincy in the closing overs of the fourth and last cricket Test against Australia here.
With one wicket left for India to wrap up a hard-fought series 2-0 against Australia, Ganguly promptly took charge of the team for one last time. The Dada of yore was back marshalling his troop with the same aura that made him India's most successful skipper.
Ganguly has done more for Indian cricket as captain
By IANS,
New Delhi : Courageous, confident, comebacks, controversies. The list of attributes is endless as one goes through the glorious 12-year-long international career of Sourav Ganguly, who encouraged his teammates to stare the opposition down.
Nagpur saw the last of Ganguly the cricketer Monday, the most successful Indian captain and the man of many comebacks.
Dhoni hails fast bowlers for series win over Australia
By IANS,
Nagpur : India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lauded his fast bowlers for the 2-0 Test series victory over Australia here Monday.
Dhoni said that his pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, who troubled the Australians with reverse swing, bowled with a lot of heart on the placid tracks that had little for the fast bowlers.
"Fast bowlers did the trick for us in the series. They did not have much to do on these wicket. They bowled their hearts out and were well backed by the spinners and part time bowlers," Dhoni said during the prize distribution ceremony.
Bowlers inspire India to a series win over Australia
By IANS,
Nagpur : A late burst from spinners Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra inspired India to a 172-run victory over Australia in the fourth and last Test and lift the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-0 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Monday.
Chasing 382 to win, a middle-order collapse saw their second innings fold up for 209 unable to cope with the spin-twins Harbhajan (4-64) and Mishra (3-27). India made 441 in the first innings and 295 in the second. Australia made 355 in the first.
India is new Australia, says Abdul Qadir
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan's legendary spinner Abdul Qadir said Monday that India is the 'new Australia' of the cricket world after it blanked Ricky Ponting's men 2-0 in a four-match Test series in Nagpur.
Qadir, who is widely tipped to take over as Pakistan's new chief selector, said winning two Tests in a four-match series against Australia was a huge feat.
"I believe that India is now the new Australia of Test cricket. By beating the Aussies in the four-Test series, India has proved that it is now the world's best team," said Qadir.
Final scoreboard: India vs Australia, Fourth Test
By IANS,
Nagpur : Final scoreboard of the fourth and final cricket Test between India and Australia here Monday:
India (first innings): 441 all out
Australia (first innings): 355 all out
India (second innings): 295 all out
Australia (second innings, overnight 13/0)
Matthew Hayden lbw Harbhajan 76
Simon Katich c Dhoni b Sharma 16
Ricky Ponting run out (Mishra) 8
Michael Clarke c Dhoni b Sharma 22
Michael Hussey c Dravid b Mishra 19
Shane Watson c Dhoni b Harbhajan 9
Brad Haddin c Tendulkar b Mishra 4
Cameron White not out 26
Jason Krejza st Dhoni b Mishra 4
India beat Australia to win Test series 2-0, lift Border-Gavaskar Trophy
By IANS,
Nagpur : India defeated Australia by 172 run in the fourth and final Test of the current series to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy here Monday. India win the series 2-0, having also won the second test at Mohali.
Chasing 382 for victory, Australia were all out for 209 at the stroke of tea at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium.
Harbhajan Singh (4-64) and Amit Mishra (3-27) demolished Australia in the second innings. Matthew Hayden was the top-scorer with 77.
Final scores: India 441 and 295; Australia 355 and 209.
British woman lifeguard will inspire locals, Goa authorities hope
By IANS,
Panaji : A young British woman, Kerry Blewett, part of a team of experts brought to the coastal state of Goa to train lifeguards, has been given a tough job - persuade local women to become lifeguards and then train the recruits.
While her colleagues teach the local lifeguards various techniques to handle drowning emergencies at sea, Blewett has been given the special role of motivator by Drishti Special Response (DSR), the agency appointed by the Goa government to make Goan beaches safe for swimmers.
DSR has had problems hiring female lifeguards.
Sloppy fielding helps Australia get to 111/3
By IANS,
Nagpur : India maintained its authority over Australia in the Nagpur Test by picking up three wickets in the first session but some sloppy fielding helped the visitors put 111 for three in the second innings, chasing a victory target of 382, on the final day of the last Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Monday.
Matthew Hayden was batting on 46 and Mike Hussey on 14 at the lunch break as Australia still needed 271 runs to win the match. Australia trail 0-1 in the series and are in a must win situation to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Lunch scoreboard: India vs. Australia, Fourth Test, Day Five
By IANS,
Nagpur : Following is the scoreboard at lunch on the final day of the last Test match between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Monday.
SCOREBOARD:
India (first innings): 441 all out
Australia (first innings): 355 all out
India (second innings): 295 all out
Australia (second innings, overnight 13/0)
Matthew Hayden batting 46
Simon Katich c Dhoni b Sharma 16
Ricky Ponting run out (Mishra) 8
Michael Clarke c Dhoni b Sharma 22
Mike Hussey batting 14
Extras (b 1, w 3, nb 1) 5
Total (three wickets in 23 overs) 111
India need seven wickets to win Nagpur Test
By IANS,
Nagpur : Chasing a victory target of 382, Australia were 111 for three at lunch in the second innings against India on the final day of the last Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Monday.
At the break, Matthew Hayden was batting on 46 and Mike Hussey on 22. Australia trail 0-1 in the series and India are on the verge of a rare series win over Australia.
Andrew Symonds to return to big time cricket
By Neena Bhandari, IANS,
Sydney : Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, much missed by the baggy greens during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, will return to big-time cricket for a Twenty20 match in Brisbane next Friday.
"I have been in regular contact with Andrew over the last month or so. He has made significant progress during his enforced lay off and we are happy that he is now available to be selected for Australia again," said Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland.
Ponting criticised by Australian media for not going for win
By Neena Bhandari, IANS,
Sydney : Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has come under fire in the Australian media for attempting to save himself from suspension for slow over rate rather than push for victory to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
What on earth was he (Ponting) thinking? asks Peter Roebuck writing in the Fairfax newspapers, publishers of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "In one of the most baffling displays of captaincy seen in the long and proud history of Australian cricket, Ricky Ponting has denied his side a deserved chance of securing a famous victory".
Kolkata struggles to come to terms with Ganguly’s retirement
By IANS,
Kolkata : With Sourav Ganguly getting out even before opening his account in his last Test innings, the former Indian captain's admirers here were left sad and dejected Sunday. Many of them seemed struggling to come to terms with the fact that the local boy would never again be seen representing India.
"Don't ask me anything today (Sunday). I am not in a position to say anything," Ganguly's father told IANS a short while after Ganguly returned to the pavilion on the penultimate day of the Nagpur Test against Australia.
Churchill taste first defeat in I-League
By IANS,
Kolkata : Three-time champions Mohun Bagan rode on an early strike to pip Goa's Churchill Brothers 1-0 in an I-League encounter here Sunday.
Upfronter Lalam Puiya got the all-important goal for the local outfit in the 14th minute to hand Churchill their first defeat in the ongoing second edition of the glamorous league.
Force India needs more time, says Renault’s Piquet Jr
By IANS,
New Delhi : Renault's Formula-One race driver Nelson Piquet Jr, who enthralled the motorsport lovers during the roadshow here Sunday, feels that Force India will take some time to gain foothold in the circuit.
The Vijay Mallya-owned Force India finished last in the F-1 Team Championship this season. Their best performance was a 10th spot finish in the Spanish Grand Prix by Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella.
Bhupathi-Knowels win first league match in Shanghai Masters
By IANS,
Shanghai : India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas defeated Wesley Moodie and Jeff Coetzee in their first league match of Tennis Masters Cup here Sunday.
Bhupathi and Knowels, who are placed in the Red Group, scored a 6-2, 6-3 win over the South African pair.
The duo will play two more matches in the group.
Leander Paes and czech Lukas Dlouhy have been placed in the Gold Group and their first match is against sweden's Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ulyett of Zimbabwe Monday.
Somdev goes down in Nashville ATP challenger final
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's Somdev Devvarman fought hard but could not stop local favourite Robert Kendrick from winning the $75,000 ATP Challenger in Nashville, US.
The 23-year-old Indian who so far had a 2-0 record against the fourth-seeded Kendrick, went down 3-6, 5-7 on the hard courts Sunday.
The Davis Cupper has been outstanding in the tournament that included routing of third seed Jesse Levine in the semi-final.
Kendrick will get a winner's purse of $10,800 and 60 ATP points while Somdev will have to be content with $6,360 and 42 ATP points.
Karthikeyan finishes 10th in A1 Grand Prix
By IANS,
Chengdu (China) : Narain Karthikeyan of Team India finished 10th in both sprint and features at the A1 Grand Prix motorsport race here Sunday.
Adam Carroll drove a faultless race to take A1 Team Ireland's second series victory in the sprint race. On his A1 Team Netherlands debut, Robert Doornbos came home a comfortable second, while Danny Watts held off a fierce challenge from Switzerland's Neel Jani to claim the final podium position for A1 Team Great Britain.
Filipe Albuquerque claimed A1 Team Portugal's maiden victory in the A1GP when he won the feature race.
Delhi gets its first taste of Formula-One
By IANS,
New Delhi : The vroom of the high-powered engines reverberated through the heart of the national capital Sunday. The boom and the roar came from Formula-One cars that left the motorsport enthusiasts of the city watch in awe and asking for more.
Though it is still some time before India sets its date with Formula-1 race, premier car maker and F1 team Renault Sunday gave the city its first crush with one of the most popular sport worldwide.
Huge challenge for Australia to win Nagpur Test
By IANS,
Nagpur : An important century-run stand between captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh helped India recover after a middle-order debacle in the second innings and set a victory target of 382 runs for Australia on the penultimate day of the final Test here Sunday.
At close, Australia were 13 for no loss after Matthew Hayden (5) and Simon Katich (8) played out the 1.3 overs before they appealed against fading light at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Sunday evening.
Scoreboard: India vs. Australia, Fourth Test, Day Four
By IANS,
Nagpur : The following is the scoreboard at the end of fourth day's play in the fourth and final Test match between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Saturday:
SCOREBOARD:
India (first innings): 441 all out
Australia (first innings): 355 all out
India (second innings, overnight 0/0)
Virender Sehwag c Haddin b Lee 92
Murali Vijay lbw b Watson 41
Rahul Dravid c Haddin b Watson 3
Sachin Tendulkar run out (White/Haddin) 12
V.V.S. Laxman b Krejza 4
Sourav Ganguly c & b Krejza 0
Mahendra Singh Dhoni c Hussey b Krejza 55
Traffic snarls in Delhi during half-marathon
By IANS,
New Delhi : Hassled commuters here Sunday were faced with the task of manoeuvring through the capital's roads blocked due to the half-marathon. Detours along the way and seemingly uninformed traffic officials manning them added to the drivers' woes.
Australia need 369 runs to win Nagpur Test
By IANS,
Nagpur : Chasing a victory target of 382, Australia were 13 for no loss in the first innings at close of the fourth day's play against India in the fourth and final Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here.
India were all out for 295 runs in the second innings and took a 381-run lead after bowling Australia out for 355 in the first innings. India made 441 runs in the first innings. Australia trail 0-1 in the four-Test series.
Merga hopes to defend title next year
By IANS,
New Delhi : Ethiopia's Deriba Merga, who recorded the fastest time of the year winning the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon Sunday, said he is not surprised by his timing and would like to come back next year to defend his title.
"I am very happy to win the marathon. I was expecting to set a new record here," said Merga, who finished fourth in Beijing Olympics. He clocked 59:15 Sunday to set a new event record and lay claim on $25,000 prize money.
India set 382-run target for Australia
By IANS,
Nagpur : India set a 382-run target for Australia to win the fourth and last Test after being bowled out for 295 in the second innings here Sunday.
Virender Sehwag struck a brisk 92 followed by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (55) and Harbhajan Singh (52). India made 441 in the first innings and bowled Australia out for 355.
Australia trail 0-1 in the four-Test series.
Ethiopians sweep top honours in Delhi Half Marathon
By IANS,
New Delhi : Ethiopia's Deriba Merga won the Airtel Delhi half marathon with the fastest time of the year of 59 minutes and 15 seconds here Sunday. Fellow-Ethiopian Aselefech Mergia won the women's race, clocking, 60:08:17.
Sandeep Kumar and Kavita Raut recorded the best timings among the Indians and pocketed $4,000 each.
It was an African sweep in the open event, with silver and bronze medals in the men's category going to Kenyans Wilson Kipsang (59:16:0)and Wilson Chebet (59:34:0), receiving $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.
Middle-order collapse put India on back-foot
By IANS,
Nagpur : After a good start by the openers in the morning session, India's middle-order faltered as the hosts slumped to 166 for six in the second innings at tea against Australia on the penultimate day of the fourth and last Test here Sunday.
After the second session's play, India stretched its lead to 252 runs with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni unbeaten on three.
Mahathir wants Malaysian kids to learn swimming
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad admits to not being able to swim. But he wants parents to ensure that their wards can.
Mahathir, who was the longest serving prime minister, made the appeal while launching a charity triathlon event here Saturday for an 11-year-old who will swim eight kilometres across the Putrajaya lake.
Mahathir, about 80, pointed out how important it was to learn swimming and urged parents to ensure their children could do so.
He said: "I confess I can't swim. I am astonished that humans can swim.
Eto’o keeps brilliant Barcelona on top in Spain
By Duncan Shaw, DPA,
Madrid : Samuel Eto'o kept Barcelona on top of the Spanish Liga by scoring four goals in the 6-0 destruction of lowly Valladolid.
Eto'o scored all of his goals in another sparkling first-half display from Barca Saturday night. He now leads the scorers' chart with 13 goals in 10 games.
Barca have won their last eight league matches and are top with 25 points, two more than Real Madrid, who beat Malaga 4-3 earlier in a dramatic clash. Villarreal are third on 21 points.
Tea scoreboard: India vs. Australia, Fourth Test, Day Four
By IANS,
Nagpur : Following is the scoreboard at tea on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Sunday.
SCOREBOARD:
India (1st innings): 441 all out
Australia (1st innings): 355 all out
India (2nd innings, overnight 0/0)
Virender Sehwag c Haddin b Lee 92
Murali Vijay lbw b Watson 41
Rahul Dravid c Haddin b Watson 3
Sachin Tendulkar run out (White/Haddin) 12
V.V.S. Laxman b Krejza 4
Sourav Ganguly c & b Krejza 0
Mahendra Singh Dhoni batting 3
Extras (b 2, lb 1, w 1, nb 2, pen 5) 11
India 166/6 at tea against Australia
By IANS,
Nagpur : After a good start, India lost wickets at regular intervals Sunday to struggle at 166 for six in the second innings at tea on the fourth day of the final Test against Australia here. The Indians still led by 252 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium.
Sachin Tendulkar (12) was run out in the last ball before tea and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (3) was not out at the other end. India made 441 in the first innings and bowled out Australia for 355.
Pakistan drop opener at last minute over health problems
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan cricket selectors Sunday were forced to replace opening batsman Nasir Jamshed with Khurram Manzoor in its 15-man squad for the three-match One-day International series against the West Indies just hours before the team's departure to Abu Dhabi.
"We have decided to bring in Khurram Manzoor in place of Nasir Jamshed because he (Nasir) fell sick this morning," said Zakir Khan, Pakistan Cricket Board's Director of Cricket Operations.
Afridi almost missed flight to Abu Dhabi
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan's star all-rounder Shahid Afridi almost missed his flight to Abu Dhabi after he was stuck in a massive traffic jam that was caused by indiscriminate firing in one of the city's main arteries.
Afridi, who lives in Karachi's Gulshan-e-Iqbal locality, found himself trapped in a traffic jam at Rashid Minhas Road that was blocked by angry dumper drivers. The drivers were protesting after one of their colleagues were fired on this morning by resorting to aerial firing themselves.
We are fully united: Shoaib Malik
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik declared Sunday the national team is united behind him ahead of a three-match One-day International series against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi from Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters here at the Jinnah Terminal just before the team's departure to Abu Dhabi, Malik said that the players were fully ready for the series and will go all out to register a comprehensive victory against the West Indies.
Sehwag, Vijay strengthen India’s hold over Australia
By IANS,
Nagpur : India strengthened its hold on the final cricket Test with openers Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay guiding the side to 98 for no loss in the second innings at lunch against Australia on the fourth day. India have now extended the lead to 184 runs.
At break, Sehwag was batting on 59 and Vijay on 37 and dominated the morning session by scoring briskly.
Sehwag made a bright start, driving the fifth ball of the day for a four. Both the batsmen accumulated runs safely with few audacious strokes coming from Sehwag every now and then.
Lunch scoreboard: India vs. Australia, Fourth Test, Day Four
By IANS,
Nagpur : Following is the scoreboard at lunch on the fourth day of the last Test match between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Sunday.
Scoreboard:
India (1st innings): 441 all out
Australia (1st innings): 355 all out
India (2nd innings, overnight 0/0)
Virender Sehwag batting 59
Murali Vijay batting 37
Extras (lb 1, nb 1) 2
Total (for no loss in 27 overs) 98
Bowling:
Mitchell Johnson 10 3 19 0
Brett Lee 5 0 24 0 (1nb)
Jason Krejza 8 0 46 0
Shane Watson 4 1 8 0
Sehwag, Vijay extend India’s lead to 184
By IANS,
Nagpur : Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay extended the lead to 184 runs as the hosts scored 98 without any loss in the second innings against Australia at lunch on the fourth day of the last Test match here Sunday.
At the break, Sehwag was batting on 59 and Vijay 37 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium. India made 441 in the first innings and bowled out Australia for 355.
Ethiopian runners win Delhi half marathon
By IANS,
New Delhi : Ethiopians Deriba Merga and Aselefech Mergia won the Airtel Delhi open half marathon for men and women respectively here Sunday.
Sandeep Kumar and Kavita Raut recorded the best timings among the Indians.
It was an African sweep in the open event. Merga clocked 59 minutes 15 seconds to take the gold, silver and bronze medals going to Kenyans Wilson Kipsang (59:16:0) and Wilson Chebet (59:34:0).
Mergia won the women's race, clocking 1:08:17 while fellow-Ethiopian Gelet Getent (1:98:18) was second and Kenyan Peninah Arusei (1:08:20) third.
Ritwik upsets Ghosal in Challenger Squash
By IANS,
Chennai : Veteran Ritwik Bhattacharya upset top seed and national champion Saurav Ghosal 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10 in 65 minutes to win the ICL-PSA Challenger squash tournament, here Saturday.
Bhattacharya, a former national champion, brought into play his vast experience to wear down Ghosal in a tense contest as he came back from 1-2 down to eventually wrap up the match 12-10 in the decider.
Katich and Hussey keep India’s lead down to 86
By IANS,
Nagpur : India managed a handy lead of 86 runs by bowling out Australia for 355 in the first innings after a hard-fought third day's play in the fourth and the last Test here at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium Saturday.
India had to play out only one over before stumps and opener Virender Sehwag faced Mitchell Johnson calmly without scoring a run, Murali Vijay standing at the other end.
Jeev moves to 21st in HSBC Champions
By IANS,
Shanghai : India's Jeev Milkha Singh playing one of his steadiest rounds had just one birdie and 17 pars in a one-under 71 in the second round of the rain-hit at the $5 million HSBC Champions golf here Saturday.
With the organisers having been forced to cancel play Friday, the second round and part of the third round is being played Saturday in an effort to complete all four rounds in the tournament.
Jeev moved up marginally from tied 24th to 21st after the second round while his compatriot S.S.P. Chowrasia carded an even par 72 to move up 10 places to the 55th spot.
Scoreboard: India vs Australia, Fourth Test, Day Three
By IANS,
Nagpur : Scoreboard at stumps on the third day of the fourth and final cricket Test between India and Australia here Saturday:
India: first innings (441 all out)
Australia: first innings (overnight 189 for two)
Matthew Hayden run out (Vijay) 16
Simon Katich lbw b Khan 102
Ricky Ponting b Harbhajan Singh 24
Michael Hussey run out (Vijay/Dhoni) 90
Michael Clarke c Dhoni b Sharma 8
Shane Watson b Harbhajan Singh 2
Brad Haddin c Dravid b Mishra 28
Cameron White c Sehwag b Harbhajan 46
Jason Krejza lbw Sharma 5
Mitchell Johnson c Khan b Mishra 5
Brett Lee not out 1
Intikhab helps end Malik-Afridi rivalry
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan's new cricket management is claiming to have ended one of the bitter rivalries in the national team -- between skipper Shoaib Malik and senior allrounder Shahid Afridi.
A well-placed source in the Pakistan team said Saturday that new Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam mediated between Malik and Afridi recently and managed to convince the players to give up their differences.
"Malik and Afridi met in Karachi the other day and agreed to give up their differences. They also agreed to work together for the greater interest of the team," the source said Saturday.
Motor Sport in India in forward gear
By IANS,
Chennai : The global economic meltdown will not impact motor sport in India, according to a cross-section of automobile honchos who, on the contrary, believe that the show will go on.
With fears of a long recessionary period that has already seen pink slips, drastic cost cutting measures and slowdown in the automobile industry, motor sport in general could take a big hit and it could be even more so in India.
India take 86-run lead over Australia
By IANS,
Nagpur : India gained an 86-run lead after bowling out Australia for 355 in the first innings at the end of the third day's play in the fourth and last Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Saturday.
At close, the Indian opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay remained not out without scoring and having played out safely the last over of the day.
India made 441 in the first innings.
FMSCI back in driver’s seat in Indian motor sport
By Anand Philar, IANS,
Chennai : The restoration of sporting power to the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) brought the curtain down on an eight-year imbroglio while triggering a sense of optimism and cheer in motor sport circles.
The General Assembly of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) voted 48-23 in Paris Friday to hand over the sporting power to FMSCI from Motor Sports Association of India (MAI).
Karthikeyan qualifies for A1 GP second round
By IANS,
Chengdu (China) : Narain Karthikeyan of Team India qualified ninth (Sprint Race) and 16th (Feature Race) for the second round of the A1 Grand Prix to be run here Sunday.
Karthikeyan clocked one minute, 16.553 seconds in the qualifying round for the sprint race, 1.130 seconds off the pole position and 1:17.218 for the feature event, 1:893 off the pace.
Team India missed the first round at Zandvoort, the Netherlands, due to delay in receiving the cars.
Uttar Pradesh man first South Asian to judge world judo championships
By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Judo Association secretary Munawar Anzar has been given the world referee licence by the International Judo Federation, the first South Asian to get the coveted licence.
Anzar, who started his career as a judo referee in 1994, would now judge world championship matches.
In the 2003 African games, he received the international referee licence (IRL) enabling him to participate in international events, but not in those that decide world judo champions.
Three quick wickets put Australia on backfoot
By IANS,
Nagpur : Three quick wickets in the post-lunch session left Australia struggling at 280 for six in the first innings, chasing India's 441, at tea on the third day of the fourth and the last Test match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Saturday.
Brad Haddin and Cameron White were batting on seven runs each when the umpires called for tea Australia trailing by 161.
After a frustrating first session in which Australia scored a painstaking 42 runs in 24 overs, the Indian bowlers struck in the second.
Tea scoreboard: India vs Australia, Fourth Test, Day Three
By IANS,
Nagpur : Scoreboard at tea on the third day of the fourth and final cricket Test here Saturday:
India: first innings (441 all out)
Australia: first innings (overnight 189 for two)
Matthew Hayden run out (Vijay) 16
Simon Katich lbw b Khan 102
Ricky Ponting b Harbhajan Singh 24
Michael Hussey run out (Vijay/Dhoni) 90
Michael Clarke c Dhoni b Sharma 8
Shane Watson b Harbhajan Singh 2
Brad Haddin batting 7
Cameron White batting 7
Extras (b 12, lb 3, w 2, nb 2, pen 5) 24
Total (for six wickets in 102 overs) 280
Somdev enters Nashville ATP Challenger final
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's Somdev Devvarman continued his giant-killing spree to upset second seeded American Bobby Reynolds and move into the final of the US$75,000 ATP Challenger in Nashville, USA.
The unseeded Somdev scored a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over 81-ranked Reynolds to reach his second Challenger final of the season.
Somdev, ranked 241, will now clash with local favourite and fourth seed Robert Kendrick for a winner's purse of $10,800 and 60 ATP points. Kendrick got the better of fellow American Michael Russell 4-6, 6-0 6-3.
Nagpur Test: Australia slump to 280/6 at tea
By IANS,
Nagpur : Australia were struggling at 280 for six in the first innings, in reply to India's 441, at tea on the third day of the fourth and last Test match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Saturday.
Brad Haddin and Cameron White were batting on identical seven at the break.
Cologne beats Hannover for first time in decades
By DPA,
Cologne : For the first time in nearly 20 years, Cologne beat Hannover 96 in a 2-1 victory in the Bundesliga football tournament.
Jan Schlaudraff scored the first goal for Hannover in the 15th minute, but Brazilian Pedro Geromel equalised for Cologne in the 43rd minute here Friday.
The goal in front of 47,000 spectators in Cologne was the Brazilian's first in the Bundesliga. Wilfried Sanou scored the winning goal in the 71st minute.
Cologne now move to sixth spot while Hannover remain at 13.
Diego Simeone resigns as River Plate coach
By DPA,
Buenos Aires : Diego Simeone resigned as coach of Argentine football club River Plate, hours after the team's elimination from the Copa Sudamericana in the quarterfinals, at the hands of Mexican side Chivas.
"Simeone asked us for a meeting and informed us that he stopped being (River Plate's) coach as from the game on Sunday," River Plate football department top official Roberto Cuina confirmed Friday.
Heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko unhappy with Gomez fight
By DPA,
Hamburg : Ukrainian heavyweight Vitali Klitschko believes there is little interest in a fight ordered by the World Boxing Council (WBC) with the German-based Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez.
Klitschko, 37, had wanted to line up another opponent, preferably the Russian Nikolay Valuev, with the Briton David Haye also a possible candidate.
But he has now been told to make a mandatory defence of his WBC belt against the WBC's top-ranked contender Gomez.
"I can well remember knocking Gomez down when he was my sparring partner," Klitschko was quoted as saying by Bild newspaper.
Di Grassi to test drive for Honda Formula One team
By DPA,
Brackley (Britain) : Lucas di Grassi will test drive for the Honda Formula One team later this month, joining fellow Brazilian Bruno Senna, nephew of racing legend Ayrton Senna.
The pair will test the Honda RA108 car for the Japanese team at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona during Honda's first official winter test, which runs Nov 17-19.
Hoffenheim striker Ibisevic lets his goals do the talking
By DPA,
Sinsheim (Germany) : The working day was not over for Vedad Ibisevic after he had scored twice in the 4-1 rout of Karlsruhe to take his goal tally in the Bundesliga season to 13.
First he had to acknowledge the ovation given to him from Hoffenheim fans and to sign his first autographs. Then the Bosnian - fluent in English, German and French - was on hand to translate into German for his team-mates Demba Ba and Chinedu Obasi in an interview with the pay-TV channel Premiere.
For the Bundesliga's leading scorer, the goals are doing all the talking.
Federer hoping for no close shaves in Shanghai Masters
By Bill Scott, DPA,
Shanghai : Roger Federer went through what has become his annual sponsor obligation as he taught a group of Chinese teenagers how to shave at a public relations event as the countdown continued to the Masters Cup tennis.
The Swiss is top seeded, as world No.1 Rafael Nadal is missing with right knee tendinitis, and will open his title defence Monday against France's Gilles Simon.
Federer showed quick hands off the court as he brandished a microphone in one fist and a razor in the other during the "first shave" with a group of local 18-year-olds.
China’s Liu likely to have surgery on injured foot
By DPA,
Beijing : The foot injury that forced China's star hurdler Liu Xiang to withdraw from this year's Olympic Games is likely to need surgery that could keep him out of competition for six months.
Liu, 24, returned to China Wednesday after consulting US medical experts but had still not made a final decision on whether to opt for surgery.
The former 110-metres hurdles world record holder and gold medallist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens had travelled to the US to seek further medical opinions after Chinese doctors advised surgery to repair tendon damage.
Katich century takes Australia to 231/3
By IANS,
Nagpur : Australia scored at a painstaking pace in the first session and riding on a century from Simon Katich reached 231 for three in the first innings, chasing India's 441, at lunch on the third day of the fourth and final Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Saturday.
Resuming at the overnight score of 189/2, Australia scored just 42 runs from 24 overs. When the umpires called lunch, Mike Hussey was batting on 64 and vice-captain Michael Clarke was on one.
Lunch scoreboard: India vs. Australia, Fourth Test, Day Three
By IANS,
Nagpur : Following is the scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the fourth cricket Test between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Saturday.
SCOREBOARD:
India (1st innings): 441 all out
Australia 1st innings (Overnight 189/2)
Matthew Hayden run out (Vijay) 16
Simon Katich lbw Khan 102
Ricky Ponting b Harbhajan Singh 24
Michael Hussey batting 64
Michael Clarke batting 1
Extras (b 12, lb 3, w 2, nb 2, pen 5) 24
Total (for three wickets in 73 overs) 231
Australia cruise to 231/3 at lunch
By IANS,
Nagpur : Australian opener Simon Katich (102) got his fifth Test century as the visitors reduced the gap to 210 runs, chasing India's first innings core of 441, at lunch on the third day of the fourth and final Test match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Saturday.
After the end of first session's game, Australia were comfortably placed at 231 for three with overnight batsman Mike Hussey batting on 64 and vice-captain Michael Clarke on one.
India is the future No.1 team in cricket: Hadlee
By IANS,
New Delhi : All-time great all-rounder Richard Hadlee feels India has the potential to be the top team in all forms of world cricket and it is just a matter of a couple of years before they wear the crown of world champions.
"India has the potential to be the No. 1 team in all forms of the game. What we are seeing in India's performance, it's a reflection of Indian Premier League (IPL). India is a real force in world cricket," said Hadlee.
It’s payback time, PCB tells Yousuf
By IANS,
Karachi : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked Mohammad Yousuf to pay Rs 10 million that it (PCB) spent on the batsman's legal battle with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Two days after Yousuf signed up to play with the ICL, the PCB has sent him a notice to return the money or face a lawsuit in a civil court.
Shan Gul, PCB legal advisor, told reporters Friday evening that the board wants to get back the money it spent on Yousuf's contract negotiations with the ICL and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Cricket Association of Bengal to felicitate Sourav
By IANS,
Kolkata : The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) will give a grand farewell Dec 7 to former India skipper and local boy Sourav Ganguly, who will retire from international cricket after the ongoing Test against Australia at Nagpur.
"We will felicitate him in a befitting manner for his contribution to Indian and Bengal cricket," CAB President Jagmohan Dalmiya told mediapersons here Friday.
Dalmiya said the CAB was hoping that Ganguly would reconsider his decision to retire after the sparkling form that he has displayed in the series.
Mafia inside Sri Lanka Cricket working against me: Ranatunga
By IANS,
Colombo : Chairman of interim governing body of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Arjuna Ranatunga made strong allegations, saying that a 'mafia' within the board was working against him.
"There is a mafia inside Sri Lanka Cricket. That mafia can't push me down. We wanted to carry out certain changes at the Sri Lanka Cricket, but it is not an easy thing," Ranatunga, Sri Lanka's World Cup winning captain, was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror here Friday.
Malik denies he was disrespectful to Yousuf
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik hit back at senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf Friday, saying that he was never disrespectful towards the player, who defected to the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier this week.
"Yousuf has unfairly criticized me," Malik said in an interview while responding to Yousuf's criticism that he was meted out a shabby treatment by Malik and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
But Malik rejected Yousuf's claim and made it clear that he harboured no grudge against him.
Scoreboard: India vs Australia, Fourth Test, Day Two
By IANS,
Nagpur : Scoreboard at stumps on the second day of the fourth cricket Test between India and Australia here Friday.
India: Ist innings (overnight 311/5)
Virender Sehwag b Krejza 66
Murali Vijay c Haddin b Watson 33
Rahul Dravid c Katich b Krejza 0
Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Johnson 109
V.V.S Laxman c Haddin b Krejza 64
Sourav Ganguly c Clarke b Krejza 85
Mahendra Singh Dhoni b Krejza 56
Harbhajan Singh not out 18
Zaheer Khan b Krejza 1
Amit Mishra b Krejza 0
Ishant Sharma c Katich b Krejza 0
Extras(b 4, lb 2, w 1, nb 2) 9
Total (all out in 124.5 overs) 441
PCB all set to sue Yousuf over contract violation
By IANS,
Karachi : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will be sending a legal notice to Mohammad Yousuf Saturday after the star batsman defected to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) in clear violation of his central contract.
Shan Gul, PCB's legal advisor, said Friday that a legal notice has been prepared and will be sent to Yousuf, adding the player has violated seven clauses in his central contract by signing up for the ICL earlier this week.
Katich guides Australia to 189/2
By IANS,
Nagpur : Opening batsman Simon Katich led the Australian fight-back as the visitors ended the second day's play at 189 for two in the first innings, in reply to India's 441, in the fourth and last Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Friday.
Katich was batting on 92 and Mike Hussey 45 at stumps. Australia still trail by 252 runs. Earlier, off-spinner Jason Krejza picked up eight for 215 and became the eighth spinner in the Test history to bag eight wickets on debut.
Australia suffer early set-back after Krejza’s record haul on debut
By IANS,
Nagpur : Australia suffered an early set-back, losing opener Matthew Hayden, and were at 43 for one in reply to India's first innings score of 441, at tea on the second day of the fourth and the final Test here at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium Friday.
Simon Katich was batting 18 and skipper Ricky Ponting seven at the break after Hayden (16) was run out.
Jharkhand asks IOA to postpone National Games
By IANS,
Ranchi : The Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) has sought at least a month's time to conduct the National Games as the infrastructure for the event is still not ready.
The Games are scheduled Dec 1-13. Work at the main stadium and two other indoor stadiums is still on.
A team of Games Technical Committee of IOA Thursday arrived here to assess the situation. The team has prepared a report and left Friday. IOA will take a final call on the basis of the report.
Tea scoreboard: India vs Australia, Fourth Test, Day Two
By IANS,
Nagpur : Scoreboard at tea on the second day of the fourth cricket Test between India and Australia here Friday.
India: Ist innings
Virender Sehwag b Krejza 66
Murali Vijay c Haddin b Watson 33
Rahul Dravidc Katich b Krejza 0
Sachin Tendulkarlbw b Johnson 109
V.V.S Laxmanc Haddin b Krejza 64
Sourav Gangulyc Clarke b Krejza 85
Mahendra Singh Dhoni b Krejza 56
Harbhajan Singh not out 18
Zaheer Khan b Krejza 1
Amit Mishra b Krejza 0
Ishant Sharma c Katich b Krejza 0
Extras(b 4, lb 2, w 1, nb 2)9
Total (all out in 124.5 overs) 441
Herschelle Gibbs on alcohol rehabilitation course
By IANS,
Johannesburg : The international career of South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs could well be over after he was sent home by Cricket South Africa (CSA) for breaking a team curfew on the eve of Pro20 International against Bangladesh here.
CSA said in a statement Thursday that Gibbs would "not take part in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh which starts at Potchefstroom's Senwes Park Friday".
However, no details of the offence were given by the board. Team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Gibbs would be required to attend an alcohol rehabilitation course.
Drag flick ace Sohail Abbas may return to Pakistan team soon
By Omar Khalid,IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan's legendary drag flick specialist Sohail Abbas is expected to make his international return in the proposed Test series against India early next year.
A senior Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official told IANS Thursday that Sohail will be given a fair chance to prove his form and fitness and if he is able to convince selectors that he is still good enough for international hockey, he will be selected in the national squad.
Pakistan is planning to play a Test series against old rivals India on a home-and-away basis next January.
Jeev 24th as second day in HSBC Champions golf washed out
By IANS,
Shanghai : Inclement weather forced the second round of play at the $5 million HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club to be called off Friday.
Play is now scheduled to begin Saturday morning, local time. India's top contender Jeev Milkha Singh is lying tied 24th with a round of two-under 70, while S.S.P. Chowrasia is 65th with a 76. Henrik Stenson of Sweden leads the field with a round of seven-under 65.
At tea, Australia trail India by 398
By IANS,
Nagpur : Australia were 43 for one in their first innings in reply to India's 441 at tea on the second day of the fourth and last Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Friday.
Simon Katich was batting on 18 and skipper Ricky Ponting was on seven at the break after Matthew Hayden (16) was run out.
India all out for 441 in first innings
By IANS,
Nagpur : India were bowled out for 441 in the first innings against Australia on the second day of the fourth and final Test match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Friday.
Sachin Tendulkar was the top scorer with 109 while Sourav Ganguly made 85 in his farewell Test. Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza with his 8/215 became the fourth player in Test history to pick up eight wickets on debut.
Lunch scoreboard: India vs. Australia, Fourth Test, Day 2
By IANS,
Nagpur : Following is the scoreboard at lunch on the second day of the fourth and the final Test match of the current series between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Friday.
SCOREBOARD:
India 1st innings (Overnight 311/5)
Virender Sehwag b Krejza 66
Murali Vijay c Haddin b Watson 33
Rahul Dravid c Katich b Krejza 0
Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Johnson 109
V.V.S. Laxman c Haddin b Krejza 64
Sourav Ganguly batting 80
Mahendra Singh Dhoni batting 43
Extras (b 4, lb 2, w 1, nb 2) 9
Total (for five wickets in 113 overs) 404
Ganguly, Dhoni take India to 404/5
By IANS,
Nagpur : A century stand between Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped India reach 404 for five in the first innings against Australia at lunch on the second day of the fourth and last Test match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Friday.
Ganguly, playing his last Test, was batting on 80 while India captain Dhoni was on 43. By lunch, they had stitched together an unbroken 101-run stand for the sixth wicket.
India needs more international hockey fields: Australian firm
By Neena Bhandari,IANS,
Melbourne : A Melbourne-based global manufacturer of synthetic sporting surfaces, which has been installing hockey surfaces and athletic tracks across India, says international standard synthetic surfaces are crucial for India to regain its golden days of hockey domination in the world.
Tendulkar scores most number of centuries in world
By IANS,
Nagpur : Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar Thursday surpassed all past and present cricketers in the world, knocking the largest number of centuries in Tests. With his 40th Test century in the fourth and final Test against Australia here, Tendulkar eclipsed all records of Test centuries.
Breaking Sunil Gavaskar's record of most Test centuries in India, Tendulkar scored his 17th Test hundred in India and 40th overall in the fourth and final Test against Australia here.
He is the second batsman to record 10 Test hundreds against Australia. England's Jack Hobbs had made 12.
Tendulkar happy to score his 40th Test century
By IANS,
Nagpur : Sachin Tendulkar after scoring his 40th Test century was happy that he could get to the milestone when the team needed.
Tendulkar's 109 came at a time when India were struggling at 116 for three against Australia in the fourth and last Test here. And with V.V.S. Laxman (64) he added 146 runs for the fourth wicket as India piled up 311 for five at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium.
"I am so happy to score a century after a pretty long time. It feels good to have done it after a long gap and at a time when the side sorely needed it," Tendulkar said.
Tendulkar century puts India on top
By IANS,
Nagpur : Sachin Tendulkar scored his 40th Test century as India ended the first day of the fourth and last cricket Test against Australia at a comfortable 311 for five in the first innings at the brand new Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Thursday.
At stumps, Sourav Ganguly, playing his last Test, was batting on 27 and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni four to cap a good day's play, which also saw half centuries from Virender Sehwag (66) and V.V.S. Laxman (64) playing in his 100th Test.
Ranji Trophy scoreboard: Delhi vs Punjab, Day Four
By IANS,
New Delhi : Scoreboard on the fourth and final day of the Ranji Trophy Super Division league match between defending champions Delhi and Punjab at the Roshanara grounds here Thursday:
Punjab: Ist innings (391 all out)
Delhi: first innings (overnight 434 for eight)
Akash Chopra lbw Gony 76
Shikhar Dhawan c Dharmani b Gagan 72
Virat Kohli c Yuvraj b Kaul 6
Mithun Manhas lbw Kaul 58
Aditya Jain c Dharmani b Gagan 1
Rajat Bhatia lbw Ladda 99
Punit Bisht c Ravinder b Yuvraj 76
Pradeep Sangwan run out 27
Chetanya Nanda lbw Gagandeep 56
Ashish Nehra c Kaul b Ladda 8
Delhi gets first innings points against Punjab
By IANS,
New Delhi : Yuvraj Singh was at last among runs, albeit a quick-fire 38, on a meaningless last day of the Ranji Trophy Super Division match between Punjab and Delhi here at the Roshanara Club ground Thursday. The match expectedly ended in a draw.
Delhi gained three points for taking the first innings lead while Punjab settled for one point.
Scoreboard: India vs Australia, Day one
By IANS,
Nagpur : Scoreboard at stumps on the opening day of the fourth and final cricket Test between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here Thursday:
India: 1st innings
Virender Sehwag b Krejza 66
Murali Vijay c Haddin b Watson 33
Rahul Dravid c Katich b Krejza 0
Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Johnson 109
V.V.S. Laxman c Haddin b Krejza 64
Sourav Ganguly batting 27
Mahendra Singh Dhoni batting 4
Extras(b 4, lb 2, w 1, nb 1) 8
Total( for five wickets in 87 overs) 311
Fall of wickets: 1-98 (Vijay, 17.5 overs), 2-99 (Dravid, 18.4), 3-116 (Sehwag, 22.3),
Jeev opens with two-under 70, lies 24th
By IANS,
Shanghai : Jeev Milkha Singh overcame the wet and cold conditions with a two-under 70 in the opening round of the US$5 million HSBC Champions Thursday.
Jeev was tied for 24th, while the second Indian in the field S.S.P. Chowrasia was tied 65th with a four-over 76.
Sweden's Henrik Stenson set the early pace when he fired an opening seven-under-par 65 to take the first round lead.
Tendulkar’s century guides India to 311/5
By IANS,
Nagpur : Sachin Tendulkar scored his 40th Test century as India ended the first day of the fourth and last cricket Test against Australia at 311 for five in the first innings at the brand new Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Thursday.
At stumps, Sourav Ganguly was batting on 27 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni four.
Tendulkar (109) added 146 with V. V. S. Laxman (64) for the fourth wicket after openers Virender Sehwag (66) and debutant Murali Vijay (33) gave a rollicking 98-run start. Australia's debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza picked up three for 138.
ING Renault F1 team to hold Delhi road show Sunday
By IANS,
New Delhi : Motorsports lovers in the Indian capital will get a chance to get up-close and personal with Formula One Renault team, which is organising a road show here Sunday.
Being held for the first-ever time in the country, the ING Renault F1 Team Road Show will be a visual spectacle at Rajpath. It will be open to the public who will get a chance to see the Renault F1 cars and specialist stunt drivers.
I’m not coming out of retirement: Shane Warne
By IANS,
London : Australian spinner Shane Warne says he has no plans to return to international cricket but will continue to play for the Rajasthan Royals.
“My life is now devoted to my children and charity work with The Shane Warne Foundation. I am playing poker tournaments as a hobby, building up my business and corporate work and endorsing products for my sponsors.
“I go back to India this month to lead Rajasthan Royals in the first Champions League,” Warne wrote in The Times newspaper Thursday.
Tendulkar, Laxman guide India to 202/3 at tea
By IANS,
Nagpur : Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman guided India to 202 for three in the first innings against Australia at tea on the first day of the fourth and last Test match at the newly-constructed Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Thursday.
Tendulkar was on 66 and Laxman 34 at the break, having added 86 runs for the fourth-wicket after Australia's debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza created some panic by quickly picking up the wickets of Rahul Dravid (0) and Virender Sehwag (66).
Scoreboard at tea: India vs Australia, Fourth Test, Day 1
By IANS,
Nagpur : Scoreboard at tea on the opening day of the fourth and final Test between India and Australia here Thursday.
India: 1st innings
Virender Sehwag b Krejza 66
Murali Vijay c Haddin b Watson 33
Rahul Dravid c Katich b Krejza 0
Sachin Tendulkar batting 62
V.V.S. Laxman batting 34
Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 1, nb 1) 7
Total (for three wickets; 51 overs) 202
Fall of wickets 1-98 (Vijay, 17.5 ov), 2-99 (Dravid, 18.4), 3-116 (Sehwag, 22.3)
Bowling
Brett Lee 9 1 35 0 (1nb, 1w)
Mitchell Johnson 12 4 39 0
Shane Watson 10 2 26 1
Jason Krejza 15 1 88 2
Tendulkar, Laxman guide India to 202/3
By IANS,
Nagpur : Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman steadied the hosts as India made 202 for three in the first innings at tea against Australia on the first day of the fourth and final Test at the newly constructed Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here Thursday.
Tendulkar was batting on 66 and Laxman, playing his 100th Test, was on 34 when the umpires called for the tea break. Virender Sehwag gave a blistering start to the innings by scoring 66 off 69 balls. Debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza proved expensive for his two for 88.
Juve beat Real again as Giggs leaves it late for United
By DPA,
Hamburg : A brace from Alessandro Del Piero helped Juventus beat Real Madrid for the second game in succession in the Champions League while a late strike from from Ryan Giggs helped Manchester United salvage a draw away to Celtic.
Celtic took an early lead Wednesday against the defending champions through Scott McDonald but despite relentless pressure from United, the equalizer only came six minute from time when Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc could only parry a Cristiano Ronaldo shot into the path of Giggs.